The Story of a Girl and Her Arm

We had a magical Christmas day....full of fun, gifts and food...

 

After dinner I called tidy up time and the kids started carrying their new toys to the bedroom chatting to each other. We heard a huge crash and Gabe shouting   "Are you okay?" to Payton. 

She had tripped over a small toy box that had NOT been put away and landed on her forearm while carrying her dolls.

Then we heard crying and by the time I got up from playing with Maclayne, she came through holding her arm.

Not screaming in pain, but white as a sheet and again we just knew.....

She complained a wee bit in the car that I was going over bumps too quickly, and she had a cry at the Accident & Emergency because the doctor was taking too long to see us and she wanted to go home... ("please Mum, I wont complain if you go too fast over bumps, I just want to go home")

The nurse gave her a sling, some pain relief and an ice pack to tide her over. Then the doctor saw her and declared that it couldn't be broken as she "wasn't in visible distress". When he touched her arm she just said "Ow" really quietly.

I basically had to insist that I thought her arm was broken and the doctor relented saying it was my $50 if I wanted them to call the radiologist in, on a holiday!!!!

So as you can see...... hmmm!!! Broken !!!

Because the bone was kinda sticking up (not straight) we had to go to Starship Children's Hospital so that her bones could be manipulated straight...

She thought it was awesome having chocolate flavoured laughing gas!!!! 

Check out my seriously brave little girl (see Maclayne in the background, sleeping through the whole thing)

 

We then had another X-ray and it was a wait in the wheelchair - so much fun!!!

However the manipulation didn't work!

We were sent home and told to come into hospital the next day to be admitted. Payton had to have a manual manipulation under general anesthetic using a live x-ray stream. I never slept and it was an early morning rise for all of us.

Initially she waited very patiently with her arm in a raised sling....

Then not so patiently, so we made the most of the indoor playground !!!

 10 hours later my baby went into theater, I was allowed to go in with her and hold her hand while she went to sleep. She was so brave and not scared at all. Her mama? Yup I was a sobbing mess..... 

She did so well and the procedure was a success. We stayed in over night and were allowed home around lunch time the next day.

 

Here she is the day after we got out of Starship!!! My child is so darn tough! And stoic!

 We go back to the Hospital tomorrow for the first follow up of many, and I'm hoping that all is still well with the break and it hasn't moved! Whatever happens though, all will work out and Payton's arm will be fine...

But can we be done with broken bones already??? Please?

Take care everyone,

xxx

Grandma's German Biscuits

Hi Everyone,

We baked our Christmas cookies the other day, and I wanted to share the really quick and easy recipe with you all. Sean's Grandma gave me this recipe when we got married and although its a pretty basic easy recipe, I tend to only make them at Christmas time. 

Our own little Christmas tradition.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Sugar

1/2 cup Milk

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

125g Margarine

4 cups Flour

Pinch of Salt

  Boil the sugar, milk and baking soda. Be careful not to burn it. Let cool.

Rub the margarine into the flour and salt.

Add to the cooled mixture

Mix well, roll out on a floured surface and cut into shapes.

Bake at 200 C (390 F) for 10-15 minutes

I doubled the recipe for my family, as you can see...

 

 Our favourite part is the decorating, some I ice and others I dip into melted chocolate or decorate with chocolate buttons.

These never last long in my household... 

 They also make great gifts...

Take care everyone,

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook :-)

xxx

Linking Up To:

http://happyhourprojects.com/2012/12/happy-hour-friday-12-28.html

Glitter Heart Decorations

Only a few days till Christmas! Yikes...where has this year gone?

We have started our Summer Holidays and already I'm having to find activities for the kids...

So today I'm sharing a simple child friendly craft....

I had originally planned to neatly stitch these felt heart decorations, but time got away from me again and I decided the kids could help me out with glue and glitter..

What you need:

 Felt, ribbon, glue, glitter!

What to do:

Cut out the heart shapes x 2 (I used a wooden shape that I had).

Cut ribbon lengths and glue down on the wrong side of the felt.

Glue the second piece on top. Allow to dry.

Run a line of glue along the front of the heart making a heart shape.

Shake glitter over the glue and allow to dry, remove excess.

Oh my goodness - so easy!!!! I managed to get 6 hearts out of the piece of felt I had, but they are so cute I think I would like more for the tree....

Also how cute would these be as a quick last minute gift idea?

I prefer these to the decorations I had originally planned to do...

And best of all, the kids could help with this one!

