A birthday I won't forget

Our plans for the weekend were to be in Charlottesville from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning for the Darden 5 year reunion. So, I knew my birthday would be a bit different but memorable. Friday night we left the children with a babysitter (nursing student from UVA - who we had arranged for both nights) and went to the first reunion event at the downtown mall (for those who were able to visit us there, it's a really fun part of town). It was so fun to catch up with so many friends, and I believe half of the class was there (which is a lot as far as 5 year reunions go at UVA).

Saturday morning, Sheila gave me my first present of the day...she fulfilled her name of "Danger girl" by jumping on the bed, falling off the bed, and cutting her nose on the nightstand. Right away we could tell she'd need some stitches (there are 2 lacerations). So, Mario kept the boys and I rushed Sheila over to UVA hospital. There are 2 hospitals in C'ville, I delivered MJ at the one with the great birthing center (Martha Jefferson), but the last time I was at the UVA hospital was for Mario's surgery. I guess reunion weekends are all about bringing back memories. :-)

Sheila was quite the trooper at the hospital, and for the first half hour impressed everyone who came to check on her. She was calm and cooperated as everyone did everything to look at her nose and check her out. Then I guess she got bored of the whole thing and was a bit ready to move on. Nothing a few distractions couldn't fix. We finally decided the best treatment was to have the doctor on call for faces, who was a plastic surgeon this shift, come and repair one of the lacerations with a stitch. So, Sheila was given a topical anesthetic, strapped in that pappouse thing (I've now done this with Joey and Sheila), and she got 2 stitches on the bigger laceration on the side of her nostril, but the one in the center they only felt the need to apply dermabond glue. Sheila is healing very well and it appears as though the doctor did a great job. I was told to keep Sheila from running around too much on Sunday (hah!) and for the next year I need to make sure she has sunblock on her nose whenever she is outside. Everyone at the hospital was really nice and I got more birthday wishes from almost everyone who worked with us.

Mario and the boys joined us when it was all over with some great birthday cards, and one of my favorite C'ville lunches (sandwiches from the Market). Mario had a lot of work to do this weekend and is leaving for Germany on Monday, so we took this incident as a sign that we should head back home and take things easy. We packed up, drove home, and then I had a delicious meal at Outback including the surprise singing waiters and an ice cream sundae to share with the family. We watched half a movie with the kids, I was showered with more hugs and kisses from them, and we tucked them in bed.

MJ has been interested in that he was born in Charlottesville, so we took him to his first home... good old Ivy Gardens.

And now I have more babies!

After our yummy meal at Outback. Yes, you can take a self-portrait with 5 people in the picture.

I need to get a better shot of Sheila's nose...this was taken by either MJ or Joey.

What a day!