Sticks and stones may break my bones...

And so can walking on a rope.

A five-minute, Wednesday-morning work break for Richie forced us into a few life changes for the next few months.

But that's a big understatement. Summer trips are cancelled; our apartment at Orchard Park is temporarily abandoned; Bethany's parents' room has been surrendered to The Armstrong Three; and bathroom commodes, walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, bandages, you-name-its have littered the Sorbellos' home.

Wednesday morning, Richie took a little work break to drink his Postum coffee(ish) drink and to go see what the rest of us were up to. Gracie is now home from North Carolina, Liz is visiting from Indiana, and we were up to fun things every day.

So Richie walked out and saw us playing on a "slack line." (Basically, a rope tied between two trees. Kind of like a tightrope, but much closer to the ground.) Richie had tried it a previous night and had wowed us with how quickly he picked up slacklining skills.

Although everyone falls in slacklining, this time, Richie fell in a horrible twist that put all of his weight on his right hip. The surgeon said he hit "the perfect spot." We heard a horrible, loud sound of bone hitting ground, and he was paralyzed in pain. We called 9-1-1; the ambulance zoomed him to the hospital; he had surgery involving a metal plate, bolt, and screws; and he was closed up with 28 metal staples.

That's the story in a nutshell. Although he did some major damage (his femur broke cleanly off the the ball of his hip, and his femur had a large crack going down), how grateful we are that he did not hit his head or break his neck! Richie will be the first to tell you that God is up to something good in all of this. (But of course, Good does not mean Enjoyable.) (And Good does not mean that we are not completely and utterly exhausted.) God has been faithful in the past, and He will no doubt be faithful again. Here are some pictures to document our recent "adventure."


Gracie visited Richie in the hospital and drew an illustration on the white board for other visitors and the nurses to see. Thanks, Grace.


Lukey visited his daddy in the hospital. What does a baby do in a hospital?


He spits.


He cuddles.


He plays with ID bands. (And tries to eat them.)


He sucks on his daddy's gown.


He searches (in vain) for Daddy's "nummies."


He sucks his own hands, since nummies are nowhere to be found.


He stares.


He plays.


He poses.


He grabs balloons. (And tries to suck out the helium.)


He laughs and cheers us all up!


Today Richie was discharged, after three nights in the hospital. Dad's Lexus sped him home. Only the best would do.


Hooray! He can stand! (But no weight on his right leg for a couple more months...)


Gracie made Richie the world's largest root-beer float to celebrate his arrival home.

Please remember us in your prayers. We want Richie to heal up well!