Busted.

I seriously thought we were headed back to the ER for the third time in two weeks last night. David was on his way home, but not home yet, it was past bed time, and the kids were definitely tired and crashing. Because it is never good enough for Bennett to just use a toy in the manner in which it was intended, because he always has to take it up a notch, he was standing on top of his indoor bike. I had corrected him once, and warned him if he did it again I would take it away. So then I was tending to Lila for a sec (in the same room, he was just now behind me) and I hear a HUGE CRASH. H-U-G-E. I turn around and see him face planted on the floors (the pine floors ya'll have been hearing about for weeks) and when I pick him up I notice in horror the teeth marks dented into the floor!!! I was SOOO SCARED TO LOOK, because the blood was already dripping. Alot.
I took a deep breath, looked, and thankfully all teeth were in tact. Lip was swelling and bleeding so it was hard to tell what that situation was. Got a cold rag and got David on the phone and luckily he was pulling into the driveway AND he had Popsicles in the car (he had just stopped at the store on his way home). So, the Popsicle went over much better than and ice pack and we were able to calm him down and eventually decided that we thought he could do with out stitches. He basically bit his lip very badly, but it was not all the way through and it was not gaping. And, seriously, we figured we would be reported to child services if we showed up in the ER again with another child with an injury. UGH. He was willing and able to chew a vanilla wafer just a few minutes later so we decided his teeth must be ok or he wouldn't have been able to do that. I will probably take him to the dentist this week at some point just to make sure.
So, a little more drama in the Parnell house. Definitely ready to be drama free and back to boring life again soon!



I tried to get a picture this afternoon, but you really can't tell. The swelling is much better already. Thank goodness for the popsicle!!

Box unpacking and house setting up goes pretty slowly (I am learning) when you have three kids at home with you. I basically didn't get one box unpacked this whole week. Kimberly invited Elise to spend the night last night because Will was out of town and she wanted to have a girls slumber party. Since she was gone, my parents kept Lila and Bennett for a few hours this morning so that David and I could get some stuff done. Then, this afternoon, David took them outside to play in the sprinkler so that I could continue the unpacking. Amazing how much you can get done uninterrupted!!!!!!!
(**side note- I don't recommend highly the 3 year old sleep over. We paid dearly today and Elise was completely exhausted, refused to nap, and so was pretty much a total basket case all day. Needless to say she was in bed early tonight.)



Here's Lila having some fun in the backyard....



Elise is doing much better! As you can see, no more bandages!!!! We saw the plastic surgeon yesterday and he thought everything looked good. Now we just use a TON of sunscreen and wait. We go back in 4 weeks for a follow up. Elise is a little nervous without her band-aids, but she is adjusting. I think part of it was that we had our little routine 3 times a day where we took care of her "bo-bo", and I think she misses that...

After many tears, much thought, deliberation, discussion, and prayer, we have found a resolution and home for Baxter. Although in an ideal situation we would be sending him to live with an older couple where he would be number 1, we have not been able to locate such a situation for him. We have, however, been in contact with the St. Francis Animal Sanctuary in south Mississippi. Although our situation is not the norm in which they receive animals, they have agreed to take Baxter and let him live in an indoor group setting with other older dogs and a companion. We, in turn, have offered to cover most of his expenses and to assist in some fund-raising efforts for their cause, which we will do happily. David has had numerous, numerous conversations with the directors of the facility and we feel confident that we are sending him to a place where he will be loved. Obviously it is with much sadness that we give our dog away, but we want him to have a chance to be happy and to spend the remaining years of his life feeling loved and having company. Neither David, nor I, could come to peace with the decision to euthanize him at this time as we feel that he still has much love to give. The director has assured us that if Bax is not thriving in his new environment and adjusting well to his new living arrangements she would let us know and at that time we can revisit any alternatives. Although it is going to be extremely difficult, David and I plan on taking him up there together so that we can tell him goodbye and make sure we feel comfortable with the arrangement when we actually see it.
The goal there is to often adopt out their rescues, but because of "the bite" Baxter would not be a candidate for adoption. I do encourage any of you if you are considering a new pet to think about adopting from St. Francis. I know if and when we are ever ready to get another dog that is where it will be from.

Guess I've gone on long enough....
Goodnight!
Love, Nicole