Potty Replacement

Well, I was managed to get the swelling under control yesterday which was advantageous because I needed to be mobile so I could replace our toilet. It turns out that the fallen medicine cabinet broke not only the lid but caused a hairline crack in the tank itself. We discovered a puddle of water on the floor in the morning, forcing our hand on the toilet replacement project.

Thanks to YouTube, Scott and I were successful with our toilet replacement project. It certainly wasn't the evening we had anticipated, but we both feel a sense of satisfaction that only arises after a successful home improvement project has been completed. It feels good to know that our toilet will be in good shape for years to come (barring another disaster).

In the midst of replacing the toilet, Timmy developed a fever. I know that it is simply his immune system running amuck and that there is nothing else organic at play. In a few days, he will rebound and be his normal self. These bouts seem to arise without notice and leave just as quickly. For now, my little guy is relying upon cuddles, the Grinch movie and chicken noodle soup for comfort.

Swelling

I woke up this morning to discover that my leg doesn't fit. I tried several times to no avail. After hobbling to retrieve my coffee, an icepack and a cocktail of ibuprofen and water pills, I've settled onto the couch hoping that the swelling recedes. Thankfully Timmy is content watching Polar Express so I have some time to try to return my limb to its normal size.

I'm not sure why my limb is swollen this morning. This reaction usually only happens when I eat salty food, if I had been playing in intense heat, or when I have had too much red wine. None of the above apply, so I am going to chalk this up to one of those weird things and hope that my remedy works.  

One of the most frustrating things about living with a prosthesis is the vulnerability of my mobility. When the stars align, I can walk without giving it a thought. When one thing goes array, I struggle with pain throughout the day. When I can't handle the discomfort or I am risking injury, I am forced to go without my leg. Relying upon manufactured items for my mobility is frustrating at times, especially when everything doesn't work perfectly!

I'm hopeful that my limb size will return within an hour or two. I'll post an update later today.  Fingers crossed!

Timmy's Bad Day

In all fairness, Timmy didn't mean to cause havoc yesterday. Instead of being deliberate, his wake of destruction occurred naturally. It seemed that everything he touched either broke, ended up sticky or left his little hands permanently stained. Needless to say, it wasn't the best day for either of us.

Our morning started by his tripping and spilling freshly pressed strawberry juice all over both of us, thoroughly dousing my new white shirt and his favorite Yoshi shirt.  After changing our shirts Timmy tried to vault behind the couch, where he constructed his own little fort, only to land in a large pile of cat vomit.  He emerged with his hands wailing, flinging the vomit against the walls and floor as he ran down the hallway.

The afternoon was relatively calm until he slipped in the mud in our yard. After yet another wardrobe change, he and Robby decided to go for a bike ride.  Robby fell off his bike making a sharp turn, scraping his knee.  Although he was fine, I cleaned it out and applied a bandaid when they returned home.  

Timmy, not wanting to miss out on the excitement, insisted that he also had a boo-boo. While I was cleaning Robby's real wound, Timmy climbed onto the top of the toilet and tried to open the medicine cabinet to get a bandaid for his fake injury.  The entire cabinet came crashing to the ground, smashing the lid of our porcelain toilet and spilling the cabinet contents everywhere.  Thankfully he wasn't hurt, but the mess took nearly an hour to clean. Keeping it classy, we now have aluminum foil in place of a tank lid. 

During dinner my little tornado bit his tongue, causing him to drip blood all over the table and floor.  On his way to the sink to rinse his tongue, he slipped on a train and knocked over a Tupperware bowl of freshly cut red beets. I have given up trying to remove the pink stains from the ceramic floor. Hopefully, it will wear off with time.

Although yesterday was both frustrating and exhausting, I know that Timmy was not deliberately causing messes. We both just had a bad day. I'm hoping that today is better, because I am beginning to worry about the damage being inflicted on our house and yard.

Back to Reality

My great plan of staying at my Mom's until Monday to avoid driving in the rain was a miserable failure. The rain continued to fall throughout the day, so I ended up having to tackle the wet roads despite my great plan of avoidance. The drive home was both long and miserable, but we arrived safely and without incident.  

I had a fantastic time visiting with my Mom and it's always sad to leave. Even though we were busy, the weekend just flew by in the blink of an eye. Robby and Timmy also had a fun visit, playing with my Mom and reconnecting with the Cousin Crew.  I love hearing the Cousin Crew's laughter resonating throughout her house, even when it occurs long after they should have gone to bed. I'm counting down to summer vacation when they can be together more often!

