Ocean and the zoo!

Last weekend we went on our annual trip to Pacific Beach with the family. We had a great time. We went Saturday-Monday. Saturday ended up being a rainy day, but we still had fun. Mom and I ended up going down to the beach right before dusk, but otherwise we didn't go on the beach because of the weather (and because the forecast was for much better the next day). We had fun in the "beach house" as Shaun calls it and 6 of us went and played a game of bowling.

This is our 4th year staying at the Navy resort and we love it. A 5 bedroom house on the bluff by the ocean for really cheap; can't beat it. It is one of the reasons Bill wants to stick out the reserves until he can retire, because then we get to keep privileges like these! There is a small 4 lane bowling alley that we have enjoyed each year. This year they had done some upgrades, so there was a whole new computer system which included the feature of player by player choosing if you wanted to have bumpers. So, Shaun could have bumpers and the rest of us didn't have to; really nice! Most of us wished we had put on bumpers by the end because we were pretty rusty!

Sunday ended up being a perfect day! It was sunny with a few clouds and NO (or hardly any) wind. That is really unusual for the ocean especially when it is clear. So we were able to sit and let the kids dig and play. I know other years we have not done that because it has been too cold to do anything but move around.

Logan did fine with his cast. We used one of Bill's big wooly socks to cover it up and keep it clean and dry; that worked great! He played and had fun using his left had like always. It has been on now for almost 4 weeks and he acts like it has always been there and always been a lefty. We were saying that this is probably making new pathways in his brain so making him smarter! :)

This year the boys shared the bunk room. The 5th bedroom in the house is a small converted laundry room, so big enough to fit a bunk bed and a side table, but that's it. They were both so excited and thrilled to be sleeping on the bunk bed. In year's past, Shaun has slept in the second twin bed in Auntie's room and Logan has slept in the bunk room in the play yard. But, they are growing up and could both sleep in the beds. However, going to sleep was a little chore. Bill finally sat in the room with them to get them to be quiet and stay laying down. The first night they didn't get to sleep until 10:45 or so...but then slept great until morning!


Today, we went to the Woodland Park Zoo. We had received an annual zoo pass as a gift and it is about to expire, so we wanted to get one last trip in on the pass. It was a great day to see the animals. It was a little chilly, but we were fine in just sweatshirts. At times it was even warm in the sun!

We even let the boys go on the carousel today. Logan had never been and was a bit unsure about it; until it started going that is. Right away he got a big smile on his face and had a blast! Shaun made sure to get on a horse that "goes up and down" he said. This is Logan's unsure face before it started....

Logan's broken arm

Are you interested to hear all the details about Logan's broken arm? If so, keep reading. There is nothing too gory, maybe just one sentence or two....And, he is doing great, so you know as you read this!

It all started on my end with a call while I was on my way home from work on Monday at 3:50:

Bill: "Are you still at work or are you on your way home?" I hear screaming in the background...
Me: "I'm on my way home." panic, panic....
Bill: "Where are you?"
Me: I look around and can't come up with the name of the street I'm approaching. I stumble with my words and say, "I don't know, what is going on?"
Bill: "Logan fell off Shaun's bed and his arm doesn't look right!"
Me: "What, how does it not look right?
Bill: "I don't know it just does. I think we need to take him in.
Me: "Since I'm close to home, why don't you look up the time when Everett urgent care opens, and then I'll be home and we can go together."
Bill: "Ok" panic, panic...

So then I got home and looked at Logan's arm myself, while he was still crying/softly sobbing. Bill was right, it didn't look right. His right arm had a slight bulge in it and was kind of curved. Bill had them both ready to go, so we hopped in the car and headed to Group Health's Everett urgent care clinic which opens at 4:30. Otherwise, we could have gone to Seattle or Bellevue which are open 24/7 for urgent care.

We got there about 4:30 and were seen pretty fast, just had to wait maybe 5 minutes. The nurse looked at him and took all his vitals, etc. and made comments like, "that doesn't look good.." (just want I want to hear). She gave him some ibuprofen, which seemed to calm him down and stop the crying; amazingly. We saw the PA on duty briefly before the x-rays. She looked at him too and explained stuff to us, and said it could just be a "green tree fracture" which isn't as bad because just part of the bone has broken.

Then x-rays were next. The x-ray room was right next to the exam room we were in. They did a couple x-rays of his arm while sitting on Daddy's lap. He did so well. I was quite impressed!

