Uh oh

Yes, a big uh oh at that.  The Monday after Mother's Day weekend I was on my way to pick up Catherine Ellis from school and got a phone call "Ms. Cain Catherine Ellis has fallen on the playground" - if you know our accident prone daughter, this is no surprise to any of us.  "Oh okay, no problem, I'm turning into the parking lot, I'm sure she's fine!" "Ms. Cain, we don't think she's okay this time, we think she may have broken her arm."  Lovely.

And she did - she broke her elbow, had to spend the night at Children's and have surgery to have two pins inserted.  She has a full arm, hot pink cast to show for her good jump on the playground.  She didn't fall far - in fact when I finally saw what she fell from I was shocked - how could she have done so much damage in just a few inches? - guess it's all in how we fall.  And she fell good - good in a bad way.  But, she's all better now and almost back to her little self.  Only a few more days with the cast and she'll still have the entire summer to swim and have fun!

This is how we started Monday, May 14th - big stretch and excited about another fun week!

On our way to the hospital ... I only bucked one buckle because the pressure was hurting her arm

 

A bit calmer in the emergency room - the first 45 minutes wasn't pretty - had to show Daddy that we were calming down

After 4 hours in the emergency room CE was delirious - everything was funny - and for that I am forever grateful ... here she is in her pre-op splint

We finally got to our room about 9:00 p.m. - Miss Amanda saved the day and night by bringing us ChickFilA - which I had been promising for hours thinking we were going home - and clothes for everyone - thank you Miss Amanda!

Sweet girl and her Susie - she didn't fall asleep until 3:00 a.m. - there was a lot to take in and think over ...

This is right after surgery and recovery - she was super sleepy, super ill and didn't want a person in the world to think about touching her unless their name was Mama

My Carolyn came to visit - the only other person the day of surgery that CE would let have much to do with her.  Sweet Coco brought the entertainment!  Thank you Coco and my Carolyn for visiting us!

Her don't mess with me face - lots of sweet nurses got this look when they came in to take her vitals.  She was officially done after surgery.

My girl's first smile of the day - the ride home!  She had a sweet friend waiting to see her - he rode a big airplane all the way from Virginia!

Hill and CE - she was SO very excited to see Hill.  It made her day (see that big ole smile!).  Hill knows the way to a girl's heart - food - and came with yummy cupcakes in hand for all (it was Caroline's first birthday!).  Thank you for visiting us Hill!

And by the end of the week my girl was all smiles - she had a few days on the couch with really long naps, but once she felt better it was on - we hit the town for lunch one day to celebrate!

Thank you all for the prayers, cards, food, check-in's, emails, phone calls, visits and for being fabulous friends and family.  We're super duper blessed.  Funny how a little trip to Children's Hospital will put your life in perspective.  That was our first trip in 3 years of having children - sure it won't be our last - but we saw lots and lots of sweet children that had many many visits under their belt.  Sure makes us thankful for the healthy, bigger than life children that we have!  We'll keep y'all updated on how her Monday doctor's appointment goes - fingers crossed for cast off and pins out!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine." 

Proverbs 17:22

11 months

Sweet Caroline is 11 months old (and 4 weeks)!  The first year of her life has been quite the ride.  What a blessing and joy she continues to be to our family.  Her personality has truly come alive and we are watching her become a toddler right before our very eyes.  It's amazing how much she has grown and changed since May 15, 2011. 

11 months old

What is our precious, gregarious and into-everything 11 month old up to these days:

• You are cruising!!  You can walk from thing to thing without missing a beat -sometimes its the furniture that guides you, sometimes the wall or even Mommy or Daddy!  Nothing slows you down or gets in your way!  You are fast!

 

• You are no longer army crawling -  you've got the true-on-your-knees crawl going on.  Part of the "fast" in your get-along.

 

• You love to eat - I think, although it's hard to believe, that you  might like to eat more than Catherine Ellis did at this age!  You love fruit, cheese, chicken, pancakes, pizza and especially puffs.  Your other favorite these days are graham crackers and veggie chicken nuggets.  You try everything at school and often are the only member of the clean plate club in your class.  You are showing those boys up!

• You are napping decently again at school - often times two 45 minute naps and every once in a while an hour nap or two hour nap.  You still nap two times a day (or should) and on the weekends you cat nap - you don't want to miss a thing!  You are sleeping through the night and I'm certain now that I have announced it to the world - you will keep me on my toes, maybe not:)  

 

• You now have 6 teeth!  You have your two bottom teeth, two front teeth and are now in the process of cutting the teeth on either side of your two front teeth.  It's really bugging you, but we keep telling you you've got a long way to go!  Your little smile with your tiny teeth is so cute!

 

• You can say: mama, ma, dada, hey, bye-bye - the rest of what you say is gibberish, but pretty hysterical because you seem to have figured out just where emphasis in your babbling needs to be in order to make a point.

 

• You can stand alone - not for every long, but nonetheless, you're standing.
• You throw that beautiful head back when you think something is really funny.

• You think Catherine Ellis is hysterical - even when she doesn't mean to be - like when she falls down, that really gets you going.
• You love peek-a-boo - it's a sure-fire way to make you laugh.
• You are recognizing Cain and Emma more and more - Cain likes you - Emma, bless her heart, is just beside herself that you can now get around and catch her when she tries to run from you.
• You tickle your sides anytime you are thinking something over, planning your next move, or getting your clothes changed - it's precious (I'll try to capture on video!). 
• You still ADORE Mama - you prefer her over anyone - even Miss Kia, your beloved infant classroom teacher.  If you all know Kia, you know this is a huge feat.  And even though its hard sometimes to be the only one that will do for you - I treasure it.  Mama knows that in just a few months you'll grow more and more independent and I'll be an after-thought.  So thank you for letting Mama have a majority of your snuggles, cuddles and love.  I adore you for it!



And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.   

Luke 2:40