Green Short Cast

Lucy has been looking forward to August 28th ever since her last Dr. appointment.  She has been so excited to get her big pink cast off! She asked me questions about her appointment for days, what it was going to be like, what they were going to do and what time I would come pick her up from school.  I dropped Garrett off at preschool and headed over to Lucy's school to take her to her Dr. appointment.  Yes I do already feel like a taxi driver--it has been a busy month!! JJ didn't have a patient so he met us up there to be with us for as long as he could.  The first thing they did was take the cast off.  I took some pictures for Garrett since I knew he would want to see how it came off. 

 

It came off really quick and then they took her to get a new x-ray of her arm without the cast. We knew the cast smelled because we could smell it sitting next to her on the couch.  When the cast came off you could really smell how bad it was, it stunk so bad!! After the x-ray we were able to gently wash her arm the best we could.  Her skin was really weird looking and was really peeling and looked like it hurt.  Her elbow especially was really sore looking.  She loved being able to bend her arm, but still tended to hold it how it was in the pink cast.  The Dr. came in and showed us the new x-ray.  It is healing really well and there are some calcification spots starting to show up which is good.  He said we could do a short cast for another 2 weeks and then x-ray it again.  After those 2 weeks we could probably go to a splint for another month.  With a short cast they give the option of the waterproof cast.  It is an additional $15 out of pocket which we gladly paid.  It is really hot this week and with the pool closing soon and a pool party this weekend we knew it would be worth it.  Not to mention making bath time easier.   JJ and I were a little surprised to hear her choose green for her cast color but she said that she likes all the colors.  It is cute and I think fun for her to have something different for the last little bit.  She is really enjoying the new cast and is much happier! When I took her back to school she still wasn't completely straightening her arm, I am sure it will take some getting use to. We are so happy that everything is healing so quick and on track.

Garrett Starts Preschool

Monday Garrett started preschool and he was so excited! Every time we drive by he says "there's my preschool!" I was a little hesitant to sign him up for preschool but he needs it and is so excited to go.  When we were at the orientation I was so impressed with all the fun things he would be doing and learning.  They have a great structure that uses their time really well.  There are some things I just can't provide for him in the home and I am glad he gets to go learn and experience those things at preschool.  He goes Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons after we eat lunch together.  Monday he knew he was going to start preschool and asked if we could eat lunch around 11, knowing that after lunch was preschool.  He was trying to hurry along the morning.

 Here he is in front of his preschool.  I told him while we were eating lunch that I was so excited for him to go to preschool but I was going to miss having him at home with me.  He told me that he was going to have a great time at preschool and I didn't have to miss him.  He walked right into his classroom and didn't even turn around to say goodbye to me.  He did a great job and was sitting so quietly at his table when I picked him up. He tells me all about the things they do each day and it is so fun to hear about his time at school.

I love Garrett and I think we have a special little bond because we have been able to have so much time together, just the two of us.  I do miss him in the afternoon, he talks so much to me and keeps me company.  I will also really enjoy the time by myself to get things done on my own. I am so excited for him and all that he will learn this year to prepare for Kindergarten.

We had a nice weekend together as a family.  Friday night we headed to a neighboring town for a festival.  It didn't end up being what we expected and we left after a while and headed out for ice cream.  We stopped at Kohl's to look for some new work clothes for JJ.  It ended up being a nice night out together! Saturday JJ and I headed to a church BBQ and got a babysitter for the kids.  We had a nice time eating yummy BBQ and visiting with everyone there.  The kids had a blast with the babysitter.  Sunday we relaxed at home as a family and it was wonderful.  I feel like my days have been packed full of activities lately.  JJ always loves to relax at home since he feels like he is never home.  It was perfect to just relax and watch a movie and then after dinner we played a family game of dominoes.  It was really fun and a great way to finish our weekend.

Our Week

Garrett and I are adjusting to having Lucy back in school.  We miss her but I am glad to have my one on one time with Garrett again. He is my buddy and keeps me company during the day.  He talks to me way more when Lucy is gone and it is fun.  I have been trying to do a few fun things with him and I need to start doing a better job of planning a few things for each week.  He loves to paint and he sat at the table and painted 2 pictures! He was so cute focusing so hard on doing a good job.

 Tuesday we returned to story time.  I am so glad to be getting back into this routine because we love our trips to the library.  We went weekly to the library over the summer but we would just get new books and movies.  We signed up for a few activities but I am glad to be back at story time.  Garrett was too, he went right to the front and sat by the teacher. 

 The read books about sunflowers and then made a cute sunflower craft.  Garrett played his favorite Diego game on the computers while I picked out some new books and a movie.  He loves that computer game, I wish I could find some fun games to buy for the computer.  We have some on the ipad but I need some on the computer so he can get use to the mouse.  After the library we had lunch with JJ and he had fun taking pictures of the inside of our eyes.

