Sixteen

Happy Anniversary!

Today, my husband and I have been married sixteen years. I have a hard time believing that some times. Sixteen years seems like such a long time, and yet, looking back, it seems to have flown by. We have done so many things and yet, it feels like we have barely scratched the surface.

We have been through many ups and downs in those sixteen years. Three years of infertility and losing three little angels almost tore us apart. We were days away from separating before a late, late night argument and many, many tears made us seek out help to rebuild. And rebuild we did. We came back stronger. Able to proceed through our fertility problems which brought us our two greatest joys in life.

I LOVE babies sleeping on Daddy photos!

Our love has matured, evolved to something I can't even describe. It is a love that is so innate that I can not begin to imagine life without it. It is like my hand. I take it for granted. I use it all the time. And yet, to loose it, would be unimaginable. I would be completely lost.

I am truly blessed to have found a love like this. One I never need to worry over. One who will always be there no matter what. And one that brings great joy not just to my life, but to the lives of the two little boys who call him Daddy.

Happy Anniversary my love.

Thirteen

What a wonderful 5 day camping trip. Sun, water, and no phones, tv or computer to distract. And to top it all off, very good friends of ours and their four kids joined us.

A little piece of heaven here on earth.



Except for one thing. Water.


The boys were in the water from sun up to sun down. I could not get his AFO on him for the trip. No way could he have kept it on and not gotten terrible blisters or worse, wrecked it. So he wore it for limited times.

I was worried about physio this week. Seems my worry was for nothing. His p/t came out after the session smiling saying "Thirteen!"

"Really?"

"Yes! Thirteen degrees of dorsiflexion! Up from last week!"

So I told her of our weekend. She said, not sure what it was but something was very very good for him.

Yay! Yay for so many things. Yay for his foot. Yay for finding Dr Dobbs. Yay for Dr Dobbs telling us to NOT make him wear it all the time. And Yay for Matthew!

And one last Yay. He beat his record. He can now hop 23 times on his foot.

Yay!

A New Day

Despite the poor start to yesterday, the day turned out well.

We saw Matthew's orthotist who got to see his new AFO from St. Louis for the first time. He didn't say much but spent a lot of time looking at the fit and thinking. I've learned that this is Ken's way. He gets quiet when he is problem solving. He ended up adding some foam type padding to the outside of the ankle that will compact where there is pressure, but will stay filled in where there is not. Will give it a few days checking for pressure sores to see if it is working. Crossing fingers we will see less supination. By the way, that is what I was seeing in that wet footprint. That and some metatarsus adductus. (see, I am learning all the big words now!)



Onwards we went to p/t. Matthew asked me to talk to the p/t about not leaving him sitting alone like she did last week. (his regular p/t is out of town) She said she would sit with him the whole time. He seemed relieved.

While Matthew was at p/t, I was able to get out and buy a dress from Winner's for my SIL's wedding. Only $40!! Yay!

Back to p/t to get Matthew. She was very pleased with how hard he worked and the fit of the new adjustments to his AFO. She wasn't sure as she only saw him for the first time last week but she thought his dorsiflexion had increased 2 degrees. I will wait til his regular p/t confirms before I celebrate that one.

Today is a new day. Warm and sunny. We are heading to Calaway Park today and then packing for a camping trip this weekend. Seems like summer is finally here.

Keeping My Eye on the Prize

Matthew has been sobbing off and on all morning. He does not want to go to physio today. Makes it hard as a Mommy to continually take your child places that they don't like for the simple fact that it hurts.

He has spent the better part of the morning curled up in my lap, big tears rolling down his face begging me, pleading with me, making deals with me to get him out of it. I have tried explaining why and I think deep down he knows. Just some days are harder then others.

I find a lot of inspiration in song lyrics. Nickelback's song, If Today Was Your Last Day has some pretty powerful lines. I love the line

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight

Yup. Always worth the fight. And we are off to do battle. Off to the orthotist to see if we can come up with a solution for the extra ankle room, then off to p/t. Today it does feel like a battle, but one that we will win.

"If Today Was Your Last Day" - Nickelback

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

Paranoia or Trained Eye?

Physio went well for Matthew yesterday. His regular p/t is out of town so he saw a new p/t. She was pleased with his foot. Said before the session he was at 5 degrees and after was at 12-13 degrees. That is great to hear.

