Jennifer's Junky Life ~

A Small Bump...or Two

I've been a mom for over ten years now and we've never had any real 'emergencies' with our kids (minus all of Carter's breathing issues with his asthma/allergies). That all changed, last week, when the kids were all doing cartwheels and flips in the front yard and Abram landed on a broken glass bottle top and sliced open the bottom of his right foot.

{On the way to the E.R.}

One of the kids had broken the bottle a long time ago and thought they had picked it all up - but the extremely sharp top portion was hidden in the grass.

It was a good 1/2- to 1-inch long gash and probably needed a couple of stitches or so. But it happened late in the day and I decided to wait until morning to see how it was. I also wanted to avoid the E.R./hospital if we could, so I wasn't in a hurry to bring him in. And in all honesty, I'm not a 'panicker' when it comes to injuries. I take a more 'relaxed' stance to it all - preferring the 'wait and see' approach to the 'every injury is an emergency and needs medical attention' one. But, by the next day, I thought maybe we should have brought him in when it split open again - but it was too late as it was already healing.

So, I bandaged it up well and made sure he took it easy on the couch for a few days. It didn't need to be 'butterflied' with tape because of the way it was cut so a bandage worked just fine. He crawled around the house for the first few days and then became more mobile by hopping on one foot and now he's to the point where he's walking (and even running) with just a slight limp. The cut has been healing really well. He may have a little scar but nothing to worry about!

{Carter, in the E.R. acting a little shy as the nurse was talking to him.}

Then Sunday after church everyone was changing out of their church clothes and Carter jumped on a pile of blankets in the Sitting Room and we all heard a 'crack' sound. We looked up to find him bawling and holding his head with blood going everywhere.

Apparently, the blankets were partially draped over the elliptical machine and he'd whacked his head full-force on the corner of the foot support. He split open his head a good 2-inches and although it wasn't too deep, we knew right away that stitches were inevitable this time. No question about it.

So we got him cleaned up. Mind you, he was only in his underwear at the moment! And I was just about finished nursing Aria.

Since it was his head, there was blood everywhere - and, luckily, blood doesn't scare any of our kids, they've watched chickens getting butchered and they've seen goats being born - so Nikayda and Abram helped to wash up the floor and wipe off Carter's legs while I finished nursing, as Mark held a cloth over the cut. Then I helped him to get dressed and we headed to the ER for the first time with one of our kids, 20 minutes away, where we spent the next 2 hours waiting for a doctor to see us. (2 hours, I kid you not.) He was fine the entire time, and his head wasn't bothering him at all. Thankfully. But the wait was extreme (and probably because we live in such a rural area). I kind of anticipated that it would be a long since we'd been there before (for my hyperemesis gravidarum last fall) so I grabbed some snacks for everyone. But we never dreamt it would be well over two hours before we'd be seen and released and everyone was pretty hungry by the time we left since we hadn't had the opportunity to eat lunch before it happened.

The nurses and doctor were great. The doc. had such a laid back personality, with a long ponytail to go with, and he was great with Carter. The best part was, when he went to go to put staples in Carter's head after he'd numbed it with a few shots (the worst part for Carter since it stung), he had the stapler upside down and stapled his own hand! Poor guy! But he was a great sport and had a good sense of humor about it all. And after leaving the room to have a nurse help remove the staple from his hand and to get a new stapler, he came back and we were all laughing that he'd numbed the wrong person.

{Above, Taken today, his cut just looks like a dark spot now as it's healing.}

As he went to use the new stapler, I was standing there watching the entire procedure and noticed he had the stapler upside down again. I didn't say anything, hoping he'd figure it out since he was the doctor, after all - and it took him several long seconds of holding it over the wound before he realized it was upside down again! In his defense, we all agreed that the stapler was odd because the (improper) way he was holding it, was how it looked like it should go. Doctors are only humans, too, and this was a great reminder of that! We all can make mistakes from time to time.

In the end, he figured it out and put 7 tiny metal staples into the top of our son's head. The next day, Carter was telling me that he counted his staples and said, "It doesn't even feel like I have any staples in!"

So, he's bounced back real well. I was wondering if he'd have a headache or something today but so far he's doing just fine.

We'll take it. Just a couple of little bumps in the road. I don't like when my kids get hurt. Who does? But I've been finding the humor in two injuries like this happening to us within a week when we've never had anything like it before.

{I think she's going to be a blankie girl. She loves to hold her flannel blankets (usually over her face) while she's falling asleep.}

I'm completely fascinated by health. Especially the natural way of healing the body and becoming healthy. But I'm also fascinated by modern medicine as far as it pertains to emergencies. I disagree with a lot of things as far as modern medicine goes, but it's there for a reason, too, and we're very grateful for it when we need it. I watched the entire procedure with Carter - the only part that was difficult to watch was when the doctor did multiple shots in and around the cut. And the stapling was a little crazy, for me to watch, as well. But I did. The best way to face a fear is head on - so I watched it all.

