Lexi,
This post is delayed by two years… but still documenting for the sake of.
It was the Thursday evening before Memorial weekend and it was beautiful out. It was warm and the sun was streaming through the front windows of our house creating a really beautiful glow. We had just finished dinner and you were outside at Ivy’s swinging away on your beloved monkey bars.
When we suddenly heard crying as you ran around the fence and to the patio door. After we got you to calm down a bit, you explained your arm hurt because you fell off the monkey bars and hit the small ‘rock climbing wall’. You have been known to be a bit dramatic from time to time, so I didn’t think too much of it. We turned on a show and you calmed down quite a bit. I believe Daddy even snuggled with you for a bit. You lied pretty low for the rest of the evening and continued to tell us it hurt if someone touched it, but you could move it without excruciating pain.
We did still give you some meds before bed to help with any pain or swelling that might have been going on and let you sleep with Mom and Dad for the night. After waking up a few times in pain throughout the night, I decided that we would take you to the Dr. to get it checked out. In the morning you were feeling OK, it still hurt to touch, but you could use your wrist and put your clothes on. I debated sending you to school since it was track and field day, but figured we better just check it out to be sure.
Given this had never happened before we went to the pediatrician, and they did an X-Ray and sure enough found a small break in your right wrist, and were then sent to the orthopedic to get a cast put on. Hopefully, this never happens again, but if it does, I now know to skip the pediatrician and go straight to the orthopedic to save time and money as you don’t have to pay to see two different doctors.
They quickly reviewed the X-Ray and went to town wrapping your arm in a cast, which you requested to be pink, of course. We did opt to pay the additional $30 to get a ‘wet’ version of the cast so you could shower and go swimming—especially as we were just heading into summer.
Thankfully, we were in and out of there within 45 min with direction to come back in as little as 3 weeks to have it removed.
You adapted pretty well to your cast, even with it being your right hand. You were still able to write, eat and do most things. You were most disappointed about not being able to ride your bike. You had everyone you knew sign the cast and wanted to keep it (so gross) when they removed it.
At 6 years old, you were the first person in our family to have broken a bone and hopefully the last!
Love,
Mama
We spent a good 2 hours opening gifts before eating breakfast, cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit. Then we spent the next several hours putting together Lego kits (Lego hospital and the fire truck) cleaning up and getting ready before heading over to Grammy and Papa’s house around 4.
The following weekend, the whole family went over to Grammy and Papa’s house for breakfast and Christmas Jammies. Grammy created a scavenger hunt for each of the kids that took them around the house and ultimately led them to their Christmas Jammies.
Lexi and William both helped pick out gifts to give each other and loved helping wrap them up. Lexi picked up a green lego car kit for William and William picked out a Barbie car for Lexi. We also listened to a lot of Christmas music and would sing Silent Night and Away in a Manger each night before bed.
Lexi had her annual Dance program. So fun to watch you dance–this is the first time that I’ve seen you smile while you were dancing. In the past, you have always been very focused on the moves and the teacher, you haven’t been able to smile so it was fun to see you ‘perform’
Then, Lexi had two program’s at school. The first one was just for kindergarteners and you had a little saying you had to memorize and say during the program, ‘B is for Bethlehem, crowded and old, birthplace for Jesus, prophet foretold. Then, there was another one in the afternoon with the entire school where you sang a couple of songs. You also had an advent party in your class and I was able to volunteer for it. There were 4 stations that groups traveled to and I ran a game: pin the nose on the snowman.
Then the big trip of a the year was a surprise trip to Disneyland in October. We had the BEST time and you loved the rides and meeting the princesses and characters and relished the magic that Disney brings.
They looked around in several of the stores and Lexi settled on a Minnie Mouse color changing pen and a Minnie Mouse autograph book that she was going to use to color. William picked a plastic Mickey Mouse figure that he could move his arms and legs. They picked out a stuffed Piglet for Kate and some cookie cutter/pancake molds for Grammy. Mommy got a Minnie hat and a christmas ornament. We also admired some of the Character villans that were on main street, that only come out at Halloween time.
Next up, we took some magic photos in front of the castle and then rode the Astro Orbiter Ride and made our way through Pixie Hollow to meet Tinkerbell.
After that, we waited in line for 20 minutes for the swinging Farris Wheel. William and I popped out quick and went to meet Woody, which was a big highlight.
The magic of Disney came through once again, and they allowed us to pop back in line with Daddy and Lexi so we could all ride together. I was not a huge fan of the ride. I didn’t like how the car slide and swung back and forth, but William was laughing and thought it was very fun.
Next up, we grabbed a Mickey pretzel for dinner, ate a couple of snacks and went to go on the Cars ride again. This time the wait was 60 minutes long for the FastPass, but the non-FastPass line was over 3 hours. William did better this time, but was still pretty scared.
By this time it was starting to get dark so we went to find a spot to watch Paint the Parade. Both kiddies feel asleep before we even found a spot to watch.
Again, it was out of this world. So good. I wish the kids could have seen it. After this, Daddy and I each took a turn riding the Incredicoaster again and Daddy wanted to try and beat his score on the Toy Story ride again. The park closed around 10 and Daddy and I walked back to the hotel. We were both exhausted. A full day of walking and adventure.
We also saw Goofy’s house and met Goofy too.
After that, we went to go ride Roger Rabbits Toon Spin. It broke about 3/4 of the way through the ride, and we were escorted out, which was probably a good thing as William wasn’t a huge fan.
After that, we headed over to Big Thunder Railroad mountain where Mommy and Lexi rode it. Lexi said she liked it, but didn’t want to ride again with Daddy.
Just as Kate was about to be born, we started to notice some cracking and flaking near the head rest and the ‘leather’ quickly started to peel away. The spots grew bigger and bigger over the year, but for the most part we were able to cover it with a blanket. Around her first birthday, the seat cushion started to do the same thing. Little pieces of brown fabric were everywhere and it was driving me insane.
I vividly remember holding Lexi’s warm 10-day-old little body against my chest feeling her short little breaths tickle my skin while we rocked. And I thought, how could I possibly ever let her go to school? She was a mere 10 days old, when 20 six and seven year old kids were shot to death at school. The innocence of those children, the fear they must have had and lack of knowledge they had to know what to do. And don’t even get me started on their parents. I couldn’t. How could I ever let my heart walk out of my body and know there was a chance that something so horrific could possibly happen. So, I held your sweet, innocent little body next to mine and we rocked. And I prayed, a lot. And I still do today.
Every single night, for 5 years, i sat in that chair and nursed my babies, read stories and sang twinkle twinkle and snuggled for sometime hours on end while they fell asleep in my arms. I can still feel our two little bodies smushed between the arms, wiggling around to get comfortable. There were many nights that I slept the entire night in the chair with the kids to ensure they got some sleep while they were under the weather.
Peanut Smiles 