End of 2006 school year-- ETHEN

Ethen finish preschool with a BANG! He had a graduation ceremony where they did a play and sang some songs. His teacher also taught sign language as part of the cirriculum, so they showed that off as well. I have only expeierenced two preschool teacher, but this one was the best BY FAR. They got to cook in class and she had 4 computers in the room for them to use. Who does that for 4 year olds?? They also had a Christmas program and 2 carinvals that she held at her house. I don't think that I will be able to not compare her to theh younger kids teachers. She was awesome!

Ethen almost didn't make it to the graduation ceremony. Earlier that day he was hanging upside down from the top bar of a neighbors swing set and fell off. I could hear him screaming 2 houses and fence away. Of course he is a little dramatic, so I tried to down play it a litte. After about an hour of not letting me get within a foot of his arm, I decided that maybe we had better go and get it X-rayed. He was long over due for broken arm anyway. Rebekah broke hers at 18 months and Ethen is way more accident prone that she was. Sam had double ear infections and pink eye so I couldn't leave him with any of the neighbors (everyone has kids out here and I didn't want to be responsible for an epidemic). Bryon didn't have a car, so I called my mom hoping that she could get off work or something and come and take Sam. He hates the doctor and Ethen really needed my undivided attention. I think that he had slipped into a little bit of shock. My mom didn't answer any of her phones (SHOCKER!!), so I just prepared myself to go it alone. We got the the Urgent Care and I had to push Sam in the stroller and carry Ethen because he wouldn't walk. I bet that was a sight.

After we got checked in, my mom called me back. She usually doesn't do this until she gets home, but today she made a glorious exception. She was just leaving work, so she said that she would meet me at the Doc's. Miracle performed. I was alone with Ethen while we checked everything out.

My big tough kid turned into slimey jelly. He wouldn't let them even touch his arm and the X-ray took must persuasion. The doctor asked if I wanted to see the film. Being an ameteur professional in the broken bone department (and a medical junkie) I checked it out. Both bones near the wrist, all the way through. He only fell 3 feet or so for pete's sake! Luckily they weren't displaced so we only had to cast them. 10 minutes of persuasion to pick a color and we were out the door. He was deteremined to go to the program though. He loved showing off his new addition to his classmates.

Side note-because the doc didn't splint it first, one Sunday his Primary teacher told me he could slip his hand out of the cast. We were at the pediatrican's monday to get a new cast on. Rebekah and Sam were with me this time. While we cut the old one off, Rebekah watched Sam in the lobby. She let him up ona chair and of course he fell off. So... I have one kid with a broken arm and another kid with a huge goose egg with a cut on his forehead. Oh and I am not thinking kind thoughts about the one kid that isn't injured. I am sure they had DCFS already dialed when I finally left the building.

Another side note- Cast #1 (blue) was very nicely signed. Dane even drew a deer one it. We went camping that weekend and everyone was really excited to write on it. Cast #2 (red) I just let Ethen color what he wanted and he did spiderwebs everywhere.