Pressure Cooker Failure

Things were relatively normal yesterday until dinnertime. Robby worked on his homework while Timmy and I played on ABCMouse. After I finished up some projects and we ate lunch the boys were able to take advantage of the beautiful weather by going for another bike ride.

Per our routine, Scott was talking to me while I was working on dinner. I released the steam on my Power Pressure Cooker XL and then I grabbed a sponge to wipe the sink. All of a sudden we both heard a loud hissing sound, followed by a bellowing pop. Without notice, the lid flew off the pressure cooker, throwing boiling water and chopped up potatoes over everything within two feet. 

My left hand was coated with boiling water and the pain was unbearable. We immediately tried to cook my hand down with cold water and an icepack. As I watched blisters begin to form, we knew that I needed to get medical attention.

We packed up Timmy and headed to Urgent Care. I have second-degree burns over 30% of my left hand. The prescription cream helps, but the pain is omnipresent. Hopefully, it will heal quickly because right now I'm miserable.

Bike Ride

We quickly shifted from watching for school cancellations while sitting in front of the fire to playing outside and riding bikes through the neighborhood. I hope that the weather is here to stay because everybody, including me, is happier when we can play outside. Yesterday I could feel my anxiety melting away in the warm sunshine. 

For Christmas, Scott surprised me with an electric bike. Knowing how much Timmy loves to ride through the neighborhood, he thought that the pedal assist feature would help me to keep up with our little explorer as he becomes older.  After experiencing the joy of pedal assist riding, Robby has commandeered my bike. He hops on and gleefully pedals away at every opportunity. 

Yesterday Robby asked if he could ride to the duck pond. Overhearing his brother and without waiting for an invitation, Timmy was putting on his shoes and heading out the door. I agreed to the excursion with the caveat that Robby keeps Timmy in his sight by riding next to him. (With the brothers on bikes, I knew that I wasn't going to be able to keep up on foot.) 

The boys took off up the street on their bikes while I jogged behind them. I was initially nervous about letting them ride away from me, but I trusted that Robby would keep Timmy safe in our quiet little neighborhood.  I could see Robby circling Timmy in an attempt to stay moving while keeping tabs on his little brother. I could hear Timmy's giggles from a block away.  As I panted while jogging, I knew that the boys were fine without me.

I am glad that the brothers were able to enjoy an activity together. With their age difference, opportunities for a common activity are slim. Seeing them have so much fun together almost makes it worth giving up my new bike.

Switching Beds

Hamlet was gobsmacked by his new bedroom. When he saw the new bunk bed slide and fort set up in his room he uncontrollably began to giggle. Even though he was home we didn't see him for much of the day. Every so often he emerged for a snack or a drink before scampering back into his fort utopia. 

He had a fantastic time playing in his fort and on his new bed and slide. Unfortunately, sleeping was an entirely different story. Throughout the night I heard him sliding into the bean bags and playing with trains in his fort. Around 2:30 we ended up switching rooms in the quest for sleep.  We put Timmy in our bed with Scott and I climbed into the top bunk. 

After settling down (again), we all ended up falling asleep. His new bed is surprisingly comfortable, but I discovered that getting out of a bunk bed without a leg is unnerving. Because I use a suction suspension, I need to full weight my prosthesis in order for it to be properly donned. I couldn't weight my leg while in the bunk bed, so I had no choice but to put it to the side and hop down the tiny staircase.  I was disappointed that the slide was way too small to fit my bum or I would have just slid out of bed.

Hopefully, the novelty of a new bunk bed will wear out and Timmy will learn to sleep in his new room. I'm glad that he loves the new set-up, but this Momom needs to sleep!

A Day without Timmy

My house is unnervingly quiet this morning. Timmy spent the day with his cousins at my mom's house. From the photos and videos I received, he thoroughly enjoyed his time. He loves his cousins and they absolutely adore him. He is one lucky little kid to have so many people love him so deeply!

With Timmy out of the house, Robby and I spent several hours on his school work. Robby was able to spread his research paper notecards across the dining room table, as opposed to working behind his locked bedroom door, allowing him to get all of his information organized.  (I honestly don't know who will be happier when this project is over. It has been a beast of a paper.)

While Robby was busy on his paper, I spent my time working on Timmy's room. I was finally able to declutter and purge the toys. His furniture was rearranged to accommodate for his bunk bed slide, and I created a colorfully lit playhouse underneath his bed. It is my hopes that he is so excited to see his new room that he doesn't notice the piles and stacks of forgotten toys are now missing.

This morning I'll be picking up Timmy and bringing him home. I know that he had a great little getaway to his Nana's house, but we have missed him. Even Robby remarked that he missed his little brother, which is something I never really thought I would hear coming from him. Don't get me wrong, he is an excellent big brother. But sometimes that role can wear thin. 

Bedroom Makeover

This morning I'm sore but unlike my normal aches and pains in the morning, this time the source is one of satisfaction. Yesterday I learned how to repair drywall by fixing my mom's bathroom ceiling. My arms and shoulders are achy and tired, but I am feeling victorious having by both having learned a new skill and by being able to help her.  I can't wait to get all of the holes in our walls and ceilings fixed over the summer!

Timmy is waking up in Pennsylvania this morning, excited to spend the day with his Nana and cousins. I have an early morning doctor appointment (which I am dreading) and depending upon the activities and his demeanor, I may pick him up today or tomorrow. 

It is odd being home without Timmy, but Scott and Robby put the time to good use. When I came home last night I discovered that the pair assembled and installed a new bunk bed (with slide and fort) in Timmy's bedroom. My little Hamlet is going to be over-the-moon when he discovers his new bedroom!

I felt a little sad seeing the Thomas the Train bed dismantled, but knowing how much fun he is going to have sliding out of bed in the morning tempered my melancholy. This is the perfect bed for my little adventurer, and I can't wait for him to see it.