Addie woke up on the 4th to a swollen hand. It was red and painful. If it hadn't been the 4th of July, and if we hadn't had big plans, we'd probably have called the pediatrician.
But we gave her a Benadryl, packed the bottle, and were on our way for a day of fun.
We left around 8:20, not too bad. We got to D.C. easily but then got turned around because the roads that shouldn't have been closed till 11 were already closed. That was frustrating. We finally figured it out, and I dropped matt and Addie off, with all our gear, as close as we could get to the Washington Monument.
Then the little girls and I found our parking garage and found a spot. That is no small feat when you drive a jolly green giant in a tiny D.C. Parking garage. We had just over a mile to walk, and Delaney's legs hurt almost immediately upon her feet hitting the ground.
We pushed through the pain though and actually had a really nice walk and enjoyed seeing all the parade participants and floats getting ready.
We found our canopy all set up with our spot staked out nice and early before the crowds.
We pushed through the pain though and actually had a really nice walk and enjoyed seeing all the parade participants and floats getting ready.
We found our canopy all set up with our spot staked out nice and early before the crowds.
Addie was still in some pain, and her hand was looking worse.
While I relaxed, matt took her to one of the many medical tents set up nearby. I definitely felt comfort that we had two medical tents that we could see from where we were sitting. They gave her a nice ice pack and that helped ease the swelling and we gave her a Tylenol to help with the pain.
Friends started showing up pretty quickly and we took advantage of our early arrival and got some pics.
Every time we're in D.C. we decide we really need to spend more time there. It's such a lovely place to be and 8 years in, it still hasn't gotten old.
Matt wanted a bored family shot...
While I relaxed, matt took her to one of the many medical tents set up nearby. I definitely felt comfort that we had two medical tents that we could see from where we were sitting. They gave her a nice ice pack and that helped ease the swelling and we gave her a Tylenol to help with the pain.
Friends started showing up pretty quickly and we took advantage of our early arrival and got some pics.
Every time we're in D.C. we decide we really need to spend more time there. It's such a lovely place to be and 8 years in, it still hasn't gotten old.
Matt wanted a bored family shot...
After everyone was settled and had gone potty and sunscreened and eaten, a group of us headed down to watch the parade. Addie and I decided to make a 'quick' stop at another medical tent for another ice pack on our way to the parade. The ER dr. there looked at her hand and asked us to come in for a quick exam. Addie couldn't bend her bitten finger, and the dr's, 2 of them, were worried that it was infected and that the infection could have gotten to her tendon or bone. They gave her an antibiotic immediately, but also said we should really take her to an ER for an X-ray or bloodwork.
We have a better safe than sorry attitude about healthcare, so we found the nearest ER and Addie and I were on our way. It was about a mile away, and we had every intention of hiring a rickshaw, but we never found one, and the walk wasn't too bad.
We made it to George Washington university hospital and got checked into the ER. Just my big girl and I.
It's a teaching hospital, so we got to tell our story to lots of people. The nurse, the PA, the resident, and the supervising dr.
They looked at my pictures and checked out her poor hand.
I rubbed her back and Addie napped in between exams.
The very sweet little dr decided that it was probably too soon for an infection, but that we would continue on antibiotics, 4xday for 10 days, just to be on the safe side. We had strict instructions to watch her for fever or headaches, anything that might point to infection. Addie finally got her crackers and we just had to wait to be released.
It took a long time.
But we found ways to keep ourselves entertained.
We were finally let go, walked a few blocks to get her new rx, and got picked up by an uber. Addie loved watching the car progress as it made its way to pick us up, and then watching on my phone as we drove back to the monument. Life lessons on uber. We paid $3 and only had to walk about a third of a mile after being dropped off. And it had started to rain, so the ride was even nicer.
We got back to the group totally famished. We ate and Addie and the kids played some uno. All the families brought food to share, and one of the things we brought was chips and homemade salsa. Delaney loved it! She'd walk around with our chip/dip holder serving people. And she's like me, 1 for you, 1 for me.
My girls, especially Frankie, were in heaven with Isla there.
Then a normal one. Or, semi normal if you're Delaney.
She was all about the peace sign that day. Crazy cat.
We decided to gather the kiddos, which was surprisingly easy.
19 kids! And despite the ER visit, it was a fairly smooth day.
I love me a silly shot.
Then the grown ups. Prom shot first.
And then a normal one. Because we're normal.
And finally, the ladies! I like a nice cheer pose in addition to the silly shot.
I love that these ladies were willing to trust me and spend the whole day with us celebrating this county that we all love so very much.
Then some Ray girl silliness.
A good old fashioned totem pole! It'd be better with the rest of the 5, but sometimes you can't have it all.
Oh to get a normal shot of them. Maybe we're not all that normal?
And the bros! It was great to have dan join in the festivities.
Poor Addie was in pain all day. She had to keep her hand above her heart and just was generally uncomfortable. But she was a trooper and didn't complain too much.
The kids were really great. They had fun and played and were silly.
Almost as silly as these two.
It was a hot day that turned into a beautiful evening. And as a side note, it's rained hard the last 3 4ths in D.C.
Gorgeousness.
Addie wanted some isla action. Only isla was done with all the action. Poor loved baby.
Addie and I stopped by the medical tent for one more bag of ice for her hand and I was able to thank them for all they'd done for us. I found out all those dr's are part of a nationwide disaster team, they come for hurricanes and other epidemics. For all the times the government lets us down, they really got it right that day having all the medial tents set up and stocked, and we were so blessed by their service. I told them so, and as we walked away one of the dr's chased after us and asked if I would talk to one of their supervisors that had just showed up. He ended up wanting to film my story, so who knows, I might just be on some disaster relief training video giving thanks. But really, we were so grateful.
