Eli's Mini Extreme Makeover

Eli has a had a mini makeover this last week with the loss of a tooth and the addition of glasses. We picked up his glasses yesterday. He was pretty excited to get them. The kids love to try on glasses, mine especially, so Eli felt pretty special to have a pair of his very own. He cried when he had to take them off for bed.

Today, though, he is feeling a difference in the way he sees things and I think it is a bit unsettling for him. I imagine it is a bit strange when you have seen one way your whole life and then all of sudden it is different. We have to go back in two weeks to have his eyes rechecked and possibly have his prescription adjusted.

Here is Eli with his new look:

My Little Black Box

Here is another organizing tip! Know how you love those! I visit a lot of websites. Often sites ask you to register so you can get special member only features or freebies or coupons. I used to frustrate myself by registering but then forgetting which email address I used to sign up, my user name, or password when I went back later.

To keep track I write down the info on a 4x6 index card. I file them alphabetically (by site) in an index card box. Now when I go back to a site and need to know my user name or password I just look it up quick instead of having to request the information by email. I also jot down any other info that might be helpful for that particular site (birthdays I used, security questions & answers, etc.).

Another tip is to have the same password for all these sites. Now I am not talking about your online banking accounts here! I am talking about sites like BettyCrocker.com or sites that don't include important personal information. Pick one password and stick with it...that way you'll always know your password.

Sometimes your user name is your email address so if you plan on signing up at several sites create an email address just for that purpose. Having a junk email address keeps your regular inbox from being filled up with a bunch of special offers and ads.

I think I have mentioned this already to but just in case, I also don't use my real birthday when filling out those forms. I doubt anyone would steal MY identity but you never know maybe someone out there really wants six kids! I just add one to the month and date and leave the year the same. It is to the point now that I am starting to think my birthday really is June 26th!

Roz liked my system so much she uses it too. I think even Jer has a few cards in the box. We keep it in the cupboard right next to the computer so it is easily accessible.

My Black Box
with cheesy, fake example card

Well, that didn't take long.....

We had our first injury on the new play set today. One of the boys is missing a body part that he had this morning.

Can you guess who and which part?
___________________________________________________________

If you guessed Eli you were right!

Eli walked right in front of the red "bronco rider" on the new play set at the wrong moment and got smashed in the mouth. I was in the shower and Grandpa was outside with the kids. Roz came in as I was getting out of the shower and told me Eli's tooth was "messed up". I had heard some crying while I was in the shower but thought they were fighting over the swing again. I had Roz bring Eli in to the bathroom. I took one look and called the dentist for an emergency visit while I was standing in my towel.

When we got to the dentist's office they took an x-ray. The x-ray showed the tooth was actually broken just inside the gum line and the only thing to do at that point was remove it. It was just being held in by his gums. They numbed him and pulled it out. Eli was great about the whole thing. Except for a few minutes when it first happened he did not cry. I was shocked by the lack of blood throughout the whole ordeal. Not one drop was found on his shirt or anything! The dentist was shocked that a four year would sit so still during the whole procedure (including lidocaine shot!!).

Thankfully, it was, of course, a baby tooth. Unfortunately, it will probably be about 3 years before his regular tooth grows in. So he will have an altered smile until then. He had to take it easy and eat a soft diet for a few days. Not liquid, just soft, so no chips or hard foods. He cried more about not getting to eat corn on the cob with the rest of us Friday night than he did when he got hurt!

Here are a couple pictures:

Eli's missing tooth

WARNING: This next picture is not for everyone. If medical things freak you out you might want to skip this one! I took this one right before we left to head to the dentist's office.

Last chance...

look away now...

okay, you're still looking...

here it is...

Ouch!

Five Boys

This picture is from a few weeks ago. I forgot I took it! I was "cleaning" up my camera and iPhoto and came across it. I thought it was a nice shot of the brothers!

So BIG!

Here is JD showing you how big he is!

The Contender

That is the official name of our new play set. Jerry, with a little bit of help from Grandpa Steve and I, spent a 3 day weekend putting it together. There were over 800 screws! That is not a typo and I am NOT exaggerating.

Actually, the assembly went much better than I anticipated. Jerry worked from morning to night and rain or shine. Some assembly, if necessary due to rain and when possible, was done in the garage.

The little inspectors declared it "AWESOME" and proceeded to fight over the swing. Justus asked if we could keep it forever. I told him we probably would keep it forever since I can't imagine Jerry ever taking it apart after he worked so hard to put it together!

Before

After