Visa Run to Oman

This morning, mom and Chris drove to Oman (a neighboring country), turned around and came back in order for mom to renew her visa.

When you arrive at the airport in Dubai, US citizens are granted a 30-day tourist visa. When this expires, you are supposed to be out of the country or face heavy fines. When we knew that mom's stay was going to exceed her visa we called the US Consulates office to find out how to renew her visa. In very simple terms, they said "just drive to Oman, get an exit stamp as you leave the UAE and get a new visa when you re-enter." In talking to other people here, this is known as the Visa run and is very common practice. The Oman border is a little over an hour from Dubai.

Savannah and I stayed at home, so that she wouldn't be in the car that entire time. It was my first time, alone with Savannah and she was so sweet! I asked her to help me change her diaper and she laid right down on the floor. It is like she somehow understands that my arm is broken and that she has to help me out.

There are actual mountains in Oman...not the mountains like we are used to but definitely a rockier terrain than sandy Dubai.

Fun at Home!

Since my mom has now been here for weeks, she gets to see what Savannah and I do on a day-to-day basis. We can't go sight-seeing everyday!

Savannah is now fascinated with shoes, which I have no idea where she could have gotten that from!! She also picked out this polka-a-dress when Christmas shopping with my parents, so granddad had to get it for her! She also loves to play outside on the patio, sometimes to actually play and sometimes just to hang out!

No Surgery Required!!!!

I went for my CT Scan today, the good news is that I do not need surgery! It is definitely a bad break, but it seems to be broken cleanly so it should heal on its own, with time and physical therapy.

Now I just have to be patient! Also, I was supposed to run the Dubai Marathon on January 27th. I was so close to being done with my training program, but haven't run since the morning of my fall in Austria and did not get permission from the doctor to run with a broken shoulder so sadly the marathon will have to wait. :(

Popsicles,Swimming and the Park

Today we made fruit popsicles (thanks Pinterest), went swimming and went to the park with our AWA playgroup. The popsicles was a great treat to enjoy outside and ride before we went swimming. This morning at the park, Savannah figured out that she could go down the slide by herself, so that is all she did for the two hours we were at the park!

New Sand Toys

What is a trip to the beach without new sand toys? Santa finally brought Savannah new sand toys for the beach. She loved playing with the watering can. She kept running down to the water, attempting to fill it up and walking back to the sand. She also loves just running into the water, without any fear. Chris, my mom and I took turns standing at the water's edge! She is so much fun to take to the beach and is easily entertained for hours!

Swimming!

Just before Chris and I left on our trip we introduced Savannah to swimming "wings". I let her wear them around the house for awhile and then we tested them out at the pool. She didn't seem to mind them but wasn't really interested in wearing them in the pool until she was swimming with my mom and dad while we were in Austria. Now she doesn't seem to mind them. She loves that she can now "touch" the bottom in the kiddie pool and I think enjoys the freedom that the wings allow. Today she even started swimming on her belly!

We also had lunch with my mom at the Dubai Mall. It is so nice to be able to eat outside in January! We even timed it right that we could catch the Vegas style fountain show, while sitting underneath the Burj Khalfia.

Broken in Three Places...

I went to the Orthopedic surgeon today. Unfortunately, he confirmed that my shoulder is indeed broken...not just in one place but in three. He took one look at the x-ray and said "oooo, you did a number on this one"...these are never encouraging words to hear.

He is also concerned that there my be some bone displacement and rotator cuff damage, which would all have to be fixed surgically. I am scheduled to go back in a few days for a CT scan to see how bad it looks on the inside. Although it is still broken and pretty painful, I am supposed to start weaning myself out of the sling, because it is causing my shoulder and elbow to become incredibly stiff; which can cause more damage to the joints.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that it is just a bad break and will heal on its own with time.