Camp Adventures & No Broken Nose

Dr. Shah confirmed no broken nose. I can breathe a huge sigh of relief...

So Ari's first day of camp came and went. Today he's at his 2nd day. When I went to pick him up I was enamored with the cultural hodge podge that is this school/camp. I love that parents who are not Spanish bring their kids here. And I found out that the director and I share pediatricians.

When I went to pick up Ari, he was fine. The director told me that he never cried and he seemed to enjoy himself. The issue is not having been at the school/camp before, everything is new and he's unaware of the formatting. Because of this he's having issues paying attention.

So they asked that next week he be switched from 5 days to 3 days because they think he's not quite ready for the 5 day and he's not assimilated yet. The additional week should afford him the time to learn the way things roll. I'm OK with that. I asked if he's being disruptive or anything because that's a concern of mine. Especially since the day I picked him up and asked him what he did, he answered "I got a time out" and of course that made me worry (this will be a reoccurring comment of mine.) I was convinced he did something horrible to deserve that. In our house we don't do time outs, I'm assuming he didn't get that concept either so it didn't work. *sigh* But no, he was just not paying attention in the playground and coming close to hurting himself by gong by the swings.

They assured me he's not being disruptive, he's just having issues listening and sitting down and especially when all the kids are together, they have to be aware of safety so listening is a BIG thing. She said 'he seems to march to the beat of his own drummer' and that's very true. He never cries, is always happy and I have to remember he is the youngest child in the class. He was excited to go to camp today so he obviously loves it. He does great at independent play of course, but more structured circumstances find him suffering from "ants in the pants" syndrome and that's more because he's just not yet used to the flow so he just needs time to adapt.

And they need to adapt to him too. They were telling me how the teacher was stressing a bit cause he didn't want to eat lunch. That was my fault as I did not tell them he's not much of a self feed/lunch eater. And this is a big worry of mine. So he gets a large breakfast and if he eats he eats. I told them as much. I am more concerned about him getting enough liquids then of him eating. And I forgot to mention to them that he's a sweater and that when hot he gets red faced. *sigh* worry worry.

I want like every mom to hear my kid is brilliant and perfectly behaved and that's a stupid thing to ever expect. Very stupid but understandable. I'm glad to hear that he obviously likes it very much and that is truly the most important thing. He participates to a certain degree he just needs time. I wish I had the money to have put him in all summer long. I really do love the school and witnessing the kids that are generally in the program have the ability to converse and comprehend spanish when they themselves don't speak it at home says a lot about the program. I think its so good for him. I just wish it were closer.

Nilsa though misses her brother tremendously. My mother in law said that all day she was calling out "Ari, where are you" and looking for him. :(

We'll see how he does today. Today was pool day. He generally loves the pool so we'll see how well he listens and what the progress report is.

Pictures from Victoria's first birthday this past weekend

Anxiety - Possible broken noses and the start of camp.

First if you haven't seen my facebook status, yesterday Ari running through the kitchen fell flat on his face. FLAT onto the tile floor. HARD. Mom was in the kitchen, I was downstairs getting ready as I was to leave to videotape a wedding in an hour. I heard the boom and I heard the scream and I was upstairs in less then a second. Blood. Bloody nose that kept bleeding and bleeding. I had blood on my clothes, down my arms on my face and in my hair. I tried to soothe him and stop the bleeding but he was freaked and didn't want his face touched. Then I argued with my mom who insisted he needed to lie back for the bloody nose while I insisted he needed to sit up so that the blood didn't rush down into his throat. I remember yelling at her to go get Rob who was loading up for the wedding. The minute he walked in I crashed. Total panic attack. Shaking, hyperventilating and freaking out. I was totally not the picture of cool and he took over. Once I calmed down I was able to get hold of Ari, get him into the living room and put on Wall E.

He had calmed down but his lip and nose were swollen. His nose had stopped bleeding. We Sat in the couch putting ice packs on his nose and letting him suck on as many ice pops as he wanted (which did wonders for reducing the swelling in his mouth. No cuts. His nose swelling prevented us from seeing if it was broken. I honestly don't think it is but I'm no doctor. I read online that it can't be really diagnosed until the swelling subsides and that I need only worry if the bleeding doesn't stop, he can't seem to breathe through his nose or it is obviously crooked. By the end of the movie all was right in the world to Ari. Yes, his nose was swollen (top part, not the tip) but he didn't have a care in the world. And he was very good at putting the ice on it. So good in fact that this morning although it was still swollen, it wasn't so much so and the bruising was really minimal.

Beyond that Ari started camp today. Rob dropped him off and I'm going to pick him up. It’s the first time he has ever been in an all day thing and I have to say, I'm terribly anxious about it. You ever get so nervous that you feel chest pain? It’s like your heart actually hurts. That’s me right now. I’m worried that he won’t enjoy himself, or that he will feel abandoned. Rob called me when he dropped him off. He’s never been to the camp himself so both Rob and Ari got to see it for the first time. Rob said that when they went into the room, he was a bit scared. He was clingy to Rob and unsure of himself. But he warmed up to it and even said Goodbye to Rob without issue. Rob liked the place which is good as Rob’s so damn particular with things. So I sit here in anticipation of picking him up.

