Going to Biggs

Today, I went to Biggs with Jim (and Jordan and Reagan). I was going stir crazy and really wanted to get out. But the only way that I can wander the isles at the store is to get in one of the electric carts.

Yes folks I rode in one of those carts that we love to make fun of people using. It was fun and completely amusing for the first five minutes. That's it. It actually went pretty fast and even had a "backup mode" with noise and everything. "Beep beep beep". I think the backup mode made it for Jim. He giggled everytime I used it.

Oh yea - this picture isn't me (by the way). I wanted to post a picture of what I rode in so you'd know how nuts it was.
Ah well. I can now cross that off my list of "Things to do before I turn 40". Weeee

Big day today

Today we went and bought some new grown up things for little Ms. Reagan. Since we've had some success with the "poopy in the potty", we bought a couple toddler toilets. And I was getting tired of the whole high chair cleaning thing, so we got her a booster seat. Yea Reagan.

Poopy in the potty AGAIN

Reagan is starting to poop in the potty. She doesn't come to us yet about doing it, but when we see her start the motions, we ask her. When she nods, she stomps off to the bathroom and waits for Jim to put her on the toilet. It's hilarious. When they are done, they both flush the toilet and say "goodbye poopies!"

Um, yea.

The cutest picture

This has got to be the cutest picture of Jim and Reagan. :)

Slicky spots on our hill

This morning was hilarious. Jim, Jordan and Reagan were all about ready to take off to school and we got an email saying that Jordan's school was on an hour delay. So everyone took off their coats and hung out. The funny thing was that we really didn't realize how slick our hill was. Jim was in his office working and heard someone spinning their tires. He looked out and apparently there was a Jeep stuck on the hill. There were multiple other cars that would start sliding about 1/4th the way down and eventually would stop. We saw a Yukon slide 1/2 way down and turn sideways in the process. Wow. So we sat at home until the salt truck came through. Oh yea... it was bad enough that even the salt truck couldn't get up the hill without dumping a TON of salt.

Twisting and turning

The weather man actually got it right - this morning we had snow flurries. Because of this, we couldn't get off our hill. So Grammy, who was stuck at home herself, came up the hill to help watch Reagan while Jim worked.

She and I were hanging out in the living room when Reagan started walking around with both of her arms out. She started turning - like an airplane - around and around. Huh? I don't get it. She did it again and again. So darn cute. Then she started shaking her head and then her arms. She didn't do it at the same time, but it looks like she's learning how to twist and turn. How cute!?

Jordan and her flute

Well Jordan has started playing the flute. The cool thing is that she had several options from her band teacher and she chose the flute. (awww). So I told her that I'd help her.

I am just amazed. She is really doing well on it. She plays clear and loves the challenge. Of course, I'm giving her a step up on some of the other kids I'm sure because I drill her a lot, but she asks me to. We have fun.

I am really excited and hope she keeps it up. She is doing great and some part of me thinks she might have some natural talent since it seems to come very easy to her.

Kicking the ball and other cool stuff

This morning we were all hanging out in the living room just waiting for the roads to get cleared. Jordan and I were watching Reagan goof off and watch Sesame Street. She dropped her ball on the floor that she had been carrying around and stopped to look at it. And just like that, she kicked it. Huh? She did it again. Odd I'd never seen her do that.

Just a bit later, she was playing with her basketball and did the same thing. Wow! Of course, I was thrilled and said "hey Jordan did you see that?". Apparently this news was old to her. She said, "yea she did that last week!"

Grammy and Grampy pooping party II

Grammy and Grampy came over tonight. Grampy got here about 5pm to help me go pick up the little one and Grammy came over a little later. Reagan was thrilled to see both of them. It's just so darn cute. Grampy walks in and she runs over and wants to get picked up right away. Grammy walks in and the world completely stops for her. Wow!

Tonight after dinner, Grammy and Grampy took Reagan upstairs and got her into the tub. She was a mess from dinner - ya know, rubbing mashed potatoes in her hair amongst other things. She loves bath time. Lately she's been loving it so much that she's been pooping in the tub. Tonight was no exception.

Grampy was taking care of her while Grammy and I were in her room getting her bed and clothes ready for the next day. All of a sudden, he cries out - "She did it again". Man did she. It was worse than the night before. She had pooped BIG!

The next thing I know, Grammy is in the bathroom with me close behind. The picked her up and plopped her in the sink for a little bath. Geez. My mom cracks me up. I would have probably just rinsed her off - maybe. But she did a bath in the bathroom sink all over again. Yes I got a picture.

