it's the thought that counts

Today was Cale's parent/teacher conference.  I scheduled it for 3:30 knowing that I'd have some time to kill after picking up Coby and Cale from school but it needed to be early so I could make it to Connor's baseball game (he leaves on the bus directly from school on game days).  I planned on hanging out in the car with the boys until the meeting but the boys reminded me that the book fair was going on....they thought they'd just head over to it while I was in my meeting!  haha....NO way was that going to happen.  I mean I know that Coby would be on his best bahavior, but Cale?  Well, I never know, lil stinker!  So, off we headed to the school library with 20 minutes to kill before my meeting.  We looked and looked and I finally told Cale that I'd buy him an $8 book and I told Coby (who had been off on his own most of the time) that I'd do the same for him.  He told me that he didn't need $8 but that he didn't have his money with him and asked if I would loan him $4 until we got home.  I pressed him to know why and he hesitated but finally told me that there was a flower pen he wanted to buy me for my birthday (which is on Friday).  Melt. my. heart.  I gave him the loan and he was so happy to have bought me something.  The whole way home he told me how he just wanted to make me feel special and that I always make him feel special....he just kept saying that he wanted me to feel that way too!  He told me that I'd have to wait until my birthday for my new pen but that once I got it, he hoped I'd think of him when I used it.  Oh, I love him so!!!!

Coby has voiced a lot of concern lately that I don't get a cake for my birthday.  Tonight I asked him if he'd like to make me one.  He was SO excited!!!!  Cale overheard the conversation and came in to say that Coby should make me an angel food cake (one of my favorite cakes ever!) because I'm an angel.  Haha....FAR from it, but it was cute and sweet for him to say.  That boy should be a politician!!!  He always says the right thing at the right time.

I love being a mom to the boys.  It's the hardest job ever for sure, but I am SO blessed by my little family.  I love that they love me so despite my many failings as a mom.

And so I don't forget...the conference went GREAT!  Cale is rocking school.  So thankful for that, too!

re-entry

This post is really just for me because I don't want to forget....

Yesterday marked my re-entry into the world.  I was given the go ahead by my doctor to both bear weight (with protective boot) and drive once I felt comfortable at the 8 week post-surgery mark (which was 8.5 weeks post-break).  Weight bearing went alright, but I quickly learned that after not using a leg/ankle/foot for so long it just doesn't want to do the things it used to do.  I really thought that I'd be driving the minute I was given the go ahead, but unfortunately my ankle/foot didn't want to do that.  I went out to the car one day to just see how it would feel to sit in the driver's seat and get a feel for the gas/brake pedals.  Sadly, my foot couldn't even press down on the brakes...AT ALL. :(  I cried and cried.  But then I decided to suck it up and do the work necessary to get back at it.  I upped my daily exercises which consist of writing the alphabet in the air with my foot (and I even added picking up marbles with my toes after a little research) and I knew that eventually I'd feel comfortable driving but until then I just needed to suck it up and enjoy my time  tolerate being chauffeured around (MUCH easier said than done).   The boys had a dental appointment yesterday and I knew it was time to give driving a go.  It scared me to death!  I honestly thought about canceling, but I knew it was time....it had been 10 weeks since I had last driven outside the neighborhood (I did take three test drives IN the 'hood just to build up confidence ahead of time).  I was nervous to drive my boys outside the confines of the neighborhood, but deep down I knew that I was ready.  I drove my boys to the dentist and it felt so good.  In fact, it felt so good that we spent much of the day away from home...after the dentist we just ran several boring errands but it was so nice to be able to even do that.  Last night I paid the price with a very swollen and sore ankle but it was worth it.  Being stuck at home for 2.5 months without being able to leave unless someone could take me was really depressing.  Most days I didn't even get out of sweats, fix my hair or put on make-up...what was the point I would tell myself!?!  So it was nice to get out with the boys by myself again and I think the boys loved it too!  Yesterday I felt myself slowly come back to life.

