The house is too quiet.

It’s weird not having Booger here.

When is he getting back?

My new work schedule had us needing to adjust Jack’s care. Many of my clients are teens, so I’m working late afternoons/evenings several days a week. After juggling things around, we decided the best idea was for Jack to sleep at his other family’s house on Thursday nights.

Jack loves leaving the house on Thursday mornings knowing his other mother, Maria, will pick him up from his adult program and bring him to her home where he gets to enjoy her wonderful cooking, feeding their chickens and spending time with his other sister, Jamilla. 

Initially, Dan and I were rather excited about having a little taste of an empty nest one day a week. Over the years we’ve watched our peers have freedom that we thought we would never experience.  And, the last few weeks we have enjoyed being able to have spontaneous late dinners out and not being in charge of medication and bathing and diapers on Thursdays, but these Friday mornings are strange. Our boy may not talk, but his energy is loud. 

So, every Friday morning Dan and I have the same conversation. The house is too quiet. It’s weird not having Booger here. When is he getting back?

Last night Anna came home to celebrate Dan’s birthday (HaPpY bIrThDaY Dan!) and her latest medical school acceptances. We were tempted to cancel Jack’s Thursday plan, but he seemed angry when I brought hit up, so he was with his other family last night as the three of us spent time together trying to fill in the gaps of Jack’s laughter. It was a nice night, but he was missed.

As soon as Anna came downstairs this morning she repeated our Friday morning mantra — The house is too quiet. It’s weird not having Booger here. When is he getting back?

I just got off of Facetime with Jack and he was all smiles as Maria filled us in on how they made pizza last night, listened to Jamilla play her guitar and had a big breakfast. He loves his weekly adventures. And Dan and I do like our new routine, but it is going to take us a while to become accustomed to these quiet Friday mornings.

Love, Jess