March 31

Taking a break during woodworking. 

The kids in woodworking class have been working on phone amplifiers for several weeks (the thing with stripes-which I thought were just drawn on with markers, but are actually thin strips of wood). He also used a lathe to make a bowl out of poplar wood and a candle holder. He is really enjoying this class.

Testing out his amplifier.

March 30

Elliott, Lucy, and I went out into the community and swabbed different surfaces for bacteria. Now we grow our germ farm and see which places are the grossest.

The fourth and fifth grade girls had fun during rec time. It was around 80 degrees. Tomorrow’s high? 50ish. Spring in KY.

I had physical therapy today. She wants me to continue using one crutch (on my good side) until my motions are smooth. I look like I have cerebral palsy when I walk without the crutch. 43 years of walking, then five weeks not walking, and I have to relearn to use my leg! It’s nuts! 

March 29

I had an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon yesterday. My ACL surgery is scheduled for the end of April. My MCL is healed perfectly! The Orthopedic surgeon wants me walking without crutches. Pray for me to get over the mental block. After being non-weight bearing for nearly 6 weeks it’s hard to wrap my brain around that! He said I need to get a lot more range-of-motion back in my leg before surgery. 

While everyone else was at school/work, Lucy and I went out for lunch to celebrate. She’s been such a good helper for the last five weeks.

Bindi has mites. Julia and Clay spent the evening researching, soaking her in soapy water, etc. You know, I was just thinking we didn’t have enough going on in our lives…

March 28

Elliott’s World History class participated in a trench warfare game (they are learning about WW1) with paper wad ammunition. It wasn’t just a paper fight. They had rules and occasionally something new was introduced (like a nighttime attack, a soldier having to go to the infirmary, etc). It was Pajama Day at co-op but I forgot to remind the kids about it. Oops!

March 27

Clay and Julia repaired a kitchen cabinet drawer… for the umpteenth time. We are rough on some kitchen drawers!

Julia bought me Ruffles and French Onion dip for watching the Oscars. Made my day! 

March 26

Clay took Julia, Elliott, and Lucy to a reptile show this morning. 


Julia and Elliott co-own this snake now. Yep. I am thrilled. Her name is Bindi and she is an Axanthic ball python. 

March 25

Julia had a consultation with an oral surgeon for wisdom teeth extraction. I had her fill out the paperwork for herself. Might as well learn, right? Soon she will be grown and flown. 

We both really liked the oral surgeon and I think he helped calm her nerves. Looks like she will have four less teeth this summer. 

March 24

I bought some pads for my crutches. Hopefully they will save my palms!

School at Big O’s. 

After a haircut, we got gas (and had a heart attack over the price at $4.23 a gallon). Elliott learned how to pump gas.

The worst part about my injury, besides not being able to walk, is that I can’t take the kids anywhere to enjoy this beautiful Spring weather!!! Zoo? Nope! Parks? Nope! Hiking? Nope! Bike rides? Nope! Aaaaahhhh!!!

March 23

Have I mentioned that I am thankful wrestling is over for the season? So many weeknight hours have been reclaimed! Elliott is still doing jiu jitsu, but it isn’t nearly the time commitment.

Since Kat and Elliott were at school yesterday, I brought Lucy to physical therapy with me. I told her they would turn my leg purple and I don’t think she believed me until she saw it happen. This is a Blood Flow Restriction machine. It’s uncomfortable, but not painful. My physical therapist had me do 40-pound leg presses yesterday. I thought she’d lost her ever-loving mind since I am not allowed to bear weight on that leg. However, I did three sets of ten leg presses and it felt moderately good.

After schoolwork was done, we had 30 minutes to kill before picking Kat and Elliott up from school, so we enjoyed some fresh air at a playground.

March 22

Yesterday was cow eyeball dissection day. None of the kids passed out in the process, so I consider that a success!

Lucy’s history class learned about the space race and made satellites.

One of our families brought in baby chicks

The weather was beautiful outside yesterday, so I had Kat (who is my teacher’s assistant in Physical Science) write the words to our review game down on the parking lot with chalk. When I asked a question, the kid who stood on the correct answer got the point for their team. 

March 21

Duncan, our community group leader hurt his foot this week and is now on crutches. He’s been teasing me about my kid-sized crutches for weeks. His are slightly taller.

We brought home a few extra kids from church.

My knee? Doesn’t hurt. My hands (from crutches) and my right hip? They are sore! Doh!

Clay, Kat, and I went grocery shopping last night. It was my first time in the store in a month.

March 20

Kat went to the high school youth group social on Friday.

Lucy spent the night with Mamaw and Bapaw (and Abbie) last night.

March 19

Around 10:45 last night the tornado sirens went off for about an hour so we hung out in the basement. Kat spent the night at a friend’s house and wasn’t in the path of the storm. I don’t think we had a confirmed touchdown, but we had 80mph winds. 

March 18

Elliott made this pen in his woodworking class.

Our leprechaun got a haircut yesterday. The kids hate it when he gets groomed. They like him fluffy.

March 17

On Tuesday, Julia and Raymond competed in an FBLA regional competition. Raymond got 3rd place in his competition and Julia got 2nd place in hers. They compete at the state meet in April.

Julia got second place out of two people. I am so proud of her. Her teacher signed her up for the impromptu speech category. She was given a topic, had ten minutes to prepare a presentation, and then had to speak before the judges for four minutes. She would never have volunteered for this, so I am thankful her teacher signed her up. It is way outside of her comfort zone.

They posed with their principal.

A friend needed someone to watch her grandchild so she and her daughter could be up at the hospital. My friend’s father was put in palliative care Tuesday. I told them if they can’t find anyone, I could manage with Lucy and Kat’s help. Lucy loved babysitting! 

Gus helped also

4th and 5th grade girls at church last night.

March 16

Lucy wanted to clean the kitchen as her chore. She’s still quite the helper!

When it’s 70 degrees outside, you do schoolwork on the deck.

Lucy painted Old Mamaw’s nails.