Week Eight of Summer Vacation

It was an exciting and interesting week after returning from our trip. It began with a trip to see the Orthopedic Surgeon who is managing CubJ’s arm. We were pleased that the cast had survived the trip intact and confident that things were going to be far more healed than the last visit.

CubJ was rewarded with some serious bone growth around the break, in addition to the bones still being in ideal alignment. This was fantastic news as it meant that CubJ could graduate to a shorter cast! Yippie, only three more weeks in a short cast to ensure that this break would be behind him.

For me, Monday started out with getting something on my contact which cause me eye to swell up and turn red. This was very irritating, literally and figuratively. By Tuesday afternoon, this would seem far more pleasant than what was on my horizon! In the afternoon of Tuesday, Calgary experienced a MAJOR windstorm. The winds were measured at speeds of over 100km/hr, there were road signs ripped down on the highway, trees and houses damaged etc.

While this was going on, I heard our garbage bins blowing around the street. I was concerned that they would damage the house or such and went out to retrieve them. As branches were being ripped off the tree in the front yard, construction debris was flying down the street, I tried to collect the airborne garbage and recycling bins. While wheeling one up to the house, the wind caught the lid and the lid hit me in the bridge of the nose! Hands down, that was the most shocking pain of my life! The good news is that with a great deal of ice, vinegar and massaging the bruising went away quickly.

I did learn a few interesting things about sporting black eyes and a potentially broken nose as we ventured places all week. One, head up, no sun glasses and look people in the eye is the best way to deal with the questions. Two, people who know you well know that you have done something dumb like catching a garbage bin with your face. Three, most people have really good poker faces as they try to decide what has happened to you. Lucky for me, we still had fun going to the movies and Chainti’s with BuddyP and BuddyB!

CubJ branched out this week on our Thursday trip to Tubby Dog. He tried the Chunky Charlie dog. It has a bacon wrapped dog that has tuna salad and melted cheese on top! It is two of his very favourite things, a hot dog and tuna. I was so impressed that he branched out. He was impressed with just how yummy his dog was. Yeah CubJ, branching out can be fun.

On Friday, August 17^th, 2012 DaddyJ and I were able to attend the wedding of my lovely coworker, with the thoughtful and generous help of the 3SFamily (BuddyP, BuddyB and BuddyS). GroomR married the most beautiful BrideA on a picturesque sunny afternoon at the Nakoda Lodge on the Lake http://www.nakodalodge.com/ It was a perfect day to celebrate such a special occasion. What makes them such a wonderful pair is that they are even more lovely on the inside than they are on the outside. These are the type of people that I can only hope that CubJ and SparkJ grow up to be.

After enjoying the ceremony (complete with the help of a very talented makeup artist at Sephora Market Mall to cover the bruising) we returned to the 3SFamily’s house to enjoy a wonderful meal and a great visit. BuddyB made an amazing meal of grilled chicken and potatoes, tomato/cucumber/bocconcini salad, bread and this crazy amazing salad that has shrimp, carrots and Hickory Sticks, yes, those potato chip like straws. I must really be nicer to her so that she might make it for me again, LOL. The whole delightful meal was capped off with berries with ice cream.

 

 

To entertain themselves, BuddyP and CubJ played croquet and SparkJ made nice with cat! A great big thank you to the 3SFamily for making our day not only possible but so fantastic!

Week eight was an eventfull week. We are so thankful to all of the hard working staff that the Alberta Children's Hospital and everyone at the cast clinic for all that you do to heal all of our children who need you. This week, I was reminded of what a true blessing to have so many great friends, access to such amazing health care and to be enjoying the summer!