stitches, rollercoasters and clock rings...

July has brought more busy adventures in the Vazquez household...

First, we landed in the ER with Gabe. Then, it was a quick trip to San Antonio to work a conference. My mom surprised me with a belated birthday party and invited friends I hadn't seen in over a decade. That was by far my favorite birthday yet! Then, we took a wonderful little excursion to Williamsburg with friends last weekend and did the whole Busch Gardens thing, and this week, my dad, stepmom and not-so-little brother Nathan swung through for a visit on their way back to Texas. Nathan's getting tall! So cool that I have two 15-year-old brothers!

So, let me rewind and fill the few of you who haven't already heard the ER saga in on that news. Gabe learned how to ride his bicycle without training wheels and wanted to ride his bike non-stop for the first few days. On about day 3, we were at the park when he said, "Look at how fast I can go, Mom!" I watched him come flying down this hill and realized he was fascinated with his feet on the pedals, which meant he was not looking where he was going. I had just said, "Look up honey, look up!" when he went barrelling into the basketball hoop post. I thought for sure he broke a freaking rib or something the way he hit that post straight down the middle of his body. I ran over to him, looking under his shirt and asking, "What hurts? What hurts?" I looked up as he said, "My chin" to see the bone in his chin hanging out for the world to see. My world started to spin, but I held it together long enough to speed-dial Tim to tell him to meet us at the park.

My 13-year-old cousin Abby was great in that she immediately sped home, so Tim wouldn't have to bring Sofia to the hospital. Abby also speed-dialed her dad, my Uncle (aka Nurse) Bill who said that yes, it sounded like stitches were in order. Gabriel didn't cry at all after the first 5 minutes, not even when they sewed 7 stitches into his chin. I couldn't watch. I massaged my baby boy's feet while Tim held his hand.

He didn't cry when the pediatrician took the stitches out. Gabe asked me to see his chin right away, and when I replied that I didn't have a mirror, he said, "You have your phone. Take a picture and show me!" Geez, these kids are so much more tech-savvy than I am! :) Of course, Gabe wanted to get back on his bike right away -- as in, at 1 in the morning when we got home from the hospital. Amazing. Kids totally amaze me with their lack of fear.

Sorry to disappoint, but rollercoasters still scare the bejeezus out of me. So, I watched as the kids had a grand ol' time at Busch Gardens. The best part of that trip (beyond watching the kids have a blast) was just hanging out with good friends in the wilderness.

Gabe asked me a couple days ago, "How many teeth are in a grown-up's mouth?" So I told him those were questions for Uncle Ryan or Uncle David. We got Ryan on the phone who explained it to him, but I never did ask Gabe why he asked. I think he wants to know when he'll lose his first tooth. I should've put Sofia on the phone, who no doubt would've asked something about how babies get into bellies, and Ryan would've spit out the beer he was enjoying. When she learned I was going to San Antonio for the weekend, she said, "Are you going there to get a baby in your belly?" Uhhhhhmm, nope. :)

Sofia yesterday said something to Tim in the car, and he replied, "What did you say?" And she said, "Where is the clock ring?" I'm sure you can guess what Tim thought he heard. Apparently in a goody bag from school, she received a ring with a compass on it, and she was calling it a "clock ring."

Oh, the fun conversations never stop in our house.... :D

Hope you're having a fun month of July as well!

Love, Kristinn, Tim, Gabriel and Sofia