march miscellany

How about a really random post of March happenings? I thought you'd say yes…

Friday, March 6 - After-preschool driving with Daddy:

An almost-daily ritual of ours involves driving the car up the driveway. Sometimes I stop as I'm coming into the driveway and one child might climb into my lap. Other times the kids hop out and get the mail. Hannah might grab the garbage bin while Joseph gets up on my lap and steers the car into the carport. Sometimes one child drives while the other one patiently waits their turn and observes from the passenger seat. 

When the kids were smaller, it was mainly Daddy who let the kids drive on his lap. I have many pictures of Hannah driving with him. It was a highlight of her day, him getting home from work. But as they've gotten older, I've gotten in on the fun. 

Even after all these years doing this family ritual, it is still a highlight of their day when they see Daddy coming home from work. We will be out playing, riding bikes, going for a wagon ride… The kids get so excited, rushing to his car. 

Hopefully you don't think we're careless parents. I will say that we are very cautious and Joe is always watching for the children. But this is a memory I have of when I was little - driving on my daddy's lap. I hope it's a memory Hannah and Joseph will cherish, too.

Sunday, March 8 - My little Sunday greeters at SUMC:

Another thing these children love is helping me when I'm a greeter at church. I can barely hand a bulletin to anyone; they are very eager to take care of that for me! They are very social and know most people by name. I love how much they like to help. 

Tuesday, March 10 - Breakfast with Honey:

It was French toast sticks day. The day after Hannah turned 5 1/2, she was up and moving fast (as she always is on Tuesday mornings) eager to make it to school on time for breakfast. Since Daddy was out of town, I spontaneously decided that Joseph and I would join her. Little #1 Best Brother on Earth was thrilled. So was big sister.

Wednesday, March 11 - A second lost tooth!

This one was loose for a little while. Every day she asked me to check on it. I would wiggle it and guess how much longer I think we had. Finally, it was so loose I told her I think I should pull it out. She wanted me to at first, but was a little nervous. I wiggled it with a paper towel, but it wouldn't come. It was hanging on on one side. Later in the afternoon she was sitting on the swing, and I tried again. It hurt for a second and she put her hands up to stop me, but the tooth was already out and in my fingers. She was quite excited! 

The Tooth Fairy came and, taking her tooth this time, left $1. She is saving all of her money… 

Thursday, March 12 - Soccer pictures:

Most of her practices were rained out, but this day she actually got to practice and was thrilled to be doing so. I think they might have gotten two practices in before the games started the following week.

Friday, March 13 - Pre-K registration campout: 

That's my sweet friend, Rebecca, above. Her son, Weston, and Joseph are BFFs. Joe and I took shifts this year camping outside the Board of Education to get Joseph into Pre-K. It was a cold, rainy night…but it was worth it! We were spot #19 in line (54 spots were available). Joseph gets to go to Hannah's big school in August and he's over the moon!

Sunday, March 15 - Bedtime stories:

Daddy read Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. A few weeks ago Hannah and I checked some books out from the library. There was a few they really liked (this one, Madeline and Love You Forever), so we had to renew them. 

Saturday, March 21 - Princess party:

The Saturday after St. Patrick's Day (and Joseph's accident), Hannah and I had some princess fun at a Frozen-themed birthday party for her friend, Gabby. My Anna got to meet Elsa, who was so nice and sang all kinds of Disney princess songs. That was one excited room of little girls.

Sunday, March 22 - Legoland (our playroom, not the park):

In between trips to the doctor, Joseph built lots of buildings, towers, and trains. Hannah and Joseph both have spent the majority of their time indoors playing with Legos and putting puzzles together. Most of the time they play nicely. It's just when someone's got a piece that the other person "needs" that we have a problem. 

Monday, March 23 - Back to the doctor:

So, yes… things haven't exactly been great with the head injury. At preschool Joseph and another (not-so-little) boy collided heads in the classroom, re-opening his wound… right in the center!

Tuesday, March 24 - Birthday dog:

It was a beautiful, sun-shiny day and the kids begged to ride bikes. We decided to take Mollie, too, since it was her birthday. Cannot believe she is 10 years old. She was a puppy when Joe and I started dating!

