Shoulder Injury

Last Friday I injured my shoulder in a soccer game.  Yes, the third injury so far in soccer...beginning to wonder if I shouldn't play.

I got knocked off my feet and fell on the shoulder and it hurt even with just running when I tried to shake it off...so, Saturday morning I went to the ER and they took a quick look.  "Mild AC Joint Separation" was what they said...and I am supposed to keep my arm in a sling to give it rest and use ibuprofen and ice regularly.

I am hoping I am not down long as the bigger issue is that my workouts are not happening right now which is very frustrating since I am in that transformation contest and felt I was doing fairly well...but...there isn't much to be done about that for now...so, pray for quick healing and no lingering issues.

Day off during boys Winter Vacation

Despite living here for many years, we had never gone to the Aquarium until this week.  I took a day off of work and we went down to spend a long afternoon of checking out the exhibits, the animals and watching an IMAX film.  The boys got to touch Manta Rays, watch little penguins feeding and playing as the leaped in and out of the water and learn a little bit about some of the large number of species that are housed at the Aquarium.  I think Kristen got the biggest kick out of watching one of the penguins swimming in fast circles and jumping out of the water like a dolphin.

100 Days

Ever wonder what you will look like when you are 106 years old?  Apparently as part of the 100 Days event at school on Feb 11, the kids in Jude's class were able to get a picture of themselves aged 100 years.  This was the result.

I think it is absolutely hilarious that he happened to wear sweats that day...which will likely be his attire when he is 106 as well...so it made it more realistic :)

Apparently to make it as real as possible, they caught him in the act of yelling at all the 6 year old whipper-snappers that were running around him!

Snow Day

The weatherman got it right this time and as our town essentially shut down and the boys had a day at home. I took the opportunity to make the boys day by letting them have ice cream sundaes for lunch.


Why?

Because I am crazy.
Because I thought it would be a fun memory.
Because I forgot that they would largely be stuck inside for the afternoon bouncing off walls.
Because I am dad...for good and for bad.

Maybe it will buy some good behavior going forward?

Jude's Super Bowl Day

No, this is not an ad for Lego...though I am sure this post couldn't be any worse than most of the commercials that did air this year for the Super Bowl yesterday...but instead, just a quick post to remind myself of how amazing Jude is.  

Maybe my expectations aren't high enough, but based on the behavior we deal with so often right now, it is not a surprise to me where my expectations are...

Of course, it is in those moments that something comes along and surprises us right....Jude was not interested in playing with his brothers today (even though we had 50 degree weather outside in February).  Jude was not interested in watching the Super Bowl when it did come on....no, he decides to build this police van (which was one of his birthday presents this year) and he does it...on his own.  I really thought it would have to be a daddy/son project...or at least have one of his brothers do a large portion of the project for him...

He did an amazing job.  

Oh if the behavior could only improve and surprise me as much too.

Night Terrors

I am not sure what you think of when terror comes to mind, but for Kristen and I over the last year+, I think the first thing that comes to mind is "Night Terrors".

"A night terror, sleep terror or pavor nocturnus is a parasomnia disorder, causing feelings of terror or dread, and typically occurring in the first few hours of sleep during stage 3 or 4 non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep" - wikipedia

A very clinical type definition, but it is something else entirely to live through.  This is not to be confused with a nightmare...it is a very different animal and if you have never experienced it, you most likely will not understand the true dread that we have experienced the numerous times this has happened with Jude over the last year.

For us, we have seen when Jude is especially tired, and generally when he in on a particular medication, these episodes can happen.  He will appear to wake up in a cold sweat, trembling and frightened...always calling out for Mom or Dad to help him.  We of course wake up and rush to him, but are very much helpless to do much but hold him until it passes and there are few things I have experienced that are quite so humbling, scary and that can make you feel quite as powerless as watching a child experience pain, terror, or any other thing...to be there in that moment with them and yet still have no ability to comfort, to make the experience better or to lessen the dread and terror that they are experiencing.  It has brought Kristen and I to tears as we have sat with him.

We are incredibly fortunate that he doesn't remember the episodes in the morning but we are always tired from lack of sleep and generally worn out as our nerves are frayed and our emotional tanks are dry.  On one hand, these episodes remind us how little control we truly have and how thankful we are to have our faith that can carry us through, but on the other hand, I rail against having us go through it at all.  I do pray that we are able to find a way to manage his hives and keep him from experiencing these episodes from the medication.