Nursemaid's Elbow

I knew early on that I wasn't cut out to be a doctor or a nurse.

When I was 10, I accompanied my sister to the emergency room with her 3rd (I think?) broken arm. The dr gave her a shot and I passed out on the other side of the room. I spent the rest of the night playing minesweeper on a computer.

When I was a teacher, I was scared that a medical emergency would happen and I would be out cold on the floor, not able to help. I actually designated a student in charge of going to get help if I passed out.

So yesterday Erin H and I were swinging Kiran when her elbow dislocated. I knew it was going to happen- I could just sense it. When Kiran was about 18 months old, we were playing at a park and I lifted her up by her arms onto a platform. Luckily we were playing with a mom who used to be a Physician's Assistant and she knew that Kiran had Nursemaid's Elbow and she knew how to fix it. I had read that after it happens once, the probablity of it happening again is very high. So I had kinda been waiting for it.

So Erin & I swung Kiran and it happened. She grabbed her arm and pulled it close to her. Without thinking I took her arm and put it in the right position for it to go back into place. We all heard it "pop" back into place (oh I'm getting a little queasy just thinking about it now). Kiran said it quit hurting right away and went right back to playing.

I did it. And more importantly, I knew what to do. I don't know if my mom just had a whole lot more knowledge than me or if she was a really convincing actress but she always knew what to do. I feel like I'm always calling my mom or my sister or googling "insect bites" so I can have an idea of what in the world is going on and how do I deal with it. I tend to lean towards the eh wait it out side (we're currently waiting out sienna's fever and throwing up all over me) but I worry one day I will underreact to something serious.

But yesterday, I didn't overreact or underreact. I knew what to do and I fixed it. Without passing out.

Confessions of a First Time 5Ker

I ran my first 5K last night: the Candlelight Run. I set a goal and yesterday was Race Day!

We dropped the girls off at my parents' house and headed over to the race. We checked in an hour and a half before the race and discovered they had already handed out all their goody bags! Luckily we knew the person at the Sportsclub booth so we could get some free 5 day passes (hint: it was my sister). I was so excited to pin on my number and to attach the chip to my shoe. I felt like a real runner. Except that I noticed that everyone around me had these super tiny ipods to run with. Turns out they were ipod shuffles. Learn something new.

Erin & I headed towards the middle of the 2000 people racing for the start and I was so pumped about actually running that I forgot to start my watch when I crossed the start line. I didn't remember until about a minute into the race. Note for next time: start your watch when you hear all the beeping!

We had heard that the course had changed so that the finish was downhill. What we didn't know was that 1.5 of the first 2 miles was a slow, steady uphill. I had forgotten to start my watch, the miles weren't marked and Jonathan was running with his GPS watch that I usually borrow for runs so I just kinda ran. I tried to keep a good steady pace and I hoped it was enough to get me in under 30.

I felt good through the race and I finished strong and fast. But I crossed the line at 30:50 and I wasn't sure how much time had passed between the clock starting and my crossing the start line. Finally this evening they posted the times.

29:28

I did it. I am so proud of my accomplishment. I totally have a runner's high. I actually compared it to labor- not the physical aspect so much but the sense of accomplishment and awe that came right after. I think I want to do this again. Maybe I'll aim for the 28s.

Thanks Erin H- I don't think I would have committed to the race and trained if you hadn't agreed to come run with me!

What Is My Problem?

I love to read. Love it. My problem these days is that there are so many books I want to read that I'm not making any headway into any of them- just reading a bit into each one.

These are the books I have started but not finished:
1. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
2. The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren (ok I'm rereading this one)
3. Tentmaking by Patrick Lai
4. The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory (I just read The Other Boleyn Girl and loved it but I'm having a hard time getting into this one)
5. The Love Dare (with my Mops steering team)
6. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
7. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

I can't seem to pick just one to finish!

What are you currently reading?

11 Months

Sienna hit the big 11 months on Friday. I cannot even believe next month she will be one. Let's not talk about it.

Sienna is getting a tooth! Her first one finally popped through a few days ago after struggling under the surface for two weeks. I'm hopeful there is another just behind it and all that teething fun wasn't just for one tooth.

