I really have no idea why I never posted about Brian’s ACL surgery last April. But now seems like an appropriate time given that he was finally cleared for soccer again 2 weeks ago (and played in his first pick-up game 2 days after the got the news he’d been waiting for)! He originally snapped his ACL (and tore his meniscus in the same knee) around February last year. It was really really heart breaking for him to find out that he needed surgery. He’s also HORRIBLE with needles and didn’t like the idea of going under the knife at all (we had a pretty disturbing experience during surgery prep when they had to insert the IV drip…poor guy!).

Before the big day, I spent at least a month researching various ways to help him after surgery and during recovery. I think all in all, it wasn’t nearly as bad as we had anticipated, although he did have to work hard and go through a lot of pain to get his knee strengthened again.

Everyone helped keep daddy company during his first weeks. He started out mostly upstairs (after the initial surgery meds wore off and he could safely scoot backwards up the stairs). We set up a recliner near the TV in the sitting room where he could watch movies and be comfortable. I think this picture of Brian and Logan hanging out was taken a few days into recovery when he was able to take the brace off for short periods of time. One of the best ideas I found for him was a pair of those “rip off” basketball warm-up pants with snaps down the outside of each leg. It meant that he could still be warm, but that he could get the brace on his knee and then easily snap the pants back up (or rather, I could snap them for him)

Daddy and Brady hanging out on the couch downstairs with the ice circulator (that blue cooler thing in the corner). I spent a lot of time buying ice and filling it up a few times every day. There is a tube that runs from the back of the cooler that ends in a knee wrap. You plug it in, and it circulates nice COLD water over the knee area. Brian slept with this thing running through the night for the first 3 days.

Kona appointed herself as daddy’s healing companion. She would find him and curl up next to his legs no matter where he went. That big brace on his leg was the first of 2, the second being smaller and more mobile, that Brian lived in for at least a month if not more. After that, he wore the smaller brace when he had to be on his feet.

Despite the fact that he wasn’t fully healed by the time warm weather rolled around, he didn’t let his bum knee get in the way of playing outside and throwing passes to the boys. This summer, he’ll be able to stand up and run around!!

The first night Brian went to play soccer again, Logan BEGGED to go with him. Unfortunately, the games are at 9:30pm on Fridays! We said it just wasn’t a good idea. He cried and cried…it was pretty upsetting. You would have thought Brian was going to go play in the World Cup instead of a pick-up game with old dudes. He even made him this sign featuring Lionel Messi…who is only slightly better than daddy in Logan’s eyes.

Aiden has an obsession this year with a certain book at school. It’s called Crystals and Gems. Every week, I send the book back to school the day his class goes to the library and every week, he checks it out again. It’s a really cool book so of course I don’t mind.

Aiden and Brady walk home every day through the back yard. They have both been snapping off icicles from trees and bushes along the way. Aiden was out there for about 30 minutes one afternoon with his backpack still on, searching and collecting. They bring all of their treasures into the house and store them in the freezer. Aiden gives them names that sound a lot like the scientific names of rocks and crystals.

Here are the names of the icicles they have collected (according to Aiden):

Creemis, Sharp Creemis, Branchis (this one had a branch frozen inside), Ivis, Sharp Igus (which is “mature Ivis”) and Bubble Branchis which had lots of round parts on it.

Brady and Aiden after one of their successful “hunting” trips. I believe they were collecting flat ice crystals that day. Aiden gave them names as well, but I didn’t write them down.

Just a few of the many, many icicles that live in the freezer

After we put the kids to bed last night, Brian and got ready for Valentine’s day by pre-making heart pancakes and “cupid’s arrow” bacon. The boys ran down this morning (well…Aiden slept in a bit) and opened up their “buckets of fun”. The excitement continued with parties at school, treats at home and, later, pizza ordering and cuddling on the couch! First, a flashback:

2009 - Logan at 3, Aiden at 2 and Brady at 14 months!

2014 - Logan at 8, Aiden at 7 and Brady at 6!

Breakfast prep last night: Daddy made the (turkey) bacon,

and Mommy made pancakes (with chocolate chips, not pictured)

Breakfast set up. Aiden was still sleeping, but here are Brady and Logan tearing into their Valentine’s buckets. The got chocolates, lots of amazing cards and money from the GG’s (thank you!), Mewmaw and Grandpa and us too. The hearts on the backs of their chairs gave me the idea to recreate the 2009 pic so I fixed them up while the boys got dressed.

It was Logan’s turn to have me work his party. This is one of his best friends at school, Ethan.

   

Nana and Papa’s fruit basket arrived this afternoon…it won’t last long!!

Ok…I’ve given up the idea of continuing to finish up 2013…it’s just stressing me out and causing me stop blogging all together thinking about where I put the pictures from Christmas and New Year’s Eve. I’ll finish eventually, but I wanted to post a picture of Aiden’s 100 day project.

Each child was asked to make a display of 100 like items – any item they wanted (example: 100 gold fish crackers in the shape of a fish). I, of course, pulled up Pinterest and we started looking at ideas…none of which was “good enough” for Aiden. So…we hit Michael’s craft store for inspiration. Aiden’s eye lit up when he saw this shiny shiny foam board! Next, he picked out shiny shiny pipe cleaners. I was so worried that we were going to be individually gluing each one, which sounded impossible, so I took a bundle of them, wrapped another pipe cleaner around it and showed Aiden that we could make a 1. He LOVED it (called me like super smart or something) and we finished the numbers together. I forgot to take his picture at the house before school so I snapped this one of him outside his classroom after volunteering that afternoon.

Brady’s class did 100 bead counting strings…I can’t find it, but it’s cute and educational. Third graders like Logan don’t celebrate the 100th day – so big…so busy getting smarter! :)