This is also the first time he’s had to eat lunch. This is another of my anxious points. Ari is a bit spoiled by the grandmother’s when it comes to lunch. He always has hot meals and most time, he’s fed. He’s terribly lazy when having to feed himself anything except waffles so I know he’s basically spoon fed most of the time. So now he has to feed himself. Beyond that, he’s not one for sandwiches or cold food with the exception of peanut butter, which of course isn’t allowed. So I worry that he’s going to be very hungry.

I can’t wait to see what he thinks of it.

My current favorite picture to end this post

Falling. 3 stitches and lost teeth

I have so much to say and so much to update on and I had every intention of posting the cutest picture of our newest purchase - a toddler bed for Nilsa. And I plan on doing that post some other time. Right now though, the news is not so fun. Yes the title of this is correct. 3 stitches and 2 lost teeth is what we have confronted. And what saddens me today.

Spring is finally here and while I sat at work lamenting the 70 degree temperatures, Rob was home with the kidlets. The few times I talked to him I told him he had to go to the park. The weather was too beautiful not to. And he had every intention of going anyhow. And did. I got an instant message that he was off and while I clicked away at my computer as work and stared at the screens I seethed in jealousy over the perfect weather and him and the kids at the park.

And then came the phone call...

I get a call from Rob at the park saying that Nilsa just knocked out her teeth. Not exactly the kind of call you ever want to hear. Rob sounded a bit exasperated as I heard him telling Ari they HAD TO LEAVE NOW. I just moved into action. I call our doctor who says put the tooth in milk when you get home and then hooks us up with a pediatric dentist. I call to set up an app't with the dentist while simultaneously talking to Rob on the phone and mistakenly hang up on the receptionist chick twice. I dial from my cell phone and run out of my office to meet Rob at home as he's just gotten there and needs my help to get the kids to the location. So I end up driving like a maniac and get home, pick up kids and Rob. Nilsa had passed out asleep at this point as she had no nap and we headed to the dentist. That's when it starts hitting me and I started crying enroute. Her shirt was bloodied as was Rob's and her lip was swollen, dried blood mixed with some fresh blood upon it. She was peacefully asleep but, it killed me. And I hadn't even looked in her mouth.

At the end of it all, she lost 2 teeth and now has 3 stitches in her gums. She did great at the dentist. Better then I did I can tell you that. The attendant talked sweetly to her in Spanish and she was happy with them after a while. Yes, they needed to strap her down but unlike Ari who went NUTS when they strapped him down for his stitches, Nilsa remained fairly calm throuhgout, moaning and crying at times but never really losing control. I sat on the end of the dental chair rubbing her calves. The dentist was awesome. Even called us when we got home to follow up. I did get to see her bloodied gums. UGH. And we now have both her lost teeth in a baggie (wow teeth are really long.)

She was fine when we got home. You'd think nothing happened. but she's missing one front tooth and another next to it. I'm torn. Grateful she's ok. Upset that she had to go through this and even more SAD over the fact that she is now missing 2 teeth. My beautiful baby girl. I cry just thinking about it and mentally yell at myself for being so vanity driven to let that bother me so much. But I won't lie. I worry. I worry that the loss of the tooth will become a problem in her speech. I worry people will make fun of her. I worry even more about the reaction of other adults. I worry that it will take longer for her permanent teeth to come in and I worry taht she'll be another 6-7 years with a big ole gap. I think its really unfair.

So yeah, I googled. I'm surprised how common this seems to be. And yelled at myself because yes I did find out that there is such thing as fake baby teeth (their technical name is Pedo Partial) and found out that unless she knocked out a back tooth they are not necessary in the least. I'm so worried she'll be made fun of or not have the confidence because of this. Having been there myself (my 2 front ones are fake if you don't already know) I remember how hard it was for me. Rob reminded me when I lost my teeth that I was in 12 years old so it was different. But I can't help but to feel the way I do. And really - it's ridiculous to consider fake baby teeth isn't it?

She now has a toothless grin until her permanent teeth come in. It is what it is but I'm totally sad about it all. I hate that this happened to my beautiful baby girl. Her pretty little grin with the big ole gap between her front teeth which was so endearing is gone. And I am left in sadness over it.

I feel terrible for Rob too who was right behind her when it happened. Just took a split second. I know he feels terrible, and I know that my sadness doesn't help him feel better. It is what it is. Now Nilsa has 3 stitches to compete with her brother's 10. And the irony of it all. Both kids had this happen in April.

A trip to the emergency room

Yes, an Emergency Room visit. Ari's first.

