Casts Away

Tuesday marked Sam's 6 weeks. It went by so fast or at least faster than I originally thought. You would think Sam would be enjoying the last time he will have to sit in his wheelchair. But instead he was begging to keep it forever. He loved cruising around in it and got really good at maneuvering it around the store, his favorite being Costco.

Last photo of Sam and Blaze (the horse) with their casts on. Sam was really particular about who and in what order signed his casts. I didn't even make the list with the blue casts.

Throughout this process we tried to talk to Sam about everything that was going to happen, make sure that he understood everything that was going to happen and answer any questions. Apparently we dropped the ball when it came to cutting the casts off. We had been through it so many times before (every week for the first 8 months of Sam's life) that I think we thought he knew what was going on when we would talk about his casts coming off. He was so nervous and started crying and screaming. I am sure most of the hospital could hear his screaming.

I have to admit that looking at all the stitches, staples and the button suture on the bottom of his foot is scary and hard to look at. It is better now that he has bathed. Oh and the skinny, skinny legs. Sam's legs were small before, but now he could be confused with a starving orphan.

Here is Dr. Sussman removing the button sutures and taking out the staples. Again with the screaming and exclamations of "This isn't a good idea!" All the screaming was so distracting the doctor missed four staples in Sam's right foot. But we didn't realize this until after the three hour drive home and a bath attempt. Luckily we didn't have to make the trip down to Portland again to get the staples removed, but were able to go to our Dr. Merrill.

I couldn't bear all the screaming and trying to pin Sam down to the bed, so I bribed him. Yes, I am an awesome mom who bribes my kids. But I am proud to say there was no screaming and I owe Sam five candy bars. Funny enough, on the way to the doctors, he was trying to negotiate a convertible mustang that was for sale on the side of the road instead of the candy bars. Nice try buddy.

Curtis and Jessie's Wedding

Saturday afternoon we were able to go to the Jordan River Temple and go to the wedding of my cousin Jessie. It was a very nice sealing for such a beautiful couple. And turned out to be a gorgeous sunny day where the day before was rainy and cold. We were all pretty nervous.

Only minor mix ups as some of the ties of the wedding party were left behind until after the sealing.

My sisters Jordan, Melissa and Jillian with our cousin Gordon.

My cousin Tyson was so good to play with Sam. They especially enjoyed looking for acorns under all the trees and sitting by the fountain.

This is the best shot I have of all the cousins, minus the bride who was busy taking wedding photos.

Jackson sure loves his "Gampa" What a handsome guy.

I don't even know where to start with this one.

BYU Graduation 2010

We started off the day with a private violin concert from my sister Nicole. The boys were excited to sit in the desks, even though it doesn't show in the photos.

Then on to watch Rachel and Jeremy graduate. We are so proud of them and excited, because they will be joining the family in Washington shortly.

I don't know if you could be happier to be done with school. Jeremy on the other hand still has a while to go with med school and residency.

Utah Trip April 2010

My parents we nice enough to let me and the boys tag a long on their trip down to Utah for BYU graduation and my cousins wedding. It was wonderful to have so much help, especially with Sam in his current state. Though I think Jackson was more exhausting to keep up with. We drove through the night and both boys did really well in the car for the most part. Luckily for me any drama happened while I was driving and my sisters were so good to take care of it.

We took our first adventure to the duck pond on campus to feed the ducks. They are by far the best fed on campus. Not only were there several ducks, but seven turtles. Jackson was enamored and tried to join them several times in the water. We played a mean game of baseball with a tiny tennis ball and a stick.

The next morning we joined most of the Parco family at Kneaders for a french toast breakfast. The boys were more interested in blowing straw wrappers at each other than eating.

Jeremy and Rachel were our lovely hosts and made up new games for the boys to play like "puzzle pieces" with a Blokus and how to squirt each other in the mouth with a water bottle. Jackson was very hesitant at first but it quickly because his favorite thing. So glad these boys are easily entertained when there are no "kid toys" around.

At the rehearsal dinner Jackson loved being outside on the swings. He was getting some good air with Grandpa and soon to be Uncle Jamie when he flipped off the swing. Didn't faze him too much and he was back on the swing in no time.

The drive back home was a little different as more of the drive took place during the day. The boys were restless and wanted to get out of their seats or just have some attention. For the most part we could distract them with their favorite things: Jackson food and Sam games.

Too Funny

We made a quick run to the store the other night. Sam insisted on looking at the toys before we left. He found something that he REALLY wanted to get and asked us to buy him. We said no, but told him he could come back and buy it with his own money. He threw a little fit because he didn't want any other little boys to come and get it before him. Brandon took Sam to return it to the toy section, while I took Jackson to load the groceries in the car. This is the conversation that followed on the way home:

Mom: When we get home it is time for bed.

Sam: What about a one minute thing?

(One minute thing: Something FUN that Sam and usually Dad do before bed.)

Dad: Our one minute thing tonight was looking at toys at the store.

Sam: That isn't a one minute thing.

Mom: What classifies as an one minute thing?

Sam: It has to be something fun.

Mom: Didn't you have fun looking at toys?

Sam: No.

Mom: Well, if you don't have fun looking at toys, then we don't have to do it again.

Sam: But I like looking at toys.

Mom: But you just said you didn't have fun. If it isn't fun, we don't have to do it anymore.

Sam: You want to know what isn't fun?

Mom: What?

Sam: It isn't very fun when a kid asks and the parent doesn't buy the toy the kid really wants.

Mom and Dad: [uncontrollable laughter]

After explaining the difference between doing chores (which are part of being part of a family) and doing extra jobs to earn some money, we repeated that he could come back and buy the toy.

Sam: I hope that it is still there.

Dad: We wrote an "S" on the back of the box, so we would know it was his.

Sam: Yeah, but you didn't write, "This is Sam's. Don't buy it." What if someone else thinks the "S" is for them?

Mom: What if another Sam thinks it was for him? (I know I am terrible.)

Aftermath

This chair doesn't slow this little kid down. Not at all. The boys played in the front yard while Brandon and I were trying to clean the garage up a little bit. Sam created a chalk version of the Spring fair. Complete with the pig races.

Sam's first venture out in the yard without the wheelchair resulted in the heels of his casts being completely worn down to the skin. Now he has to scoot or roll around with shoes on. Unfortunately, the only shoes that fit him are my old running shoes. They make him look like he is wearing skis, but they do the job.

On the other hand, I wish there was something that would slow this kid down. At least a little.

Field Trip: Spring Fair

Sam's preschool class took a field trip to the Puyallup Spring Fair. The kids, big and little, had fun with all the activities and crafts, looking at animals and scoring free stuff.

The fun mirrors gave Sam skis and squished everyone's head. Sam got his "face" painting of the favorite green horse.

But the favorite part was by far hanging out with friends and watching the pig races. Four little pigs would race around a track for a trophy "oreo." Ironically enough, I brought oreos to snack on through out the day and we proved to be "little piggies" ourselves.