Joshua's Birthday -- Take Two!!

Joshua's First Birthday Party!

You should remember we had a delightful party for Josh's first birthday while Grandma and Grandpa Green were here. We also wanted to throw a party with friends for him. The date of Oct. 6 was set so that all the families would be back from school break. Invites were sent out before we realized that that was conference weekend! We had the party time of 4:00 and the Priesthood session started at 5:00 (PDT). So, instead of a night filled with games and activities we decided pretty much on just cake and ice cream so the men could leave when they need to in order to get to the session.

We decided on a monkey theme. Mostly because monkey's are just plain cool. Secondly because we saw a picture of a monkey cake in a magazine which got my wife's brain-wheels a spinning. Once those start spinning you best look out! We did light decoration with a wonderful banner, a delicious monkey cake and bananas all over the place.

Isn't that the cutest monkey cake you've ever seen? Our first round of cake didn't work out so well. We ended up staying up until 2:30 a.m. the night before trying to finish this cake.

Pre-party. You can kind of see my banner in this one.

Singing to Joshua again.

This seems oddly familiar. Joshy just wasn't as into it as he was at the other party.

Still lip-smacking good, though.

The Quazy Quad we call them. Counterclockwise: Ethan, Gwen, Liza, Jessica
A picture of the group.

I liked Joshua in this picture. This was while opening presents. We had each kid give Joshua their respective gifts and help him open them. Liza wasn't very happy that day, for some reason and when other kids came to help her help Joshua she became even more upset. Poor girl. The kids ended up loving the bananas set out. Good idea eh?This isn't the first time we've caught Ethan in a compromising situation with his female friends. Once when Gwen and her family was over at our house we had noticed the children being remarkably quiet in the other room. Assuming they were in the bedroom playing we went to see. We found both Gwen and Ethan stark naked in the bathroom! I think they were preparing for a bath together. We all had a good laugh at that one. The above and below pictured event was a similar situation. The kids seemed uncharacteristically quiet. When investigated, we found them playing cutely in my bed.
Good times!

Well, cake and ice cream was eaten. The kids played, and the grown-ups visited enthusiastically. The time soon came for the men to leave for the Priesthood session of conference. I left and took Brad Hill with me to the Stake Center. We were a couple of minutes late, but were there in plenty of time to hear the first speaker begin. I enjoyed the session immensely. So much so, I began texting friends and families with a few key concepts mentioned in some of the talks. I enjoyed their replies. One time, my phone began to ring (it was on vibrate, of course). I looked down and saw Challene's name on it. "Probably just wants me to take Brad back to his house or something, " I rationalized easily given that Brad's wife was to meet him at the Stake Center to give him a ride home after the session. Not seconds after that I got a rather humorous response to one of my texts from a friend. I pocketed my phone only to feel it vibrate again. Four quick times, indicating a text message. "Oh, it's John again", I thought, "I'll look at it after this talk." President Hinckley was giving a great talk about anger. Seconds after, my phone began ringing again. I looked down and saw Challene's name. I stood to leave to the foyer and checked the previous text as I did so. It was not from John, but was from Challene. "Call now!" it said. Instantly, my stomach dropped and my mouth went dry. I answered the call only to hear frantic screaming in the back and my wife trying desperately to tell me something. It was difficult to understand her. I began making my way across the Stake Center to leave when I told her I couldn't understand her. "Joshua's hand got smashed in the door. I think it's broken. GET HOME NOW!!!" She said amidst tears, concern, and frustration in trying to get a hold of me. I hung up and ran to the car.

Every possible light I could have hit was red. And had just turned red as I approached. It felt like ages before I arrived at the house. I walked in the door to see that Lindsey (Liza's Mom) was still there. Challene had Josh in her hands. His face was bright red and wet with the many tears that streamed down it. I looked at his hand. What I saw nearly made me sick. His right hand at the third and fourth knuckles was swollen giving the appearance of those two fingers' bones being pushed against and stretching the skin on the back of his hand. The two fingers passed the knuckles were also swollen to the size of two vienna sausages. His hand was bruised with a deep red and purple directly under the knuckles and swelling. He couldn't use his fingers. He couldn't grab my hand or hold onto a toy, though he tried. He kept his hand splayed out as far as possible, though I think that the swelling helped with that. Quickly, I ran through the fracture screen for the hand in my head. I had just aced my "Acute Hand" examination flow not a couple weeks ago. Inability to move the digits... check! Focal, immediate, extreme swelling... check! Focal bruising... check! Traumatic onset... check! Inability, or excruciating pain on trying to grip... check! Anvil test... positive! Vibration... didn't have my tuning forks to check! Obvious evidence of anatomical abnormalities... maybe, though it could just be the swelling! Everything in my head was screaming fracture. I didn't see anyway out of it. Lindsey said she'd stay with Ethan and we rushed out of there.

