Hello!
We live. The last three weeks have been a WILD ride. Since I last wrote, we have celebrated three birthdays and dealt with Rachel's broken leg. My last email, on August 28th, seems like a lifetime ago. So nuts. Because there is so much to catch up on, I am just going to limit this email to the birthdays and the broken leg-those are the most important things to document! I will start with the sad, and move on to all the happy.
Two weeks ago, on Sunday, September 3rd, we went to Danny and Stacie's ward to be there for the blessing of sweet baby Miles. After sacrament meeting, we went back to their house and we were having the best time. We were eating delicious food, the kids were playing, and Richard and I were sitting at Danny and Stacie's kitchen table having delightful conversation with Danny, Stacie, Kevin and Audrey. In the distance, I could hear someone yelling "Mom!", but there were so many moms there and I was fully invested in whatever conversation was happening at the table. All of a sudden Bridget was right behind me yelling at me that Rachel was hurt and needed me. I went outside to see her on the grass, by the trampoline, and she was sobbing. A few minutes before this I had looked out the kitchen window to see Benson under the trampoline gently bouncing my girls, who were all sitting on the tramp, and maybe one or two other cousins. It looked so calm and controlled and perfectly wonderful. I even pointed out to Richard and made a comment about how kind that was of Benson, and what he was doing was just perfect for Gretchen, who hates when people are jumping on trampolines! At some point after I looked out, Rachel had joined Benson under the trampoline. No one was jumping, Rachel and Benson were just bouncing people up and down from underneath the tramp. We are guessing that Rachel's leg just absorbed someone's bounce wrong and boom...broken tibia! Anyway, I got out to Rachel and she was pretty hysterical. She said she felt like her leg went backwards and I thought maybe she just hyperextended her knee just a bit, which I thought could be scary and hurt. Richard got to her just a few seconds after I did and scooped her up and moved her inside to the couch. A broken bone was not even on my radar! She was pretty pale though, and kept telling us she just wanted to go to sleep, which is how she always prefers to deal with pain! Thankfully, Richard was there and after just asking her a couple of questions, he told me her leg was broken! I was shocked, and also still living in denial, but I did agree we should take her in for an x-ray. Thankfully, Danny and Stacie live so close to the Layton Hospital and they have an urgent care. We left our other kids and we both took Rachel in. Richard carried her everywhere and we did not have a long wait at all. Before long she was in getting an x-ray, I was reading her dance September newsletter putting dates on our calendar, and then next thing I knew the doctor came back with the x-ray in hand saying that her tibia was fractured. Ah! It was then my turn to go into shock. I will forever be grateful for the ice pack Stacie sent with us to put on Rachel's knee because I was putting that on my head to try and not pass out! Two weeks later, and I still get queasy thinking about her broken leg. It is nuts. Anyway, back to Rachel. :) She took so much of this day in stride. Despite all her tears at Danny's house, she completely calmed down once we were in an exam room. She was calm with the doctor during her exam and was so calm during the x-ray. I was still living in denial of a broken bone! Within minutes of them telling us it was broken, we had three nurses in our room splinting and wrapping her leg and going over all sorts of things. Once again, I was beyond glad Richard was there because I was just trying to stay upright! Rachel felt almost immediate relief once her leg was splinted and wrapped. They had us stay in the room for about 15 minutes so whatever cast material they put on her could harden. Once that was done, a nurse brought in crutches and gave Rachel a tutorial and got Rachel up and moving. The three of us made it home about 5:00 pm. What an afternoon! Rachel was a great sport that night though. She used the bathroom, with our help, and was willing to go up and down the three stairs from our family room to our kitchen. She ate dinner at the table with us and her spirits were quite high. She had a bit of a rough night sleeping and we were up with her off and on until 4:00 am when I just got in bed with her. She and I were finally able to sleep until just before 7:00 am. Rough!
