There's been quite a bit of grumbling going on in this house about sick kids and how they should behave (like a sick kid) but Kevin doesn't really feel bad; he's itchy and hits the wall around 2 in the afternoon and gets cranky enough we're sending him to his room to lie down (where he swears he's just going to read but he falls asleep for at least an hour) but he doesn't feel sick.

He's bored and bugging his dad for things to do besides watch TV and do the homework Alex brought home for him. Ian is complaining that a ten year old should be able to keep himself amused, but he's not factoring in the fact that having Dad home while sick is new for Kevin. He knows what I'll do with him and what I expect him to do for himself if he's up to it, but Dad is entertaining. Dad might grumble, but he'll get down on the floor and build things out of Legos and K'nex, he'll help with the homework, and he'll read stories and take a stab at video games. But the best thing I've seen over the last couple of days is Kevin sitting on his dad's lap at the piano, plunking out notes. He's never been particularly interested in taking piano lessons, but without Alex and Rachel around to hear, he wants Ian to at least show him some scales and a simple song.

This is why I don't want Ian to go back to work; he's never had this kind of time with the kids before. He's always made major efforts to give each of them undivided attention, but he hasn't had a lot of these moments, at least not as many as I know he would like. Before my accident he was close to each of the kids, but they've all become so much closer in the last few months. And to see him nearly move Kevin to tears with his playing Moonlight Sonata--I'm not even sure were I'm going here with this, but that was incredible. Until today I don't think Kevin realized that his dad can actually sing, too, and that he was almost as interested in dance when he was in high school as Kevin is now.

They probably have another week together unless one of the other kids breaks out and has to stay home, too. Ian is going to grumble the entire time, but he's having way too much fun for me to take him seriously.