We have a better safe than sorry attitude about healthcare, so we found the nearest ER and Addie and I were on our way. It was about a mile away, and we had every intention of hiring a rickshaw, but we never found one, and the walk wasn't too bad.
We made it to George Washington university hospital and got checked into the ER. Just my big girl and I.
It's a teaching hospital, so we got to tell our story to lots of people. The nurse, the PA, the resident, and the supervising dr.
They looked at my pictures and checked out her poor hand.
I rubbed her back and Addie napped in between exams.
The very sweet little dr decided that it was probably too soon for an infection, but that we would continue on antibiotics, 4xday for 10 days, just to be on the safe side. We had strict instructions to watch her for fever or headaches, anything that might point to infection. Addie finally got her crackers and we just had to wait to be released.
It took a long time.
But we found ways to keep ourselves entertained.
We were finally let go, walked a few blocks to get her new rx, and got picked up by an uber. Addie loved watching the car progress as it made its way to pick us up, and then watching on my phone as we drove back to the monument. Life lessons on uber. We paid $3 and only had to walk about a third of a mile after being dropped off. And it had started to rain, so the ride was even nicer.
We got back to the group totally famished. We ate and Addie and the kids played some uno. All the families brought food to share, and one of the things we brought was chips and homemade salsa. Delaney loved it! She'd walk around with our chip/dip holder serving people. And she's like me, 1 for you, 1 for me.
My girls, especially Frankie, were in heaven with Isla there.
Matt and Dan had taken the little girls and Alexis to the Holocaust Museum - their fav. They love the kids section, it touches their tender side and it's so awful that it's so interesting.
We all gathered for a group photo and I asked someone to take it, but somehow I missed the empty chair smack dab in the middle of the picture! Of course that's all I can see, which stinks because otherwise it's a great picture.
We had a few hours before fireworks so we all visited, the kids played and climbed on a tree nearby, and we ate. I decided it was picture time!
These three have been friends since before they were 1. We moved here when Addie was 10 months old, and now look at these beauties!
Then these 3 sillies. D wouldn't chill, so we decided to do a silly shot first.
We all gathered for a group photo and I asked someone to take it, but somehow I missed the empty chair smack dab in the middle of the picture! Of course that's all I can see, which stinks because otherwise it's a great picture.
We had a few hours before fireworks so we all visited, the kids played and climbed on a tree nearby, and we ate. I decided it was picture time!
These three have been friends since before they were 1. We moved here when Addie was 10 months old, and now look at these beauties!
Then these 3 sillies. D wouldn't chill, so we decided to do a silly shot first.
Then a normal one. Or, semi normal if you're Delaney.
She was all about the peace sign that day. Crazy cat.
We decided to gather the kiddos, which was surprisingly easy.
19 kids! And despite the ER visit, it was a fairly smooth day.
I love me a silly shot.
Then the grown ups. Prom shot first.
And then a normal one. Because we're normal.
And finally, the ladies! I like a nice cheer pose in addition to the silly shot.
I love that these ladies were willing to trust me and spend the whole day with us celebrating this county that we all love so very much.
Then some Ray girl silliness.
A good old fashioned totem pole! It'd be better with the rest of the 5, but sometimes you can't have it all.
Oh to get a normal shot of them. Maybe we're not all that normal?
And the bros! It was great to have dan join in the festivities.
Poor Addie was in pain all day. She had to keep her hand above her heart and just was generally uncomfortable. But she was a trooper and didn't complain too much.
The kids were really great. They had fun and played and were silly.
Almost as silly as these two.
It was a hot day that turned into a beautiful evening. And as a side note, it's rained hard the last 3 4ths in D.C.
Gorgeousness.
Addie wanted some isla action. Only isla was done with all the action. Poor loved baby.
Addie and I stopped by the medical tent for one more bag of ice for her hand and I was able to thank them for all they'd done for us. I found out all those dr's are part of a nationwide disaster team, they come for hurricanes and other epidemics. For all the times the government lets us down, they really got it right that day having all the medial tents set up and stocked, and we were so blessed by their service. I told them so, and as we walked away one of the dr's chased after us and asked if I would talk to one of their supervisors that had just showed up. He ended up wanting to film my story, so who knows, I might just be on some disaster relief training video giving thanks. But really, we were so grateful.
Finally it was time for the show. At 9:09 the fireworks started. They were set to fun music and it was an even better show that the last time we saw it. It was long, choreographed, and had some super fun happy faces and shapes. It was awesome!
We hung out afterwards to let the crowds die down a bit. We wagon trained with uncle dan and the Dorn's back to our parking garage. We had a lot of stuff - the canopy, big cooler, water cooler, chairs and food and supplies for all of us - that it was so nice to have dan there to help.
We hung out afterwards to let the crowds die down a bit. We wagon trained with uncle dan and the Dorn's back to our parking garage. We had a lot of stuff - the canopy, big cooler, water cooler, chairs and food and supplies for all of us - that it was so nice to have dan there to help.
We passed the monster lines for the metro and braved the crowds as we made our way - 6 kids and 5 adults, 2 strollers, 1 beach buggy, 1 beach wagon, 1 canopy, 1 rolling cooler - slowly traipsing the streets of D.C. We had an easy time getting out of the garage and then no traffic and lots of fireworks left to see. Addie stayed awake the whole time, but the other girls fell asleep pretty quickly. It was another wonderful 4th in D.C. and I'm totally up for another year, hopefully without the trip to the hospital next time.
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