Just a few randoms...

I feel like I haven't had anything blog worthy in a while, so here's a few random pics of the kids we've taken over the past week:

Ethan and Maddy (she was one of our kids, before we had kids).

See my teeth mom!!

Would you please let me get that camera?!

I love his little Mohawk, but Dillon's been wanting to shave it off for awhile now. I know before long I'm going to have to cave in and let him do it, but it's so cute!

Everything in our mouth...

and a little on our nose!

Ava and Bailey...she loves getting the dogs to lay down on the rugs in her room while she plays. If we let her she would have them sleep in her bed! Boxers are so good with kids. Well, I guess they can just tolerate a lot of pulling ears, tails, collars, being ridden like a pony, and used as a step stool up to the couch, but I really don't think they mind. They would be lost without each other.

Pizza night!!

Ava playing in the tub. She is obsessed with organizing, stacking, and lining things up, and she spends many hours "having tea" in the tub.

Ava walking around in mommy's heels...Lord knows I haven't been able to use them recently! On Friday I was finally cleared to go back to work with no restrictions...YEAH! Although, I will probably have to wear a brace to prevent re-injury for many more months. At least now I have all the prosthetic devices I will ever need if, and when I sprain it again.

On the bright side I did complete all my courses 3 weeks early, which will give me about a month to work some major overtime before next term.

The 1st of many to come...I'm sure of it!

Yesterday, we were all downstairs in the family room just hanging out, and Ava runs up to Dillon and I while we were watching John & Kate + 8 (on a bad day, this show makes me realize that my two energetic kids aren't really that bad), and states, "Ethan is getting my colors!" Right then and there I knew this was a life changing moment. For the next few decades I will repeatedly hear the words "Mom! (blank) did this to me!" or "Mom! (blank) took/stole/broke/has possession of my (blank)!" Maybe Dillon really does have something with the idea of keeping it to just two kids:)

Tendinitis!!

Okay, so I go back to the ortho after wearing this lovely boot religiously for two weeks, and now I have developed tendonitis in my ankle from the immobilization caused by the boot...which I thought was the whole point in wearing the thing. So, now they tell me to take the boot off a few times a day and do excercises to decrease the inflammation. I may be crazy, but you would have thought they would have told me that the day they fit me for the boot. Maybe something like:

"By the way, you should take the boot off several times a day and do full range-of-motion exercises so you don't develop tendinitis in this ankle from the immobilization."

That would have made too much sense, I suppose, so I'm now delayed in getting back to work, starting PT, and being NORMAL again. Thank you, Cheryl, for making me realize that this is God's way of making me realize that I really don't hate my job, and I really do want to work this next year until I start clinicals.

Yes, more time off work sounds like a blessing with me being in school, but with no PTO or disability (b/c I have only been back from maternity leave for 5 months), and the amount in our savings account falling quickly, I NEED to work. Not only for financial reasons, but also for my sanity. I miss all you girlie's and hopefully I can get Dr. Blake to let me come back at the end of the week!! and, if not, maybe a second opinion...

9 Years...and counting

On Valentine's Day Dillon and I celebrated our 9 year anniversary. I know, it's not our wedding anniversary, but since it falls on V-day we celebrate it anyways...plus, doing anything for 9 years deserves to be recognized. Just in case none of you know how Dillon and I got together here it is:

I had broken up with a guy about 1 month before Valentine's Day 2000 (my senior year of high school), and Dillon and I had been close friends my whole high-school career. He sent me a dozen roses on V-Day, something he used to do for his best girl friends and his mom, which I thought was very sweet and maybe he was just doing it to brighten my day since I was without a Valentine of my own. 2 days later he sent me another dozen roses, and I knew he had "other" interests than just brightening my day...the rest is history.

These are engagement pics from 2006...it must have been 103 degrees by 0800 that day.

The Wedding: October 7, 2006 at Crown Center, KC

Our honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico at the Excellence Riviera Maya. If anyone plans to travel to Mexico anytime soon this resort was outstanding. If there's one word to describe it it's excellent!!! We will definitely be back for an anniversary sometime.

Deep sea fishing! I guess I didn't learn on our first trip in Florida that I should take Dramamine before these excursions because I was so sick by the end of the 6 hour fishing trip. Although, it was fun fighting those damn fish!!

Just after our scuba diving trip in Cozymel. This must have been one of the most amazing experiences, and I can't wait to be able to go again!!

Family pics we had taken this year...mainly for the kids, but Meredith (our outstanding photographer and friend) grabbed some cute pics of just us.






Our real wedding anniversary is in October, but I can't help myself from recognizing our first anniversary.

P.S. We took a recommendation from the valet attendant at the downtown Marriott that we stayed at Saturday night, and went to a place called Nara's at 16th and Main. If you like sushi, which has become an addiction of mine since we first had it on our honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico, this place is a must. Hands down, the best sushi and atmosphere in KC, and no wait on V-Day. We will definitely be returning.