P.S. I have better pictures of his wound - but no one wants to see bloody wounds, so I'll spare you the details of those photos! :)

A Mini-Getaway

Mark's been feeling pretty tired lately so we slipped away for a quick, spontaneous overnight with the kids this weekend to the Twin Cities. Seeking a little R&R, we headed to St. Louis Park and stayed at the Springhill Suites by Marriott. Nothing fancy but we've stayed there before and it's a clean, comfortable, run-of-the-mill hotel. Besides, it's a fairly close jaunt to Whole Foods, our only intended destination.

We really like the Marriott hotels but the one in the cities, which we've never stayed at, only had two double beds available and that wouldn't have worked for us. We like the size of the suites at the Springhill with two queen beds, a separate lounge area with a sleeper couch, an arm chair, and a little kitchen area with a sink, fridge, and microwave (which we never use). Lots of room when you're a family of six.

It was fun to get away like that. It felt much longer than two days - which was nice - but for Mark's sake, I wish it could have been longer. He didn't get to go on our two week (plus) vacation this summer and he could use it more than us. He's a carpenter and on-top of his full-time job, he's been working on our house, and he took on some part time (side jobs) recently for friends. We're very appreciative of all the work and feel fortunate to be turning work away instead of seeking to find work, though (as we did within the last couple of years)! At least at the moment. It changes month to month when you're self-employed.

{On Aria - Dress: Vintage, thrifted. Grey bloomers: Hand-me-down from Nikayda. Soft flannel blanket used as burp cloth: 1960's vintage, garage sale.}

We haven't seen him a whole lot this summer since he hasn't been getting home until 10:00 p.m. (and sometimes later) so it was a treat to get away and relax for a couple of days.

We didn't do anything in the cities but relax. On our way down, we stopped in St. Cloud so I could return some mail-order sandals to Crazy 8 that I'd gotten for Nikayda that didn't fit. On our way out, we were walking through Macy's and I was telling Mark that I really need some jeans but didn't really feel like jeans' shopping right now with all the kids in tow. (And there wasn't time anyway.) To which he responded, "Speaking of jeans, there's your Auntie Jean." And, sure enough, we spotted her several rows away perusing the aisles. So we cruised over to say 'hi'. That was so fun to bump into her (my dad's sister). I hadn't seen her in years! And while we were chatting, my Uncle Chuck came back, as well. Seriously made my day to bump into those two. Chuck was at our house during deer hunting a few years ago but I hadn't seen Jean in even longer.

I spent a lot of time at their house when I first moved away from home and out to Minnesota. They were like my 'home' away from home when I lived near them for about five years.

It's funny, as life goes on, how you can go years without seeing people you grew up seeing every year. While we were in Michigan we also were able to visit with another Aunt & Uncle I hadn't seen in years as well. (My mom's sister, Kristin, and EJ.) And I even met some of my younger cousins that I've never met before. I feel so happy that I've been able to see some of my relatives this summer that I hadn't seen in so long - even if the encounters were fairly brief.

Vacation Pictures

{Two small cousins. Isaac and Aria.}

{A sweet moment.}

{Moss Roses in a pretty pot in my parents' garden.}

{My favorite Willow tree. It's at the end of my parents' road and I stared at the thing every morning for 13 years while waiting for the school bus. We used to swing on the branches. It's beautiful and the picture doesn't do it justice (The lighting was way off when I took it but I wanted to grab a shot of it since I never had in all these years.)}

{"Home". Although, in all the years I lived here it was a one-story ranch style house. The second floor was added just before I spread my wings and headed out to Minnesota, two years after I graduated high school.}

{Sedum in the garden.}

{Our first glimpse of the Mackinac Bridge. That grey smudge to the left is a fleck of dust on my lense and it shows up in most of my photos. It's been there for months. I have no idea how to get rid of it since it's inside of my camera (a Canon PowerShot SD1400). If anyone sees this and has any advice on getting it out - I'd love to hear it! I'm at a loss, and so frustrated by it.}

{The Mighty Mackinac.}

{Clematis in my parents' garden.}

{A hidden Beach.}

{The beautiful north shore of Lake Michigan - a hidden beach.}

{Silly little, chubby little baby toes.}

{You wouldn't believe how many pictures I took before I realized that we had a face-maker the entire time! He's quite the guy!}

{Love my Mamma's Milk Sling.}

Little Beach Bum

Knock 'em out - three in a row! Gotta get these posts out while I can. Either this is a new leaf I've turned over or just a fluke. Only time will tell!