She's turned into a big girl on me. We play the game "Who is my Big Girl?" and Kiran always answers "Me!" and "Who is my Baby?" is always answered with "Sienna!" But soon I'll have two big girls. Sienna's favorite thing to do is follow Kiran around. She always looks for Kiran first when she wakes from her nap and crawls to her door if Kiran is still in her room. I have to physically remove Sienna from the time out corner when Kiran is serving her time. It just doesn't seem like punishment when your sister is there making silly faces at you.

I asked Jonathan if we should have a theme for Sienna's first birthday party. These are the ones he's come up with so far:

• birthday
• 1st birthday
• Atlanta Braves
• Indian-themed naming ceremony
• Summer is great
• Great Moments in baseball on the 4th of July (Rick Camp)
• My First Prom

We are still negotiating.

Sienna loves to eat a baked sweet potato every night for dinner. She tears into it. I love it. We made progress today in the milk department. I've tried giving her soy formula the last few times I've missed a feeding since we needed to know if she was still intolerant to soy. She didn't seem to have a reaction but got to the point where she wouldn't take the bottle or sippy cup at all- she would just throw it. Today I introduced Soy Milk in her sippy cup- not as a replacement for nursing but in addition to. At first she would drink some, say "Ah" and let it all fall out of her mouth. But tonight's sweet potato was pretty hot so she guzzled some down. I really hope she continues to drink it because J & I leave a month from today for Hawaii and she needs to have some sort of milk to drink while we are gone.

One More....

After church yesterday, Kiran came out of her room and announced, "Mommy I have twin babies!"

I said, "You do? Who are they?"

Kiran said, "Riley, Riley, Quinn, Quinn and Riley."

I said, "Well Kiran that's five babies. That's quintuplets."

Kiran got all excited and said, "I want quintuplets! And I want Rileytuplets too!"

Mom Card

So if I didn't qualify for my Mom Card by birthing two babies (one WITHOUT pain medicine) and if I still didn't meet the standards when I bought my mini-van, then I've definitely qualified with my purchase this week.

I bought a swimsuit with a skirt. (My sister is probably falling over about now- she had three kids at 24, is as skinny as she has always been and will never drive a mini-van. Pretty much the opposite of me.)

I had seen this swimsuit online at Land's End but they didn't have my size. I went to Sears because I'd heard they had some Lands End swim suits and they def had it. In my size and in sizes 12 and above. Nothing else. I took it as a sign. Plus it was 30% off. Another sign. So this is my ONE swimsuit for the summer.

(except not in blue- in seafoam green that matches the top)

And...sigh....I love it. I wore it to Kiran's swimming lessons yesterday and I didn't even wear a cover up. I felt like I was wearing a cute little outfit that I could swim in too. So there you go. I'm officially in.

Kiranisms

*edited to add more at the bottom

Jonathan is on the phone with a Dell person (aka Indian) trying to fix our computer. One time when we lived in India, I used our American number (Vonage phone) to call about an American airlines credit card. I asked the person who I was talking to where they lived and he said, "India." I said, "I also live in India. Which part?"
"Delhi."
"Me too!"
"You live in India? But this is an American number yes?"
"Yes but I really am in Delhi. Which part?"
It turns out he was about 10 minutes away from me in CR Park.

Kiran has said some funny things these last few days. I realize you guys don't think my kid is nearly as funny as I am so I'll keep em short.

Yesterday while driving to Greenville, Kiran said, "Mommy you sing Amazing Grace while I sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame."
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Aunt Lauren put a bib on Sienna that said "So Adorable" and explained to Kiran that adorable meant cute. I asked Kiran if Sienna was so adorable and she said, "No. Not really."
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Aw man I had more but I didn't write them down so of course I forgot. The computer isn't fixed but J has done all he can for tonight so I'm off to bed.
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Ever since we visited Brenna's twins, Kiran has started calling girls "Rileys" and boys "Quinn". She'll put some of her stuffed animals on her bed and say "Look Mommy! I have two Quinns and three Rileys!"
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Whenever we see someone in a convertible, she asks if they are cold.