Oral Injury

My poor baby boy.

The kids were playing, dancing and singing in the playroom tonight (6pm). They were having a great time. Yes, they were out of my sight but I could hear everything - or so I thought.

G came into the other room to announce that Z hurt his mouth. Z came up to me and pointed in his mouth with "owy" eyes. I tested his front teeth for movement. None. I kept look at the teeth. He kept pointing. I took him over to the window for better light. Then, I saw it. BLOOD all down his throat.

Injury to the palate. I felt around. It appears to be soft tissue but I was worried. I sent G to get Auntie - "Tell Auntie that Mama has a problem." Auntie came right away. The moral support is always good. She also went to get ice in a wet washcloth.

Z's eyes were afraid. I was calm but inside I was like: Oh crap. Did this puncture the bone? Does he need to go to the hospital? Does he have a brain injury?" Kids. They don't come with instruction manuals :(

Cause: He'd taken down the curtains. The tension rod that was holding them up had the plastic safety ends removed. He'd been dancing with a curtain rod in his mouth! In a room full of toys, he takes down the curtains!?!? The rod had cut his palatal tissue. aaaah!

I held him for an hour. He asked for medicine because it hurt. Tylenol on board. Ice helped stop the bleeding. Mama snuggles were soothing (for both of us).

And off to bed he went - not struggles. Tired eye rubbing.

I'm headed up now to check on him. Poor thing. :(

You don't speak like that, Mama!

This afternoon while I was trying my best to stay calm as I encouraged my son to BEHAVE by:

-staying in his room during naptime.

-keeping his diaper on during naptime - it is required, dude!

and as I was holding him in my arms - close/tender, I said to him: Z, you MUST OBEY Mama! He looked up at me and then away and then back and said:

"Mama, you don't speak like that! It's naughty. You not nice."

hmmmmmmm

Tonight, after he was caught out of his room multiple times, he jumped onto G's bed and body slammed her as she was sleeping, he put tons of toys inside the window sill in her room/up against the screen that would easily pop out and he could land on the ground (from the 2nd floor) and the kicker:

walking around and playing with a hammer that he'd retrieved from Mem's room...

Paupi installed a hook latch on the OUTSIDE of his door. He was heartbroken as he looked up at his Paupi as it was being installed. He really tries to obey Paupi and adores him BUT he viewed this as Paupi being mean. We tried to explain to him that we loved him and we needed to keep him safe. His heart was breaking and the tears were so big.

He cried and cried. Auntie went to try to console him. Then, I went in and shared with him how much I love him and he needs to be safe...and go to sleep. He turned over in his bed and agreed to go to sleep. So sad.

I'm sure a child psychologist would say this was bad for him and probably social services wouldn't allow it BUT, I'm thinking children who are alive with a little emotional trauma are better than those who are dead or severely disabled. Just my thought...

And, now we can call him Johnna - as she was the only child in the previous generation of kids that required a lock on her door - the quiet one did lots of naughty things while the rest of us slept!

Oh, and by the way, this style of a child safety device worked for a little while but he is the master of removing this now - less than 10 seconds...so I was left with the "put holes in the door and frame" version above. :(

Today is the day...

That my son's heart will get broken a little more when his beloved sister goes for her twice a year visit with her Daddy. He longs for a Daddy. She has one that isn't super involved. I cringe every time she talks about her Daddy in front of hime because I know it just hurts his little heart.

Please pray for Z-man today.

Please pray for G as she goes to her Father's house for 4 nights. She's older now. Can't remember the details of being at her father's house and is a little nervous.

Pray that her father has wisdom as he cares for her.

Ugh. This is what happens when adults break promises they make to and about children...broken hearts/emptiness, etc.

On another note - we are enjoying our time in AZ! Visited with their former daycare provider yesterday, went swimming, and went to dinner at our friends' house (they have 2 boys so that was great!).

A new comb...took me 3.5 years to find this?

I figure that I wasn't really "doing" G's hair the first year. She was a little over a year the first time I used product, did ponies, etc...

So, 3-3.5 years later and I found this miracle comb:
It came in a pack of combs I bought while vacationing in Florida.



Use:
--Start with the 3 pronged end.
While in tub with conditioner on her wet hair, I combed through her hair rather quickly.

--Moved to the wide toothed section (clockwise).
I combed through all of her hair. I spent quite a bit more time doing this. Best part: NO tears, no crying or complaining.

--I moved to the narrower toothed section. and held her hair in puffs and combed through them - moving around the head using this approach. The one hurt a little bit - one complaint.


Result: Almost all knots were out before she was out of the tub.



"Negative": More hair in the tub!


Bonus: I used this comb on my hair (out of the shower). She gets to see her white Mama use the same hair item as she uses - a nice bonus when so much and be "different".....



Extra: More bonding time with Mama and girl during tub time!

(Other than forgetting to rinse ANY of the conditioner out of her hair, this was the "easiest" and most pain-free hair morning in a long, long time!)

VBS and an unexpected tear (or 2)

Gianna went to VBS at a church I once attended when I lived in Scarborough, ME a decade and a half ago. I saw their sign last Saturday and it started Monday. We just showed up without info. It all worked out. Our church doesn't do VBS.




This little light of mine:

This church is 100% white.

But, they love the same God and worship Him too.

Her experience:

She was nervous on day 1 but her cousin was with her (one day only).

She loved it the rest of the week. It was either the snack or the craft but she loved it.