My sister, Jean, as I mentioned was here last week (for a week). We sure enjoyed having her around! Having my family so far away (over 800 miles away, to be exact), it's been such a treat to see them so much this summer.

{The kitten Jean wanted to take home in the worst way. It was born from some 'wild' cat living in Sara & Jon's barn. They don't have any cats but one or more have taken up residence in their outbuildings that they never use. (They live on a 'farm' but don't farm.)}

Jean came out here with our sister-in-law to help her on the trip with her kids. She's the 'baby' of our family and my youngest sister and she's only three years older than Nikayda. The two of them crack me up - they have so much fun together - but they also act more like sisters than like an auntie and a niece. They don't fight or anything but they have no problem telling one another if they're getting annoyed with the other or not.

I hadn't really brought the kids to the beach too often this year until last week. We went quite a few times with Jean being here. We normally have our pool up but we want to get a saltwater filter system or something down those lines (instead of chlorine) so we didn't put it up this year since it wasn't in the budget at the moment. The beach is fun but I kind of miss the pool...

New Flooring

Mark put in our pine floors for the kitchen and living room while we were out of town. We wanted to get the kids out of there while he stained and varnished them so they wouldn't be exposed to all of the strong fumes from the stain. {The varnish was low-VOC and had little to no smell but the stain was strong.} He salvaged the wallboards from a cabin on one of the nearby lakes that was built in the 1930's that they tore down and and rebuilt within the last year.

This is what it looks like to live in construction. Admittedly, I don't handle it very well. In fact, I pretty much hate it - but it's the way it has to be as we slowly finish our house over the years. And I always tell myself that 'someday it'll be done'. Or at least it'll look like it! P.S. Please excuse the mess, including the laundry to be folded on the couch.

Before we headed out of town on our two plus week vacation, I gave the kids a bunch of permanent markers in different colors and let them go to town on the subfloors that Mark was working on covering. They loved it and it was really fun to see all the things they colored and wrote on them.

{Nikayda working on one of her little works of art, below.}

{I suspect she was a little influenced by someone else...}

I couldn't resist joining in on the fun of coloring on the floors. I also wrote a little love note to the kids and one for Mark to thank him for all he does to make this house my dream home (above, not shown, it's off to the side there). For all that I hate living in a 'construction' zone, I really appreciate all the hard work and time he puts into this home each year as we build it with love and as much salvaged materials as possible.

{Such a serious expression. She almost looks worried.}

Our floors are a white stain so you can still see the grains and I love them! I'm looking forward to watching them get banged up and worn in. They've already got a few dings and marks on them. Some of which may or may not have happened before the kids and I even arrived home. I love that they'll have character and I won't have to worry about having 'fussy' floors. We're planning to work on the sitting room (which is adjacent to the living room) and Nikayda's room next - hopefully, sometime later this summer.

He also installed the white (1-inch) hexagon tiles (not shown) in the main/first floor bathroom which is off the entry way. We went with a grey grout in there and I'm really happy with the results! He also stained the bathroom beadboard tub surround a solid white. I'm so happy to have a white tub surround again! It was white originally until Mark pulled out the temporary surround and put in this beadboard which was salvaged from another house he worked on. It was originally a dark brown stain but he just didn't have a chance to stain it white until now.

He also started framing in our back deck using salvaged boards from one of his jobs, as well. I suspect that that is all that it will be for awhile! I don't imagine he'll have much time to work on it again anytime soon. But it's a start.

{Danish Modern Baumritter Lounge Chair.}

My 'new' favorite chair. Mark got it *free* from the cabin he's working on. He was able to go through all of the stuff they were getting rid of before bringing it to our local salvage store. I was one happy girl when he surprised me with this one! I've blogged so seldom in the past year, I can't remember if I mentoined that we're changing out all of our decor for more of a Mid-Century Modern style. I'm going for junk/retro instead of the junk/country style it was.

It was so fun to come home to all of these changes around here. (It's already been about a month!) But mostly I just love that we're back home with him again. It was fun - but also so strange to go on vacation without him since we never had before. I'd do again, though.

{Above, she's 'blowing raspberries'. She learned to do that a couple of weeks ago and we get such a kick out of it and the expressions she makes when she does it.}

Naturally, he sometimes gets a little bored if we stay at my family's house for much more than a week - so that part was really relaxing for me (not worrying about if he was or not). And he said he didn't get a chance to get too lonesome for us either since he was working such long days on the house. I was more worried about him than us when I'd left (especially since Aria was with us - I knew he'd really miss her) so I was glad to hear it went well for him, too. Although, luckily for us, he was ready for us to come home when we did! ;)