November is gone and December is halfway through. I finished all my shopping at noon the Saturday before Advent. It was such a good feeling and I think it's the first time it ever really happened in as long as I remember. It felt peaceful-for a moment-because there is so much to do with day to day life on top of the season anyways. I feel like other things just filled into the margins I created by gift buying goal! Maybe it was meant to be.
I think I should title a monthly post "Texts I've Received" and have a snapshot of life with older kids. I started saving some of them just for the memories.
A few weeks ago Isaac was playing basketball with his younger brothers (in the living room on our plastic hoop) and after a dunk attempt caught himself on a window that promptly broke and gashed his wrist. Blood pouring out everywhere, Andrew yelling for me (I must admit I was in the basement eating banana "ice cream" and watching Poldark with Janey-first time I sat down all day.) When I heard the window break-I didn't even flinch, and then when Andrew yelled "Mom Isaac is hurt" I pressed pause and in the next millisecond heard, 'There is blood everywhere, call 911!" Darn, there goes a moment of relaxation, I was upstairs in a flash.
I grabbed the phone away from Andrew who was in fact dialing 911 before he could reach them, then checked out the scene (blood all over the window seat), threw Isaac a clean dish towel and ordered him to the car, barked orders to everyone else, grabbed my purse and drove to the hospital. Both of us didn't think to bring our phones but I was able to give Andrew a quick update on the hospital phone before we saw the ER doctor, letting him know quickly that everything was OK.
Jeff was in a very unimportant meeting. Andrew tried him once, just once. And then they all turned on the TV's (yay Mom's not home TV time!). Abbey relayed to me later that she just happened to Facetime us, and Andrew picked up my phone. Boys (at least MY boys) are so so bad at phone communication. Abbey had to ask 100 questions to understand what happened. She said what made it funnier is that she happened to have a skin mask on her face and they were more concerned with that than with properly conveying the moment of blood and gore. We later laughed so hard about it Andrew-I think he was slightly traumatized as he saw the worst of it and his coping mechanism was vague communication. "Yeah he'll live." "Hopefully." He used phrases like "skin graft" and "no major injuries" and I have no idea where he got those ideas, not from me, for sure.
When Jeff walked in the door hours later, he was shown the scene of the crime (in the hospital I was thinking I wish I could call them again and tell them to PLEASE not try to get the blood out, I pictured them setting it in forever, but alas, of course, silly me, no one even attempted it.) Jeff is NOT good with trauma injuries, in spite of what he thinks. It is laughable, honestly. He does not remain calm at all. Even if I am not calm inside, I always want my kids to think "No big deal, we'll fix this all up, really it's nothing." I am good at fake pretending when it comes to injuries. He has no filter. "There is so much blood, blood everywhere, you are dying, this is so awful, what are we going to do with you...." -that sort of no-filter thing, out loud, in your face. Spoken with a tremendously stressed and worried and horror filled face. I have enough experiences to back this all up. He is NOT good with this stuff.
So when he was shown the crime scene and Andrew told him, "Don't worry Mom called from the hospital and said he was OK" what does he say? He tells them in a panic that there is no way Isaac can possibly be ok with that much blood loss, that Mom was probably just telling them that to make them feel better, that this is bad, really bad, and rushed out of that house with that pained and panicked face, leaving them quite unsettled, one of them in tears.
And this is why we call him Phil Dumphey.
He showed up right when we were leaving, twenty two stitches later. It was gross I admit, I watched the whole thing and it was pretty gross. But all is healed and everyone has recovered. (Including the cushion believe it or not!)
I am backed up here till November:
One of the last warm fall days.
Andrew after Thanksgiving dinner at my parents. Like an old man!
At Grandma's-
Isaac is teaching himself guitar. Abbey decided she was going to get as good as the boys at Rubik's cube and even took it back to her dorm with her. I told her she is just finding a means for paper writing and exam studying procrastination, and she had to agree.
Mailing a package to Abbey, one of Janey's favorite things to do. Hopefully she will receive it just in time for St. Nick's Day.
Dark cold nights-I don't like them already. Janey is jumping on the couch and I am watching all the boys play poker (or some card game, I didn't pay that much attention.)
Magna blocks and vintage Fisher Price-no better combo.
Lunch date for Janey and I with two favorite working men on their lunch breaks.
I had to make fun of them for all matching accidentally. (I wish I could pick out cute little outfits and make them match like when they were little!)
Patrick and his BF begged me to take them fishing one freezing cold windy day and I said as long as I could stay in the warm car. These two could fish (or frog) all day.
Matt braided her hair-didn't even know he could that.
Around the house:
Our extra wide Christmas tree-I love it. We went to a new place this year after we heard about a stand where a hole is drilled into the bottom of the tree and all you have to do is set the tree on top-a big bucket surrounds a stake that holds the tree up. It is heaven! No more straightening or tipping over or constantly filling the bucket. Peace and harmony!
And our Nativity scene-we worked hard on it this year and did some extras-the beautiful star (from Target clearance last year) and some new "grass" and a little fence (from Hobby Lobby in the fairy garden department). We bought a pink angel for our new addition this year.