Another first happened today.  I went shopping ALONE (at Sam's Club).  It was the first time in ten and a half weeks since I have been anywhere by myself.  It was so nice and I  think I must've had a smile on my face the entire time I was shopping.  People probably thought I was a little weird but I didn't care!  I felt so free and normal (well, minus the large boot covering half of my right leg!).

Now I have to say that driving is a bit of a pain because I have to wear the big protective black boot (BPBB) out to the car, change into a regular shoe once in the car (can't drive with the boot, but can't walk without it), get to destination and put the BPBB on once again...and on and on.  But, it's SO totally worth it!!!  I'm just thankful to be walking and driving again.  Independence is SO nice!!!  

Next up....I'm looking forward to losing the BPBB!  Hopefully I'll get the go ahead in a few weeks.  I'm learning that there's always something to look forward to. :) 

change

Last night as I got in bed I couldn't help but take note of the fact that I was able to get in bed easily for a change.  I find myself frequently discouraged by the things that I cannot do, but last night I was excited to realize that things are slowly getting easier (I'm three weeks out from my surgery).   Pre-surgery and for awhile after, I had to have Darren hold my splint covered leg in one place and then my ankle as well.  I couldn't even lift it up to my bed without feeling my broken ankle bones.  He had to do all of the work for me and it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt.   It was horrific.  But little by little, things are getting better and I don't want to take it for granted. I've come a long way and today I want to count my blessings...even if they do seem little.

As I laid in bed last night I got tickled as I looked around the room.  My room looks like it belongs in a nursing home.  Here are a few things that caught my eye...

I have to sleep with my leg elevated above my heart.  That takes three pillows.)

I get to sleep with this monstrosity on.  I'm a lucky girl. ha  Cale even asked me the other night where daddy sleeps because he couldn't figure out how daddy would fit in bed with me, the boot and all of my pillows.  There are 7 in our bed...I counted them when I couldn't sleep.

This is what my life has come to.  Crossword puzzles and iphone games.  Blah.  I get SO bored at night because I can't sleep with this big ole boot on, plus my ankle just aches all night long {especially on cold nights thanks to all of my hardware :(}.

One of my favorite things that I see daily are sweet little notes the boys put on my nightstand during the day so I'll be surprised when I go to bed. :)  I am so blessed!!!  The white one if from Cale and the green one is from Coby {it had a sucker attached...doesn't get much better than that!} 

my water {I have never been so thirsty in my life} and daily morning meds {so I don't have to go to the kitchen to get them}  A book is also a must!  I started and finished an entire book two nights ago.  It cured my night time boredom and took my mind off of the pain,  but boy was I tired the next day!

Good thing I'm not much of a T.V. watcher while in bed because if I were my view would be quite obstructed!

my trusty knee walker is always by the bed.  I have to get up many times during the night {it's all that water!}.  My basket carries my magazines, house shoe {not shoe(s) since I only need one.  It hangs out up there because that is one thing that Ellie likes to chew}, chap stick, the rest of my boot that I don't sleep with  and other "necessities".}  And something that is not a change is Ellie all curled up in her bed.  She always sleeps like that. :)

What can I say?  I was bored last night.  This was at midnight...couldn't sleep. :(  

This is probably the funniest change.  If I want to soak in the tub {and when it's cold, I do want to!} I have to cover my right leg with this little number.  Ahem.  You should see it when it's all rolled up.  I laugh every time I put it on but I am SO thankful to have it.

turkey lunch

Darren and I had the privilege of eating with Cale at school today.  I'm sure many other parents wouldn't feel the same, but I love the schools Thanksgiving Feast and actually look forward to eating there.  It was a tasty meal.

Waiting in line...this boy needs a haircut bad!

Cale had to turn a turkey into a community worker.  Of course we had to make him into a k-9 police officer.  Our instructions were that he had to have something on the face and feathers depicting the career.  Thanks to GramPat we came up with this....

