Tommy Update & Our Escape

Tommy saw the Dr. this morning, and we have wonderful news: he is expected to heal just fine. They did an ex-ray and saw no sign of a fracture and said that the cut was healing well. The fingernail will probably fall off when the new nail grows in. We need to keep a band-aid on it. He needs to stay on the antibiotics, keep his wound clean, and avoid prolonged time in water. Yay! What a difference from Monday's predictions, praise God!

We ran away to escape the heat yesterday, and it worked. My mom, brother, the kids, and I took off for cooler weather. We didn't find it at our stop in Shelton where the temperature was registering at 109°, but we did pick up some iced drinks there. Further down the road we dropped into the 70°s, and by Aberdeen we had dropped to the upper 60°s. What a relief. From there we took a scenic tour down 101 South to Long Beach, where we picked up snacks and played in the ocean. It was 62° there at about 7:00 p.m. We jumped back in the car and stayed on South 101 until we got into Oregon. That was a fun experience, crossing the Columbia River at the right time of day with just the right amount of fog and mist, it looked like we were driving into nothingness, and it was a little eerie. At the end, the bridge goes up, which reminded me slightly of a roller coaster. Rainbow, I thought of you, and how much you would've hated to be in the vehicle at that point. We didn't stay long in Astoria, pointed ourselves north and east, and headed for I-5 and home. It was a fun adventure, and we really did avoid much of the heat.

Now to deal with today…

Doctor Update

Tommy has an appointment for 9:15 tomorrow morning, which is supposed to be a good time because the surgeon will be there for a consultation if necessary. We're going out for most of the rest of today.

It’s Hot!

I realize that people in other parts of the country think we are whining about the heat, but when it gets over 100, it's hot! My house doesn't cool off at all, it stays over 90 through the night, and we just aren't used to this kind of heat, and we don't have air conditioning. I'm looking forward to some high temperatures in the 80s, soon, please.

I took Tyler and his friend over to Illahee State Park yesterday afternoon, to try to beat the heat. My mom brought Tommy and Travis to meet us. The kids had a good time cooling off in the water, but then it was time to get ready to go to Port Orchard. We all rode over in my mom's car (a/c) to drop Ty and his friend off for the night, and then we went to Manchester until sunset, still looking for a cool place to be.

We haven't figured out what we're doing today yet. We're still trying to get an appt. with the doctor for Tommy. They stressed at the emergency room how urgent it is that he see the doctor by today, but the doctor's office keeps saying they'll call us back, and haven't yet. Urgh! On the upside, Tommy ripped his bandage off yesterday and I saw that his finger actually resembles a finger again. I'm trying not to get my hopes up though, they were very skeptical at the ER. He is re-bandaged, and now he needs to be seen by a doctor. Hopefully, he'll get in this morning and they'll say it looks like its healing, and they'll send him home and we can find someplace to go to stay cool.

I truly believe in the power of prayer, so thank you all who have prayed. I'll post any updates.

Prayer Request

22 month-old Tommy got his finger slammed in a door.  At the emergency room they stitched him up, but have said he will more than likely lose the end of his finger (from the top knuckle up).  Tommy will see the doctor on Wednesday to see if the finger is healing at all.  Please pray for healing.  This is the pointer finger on his right hand.

 
 

Also, I would appreciate prayer for the young family friend who slammed the door.  He is feeling a huge amount of guilt. If Tommy ends up losing the end of his finger this child will feel horrible.

 

Lastly, please pray for me. It's the next morning, and while I was strong last night, all I want to do right now is cry. My poor baby.

Have a great day, everyone. Try to stay cool.

A Summer Day

Yesterday was Jeff's birthday. He took the day off work and we all went on a scenic drive around the Hood Canal and up to Lake Cushman. It was a beautiful day for it. We stopped at Dosewallips, where we'll be camping next month; at Lake Cushman; and at Hoodsport. Scott, Amanda, & Josh came over after we got home and we barbecued steak. It was a good day.

Josh stayed over last night. We got the household chores done this morning before it started to heat up outside. While the boys were out playing in the yard, Tyler got his first ever bee sting. Ouch! We got out the baking powder and liberally applied it to the sting, before long it was just a dot on his finger. Then I went to pick up Tara. After we got back, Josh got himself stung. Silly boy, don't chase bees! More baking powder and water, and an Aunt Lori lecture about not making them any madder because I don't want Tommy getting stung.

