New Year, New Post

Mimi, Boppy and the grandkids

Well, I'm finally putting up a new post. I know it's been a while but with the holidays and all, enough said. Our household is getting back into a routine. Jason returned to work this week and got his green cast off (both on Monday). He's driving himself with his left foot and his right foot is basically on the passenger's side and would be very difficult to move to use, even if he tried. He is improving and is now allowed to bear weight on the right foot but his road to recovery is still long.

Emily has been starting to babysit a little more. She had a job for Jason and I this past Saturday (we are really liking a built-in babysitter) and has a job lined up for this Friday night! Junior high is being kind to her and I must say that this year has a lot less drama than last year!

Ella is enjoying school and said she couldn't wait to get back to learn new things. She has decided she wants to play soccer this spring but Jason and I are going to wait a little closer to the sign up dead line to make sure that her mind doesn't change. Ella got a new desk and three reams of copying paper for Christmas (her favorite present) and has been busy cranking out the "books". I'm sure she'd write one for anyone who requests one.

David has changed very little, besides his hair which I cut just before Christmas. It's a lot shorter now and I wasn't sure of it at first but it's grown on me. He is enjoying his many Chirstmas gifts too.

Christmas Day

Jason, the night before his cast came off!

Christmas Cookie Day!

Jason doing what he does best these days

Before I get into Christmas Cookie Day, I'll give a quick update on Jason. He went to the doctor yesturday for a post-op checkup. The doctor said Jason was doing very well and that everything looked great. Jason will still not be able to bear weight on his right foot for 2-3 weeks and won't be able to drive with that foot till March. He got a new cast (this one is now bright lime green) and copies of his x-rays so he can share his break with one and all. He's doing well since cutting down on the narcotics and adding Ibuprofen to the routine. Jason's plan is to return to work in early January (driving with his left foot, not a good idea from my point of view). That's it on the Green Gimp!



Now for Christmas Cookie Day! Mimi, Boppy, Jennifer, Finn, Carolyn, Max, Gus, Jason, myself, Emily, Ella, and David were all in attendance to make cookies at the condo. Many cookies were made, eaten and I believe a good time was had by all. It was snowing for the majority of the time and made the spirit of it all seem more festive (the Christmas music didn't hurt either)! Provided below are pictures from the day! Enjoy!!

Emily on childcare duty!

David and his "TOWER OF SPRINKLES!"

The cookie assembly line

Chocolate? What chocolate?!

The end of Jason's soccer career (?)

As many of you have heard by now Jason broke his leg last Wednesday December 5th while playing indoor soccer. He says he can't exactly recall what happened but knows that he and the goalie of the other team were both going for the ball and collided and his leg snapped, apparentnly very loudly because everyone else heard it too. He had fractured both his tibia and fibula of his right leg (midshaft break). I got a call from his friend Micah at about 10:10pm to let me know what had happened. Thankfully my father was able to come over and stay at my house while I went to Mercy Fairfield to be with Jason in the ER.

We were in the ER till about 4am and while there they reduced his tibia and put him in a splint. I was able to get him in to see one of the doctors I work with at 11am that Thursday morning. It was decided that he needed surgery (something I could tell just looking at his broken leg in the ER) and a metal rod was going to be placed in his tibia. While there they also replaced his ER splint with another more comfortable splint.


Jason had surgery Saturday morning at 7:30am at Jewish Hospital. The surgery took 2.5 hours and he recovered in the PACU for about another 4 hours. Thankfully he was the only one there and I was able to sit with him for a while during recovery. I am also grateful for my family who sat with me during and after the surgery to keep me company and occupied. The surgeon said everything went well and that he should be able to put weight on that leg in three to four weeks. He will definitely be on crutches for two months and in some type of cast/splint/boot for 4 to 6 months.


Now that he is home our challenge is keeping him comfortable and sane. As those who know him well already know, he's not used to being kept down and is a stubborn guy. He's finding out that he has to slow down and take it easy. I told him that I've been after him for a year to slow down in all aspects of his life but he wouldn't listen. God decided to break his leg to get him to listen, never underestimate the power of a praying wife! (Just kidding, God knows what He's doing and why, I'm sure it's not because of me!)


Thanks for taking the time to read the blog and I'll try to post more updates soon. Also provided below is the address of an image that is similar to what Jason's tibia rod looks like. I couldn't transfer the image successfully, so you can go to this address and see it!

http://z.about.com/d/orthopedics/1/8/p/1/tibialrodap.jpg

Ella's Christmas Wish

Ella had perfect timing loosing some teeth recently, as much as you can! She now no longer has to wonder what she'll ask for Christmas (not like it's a real problem anyway!) All she wants for this Chirstmas is "Her two front teeth"! I came home from work this past Friday to find Ella with her remaining front tooth blowing in and out of her mouth with each breath she took. Jason said she would not let him touch her mouth but as I was Mommy, maybe I could convince her. Needless to say I did finally persuade her to let me get the obviously very, very loose tooth out of her mouth. I had barely touched the tooth and it fell out in the tissue I was holding. You can see Ella's proud results below!

Posing for Mom right after the big event!

Showing off her new look to Boppy the next day!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Our Thanksgiving weekend was quiet and yet very productive at our house. Thanksgiving dinner was shared and enjoyed by all who attended! On the Friday, Alison and Emily got up with the crazy shoppers and got some good deals at Best Buy, Target and Meijer. Later on that day I was able to convince Jason that it was time to redo our upstairs hallway bathroom. The project was originally just going to include some painting but Jason's mentality was that if we were going to do it we were doing it all the way! So provided below are the before and after video I took (taken with the new digital camcorder I got at Best Buy)!

Bathroom Before Remodel

Bathroom After Remodel

November News

Not much news from us this week. School is going well for all, the chill is in the air and the leaves are almost all off the trees. Emily had to deal with getting Strep throat this week, she has since recovered and still taking her antibiotics. Jason spent this past Saturday with three other guy friends riding around at an ATV park in nearby Indiana. While Jason was busy doing this the rest of us went to see "Bee Movie" along with Jennifer, Joe, and Finn. Overall the movie was enjoyable, Jerry Seinfeld's humor was enjoyable, but there were a few questionable points.

Ella had her first King's Kids Choir (kids church choir) performance at church this morning. She did very well by focusing on what she had to do and accomplishing it. I'll include the video I took so you can get a taste of it too! She was very proud of herself (as are Jason and I) also, those at church who know her well commented on what a good job she did. I will say that in the video her shirt is untucked but that is NOT the way I sent her to the choir, but kids will be kids and shirts get untucked (or tucked out as my sister's and I like to say!). Enjoy the video, maybe we'll have some more news soon!

Happy Halloween!

I beleive a good time was had by all last night. We trick or treated over at Mamaw and Papaw's house and only did their street. We were joined by Jess, T-pat, and Nataliya. It was a beautiful night and we couldn't have asked for better weather. I had a good time passing out candy and the kids seemed to have a good time collecting it (Mom and Dad are happy with the haul!) Here are some photos of last night for your enjoyment!

Here's our pumpkin we carved the other night!

All the kids dressed up!

Two purple dragons and a princess!

Having fun going door to door!