I had pre-determined to give Joshua a blessing before we left the house, but everything happened so fast we were out into the car before I could comprehend what was going on. I still regret not having the wherewithal to slow things down and give him a blessing immediately. Luckily, I have my wife. Challene, on the verge of breaking down asked if I thought it would be ok to say a prayer as we drove to the Emergency Room. I agreed and she offered one of the most sweet, heartfelt prayers I've ever heard. It seemed almost immediately after the prayer that Joshua settled down for us. He stopped crying and even gave my wife a hint of a smile.

We got to the ER and there was no one ahead of us so we were able to get right in. Just as we were getting ready to get some x-rays (three hand series including an AP, lateral and oblique film, FYI) Joshua seemed to perk right up. He began to be his playful self again. He even by this time he was grabbing at toys, moving his fingers, and playing more and more. X-rays came out negative (which is actually expected for such a recent fracture. Digits don't usually show evidence of fracture radiographically for nearly a week!) and the doctors diagnosed him with a hand contusion. They sent us home. As soon as I saw him using his hand before we went to x-ray I knew it wasn't broken. Joshy told me with his smile. That was more evidence than I needed to know it wasn't broken.

We were most grateful that little Joshy is ok. It was a scare for us. Challene attributed her ability to contact me, get him ready, and us out the door to Lindsey's calm support. Challene did everything right and I couldn't be more proud of her.

The picture below doesn't do his hand any justice at all. This was taken today, nearly 24 hours after the incident. Ethan snuck his hand in over Joshua's other hand so you can't really compare the two. The swelling has dissipated significantly and the bruising has dispersed.

Ethan makes it a habit to close doors using a running start. We assume this is what happened. Joshua was probably trying to keep up with Ethan and Liza who beat him to the bedroom. As soon as Josh got there he grabbed on the hinged side of the door for support and we assume Ethan slammed the door. Challene says the scream was enough to make her want to throw up.

Well, we're planning a big write-up on Mom and Dad's trip up here. Look for that soon!

Joshua's 1st Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOSHUA

Wednesday the 26th was Joshua's first birthday! I can't believe the little guy is a year old already. Seems like time flies, sometimes.

Ethan sure had a hay-day helping Joshy open his presents. Joshy wasn't sure about the whole wrapping paper thing. He was sure about eating it, though.

Joshua has always loved banging on things. He has a drum that he wails on so this xylophone was a great gift. He hits that thing so much. He loves it.

This is his birthday cake for his actual birthday. We will be having a friend party soon and Challene will be making a cake for that occasion. I'm pretty excited about the one she is making. You'll see soon why. This cake was a delicious ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. It was a chocolate chunk icecream with a white cake. Oh, man it was good. Cutting into it, though, was a different story.

We had the same decorations we used for Ethan's first birthday, so we thought we'd reuse them. If you'll recall, Ethan didn't touch a thing the whole time. With Joshua, though, we couldn't even finish getting the decorations on before he ripped them off. He pulled the hat off quicker than quick.
This is Joshy just starting to enjoy the cake. Oh, man it was good. There's still two slices in our freezer. Hmmm, sounds like a good after-kids-are-down snack for Challene and I.
This is after Joshy had finished the cake. He had brown cake boogers for several days afterward.

We also took Josh to get pictures. He was so cooperative and willing to do whatever the lady wanted him to do. He can be so easy-going sometimes. Othertimes...

One of my favorites. He gives that smile to everyone he sees. Everyone loves him.

Last one. My personal favorite. I'm not sure why, but I like it.

Many of you know that we hosted Mom and Dad Green last week. It was a wonderful time had by all and we'll be posting a blog about it soon.

Until then... I can't believe Josh is 1 year old. I can't believe I'm starting a new quarter tomorrow. I can't believe I'm just five short quarters away from graduation! It's all gone so fast, and yet so slow. *sigh*

hair cut

Joshua's First Haircut
plus Ethan and me too.

Well, Joshua's birthday is coming soon so we thought it apt to get him a haircut. His hair was rather scraggly and some folks thought he looked a bit like a girl what with his curls and all. So we thought it was probably about time to get him in. Ethan and I needed haircuts too, so we took out a second mortgage and went to Great Clips.

No crying for my boy this time. He took the cut like a man. I think it was the "under-the-sea" apron she had on him; complete with hammerhead shark.

An after shot of Ethan. Looking good, no? Truly he is, as his shirt so declared, a handsome little devil.

Here's a random shot of Joshua to prove three things. 1) Plaid shorts are just plain cool. 2) Joshy has long locks of hair. 3) he is standing and even taking steps now. Why, just yesterday he took 10, yes, ten steps to Challene. He'll be running marathons by Christmas.

Yet another before of Joshy. Just thought it was cute. Up until this point in time, we weren't 100% sure how we like to style his hair. Usually it just ended up parted like you see here. Not my favorite, but it worked for him and his hair type.
During. He was such a trooper. He held real still and let her do what she needed. I don't really blame him with those large arms around him for encouragement. Even I have a look of near trepidation as the clippers hack away at his golden curls. But not Joshy, no, not even a flinch.