Wednesday, March 25 - Back to Dr. Rob (again):

Our friend and surgeon, Rob, had to reassess Joseph's wound after he bled through the steri-strips. He was cleaned up and a larger strip was put on. So far, so good and it's still on. And, let me just add, that Joseph is obsessed with his umbrella, so he was excited to be out and about in the rain.

Thursday, March 26 - Hannah's second (our first) game:

Hannah played goalie for the first time and did great! She also played defense and "runner" which she likes best. She was all over the field. She really likes soccer and we are so glad. Such a fun sport to play and watch. And we love to watch her do anything that involves running. Long-legged, exuberant cuteness.

That brings me almost up to date. March has flown by!

st. patrick's day in…sandersville

For the second year in a row, we were not in Savannah for St. Patrick's Day. It's weird, I have missed the celebration only a few years in my life (one being when I was 5, in the hospital for appendicitis), and I've missed half of the last six years. That's what babies (and distance) will do, I guess!

We had a much more low-key day at home, with things like school and dance, and some backyard time enjoying the beautiful weather.

But on Sunday, Hannah wore her Shamrock dress (likely for the last year)…

And I sent the kids off to school yesterday wearing of the green…

Of course, we all wore green.

Leprechauns made visits to the schools, priceless artwork was created, and Hannah and Joseph had "green yogurt" (plain vanilla with green sprinkles mixed in) on the back porch after school. {Joseph was not interested in pictures.}

Backing up a bit to last week, Hannah turning five-and-a-half on March 9th didn't go by without some sort of celebration. After all we (she) did anticipate it for quite a while. But it was a busy day with school, soccer practice, and various to-dos. So while Hannah and Joseph were playing in the backyard, as is their usual afternoon routine, I put together a little tray of goodies - St. Patty's style - and we picnicked on the grass.

She was delighted. And her little brother was so cute and kept wishing her happy birthday. It's his birthday that is actually coming up, so I'm sure there was some confusion there. We've had a festive March. And now it's time to pull out the Easter decorations - yippee, my favorite!

first stitches

Yesterday was an eventful day.

It was Hannah's first soccer game and I had just gotten to the fields with the kids and put our stuff down on the bleachers. The coach had started pulling the team together when Hannah decided she needed to go to the bathroom (which was a good distance away from the field she was playing on). As she sauntered off, I hollered at her to run; the game was about to start. Joseph then said he was going to go with her. So they took off, and I followed behind. I grabbed my phone so I could call and let Joe know which field to go to but left the rest of our stuff on the bleachers.

As I was getting close to the building that houses the bathrooms, I heard a collision followed quickly by screaming. I didn't know what had happened until two other moms ran around the corner and waved at me to hurry over. And then Joseph came around the corner, crying, blood pouring out of his head.

Let me stop there. The blood. Oh. my. goodness. Never have I seen so much blood in person. It was coming down his face onto his clothes and the ground. Thankfully one of the other moms ran into the bathroom and brought me paper towels, but the whole seen was chaotic and scary.

Joseph was wearing his sunglasses (which, as you know, is very common for him) and I don't know if he was temporarily blinded when he rounded the corner into the shade or if he was not looking ahead or what…but he ran smack into a pole that was supporting the building's overhang.

I quickly assessed if he was ok - he was, but not really. I knew we had to get to the hospital. I scooped him up and asked one of the moms to make sure Hannah (who was using the bathroom while all this was going on) got back to her field. I didn't even know her - total trust there!

Thankful I had the phone in my hand still, I called Joe. He didn't answer the first time. I was running with Joseph on my hip to grab my keys off the bleachers, frustrated and beginning to panic. Called Joe again. {Frantic is one way to describe the way I relayed the situation.} I fastened Joseph in his carseat and left for the ER, where Joe met us as I pulled in the parking lot.

Joe, always a calming presence in the midst of my panic (though I will say he wasn't all that calm at first hearing me on the phone), hopped in the backseat - Hannah's carseat actually - and we drove around the building. As we were getting out, we called our friend and surgeon, Rob. {He was the one that was so helpful in the days following Joe's accident. It was also at his house where Joseph got the biggest goose egg I've ever seen when he tripped and fell at a holiday party.} I was hoping Rob would be able to do the sutures.

We got into a room at the ER, thankful that the bleeding had significantly slowed, when Rob texted and told us to go to his office. So I signed a form saying Joseph did not receive treatment (and hoping we wouldn't be receiving an ER bill) and left. Joe carried him across the parking lot to the surgical office next door.

