How to be popular

All you have to do (at least, if you're in second grade) is break your arm, get a cast, and let everyone sign it. For two days in a row now, we've had neighborhood girls knocking on our door wanting to tell Jackson how sorry they are that he broke his arm, and, of course, wanting to sign his cast.

Jackson broke his right arm when he fell down at recess a couple of days ago. He was soooo brave and tough about the whole thing. I probably wouldn't have taken him right in to see the doctor if I hadn't noticed his forearm sagging a bit strangely, because he didn't complain AT ALL. When the doctor examined his arm before taking x-rays, he asked Jackson to show him where it hurt, and Jackson pointed to where the doctor was holding his arm; the break was no where near there. Befor visiting the doctor, he calmly waited a couple of hours at home, ate lunch, did his homewrk with his left hand, and (see picture) enjoyed his time waiting at the doctor's office because he got to read.

Here he is waiting to get the x-ray. When I got out the camera, he said, "Do I have to smile?" Heh-heh. He was a good sport. He didn't even complain when the x-ray tech made him move his arm around to different angles for the shot. Did this NOT hurt or something??

Apparently, the break was a bit too much for our family practice doctor to handle, so he sent us next door to the orthopedic clinic to see a member of our former bishopric, Dr. Sumko.

On the left is the first set of x-rays. Even I can see THIS broken bone! On the right is the second set of x-rays, taken after the cast was put on. The doctor put the cast on, then molded the cast and set the bone at the same time. Ouch! He asked Jackson if he wanted a shot first so it wouldn't hurt so much, but Jackson declined. And he didn't even flinch when the doctor set the bone!!!! He must be super-human. Perhaps you can see in the second set of films that the bone didn't get set quite all the way. So we had to take off the first cast and try again.
This time when I got out the camera, Jackson decided he WANTED to smile for me. The thing is, while Jackson is smiling for the camera, the doctor is TOTURING Jackson by pressing on his break to set it (for the second time). Jackson hardly seems to notice pain, I guess. Here's the strange part. You know those little saws they use to cut off the cast? When the doctor used that on the first cast, Jackson fell apart and all but screamed in agony. But as far as I can tell, the saw never even touched his skin.

So here is cute Jackson with his new pal whose name is Slim. Slim matches the cast and likes to eat candy from doctors' offices.

And Jordan just keeps saying, "I wish I had a cast!"

Blessing Day

This Sunday we blessed Eli. We had a lot of family in town. =) Here is Eli with Grandpa Jon. Grandma Laree is watching with love from above.

Eli with Grandma and Grandpa Neslen

Tanner LOVES his Grandpas and manages to be held by them whenever they are around. Of course, he loves sunglasses too!

We managed to finally get a picture of our family together. That's kinda rough. In this picture, Tanner is holding a chunk of Jackson's hair, and Jackson about to start screaming. Jordan is laughing about something, and Mom is wishing we had done this BEFORE afternoon church.

Tanner always asks to, "hoad Ee-eye!"

Beautiful new blanket, compliments of Rynell. Thank you, Rynell!! You have a mean crochet stitch! (that means it's beautiful, btw)

Peach Days

I couldn't resist posting some of these pictures!

I'm getting behind! First day of School

The twins have made it to SECOND grade! Wahoo! That means a new school, and they ride the bus with the big kids. They are still in separate classes, but they ride the bus together, eat lunch together, and play outside together. Being a twin definitely has its advantages.

Sydney is in KINDERGARTEN!! My girl is all grown up! She's been ready to go to school for like three years now! She's been standing out at the bus stop since the boys started school, so sometimes I forget that she's never been able to actually RIDE the bus. She is overjoyed to be going to school! Sometimes she is sad that she still doesn't have much homework.

Tanner insisted on coming out to the bus stop too, and he usually wears his backpack when he comes. Somehow, I didn't realize on the first day that he thought HE was going to school too! He was already on the bus before I realized what was happening! I was still recovering from a c-section, so I had a hard time catching up with him and getting him off the bus. He talks about the big kids and the bus all day long now, and plays with his toy bus a lot. Only three more years to go. . .

