For the Love of .......Basketball

Lauren wanted to try out for the local Girls 12U Basketball Team ~ even though she had never played before. We were thrilled that she "made" the Team ~ actually if you showed up for the Tryouts ~ you "made" the Team.


She's one of the youngest on the Team with absolutely no experience and so she had to learn very quickly. The 2 hour practices were very intense ~ but she loved every minute of it. Lauren had fallen in love with this exciting game called Basketball.


The photo above shows Lauren "shooting" and then praying that the Ball goes through the Hoop.



So, last weekend at one of her Tournaments ~ she broke her arm. After she fell and landed on her arm ~ she jumped up and ran back into place ~ holding her arm. Lauren's so tough that she was going to continue playing with a broken arm. It's official ~ she doesn't take after me. The Ref blew his whistle and wouldn't let her play with that severe of an injury. I knew her arm was bothering her ~ but I had no idea at the time that it was broken. She never even cried ~ well until we got in the car ~ then she made up for it.


It took me FOREVER to get her to the Emergency Room ~ 45 minutes ~ which was 45 minutes too long. The rumor that I considered stopping for Dinner on the way to the ER is true. However, I didn't want to stop for a "sit down" 4 course meal ~ just a quick Burger. That's all I wanted was a little Burger from a Drive-thru and I was willing to eat it in the Car while driving. No, of course I didn't stop ~ even though I knew we would be waiting for hours in the ER.


Fortunately, Park was at the Beach "chaperoning" Alexandra's 16th Birthday Party ~ a mere 5 minutes from the Hospital. Thankfully ~ he brought us some food and we had a little Picnic in the ER. Now, keep in mind that I'm a germaphob ~ but I quickly got over it and eating our delicious meal helped pass the time.



They lost their Tournament ~ but they continue to improve. Hopefully, they will win at least one of their Games at the AAU Tournament in Gainesville this weekend. Lauren is going to attend ~ even though she can't play.





I didn't realize that it would raise "red flags" when you take a Minor into the ER with two fractures in less than two months. Lauren's broken finger had just healed from an earlier Basketball injury. Fortunately ~ there was a whole Gymnasium full of witnesses that could testify to how she broke her arm. Actually, they were really nice about it in the ER ~ I'm just glad that she was still wearing her Basketball Uniform and didn't change her clothes before we went. It added a lot of credibility to our "Story".


This is a picture of her Team warming up before the Tournament.


I thought that maybe after two fractures due to Basketball that she might want to quit playing. However, she still wants to be on the Team and she's been attending Practice even though she can't participate. We've signed her up for a Basketball Camp this Summer ~ which will start the week after she (hopefully) gets her Cast off. She really loves this fast paced Game called Basketball.

This photo (above) is further documentation that I'm the World's Worst Photographer. Maybe it would help if I actually read the thick "Novel" that came with my Camera ~ entitled "Instructions". Lauren looks like some type of Alien with those "piercing" eyes ~ doesn't she? Maybe it's the Carrots I've been buying ~ guess we should switch to Organic Carrots.

Lauren was such a lucky little Bunny that her Orthopedic Doctor recommended a Gore-Tex lined Cast. She wanted a red cast to match her Team Colors ~ but since red wasn't an option she picked the Blue.

We're so thrilled with her waterproof cast ~ this Gore-Tex Liner is a Fabulous invention. She can go swimming, take a shower and wash her hands without worrying about keeping her cast dry. This revolutionary new Cast Liner is much more comfortable than the old fashioned cotton lined "models". Here's the info from the Gore Procel website:

When a fiberglass cast padded with GORE PROCEL® Cast Liner gets wet, most of the water drains quickly out of the ends of your cast. The remaining moisture is warmed by body heat, becomes vapor and passes through the Cast Liner and fiberglass casting tape. No special drying is necessary.

So, it's now been a week since her accident and she's doing great!! Thanks to her Gore-Tex Procel Cast Liner ~ she's still able to go swimming, take a shower and wash both of her hands. It is a little more expensive than the normal cast liner ~ but well worth it.

Lauren is wearing an outfit from the J. C. Penney "American Living" Collection. It reminds me of the Ralph Lauren brand of clothing. It's just as trendy as the Polo line ~ but not nearly as expensive.

I Love this new "American Living" line and it's even on sale right now. They have so many cute styles to choose from and your local Store might even "carry" it ~ so that you don't have to pay shipping. Hop over here to see the whole line of "American Living" Products!!

Lauren's Coach sent the Team the following quote. I thought it was a perfect quote for this Team of Young Ladies ~

Thoughts determine Destiny

Watch your thoughts, they become words;
Watch your words, they become actions;
Watch your actions, they become habits;
Watch your habits, they define character;
Watch your character, it determines your “destiny”

- Author Unknown