Today I'm back to reality. I have my own to-do list to tackle (assuming that I find the motivation to get started.) Hopefully Timmy's improved behavior will continue, allowing me the time I need to finish a project! 

Mother's Day Wrap-Up

Hello from Pennsylvania!

With the nonstop rain and intermittent winds from yesterday, we decided to stay at my Mom's an extra day to avoid driving through the nasty conditions. I missed seeing Scott (and my traditional banner waving from our deck) but it was nice spending the entire weekend at my Mom's house.  This morning the boys and I will be packing up and heading back home.  

Saturday I spent the day helping my Mom knock some more items off of her to-do list. In the morning I power washed her porch, walkway, and driveway. In the afternoon, Robby and I tackled purging, organizing and cleaning out her shed. The shed had become a catchall for every miscellaneous item and was crammed to the point of immobility. I woefully underestimated the job. I thought it would only take an hour or so but it turned into a four-hour project.  

On Sunday the rain began to fall and continued throughout the day.  My niece and nephews returned from their Dad's on Saturday night, allowing the Cousin Crew to spend the day together. After my sister left in the morning, her kids hopped in my car and we went Mother's Day shopping for my sister and my mom. We came back with bouquets of flowers and set to work on making breakfast for their mom and Nana.  

After I decided that we were going to stay through the day Robby and I decided to make meatball lasagna, one of his favorites, for dinner. I'm glad that we made the decision early because in midafternoon the doorbell rang. My sister's new boyfriend and his children decided to surprise her with a visit. Thankfully I make big lasagnas and, after throwing in some extra cheese and a few more noodles, we had more than enough for 12 adult sized stomaches.  

I had a nice Mother's Day, spent with my Mom and surrounded by the laughter of the Cousin Crew.  Robby painted me a beautiful flower pot and planted an aloe plant in the center. Timmy colored me pictures and covered me with hugs and kisses throughout the day.  

Mother's Day Weekend

Happy Mother's Day Weekend!  

Thankfully Timmy's behavior has equalized and he is no longer seeking destruction. Yesterday he had a great day at the Animal Park and played beautifully with some new buddies. I'm really hoping that this trend continues!

This afternoon the boys and I are heading up to Pennsylvania to see my Mom. I'm looking forward to the visit and to knocking a few things off of her "to-do" list in honor of Mother's Day. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and Robby, Timmy and I can work outside in her yard. 

Before heading north, Robby has his Friday classes at school. He loves his Friday classes and, even though it would be far more convenient to head up to Pennsylvania before the traffic becomes heavy, I don't want him to miss attending. Instead, he is under a strict directive to come straight to the car when his class is over.  Usually he stays and chats with his friends, but today it is imperative that we hit the highway as soon as possible if I want to make the trip in less than three hours.

Robby has some additional motivation to make it to my car in a timely fashion. If we make it to my Mom's in time, I promised to take him and his cousin to the local Friday night auction. He reviewed the catalog last night and discovered several WWII items up for bid. Hopefully we will make it in time to score some new treasures for his little museum in the basement.

Whatever your plans, I hope that you enjoy your Mother's Day on Sunday!

Bye Bye Timmy the Terrible

After bringing down the hammer on Timmy the Terrible, the destructive behavior seems to have subsided. I am not sure why we have been dealing with such atrocious behaviors, but I'm grateful to again be playing with my sweet little boy. Hopefully, we have seen the end of Timmy the Terrible's reign of mischief!

Yesterday was less than pleasant in our home. Timmy the Terrible pushed all boundaries and spent a great deal of time in time-out. His confiscated toy box is overflowing with prized treasures which won't be returned until he earns them back. Both of us shed tears (mine were private) as we struggled to reestablish behavior boundaries. I felt like the world's worst mom, but I knew that the response was necessary. 

By mid-afternoon, his misbehavior began to calm. Throughout the evening I saw the return of my sweet and funny little boy. It was almost as if a dark cloud lifted from him, revealing my normal Timmy. He was pleasant and helpful until it was time to go to bed. 

With such a marked difference in behavior, I'm beginning to wonder if the outbursts were spurred by his change in medication. I don't want to make excuses for his misbehavior, but perhaps there is an organic reason for his lack of control. I am definitely going to talk to his doctors' about his behaviors after his last injection.

With Timmy's behavior back in check, today I am going to roll the dice and visit an indoor playground. The weather is abysmal, with rain and dark clouds forecast throughout the day. Timmy has been chomping at the bit to play with buddies, and he should have ample opportunity on this yucky weather day.  I'm planning on bringing my computer and settling in at the playground because I have no intention of leaving until his energy has been completely depleted.