handsful

Today marks 2 months since Dylan joined our family!  What have we learned so far about our little man? 

We learned that he’s willing to risk bodily injury by copying his little sister.  Hence, the broken leg.  But, that’s all behind him now since he’s cast free and happy as can be!  I’m not sure who enjoyed his first bath in almost a month more – him or me! 

Dylan’s favorite things to do these days are draw with the dry erase board, blow bubbles, and match colors.  He loves to find things with matching colors! 

He loves to show us his belly and yell BELLY!  We praise him when he eats well, telling him he’s got a full tummy.  He grins.  He’s not gained any weight lately, still holding at 27 pounds.  The pants in the above shot?  18 month size.  And, they were roomy.  He’s 3 1/2 – the boy needs some pudge!  I’m adding vanilla instant breakfast powder to his milk.

Holding food in his mouth has all but disappeared, but he’ll sometimes still refuse to eat a bite of something.  We can usually encourage him to try.  And, he eats much more on his own now.  Last night, he was chowing on chips and salsa :) 

You’ve heard of a “sweet” and “salty” tooth, right?  He’s got both.  In spades.  Not sure if he’s like that because he didn’t have many treats in China, or because maybe he had too many?  Probably the latter, thinking of how many birthday cakes came through that orphanage! 

He loves his siblings.  Insists on hugs and kisses from each one before he goes to bed.  Lainey loves him tons, as long as he’s not taking her stuff.  She’s learning to deal with it and we’re being as patient as possible…usually. 

What else?  He learned he can roll his tongue and shows us constantly.  He’s calling Randy either “baba” or “dally” – trying to say daddy, we think.  He calls Lainey “Lammy”, which we think is too cute.  Water is “woggy” and he’s learning to say “up please mama” instead of whining for me to pick him up.  He rushes to find the duck in the Usborn*e books we read at night.  Everytime, he says “anudda one!”  He loves for us to spin him around and around when we hold him.  Daddy is better at this, mama gets dizzy!   He holds his little hands together and (usually) closes his eyes when we pray.

In these 2 months, we’ve learned that life is much more fun with him here!

No, I’m not talking about that old sweater in the back of my closet I no longer wear.  Dylan got his CAST off today!  Okay, I tried to make a joke. 

Seriously, though.  Marley…

and Lainey accompanied me and Dylan to his appointment today.  I assumed they’d x-ray his leg before deciding to remove the cast…just in case.  I was thrilled to hear that they had no doubts.  It was completely healed and it was coming off!  

Marley was kind enough to take pictures of the whole process, since I was up on the table with Dylan resting against me. 

Don’t worry, Dylan isn’t foaming at the mouth.  Barclay, the child life specialist, was blowing bubbles to distract him.  The cast cutter was very loud (think dental drill) and we weren’t sure whether or not it would scare him.  It didn’t.  He wasn’t exactly happy the whole time, but he was calm – I think he went to his happy place, wherever that is.  She said it’s more the norm for kids to scream through the whole process.  She was impressed with our little man’s courage.  By the way, Barclay was there during the casting process, too.  If I ever need a scary hospital procedure done, I want her there with me, too. 

The nurse went completely down the leg side of the cast.  Then down the inside of the leg, and then down the waist section on the right.  Once all was cut, it was time for the…

spreaders!  She cracked the cast open along each cut line. 

And, then cut through all the cotton and inner plastic lining. 

Lifting him up, they slid out the bottom part and then lifted off the top part.  Voila, leg!  It didn’t look nearly as awful as I was told it would.  The skin was very dry, especially his “knee” area.  Dylan uses that area of his little leg to walk, so it gets used like a foot and has a thick callous on it.  His other knee looks the same, though not as bad.  They took him to x-ray and it showed lots of bone growth around the break – they were satisfied and will see him again in 2 months for another x-ray. 

He was a happy boy to say goodbye to the cast and everyone involved!  Well, actually we brought the cast home.  They tore out all the (yucky) insides and taped the cast back together.  Maybe it’ll make a nice mobile for his room?  Heh.  And, no I didn’t make him wear the hat, he insisted! 

