Dempsey Family

It's been a while since I last posted, so an update is in order.  However, I can't think of any funny stories so I will just ramble.  Alice got her pink cast off a couple of weeks ago.  That night we celebrated by going to cirque du soleil.  We all enjoyed ourselves--except for G & G who babysat Roxie.  It was nice to be able to give Alice some one-on-one time.  Jake has acquired a scooter to cut down on gas prices.  He will be able to drive it to work--weather permitting.  So far, it has been raining most everyday.  He will only use about 1 gallon of gas to commute to work each week as opposed to 1 tank of gas.  That should save some money--IF we have some sunny days soon!  Alice and Roxie are cohabitating as of last week.  I couldn't stand how cramped our office was with the pack n play!  Roxie is sleeping just great in the crib in Alice's room.  Plus, we have discovered that Alice is a really hard sleeper--bonus.  Roxie has had a couple nights were she starts squawking in the wee hours of the morning.  Alice didn't flinch.  We wrap Roxie back up and let her squawk herself back to sleep.  That was the initial reason that we had them in separate rooms--so Alice doesn't get woken up.  Turns out, it didn't matter.  It also helps that Roxie sleeps through the night more often than not.  Roxie is getting more fun each day.  She plays with toys a lot more, and loves talking.  She also loves squealing, and making really high pitched noises.  We think we is part girl, part dog whistle.  Yesterday Alice gave her first talk in primary.  She was so excited to be able to say her talk into the "speaker" (aka microphone).  I whispered in her ear and she spoke into the microphone.  She did a great job.  I think she was one of the first Sunbeams (ages 3-4) to give a talk this year.  We are proud of her.  I was always really nervous to do stuff like that--still am.  It's amazing how kids come with their own little (or big) personalities. 

"Sunglasses: Prepare to go on my face!"  She then shoved her sunglasses over her eyes.

 

"Dad's silly.  He's an April Fool."

 

"What the hell?"  Both she and daddy got in trouble for that one.

 

 

Last night I was trying to get Alice to finish her dinner.  I was telling her to hurry up so we could go upstairs and fold clothes on my bed.  She got really excited and asked if she could fold washcloths.  "Only if you finish all you dinner.  Plus, maybe you can do some shirts."  To this, she lighted up and started shoveling it in.  Man, I know someday soon she will figure out that folding clothes is actually a chore!  Until then, I will enjoy it.

Today Alice had her followup appointment for her leg.  She was terrified.  She was crying and whining--but had little to no pain.  It was just the memories from last week coming back to haunt her.  Hopefully she will be a little better by the next appointment.  We need to get that tough kid back!  They took new x-rays and the leg is starting to heal.  He didn't even change out the cast today.  He just wrapped purple around the outside of the old one to seal the open edge.  Thank goodness--I don't think she could've survived sawing the old one off and starting from scratch.  It was hard enough getting her to sit while the Dr. wrapped the old one up with purple.  However, she will need to remain in her cast for 4 more weeks.  Then, she will get a shorter cast that allows her to walk a little.  She'll have that one for another 2 or 3 weeks.  THEN, she will be cast-free at the beginning of June.  

 

She's been coloring like mad and learning to draw lots of letter and numbers.  Our TV is getting a good workout too.  Right now she is sitting with Jake on the bed and watching Where the Heart Is.  Why is she watching a movie about a girl who has a baby in Walmart?  Because she wants to--she told Jake not to turn it.  She gets into the strangest shows.  As for me, I am starting to feel stir-crazy.  Normally I am fine staying home and not going place.  But now that I know I can't get up and leave during the day, I feel ansy to get out.  What is that all about?  Anyhow, feel free to stop by and sign her cast!

How do you break a leg while coloring?  Ask Alice...

 

Today she was at Grandma's house, minding her own business, coloring.  She was kneeling on a chair with slats on the back.  As kids do, she he put one of her feet through the slats while coloring.  All of a sudden she reached to the side and started falling head-first toward the ground.  Of course her leg was still holding her to the chair.  Grandma and I watched in slow motion from the other side of the room as she fell to the floor.  The chair was still upright, while she hung from her leg--now looking a little odd.  Grandma rushed over and got her uncaught, lifted her upright, and Alice asked to lie down.  No sooner had she lain down than we examined her leg and she started feeling some pain.  Rightly so, because she busted her leg!  I rushed her to the Urgent Care in Redmond.  After the Dr. saw her, it was apparent that it indeed was broken--duh.  They were unable to do anything for her besides send her to the ER.  The fire dept. was called over from across the street to help get her ready for transport.  I certainly wasn't going to try and drive her there myself--especially when she was screaming from the pain.  It was terrible--remind me why I had kids?  When they get hurt, it hurts the parents too.  It was almost unbearable because she is a tough kid.  For her to be screaming, it must really hurt!  They finally gave her a shot to take the edge off.  After she was in a splint, they moved her to the ambulance--we enjoyed our first ride in one together.  Hurray.  The poor thing...  Upon arriving at Evergreen (my hospital of choice), Jake met us and we went for x-rays.  Luckily only one of the bones between her knee and ankle was broken.  It was a really clean break so they were able to put it in a cast and send us on our way. 

 

While there, she said a few notable things.  When the nurse came in to see how she was doing, she said, “I’m ok.  But you need a TV in here!”

 

The nurse gave her a popsicle and she started eating it.  After a while, she stopped.  I asked her if she needed anything.  She responded, “Ya, I need another popsicle—for you, Mommy.”  Awww…

 

When we got home, she threw up twice on herself.  Can it get much worse for this girl?  She said to Dad, "Daddy, I'm sorry for throwing up!  Please don't call the policemen."  She got some sleep so she’s feeling a little better today.  She is so scared that her leg is going to hurt that she will hardly let us touch her.  Her cast doesn’t allow for walking, so we have to carry her everywhere.  We will get a good workout toting her around.  It looks like we will be homebound for the next 4-6 weeks.  Although, when she gets her cast replaced in a few weeks, she might be able to have one that allows her a little mobility.  We are praying for a quick recovery!