She worked on his active dorisflexion. Also great to hear that we have moved on from just stretching him to the active side of it.

She said he worked hard and was a wonderful little boy. Again. Fantastic to hear.

So why am I feeling uneasy? I hope it is just a simple case of paranoia, but I am worried that it is my eye that has become trained to look for changes.

I know it is subtle, but tell me, what do you see?

Filthy By 9 am

Another sunny day and the boys have been in the sandbox since 8:30 am for a little early morning excavation.


Matthew has physio today. We have to leave at noon. Do you think they will need a bath before we go?



Boys and dirt.

Sunshine Makes Me Happy

We woke to sunshine today. Yay sun! We had a busy day. First, silly kid tricks.



Onwards to our daily visitors the house finches. Turns out today we were treated with a baby being fed by mom.


Who was obviously still hungry and rather unimpressed to be left alone.

So daddy took over for awhile.

Isn't he handsome?


Then it was time for some digging in the sandbox.


Matthew decided that the trench was deep enough for him to take his journey to the centre of the earth. He let me know he would need walkie talkies and a flashlight and maybe some snacks.

The boys thought this tube would be good for air and for talking. "testing, testing...can you hear me Ryan?"










"Matthew! Can you hear me Matthew?"

And a hug good-bye for the adventurer. Poor Ryan, he really thought Matthew was going to leave down the trench.


And just as Matthew started his journey to the centre of the earth, we heard a bang. Poor little sparrow hit our window and was stunned. My animal lover Ryan couldn't resist a gentle touch.

A moment later it flew off.

And a bit of time checking the garden.

Radishes


Broccoli


It was a lovely day.

Tomorrow is physio.

Quiet Moments in the Garden

I had some quiet moments this weekend in the yard and thought I would try out the macro feature on the new camera. Here are some of the items that are growing in my yard.

Geraniums




Alyssum


Verbena with one I can't remember the name of



Pansies and that white flower


I usually don't care for Marigolds, but Ryan was drawn to them in the garden center so I got some just for him.


My Clematis is getting ready to bloom



And my garden!


onions and chives


cauliflower



And some new visitors to the yard. I think these are house finches but not sure as they seem to have a notched tail... anyone know for sure?




Today is rainy and cold. Great day for changing sheets and washing towels.

You Win Some, You Lose Some

Physio was a win yesterday. Well, as much as a win as you could ask for. The inside of Matthew's foot was looser then ever before. Seems that finally I am stretching him properly. Yay for me! However, his ankle bone seems to be protruding. His p/t thinks it could be from too much room in the AFO. I have an appointment to see his orthotist and hoping for the best.

Today, for the first time in what feels like a month, we had sunshine! I even got a bit of a sunburn. Yay sunshine!

But as I think of it, I only stretched Matthew's foot once today and we never did his hip exercises.

Sigh, you win some, you lose some.

Did I Miss It?

Those of you in Alberta will understand... did I miss summer?

Man, this weather is getting on my nerves! This morning it was sunny with beautiful blue skies, except for a strong wind. We were all out in the backyard shortly after breakfast even though it was still a bit cool. By lunchtime the clouds had come and without the sunshine, it was cool. It is raining and we have a tornado watch.

So, did I miss summer, or is it still coming?

A Quick Update

We are home with good news and bad, as all life goes.

The bad news first.
Our robins were taken. Seems that after all my wondering as to why the robins made the nest in our yard of all the yards to pick, they were right. As soon as we were gone and the yard was quiet, the crows or magpies swept in and took all 4 babies. Actually, they missed one that fell to its death and I nearly stepped on its remains when we returned. Seems that all the noise that is our yard really was a haven for those babies.

Our hearts are heavy and we miss the barely audible chirps they made. I know. It really is the circle of life, but we miss the what was to come.

We finally took down the nest yesterday. The crows or magpies must have spied it last night and ripped a lot of grass out of it and it was strewn all over the deck. They made quite a mess.

The good news.
Physio has now ramped up to working on Matthew's foot as well as his hip. His p/t is certain that the turning in of his foot is coming from his hip. So, we need to make that little hip stronger. We now are using resistance bands.



He does a 'clam shell' exercise with the band around his knees and me immobilizing his hips and feet on a daily basis. That is in conjunction with the other hip exercises and the stretching of his foot three times a day.

Just wondering, do I get a degree at the end of all this?