The last 48 hours in pictures.....

Ambulance ride #1......

Ambulance ride #2....arriving at Children's

And that my friends is a a broken leg, some shorts that had to be cut off....and one brave little boy!

Ouch!! Starting physical therapy....four hours after surgery (more on that later).

Seriously?.....can he get any cuter?

Update on Walt

Good Evening to all. Just wanted to send out a quick message to any reading that our sweet Walt is doing well.

The surgery took about an hour and 15 minutes and recovery added another hour. The Dr. said everything went well and looked good. They placed two flexible rods into the two pieces of the femur bone. They are located inside where the bone marrow is, and that is what is stabilizing his leg. Walt is in an immobolizer brace (the big foam velcro strap things), but in a few days will get that off, and will have NOTHING on his leg. No body cast, no brace, no leg cast, nothing.

Hello medical advancements.

Just a few hours after surgery was completed, the physical therapist came by to already get him up on his leg. He is only allowed slight touch, weight bearing, for now. He will go home in a wheelchair, but practiced walking on his crutches down the hallway...and is doing fantastic.

He is still keeping a great attitude. He is amazing. That's about all I can say.

I appreciate all of your thoughts, concerns and prayers. I appreciate all of your calls, texts, e-mails, comments and visits. They have meant the world to me, especially since my "world" for the last 30 something hours have been in a confined hospital room.

We really didn't sleep much last night, lots going on, and the thoughts of surgery were never far from anyone's mind. I don't think I slept. I'm sure I didn't. But I think I can tonight, despite the hard chair/bed. :)

We of course have some sweet, tenderhearted and humorous Walt stories to tell. Sometime. When I can catch my breath. But for now, I just wanted you to know your prayers were answered....and we are grateful.

Please say a little prayer for Walt...

Hey there. I'm in the hospital room with my little blonde-headed cutie.....who has a broken leg.

Today, at 3 pm, was to begin "summer break" for the kids. Today, at 2 pm, Walt started it off with a real bang...and an actual "break". He was on the playground at school playing. While they were all playing and running, Walt fell, and another child fell on his leg. A simple accident that could have happened at anytime. I just happened to be at the school, as I was going to stop in to say good bye to their teachers and check them out early to go on home.

He was transported by ambulance to the hospital. I thought from the way he was acting, his hip was probably dislocated. In fact, the first text message I sent to family and friends said exactly that. I was wrong. X-rays confirmed that he had broken his femur bone. Snapped it right into. The femur bone. You know, the LONGEST, LARGEST, STRONGEST bone in your body. Yep, that's the one.

He was transported by ambulance again to a children's hospital so that we could have a pediatric orthopedic specialist perform his surgery. Which will begin in just a couple of hours. They will be placing two rods in his sweet little leg.

I would like to ask you to pray for my little man. My little man who has been the bravest soul I have ever seen. He has winced at the pain he feels every time they tug at his leg, move him from bed to bed, pull on his leg for x-rays and more x-rays, etc. etc. etc. He still hasn't cried with the exception at the very first moment of the accident. He has a broken femur bone. I would be screaming until they KNOCKED me out.

He has asked us lots of questions about the surgery. Obviously, he's pretty scared. So am I. I want to take his place. Because that's what moms do....they make the hurting stop. And I'm struggling with not being able to make the hurting stop right now.

He's keeping a great attitude. His doctors have all commented on how tough he must be. One called him very "stoic"---defined as...firmly restraining response to pain or distress.

I hope I grow up to be just like Walt someday.....stoic.

For now, I just pray his surgery goes smoothly. I pray for wisdom for the doctors, nurses and staff in the surgery room. I pray for his anesthesiologist and the measures they will have to take in preparation for the surgery. I pray for Temple and I to make the best decisions concerning his care and recovery.

But most importantly, I thank the Great Physician who is in charge of this all. Who was not caught sleeping while Walt played outside today. No, HE knew all along this would be part of HIS plan. Therefore, I am confident in knowing that HE will carry us through this phase of the plan.

But I still need you to pray. Now would be good. And thanks in advance....from the bottom of this mother's heart.

I cannot take credit for the math award or the peeling paint on the kitchen ceiling.

For the last few months, I am certain, you've had a nagging question. Just itching your brain every week, if not daily. You've been wondering what a "Most Outstanding Student" would look like.....well, wonder no more. I aim to answer this pressing question and any others you may throw my way (to the best of my very limited abilities).

• Now, you have a picture to show your brain: Most Outstanding Student=

She also received awards for the following:

• All A Honor Roll
• Highest Academic Average in Language Arts
• Highest Academic Average in Math -- which she obviously acquired from her father's genes.