Our past Christmas cards. (I did this years ago much cuter but all of mine were ruined in the attic from the heat, so I did it simpler this time with just card stock photo cards.)
Saved this all year for December 1.
I re-fashioned our Advent wreath also, to make it prettier. My mom gifted me with the china figurines because we had the same Nativity scene growing up.
Books on CD-I love the way she looks when she "reads" her books.
My Marine brother gave a speech at a special event, looking pretty snazzy.
Grocery store tradition.
Shopping with Mom-it looked the same on me, we had a good laugh about it.
St. Nicks' Day
St. Nicks Day and a Bad Hair Day rolled into one.
Abbey going to a formal at school. The last time she was home we bought this dress for no reason just because we both loved it-perfect timing.
Janey is petrified of Santa, Patrick loved every minute of it.
We had a coupon plus dress sale-only $5, we gave each other a high five.
Janey and I were so excited to surprise Abbey with her new room when she got home for break. We had all the trim painted (a long time coming) and beautiful old-fashioned wallpaper put up. I repainted all the furniture and bought some new bedding and picture frames and it looks so pretty! She was surprised and loved it and was so so happy to be home.
And then I dragged her with me to the furniture store to buy a new sofa for our den (which was also repainted) and I found her almost asleep after testing out some new mattresses. (Granted it was the day after exam week.)
It snowed!!! Janey can't get enough of sledding.
And last, a huge grocery shop because everyone is home and I will never leave the kitchen for the next two or three or four weeks. :)
It feels like Christmas!
Where did you get Abby's dress? I'd love one for my daughter! She is gorgeous by the way. I love reading all about your ordinary (and not so ordinary with that crazy injury!) days. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Shawna! It's from Francesca's, a store where we both love absolutely everything-thank you!
DeleteMore about that Christmas tree stand, please! Finally, I'm commenting on your site and not just sending you an email. Enjoyed (and always enjoy) your blog. Merry Christmas to you and your wonderful family!
ReplyDeleteHi Renee! We bought it AT the tree farm because they need to drill the hole in the bottom of the tree-that I a machine that did that for us. The stand looks like this:
Deletehttp://sheerlundproducts.com/3-leg-rebar-stand.html
Our neighbor told us about a farm near us that sold them. It is worth hunting down!
"they had a machine" sorry typing fast :)
DeleteI had that exact same stand, bought in California between 1993 and 1996. It had a huge bucket too, so you didn't have to water very often. It was awesome! The best ever. I finally gave it away knowing I'd most likely never have a real tree again. Loved all your photos and stories. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWow!! So glad Isaac is okay!! And I had to laugh at your comment about how your husband does with blood, because my husband is the same way. When our son Isaac was born he passed out when he saw the epidural needle and ever since then I tell the nurses to make him leave the room whenever any needles are in use. Hah!
ReplyDeleteLove your posts so much--you are such a fabulous mom and I love your dose of realism about staying in the car while the boys were fishing and not paying attention to the card game. That's exactly how I feel about both of those activities too. :-)
Merry Christmas! Not sure if my last post posted.
ReplyDeleteLove Janey's RED COAT!!
I love these posts! Where is the beautiful wallpaper from? It looks so pretty
ReplyDeleteHere it is-thank you!
Deletehttp://www.stevesblindsandwallpaper.com/Wallpaper/ProductDetailPricing.aspx?pn=GC29848
I love everything about this post. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!!!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your blog and have used several of your gift favorites as gifts for my grandkids. Our son and his wife have five boys and one girl and have lots of fun as a large family, like y'all do. We just moved to coastal South Carolina to be closer to both our kids and their kids (and it's been so good to be closer so we can be more a part of their lives). What a blessing to see your family getting ready for Christmas. Merry Christmas and may the Lord bless you all richly in the New Year!
ReplyDeleteI love your Christmas tree! All the children's ornaments, no planned color or theme, just fun stuff! Looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThat story about your husband's reaction to the blood made me laugh out loud. I'm glad Isaac really is OK, and I hope the children at home recovered as well. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteI always love your tales of ordinary days with kids young and old.
ReplyDeleteLove reading your posts! Does the book on cd come with a physical book? May I ask what story she's reading please? I love the idea of books on cd- only have little bear so far. ��
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Sarah! I just read the whole drama incident to my husband, and we were laughing so hard! Awful about the laceration, but the way you described Jeff's response was hilarious, and we can so relate. My 4 year old ended up in the ER on Thanksgiving after cutting his finger with a BUTTER knife! Ended up with 5 stitches in his finger. At first I thought all the blood was the cranberry sauce. Who would have thought a butter knife? As I'm grabbing the keys, holding pressure, and delegating to the 3 older kids (all teenagers), my husband was yelling "OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! SHIT!! HOW BAD IS IT? SHIT!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad Isaac is ok! I must admit that I almost choked on my cereal as I read about your husbands response. Hilarious.
ReplyDeletei laughed out loud as i read your wrist injury ordeal story. oh man! and i love these ordinary days updates. have a merry christmas sarah!
ReplyDeleteEverything is so pretty for Christmas! Great to have your kids home.
ReplyDelete