No Foolin'!

I handed Allie part of her breakfast this morning and got my first good look at her for the day.  I couldn't help but yelping and asking her, "What on earth did you do to your eye?"  

Her response was that yesterday she fell down and hit her eye on the Barbie box.   Yes that did happen yesterday, but very early on in the day.  Could a black eye really take almost a FULL day to appear?   Hmmmm...maybe.  Well whatever happened Allie is sporting quite the shiner.

{She is not mad in these photos although it appears she is.  I asked her not to smile because her lovely round cheeks were hiding the black eye when she smiled}

Curly Toes

A few days ago I looked down at Lily's toes and knew it was time to take her to see a podiatrist.   The problem is with her three smallest toes on each foot.  Instead of them being nice and straight they curl underneath her other two toes.  Recently Lily has been complaining her feet hurt too.  Not good!  Since Russ has been on vacation he volunteered to take her to the doctor.  I'm tired of seeing doctors, we've seen too many recently.

The podiatrist told us two things.  

1.  Lily needed new shoes which would stop the hurting feet.  Apparently her shoes have worn too thin and it's causing pain.  I was surprised because her shoes have a ton of tread left, but apparently there wasn't enough.

2.  Lily has what is called curly toes.  It is exactly what it sounds like.  Her toes are curling.  Apparently it is a common thing in children, and highly genetic.  She probably gets this from me.  Lily has the problem pretty badly and the podiatrist says that if we do not try and correct it now it will cause problems for her when she is older.  He didn't describe what those problems will be but I'm sure they are not good.  He suggested that we try taping her toes for awhile to see if we can help them straighten up.  He wants to avoid surgery {and so do we!} so we are taking his advice.

Monday through Friday I get to wrap Lily's 3rd and 4th toe together in an effort to straighten them.  She gets Saturday and Sunday off so her toes can "rest".  I sure hope this taping works! {I forgot to take a picture of her toes without the tape.  I'll do that sometime to show how bad they are}

Perseverance

I admire Lily and a lot of traits she has at such a young age, that I am still trying to develop currently in my life.  One of these is perseverance.  Today at soccer we talked to Lily a lot about how she needs to get in the cluster of kids and kick the ball.  She has been kind of flitty and running around not looking everywhere BUT where the ball is.  Towards the end of the 3rd quarter she really started getting into the cluster and we were so excited for her!  She saw this, and in turn she started doing it more because she knew what she was doing was the right thing.

On one of these instances she ran towards the ball just as a boy on the opposing team kicked the ball.  The ball popped up in the air and nailed Lily pretty hard in the nose.  I was out on the field pretty quickly since I knew that Lily doesn't handle pain that well.  By the time I waddled myself out there Coach Perez had picked her up and was checking her out.  She was crying bit said she wanted to continue playing!  Oh what a huge leap for her!  I was so proud to see her continue on playing.

A few minutes passed and Lily was yet again in the middle of the cluster of kids trying to kick the ball.  She kicked the ball at the same time as someone else which caused her to go over the ball head first  She landed on her face and kind of did a headstand.  This one roughed her up a bit more.  Coach insisted that she go sit down and Lily came off the field crying.  We checked her out and she was okay, which was quite a relief.  The way she fell looked like she could have hurt her neck. Lily rested for a short bit and then was asking Coach if she could go back in...which she did!

I'm so impressed that these two experiences didn't so Lily down.  She wanted to have fun and play soccer even if she had a bit of pain.  Seeing Lily's personality and character grow in leaps and bounds this year has really made me proud.  I'm really excited to see peeks of what Lily's future holds for her through these milestones she achieves.

Nothing to worry about!

Remember HERE where I told you all about Allie hitting her tooth and we had to keep an eye on it.  Well, we did keep an eye on it and noticed that it was progressively turning gray.  DRATS!  We called our local dentist who referred us to our pediatric dentist since he was not equipped to deal with such a young patient.  So Allie and I made the trip up to Pearland today to visit Dr. Stagg. 

Dr. Stagg was in a much friendlier mood this time and worked very well with Allie.  Allie was terrified when Dr. Stagg had her lean back onto her lap to see the gray tooth.  Easily enough though Dr. Stagg determined visually that there is nothing to worry about concerning Allie's tooth.  When teeth get bumped hard enough the nerve can die causing the gray color.  However as long as an infection doesn't form the tooth can stay put the way it is.  Allie doesn't have an infection! YAY!

