Moving Forward!!!

 Well, today we got dressed.  That was an accomplishment!!  We did some school work and got a little bit caught up on some things.  He even went through some of the day without the strong pain medicine.  So he is definitely heading in the right direction!!  Praise the Lord!!  

Today, Spencer received another little gift in the mail from some wonderful friends!  It was a bucket of candy and treats and the bucket has his name on it.  What a wonderful idea!!!  Anyway, about twenty minutes later, Jack came walking through casually and says, "I'm thinking about how I can break my arm so I can get some special treats."  I looked at him and of course, he has his well-known smirk on his face.  And I said to him, "You have got to be kidding me ....."  Seriously???   

Erica's Little Business

Erica has tackled her second cake project.  She was asked by our neighbor to make a cake for her daughter's second birthday two weeks ago.  So this week, we have worked on making the cakes ahead of time and fondant.  Today, she made buttercream icing.  I thought they turned out wonderful!!   We had fun creating the little insects and she had her try at making roses for the first time!!  

I have decided that this process is for me alone.  God has decided to use this in my life as part of my sanctification process.  I am not sure why He has chosen this route but I am pretty sure I got a D+ today.  You think to yourself, "I can do this.  I'm not controlling.  I will just go with the flow."  And then ......... you fail.  Miserably.  LOL!

Second Day on the Mending

I slept with Spencer last night.  The part where the nerve block wore off around 11pm and he was hit like a freight train was NOT pretty.  I think I spent from midnight to 2am rearranging pillows over and over trying to get him comfortable.  It was a nightmare.  He was crying and I felt so bad for him.   But finally, we got ahead of the pain medicine and have stayed ahead of it thus far.  

We have been so blessed by everyone this week with gifts for him, phone calls, messages, cards and people have and are bringing meals this week.  Everything has been such a wonderful gift.  The cookie cake was a hit and he informed us we could have one piece and the rest was his.  Yeah, okay.  I was thinking you are stuck on the couch buddy and you will have no idea how that is going to get divided up!!  But he has been generous to say the least.  Jack and Erica have picked up his chores to help him out and today, I did make Spencer unload the dishwasher and put the dishes on the counter.  He was bored out of his mind.  Do you know how I could tell?  He did a puzzle with three collie puppies and orange/yellow flowers on it.  He read books on stars and actually didn't complain that much when he did some work today on the couch.   

He had a sponge bath and got his hair washed last night thanks to Scott.  They hosed down his arm and sling with Axe.  It smells.  I think I will try hand washing that little thing tomorrow while he is still for a bit.  Someone let us borrow a wedge pillow.  Someone else let us use their electric ice machine that keeps ice cold water running through the pad instead of bags of ice.  I could go on and on about the meals and desserts and treats.  God has truly blessed us this last year with incredibly warm, kind and loving friends.  To be so far away from family and friends who you have years of history with, we are humbled by everyone's generosity.  

We will keep you posted as we head into our weekend.  He is definitely feeling better this evening and on the upswing.  He said tonight as he laid on the couch and out of nowhere, "Mom, I love you."  Do you know what I said?  I am so stupid.  I said, "What do you need, Spencer?"  He said, "Nothing.  I just felt like telling you that."  

Sigh .... I really should learn to say less, ya know?  

Surgery Day for Spencer

OUCH .... I know.  This picture makes me nauseous just looking at it.  We are heading to surgery in an hour or so.  We went to bed later last night hoping Spencer would sleep in since he couldn't get up at his usual 7am and immediately have breakfast.  Fortunately with the time change and all the "action" around here, it worked because he slept until 9am.  

He was a little anxious and admitted being scared Sunday afternoon.  He said he was worried the doctor would do the wrong shoulder.  We told him unless the doctor is color blind, he isn't going to have any problems knowing which should to work on.  

We arrived at the Wake Med Cary hospital. We loved their systems.  It was thorough and efficient and well, you know how I love stuff like that.  The staff was so great with him.  We liked everyone we met and his nurse was a male with an accent and quite entertaining!  He had Spencer chuckling before they wheeled him out of the room.  

We had lunch in the cafeteria while we waited a friend came to visit with us and distract us which was a complete Godsend.  I did not know she was coming.  And then our friend and one of the pastors at our church hung out for a bit with us as well.  Before we knew it, we were buzzed back to meet with the doctor.

