Hot Pink cast

Kelleigh is the lucky recipient of a hot pink full arm cast which goes well with the 106 degree day. Because of the swelling it has cuts in it to allow for expansion so another ace bandage covers the pink which really annoys her! They re-xrayed her entire arm as she was having more pain in her wrist and fingers than her elbow. While no obvious breaks were seem, he thinks there may be fractures in the growth plates and won't risk it. This cast will be on for two weeks, then more xrays, and possibly be exchanged for a short one. At the moment we can't figure out a way for her to write so I had to write her homework for her. Okay at home but not too handy at school!

My post-op exam resulted in the soft cast being removed but the bandages are still on the incision. He was as unhappy as I am that the tendon is still "snapping" given that is what drove me to have the surgery. He said there was a lot of tissue he had to cut away due to the cortisone shots and long time I'd put up with it. He is still hopeful that in time it will work it's way lose and bring relief. I have the lovely brace to wear and am to take breaks and 'exercise' it. At the moment it's very sore and hurting from him moving it. I felt so nauseous when he removed the cast that I was trying not to faint or throw up. Of course the a/c was out on the 4th and 5th floor of the medical building which didn't help!

Sadly the guy who showed so much interest in the car and for which we made arrangements to meet in Los Alamitos isn't going to buy it now. So annoying. Good test in patience I guess!

Buddy's Visit

Ryan was sooo surprised when Buddy walked in today! I wish I could have captured the joy on his face when he saw him at the end of the hall and as he ran to see him...priceless. Buddy made it clear he would not have anything to do with the puppy at the house but was happy to be petted by anyone who cared to!

Of course Ryan was surprised to see his sister's arm and talked to Mark and I about stopping at the mall so he could get her a belated birthday gift as "he knew just what he wanted to get her". When Mark took them out to get lunch (to bring back), they stopped at the mall and he got her a cute pair of sunglasses. He was so proud of himself and it was sweet to see he was thinking about her.

It was over 100 degrees today and is to be up to 103 tomorrow. Fortunately to start cooling off as the week goes on. Tomorrow's orthopedic appointments will determine if Kelleigh and I are out of luck for any pool time this week!

Another ER visit

Just in time for a heat wave Kelleigh fell today playing at a friend's house and landed very hard on her elbow. I knew we had to make the ER trip as she had tingling in her fingers and pain in her arm. She did indeed fracture her elbow so Monday we will see if she'll stay in her soft cast for a spell or get a hard cast. I have my orthopedic appointment Monday for my post-op so she'll probably just tag along!

Tomorrow we made arrangements to see Ryan since Connor has had lacrosse on Saturdays and will for another 5 weeks. He doesn't know that we are bringing Buddy with us! Will post some pictures of that "reunion" tomorrow!

Spectacular peacock

I received an email with pictures of this albino peacock - they are too beautiful not to share.

Palm trees...

Mark loves his palm trees which is why we have 18 (down from 21) in our yard! The last few weeks there have been lots of seed pods on them so he decided we needed some pix of them! He also loved the double bird-of-paradise on one of the plants. Another thing he loves are rock gardens so he created a rock "river" by the pool when we redid all the planters this summer.



When I got the Escalade the kids informed me they were too old to use the customized Cal plate so it now has joined our overhead "museum" as you walk out the kitchen door! How will anyone know it's me without it?!

Connor's goal and good visit with Ryan

Connor has been doing Box Lacrosse the last two weeks for the first time. It's very different from "normal" lacrosse and he's loving it. He was excited to tell me that he got a goal while playing with the JV team today after his age group was finished! Not bad for a kid who was annoyed when Mark told him he was going to stay and play rather than go right home!

Today's visit with Ryan was great. He opened up to the guys and addressed some of the issues he's not talked about previously plus he doesn't have to have support around the house as he's been there 90 days now. (This means that someone senior to him didn't have to chaperone him while we are visiting; only if we go out does another house member go with us.) Amazing how much easier it made the visit! I also did a puppy training class for the guys as their poor puppy was paying the price for lack of leadership and continuity among the 20+ guys. Now they have a schedule and are excited to show me next week what they teach her and how well she'll be doing. I was proud of them.

Tomorrow is church and two weeks worth of laundry...how did I let that happen?! Plus clean up the odds and ends of last week's cleaning of the kids' bedrooms.

Surgery

My hand/wrist surgery went well yesterday. I'm in pain today but will survive. In a soft cast for 10 days then some sort of brace after that. Realizing how hard it is to function with one hand (including typing)! Tomorrow I will go see Ryan. Mark started his sub job and is busy tonight at the football games.

Rough visit

Yesterday was a tough visit with Ryan. After an emotional week due to other situations, I wasn't expecting the visit with Ryan to be tough. He got called out in the family meeting as he's been there coming up to 90 days and they feel he hasn't really opened up enough about what issues drove him to use drugs. Apparently they feel he should have broken through some of those reasons by this point so they said he needed to get in touch with it or he will be gone. Needless to say I was upset. He had a hard time articulating what he was thinking as it was in a group situation and he indeed internalizes everything. He took it all well which is more than I could say. We were able to talk through some of it as the afternoon progressed and I told him that until he addressed the reasons he was driven to drugs, they wouldn't be able to help him.

We've been very busy around the house painting, cleaning, doing yard work, and are very sore as a result! At least a few of the rooms are very clean though! Connor started box lacrosse on Saturday and truly loved it. Very different format than playing outdoors.

This week will be busy. Monday a gal is coming to give me estimates on shutters for the last 3 bedrooms upstairs plus Dana and I are finalizing her wedding album so she can order it; Tuesday I start a new Bible Study class with a friend plus the pool gets it's deck caulking done; Wednesday is my nail appointment and the kids get their immunization shots after school; Thursday is my hand surgery (so say a little prayer that goes well) and group meeting that night; then Friday a friend and I are going to lunch. Somewhere in between I need to work a little too! Saturday I am giving the guys at the house a puppy training lesson as the house has a puppy and 23 guys are giving her directions. Not a good thing! Hence, everyone will be doing the same thing when I'm done and she'll be spending less time in her crate!

Hope your week is good!

Labor Day Weekend

Hard to believe it's already past Labor Day! It was 12 years yesterday that we moved into this house. Kelleigh was a month old and now she's a 7th grader...where does the time go? We celebrated with friends and BBQ'd then later made s'mores and pies over the fire. Was a fun evening.

Connor and I went to see Ryan on Saturday as Conor starts lacrosse this coming Saturday until the end of November. Ryan's doing well and only has one more visit before he can be with us alone as the first 90 days the guys must have "support" with them at all times. Although it's fun to talk to the other guys, it will be nice to have some alone time with him too. He starts his independent study this week through the local high school and he was looking forward to it.

Mark has been busy getting his paperwork in order for the sub job he has coming up at Francis Parker just in case the teacher's baby decides to come before the 20th!

We still have the Toyota Highlander for sale so please pass the word to anyone you know who may be interested in one. It's in fabulous condition and we're only asking the blue book price. I'd really like to see it go to a family who would enjoy it.

Hope your weekend was relaxing!