Step Up for SIDS 2011 Letter

In Memory of
Connor John Underwood
June 20–August 28,
2007

Step Up for SIDS is once again upon us and I am once again happy to have the opportunity
to send out Connor’s picture, raise money to help those also facing this, and spend a day
completely devoted to remembering our precious child. This will be the forth year we have
been involved in this day and it really does do my heart good to have the annual event to
attend in Connor’s memory.

Step Up for SIDS
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Wichita Sate University’s Cessna Stadium
Memory Walk begins at 9:30 AM

The Step Up for SIDS event is a memorial walk/balloon release and fundraiser for the SIDS
Network of Kansas. This helps the SIDS Network of Kansas to further their mission of
serving those who are or may be touched by the tragedy of SIDS by providing supportive
services for all those affected, community awareness, professional development and support
for medical research efforts.

Our team is set up under the name Connor Underwood. If you would like to register to
walk with us just follow the links from this web site:
http://www.sidsks.org/stepupforsidspg.html
If you would like to contribute to our team’s fundraising efforts please either mail your
donation to me or contribute online at:
http://www.active.com/donate/2011stepupforsids/JUnderw20

Thank you for being one of the many blessings in our life – Julie

Poop in the tub

Last night Shannon was gone to state basketball and I was giving the kids a bath.  Knowing that Callie is all over letting me know if Chase is doing something wrong, I left the door open and ran across the hall to get their PJs while they were still in the tub.  As I come back in a nake wet Chase meets me - first of all WHAT he can get out by himself, second of all WHAT Callie didn't yell at me.  Chase is excitedly bringing me back to the tub pointing saying "look Ma I poop in bath".  Callie is oblivious.
This also reminded me of the time Callie pooped in the bath.  We were at Dennis and Stephanie's house.  Stephanie was very pregnant with the twins and Tyler was going thru the not wanting to take a bath stage so I thought I would help by giving him a bath with Callie before we left.  Tyler would have been almost 4 and Callie only maybe a year and a half.  Not really knowing that KIDS WOULD POOP IN THE BATH - I saw what was happening and almost freaked out myself.  Maintaining my composure I thought I have to get Tyler out before he sees what is happening or he may never take a bath again!  So I am sneaky and get them both out happy and clueless.  Took them downstairs and went back up to clean up - as if it isn't bad enough when your child poops in your tub, it is even worse when they poop in someone elses tub!!!!!

Nicer Weather Days

We have been having a few nice days scattered here and there.  The kids are loving getting outside.  We finally were able to place the playhouse they received for Christmas outside and get it out of the garage for them to enjoy.

Chase "helping" daddy fill the bird feeder.

Anyone who is concerned about the safety of their neighborhood just contact us cause there is a new sheriff in town.  Chase puts on this police hat and gets his gun.  Here he wondered all over outside.  I am not sure how far he would go but he didn't seem concerned to stop or make sure someone was with him.  

When he puts on his police hat he gets his gun, his fireman hat his chainsaw, and his cowboy hat his horse.  Silly boy.

Our couch cushion was gone for a week being repaired (under warranty and it was purchased in maybe 2002 - can't beat that) so it was gone for a week.  You would think Max would adjust where he laid but no he just tried to look as pathetic as possible so we would feel sorry for him.

Callie as a Kindergartener

Each year our elementary kids write a young authors book and in each class they are awarded for the best book, honorable mention 1 & 2, best cover and best illustrator.  Callie got honorable mention.  I had not planned to go to the assembly and did not have my camera.  This is a picture from the school web site.  I did barrow a friend/coworkers camera but have not transferred those pics yet.  Since I had skipped a meeting to go to the assembly I had not figured out lunch so I ate in the cafeteria with Callie that day too.  She was excited to have won but sad that Catherine didn't win.  So we had some conversations about that - always a learning opportunity I guess.  I just hope I am saying the right things - there really should be a manual to this.  And I thought that I felt unprepared when she was a newborn.  I'm not sure that compares to what is ahead anymore.  The oldest really does break you in so much, huh?

Last weekend we went to Chuck E Cheese but I forgot my camera so no pics of that.  Chase didn't really enjoy it too much but Callie of course had a blast.  Chase was happy if he could stay in the one where you sat staring at a screen pretending to steer a car.  He didn't get the whole let others have a turn thing.

Callie got her name on the board in class for the first time so that was another learning experience.   She had a sub that day and I (never go into her classroom but did that day cause she had been home the day before sick and I wanted to see if she was ok and remind her that it was the church afterschool program that day since I knew it was a sub teacher) walked in right after it happened.  I hated that timing.  I think she handled it OK.  I had a meeting so Shannon picked the kids up but later on the way to gymnastics I asked her about it and she said will you be mad if I was following someone else and did what they did?  Later on in the conversation I asked if she knew she wasn't supposed to put water in the sand and she said will you be mad if I did know that I wasn't supposed to?  Oh I hope I am teaching the points that need to be taught.  Such a little thing that is nothing but I have to at least try to use it to teach not following, accepting the punishment if you knowingly do wrong, etc don't I?  I am way to much of a softy (OK for Callie I think but not so sure on Chase :-)

I forget how we all see things from our own perspective.  One day this week Callie asked about a photo I have of Connor in my office (nothing new has been there all year while she has been coming into my office).  She asked some of the questions we have to go over from time to time like how do you get to heaven, etc.  But this time she went on to ask about details of when/where it happened, how we knew, etc.  I don't ask so I was kinda surprised that she doesn't remember anything.  It makes sense since she was not even 3 yet but I guess cause the details are forever burnt into my mind I thought she would remember some of it.  Then that night at the dinner table she looks at me and asks if 2 year olds can die too (she had asked a couple times lately how old Connor was when he died - she is really into how old babies and kids are).  I am actually better at answering these questions than some cause from time to time she asks these things.  So my first response was simply I hope not and that usually you are old when you die but only God knows when you will die and her reply was along the lines of well I hope Chase won't die cause he has gotten older now and I would miss him/he is my friend something like that.  I said yes you have fun together and she said do you think Connor would have been as crazy/fun as Chase is?   Yes he would have been just as great as Chase and you are.  And then she was off to the next subject just like we had been discussing the weather.  I guess I just wanted to record it cause while the conversations are hard, especially for Shannon, in a way I like that she talks about it and remembers him in our family.

She sure is growing up!