Stress and Relief...and Stress

Normalcy is watching your toddler trip and crash hard to the floor.

Stress is realizing he is really hurt this time.

Relief comes after the wet cheeks and flushed, sweaty body calms down.

Stress is deciding if he needs to be seen during the night or if it can wait until morning.

Relief is making a decision to wait because he's already fallen asleep.

Stress is waiting in the ER for three hours Monday morning to get X-ray results back.

Relief is the ER doctor saying he couldn't see a bone break.

Stress is wanting to see a small degree of improvement and seeing nothing.

Stress is people telling you to get it checked again.

Stress is when your toddler still refuses to use his leg at all and whimpers in pain.

Stress is being discharged with no other treatment...don't ice it, don't wrap it, nothing.

Relief is knowing someone else has been through the exact same thing and it all ends up being fine.

So my question for any of you out there is whether or not you have dealt with a broken bone, especially if it was a child or toddler. Have you ever thought your kid broke a bone and they didn't? Or has your kid broken their bone but you were told it was fine?

A few more details: David's leg has never gotten swollen, except slightly tonight. He has no red mark, no bruise, no cut. He hit his tibia (shin). This has nothing to do with his ankle or femur. His leg looks pretty normal on the outside, he just refuses to use it. When we stand him up his leg buckles beneath him. I thought if it was a bone bruise or tissue damage he would wince in pain but he leg would still be capable of bearing weight. But his leg literally won't work for him and sort of flops around. If it is a strained muscle or bone bruise are these the right symptoms. Is everything matching up?

I'd love to receive some feedback about this...

Help Wanted

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Today is your lucky day! Another Bump on a Blog is having its first and only giveaway!

Leave a comment if you know where there is a choral conducting job in your area and win a chance to have Brian and Kayla live by you! Yay!

Okay, okay. Let me get a little more detailed here. Brian and I are looking for a job, preferably as a high school choir teacher. We have a few leads, but could certainly use more. We are open-minded about location so if you live in Kentucky and know of a job, still let us know! Job searching has been a huge process. We've found the best thing to do is to bring up school district websites and browse the job postings. If you have a little extra time on your hands, go ahead and see if a district in your area wants a choir teacher and let us know.

Maybe you don't know of a job but your best friend is a high school music teacher and we can become acquainted with them. Or maybe you are Mack Wilberg's neighbor (yes this is a joke, ha. ha.) Perhaps you know of a new high school being built nearby...or even a charter school...

Brian and I have applied for two excellent jobs. We would be happy with either job but reality is dozens of people will be applying for these jobs too. We would love to apply for five or ten more jobs. If we still don't get a job after that, we'll consider another awesome giveaway that may (don't go too wild here folks) include having us actually come live with you! Now wouldn't that be great! (Yes I'm joking. It is sort of not funny because we currently are living with people.)

Email either kayla@jccook.net or brian@jccook.net or leave a comment if you can help us out.

My Conductors

Brian gave his senior conducting recital at the U of H about a week ago. This was a huge achievement and a lot of work! The recital was a success. I'm so grateful for a hard working husband...and he is so talented! We'll be able to show close family/friends a DVD of his performance once it is finished. This little clip is of David "conducting" with Brian when we popped the CD in to listen to. The song in the background is "Untraveled Worlds" and was the last song on the program. The quality isn't great but you get the idea...

Tonight's Big Plans

I just put David to bed. The house is still and quiet. My in-laws and husband are gone for the evening. Suddenly I find myself with a delicious array of choices to spend my evening of solitude. Do I fold the laundry? Finish the dinner dishes? Put the sheets on the bed? Clear David's toys from the floor and hang up the disheveled tuxedo from last night's concert?

Choices, choices. Perhaps tonight I'll spoil myself and do them all!


BTW, my blog informs me that I am no longer "following" anyone. This is interesting. I don't know why it decided I'm no longer a follower of any blogs. I promise I still love you. I'll have to start from scratch I guess. This is going on the list of things for tonight! Yahoo!