Shopping Wipes Me Out

Yes, she's completely asleep. Yes, she was completely awake and talkative when I put her in it.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked away from the butter selection to see Ellison cashed out. Poor thing - Mama was keeping her out too long shopping!

The workers and other patrons couldn't help but say how sweet it was! My leg hurts just looking at it.

[April 12, 2010]

Little Patient, Little Muse

After making a quick run back to work the next morning to get a better sling size, we arrived home to the sweetest little care package from Ella James hanging from our front door. Needless to say, it completely brightened Ellison's day!

She still seemed pretty puny though for the morning.

After school, Hannah and Mary Grace came right over, completely concerned and bearing such sweet surprises. In horrified voices, they asked what happened, as apparently heard her screams when it happened, and were later informed by their mom that she broke her arm. They brought Ellison their own little care package of goodies, complete with little notes and pictures that the kids in their class made for Ellison!!! How unbelievable sweet is that?!

She also got some fun surprises in the mail from Grandma & Grandpapa; Abuelita & Abuelito; Titis Ana, Marie, & Lydia, and cousin Marcos; and Great Aunt Betty & Great Uncle Roger.

[April 16, 2010]

The following Tuesday she went in for her cast, and chose pink, of course. :-) It was so nice for her to not need a sling anymore, and the itchies were FAR better in the cast than in the splint.

Broken Arm

Taking right after her Mama and starting out early, Ellison broke her left elbow - a non-displaced radial head fracture. :-( I was at work one evening when I was told I had a phone call (always bad - never get phone calls at work). As soon as I answered and heard Jonathan ask if we did X-rays, I heard Ellison screaming in the background and knew. According to Jonathan, and to Ellison's rendition of the occurrence, they were in the backyard while he was trying to do some quick yard work. Ellison has been naughty lately with the monkey bars on our swing set - we have found her just dangling from them when we look away, and have scolded her numerous times about needing one of us with her when she wants to try them. Anyway, Ellison started climbing up the ladder to get to the monkey bars, and as she was approaching the last rung, she turned around and hollered to Daddy, "Hi Daddy! You can't catch me!". He said it was like slow motion as he ran to get to her, and she fell off, landing on her left side. She immediately screamed and cried, "I can't move my arm!".

I told him to give her Motrin, than to come in. I thank God, because never are we slow enough at work where I could just step back and be Mom, but He paved that way for us. She fell asleep on the way to Urgent Care, but as soon as she woke up, was crying in pain again. Once she got into Urgent Care, that little girl was SUCH a trooper! She never once again cried about her arm, she just sat there complacent and silent as could be, even when they did the X-rays, turning her arm.

Aw, she looks so pitiful! Thankfully it wasn't a narly displaced fracture. That is the one thing as a nurse that makes me weak in the knees - when limbs are hanging at unusual angles.

Waiting for her temporary splint.

Again, thank you, God, but I was able to get out at a really decent time that night. Ellison waited up for me, and milked her injury - "Daddy, I can't feel myself because my arm is broken...". Hee, hee. After some Tylenol, we put her down for an interesting night of sleep, surrounded by pillows.

Poor baby was up 3 times in the night for the next 2 nights. When I would ask her if her arm hurts, she shook her head 'no', but I think she just couldn't get comfortable - she's a floppy sleeper.

Oh, Elli, I hope this first fracture is your last, sweet girl.

[April 15, 2010]

Swimming with Papi

Ellison's last swim class before the fateful playset incident (see following post) put the kibosh on it. I said it before, but she was rarely without a HUGE grin on her face the entire hour we were there. After her class, Daddy got in the water with her to play.

Quick mention: Ellison is not afraid, or should I say "does not have a respect" of water yet (much to our horror). After one of her classes the previous week, she got out of the pool and met up with me, then proceeded to run ahead of me (I was fully clothed) and charged right into kid area of the pool. As I was sternly giving her commands to come back, then simultaneously removing my shoes and rolling up my pants to go in after her, she proceeded at lightning fast speed to walk deeper and deeper, until the water was right up past her chin. Just barely outside of arms reach, I kept trying to grab at her from the edge of the pool, but she just kept grinning and ducking away from my flailing arm, causing her to lose balance several times. I'm sure people were about to go grab some buckets of popcorn since we were providing pure pool entertainment. I think I had about 5 mini heart attacks. Finally, she came walking back into the more shallow area, where I grabbed her and walked her into the locker room and spanked her little wet hinini.

