Poor Baby

Blogging is about documenting the good, the bad, and the ugly - right? Well, this is the bad and the ugly.

I asked Jake to pick up Collins from preschool yesterday so I could go run an errand. I just had to exchange something at Home Accents. It could have waited, but I decided to do it yesterday.

I called Jake several times after work to make sure he remembered to get Collins. He's never forgotten before, but I just had a bad feeling. No answer. I called preschool, one of the teachers, etc. and no one answered. I didn't realize Jake had taken off a little early to get him, so they were already home playing while I was calling.

I ran my errand and finally got Jake on the phone just before turning into the subdivision. I was fussing at him for not answering his phone and then he told me Collins had burned his hand. They had ridden the four-wheeler and Collins said he was thirsty afterward. Jake stepped inside to fix him some apple juice, and in that short time, Collins touched the hot muffler.

When I got home our neighbors, JB and Paige, were there helping. Paige had heard to put his hand in egg whites, so they did that. Here's what it looked like minutes after it happened:

My mom didn't think we needed to go to the ER because they can't really do anything for it. But I called Beth, our pediatrician, and she wanted to see it just in case. She told us to come by her house. I love her for that. She thinks it's going to be fine, just hurt for a few days. She told us to keep it cool and put some Polysporin on it.

The whole way to Beth's, back home, and eating dinner, Collins kept his hand in a bowl of cool water. He was convinced that was the only way it wouldn't hurt. So when we made him take it out to get in his pajamas and go to bed, he screamed. And screamed. And kicked. And screamed.

Finally, Jake got a wet wash cloth to put on it and that calmed him down. I slept in the bed with him all night and he rested. He pampered his hand, of course, and wanted the wash cloth on it the whole time, even once it wasn't cool any more. He wanted me to hold his hand, so I would fold the cloth over it and gently cup it on both sides. That made him feel better :) He was so sweet. He'd occasionally put his other arm around my neck and kiss me in the middle of the night! I actually really enjoyed sleeping with him, minus the fact that I hung off the bed and used a stuffed elephant for a pillow half the night.

This morning the blisters were a little bigger:

It looks bad to us, but Beth says that's normal. She said not to pop them because his hand isn't sterile so they may get infected, and they'll pop on their own anyway.

Jake stayed home with him today. We were going to split the day and both of us keep him, but Collins asked for Jake. Here they are this morning before I left:

Jake feels absolutely horrible. I keep trying to help him see that it was just an accident, could have easily happened to either of us, and is a miracle it hasn't happened until now. But I know I would probably feel the same way. I just hate it for both my boys.

Jake sent me this text earlier today:

They were pretending to be at the hospital and Dr. Daddy wrapped his hand for him. Jake said he's been good today, hasn't seemed too bothered by it, and napped well. I think he'll go to preschool tomorrow and we'll just wrap it really well to keep it protected and clean.

