Rough Thursday

I overslept last Thursday and woke up feeling a need to get moving. Some of the kiddos were up and running around and I figured I better hurry up to keep control of the household. J was flying home and we would need to retrieve him from the airport after school work and cleaning the house. As I was trying to dress complete chaos erupted in the household and it took me hours to figure out what was happening.  Someone had fallen down and hurt an arm but I was not understanding what everyone was yelling and crying about as I stood there with my towel wrapped around me. In my moment of clarity I decided to recruit Pooker's help. She is working at becoming a nurse and often is very level headed about injuries. "Someone stop Pooker before she heads to visit UST. Ask her to help us."

I  threw on the nearest clothes.  Not the best choice considering I grabbed long sleeves and jeans, it was over 100 degrees outside. I emerged from my bathroom to discover the chaos was at the same level with two more people added to the mix. Pooker returned inside with the next door neighbor Mr. KP to help us in this emergency. I deduced quickly that Bagel was the injured party because she was sitting on the couch with her arm in a sling and everyone else stood over her crying. I wasn't so sure we were headed to the ER like the crowd was yelling because I could see that her life was not in danger. She was breathing just fine and there was not any blood. "How about we call the doctor first," I offered while still trying to figure out what happened. Both Pooker and Mr. KP told me we were going to the ER. I figured I would trust them because they seamed much more alert than I felt at that moment.

I grabbed my bag and we headed out the door. In car I was alone with Bagel. Pooker was following in her car so she could pick up dad from the airport when needed and Mr. KP was sent home but promised to stay alert in case. Goobers was given the impossible task of calming the natives. Not sure how she did it, everyone was crying and I still couldn't understand why. This is when I learned what had happened. They were all running in the house. Apparently they race from front door to the back. Bagel ran and fell hitting her arm on the bottom rung of the stairs. I asked what she tripped on or who pushed and really this was just as simple misstep.

Bagel was in a lot of pain but asked an odd question. "Does Pooker love me as much as she loves her boyfriend?" I responded telling her that Pooker loved them both and that Bagel's health was very important. Pooker would always be there to take care of her when she needed her to." Later that afternoon it would become clear that Bagel really just misses having Pooker around all the time. She felt very loved having her sister with her in the ER.

We arrived and I was still wondering why we were there and not at the doctor's office. When the doctor came in the room Bagel lost it. She was scared to death and I couldn't figure out why. The doctor looked at her arm and asked me when she had last eaten. I knew that meant they were putting her under for some reason but I kept thinking "it is just an arm". It wasn't until Bagel calmed down and explained that she didn't want to die (her only other experience with the ER is her appendicitis). This was nothing; compared to that, I assured her. Her life was not in danger at all.

Then she wanted to know if the hospital would be able to make her arm look pretty again. I told her that wasn't an issue. Then I saw the arm for the first time. Oh My goodness!!!!  I about passed out it looked so bad. The pictures do not do it justice. Her arm was resting on the table for the ex-ray and then half way down the arm took a sharp turn up and over again with her wrist not resting but in mid air about one entire inch off of the table. It looked very deformed.

After reviewing the ex-ray and getting dad on the phone we went ahead with the procedure.  They started the IV and had Bagel fall asleep, she was still breathing on her own and I am told she wasn't under that far.  She would respond to the pain but not feel it and wouldn't remember.  Pooker stayed in the room, I didn't want to watch.  I waited until she was asleep and then walked away.

They pulled the bones straight and then set them.  Wrapping her arm in a huge splint to hold it still but to allow for the swelling that was coming.  It took hours for her to wake up all the way after the arm was set.

When she was first waking up she asked why we were in the water, and what kind of boat we were in.  Pooker and I were laughing so hard that we cried when we looked up to see what she was looking at.  Then she asked why they cut off her thumb because she couldn't see it.  Goofy kid. 

Pooker did not leave her side until we were getting ready to leave the hospital.  It was a long day for sure but I was so happy to see my oldest and youngest girls being so close to each other. 

  

This little one had many care takers when we arrived at home.  They had all seen the arm and were so grossed out by it.  They each told her how brave she was and how much they loved her.  It is not an everyday occurrence at our home but it was a wonderful thing to see. 

As Bagel got better she became more and more active. She kept bumping the arm and causing more pain.

I was happy when the smile came back a few days later. We were still unsure what the orthopedic doctor would say but at least the pain was going down and she was happy again.

Boring 16th Birthday for Bear

Bear had a very special birthday the other day. Dad was out of town and everyone had so much to do that the has gone by without much notice.

