Dexter

Easter 2013

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

To see how much they’ve changed in a year, click: Easter 2012

This Easter weekend we stayed with Ryan’s parents, AKA Pop Pop & Nana.  Aunt Chelle, Uncle Bob, and cousin Spencer were able to join us for the weekend.  There was an unexpected twist on Easter, but overall, it was a great weekend.

Saturday, their neighborhood had an Easter egg hunt.

A rare photo of me & my boys.
Apparently this is their Swing Face.

Saturday night we celebrated Pop Pop and Uncle Bob’s birthdays with the delicious and adorable cake below.
Theo REALLY wanted to blow out the candles.  So we re-lit some.
Sunday morning, Dexter and I were playing on the floor.  He was laying/rolling/jumping all over me.  It’s kind of a blur now, but I recall that he started to roll off of me and instinctively, I grabbed his arm.  It must have been the angle at which he was falling + the angle at which I pulled his arm…but I heard and felt a pop.  I sat up immediately and stood him up in front of me.  He instantly started screaming and crying in a way that said something was very wrong.  We took his shirt off and his right shoulder was visibly different from his left.  It looked higher.  I picked up his right hand and dropped it. It fell limp at his side.  He was not able to use his right arm at all.  Ryan and I loaded him up in the car and left for Urgent Care.  
in the car
waiting on x-ray results
The boy went from being uncomfortable to being in excruciating pain from moment to moment. His arm remained limp throughout this time. After the first set of x-rays came back normal, the radiologist requested a second set from a different angle. This time the tech raised his arm, which was the first time it had been in that position since his arm popped.  He screamed and cried.  I noticed, though, that as soon as I picked him up off the table this time, he immediately wrapped his right arm around my neck.  I pointed it out to Ryan and the x-ray tech and we went back to the room to wait for results once more.  When we sat in the chair, Dexter sat up in my lap. Until then, he had been lying on us.  He was hesitant when I asked him to give me a high 5, but did it.  He cried a little.  He was fidgety. We asked if he wanted to get down and walk around and he did so we put his shoes on and sat him down.  He began swinging his arm normally and walked right over to the doctor’s stool and started drumming on it.  !!!  What!?  
This almost brought tears to my eyes; I was so relieved that my babe was fine.  Ryan was mortified because we had wasted all this time (and money, no doubt) and there was absolutely nothing wrong with our kid.  My perspective … we could have been in surgery for a dislocated shoulder.  I don’t know what happened, but when he had that second x-ray, he got all better.  We told the nice ladies at Urgent Care “check, please!” and hit the road.  
On the way back.
We got back just in time for lunch and just in time for the weather to warm up enough for our outdoor Easter egg hunt. 
It’s safe to say the boys loved their baskets.  Theo has not stopped playing with his Barrel of Monkeys.  I had a lot of fun hiding the Easter eggs. 
Three excited boys!
Seeing this kid run, laugh, and play made my day.
Hope your Easter was happy!
xo,
~C~

a first: playing in the snow

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest
Our backyard.  Their playground.

Until yesterday, the snow was something that the boys just watched from inside.  Stomped on in the driveway or knocked off of a bush while on their way to the car.  I’m not going to lie – I hate the snow.  The reason they have never played in the snow is because I don’t want to play in the snow. Hate is not a strong enough word.  Sure, it’s pretty.  But worthless as far as I’m concerned.  However, the first words out of Theo’s mouth when I picked them up from the babysitter were “Mommy, can we play in the snow?!”  He had such an excited, hopeful look on his face that I couldn’t find an excuse to say no.

We got home and bundled up and went right back outside for about 45 minutes.  I was paranoid the entire time that they were going to freeze.  Every time they sat on their knees to play.  Every time they fell on their bottoms and just sat there laughing.  Also, I was freezing.  But the looks on their faces were so priceless and sweet.  I guess that dumb snow’s not entirely worthless. Anything free that can elicit such wonder and amazement has some innate value, correct?  Without further ado.

Checking the mail before we go inside.
Well, that was fun.  Is it springtime yet?
~C~

a letter to my sons: every night, before I go to bed.

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

Every night, before I go to bed.

I shuffle down the hallway, sliding one foot past the other on the slick wood floors to avoid making any noise, until I’m standing just outside your door.  I flip on the hallway light so I don’t trip over a toy carelessly left in the middle of your bedroom floor. And so I can see your face.  I always pause at the door with my fingertips resting on the handle, just for a moment, silently asking myself if I should risk it.  With little hesitation, I slowly press down on the handle and gently push your door open just an inch or two and peer into the darkness.  I wait.  I listen for rustling blankets or changes in your breathing.  Moments later, I crack the door wide enough so that when I turn sideways, I can easily slip in.  I don’t want to let in any more light than I need.  I stand still again, waiting for my eyes to adjust.  Listening to the rhythm of your breath.  In. Out. In. Out.  Like waves in the ocean lapping the shore. Calm. Predictable.

I tiptoe over to where you sleep and admire your innocence.  Your sweetness.  I marvel at the little person you are growing into every day and at the fact that your father and I literally created you.  Brought you into this crazy world.  I pull your covers up to your chin to keep you warm throughout the night because I anticipate that I won’t see you again until morning.  I do the same thing to your brother.

Every night, before I go to bed.

I want your peaceful faces to be the last thing I see before I fall asleep.  These are a few of my favorite moments of each day that I take to bed with me.  I go to bed knowing you are warm, safe, and content.  Every day, I go to bed knowing you were kissed and hugged and told that you are loved.  I go to bed appreciating that you have a warm, safe place to lay your head at night.  That you have food in your belly and sweet dreams in your head.  That you are fortunate enough, that we all are fortunate enough, to not know the difference.  Nothing can replace the feeling of your head on my shoulder, your arms around my neck, or your voice in my ear whispering “I love you, mommy.”  I love the chaos and the hustle and bustle that we repeat, day after day. 

But these moments, every night before I go to bed….they are my favorite.

xo,
Mommy