Life with a toddler in a cast...or how to slowly lose what's left of your mind.....

So, coming home from the hospital that day wasn't too bad....everyone wanted to sign her cast. Daddy got first dibs....

Then they all took turns signing their names and love messages to their little sister....

Yeah, this picture is about the only time she has smiled in two weeks. It has been incredibly hard. She is not allowed to walk on it....yeah, right! And trying to keep her from walking is like trying to keep water in a bucket full of holes.

She is very receptive when you ask her to show her "boo boo"....

And the color goes well with most of her outfits....

I am exhausted, literally. The other day I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I had had no sleep for about a week (and neither had Jason!) and she climbed all over me and cried and wanted to get down and walk, but wanted to be held, but didn't know that she wanted to walk and be held at the same time.....well, you get the picture. Doing this for and entire week all day long. The only time I got some rest was when we were in the car to pick up the kids for carpool. It's so sad, because I know she is probably more frustrated than I am. I try and be patient, but the constant crying and whining is getting on my nerves.

Reading stories is fun, but not ALL DAY LONG! We've gone on walks and tried some things, but housework is suffering and I feel burned out on a consistent basis. It's hard for both of us. I have had lots of hugs and snuggle time too. I guess I am just venting. It's just been really, really hard. I've cried every day for some reason or another this week. She has to have the cast on a minimum of four weeks. My neighbor has been really helpful. She's pregnant with her third and she has stepped in quite a bit to spell me, even though I know it's hard to carry a toddler and be pregnant!

These are the days when you realize motherhood is not for sissies.

So, to top it all off.....

This weekend Jason leaves to go to California for a wedding. I wake up that morning with a monster migraine headache. I am supposed to bring in a special snack for Eleanor and Xander has a drama presentation that day. I drop Jason off at the airport and miss the exit to get to school. I end up in major pre-holiday/Friday traffic. I didn't get the snack delivered, I barely make it to the last ten minutes of Xander's performance. My head is pounding and I'm stressed out because of being late on top of the horrendous to weeks I have already had!

Then, as we are preparing for my aunt and uncle to come and spend the night, I realize Savannah's cast has collapsed on the bottom. No after hours for the orthopedic center. My neighbor comes over to watch the kids as Uncle Brian and Aunt Marty show up, I am driving to the emergency room to take care of the cast. Luckily, my aunt and uncle are so awesome and just stepped right in and took over.

The emergency room was a complete waste of time and money. I was very frustrated with the attending doctor. He basically gave me a lecture and told me she can't walk on it. Then proceeds to tell me he needs a second opinion as to what needs to be done.

Four hours later they decide to put a temporary cast over the existing cast and can't tell me if that really is going to help or not. I could have done more for her from home!!!! (And I can give myself a pretty mean lecture if I need one! I don't need some ER doctor telling me what I already know and being unprofessional at the same time!!!!!)

So, I come home exhausted and spend a few minutes talking with my aunt and uncle and then head to bed. At 5:45am, the birds start chirping. I slept in Eleanor's bed to be next to Savannah....Time to get up!

Uncle Brian comes down around 6:00am and says, "Did you know your tire is flat?"

A flat tire.

Are you serious?!?!?!

After the weeks I've had?

And the day I had yesterday?!?!?!

Yes, a flat tire!

The tires are only 5 months old!

So, Uncle Brian and I spend our morning fixing the flat tire and trying to get them ready to go to their family reunion. They also are dealing with cancelled flights and such with their kids, so I tried to help the best I could to get them off.

Luckily, we had nothing the rest of the day...I did get a nap and let the kids watch a movie. We went for a long walk and worked on a Father's Day present....It all turned out fine by the end of the day. It always seems to be that way. I have such great kids and even though Savannah cried most of the afternoon, we still had a good time.

For that, I am very grateful.

So, (yawn) I am going to bed now, as I need my sleep desperately!

Good night!