The x-rays were then reviewed by the PA and she also consulted with the radiologist. The PA showed us right away that the two bones in his forearm were broken in half, right in the middle of his arm; no "green tree fracture". This was not good news. Then the radiologist cautioned that there may be a dislocated elbow, so to be aware of that because that could mean surgery, etc. This is when I started to break down.... So tough, watching your baby hurt!  :(

This was as far as they could help us at Group Health urgent care (probably because of the severity of the break and that he is a small child). So, they said we were going to Children's hospital in Seattle. Luckily we could drive ourselves, and not have to go by ambulance!

This is when I called my parents to tell them what was going on and to ask if we could drop Shaun off for the evening/night on the way. Of course they said yes. This is also when I texted some of you to pray for Logan! I think we ended up leaving Everett around 6:30-7ish. We had to wait around for a bit before we could leave as they got the paperwork together and got the images on a disk to send with us. We then dropped off Shaun and got to Children's around 7:30-8ish.

We had only sat down for like a minute after checking in at Children's when they took us back to a room. They had been expecting us because the PA at Group Health had consulted with them and then told them we were headed that way. As we were sitting there, I kept thinking of our time at Children's a year and a half ago with our niece.

The nurse assigned to us started evaluating him along with a couple of pediatricians. They got him some stronger pain killers; oxycodone. Then we had to wait for a bit for the orthopedist to review the x-rays already taken and evaluate him. This seemed to take forever, probably 20-30 minutes. One of the doc's said that he was guessing that his arm could be fixed here in the ER, but there was a possibility that it would need to be done "upstairs" in the operating room; the orthopedist would make that call. Panic, panic.... The orthopedist wanted an additional x-ray, so off to the x-ray room we went. He did great again and got a bunch of stickers that he was happy about.

When the orthopedist came after having reviewed the x-rays, he confirmed that yes, they could fix his arm in the ER and probably go home that night (hooray!). The orthopedist's explanation of his break made us feel a lot better than the previous information: The breaks were right in the middle of the arm. This is the best place, as opposed to near the wrist or elbow. And, there is nothing wrong with his elbow; it wasn't dislocated; halleluiah!!  Also, it should heal well. If you were to take an x-ray in 6 months, you would not even be able to tell he ever broke it.

Then, when he explained the procedure to fix his arm, it got a little bit scary. They would sedate him and "reduce" it. The term doesn't make sense to me, but it means that they move the bones back into alignment. One break was going out into a triangle, thus the bulge in his arm, the other break wasn't off or if so, very little. So, they proceeded to put in an IV. They have the process down for kids. We distracted him by looking and counting at all of his stickers while the nurse worked on his "good" arm. The first attempt didn't work, so even though he had to get poked twice, he did so well! After it was all in, they put a brace under that arm so it was easier to rest it, and with everything coming off the arm, he wasn't too happy. He was complaining more about the "good" arm than the "bad" one! Also, he hated the blood pressure monitor on his ankle and the oxygen sensor on his finger. Those were the things he complained or cried about at this point!

By this time it was about 10pm. They had to tell us about the warnings of possible dangers or side effects for the meds to sedate him, but they have to tell you even if the chances are very small that anything will happen. We were there in the room as they administered the meds through the IV and saw as he went "out". It was more of a conscious sedation, meaning his eyes were open, but the lights are out...This happened very quickly, and then we were ushered out of the room to the waiting room. The procedure only took about 30 minutes and this included casting his arm too. We were called back in as soon as it was completed, and told that everything went very well and he had no side effects, even the minor ones (even no side effects that can happen later through the night like throwing up).

We sat with him and coxed him to wake up. We got to go home when he could drink. He requested juice instead of the standard popsicle and he was thirsty! He hadn't had anything to eat or drink since lunch and it was midnight now! We walked out of there at midnight, stopped in to pick up Shaun from my parents and then got home about 1am.  Logan was out as soon as he was in his car seat, a lot of it being from the meds, but he was tired too; obviously. He barely woke up to change him for bed at home and then slept very well that night. We woke him up at 8am just to make sure that he was ok. He snuggled with each of us for a bit and then was ready for breakfast; he ate cereal and a banana! I was glad he had an appetite; to me that meant he was feeling ok!

