Clumsy or Blind?

We're not quite sure but at this point, I'm looking for any reason to explain why d2 had his 3rd trip to the ER, on the SAME EYE. What can I say? Seems the kid leads with that side of his face. It's a good thing the last 2 incidents have had witnesses present or I'm certain we might not have left the hospital without a 'visit' from Social Services....the poor boy is either clumsy or blind and we'll find out soon if it's the latter.

So the story goes like this (and honestly feels a bit like de ja vu)- D1 called me on my way home from work and said that d2 had fallen on the stairs and he thought he would need stitches. I told him to meet me at the ER and I turned back around and headed back to the hospital. I first called the aunt & uncle who have helped on the other 2 occasions and they met us at the hospital and took d1 and d3 so that we could focus on the wounded soldier. My next call was to my co-worker, who is an M.D. and has ties with a plastic surgeon in our hospital. Typically, this wouldn't be the case to have a plastics doc sew up a simple laceration but in our case, it was the THIRD TIME and we were already concerned with how the other two scars were healing so it was warranted. Thankfully, he was willing to come in and handle it himself, even though he was not on call. And talk about feeling important - the surgeon was waiting on us when we got there.

They initially numbed d2 with a topical cream and were hoping to just sew him up while he layed there and watched. Yeah, that wasn't gonna happen. He remembered what this process entailed and the last 2 times, it involved a large needle. So, all we could do was mildly sedate him so that the doc could do a perfect job. That was FREAKY! They hooked him up with the monitors and gave him a shot in the hiney that literally knocked him out within 2 minutes. I was holding him when they gave him the shot and shortly after, he started to slowly lay back onto the bed. Eyes started glazing over and he was out. As a parent, that was probably one of the hardest things to watch.

It took no time at all and then we just had to wait for him to come out of it. Eventually he responded and was talking (albeit very slurred) about what kind of ice cream he was going to have. We had to wait in the ER while he fully came to and could walk and show the docs that he was progressing nicely.

Instructions were that he not eat heavily but could have an ice cream sundae. Soooo, after 3 1/2 hours in the ER, I took d2 to McD's at 9:00 PM and gave him the choice of hot fudge or a blueberry/strawberry sundae (a.k.a. Fruit-n-Yogurt Parfait). My health dude picked the parfait!! Maybe it was a bit of a trick on my part, maybe I might have talked the parfait up a bit but nonetheless, he loved it and thought it was a sundae. Who am I to argue with the precious patient? And I might have tossed some french fries back to him on the drive home....

While we had the plastic surgeon's time (and to save a consult co-pay), we asked about the other scars and what would be the very best way to heal them and he only suggested sunscreen on the scar. He said that no creams/lotions have been proven to help and that time will heal as children produce excess amounts of collagen and that his scars will look better as he gets older. We always use sunscreen on the boys but we're going to take it a step further. D1 is taking the older boys to Lids for Kids today to get d2 his very own baseball hat, personalized, in hopes that everytime he goes outside, we don't have to battle him to wear the hat. When asked what color hat he would like to have, d2 thought for a minute and answered 'WHITE.' Great...white hat on a boy? That will be brown in no time. I asked D1 to use my persuasion tactics (see above at McD's) and see if maybe d2 might like another color better....maybe blue or red?

All in all, the night went better than expected, considering our good fortune of connections and getting 'royal' treatment in the ER. That's almost an oxymoron, isn't it? I mean, c'mon. I feel dirty just stepping foot in the ER, like I want to sanitize head to toe when I leave. Oh well. Here's praying that the next set of stitches is in a less obvious place....

Starting 'Em Young

Since D1 has been playing Mr. Mom this summer and staying home with d1 and d2, he has been trying to keep it exciting for all of them (including himself) and has, twice now, taken them to the local country club for a round of golf. Golf is not a foreign concept to these boys. They play alongside their daddy most nights in the backyard and are getting pretty good. d1 got his very own set for his 5th birthday and has definitely put them to good use already. d2 has been using d1's old clubs that he had outgrown from Papa Murphy and has really done well. Especially given the fact that, in most things, d2 seems to favor using his left hand and he's using a right-handed club. We're in the market for a left-handed little-boy club for him but, for now, it's doing the trick. Last night when he was playing, he hit the ball really well and turned to me and said, 'Mommy, I'm a little Tiger Woods!' I was so proud of him, the way he just lit up with excitement. And hey, I could get used to the idea of having a son become the world's best golfer! Momma likes nice things....

