End of Summer

Being 4 is off to a great start for Sarah! PreK has started, and I know it's going to be another great year for her! She's going to start reading this year, and I can't wait to see the adventures she goes on once she knows how to read. She's going to love it! She has also started piano lessons and has memorized Hot Cross Buns. Watching her learn knew things is such a precious gift.

Sarah got to do two day camps at a local farm park this summer and loved it. So much of motherhood feels like survival mode, but occasionally I get a boost of energy and live it up and play on the playground equipment even though it's wet from the rain! It was such a fun time!

We took our annual trip down to Alabama to visit Robert's family in August the week before school started. I can't share many pictures because most of them have Baby in them, but the week included lots of swimming (beach and pool), catching up with family, people meeting Baby, and fun adventures.  Of course we had to make sure the hotels had pools for our little fish!

Sarah had a good 4 year old checkup and is 42" (75%) and 42lbs (90%). I took Baby to the doctor today, and of course Sarah wanted to be weighed too. She had on her shoes this time, but she weighed 44lbs. She's definitely been going through a big growth spurt. You know you have a spitfire when the pediatrician describes your child as "precocious." The nurse was a good sport and gave Sarah's unicorn a well check as well.

First day of PreK

I'm afraid 2019 will be looked back upon as the year of the wrist. In July I slipped and fell after getting out of the shower. I was banged up and in quite a bit of pain but just figured it was bruises. After two weeks my wrist still hurt so I visited my primary care physician. He figured it was sprained and gave me some gel to rub on my wrist to help with the pain. Two weeks later it still hurt so he ran an x-ray. I found out my radius had been broken for a month. He referred me to an orthopedic hand specialist, and I got this spiffy thermoplastic cast. It works like a plaster cast, but it's waterproof which makes showering easier. He scheduled an MRI which took two weeks to get me in.

Five days after the cast I started having excruciating pain in my left shoulder and went to urgent care and got diagnosed with tendinitis which was caused by not using my right arm and overdoing it with my left arm. And now I bring you...the sling.

I went two weeks with the sling. I got a cortisone shot in my shoulder and iced it multiple times a day. I finally got the MRI of my wrist.  A few days later I found out I had a tear in my triangular fibrocartilage complex, a body part I never knew existed. I needed to schedule a follow-up with my ortho to discuss the torn TFCC, and they originally said he couldn't see me for three weeks!!! I was pretty upset, and they were able to get me in five days later. I told the ortho that I have constant pain in my wrist/arm and am not able to do normal tasks for my job as a stay at home mom. No one seems to understand that a stay at home mom with a four year old and five month old can't just take it easy for 12 weeks. He said that cartilage doesn't heal on its on and needs to be removed through surgery but that he wants to wait one more month to see if the pain stops. He gave me a cortisone shot a week ago, and I haven't noticed any decrease in the pain. After taking it easy for a month my left shoulder feels quite a bit better, but when I start to overdo it I can tell. Thankfully Robert's dad came to help a week ago and has been able to help with lifting kids and house work. I obviously don't want to have surgery but would rather get it over with now if it's inevitable. The recovery time for the surgery looks like it's about another 6-12 weeks which will put this whole thing at six months. UGH.

We enjoyed a trip to Silver Dollar City, and Sarah was able to ride a few rides for the first time - Fire in the Hole and The Great American Plunge. She had a blast!

Sarah and I had a girly morning together and painted pottery, rode a unicorn, and got our hair cut.

My parents and I all celebrated our birthdays, and we enjoyed getting to celebrate with family.

Sarah had an absolute blast going to a dance clinic with the high school dance team. We enjoyed getting to watch her at the football game.

Robert has finished one full year of doctoral classes and is 3/10 of the way done with his classes. He's in his fourth class now and spends every evening reading and writing. I have a serious question. Wives who have husbands that study or work at night, what do you do in the evening besides watch TV? I'm tired of watching TV by myself. Tired enough that I've literally googled cheap hobbies. What do you do when you don't want to exert a ton of energy or spend much money but want to do something besides watch TV? I already read as well. I like crocheting but am out of commission with my arms.