He perked right up after that and was back to his old self pretty soon. I couldn't believe it really. He wanted to play and do his normal activities. I stayed home on Tuesday to get some sleep and take care of my baby! We had lots of snuggle time. He asked several times if his "band aid" (the cast) could come off because he wanted to use his hand, but when we told him it couldn't come off, he was ok with that and figured out how to play with it on. He even colored with his left hand; that is determination! The picture at the top of the blog was taken right after he ate his breakfast.

 

Here he is later in the day on Tuesday:

Then, today, Friday we had the first follow up appointment at Children's. This was at their orthopedic unit. It was to do an x-ray to see if the bones were still in place and to check him out again. The bones are still in place (yay!). The PA said that he looks good. His fingers are still swollen, but that should go down soon. They cut away some of the cast around his thumb to give the thumb some better movement and circulation. He did not like that. It was a loud saw machine that cut it. 

The next follow up appointment is set for Tuesday afternoon, at Children's in Mill Creek; yay; not far from home!  The PA today said that he will have the cast on for 6 weeks, not the 3 that we were told before. That makes more sense to me. He may have a new one put on part way through or keep this one without the wrap on top; I can't quite remember what he said today, but we will find out when we get there. 

Here he is today!

We gave him his first sponge bath this afternoon. They suggested wrapping it in a towel and then with saran wrap. He didn't really like that, and wanted to take a normal bath, but at least he is clean!

Thank you everyone for all of your prayers. They have definitely helped!  He is a trooper!

Awana Sparks, year 1!

Are you curious about what Shaun is learning in his first year of Awana Sparks? He finished his year 1 book, "Hanglider" in December (it took him just 3 months) and this week finished his extra credit book! He loves memorizing God's Word! Miss Nancy gave him an "Extra-Extra Credit" packet to work on for the rest of the year. I have had fun memorizing right along side him! :)

Savior

Power
According to the Scriptures
Raised
Keep
Saved

Here are the verses he memorized in Hanglider (in order of memorization):

 

1. John 3:16 ~ For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

2. Psalm 147:5 ~ Great is our Lord and Mighty in power...

3. 1 Corinthians 15:3 ~ ...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

4. 1 Corinthians 15:4 ~ That He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

5. James 2:10 ~ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

6. Acts 16:31 ~ .."Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved..."

7.John 20:30 ~ ..These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God...

8. Psalm 118:1 ~ Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good....

9. 1 John 4:19 ~ We love because He first loved us.
 

10. Genesis 1:1 ~ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

 

11. Genesis 1:31 ~ God saw all that He had made, and it was very good...

 

12. Romans 3:23: ~ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

 

13. John 17:17 ~ Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.

 

14. 1 Peter 1:25 ~ But the word of the Lord stands forever...

 

15. John 14:6 ~ Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

 
16. Colossians 1:3 ~ We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.
 

17. John 3:14 ~ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.

 

18. John 3:15 ~ That everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

 
19. Joshua 1:9 ~ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God will be with you...
 

20. Joshua 24:24 ~ And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God and obey Him."

 21. Ephesians 6:1 ~ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

 

~ He also memorized the listing of all 27 New Testament books from Matthew to Revelation.

 ~Then He got the review and extra credit book. First he had to say all the above verses again; then it was on to the extra credit verses which he started saying in January:

 22. Luke 6:31 ~ Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 

23. Psalm 42:8 ~ By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life.

 

24. Romans 10:9 ~ That if you confess with your moth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

 

25. Deuteronomy 6:18 ~ Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight...

 

26. Joshua 24:15 ~ ...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

 

27. Hebrews 11:6 ~ And without faith it is impossible to please God...

 

28. Hebrews 11:7 ~ By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family....

 29. Hebrews 11:8 ~ By faith Abraham...obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

 

30. Hebrews 11:23 ~ By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

 

31/32. Hebrews 11:29-30 ~ By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

 33/34. Matthew 22:37-38 ~  Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."

 

35. Matthew 22:39 ~ And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

 

36. Matthew 6:9 ~ This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed by Your name.

 

37. Psalm 119:97 ~ Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long.

 

38. Mark 16:15 ~ He (Jesus) said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

~This week he is starting on the "Extra-Extra credit" packet, which is to memorize The Beatitudes; Mathew 5: 1-12. He starts off memorizing verses 1-3 for the first day, and then each week will add on another verse while saying all the previous verses. By the end he will have said them a bunch of times and then all together!

 

Matthew 5:1-12 ~

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will e comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

And, last week was the Awana Grand Prix. The Sparks had their cars painted and then decorated them instead of cutting them out into shapes. Then they had a bunch of race heats and had a blast. Shaun came in as one of the top 2 finishers!!