Since we were there the dentist also brushed Allie's teeth and gave her a fluoride treatment.  Allie wasn't particularly fond of that but she sat pretty still for it.  We were then on our way with instructions again to keep an eye on the tooth and if any bumps occurred to bring her back.  I'm so glad to FINALLY put this worry to rest!

Tooth Problems

Russ left for California yesterday.  That should have been my first clue that something was going to go wrong.  Always, Always, something goes wrong while he is there.  Last night I was trying to be a good mommy and give the girls a bath.  Until the new baby is born Lily and Allie are going to continue taking baths together.  After that Lily will be on her own because we can't fit three in our tub.

Lily tends to get Allie riled up in the bath tub.  She encourages her to jump up and down to make big splashes.  I've talked to her many times about it, but she doesn't listen very well.  Last Lily had got Allie to start doing this, I was tired and YELLED at both of them to stop because Allie could get hurt.  I turn around and Lily gets Allie to start doing it again, I turn to say stop when Allie slips and whacks her mouth on the bathtub.   

Automatic wailing and bleeding starts.  Lily got sent straight to bed with all "nightly" privileges taken away.  It took me a good 30 min of soothing to get Allie calmed down enough to inside her mouth.  She was complaining about "owies" and I could see blood coming from somewhere.  I finally discovered that blood was coming from behind one of her upper front teeth.  If I touched it she screamed in pain.  I couldn't tell whether it had been moved or not from the fall.  I decided to let Allie sleep on it and see if it was better in the morning.

This morning I tried to get Allie to open her mouth up which she adamantly refused so I figured unless she complained I would leave her alone.  She ate breakfast okay, but then she bumped her tooth with her sippie and the wailing began again.  I decided it was time to see if our dentist would look at her.  Something wasn't normal.

We stopped at the dentist's office as soon as it opened in hopes that they could slip us in before it got too busy.  I was still wondering if they would even see us because our dentist is not a pediatric dentist and they refer us out when Lily has to get any work done.  But because of the situation our dentist agreed to see us.  Allie was clinging to me in terror as we walked back to the room.  I could tell that she was associating this place with the doctors office.

The nurse tried to ease her anxiety by playing rocket ship {going up and down on the chair} and making her a balloon out of a glove.  The air noise freaked Allie out and she started to whimper.  The nurse left her alone after that.  Dr. Bell came in and we discussed what happened.  He said unless it was turning black or had been pushed up there was no need to do anything.  With Allie laying on me he asked her to open wide and too my surprise she did!  This guy seriously is the best dentist {for kids and adults}  Dr. Bell determined by looking at it that it probably hadn't moved the tooth but when she whacked her mouth she had bruised the tooth and the surrounding gum.  He said it would highly sensitive for awhile, just like any other bruise, and that we could treat it with Tylenol.  What a relief to know it was something "non permanent".

While I was trying to get out of the chair {those things aren't made for pregnant ladies} the nurse took Allie to the prize chest.  She gave Allie TWO bracelets for being brave.  All day Allie has been wearing them around saying "my bray-let"  It is so cute!  Just like the dentist said her tooth has been sensitive today, but nothing too bad.

Dislocated Elbow

You know the days where you didn't really doing anything that should make you feel exhausted, but because of all the stress from the day you were exhausted?!  That was yesterday for me.  Around 3:00 Allie woke up from her nap and wanted water in her new water bottle.  The only problem was that she had brought me Lily's.  I grabbed Allie's and filled it up with water and handed it to her.  She through a tantrum and ran away.  I should have left well enough alone, but I didn't.

  I chased her down.  I grabbed her hand and started walking her towards her water bottle when she decided she was going to have none of that.  She sat down quickly and twisted her body.  I felt something pop twice, and instantly Allie started bawling.  She ran away, hid in the corner, and held her wrist.  I trapped her in the corner and tried seeing what was wrong.  Every time I got near her arm she would start crying harder.  I finally decided to call the pediatrician to get an appointment.  Upon calling them and hearing Allie crying in the other room they told me to go to an Urgent Care or the ER to get it x-rayed.

I quickly loaded a diaper bag with snacks, told Lily to go the bathroom and grab some books, and we were off.  We drove to Angleton {20 min away} and signed in to the Urgent Care at 4:00.  We then waited.  By this time Allie had calmed down and only cried when I bumped her arm or if she forgot it was hurt and reached for a toy.  She refused to sit anywhere but on my lap. Lily of course was bouncing off the wall with another little girl there.  

