Shawn Wright's posterous

Season in review

The oldest daughter's softball team finished their spring season last week, with tonight being trophy night. They went 8-2 in their division to take second place, shy of of first by only a game. Their overall record was 12-4-1, with the 2 additional losses going to upper division teams, and the tie going to an older team (14U vs our 12U team). Not a bad season looking back, and probably the most diverse for the daughter, who played 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, and C during the season (mostly 1B and SS). The most frustrating aspect had to be our narrow loss to a division team we had beaten handily earlier in the season. Had our offense hadn't slumped that game, we would have tied for first at least, and possibly would have done better depending on the tiebreaker rules.

So all of that was the good news. The bad news is we're aging out of our division, so we'll have to play 14U next Spring. It's always tough moving up, and will be particularly tough this time around because all of our girls will still be in middle school, but we'll be playing teams with girls in high school. Fortunately our recent 14U exhibition game, which resulted in a tie (9-9), boosted our confidence a little. But we can't get overly excited because they were a first year 14U team like we'll be soon.

This Fall we'll only be playing a few tournaments. Hopefully the daughter's grades will stay up so we can get into a conditioning routine and resume hitting and pitching lessons to be ready for those 14U teams in the Spring.

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Mother's Day in Philly

I made a surprise visit to Philadelphia over Mother's Day weekend. When I got in Friday night, I caught the premier of Star Trek with my best high school buddies. Then I spent the rest of the weekend with mom.

I took her to breakfast on Saturday before taking her to get a new cell phone, after which we headed to the Phillies game. She is the reason I love the Phillies like I do, but she hadn't been to the new ballpark yet, a problem I resolved at long last. Too bad the Phils didn't notch a win for her.

On Sunday, I took mom to get some new eyeglasses and to do some clothes shopping before picking up sister at the bus station. Sis bussed down from NYC for the evening so that the three of us could have a nice dinner together, something we hadn't done since high school, so like eighteen years. I know, shameful, but at least I'm finally taking care of business.

I was back on a plane Monday morning, but I think the short trip was enough to hold mom over until the next visit. Well, okay, so I'm headed back to Philly next month with the kids for family vacation, but you know what I mean.

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The Contrasts of an Evening

These two pictures were taken about 45 minutes apart. The oldest daughter had a choir performance at school, followed immediately by a softball game. Actually, the softball game started while we were at the choir show. The coach placed her at the bottom of the lineup, so, due to our hustle (including a creative changing effort in the back seat of a moving vehicle), she didn't miss an at-bat, though did miss a half-inning in the field. She had a great performance at the choir show and a very nice ballgame that included a base hit and a couple nice defensive plays, one involving a diving stop at short.

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Last Second Heroics

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For the majority of the game, we led 4-1 over a superior team (higher class, better record), but a few key mistakes on our part allowed them to catch up and overtake us, 4-5. As the visiting team, and with just a few minutes left in the game, we began what was sure to be our last at bat if we didn't get any runs on the board.

My daughter was lead-off batter that inning, and she was facing a tough pitcher with a killer change-up. Even though I warned her to watch for the change-up, she bit for her second strike of her at-bat, making myself and the rest of the parents quite nervous. Fortunately, the pitcher threw a couple balls to walk my daughter, who then stole second on the walk, taking advantage of the other team's laxness during the walk. Suddenly, there was a little bit of life in our effort.

The next two batters struck out pretty quickly, putting the pressure back on our team, but my daughter managed to steal third on a passed ball during the last at-bat. Things seemed to look up as we were back to the top of the batting order and our number one batter is typically very productive. However, she was recently ill and the last couple games her timing has been off. As such, she was down two strikes in short order. I remember looking at the clock and seeing that there was only 37 seconds left.

My daughter isn't known for her running speed, so when another passed ball came along, and the coach order her to go, I half-covered my eyes as I didn't think she'd make it in. But it was the classic play-at-the-plate moment. Catcher gets the ball at the backstop, throws to the pitcher covering home plate, my daughter arriving at the plate at the same time as the ball with a perfect slide, and the cloud of dust. The dust cleared, and the call from the ump. Safe.

I looked up at the clock again and time had expired. Everybody, parents and children, were jumping up and down at the last second heroic moment. I ran over to the dugout to give my daughter a great big congratulatory hug (though I had to wait for the crowd to clear). What a moment for her. She was glowing (such moments don't come often for her).

