Whoops! A whole week has slipped by without an update. Sorry about that.

Let's see-- the rest of last week was a lot like the beginning. Geo definitely does not want to go to school these days. On Thursday and Friday, C took him. I hoped that would help matters, but it didn't. Luckily, Fall Break started this week, which is nice timing.

C's parents, who had been with us since early October, left on Sunday. They're off to new adventures in Detroit, but we hope to see them back sometime in May.

This week is all about rest, fun and catching up on some Mama-Geo time. On Monday we went up to the Parc de la Villette with some friends. Geo and his buddy spent the whole day at a really fun playground with trampolines and all kinds of climbing equipment. The only break was a trip to Quick, where Geo ate his first fast-food meal. He was pretty amazed. A hot-dog, french fries, ice cream, a toy AND a balloon! What more could a three-year-old want??

Yesterday we had a much quieter day, resting around the house and cleaning and tidying. Geo played in the sandbox in front of our building with his good friend.

Today we have a Halloween party, with some other Anglophones in the area! Geo gets to wear his dragon costume and collect some candy. We don't know any of the other people going to the party, but we're hoping to meet some new friends.

Other plans for the week: C will take a couple of days off-- probably Friday and Monday-- and we're taking Geo to Disneyland for a day! I'm as excited as he is, probably more! And Saturday will be a big day-- a birthday party in the afternoon and a Halloween party with our village friends. It'll be a traveling Halloween party-- a craft or activity at each of the three homes. I think we'll finish up with carving jack o' lanterns at our place. Should be fun!

School doesn't start again until next Thursday. I hope by then Geo is feeling better about it.

And yes, I owe the readership of this blog lots of pictures. I know. I'll get some posted eventually, I promise!

After a rough start Tuesday morning, Geo had a great day at school. The teacher told me not to hang around when he cries, which, I understand, but how hard it is to walk away when he's sobbing!

This morning, I thought we'd try an experiment and have C take him to school without me. I thought maybe he'd do better without adding goodbye to mama into the mix. Well, I was wrong. He still started sobbing and the teacher came over and told C to go ahead and go.

Sigh. Next week is Fall Break and I'm hoping that a relaxed, hang-out-with-mama time will help him get past whatever it is that is bugging him. I wish he could tell me what it is-- but all I can get out of him is that he doesn't like school and he'd rather stay at home.

We've hit a snag

Huh. I don't know what to think about this issue that has suddenly come up.

Geo hates school.

All of a sudden, out of the blue, he hates it.

Things were fine last week; I took him Thursday and Friday and everything was ok. Then yesterday, we took him in and he cried at drop-off, for the very first time. I guess that should have been a warning that things weren't ok. When I went to pick him up, the teacher asked to talk to me. She said he'd had a major screaming/crying fit. To the point where aides from other classrooms came in to see what was going on. Apparently he didn't want to work on the project that the kids were doing. Eventually he settled down and did the work, but the teacher told me that she spoke pretty firmly to him.

She also told me that he didn't like to lose (duh, who does??) and that he seems to be afraid of trying things he thinks he won't be good at (gee, a perfectionist with a fear of failure-- wonder where he gets that from...?). She suggested we work on these things with him starting now, which, well, I do and have.

Anyway, today I took him to school and stayed a bit, as I volunteer in the room on Tuesdays. When I got ready to leave he totally broke down, sobbing and crying. I felt horrible. He's been telling me he just wants to stay with me, so I'm wondering if this is some sort of delayed reaction to my trip. Or to the baby coming soon. Or to dropping his nap. I just can't tell!

So I'm a little nervous to hear how the rest of his morning went. Poor guy.

Well, I'm feeling better today. I still had some jetlag issues last night, but managed to get more sleep than the night before. I took Geo into school today, and the teacher told me that Monday and Tuesday were a little hard for Geo, they felt he was a bit stressed out and on edge. I'm not sure how much is due to our separation and how much is due to him dropping his nap. Anyway, he's slept really well the last two nights and I think he'll be fine today.

It's really cold this morning-- as in, frost on the grass and leaves and car windshields. It's officially autumn.

I saw the OB today-- this is my last appointment before switching to the birthing hospital for my care. All is well with baby, and I'm pleased that I've only gained a pound so far in this pregnancy! Good news as I started heavier than I should have.

In other big news, I send out a warm "welcome to the world!" to Penelope Suzanne, the newest addition to the Reese family. We can't wait to meet you, Penny!

Made it home. Another 24-hour trip. (Darn layover in Atlanta!) Everything went really smoothly, though.

EXCEPT FOR THE JETLAG. Wow, this is the worst it's ever been for me. I was awake from 1.30-5.30ish this morning.

So this is a short post.

We said goodbye to our beloved mother and grandmother yesterday. It was really beautiful. There were wonderful pictures, picked out by the three sisters and put on a display board by Rosemary. Mary Sweeney was so beautiful! It was wonderful to see her as a young woman and remember her the way she was when I was growing up, before arthritis slowed her down. Several people got up and shared memories and heartfelt tributes. We sang some hymns I remember from childhood, heard a poem and the prayer that got her through her darkest moments.

Afterwards, the family came back to my parent's house where we ate, drank and laughed. We got to hear bits of letters that she had written to Adrian, who, clever man, has organized a binder with the cards and letters she sent him. Adrian, I'll be borrowing that idea from you. The sisters gave the grandchildren a little folder with some information about her life, and the program and hymns of the service, as a keepsake. They also gave us a CD with the pictures from the display board, and a framed picture of Grammie that has always been one of my favorites. We think it was taken at Christmas '92, right after Clinton was elected, because my grandmother looks like she's talking politics and she looks so happy!

Everything looked beautiful, everyone got along well, and I was so glad to be there. To be part of the events, and share the memories.

Tomorrow I head back to my boys who I've missed horribly this week. I am so glad, though, that I had this time with my family.

Tomorrow morning is the service. This makes it so final.

Am feeling very tired, sad and overwhelmed.

I miss my boys and am worried about them.

Not a happy day today.

It was a long (very, very long) trip but I made it to El Paso about 24 hours after leaving the apartment in Verrieres-le-Buisson. A very smooth trip, just loooooooong. Way too much CNN at the airport. Side note: when did American airports get SO FREAKING NOISY? Between CNN blaring at top volume, gate announcements blaring at top volume, those weird airport cars that shuttle between gates beeping and people screaming to each other or into their cell phones to be heard over the noise, I thought I was going to lose my mind. Did I mention I had a six-hour layover in Atlanta? I guess I should be thankful they weren't blaring Fox News. I might have done something desperate.

According to reports Geo is doing pretty well in my absence. This is the longest we've ever been apart! I miss my sidekick, though it was very nice not to have to run after him through the airport.

Things look great, here in El Paso. Well, in my parent's house, anyway, I couldn't see enough of the city to make any comments, as I landed well after dark.

Well, off to get the day underway. Lots of things to do.

I just had to post this, because it's such a breakthrough.

School has been getting progressively better for Geo, he no longer tells me he doesn't want to go in the morning.

And today, when I picked him up at lunch, he grabbed my hand and said "I had a WONDERFUL time at school today!".

It turns out they got to ride tricycles during recess and cut with scissors, which made him very happy.

It's the little things, isn't it?

Thanks to everyone who wrote or called with condolences. I am so grateful to all of you.

I'm also so grateful that I'll be able to get home to participate in the memorial service and spend time with all the other people who knew and loved my grandmother.

I might not do much posting over the next week or so as C's parents arrive Saturday and I leave on Monday.

Thank you all again for your thoughts.