Fortunately

(With apologies to Remy Charlip.)

Fortunately, when I went to pick up the kids, everyone had had a good day.

Unfortunately, when we got home, Archer said he needed to go to bed. He seemed to feel sick in some way, but he wouldn't tell me how.

Fortunately, after he went to the bathroom, he said he was at 100%. We went to the park to play.

Unfortunately, after about 15 minutes at the park, Cady Gray had an accident. We went home to change her clothes.

Fortunately, we planned to go out to dinner at New China after we changed clothes.

Unfortunately, Cady Gray now said she didn't feel well. She went and lay down in her bed.

Fortunately, she said she would eat some soup, sandwich and jello at home if I fixed it.

Unfortunately, Archer was upset that the plan had changed and we were not going to New China.

Fortunately, he was able to displace his disappointment and brought me one of his birthday presents, a pair of walkie-talkies, to open for him later after dinner.

Unfortunately, we opened them after dinner only to find that the 9-volt batteries were not included, and we had none in the house.

Fortunately, Cady Gray had gotten another set of walkie-talkies for her birthday.

Unfortunately, when we found them in the guest room closet, they took 9-volt batteries too -- not included.

Fortunately, there was a new Cranium game Archer had gotten for his birthday that we hadn't opened, so I put it in Archer's room for him to play with at bedtime.

Unfortunately, the episode of Wheel of Fortune that Archer watched before bedtime was having transmission problems the night it was recorded, and it blacked out during the bonus round, only returning during the credits. (The category was "phrase," the letters RSTLNE and DMPI were guessed, and the result was I'M _ _ PE _ _ L -- without looking it up, can anybody figure out the answer?)

Fortunately, I heard hammering during dinner, and afterwards I peeked out the back window to find that the sections of the backyard privacy fence that had blown down during Gustav had been put back up, presumably by the strip mall leasing company that erected it in the first place.

Fortunately, Cady Gray went to the bathroom after dinner and pooped in the potty for the first time since her initial training.

Fortunately, we took a walk in the absolutely glorious 75-degree weather.

Fortunately, Cady Gray felt 100% after her accomplishment and proclaimed, "This is the smiliest day I've ever been in."