This is a picture from the Internet, no cake, no singing, no new car. Poor 16 year old boy. We love you Pooh Bear. I promise we will do your birthday right, very soon.

Back to School Park time with BOL

We are very independent when it comes to our schooling. My kiddos seam to be at their own passes so we don't do a bunch of the group activities. The little ones don't seam to need to interact with people outside our family like their older counter parts did.

We try to go to park days with our home school support group. I love the Bread Of Life families and I need the social time even if the kiddos do not.

They do find friends no matter what and it always impresses me.

In a home school group our size there is often a baby to love on. The older kids like to join in for this reason.

And then we often find a new friend from the natural world.

 Our school year is off to a good start.  As always I am surprised by the bumps but they do make life interesting. 

May God bless this school year and help us to use it to grow closer to Him.

It just might be time for a little Mark Twain

Not sure how Sugar did it. She has only been given the job of grass cutting a few months back. When Bear started working all summer dad decided it was time to pass on the chore.

It still cracks me up when I look at the pictures. Sugar was sent outside to work on the yard.

The next thing I know Bagel is inside getting water for Sugar and Pickle.

I peak outside to see why Pickle needs water and was surprised to realize that Sugar has convinced Pickle that he is just about old enough to cut the grass.

In the end every one was happy. The yard was cut and looked nice. Pickle felt all grown up because he was getting to do the job of a big kids. Sugar was relaxed and calm knowing that she was able to get the job done without working too hard. Win - win - win!

Hidden Talents

 

Goobers and Bear have really grown up this past summer.  They worked so much of the time.  Many of their shifts were at the same pools.  They fight like cats and dogs but get furious with outsiders that mess with them.  I can not even begin to describe their conversations.  They will bicker and laugh at the same time.  I only hope they always remain close enough to take the time to play these silly games with each other.  Cup stacking, a real hidden talent in the Texas T home.

Sugar is 15 now

At the beginning of the month my precious Sugar had her birthday. She is now 15 years old. I just love all the things that this wonderful young woman is becoming.

With our toast we learned that Sugar is appreciated for being creative, playful, smart, helpful, funny, forgiving, artistic, a defender, honest, and hard to offend,

For all of Sugar's great qualities I say, "Here, here!"  We love you honey. Happy happy birthday.

Cute and Toothless

Within 5 days this little one finally lost 4 baby teeth.  She is 7 so she was holding on longer than most.  I actually was relieved.  She was very worried about it and then once they started falling she was happy that the tooth fairey was on her way.

Our precious little Bagel.  She is one of the cutest people I know. 

Yummy part of the Beach adventure

La King's Confectionery is where we went after the beach.  We just had to work it in and show dad.

   

 Everyone picked their own favorite candy. 

 The older kids got ice cream and so did J.  He loved it.  It is a precious place.  If you are ever in Galveston, stop by and give it a taste.

Here comes school time . . .

School was going to begin on Monday. The local private schools were working on their second week of school and the local public schools had just gone back. We took that extra week because Goobers and Bear had worked so had this last month of summer.   So many life guards go off to college or get busy with highschool sports leaving all the shifts to the few that are left.  After 8 days of doubles they needed a break. 

We spent much of the week trying to prepare for the coming school year.  I searched out a few books and did a little planning.  The kids had to clean to get the house prepared for us to spend the day out.  I got back from shopping to see this note.  They really need school.  .  . "IT IS BEACH,  PEOPLE,  NOT BAECH!"  God love them.

Galveston is not a pretty beach at all.  I think it smells bad as well.  But we set out to enjoy a day in the water.  We got a late start but knew that it was our last day to do this and we wanted it to be a special day.  The temperature of 107 would not keep us from having fun, just mom.

I made little Jumba  wear a life-jacket.  He actually liked it while in the water. 

Everyone had a blast.

We were surrounded by wildlife.  J even caught a fish that was swimming by. 

It is very hard to see.  It was about the size of a quarter and we put it in a water bottle for a few minutes to examine.

Everything we tried to eat would bring on the barrage of birds.  They were everywhere.

The kids had a blast playing with them, dodging them, feeding them.  We were very fearful of droppings.

Then it happened, poor Princess was the one that was awarded the prize.

Yuck!

We really did have a blast at the beach.  The eight that are left in T Academy enjoyed this adventure.  Mom the teacher and dad the principal also enjoyed the afternoon get away.  We have all worked very hard this summer and it was a perfect day with wonderful people.