monkey bars

The phone rang this afternoon.

Caller ID said it was the school.

My stomach always drops when the school calls in the middle of the day because history proves that those phone calls are usually not good.

My stomach had a reason to drop today.

A real reason.

'We think Lucy broke her wrist on the playground.'

In my adrenaline rush I called my friend Crystal who kindly agreed to take the kids so I could tend to Lucy without distraction.  What a lifesaver she is.  (this is the same Crystal who made sure I got to the hospital in time to have Isaac there vs. on my couch. Mmmmm. Love her.)

I got to the school to find a teacher waiting outside to tend to the littles waiting in the van to be dropped off at Crystal's.  I went inside and found Lucy with giant tears streaming down her dirty face surrounded in love.

She was sitting on her teacher's lap.  Another teacher was right next to them tending to the ice bags.  Another was distracting her, speaking sweetly.  To her, they were all she needed to keep it together, but I could see the concern in each of their faces as they turned to me.  I was honestly touched at the lengths they went to for my scared little girl.

She had been splinted with a book and one of the teacher's scarves.  Genius.

They showed me the wrist in question.  I was pretty sure it was broken.

one of only 4 pics I took with my crappy phone... in all the craziness I didn't even think camera... I thought 'get to lu'

They moved Lucy to a chair with wheels so she didn't have to walk to the van, and wheeled her all the way there.

On the way to Crystal's, I could see the concern on the faces of the kids... Jack especially.  I reassured him she would be well taken care of as I hugged them goodbye.

The nurse looked at it for all of one second and confirmed it was broken.  She did her intake info and took us back to another room to wait for a doctor.

All of this time, Lucy didn't do as much as a whimper.

Then the Doc came in, did her exam and discussed with me possible treatment plan options, but stated that they would need to do x-rays before we'd know anything.  The words cast and surgery rolled off her tongue and this freaked Lucy to the point of tears.  They didn't last long though.

The X-rays indicated a break in both the radius and ulna, although not super severe.

A cast would be the chosen method of treatment for now.  Well, it is actually a splint made of molded fiberglass, but functions the same as a cast.

a little disheveled, but still my sweet LuBelle

She will meet with an orthopedic doctor for a follow up next week, but we are told she will likely wear the splint for 6 weeks and not need any surgery.

Lucy's teacher called tonight to see how she was doing.  What a great lady.  She was still at school finishing up some work (past 7 pm!- that is dedication!) and told me she couldn't stop thinking about Lu ♥  I got a few more details about the incident.  No one except for a friend saw Lucy fall.  Lucy didn't cry when it initially happened.  It took a sweet little friend to go get a teacher, claiming she thought Lucy hurt her wrist bad when she fell off the monkey bars.  Lu had been quite the trooper through this whole ordeal.

Lucy's classmates were concerned for her.  We got a few messages on Facebook and via texts asking if she was okay:)  I just love living in a small town.  We feel so very fortunate to be in a community where people look out for each other.  And we are so lucky to have such great teachers and staff at Pelican.  I know my kids are well cared for and are valued, and I wouldn't trade that for the world.

She took some Tylenol before bed and is positioned with a big soft body pillow to keep the arm elevated.

We plan to paint her fingernails tomorrow morning.

After all... wouldn't you want your nails to look nice if everyone was going to be looking at them?

Great Grandma and Grandpa

We stopped in Menasha for dinner and a visit with Great Grandma and Grandpa Rodgers on our way back north.  Turning the corner and nearing their driveway still gives me those same giddy feelings I got as a kid.  I always loved visiting with them.  Grandma has always been a gardener and for as long as I can remember she has had beautiful gardens surrounding her house.  There is a plethora of different species and she can tell you what each and every on is.  And she doesn't have the heart to pull much of anything so everything is so lush and green and full.

Cass is being such a good helper.

 The kids took a few laps around the house to get out all of their spare energy for the second leg of the trip.  I can remember running laps around their house when I was a kid as well.