 

Skating & Soccer!

About a week ago on Sunday, our church had their annual roller skating party. We went a couple years ago and Shaun couldn't handle it at all. This time, with the help of getting the wheels tightened, he could do it and had a blast! He was so proud of himself and went round and round the rink!

Here he is practicing on the carpet...

....Getting a little braver on the rink, holding the wall....

 

 ....Really brave!

 

 And having a blast!

And, today, Shaun started Snohomish Soccer Stars soccer! This is a 7 week, 50 minute class of fun soccer skills and games for 4-6 year olds. We decided not to do the indoor soccer team through the Y that he has done the last 2 years because it will conflict with Little League Tee Ball in April. This however, is in the early afternoon, so even though it goes into April, it won't conflict.

It is at the Snohomish Soccer Dome. We have not been until now, and Shaun was REALLY impressed. The first thing he said when they walked in was something like, "Woah, this is like a real soccer field!" He was used to indoor soccer at the Y in the regular (1/2) gym on the regular gym floor. It has nice artificial turf and a full size marked field. He also found out when they got there that 2 of his classmates from Kindergarten are in it too! Shaun always seems to know people everywhere!

The field

 

Ready!

Go!

Shaun's 6th Birthday Party #2!

Yesterday, Saturday, we had Shaun's family birthday party. We had the whole family over for the party. It was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles kind of party! 

 

 

We had pizza for dinner, cake for dessert and of course, presents to open for Shaun! He read all of his birthday cards and got a lot of good gifts. Thank you all!

 

 

 

And today, Sunday, they got the Hot Wheels track out. I think it was a hit with both of them.... It even hooks up to the Ipad, and you can see a shark eating a car..!

Today, also Shaun took in cupcakes to his Sunday school class, so I think that was the last of his birthday celebrations!

Boys growth Stats & Party #1!

Today, I took the day off work and we did the boys annual well child check ups and Shaun had Birthday party #1!

Here are the boys' stats:

Shaun @ 6 years old:
~He is 3 feet 11.75 inches (47.75 inches), which is the 88%. He grew 2.25 inches in the last year; down from the 91 %.
~He weighs 52 pounds 3 ounces, which is the 82%. He grew 3 pounds in the last year; down from the 90%.

Logan @ 3 years old:
~He is 3 feet 2.5 inches (38.5 inches), which is the 73%. He grew 3 inches in the last year; up from the 70%.
~He weighs 32 pounds 3 ounces, which is the 55%. He grew 3.5 pounds in the last year; up from the 51%.

How do Logan and Shaun compare at 3 years old? Shaun was 3/4 inches taller and 3 pounds heavier.

Next up was Shaun's birthday party with Spencer! We went to McDonald's for lunch, where they each got a Happy Meal and then had play time.

Then we each got a Sunday and opened presents!

Then it was off to the movies to see The Lego Movie. The boys enjoyed it!

Thanks for coming to Shaun's first kid party, Spencer!

Shaun is 6!

Today Shaun turns 6! It was a busy day!

First, we got up and had breakfast. I went in to work a little bit late, mainly so I could drop off Logan's preschool registration (sniff, sniff), but it worked out well to be on Shaun's birthday. I made his breakfast a little special by putting a candle in a muffin and singing to him. He thought that was pretty neat.

When Dad got home from the gym (yes, he goes in very early), we let him open up his present from us. Logan got an airplane that you "build" for his birthday, and Shaun saw that there were others like it and wanted one, so that is what we got him; a crane/truck.

Then it was off to school and work. Since I went in a little late, I walked with him to the bus stop (in the pouring rain). He thought that was special, because I have only got to do that one other time this year. He took in cupcakes for a birthday treat, and they sang to him at school too. The bus driver even gave him a birthday card!

Then when I got home, we went out to a birthday dinner. Shaun got to pick the place, and since he really likes burritos, we went to La Palmera! (Yes, he also got his hair cut today!)

Then it was off to AWANA, where we had more fun and more Happy Birthday singing to Shaun. I think he had a good birthday!  Next up, is Friday, where he and a friend (with me) are going to the movies, and then Saturday is the family party!

Happy Birthday Shaun! I was tearing up driving into work this morning, just feeling so blessed to have Shaun and Logan in our family. God's timing is perfect and I wouldn't change it for anything!