Let's Play the Quiet Game

[caption id="attachment_3233" align="alignright" width="300" caption="A somewhat quieter Ben"][/caption]

Yesterday I once again had the realization that my Ben is as loud, if not louder than 4 of his cousins.  I mean he becomes so excited when we have company that he truly becomes BEN plus.  We were all sitting around the dining room table and the adults were attempting to have a conversation.  The more we tried to converse, the louder Ben became in order to better be heard.  Suddenly, I wondered aloud who could be the quietest.  All the children became silent as the adults continued to rapidly converse during this rare opportunity.  That lasted about 2 minutes before Ben shouted, "I win!!  I was the quietest!!!" 

Ellie woke a couple of times yesterday.  She has a pretty good cough now which seems to be somewhat impacting her ability to breathe.  Both Hospice and our endocrinologist have checked her out and let me know that she seems comfortable.  Over the last 24 hours she has definitely been asleep more than she has been awake.  She is sleeping now. 

Super big shout out (again!) to Ms. Zwart for sitting and reading withEllie yesterday so I could introduce my sister-in-law to the wonder of Dig-n-Save.  If you haven't heard of Dig-n-Save (shock) then let me tell you it is one of my favorite places in Madison.  It is the outlet store to the St Vincent de Paul Thrift stores, containing huge boxes of clothes ($1 a pound) and toys in bins (.35 a pound).  Sara and I had a funderful time.  But I digress.  I mean I can talk about Dig-n-Save all the live long day (ask my brother Kip and he will sigh and say that alas it is so.)  Ms Zwart not only came over at a moment's notice, but she brought chocolate chocolate chip cookies with her (yes that was a double chocolate) .  Which prompted Thom to say, "That Ms Zwart knows her way around a cookie!"  He felt that not only was the taste superb but the texture was perfection.  (These cookies are now GONE so don't drop by seeking some.) 

Today our house seems so quiet after a day and a half of fun with Dan, Sara, Zach, Noah, Mia, and Hannah.  And surprisingly clean and tidy which I blame on my marvelous mother and stupendous sister-in-law.  I guess mostly I just want all of you to know that even amidst Ellie seemingly getting closer to her transition, the anguish and grief and tears we all share, there are pockets filled with laughter and joy.