This is a busy time of year at Paul's job, so he was only able to take Thursday and Friday off. We've thoroughly enjoyed our little 4 day break though, and can't wait to do it all again next week (Thu through Sun again). On Thursday we played card games, had a blast sledding and Paul took Ted to see Avatar in 3D. They both loved it and agreed that Sam can see it when it comes out on video, but it's a little much in the theatre. We had our traditional Oyster Stew for dinner and I chatted with my parents while they opened their gifts from me. It was a very mellow, relaxing day; I sang a Xmas Eve service at midnight and got home at 2:30am. Yawn!
I slept in and Friday passed very quickly for me! We met Seth & Jaron (& Holli too!) for our annual movie on Xmas Day. We saw The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and it was very cute. Then friends came over for Chinese food and the kids went crazy wrestling with each other. We all fell into bed exhausted!
This post was a long time coming. It's been in the works for weeks (I started it on Dec. 11). It's such an important post to me because it truly defines all that I appreciate about the community of friends we have built here. We are loved; we are taken care of; we are respected. In the same way that we all rush to provide meals for a friend who's had surgery, so did our friends come to our aid recently. In a manner full of love and genuine caring, our friends picked us up when we were low. And we are so very grateful.
It's been a busy week around here! Hanukkah took up our nights, full of warm soups made from CSA ingredients, presents, art-making, dreidal and latkes. We didn't do quite as much this year - some nights we simply did homework , read books and went to bed early. It was such a busy week, chock-full of activities, that it seemed easier to lay low. Ted stayed home sick Tuesday and Wednesday, gathering his strength and health for TKD testing on Thursday and an overnight on Friday. His testing was a mid-term and he got a perfect score, 290 out of 290 possible points! That means his feet were positioned correctly, he turned the right direction each time and never missed a move. I'm very impressed. He will test for his Black Belt in February, provided he can test out of his lower rank forms by then. A diligent two months await us!
On Friday I drove Ted, Kai and Omri up to Fort Collins for a long-awaited overnight at Pete's house. The boys had a blast, starting off with a crazy Nerf gun battle, followed by Wii boxing and a movie, and staying up til 11 talking and reading to each other. I love that they read to each other. Only in the company of their very safe friends could Ted and Pete feel comfortable reading aloud. I love and treasure their friendship and hope we can maintain it for a long time! The next morning came too quickly so we vowed to have another overnight over break. They are such good friends.
Today is Day 5, post-op. Ole is doing well. He had his first PT appointment today (only in Boulder!) The therapist showed me how to massage him, range of motion exercises and scolded me for letting him "trot." He needs to walk very slowly so he puts weight on his bad leg. We are starting 5 minute short-leash walks, very slowly. We can also begin weaning him off his pain meds, but he is clearly very sore today, so we'll start that in a few days. He's started licking where his fur is growing back in (or because his leg hurts a lot - hard to say) so he's stuck with the E-collar for a while. He hates it. It's so sad, but if he messes with those stitches it will be really sad. I am a little stressed out. It's a lot to juggle - meds around the clocks, icing, massaging, walking ... I'm getting a little burned out. He's worth it, but week 1 is tough.
Ole is home and recovering well. He went in on Thursday morning. First they had to run bloodwork, so see if his system could handle the drugs they were going to pump into him, and X-rays, to make sure he didn't have any tumors, being an old dog and all. All was well, though, and they were out of surgery around 4pm, when the surgeon called me to tell me they were through. He spent the night and we brought him home on Friday around noon. He spent the afternoon dozing and taking medicine. Peeing was tough for him, and he HATES the E-collar he has to wear in his crate when we leave the house. Today, Saturday, he tolerated the icing of the surgical sight, many pills and he even pooped today! He is a rock star. We love him so much, and are so glad he is on the mend. Thanks to all of you for your concern over our beloved mutt!
The first night of Hanukkah was also Shabbat. Mae and I decorated the house while Sam napped and Ted had TKD. When they got home we roused Sam, ate latkes, lit the first candle on the chanukkiah, played dreidal and opened presents from G'ma & G'pa. They got to bed late, almost 10pm! Wow.
Then they had Jason's bday party at the pool, which was fun. And home for Family Presents night! We lit the menorah and went at it. This was certainly a tough year, financially, but the kids did well. They each got one really good present: Ted got a (new to him) DS and a small Indiana Jones Lego set; Sam got a volcano lamp (so cool) and his rainbow blanket, and Mae got (pink!) Legos and a Careesh Tiger Shark. While I wish I could have filled the house with presents for them, they were happy. And so are we. I have a post I'm working on entitled 'Gratitude.' Tonight I have so much to be grateful for, and my wonderful family is top on the list.
This soup is perfect for these days (weeks!) spent in the single digits. Mmm..
a little slice of heaven.
I am glad the week is over - it's been a douzy. Ole tore his ACL yesterday and is scheduled for TPLO surgery next Thursday. I spent the entire afternoon and early evening at the emergency vet - it was a huge drag. He was drugged out last night, tongue lolling out and all. I slept downstairs with him since he seemed to prefer the couch over the crate. We were sure he would pee or poop in his condition, but he didn't. Rockin' dog. I hadn't been able to get his meds into him this morning so stopped off at Safeway on the way home from picking up the kids. A pre-cooked, microwaveable pot roast later, and the meds are safely in his tummy. We also got hot dogs, so a tupperware of carnivorous delights await him for the next few weeks.
In other news, I've started a new blog chronicling my local eats (re-vamping my enthusiasm from a few years ago). While it is 50% green, the other 50% is purely financial. With the exception of fruits, veggies, soybeans & GF baking mix for the kids, we are trying to only eat from our CSA. Visit, if you like!
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