I was so proud. She has some fierce competition in her grade. One of whom is her best little guy friend. I just assumed he would be making a dent in her awards recognition today.

I was wrong to assume.

She swept up a whole load of her own.....including Most Outstanding Student. Did I mention that? :)

And what about procrasination child....have you been wondering if he could pull his act together and bring in an award as well?

Of course he did.

• Duke University Participant In the Pursuit of Excellence
• Highest Academic Average in Reading
• All A-B Honor Roll

Why "A-B"? So glad you asked. For someone who scores in the 99th percentile in the nation on the SAT's, you would assume they could make all A's for the year.

You would be wrong to assume.

That would require you to do all your classwork and homework. You know, the dreaded spelling words, written 3 x's each, and the spelling sentences, and the science journals and what have you. He sees no point in those trivial matters when he makes a 102 (including the bonus word) on the weekly spelling tests.

Oh, glory....my boys are so different from my little girl....in lots of ways.

She longs to do ALL of her work, effeciently, with extra care and special touches. To go above and beyond what is asked of her. They, on the other hand, do not. If neglected, they scratch by with the bare minimum. And thus wind up on the A-B Honor roll.

Example: For "fun" last week in the car, on the travel ride to gymnastics, she wrote all her multiplication tables up to 32. It was over 300 problems she had written. For "fun".

Because it was "fun" to her. Because she couldn't wait to show her teacher, and her Daddy, and anyone else who would take a gander. It was not assigned. She received no grade for those 4 pages, front and back, handwritten, of math. She did it because, one more time, repeat it with me.....she said it was just "fun".

My boys have other extreme ideas to do for "fun". Of which, none include writing out math problems just for kicks.

Example: One evening earlier this week they decided to run a tub of bath water. In an upstairs bathroom. And then got in and made "tsunamis". For fun.

Which resulted in water dripping (to the main level below) onto my kitchen floor and countertops. From the recessed lighting. In the ceiling. Which is directly below the floor of the upstairs bath. Where the "tsunamis" had occurred. For fun.

See what I mean. Even after awards day is said and done....I'm often still fighting a losing battle. But I shall win the war. And I'm going to stock up on pencils, paper, calculators and towels for the summer break. To prepare myself for all the "fun".

Cooking Camp.....Almond Chess Squares

Oh I can't even begin to tell you the worth of these.....they're almost as rich as Oprah.

The boys had the kitchen all to themselves this week......which only seems fair, as TB has been cooking a lot lately, alone. They had tons of fun making these yummy delights.

Someone, who shall remain nameless, greatly enjoyed getting to use the big pink polka-dot oven mitt. Even if it was just to retrieve a cup of melted butter from the microwave.....


Yes. I make them wash their stinky, dirty, boy hands.
Not once, but twice. Because I plan on eating a square or two.



And here's where this cooking camp session went all willy-nilly on me.

• A box of powdered sugar +
• a heavy duty mixer +
• two eager boys ready to run up the ol' mixer engine =
• a big ol' white mess. On the counter. On the canisters. On the wall. And big smiles all around.
  

Because, really, who cares about a little clean up when you know what's waiting for you as soon as that oven timer goes off. Some scrumptious almond chess squares with caramel drizzle and cool whip on top. Head on over HERE for the recipe.

Why Uncle Temple is AK's favorite.......

Hey AK.....what do you think about this nifty green bottle?? Wanna try it?

Yep...give me a taste.
Oh, I love this stuff, and if you don't mind, I'll just hold it myself.


"Oh, sweet baby Anna....what's the matter? Tell me what's wrong."

"Daddy just called and said I couldn't have any more Sundrop, and he told Uncle Temple that he hoped he enjoyed my very first, and last trip to your house."

"Anna, sweet girl, listen to me.....you can come to our house anytime. And I'll always have sundrop waiting for you."

Seriously....you mean we don't have to listen to Daddy?

Cool. I love Uncle Temple. He's the best. Ever.
Now, what did he do with that sundrop bottle?

We had a special visitor on Memorial Day.....Baby Anna!!

Oh....and Nana and Aunt Jackie came along as well. But basically, the kids played with Anna Kate all day long. Like really, all. day. long.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• ANNA: "Who are all these little people who keep staring at me, and talking to me, and fighting over who gets to hold me next?"
  

• ANNA: "Nah, I'm just kiddin'....I know who they are....my cousins!!"

• See this little girl, well, I like to pull her pigtails. It's loads of fun.

• And this guy....I love to pinch his cheeks. Why not? Everyone loves mine.

• Oh and I love to gnaw on a finger. Especially Uncle Temple's.