About 5:30 the nurse came out and said to all of us that the DR would arrive in about 50 minutes.  What?!  There hadn't been a doctor there while we'd been waiting. AUG!  I of course had to stay and wait there because by then everything was closed except the ER.  So we waited.   Russ showed up about 30 minutes later.  He helped keep Lily in one place and traded off holding Allie.  Already I was physically and mentally exhausted from the whole ordeal, so the rest was greatly appreciated.  

At 6:30 the nurse came out and said it should be 15 more minutes and then the DR should be there.  Hmph!  Again we waited. FINALLY at 7:30 we got called back.  The DR came in and we explained what had happened.  He listened and said she had probably sprained her wrist or rotater cuff but her elbow was fine.  He suggested getting an x-ray if anything swelled up, and to give her so me ibuprofen.  I asked him, well do you know what one it is?  He said no and we went on our way.  I was irritated because he didn't tell us what was wrong nor had he really even tried to figure it out.  He hadn't moved Allie's arm to see what it was.

As things go in my family I told my mom who told my brother about the whole ordeal.  Now Alan is an athletic trainer, and deals with sprains and stuff on a daily basis.  When he heard what happened he said {and I got this 3rd hand from my mom} that he was pretty sure it wasn't her rotator cuff but more likely her elbow or her wrist had dislocated.  This a common thing in kids, and they recover quickly from it.  He gave the advice of letting it rest and giving ibuprofen.  After hearing this I felt much better.  Almost 100% his diagnosis and advice is right.

By the time we got home from buying ibuprofen and dinner it was 9:00.  The girls got dinner and went straight to bed.  I had to move Allie's arm for some reason, and she totally yelped.  I got brave and decided to experiment.  I gently moved her wrist, no yelping.  Then I moved her shoulder, no yelping.  Then I went to touch her elbow and Allie wigged out.  I hadn't even touched it just got near it.  With the matter of deduction we new that my brother was right.  Her elbow had been dislocated/strained.

We laid Allie on her back so she wouldn't hurt her arm more.  About 15 min after laying her down, she let out that painful squawk she'd been making all day.  She yelped for about 10 secs and then was done.  I was surprised because earlier she would whine for a few minutes after she had moved her arm.  I figured that the ibuprofen must be working.

Then my sister called {remember mom calls everyone}.  She proceeded to remind me about how my nephew had dislocated his elbow three time as youngin'.  Each time he had relocated it himself without knowing it.  I hoped that had happened with Allie.

After the late night I hoped the girls would sleep in, but no at 7:30 Allie was up yelling, "Maaaaaa!!!!! Dahhhhhhh!!!!{Dog}"  I went in and she reached up to me with her arms.  Her left arm{the left one} was significantly lower than the other one, but it was up and she wasn't crying! I was so excited!

The rest of today she favored her arm a bit but by the end of the day she was using it like normal.  Thank goodness.  It is amazing how stressful things get when your child is hurt.  I'm also amazed by how fast children heal.  We do know that we have to be extra careful from now on because once it dislocates it is even easier for it to dislocate again. 

So you wanna make me feel better?  What kind of stressful things have happened to you and your children that has turned out not to be as big of a deal after the fact?  Can't wait to hear your stories ;)

Perils of Moving

Moving is quite perilous, and this time Allie got hurt.  Boy did she get it!  Here's the damage....

I wish these pictures showed it better, but that is a huge swollen black eye she's got there.  It actually happened innocently.  On Sunday night Lily and Allie were playing peek-a-boo in the living room.  {Mind you our living room is still strewn with boxes, bookshelves, chairs, and other paraphernalia} Lily would throw a small blanket over Allie's head then pull it off and yell BOO!  Allie would giggle, and Lily would start the whole progress over again.  

I watched as Lily yet again threw it over Allie's head and pulled it down.  Except this time Allie last her balance, stumbled, and landed face first on the corner of the speaker.  I'm surprised she didn't take her eye out!  She instantly was crying in pain.  Her sobs were uncontrollable.  Almost as fast as her sobs started, so did the swelling.  It turned a little pink and puffed up but that was it.  We decided to leave it alone and put her and Lily to bed.

Allie woke up Monday morning with it more swollen and more discolored.  She hasn't complained a bit about it, except when I tried to take a picture of it.  We bribed her with some ice cream and got the shots above.  It swelled a little again today, but I think it is from her sleeping on it, not because it it getting worse.  At least this should be the last time for a LONG time that anyone gets hurt from moving :D

Bump at the Playground

I've been hiding in my house the past three or four days.  I've gone out once to go to walking group, and twice to go to the store.  I haven't wanted to see anyone.  After telling Russ this last night, he suggested I go to play group for the kids sake.  I woke up this morning and I didn't want to go.  The kids were climbing the walls by 10:00 and I thought, "Well maybe I will go for them"  But I kept feeling like I shouldn't go.  Finally I hurriedly got us ready and got to play group ten minutes late. 

