Hat Parade

Every spring, the preschool does a hat parade where the kids make hats in their classes and then parade around the school for parents and family.  It is so stinkin' cute!  This was Jack's first hat parade and Anna's last--what a milestone!  We were nervous because the MMO class only had room for eight in the buggies, so Jack's teachers had decided that he and Maddie would walk.  That way, if they wouldn't stay with the class, they could at least walk with Anna and Audrey.  They did a fantastic job and were king and queen of the parade!

He's got the wave down and everything!

Precious!!

So excited to have Nannie and Pops there, too!

Easter

Easter egg hunt in the den!

And there's candy inside!

Cuties ready for church!

At the club for lunch.

Jack was scared of the Easter Bunny but
Anna wanted her picture taken with him!

Jack and Pops

Nannie and Pops with the kids

Spring Break 2013

We didn't go anywhere for spring break this year.  Instead, we used it for some good old relaxation time and getting together with friends.  After a couple of play dates and a couple of field trips, the week was over in a flash!

Play date with the besties: Anna, Ellen, and Audrey

MOPS Park Play Time

Our neighbors across the street have been so sweet.  Mr. Chris works for Vulcan Quarries and Mrs. Mary has been itching to get Jack there to see all the "tractors".  On Thursday of spring break, we all rode to the Mocksville quarry to see the sites!

Ready to go with their hard hats on!

Anna, John, Jack, Emily, and Paige with the BIG tractor!

Jack was in hog heaven!

Emily and Anna

Of course we had to come home and play with tractors
with our hard hat on!

Play date with Leah!

Lunch with "Duwine" and Aunt Sarah

A Mother's Sacrifice: Mommy's Boo-Boo

Two Friday afternoons ago, Will was at a long-awaited guy's day with some friends watching the NCAA tournament and I was outside at home with the kids riding bicycles.  There is a gentle slope down to our driveway that the kids had been up and down numerous times.  Past our driveway, there is a deceivingly steep hill down to the cul-de-sac that we had warned the kids about.  Instead of turning into our driveway on the way back home like he's done every other time, Jack decided to go straight down the hill.  I was a ways behind the kids on the sidewalk and all I hear is Anna yelling, "Mommy, get him! Mommy, get him!"  I start sprinting to catch up to him and by now he is flying.  I see the bump at the end as the sidewalk hits the cul-de-sac and know that if he hits that, he is going to get really hurt.  I lunge for his handlebars and drag the bike (and him) down.  I, however, kept going.  Jack ended up with a small scratch on his arm. Mommy ended up face-planting into the road and busting her forehead open.  

Initially, as any mom would be, I was more worried about whether Jack was ok than myself.  But as soon as I saw the kids' faces, I knew that I was worse off.  The gash on my forehead was pouring blood and I had a cupped handful in just a few seconds as I yelled for Anna to go and get a towel.  I managed to get some pressure on it and get into the house with the kids.  I knew I needed to clean it, so I got the kids preoccupied, and then went and got in the shower.  That's when the thoughts started: I just fell and hit my head.  I'm alone with the kids.  What happens if I black out?  What if I start puking? What do I do if I realize I need to go to the hospital?  I knew our neighbors weren't home.  All of the case stories from my traumatic brain injury CE the day before at work kept coming to mind as well.  Great timing, huh?

Once I was out of the shower, I pulled Anna aside and reviewed with her how to call 911.  We had taught her that recently and she remembered.  Then I called Will and told him what had happened.  I knew he couldn't come right home, but wanted him to know.  Then I called my mom and she urged me to call my sister.  Sarah and Jason were great!  They dropped everything and came over with Caroline, even grabbing a pizza for dinner on the way.  It turned out to be the best thing because after two hours, the gash still had not stopped bleeding completely and was so deep.  After a family consultation, Sarah and I headed to the ED.  Luckily, I was able to call up to the PICU and have the attending call the ED docs and have them look out for me so I didn't have to wait.  It still took 2 hours for them to work me up and apply Dermabond (liquid stitches) to my gash.  But since it is in the middle of my forehead, I felt better about healing with the Dermabond on there.

So, now I'm going to have a scar in the middle of my forehead.  Yes, I plan to keep it out of the sun and apply sunscreen religiously so hopefully the scar will be minimal.  My personal plastic surgeon (my college roommate) has even given me some massage techniques to encourage blood flow and collagen formation.  However, I will likely always carry with me some small proof that I have sacrificed for my children.  If they ever doubt this, all they have to do is look at my face.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.

After a shower and the first ice pack.

Yes, the nurse became the patient.

All glued up and ready to go home!

The kids across the street made a sign
and put it on the hill to warn others. So cute!

New Photos

One of my dear MOPS friends has recently started her own photography business.  I couldn't wait to help her out and have her get some shots of the kiddos.  The day we went for our session, which was supposed to be outside, the weather was chilly and windy, so Brandy had us come back to her home studio.  Then Jack preceded to be less than cooperative.  I left there thinking that we were going to have to redo the session because there was little chance that she got any good shots.  Man, was I wrong!  That is the sign of a good photographer--able to good shots in less-than-great circumstances.  Here are just a few of my favorites...Thanks Brandy!!

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Anna's First Soccer Goal!

Will and our friend, Julie, are co-coaching Anna's soccer team this spring.  Anna has been pretty excited that Daddy is going to be her coach and Daddy has been putting in some serious prep time.  Their first game was on a chilly morning, but the girls did a fantastic job.  Anna scored the first goal of the game, her first goal ever!!  She also played goalie for a quarter and had several great stops.  It's so neat to see her begin to "get" the game of soccer.  Poor Jack wants to be out there so bad, especially now that Sissy and Daddy are out there.  My job is going to be keeping him off the field all season!

With such a great start, it will be exciting to see how much the girls progress each week.

Jack right in the middle of all the girls, ready to go.

March Catch-Up

Anna had been begging to dye Easter eggs for weeks!

Cookie Monster!

The first day of spring!
We headed to Dewey's for free pink lemonade
cake squares even though it was freezing outside.

Jeans to jorts.  How many times did I do this as a child?
And now it's Anna's turn.

Murphy LOVES going on adventures in our new neighborhood.
Recently, he has come across what we think is a deer carcass
because he keeps showing up with large animal bones.
This time the intact hoof gave it away.  Disgusting!!