Jackson vs. The Treadmill

August 30, 2007---Today, Jackson decided to take on a treadmill and lost the battle. Here's how it happened: We were getting haircuts and for the first time Jackson sat in the chair by himself and did not cry or whine while getting his hair cut. This is a major accomplishment considering that normally I am holding him and restraining his legs and arms while two people attempt to hold his head and cut his hair. All the while he is screaming as if we are horribly torturing him. Today Jackson did a complete 360 and his hair cut experience was amazingly peaceful. The salon has a fitness center in the back. The kids typically play back there while I get my hair cut (bad idea #1). During my haircut we heard blood curdling screams and rushed back to the fitness area. Jackson is crying and showing me his hand. According to Anna Catherine he pushed some buttons on the treadmill and put his hand on the belt (bad idea #2). His hand had been caught in the treadmill and Leah, our hairdresser, had gotten it out just as I got there. His left hand has several "boo-boo's" from his battle. It is swollen and the top has scrapes and burns on it. The skin on his ring finger between his middle and ring fingers is missing from top to bottom. He also has scrapes and burns on the tops of his index and ring fingers. He cried for 45 minutes and refused to use his hand for over an hour so we went to the doctor, just as a precaution. Dr. Stone said that it is not broken and we should keep neosporin on it. However, if it is still swollen or if he still isn't using that hand well on Tuesday, we will need to come back in for x-rays. I am attaching pictures below but they aren't very good. He doesn't like showing his boo-boo's long enough to get a good picture.

On the road again...volume 3 (aka "Chloe's second surgery")

August 20-21, 2007---We left Monday night, Chloe's six month birthday, for her surgery in Little Rock. We got to the hotel at midnight and were at the hospital just a few minutes after seven Tuesday morning. Her surgery was supposed to start at 9:30 a.m., but they were running an hour late. Chloe was as happy as a baby could be after going without baby food or formula for almost fifteen hours. Honestly, she only fussed for maybe five minutes over the course of the entire morning. She is an awesome baby!!!!!!!! Once again, the procedure lasted less than ten minutes. The six steroid injections from the first procedure had shrunk the hemangioma enough that Chloe did not need more injections this time and only required a laser treatment. The site in black and swollen (same as before) but we should see some results in the next week or two. We'll go back in November for another round of treatments. It's amazing how much Chloe's condition has improved. Dr. Buckmiller is fantastic!!!

On the road again...volume 2

August 15-19---We left Wednesday around noon for a ten hour drive to Lumberton, North Carolina, which actually took twelve hours after stopping for rest breaks and dinner. By the time we arrived, checked into the hotel, unloaded the van, and got into bed it was almost 2 a.m. (losing that hour to EST was killer!!). Rick and I were exhausted but the kids had their second wind. It took only a short time to get them into bed. Rick had to be at work bright and early (our reason for going to NC). Luckily, the kids slept in---8:30 a.m.---I was excited!!!! You can imagine the cabin fever we had after being in the van all Wednesday and then stuck in a hotel room all Thursday because Rick had the van. Would you believe there is no indoor playground in that town?!? Even Pontotoc has two indoor play areas. When Rick got in from work we found a nice outdoor play area at Sonic. We had never seen a playground at Sonic before. Friday morning we packed up the van and headed to Greensboro, NC to spend the weekend with Rick's dad and stepmom---only a three hour drive to their house. Jackson would close his eyes, count to three, open his eyes, look at Anna Catherine and say "Here I come...found you!". Her reply was, "Jack, we're in the car! Count again!" They also played the "knock-knock game". To play this game, one of them says "knock-knock". The other says, "who's there?". That's all. Then they both laugh hysterically. This went on for quite a while---oh, the fun we have in the van!

Papa Gator and Nana Sara have a very nice home in northern Greensboro. They were worried about the kids falling down the stairs while Rick and I were worried about the kids breaking everything from the floor to 5 feet up! Our children have a problem with running in the house. It is very frustrating for Rick and me at our house so you can imagine how nerve-wracking it is when we're at someone else's house. Anna Catherine and Jackson were amazed by the fact that they could go up one set of stairs, run through the rooms on the second floor, and come down a second set of stairs. Then they would run through the rooms on the first floor and do it all over again. It made for an interesting game of hide-and-seek.

Friday evening we went to the Greensboro Children's Museum. The kids had a blast. The first thing Jackson saw was a Thomas the Train play table, which he played with nonstop for two hours! He eventually played with a second Thomas set and a few other toys. Anna Catherine had fun playing in each of the different play areas. The goal was to wear them out after being cooped up in the van, and we achieved it. Then we went back to Casa Crawford for a wonderful dinner consisting of shrimp and corn bisque and jambalaya. YUM, YUM!!!

Saturday morning we left as early as possible for the North Carolina Zoo. It is an awesome zoo, the best I've ever seen. The N.C. Zoo is the nation’s largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo. Its African and North American exhibit regions span more than 500 acres with more than five miles of walkways. The kids had a very good time and were completely exhausted after spending almost six hours walking trails and looking at animals. Once again...mission complete!!

Sunday morning we packed up once again and hit the road at 11 o'clock. It only took us 13 hours to get home (thank goodness for CST and getting that extra hour back!!). It was a long trip but it was worth it. We had a great time and are looking forward to going to the Emerald Pointe Water Park (listed as one of the top ten water parks on the Travel Channel and featured on Good Morning America) and the Natural Science Center on future trips to Greensboro. Thanks Papa Gator and Nana Sara for a wonderful weekend!!!!

On the road again...volume 1

August 9-12, 2007---We drove to Baton Rouge Thursday because Rick had marketing meetings on Thursday and Friday. We stayed in a hotel Thursday night. Friday, after Rick's meeting, we checked out of the hotel and went to the Mall of Louisiana. Rick, Anna Catherine, and Jackson got new sneakers and Chloe got new hair bows. After goofing off at the mall we drove to Zachary where we stayed with the south Louisiana branch of the Crawford family for the remainder of the weekend. As always, we had a great time at Don and Kathy's house which is always full of love, hospitality, and delicious food. I think Anna Catherine and Jackson traumatized their poor dog Gumbo. I know she was extremely happy when we left Sunday! We had fun visiting with the Howards and Prejeans too. Our kids had fun swimming and playing with Briley and Jack. We hope Wes, Presly, and Briley enjoy their beautiful new home. Rick was happy to help you move. Heather, Andre, and Jack...let us know if you ever need movers and we'll be there. The trip home took four and a half hours longer than expected because we had to detour through Greenville so Rick could do some work for a client. We were exhausted after being in the car/on the road for so long. That was just practice for our upcoming trip to Greensboro, NC this week. Stay tuned for the next installment of "On the road again...".