Getting through another week without Dad

Jason returned late Sunday from another work trip - 6 days this time. Winter is a challenging time to be without Jason. With every day well below freezing, it's hard for me to feel motivated to get out and help the kids burn off energy outside, which means they are just more wild inside. With the cold weather, plus my injured hand and fighting a mild cold, we didn't do as much "fun" stuff as we've done before. This was more just a survive the week mentality. Survive we did and still managed to make some nice memories too.

Let's see. We celebrated Valentine's Day Monday with Jason since was going to be gone. While he was away, we decorated sugar cookies at a friend's house, got to go to Free Swim with friends at the YMCA, had friends over to play, went to MOPS, made snow piles to jump into (it's so cold, the snow is very fluffy), had friends over for brunch, played at the Outdoor Campus & also the Library, made hand/footprint cards, made deviled eggs, ate pizza, hot dogs and macaroni and watched Winnie the Pooh. And an added bonus, the jeep started everyday but the last. Whew!

Learning how to be left-handed

Three weeks ago we were having a rather warm day right before another 10-day forecast of frigid temperatures. Jason & I decided to take advantage of the warmth and get the jog stroller out for a quick jog before church. Not 20 feet into it we realized how foolish we'd been. Even in the "warmth," the sidewalks were still completely iced over ... and I was on the ground before I knew it.

We continued on for 20 minutes and by the time we stopped I realized I'd hurt my right hand pretty badly. After icing, splinting and anti-inflammatory meds, a professional opinion seemed like a good idea. Fortunately, no fracture, but the doctor said I might be in a splint for up to 6 weeks. I told him I was hoping for two. Three weeks later, although much, much better, I am still in the splint.

I've been extremely grateful to at least have a working left hand and fingers on my right hand that can move at least, but I've been really surprised by the activities that are difficult or that I literally cannot do with only one hand. I expected writing and eating to be difficult, but there are a myriad of things I never thought of ... cooking and dishes were out for about 10 days, I am still struggling to cut foods that are hard, brushing teeth with a non-dominant hand was really frustrating (& my teeth never felt clean!), pushing a shopping cart is extremely difficult, putting deodorant on, and the silliest thing, I still can't pump a liquid soap dispenser with my right hand. Not to mention trying to wrangle my wild children.

It's been interesting and has definitely given me both a lot of frustration and A LOT of appreciation for those that are dealing with more serious/permanent limb issues. Jason has been amazing (of course!) through all of this, doing his best to keep up with the things I need help with and taking on a lot more of the household chores. So thankful to have a teammate! 

Lucky for me, I also have a wonderful snow shovel operator here at the house!

Ice skating ... for the first time in 20+ years

Ever since last winter, Luke has been asking us about going ice skating at our Main St Square and last week he was able to go finally! We were given a lovely gift of some $$ to spend on our family and this is one of the outings we picked to go on. I was a little nervous after I realized that I hadn't been on the ice since my freshman year of college, yikes!

It was a lovely afternoon -- a wind-free day that wasn't too far below freezing AND half price day at the rink! By the end of our time there, Luke was skating without assistance while Mabel enjoyed doing a lap with the pushcart, then a warm up at the fire pit (my kind of girl). It was a really fun and memorable family outing.