Carter Gets His Cast

I got Carter early from school on Tuesday to go see an ortho about his arm. We were hoping for best case scenario, and that's just what we got!

He wasn't too excited to be there. He's been nervous about getting a cast, he didn't want a full arm one, but we just didn't know what was going to be needed. He's been anxious about it, for sure.

 We didn't have to have any new X-rays done, so that was nice, and saved some time. And the fracture does not go up to the growth plate, so it should be a quick and easy healing process! And best news of all was that she felt like he would do fine with a half arm cast. He was THRILLED with that news!!

 Showing it off. He picked blue! Also, it's waterproof! So we can squeeze in a few more swims this summer, or not have to worry about it in the shower. Just have to make sure we get it good and dried out after, but it will be totally worth it, I think! Remembering how much of a pain it was with Ella's, I'm so glad we don't have to be so careful.

 So, 4 weeks and it comes off! Yay! Definitely best case scenario all the way around. Also, he is getting the ability to grip things back as all of his fingers are free, so it should make things easier on him again. Overall, great day as far as injuries go! That's one happy face for having a broken arm!

His teacher even called to check in on him and talk to him this afternoon. How amazingly awesome is that?! And she said she'd let everyone sign over the next few days. So I look forward to checking out all his cast graffiti! :)

Carter's First Day of 1st Grade!

Carter had a wonderful day of 1st grade, even with his broken arm! 

Handsome boy! And so ready and excited!! 

Continuing the Class of 2027 shirt tradition! 

I'm just glad I remembered I had it (and where it was, for that matter) after a whole year! 

 Love these comparison pictures. He looks so much more grown up each year.... it's crazy!

  :)

We were so happy and relieved to get the teacher we'd been hoping for! He also has 6 or 7 good little friends in his class that he knows well from last year, so that's another bonus! We walked him to school on Monday, and he didn't have any hesitations at all. Just excited to be there!

We got this picture from his teacher halfway through the day. So nice to see that big smile and know he's having a good day while he's gone.

When I picked him up, he had great things to say about his day. But was also very happy to be home!!

With the splint on, he's been writing and coloring with his left arm. Kind of hard for him to do, but I'm proud of him for attempting it! He's been operating one-handed since it happened because the splint blocks any grasp on that hand, so I was nervous for how school would go for him because of that. But after talking with both him and his teacher, it sounds like it wasn't even an issue at all the first or second days of school! Big relief! 

Happy to get back into a routine, and looking forward to an awesome year in 1st grade!

Final Week of Summer 2015 {and another broken bone}

When we got back from New Orleans, we had a few days of fun before the serious business of 'back to school' started.

Cole spent his time getting into shoes and other stuff, as usual.

Oh, and also.... I gave Cole a hair cut. Ha! His first one, just a trim around his ears and the back. I think I did pretty good. Look at all that hair we said bye-bye too!

Working hard?

Nah. Hardly working.

I spend so much time each day going after this little toot and cleaning up! How quickly you forget the mess they can make!

Lots of fun in the storage cabinet of the media room!

Those eyes and that grin and those dimples... just so cute!

We had such amazing weather on Wednesday night, so we went down to the park after dinner. I was on one side of the park with Ella and Cole, and Eric was with Carter on the other side of the park. I didn't see it happen, but Carter was swinging on the monkey bars and fell to the ground, butt first. He put his hand under him to brace his fall and hurt his hand/wrist. Eric went to him and helped him through it, but we initially just thought it was jammed or sprained. We iced it when we got home. It still seemed a little like it hurt, but he was able to do normal things with it. He even spent about half and hour coloring at the table (his right hand-he's right handed!) without complaint or restriction. We gave him Tylenol before bed just in case. He did come down once during the night complaining of pain. Then the next morning we noticed he was holding it still and stationary, and Eric didn't like that. He's had lots of broken arms, so I guess he knows what to look for. He said, let's just take him to get an x-ray just in case. Better safe than sorry. Thankfully, Eric was able to work from home and keep the younger 2 while I took Carter to get it checked out. Here we are waiting to see the doctor and hear results of the scan.

They X-rayed both hands in multiple positions to compare, since he's still growing so fast. His left arm (L) is the healthy one.... nice smooth bone all the way down. His right arm.... sure enough, a fractured radius bone! Just below the wrist, and possibly to the growth plate.

Below you can see where it's crooked.... and you can see the separation in the center there too. So, we left with a splint, and a very nervous little boy to meet his teacher and start school with a cast. He was more upset about that than anything else. Poor guy. And we had to wait 6 days before we could see an ortho because they need to make sure the swelling is stabilized. It did finally swell up pretty big on Saturday (2 1/2 days later). That had us a little nervous, but it went down before the end of the day. So on Thursday night, he met his teacher and saw all his friends and had to answer the question, "What happened to your arm?" at least 100 times. :)

Cole's not scared of the storm trooper... proof here in him giving him a kiss. HA!

Patio progress! Flagstone is almost done and the kitchen has been started! And look how tall Carter seems here!

We went to the library one last time this summer. Eric got to go with us this time, he'd never been! Carter sat and read the whole time. I'm so proud of how well he's done this summer, keeping up with his reading. If it's possible, I think he's actually improved in his reading instead of just maintaining. I'm still shocked at how well he's done.

