Lily's Broken Arm

So Lily broke her right arm two weeks ago--we're not exactly sure how. What we do know is that she was running down the hall with Madeline and that the type of break (a "buckle" fracture) comes from falling onto an outstretched hand. She walked out of her room screaming so hard she was hardly breathing and wouldn't really calm down. She finally stopped crying when we got some ice on her arm and cuddled up next to Justin watching "Let It Go" music videos on his computer. After about 10-15 min of ice, I gave her some Tylenol and we had her try to move her fingers. She was doing okay but wouldn't do much and really screamed when she accidentally turned her palm up. We considered our options for medical care (thanks to those who offered perspective and advice!) and were about ready to take her to an urgent care (though we really wanted to avoid that option if possible) when she started to do better (the Tylenol was kicking in). She would mimic Justin's movements mostly and actually let him press on the bones in her arm where the swelling was (an inch or two above her wrist). He couldn't feel anything out of place and she was calm. She was even tentatively and carefully using her arm. We decided that it would be okay to wait until Monday when we could take her to her regular doctor and avoid a Saturday night emergency room visit. She went to sleep fine and we breathed a sigh of relief.

 Sunday we went to church as usual and Lily seemed fine. However, she was excited after taking the sacrament and started swinging her legs on her chair (of course my back was turned to give the sacrament tray back) which caused her to overbalance and fall onto the floor. She caught herself with her hands and started shrieking. Those who know Lily realize that she is really easy going and bounces back from bumps and bruises really well. She kept crying off and on for a good hour (Justin relieved me after a few minutes but we had to switch back later because she just wouldn't stop fussing). She loves her nursery class but refused to even walk in the door. She came with me to Sunday School and then Primary and even sat on my lap while I played the piano. We knew something was very much wrong but since she was able to sleep we figured nothing would get worse overnight to wait until Monday morning.

Monday morning I got her into her doctor at 8:30 am. The doctor ordered an x-ray. Since the office doesn't have x-ray capabilities we traveled to another clinic that does (in the same health system). Though we arrived by 9:20, it was noon before we had the x-ray taken and could leave.

Lily waiting for her "picture" of her arm--so taken to help her calm her nerves, not helped by the 2+ hour wait.

I held Lily while she got her x-rays (she didn't cry once and cooperated really quite well). Madeline was a trooper and stood patiently out in the hall with my purse and other bags while the x-rays were taken.

They love their princess things from the treasure chest!

The ladies were so impressed that the girls were so great (including Madeline) that they both got to choose things from the treasure chest--and Lily got the "I Got an X-Ray" sticker.

After we had the x-ray, we went home and had lunch. The doctor had expected to have the results by noon. I called a few times to check on the results, but the x-ray didn't get read until 4:45 pm. Lily's doctor called to tell me that Lily's arm (ulna) was broken and that we needed to take her in to the ER--precisely what I'd been trying to avoid. I called Justin to let him know then loaded Seth, Madeline, and Lily into the van and headed for the ER in Oxford. I checked Lily in and tried to make sure that they did know we were coming and had the x-ray. Justin picked Benjamin up from strings and then met us at the hospital. He took the three oldest to McDonalds for dinner. Lily was really upset she didn't get to go with Daddy. Right before they got back, a nurse called us back. As we were walking back she talked about going to take a picture of Lily's arm. I told the nurse we'd already had x-rays taken and we got to head back to the waiting room while she figured all that out. Justin came back with the other kids and decided to take them home for bed while I stayed with Lily. Almost right as they left, we were called back to a room. Lily was examined briefly (we were told both her ulna and radius had buckle fractures) and her arm splinted. We got a sling, a referral to an orthopedic doctor, and we got to go home by 8 pm.

Though I left her in her clothes, she got up in the middle of the night crying for her jammies. She loved her hospital arm bracelet (though she'd hated it at the hospital) and didn't want to take it off. When I misunderstood her and cut it off later, she cried almost as hard as when she broke her arm! I taped it back on and she calmed right back down. We were able to get into the orthopedic doctor Tuesday afternoon.

After the orthopedic doctor had taken off her splint, Lily was laying on the floor coloring with her broken arm and not even flinching. Lily of course picked a pink cast and LOVES it! We tried using her sling but she kept wanting to use her arm and see the pink cast.

Loves doing everything she normally does!

Having a cast is tiring!

She has been cheerful and happy through the whole thing but it is definitely tiring--she keeps napping off schedule and trying to get healed. She probably isn't sleeping very well with the cast either.

She loves to play with her cast but is so ready for it to come off--the doctor put a long arm cast to make sure she couldn't wiggle out of it. It was a good thing too because she has tried to take it off!

Luckily it comes off on Tuesday! Thankfully young kids heal quickly and her break wasn't a bad one! We are so happy our sweet Lily is part of our family!

The Jorgensen Family's First Flight Countdown

We've got great neighbors lined up to take care of our house and garden and the countdown to our first flight as a family is below! We have a paper chain on our mantle to remind us (especially the kids) of how many days are left but thought it would be fun to let everyone else countdown too. We are heading to UT and ID to visit family and we are so excited!!

Countdown Clocks

Christmas Fun

So...no tree pictures but some other pictures of family fun this Christmas season!

The boys' present from us this year was a construction project on their room. The picture below shows the project mid-build. Justin had already removed the ledge that originally was there (shorter and narrower) and built the new window seat.

