Thirteen

We have another teenager in the house. His one request for his birthday was a skeleton.  Meet Bonsey.  

Theres only one time he's scared me.  Joel set him up on our counter stools one day and I woke up in the middle of the night and went to get a glass of water.  That made me jump. But he's had fun and really wants to take him with us when we go places. Usually we are loaded down with stuff but he might make it out to the beach one day. 

Joels birthday plans got derailed by a storm front.  He wanted a beach party but instead we met some friends at Pungo Pizza.  We have a tradition of going around the table at dinner for the birthday person and everyone says what they like about them.  We did it at Pungo Pizza and it was great hearing all the good things people see in Joel. He really is a little unique and I'm always worried people won't get him. He has a hard time sometimes at school because he doesn't follow the crowd and isn't apart of all the middle school drama.  But hearing his friends tell him what they like about him made me realize that he finds the friends who will understand his sense of humor.  

We rescheduled his birthday at the bay and he had a great time.

 

Joel is very calculated in all he does.  He had a friend invite him to Busch Gardens who loves roller coasters.  Joel didn't want to tell him he was scared of roller coasters and had never been on one.  So he spent two weeks watching every youtube video there was on these rides and talked himself into going.  He rode everyone and has been back 2 more times and rode coasters.  He has to decide for himself and then he's all in.  No amount of convincing from Colin could've gotten him on one until it was his idea. 

He hasn't tried to sue me in months, but he is still very interested in law.  Uncle David took him to court one day this summer and Joel hasn't stopped talking about it.  He gave him some law books that Joel will get out to read.  Right now, he says he wants to go do something military but also law.  I told him he could be a military lawyer.  Hes actually more into planning his future than his brother. The only thing with being a lawyer is all the schooling and wearing a tie! ha! if Joel could speed through school and wear athletic wear he would be set.

We have stopped getting his bloodwork done for now.  Every 6 weeks was hard on him and his anxiety.  He would worry constantly about it and that could raise some of his levels.  I still feel like theres something off that we haven't found. Its not fair that a teenager should have to worry about what he eats.  Most of his friends are downing donuts and candy at swim meets and he wont/cant eat it. I keep reminding him he will be much healthier when he's older.  His body can't handle it. We did get him a slushy once and he drank two sips and said it was too sweet.  I've learned to make sourdough bread and he is loving eating normal bread again.  Sourdough doesn't bother his stomach, and everyone loves the sourdough pancakes every morning.  The joy on his face when he ate the first loaf was worth all the hours I've spent watching videos on how to make it. He went to Busch Gardens with a friend yesterday and she called and said Joel ate all his vegetables.  He got this sausage platter with sauerkraut and her kids wouldn't touch that stuff.  She was amazed.  I laughed and said she would be surprised at what Joel has had to eat and just learned to like. 

I can't remember the exact conversation, but we were talking and Norah was trying to trade for a sister. but when it came to her brothers, we all agreed we would miss Joel too much because he makes us laugh.  And Colin because he's just so good to all of us.  So she ended up wanting to keep her boys. Joel makes us laugh and also makes life so much fun. You never really know whats going to come out of his mouth some days.  One day we were carpooling and Joel started telling Emily his plan to take over Antartica.  She said our car rides are much more interesting than hers.  We all need Joel in our lives.