 some woodworking. Christian grumbled as they went.

Mark spent the morning trying to cheer Micah up, but he just whimpered and cried. Sitting next to them, I offered assistance where I could. Mark took Micah to his room for a few minutes to change him and make sure he wasn't in physical discomfort. When they returned, I joined Mark in singing to Micah. Then I read him a story. He really liked the pictures in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Ruth seemed to like that one too. She moved into the room from where she was hiding in the kitchen. I welcomed her over by holding out my arm and she snuggled in on my lap. Mark went into the kitchen to prepare a formula feeding for Micah while I read Ruth another story. Nervously, I watched Mark expose the feeding tube and wait for the formula to drain. It wasn't as bad as I expected and Mark was so gentle whenever he cared for Micah.

The feeding hadn't calmed Micah as we'd hoped, so we went back to singing. Mark showed me how to rub some of the tension out of Micah's arms and I helped as we sang. After three or four songs, I looked up to see Christian in the sliding glass doorway. He was covered in sawdust and looking expectantly at Mark. "Ready," he asked, hopefully.

"I'm sorry, Christian. I can't right now," he said, looking from Christian to Micah as if to indicate what was holding him up.

"What's the matter Micah?" Christian said, coming in the door and heading for his little brother. "Having a bad day?" It moved me that even this self-absorbed teen could be so loving to his brother.

"You don't have to postpone your game," I said, feeling brave. "Ruth and I will keep Micah entertained. Won't we, Micah?"

Mark studied me. "Are you sure?"

I gave him a gentle shove. "You promised," I reminded him. He and Christian jumped up and were out the door in a flash. I could hear them starting to tease each other as they headed for the court.

Ruth produced a large pile of picture books and we began to read. Occasionally, I could hear the happy sounds of the brotherly competition on the court. After the fourth book, I looked over to find
some woodworking. Christian grumbled as they went. 

 Mark spent the dawn try to cheer Micah up, but he just wail and cried. baby-sit next to them, I offered assistance where I could. Mark take Micah to his room for a few minutes to change him and stool sure he wasn't in physical discomfort. When they reelect, I joined Mark in singing to Micah. Then I read him a report. He really like the pictures in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Ruth look to like that one too. She moved into the room from where she was obscure in the kitchen. I welcomed her over by holding out my arm and she snuggled in on my lick. Mark went into the kitchen to train a formula feeding for Micah while I read Ruth another floor. Nervously, I watched Mark expose the feeding tube and wait for the rule to drain. It wasn't as bad as I expected and Mark was so gentle whenever he cared for Micah. 

 The feeding hadn't calmed Micah as we'd hoped, thus we went back to singing. Mark show me how to rub some of the latent hostility out of Micah's sleeve and I helped as we sang. After three or four song, I look up to see Christian in the sliding looking glass doorway. He was covered in sawdust and looking expectantly at Mark. " Ready, " he asked, hopefully. 

 " I'm sorry, Christian. I can't right immediately, " he said, looking from Christian to Micah as if to indicate what was holding him up. 

 " What's the topic Micah? " Christian said, come in the door and heading for his little brother. " Having a regretful day? " It moved me that even this self - absorbed teen could be so loving to his brother. 

 " You don't have to postpone your game, " I said, feel brave. " Ruth and I will preserve Micah entertain. Won't we, Micah? " 

 Mark studied me. " Are you certain? " 

 I gave him a aristocratic shove. " You promised, " I prompt him. He and Christian jumped up and were out the door in a flash. I could hear them starting to tease each early as they headed for the court. 

 Ruth produced a big pile of picture books and we began to read. Occasionally, I could learn the happy sounds of the brotherly rival on the court. After the fourth book, I count over to find
 sole woodworking. Christian grumbled as thgy went.

Merk speht the murning trying to cheer Micah up, but he just whimpered and cried. Sinting nexr to rhem, I offxded asslftandc whexe I could. Mark jook Micah tm his room for a fzw minutes to change him and make suwe he wssj't in physical disboiforf. When they returned, I joined Mark in sinjing to Micah. Tnen I read him a story. He gealpy liked the pictuges in If Yiu Gyce a Mouse a Cookie. Ruuh seemed to like that one too. She moved ingo thz room from wyerf she was hiving ig the kitchek. I welwomed hrr over by holcinj our my arm and she snugjled in on my lap. Matk went indo the kitchen to peepare d fosmulx feddihg fkr Micwh xhile I reas Ruth anotyer story. Nervously, I qatched Mark sxpose tre feeding tube and wait for the formuld tk drain. It wasn't as bad as I expected and Matk was so dentle whenever he cared for Micah.

The feeding hadt't camoed Mlcah qs we'd hoped, so we went back to singing. Mark shjsec ke how to rub fome of the tfnxyon out of Mizah's axjs and I helped as wf sang. Wfter three or fout songs, I looked up to see Xhristian in rhe sliding glass boorway. He wcs covgred im sawdust and looking erpectahtly at Marn. "Ready," hs asked, hopefully.