We waited outside for Rob and his nurse to arrive, but after that it all went by fast and easy. I mean really fast and easy. While we were waiting I texted a friend who's daughter was also playing soccer and asked her to stand in for me. Hannah had been so excited about her first game. I also took this picture (face is mostly cleaned up!):

Once settled inside, Dr. Rob pulled up Joseph's favorite show, Jake and the Neverland Pirates on his phone and gave it to Joseph.

He sat right there on Daddy's lap and remained calm and still. The whole time. He wanted to know what everything was, but didn't cry or even move. Even when the needles went in. I don't know if it was Jake or what, but one thing I know: my baby boy is brave. So brave. I made a comment about how it was good to know how tough he was. Joe said later that his pain tolerance might have something to do with the fact that he's been in pain (GI-related issues) for years and could probably handle it.

Dr. Rob did the sewing, and Joseph watched his show. It went great! Five stitches. His first and our first.

He was such a good patient.

Afterwards, we picked up Hannah from the soccer fields and went to dinner at Puebla's, which we planned to surprise Hannah with all along. Joseph was excited to go, too. No one loves chips and guacamole more than him. Had to get a picture of Daddy with the patient and the soccer player:

While at dinner, I received these pictures from my sweet friend, Caroline.

She had a great time playing in her first game. I can't wait to watch her next time!

I snuck into Joseph's room last night and took a picture of my precious boy, sound asleep. Completely exhausted.

We all slept well last night.

Several times throughout this whole ordeal, Joseph asked "Why did you tell Hannah to run?" I couldn't figure out why that was all he would talk about at first. And then later when I was talking to him he said that he was looking back at me as he was running after Hannah (who I told to run!).

Sweet boy, that one. I hate that he got hurt. I hate that he was in such pain. Any parent who deeply loves their child knows how it physically hurts to watch your baby hurt. I was hurting for him, no doubt. And worried.

But now, I'm mainly thankful. For a friend who is a wonderful surgeon. For a girlfriend who was there to cheer on Hannah at her first soccer game. For countless family and friends who've called, texted, and sent Facebook messages. And, most of all, that our little guy is ok, escaping with an ugly boo boo and perhaps a mild concussion, but that is all.

He will be fine. Truthfully, after knowing he was ok, I then worried about how bad the scar would be. Would my cute little guy have a big scar in the middle of his forehead for the rest of his life? That might sound shallow to think that so shortly after it happened, but I did. I don't want anything messing up that beautiful face.

During our picnic lunch on the back porch today, Joseph told Joe and me, "Dr. Rob took good care of me…he is a great doctor…and he let me watch Jake on his phone!" Between telling everyone what happened and having stitches to show off at preschool, he is doing quite well. Very proud, owning the whole running-into-the-pole thing.

a 60th birthday and a little bitty baby

The kids and I went to Savannah for a quick 24 hours over the weekend. {Joe was stuck at home, preparing for two funerals and two different sermons - all in a weekend.} We celebrated my aunt's 60th birthday Friday night with a family cookout. It was great seeing and catching up with cousins, but I especially liked getting to see my brother and sister-in-law who came down from Cincinnati!

My mom organized a cute skit for all the children to perform, just as my cousins and I did for my grandmother on her birthdays. Hannah hammed it up, of course.

She played two parts: a mermaid and a ballerina. Joseph was a shark, his favorite costume.

There was no shortage of silly faces from that kid - usually taken when I didn't have possession of my phone.

We met a couple new cousins, including sweet Wilson. Hannah set up this photo with her older cousin, Jackson:

On Saturday, after breakfast at the pancake place, we set out on a photo scavenger hunt, each team given criteria for various photos. Examples…

The youngest team member doing something age inappropriate. So, we have Joseph. Proposing:

And, the team members with their feet off the ground:

We stopped by for a visit with (and for Hannah to hold!) Baby Stella.

She sure is a sweet little thing. And we love her.

The three sibs:

Continuing on our photo hunt, we headed to the park…

The last picture involved posing with every item in our hunt bag.

Hannah and same-age-almost-to-the-day cousin Claire:

That's Aunt Charli, the birthday girl, in the middle. The celebration continued on Saturday night, but we were back home in Sandersville. I think she had a good one, surrounded by nieces, nephews, greats and grands!