Labor Day Get-Away

So, I'm a little behind posting. I don't think I should even use the excuse that I just had a baby. That's just how I work. A little behind. Anyway, with a brand new baby over the Labor Day weekend, I opted out of our family tradition of CAMPING. Undaunted, Cannon carried on without me and took four kids up to the Uintahs for some good ol' outdoor fun. They planned to camp from Friday to Monday, but since it rained and SNOWED, they decided it might actually be more fun at home for the last day and a half. I was happy to have them back.

Here is the happy clan packed into the van. Look how clean everyone (and everything!) is.

One of the MUSTS of any outdoor fun. Water. The muddier, the better.

At least we remembered the backpack for this hike. At 35 pounds, Tanner gave Cannon quite a workout!

What can I say?! CUTE!!!

And now they return. Tired and dirty. Notice the tent which is just thrown in there. Wet. We had 45 minutes to unload and bathe and feed the gang before church. Try that trick sometime.

Eli and I enjoyed the quiet weekend. But we were glad for the company when everyone came home. Next year, we'll be there.

What did your family do for the holiday?

Tag, you're it!

MEMORY GAME

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

And if you're just a "lurker" that I don't know very well, please use this as an excuse to comment and say hello!

Eli Clark Neslen

Here's our new little angel.

Eli Clark Neslen

August 11, 2008

7:32 am

8 pounds, 7 ounces

20 1/2 inches

So, we had a baby! Monday morning surgery, just like we scheduled! We actually thought we might be going early after I had contractions all evening and night on Saturday night. Also Sunday morning. I skipped church, hoping to keep this baby inside for another day, and it seemed to work. Contractions slowed way down Sunday afternoon. That night I woke up at about 2 am with HARD contractions 2-3 minutes apart, and decided it was time to go to the hospital. We got up and showered and packed and were checked into labor and delivery by 3:30 in the morning. Only two hours earlier than we were supposed to be there anyway. Contractions slowed down once we got all hooked up to monitors though. Doesn't that always happen? I swear they were real! It hurt so bad I threw up! Anyway, surgery by 7:00, baby by 7:32. Yay!

I have a tradition of writing a letter to my new baby soon after they are born. Here's an excerpt from my letter to Eli:

The surgery went very well. I was awake and alert for the whole c-section, and Cannon was there for the whole thing. Dr. Starr had estimated your weight to be 9 1/2 pounds, but had difficulty estimating because of the amount of extra amniotic fluid I was carrying. He was wrong by over a pound! during the surgery, Dr. Hess (the anaesthesiologist) said, "Wow, I haven't seen that many waters in -- years!" We made quite a mess in the OR. As soon as you were
out I heard you crying. Then they brought you to rest on my chest where I could hold before you even had a bath. You were the first of all my babies that I was able to hold immediately after delivery! I loved it!!

You are my fifth baby, and many things about my pregnancy and delivery were "old hat" to me. I knew what to expect almost every step of the way with you. But I was not considering nor expecting the feelings I had when I first heard your cries. My heart jumped when I heard you and I was so amazed and awed that I had just given birth to another human being! When they laid you on my chest I thought my heart would burst with joy and gratitude! In an instant all of the pain and difficulties of the last nine months had vanished, and I knew that one of the most incredible, amazing, miraculous, and life-changing moments had just
occurred to me.

I spent the next three days in the hospital recuperating. Oh, I hurt. But really, that time was spent just revelling in the newness and excitement that you brought. We had many visitors and a lot of help from the nurses, but it felt like it was just you, me, and your daddy just being together. It was heavenly.

Cannon still dressed in his scrubs. Eli still testing out his lungs!

My sister, Andrea stayed with the other kids while we were in the hospital. She brought the gang over for a peek at their new brother. Tanner refused the hospital gown, but I think they were adorable.

Me. With a NEW, adorable baby!

My NEW, adorable baby!

This is us leaving the hospital after three days and three (and a half) nights.