How a Human Hair Became Dangerous

A few weeks ago, I was nursing Logann and I noticed her thumb looked very puffy, and red, and weird.  I compared it to her other thumb and quickly became quite concerned.  

I happen to be texting my friend, whose husband is a doctor, at the time.  I sent her a picture of her thumb.  Her husband wasn't available to look right away but she agreed it seemed the circulation was being cut off.  

Then I noticed a hair was wrapped very tightly around her thumb.  I tried unraveling it but it didn't make a difference in the appearance of her thumb.  I started to panic.  I remember hearing about a little boy whose toe got wrapped up in a thread from his footie pjs and had to have his toe amputated.  All I could think of was that story.  

It was so tightly wrapped around her thumb I couldn't seem to get underneath it to get it completely off.  I called Septtro crying and he said to just take her to the doctor.  Before I started to get ready I ran water over it to try to loosen it.  Somehow, by God's goodness, that loosened it and I was able to unravel it.  It was obvious that was the problem because almost immediately, the swelling began to go down and normal color returned.  

My friend's husband told me how to test to make sure circulation was back to normal - pinching the top of the finger...if it turned white then quickly returned red then all was well.  Hers did that so it seemed she was fine.  I did take her by my mom's school to let the nurse take a look too - just for peace of mind.  

A week later, you could still see the line on her thumb where the hair had cut into her skin.  

Of course, I felt terrible!  But who would have thought a hair, of all things, could be so dangerous?!  I don't think I could have wrapped a hair around her finger like that if I tried - one of those freak things that happen sometimes.  I have no idea how long it was like that but I'm SO thankful the Lord allowed me to notice it when I did.  

Now I'm constantly unwrapping these sweet little fingers to make sure they are free of tangled hair.  :)

Twins!! - Just Four Years Apart

I'm not the only one that sees this right?  I just can't believe how MUCH Logann resembles Rilynn as a baby!!!

Can you guess which one is Ri and which one is Lo?  :)

Four Years and All Grown Up

Yesterday my oldest baby turned four.  FOUR!  We went to Chick fil a with her cousins for lunch and to Costco for dinner - she insisted she wanted hotdogs - and then Chuck E Cheese for dinner.  

Baby Ri and big girl Ri

I usually don't have much time to sit and reflect during birthdays.  But I did yesterday.  And as I remembered where the Lord has brought me from four plus years to today, my eyes began to well up with tears.  He has been so good to me, to us - who would have thought after being diagnosed with PCOS and hearing the word "infertility" and then suffering the loss of our first baby, that we would now have a happy, healthy, and thriving four year old....with TWO sisters.  :)

Yesterday, Rilynn said two things that just seemed so stinkin grown up.  She's becoming such a little girl...and I love it!

While doing her hair in the morning, she said to me "Mom, I want a braid in my hair.  Daddy likes it like that".  Oh, how I hope and pray that her Daddy always has her heart that way.  :)

Later, while at dinner, she sorta broke her poor Daddy's heart without knowing it.  She told him, as he picked up her younger sister, "Daddy I'm a big girl now.  I don't need your help".  

And then, she cut up her hotdog all by herself.  

She is growing up!  But I reminded Septtro that she would always need her Daddy...and she will.  

Happy Birthday to our sweet Ri Ri!!!!

Five Ways to Help a Mother of Little Ones

Since having three small children fairly close in age (three under the age of four), I've come to realize there are many things people have done for me, most of which seem simple, but that are a huge blessing.  I thought I'd write down a few; you know, in case you wanted to do some for me help someone else.

1.  Offer to take one or more children for a while during the day.  And if you can only take one child, take the more "challenging" one.

2.  Bring dinner one night.  Or a quick breakfast item.  Or mom's favorite snack food (dark chocolate perhaps? or a nice iced mocha?)

3.  If mom has a baby, come over and hold the baby - even for 15 minutes. You'd be amazed at what mom can do in 15 minutes of uninterrupted time.

4.  Text, email, or call mom.  Ask how she is.  Encourage her heart.  Speak truth to her.  Tell her she's a great mom and she's not ruining her children.  Words of affirmation go a long way.

5. Fold some laundry, do a few dishes, wipe down a counter - or even just the kitchen table or a kid's high chair.  Clean or straighten anything you possibly can.  I can't speak for all moms, but this will NOT be offensive.

I might add, asking a mom (of any age kids I would imagine) to "let you know" if they need help won't normally produce a phone call.  If you desire to help, it's much more productive to tell a mom what you plan to do and give them a choice of a couple days to choose from.  For example "I'm coming to take your girls for a couple of hours.  Would Monday or Wednesday be better?" makes it easier for mom to say yes than "Let me know if there's ever a day you want help with the girls".  When you want to help, don't ask - insist.  Sometimes mommas can be prideful and stubborn and tell themselves they're fine and they don't need help.  But we do.  We need each other!

I wish our society wasn't so individualistic.  And busy.  After having had three babies, I wish moms were able to recover and rest longer.  I really think it'd help our sanity.  :)

Also, I really do love being a mom.