Notice the club....

Where d2 doesn't care what club he uses, d1 seems to enjoy using his driver the most and he can get some power behind his swing and has, on occasion, hit his ball into the wooded area behind our house.

When he hits it really hard, he'll say, 'Best one ever!' and will give us a big fist pump.

And this is probably their favorite part of the outing....and I'm a little nervous seeing that the key is in the ignition and not in D1's pocket. Those boys are sneaky and like to hold the key and d1 has no reservations about going for a spin when Daddy turns his back.

Myrtle Beach 2009

We recently returned from a week at Myrtle Beach and I'm just getting around to writing about it. It was definitely an experience with 3 young children in tow - D1 and I were both ready for a real 'vacation' when we got back. Since when did time away from home in a beautiful place become more stressful than being at home in the everyday grind?




We really didn't plan this trip very far in advance so the fact that we got a nice condo at a low price a month before we went was amazing in itself. It was about 5 miles from the beach but turns out the boys really don't care much about the beach and the ocean just yet. And it didn't help that when we went, it was extremely hot and humid so I didn't really blame them for not being fans of heat exhaustion - I mean, there was NO breeze. Fortunately, I was able to take some pictures of them during our first few visits, when they did enjoy it. D1's aunt and uncle were down on the beach at Pirateland so we visited them quite a bit and spent some time in the lazy river and the pool, which was much more appealing to the boys than the ocean. Once d1's toes got nipped by a crab, he was D-O-N-E. It was just hard to spend time together outdoors because it was too hot for d3 to be outdoors for a long period so D1 and I were always tag-teaming with him.




I love this picture below because they are actually working AS A TEAM to dig sand and toss it back into the ocean rather than beating each other in the head with the shovels....yes, it really happens and lately has been happening more frequently. I dread their fighting as they get older - I've heard BAD stories of when D1 and his brother were younger and I would have had a coronary if I were D1's mother during those spats.

This is a funny picture but, believe it or not, D1 volunteered to be buried. And this was Father's Day - what a champ! We later discovered that d2's flip-flop was lost at sea and we believe it probably got re-buried in this hole after D1 emerged. Oh well!

At some point in the week, we decided to take a break from the heat and head to Ripley's Aqarium. This was a total waste of $$. At least for our family at this age. We spent approx. $50 and were in there about 30-40 minutes. It was disappointing, although the boys did get to pet the sting rays. And get this - you have to exit the aquarium thru the GIFT SHOP. Great marketing plan but what a crock....fortunately, we made it out of there only spending $2 on some little toys that are already lost somewhere in our van or house. Such is life....





Here is where we truly got our money's worth - Family Kingdom Park. We should have just went here everyday. The boys LOVED it here. We got the wristbands and they rode for about 4 hours (with a quick break for dinner at Friendly's - yum!). This park is truly made for the little crowd and they had a blast.

d2 was so patient, sitting with his hands in his lap while d1 drove him around. Definitely a key difference in their personalities - d1 would have never allowed that.....

While at the beach, we celebrated d2's 3rd birthday. He has just grown up so much this past year and yet he still wants me to hold him and cuddle him every now and then, which I absolutely LOVE. I love the feel of his skin and the way his little body just clings to me when I carry him (when he's feeling the need to be 'the baby' for a minute)...just hard to believe he's turning into a little man. Happy Birthday buddy!! We love you!!

Happy Happy Birthday

d1 turned 5 years old last week and it just seems so surreal that 5 years have passed since he entered our lives. It has gone by so quickly and that scares me at how fast the next 5,10 and 15 years will go. Now I think I can fully appreciate the song ‘Don’t Blink’ (thanks Kenny!)