[April 14, 2010]

Zoo and The Masters

Jonathan was lucky to be able to invite Uncle Josh to join him at the Masters Tournament in Augusta. If you knew my brother, you'd know that this made his year, if not life. They left after a horrowing wait on Thursday afternoon, then headed down in the midst of a nasty storm. On Friday of the tournament, they had "the BEST time!", then drove back late Friday night.

While the two of them were out having fun, the rest of us headed to the NC Zoo for some exercise!!!

Miss Emma, always the "peace" child, if not doing bunny ears, in photos.

We thought it wouldn't be too packed since at least Guilford County schools already finished spring break. WRONG! It was so crowded for the first half, but then finally got a little better. The weather was perfect! Jean and T-shirt weather.

The three girls all wanted to ride the carousel (Lucas wasn't up for it), so I took them while Grandma stood in the pizza line for about 30 minutes. Ellison was lit up - so excited!

Olivia spotted a dolphin, and had to have it. She's into dolphins right now. As for me? I focused on trying to not get motion sick, and somewhat succeeded.

Lunchtime!

After getting just far enough away from the bathrooms (and after just using the bathroom), Ellison suddenly had to go again. Of course it wasn't in the part of the park where the bathrooms were super close. So off I ran, as if doing the 400-yard dash. We made it, then headed back to join the others. My continuous huffing and puffing must've sounded pretty rhythmic to Little Bug - she zonked out within a minute of leaving the bathrooms. I just love the look of a sleeping kid! So sweet...

Elli tried rearranging herself to get more comfortable. Makes me hurt.

And finally the kid zone at the end of a long day!

[April 9, 2010]

The following day was the last day the gang was here. I worked the entire day, so I couldn't exactly tell you what the day entailed. The fun came to a close that evening, as everyone headed back on the road.

Swim Class

This was technically her 2nd day, but Ellison started swim classes at the Y and fell completely in love! The whole time she was in the water she just beemed from ear to ear. Even other parents commented on how joyous she seemed. I hated missing her first class, but was working so Daddy got to witness (without the camera, but at least took videos on his phone). So for her 2nd class I got to watch, and Aunt Andrea & the girls came along too.

Our little fishy with Miss Rebecca.

Freezing her little cajoobies off. It was so hot and humid in there that I felt like I was going to pass out, but apparently the wet little "Pikes" (the name of her swim class) were a tad chilly when out of the water.

[April 7, 2010]

Fun-Filled Day

The day started off with a trip to Chick-Fil-A, Papa's favorite.

With full tummies, we all (minus Daddy who was working) headed to Celebration Station so the kids could have some fun. Despite the fact that the bumper boats were closed until late afternoon (totally bummed Ellison out), the kids couldn't ride the go-karts (totally bummed all the kids out), the batting cage was too fast for big kids, and the one staff member was extremely rude and lazy, we had fun. Ha! Most of the video arcade area was too old for Ellison, but she was content still doing them.

Emma and her signature bunny ears - she does it in nearly every picture you try to take of her.

Ell cracks me up in this pic. Watch out Vogue.

All being silly

Gram & Papa. No, they don't make a habit of dressing alike too often.

Aunt Andrea and cousins

We all joined in to play a round of put-put golf. Only we made it about 6 holes before the kids (and adults) all decided they were hot, thirsty, hungry, and done.

It was Mookie's first time playing miniature golf.

Uncle Josh lending a hand.

Then Mommy's turn.

"I want to do it all by myself."

This was a fun video game/ride thingy. Ellison, Papa, and I had gotten on it together, and Ellison LOVED it! She was giggling the whole time. Meanwhile, Mommy was getting motion sick.

The one little "ride" geared toward little people.

Storytime at Camp Soto. Olivia read us a story, then it was Emma's turn. Ellison loved having company camped out in her room during their stay.

[April 7, 2010]