handsful

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.

Other than the fact the photo is blurry and full of red-eye.  (the person who took the picture shall remain anonymous) 

Here you see 3 young men, smiles on their faces, ready for a quick dip in the lake. 

The lake we’re referring to is currently 45.5 degrees.  Air temp?  33 degrees.  Makes you wonder why they’re smiling, eh? 

The boys had a friend over today who thought it would be cool (ahem) to jump into the lake…just for the fun of it.  The boys lost all their mental faculties and said yes.  No shot of the actual jump…they jumped quickly so no one would chicken out. 

Here they are, running as fast as their little frozen legs will carry them up to the shower in the basement.  Three guys in swim trunks, standing together in the shower, trying to convince their hearts to start beating again. 

We took video of the whole thing, and if I knew how to post it, I’d share.  Maybe Randy can show me how?  Anyway, the guys were extremely proud of their little adventure today…maybe they’ll do it again on Monday, when we’re expected to get snow?  Or, maybe snow angels in their swim trunks?  We’ll see.

Dylan had a follow-up visit yesterday with the pediatric orthopedist who casted him.  They took another x-ray and everything is lined up just like they want it. 

They scheduled him for cast removal on 1/26…THREE weeks.  I can’t believe it…that x-ray didn’t show any healing that I could see, but these guys are the best so I guess they know what they’re talking about. 

In the meantime, Dylan is doing better and better everyday.  He’s becoming more active…actually flipped himself over on our bed tonight.  He spends his days in his bean bag chair (awesome idea from another BTDT mom!), in the Ergo carrier with mama, or just sitting on the floor with one of us for back support.  He fits in his booster seat at the kitchen table (but not the highchair!), and is doing fine in his car seat (that’s a tight squeeze, but thankfully works).  He’s sleeping well most nights, and mama is excited to not have to wake up as often during the night for pain meds…yawn. 

In other news, Abbey started Drivers Ed on Wednesday.  The class is held at the local high school, and when I dropped her off for her first day it felt really strange.  After 2 days, she’s even more firm in her decision to continue being homeschooled.  I know high school has changed a lot since I went….those kids looked scary!  :)

So, what else?  Marley enjoyed getting back into horseriding today, sporting her new riding pants she loves.  Payton and Ethan are lamenting the starting of school, as usual.  Well, mostly Ethan.  And, Lainey is still working out the kinks of not being the baby anymore. 

Life is anything but boring around here.

Saturday, after he was casted, and transferred to a regular room.  Going in and out of his drug stupor.

Baba can bring out a laugh.

Same night he came home (Sunday), the kids couldn’t wait to sign that huge cast.

even, Baba!

of course we chose a RED cast.