After all the craziness of last week, here's a quick update on Caleb's arm. We went to the pediatrician last week and came away with a sling and a diagnosis of a "dislocated elbow that won't pop back into place". About an hour after I left the office, the doctor called, telling me that the official report came back from the radiologist where they saw some fluid in his elbow. He recommended that I make an appointment to see an orthopedic to have it further diagnosed. We went the next day and came out of the office in a bright red shiny cast. The doctor saw the fluid, but didn't see a fracture, but thought it would be a good idea to play the cautious card for a week. We went back in a week later, they cut off the cast, did some more x-ray's, and we left the office in another cast, this time blue. She couldn't see a fracture (her best guess is that it's in one of the growth plates in his elbow, but it's so small we can't see it on the x-ray), but Caleb still wouldn't move his arm once the first cast was off and it was hurting when she did her exam. He's now in the blue cast for two weeks then we'll go back and repeat what we've already done. He thinks it's pretty cool and especially loves the lightning bolts that his Dad drew for him. Hopefully it will heal completely so we'll be able to move on from this and enjoy our summer! Thanks for all the concern on his behalf!
Today is our 12th Anniversary. It's crazy to think about. A whole lot has happened to us over the last 12 years. I couldn't imagine doing any of it without him. I got lucky. Real lucky. We've created a pretty good life together. Definitely crazy at times, but totally worth every minute of it. I love you, Wally. Happy Anniversary!
You'd never know it with his cute little smile up there, but this poor little guy ended up in the doctor's office today with a diagnosis of a dislocated elbow. Sunday night was a beautiful night with perfect weather. We decided to take advantage of it and head outside and enjoy it. Caleb learned how to ride a two-wheeler last fall while we were still living in Illinois. Once we got his bike out again after we moved, he learned all too quickly about hills and wheels. Just as quickly, he decided he didn't like riding his bike anymore. In an effort to help him not be afraid, we decided to put the training wheels back on his bike. He was doing pretty well until he got going too fast and lost control and ended up on the pavement.
The doctor tried to pop it back in today, without much success, but with more than just a few tears. We had a few x-rays done which concluded that there was no fracture. We left the office in a sling and with a charge to watch it and call in a couple of days if it doesn't get any better. About an hour later, I got a phone call from the doctor telling me that the official report came back from the radiologist and there is some fluid around his elbow that they are worried about. Tomorrow we head to the orthopedic office to find out what exactly is going on. Until then, we've got a little boy who thinks his sling is magical and is making his arm feel all better.
p.s. This kid has the craziest cowlik right in the front of his forehead. I can't figure out how to cut it without it looking like he cut it himself. Our most recent remedy is to comb it back and give him "spikes". He thinks it is so cool. Any tips on how to cut it would be very helpful at this point!
It's so hard for me to believe that a whole year has come and gone since you became a part of our family. We were all so anxious for you to arrive, and I remember each morning as we got closer to the due date, I'd hear, "Aww, man! You're still here?". The day your sister and brothers woke up and I really wasn't there is one to remember!
This past year has brought it's ups and downs and after a gentle reminder that we needed to prepare for you to come, we became more focused and ready for your arrival. We have loved you from the moment you took your first breath and you have fit right in with the rhythm of our family. You have been such a sweet little baby and pretty easy going (unless you're hungry or tired). Your babbling makes us all smile as we try to figure out what you're talking about. You look just like your brothers and sister did when they were your age. We love your smile and are so happy that it comes so easily! You set out to prove to Dad and I that just because you're #4, we still don't have everything figured out.
We love you, Isaac, and are so happy to have you in our family. We are so happy to see you getting bigger and stronger and only wish we could slow time down just a little (we do like to sleep, you know). Happy, happy birthday!
We're right in the thick of spring sports season for our family. We've got three of the four kids in sports and are having a great time. I love to watch my kids playing sports and having so much fun. I love to see their faces light up when their team scores a point or they get a chance to make a play. I love cheering on the sidelines as loud as I can and stealing a quick wink and a wave when they look over for encouragement. I love how excited Brandon and Caleb were when they got their uniforms and wanted to sleep in them every night for a week and how even Kelsie was just as (secretly) excited about her own uniform. Most of all, I love spending this time together as a family, cheering each other on and watching our children grow.
This is Caleb's first time playing any kind of an organized sport. He was a pretty nervous at first, but once he got on the field and was given his uniform, it all changed. He can't wait for his Friday practice each week, followed by games on Saturday. He counts each and every goal during the game and makes sure that we all know the "score". He devours the half-time snack of oranges each week and is usually pretty happy about running back out onto the field. Right now for him, it's all about F-U-N. He can be pretty cautious about getting in on the action, but every once in a while surprises us all with a good kick.