Monday, also Richard's birthday, was much of the same for Rachel. She was happy, pleasant, and willing to crutch around anywhere on the main floor. She had lots of visitors that day, including her wonderful friend, Sara, who broke her leg 18 months ago! Sara spent three hours at our house playing games with Rachel and talking and laughing. It was so great! I slept in Rachel's bed again that night, and she and I both slept so much better than the night before!
Tuesday the 5th was a HARD day for Rachel. For whatever reason, she hit a mental block with stairs, and refused to go up or down them with her crutches. And if you know the main floor of our house, you know that one must go up and down stairs! I think it was really hard for her to see everyone's lives return back to "normal" after a three-day weekend, and she was on the couch. So many tears from her, which also brought many tears from me. By Wednesday evening, Richard and I decided to get a wheelchair for Rachel. She was hating the crutches, and we saw a wheelchair as a way to just get her from Point A to Point B. Thankfully, her wonderful friend, Sara, came to our rescue again! Sara has a cousin who lives in Bountiful who has spina bifida. When Sara broke her leg, she used one of his wheelchairs he had outgrown, so I reached out to Sara's mom Thursday morning and by Thursday night we had a wheelchair for Rachel! She went back to school for the first time on Friday, the 8th, and had the BEST day! It did her spirits a world of good to get out of the house, be with her friends, and also be the center of attention. :) Rachel has been back at school every day since and it is going so well. Gretchen still walks to school with neighborhood friends, but Rachel and I load up in the van about 8:35. Her class lines up in back, and they have to go up stairs, so Rachel and I just go in the front doors of the school and get her situated before the bell rings. Now that we have been doing this for a week, she and I have a good system down. She holds her crutches while in the wheelchair and I get her through the parking lot, but once we are up on the sidewalk, I take her crutches and hold open the doors and she just wheels herself all the way to class. At school, she sits at her desk, with a stool to keep her leg up, but for recess and lunch she is in the wheelchair. Rachel's friends and classmates have been so kind to her. When I come into her classroom at the end of the school day, I see friends packing up her backpack and gathering her lunch box and crutches. When I got to her classroom on Friday, everyone was gone, and I noticed everyone's backpacks were gone too. I looked out the classroom window and saw her class outside gathering trash. Rachel had an entire entourage of friends walking by her and a friend pushing her in her wheelchair, and cute Lucas, her crush, was carrying her backpack. :)
This last Monday was another setback for Rachel though. We had our first appointment with Primary Children's fracture clinic. She had an x-ray and got a hard cast on. While we were in the clinic she was so chipper and happy. She did great for the x-ray and was her usual spunky self with all the medical people who came into our exam room. Scott Ford, who we have known for the last five years because of Marshall's soccer team, is the one who is overseeing her care and that was great to have a familiar face in there. As they were putting on her new cast they were joking with Rachel and she was taking it all in stride. I was intentionally facing away from her leg trying not to get dizzy! Gosh. Anyway, the x-ray showed that the fracture extends up into her growth plate, which just means a longer recovery. So, she has five weeks in her hard cast, but that last week she can start putting weight on her foot and using it. (I have no idea how she will do this though because her leg is bent in the cast!). We go back after five weeks for another x-ray and to have the cast removed. Scott did tell us though to plan on no dance for three weeks after the cast comes off. Ugh. So, despite the happy mood in that room with all those people in there, once everyone had left, and she had to sit up with this massive cast on her leg and get back into her wheelchair, the tears started all over again. Her hard cast is nice in that it just goes to her ankle (her first cast went to her toes), but it is all the way to her upper thigh, her first one just went to her mid-thigh. So it just threw another learning curve at her and it is so heavy! The poor girl cried all the way home, and then most of the afternoon. She cried every time I took her to the bathroom that day. It was so hard! I did force her to go to the last 30 minutes of her dance class that night though. She had missed an entire week of dance and the second those girls saw her she was enveloped in hugs and screams and she definitely felt the love.
