New Cast

Here is our embrace the camera for this week. We were too traumatized to make a post last week! Here we are with Bennett's new green cast. He got it today!

We went to the doctor to make sure everything is going OK with his arm. Dr. McAlister said he was healing nicely, but still needed the cast for a couple more weeks. The picture of them turned out so cute! (He will smile with the doctor, but not with me!)

This is Mary. She is such a sweet nurse. She put on his cast and let him play with all the fun equipment.

20 months!

Happy 20 months old Bennett! This has been a big month for you. You are learning so much. You also received your first real injury. A broken arm. You are working with it beautifully. We are so proud of you for being so brave.

What have you been up to?

• You do not like to have your teeth brushed at all.
• You have a mouth full of teeth.
• You wear 18-24 month clothes. Mostly 18 months.
• You are so happy and love to play.
• You know all of your animals and body parts, but still no colors. I know you will get them when you are ready.
• You have been saying sentences like "Hi Mommy and Hi Daddy!" It is so fun to hear you say those phrases.
• You still wear a size 4 diaper and have not showed any interest in potty training. You will point to your diaper and say "poo poo."
• You have become more attached to me since I have been home with you all summer. I love it and hope it doesn't change.

• You love to play with new toys. No matter where we go you are content. You can usually entertain yourself for a long time.

• You love to eat. You are more picky these days. You won't really eat your vegetables anymore. You love meat, fruit, and sweets. You LOVE capri suns. You can drink 1 of those in about 3 seconds. I buy the Roaring Waters kind because it is just flavored water without all of the sugar...you don't seem to mind at all!
• You still light up all of our lives. Your grandparents come over just to see you all the time. Aunt Becky even comes and spends the night just to see you. What did this family do without your for so long?

Happy 20 months. I can't believe you will 2 in only 4 months. (tear)

Weekend

Our plan was to head to Nashville when Neil got off work on Thursday. After Bennett's broken arm, we decided to just stay home. We really hated to miss all the fun that Beck had planned for us. Luckily, we re-scheduled for a weekend in October. It will be cooler anyway.

We had a lot of fun this weekend. We just laid low and hung out. We did go to Ella Grace's 3rd birthday on Friday night. It was so fun and creative. Ashleigh made every single thing for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse themed party. They just got back from Disney so I think EG is loving it. I only took pictures of a few of her cute details...

Love this totally Mickey banner.

They had a Mickey Mouse jump house, but with the state of Bennett's arm I just couldn't let him get in there. He was not too happy about that. We opted for playing in EGs room with Mr. Max.

A family portrait at the party.

Yes she made rice krispy treats in the shape of Mickey.

Bennett's favorite part of the night was definitely the cupcake. It was huge with green icing. He made a huge mess and tried to eat every bit of the icing.

He was a little less than excited when we finally took it away from him.

I was the laziest I have ever been on Saturday. Neil let me sleep in. I took 2 naps and stayed in my pjs until 5:30 pm. I can't stand wasting a day like that, but I guess I needed the rest. The Hannas had everyone over for a "tailgating" themed dinner. Everyone was supposed to bring tailgating food. I guess they are really getting ready for football season.

Neil made these bacon wrapped cheeseburgers. They were supposed to be turtles, but didn't end up working out.

Beau made bacon wrapped deer meat with cream cheese and jalapeño. YUM!

James made the mahi mahi fish tacos. We had some gourmet tailgating food.

After we ate, Bennett had everyone sign his cast. He is so cute to bring the pen and cast to you. He loves having it signed.

Poor Marge! Her dog head butted her and gave her a black eye. The girl with the black eye and the boy with the broken arm. Picture perfect.

The Montgomerys came over to see Bennett and to sign his little cast on Sunday. That was so sweet of them to think of Bennett.

We headed to the Becton-Cox house for dinner on Sunday. We had a really eventful weekend!

Tough Day

Today was a rough day. We woke up too early and just sort of hung out in our pjs. I wasn't feeling too great so Bennett and I just watched some Sesame Street and ate breakfast. We were going to go meet the Montgomerys and Buteaus at Eastridge to swim until our plans were suddenly changed. Bennett and I were starting to get ready to get our swim gear on when he fell off our bed. We were both just lying on the bed, but as 19 month olds do...he was up jumping around and stumbled off the edge of the bed. I was sitting right next to him and there was nothing I could do. His arm was in a compromising position between the wooden frame of the bed and the mattress. It was scary. I just started screaming. I was trying to not get too emotional so I wouldn't scare him. I took him to his room to get him dressed and I could just tell something wasn't right. He would try to lean on his left arm to to get toys and would wince and scream each time. It started swelling at the elbow really quickly. I ran and got the phone and immediately fell to pieces. I called Neil, but got no answer so I called the doctor. They told me they couldn't hear me over Bennett's crying and asked if I would put him down. I just didn't want to put him down after such a traumatic event! Then, they said they couldn't understand me so to just bring him in. I hurried to put on some shoes and put him in his carseat. I think my heart was beating like crazy. I was still in pjs and looked pretty rough. I drove us to the doctor calling my mom and Neil on the way. I don't even know how I made it to the doctor. I was thinking yesterday that I don't even remember taking the appropriate turns or anything. Glad we made it safely. We arrived at the doctor and a girl that I teach with happened to be there and she opened the door for us. Thanks Katie!