Once things calmed down, play resume. Though time had expired, since my daughter had tied the game, we were able to continue playing. Ideally in this situation, our number one batter would continue the momentum, the top of our order would drive her in, maybe a few more would follow, and we'd hold the home team in the bottom of the inning to win the game. Unfortunately that's not quite how it went.

Our number one batter struck out, ending the inning. The home team loaded the bases with no outs. And things looked quite dire. But thanks to some awesome defensive plays by several girls on the team, including a tag-out at the plate, we actually held them. The game ended in a tie, but considering the caliber team we played, it was a win for us. And it felt good, as all the girls were happy.

Twenty-six hours we'll never get back

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Thursday morning I dropped the eldest daughter off at school and she was fine. Totally fine. The picture of health as far as I knew.

When she got home from school, she called me at work to say she had a headache and body aches. I had her take her own temperature while I was on the phone with her... 99.9. So, I had her take a tylenol and get in bed to rest. She had the flu back in February, and thus far it had seemed like a recurrence.

Friday morning the fever was up to 101.4. Given that it was Friday, I went ahead and called the doctor for advice, which was to take her in.

At the doctor's office a few tests were administered. Flu, negative. Strep, negative. Blood test were done but we didn't get results right away. At that point the daughter was complaining of pain everywhere, particularly in her abdomen, but she was not vomiting or anything like that. She did also get a couple antibiotic shots while at the doctor's office. But the doctor was concerned about her hydration and the nature of the infection, and decided to admit her to the hospital so she could be further tested and monitored.

I couldn't believe it. Twenty-four hours earlier she was at school and fine. The next day we we're on the way to the hospital. Ugh.

At the hospital they took a chest x-ray to make sure she didn't have pneumonia, which she didn't. They hydrated her by giving her a liter of IV fluids within two hours, keeping her on a slower pace of fluids and IV antibiotics for the rest of the stay.

We ended up being at the hospital for 26.5 hours, but left with as few answers as we arrived with. Miscellaneous infection of unknown origin. We have to visit the doctor today (a Sunday!) for another antibiotic shot. And tomorrow we have a follow-up appointment. The daughter hasn't had a fever since Friday and is feeling much better, but we sure didn't plan on such a big chunk of the weekend being taken up by a hospital visit.

Easter Weekend Activities

It was a VERY busy weekend. Here are some partially representative pics. Saturday morning we went to the zoo, and it was amazingly beautiful. Just about the most perfect kind of day for the zoo. Crystal clear. Mid-sixties. Gentle breeze. I miss it already.

We could only stay a few hours at the zoo, though, as we had an Easter Egg Hunt. I was almost a bad parent in that we nearly missed the Egg Hunt, but we did make it in time. Barely. Okay, it started already, but we got some eggs, alright? Gimmie a break. Besides, the oldest decided en route that she was too old for egg hunts. And the youngest was satisfied with her booty. So, mission accomplished as far as I'm concerned.

After the Easter Egg Hunt we had a gathering at a friend's for some good times and an Easter... turkey? Sure, why not. It was very tasty. So much so that the youngest devoured a turkey leg the size of her head. And yes, she did finish it.

While somewhat displeasing on this holiday weekend, we also had softball practice. Daughter #1 was happy to receive her team hoodie. Mostly because it got chilly. Did I mention she hit me in the head with a softball? By accident she says, but I'm not buying it. It happened WAY too soon after I criticized her technique.

After softball we went back to our friend's where the celebrations continued until about midnight. Oh, and all of that was just Saturday.

Sunday was pretty traditional. Mass in the morning. Family meal in the afternoon. Laundry in the evening. Topped off with some Marley and Me. The girls were dying to see that movie and we missed it in the theater. Pretty sad stuff, but does it top the Turner and Hooch of my youth? Tough to say. Probably it does in some ways. But Hooch didn't live a full life. I think maybe that gets more tears. Though I must say, Marley gets points for having scenes in Philadelphia.

That's it for me. I'm exhausted. Happy Easter. 

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Like father like daughter

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I took one look at my little one as I dropped her off at school this morning and I could tell immediately that something was wrong.

What's the matter?  I asked...

Nothing. It's just morning. And Monday.

Ah ha. I KNEW there was something wrong. She's too much like me. What she said was exactly... EXACTLY how I was feeling right at that moment.

Wow.