Ankle Update

I finally had an MRI of my ankle last Thursday and found out that I had full thickness tears of the talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments, which I'm definitely not happy about, but at least it explains all the pain and swelling weeks after. An ortho appointment of Friday landed me with the prognosis of: hot pink cast for two weeks, upon which they would remove the cast with hopes of applying an air cast and Lord knows how much PT.

After showing off the new fluorescent accessory to a few friends in the Birthing Center, I went home and took off the walking shoe they had given me to discover the cast wasn't dry when I was sent out of the office and had buckled under the pressure of walking. By 2:30p.m. I was back in the ortho's office having the first cast cut off (with basically a big Dremel with a blade the nurse assured me wasn't going to cut my leg off and "would just tickle a bit"). Dr Blake said "second times a charm I guess", and I decided on neon green for the second cast. After waiting a good 10 minutes to make sure this cast was completely dry I stood up to try and walk on it and it was wrapped too far up on my toes so it cut into me with every step. Second time wasn't a charm, and back to the chopping block I went and a third cast was put on (I stayed with the green). After waiting for adequate dry time I stood up and it fit as well as a cast could fit, I suppose.

For any of you out there who have ever had to were a cast for any period of time, you deserve a gold star. I tend to be a bit on the claustrophobic side anyways, and after not being able to bend my ankle in any direction for about 5 hours I truly thought I was going to lose my mind. They should really prescribe Valium along with a cast...I could have used some! I couldn't sleep, the only way it was comfortable was when I was standing, and what a person has to go through to shower with a cast on. I can't believe some people wear them for up to a year.

God must have been looking out for my mental health, because the silly thing started cracking along the side where my foot would bend to walk, and every time I took a step it would pinch me. So, a few prayers, a much smaller version of the ortho's cast saw that Dillon had in the garage, and about 15 minutes later I was again a free woman...well, at least my ankle. For some reason I never took any pics with it on, but I'll have to dig it out of the trash and post one later.

Today I went back to see Dr. Blake, and since I seem to have the worst luck with casts, he prescribed a walking boot that pretty much does the same thing except: I can shower, move my foot, and I have my sanity back! Still can't work for two weeks because he thinks it will never heal with me up walking on it for hours at a time, but I am feeling much better, and have plans to finish at least one of my classes while I'm off.

And Jamie, don't worry, I promise I'll be back to help Aubrey arrive into this world. I can't wait!!

8 Months Old

My baby has officially grown up!! Ethan turned 8 months yesterday, and is doing all sorts of amazing stuff. It's so hard to imagine that eight months ago I was labored with him for 5 hours (active labor), and my dream of having a home birth came true. I can still look back on it and say that it was the most amazing, connective, empowering experience I have ever gone through.

Okay, enough with the emotional stuff. Ethan started crawling about 1 month ago, which we knew would come a little sooner than Ava since he has someone to chase around. We are close to refusing to eat any type of baby food. It seems that he likes the texture of table food better, and if we're eating dinner he has to eat what we eat. There is no amount of persuading or coercing in the world that will make him down the pureed mush.

His newest accomplishment he discovered today. He was able to get a knee up on the fireplace, and it was all over after that. He quickly discovered how easily he could climb up onto it, and I'm sure he will attempt to conquer the stairs tomorrow.

He has three teeth (all on the bottom), and four more coming soon (all on the top). How weird!

He still thinks Ava is IT, and will follow her anywhere. He loves to have us carry him around while we chase her around the dining room table, and will laugh hysterically the entire time.

This past week he acquired his first ear infection, and Dr Mac said that he actually had a blister on his eardrum. And we thought all that crying was his teeth coming in:(

Overall, he's on the move, into everything, and we always said we were in trouble with Ethan because Ava was such a perfect baby...and it is definitely true, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. My children provide me with the kind of happiness only a mother can explain, and they amaze me everyday!!

One Week Later

So...it's been 1 week today, and unfortunately I'm still not back to normal. My ankle aches all day, and even though I can walk a lot better, if I do it puffs up like a marshmallow!! After sleeping all night the swelling improves, but by 9 or 10a.m. it looks about the same as it did the night I sprained it. This pic was taken first thing this morning before I had been up walking around on it so even though all the bruising looks nasty, it's not AS swollen.

I'm really wondering if I did break it in some way...maybe a hairline fracture or something, but I still can't justify the $100 ER co-pay just for them to tell me "Yep, it's broke. Now keep doing the same things you've been doing the last week...rest, ice, elevate." If it's really broken I don't think I would really be able to put pressure on it (which I am); however, with the swelling being just as bad as last week, and the pain still prominent, I wonder. Any thoughts?