“A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.” ~ Ogden Nash
So much has happened lately that I should have titled this column: “Catching my breath!” At any rate, it would probably take me a month’s worth of columns to go into detail on the “current events” of our lives, but in the interest of brevity, I’ve decided to come up with a condensed version.
The excitement started off with a welcome visit from Jared, Erin, Asher, Gabe and little Emma. We had a wonderful reunion with everyone in one place for the first time in almost two years.
Proud Daddy and Uncle Jared holding Emma & Katelyn after the girl cousins meet for the first time. Josh’s good friend Travis, and Kirk’s girlfriend, Claudia,took turns with the camera in an attempt to capture one photograph of our entire family for this year’s Christmas card.
Kirk & ClaudiaIn spite of taking dozens of pictures, there was something amiss with almost every single one. For example, Jared lifted Asher and Gabe up on his shoulders, and in several shots, you couldn’t even see Jared; it was like the boys were just suspended in mid-air.
Then Keener’s dog Art and Travis’ dog Ollie added some excitement as well as they attempted to wiggle free.
Of course we had the proverbial crying baby shots.
"I'm tired of family pictures, Grandpa!"And no family picture-taking session would be complete without somebody giving somebody else bunny ears!
Two weekends ago we enjoyed the double celebration of Kirk’s graduation from Manhattan High School and Josh’s graduation from the University of Kansas Medical School. Keen’s entire family (including our 3-month-old great niece, Melanie Jean) all came up from Texas to help us celebrate both events. It was our first gathering since Keen’s father passed away, and we really felt his absence.
On Friday, we hosted a barbecue with friends and family to celebrate Kirk’s graduation. We had a nice crowd, including Kirk’s former babysitter, Janie Barnes, and several of his Alma friends, making the evening extra special (and nostalgic).
The next day Josh and Lisa treated the entire family to a wonderful meal down on the Plaza. Afterwards we went to their apartment for cookies and iced tea before leaving for the graduation and hooding ceremony. When they announced, “Dr. Joshua Jim Umbehr”, Keener expressed his pride and enthusiasm by shouting: “That’s my brother!” At which time Josh turned to the audience and said, “And that’s my brother.”
It was an amazing day commemorating an amazing accomplishment, and no one cried more than Grandma Umbehr.“I just wish Jim could have been here,” she said.
The weather was exceptionally beautiful all weekend, which was a real blessing. On Sunday, we all headed to Bramlage Coliseum for Kirk’s graduation.
Watching our “baby” graduate somehow made me feel like I was graduating, too. Oh, I know we never really “graduate” from being mothers. But there is a definite change in our role after our children turn eighteen and graduate from high school. It just felt like a very significant day for me, too, considering the fact that I’ve spent the majority of my life being a stay-at-home mom.
On May 22nd, Emma Eileen celebrated her own little milestone when she turned the "Big 01!" She is growing up so fast. From the pictures they sent of her birthday party, it looks like she’s gotten bigger just since we saw her.
On May 24th, our son Keen II underwent surgery at Mercy Health Center to remove his enlarged tonsils. Typically, tonsils are removed in childhood, but Keener never really had any problems with chronic sore throats when he was young. Then in his late teens and early 20’s, he had several episodes of strep throat, which caused the doctors to advise him to have the tonsils removed. Dr. Barlow in Manhattan confirmed the diagnosis, so surgery was scheduled between the end of Keen’s regular classes at K-State and the beginning of his summer classes. (By the end of this summer, he will have taken 53 credit hours in one year.) When the nurse was escorting me back to Keener’s room after his surgery, she said, “I had my tonsils removed two years ago, and I would never do it again!” That gave me an idea of the amount and severity of pain Keen would be in for, and sure enough, she was right. After the 10th day Keen said he was just “sick of being sick.” But thank God, he came through it pretty well, with only a slight complication when the doctor had to go back and cauterize the wound to prevent bleeding. (The definition of cauterize is to burn tissue to stop bleeding: to seal a wound, or destroy abnormal or infected tissue, with a heated instrument, a laser, an electric current, or a caustic substance. In Keen’s case, they used a caustic substance. Ouch!)
Keener before and after surgery
On a lighter note, this Thursday, June 7th, Katelyn Seraphina will be celebrating her 1st birthday. It’s so hard to believe.
We’ll be traveling to Wichita this weekend for her birthday party which will be held in their new house. (Josh will be doing his three-year residency at Wesley Medical Center.)
So I think that brings us all up to date. The next big event in our lives will be the celebration of our 29th wedding anniversary on June 10th. Since we’ll already be in Wichita for Katelyn’s birthday, we’ll probably break tradition and stay in a hotel down there. (We almost always go to the Cottage House in Council Grove.) I’ll fill you in on most of the details next week! :)“When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses.” ~Joyce Brothers
