It's in the same place they left it.

We saw Dr. Mehlman today for an x-ray and cast check. The very good news is that Scarlett's hip is still in the socket, right where they left it.

Next procedure will be on April 22nd, when she'll go back to Children's for a cast change and MRI.

I'm hoping some kind soul in the OR will give her a bath while she's under anesthetic. She really objects to being cleaned outside of the tub. So much in fact, that yesterday I took her to the kiddie salon for a wash and set. Better she be mad at them, then me.

New and Different.

New and different ways to torture my husband.

1] Deface his ESPN Magazine.



2. Take at least 4 pointless pictures of the dog a week.


And 3. Sing the "Hugs are Fun" song from Yo Gabba Gabba first thing in the morning to insure an ear worm that lasts all day. Repeat.

Sorry, Wayne.

Wayne wanted to know how he could get 'on the blog'. It's pretty much as easy as 'be somewhere I have my camera.' However, this was the best picture I wrangled at Easter dinner.

Wayne is the oldest of seven. Matt, on the right, is the youngest. I'm not sure what they are talking about. Probably about how Georgetown is going to ruin everyone's brackets.

Wayne, I'm sorry the picture quality is crap. But if you send me that one of your car up on blocks, I'm sure I could work that story in as well.

Sweet 16

I don't even care that my brackets are shot.

Tummy time, revisited.

We are spending more and more time on the floor, trying to regain some independence. And I do eventually rescue her from under the furniture, you know, after I grab the camera.

It was suggested that I put a swiffer pad on her stomach and let her be my roomba. What a horrible thing to say. I would never, ever, use my child's temporary handicap to my advantage. Regardless, you can't get the damn thing to stay put. Not that I would know.

God help me, I can't stop laughing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sI-ob55pT8

Easter Egg Hunt

Only suckers go get their own eggs. Smart babies wait for others to "share".

Annual Hyde Park Parents Exchange Easter Egg Hunt. It's the mom's group I belong to. And I won't tell you what my husband calls it, but it starts with 'M' and rhymes with 'ilfs'.

I admit, it's a thinly veiled disguise for friends to get together and drink wine while we plan outings and events. And discuss if there is enough in the budget for a Co-Chair trip to Vegas. [There is! Tell me there is!]

Secret Leprechaun.

Scarlett got a gift in the mail today from some kind person. They sent her two dvd's - one of which stars her favorite red monster. Unfortunately, ToysRUs neglected to tell us who sent the gift, so I'm at a loss as to who to thank!

If you were the secret leprechaun, please come forward. Scarlett would love to know who to thank. Perhaps her parents will even show up at your door and do a dramatic reading of "Little Murray Sparkles goes to the Veterinarian".

What did I tell you about blocking my view of Elmo?

They mean business.

When they say "18+ Months", Crayola does not mean "18+ months, but between you and me, we know your kid is a genius, and can obviously handle toddler markers at 16 and 3/4 months." They mean "18+ Months."

Let's hope they also mean "Non-Toxic", and "Washable".

Oh yes. Yes, we did.

There is nothing like reasonably priced swedish cabinetry AND meatballs.

I'm drooling over butcher block countertops and lamimate flooring for 1.19 a square foot.

I'll show you these pictures, but you have to promise to ignore the cheese that is covering every part of her.

Mmmm. Pirates booty. But something is missing.


What could it be?

Ah. There it is.

In case you are wondering, these pictures were brought to you by the letter "E". As in "Take as many pictures that you want of me, just don't block my view of Elmo."

A Riddle.

Q: What do you get when you cross a small dog with 10 inches of snow?

A: You get to be the only idiot on the street shoveling their yard.

Alice has been living the high life at my parents house for the last few days, but alas, she's being kicked out of her plush digs in the suburbs, and is headed home for the bleakness of city living.

It will be nice to have the family reunited. I tried to get Kevin to sit on my leg and lick my foot, but it just wasn't the same.

March is a busy month for our family. My parents anniversary, and both of their birthdays fall in a two week span. We missed my parent's day on the 6th, so I'd like to wish them a very happy 44th year together. May you have 44 more.

And today is my dad's Birthday. Happy Birthday, Dad. You said it yourself, you don't look a day over 81. I'm not sure if we are mentioning mom's birthday this year. I'll get back to you.

Scarlett is doing well. We fluctuate between thinking that maybe it's not so bad, and realizing it's worse than we could have imagined. But physically she's healing well, and is trying to get back to the business of being a toddler. I was going to get a calendar and mark off the days, but there's always the chance that at the 12 week mark we'll be told 6 weeks more, so I've decided not to tempt fate. We'll just take it one day at a time.

