ouch

Lucas broke his arm on Wednesday.

He was skateboarding and fell while grinding on a rail.
He was skiing, at Snowflex, and landed wrong.
He lost footing and fell out of a tree.
He fell off of the shed roof.
He crashed his bike coming down the big hill on our street.
Nope.  Those would have been too predictable.

He fell off of the monkey bars at school.

For those of you who like details.... (but basically for my own journaling purposes):
School called around 1:30pm
I arrived at school around 1:40pm
ambulance arrived and put Lucas' greatly disfigured arm in a splint and informed me that I could go to an 'urgent care' center to avoid some time at the ER.  (supposedly, they do x-rays and then send people to ortho)
hah.
The 'urgent care' people quickly dismissed us as the nurse whispered to me that 'he's going to need surgery'.
Arrived at the ER at 3pm.
Asked for pain medicine and was assured that they would administer it as soon as we were called back.
My Dad came to sit with us.
Finally called back at 6pm.
Pain medicine delayed because 'we should get to x-ray right away'.
Lucas indeed broke his arm. Both the radius and the ulna bones.
X-ray technician says "I'm not a doctor, but this looks like he may need surgery".
Ortho doctor called in.
Pain medicine delayed because they needed to put in the IV.
IV put in.  (and not very effectively, I might add)
Lucas was moved to another room (a 'major bay') and they prepped him for "conscious sedation" (meds that would make him sleepy and unaware)
Nurse had mixed pain medicine but never used it because they were getting ready to do the sedation.
The doc arrived.  He and the tech played 'tug of war' on his arm by pushing and pulling the bones back in to place.  Eww.
They took an x-ray and then had to pull some more.
When the doc felt pleased with the placement, they put on a splint.
Lucas had to wait an hour for the meds to wear off before he could be released.

After picking up pain medicine from the pharmacy, (finally some relief!), we got home from the ER at 11pm.

We missed the 4th grade field trip to Jamestown.  AND we missed a day at Kings Dominion with friends.   Huge bummer for Lucas. (and me!)

He goes back to Orthopaedic doc on wednesday for x-rays.  Hopefully everything will still be in the correct position.
Lord willing, and if the creek don't rise.... he'll be healed and ready for the Snowflex camp in june.

He has been such a trooper through all of this.   That first day was a l o n g day and he was so patient and brave.  I know that he was in so much pain.... but he really powered through it.
The rest of the week, he has been watching entirely too much tv and playing entirely too many computer games.

Back to school and work tomorrow....

don't judge

That's right folks.  Don't judge me by the length of my kids' hair.

It's taken me a long time to accept it.  But my kids are growing their hair out.  And I have to be okay with that.
In fact, up until late this week.... I think it has bugged me.  I think I automatically assumed that other people would think my kids are scraggly monsters.   And then, in turn, judge my parenting. 

Ah, yes, the mother of those shaggy boys.

For months, I have found myself acknowledging their long hair to other people.  (especially to the 'clean cut' crowd)
I'm sure if you have encountered me in the last few months, you have heard these words:
"Yes, I know their hair is getting so shaggy."
"It's just not a battle I'm willing to fight."
And
"I'm really hoping that once summer comes, it'll be so hot... they'll want to get it cut."
I have said those sentences over and over and over.   (all true, by the way)

But why announce these things?

I was basically trying to convince myself that my boys are not heathens.

In fact, they are not heathens.   They are wonderful, creative, cool kids.
I know plenty of long haired people that are not heathens.   (so I'm not even sure why I have created this stereotype in my head. )

It's just that I prefer boys with short hair... and it has taken me a long time to accept that my kids might not fit into the box that I'd like to keep them in.
When they were younger... it was easy to make them conform to my preferences.    I dressed them the way that I liked and I had the barber cut their hair really nice.
Then.... my kids learned to talk.  And they had opinions.
And it was downhill from there.

Hair is totally not a big deal.  I've always said that I wouldn't stress about my kids hair.  I'm sure that they will have a million hairstyles over their lifetime.
And if 9 and 11 year olds wanna trip over their hair at the skate park, so be it.

Just remember that under those lovely locks.... there are two amazing kids who are becoming quite interesting young men. 

