Garin Photos

So, not to be kept down by his cast, Garin can now climb down off the bed/couch (the futon where we have been sleeping) by himself and he can crawl just about anywhere he wants to. I seriously think walking isn't far behind. Even though this cast must be horribly awkward and it weighs over five pounds! Here's his first video to demonstrate his new mobility:

(This morning Garin wanted to look at his pictures and his blog so he decided to post something.)

"Hello and goodbye"

"This is me with those silly yellow gloves. I was waving them around like this."












"This is me with a cowboy hat on my head."

Like any good superhero, Super-Nonni (Jess's mom) flew in to help with Garin after the accident. She was a life/sanity saver! She had to go back to Texas on Monday and, so far, we're surviving, but it's a whole lot harder.

Medical updates:
Garin went in for his first check with his orthopedist yesterday and she wants to see him in six more weeks (hopefully to take the cast off). This sucks for many reasons. (1) SIX MORE WEEKS!!!!!! (2) can you imagine how the poor child will smell? remember that we live in the south and, while it hasn't been too hot yet, there's still some sweating going on (3) his check-up will be the week of Mel's first week of classes - in Massachusetts - so we have to figure out a plan for us to travel north separately and for Jess not to lose her mind having to stay back here as Garin's only parent. I'm sure there are even more reasons, but those are the ones that jump to mind.

Mel is healing well, stitches are out of the face, eyebrow still doesn't raise but we're hoping it will heal, collarbone is doing much better - still can't lift Garin, but I can feed myself with my right hand again (hey, even the small good things are good things).

We will continue to keep you all posted as things progress.

. . . but he can still sing in Latin.

And he really just looks like he's wearing a stylish, strapless gown:

Or at least, unplanned things often happen in life.

Last week Garin and Mel were hit by a car while walking home from the park. We will be okay, after some good healing time. Garin is in a "Scipa Cast" (see photos below) because his femur was broken. (Thankfully, he was well-securred into his stroller which kept him - mostly - safe. Use those stroller seatbelts, they seem flimsey but they really do work!) Mel has lots of scrapes and bruises, some frankenstein stitches in her face, possibly permanent inability to raise one eyebrow, and a broken collarbone. But considering how bad it could have been, well, we don't like to consider that.

We spent the weekend in the hospital so Garin could have his cast put on (it requires general anesthesia, though thankfully no surgery) and we're home now. Things are pretty tough since G needs 24 hr/day adult attention and Mel only counts as half an adult (since she can only use one arm, due to the collarbone).

Life is on hold here for awhile, but we do hope that we'll get up to Smith for classes as planned this summer and start to regain some normalcy then. (They said 6-8 weeks for Garin's cast - can you imagine - 6-8 weeks of an immobilized toddler?) Garin would love to get cards in the mail, it presents a moment of excitement in the day: 13 Maranda Holmes Street, Charleston, SC 29403.

We've been calling the cast his superhero outfit (it alternates between superman and spiderman - the matching t-shirt really helps):
Here he is flying like Superman:
And here's a shot showing just how far up the cast goes.