CITY IN GRIPS OF BLIZZARD.

Now, I know we aren't used to a lot of snow, but I have to laugh. The local news is reporting from a bakery parking lot and plenty of people have made it out for their Saturday morning doughnut fix. I'm pretty sure people in Minnesota are laughing and pointing.

Granted, when they sent us home yesterday, I wasn't thrilled about taking Scarlett far from the hospital when they were predicting a foot of snow, but all has been well. We were all thrilled to be home in our own beds, including the patient, who slept 10 hours straight.

We are working on finding different positions, because she was casted in a much more up and down formation than we were expecting. The bar between her feet is making things tricky, to the point that Kevin considered hacking it off. If there was a way to glue it back in time for her next appointment, I might consider it. ["No, Dr. Mehlman, it always looked like that."]

So Scarlett is doing well. And you an all see the magnificent purpleness of Casty. [Yesterday, I was calling it "Barney" and Kevin asked me to please. just. stop.]

Oh, and the hospital sent her home with a new toy. It's a Care Bear. Her name is "Share Bear", which Kevin misunderstood and thought I meant "Cher Bear". So we've decided to make her a little black thong, and teach her to sing "If I could turn back tiiiiioooowwwwmmmmmeeeee".

Update #3 [aren't these titles riveting?]

The Purple People Eater slumbers on. She had a good night. Bit of a rough start with an exploded ice bag, and a re-enactment of a keystone cops episode as we tried to gather up enough people to help change the bedding [one would show, then leave, then the other would show, then leave, then the Three Stooges showed up and poked me in the eye.] but eventually, it was accomplished.

Anyway, she slept fairly well last night, all things considered, and after a brief interlude with the resident early this morning has dropped off again.

Dr. Doogie [seriously, when did they get younger than me?] checked her cast, got her to wiggle her toes, poked her derriere, and generally just pissed her off. All seems well. Swelling will hang around for a few days, then subside. She's had some pain and muscle spasms, but they've been good about control. All of this should ease considerably in the days to come.

We'll be released a little later today, and will head home to play "Entertain Barney."

[I tried. Really. But when your kid is encased in purple fiberglass, you try to avoid the comparison.]

First cast check in 3 weeks. Later, when we get home, I'll take and post some pictures.

Update #2

OK, we are in a room now, and the nice nurse brought me a cord to plug into the ethernet connection. [Who runs this place, the Amish?]

Scarlett is an absolute trooper. Her cast is from waist to toes, on both legs. She also has a bar between her feet for stability - I wasn't thrilled to see that there, but we knew it was a possibility, and it will keep her immobilized. If it works, I'm not about to knock it.

And it's purple. Royalty, people.

She's napping a little right now, which makes me wonder why we are still watching Elmo. And listening to Kevin say "I remember this one!" every time an animated segment comes on. Sesame Street is very green. It recycles.

So that's all we have for now. She's casted, but hasn't quite figured out that she can't move. That will be interesting.

update

Scarlett is out of surgery and doing well. She is having an MRI to check hip placement and we will see her soon.

Closed reduction worked so thanks to you for all the good thoughts.

Wireless is spotty (I'm using kevs blackberry to post this) so I'm not sure when I'll check in next, but it looks good for now.

Hope to be home tomorrow.

Oh yeah. There was other stuff there too.

Kevin and I were standing by the bar when he said "Oh, you have got to take a picture of that."

"That" being the Mona Lisa made of toast.

I love art.

Mama got her art on.

I think I've said this before, but John paints meat.

When Anne first told me she was dating a guy who painted meat, I thought that meant that he picked up a steak, slapped some paint on it and then maybe used it as a big meat stamp. But in truth, he is an insanely talented artist who impresses the hell out of me.

Anyway, it was very cool to be us Friday night, because John had an opening at the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center. And yes. It was just as impressive as it sounds. I felt very grown up.

Bookworm

This is the book of the moment. The protagonist is a diaper wearing loudmouth who accuses everyone in his life of lifting his beloved binky. The fish, the dog, even his sainted mother is not above suspicion. In the end, the binky is located in his bed, just where he "likes it most." I suspect drugs are involved.

I told Kevin to take it to his next haircut and ask for this style to be recreated. I love the symmetry of the 4 hairs.

Sorting.

Sometimes I get really into taking pictures. So into it, that I forget that in order to share the photos, I need to actually load them, sort them, save them, and post them.

Yeechs. That's just sounds like a lot of work.

I'll get there. Hang tight.