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!

   

 

The blessings of being a farmer's wife

After I had posted my previous post we had a surprise visit from a tall, dusty, visitor. Our favorite kind of visitor. I was reminded of the joys of being a farmer's wife.... the pop-ins. I loooooooove the pop-ins. You never know when sweetie will be popping in for a quick minute. This pop-in lasted long enough for lingering hugs and a push on the swing. You can see the joy on their faces. They love the pop-ins too.

I can hardly stand how adorable Natalie is with her blanket and thumb in her mouth.

Happy

    Okay, so I'm not feeling the joys this week of being "the farmer's wife". The farmer's absence is getting to me a bit. I worry about his health, or falling asleep on the often times long drive home. I am always in awe of how one can work so hard on such little sleep. My husband is amazing to me which just make me miss him all the more. It's a nice time of year to be reminded to not take this gift that God has given me for granted. When he's not around I realize how much he completes me and holds me up. Thank you, God for bittersweet reminders of the gifts and love you have poured into our lives.
   I am loving the view from my dirty bedroom window of the boys tromping in their favorite mud hole. this is the sight that inspired me to turn on the computer and record my thoughts. I love this Tuesday morning! Sounds from the open window of Carter barking orders to Alton and Alton's "Okay, Carter" reply. Little boy truck noises, laughter, screams and somtimes cries. They seem to be working each scenario out on their own. Wonderful! I am not going to break into that. :)
     I got all my Costco and grocery shopping out of the way yesterday and I think I may have bought enough food for over a month. Ha, ha. It's a relaxed day of staying home and giving each child unhurried attention. I crave these days and delight in them when they arrive.
   Sorry, no pictures. But hopefully you can visualize... me at the computer still needing a shower, Natalie sleeping soundly on her tummy in her crib with her thumb in her mouth, the boys running back and forth by the open sliding door. Happy... everyone seems to be happy today. :) I shall choose to be too.

Random

Sunday afternoon...
     Lewie is working his busiest day yet and I am missing him more than ever today. Sunday is my least favorite day of the week when we aren't together as a family. But on the flip side, my favorite when we are all together. It's a good time to blog though. :) Here's some random shots.

The first laughing shot of Natalie

My three little luv's :) This picture makes me feel happy

Oh, how precious! My favorite. :)

My favorite Pedicure. Compliments of Mama Mary. Happy Birthday to me :)

    

What an angel girl. I am so enjoying being Natalie's mother. She is beginning to respond and interact with me and the boys. She loves to smile and be talked to. Her and I are already good friends. :) I look forward to cultivating that relationship with her in the years to come. My sweet little girl! Precious gift from above.

We went to visit Grandma GeeGee on Saturday morning instead of the traditional Soccer game. It was nice to see her in such good spirits and to catch up a bit. The boys brought fruit roll-ups, marshmallows, and a couple books to occupy themselves. Alton walked over to the picture by Grandma's bed a million times and asked, "who's that?". It's a picture of my Grandma and Papa Hugh, whom Alton is named after. Papa died before Carter was born so none of my kids remember him. I realized that I need to have more pictures up of family.

showing off the fruit roll-ups

Marshmallows!

When we came home there was a shiny new golf cart in our driveway. Complete with flames :).

Lewie called it the "family golf cart". WaaaaHooooo! That thing is FAST!!! Carter is all about the seat in the back. I think that's pretty cool too.

I strapped Natalie on and we all went for a ride since Daddy said he wouldn't make it home till late. The boys couldn't wait for Daddy. So we "checked the pump" for him.

Happy, happy, happy!

So long!