Look at that ♥

 It amazes me how independent they still are.  Grandpa will be 90 in November and Grandma is only a few years behind.  I sure hope I am that spry when I am a great grandma :)

da da

This little guy just adores his 'da da'.  He asks for him all day long and just glows when he gets home from work.  When Andy is outside cutting the lawn he runs from window to window so he can always see him. On the way home from Milwaukee he wasn't a fan of his seat and started crying.  When he realized Andy was not driving and accessible, he repeated 'da da. da da...' until Andy held his hand from the front seat.  Andy's arm about went numb because if he would let go, Isaac would start to fuss again.  Wherever da da is, Isaac wants to be.   I have a feeling he is going to be daddy's shadow even more when he is older and able to do a bit more.  

sleepover

The night before we had to head back home, we let the kids have a special sleepover with Elaina and Carter at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  The girls all piled into the bed in the upstairs bedroom.  The boys went down to the pull out couch in the basement.  Each was set up with a TV and movie.  The boys were asleep by 9.  Pretty conservative for a sleep over.  (perhaps because Carter is only 3)  The girls were on their second movie and going strong about 10:30 when I went to bed.  At that point we switched to a book on cd, and told them they should be winding down.  I loved hearing the sound of faint giggles coming from that room as I walked away.

the zoo

the whole crew
l to r. isaac, elaina, brady, jack, lucy, carter, cassidy

We spent a very quick (why does the time always go by so fast when you are having fun?) weekend down in Milwaukee with family.  The one place we made sure to get to was the zoo.  I just LOVE the Milwaukee County Zoo.  When we lived downtown in a tiny apartment with bars on the windows and no grass to our name, the zoo became our backyard.  They offer a year pass which is so affordable - even for a student family- so we made good use of it.  I know it like the back of my hand... and would always amaze friends who would go with us with the quickest route to wherever they wanted to go.

I was also quite excited to bring Isaac to introduce him to all of the different animals.  I had visions of him being in bliss... and that was true when we were looking at the fish-  he loved the fish.  And the birds.  He loved the birds!  You should have seen him in the bird house... a few of the quite large birds would swoop very close to your head.  (Just ask Jenny- she almost got pegged!)  He was in awe! However he was FREAKED out at the gorillas.  But then again, so were the rest of the kids when the silver back threw a huge bookcase looking thing and bounded from one end of his enclosure to the other.  [side note: Perhaps the quote of the day was from Elaina who loudly exclaimed 'Look at his buns!!!' to a large crowd of onlookers.  To her defense, he did have a rather large booty.]  Isaac was also pretty intimidated by most large animals.   He'd say 'No no no' and would try to get away. We'll try again at the end of the summer.

The kids soaked up every second of time with family they don't get to see often enough.  They held hands and smiled and joked and it made my heart just melt.  I am so glad they can be such good friends with their cousins, and that they love their aunts, uncles, Grandmas and Grandpas so very much.

The zoo in pictures: (tons and tons and tons)

gotcha Jack! your mom is fast

Thanks for the pic Jen.  Too bad the bird is behind us!

plumb-crack.... does he take after mom or dad... hmmm
and 'crested screamer' is  probably an appropriate name for any of them when they are together!

kissin' cousins.
not really, but super sweet friends

Isaac could hardly keep up with the cichlids

a look of concern, even in daddy's arms
Come on... Giraffes look even bigger when you are one year old!

surprisingly he was not afraid of the goats... if they got up in his grill he'd just run away

Elaina and Cassidy chose to ride the carousel

the rest of us chose to ride the train

The train.  Aaaaah the train.  Another thing that I might love more than the kids.  I can remember being at my Grandma and Grandpa Bodenhagen's house and hearing the train whistle while playing in the yard. It'd make my heart race.  And I remember Grandma taking Jen and me on the train.  It was the biggest thrill!  (okay and maybe still is... I'm a dork)  Isaac loves 'choo choo's' and was excited to ride on one.  Even though the picture doesn't do justice.

Jenny and Brady; Me and Isaac

even I couldn't resist waving like these guys, as we passed the railroad crossings

It was such a great visit and we are all counting the days until the next one. ♥

a crappie day

Andy gets off of work at 1:00 on Wednesdays and this week he decided to take Cassidy fishing with him and Grandpa.  She was a trooper as it was sprinkling on them the whole time.  She came home with 3 crappies and was happy to show them off.  She was also interested in watching when Andy filleted them.  We may have a budding fisher-woman on our hands. ☺

crazy kids

'Hey Mom.  What is this?'

