Urgent Care kinda Weekend

Right after we got home from Urgent Care

If you saw my pictures on Facebook, I'm sure you're well aware Sawyer and I spent a couple of hours in Urgent Care on Saturday.  If not, here's the story.

Saturday morning, Andrew and I are eating breakfast when we hear the screaming.  Andrew runs into the office, and I hear, "Oh no, oh no, oh no.  Didn't I tell you not to play with the boxes?!"

Here's what happened.  We had a few boxes of Ikea furniture in the front room which were unopened.  Both Andrew and I had specifically told the boys not to play in the office and with the boxes.  We were afraid something would get knocked over and someone would get hurt.  Shockingly enough, guess what happened.

A heavy box (20+lbs) fell on Sawyer's foot.  After icing it and calming him down, he was walking with a pretty significant limp.  He seemed alright, so we just kept an eye on it.

Fast forward to nap time.  Sawyer didn't sleep well even with the Tylenol we had given him.

I grab him out of his crib, and he's refusing to put any weight on his foot.  He has it tucked under him and there's visible bruising and swelling on the top of it.  I start icing it again.  Sawyer is crying and doesn't want anything touching or moving his foot.  Andrew and I decide the best course of action is Urgent Care.  I was afraid one of the metatarsals in his foot might have been fractured.

Sawyer and I spent two hours in Urgent Care.  X-rays were done, but no break was visible.  Because of his age, the Nurse Practitioner splinted his foot as a precaution.  I was happy another one of my children didn't break a bone.

On Sunday, Sawyer started putting more and more weight on his foot throughout the morning.  He was definitely a little trooper.  Andrew and I took the splint off mid day, and Sawyer was walking on it with just a little limp.  He was actively playing outside and with his brothers.  There was just a little bruising and no swelling.

As of today, Sawyer seems fine.  He still has a little, barely noticeable limp.  He's climbing, walking, playing, and running as usual.  He gave us a little scare, but  fortunately, his two older brothers didn't permanently damage him.

Although, I really could have gone without the trip to Urgent Care.  Better safe than sorry.

 

They're moving back!

It has been over 5 years since my parents moved up to Maryland.  Just a few short months before Jackson was born, they left.

Now, they are finally moving back to Texas.

I've known about this for awhile but didn't post anything.  One, it was a decision my parents had to make on their own.  Andrew and I have never pressured them into moving back.  Have we laid a hefty amount of guilt on them since they moved?  Why yes we did.  Have we said they are missing the primary, cuddly years of their only grandchildren by living so far away?  Yep, did that too.  But, I always knew it was personal decision they had to make for themselves.  Two, I didn't want to jinx anything.  Call me superstitious but hey, everyone's got something.  And finally, it was almost too good to be true.  I was a little afraid that by telling people something random would happen, than bam! They wouldn't come anymore.

I'm not going to lie and say it's been easy not having family in the area.  It's been hard, very hard.  I believe Andrew and I have an even stronger marriage and connection to our children because we haven't lived by any family.  We've just had us, and we are a damn good unit together.  On the other hand, knowing that help is only a phone call away instead of hundreds of miles is a such a welcome relief.  And honestly, you only get what I'm talking about if you've been through it.

As it is, my parents will be moving back to Texas.  They will be moving back into the area we live.  They will get to know their grandchildren and see them more than the occasional once or twice a year.  And I get to help pick out their house and make sure my mom doesn't have an apartment kitchen anymore!!  It's always more fun when you can spend other people's money.

And the most important thing, Andrew and I will have free babysitting occasionally!!  Best thing ever!

My Kid Eats Dog Food

And other crazy things.

Just the other day, I hear Andrew yell, "Grab him!" while trying to get Sawyer.  Of course, Sawyer is a quick little thing, darts around furniture and other small spaces.  He makes it quite difficult to grab him if he gets a head start.  You wouldn't think this 22 month old was fast, but he can put on some speed when determined to escape.

I'm sitting on the couch trying to keep Cassidy occupied when Mr. Speedster runs into the room.  I pop up, flip Cassidy to a football hold, and dart after Sawyer.  I'm able to nab him with my awesome agility skills (ok, I just lunged and jumped about 6ft).  Afterwards, I look at Andrew and ask, "Why am I grabbing him?"

To which Andrew answers, "He's eating dog food, again."

So yes, my son eats dog food which he grabs right after of the dog's bowl while she's eating.  And he still has all of his fingers (props to you Thibie!).  He proceeds to shove it in his mouth and take off running.  And it's not just one piece, we've pulled out 3-4 pieces at times.  Yes, he's done this more than once, more than twice, and probably too many times for me to be considered a good parent.

