Our first ER visit

I knew it was a inevitable....after all. We have a boy...an Arbaugh boy....accidents are going to happen. We've managed to avoid any major accidents for the first 5.5 years of his life, I think we did pretty darned good!!

Yesterday, February 3, 2013, Blake and Cora were outside playing in the snow. Blake came in about 15 minutes later crying. They had been playing on the swing set and he "decided to try the monkey bars because I just want to be a big boy". He fell from the monkey bars on his hand/thumb, and he said his head came came down and hit is thumb. He had a mark on his forehead, but he said his thumb hurt real bad. We settled him down, he watched cartoons with me for about twenty minutes, then he went down for a 2.5 hour nap! When he got up, he asked if he could play my Nook, and I told him Sure. He came back a bit later and asked me to help him unplug the Nook. He said he couldn't get it because it hurt his thumb. So, I took a look at his thumb and it was very swollen!



I sent him to the other room to show his dad. His dad took a look and decided that he needed to go to the emergency room. So, with it being just two hours from kickoff for the Superbowl, I told Tom I would take him up to the ER. Blake was pretty nervous at first, but once we got there, he relaxed quite a bit.


Just chillin'...waiting for the doctor and nurse.


"What's this thing mom?"


Checking to see how big his muscles are ;-)


Still cheery!  Waiting for the doc again.



X-Ray time!



He did so good...sat still and listened to all the instructions.

They did an x-ray and the ER doctor confirmed that it was broken. They decided to put a splint on it to keep him from moving it and that he would need to follow up with a bone doctor ASAP. Again, Blake did great...until he saw the splint.




His first comment was "all my friends are going to laugh at me!" He was very upset. As a mom, it broke my heart. It saddens me that at only a few months into kindergarten, he worries about things like that. (But I still managed to snap a picture - I know, bad mom!). It was worth it, the picture is absolutely priceless. I was trying to convince him that his friends would think its cool. He says to me, "it looks like aliens did this to me!" I have no idea where he got that from? I said to him, "well you could tell your friends you fought off an alien, then they would think you are REALLY cool!" He looks at me straight in the eyes and says, "That would be lying, Mom. I don't lie to you, why would I lie to my friends?" He was dead serious. So, even though I thought I had failed the mom test by just being there in the first place, then taking a picture of his devastation....I knew at that point, as parents we are doing SOMETHING right!

The nurse gave him a sucker, and we were on our way home. We were home just a few minutes before kickoff!






He went to Dr. Domingo for a follow up appointment today, February 4th. The doctor confirmed that his thumb was broken and decided that it needed to be casted. Blake had never seen a cast before, so he didn't know WHAT to think! He was very nervous, but very brave. He did a great job and we were out of there shortly after. He is to come back in 3 weeks and they will likely be able to remove the cast at that time.  In the meantime, no sports or gym class for him.  This is unfortunate since he just joined the wrestling team at school and was only 3 practices into the season (ok...mom's not overly heartbroken that he can't wrestle...that sport is just too rough!!).







He still was not sure what to think, but he was pretty sure he did not like this thing....

On the way back to school, he talked to his dad on the phone and he cried and cried. He did not want to go to school and have his friends see this hideous cast! Nothing I could say would make it better. When I finally had him almost settled down, he started crying even harder, saying "but how am I going to pray? I can't even fold my hands?" This boy melts my heart! I got him off to school, and he came home with lots of autographs on his cast and a smile on his face! Needless to say, he was back to his old self tonight!

 

 

A follow up from "My Reading"

See my post titled "My Reading" from a couple weeks ago....

Very interesting to think and look back at my reading from earlier this month. I now know what the message from Addie meant about us "being safe" in our home. Last Thursday we were home making dinner and we saw several cop cars heading north towards the Boy Scout camp. We didn't think much if it because often times people will get lost in the swamp. About 30 minutes later, my aunt Gail called to see if we were home. She proceeded to tell us that she heard on the scanner that there was a convict on the loose in the swamp. This guy had apparently stolen a car and tried to flee the police, ended up in the swamp and fled on foot. We later found out that he had several warrants out for his arrest, had a long list of things he was wanted for, was not going to give in to the cops, and could be dangerous. Needless to say the more we heard, the more nervous we got. We later talked to Shelly (my cop friend who was working on the case), and after talking to her sergeant, it was decided that we should probably leave the house for the night, since our house is usually the first one to be found when people come out of the swamp. We ended up staying at my moms that night. We came home the next morning to a safe, untouched home. Fortunately we were "safe" just as Addie said we would be. It wasn't until the next day that I remembered this message from a couple weeks ago. Until this event, that comment really didn't make a lot of sense to me. If I wasn't a believer before, I think I am now!!

One proud momma

I'm so proud of Cora, she dressed herself today with no help from anyone!! I can't believe how fast she us growing up.

We are also very proud of Blake who brought home an exceptional report card yesterday!!! He is doing very well in kindergarten! He was bummed that today was Saturday and he couldn't go to school "to learn more!" That makes me one proud momma!

Blake joined the wrestling team and had two practices this week. He has three meets starting in February and actually plays against other schools. I'm amazed that these opportunities are available for kindergarteners! This is not the first sport I would pick for him, but we thought we would let him give it a try.

My "Reading"

So I went for a massage today that I had won from a facebook contest.  I have know the girl that does them for about 6-7 years now and have been to her before, but it's probably been about 5 years since I have been there.

