February 2016

So February started out with a lot of couch time...and some colorful foot photos...

Feb 3rd

A lot of friends were asking how I'm doing. Eh. I hadnt put weight on it in almost two weeks. Looks colorful but okay when elevated alllllllll daaaaay loooooong. But as soon as I was vertical, all the blood rushed to it, I could feel my heartbeat in my foot, and it swelled to three times its normal size. 
I was painfully bored. Exhausted from lack of solid sleep. Tired (oh, soooo tired) of asking for help for everyyyyy little thing. Sick of relying heavily on my parents and Eric to get the kids to and from school, get them meals, pack lunches, get them showers/baths/dressed, put them to bed.....all the stuff I wanted to be doing myself.
So, in a nutshell and as much as I didnt like to put complaints out there, I was over it. 

Feb 4th

Follow-up with ortho and new x-rays showed there are actually two different breaks in my foot, in two different bones. 😖 Add in the "severely sprained ankle", and I'm down for two more weeks with the splint/cast/crutches and no weight on it. He said I might be able to start walking after that, but it's a sllooooow process and it'll be eight weeks before I will be "healed-ish". 😢Feeling super blessed to have parents who have picked both kids up from school each day and kept them til dinner time most days. Grateful Eric has a flexible job that allows him to take the kids to school each morning and be home in the evenings for the dinner, bath, lunch packing, bedtime routine that would be nearly impossible on one foot. 

It's safe to say, we are all SO over this. I can't take one more day on this couch. I just wanna tuck my babies in.

I was DONE by that point, and as it is seven weeks from when I typed that update, I am still frustrated at the slow healing process.  Im able to walk now, but Im slow and its more of a limp.  My foot swells a lot throughout the day, and I still cant do all the things I want to do without really having to plan ahead and think about every movement I make so i dont re-injure.  Stinks.  

These two couldve made matters much more difficult, but they were great! They helped a lot and knew when Mommy just needed them to cooperate right away and skip the drama.  They are the BEST!

My parents' celebrate their birthday on February 13th, and it was so fun to see my cousin and his band-mate, Nathanial Rateliff celebrate dad's 70th while on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon! 

Whitney and Grady asked for a sleepover in the playroom one night, and though it took me some time to get the bed out and get them settled while using my wheelie cart and crutches, the results were worth the sweaty effort :) 

I didnt get any pics of the cuteness, but these videos will melt my heart for decades to come!

oly cow. She's the best big sister. Talks of bonnet creek birthdays and Star Wars and Grady's declaration, "Ok. It's time to lay down."

😂❤ 
My mommy heart is exploding with happy

And when this Dude woke up in the middle of the night, he didnt head back to his own bed.  He made his way into the middle of our bed :) 

I used to go all out for Valentines for Whitney.  Pinterest ideas exploded on our dining room table and Whitney had more than "just" the store-bought Valentines.  But then I had a baby.  And any "extra" time I had to create tiny works of art for three year old classmates was zapped by cleaning bottles and more laundry and life.  

But this was Grady's first time giving out valentines to his classmates.  And I was sitting on the couch with nothing to do.  So, using a free app and a pic of Grady, I made these happen.  Emailed them to myself, printed them,. and ta-da!! 

Cute Grady valentines :) 

It was hard to watch the kids walk out the door with Eric every morning.  I felt super useless, but was really grateful the kids didnt miss a beat and were totally fine with the slight change in our routine. 

What does one do when stuck on the couch all day?? 

Amazon. Prime.

The kids have birthdays coming up, so I started looking for birthday wish list ideas for them, and I came across this set of Star Wars workbooks.  I ordered the Kindergarten one instead of the PreK version since Grady already knows his letters and sounds, and this book has been GREAT for him! He looks forward to doing his "homework" when Whitney does her homework after school each day! 

He got right to work when it arrived (because Im TERRIBLE at keeping gifts hidden until their birthdays!)....

.....and just kept wanting to do page after page after page!

Hes such a fun age right now! I wish I could freeze him! 

Putting his sock on his light saber :) 

And.  Of course.  

Silly guy!

My parents bought him this Darth Maul costume (and its no wonder who I inherited my gift-hiding genes from! Mac gives gifts early, too!).  Grady looooooves Star Wars dress-up! 

So proud to be her mommy! Beautiful inside and out! 

