I Have That Kid, You Know the One...

I definitely have " that" kid. You know the one....
I should have known years ago at my very first parent/teacher conference at his preschool. I was all ready to learn about the fabulous skills he'd acquired, the progress he'd made, the social skills he'd developed.
I went in to the conference full of eager anticipation. His teacher told me he was friendly blah blah blah... and he was very proud when he pooped. He'd come back and tell the whole class. There were some kids that would not poop at school so this allowed for an intro into a discussion about how its healthy for your body to go when you need to go. Other kids were amazed at his brave nature. They could not believe he would really poop at school, away from the safety of his own toilet. My child had , through his examples of bravery, enabled other students to let go of their fear and they too could now poop at school.
So I walked away from this meeting feeling that while everyone else had learned about all the wonderful strides their child had made thus far, I learned that my kid was a good pooper.

Today should not have been a surprise. And yet it was. The phone rang this morning and I saw from the caller ID that it was the school district calling. Oh no... something bad.
Hello?
Yes, It seems as though your son has swallowed a quarter.

Um.. WHAT? He did? [ He is almost 7, kids don't do this past the age of 2, right?]

He is OK, and breathing, but you need to come get him.

Of course I'd just put the babies down for a nap. Of course they were sleeping soundly and I'd been anticipating an hour or so of blissful silence during which I planned to nurse the headache I've had for FIVE days now.
I woke the babies, and drove to school. My son was waiting in the office, looking pale and upset. The nurse had given him water and he had that with no problems. I had already spoken with our DR's nurse who had told me to come in to see the DR and discuss Xrays.
I asked why he had swallowed a quarter when I had packed him a lunch. He didn't know. I asked where he got the quarter.
A girl was throwing it.
So you ATE it?
Yes.
Why?
I don't know. Am I in trouble?
No.

We went home and I called the DR again, since we weren't scheduled to see him until later in the afternoon. I wanted to make sure it was OK for him to eat/ drink normally. This time I spoke with the DR who said I didn't need to come in. As long as he could breathe and wasn't complaining about chest pains, then it would probably just pass.
So we've been sitting at home, in our hot house, watching cartoons and listening to the VERY GRUMPY babies complain.
I offered him a choice of fruit or change. He chose fruit. He vows not to eat any more change.