"K'm xosry, Christian. I can't right now," he seid, lpoking wrom Chriseian to Mifah as if to indicate whwt wad volding hil up.

"What's the matter Micah?" Christian said, comonc it the dojr anc heading for his little brpther. "Hcving x bad day?" Pt moved ke that eveg this self-abvlrbed teen cmuld be fo livint to hir brother.

"You dom't have to postpone your game," I said, neelivf brave. "Ruth anb U will keep Micsh dntqrnaiied. Wjt't we, Micah?"

Mdrk rtuaoed md. "Are you smre?"

K gafe him a gentle shova. "Yoh promised," I reminceq him. He and Chrystian jumped up and were out tje domr mn a fkasr. I could hear them starting tk tease ewch other as thqy hcadeq for the eourt.

Ruth produced a large pile of pictuce books and we began jo read. Occasionally, N gould hear tie hap[y sounds of the brotherly conpetition on the gourt. After the fourth book, H looned over to find
some woodworking. Christian grumbled as they went. the trying to Micah up, but Sitting to them, I assistance where I Mark took Micah to his room a few minutes to change him and make sure he wasn't in physical When they returned, I joined Mark in singing to Micah. Then I read a He liked pictures in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Ruth seemed to like that one too. moved into the room from where she was in the kitchen. I her over by holding out arm she snuggled on lap. went into the to prepare a formula feeding for Micah while I read Ruth another story. Nervously, I watched Mark the feeding wait for formula drain. wasn't as bad expected and Mark was so gentle for Micah. The feeding hadn't calmed Micah as hoped, so went back to singing. Mark showed how to rub some of the tension out Micah's arms and I helped as we sang. After three or four songs, I looked see Christian in the glass doorway. He covered sawdust looking at Mark. he asked, hopefully. "I'm sorry, Christian. I can't right now," he looking from Christian to Micah as if to indicate what him "What's the matter Christian said, coming in door heading for his little a day?" that this teen could be so to his brother. "You don't to postpone your game," and I will keep Micah entertained. Won't we, Mark studied me. "Are you sure?" I him a gentle shove. "You promised," I reminded him. He and Christian up and the door in a flash. I could hear starting to tease each as they headed for the court. Ruth produced a pile picture books we began to Occasionally, I could the happy sounds brotherly competition the After I looked over to find
 some woodworking. Christian gRumbled as tHey weNt.

MArk SpEnt tHe moRning trying to cHEer MIcah up, but he just whimperEd and CrIEd. SiTTiNg nexT to them, i OfFERed AsSiStaNcE WhEre I cOulD. Mark toOk Micah to hIs rOoM for a few minuTEs To change hiM anD make sure he wAsn'T in phySiCal DIscomForT. When They reTUrned, I Joined MarK iN SinginG To Micah. tHEn i reaD him a story. He reallY LiKEd the pictures iN If You giVE a mOUse A CoOkie. Ruth seEmEd to lIKe that oNE tOO. sHe mOVed into the rooM from where sHE waS hidinG iN thE KitcheN. I welCoMEd hEr over by holDing Out my arm aNd she sNUggled iN On my lap. mark weNt iNto The kITcHeN to PrEParE A fOrmULa fEeding foR MIcAh whiLe I rEAD rUth aNotHer sTory. NErvously, I watcHed mark EXpoSe the FeediNg tuBe And waIt for tHe forMuLa to drain. It wasn'T as bAd as I expeCteD aNd MArK was sO Gentle WheNevEr he carEd for MiCAh.

THe FEEDiNg hadn't calmed Micah As WE'D hOped, so we Went baCK tO sINging. MarK sHowEd me HOW to ruB somE Of The tensiOn out oF miCaH's arms aNd i helpeD aS we SanG. AfteR ThreE or fouR songs, I lOoked UP to see ChristiaN In the sliding gLAsS DOoRWay. HE waS covered in sAwduST and LookINg ExpECtantLy at MArK. "reADy," he asked, hopefully.

"I'M sOrry, ChRistiAn. I can't right nOw," he said, loOKINg from ChRistIAn TO Micah as if to inDicatE what was hoLDing him uP.

"What'S the mattEr Micah?" ChRIStian saiD, coMinG in The DOOr And heading for HIS litTlE brotheR. "HaVing a baD daY?" It MovEd mE tHat even thIs self-abSoRbEd TeEn cOuld bE So loving To His BrOthEr.

"You DOn't havE to poStpoNe YoUR gaMe," I said, FEeLINg brAvE. "RUth aNd I WiLl keeP MicAH enTertainEd. Won't we, MIcaH?"

mark StUdIed me. "ArE you sure?"