My Funny Valentines :) 

I made my way back to the scene of the crime to cheer our kickball team on!  I was surprised when an umpire made his way over to the fence to talk to me on the bleachers.  He asked if it was broken.  When I said yes, he said, "Yeah, I figured.  I was on second base that night and I heard it snap."

Awesome. 

We gave the kids their valentines and they both dove into their books first!

This sweet pup got a hair cut and looked SO different! She is still the same snuggly pup!

It was a fun valentines weekend!

Whitney had a sleepover, and the next day we met our besties for some Sonny's Bar-B-Que. 

 Dave was rethinking his "all you can eat" decisions lol

LOVE these girlies!  They have such a special bond!  Its so fun and magical :) 

Y'all. This is huge. For the last 24 days, these things have been my life. Aleve, crutches (and all the pain associated with them), and a scooter (and all the inconveniences and frustrations that come with it).
Lots of pain. Lots of prayers. And this morning I put my still-swollen, still-green-bruised left foot on the floor. I ever-so-gently put a teeeeensy bit of weight on it. It hurt, but less than I'd expected. It was scary and my palms were sweaty. But this is huge. I never realized how crippling a sprained ankle and a few small broken bones in a foot could really be, not just for myself, but for Eric, the kids, my parents, etc. I finally feel like I'm turning a corner. My goal is so walk, swim, and enjoy our annual birthday Disney/Bonnet Creek celebration in April.
Can't wait to ditch this stuff.

Peeps got a makeover :) 

February 16th was a big day!  After almost four weeks on the couch, I was finally able to pick this kid up from school by myself!! I missed seeing the other moms, having sweet conversations with my Dude, and just being independent for a minute! 

The porch was full of pollen and winter dust, but was begging for some company on a gorgeous february day!  Both kids asked "How long until we can swim every day??"

They were having SO much fun using those amazing imaginations and creating "pod races" :) 

They were SO fun to watch!  Truly best friends :) 

Feb 19th

Y'all. Eric has been carrying the team the last month. Making lunches (the first week or so he was all newbie excited about the nightly task. Trying to vary the food selections and make each kid truly happy and excited about their lunch. By the third week, he was researching the school lunch calendar and asking Whitney, "Are you surrrrre you don't want to just tryyyy the chicken sandwich??"😂). 

Tackling bath time (allowing toys I don't allow...because I know the consequences of a kid who doesn't ever wanna get outta the tub. Ever.)
Bringing the kids to school in the morning (and relenting when a certain little boy begged to bring Star Wars guys in the car "but not to class"...😇 uh huh.)
And after a particularly grueling night of math homework where I had to separate the two parties involved because one wants to reinvent the Common Core wheel while the other wants to use Shopkins to subtract tens. 🙄
The man has earned this night out. He's earned a month off! But when he sent me this text from a bar with friends an hour ago.....I know. He gets it. He's played "Mommy" for a month now. And he gets why I'm crazy.

There is nothing better than friday morning belly laughs before school!  I hope they continue to grow together and remain close.  I hope he always looks up to her, and I hope she realizes she can look up to him, too.  I hope they always make each other laugh. 

Bow Peep has never chewed any of the kids' toys.  She's a sock thief, and an occasional pantie/underwear thief, but she just doesnt seem interested in the kids' toys unless shes trying to get them to play WITH her.  So imagine our surprise and disappointment when Whitney left her glasses on the window ledge during the kids' playroom sleepover, and Bow decided to chew on her favorite pair. :( 

So it was time for a new pair of glasses and an updated eye exam. :)

She tried on a gazillion pairs....

...and we had Froggy, her classroom visitor home with us for the weekend, so Froggy got to join in the fun! 

Its not an easy process!

And this guy was very patient :) 

She finally decided on these:

...and these. :) 

And is it wrong that I sorta hope this dude needs glasses some day?! SO cute!

Because it was a beautiful weekend, and because I was sooooo sick of being in the house, we rallied Mac and Gramps and headed to Hollywood Studios with my handicap pass in hand :) 

Grady was super excited to meet two storm troopers!  

And we met Kylo Ren for the first time!  He wasnt a big fan of my "Obi-Wan Kenobi for President" shirt :) 

We encountered some jawas in the hallway....

....and they tried to take my wheelchair apart! 

Grady held a ridiculously expensive Kylo Ren light saber....