He said the surgery could not have gone smoother.  Everything was perfect and he was very pleased.  Just keep him in the sling for four weeks and then calm for four more weeks.  Um, that is 8 weeks.  He obviously does not know Spencer.  If he comes out of this in 8 weeks, it will only be because his angels followed him non-stop.  I hope God is rewarding them double-time.  I know this is not theologically sound ... I'm just acknowledging God's design and care for us.  

We brought him home and he was completely out of it at first.  He couldn't get his bearings about him but it didn't take too long at home before he was awake.  We are so thankful that everything went well and ready to take on the week.  

Another Ice Bag Story

We obviously have issues when it comes to the ice packs.  Spencer went to bed last night and needed an ice pack after doing too much yesterday.  Scott offered to make him one and I told him how I had been making them and slipping it into a pillowcase.  The thickness of the pillowcase works perfect for him.  

Spencer comes into my room a few minutes later saying the ice pack is hurting him.  I didn't know what he meant until he handed it to me.  Much to my dismay, Scott had filled the GALLON size bag FULL of ice.  The ice pack weighed like 10 pounds!  Spencer handed me the pillowcase and it felt like one of their candy bags after trick-or-treating for Halloween!  No wonder the little guy was dying under the pressure of the ice!!!  Needless to say, we dumped some ice and started over.  

Then yesterday and today, Scott and I both have tapped or hit Spencer's shoulder.  I know ... it is TERRIBLE!  I was trying to get his attention and he wasn't facing me so I tapped his shoulder and today, Scott said, "I love ya buddy" and hit him .. right on the shoulder.  We have been informed that we are "careless."  Unintentional .. but careless none the less.  

Well, maybe tomorrow we will have better luck!!!  

Visit to the Orthopedic Surgeon

Yes, folks, that's right!  Behind door #3 is surgery ..... we saw the doctor and Spencer is scheduled for surgery on Monday at noon.  They need to bring the clavicle bone down and re-attach the ligaments from where they "sprung" by the force of the fall.  Needless to say, I am thankful for this weekend to gear up for next week.  Spencer doesn't seem very nervous.  I'm sure the closer it gets, he will become anxious.  

To top off my afternoon, the downstairs toilet overflowed, clear water THANK GOD.  Fifteen towels and three loads of bleach later, I got it cleaned up.  Seriously, that was almost the very thing that sent me right over the edge in flames.  Overflowing toilet?  Scott wasn't home when it happened.  This is becoming a pattern, isn't it??!!  He returned and Spencer told him what happened and said, "Dad, hug her.  Mom needs a hug."  I put my hand out and said, "DO NOT hug me.  If you hug me, I will start crying and won't stop until tomorrow!!"  

One thing I noticed in Spencer was how his countenance changed Thursday evening.  The minute Scott got home, Spencer just relaxed completely.  I am so thankful for the relationship Scott has with our children.  I know as we go through things, I am thankful that they have a father and a heavenly Father that walks them through all things.  

Spencer is definitely feeling better which is good and bad.  He feels good so he gets careless and starts moving too much.  It doesn't matter how many times you tell them either.  At bedtime last night, Spencer went crying and whimpering.  He had moved to much.  Motrin and ice works well and shortly thereafter, he went to sleep.  But of course, he did try to sleep with me for another night.  We all finally got a full night's sleep uninterrupted.  I slept until 9:45am.  I was beat!!!   We will keep you posted next week on his recovery.  Praying for an uneventful week!

Spencer's Covered ..

You talk about a kid that is covered in prayer by everyone who knows him.  We are so blessed by our family and friends who know our stories with him and love him still!!  He keeps us on our toes for sure.  

Carla George, a friend from church, came to get Erica to take her to youth group.  She looked at Spencer's xray they gave me and she pondered.  I find it amazing how God knows how much information we can handle at one time.  As she pondered, she lead me to questions and it was very cool how God uses those around us.  

At this point, I had no idea how the shoulder and clavicle is designed and joins.  I assumed the clavicle was like an antler.  Stop laughing.  I really did.  But now, I get it.  Spencer broke off the tip of the clavicle where it joins the shoulder.  What does this mean?  We have no idea.  But our pastor highly recommended Cary Orthopedics and if we could get in there, that would be a really good idea.  I had an appointment with the doctor who looked at his xrays while in the hospital.  But I wanted to see someone that came recommended.  