This could have been a whole lot worse. But, oh...my poor baby :(

Conversations with Collins

• I'm tired of it! (usually says this to Hank)
• One time in the car he announced he had to poo poo. Then said/sang, "It's probably gonna be diarrhea!" Since then he's learned what that means, but at the time I don't think he had a clue!
• When we were at Hokkaido at the habachi grill, he kept saying, "Hey Chef." If he doesn't know or temporarily forgets someone's name (did that when Scott and Ann visited),  he'll look at them and call, "Man?" "Lady?"
• Pretends to go to Teckas. (Texas) Jake primarily travels to Florida, but one time it was Texas. I guess it made an impression.
• Staggered up one day claiming he was old. Asked for a pappus. I told him old people don't have pappuses. He repeated that a few times as if reminding himself.
• We discovered the boy loves Easter candy and birthday cake!
• Collins had kept saying, "Look at that raccoon!" every day when we'd leave our subdivision. I could not figure out what he was talking about and it was driving me nuts. Finally, one day he said it and I asked, "Do you mean that bush? How does that look like a raccoon? How do you even know about raccoons?" He said, "That book!" "Which book?" "That caterpillar book." He was referring to The Very Hungry Caterpillar. There's a picture of a cocoon in there, which he always calls a raccoon! Mystery solved!
• One day we were walking to the car after preschool and he fell on the concrete. I stopped and looked at his knees and asked if he was okay. He said, "It's gone feel better next time."
• He woke up one morning and the first thing he said to me was, "Don't make me handsome; don't brush my hair." You are what you are, son! :)
• We've started pretending to be tigers. I give him tiger hugs. And he calls me Tiger Mama. I am getting used to this new title.
• Asks me, "Who's your doctor?" when we pass by the eye doctor. Asked Ms. Rebecca (from church) that as well. She was in a wheel chair after surgery and Collins wanted to know who her doctor was!
• It is so cute to watch Collins try to high five his friends at school. Twice I've watched friends turn him down, but he seems unaffected. Especially when I'm there and offer a high five to him instead, which completely satisfies him. Soon that will be embarrassing! 
• He can count to 10 with no problem. One time he counted all the way to 13 then said, "That's all I got." And the other day he got to 11 and just kept repeating it: "Eleven! Eleven! Eleven! Eleven!"
• Started talking about "Dee Deek" one day when I asked what he wanted for breakfast. I said, "I don't understand what you're talking about. What does Dee Deek mean?" He said, "You know Mahjon?" I said, "Yeah, is Dee Deek another friend?" He nodded yes. How could I be so slow? Also started calling people by a new last name: Duh Dock. Daddy Jake Duh Dock, for example.
• About the grill he warned me: "Don't touch it ever!"
• Wants me to pretend to be Mrs. Anna ("Hey Teacher. Hey Mrs. Anna.") and Mrs. Amber, who cuts his hair ("Ouch, Mrs. Amber!" and I say, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your ears with this brush!")
• "You kidding me?!"
• The day we were about to find out we were having a girl, I was sitting on the couch with Collins watching Mickey Mouse. We didn't have to leave as early that morning. He randomly says, "In five minutes we gonna leave." Amazing, because we really did need to leave in five minutes! He gets that from his daddy.
• Told us once, "I like you. We family."
• Asked, "What's dat girl's name?" referring to the one in my tummy. He now knows her name is Hadley and tells people at school :) When we told him her middle name is Lauren he said, "Like Mommy Tiff Lauren!" like it was the craziest coincidence! 
• When Jake and I went on vacation my mom came to our house to stay with Collins the first night. I made the mistake of telling him she'd be here when he woke up. He woke up at 5:30am. And she was on the way! So that was disappointing. I heard him in his room calling, "MawMawwww! Come get me!"
• Told Jake one day, "You make me tired."
• MawMaw taught Collins the song, "Deedle Deedle Dumpling." When we came back from vacation we asked him to sing it while he was taking a bath. He told us, "I'm tired of singing that song."
• One morning I asked if he wanted to wear a red shirt or green shirt to pre-school. He said, "Nuffin! I wanna be naked at p-dule!"
• Driving in the car one morning: "I like Jesus."
• Another car moment was when he started talking about Tylenol. No idea where that came from. But he wanted me to say it. Over and over. "Say it again..." He sounded like a hyena from The Lion King! 
• His blessing one day: "God, thank you for food and bless our hearts."
• He tries to convince himself things aren't scary. Initially, he may be scared, but then will say: "It's not scary at all; it's very nice." Sometimes the things he's referring to aren't very nice...snakes, spiders, etc. We try to provide guidance there without making him terrified! 
• I got him to take his medicine during breakfast one time by telling him it was grape flavored and he'd like it. He took it and I said, "Not bad, huh?" He said, "Not at all." 
• I love this one...he's told me a few times while in the bathroom, shutting the door: "I need potty train." He means privacy :)
• Referred to Hobby Lobby the other day as "Holly Bobby"!
• We have taught him some of the words (there aren't a lot we know) to "Sweet Caroline." He always says, "My Caroline?!" because of the Caroline at church :)
• Loves, loves, loves to be tickled! Will tell us, "Tickle me! Tickle me HARD!"
• Lately we've been pretending I work at McDonald's and he is a drive-through customer. He tells me, "Here, pay lady." lol
• He knows not to pretend to shoot people, but we didn't clarify about Hank apparently. He doesn't actually 'shoot' Hank, just his stinky breath. 
• I love how he still whispers, "Be tie-wit!" (quiet)
• He minds very well most of the time. It hurts his feelings to get in trouble and doesn't like when voices are raised. He is a sweet soul :)