I’ll try and post pics of the lovely bubble bath that I dumped him in when we arrived home!  He doesn’t seem to be in pain at all, but he is favoring the leg a bit (they said it was normal, his leg has been in that same position for a while and his hip could be sore).  He’s already scooting around the house a bit.  :)  I’m so glad to have this journey over with!  Now, next Monday, we travel to SC for his Shriner’s appt. to discuss his leg and eventual surgery and prosthesis.  The boy can’t catch a break from doctor’s offices!

I was able to take Marley to her horse riding lesson the other day and actually STAY to watch.  That, unfortunately, rarely happens.  It’s a busy, and sometimes overwhelming, season for me – but that might be another post.  Anyway, I got some great shots of Marley and her God-given love…

Marley’s first task is to go get Jack from the pasture and bring him into the barn. 

The dirty work.  Horses are high maintenance!

Stool, please. 

I think Jack loves her, too.

Last night, we spread out a sheet and ate our dinner in front of the TV…the Steelers were playing for a shot at the Super Bowl. 

I kinda married into the whole Steelers craze.  Randy played football as a kid, on the Cary Steelers.  That was all it took to make him a fan for life.

The kids have embraced the fever as well.  Even the littlest ones.  After every big play, Dylan frantically looked around for someone to high five!

Lainey was in the spirit as well.  She didn’t have a Steelers shirt, so she wrapped a scarf around her waist.  She worked it well. 

First half, our guys were unstoppable.  They probably heard us cheering in Pittsburgh.  Second half, we were biting our nails and everyone else’s nails.  But, they pulled it out and we’re headed to the big game!  I feel a Super Bowl party coming on!

to get a decent picture of a large group of people! 

Here is the best of Randy’s mom, step-dad, and all 12 of her grands. 

Maybe 3 people not looking, out of 14, isn’t so bad? 

Here is the whole gang…the grandparents, the parents, and the kids.  Too much giggling in this photo.  Really, are we here to have fun or take a good picture?? 

This is better, but apparently Dylan is done with the whole process. 

Because Dylan had to go and break his leg on New Years Day, our Christmas get-together with Randy’s mom and Paul had to be rescheduled to last weekend.  Presents, yummy food (including the famous FUDGE), silliness, and lots of laughs were enjoyed.  I’ll take all that over a perfect picture anyday.

Dylan has been in his spica cast for 17 days now.  He’s scheduled for removal in 9!  So, how’s he doing…

He’s showing no signs of pain anymore…woo hoo!  He sleeps well, and began sleeping on a pallet on the floor beside our bed a week ago.  Little by little, we’ll get him to HIS bed.  Four days ago, he decided he’d had enough of being in one spot and got mobile.  His casted leg either drags behind or he scoots on his bottom with the cast in front.  It works.  Oh, and last night he got very adventurous and climbed ALL the way up the stairs when we weren’t looking.  Oops.  Maybe we got used to him being in front of us!  He also discovered he can “stand” on his leg and casted leg.  It looks like he’s surfing! 

We’re thrilled to pieces that he’s over the hardest part of this cast and now we’re all counting down the days until it’s OFF.  I can’t wait to get him in the bathtub!

Overnight, it snowed and we woke up to around 4  inches covering everything.  What else could we do but PLAY? 

Marley was sick the last time it snowed, so she was super excited to enjoy it.

The snow was very powdery, so no snowballs or snowmen.  But, it was perfect for…

Snow angels!  As you can tell, Jack was having a blast, too.

Dylan had to be content to just watch from afar.  Later on, I did take him out in it but he still won’t touch it…and, I had to keep making sure his leg with the cast was staying dry. 

It worked well for sledding…we borrowed our neighbors sled again…all the stores were out of them yesterday. 

They set up the skate ramp and put it to good use.  This is Payton and Lainey catching air. 

And, then Marley…how cool does that look?!  The landing is a little jolting, though.  Not that I tried it. 

Icicle tasting was in order. 

Ethan tried to snowboard on a sled.  Nice try. 

Randy made a grocery store run today for a few things we forgot yesterday.  Tonight, we’re due for lots of sleet and ice.  That’ll make for a nice layer on top of the snow tomorrow…guess we’ll be snowbound again.  It’s okay with me.