Well, my friend, Dana Sabat, has a cousin who works at Cary Ortho and does scheduling for the best doctors there.  Needless to say, God is faithful.  We have an appointment Friday morning at 8:45am with a doctor who has specialized in traumas as well as sports injuries.  What a blessing .........   

Spencer's ICE Situation ... he needs a real nurse

So ... you want to hear my little story after our ER visit last night with Spencer (broken collar bone) ?  I knew that you would.  I went downstairs this morning at 5:10am to get Spencer a bag of ice for his shoulder.  I think I have slept a total of four hours, off/on, with ice packs.  The mixed vegetables were frozen solid so I thought I'll get the corn out of the freezer in the garage.  I walk into the garage and I hear bells.  Yep, here comes Moses scurrying under the garage door that I left cracked about 7" for him in case he returned in the middle of the night.  He doesn't smell like the neighbor's house so that was a good sign.  He is now a hunter since we cut off his manhood last week.  If he only realized how ticked his sister was for taking off like he did. 

I get the corn out of the freezer, kick the cat for running off and scaring Erica to death, and head back inside, only to find the door coming into the house locked.  I suddenly remembered that I had locked the door because I had left the garage door cracked and thought to myself last night, "I wouldn't want a skinny robber to come in under the door."  So here I stand in the garage with my corn, the kicked cat who won't stop trying to rub all over my feet and I have left Spencer sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for me to return and help him lay back down after helping him go to the bathroom.  And it is 5:10am.  

Since I am not skinny, I realize I can't fit UNDER the door and the opener is on the inside.  Curses.  At this point, I was rattled from sleepy stupor to very awake.  I find my tennis shoes and put them on.  I found a broken broom stick and think for a minute, "why hasn't this been thrown away?"  I lifted the garage window and used the stick to clear any cob webs in the bushes.  At this point, there was no need for me to be screaming in the front yard from a spider web or spider.  As I heave myself out the window, I prayed for no early walkers in the neighborhood.  That would be all I need for the police to show up and think there is a robbery going on.   I make my way down through the bushes waving my trusty broomstick with Moses right on my heels.  

I was hoping in my mind that the front door would be unlocked in the chaos of everything last night.  I got to the front door and low and behold, it was locked.  Curses.  I hunt for the key.  Curses.  Well, what do I do?  I start ringing the doorbell.  Chip goes nuts!  He is barking up a storm.  Moses is at my feet rubbing and gets kicked again.  Chip is at the stairs going nuts and runs to the door.  Now he jumps up and down like he is so excited to see me and no one comes.  So I rang the doorbell four more times to get him to start barking again and finally, Erica wakes up.  She comes downstairs in her own sleepy stupor and looks at me with this teenage look like, "what the heck are you doing out there in your pajamas at 5:25AM?"  She opens the door and Moses and I fight over who gets in first.  I simply looked at her and said, "Don't ask."  But she does anyway.  And so we laugh about our little story, I return for the corn but confirmed the door was unlocked and head upstairs to return to Spencer.  He finally gave in, sucked it up and figured out how to lay down by himself.  Poor guy ..... but he now has his corn, a glass of milk and more pain medicine.  He is happy.  And I am WIDE awake.  

I just had to share .......... I knew this might make you laugh as you head into your day.  I don't make this stuff.  I just report it as it happens in my little world.  Thanks for your prayers!  I'm not sure who needs it more at this point .... LOL!!

Spencer's New Adventure ...

It really isn't an adventure at all but I couldn't think of anything else to write.  Maybe I should title this Spencer's new trauma, new accident, or new spill.  In any case, it is an adventure when it involves him.  

Scott left for Florida on Sunday and the kids and I headed to play Ultimate Frisbee with tons of other families and teens.  Did anything happen?  Nope!  You would think he might have gotten squashed by some 16 year old.  No PROBLEM!  It was the best.  Our Monday was great and we had a wonderful day getting some things accomplished.  Tuesday is our busy day and it went great as well.  The real "fun" began Tuesday evening.  

We went to dinner at the local Chik-Fil-A where I once again got ripped off for dinner.  I have yet to have a good experience at this particular store by our house.  And I am a huge fan but this store is the WORST.  We arrived home and it was absolutely beautiful outside.  So I said to the kids, "Let's take Chip and go for a walk."  The boys were very excited and wanted to ride their skateboards.  So off we went after picking up a couple extra neighborhood kids and their dad who skateboards as well.  

