Ahoy There Mateys

Step. Thunk. Step. Thunk. Step. Thunk. This is the sound Jacob makes as he walks in his bright orange straight leg walking cast. Stepthunkstepthunkstepthunk. This is the sound he makes when he tries to run in his bright orange straight leg walking cast. Yesterday, when I was listening to the slow walk across the kitchen floor, I kept wondering if this is what a pirate with a wooden leg sounds like. Thinking of pirates, I next remembered meeting my future brother-in-law for the first time.

Kermit took me to meet his sister, Tara, and her husband, Cash. We had a nice dinner. We were engaged in conversation, when out of the blue Cash says, "So, I hear you're a pirate."

We were all a little surprised. I wondered if there was some family joke that I didn't know yet. The looks on Kermit's and Tara's faces told me that they didn't know what was going on either. I stammered some sort of reply.

What we had failed to appreciate was Cash's inner conversation. The comment made perfect sense to him. He had noticed that I had a tattoo. He started pondering tattoos and who would typically have a tattoo. I'm glad he passed over biker babe and sailor before he landed on pirate.

Today, I am listening to Jacob step-thunk his way across the kitchen floor. Maybe we are part pirate.

One Little Monkey Jumpin on the Bed...

Jacob and the little girls were jumping on the bed Friday. The girls leapt off the bed into a pile of pillows. Jacob tried to follow. He didn't quite make it. His little leg got caught in between the mattress and the foot of the bed. His leg broke. Nice clean fracture of the tibia. We were at Children's Hospital ER until 4 am. Seven hours with a little boy who was tired and hurt. It was not an episode that I'd like to repeat.

He was quite grumpy yesterday. I'm sure the leg was hurting more. And his entire right leg is in a cast. He can't move around like he wants. We had a devil of a time keeping him happy and still. Nineteen month old boys do NOT want to be still.

Today he is in better spirits. I'm glad of it. I'm slightly worried about how he will cope. However, little children seem to adapt so well to a variety of circumstance. I probably shouldn't worry too much. This will be a bit of a burden on the other kids. We had to miss the library summer reading swim party. I suspect swimming is over for the summer. I'll have to find some way to make it up to them.

I am grateful that it wasn't worse. If the fracture had been higher up or in his knee, he would've had to have had surgery. As it is, he only needs a cast for 4-6 weeks. Toddler in a cast for 6 weeks. awesome.

Joseph's Birthday Water Slide

Happy Birthday Joseph

Today was not Joseph's birthday. That occurred the 28th of July. But today is the day we celebrated. Since Joseph turned 8, we had a big, and I mean BIG, birthday party.

I rented an inflatable water slide. We invited friends and neighbors. Oh. Can't forget the monster eyeball cake. Red velvet. So, that when you slice the cake, it somewhat resembles monster innards. Most important of all, the baptism.

There were a few storms predicted for that day. And it the rain was pouring and the wind blowing when the party began. But it was a very short storm. The waterslide was a hit. The kids loved it. I loved it. I went down a few times with Jacob. Once with Sarah. Once was all Sarah wanted. I think it was a bit scary for her. The platform was about 14 feet high. You climb up the back and then go careening down into a small pool. It is not a slow, easy slide. You pick up more speed than you expect at the end. There is no control. It was fabulous.

About the time they were ready for a break, we had a treasure hunt. Daniel helped me set up two paths to the treasure. We took close-ups of different things on the property and used those as clues. Things like a big planter that was on the front porch, a stack of wood, a balloon, a chicken. The treasure was a rather generous amount of candy.

Then it was time for presents and monster eyeball cake. We made it through presents and blowing the candles out when the kids decided that it was time to slide again. I'm thinking that I need to rent another water slide for our 4th of July bash next year.

I'm so thankful for everyone that came. Especially, our friends in Forney. It is not a real quick drive. I know that it meant a lot to Joseph to have his friends.

The baptism was very nice. Catie White and Joseph were both baptized. There is something extra special about having more than one baptism take place. My sister and I were baptized at the same time. I don't remember every detail, but remember how I felt. Soaking, dripping wet in heavy wet baptism clothes, but feeling light as a feather. So, happy. So, joyful. I think about that feeling everytime I'm at a baptism. I think Joseph was happy. He was a little bit giggly in the font. But Joe has always been amused with life.

We came home in another rain shower. By the time it cleared up, there was a rainbow. Two rainbows. The inside one was brilliant. It was a lovely close to a lovely day.