My point is my kids shove random crap in their mouths all the time, and they're not dead or sick.  I have a picture of Jackson eating dirt out of a potted plant when he was Sawyer's age.

And the kicker of all this, my kids do not get sick very often.  They get the occasional cold, stuffy nose, and a random virus that goes around, but in general are very healthy.

I contribute their healthiness to the fact I never once was a germaphobe.  I don't clean pacifiers if they fall onto the ground, I don't go crazy with bleach and cleaning all the time.  I don't even own hand sanitizer.  All we have is regular hand soap in the house.  That's it, and everyone is just fine.

I was at a kid's birthday party this weekend, and Cassidy's pacifier fell onto the floor.  I just picked it up, swiped it on my pants leg, and popped it back in her mouth.  One of the mom's looked at me like I was the devil incarnate.  How dare I not run to the bathroom and wash it off?!  She even offered to wash it for me (which was nice but unnecessary).  I told her no thank you, and she proceeded to tell me she could never do that because she's a germaphobe but her kids get sick all the time anyway.  I decided to not point out the very important fact in that statement.

My best advice to new moms and old moms, please let kids be kids.  They will put anything and everything in their mouth.  Dog food, dirt, toys, shoes, shoe soles, dirty laundry, shovels, balls, and other kid's fingers, just to name a few.  It won't kill them.  In all honestly, it will probably increase their immune system, but it isn't the end of the world.  All four of my kids are still alive, and I've made a germaphobe mom cringe and scathe me with a look the likes of hell fire.

So yes, I'm that non-hand sanitizer, non-bleach cleaning, dog food eating son mom.  But my kids have a very strong immune system!

Uninspired

I've been going through a phase where I feel almost uninspired.  It's not that I don't have things to write about but nothing of substance.  I could write about how crazy life has gotten since my oldest started kindergarten, my two middles are in preschool, two boys are in afterschool activities, and my oldest just started religion classes at church.  Yes, I could write about that, but I don't feel inspired to do so.

Every parent seems to be crazy busy when the school year is in gear.  We all have school schedules to keep up with, homework (yes, mine has homework), afterschool activities, and just life in general.  I have doctor's appointments for the little ones and myself.  I have the cleaning, laundry, dirty dishes, and endless amounts of household chores that never seem to get done or just go away.

I could write about how I was stopped by an older lady asking me if all four of my kids were mine.  I was surprised and a little taken back.  She was obviously in her 70s or older and larger families were around when she grew up.  I guess it was more her tone of actual curiosity that someone in this day and age would have four kids which caught me off guard.

Even with all these experiences, uninspired is the best way to describe myself.  I have been taking some great photographs of the kids lately, but as far as my writing goes, nothing is speaking to me.  I feel as though real life has gotten into the way of my creative and freestyle writing.

And that is just sad.

Sad because all my creative juices aren't flowing when I'm trying to run around and be a taxi driver.  Real life in all honesty kind of sucks.  My schedule has gotten into the way of my creative side, and I'm not all that happy about it.

It's truly the way I'm going to look at my un-inspirational life.  My creative side is being pushed aside and taken over by my real life.  And that's not right.  I should have my own time to be creative and inspired, but I honestly haven't.  I haven't had time to think because of my teething child needing to be held, someone needing help with homework, and me taking the time to play Legos with my kids instead of cleaning and writing.

In fact, I'm at the point where I need my creative side more than ever so I don't lose my mind to the mundane of school, taxi driver, crying, and fighting.  I need the outlet.

My goal is to take the time to become inspired again.  Take the time to write inspirational ideas down in my journal.  The writing is inside me wanting to come out; I just have to give it a chance and relook at the world around me.

Captured a minute before he fell asleep at the table.

Never Forget

It has been 13 years since the tragedy of 9/11/2001.  The largest terrorist attack on American soil.  We must never forget.

My kids were born after 9/11.  God willing, they will never experience the terror, horror, hopelessness, and depravity that existed that day for every American.  They will not know how America and the world stood still and was glued to the television watching the horrific events of seeing a plane crash into the World Trade Center, the aftermath of the Pentagon hit, the unknowing of Flight 93, and seeing the towers crash with our own eyes.  This, however, should not mean they will not know about it.

We need to begin an era where we tell our kids about 9/11 and educate them on why it is important never to forget.  Explain to them how heroic ordinary people can be by running into burning, unstable buildings to help others and putting other people's lives above their own.  We need them to understand how much this affected every single American even though they were not in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.  They need to learn bad things happen sometimes because there are bad people in this world.  Our kids need to understand that although this happen 13 years ago, it is still fresh in the hearts of every person who was alive to remember that day.