Then the kids decided they wanted to go swimming. Jeff ran Tara home to get her swim suit while the boys got ready here. Then off to the pool with all of them for a couple hours. It's good for them. Actually, I really like the pool being so close. They are running a summer special on Mon-Fri afternoons, $1 swim for an hour and a half. The timing works well for us, Jeff drops them off on his way to work and they walk home when they're done. Tommy's nap time has been falling about the same time, so I have a little bit of time to catch up on housework or play on the computer, some "me" time.

We're barbecuing again today, burgers. I'm trying to keep the heat outside. I made Jell-O with oranges, and we may have salad. I haven't decided yet.

Webelos Day Camp

The Sign Coming Into Camp

 
 

 
 

Their Den Flag

 
 

 
 

Taking Aim

 
 

 
 

Drawing a Diagram to Earn a Pin

 
 

 
 

BB Range

 
 

 
 

Rules to Follow

 
 

 
 

Taking Aim

 
 

 
 

Camp Buddies

 
 

 
 

Bullseye!

 
 

 
 

Cooking

 
 

 
 

On the Rope Bridge, Day 1

 
 

 
 

Crossing the Rope Bridge, Day 3

 
 

 
 

Dismount

 
 

 
 

Folding the U.S. Flag

 
 

 
 

Flag Ceremony

 
 

 
 

1^st Aid Kit

 
 

 
 

Practice

 
 

 
 

The neighboring fire department gave us all a treat on Thursday and Friday.

 
 

 
 

The boys loved it!

 
 

 
 

 

 

I took about 500 pictures at camp last week, so I can weed through them and hopefully find good shots of all 12 kids in the den. I'll send some on to the other parents, and then I would like to make a memory book for our Pack. I'm still thinking about how I want to do that.

Silly Quiz on Facebook

Just for fun, I took this silly quiz on Facebook, "What does your true best friend's name start with." The first question was about favorite colors, and I picked the answer "rainbow." Anyway, after answering the questions it came back and told me that my true best friend's name starts with a "K". Hmmmm….first name or middle name? Kalani Rainbow, or Melissa Kaye, or both!!!! Anyway, silly but cute.

I am surviving day camp. Thank you for all your help this week, Mom. I'll try to post pics this weekend.

Goodnight!

Blue Jackets Game

Travis and Tyler are on opposite sides of the dancing pictures.

Singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"

It looks like everybody had a good time.
Tommy slept through most of it.
The Blue Jackets won!

July 9th

 

 

 

Tyler wasn't with us because he had spent the night with friends and gone to the movies that morning.

This was a fun day. I miss you guys! Didn't feel like we spent enough time together, but it never does, does it?

Goings on lately: Tyler's new bike was stolen Sunday morning. Tyler was crushed. Scott & Amanda said he can have Josh's old bike, which makes it a little better but doesn't do much about the person who thinks stealing a bike from a little kid is a cool thing to do.

We went to the drive-in Sunday evening. I posted on Facebook that we were going and ended up with 2 other families I know there. That was a lot of fun: 3 families with 3 boys each, all around the same ages. We were there early enough to let all the kids run around and play Frisbee and wear themselves out before the movies started. Another mom (we didn't know her) and her 12-year old son parked near us, and joined us for awhile. Jeff stayed home and watched a movie with Scott; I took Amanda with me and the boys. She had never been to a drive-in before.

This week….I am getting ready for this week. Tonight is a mandatory den guides meeting for Webelos Day Camp. As I am a den guide all 4 days, I need to be there. Simultaneously, the Boy Scout troop is having a family picnic at a different location. Okay. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Tyler and I will be at camp from about 8 a.m. until about 4 p.m. Friday camp runs from 1:30 p.m. to about 7:30 p.m. I think my mom plans on watching the kids until I home. Right, Mom?

On Tuesday and Thursday the boys still have swimming. On Wednesday Travis has youth group. On Tuesday we are going to the Blue Jackets game also, for a friend's birthday, right after swimming. Does anybody see me being exhausted by the end of the week?

Okay, I think I'm going to go bake an apple crisp for Travis to take to the family picnic. Have a good week everybody!

Water Fun

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then these say a lot. Maureen, the kids had a blast playing at your house today. Kim, it was nice meeting you again. Rainbow, please don't kill me. That was a yummy salad, I want the recipe.

We went to the boys swimming lessons when we left this crazy fun. Travis freaked me out by showing me his newest skill….front flips off the diving board. Yikes!