Here is the completed project: bookshelves for all their books and storage for their toys in bins underneath the window seat.

They are very excited about their desks as well. To do homework on, to color, and all in all they are just ecstatic to have their own individual space where they can keep their stuff and not have it mixed up with other stuff.

You can see their joy and excitement! (The girls are pretty excited too, and Madeline has asked when she is getting a desk and bookshelves in her room!)

We also made gingerbread houses at our local library (thanks to Miss Angie, our wonderful children's librarian for having wonderful activities!). We brought them home and took a picture before allowing them to eat them.

Growing Family

Our family has grown so much! Here are some pictures that really show the growth.

                                                                     Fall 2012

                                                                       Fall 2013

Lily has grown the most!

Easter 2013

Much more recently

The girls hugging Justin on his way out the door

The cute frame from Nate and Kelly that we finally updated the pictures to reflect our two additional children!

We are amazed at how much our family grows and how much our love for them grows as well!

Halloween

I know it is 2 months late but better late than never!

Lily was Tigger--she almost was going to be a ladybug again or a princess like Madeline but I found the Tigger costume that Benjamin and Seth used and couldn't resist. Her favorite stuffed animal is Tigger. She was at first upset that I put her in some weird clothes with a hood, but as soon as I showed her in the mirror and said who she was she got really excited and happy to run around with her tail.

The kids got to paint their pumpkins one week and then carve them the next week--double fun with just one pumpkin apiece.

Benjamin dressed as Harry Potter (complete with pipe cleaner glasses that missed this picture) and talked Justin into helping him make vampire fangs on his pumpkin.

 Seth enjoyed being an astronaut but overall wasn't feeling well so didn't want to be in too many pictures. Luckily there wasn't school the next day so he was able to rest up and get feeling a little better.

Madeline loved twirling in her princess costume--Thanks Grandma Clendening for bringing and modifying the dress! (I vaguely remember her watching some of the kids while I took other kids to the doctor--don't remember now who or why...) We have been having amazing weather sprinkled with cold which could be contributing to the rash of illnesses that have been making the rounds in our family for the last couple of months.

Lily's adventures

 Lily is definitely an adventurous one! She was out playing and climbed up on Seth's bike all by herself and was so excited. I took the pictures and took her off--she got really mad at me and climbed back on!

Her latest adventure involved everyone. I wasn't paying attention to coincidences at first, or I might have realized earlier that the kids' toilet started having trouble flushing around the same that 3 of their toothbrushes disappeared. A few weeks later and all of Justin's efforts to fully unclog the toilet never lasting long, I made the connection, and we finally took the toilet apart. Sure enough, lodged in the very back curve was the longest missing toothbrush.  We are very insistent with the kids that they keep the bathroom door closed and the toothbrushes pushed far back on the counter to hopefully prevent this from happening again.

At least we didn't have to buy a new toilet! We love our Lily--and life is an adventure with her!

Benjamin

 Benjamin has had an eventful fall full of growing up things. He has wanted to play a strings instrument since hearing about the after school strings program at his elementary in 1st grade. He showed us this summer that he would be conscientious about practicing by practicing the piano regularly without any whining. He chose the viola and is loving it! He practices without complaint and sometimes without prompting. He is doing really well and sounding great. He also loves how it helps him manage stress--3rd grade is the start of End of Grade testing.

He also is helping out around the house more and likes doing dishes "because the water is so warm".

He also got glasses and is happy that he can see! He is amazed at how well he can see different things that used to be blurry when they were far away.

Benjamin is of course loving reading and reads voraciously (hm...kind of like Amy).

Backyard Progress

When we feel like there is so much work still to do on our yard, we need to remind ourselves of how far we've come.

Summer 2011 (2nd year in house--I don't seem to have any earlier photos)

Pictures from earlier this year as we were starting the fence and had cut down the last of the trees.

Pictures taken today :) (And we actually got peaches this year from one of our trees!)

Progress can be slow, but it's nice to remember how far we have really come!

Life Lessons

Sometime we get so overwhelmed with the push to acquire and to "get ahead" in life that we forget that money isn't everything. A while back I read an article titled something like "10 Things that Are Better Than Money" by Geoffry James. It really stuck with me and today I decided to get creative in reminding myself about all the wonderful things I am blessed with. The 10 things are James' but they can definitely all benefit from the sentiment. Feel free to add to this list in the comments section. What are you grateful for that has nothing to do with money?

Benjamin's Baptism

This year Benjamin turned eight years old and chose to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He wanted to be baptized on his birthday but consented to wait until the Saturday to make it easier for people to come. Here are some photos of that special day. Justin was able to baptize him and Grandparents Clendening were able to come from Utah to share his day and bear their testimonies of the restored gospel. Aunt Marianne gave a talk and Uncle Eric gave a prayer. Benjamin chose the songs "How Firm a Foundation" and "When I Am Baptized" for us to sing. Grandpa Clendening, Uncle Eric, Justin, the full-time missionaries, and President Clark stood in the circle to confirm Benjamin a member of the Church and give him the gift of the Holy Ghost. Justin and I are so proud of Benjamin for choosing to be baptized and for his growing testimony of Christ and His restored gospel. He continues to save money to serve a full-time mission when he turns 18 and learn more about the gospel, strengthening his testimony and setting a wonderful example for his siblings. We love you Benjamin!