Grammy and Poppa's Visit

Grammy and Poppa came over this weekend! We had a great day with them and Collins has been so good. Poppa helped Jake paint Collins' new dresser and put the box spring back on his bed. Grammy helped me with Collins in Winn-Dixie. It was a good, productive day!

Grammy got to get Collins when he woke up from his nap. She loves doing that :) He was still a little grumpy here, but oh so sweet!

Yawning :)

Jake and Poppa moved the grill to the carport to make steaks and sausage for supper. It was supposed to rain all day, but never did until around 7pm. We have a radio playing out there so Poppa asked Collins to dance :)

Trike-a-Thon!

The preschool Trike-a-Thon to raise money for St. Jude's was this past Thursday. Collins had so much fun!

I tried to be there to volunteer, but it didn't work out. Maybe next year. Luckily, Ellen was there with Will and Ian, and was able to get some good pics/videos of Collins too. Good friend!

I thought his tricycle decorations turned out cute! We did a patriotic theme because it was the first set of decorations I came across in Hobby Lobby. I now am thinking the theme was set for us (No Greater Love), but I totally forgot about that. Oh well.

Kind of exciting to ride through the building since Mama parked on the opposite side!

Dropping off his tricycle!

 

Lucy, Collins, Annelise, and Drew!

Collins and Ian!

Happy little cyclist :) Ellen said Collins smiled the whole time!

Yummy

Visit with The Valentines

Haley and A.J. came to visit last weekend! The moms and boys went to Moe's BBQ for a 'picnic' and then to CHOM. They had fun! After church on Sunday, they were playing while I sat down and ate some milk and cookies. They spotted me and both wanted the same snack. Pretty cute :)

Time to Plant Tomatoes?

Collins has been asking if it was time to plant tomatoes for at least a month or two. Bless his heart. He knew it was spring, but it was just too cold! Well, he finally got to plant them a couple of weeks ago. He was pumped!

Smoky Mountains

Jake and I went on vacation a couple of weeks ago. This was the first time we'd ever been away from Collins at the same time (except for one night related to his work, which doesn't count because we were still in AL). It was definitely our first vacation alone since Collins was born. And much needed!

We went to the Smokies and rented a cabin in Sieverville. It was called "The Flaming Arrow." Kind of sounds like a cupid theme, but no indeed. It was a different kind of arrow; Indian stuff everywhere you looked. Everywhere. But it was still a very nice cabin and had great views!

We didn't do much on our trip which was pretty much the point. We cooked some meals at 'home' and ate out some. Jake was a great sport and took me to the Tanger outlet stores and Old Time Pottery. We rode to Cade's Cove one day and were reminded how loooong it takes to get there and back! It's pretty, but we decided we'd try to remember to scratch that from our list for the next trip :) We were full and sleepy and didn't see a bear; that was probably the problem.

It was so good to relax and enjoy each other without interruption. Especially since we're about to have a lot of interruptions with a new baby on the way! :)

 

The Flaming Arrow!

Wild berry crepes at the Pancake Pantry!

 

We were able to enjoy the trip without worrying about Collins because he was having a BLAST at MawMaw and PawPaw's! He even got to visit at Maw's and Granny's. Every picture she sent me it looked like Collins was having a ball. We missed him, and I'm sure he missed us at least a little, but we all enjoyed our little vacation!

First picture I got of him. I knew then it was all gonna be okay ;)

 

I hate there are no pictures of Collins with MawMaw; she was the one taking the pics! Thank you, MawMaw and PawPaw :)