Well, as she is giving me a massage, she was telling me how she does "readings" and that she can "see people" that others can't...dead people, angels, etc.  She speaks very matter of fact, almost like it's common knowledge that she can do this.  I was not aware, but intrigued.  She told me she would let me know if there was "someone" in the room with us when the time came.  After a little while, she told me that there was someone there.  She is not a deceased family member or friend though.  She is one my angels.  She told Melissa (the massage therapist) that she wanted me to know that she is always with me and has been since I was about 2 months old.  Melissa guessed that she might have been a teacher in her past life, because she introduced herself by writing her name on a chalkboard.  Her name is Addie.  She also indicated that I have 4 other angels but none of them were presenting themselves.  She also wanted me to know that where we live...we are safe.  We are safe from burglaries, fire, anything bad, because "she has made it that way."  Other things that Melissa told me....that Cora also has this "gift" of seeing people (she assured me that this is not a bad thing and that many kids have this gift including both of her girls).  She also said that she feels that Cora has a green thumb and to keep up with gardening because she feels that Cora's career will somehow revolve around the gardening/flowering/horticulture business someday.  She also indicated that something Tom is drinking is poisoning his body.  That was an easy one - his pop addiction!  She also indicated that Blake is extremely gifted with intelligence and that he will easily get bored with school because it is too easy for him. 

That's all that I can remember for now.  Some people think all of this is just BS and crazy.  I think it's really interesting and I've heard enough stories from a couple of very good friends in the last couple months who have had readings and they have been dead on (not with Melissa but with other "mediums")   I just wanted to jot it all down while it was fresh in my mind.  I do plan on going back.  Partially for the massage and partially for the "readings"!  I think it would be very interesting to get a "message" from a loved one that has passed. 

2012....Almost complete

It really is amazing how fast time flies, which is the excuse I will use to why I'm so far behind on this blog!  So, now I have to think back to see what has been happening since September!!

Well, back in September, Jeff and Tricia were married.  They announced at Thanksgiving that they are expecting a baby in July.  We had Thanksgiving at the Arbaugh's this year on Thanksgiving Day.  We traveled this Christmas, first to GR to Todd and Kristin's and then to Jody and Brian's, just in time to be home on Christmas Eve Day and go to church.  We were home Christmas Day as well, which was really nice. This Christmas was a lot of fun.  The kids enjoyed their gifts and seemed truly thankful.  It was nice to see that it did not seem to be all about Santa or all about presents.  Of course, they certainly enjoyed their presents and all their new toys!  Tom and I had most of this week after Christmas off which has been very enjoyable as well (especially since the kids have slept in until 8am the last 4 days!!).  Some of the things the kids got for Christmas this year include: Blake - magic kit, race car track, R/C motorcycle, R/C dinosaur, super hero action figures, board games, nerf guns.  Cora: My Little Ponies, lots of barbies and accessories, princess castle with princesses, dresses, pj's, marker/crayon sets, drawing paper, paints.  I know there is lots of other little stuff.  They both got new bikes as well.

Blake is halfway through kindergarten.  Seems like yesterday was his first day of school!  He LOVES school and is disappointed when there is a snow day.  His teacher is very energetic and seems to be very good at his job.  We had our first parent-teacher conferences in November and Mr. Williams had nothing but good things to say about Blake.  He is accelerating very well and is ahead of many in his class.  Blake loves to work on "homework" that the teacher sends home for extra practice.  It amazes me how fast he can whip right through it without having to work very hard.  I truly hope he always keeps this enthusiasm for education.

Cora Jane.  She is such a smart little cookie herself and has really developed quite the personality lately.  She really does have an easygoing temperament.  If you ask her to do something, 98% of the time the answer is "Sure!" and she goes and does it.  (Much the opposite of Blake!)  She has really been into painting, coloring and her barbies lately.  And dresses.  She wants to wear a dress everyday and it's usually the first thing she says when she wakes up - "Can I wear a dress today?"  She does not like any kind of hair accessory - barrettes, pony tails, head bands - nothing!  So we ended up cutting her hair a couple weeks ago into a cute little bob.  She is just adorable! :-)

Tom's job is still going quite well.  He enjoys it for the most part, especially the flexibility of it.  He is home early enough to have dinner on the table for us when we get home!  My job has been going good as well, it was a very busy fall as I had to fill in for other offices.

We recently had to replace our dishwasher and our TV, so it's been an expensive fall!!  Seems like we have replaced every appliance except for the stove (knock on wood!).

It is hard to believe that 2013 is literally right around the corner.  We are looking forward to the year - lots of fun things ahead.....camping, Jeff's baby, Michelle & Dave's wedding, Nick & Katie's wedding, a graduation party or two, Kindergarten graduation....phew, it will be busy, but a good busy!  I'm definitely going to try to keep the blog a little better updated, although I think I make that resolution every year!

School so far

Blake is loving school but was like a zombie the first two weeks. He seems to be better the last couple of days. The adjustment of no naps was tough, but I think he is getting there. He has had two minor time outs so far for talking too much at school. The first was apparently the first Friday of school. Had we not run into the principal that night when we were out for dinner, Blake may not have fessed up! As soon as he made contact with Mr. Luis, he looked down and turned his head the other way and said, "I have to tell you something....I got into a little trouble at school today." He told us the story...apparently when they were lined up to go out for recess, he was talking too much and had to miss five minutes of recess. The same thing happened again the following Tuesday. We are hoping for no more incidents, but as some people have said, there is going to be worse than this as he gets older. Oh well, I'm just glad that he likes school and is very eager to learn.

Rainbows

So we are on our way home today and we see a rainbow. Cora says, "momma, how did God put that rainbow in the sky?" I said, "how do you think he did it?" she responds, "I think he took a paintbrush and painted the sky." Blake pipes in, "I think the people in heaven helped him." Awe....they melt my heart!!