Take me on a Night Ride

When the girls beg me to do "something fun" in the evening, my main struggle is with 'what'.  Go play with the dog... or the goats.  Go for a walk, ride your bike or hoverboard, see what Grandmas up to, clean your room, make something, play Barbies, practice ironing or french braid your hair; I don't know.  

Then I realize how strongly I don't feel like playing Barbies and hope they decide to go play with the livestock in the goat pen.

But when the night sky is right, and I get a smidgen more energy than usual, and their sweet faces could convince me to buy a chocolate fountain or the Eifel Tower, I say 'yes' to a night drive.

It was the perfect time for a photoshoot along Hickory Ridge Road, while the girls got their first driving lesson from dad in the mule.

So glad I said 'yes'.

Not bragging, but...

Trying not to sound braggy...

but Molly performed and forced me to record a 3-minute interpretation living room dance and became angry each time I lost interest at the 2-1/2 minute mark- forcing her to have to, 'start over.'

Each time I walk in the house, someone is rolling around in a wheelchair.  

We debated buying a bunch of wheelchairs for the basement instead of furniture.

I'm guessing a lot of kids come home from school to cookies, fruit, cereal, crackers...  not our house.

                                            Spicy Noodle Bowls for the after school win!

And the wedding.  

My cousin on my dad's side was married over the weekend.

Mack was being hit-on by a 16-year-old adopted Chinese girl, Ross was behaving like the mean handicapped kid in Netflix's, Vikings, Mike was out-of-town and the littles were getting their wedding groove on.

They get that from both Mike and me.

Good luck kids...

Sister cousins!

Best shot of only HALF of Papa and GG's grands.  

Mack looks like the America's Got Talent Champion, Ross eventually put his tongue back in his mouth, Jay blinked (or is eyeing Sams beverage) and I swear the guys in the background are sharing something inappropriate.  But everyone else in the shot looks GREAT!

Molly led the train around the reception and got this party started.

I'm beginning to wonder if we should hire these girls out to get party crowds going. 

They've got the knack and charisma to make a killing.

First Week In September

We've completed the second Tuesday of the school year and Ross has traded in his green cast for a pink cast, Mack is still on a vehicle hunt, Maple's face lump just popped, the check we've been waiting on for the past 2 years finally showed up from the IRS, Jayson can't find the library books he checked out on the first day of school, Ross made over $125 working to clear land and grind on trucks last weekend and Maisie's been craving meatloaf for over a week.  

This is the first week of September.  My favorite season of the year.  Bring it.

Casts and Bruises

13 and 14 year olds continue to be what you probably remember 13 and 14 year olds to be.

So when Ross came home the first day of school with various "bones" on his cast, I wasn't too surprised when he explained they were covered up penises.  

Naturally.
The cast removal nurses will love it.
The covered up penises, Homer Simpson, hearts from girlfriends, Peppa Pig, homosexual jokes, names spelled wrong and crossed out, secret codes and more...
Does it get any more complicated for a middle school cast than this?

But he's doing well and planning to attend football practice after school tomorrow as a way to be part of the team as the season kicks off.

Mack is still on the vehicle hunt, but we are hopeful that by the end of the week he has some wheels to get him to work and back.

And our biggest concern this weekend is wtf is up with Maples face.  

Appears to be some sort of absess near her nasal passage.  

I've done more research on goat obsesses than I've done for ANY of my masters classes and I've come to the conclusion its either a bite from a wasp, bee or snake- an obsessed tooth- a puncture wound from her sisters horn- stuck cud - or larvae in her nasal passage.  

Believe it or not, this is good news considering what it could be.

I found myself driving to Tractor Supply in DeSoto first thing Sunday morning for goat penicillin, needles and injectors.  My first time injecting penicillin was absolutely terrifying for all involved.  Lets just say it took more than 2 tries and the needle eventually came out of Maples muscle side ways.  

Tractor Supply was out of the long lasting penicillin, meaning I'll have to do this every morning for the next 4 days.  

Lord help me.

In other news, I fell off the goat barn ladder this week pulling hay out of a bale and landed on my leg.  Thankfully I didn't hit a goat as I came down. 

These are the Days Of Our Lives.

  

Scooters and Jobs

He's always wanted to drive one of these around a store.