Rachel finally had a mental breakthrough on Friday and it has made a world of difference for her. She has finally realized that she can scoot anywhere in the house that she wants. She got herself up to the loft on Friday after school and spent all afternoon up there playing and scooting around. She had not been up there in 13 days! She has still been wanting our help using the bathroom, but on Friday afternoon a couple of things clicked for her, she problem solved them, and boom! She can do it! She also went to a friend's house for the first time on Friday night and navigated all of that really well. On Saturday she had a five-hour choreography rehearsal. She was excited to go, until we started getting her ready and then she lost it. I knew that if I could just get her there she would be okay. Sure enough, Sara hopped in the car and her mood improved and then once again she was swarmed at dance with love and attention. She was a good sport about sitting through all of rehearsal, but she worked hard to learn all the upper body stuff and the counts and she made it through five hours at the dance studio not being able to dance! That is to be commended. Today marks our two-week mark of recovery, and knock on wood, but I do feel like the worst is behind us. Only four more weeks with the cast on! She can do it. We can do it.
And now a few thoughts and random notes about all of this. Some positives: this has drastically cut down on my laundry because Rachel is not changing clothes multiple times a day! Also, her closet was a disaster when this happened, I cleaned it up, and because she is not going in there (because it has a step!) it is staying clean! And the not-so positives...if you have talked to me in the last two weeks, you know that this has been SO hard. Hard on Rachel especially, obviously, and also so hard on Richard and me. I have never broken a bone, Richard has only broken a thumb as a child, and none of our kids have broken a bone! This is brand new territory for us, and it has been extremely life altering! Thankfully, she is getting more independence back, but we have happily been living in a phase of life with pretty independent children, so to be thrust back into that, in such an intense way, has been a challenge. But, this has also given us a huge dose of empathy for anyone who has broken a bone, which obviously I never fully realized until now-depending on the break it can be hugely life altering! Also, I have resolved to try to just be more aware of what is going on around me in public settings, like parking lots! At the school, there are only three locations where the cement does not have a curb. Two are at the far ends of the school and there is just one at the front. That is the one I use to get Rachel in and out of the school. It is clearly painted and marked to not park there, but every day this last week there has been a car parked there in the morning or the afternoon and Rachel and I just have to wait for them to move. I admit that I have been guilty of pulling up there real quick to have my kids hop in, but I have resolved to never do it again! This whole thing has been a learning experience for sure, and we have many weeks to keep learning!
Now! Onto happier things...birthdays! We had a weekend of celebrations book-ending the broken leg experience at the beginning of September. Gretchen's birthday was Friday, September 1st. Marshall had a cross country race in Orem that morning, so he was out of the house by 5:30 am, and we missed him for Gretchen's birthday morning. Gretchen, unfortunately, was up before 6:15 am, the birthday excitement got the best of her! At 7:00 am she opened presents as the rest of us gathered around her. She was pretty happy, but also had moments of reverting to her past life of gifts and crankiness! After gifts, the rest of us enjoyed her birthday breakfast of donuts as she threw a bit of a tantrum. :) We all took it in stride though and within a handful of minutes she found her way back to happiness. :) I am actually really glad she got to go to school on her birthday. Our Friday was busy, so I am so glad she got to be at school with friends and be celebrated in class. She and I had worked all week on her birthday poster and she was so excited to show it off and take Skittles for her class treat. She was on Cloud 9 when I picked her and Rachel up from school that afternoon. Marshall had a soccer game that afternoon at 4:00, but after the game we all met up at Hug-Hes (one of Gretchen's current favorite restaurants because of their bread and cheese curds) for a family dinner. That was the only time we were all together that day and we soaked it up! This seems like so long ago, but I am guessing we came home from dinner and watched some funny videos and then everyone fell into bed.
