Thanks For The Prayers

Today I took Avery back to the doctor, thinking it was the day to get her cast off. It's been four weeks, and last time we were there, the doctor said things were healing quickly. The xrays showed everything lined up, but there were still fracture lines showing up, so he decided to leave the cast on a little longer.

He said what he normally would do is take off the cast completely, look at her arm, then decide from there, but he wanted to do what would be the least amount of stress for her. So, he said to leave it on for two more weeks instead of taking it off, then possibly having to put it back on, only to take it off again later. I know we all appreciated that. We did, however, get to take off the nasty ace bandages, and now we have PINK!

Avery did a great job. We went in, and she was nervous, but never screamed or cried like last time. I asked her if she could continue being brave and not cry for the rest of the time. She did fantastic during the x-rays and then when the doctor came in to talk. She helped him take the ace bandage off, then when they were taking the bottom bandage off, she helped the cast guy rip it off. Then she talked and watched while he wrapped pink.

When it was all said and done, she smiled and whispered, 'Momma, I didn't cry.'

Then we went to daddy's school to pick up Braden and show off her new cast! She's in love with it and says, 'Pink is my very favorite color!'

This picture isn't the greatest, but she's not in the mood to model today.

Comparison

The picture on the left is grainy because it's old. What do you think? Not exact, but pretty similar! That's me on the left and Braden on the right!

Can't Ask For More

Bits and Pieces

Avery went to the doctor on Tuesday. She had Xrays taken and was supposed to get a colorful cast. She did great during the Xrays, but was apprehensive about a new cast. The doctor said her old one was still in good condition, so he let her keep that one. He was also happy to relate that her bones were perfectly lined back up. He said he expected to see a bit of a curve this early in the game, but he was very pleased that everything was on the mend so quickly.

Is it weird that I'm sad that she's not going to have a color?

Braden took three steps on Monday! He hasn't done it since, but I'm not rushing him since he's my baby. He can take as long as he wants to walk.

He is also getting consistent with his "bye bye!" and waves. It's just too cute. When you try to get him to wave and say bye bye when you aren't leaving, he looks at you weird and boycotts. The second you walk out the door or walk away from someone, he busts out with his bye bye and wave.

Yesterday he discovered, "uh oh!" He dropped something, and I said it. He cut his eyes toward me with that silly grin and repeated, "uh oh!" Then it was a game from then on with him throwing anything he could get his hands on to tort, "uh oh!"

Volleyball has been going well. Our record is 2-2, but it feels like we've done better than that. Last night we played the best team in the city, and we almost won. We played very evenly, if not better, so I think we have a chance next week against them in our own gym. It's nice to finally be reaping some of the rewards of building a team from scratch. Hopefully they will only get better each year!

Kenny is doing well. He's been very busy, but still finds time to hang out with his kiddos. He even surprised me by showing up at my game yesterday! I guess I got lucky that it stormed so bad they had to have a short practice inside. For some reason, I feel more confident when he's there. Plus, I'm glad he witnessed that great game because I would not have been able to do it justice with words.

I'm also proud of Kenny because he chose to lead our small group that just started a few weeks back. This is his busiest time of year, and I am proud of his willingness to lead in more areas than one. Our study is the Homebuilder's Couple Series; Building Your Marriage. I feel like we've already started to grow closer, and it has come at a very good time since we see very little of each other right now.

Below you will also see pictures of my birthday celebration. Kenny had a JV game that night, so my good friend Dawn took the kids and me to Olive Garden. Afterwards, we came home to a yummy cake that she made especially for me! It was YUMMY! Avery enjoyed it too. We took the picture ourselves, so it's not the best picture, but I wanted to remember my happy day.

Sunny Days Again

What do you see?

A pile of toys?

Look again...

These are Avery's 'sunshines.'

I thought it was very creative of her.

Right after lunch, while running to the kitchen to drop off dirty dishes, I heard Avery's all too familiar scream. A painful one. I was terrified she had fallen on her arm or something.

The scene I found was Avery on top of Braden, with her arm in Braden's mouth.

"He BIT me momma!"

I couldn't help but laugh, then asked, "why are you on top of him?"

"I didn't want him to mess up my sunshines." (See above pictures.)

So she tackled him, then he got his revenge.

I asked her if it still hurt a few minutes later, and she emphatically said, "NO! Not anymore. I don't need to go to the doctor again!"

Poor baby.

Trail of Tears and Broken Arms

"Momma! I'm running track!" were the words coming from Avery's mouth as she raced around the living room yesterday.

