He Does His Own Stunts

Yesterday evening we experienced our scariest moment as parents yet!! Gabriel hit his head, we think on the couch while he was trying to belly-flop. It's all upholstered but has a hard edge. There was so much blood we couldn't even tell where it was coming from. Amazingly no blood got on the carpet. It all pooled on his eyes and in his hair as I cradled him and rushed into the kitchen. I grabbed the first thing I could (paper towels) to apply pressure until Perry could lay Georgia down and help me with him.

After several minutes I sat Gabe on the counter and lifted up the towel and saw there was a big chunk missing... We shuttered. And realized it was so deep, he would definitely needed stitches! Poor boy was so scared and wanted me to hold him but I couldn't do that and keep pressure on his head! Perry got Georgia and the diaper bag in the car and came back for us. He held Gabe as I climbed in the back between the car seats, never taking my hand off his head. We sped like crazy people to the Emergency Department!! {I wore socks with flip flops and had blood on my face and Perry couldn't remember how to get there, then left the emergency flashers on when he parked}

We are praising God that:
-It happened with both of us at home.
   How would one person manage loading up Georgia 
   with him bleeding profusely?
-Gabriel couldn't see it.
   If he looks at his boo-boo (i.e. a skinned knee), he cries even harder.
-They took us right back at the E.D.
   We didn't even have to wait one minute.
-It wasn't as bad as it could have been.
   He didn't show any symptoms of an internal head injury 
   and his laceration only needed 3 stitches.
-The PA who stitched him up was really good with kids.
   It wasn't the Pediatric E.D.
-His pain seemed to be short-lived in the big scheme of things.
   Kids are so resilient!

As a nurse, I can handle open wounds, blood, and people in pain. But it was whole different feeling being Mommy. I was terrified and squeamish! It was hard to look at Gabe's sweet little face with a big gash in it, and even harder to see him in pain & crying out "Help me Mommy!" while they held him still.

Home from the hospital, snuggled under the blanket with Daddy

This morning he intertwined his fingers with mine ♥ 

Gabriel's boo-boo must-have: Cars band-aids (trimmed to fit between his eyebrows!)

We are SO glad he's okay now!! We will be watching movies, playing board games, and coloring a lot over the next few days. On Friday, he'll have to get his stitches taken out. He was such a brave boy, though, I think he'll be tough for that too. Needless to say, standing/jumping on the couch will no longer be allowed.

Swimming!

We met Mom & Dad W at their neighborhood pool last week for our first time swimming this summer... and had the whole place to ourselves!! It was during the week before 11am, but it has never been crowded. Once Gabe warmed up, he had a blast! He didn't want to leave the stairs at first...

We finally got him out of the shallow end and jumping into the water & "swimming" around, but he only wanted me or Perry!

My kids give my arms a good workout!

Georgia was there, too! She slept in the shade the whole time... I can't wait to go again!

Four Whitakers!

It felt great to have both of our children at home together!!

This would be our life from this point on. 

Two kids, a toddler and a newborn. 

Daddy, Mommy, son and daughter. Our family of four... 

and I love it!!!!

Checking out his baby sister's hands or giving her a sticker... 

then he let Georgia hold his Bo-Bo!

♥ Sister kisses and Mommy hugs ♥

Decorations on our house announcing "It's A Girl!"

FOUR WHITAKERS!!!!

PBW ♥ GTW ♥ GJW ♥ LEW

A Day On The Farm

We managed to squeeze in one last trip to Virginia to visit Papa & Nana before Georgia is born and traveling gets a bit more challenging. Since my due date is so close, we didn't stay overnight but enjoyed a full day of fun on their farm!

Of course Gabriel fell asleep in the last 30 minutes of the drive there. Papa and one of his "employees" were still working on the farm so we drove around for another 30 minutes to allow Gabe to get a decent nap (and it was much too hot to turn the car off!). Little Dude was grumpy at first...

...but quickly warmed up/woke up and had a BLAST!

Seeing cows

Playing with rocks, the hose, and sticks

Checking out Papa's "digger" {watching was cool, riding was scary}

The temperature climbed to 90-some degrees. Nana was home from work so we cooled off at their house while Papa went back out to finish up his chores. We had dinner (spiedies!) and drove back home.