'Hiiiiiii-Ya!'

'That is a bandanna I won for being extra sassy in zumba.☺  You wear it on your head to keep your hair out of your face.'

'Oh, I thought it was something a minja wears. HIIIII- YA!'

That conversation happened on the way home from Walmart; the place where Cassidy said another incredibly embarrassing thing. As we were walking away from the check out, she looks at the cashier, looks at me and then says in her usual high-volume voice,

 'Mama. That lady has a MUSTACHE!'

I didn't even need to look.  We were at Walmart where anything is possible.

Then as we walked into the door, Isaac runs over to the garbage and pretends to hawk a loogie into it!  WHAT THE WHAT!?!  Andy swears that he didn't teach him that or do it in front of him and I sure didn't.  And he has done it a few times now so that is definitely what he is doing.  This I am going to have to get on video.

who knew...

Who knew that when Andy and I went out on our date last night that I would stick out like a sore thumb in my skinny jeans and peach and white checked blouse with a few little ruffles around then neck?

Who knew that we'd be walking into a crowd of cigarette smoking, black t-shirt wearing, tattoo and piercing clad folk?

Who knew I would have been kicking myself because I didn't bring my camera, and then wanted it so bad that I would actually run home to go get it?

And who'd a thunk that I would come home, smelling like smoke, but feeling a little like I wanted a turn... a chance to skate circles around the other women.... to push and to jab... to get a little rough and act a little bad ass...?

Who knew that there was a Northwoods Roller Derby Team!?!

I sure didn't.

But there is.  Andy came home a few weeks ago and told me his office was sponsoring a team that a few of his patients were on, The Northwoods Derby Knockouts, and that we were getting tickets.  I laughed at first but was intrigued with the whole thing.  I know nothing about it- rules included- only that roller skates are involved.  And I was excited for that... back in the day my friend Melanie and I would storm the neighborhood in our skates... and in our 5th grade minds, we were bad-A.  

And while I was so intimidated when we went in and purchased a ticket from a lady wearing a black wife-beater who sounded like she chain smoked since she was 10, and walked past a crowd where I obviously didn't blend in, something happened.

My alter-ego emerged.

The aggressive shooting guard who left it all out on the court; The bruise clad strong side attacker who liked to spike the ball down the throats of her volleyball opponents; The college woman who rode on the back of motorcycles without any worries or cares in the world; The international traveler who stormed the black market in Panama City... She came back.

It looked like fun.... aggressive competitive fun... and I think if I could get my hands on a pair of skates... I might ... just might... try skating just to see if I still have the skillz.  And part of me wants to do that... I just might have to call my mom to see if she still has my old skates... I will keep you updated. (If you are confused by this... know that I am a little too... it totally doesn't fit my usual interest pattern but there is just something...)

And if I do get up the nerve to follow through, I am so getting a pair of these:

Oh dang, I meant her skates, but I must have cut them off. ☻

CAVOC take 2

This week I got to go with Jack and the 2nd grade on their field trip to CAVOC.  

The first rotation we had was about local wildlife with a DNR worker.  He showed different pelts and taught about the animals.  Because Jack has so much experience with Grandpa Lindner and trapping, he knew the answers to most of the questions the teacher had and could identify all of the pelts.

 I think he was a little nervous with Smoky's arm around him, but not enough to say anything.

 Next we went outside and learned about 'micro-biology'.  They were given small areas to look at and magnifying glasses to look through.  It was neat to see all that you might miss if you are not just concentrating on one area.

 Next was a lesson on the different states of matter.  Good thing Andy wasn't there... I have a feeling that the whole class would have been laughing when they got to discussing gasses!

 Feeling a little camera shy when I asked for a shot of the two of us, but still got a grin.

We took a neat bog walk and observed plants and bugs.

 And then that night, we went to the school carnival.  This was the only shot I got of the night, but it is the best!!  Jack had a blast on this one... there was elastic on the other side of that harness and he would get jolted backwards.

I am so happy with the Rhinelander Public Schools.  The programs they run are fabulous and the teachers are top notch!