"Avery; you are so fast!" I encouraged.

"Look at me; I'm jumping turtles (hurdles)!" she chanted as she hurdled various toys strewn from here to there.

(All the while, only donning a pair of panties, having already received the 5 minute warning until naptime.)

"I'll be your hurdle." I added as I lay down across the floor.

First try: success. Second time: tiny trip. Third time: success. Fourth time: mini trip: "I'm okay!" she torted each time she fell.

This routine has been played out countless times with no issues.

Until yesterday.

Fifth time: trip and "ahhhhhhh!!!!!"

I immediately knew it was broken by the way it looked. I won't go into detail for those who have weak stomachs. I will add that the skin was not broken.

"Momma, please, please put a bandaid on it!?" she pleaded.

I don't remember the countless things that flew through my brain in the few minutes that followed. Where was my phone? What was I going to do with Braden? How was I going to stabilize it? Where is my phone? Do I go to the ER or have our trainer call a doctor's office? Where is my phone!?

"Kenny, Avery broke her arm!" I screamed into the phone once it was found (plugged in, charging).

"Who? What happened?" was his reply.

"AVERY BROKE HER ARM!"

I was beginning to panic about the time Avery reached her first stage of shock.

"Momma, I'm cold."

Followed by:

"Momma, my stomach hurts really bad."

Followed by:

"Momma, I'm really sleepy."

Finally I quit running in circles long enough to get her arm semi-stabilized, figure out what I should take with me, get the neighbors to watch Braden, put Avery in the car, and head to the ER.

(Remember. Avery doesn't have any clothes on. Nice effect for the whole story.)

The conversation in the car consisted of, "Momma, I don't want to go to the doctor."

"Honey, they are going to make your arm better."

"I don't want to go to the hospital."

"Baby, we're going to meet daddy, and we'll get this taken care of."

"Momma, can you please stop driving and hold me? I'd like you to read a book."

Screeches ensued between phrases.

We got to the ER, and I grab her and run in as fast as I can. I saw Kenny drive up as I walk across the road. It's amazing how much more at ease I felt the second I saw him. Somehow I thought he would make it all better.

While walking into the ER, "Momma, I don't want to go inside."

"Honey, we have to go inside so you can get fixed."

"But there aren't going to be doctors in there right?"

Our trainer had called ahead, so we went right in.

The next hour included me holding Avery with my legs wrapped around her, Kenny holding her broken arm, and two nurses holding her other arm, trying to get an IV started. Three spots down, no IV in yet, one more try in the foot=success. All the while, Avery screams to the nurses, "NO Ma'am! I do not want you to do that! I. Want. To. Go. Home!"

Another nurse comes in for x-rays. That was fun. Avery is still in my lap, and it's always scary to hear, "any chance of pregnancy?" How strong is that X-Ray machine? Please only take one picture!

Finally, the medicine kicks in. Avery decides it is okay if I move and let her lay down by herself. Soon we have a dozing baby.

Tears flowed the entire time for Avery. They tried to come out of my eyes too, but Kenny reminded me, "not until it's over!"

Then we're told the orthopedic surgeon will be in to tell us about her operation. Operation! What?!

More medicine. Plus Anesthesia. My baby is being wheeled down a hallway on a large bed in the opposite direction of me.

While we waited, one of my Bunko friends calls me to tell me she will be Avery's recovery nurse.

God puts people where they need to be at just the right time. At least Emily will be there when Avery wakes up.

Less than an hour later, we are back with my sweet angel, who isn't really acting like an angel, but who would be?

Momma is in doting mode because I feel responsible. Daddy is in Coach mode.

"I want to go home, momma!"

They bring us a sling that is small enough for her, and we are out the door!

Daddy fills the prescription (which she hates, by the way), and brings home some dinner. I came home to make sure Dawn and Chris are okay with Braden. (They came and got Braden from our neighbors at some point during the evening.)

We were emotionally drained. But to find a bit of humor, Kenny had planned a surprise party for me that evening, but had to cancel it in the midst of it all!

She slept with me in our room last night, and woke up every hour. From 4:15 to 5:45, she moaned and groaned and never slept. I tricked her and put her medicine in something else and headed off to volleyball practice. Kenny took my place in the bed, and she slept until 7:00.

We go back next week to get it re-xrayed and hard cast put on.

Another great adventure to look forward to!


Avery: right when we got home.

After a fun present from Dawn and Chris.

Beginning to feel like a princess.

Maybe, more like a Queen!

Then she felt great and helped me open some presents!