I dropped Russell off at school and went in to talk to the teacher. I got his missing assignments and I broke down. The teachers were under the impression that I was riding his butt at home. I'm not, but he wants to please me, so he puts a lot of pressure on himself.

I trying to find ways to just give him air. Last night, when he was in bed and Charles called, I said yes, he could stay the night tonight. When I brought him home from school, I pulled him off grounding which was to end on Monday, so he could play gameboy games with Charles and Stevie at the overnight.

After I dropped the boy off at school, I went shopping with Leann. We went to toys r us and picked out a couple of gameboy games for her son's birthday. While I was there, I bought a bunch of clothes for the kids because they had SLIM jeans on SALE. They also had some really darned cute clothes from Valentine's Day -- a denim jumper and skirt for Genny.

After that, we went to Chili's and had lunch. The chips, white people salsa, and queso were good and filled me up, a long time before my 45 minute hamburger and salad got there. We had a great time talking and catching up.

After lunch, we went to a supermarket and browsed the birthday cake book. We found the much coveted Spiderman cake and I explained that we needed a birthday cake because it was an emergency to which the bakery agreed. She laughed. She said,"Whenever I need something, I should take you!"

I hope she does.

I dropped her off at the hospital to get her fluids drained from her abdomen. (Her husband met her there and drove her home to sleep afterwards.)

--

Mike got off work early because of the holiday weekend and we came home cleaned up quickly and he picked up Genny while I showered for the first time all day. Then I ran to the school and picked up Russell and Leann's two kids and granddaughter. Russ tried on his clothes (because TRU is right next to CEC, so if he didn't like them I could take them back) and then was rushed off to Charles' house.

We fed Gen and the three kids milk and cookies, let them watch TV, which is a treat for them, then took them to the infamous furry arms of Chuck E. Cheese, where they gorged on pizza, played video games, danced with Chucky (you know -- the doll?), ate birthday cake, and got tired.

The adults hung at the table and we all talked bravely about Leann's cancer, her upcoming chemotherapy, and less bravely about her prospects. We won't know anything until after the surgery on Monday. I offered any help they needed, especially during chemotherapy when I know she'll get tired and may not be up to watching kids and getting them through their homework.

She looked lousy -- gray and tired throughout.

I feel so inadequate. I hope I'm the friend she deserves.