....and while Eric pushed the kids in their stroller, my dad pushed me in the wheelchair!

Still love Toy Story pals!

And we had to ride Star Tours!

The kids both really want to participate in the Jedi Training show at Hollywood Studios when we're there on vacation next month!  Hopefully we can make it happen :) FOr now, they are happy memorizing the show and the Jedi moves theyll need to know!

I love and appreciate that my parents join us on our Disney adventures!  I have zero memories of my own grandparents at the happiest place on Earth, and I love that my kids will grow up and have dozens and dozens of Disney memories with their Mac and Gramps!

Best Gramps Ever!

And, of course, Mac and Gramps spoiled the kids with their very own light sabers!  Grady got his own Kylo Ren saber...

....and Whitney got a purple Mace Windu saber!

They were both so happy, and theyve used the light sabers daily!  We stayed to watch the Star Wars fireworks :) 

and then we all piled in our car in the handicap parking lot to bring Mac and Gramps to their car in a land far, far away!

Our train table is quickly becoming the light saber table :) 

This kid cracks me up every day!

This dude. He has a case of the "gimmes" lately. "I want _(insert Star Wars toy, character, book, etc)_______ ..." is frequent conversation for him. We try to tame the requests by reminding him he got a lot of toys not that long ago for Christmas, and trying to help him understand that he doesn't get new toys just for being cute. We often say, "We'll add it to your birthday list!" or "Maybe for your birthday!" or "Your birthday's coming up!"

I just asked him if I could have one of his Fritos. He looked at his bowl. Smiled at me sweetly. And said, "Maybe for your birthday....put it on your birthday list, Mommy." 😳

He then handed me two Fritos. Smart, Kid.

I very rarely go into Target.  I just KNOW Ill spend some stupid amount of money on stuff we just dont NEED.  But occasionally, Im on the hunt for something and Target just makes sense.  I forget what I was looking for last month, but I came across this gem on the sale rack.  

Best $5 Target purchase ever :) 

He LOVED it right away! 

And this girl is the BEST!

"Mommy, the dinner you made was amazing you should really go on 'Chopped'!!" 

‬Who knew meatloaf in the pressure cooker could be such a hit?! 

Whitney was super excited when one of her new pairs of glasses was ready for pick-up! And she suddenly looked nine years old! 

After I broke my foot, I had several goal dates in mind.  Dates and events that I reallllly wanted to be mobile for.  The first date was at the end of February, and while I wasnt completely mobile, I was able to rock a wheelchair to the O.A.R. concert at House of Blues with our besties!

And we heard my cousin's band's song on the radio on the way there :) 

When we got to Disney Springs, we were excited to catch Whitney's teacher's husband in action!  He and Whitney's teacher are performance artists at Disney, pretending to be human statues! Its so cool! 

We got an excellent seat for the show thanks to my wheelchair status :) 

and it was SO great to get out of the house and enjoy grown up conversation with some of our favorite friends!

The next day, Whitney's other pair of glasses was ready for pick up! 

She is so stinking cute!

After a rowdy Friday night with the Ragans, we opted for a low-key couch movie night with the fam.  We rented The Good Dinosaur....and all cried our eyes out.  WORST Disney movie since Old Yeller!

The next morning was a snugglefest in our bed :) 

After church, we headed to Moe's for some tacos and I had to snap a pic of these two.  They have SO much fun together everywhere we go :) 

The weather started to really warm up in February, so we enjoyed more sunny afternoons on the porch, begging for the pool to warm up!

And this little guy got his new school pictures....

....and I cant belieeeeve how big kid he is now!!

He joined me as we visited the Supervisor of Elections office to drop of our absentee ballots! 

And this girl continues to blow us away again this school year!  She learned how to tell time and is so proud of herself! 

So while I love watching her get super excited about the stuff she's learning in school, now that she can consistently tell time, she no longer accepts the "in a little bit," "soon," and "a couple minutes" that my parenting has heavily relied upon for almost seven years.

She'd like to know the exact number of minutes so she can calculate the time on the clock. She's like a really cute alarm clock or stopwatch. Continually reminding me when I "said it would be time!"

Now if only she could figure out a way to make time slow down!! 

February was a good month, all circumstances considered.  I was ready for March and spring break and warmer weather and more foot healing ahead!