Trick or Treat

Alton and Natalie are sleeping but I hear Carter outside playing, "Trick or Treat". Probably with his imaginary friend, Mark. Who is usually getting bossed around because evidently he works for Carter. He's eating a sucker on the swing and explaining that the masks are just pretend but we don't like the scary ones just the same and that when you say "trick or treat" you get candy.

Started the candy hunt off at Grandpa and CoCo's house. I think it's sweet that Carter was waiting for Alton. Especially considering that we told him there was candy waiting at the door for him.

The first few pic's are a bit fuzzy because I didn't realize that my night setting was on. oopsie.

Ask Carter what he is and he will say, "Workin' Guy". Alton says, "Handy Manny."

Trick or Treat... or whatever :)

Alton was not digging the picture taking. Not a good start to the evening.

Sad boy!

Sweet girl!

Candy talk. Carter told Josie that she looked beautiful and that he loved her dress.

Alton is still not really excited about all this.

Maybe this is why we had the tears. Someone looks pretty sleepy.

On to the next stop. Now Alton's getting into it.

Papoo and Grammy's house.

Getting suited up. We couldn't seat belt them in with those tool belts so we had to redress at each stop before we went to the door.

Is it just me or is my firstborn baby looking very tall and grown up? (sniff sniff)

This is Carter at that very same door on October 31st, 2007.

Wow!

What a difference three years makes.

"Here I come, Carter"

No one can get Natalie laughing quite like Carter can. She thinks that he is the funniest thing.

He doesn't even have to try.

We stopped in at grandma gee gee's too. She was so surprised and delighted.

Next stop: Aunt Tena's. She had carved these great pumpkins that led the way to the door.

I love this shot with Alton's mitt full of candy

Fog machine just kicked on and the boys are two seconds away from realizing it and freaking out.

Last stop!

Uncle Nathan and Aunt Sarah's.

We picked up a pizza on the way and stayed for the rest of the evening.

Ha ha! This expression says it all for what a whirlwind evening it was. Just four houses and their baskets were bulging. It was a fun night to use as an excuse to drop in on some family members for a quick visit. Carter keeps saying what a fun time he had and how he can't wait for next year. I agree, buddy!

JOY

My three little joys. This picture is a good reminder to me of what a blessing these three are. Last week was a rough week of testing, training and tears. I am being trained right along with my wee ones.

Tested? you bet! Worth it? Absolutely! I can't help but smile when I look at these shining faces. I need to stop and breathe every so often and choose joy in these sometimes tumultuous training years.

I thought I had gotten these boys to bed. Hmmm...Is my memory that bad?

They needed just a bit more snuggle time with Dad before hitting the hay.

All three were quite tickled about it too. Little stinkers! I can't prove it but I am pretty sure the one in the middle is the instigator. :)

It's been awile since I've blogged. I have been meaning too, but haven't even been turning on the computer recently. Time to start catching up with my "computer friends"! :)
   Carter's finger is making a a full recovery. It still looks pretty gross but the splint is off and we just "hide" it with a band aid. He's getting new skin and the surgeon said that he will definately get a new nail. The old one is still on. At least half of the old nail. I think it will come off any day now. Eewww.
   More updates and pic's soon.

My 31st birthday

My 31st birthday was a good day. Carter and I went to Dr. Lenser's to have her check out the finger. Then just the two of us went to Target to get finger wrapping supplies. It was really fun to get to spend special time with just him. We walked around Target with our icee and starbucks and enjoyed just being. No distractions or hurry... A nice contrast to the normal everyday routine. A good start to my birthday.

Had lunch at Angie's and celebrated some little friends birthdays too.

The new bandage

Natalie's new friend, Olivia.

The birthday princess's

My new favorite picture

The traditional pink two-tiered cake. Brynnie's excited about it.

Lewis showed up for the cake. :) He also had brought me a lunch time giacomo's. Love that man!

