Health OR Happiness?

Oh my....what a dreadful choice, but yesterday, I had to make that choice for Carter.

I picked happiness.

Our school has a basketball league that plays games against other kids in our county.  This league includes kids from 2nd grade to 6th grade.  Since my boys are obsessed with all things sports, they are always excited about their first opportunity to play a new sport.  Our current sports repertoire for this year includes 3 basketball teams, 3 baseball teams, one track participant, one soccer team, and one football team.  We basically live at gymnasiums and fields.

This year, Carter wasn't yet technically old enough to be a part of the basketball team, since the league begins at 2nd grade.  Except that the league has an exception.  If there is a team that is lacking in enough players, then a younger child is allowed to move up.  Our 2nd grade team only had a couple of players, so a couple of the 'little brothers' were asked to play to fill the team.

Carter was ecstatic with this news. 

He found out that he could play basketball a year earlier and immediately went to his room to dig up some shoes that looked like basketball shoes and some clothes that resembled a uniform.  He was thrilled for his first practice and was even more pumped about his upcoming first game.

Unfortunately, the day before his very first game, Carter came down with a case of strep. 

Argh!

He woke up with a fever, headache, stomach ache and sore throat.

We spent the morning at the doctor's office and pharmacy.  Then we spent the afternoon snuggling and watching television.

By the evening his fever had gone and he was eating a little bit. 

Before bedtime he asked,

"I am gonna get to play in my first basketball game tomorrow, right?"

I knew that he probably shouldn't play, but I also knew that if he felt better by morning, that I would totally consider it.

Carter slept well and woke up with no fever, but feeling draggy.  He promised that he felt better and he really, really wanted to play.  I knew he was lying about feeling better.

I caved.

I couldn't imagine telling him that he couldn't play.  He would just be so sad to miss it.

I pumped him full of the magic kid drug...aka Ibuprofen.....and we set off for the gym.

Perhaps, we made the wrong decision, because he wasn't very much help to his team.  

The first whole half he pretty much just stood around and looked dazed and indifferent.....like this.....

Poor kid.

I'm a loser.

I sent him out on the court to participate in a game that requires lots and lots of endurance and vigor.

He had neither.

Until...I gave him that second dose of the magic mood enhancing drug for kids....ibuprofen....which helped.

He started flailing his arms in defense to prevent the other team from scoring or passing the ball.

Even though he wasn't the star of the team...by any stretch of the imagination.....he managed to get through it.

He was happy that he got to play in his first game.

And luckily, his health has returned today.....even without the magic drug.

Today I have a happy AND healthy kid....who is looking forward to his next game.

Oh, and PS.....my middle kiddo, Sawyer (#34), had his first game of the season yesterday, too.

His team was awesome!

Sawyer was the king of the fast break yesterday.  He had a bazillion steals.

If he had hit all his fast break shots, we would've really raised some eyebrows with a super high score.

Except, most of our shots were missed.

So we won, but the score was only 10 to 1.

Still, I would call it a successful day.

Oh, and P.P.S.....

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Urgent Text Message

  Tucker's first basketball game of the season was tonight.  He was instructed to wear khaki pants, a dress shirt and tie, and to stay after school with the team.  The team looked so handsome all dressed up.  I think the coach's theory must have been to intimidate the opponent with our good looks. 

In the end the theory didn't pan out because we got beat, but still....the boys looked very respectable.

   So anyway....the team was staying together, all dressed up, after school.  They would ride the bus together as a team to the game.  The opponent would await them after about a 40 minute drive.  The game was scheduled to begin at 5 pm.   

  Immediately after school, I received an urgent text message from Tucker.  The message said,

"Bring me some food.  Please.  We aren't getting anything to eat.  I need food."

A young teenage boy has some priorities that surpass all others.  Food is very high on the list.  I have a feeling, that I will be getting many, many more requests for food over the next few years.  I have this sneaking suspicion that our grocery bill is about to go way up. 

The bill will likely go up in the homes of all these boys, too.

I am fairly certain that my boys will soon cause us some degree of financial strain because of groceries.

It's inevitable.

With three boys.  All of which are active.  All involved in sports. 

Genetics suggests that perhaps they may end being....um....not teensy.

They are all very lean right now, but they were all born weighing in the 10 pound range.

The man of the house is 6 ft. 4in and I am 5 ft 7 in.

And both Bradley and I are.....what's the description?  Big boned?

I think the urgent request for food today is just a glimmer of what is to come.