We recently celebrated our birthday girl…Miss Ahnalaya Ann. She turned six. She had quite the celebration.
I thought I would share photos of our wonderful day.
Have I mentioned I am loving the family bonding we are getting in since we are all back together??? 😜 Maybe just a few times. Would hate to be unclear about how much I love my fam. A dream come true right here!!! LOTS of hard work to get here. 😍
Hornet Sting
Thought I would share a couple of stories related to this party. If you have a squeamish stomach…don’t read my two stories. Check out the pics and move on. 😆
A few days before the party, I was visiting with the kids. I love to stand and watch Donovan grill. While watching, I looked down and noticed his leg had some issues. The swelling in his ankle bothered me a bit. He proceeds to tell me the story of his issues with ground hornets while mowing. He was getting stung each time he mowed. This last time, he found the nest and used gas to destroy them.
One of the stings on the ankle was quite swollen.
A day or two later, I see his ankle again and it is worse. I said to him…son…you need to deal with this swelling. It is getting worse. He mentioned it was itching now too. His diagnosis was…he thought the stinger was still in his skin. As I was leaving, I saw him scratching at his ankle trying to scrape the stinger out.
The Story
While sitting at our birthday dinner, Donovan was on my left. Vanessa is on my right. He starts to tell me the story of getting the stinger out.
Vanessa is eating and doesn’t want to revisit the story…but my son is ornery…so he keeps going.
He was sharing with me since the ankle was so swollen, the stinger was down in a well. He couldn’t see it. Also, it was hard for him to get to…since it was his foot. He wanted Vanessa to help get the stinger out.
She tried…but started gagging. Vanessa ended up going outside while he dug it out…so she didn’t vomit. The story is hysterical to hear Donovan tell it and Vanessa chiming in with her take on it.
Donovan was telling me he started by taking fingernail clippers, pinching the skin, and cutting chunks of skin off to get to the stinger. Later, he pulled out his pocket knife…that worked.
He proudly displayed his ankle to me while at dinner. The swelling is now down and back to the right coloring…with a lovely circle where the hole is filling in with a scab.
He was so proud of himself. It made me smile. I so get that feeling. It reminded me of the next little story to share.
Smashed Thumb
Years ago, around 11:30…midnight…I smashed my thumb. Don’t remember how I did that. Pretty sure I was doing something stupid. I have a long history of hurting myself. Being excessive and extreme…hasn’t always been a positive thing for me.
When I smashed my thumb, instantly…under the thumbnail started turning purple. The pressure was intense. I knew the blood was causing the painful pressure building up under there. It was obvious to me…I was going to lose the thumbnail.
I am trying not to pass out from the experience. Ya know when you feel like you aren’t sure what is happening to your body? Like…you are wondering…am I going to have diarrhea? Am I going to vomit? Am I going to pass out? You feel hot and cold at the same time? Crazy how your body reacts like that to pain.
While this is happening, I am trying to figure out how I can drill a hole in my thumbnail. I am also wondering if I can do that myself.
My kids were already in bed. I considered waking up one of the older two kids to help me. However, they were squeamish…passed out at the sight of blood and needles. Even if I woke them up, I didn’t believe they would help…or would be able to help me.
The Plan
I decided to try heating one of my sewing needles up and jamming it into my thumbnail to release the pressure. Man…I could feel my heartbeat throbbing in that nail.
I ran to the toolbox and found a pair of pliers. Ran downstairs to the basement and got my sewing needle.
Turned our gas stove burner on and got that needle HOT! 🔥
The first try was a FAIL. Not pleasant.
After a major pep talk with myself and a second heating of the needle…I jammed that needle down into that thumbnail. It burned its way through and out popped the blood.
ALL BETTER!!!! Wow! I was so relieved it worked.
I was so proud of myself!!! And no audience to show my wonderful work. 😂
This is why I could relate to Donovan’s story of digging that stinger out. He made a mess with the little hole in his foot, but he got the job done!!
He is his mother’s son. 😍
I hope you enjoy my photos from our wonderful birthday party. Love spending time with my fam.
