Our first broken bone!

2 weeks ago, Alena had an accident.

She was standing on her little rocking horse seat -
- and of course I do not encourage that!
The seat is about 6-8 inches off of the ground.
She fell.

I knew immediately.
The cry was different.
She wouldn't stand.
She wouldn't stop crying.

Off we went to Children's Hospital.

Diagnosis: spiral fracture of her right tibia.

Treatment: long leg cast (aka above the knee cast)

 

She adapted well - too well.
She started crawling, then standing, then walking.
We were assured that all of this activity was fine.

Then I noticed a weakness in the heel of the cast.
I brought casting material home from work to reinforce it.
But when I got home, the weakness turned into a blow out.
I could see her skin.

Back to Children's Hospital we went -
a new cast now.
This one has extra padding and extra fiberglass around the heel.

Hopefully this one will last-
I can't wait until September 24!

He strikes again!

2 years ago, we got kicked out of church due to Luci's behavior - which really wasn't THAT bad!  You can refer to this incident in a prior post.

Well - last Saturday night, it happened to us again - this time with Alena.

Ironically, she is pretty much the exact same age as Luci was when it happened before.

The age span of 12 months - 18 months is a challenge at church, but it's worth it to muscle through it so that the children can eventually learn how to behave appropriately during mass.

I refuse to go to the cry room for multiple reasons - my top 2 are these:
1. I wouldn't feel like a part of the congregation - I don't think that there should be segregation at church.
2. The cry room is basically another play room, and how are children supposed to learn how to behave in church if they know there is a place the play there?

My children have never been in the cry room and they will never go in there.

So - the obvious question is - why don't we just leave this parish and join another one.
Trust me, I am considering it - but there are 2 things keeping me from doing just that:
1. I LOVE our parish (excluding this priest, obviously). We have made such great friends there, and I can't bear the thought of leaving them.
2. I don't want this priest to drive us away - he can't win.

Therefore - I am being proactive in making sure that he understands that this kind of behavior is unacceptable. 

I already composed a letter to the bishop.  I actually wrote this letter 2 years ago, but  never sent it - it was more of a venting outlet for me at that time.  I edited the letter by updating it with this most recent offense, and I have every intention of sending it.

The thing that I am struggling with right now is my attitude toward attending mass - which consists of anxiety, paranoia, fear, and even anger.  These are not the emotions that should be associated with going to church.  Therefore, I have contacted our parish's deacon so that I may be able to obtain some spiritual guidance during this time.  I am hoping that he will help me through this and give me some good advice.

I am open to more advice too - hint, hint!

I probably should just go directly to this priest and confront him, but he will twist everything around and I will end up even angrier - and will probably have to go to confession afterward.

I will keep you updated on what occurs...