A Visit to the Emergency Room - A First

Of course it would happen on a Monday.




Monday mornings are tough as it is.


Coming down off the weekend, having to wake up early to get out the door for school, work.
This Monday was especially rough - Iris threw a fit when I tried to wake her up - Iris threw a fit during breakfast - Iris threw a fit getting dressed ... it was that last fit, that caused a trip to the Emergency Room.






We had migrated from her room to the living room. She was still naked, refusing to get dressed, I don't even remember why.
I had her on my lap, I was sitting in the rocker.
I had one arm around her front, holding her onto my lap, and one arm trying to wrestle her undies on to her kicking legs.






She managed to buck herself off of my lap, landing on the floor - however, I was still holding her arm as she fell. Iris sat there shocked, then started to cry: "Mom, my arm is stuck!"
I was instantly sick to my stomach, and promptly started bawling. Partly out of fear, and partly out of frustration, I'm sure.






I got some pants on her, gingerly pulled a shirt over her body, keeping her arms underneath - all the while frantically trying to reach Brian and then my mom, on the phone. . . and then headed to good ol' Providence ER. A first for us in this parent/child adventure.






It wasn't dislocated, thank goodness! They call it nursemaids elbow.
Apparently it's fairly common during the "Toddler" age, as their joints and bones continue to grow and form - they can be kinda loosey goosey at times. The jarring of her arm as she fell to the floor, with me holding her arm as she fell, pinched some nerve in her elbow, basically paralyzing her arm from the elbow up (she could still wiggle fingers).






And although it's fairly common, and the nurses at the ER intake desk were all very kind, and Iris was in fairly good spirits through it all - it still did not soften the blow of having to take your maimed child to the ER, or make it any easier to answer questions like, "Is your child the subject of physical abuse in the home, etc." Absolutely horrifying.






The nurses were great, Iris was great, Grammy Lisa showed up to lend support - I was a mess.
The doc came in, held her elbow in place, twisted her wrist - and in seconds she was as good as new!
"It's like magic!" she yelled. I might have actually cracked a smile.

We were home by 10 am. Felt like the two longest hours of my life.  We regrouped - had a snack - she ended up going to school the rest of the day, I went to work... just another day, but this one may have scarred me for life.

Zoo Day : Joyful Noise

Some days you just need to take a day off from work in the middle of the week, 

so your kid can join her school friends on a trip to the zoo.

Welcome Home Uncle Vern!

Uncle Vern has returned to the States after living in Mongolia for FOUR years!!

 We were all so happy to see him -

but none happier than Grandma Arlis and Grandpa Walter!

Valentine's Day 2016

Planning (ahead) is not my hubby's strong suite. So when he told me he was planning a Valentine's dinner, with the help of my bro-in-law Josh, I was both surprised and thrilled! We planned to spend most of the long weekend up at my mom's farm with Bethany, Josh and Kamu - which is always a good time. But to know Brian and Josh were planning on cooking a special feast, made it all the better!

 The weekend included:

Darling gifts from my darling daughter.

(Thanks GPa Bryan!) 

A visit from the Wilsons. 

 Baking and decorating sugar cookies.

Lots of playing with Legos.

 

  A meal that couldn't be topped.

 These two are so cute together in the kitchen!

And Flowers!!

What an awesome weekend!

 Isn't my nephew the cutest!?!

Happy New Year!

It was so awesome to be able to spend the holidays with Bradley and Rocio - and to end it at home, with a quiet New Year celebration that included some Peruvian traditions, was perfect.




We were released early from work on New Year's Eve day, which was nice. I brought home fondu from Gustavs for a mid afternoon snack and Mom splurged and spoiled us all with a sushi take out dinner later that night!
We celebrated at 9pst - so little Miss (and who are we kidding, her parents too) could get to bed at a decent hour.




Rocio (and Brad and mom) had thoughtfully put together some fun Peruvian traditions - just before 9pm, Rocio passed out little wrapped packages to us all. NEW YELLOW UNDIES!
Yellow being the color of prosperity, and undies, for who knows why - but the idea being you put on your new yellow undies before the new year hits so that you start the year, and hopfully continue, in prosperity!
The boys were gifted Batman undies - HILARIOUS!
Iris loved her yellow princess undies.




So wearing our new undies, Rocio and mom then handed out a handful of lentils to each of us. To put in our pocket. To carry into the new year. Again, to symbolize wealth and prosperity.
With lentils in our pockets - or in my case - my bra, since I wasn't wearing pants with pockets - Rocio then handed out 12 grapes to each of us.




12 grapes - one for each month of the new year. With each grape you ate, you were to make a wish. Twelve wishes for a happy, healthy, and yes, prosperous new year!
Iris was so cute, with her eyes closed, popping her grapes in her mouth - (possibly) wishing right along with the rest of us.




Needless to say, there were a few Peruvian New Year traditions that we didn't partake it - burning dolls made out of old clothes in the middle of the street, and that sort of thing. But it was fun to share a few of these traditions with Rocio and to hear about her memories growing up in Peru.

Christmas 2015

Best. Christmas. Ever.
Because, family... and these two little elves!

 

Iris and Kamuela in matching Christmas pajamas on Christmas day.

Cinnabon breakfast.

Iris "helping" make hot rolls with Papa and Chandler.

Being with my siblings.

Iris handing out Christmas stockings.

 

Iris twirling in her new red dress.

Sunday morning meeting with Grandma, Grandpa, and Dad.

Sunday lunch with family.

A snow day.

 More pics and fun memories posted by my sis, here.