The next day was a smashing success and I am still so proud of Richard and I for pulling it off and having it all be so successful! We hosted a birthday party for Gretchen from 11:00-1:00 and a party for Marshall from 3:00-6:00! The only advanced preparation I had done was Gretchen and I had ordered her birthday cake from Dicks. :) We woke up Saturday morning and scheduled a pizza delivery for Gretchen's party, ordered a platter of chicken strips from Chick-Fil-A for Marshall's party, planned three party games for Gretchen's party, and Richard ran to the store that morning and bought snacks, fruits, veggies, stuff for root beer floats and party plates. Gretchen had a ball with her party. She had so much fun with her friends. They played, we played our organized games, they ate lunch, played a bit more, opened presents, had cake, and then played outside. Boom-done! We had two hours to clean up and get things turned over for the next party. Richard and I both even snagged a power nap! Amazing! Also, my parents came in between parties and picked up Rachel for her birthday outing and Bridget also got to tag along. They went to Farmington Station to shop at Barnes and Noble and do other window shopping and then went back to my parents' house to play games. At 3:00 Marshall's friends started to arrive. We invited all the freshman boys on the cross country team as well as two other good friends of his. Those two friends were both out of town for the Labor Day weekend, so it was just cross country boys and it was so fun listening to them play. They played foosball, air hockey, video games, played outside and also just talked! They devoured the platter of Chick-Fil-A strips. They are the kindest and best boys and I hope that these friendships can continue to flourish over four years of cross country. Marshall's party ended just as my parents brought back the girls and Bob also arrived. Just after 6:00, Bob, Richard, and Marshall were on their way to Provo for the first home game of the football season. Bridget worked at the farm that evening, and then I am pretty sure she hung out with Cambria afterward. It was just me and the younger girls at home. I did party clean up, ran to the store one more time, and then we watched Father of the Bride Part 2. It was a great end to a busy, but very successful day!
Monday the 4th was Richard's birthday. 43! Becky had flown in from Scotland very late the night before, so she and Bob spent the night at our house. Most of us got to sleep in that morning and once everyone was awake we had a big birthday breakfast of waffles and bacon in celebration of Richard. After breakfast, we opened presents and then played a new game Richard got for his birthday. It almost felt like Christmas morning. A big breakfast, new gifts, and playing games in pajamas. It was truly a great morning and just what we needed post-broken leg. Rachel was a champion that morning. She moved all over the main floor on her crutches and played games with us and was so delightful. Bob and Becky left just before noon, and we are so glad we were able to spend Richard's birthday morning with them. Our afternoon was chill and relaxing. That evening Richard and I picked up take-out from R&R Barbecue. It was not his first choice for a birthday dinner, but given the circumstances, it fit the bill.
The next day was Marshall's 15th birthday. Cue the tears. I was a wreck that day, between Rachel's broken leg and Marshall turning 15 I was undone. It was a strange birthday for him because he was hardly home! It was bizarre! We were all awake to watch him open presents at 7:00 am. He requested cinnamon rolls for breakfast, but he had eaten those at 6:30 am. Shortly after he opened presents, he quicky got dressed and was off to school. I had a last minute idea to send out a group text to all the moms of freshman cross country kids letting them know it was Marshall's birthday and to tell their kids. I figured if he was hardly going to be home, I wanted at least some people around him to know it was his birthday! After school, he went straight to cross country, where I think word adequately got out it was his birthday and according to one of the coaches, he was sufficiently embarrassed. :) Perfect! I picked him up from cross country at 5:00, and instead of going straight to soccer practice, he opted to skip that and do homework instead. Busy kid! That evening at 7:00 was the formal cross country banquet. I was at the school helping to set up for it, but Richard dropped Marshall off and I was able to see him for a minute before he told me good-bye. :) Typical teenager! The banquet went until a little after 9:30, but he came home so happy, and dare I say, inspired! Richard and I were beat at the end of the night, but Marshall had so much homework. I felt bed going to bed before him on his birthday, but he assured us he would be fine and we didn't need to stay up with him. Bless that boy! He was up until 12:30 am doing homework! Thankfully, it was late-start the next day, but still. He has handled school, soccer, and cross country SO well, but I think we will all be glad for a breather once these fall sports have wrapped up.