 Garrett really enjoys playing games on the ipad.  I don't mind letting him while I get some things done in the afternoons.  We have mostly educational games on there.   I think it is funny to hear him reply back to the games questions out loud.

 Garrett will also still randomly fall asleep during the afternoon.  I hope he doesn't get tired at preschool in the afternoons.  Sunday he took a nap for a few hours and then he fell asleep within minutes on the couch for over a hour.   I think he might be going through a growth spurt.

 We have been having some bathroom issues with Lucy lately.  Her teacher called and talked to me about a few things on Wednesday, which increased my concern.  I had talked with my sister that evening and we both thought she might have a UTI.  I went to Wal-Mart that evening and got a UTI test over the counter.  We took it and one of the parts came back positive.  I took a picture of it to show my sister and incase we repeated the test to note the changes.  Thursday morning I called first thing and got her a Dr. appointment.  We picked her up from school and took her to the Dr.  They did a UTI test there and it came back completely clear.  I was sure it would be positive and we would be out the door with a prescription.  We talked about several things and none of them seemed to be fitting to Lucy.  I told the Dr. we took an at home test and I was glad I had a picture of it on my phone.  She was shocked to see the test results from that.  Her urine culture would take several days to come back and it would be over the weekend into Monday before they would know anything.  Based on my home test she gave us a prescription to start that evening.  I was a little frustrated by the Dr.  and frustrated that it took my picture to help her see that I really thought she might have a UTI.  I  feel like I have spent so much time in Dr. offices these last few weeks, paying so many co-pays and Dr. bills.  I hope we can figure out what is bothering Lucy, hopefully the UTI is the issue.  It will be interesting to see what the official culture results say.

 Warm weather has returned, which is nice and I don't mind it at all.  It actually feels like August.  I have been wanting to get the kids to the pool, they are only open in the evenings now with school in session.  We have been so busy that we haven't be able to go.  I set up the sprinkler in the backyard fro Garrett yesterday afternoon and he was in heaven.  

He loves to fill up his little tea pot and water the plants outside.  He had a blast running around and through the water, I am glad I set it up for him!

 

 Our neighbors sunflowers are blooming.  They are really pretty, I hope they don't make a mess in my yard since they are right by our fence.  Garrett loves to look at them since story time was about sunflowers.  They are really pretty but they don't bloom very long before they get heavy with all their seeds.

I also took Garrett to his preschool orientation this week.  He is really excited to start preschool! I am glad I signed him up.  He was really excited to go to orientation and even got his hair all wet and brushed it so it looked nice and fixed.  I am really excited as well, his teacher is very nice and I love the structure of the classroom and all the fun things he will be able to do each day.

 

I also got together with a friend from church to start working on a quilt for the needy.  Our ward has been assigned to make a few quilts and I offered to help sew.  I have never quilted before so it is fun to see how it all works.  It was fun to visit and sew together while our boys played. We made good progress,  I am glad we are working together because it goes much quicker.  We are going to do it again next week and then pass it onto someone else in the ward to sew a little more. It is nice to sew, it has been since Lucy's Easter dress since I have sewn anything.

Walk with the Family

Saturday we went out to my parents house to go for a nice little walk with them.  Garrett fell sound asleep on our way over and continued to sleep when we got there.  We opened the doors and he started to snore! He was really out of it and we all had a good laugh at him.

 We went over to the Al Foster trail since it was nice and close.  We went on the short little 1 mile trail.  It was the perfect little walk, nice and short but enough to enjoy the beautiful day we were having.

 Kelsey brought Jasmine with her and the kids loved holding the leash, they each got a turn.

 After our walk we went back to their house for dinner.  The kids had a blast walking around and exploring their yard.  My Dad has recently been doing some tree removal and had all these big logs in the back of their property.  The kids loved playing all over them.

Called To Serve

Friday we went to my parents house to watch my little brother open his mission call.  We knew it was coming that week and we had planned on Sunday but when it came on Friday he couldn't wait! It is so exciting, he is the first missionary from our family.

 Opening and reading where he was going, my Mom was able to see over his shoulder before he read it out loud. 

 It was so exciting to hear that he will be serving in the California Bakersfield Mission! He is so excited!

 We had the Wright's and the Anderson's on video chat so they could be there with us.  It was kind of hard for them to hear everything going on so my Dad re-read the letter to them so they could hear it.

 The official letter!

 My Dad sat down and started to read everything that was in the packet. 

 It has been so neat to watch Jordan prepare for his mission.  It hasn't been an easy decision for him. There have been times where he didn't think he wanted to go and other times he didn't doubt it for a second.   I think it has been really neat to see him change and prepare to sever the Lord.  I know he will be a great missionary and we all agree that the mission seems to fit him really well.  He is very excited and that is awesome.  The mission was recently re-organized and there is a lot of work to be done.  He will report to the MTC in Provo November 20th.  We will miss him while he is gone but we couldn't be happier for him!