Brynnie couldn't keep her fingers out of the cake and Jaden had fun snitching strawberries from the sides. The things we all want to do. :)

It was a good day... a really good day.

The day after the storm

Carter seems a bit grumpy today and impatient with his handicap. I have figured out that when he's irritable his finger is hurting but he doesn't want me to know because he doesn't like how his pain medicine tastes. It is pretty nasty.

   Uncle Justin came bearing gifts and made the day better. Carter is adding to his collection of special treasures that must go top bed with him. If this keeps up Lewis and I may have to trade beds with him.
    Auntie Angie, Jaden and Josie had a bag of treasures for Carter from the Disney store when we came home from the hospital, to help make this whole experience "fun". It worked wonderfully and Carter thinks this is almost as good as a birthday. Except for that trip to the hospital.
    Lewie's employee and his wife also brought both Carter and Alton some trucks. It helps me keep him down a bit and inside away from mud and dirt. Not a good thing for bandages. :)



this is the bandage they put on at the hospital and told us to leave it. By Friday it was pretty loose. Thankfully we saw Dr. Lenser, the kids pediatrician and the nurse re-wrapped it with instructions for me to do the same twice a day. I am posting this on Tuesday and happy to say that since Friday I have gotten pretty good at it and even have lost the nausea feeling from the sight of Carter's finger.

I thought I checked and made sure that everyone's eyes were open. oops!

Carter wouldn't let me take his hospital bands off. As you can see, he is still wearing them. He finally let me cut them off on Friday before he saw Dr. Lenser. I love this picture! They love this golf cart.

    

Bible study and the ER

     Last Wednesday I posted on my Facebook staus "I love Wednesdays". I still do but maybe just not this one.   
      Bible study went well. I got a close parking space, Carter didn't cry when I took him to his class, Alton made it through the entire morning without me and Natalie was content as well. A perfect morning... Until Carter's caught his finger in a heavy, metal, self-closing door. Whoever thought self-closing doors was a good idea didn't have children.
   What a nightmare! I don't know how I held it together with all the blood and his screams of pain.  The sight of his mangled finger was horrible. It makes me sick just thinking about it. When I pulled it out of the door I knew we would be making a trip to the ER. I had Natalie in my arms so I started calling "help" and my dear friend Nicole happened to be coming out of the children's center just then and took Natalie. I wrapped Natalie's receiving blanket around Carter's hand to stop the blood that was literally shooting out of his nearly severed fingertip. All of a sudden there were several lady's around helping me and taking my children, calling my mom and husband, and driving us to the hospital. Dear friends and strangers (who are now dear friends as well). What would I have done if these precious people had not been around to help us.
    God was watching out for us. Starting that morning when I got my close parking spot. He knew I would need to get to my car quickly.
   I was able to get a hold of Lewis on the short ride to the hospital and he arrived with 30 minutes. Alton went with Nicole and Mom came and took over Natalie who had to come to the hospital with me since I am still nursing her. What a wild ride!
    We got into a bed immediately and soon saw a doctor. They brought Carter a blue bear that he named "jack". He gave the nurse a huge smile when she brought it to him and it hasn't left his side since.
   The x-rays showed a small fracture that they felt would not be a problem and sedated him to clean and stitch the finger. I had warned him that it was nearly severed which he confirmed after Carter was out. He referred us to a hand surgeon which we will see early next week.
    Carter's comment to Lewis when he arrived was, "I don't think I can be a farmer anymore, Dad". Daddy reassured him that he thought he could. :)
    Carter was amazing! I'm so proud of my sweet little boy.

Carter had such a forlorn look so I thought I would snap a picture of how pathetic he looked but when he saw the camara he gave me a big Carter smile. This was the temporary bandage triage put on for him.

Carter coming back to awareness with his new buddy, Jack. Auntie Angie had also brought his blankies and doggie that he loves to sleep with.

Natalie getting some snuggle time with Daddy

Home. Yay!

Tired after a BIG day!