13th anniversary

Today would be our 13th wedding anniversary.
My friend, Jamie, sent a text to acknowledge the day.  And my mom sent a lovely email as well.   I was thankful and delighted that someone, other than me, remembers such occasions.
Anniversaries are hard enough to remember.... and I really don't expect an anniversary, that isn't an anniversary anymore, to be on the top of anyone's calendars.
So thanks Jamie and Mom :-)

I mentioned the anniversary to my kids.   I predicted that if Thayer were alive, we would probably go out to dinner and a movie, or something equally amazing.   Lucas seemed grossed out at the possibility.  Funny how the little ones perceive 'dates'.   

Luckily, I didn't have time to wallow in what isn't.  
We were in Richmond visiting our marvelous friends and the day was full of activity.  well....sitting, reading and eating.... if that is considered "activity" ;p

We decided to drive home after dinner tonight.  
I'm pretty convinced that my GPS is hormonal and tends to make directions up as she goes.  (She being the British woman that tells me where to drive).
Tonight, she decided to take us on the back roads.  The kind of roads that Jamie and I refer to as the "sleepy hollow" roads.   I LOVE these kinda trips.   So instead of questioning the sanity of my GPS, I rolled with it.
We had a beautiful evening ride through the country.   My boys talked the entire ride.... which I was THRILLED about.  I have learned to turn the radio off.... and since I'm not singing.... they actually talk about stuff.  
We talked about Thayer.  We talked about what they did with their friends in  Richmond.  We talked about video games (yawn).  We talked about traveling and moving, and movies.  
And then Daniel and I spent alot of time listening to Lucas explain many of his 'inventions'.  That kid has a VERY vivid imagination.  
Great ending to our trip and our day.
And I couldn't think of a better way to spend my anniversary.
(well except of course if Thayer were actually here to celebrate....)

But otherwise... it was a great day :-)

those lil' addictions... (no. 1)

Ah.  Easter.  A day of Jesus.  A day of family.  A day of feast.

Today I was telling my bro-in-law that I was planning to blog about how I haven't had soda in over a month.  
I was telling him this as I was enjoying a Dr. Pepper.

Yes, folks, I have quit the sodas....but since Jesus conquered death for me... I decided to celebrate with a sugar fest and a soda.
that's logical, right?

But seriously, I quit drinking sodas the first weekend of March.   And my life has changed.
literally.
I haven't dropped the weight that most men seem to lose when they lay off of the drinks.  In fact, I think I've gained 5 pounds because the lack of sugary drinks has made me crave other sweets that I normally could have passed over. 
go figure.
(The issue of my weight is entirely another post that I'll save for another day.  Stay tuned...)

Anywho.  For today... How the lack of sodas has changed my life:

First of all, every six months to a year, I tend to think...... "yep, this is what it feels like to be normal.  I think I'm finally pulling myself together and regaining normalcy after Thayer's death".  
I probably started feeling 'normal' around the 2 year mark.... but then I was really feeling normal sometime after that.   And then months after that.... I was really, really feeling like I was getting there.  And on it goes.   Every once in a while, I think to myself that I have reached what life is 'supposed' to be like.   Somehow I taste just a bit of what day to day life was like before our family fell apart.

But this past month.... I really may have achieved some bit of sanity that I had before thayer's death.  And I think it came about by quitting sodas.
I was addicted.   Not even buying sodas for my home or drinking them by the case.  I was simply a social drinker.   Out with friends for lunch (which happens to be every day).... I would order a soda and get several refills.    The caffeine kept me going.
I have found out that this simple addiction to a daily dose of caffeine was contributing to my really late night hours at home.   And since I was up so late... I was lonely.   I was becoming addicted to needing people.   I was constantly surrounding myself with people and constantly keeping up with everyone else's business via email and facebook.
(And of course, I am super thankful for all of my friends who have kept me company over the past three years.  I wouldn't change a thing about all of that.)
But now... without that caffeine.... I go to bed!  EARLY.   I sleep a solid 8 hours each night and I feel like I'm finally catching up with what 'normal' people do.
(I still get sleepy during 'chapel time' at preschool.... but that's just gonna happen in said circumstance)

I'm feeling rested and my patience with my children is becoming phenomenal.    Far from perfect... but our house has been a very happy home for a few weeks in a row.  (which is rare).
 I like to think it is because I stopped drinking sodas!   And because Jesus is working in my heart :)

Currently, I am challenging myself to 'let go' of my computer.   I am limiting my computer usage to- checking email and facebook- once in the morning and once at night.
This has enabled me to actually spend time with my kids....

One thing at a time.   And so far, so good!