maybe she'll be a reporter

My mother was in a car accident on Monday. It's now Friday. She's doing OK, but she was in the Intensive Care Unit for three days. She's in a trauma unit now, but I didn't get to talk to her until today. She's ready to find out what needs to be done to get out of there and into a real room. Go mom!

To make this week even more exhausting, Scott was working some insane hours. I barely saw him, and when I did it was as he slipped in or out of bed in the middle of the night. So, not feeling at my best I didn't tell the kids about Grandma's accident until today. I figured they might be scared for Grandma so I didn't want to make that worse by breaking into tears in front of them.

Today on the way home from school, I gave the kids a few details, "Grandma was in a car accident and has to stay in the hospital for a few days, but she's feeling better than a couple days ago. I thought you could draw her pictures and we'd send her a note. How's that sound?"

"That's a great idea, Mama, " Jace answered.

Gracie was quiet for a second, but just a second. Then she started with question after question.

"How did she get in an accident?"

"Why didn't she stop at the stop sign?"

"Did her van roll over?"

"Was Grandpa with her?"

"What did she hurt?"

"How do you break your arm?"

"Did her skin stay on?"

"Are the doctors going to fix her arm?"

"Did she break her ring?"

"Does she need crutches?"

"How does she go potty?"

"How does she eat?"

"Does she like cookies?"

"What is she wearing at the hospital?"

"Does she have to leave the hospital dress there when she leaves?"

"How will she get dressed in her own clothes?

"How will she get home?"

"Will Grandpa drive his truck or her van?"

"Will she get a new van?"

"I like her van. I hope she gets a new van. Can we talk to her soon so I can tell her I love her and ask her if she broke her ring?"

Wow! What a barrage of questions. Great questions. Now I don't want this to come out the wrong way...but I was really impressed. Jace has always been curious and eager to learn about anything and everything. The kid is six years old and has a list of sciences he'd like to explore further over the next few years before he decides which he'd like to pursue as a career. Seriously, I expected questions from him.

But, Gracie? She's our four-year-old social butterfly, concerned with long hair and pretty skirts above all else. Yet she asked and asked until she, and everyone else, was satisfied.

I did sneak a peek into the back seat once and saw that Jace had a huge grin on his face. Apparently he was proud of his sister too.