Broken Arm

Well...it has been a rough week for especially Micah. Last Sunday night as we were getting ready to go to bed, Micah decided to try and stand and balance on the armrest of the rocking recliner. We were right there, but in an instant he fell backwards and hit the wall. Initially I thought he just bumped his head and it wasn't that bad. However, immediately he grabbed his arm (just above the wrist) and I had to barely glance at it to realize his arm was broken. As you can see from the X-ray below, the broken bone cause a big lump in his arm in the wrong place. Sadly, it was Eric's birthday, and we immediately knew it was going to probably an all-nighter. And it was.

We started out at Mount Pleasant hospital because they are only about 5 minutes away. We got right in and they x-rayed his arm in record time. But once they realized it was not a greenstick (meaning a bone that bent but didn't completely break), they told us Micah would have to be sedated for them to set the bone and cast it. That would mean going to MUSC Children's Hospital to get it done.

So off so MUSC we went. They also got us in very quickly, and Micah did quite well. They did give him Morphine for the pain before we left the other hospital. After the diagnosis was confirmed (broken radius, hairline fracture in the ulna, and displaced wrist), they made a plan. He was not allowed to be sedated for 6 hours since the last time he ate. This meant nothing could be done until 2am. Since we knew we would be waiting for a few hours before anything could happen, Eric decided to go upstairs (where he works) and get some work done so he could come in later the next day. I stayed with Micah and we watched "Frozen". He wanted me to lay on the bed with him and rub his feet. He was been really sweet most of the time. Even though they gave him pain medication to help him rest, he stayed awake the entire time. 

At 2am, they started the sedation, within seconds of them putting the ketamine in his IV, he was out. It was kind of creepy to watch. Then they asked Eric and I to leave while they reset the bone and put the cast on. We stood out in the hall for what seemed like an eternity. We even heard him cry a few times. It was hard.

After we were able to go back in, this is how we found him. (below). They told us that he could be waking up from the sedation soon and then they would have to monitor him for a little while before we could take him home. About 1 and 1/2 hours later, we were finally able to wake him up enough that they let us go home. Since it was the middle of the night and he had just experienced all that trauma, he was very tired and just wanted to sleep. We arrived home around 4:30am. 

That night and the next few days were rough. The poor little guy was not happy about his new predicament. He didn't sleep well and he was quite unhappy about his arm being unusable. In addition, he was still having pain. It didn't make for easy days for me either. He is doing much better now though. He will get his permanent cast on tomorrow and I'm hoping that is waterproof. One week down, only 5 more to go!! We WILL figure out a way to still go to the beach. :)

2 days later he was feeling a little better

Even being silly

Wando Band Clowning Around

Little did we know when moving here, that Tessa would have the privilege this year of being part of one of the best high school music programs in the nation. Wando High School Marching Band was awarded #7 marching band in the NATION last year!! But, this means lots and lots of PRACTICE!! During the last 3 weeks before school started, Tessa spent most of everyday in this parking lot practicing marching and passing off songs. During the main band camp week, the entire band was required to attend everyday from 8am-9pm! Wow! During the last week before school started, they had 2-a-days meaning they went from 8-11am and 5-9pm everyday. Now that school has started, they spend two and a half hours a day, 3 days a week after school.

On the culminating day of band camp, it just so happened to be national clown day, so they invited a clown to come join help them celebrate the end of band camp. She handed out 300 red clown noses and entertained them. On another night, everyone was invited to visit the snow cone truck for free snow cones. I like their band teacher, Bobby Lambert. As well as music, he has worked in motivation and leadership in the past. He is quite a positive and motivational force on this large group of kids.

As we have been here, we have talked to people who tell us things about Wando Band. One guy said, "The high school kids don't come to football games to watch the game, they come to watch the band. Everyone goes off with their friends until it is time for the band to perform and then everyone comes back to their seats to watch." Another guy said, "Last year at the National Competition in Indianapolis, people there from other bands were trying to get their hands on the "Wando Band" t-shirts so they could take them home as a souvenir. Wando is not only popular here, but everyone there knew who Wando was."

 I can't wait to watch them perform! But possibly the best part of band camp was Tessa having the opportunity to make friends before school started. I think this has really helped with her adjustment to the new place.

Tessa once again behind yellow shirt boy. :)

Tessa's picture made the front page of the Mount Pleasant's "Moultrie News". She is right behind the boy in the yellow shirt in front. You can see her red nose. :)

The Band with Cupcake the Clown

Dream Job in a Candy Store

This week Jesikah found the job of her dreams!!! If you know Jesikah, you know that it couldn't be more perfect. She found a job at a candy store--Sweet Julep's Fine Southern Confections!! It was kind of funny how it happened.

When we moved here, Jesikah decided that she wanted a job. We thought it was a good idea, so she started looking for places she wanted to work. In the beginning, she really wanted a job at a frozen yogurt shop. She tried to apply at TCBY. They said they were hiring, but she checked back several times a week and they never had any applications. They kept giving her different dates that they would be hiring. The more times she went in, the more she decided she might not want to work there. The hours were late, the employees seemed lazy, and the management seemed inconsistent. 

Then we went to the movies and they advertised that they were hiring for all positions, so she filled out an application. She got called for an interview the same week. She got to the interview a little early and decided to browse through the candy shop next door. She thought she'd ask if they were hiring. They said YES and pulled out an application for her to fill out. They said to come back after her interview at the theater and the manager would be there to interview her. She did. She got offered both jobs in the same day!! 

She obviously turned down the theatre and chose the candy store. She loved the environment of the candy store and the girls who worked there. They aren't open as late either. She loves putting little boxes of chocolates together and putting sweet treats in cute jars. They make homemade fudge and pralines in the store. She has worked 2 days this week so far, and LOVES it. Even better, the manager told her that she could have Sundays and Wednesdays off for church AND she gets a 50% off employee discount. I think this job is a perfect fit for her. :)