Needless to say, that took up the whole rest of the evening. After we got her dressed and ready for bed, it was time for her to go to bed. Ahhhhh.

Achilles update

Yes another update today. I went to PT today and got the real "truth" about my recovery expectations. My PT person said that from what he can tell, the doctor was being extremely conservative with my recovery. That could mean anything. He also said that it really takes about six weeks for the screw to grow into the bone (my dad's doctor told him nine weeks). So my guess is that it's probably close to about eight weeks.

The big question I had was about "when do I get rid of one crutch"? That will really go a long way for me - giving me an extra hand and the ability to chase after Reagan a bit. While I will be able to put 50% of my weight on my foot on March 1, the PT person said that still means two crutches. UGH!!!!!! ARGH!!!!! Oh well - wahhhhhh.

Ok I'm done whinning.

So now that I've got a better realistic picture of what to expect - I'll be on two crutches until at least March 9th. I go back in to the doctor on the 9th and I'm hoping to be at 75% (or one crutch) within two weeks after that. I've got my fingers crossed.

So my projected timeline is:
At three weeks - start therapy
At five weeks - 50% weight bearing (two crutches)
At seven weeks - back at the doctor for an "update"
At nine weeks - 75% weight bearing (one crutch)
At 11-12 weeks - fully walking... although I'm hoping for "by my birthday" to be off crutches.

Monkey?

So Reagan is learning and doing all sorts of new words, sounds and motions. Today, I asked her what sound a monkey made and instead of making the "monkey" noise - this is what she normally would do. She actually put her arms up to her armpits and made the motion AND the noise at the same time.

Poopy in the potty

Tonight, Jim gave her a bath. Because of Reagan's little habit of pooping in the tub lately, he's been on the lookout for the start of the whole process. If he sees her even acting like she needs to go, he swings her around and plops her little butt on the toilet. How funny is that?

So tonight, I was sitting at the table and I heard Jim say "do you have to go potty?" Apparently, she shook her head. He swung her around and stuck her on the toilet. She actually pooped in the toilet. He was thrilled. He came around the corner when they were done and said "she's smart... she told me she had to go". I just laughed.

The Reagan Express

Reagan has a new found fascination with the laundry basket. She thinks it is her little choo-choo train. She likes to climb in and out of it. Of course, once she's in, she looks to me to drive her around the living room. She and I hobble around the living room (me on my knees pushing her). Every time I hit a corner, I spin her around and sing "chugga chugga chugga chugga choo choo, next stop is..."

She laughs and laughs. She loves it. But I think I created a monster. She won't stop. And now my knees have bruises on them.

My little sponge

She is such a sponge. She loves her picture books and flash cards. When we go upstairs to the play room, the first thing she does is pick up her picture book (which has a TON of pictures/labels in it) or her flash cards. She'll sit forever with me and point and try to say the words after me. Geez.

It really surprises me sometimes how much she's already absorbed. And I think she said Cat and Owl today too. Not really sure. I'll try again tonight to make sure it wasn't a fluke.

Painting with Mommy

So I'm upstairs with Reagan today while Jim works out. He left us up here with "snack time" and some paints that we got for her birthday. Yea... I wasn't really prepared for the painting thing. She wasn't that interested at first, so I put them up on the couch and just played with her. After a while, she saw them and started grunting for them.

I got them down and put them on the floor. WHAT A MESS! Geez. Thank goodness they are washable. I hope they really are :).

She painted really well. I was impressed. She not only colored on the paper, but also tried to eat the paint. Loved that. I really didn't worry too much since it's "non-toxic". I figured she was fine. To prove it to myself, I ate the purple one too - just for fun.

She used both her right and left hands (sorry Daddy). So no sign of which hand she'll use consistently yet. But now her hands and mouth are covered in purple and orange paint. :) Yea!

Blood clots?

Ok, I'm a total spaz. I'm really freaking out that I might have a blood clot now. I've been worried about a spot on my heal where my foot rested for 3 weeks. After surgery, I did get up and down quite a bit and do plenty of walking/crutching around. But after they took the cast off, I noticed I had a really hot spot on my heel and it was really warm. So I asked the doctor. He said "it's nothing, don't worry about it". Ok.

So today, I'm sitting up here in the play area and my chest started tightening. I'm probably being a spaz, but it worried me none the less. Ugh. I'll probably call the doctor if it happens again just to be safe.