10 stitches on a gash in his head from tripping and crashing into the damn corner of the wall. Mess would not begin to encapsulate the state I was in. I couldn't even bear to see him with a band aid on his head let alone soothe him while his stitches were being put in. Thank God for Rob

I win the bad mommy of the year award for not having any idea how to react and then being such a total and complete mess that I was no help. (Rob asked me for a wet napkin and I actually answered What's a napkin?) Oh and lets not forget that the wound occurred on my watch. I tell you - if I could feel any worse...

I still feel terrible. I know that such is life and that I cannot protect him from everything but, god I cannot even begin to tell you how bad I feel. I must have looked tired, troubled and in disarray at dinner for Rob told me “go to bed, it’s been a long day and sleep would do you well.” And even then I cried (that horrid guttural cry where you hiccup between sobs) in bed before falling asleep. I’m haunted by the dark red blood pouring down over his eyes. The look of sheer terror on his face. A look and a feeling I would much like to never have him have to be touched with again. Just writing that down makes my eyes water again.

I’ve never been an over-nervous mother and I’m also scared this will make me overbearing. I worry as he walks away from me now that he will fall and hurt himself again. He was running back in forth in the kitchen again yesterday evening and he tripped and I swear my heart stopped beating in that very instant. And it was nothing. Just a fumble he picked himself up from and giggled away again. But I was totally enveloped in fear again and a huge knot was lodged in my throat.

The cut is on his beautiful smooth little forehead. Right over his left eye below his hairline and above his eyebrow. I joke that he will now have his own Harry Potter scar. A big ole bandage currently covers the area. Well most of his head really. He hasn’t tugged on it thankfully. And he slept through the night and woke up in very good spirits so I’m sure he isn’t bothered much about it.

I have to say though that I am truly blessed with an absolutely amazing husband who is without a doubt a great father. He took over when I couldn’t. I always thought I’d be strong enough to manage these things – and maybe in future events I would be but yesterday I wasn’t strong enough to hold myself together. Rob held Ari in the backseat of the car (no car seat either) and managed to soothe him to a muffled sob. As he held him and applied pressure on the cut to stop the bleeding. I drove. And I can tell you all that I drove, hands shaking and particularly aware that I needed to really concentrate because I was such a bundle of nerves that I was more likely to screw something up (like smash into the car ahead of me) Rob’s soothing voice to Ari helped me calm down to drive. But a block or two away from the hospital Rob asked me to ‘hurry up’ I checked to see what was wrong but it wasn’t Ari. White as a sheet, Rob was getting queasy. Rob and blood and needles and such do not do well. And I got to the hospital, took Ari and left Rob in the car to breathe.

That was the only time he struggled. He stayed strong throughout the rest of the while. Calming Ari. While he was readying himself outside he called his sister and got her to come, pick up the house keys and pick some stuff up from the house as well as put the perishable groceries into the fridge/freezer. While we waited Rob’s dad showed up. Ari spotted him and in a muffled cry called out to ‘ab-weh’ which would be his attempt at saying Abuelo. Under any other circumstance, the entire thing would be comical. I was a mess and the two men; both named Robert and who both do terrible in emergency situations with blood and such were the ones in control. Go figure. Backwards world it was. During that time, Ari fell asleep. Sheer exhaustion compounded by the fact that it was past naptime. I could only focus on the fact that he had not even had lunch yet.

They woke him (obviously) when it was time for the stitches. By that time Lennette had arrived and I hid behind her crying steadily as Rob stayed alongside Ari. They had to strap him into some Velcro contraption to keep him from kicking and flailing. He cried. Hysterically. 2 nurses held his face straight while Rob soothed him without looking directly at what was going on (needles and such – he would have fainted.) Lennette was ready to take over should she note Rob anywhere close to losing it-but no. Throughout the whole process he rubbed Ari’s tummy and reassured him. “It’s ok papa. You’re doing good” And it broke my heart to hear Ari repeatedly ask for “Dah-dee” But thankfully it was quick. His stitches were covered by a bandage and we left shortly thereafter.

He was in good spirits. Even arriving from the hospital. Smiles and giggles. That’s when I posted and shortly thereafter Rob’s parents came over. They took Ari for a walk to the playground and onto the swings which I was so beyond thankful for because it gave me the opportunity to decompress. I didn’t even realize how tense I was until then. When they came back and we put Ari down for a nap.

When he woke up he was a bit freaked out. Very clingy so we went outside to see Rob do whatever he was doing in the backyard and Rob’s sister and niece came over. Olivia was so worried about Ari as when they picked up the keys she was in the car and saw me crying and Le told me she started crying when they left the hospital because she thought something terrible happened to Ari. So they decided they wanted to take Ari for a walk and did so in the stroller. I called my mom then. She yelled at me for not calling sooner and simultaneously thanked me for it too. She’s a panicker and had I called her sooner SHE would have been just as much a mess as I was which wouldn’t have helped. Doc said stitches come out in 6 days and I already have an app’t with my pediatrician for it on Friday.

My poor pookah head.

In other news…18.5 week pictures (I’ll be 19 weeks tomorrow.)