Cool Cast

Thanks to all for the kind words this weekend. We are coming to grips with the fact that Mason is very good at breaking things. As Great-grandma suggested, we discussed this second injury with the doctor as an indication that it could be something more than just a co-inky-dink. But, Dr. Caltoum, a very well-respected physician/surgeon at Noel's workplace reassured us that the bones look healthy and there are no symptoms of anything more sinister than a boy that ran head first into some long odds.

So, we sit here with another cast. Albeit a cool, green and blue candy-striped cast. The doctor did it herself commenting that she (and her fellow residents) would make funky casts to make the time go by (usually at 3am) during their long residency shifts (Uncle Marc can probably relate).

We are back on the mend and, with any luck (not that we have much lately ... the lottery ticket was a bust), we'll have the cast off by Thanksgiving.

Lightning Strikes Twice

Here are the answers to your questions:

1) No, this picture was not taken two months ago. It was taken two hours ago.

2) It happened on the playground at school.

3) Yes, I bought a lottery ticket. Our luck has to change.

Ba - Ba - Ba

Mallory watches intently as Mason sounds out letters during our reading time. With a firm grasp of the alphabet, he has started to play a game with Mommy and me. At the dinner table each night, we guess what Mason and Mallory had for lunch at school.

Here was tonight's conversation:

Mallory: Daddy, guest what I had for lunch today, daddy!

Daddy: Uhh, give me a hint.

Mallory: It starts with a Ba. Ba - Ba - Ba.

Daddy: Brussel Sprouts!

Mallory: No, Daddy! Ba - Ba - Ba.

Daddy: Broccoli!

Mallory: No, Daddy! (giggling) Ba - Ba - Ba!

Daddy: Give me a hint!

Mallory: Ba - Ba - Ba ... BASGHETTI!

Mason is free (of his casts)

After many days of strggling with two casts, and then one splint, Mason is finally out of his casts. Mom and Dad were worried about his arm but the doctor said it healed nicely! Happy days.

30 Years of Marriage

This past weekend, my parents celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary - a milestone, to be sure. The four sons hosted (with many of the thanks going to Ken and Lori for coordinating everything) at Valley Vineyards, one of Dad's favorite haunts.

It was so nice to be a part of such a wonderful event; filled with my folks' friends and family.

Ken did a great job with his barbershop quartet (video below) and the food was wonderful (especially the cake, Beth ... I keep telling Greg you should go into business!).

Thank you to my wonderful parents for raising us well. For the challenges you helped us overcome and being there to celebrate our successes in life - those successes are a recognition of your love, discipline and patience. As I said at the party, it is tough to pay you back and I hope that I can pay it forward, by guiding my kids in the spirit in which I was raised.

Love to you both. Congrats and may there be 30 more.

The soothing sounds of Smooth Transition!

Sesame Street does Old Spice

Random Weekend Photograph

Mallory and Mason at the barbershop ...

Mason and his Casts

It has been six (long) weeks since Mason broke his arms. Last week we went to the doctor to have his casts removed. We were all very excited to have them off (it is a toss-up as to who was more excited).

And, as in life, nothing ever goes quite as planned. As the nurse was removing Mason's cast on his left arm, she said, "uh, can you come here and look at this?". Never a good sign. Mason had managed to lodge a piece of rubber mulch (from his playground at school ... you know, the one we said he shouldn't be playing on because he had two broken arms? Yeah, that one) underneath his cast. Apparently, it had been there for three or four weeks and had opened a sizable wound (in which is was resting comfortably). So, she pulled it out with a pair of tweezers and dressed it.

Downstairs for X-rays and back up to see the doctor and hear the results. Right arm: good to go. Left arm: No so much. Punxatauny ulna didn't see his shadow so it's four more weeks in a splint as the bones continue to heal.