I believe we need to keep the discussion open about the events of 9/11.  I believe it needs to be taught in schools on how much our world changed after these horrific events.  Our children need to understand one day and one moment in time so monumentally changed the world.

Along with the horrors of that day, our children need to know of the good.  Our children need to know of the many men and women who survived and helped others.  Our children need to know that we became stronger and unified.  We banded together and supported one another.  People from all over the country stopped what they were doing to help those people for the weeks and months in the aftermath.  We did not let this stop us but used it to fuel the compassion and support of our country and its people.  We became stronger.

I remember my mother describing how precisely she remembered when the announce of President JFK's death was burned into her memory.  She was only a child at the time, but she could describe the scene perfectly like it was yesterday.  I never understood that concept until 9/11 happened.  Now, my own history is burned into my memory, and I will never forget.

And I ask you not to let your children forget because history never will.

9/11

Never Forget

Cassidy is 6 months!

My little girl is growing up at a remarkable pace.  She officially turned 6 months old on Monday.  She's already eating solids, sitting up on her own, and trying her best to crawl correctly.  She's pretty mobile on her own by doing a little bit of crawling along with rolling and scooting.  I was hoping to have a little longer before all four were mobile, but apparently, that was not in Cassidy's plan.  I think she is trying to survive having three older brothers who sit on her and cover her with pillows.

 

Call Me Coach

Jackson has started playing soccer this season.  He had is first practice this week and first game on Saturday.  Why don't I have any pictures?  Because I'm an assistant coach!  Who knew all those years of playing soccer would pay off and allow me to help coach my son's soccer team?!

It is a recreational league, but the kids are having fun!  It's three on three at game time.  Jackson even scored his first goal on Saturday!  My little man stole the ball from his opponent and took the breakaway down the field to score.  I was so proud of him, and he was crazy proud of himself.  He even thanked me for becoming one of his coaches.  I guess that makes me a 'cool mom' at the moment.  I'll take it for however long it lasts!

It was a busy Saturday to say the least with the game in the middle of the day.  Of course, I forgot to put on sunscreen.  Why I forgot there is no shade around soccer fields is beyond me.  In the end, my arms and legs were quite the reddish brown.  I had fun with the kids on his team, and the other coach and I get along well.

His season lasts through the beginning of November, so it will be fun to watch his progression.  I'm hoping it will cool off, but I do live in Texas.  I do get a kick out of all the other little kids calling me Coach Emily.  And I'm hoping to grab my camera for at least one game to snap some pictures.

California Dreamin'

Andrew and I made a quick trip to California for my brother's wedding over the Labor Day weekend.  We left Saturday morning and came back Monday early afternoon.  Really quick trip.  Definitely not long enough for two overworked parents.  Unfortunately, I took no pictures of humans other than a few side views of Andrew when he didn't know the camera was on him and a quick picture of my mom at the wedding.  Andrew and I both had a good time, but wish we were able to get away for longer.  It's not that we don't love our kids.  It's just we love them enough to know when we need time away from them for our sanity.

Since we were on Pacific time, we woke up at 5am on the one day we would have been able to sleep late.  Instead of griping about it, we made the most of it.  Our hotel was next to the San Pedros Marina and Port of Los Angeles.  We got dressed and walked the marina at sun rise, and I was able to capture some pretty sights.  Too bad it was cloudy, otherwise I would have had some amazing pictures.

Matt's wedding and reception was a blast.  We both had a lot of fun!  My legs were killing me the next day from dancing and jumping around in 4 inch heels.  The things I suffer through to look good!  I'm sure once I get a decent picture of Andrew and I at the wedding from the photographer I'll share.

First Day of Preschool

Cullen and Sawyer started Preschool today.  Yea!  It's Sawyer's first ever day of school.  He was so excited to wear his overloaded backpack.  He wouldn't even take it off when he kept getting dragged backwards by its weight.  I couldn't help but laugh watching him keep stepping slowly backwards while trying desperately to move in the opposite direction.  I finally took pity and grabbed the thing off him.

Sawyer did great at drop off.  He just walked right in and got busy playing.  I even hugged him goodbye.  He was like 'Whatever mom, I'm cool and at school now.'

Cullen was excited to see his friends again.  He's been missing Jackson lately.  He usually asks me once a day if it's time to pick up Jackson.  It's nice to see him excited to get back to a routine, and he is super excited about being the oldest brother at school now.

Cassidy and I are at home alone for some Mom and Daughter time.  It's eerily quiet in my house now, but it's nice to be able to go to the grocery store with just 1 child!