Cole Breaks His Arm

This week we had plans to meet a few dogs to adopt a furry friend for our Ridgeback, Zeus, and several playdates with our Pirate friends. But on Monday after we met Ranger, this adorable Ridgeback mix, Cole fell as he was running on the driveway and hurt his arm as we were telling Ranger and his owner goodbye.

As a mother, I'm aware that this kid falls like 1,598 times a day and has numerous bruises and scars on his knees from the two left feet inherited from me, unfortunately. So when he was crying, the first thing I asked him was if he was bleeding, and when he said no, I told him he was okay and blew it off until we got inside and he was cradling his left arm and still crying. When he held out his arm, his elbow bone was swollen and he was unable to straighten it. Immediately I could tell it was broken. Panic set in, because my hubby was in a $10,000 CAD class this week and it was not exactly the right time for an ER visit. Luckily, I'm married to the best husband and father, because he dropped everything to go to the hospital with me.

After a quick visit to urgent care, the doctor sent us to a children's hospital in Dallas, where an orthopedic surgeon informed us he'd need surgery and pins to hold his shattered elbow back together. So on Tuesday morning we went in for the surgery and it was over in less than an hour and a half. The doctor informed us it would most likely heal perfectly, as this is the second most common break in kids. Monday at the followup visit, he gets to choose his colored cast. He's leaning toward green or glow-in-the-dark.

Here are some pictures of the injury and our hospital adventures.

Not a little incident

Recently I posted about moving and staying with my mother in my hometown for a few weeks. What I didn't write about was an incident while grocery shopping at the local Walmart where an old man slapped and kicked my 4-year-old.

Yes, you read that right. Some stranger lurking in the checkout line behind us slapped my son across his head and then kicked him in the butt to move him along. It was 2:00 in the afternoon and Stella was crying in the buggy, exhausted and ready for nap, while Cole stood beside me playing with the toys while I loaded groceries. Admittedly flustered, I saw only the white orthopedic shoe hit my son's rear as I was turning to take his hand, and my first thought was to pull my son into the safety of my own arms, which I did immediately. My second thought was, did that really just happen?

I drove to my mom's house shaking with disbelief and anger at that man and guilt that I didn't speak or act in the moment. How could I let this go? I sobbed to my mother, who seethed with rage for her grandson and demanded I call the police immediately.

After reporting it at the police station, I received a phone call from the PD, who had the surveillance footage tape from the store. As my husband and I watched it, we both gasped and cursed out loud when we saw that man's hand make contact with Cole's head. My sweet little boy turned around to look him in the face, like why did you just do that?  He held up his toy to show the man how it worked...my eyes blurred and the rage came back. And then the officer actually asked us if we wanted to press charges, because it didn't look like a real slap, just like he was trying to get Cole to move. Are you kidding?!  "If I did that to an adult in the store, I'd be charged with assault, right?" Kevin asked the officer. He responded with a firm yes. Which is exactly why we are proceeding, we said.

Weeks pass. We're back in Texas, and I find out through Facebook that the city prosecutor - who I'm friends with and dated for a year when I was 16 - had recused himself from the case. The police station knows of the report but has been unable to locate the suspect despite the fact many officers AND the prosecutor KNOW him.

To be continued....

Too much space

I wanted space. A place for my husband to watch the news at 5:30 without kids in the way. A kid-free master suite. An office separate from our bedroom.
And I got it. 2400 square feet of space, all on one level, plus a fantastic patio and backyard with beautiful landscaping.
I'm drowning in all this space. Says the girl who, years ago, tucked herself into tiny hidden secret spots to scribble her emotions into journals while smoking cigarettes.
The kids are away this week for annual VBS with the grandparents and three hours later I'm still walking around aimlessly. The microwave has beeped endlessly calling me to eat and Tru TV is somehow playing in the living room.
Must get a handle on this grown up house and shit.

Conversations with a 4-year-old

Our recent move has really thrown off my son, who's 4, and he has developed a mean case of separation anxiety because of the instability. Te only people our kids are allowed to stay with are our parents and Kevin's grandparents, so the sudden change in behavior has me stumped and frustrated.

He says things like, "I'm gonna miss you when I'm gone at grandma's. I'm gonna miss you so much mom."
Other times he says, "I love you so much Mom, I always want to be with you. I'll die without you, Mom. I can't breathe without you. I can't sleep without you."
Dramatic much?

As we cuddled in his race car bed tonight he held my arm tight and wrapped my hand in his little boy hand, fingernails freshly clipped, and he kissed my nose, forehead, and cheeks. (He's too much of a big boy to kiss his mother on the lips...*sniff)

As his mother, I realize the separation anxiety will start to fade and soon he'll be back to his confident self, even if he's still a momma's boy. So I'm going to enjoy every single one of his snuggles, tight hugs, and nose kisses.

I love you as much as the sun comes up, Cole, and more than the stars in the sky.