5-2

I am still winning, but the score is getting closer.

The score now stands:

Corey - 5
Cayce - 2

I hope this is the final score.

You may ask yourself "What are you playing?" Well, we are not playing hockey, baseball, or or softball. We are definitely not playing basketball, horseshoes or four-square (No spins on Serves!).

The game is: Broken Arms

Yep. My daughter broke her arm on Wednesday night. The second time that is happened to her in her first 9 years on this earth. Ah, the joys of parenting. I would rather have my arm cut off than see her in pain like I did on Wednesday.

Here's the story (I know you both were wondering). Cayce and one of her friends were out jumping on our trampoline. See now, Cayce weighs roughly 45 pounds. Her friend weighs roughly 90. Now here is the cool thing about Physics. When a kid double your size jumps on a trampoline and you hit the rebound right...well, do the math. You fly roughly halfway to the moon. However, this time when that happens, it seems that the trampoline doesn't quite show up under you in the right spot. Cayce's legs went through the springs and she fell backwards off the trampoline. She did a great job of catching herself...that is until her arm snapped. (Grossed out yet? Wait til I post the x-rays...)

As three kids run in the house saying "Cayce's really hurt!!" I felt my heart drop to my stomach and saw a blur run out the door...this was my wife. I didn't know I could run that fast (and admit it, neither did you). Anyway, since this happened at 5:15 and every doctor's office closes at 5:00, we ended up at the emergency room. Good timing, huh?

Cayce got the express treatment at the emergency room. They do that for kids, I found out. I also found out that 462 people ask her how she broke her arm to make sure she doesn't say "Daddy did it." Anyway, she was whisked off to Exam Room 4.

After an x-ray and about 15 minutes, a doctor comes in and starts talking to us. A nurse immediately shows up at the door and motions the doctor to come outside. I noticed the concerned look on the nurse's face. The doctor says "Are the x-rays here?" and the nurse nods, "yes...get out here." The doctor looks at the x-ray and I hear her say "Wow. That is one for the scrapbook." This is never good. She then re-emerged and told us Cayce would be having surgery in a little while. She had completely broken her humerus bone above her elbow. In fact, the swelling we thought she had in her arm was actually her bone pressing up against the skin. This had to feel below average.

I head outside to call everyone we know and hear the nurses at the nurse's station say "Did you see the x-ray for Room 4? Her bone took a left turn about halfway down. Ouch." This is not comforting.

Anyway, to make a long story short (too late). Cayce's arm was realigned in Surgery and she had two pins inserted into her bone. She will be out 6-8 weeks. Barring a setback she should be ready for the playoffs.

I know, you might be wondering about the score. Yes, I broke my arm five times growing up. The last time was when I was a freshman in High School. In fact, when I was three, I broke one arm and then two weeks later I broke the other one. People at church looked at my parents a little strangely, I am told. Maybe I was clumsy, but I like to think of it as daring and adventurous. You say to-may-to...I say to-mah-to.

There you have it. I am leading 5-2. Let's hope it stays that way.

By the way...anyone want to buy a trampoline?

Random thoughts to start your week...

Just a few thoughts to randomly kick off the week. Be careful, my mind is a scary place.

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Speaking of Scary. I love Halloween. I admit it. I love scary stuff, carving pumpkins and letting my kids trick or treat. So many parents are anti-Halloween. I just don't get it.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't want fake pools of blood at the doorstep or Kyle (my 7 year old) chasing away Trick or Treaters with a chainsaw (isn't that a funny image), but I dig Halloween. If it is done right and honor is given to God, it can be a fun experience. Can't it? I grew up with ghosts, witches, pumpkins and bats around the house. I am not a serial killer (as far as you know). I just want my kids to have fun with it like I did. Am I wrong? Can you do Halloween while giving honor to God?

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ACU's Volleyball team has now won 31 straight matches at home. They are number 14 in the nation. The nation! That team is unbelievable. We played Eastern New Mexico last Thursday night and dominated them. Amanda Slate hit the ball so hard that when one of Eastern's players tried to dig it out, it knocked her clean off her feet. Greatness.

We played our bitter, bitter, bitter rival West Texas A&M Saturday. I was so nervous. I knew Tennessee and Georgia were playing, I knew it was Texas-OU, but I was nervous nonetheless. Call me crazy.

But nervous for no reason. ACU hammered WT and put us in great position to win the South Division. They dominated them. If you haven't been to a game and have the means, I highly recommend it. It is a blast.

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Is there a catchier song than "I Wanna Be Sedated" by the Ramones? I don't even like the Ramones and I can't stop singing that song. Someone help me.

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I watched the replay of Chris Burke's homer to beat the Braves over and over on TiVo. I still contest that the emotion of a big game winning play is one of the greatest things to behold. They showed a shot of the dugout with the crowd behind it as Burke hit the home run. You saw everyone leap to their feet in anticiptation and then raise their arms and jump up and down when the ball leaves the yard. It was a sight to behold. Just another reason why I love sports.

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ACU's Homecoming is this weekend. I'm a sucker for homecoming. I love seeing people who I may or may not remember and who may or may not remember me. It is all about awkward conversations, which are hilarious to me. There will be stories about friends who climbed the walls at Nelson to run through the girl's dorm, playing Tecmo Bowl until 3 a.m. and who had the best prank in Mabee. Homecoming is all about the social/spiritual side of ACU. There aren't a lot of conversations like this:

"Remember Professor Hancock's English class? That was a fascinating discussion of "The Scarlet Letter" we had that Wednesday."

"I know. I will never forget that day we studied Hamlet's Soliloquy. I still have the notes!"

Maybe there are these conversations. I just am not a part of them. Which speaks to my "academic prowess", I guess. Anyway, I can't wait for homecoming. Let the awkward conversations begin.

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Finally, after the best game ever, Tennessee promptly put up a doinker against Georgia. LSU must be terrible, because Tennessee is one of the worst football teams I have seen in a while. No offense. Lazy Defense. Horrible playcalling. It was awful to watch.

That is the thing with Tennessee football. One week you get a great comeback, the next you get squat. It has always been this way. Tennessee never has blowouts. It's always close and therefore always stressful. Plus, their schedule is stacked with strong opponents (I understand that logic) but then when they do get a cupcake, they just squeak by (see: UAB and Ole Miss). But, oh well, I guess you have to take the good and take the bad, take 'em both and there you have...

That is a long way to go for a Facts of Life joke. But I couldn't resist.

I do think Natalie and Tootie could start for the Vols though...