Chuck

I apologize for my lack of posting. I need to get caught up with many, many things and want to have the time to owe my father in law a proper post. So, in the meantime.

June 22, 1943- Sept 22, 2012

Gone too soon. Rest in peace, dad. We love and miss you.

Owen's First Stitches 091312

Head- meet table
Table- meet head

That is what happened to us last night. We walked in the door about 6pm after I picked the kids up from daycare. Sean had to work the night shift, so Hunter was home waiting for us. I put my purse down, was about to make dinner, when all of a sudden I heard a huge crash onto the floor, a slight silence, and then a huge shriek coming from Owen. Tears were flowing. I rushed over to the living room and scooped him off the floor and blood started pouring from his head. Hunter was "in his spot" on the couch and Owen tried to jump over him out of the way, bounced off the couch and right into the coffee table.

I grabbed Owen, had blood all over my hands and rushed him right into the car. Hunter watched Quinlin and we drove away, towel over head, towel over car seat, as fast as we could to the local urgent care. In the meantime, Sean called his mom and she rushed right over to make sure Hunter and Owen were good.

I apologize, in advance, if the pictures of blood gross you out. I need to document our experience... it's not that bad, really.

He was such a little champion, by the time we got to the urgent care, he stopped crying, held his paper towel on his head and walked in on his own power, excited because he saw a vending machine and wanted cheetos (we hadn't eaten dinner as we just got home). We sat and got registered.

We made it back to the exam room and he laid down on the table for them to start looking at his head. He was so good- stayed still as they buzzed the hair around the area. He even made a comment about how this wasn't the barber shop.

The area was prepped and ready to go

They put a numbing cream on his head and bandaged him up. So we waited for about 30 minutes until they actually put the stitches in.

 They gave him crayons and a coloring book and he colored for about 5 minutes, until he was "over it"

So- what else do you do as you wait in an urgent care facility with a scared 4 year old? You play with your iphone of course, and take silly pictures of yourselves. We were so entertaining to each other. At least I had him laughing... that was the whole point. Less traumatic the better!

 Or crayons in the ears work well too

 Finally it was time to do the stitches. The numbing cream was on but then they also had to numb with a needle as well. Owen did not like that part.

We measured out the gash too. I tried to document everything since Sean was working the night shift and couldn't be with us.

 Owen handled the stitches like a champion. He whimpered a little bit during it but did amazing. The paramedic who was helping at the urgent care facility held his head still and gave him a little head massage while it was going on that Owen seemed to enjoy. 3 stitches later and he was all set!

 He finally got his cheetos he was waiting on

 And- what else do you do to cap off the night for a kid that just had stitches? McDonalds, of course! I was not about to finally cook our chicken fajitas we were supposed to have since it was now 8:30 at night.

Quinlin wanted to make sure she was part of the fun after looking through my phone, so crazy silly faces for the girls as well.

 And Owen capped off his night with some playing of his "new" GI Joes (Daddy's toys when he was little).

What a night! It was not our first trip to urgent care (never anything horribly serious) and I know it won't be our last. We were so happy for the care they gave us. Let's just hope we don't go back...for a long time anyway! I should add... Owen refused to take off his admitted bracelet... in case he gets hurt again. So off to school he went, with the hospital bracelet still on!

Gone Too Soon... again

Dear world, We have had enough. We would like to not have to attend any more funerals or calling hours, for a while. Thank you.

We got the call Friday night from Sean's best friend that his mom had died. She was only 65, hadn't been in the best health, but still caught everyone completely off-guard. Such a kind, fun and funny lady. I enjoyed every moment I spent with her.

When we went to the calling hours on Tuesday night, everyone in the family kept telling Sean that he was her favorite. I loved hearing stories about how in order to get her to come to a party, the kids would have to tell her that Sean would be there just so she would attend. She would instantly perk up and start getting ready.

She was the life of the party, enjoyed life and her family. The funeral yesterday was beautiful. Mike did a nice job during the eulogy and everyone enjoyed the luncheon afterwards where funny stories were told and Irish jigs were done in her honor. At night, the family went to the casino as they know she's currently winning big at the casino in the sky.

Rest in Peace, Betty.

Labor Day Weekend

We had a pretty low-key weekend, which was to be expected since Sean has been in recovery mode. On Friday, I went to the wake for my friend's wife. I have never been to a wake where there were so many people. A true testament to the person she was and the love/life they shared together. I went with a girlfriend from grade school and it was nice to catch up, though would have been better in different circumstances. We got there (after a slight detour from me not following directions and going the wrong way on the turnpike) and the line was wrapped around from one room in the funeral home into another and circling. After about 40 minutes and the line barely moving, I texted Sean to see if he may be able to get the kids from daycare (I was fearing the 6:30pm pickup deadline). He was feeling extremely sick and had taken the vicoden so could not drive and did not trust Hunter to drive his truck (with Sean being the licensed driver in the car with him). So, we waited in line some more and I watched the clock. I spent a lot of time talking to my friend's dad- we have known the family for almost my entire life- so there was a nice comfortableness there in such a sad situation. He talked to us about exactly what happened, the baby, Craig, etc. After about another 10 minutes, we started talking to Craig's mom. Time was ticking away and the line still wasn't moving. She knew my daycare restraint and ushered us right up front so we could see Craig and pay our respects. It was so sad- but I am glad I went. He was holding up as good as can be expected. The baby came home from the hospital on Sunday- true miracle baby!

After grabbing the kids from daycare (at 6:20pm!) I grabbed them McDonald's (don't judge- it's power ranger happy meal toy time) and we rushed home to eat and play with the neighbors. Sean was able to sit outside with us a little while and visit as well. On Saturday, I took the kids to my BIL's house to drop some clothes off for my nephew and visit a little. Nice to get out of the house while Sean recovered and let them play with their cousins as well. Plus- the new house is always fun to go to. We didn't do much else on Saturday. We hung out with the neighbors for a little while and ordered in from a local restaurant for dinner and watched a little college football.

On Sunday, we were invited to two picnics but needed to see how Sean was feeling. We went to his cousin's picnic and stayed for about an hour and a half until he had hit his maximum and needed to go home to lay down. We missed the chili cook-off that we always go to on Labor Day (hopefully next year). We came home, I took the kids to play and he came home and rested.

Finally by Monday, he was feeling good. Though Hunter woke up puking (not sure where that was coming from). We met the neighbors at the pool and had one last hoorah there before it closed for the summer. We ordered pizzas and had ice cream sundays and the kids had a blast. For the most part... there was a slight incident where Quinlin decided she was going to go in the pool without her water wings and went under. Thank goodness for my neighbor Beth who jumped right in and pulled her out. A little scary (and it's not like we weren't paying attention. Sean said to me "she doesn't have her wings, she doesn't have her wings". for some reason, I thought she could touch so was casually taking my time getting her wings. Yikes- lesson learned). We played at the pool until it rained and then came home, had dinner and went outside until it rained again. When Quinlin saw Beth she said "thank you for saving me". It was the sweetest.

So all in all, low key and easy. Thank goodness last week is over. It was rough taking care of Sean and the kids. I thought hernia surgery would be a little easier...but we are on the road to recovery. Today was his first day back at work as well. I am putting money on that he will probably be home by 1pm as I don't think he'll be able to work a full day. Fingers crossed he doesn't overdo it!