Hughie's Humerus

This summer lil Hughie fell at the neighbors house....and wouldn't use his arm.  We took him to the ER at Children's Hospital and they did x-rays and didn't find anything.  They leaned towards the idea that it was a muscular issue that would self resolve or that he was scared and sort of "Faking" it. They went as far as blowing bubbles high above his head and encouraged him to pop the bubbles.  He wouldn't do it.  They gave him a little sling and we worked hard at making him wear it.

The next day he made it through the 4th of July-watching the parade, missing out on squirt guns (He is left handed) and slip and slide action.  Hugh is left handed and he was struggling to get dressed, brush his teeth etc.  So we took him to his regular doctor who suggested another x-ray of his arm and collar bone.  The next set of xray showed a clear fracture, you can see it in the picture up by the shoulder-a crack straight across.  

 

A few days later I received a call from the head of imaging at Children's Hospital who let me know there was an error initially and that they had x-rayed the wrong side/wrong arm!!!!  

  Because the break was so high up, the "cast" was called an immobilizer.  He had to wear it 24 hours a day except for when he took a shower/bath.   We were about to embark on a two week vacation spree.  And he was not to go swimming.  We knew that wasn't going to happen so we figured out how to brace his arm down with an ace bandage when he was going in the water. 

 

 

 

 

 

Hard to tell but this is Hugh sleeping in a hotel bed with me.....he even wore that to sleep

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was total trooper and has full use now....kids bounce back.  Let's all hope I never have to wear an immobilizer!!!

Red Helicopter

It was Sunday and we were scheduled to have an open house (our house is on the market with no real future of moving at this point) and so we had to be out of the house.  All of us.  Even Bailee.  And the house had to be spotless.  And the boys were at Sunday school, we needed to go to Costco.  But we had no real plans after all of that.  So.....we got a last minute invite.  And if you know me---I'm not one to be spur of the moment with plans.  But we couldn't resist.  The weather was perfect and it was an activity for the boys to get their wiggles out.

Off we zoomed up to Grandma and Grandpa's neck of the woods-about an hour away.  There were hay bales stacked for the boys to climb all over, pumpkins galore, a corn maze, free corn on the cob and live music. Not even 5 minutes into saying our hellos Grandma Barb presented us with a proposition.

"Do you think one or both of your boys would fly on the helicopter with me today?"

Hmmmm....."Yes" I told her pretty much right away.  The helicopter was RED.  This sold it to my bucket-list-mother.  But it only carried three passengers and she wondered if I wanted to go too.  This is ALSO not my style.  I hate flying in planes so why a helicopter?  But to experience this with my boys AND my mom?!?!  I couldn't pass it up.  So Hugh rode on my lap, my mom next to me in the back and Eli in the front seat and we were off.

We had no emergency back up plan-no real rules were even given to us.  And it was amazing.  We went up over Lake Geneva and saw all the boats and big houses.  Hughie pointed out the pools in backyards and the pilot even swerved for a bird!!!

Unfortunately they were getting the next folks on right away and didn't give us time to stand as a group in front of the red helicopter but you can see Eli sitting in the front seat.  So brave!!!!  I actually don't think the boys really knew what was happening.  

We survived and it's something I will probably never, ever do again in my life.  I hope someday that I inspire my kids and Grand kids and provide them with an opportunity so crazy just like my mom did.  

Crosby Turns 1!

So my littlest turned one.....sigh.  There was no real theme.  Sigh.  Eli missed singing the birthday song to his little brother because he was in the grass looking at bugs.  Sigh.  I am the only adult who got involved in the water gun fight.  sigh.

BUT!!!  It was such a good day for Crosby.  Soooo many that love him were here.  He had no idea what was going on, but he was in GREAT spirits!!  He smashed the awesome cake that Andy made him with love.  He got some new balls for his birthday and he never stops playing with them!!!  The weather was perfect!  And Crosby turned 1!!!!!

This kid loves balls...so we made a sports themed cake.  And when I say we....I mean Andy.  There was quite a bit of frosting on this cake....It took him a few minutes.  

 Grandpa Bob got to give him his first icecream---probably yummy after all that sweet and sticky cake and frosting!!

I think the Grandma's got a little time to chat. 

On the menu: pizza, finger jell-o, salad (dressed by Aunt Erika),  fruit, taco dips and a few veggies with a buffalo dip

Post Cake Smash sticky-uppy-hair.  And a Bath!!! 

ANd the big brothers got to have a soda.  In a coozie!

It was a great day.  Happy Happy birthday Mr. Crosby Paul!!!

You are loved!