Is it summer break yet?

Only a few more days of school. I can't wait. Really. I want it all over now. Unlike last year, where I was pretty busy with some school responsibilities, all is going smoothly and I'm not in charge of stuff. Well, a typical school week this year went like this...Monday-attempt to get house in order. Monday is my day to put my earbuds in and just CLEAN while cranking up my tunes. There is never enough Monday left for this messy house! Tuesdays-what I call my 'busy day'. I get the girls to their 3 different schools and hurry to Brielle's class to do a little work for her teacher. The rest of the school day is mostly spent as a paid Campus Supervisor (playground police). I get to be with the kindergartners in the morning and the bigger kids in the afternoon. Wednesday-same start to the day as Tuesday, but this time help out in Jenna's class for about 1 1/2 hours. Wednesdays are usually good errand days. Thursday-pretty much a repeat of Monday with less 'umph'. Friday-seems to be a day for school assemblies, field trips, etc. Since James likes to be home on Fridays it is also a nice day to go out to lunch. Fridays go by too fast. I confess, the reward for being around school a lot is for my kids to see at least one photo of me in their school yearbook. Yep--that is why I do it. *wink*

One week left of school!

this family is so excited to be done with the work and responsibilty of school for the year! time to just be lazy and watch more lazy people at the park, beach, wherever!

These are photos from summer 2002

James is healing nicely. His CPM is flexing his leg for him to almost 100 degrees now. The doctor will be content with 110 degree flexibility. James' problem now is trying to straighten the leg -all the way-. The doctor asked if James needed to be prescribed a therapist. He laughed--and the doctor said that is what he thought James would say. So James is doing his own therapy. He will actually pull it off, I know.

Solved?

Could it be as simple as my image files are too big? This is a test...I think I'm only allowed to upload one photo at a time here. Annoying, but worth figuring out so I can get my pictures published.

James knee update: we are totally overwhelmed by James' progress. It's miraculous! He hasn't needed hardly any pain meds, and the ice machine rarely is used. We love his CPM--its effect on his leg is much like the motion of rocking a baby to sleep. The constant motion of the machine keeps the knee from getting in an uncomfortable position. Now, if we could only get a sling for the rest of his body that is annoyed by sitting all day! :)

The problem with photos

The problem with my photos missing is that I don't know what the problem is!! I'm working on it. Stay tuned...

The 3rd day...

Again, thanks to you who have been concerned and kept James in your thoughts during his recovery. Yesterday was QUITE a 'down' day for him. He now figures it was due to the extra meds he took on Wednesday (just to be sure he was pain-free). Oh--and he was tired. The crazy thing is that this morning he is sooo much better, and hasn't had any pain meds since yesterday at 4am. He credits the CPM for keeping his leg moving, and not stuck in an uncomfortable position. Yay! This is amazing! The CPM gadget is set up level to his hip, and his leg sits in a sling-type rig. The machine very slowly (sometimes I think its turned off) pulls his foot toward him. He gradually will build up the degree of flexion (is that a word?). As you can imagine, right now he is in his recliner with the laptop. Lots of 'catching-up' to do in his world.

I have taken the gardening upon myself. I think James thought I was doing that before, and I always thought it was one of his tasks. Now that I have some cute tomatoes and basil growing, I'm taking charge. We have had a problem with bunnies and squirrels eating tomatoes. Although the tomatoes are still too small for nibbling, James' berry bush has almost been stripped clear of all new growth and the blossoms and berries with it. We put a little chicken wire cage around it and on top, but I think its too late. This morning a little ripe berry had been nibbled just an inch beyond the wire! Bunnies are the cutest non-pet we have. I can only fear for their lives if they keep this up and James' comes hobbling after them with his crutches one day!

Today, Jenna "bridges" (equivalent to graduates) from Daisy scouts to Brownie scouts. All of the girls have spent at least 4 years in Girl Scouts.



I can't find Amanda's Daisy photos...but she is the one who will earn her Silver award soon. By the time she is 16, she will have earned her Gold--pretty much equivalent to an Eagle for the boys. Go Amanda! She has fantastic leaders.