She didn't like Thursday as much (they talked about the cross, his death - with nails, the stone, etc...) A little Easterish (see previous post) but overall the week was great!

We memorized the 5 verses at home each night.

Today - closing program. I took Z-man (who didn't want to sit still with a platform of kids in front of him).

I sat alone.

I took lots of photos.

Why? It was one of those moments that I'd loved to have shared with her Daddy. First time my first born was standing on any stage, any where for any reason.

Good thing G wasn't sad and she has never experienced her Father actually showing up at ANY events so she doesn't expect him to be there.

I was proud.

The tear fell from the right eye.

I was happy.

I was sad.

Parenthood.

After they finished, I realized that Bob (Paupi) had arrived and saw 2/3 of the 30 minute performance. G was aware of his presence the entire time so that was good!

Notable things:

G's first performance and her fly was unzipped.
She was in left field much of the time!

She kept picking up her shirt (good thing she wore a bathing suit underneath).

She knew a lot of the songs.

She never really smiled but I could tell she was having a good time.

After, they hosted a cookout. Kids enjoyed that including watermellon and ice cream!

They were really hesitent of the water slide (that they'd talked about for 2 days). Z eventually went down with an older boy. Then, a man slide him down and that was his experience. All smiles. Then, the same man slide Gianna down and that was it! She went down over and over. All kinds of smiles!

Oh, and can I mention how thankful I was for all of the men who volunteered. For families without Daddy's, these men are soooooo important. So, share that with the special men in your lives. They matter to mothers like me and children like mine!!

Hide it in your heart

G is attending bible school this week - 1st time. I must admit when I dropped her off on Monday (7/5) and drove away - it made me kind of sad. It was the first time I've left her somewhere (except daycare). She's becoming a little preschooler.

First day bible verse - memorized:
God answered, I will be with you. Ex. 3:12

Day 1 - she liked the craft
Day 2 - you liked the snack (popcorn and juice)

Let's see what day 3 brings....and her first public performance will be Friday (closing program)!

What is your favorite 4th of July Treat?

http://familyfun.go.com/4th-of-july/4th-of-july-recipes/patriotic-recipes/

Oh what a Friday aka - $$$

Sometimes things come at you all at once. Friday felt like such a busy day (and it was)!

1. Lawn mowed at 7 am = $20.


2. Out to get milk and ended up with a car full of groceries (shopping without kids = soooo much easier!)


3. Out to get the final 4 pieces of wood to finish the pool. Check - except on the way home (less than 2 miles), a big white pick up truck pulled out in front of me, I had to slam on the breaks at 30 miles/hour and bam...the wood caused a problem in my vehicle - More $.



4. Dropped wood off at house and went to drop said vehicle off to have repair - the door locking system was broken and the driver's seatbelt needed to be replaced. ~$200.


5. While there, one of the salesmen had brought in a used car from VT to show me (I'd been snooping around for a larger vehicle). Check - this seemed like the car for me. I'd done some research ahead of time so I knew this was a good deal. Negotiated down nearly $1800. Bought it.
Why was a looking for a new car? Current car seats 5 (3 kids). I have 2 so that means that there was only room for one more and that was TIGHT! I got a call for 2 kids a week or so ago and I'd have been hard pressed to manage transportation (there are other cars available). This new vehicle would deal with it. Honda Pilot = eight seats (6 for kids) - 2 front seats, 3 middle, 3 back.


Feels odd to buy a used car. My last 3 cars have been new.


Car has tons of stains on the floors and the leather is worn but overall, the car is in good shape. I got the extended warranty (at a super discount - over a grand off because the guy doing the paperwork and his wife want to adopt. I told him I was buying this vehicle to increase the number of seats in order to parent 1-2 foster children. Once he realized that I wasn't going to buy the warranty and he'd heard my story, he offered it at the much lower price. I went for it. Never sure on those things!!?!).



I took "G" with me to look at the car/try it out. I told her it was a surprise but boy is it difficult for a 4 year old to NOT share exciting news. She went out with Auntie to run an errand and they drove by the dealership and she announced - "That's where Mama is getting our new car." Funny.

Kids had a ton of fun playing in the back of the car tonight. I don't think Z-man understands that it is our car/we get to keep it. Guess he will in the morning when I install his carseat.

The whole car buying thing was a good thing for G. She was so well behaved. The salesman even commented on it. She got to eat PB crackers and drink some water out of a cute little water bottle and I could demonstrate faith/trusting the Lord/seeking his guidance when we prayed over the purchase of the car. Of course, she announced "I don't want to pray, Mama. I don't want to go to heaven today, I want us to get a new car" with her never ending fear that any prayer = immediate departure to heaven - like RIGHT NOW. Oh well.


Car has to go back next week for a paint job (included in negotiation). Might need to add running boards (depending on price) as my 4' 10" Mom will struggle to buckle kids into the car without them. We'll see. Don't have to deal with that today/this month but might get a quote as she transports my kids A LOT.


5. Home to see the pool company install our new pool liner (that was torn when we exposed the pool in the spring). So cool to watch it installed. Filled. Chemicals. Now, one more backwash on Saturday and we can swim in it - July 3rd - half of the season already over BUT....








Needless to say, Friday was an expensive day. (and that doesn't even count the check I wrote to the handyman who replaced a light switch, outlet and finished off the fence today).

Just thankful to my Mighty Provider...
and Keith - who was the saleman and a Christian man, husband and father of EIGHT!