Trash Can - 1, Seth - 0 (kinda long, sorry)

Aaarrrggghhhh.... Today I have learned a few things NOT to say: "I had a great dinner out last night with my girlfriends, I feel so calm. Wonder how long I can hang onto that feeling." And, "Where are the trash cans around this place?" The answer to the first question was, 'not long.' The answer to the second question, well, we soon became acquainted.

The boys and I went to a location that houses lots of books that you borrow, and that is located downtown. I will be vague so as to avoid any issues of slander, although as long as it's all truthful, there are no issues. Anyway, we went on this excursion and met up with our friend Nancy and her little Ava, and Aunt G, Laney, and Carson. We had a great time - picked out a stack of books, played in the children's area and settled in to enjoy our packed lunches. After we finished lunch, the kiddos played around some more.

I went to check out our books while the boys stayed with Gretchen and Nancy. I had my back to them but heard Seth crying. Seth being not quite three, it's a sound I hear frequently. I turned around to check it out and Gretchen was on the floor holding him, motioning for me to join her. It gets a little fuzzy for a little while but I remember gathering up all the books and starting over and then seeing them holding napkins to his bleeding head and that's when I started running. I got there and I think Gretchen showed me the gash and I took Seth in my lap. From there it's fuzzy for a few minutes. I remember asking what happened and they said he fell on the trash can. That sounds like the silliest way to get injured but please notice the trash can:

The edges of each of those circular metal pieces are not rounded, they are very sharp. Seth continued to scream and I continued to hold Seth and apply pressure (I remember Gretch telling me to keep doing that). At one point he was screaming, "No, Mommy." Unfortunately, at the time all I could make out was Mommy and I was convinced he didn't recognize me and I got a bit more panicky then - "I'm right here!" Fortunately, Gretch figured out he just didn't want me to hold the napkins to his head!

Eventually, it occurred to me to wonder what size of a crowd had gathered. As I started to look around, an employee came over and said the paramedics were on their way. I thought that seemed a bit extreme but the look on Gretchen's face, who has some prior medical training, seemed to indicate it wasn't a bad idea. And she had already offered to put Luke's car seat in her car and take him with her. I did ask her if they would force him to go with them if he seemed okay (no) and if I would likely be able to join him if they did want to take him by ambulance (yes). Anyway, he finally stopped crying and most of the bleeding stopped and the medics arrived. They were super great with him, and even made sure I was okay - very sweet of them! - and said they thought he was just fine to go with me. Yeah!! Seth and I were both a bit messy so we used some baby wipes and cleaned up a bit before we left. That's when I noticed his hand was cut too. I am guessing he tried to catch himself on the way down but missed terribly! Anyway, Nancy and Gretchen suggested I call the pediatrician's office to see if they could see us. Of course, their office was closed for lunch, but only for a few more minutes.

We swapped out car seats and loaded Luke up with Gretchen and Seth and I departed. I got ahold of the doctor's office and they said to come on down and they would work him in. Then I had to call David - not a call I was looking forward to making. That's when I finally cried just a little. He left work and met us at the pediatrician's office. Seth got his pretty little head superglued (dermabonded if you need the medical jargon) back together.

(The glue makes it very shiny and has a purple tint. So, not to say it won't bruise but that's not bruising yet.)

While it was a very long, mostly miserable experience I am so thankful:

*That I was not alone. Not sure how I would've coped without Nancy and Gretchen

*That Luke was already in his stroller and really didn't fuss much at all, just took it all in

*That Seth did not have to go anywhere via ambulance and that the medics were so nice to him

*That Aunt Gretchen had Sesame Street band-aids with her so we could put one on his hand and he talked about it most of the way from downtown to Greenwood - 'there's Cookie Monster; Is Oscar mean?' - what a great diversion!

*That when he wasn't talking about the band-aid he was singing every word to the Veggie Tales CD, which at least let me know he hadn't hurt his head too badly

*That our pediatrician's office is very kind and gladly worked him in on a Friday afternoon

*That Seth loves his doctor and was absolutely the bravest not-quite-3-year-old I have ever seen at the doctor's office

*That David works very close to the pediatrician's office and actually got there before we did (and that he has a job where he can leave in an emergency)

*That it's only a gash and not so many other things that could have happened

*That my own little meltdown didn't come until I was all alone, on my way home from buying bandaging supplies at Target

There's just one real issue remaining - well, two maybe. He already has a scar on the other side of his head from where he hit the TV stand almost a year ago. Uugghhh. So, we will be praying that this scar is minimal (even if chicks do dig them!). But the bigger issue is that tonight, at bedtime, it took a good half an hour to get him to lie down and go to bed. He just kept screaming and crying that he wanted to leave his room. This is very much NOT normal Seth. But he didn't have a nap and we did get to bed later than usual so perhaps it was just extreme exhaustion. But I am praying this is not a new pattern or some fear related to his events of the day.

Happy birthday Lukey...

I cannot believe my little Luke is a year old! I'm sure every mom says that about their baby. But the changes that happen in the first year of a baby's life are just incredible to me! Luke has gone from being a wonderfully sweet and cuddly little blob to a wonderfully sweet and cuddly little boy - full of energy, walking everywhere, and with a personality so big it spills out of his little body. Luke is the complete opposite of his big brother. Seth walked at 16 months. Luke walked before he turned one. Seth hated balloons at his first birthday pictures and we had to sneak them in behind him so they could be in the pictures. Luke's balloons had to be moved so he would stop playing with them and look at the camera. We have a "ball popper" toy - maybe my favorite toy - and Seth would cry every time we turned it on when he was Luke's age. Luke stops what he's doing if he hears it going and heads straight for it. Seth STILL sits safely on the couch while I vacuum and Luke chases the sweeper like a puppy. I LOVE how different they are. What fun would it be raising the same child twice?

So what do I love about my Luke? I love his personality. I love that he just rolls with the punches. I love his laugh. I love how much he wants to be with his brother - and how he loves to lay his head on Seth. I love that he exhausts me with his energy. I love his independent spirit. I love that he will crawl over to me and give me a big hug just because I'm in the room.

Luke, just a couple of weeks old.

Luke, with Seth and Mommy, also just a few weeks old.

Luke, today at the Children's Museum, loving the water table!

Luke, last week (also with Seth and Mommy), having a good old time!

After our trip to the Museum today and a nap for the boys, Grammy and Grampy came over and shared cupcakes with us. Luke really enjoyed the cupcake. He got in a little practice yesterday when he had his pictures taken and he got to make a huge mess of his prop - a little cake. He seems to love cake (hmmm, no idea why he would love sweets!).

After cake, he opened up a couple of presents - a ball from Seth, a bath toy from Grammy & Grampy and some Little People blocks from Mommy & Daddy.

Then there was some basketball to be played with Daddy and Seth.

And finally, he had to try out the new bath toy.

Happy happy first birthday my littlest baby! We love you and the joy you bring to our family!

Happy Valentine's Day...

It's so nice to have 3 guys, 2 small and 1 big, to shower with love on this special day. To show their love to me, Luke got me up at 7:30. On a Saturday. Come on, cut a tired mommy some slack!! Dave pointed out that even with the highlighting you can still see my gray hair. Thanks babe. And Seth slopped applesauce all down the front of his Valentine's shirt at lunch. Yippee. Then refused to let me take a nice normal picture of him.

Yes, Luke is WALKING toward me.

Oh, whatever, I give up!

Beautiful flowers from my hubby - he tends to go with non-traditional and I love it!