Brandon's a natural on the soccer field. He has a tendency to hang back on the field and play the defensive role. He also has some pretty fancy footwork as he dribbles the ball down the field, as he puts it "I'm pretty much the best dribbler on my team". Humble, I know. He has yet to score a goal, but definitely not for lack of trying. He is totally in his element out there and is having such a great time playing. Being one of the smallest kids on the team doesn't stop him at all. He's pretty quick and has no trouble keeping up with the bigger kids. They put him in as goalie one game and I think he forgot what he was doing and ended up all over the field and the other team scored two goals on him. They've kept him out on the field ever since.
Kelsie is trying out volleyball this time around and it seems to be a pretty good fit for her. She also seems to be a natural at the sport and is on a great team of girls. It has been such a positive experience for her and she has gotten a lot more confident since starting. She only complained of her arms hurting after the first practice and now gets excited each week. She's a fast learner and has picked up on all the different techniques pretty quickly. She even made some friends with some older girls whose younger brother plays on Caleb's soccer team that play volleyball. They've been teaching her and practicing with her during soccer practice. I love to see her excited about each game and having so much fun!
Our lives have definitely gotten super busy around here with all these practices and games to get to. Isaac is loving all the attention he gets at all the different games, which makes up for all the interrupted nap times and eating schedules that he's had to adjust to. Having these kids is so much fun!
Running off the field after practice
Exhausted after his first game and waiting for Caleb's game to start
Her coach watches as she serves during a game
Caleb (and Brandon) listening to his pump-up song before the game
I can't remember the last time that we had near summer-like weather in March and April. As much as I feel for all my friends in colder climates (Chicago) I'm totally loving this weather! The wind is really the biggest nuisance around here, and we were plenty warned. I love putting on my t-shirts and flip flops everyday now. My kids are diggin' the nicer weather too. Brandon is pretty much all over the pants and is only in shorts these days.
I went out to take some pictures around our house and in the neighborhood of our "blooming" spring which has mostly already bloomed. Being in a new place, there's a lot of things that I don't recognize. I am really curious to see what they are going to turn into. I have to admit, I do miss the foliage I was able to photograph last year. All except the picture of me. I don't miss that at all!
I'm really not sure what this is going to turn into, but I've never seen it before. It's growing on a tree in our backyard.
We had spring break a few weeks ago and finally got around to posting some (a lot!) of pictures. We were able to go up to Denver to spend some time with family for the last half of our break, something we haven't been able to do for a really long time. I guess that's another advantage to living closer to family now! We had a lot of fun and Grandma and Grandpa and all our cousins made sure we had a great time! We were able to go to the Butterfly Pavillion with Grandma one morning. I was really impressed with Kelsie, Caleb, and Ryan who each took their turn holding Rosie, the tarantula. Brandon really didn't want to do it but was so excited about all the butterflies! It's always so fun to see them in their "natural" habitat and to see so many flying around. They also had a great time running through the maze and trying out the zip line! That night we spent time at the rec center swimming and sliding down the water slides. That is until the pool was closed because some other kid had a diaper explosion, and not just the wet kind.
Clockwise from top: Caleb holding Rosie; Brandon lovin' the butterflies; Kelsie smiling at the camera; Ryan holding Rosie; Mom and Isaac; Kelsie holding Rosie; Butterfly; Look, butterflies!
Clockwise from Top: Isaac chillin in the stroller; Ryan sitting on the big caterpillar, All of us standing under the giant praying mantis; 3 kiddos posing on the caterpillar; Ryan having fun swimming; The three girls smiling; Brandon and Ryan hanging out in the spider's web, Trevor and Caleb.
The next day we went to the Natural Museum of Nature and Science to see the Pirate Exhibit. It was pretty cool to walk through the ship and see how pirates lived back in the day. We also saw treasure (and lots of it!) and get sweet pirate hats at the end. We also spent some time looking around the museum and had the most fun in the Health and Wellness area. We were also able to take a tour of the capital building downtown and even got the VIP treatment from an old high school friend of Wally's sister. The best part was going all the way up to the Rotunda and getting a birds eye view of the city.
Out on the balcony of the Capital Building in Denver. We had to climb out a window to get there!
We were also able to celebrate Grandpa's birthday while we were there and had a great time hanging out with as many cousins, aunts, and uncles as we could! We ate homemade pizza cooked in Uncle Rob's super cool brick oven. It's now on the list of things to have when we finally buy a house and have a yard to build one in! As, you may have noticed, those girls were glued together at the hip the entire time we were there. It got even better with their older cousin, Aubrey joined the ranks. She's so awesome and the girls had so much fun hanging out with their cool cousin! She even watched the BYU basketball game with Brandon, and he had fun playing with her ipod later in the evening.
These girls had a great time together!
What's a party without cake, a trampoline, and a little basketball?
Grandma taught Kelsie and the other girls how to sew the simple skirt they are wearing in the photo below. She took them to the fabric store to pick out the fabric and then spent one night sewing together. They all did an amazing job and Kelsie is very proud of her work. We're so happy that Grandma has the patience she has to be able to conquer such a feat!
All in all it was a great spring break and we were completely worn out by the time we got home Sunday night. It's great to be so much closer to family to be able to make quick trips up north to see them now!