First Day of School

Thursday was the first day of school! Lucy was so excited to start first grade.  It was weird to be back into the school mode of waking up and packing a lunch.  It almost seemed like we never had summer there for a minute. Lucy was so cute in her new outfit all ready for school.  She picked out a new pair of Nike's at the outlet a while back and we have been saving them for school.  She was so excited to wear them and they look really cute on her.  Garrett said he can't wait to see her jump in them because he just knows she can just really high with those shoes.  She also got a new backpack this year.  She was really excited about it and all the fun compartments is has to put things. 

 There were lots of kids and parents at the bus stop excited for the first day of school. 

It is always fun to start another new year.  Lucy had a great first day and was excited about all the friends and new friends she will have in her class this year.

Lucy age 7

We haven't taken Lucy in for her official 7 year pictures.  I want to wait until her cast comes off.  I did take her into the Dr. for her 7 year visit.  She is growing right on track and is in the 50% for her height and just right below for her weight. 

Height 47 3/4 inches

Weight 46.8 pounds

 

We sure love Lucy and she is such a wonderful blessing to our family.   She is such a good sister to Garrett and they love to play with each other.  She is starting to be more independent with taking care of herself.  She loves to brush her own hair and make small meals and snacks for herself.  Most every morning she makes herself toast to eat for breakfast.  She loves to collect and in my words hoard small pieces of paper and random things in her room.  I helped her clean out her room this week to get ready for school and she saves everything.  Birthday invitations, notes from friends and little drawings she makes at school--she saves it all.  I think all little kids are like that and I try to remember that.  She is also very worried about pleasing us and doing the right things.  When she does something that she knows will disappoint us she gets very worried and apologizes and often will cry.  We are trying to help her understand that it is okay and we aren't mad.  She is always wanting to please us and do what is right.  We are trying to help her understand that growing up and making mistakes is part of life.  She loves to read and is very smart, she works hard to figure things out all on her own.  She loves math and playing all sports, she can't wait to get her cast off so she can ride her bike again!

What is your favorite food?  Broccoli

What is your favorite thing to do as a family? Watch movies as a family

What are you looking forward to this year? 1st grade

What is your favorite outfit?  Nike shoes, denim shorts and green plaid button up shirt

What is your favorite toy or thing to play? Baby dolls

Favorite fruit?  pears and kiwi

Favorite TV show?  Wild Kratz

Favorite game to play?  Cars Monopoly

Favorite animal?  sharks and reptiles

Favorite song?  Live while we're young by One Direction

Favorite Book?  Under the sea book and Fancy Nancy books

Favorite thing to do outside? play on the swing set

Favorite cereal? Lucky Charms

Favorite Holiday?  Christmas

Favorite thing to take to bed with you?  Baby dolls and white blanket

What do you want to be when you grow up?  scuba diver

  

 

 

 

 

Healing Arm

I took Lucy to the Dr. to see how her arm is healing.  We have done a pretty good job trying to not be to active these past 2 weeks.  It is hard to tell a 7 year old to not run and jump like normal.  She did the best she could and we were anxious to find out how everything was healing under the cast.  I let the kids bring the little itouch with us to play games.  Garrett was really funny and would make comments as he played the game. 

 They took a new x-ray to see how everything was healing.  The Dr. was very pleased with how the bones are coming back together.  That made me very happy, I really didn't want to have surgery and have pins put in.  He gave Lucy the go ahead to do some more activity, like participate in some of gym class and a few things at recess.  Lucy was very happy about that.  They left her cast on but trimmed off a small jagged piece by her thumb.  We will go back in another 2 weeks to make sure everything is on track.  They will take off her cast and take another x-ray and mostly likely put on a shorter cast so she can bend her elbow.  She is very excited about that!  We are very pleased with how quickly and how well everything is healing back to normal. 

Meet The Teacher

Monday evening we went up to Lucy's school to meet her teacher and drop off her school supplies.  She was really excited to go and see what her classroom was like and see if she knew anyone in her class.  She is really excited to have a desk that she can put things in this year.  Last year they just had tables.  We got all her supplies put away and got things in her desk all set up.  She was happy to see she knew some friends in her class, even one of her best friends.  Her teacher is really nice and Lucy is really looking forward to a fun year in first grade!

Swimming

When we got home it was so nice to see the sun! Saturday JJ returned back to work and I returned back to my normal day to day.  We were excited to be able to head to the pool that afternoon for a little while.  We haven't let Lucy's cast stop us, we put her plastic sleeve on and stuck her in a tube.  She had fun just floating around the pool.  I am glad we went because once school starts the pool hours are cut back.