Beck's first ER visit

What a day.  This morning I fell down the stairs while I was holding Beck, and he got caught in the banister.  I was worried about him hitting his head, but he seemed fine, and he drank his milk and asked to go back in his crib.  He was writhing a bit and exhausted.  After he woke up, I put him on the floor, and he couldn't stand.  He tried to put weight on his legs and cried.  I knew something was wrong; Beck is a really tough kid--he falls down and jumps right back up.  I called the pediatrician, but I was on hold forever, so I just drove the kids there.  They told me they couldn't squeeze me in, but I took a page from the Zina guide to life and told them I could just wait, it was okay.  Then the Advice Nurse came out, told me they couldn't see me, and I told her that I could just wait, it was fine.  She saw that I was tearing up and pretty worried, so she said she would talk to our doctor and see if he would see Beck.  Of course, Dr. Morris said yes.  He is a wonderful doctor.  Beck was absolutely pleasant and happy during this whole thing, except if you touched his shin on his left leg.  Dr. Morris examined him and advised us to head over to Fairfax Hospital, and said he would call ahead so they could expect us.  We were in and out within 2 hours--unheard of, it must be a record time.   Ramsey's visits were always way more than that!  He had an x-ray and it was determined that his leg wasn't broken.  Either it is a contusion (a bruise) or a hair-line fracture that will heal itself, but we are keeping an eye on it of course.  As of tonight, he still can't walk, but it is improving.  So pitiful.  I am fine, although this is the second time in the past 2 weeks that I have fallen flat on my back (the first time was on the front porch on the ice).  I have to be more careful!!!!   

The patient.

He would look at me occasionally and say "Mommy!"  I got so many cuddles today.

He was hammin' it up most of the visit.  

He flirted with the doctors and nurses (saying "hi!" and smiling).  

Ramsey was his constant companion.  This is another example of how touching and 

amazing their relationship is.  She jumped right up on the bed (after I gave her an alley oop) and 

played with him and watched TV with him and they really made the best of it.

Shaking the rail together was a real highlight. 

He had a pulse detector on his right big toe, with a sock over it, and he kept gnawing on the chord.  

This was for fun and because he is getting some teeth in and it felt good.

Unlimited TV.  YES!

When we got home, Beck had to sit a lot since he can't walk.  

He drags his little leg around, but he is pretty sedentary.  Ramsey decided to read to him to cheer him up.

She also entertained him while he was in the Exersaucer, 

which he has not gotten into in months.  He has been too busy!  

These two kids really made the best of a hard situation.  It was a tough day, 

but only because of what was going on--I will always have sweet memories of how these babies 

stepped up and improved a bad situation.

Do-it-yourself weekend

We didn't do much this weekend, just enjoyed some time together and did some projects.

 Matt cleaned out his closet, with Ramsey's help.  She is so fabulous with projects.

Here is Beck "helping" as well.  All he really wants to do is 

throw things in the trash or knock things down.  He definitely provides comic relief.    

The pudding dessert Matt made for all of us.  It was delicious.  

Beck said "MORE" a lot and Ramsey had some of mine as well as her own.

YUM!

Blanket and snack on the counter post-nap--what could be better?

Bundled up sibling love.

Martin Luther King Weekend

I really love this holiday.  I listen to Martin Luther King's words every year and cry every time.  It is hard to believe "separate but equal" wasn't that long ago.  We went to the American History Museum in honor of Dr. King and had a blast.  It was chilly, but nice, so we walked outside and saw the Washington Monument as well.

This was an amazing Daddy-Ramsey-Beck bonding weekend.  The hand holding was almost constant.

Enjoying the sunshine and the "balance beam."  Ramsey can find a balance beam anywhere.

They had to take turns riding on Daddy's shoulders. 

The American History Museum has amazing things for kids.  Ramsey and Beck 

explored everything.  Here they enjoyed getting in and out of this canoe.

Can't we just go outside?

The kids and I thrive on sunshine.  It isn't really out much lately, though.  We have gotten to go out a little lately, and when we do, the kids go nuts!

Here is Beck in Florida--NO PANTS!  

You'll notice his face is saying, FINALLY I ESCAPED, I LOVE IT OUT HERE!

He is the most sweatin'-est kid I know.  It's really hard work being this busy.

Let me be free.  I want to go in the street.

He climbed in and out of this wagon numerous times.  Endless energy.

Back in Fairfax.  Sure, Beck is wearing footie pajamas, 

but at least I put shoes on over the PJs, right?  More hand holding.

Blue Doggie needed some air too.

Up the step, down the step.  Repeat.  A hundred times.

This is Beck throwing a fit, boy is he mad.  The number of these is directly correlated with the amount of time we spend indoors, or the number of teeth breaking through his gums.  He has his four front teeth and four molars now!  Since those molars came in, the number of fits is close to zero, thankfully.

Ramsey has embraced the indoors a little more than Beck only due to the plethora of ponies she got from Mimi and Pop-Pop for Christmas.  These were my ponies when I was a little girl.  

She is in love with all of them, and I love listening to her make up stories and interactions for them.

A rare moment when I caught Beck standing still--it's good to be king.  He is wearing a crown that says "I am a child of God."  He is such a sweetheart, and so handsome I can barely stand it.  

I embrace my bias, by the way.

A day trip to the Natural History Museum in DC.  This is my favorite of the Smithsonians, along with the Gallery of Art.  The kids love it.  You walk in, and there is a huge elephant, need I say more?

 

Christmas 2010

We went to Florida for Christmas and had a blast!

Yes, the trip down took 13.5 hours in the car.  It got a little grueling, but mostly it was nice.  Ramsey and Beck are really into holding hands, especially in the car when Ramsey gets worried about Beck's fussiness, or when Beck reaches his hand out and says "AND!"  

Or, when Ramsey says, "Mom, I want to hold Beck's hand."

It is moments like this that remind me why we have to make the trip despite the difficulties.  

Grandma is the best at holding hands!

Ramsey decided to be a sheep in the Christmas play.  Beck could not possibly be type-cast into one roll, but instead chose to roam around and disrupt most of what was being done.  

I guess he unknowingly type-cast himself as the little "b(r)other." 

Joel read Luke 2, we sang songs and played bells, each family showcased a talent, and we enjoyed some snacks.  Zina, Rachel, Laura, Emily, and even Matt took turns on the piano.  Ramsey and I sang "Sweet and Low" and Beck and I tried to sing the ABCs together.  

He only knows a few letters, but I know them all.

    Christmas morning.  Beck didn't know what to make of it.

But, then he figured it out.  Love Rachel's laugh in this one.

Ramsey enjoyed digging in her stocking, which had a few pieces of CANDY.

She loved the dollhouse Santa brought her.  We didn't hear much from her after that.

Mother and son, bonds that last forever.

Our first Christmas morning with the Pikes.  They were so fun.

The Beans' first Christmas as a married couple.  

Look, new gloves, scarf, and hat!

I love this picture of Zina laughing.  

We also went down to St. Augustine while we were there.  

Here is Ramsey with both of her grandmothers, Grandma and Mimi.

Cool babies!

Ramsey's first Primary activity at Church was in Florida.  

Here she is decorating a "temple" with icing and marshmallows and other goodies.  

She really just wanted to lick the icing off of her fingers and eat the marshmallows.  When one of the other kids mentioned she shouldn't do this, she was pretty offended and really lost interest.