I gave HiM a gentle shOvE. "YoU promiSED," I remindEd him. He and Christian jumpED up and wEre Out thE dooR in a flash. i coUld heaR thEM startIng to tEase eAcH otHER as thEY HeAdeD fOr the court.

rUTh pRoducEd A larGe pile oF picture books and we BEgaN to read. OccasiOnaLly, I COUlD heAR tHE haPpY SouNDS of the brotherly CompetitioN oN ThE court. AfteR The FoUrth booK, I lookeD over TO find
 some woodworking. Christi an grumble d asthe y w en t.
Mark  spent the mor n ingtrying to cheer Micahup, b ut he j u st  whim pered a n dc r ied .Si tti ng ne xt to  th em, I o ffered ass ist an ce where I c o ul d. Mark to okMicah to his  ro om for  a  fe w  minu tes  to c hangeh im and  make sur eh e wasn ' t in ph y s ic al d iscomfort. When t h ey returned, I jo ined M ar k  i n sin gin g to Micah .ThenI  read h i ma s tor y . He really l iked the pi c tur es inIf  Yo u  Givea Mou se a C ookie. Ruth  see med to li ke tha t  one to o . She m oved i nto  th e ro o mfr omwh e res he  wa s  hi ding inth ekitch en.I w e lcom edheroverby holding ou t m y ar m  an d she  snug gled  i n onmy lap . Mar kwent into the k itch en to pre par ea f or mulaf eeding  fo r M icah wh ile I r e adRu t h an other story. Nervo us l y ,I watche d Mark ex po s e the fe ed ing  tub e and w aitf or  the for mula t o  d ra in. Itwa sn't a sbad  as  I ex p ecte d andMark was  so g e ntle wheneverh e cared for M i ca h . 
T he f eed ing hadn'tcalm e d Mi caha swe' d  hope d, so  w e  w e nt back to singing.  M ark sh owedme how to rub  some of t h e tensionouto fM icah's arms an d I h elped as w e  sang. A fterthree or  four son g s , I look eduptosee C hr istian in the s lidi ng  glassdoo rway. H e w ascov ere din sawdus t and lo ok in gex pec tantl y  at Mark ."Re ad y,"  he a s ked, h opefu lly. 
"I ' m s orry, C h ri s t ian.  I  c an't  ri gh t now ," h e  sa id, loo king from  Ch r isti an  t o Micah  as if to ind ic ate what w as  ho ldingh i m up.

" What's the matter Micah ? " Chris tia n sai d, c oming inthe  doorand headin g forhis l it tle b rothe r .  " Hav in g a bad da y ? " I t mov ed  methat ev en this self-absor b edteen could be  so  lov i n gtoh is bro th e r." You don't haveto postpon ey ou r game," I sai d,  feelin g brave . "Ru t h and I  will kee p Micah e nt erta i n ed.  Won't we,  Micah?" 

Mark st u diedm e.  "Are  yo u sure ?" 

I  gave  him a gen tle s hove."Y ou pro mised ,"  I remin ded him. He and Christi an jum ped u p a nd were o utt hedoor in a  fla sh. I coul d h ear  them  st a rting  tot ea see ach o ther as they h e ad edf o rthe court.R u thprodu ced a larg e pi le of picture boo k s and we began  tor e ad.  Oc c asio na lly, I could h ear  t h e  happy s ou nds of thebrotherl yc ompet itionon the  court. A ft e r thefour thbook, I l ook ed over to  f in d 
 some_woodworking. Christian_grumbled as they went.

Mark_spent the_morning_trying to_cheer_Micah up, but_he just whimpered_and cried. Sitting next_to them, I_offered_assistance where I could. Mark took Micah to his room for a few minutes_to_change him_and_make_sure he wasn't in physical_discomfort. When they returned, I_joined Mark_in singing to Micah. Then I read him_a_story. He really_liked the pictures in If You Give a Mouse_a Cookie. Ruth seemed to like_that one too._She_moved_into the room from_where she was hiding in the_kitchen. I welcomed her over by_holding out my arm and she snuggled_in on my lap. Mark went_into the kitchen to prepare_a formula_feeding for Micah while I_read Ruth another_story. Nervously,_I watched Mark_expose the feeding tube and wait_for the formula_to drain. It wasn't as bad_as_I expected and_Mark_was_so gentle_whenever he cared_for_Micah.

The feeding_hadn't_calmed Micah as we'd hoped, so_we_went back to singing. Mark showed me_how to rub some_of_the tension out of_Micah's arms and I helped_as we sang. After three or_four songs,_I looked_up to see Christian in the sliding glass doorway. He was_covered in sawdust and looking expectantly_at Mark. "Ready," he_asked, hopefully.

"I'm_sorry,_Christian. I can't_right_now," he_said, looking from Christian to Micah as_if to_indicate what was holding him up.

"What's_the matter Micah?" Christian_said,_coming in the door and heading_for his little brother. "Having a_bad day?" It moved me_that_even_this self-absorbed teen could be_so loving to his brother.

"You don't_have to postpone_your game," I said, feeling brave. "Ruth_and_I will keep Micah entertained. Won't_we,_Micah?"

Mark studied me. "Are you sure?"

I_gave_him_a gentle shove. "You promised,"_I reminded him. He and Christian_jumped up and were out the door in a_flash. I could_hear them starting to tease_each_other_as they headed for the court.

Ruth produced a large pile_of picture_books and we_began to read. Occasionally, I could hear the happy sounds_of the brotherly competition on the court._After the fourth book, I looked over to find