A series of unfortunate events

Well. This day certainly didn't turn out as planned! Even though it was a string of disappointments, I had my camera packed in hopes of capturing the winning shot of Barack kissing Reed, so the whole day is dutifully recorded. Here is the breakdown:
9 am: Turned away from Hillary rally.
10 am: back home for Reed to nap. He never fell asleep, so after a while, I just put them back in the car and drove to Target. He finally fell asleep on the way to the party.

12 noon: Killian's birthday party at the Sports Arena. We got lost, had to ask for directions, and ended up at a different bowling alley where a different birthday party was happening. We realized our error, got back in the car, found the right place, and showed Skyler how to bowl:



Within 5 minutes of being there, Skyler fell with a bowling ball in her hands that crushed her thumb when she landed. She cried for about 5 minutes, but I convinced her to get up and try bowling again.

After the fall, not so happy:

She cried on and off for the rest of the party and when we left, it was big and swollen and I knew we needed to get it looked at.But because she had become rather cheerful after birthday cake, I was determined to see Obama first (bad mommy?).
2:00 pm: We came within 1/2 mile of the exit to the Bangor Civic Center and came to a halt on the highway. Okay, so we weren't the only ones who planned to see Obama.

I called my mom, who was trying to get to the Civic Center to meet us, and she reported a line of people standing in line for 10 solid blocks and unbelievable traffic jams. She couldn't even get close to the place. (Go Bangor, right?! What spirited Dems we are.) Meanwhile I was sure we needed to go get Skyler's thumb x-rayed. We gave up on the second rally of the day and headed to the ER.

Just then, a small privatish looking white plane with an American flag on the tail flew over me right toward the Bangor Airport 30 minutes before his rally was to begin. I am certain it was Obama. I just know it. And so, this is the closest I came to the man today.


Thankfully (!) my mom met us at the ER (Sam was at the championship swim meet all day today... swim season is only one more week long. Hallelujiah) to entertain Reed while I went in with Skyler. The wait wasn't so bad and Skyler was SO good (I didn't know she had it in her to be this cooperative and perfect. She charmed all the nurses and doctors.) Here, she is pointing to "How sad her thumb is" on the pain chart.

Setting up the x-ray:

They say there was no fracture, but by the look of her thumb, I have a hard time believing it. They put her in a splint and sent us home.

5:00 pm: asleep in the driveway.




I seriously considered giving up on this day and calling it a night, but Skyler had now napped for 45 minutes quite late in the day, and I really wanted to take her to the hockey game. We were given tickets by friends who have season tickets in really good seats, and I wasn't going to pass them up. Here is the fantastic end to our terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day:
We had the BEST time and Skyler was SO good and absolutely loved the game.
Another thing I didn't think I'd ever really enjoy: College Hockey. Maine is nuts over hockey, and the fans at these games belong to a whole sub culture of hilarious and quirky rituals and cheers. The whole place just hums with excitement, and it is REALLY fun.


Notice her splinted thumb.

Skyler was so animated and funny (and wiggly) that when we left, we were on a first-name basis with the 15 people sitting around us. She sat next to everyone in our section at some point, and cracked everyone up with her unique cheers. Here are my favorites:
GO ICE SKATERS!
GO Old Town!
GO Red Sox!

She was most fascinated by the penalty box (The Time Out Box... she can totally relate!) and obsessed over the fact that the big guys on the other team were "cheating" and "hitting our guys in the face!" I think she told Sam about the Time Out Box six times when we got home.

We didn't meet our candidates, but we hope to have another chance. We didn't love spending the day in the hospital, but at least she'll be okay. All's well that ends well. It didn't take Skyler long to hit the pillow tonight. If everyone would just sleep past 5:30 tomorrow, please?!?!