Just a little perk of having a broken leg.

I don't think he realized his cart had an orange flag on the back or that it beeped in reverse when he hopped on.

It's a good thing it did, or he may have crashed into more than just one person at Costco.

After a few aisles of tight turns around the sample ladies, the mum started to tick him off and he began threatening to crash the mum.

We got him out of there in 1 piece and another experience was had.

In more exciting news than handicapped shopping carts and mums, 

this week Mack will start training to work at Fareway.

  The process of getting a job did not come naturally to him.  

Why would it?

The first step was online applications.

Next came a resume to upload into those online applications. 

After a couple days he made a phone call to "speak with a manager about the status of his application" followed by instructions the manager wasn't available, but it's best to stop in the store.

Monday afternoon he and I rehearsed the conversation in the van on the way there.

As we arrived, he asked if I would help him because he was a little nervous.

As if I'd say 'no.'

He didn't understand why he couldn't just go there and work.  Why did there need to be so many steps?  Why couldn't they just call him from his online application?  Why did he have to go talk to the manager?  

I explained the few steps you take to get a high school job are simply to show you are interested and motivated.  Lots of kids want to work, but you need to demonstrate you would make the best person for the job.  

So together,  that's what we did.

He's been a new man ever since.  

I'm so anxious to see him advance to the next step in life and to watch his confidence finally soar.

Cast #1

9 days after surgery, the surgical pad (aka: meat tampon) was peeled off to reveal the surface wound.  

I was prepared for it, as naturally I had already asked the surgeon to share the operating room photos he took for educational purposes before we left the hospital.  

The organization of the human body has always fascinated me and seeing a photo of Ross' calf muscles exposed on an operating table only enforced my confidence in a higher power.

At Iowa Ortho, he had x-rays to ensure the pins were still in place, followed by the placement of a full-leg cast.

In Ross' words, 

"It basically goes up to my taint."

And he's hobbling around the house right now knowing football camp starts Monday, had to cancel going to a friends swimming party Saturday, and being an 'almost 14-year-old' who needs his mom to help him shower, he's aware this sucks.

But fortunately he realizes he still has 2 legs, 2 feet, a healthy body and a free pass to as many McDonalds chocolate shakes and episodes of The Office he can handle.  

In a year, he will only have a scar to remind him of this time.

And chic's dig scars, right?

His scar tells a story.  

It's a reminder of when life tried to break him, but failed.

Recovery

We were discharged from Mercy room 393 Thursday morning and couldn't be more relieved.

Now we await the collection of paperwork to submit to the accident insurance I randomly signed up for last December.

Fingers crossed!

And in the midst of it all, we had a birthday party for Molly at a waterpark hotel.

Large family scenarios.

Thanks again Heath, you totally saved me on this one.

A month ago Molly told me she only wanted cash and candy for her birthday.  However, when the big day arrived, she desperately wanted something to open. 

We just returned from the hospital and all I had was cash and candy.

Apparently, it wasn't enough and according to her, her birthday was the worst birthday EVER.

Magically, Grandma Boyd showed up with a birthday trip to Duncan Donuts followed by a trip to Walmart where Molly could spend her birthday money.

We came home with a hoverboard.  

Just incase your wondering why my ankle is all skinned up right now, there's a specific way to dismount from these things. 

One week later...

Ross is home on the couch watching countless episodes of the office

I'm learning to help him shower, dress, travel, poop, medicate and sleep.

Molly is 9.

Mack got his drivers license.

My mom and mother-in-law know my love language is a clean house, clean laundry and entertained, fed kids.

I go back to work in 2 days.

My entire family is home, safe and under one roof.

I couldn't feel luckier.

Mike doing goat chores for me after he was dressed for work.  

He has my whole heart.

Ross had to get off the couch today.

We took Jay to therapy, picked up a prescription, 2 bags of stall pellets from Tractor Supply, fly strips and mouse bait from Menards.

He was tired, but he did it.  

With 2 legs and 2 feet.

The visitors, the cards, the frozen meals and popsicles, the prayers, the gifts, balloons... seriously peeps- you've outdone yourselves.

Friday afternoon we go back to Iowa Ortho to figure out what's next.

Meanwhile, we take it day by day. 

And I'm beyond grateful.