Sep 15 2008
Dem bones
The other night, the kids fell asleep on the couch while watching TV with their dad. (I know, I know. It's been a heavy TV week on account of all the rain we've had.) Paul called me downstairs to survey the scene and help get them ready for bed.
As I changed the sleeping beauties into their PJs, Paul said, "Nathan's got this really weird bump on his heel." I felt it and then checked his other foot. This weird "bump" -- more like a boney protuberance -- was present on both heels.
Then I checked his sister to see if she had the same thing going on, thinking maybe it was something that kids had and grew out of. Nope, her heels curved in normally. Then Paul and I check our own feet to see if ours were as weirdly boney as Nathan's. They weren't, so it wasn't some odd genetic thing we passed on to Nathan, like his monkey toes (my contribution) and cute tushy (Paul's).
Seeing that both his heels were the same, we weren't too concerned. However, Paul asked me if the doctor ever checked his feet. I told him that he looked at the usual (ears, nose, mouth, etc.). Since he's a boy, the doctor examined Nathan's penis, too, but never his feet. Paul laughed and said, "Doctors are always messing with the penis."
I chuckled but felt slightly disturbed. How come I hadn't noticed this before? When Nathan was an infant, I knew every nook and cranny of his body from diapering, bathing, and doing baby massage. But these days, since he bathes himself and even puts on his own lotion and sunscreen, I'm lucky to see if he's in need of a hair cut.
Something tells me I need to pay a bit more attention or Nathan will be grown and gone before I sit up and take notice.
