Experiment (Part 2)

If you were hoping I was going to say all is cured and I have the most helpful children in the world----Your crazy. Things have improved a lot though. And I do really have great kids they just need a gentle push (or shove) in the right direction. We've taken our little experiment to the next step....the kids are on an 'electronic fast'. Gunnar is probably the most disappointed. Kennedy says it's "child abuse". McKenna seems like she could really care less. She'd much rather hang out with friends. When Jared first handed down the decree.....I thought he had finally lost his mind! What? Was he trying to really put me in my grave. But, it has been so good so far. We've played games together, read together, and talked together. I think it is just what we needed. It won't last forever but maybe it will change how we treat each other and view life.
(Thank goodness the weather has improved!!)

PS
Everyone is getting breakfast now!

Knee update

The progress is so so slow. But I am sure that you, who have experienced surgery are thinking....no duh. Well, I wasn't quite expecting....I know they tell you but I kept thinking "yeah right". Well, they were right. Poop! I am making progress I can bend my knee to 104 degree. (Who knew you could get so excited about that.) My real accomplishment is that I can now straight-leg-lift my leg off the bed. WOO HOO!! I go to the doctor on Tuesday I am anxious to see what he says. A lot of people have asked if it hurts. Yes, it really depends on how active I am and what child or husband has kicked, bumped, or knocked my leg in the day. It is managable and for that I am glad.

The actual hardest part of this whole thing is people taking Gannon and making us dinner. I am so so thankful everyone is so willing and it has been a bigger help than anyone could possible know. But as a mother, it tears at my heart to have someone else taking care of him. And having people bring in dinner. I feel like I should be doing it. The last couple of days have been pretty hard because mentally I feel like "ok let's get on with life" unfortuantely, my leg is not cooperating. I think the big thing I'll learn through all this is humility and patience.

Anyhow, enough boobing...here are some pictures of my pretty leg. Oh, and here is a brief, non-medical explanation of what they actually did:

They tightened up the ligament over my knee and released one on the side of my knee. I also had one (I don't know which one) torn that they fixed. They found out that once they got inside. They also cut away part of my tibia and repositioned it. Thus the lovely Home Depot screws.

It really doesnt' look that bad (to me). I was expecting it to look at lot uglier. It still has some swelling.

Bragging

We got a call from McKenna's PE teacher yesterday. McKenna won the "shoot out" for the 3-4 graders and gets to represent Riverview on March 1st for an area competition. I am so proud of her.

He's a walker

Actually, he took his first step about the end of January while my mom was here so of course that made her day. I can't believe it though. It seems like just yesturday that we brought him home. How come it goes by so fast? He has really got better and thinks he's hot stuff. You can see the "hey look what I am doing" in his eyes. He really gets spoiled too....we clap for him and make a big deal so he is always saying (in a language only a mother knows) "yeah" and looking for the applause.

He is just so dang cute! Jared and I wonder how we could have ever lived without him. He was meant for our family. I love to watch him when the kids get home. He is so full of excitment and I feel sometimes he loves them more that his mom. It's fun. I am so grateful that little boy found his way to our home.

Experimenting

Have you ever had that "feeling" that you have failed as a parent and then there is the "knowing" you have failed as a parent. I think Jared and I are presently somewhere in the middle. Don't get me wrong I love my little monkeys. But Jared and I have been a little disappointed with the "stepping up to help the family" that they have been displaying or should I say lack of. So we decided to conduct a little experiment. Jared figured that it would work really well since I can't do anything and therefore won't be inclined to go soft. We have stopped doing for our kids. Period. It has been pretty interesting. I guess I should back up and say that we do for them based off decisions they make....I'll explain in a minute.

So far Gunnar has missed the bus, Tuesday's scripture study consisted of just Kennedy and me, the kids got no cooked breakfast on Tuesday (we really thought they wouldn't mind this one because they love cold cereal and live for the weekends when that's what's on the menu--we were pleasantly surprised), and Kennedy miss out on having dessert last night. McKenna, much to her liking, figured out how to get breakfast. After offering to help out with a family chore on her own Jared offered to make her breakfast this morning. She gloated, maybe a little too much, to the others about dad making her an omelet. Gunnar and Kennedy are baffled...and are begging McKenna to spill the beans on getting breakfast. So needless to say poor Gunnar and Kennedy had cold cereal this morning.

It has been kind of liberating. Jared and I just smile at each other when we see the choices they are making. All of their choices are directly related some sort of privilege. Maybe Jared and I are the slow learners but I really realized how much I do for them and how I am not making them responsible for choices. We now don't push, prod, wake up, remind, hound or scramble to help. The yelling has decreased considerably too. I am really interested to see how this progresses. It really is amazing how they are picking up on things in such a short amount of time. I wonder how long it will take for them to like clean clothes........hopefully not as long as it took their mother to realize she was just ruining them.

Women's Intuition

Just for the record....I called Elder Uchtdorf. I love him!! He's awesome!
So excited for our new leadership!

Just a little sad

They split our ward yesterday. While we are huge, busting at the seams, and I knew it was coming. It is still sad. I will miss seeing everyone. Granted nobody moved.....but it seems to happen anyway.....out of sight out of mind kind of thing. I guess I just need to make sure it doesn't happen. Sunday just seems to be the time when you say "Hey what are you doing.....wanna come over....let's get together."

Anyhow, it's not the end of the world. Just a little sad.