You be the judge

Cast off- did not go well. We went in thinking, like the doctor said, that the only potential problem was if the two bones he broke grew back together. Pat assured me we didn't have to worry about that because of the way Big Boy could rotate his arm, even in the cast. And we was right, the bones did not grow together.

So we were very optimistic. Big Boy was a great patient and got to keep his cast, which was awesome!






And then the cast came off. And it looked...bad. Exactly the way it looked when I took him in a month ago. The nurse had a bad look on her face, he had to get a ton of x-rays, and I felt sick. This is what his arm looks like:

In this picture you can really see how the bone sticks out still.

But isn't he still so cute and happy?


This is his "normal, other arm:

And this is his broken arm. See the difference, the big curve? His bones essentially healed curved and so much bone grew around the break that he has a mass that sticks out.


Despite all this, he is happy and healthy and will be going to a pediatric orthopaedist next week to discuss the next step. The kids have Easter parties at school today, and I just had to take some pics of them ready to go.











Pat has a feeling they will tell us he can have surgery where they re-break it and cast it again or that we can leave it and hope that it doesn't make too much of a difference. We'll see. I have to say, it looks horrifying in person. And to touch it feels like the bone is still sticking out. :( This is the worst part of parenting, when something is wrong with your child! So what do you think? Is he "healed"?

Program notes

Last Friday was Big Boy and Sissy's big Spring Program at school!

The weather was pretty cold and thwarted some outfit plans, but don't they just look so cute together?

Sissy, the star, doing her poses





Yes, there is only one picture of Big Boy. Why, you ask? Well, I took 14 of him by himself and this (if you can believe it) is the best one. Sigh.




Big Boy's performance was first with a couple other classes. The pictures chronical the entire show. First, his teacher brings them out and puts everyone in their spot.

Already, about 6 kids have switched spots. T looks to the class next to him and starts sticking his tongue out at them. Pat and I are starting to sweat.

Okay, he's being a little crazy but some singing is going on and he's doing alright.

Then he exchanges some strong words with the girl on his right. They point their finger in each other's faces and Big Boy begins covering his ears instead of singing.

Then he puts on his mad face for a few songs and gives the girl next to him dirty looks.

Then we're back in it again when he hears his favorite song and his favorite words in one of the songs, "When I say God's not, you say dead. When I say the devil is, you say WHACK!"

Blurry picture, you get the idea. He made a venture across the stage to say hello to his teacher.

And this is the end, where they all kind of lost it. It was hilarious. The girls in the front row kept pushing each other off the bleacher and stepping on each other. Overall, it was so funny. But he knows the songs and actions so well I definitely wish he would have sung a little better. I wish he could have watched Sis first!

The story with Sissy is obviously much different. There is some strong concentration and some belting out going on. She did a wonderful job.







Greeting each other afterwards...


Sissy receiving her flowers from her fans for a job well done.

T also received flowers, the manliest I could find! He was thrilled, clearly.


Afterwards everyone gets to go to the gym and have unlimited cookies and punch, I stopped counting when my kids were on there fifth helping. Sissy had a wonderful time with her best friends and we saw her abandon us for the "cool table" for the first time ever. We got our cookies and sat down where she ditched us immediately to socialize. They were so cute.


Sidenote:
Sissy takes showers, and showers only. She takes them for one reason, and for one reason only: to sing at the top of her lungs. This is a shower performance I caught last week and then the actual song at school. Love it! (sorry the pic is sideways)

Superstar!!

Sissy had her second soccer game this weekend. Pat and I missed the first one since we were in KC for a wedding, and we were really anticipating seeing her in action! She did remarkably well. I don't want to say that we were surprised, but so far athletics have not been her strong point. Or rather, they just don't interest her as much as singing and dresses do. She is actually a very fast runner and really stayed in the game. She didn't hesitate to get right in where the ball was. We thought she did awesome! Getting some advice from the assistant coach (aka Daddy) We do regret not putting Big Boy on the team. We would have had to fib about his age, but he definitely would have been just fine- broken arm and all. He took every opportunity he could to get out on the field and show off his moves as well. Sissy w/Gma McLain, one of her many fans I snapped this picture right as she was running off the field after the game. It is definitely worth it when you see that big smile, she had a great time! Although this was probably her favorite part... Big Boy's class took a trip to the fire station. T and I have probably been on 10 of these such tours, but he was still excited. He was the helper, of course, and interupted the firemen about 50 times. He had a thing for this fireman, would not back off. He was fascinated. And what happens when kids get up close and personal to someone? Yes, they make inappropriate comments. The firemen were nice enough to be talking to the kids and were super friendly and one child, who shall remain nameless, said, "Fireman, you got a BIG nose!" Oh, how humiliating. I could picture in my head the fireman's Facebook post that night, "Hosted a group of preschoolers at the firestation today. Was going great until some BRAT told me I had a huge nose." The irony of it all is that before the tour T's teacher prayed for us to be examples of Christ and praise God through our actions. Hopefully the fireman was already a Christian and can forgive that (still nameless) child. On a side note, Pat and I had a weekend away to KC which was much needed! He had a high school friend getting married and we were excited for some time away. The wedding was lovely and the reception was pretty cool. It was in an arts building, a place where local artists use the space as a studio of sorts. And much to Pat's delight, the music was a Neil Diamond cover band. Now, I know this picture cannot possibly do them justice, and they were pretty cool. We had awesome bbq for dinner along with several kinds of wedding cake and pie. And did I mention it was anything you want, free drinks? :) This weekend I will escape to KC again, this time with friends for another "break" from reality. Also, the kids have their big Spring Program at school Friday night. Where is April going? It's passing by fast!