Ella scoped out a little boy looking at books on the shelves, and sweet talked him and his dad (and her daddy, too!) into having a tea party in the play area. How cute is this?!

Cole enjoyed the kitchen area!

and making a mess of our books!

At dinner Saturday night, Ella learned to write her name! (bottom left) I thought she did pretty good! She even duplicated it by memory a few days later. Smart girl!

Always at the gym!

We had an easy, low key day on Sunday and decided to finish the summer off right with a trip to Braum's for ice cream.

And I'll leave you with a video of Cole demanding ice cream. :)

First day of school pics to come!

NOLA Trip

We had an awesome time visiting my brother in New Orleans! It was a short trip, but we had truly amazing weather, and it was the perfect way to finish out our summer vacation! 

Saturday - Day 1: 

We flew to NOLA with my parents. This was Ella and Cole's first flight, and Carter's first since he was about 15 months old. So his first memorable flight, really. My older two kiddos could hardly contain their excitement! And Cole did amazing on the plane. Slept the whole time, just like I tried to plan it! I didn't know it then, but that was a perfect indication of how he'd do the rest of the trip. Seriously, awesome! 

Sweet boy playing with Daddy in the airport at the gate. So tired, but still so happy.

On the plane and EXCITED!

All 5 of us

I sat with my boys (and my Mom, who boarded after this pic.)

Way up high and checking it all out!

When we finally landed, got bags, and got to the hotel, we were happy to see Matt and Andrew, and ready to eat! We went across the street to a great pizza place.

Family time!

Did I mention we were all STARVING?! Especially Cole! I had a few squeeze pouches of fruit and veggie baby foods with me, but those just were not cutting it for him. That boy needed to cram his face with some REAL food! So we asked the waitress if she could bring out some chopped up pizza toppings for him to eat - ham, cheese, pineapple, etc. And look what she came up with! I mean, really?! How awesome is that?! all of the above plus bell peppers, bacon, Gouda cheese (yum!), and sliced bread. Basically a smorgasbord! And this pretty much sums up how Cole did food in New Orleans! :)

Matt got a new motorcycle, and when we walked back after lunch and into the parking lot to check it out, this is what we found. HA! His co-workers did this!

The kids swam for a while and Cole napped before we headed out to dinner for some cajun food at Mulates.

Day 2: The Aquarium and IMAX movie and a Riverboat Tour

Daddy walking Cole down the hall.  

So big in his Nikes!

Family shot on the river

Another shot with the aquarium behind us

The boys

 Not sure why Ella's covering her ears, ha!

 

Lots of fun checking out each exhibit

Cole mesmerized

I think he kind of liked looking at the fish, but it also kid of scared him! He seemed pretty nervous.

Penguin up close!

Touching a sting ray

Ha, love this!

The kids loved this vantage point of the fish! 

 

And of course, we had to squeeze all 3 of them in there. Poor Cole was practically asleep in his stroller when I snatched him out and crammed him up that cylinder. But this picture is priceless! Love it! 

Getting ready to get on the river boat

silly faces

We had a rain storm come while we were on board, but it cooled things off, and we stayed mostly dry! Best of all, the rain all passed before we got off again!

so tired! but refusing to sleep.

pretty girl with Nana

Checking out the big paddle

FINALLY asleep! It was so nice and cool, and breezy, and raining for some of the time. Must have been a super relaxing nap for him!

He cracked us up, always propping that foot up on the tray!

After a long day of sightseeing, these kiddos passed out in their bed that night!

So precious.

 Day 3: The Children's Museum, a delicious lunch, and a little sibling time for the adults!

Who knew that New Orleans had such an amazing children's museum! We spent the morning there, and the kids had so much fun! I think even the adults had fun! There was so much to do, and it really wasn't too crowded at all. Great outing!

Fun making shadows

Community helper dress up

Silly mirrors

Fun with huge and interesting shaped blocks

Their little Winn Dixie supermarket was just the cutest!

Look at Ella loading up her basket! That giant turkey!! HAHA!!

See, adults having fun too!

We also had a lot of fun playing in the cafe back there, but didn't get any pictures of that.

Cole loved the toddler area

Playing family with uncle Matt

So big!

He gives out kisses now! Cutest thing ever!

Love this precious boy

So many babies!

Really an awesome museum!

 We walked a block to eat lunch at an awesome spot called Peche. It was so tasty, probably my favorite meal we had there!

We took the kids back to the hotel for some down time, and Eric, Matt and I went to have some beers at a couple of local breweries. Fun adult time away from the kiddies!

My flight. All were tasty

Eric's flight. He liked them all.... and I did too! ;)

That night we went to a nearby deli for dinner called Butcher. It was another great meal! 2nd favorite, for sure!

Eric was proud of Carter for eating boudin!

 We were up and at the airport ready to head home the next morning. Cute shot of the kids all checking out the airplanes.

Trying to stay entertained!

Perfect little traveler sleeping on the flight home

Love him! I'm so happy we didn't let having a baby slow us down this trip -- he was such a trooper and was almost completely unphased by it all!

So sweet!

We loved every minute of our short trip, and can't wait for the next one!!