An after shot of Joshy and his exuberance over the wonderful haircut he got.

Not a bad pic to end on.

Mommy and me play group

So once a week during the school quarters I get together with a couple other moms and we do some kind of activity with our childern. This particular activity was a berry smooshing one. We bought white shirts and berrys and smooshed them all over tee shirts it was like tie die. So any ways here are some of the pictures.

Joshua was having a lot of fun eating them. But Joshua was not the only one that thought this he was just the messiest.

That boy loves his blueberries!

The kids swam in these little pools to clean off. They have so much fun together.

Joshy loves water! He would live in the water if he could!

I just love this picture of Ethan and Jessica. They look a little suspicious if you ask me.

The Lavenders trip to Oregon

The Lavenders came to visit us during my last break and we had a rootin' tootin' time. Here are some of the wonderful things we did while they were here.

The Scenic Columbia River Highway Waterfalls

Laura Lee Lavender (LLL) and Quinn Lavender at the Vista House over looking the mighty Columbia River

Latourell waterfall

I wasn't sure who that was in the background so I asked Challene. She said she'd recognize my cute behind anywhere! Ethan is there too. I failed to mention that LLL was 15(?) weeks pregnant at the time they visited us. (she's due December something and they're having a girl, congrats to them!) She sure was a trooper to do all that hiking and walking.

This waterfall was cool because you could actually hike right up to it. If the water wasn't near freezing temperatures I surmise you could even wade in it!

On the trail to Latourell falls

This rock should look familiar to Mom and Dad. We took them here too, and Dad stood atop it and posed for a picture.

Multnomah Falls

This is the famous-est of the falls on the Columbia River Highway. One of my least favorites, frankly.

The bridge to Bridalveil falls

Where is Will? And what happened to the bottom half of him?

OMSI

(Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)

Gunther VanHagen's Body Worlds exibit was on display at OMSI while Quinn and LLL came up. Quinn and I decided we'd like to see it so we ditched the women and children and payed the $19 each to get in (yeouch!). For those unfamiliar with the Body Worlds exhibit, I'll explain. Ol' Gunny invented a radically new way of bodily preservation called "Plastination". This process allowed the bodies to be impecibally preserved. Naturally, he patented the process and decided to make millions off of displaying his dissections to the world. It was pretty cool. His dissections were flawless and rather incredible to behold (having attempted my own dissection I could appreciate his skill quite well). Once you've seen one posed dead body, you've pretty much seen them all, though. What I liked were the different pathologies he displayed. A post-stroke brain, the classic "smokers" lung, Abdominal Aortic Aneurisms, etc. Also, he was able to inject his plastination things into the arterial system of several animals (chicken, lamb, human arm, etc.) and then let flesh eating bacteria take care of the rest of the animal so that all you would see is the arterial network. It was so intricate. You could see the many arteries branch into arterioles and then to the capillary beds. Thus, you had a trillion arteries shaped like a chicken, lamb, human arm, etc. Does that make sense? It was a good experience, but $19? Seems a bit steep in retrospect. Anyhoo, the girls had the camera, so here's their day at OMSI:

Ethan and I in a rocket ship (Post BodyWorlds when Quinn and LLL went to take a tour of a submarine -- natrually Quinn used his best Sean Connery impression while down there. What else would he do?). Don't know how this turned out crooked but Challene kinda liked it. It was set up as if a real rocket such that you were lying on your back. Pretty neat!

Joshua as usual puting stuff in his mouth. Yes he did get sick about a week later. Yah go figure put germy stuff in your mouth and you get sick.

Ethan playing at the water tables. This one had a mountian theme.

The Classic Chinese Garden

This is in downtown Portland. Like right in the middle of a business district. Not exactly where I would have thought a Chinese Garden should go, but what do I know about the Chinese, eh?

The entrance to the gardens

This here is a rock. It's in the gardens... Joshy's sitting on it. Gosh, what do you want from me?

Ethan was pooped. A nice hippy lady took this picture for us.

Lunch at the Thirsty Lion Pub in downton Portland

We went to the Saturday Market too. Basically just a huge flea market held every Saturday. It was long and we got hungry so we went to the pub for a couple pints.



Ethan and his sauce again. I think he's had enough.

I have no comment about this one. Except that those fries were very, very good.



China Town

This was our first and last trip to china town. What you see in the picture is all that there was worth seeing. Quinn and LLL are in the bottom left of the photo.

Pictures of the boys

Challene and I don't wear hats and the boys were fasinated by Quinn's.


We had a fabulous time with the Lavanders here. They were lovely and gracious guests and we hope they will come again. Also we are always up for anyone who would like to stay with us. We would love some company. So here is another official invite for those who need it. Come, stay, see what Oregon has to offer.

~Fin~