Geist

This is quintessential Boo Boo. Yes, he is getting a treatment from his much-used nebulizer and is a "big strong knight in shiny armor" at the same time.

He is our Spartan warrior child with wicked asthma attacks. He does military marches around our house while wheezing. He sounds like he's going to hack up a lung sometimes while he charges his spring horse into battle.

Nothing stops this kid. He's allergic to seemingly everything under the sun: gluten (wheat), dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, dogs, cats, cockroaches, elm, birch and walnut trees -- you name it. He has no idea about the things he won't be able to eat (freshly baked chocolate chip cookies!), or drink (beer!) or do in his life because of his ailments.

Ever since the first contraction of his crazy fast birth, we've been amazed by this child's brute strength, sheer will power and steely determination. I'll never forget when a friend described him as "driven" when he was still a baby. Before he was conceived, we prayed for a child with geist -- with heart and spirit and gusto. Well, our prayer was answered. Many times, as parents, we've had to remind ourselves, "We just have to channel his passion, and the Lord will do great things with him."

Every day that I see him live his life to the fullest -- despite the icky medications, the weird food, and the persistent cough -- I am inspired by his heroic spirit. He's got geist, to be sure.