Hey, I'm just being honest....

A little over a week ago we took Luke to get his hard cast put on. Before they put the cast on, the doctor wanted to get x-rays to make sure the pins were holding. So the doctor began taking Luke's splint and soft cast off. As he was unwrapping Luke's arm he said, "Luke you can't straighten your arm when I take this splint off. You need to hold VERY still." Luke looked him right in the face and said, "I'm not very good at that."

Goodbye Summer....

Summer is officially over. We are excited about what fall will bring, but here are a few pictures of how we said "goodbye" to summer!

We spent a day at the Puyallup Fair. The boys loved climbing all over these tractors. Peter could have stayed all day just at this booth.

Natalie loved the ice cream

Picking tomatoes in the garden. Peter is showing Natalie how to do it "right."

Natalie was fascinated by a bubble-gun that Luke was playing with.

Luke got his hard cast, and his whole kindergarten class signed it.

Goodbye sweet summer...we'll see you next year!

Luke's Big Adventure...

Anyone who has spent 30 seconds with our family would agree that SOMEONE was going to break something. It was just a matter of time before one of the boys ended up in a cast. They are wild and crazy boys!

So, here's the story of the FIRST (let's be honest, likely not the last, but hopefully the most dramatic) broken bone in the Stewart family.

Last Friday I headed off to Portland to help throw a baby shower for Amy and baby Jackson. About 3 hours after I arrived, Aaron called to tell me to get in the car and head for home. Just before heading to bed, Luke was giving Peter a piggy-back ride. Aaron was putting laundry in the dryer and heard Luke start to cry. Apparently, Luke's hands were behind his back and when the boys lost balance and fell, Luke suffered a compound fracture above his left elbow.

Because Aaron was all alone and because of the severity of the break, 9-1-1 was called and Luke and Aaron headed for the Children's Hospital transported in the Rescue. Our wonderful friend Ruth arrived to take care of the little ones within moments of being called. Aaron called me from the Rescue and I began the longest drive of my life so far. Knowing your child is being taken to surgery without you there is horrifying. But, Aaron was AMAZING. He handled everything calmly and was Super-Dad that night. Luke was taken into surgery within two hours of arriving to have 3 -4 temporary pins placed and his arm repaired. I arrived just as they wheeling him out of recovery and to his room. We spent the next two days in the hospital, and were happy to head home late Sunday afternoon. Luke came home in a soft cast, and will get a hard cast in a week or so.

Wow, what a weekend! Certainly not what we expected, but we were blessed by the many prayers and help of family and friends! Ruth took care of Peter and Natalie Friday night, Saza had them all day Saturday (her birthday), and then Bubby arrived Saturday evening, and we've held her captive ever since.

While our weekend was very traumatic for our family, we were once again amazed by doctors, surgeon, and nurses at the children's hospital that provided beyond excellent care for Luke and our family. Luke recovered on a floor that cares for post-surgical patients, children's oncology, injury, etc. And while we were very concerned for Luke, we also are very thankful that we were able to take him home after 2 days, knowing that his bones will heal and he will once again be back to his healthy, wild and crazy self! And we can't wait!

Are you curious to see the break????? Aaron, knows me too well and snapped a few pictures of Luke's arm pre-surgery with his iphone. They are pretty gross and not for those of you who might get queasy... But, for those of you who have asked, and want to see, click **HERE** and you will be redirected to a site that has two pictures. Consider yourself WARNED.

Putting on a happy face...

And, the not so happy face...

Finally at home. A boy, two bears, and three casts. Both of Luke's bears ended up with casts on their left arms.

We've been home a few days now, and things are getting back to normal...well, as normal as can be. Bubby is here (thank goodness) and snapped these fun pictures.

Check out the awesome night-vision goggles that Uncle Ross and Aunt She-she brought to Luke.

Indiana Peter...or at least that's what we've been calling him.

Hello...it's for you...it's daddy!

First Day of School...

Our boys are thrilled to be back to school! Luke started half day Kindergarten and Peter is in 3 year old preschool. We are glad to have them at the school at our church again this year.

I can't believe Luke is in Kindergarten! Where has the last 5 years gone? Although this is the moment he has been waiting for since he was about 2 years old. He has been asking and begging to go to Kindergarten for a long long long time. In fact, his major disappointment in the first day of school was that the teacher didn't give him any homework.

Likewise, I am amazed that Peter is 3 years old. He loves preschool and is a very social little boy. Peter informed me that "clean up time" is his very favorite part of school so far. This is a SHOCKER, since clean up at home is treated like some sort of horrible torture.

Here are some pictures from their first days at school:

Ready to head to 3 year olds...

I love his scrunchy little face....

Ready for Kindergarten....

Showing off his Seahawks backpack...which of course brings a tear to Aaron's eye.