Meet Officer Mitt Romney (Cale named him...so funny!)

reading machine

This has become a common sight in our house lately...

Cale absolutely loves to read.  Actually all three of the boys love reading.  BUT for today I want to remember this about Cale.  Up until a few months ago he absolutely despised reading.  In fact, he would tell everyone that he didn't know how to read (which was NOT true and we knew it because he has known all of his letter sounds for years...he learned them way back when Coby learned them and WE knew that Cale could read, but he sure didn't want anyone else to think he could.  Grrr.).

This all changed when he started first grade.  We really lucked out with Cale's teacher this year.  She has her masters in {something to do with} reading SO she really pushes reading on her class.  Within a week of being in her class she had Cale totally excited about  reading.  It was amazing how all of the sudden he had this strong desire to read and he just fell in love with it!  Now he is constantly walking around with a book in his hands.  Back before he "knew how to read" he would choose dinosaur books and dinosaur dictionaries to read.  Now he's moved onto learning about snakes and ocean creatures (I had NO idea there were so many types of snakes!).  But what really cracks me up are the books he chooses at the school library.  He goes as often as he can (sometimes more than once a day) and he usually brings home one or two biographies home to read to me.  I am learning about all kinds of people that I've never heard of. :)  I love it.  I wonder how many other first graders choose biographies?  He loves them and loves learning about people from the past.

Tonight when I went to have him turn his lights out, I caught him reading his first {big for him} chapter book.  I guess he raided Coby's bookshelf.  He is about a quarter of the way through a Geronimo Stilton book and he seems to be enjoying it.

I just love that Cale has finally decided that reading is fun.  Reading is one of my favorite hobbies and I am so glad that my boys enjoy it as much as I do.

{I just have to add that Cale told me a month or so ago that the more he reads, the more stamina he is building for reading. I LOVE it! :)}

well child check-ups

I took the boys to the doctor at the end of July for their well child check-ups.  I think they enjoyed the visit WAY too much....

Connor had four shots and apparently a lot of kids his age pass out afterward.  So, they wanted him to lie down for 10 minutes before we could be released.  

this lasted all of 30 seconds after the nurse left and then the boys were back to their shenanigans....

the three stooges...thankful that they're all smiles even on shot days (only for Connor)

Here are the stats for the year...

Connor was 74 pounds (two months later he now weighs 78 lbs) and 56 inches tall.  All signs pointed to the fact that he is in puberty.  SO not thrilled about that.

Coby was 66 pounds (however just two months later he is weighing in at 71 lbs) and 51.5 inches tall.

Cale was 40 pounds and 44 inches tall (and two months later he is still 40 pounds).

I am so thankful for these wild, healthy, energetic boys!

fall ball

Connor started fall ball several weeks ago.  Fall ball is my favorite time for sure.  The weather is great and it is more relaxed that the regular season which in nice.  Connor is having a great season...he is such a great little baseball player.  I love watching him play and he just seems so at ease when he is on the field.  I had to laugh at one of the parents the other night.  They were getting frustrated that their own son kept striking out.  Then Connor was up to bat.  The dad said, "Well at least Connor's up.  He'll get a hit...he always gets a hit.  We can always count on Connor.  He's predictable."  He just went on and on about what a great hitter Connor is and commented that he is also an excellent fielder.  He kept talking about what a great ball player Connor is.  I love hearing other people brag on my boy!  I'm so proud to be his mom...he is a GREAT kid.

I wish I had a picture of Connor from the fall season but I don't :(  However, I do have a picture from after Thursday night's game.  Connor got nailed in the shoulder while at bat.  It was a hard hit, but Connor was such a trooper.  I was so proud of him (I know he wanted to cry but there is NO way he'd do that in front of his friends).

this picture doesn't do it justice.  It was so red in person.  

Poor guy.  Hopefully next weeks games will be a bit less painful.