To my firstborn - You came into this world on June 8, 2004 and captured my heart from the moment I first held you in my arms. You are such an amazing boy with a thirst for knowledge and a love for sports. You have big, beautiful, blue eyes and a smile that melts my heart. You light up at the idea of dessert and there isn’t anything in the world you would rather do more than to have ‘monster time’ with your daddy. It’s still hard for me to accept that you are going to begin kindergarten this fall but I am so excited for you. You are such a smart little guy and I know you will continue to amaze me with the things you learn every day as you begin this next phase in your life.

My constant prayer for you is that you will grow strong in the Lord and follow His examples in life. One day, when you are grown and gone away, I pray that we will have raised a well-rounded, confident, respectable young man who knows just how much we love him. We are truly blessed to have you in our lives and we will never take that for granted!

Children are a gift from the Lord; a child is a reward from Him. (Psalm 127:3)

Some Highlights

First let me begin with this - right now, D1 and d1 are boarding a plane bound for St. Louis. d1 is ringbearer (his 2nd gig - he's got this role down) in D1's cousin's wedding this weekend. I'm holding down the fort back home with d2 and d3 - I just couldn't see anything but stress and chaos if we all had traveled back. Anyway, I'm a tad nervous since this is d1's first flight (that he remembers - we flew with him at age 1). He is so excited and hasn't stopped talking, literally, since he's known about it a couple of days ago. I know they will be just fine but I, by nature, am a worrier and can't help but think about Air France right now. I will just be glad to hear that they have landed!!

On to happier topics -

*When picking d2 up from school earlier this week, he came running in from outside with a big smile on his face, yelling 'Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!' When he got to me, he leaped into my arms, put his hands around my neck, planted a juicy one on my lips and said, 'I sure missed you today' in his cute munchkin voice. So melts my heart.

*For the past two nights, d3 has SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!! Here's hoping we're on to something semi-permanent. I am loving the uninterrupted sleep.

*d1 turns 5 on Monday. He is growing up so fast, as they all are, and everyday he says or does something to amaze me (and, at times, infuriate) but I am just so thankful that he is a healthy, happy little boy who has a thirst for knowledge (I know by all the questions he asks). I know it's cliche but it really does feel like just yesterday, he was learning to walk or shooting his first basketball into his Little Tykes goal. Now he's riding his bike (without training wheels) up and down the subdivision and showing his little brother how to hit a golf ball and catch a football.

*We leave for the beach in 2 weeks!! I can't wait!! I desperately need a vacation!!!

Crazy Week!!!!

So this past week - WHEW is all I can say!! (I started this post last week, just now finding time to finish)

*Monday - my first day back to work, D1 leaves without d1 and d2's car seats. Had to pull out very old car seats and 'squeeze' them in, quite comical. Helped take my mind off leaving d3 for the first time with our sitter.

*Wednesday - d3 wakes with a slight fever at midnight, on-call nurse says take him to ER. End result - virus, maybe? They really didn't know.....fever never returned. But 3 hours later and who knows how much $$$, we were back home....

*Thursday night - HAPPY TIMES! Kenny Chesney at the Bi-Lo Center and we had awesome seats! He always puts on such a great show! Thanks to SS for watching d3, older boys were with other sitter.

*Friday - one of my bff's from home and her husband arrive for the weekend. We had a good visit. Unfortunately, d2 took yet another tumble and roughed up his 'bad eye' at Frankie's Fun Park on the giant slide. Another shiner!! Not sure what to do about this child and his injuries. I fear what lies ahead if he's not even 3 yet.

Here are some more recent pictures of d3 and then of all 3 of my lil' guys...

So content in his tub, underneath his fish towel

Sleeping soundly

On our way to church - check out roly poly in the middle!

Another Accurate Cartoon of Our Life

The cartoon says it all! It's been awhile but I'm back to the blogging world (now that I'm back to work with high-speed). Life has been pretty hectic for our family but we're starting to get everyone on schedule, including d3. He will be 6 weeks old tomorrow and it's just flown right by. I'm trying to cherish everything with him and soak it all in. He's a very good baby and is starting to sleep longer stretches at night, which makes Mommy and Daddy happy! Big brothers are adjusting to the latest addition and love to love him - almost to the point of suffocating him but it's all good. I will post more pics soon!!