We got in and they immediately put us in a room. Mom and Neil arrived literally 2 minutes after we got there. I don't know how they got there so fast! Neil said he didn't know if Bennett even had an arm as bad as I sounded! Bennett just stayed cuddled up next to me the whole time. He was being so brave. I was acting like a total baby...I just could not stop crying thinking that I let this happen to my baby. Bennett got to have a couple suckers and they seemed to help him feel better. My entire shirt was soaked with slobber, tears, and medicine. It didn't matter! I just wanted to find out what was wrong. Neil took Bennett to get his x-ray. Dr. Cockrell came back and showed us the x-ray. They decided that he had broken his humerus bone (the bone above his elbow). I was shocked! I just thought it was a bad bruise. She called around to get us in to an orthopedic doctor. We headed to Bossier to be seen by Dr. McAlister.

Dr. McAlister had some great news for us. He said that he did not think he needed surgery! Praise the Lord! I don't know if I could have dealt with that! So, he and the nurse put on a navy blue cast. Bennett was such a good boy. Neil held him and he didn't even cry. The doctor was so complimentary of him being such a big boy. He didn't try to move around or wiggle away from them. During the casting, the doctor asked me if I wanted to go leave the room and get a coke...I guess I was a complete mess! The staff at the office kept coming in to see his tiny baby cast. They said they haven't done a cast that tiny is ages. Everyone kept saying how cute he looked.

Neil was so good to us today. He took care of us all day long. He went and got my prescription, some markers to sign Bs cast, and whatever else we needed. He even bathed Bennett! We love you Daddy!

He loves having his cast signed. He will bring the pen to you and pretend to write. He also likes to play 'knock knock' on it. He will tap it and say "knock knock!"

We are so thankful for all of our family and friends that have called to check on us and come to help. Please pray for a smooth and quick healing of his arm. I am so thankful that Bennett is so healthy and we don't endure scary things like this all the time.

Neil went and got Bennett the little stuffed Elmo to make him feel better. He is so popular with all of his cast signatures...Mommy, Daddy, Gam, Pops, Uncle Checkers, Amy, and Sarah all signed.

I took the pictures while Neil bathed the sweet boy. The cover was pretty easy to put on and did a great job of keeping the water out!

Lunch, Guns, Swimming, & Baby Caroline!

\What do all of these things have in common? They are just a few of the things we have been doing around here. I have been SO tired lately that I haven't felt up to blogging so I thought I would group them all together in one post. Get ready.

We loved getting to have lunch with Carol on Thursday at Biscotti's. I love getting to visit with Carol. Since Leslie is in Germany, we decided to meet up for lunch.

On Saturday, we went out to the Bull Buteau Shoot Out fundraiser. Neil put a little skeet shooting team together. On the team was Neil, Richard, Andrew, Hunter Temple, and Russell. Poor Richard had a pretty bruised arm.

Here we are minus Richard and Russell. Hunter, Andrew, Neil, and me. They didn't win, but had a great time. It was a fun event and Trey did a wonderful job organizing it! Great idea, Erinn!

After much needed naps (for all of us) and spending some time indoors, we headed to the Dicharrys for swimming and dinner. Andre' was so sweet to push Bennett around on the raft under the sprinklers. He loved it!

Of course, Maddie and Bennett had to have popsicles before dinner!

Yesterday we went over to Jennifer and Justin's to see their sweet baby girl. We were excited that Jennifer's mom and sister came over so we could see them. Caroline was so tiny and precious. She was 1 week old yesterday. We were so glad to get to meet her. We can't wait for Caroline and Bennett to play together.

Mom, Caroline, and Mrs. Sarah

Justin and his girl. I think she looks just like him. He says that Jennifer's baby pics look just like her though.

Sweet family! She doesn't even look like she had a baby a week ago!!

Bennett kept saying "baby." Here he is checking her out.

All the girls and Bennett. Jennifer/Caroline, Renee', Mrs. Sarah, Mom, Me/Bennett

I made them this awesome shrimp pasta salad for dinner. Jennifer actually made it for us when I was pregnant. I was excited to get to return the favor!

Embrace the Camera

I am glad that Dianne took this of use yesterday or we wouldn't have had a picture for today. I just love this concept of making sure you are in pictures with your kids! (no matter how you look!)

Play Group

We had a fun time at playgroup. Sarah, James, and Lily Harris hosted for us. It was so nice to be inside. I am just done being outside in this ridiculous heat! Sarah had cut up fruit in little cupcake holders for a cute snack...so great.

Bennett, Leigh, and Annabella

Bennett LOVED this little tractor. They had a few of these little car type toys that he loved. I think I need to get one for him.

The sweet Burfords...Ann and Max

Ashleigh trying out her new camera. She started a blog!!! I am so excited to be able keep up with the Richardsons now!