So that is how the birthdays were all celebrated, but now I have to write a bit about each person.
Gretchen, seven, I can hardly believe it. She seems so little and so grown up all at the same time. She has lost her bottom two teeth earlier this year. Her top front teeth are lose, and though it gives me one more thing to be sad about, I am excited to see that toothless grin on her. She has shot up in height the last few months and has the longest and skinniest legs. It is amazing! She loves school, but is still adjusting to full-day school. She frequently tells me how much she misses kindergarten. :) Don't we all! At times she is timid and so shy, and other times she is stubborn and opinionated and very head-strong. She has become good friends with two little girls in our cul-de-sac. She is not at all afraid to go and knock on their door, but if they can't play because they still have to finish their chores, it just about kills Gretchen to wait for them. Even if she has been turned away by them and told by us to wait and not go down, she will put her shoes on and march out the door. The Howells eventually tire of telling her "No, not yet." and they just let her come in and sit! That girl just does what she wants, when she wants! One day last week we could not find her anywhere in the house or yard before dinner. Richard, Marshall, and Bridget were all looking for her. She was nowhere to be found, then it dawned on me to text the Howells. Sure enough, she was down there! We had a nice little chat about telling us where she is going before she walks out of the house! Gretchen is still obsessed with Ziggy, she loves him so. She is currently in a rough sleeping patch, Richard and I think it has to do with Rachel's broken leg. She is our only child to go to Richard in the middle of the night instead of me. She is still dancing and learning the piano. Her favorite activity at home is still to run back and forth to music. :) Love her.
Marshall, fifteen, holy smokes, my heart. On Wednesday morning we take him to get his driver's permit. What?! I remember getting my permit, how am I old enough to have a child doing the same thing. Geez. Marshall has grown in all ways this last year. He is pushing 5'6", and it still shocks Richard and I sometimes to have him pretty much on eye level with us. He is super proud of his peach fuzz mustache and refuses to shave it. He has stepped into many new things for him this last year and I am beyond proud of him. Track, cross country, FSY, young men's camp without Richard, new-ish soccer team, AP classes, cross country camp. New situations do not come easy to him, but he has tackled each one. He can still vacillate between being the sweetest and the meanest, and gosh he knows how to push boundaries and buttons, but we see glints of maturity and self-improvement and I am so grateful for it! He has finally become a true teenager and decided that sleep is his friend. He can finally sleep in with the best of them and took several naps during our summer days. It has been fun to listen to him and Bridget talk about junior high. He has so many questions for her about her experience, but then I think is embarrassed to see her at school. Cracks me up, and Bridget too! The boy has a lot of quirks, but we love him deeply!
Richard. Richard is loyal, loving, supportive, helpful and so quick to see a need in the family and step in to help. He manages to balance a demanding job and a demanding family! He cares about the things his children care about and he is a cheerleader for them in all that they do. He is genuinely my favorite person to be with and I am so grateful for his abiding love and presence in my life.
And lastly, I have to mention Bridget in here. It was the State Fair goat show several days ago. My parents, Gretchen and I went to cheer her on for showmanship. She didn't place high enough to win a prize, but she still did a great job and answered every question correctly! The next day none of us were able to be there with her, but she and Cambria had a great time together showing their assigned goats. The two baby goats that Bridget showed this year took first and second in their class and the first place goat (San Tanko, I believe) won Grand Champion! She was over the moon to come with a big ribbon! We were all so happy for her!
Okay, that is it. The Leakes live! We have seen better days, but our days are already better than they were two weeks ago!
We love each one of you!
Richard, Jenny, Marshall, Bridget, Rachel, and Gretchen :)