I hung out over on the playground barrier trying not to talk to anyone.  We've been to this park quite a few times, so I knew the kids were okay if they wandered while I watched from my seat, or so I thought.  Allie went up onto the small play area meant for kids a little older than her.  Normally she will just keep walking forward and then go down the slide.  This time I watched in slow motion as she started to try and go down some spiral stairs that she normally doesn't even pay attention to. I got up in time to watch her fall off face first into the dirt.

By the time I got to her she was crying the "I'm hurt" cry.  Sure enough blood was coming out her mouth.  It took quite awhile of struggling with her and sticking a wippy in her mouth in order to see what exactly had happened.  On her bottom lip she had two cuts.  One REALLY deep and one mildly deep.  I couldn't get them to stop bleeding.  I finally forced some water in Allie's mouth in hope that the coolness would help the wound seal up.  It worked like a charm on the small cut, and the larger cut slowed in bleeding.  Finally after 10 min or so I let Allie go even thought the large cut was still dribbling blood.

Poor Allie has a fat lip and of course the two nasty looking wounds in her mouth.  I wanted to take a picture so Russ could see it, but Allie won't let me get near her mouth.  I guess I should have followed my feelings about being anti-social and stayed home.

Secret Hiding Spot

Allie loves to be hanging around in the kitchen.  Most the time it is to cry for food, and see if she can drive momma crazy that way.  Yet recently she has taken to being in there just for fun.  She even created a secret hiding spot for herself.

She loves to sit in this cupboard, and play with the things inside it.

I really didn't think much of Allie playing in this cupboard.  I kept my silver bowls, cheese grater, and food chopper in there.  They all seemed innocent enough to me until today...I was working on my halloween costume in the family room, which is literally 1 steps away from the kitchen considering they are really just one big room split by a half wall.  Anyway, I was ripping a seam out of my costume when I heard a loud thunk and Allie started to cry.  Allie's cry was the histerical, "I'm hurt come get me" cry.  I dropped everything and ran around the corner to her. 

Lying next to her foot was the chopper, with the safety cover off.  Allie's big toe was gushing blood.  I almost panicked but decided to clean up the toe first to see if the damage was as bad as it looked.  Lily helped me grab a big wad of toilet paper and hold it on Allie's toe while I tried to get her to calm down.  After 5 or 10 minutes of putting pressure on it the toe slowed in bleeding enough to access the damage.  Apparently the sharp blades of the chopper had landed on Allie's big toe and cut off 1/4 of her toenail.  It was still attached by some skin.  I had to "operate".  The poor girl screamed bloody murder as I held her foot down. Finally I was able to get the whole thing bandaged up.  We took some pictures later tonight.  It was quite the wound!

 

We now are watching for infections, and crossing our fingers for her toenail to grow out fast!

Showing Stress with Strange Markings

Lily doesn't deal with stressful situations well. Russ being gone has been quite stressful for her. But she doesn't display her stress in good ways. Usually I know she is stressed because she wets her pants. Although that hasn't been happening as much lately. This last time Russ was gone, Lily found a new way to show her stress.

I was doing dishes in the kitchen and the girls were playing in their room on Lily's bed. They were getting along, and giggling a lot. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but I heard Allie start screaming like she was in pain. I went in the bedroom to find Allie laying on the floor and Lily above her. It was quite easy to assume that Lily had pushed Allie off the bed. After questioning Lily and getting a, "I didn't want her on my bed anymore, but I didn't push her off" I took the answer as a yes she did push Allie off the bed. She looked horribly guilty which usually means she lying or hiding something. Lily got a timeout and Allie got some lovin's.

An hour or so later I was cleaning Allie up from lunch when I saw some funny shaped marks on her arm. They looked like this...except the weren't blurry :D

Upon closer examination two and two clicked. I whirled around to face Lily and asked if she had bit Allie when she didn't want her on the bed. Sheepishly Lily nodded yes! I knew she had been hiding something!!! The weird thing about this, is that Lily isn't a biter. She never bit as a child. NEVER!!! All I can come up with is this is her new way to show she is stressed with daddy being gone. Hopefully, this won't be a recurrent way to alleviate her stress!