• And that big boy.....he's cool. Really cool.
  
  

Totally.

Sigh......."couldn't you just look at her for hours?"

More Favorites of ANNA

"Aw, Mom, do we HAVE to leave?"

SATURDAY SHOWCASE......a graduation post.

I don't even really know what to say, other than this can't be my child. He isn't old enough to go to high school.

Just last week it felt like he was watching Clifford the big Red Dog movies....oh, wait, that was just last week. In the car, on the way to gymnastics, when Tyner Beth announced what DVD would grace the SUV.

• Kudos to you, my dear son, for taking this milestone step with ease. And congratulations on your awards as well. We are especially proud of your Presidential award....given to those who have maintained a high grade point point average and scored high on the SAT's. (We are not as proud of the president's signature line. )

He's such a sweetheart. A fantastic big brother. And the best firstborn son a mom could ever hope to have. Sure, he's my learning curve...my first attempts at all things parenthood....but we gotta start somewhere! You make your Dad and I proud, daily. And the love we hold for you just keeps growing with every passing moment.

I am ever thankful that the Lord allowed me this gift, in you. This good work HE created, that we get to share in life with.......

......"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ." ~~Philippians 1:6

Cousins are awesome.

The other day I received this package in the mail. I love getting mail. Such a sweet, small pleasure in life.


Inside was a nice note from my cousin, Carla. Who just so happened to be blessed with being my roommate for a couple of years while at Auburn. Okay, okay, maybe being "blessed" is a stretch.....as I was ever so thrilled to have her live with me, it probably wasn't as evident as I would have liked it to have been.

All my life, I've been the baby and grandbaby of the family. Older siblings, older cousins on both sides. I'm not saying I had to suffer through this rite of passage, being the baby wasn't so bad. :) But I always yearned to see what it felt like to be older than someone else, you know, to get to be the BOSS of them.

This is where Carla comes into my scenario of life supervision. Poor Carla. I loved her like the little sister I never had......which at times, probably was more than she bargained for!! :)

Anyway, in her lovely letter, she mentioned being in Auburn over the weekend and was thinking of us. She even talked about how she enjoyed reading our blog and staying caught up with all things family. So, for a brief moment in time, I thought.......hmmm, maybe she read this post concerning my need for a new fancy iron. And she's searched the world over until she found me the ultimate in pressed clothing duties---an AU collegiate iron that plays the fight song when you press the steam button.

Then I realized that the package was entirely too light for that product. But was instantly delighted when I pulled this out:


It may become my favorite wardrobe accesory for summer. Because the sun, in my eyes, is no good. And this hat, is just lovely.

Of course, Carla did mention that I had to share it with the little miss in the house. She wrote something about the fact that with her being in gymnastics and all, blah, blah, blah. Whatever. I'll let her wear it around the house while I'm in the shower, maybe. But that sucker is mine. The package was addressed to me, and that's the way it is. Because this time around, I'm not just playing around....I am the boss.

It's one of those perks of having the title, Mom.

Carla, please accept this as my horrid example of a thank you. And I hope to get a real one in the mail to you very soon. In an attempt to stay in your good graces. So that if, with your keen eyes, you ever come across that War Eagle iron, you'll ship it to me, ASAP. :) But until then, I guess I will just have to keep pressing the dewrinkle button on the dryer.

As promised, I present to you, egg toss '09.

What on earth could be more exciting than entering the raw egg toss, mid-afternoon, in the heat of the south in May? My thoughts, exactly.

But all three of my kids do it.....every single year. It must be some carry-over desire from our Easter Egg Battles . They each LOVE the egg toss. And amazingly, those darn eggs are pretty sturdy.

Why, they can even be thrown, dropped, and roll around on the field day lawn and still won't break. But in the end, a winner has to be determined.....so, after several minutes of hearing "take a big step back, and toss"..... when factoring in distance, pressure, heat, and a child's tight, gripping catch.....an eggshell, eventually, will break.

And the participants will be left with a gooey yolk mess, mid-afternoon, in the heat of the south in May. My thoughts, eggsactly.

Some serious cradling efforts were bestowed upon the egg during the catches.

The sweet declaration of another round of "take a step back and toss" victory.

Because I am a mind-reader....his thoughts:
"Please let him catch it. Please let him catch it. Please let him catch it."

Apparently, his partner caught it.
Or else he's trying out some new moves for breakdance class next week.

"Please let me catch it. Please let me catch it. Please let me catch it. "

Uh-oh.....the bitter, sticky, feel of gooey egg yolk defeat.

I'm contemplating entering next year....even though I'm not school age. Now, who wants to sign up to be my partner?