Take care everyone,

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook :-)

xxx

 

Linking up to some or all of these great parties 

and

http://www.stonegableblog.com/2012/12/tutorials-tips-and-tidbits-27.html

Its Feeling a Lot Like Christmas

I have been waiting weeks for my Pohutukawa Tree to bloom.

When it does - its signals Christmas. 

It's nicknamed the New Zealand Christmas Tree. 

You can read more about it on the Wikipedia page.

I love driving along the roads and seeing all the red flowers against the blue sky. So beautiful...

Now my tree has started to bloom and I can admire it every day, because its Christmas Time ..yay!!! Happy Dance

  

 Gorgeous right? I love these trees.... In a few days they will be alive with bumble bees and birds.

 And not only do they mean Christmas time but also the start of our Summer holidays....cant wait.

Take care everyone,

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook :-)

xxx

 

Linking up to some or all of these great parties 

Glitter Ball Decorations

Christmas is just around the corner and I'm finally getting onto some Christmas crafts with the kids...finally!!!

This project is so easy and simple to do with children, as long as you don't mind glitter everywhere.

What you need:

Glue ( I would have used hot glue, but gluesticks were no-where to be found)

glitter and cheap plain balls

 The kids chose to write their names on their decorations. 

So I wrote their names with glue and they poured the glitter over.

Let dry for a few minutes and gently tap the glitter off. 

 I found this worked better on a mat surface than a reflective one

Once the glue has dried completely, give the decorations another few taps to get any extra glitter off. 

Then they are ready to hang.

 I love how pretty and Christmassy they look now. 

Take care everyone,

Don't forget to follow me on Facebook :-)

xxx

 

Linking up to some or all of these great parties 

and

http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2012/12/clay-filigree-ornaments-link-party/
http://www.sewcando.com/2012/12/craftastic-monday-link-party-giveaway.html  
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http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-89-haven-conference-announcement.html 
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no143.html 
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-115/
http://www.nap-timecreations.com/2012/12/b-inspired-mama-guest-post-delightful.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2012/12/wow-us-wednesdays-96.html
http://www.504main.com/2012/12/tickled-pink-no-126.html
http://diybydesign.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/fall-into-fall-its-party-95.html  
http://lilluna.com/lil-luna-link-party-107/ 
http://www.itsoverflowing.com/2012/12/overflowing-with-creativity-52/
http://igottacreate.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/wildly-original-link-party-30.html 
http://dixie-n-dottie.blogspot.co.nz/2012_12_11_archive.html
http://www.stonegableblog.com/2012/12/tutorials-tips-and-tidbits-26.html#more
http://tatertotsandjello.com/2012/12/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-caravan-giveaway.html
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http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2012/12/transformation-thursday-no-182.html 
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2012/12/12/hookin-up-with-hoh-128/ 
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2012/12/inspiration-friday-no-93-welcome.html
http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/its-hodgepodge-friday48.html
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http://mellywoods5.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/co-hosting-raising-imperfection.html 
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2012/12/the-sunday-showcase-no-131.html

Cheat's Advent

  Christmas snuck up on me this year. 

 I knew it was coming but I was so busy with the craft show that time for anything else kind of fell by the wayside.

Last year I made a cute advent calendar which the kids enjoyed, but I didn't have time to make one and I didn't want to buy one (make that 3)

So I cheated!! 

Here's what you need:

A chalkboard sticker, a Christmas gift bag, candy and chocolate

 

  Literally, cut out the sticker, peel and stick on and write a message - I did the countdown to Christmas.

I divided all the candy and chocolates into bags (3 items in each bag) and dropped them in the gift bag.

Seriously? Could it be any easier???

  And.. the kids are so, so excited to countdown and receive a treat...

 

I may still make an Advent next Christmas but so far this has been way more popular than last year's one. 

It worked out to be about the same price as having to buy 3 cheap Advent calenders and the kids like that they get a variety of treats in the bag.

And it was a quick, easy project...gotta love that!!!

Take care everyone,


Don't forget to follow me on Facebook :-)

xxx

 

Linking up to some or all of these great parties 

and

http://www.threemangoseeds.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/its-party-time-12-2-12.html

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2012/12/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-129.html 

http://makingtheworldcuter.com/2012/12/making-the-world-cuter-14/#more-10770

http://www.sewcando.com/2012/12/craftastic-monday-link-party-trim-tee.html

http://clarescraftroom.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/under-christmas-tree.html