We are headed toward the big hill and the boys were all talking about riding down the hill.  I told them, "Absolutely not will you ride from the top."  They asked, "Can we go half way?"  I said, "Yes, you may go down to the fire hydrant and ride from there."  Then Erica said, "Mom, I wouldn't let them do that.  It is too fast."  And I said, "They will be fine." And Erica says, "I can't watch."  

So ...... they head down.  Spencer gets to the bottom of the hill fine.  But the part where he started to wobble and jumped off the board was when it went bad.  His momentum was going to fast and he couldn't keep his feet under him so he ended up in this very hard, fast football/somersault roll.  He immediately jumped up to his feet and it looked so graceful.  But he immediately grabbed his shoulder and started yelling.  He went from yelling, to crying, to talking, to growling over and over.  "Take me home, I want to go home.  Take me to the hospital, I want to go to the hospital."  

Brad was skating towards us and I yelled for him that Spencer was hurt and I think it is pretty bad based on the pencil like bump I could feel in the top back of his shoulder.  I was pretty sure that wasn't supposed to be there.  Brad ran back to the house and got his car with his wife, Dina. And they drove us back to our house.  Brad got Spencer in my car and off we went.  

Five xrays and three doses of morphine later, the conclusion is Spencer has broken off the tip of clavicle (collar bone) and we will see the specialist on Thursday.  This picture was taken today, Thursday.  Yesterday, he was in a LOT of pain.  Today he is working it out and it is definitely better.  And Scott NEEDS to come home!!!  Spencer's modesty is a real inconvenience!!!  :)  

Speaking of Scholarly

Chip seems to be learning a lot during school.  He is getting smarter and smarter every day ...

A Science Lesson

We are currently studying Astronomy.  We finished our study of weather which was pretty exciting.  I have to tell you this funny story.  I had recorded a few of the "Storm Stories" episodes from the Weather Channel to watch along with our study.  They had enjoyed them so much that last Saturday night, they wanted to watch an episode before bed.  It was filmed in the Caymans in 2003 (I think) when a major hurricane hit, Category 4 I believe.  But the interesting part was the family.  The wife was 9 months pregnant and they chose to ride out the storm because they didn't think she would be allowed to board a plane that late in her pregnancy.  They rode out the storm, lost most of their roof and when it was over, they surveyed the damage.  AND she went into labor.  They arrived at the hospital and was immediately put on a plane for Miami to have the baby.  The story went on but what was so funny was Spencer looked at us during the story and he said, "I just don't get it.  I mean, how are they gonna get that baby out of her?"  And Jack pipes in, "Yeah, what do they do, cut it out?"  And their friend, Nathan, who was spending the night says, "Oh I know how they get that out and you don't want to know."  And he begins to point, down there, you know what I'm talking about?  To which I looked at him and said quietly, "You know, this is that part where you are to keep certain things to yourself and allow a parent to address matters such as this."  And you could tell by the look on his face that I knew that is exactly what his mom and dad had told him to do!!!  Hysterical .... so as the boys CONTINUE to ask questions, Scott tells them that this conversation is coming in the spring.  I'm wondering if he is going to take them to a barn or something and watch a calf be born since they are waiting until spring.  But anyway, as they continued to probe, I finally said, "You will get more information but God gave women a birth canal and that is how the baby comes out and you will find out more later."  It was funny that giving them a word like birth canal was enough to answer their question and that was the end of that little story.  But you can see their creations finished and styrofoam balls cut in half worked very well for this project thanks to my friend, Brandie, who told me they had them at the dollar store!!!!  Woohoo!!  

Back to my other lesson.  We are studying space and learning all sorts of interesting things, many things that I have forgotten.  This week, we painted and created our own solar system (not to size) but we had a lot of fun with it.  I taught the boys how to take a little paint and a little bit of water on a toothbrush to make stars.  I'm wondering how long it will be before I find tiny flecks of stars on the walls in their room .... 

On a side note, do you know if you take a basketball and a peppercorn next to one another that symbolizes what the size of the sun and the earth are next to each other??  Pretty incredible when you think about it ....... they are definitely learning just how pretty amazing our Creator truly is .......