Today, a shower!

According to the doctor's instructions, Christopher can actually take a shower today. That's a happy day in any patient's life. (I remember with distinct pleasure the first shower I was allowed to take after May was born.) As it's supposed to be in the 90s today -- again -- I think we're all a little grateful.

According to thems what know, Christopher should be past the worst of the pain by now. He managed to pull on a t-shirt last night and actually go for a walk. I think the t-shirt was more useful than the walk -- those straps chafe. Also, we've finally taken off the (very cool) cryo-cast.

The Grandparents Nielsen are contemplating coming up on Friday, but they haven't decided yet. Cathy and Barb will be coming up Saturday. I'm hoping that, with an extra set of hands (or two), I can get laundry done and maybe even spend 15 minutes alone. Heck, maybe I'll go see a movie. I head Ratatoullie is good.

That's all for now.

All's well

We're home. Christopher is fine and awake and much less groggy than he was last night. He says his shoulder is a little sore -- though he's not sure if that's from the surgery or from the heavy cryo-thingy that they have on his shoulder circulating ice water to keep the swelling down.

The surgery went well -- they managed to do it all arthroscopically, which will mean a lot less recovery time. Things, of course, didn't happen when they were supposed to -- that's America for you. We arrived at 12:30 p.m. and he didn't go in for surgery until 4 and we didn't come home until 10 or so. (Happily, I had a big fat Harry Potter to read while I was waiting. And a Theodosia, for when I finished Harry.)

Let's see... the stitches are small and he'll be able to shower on Thursday. Thank Heavens that we got the a/c in recently! (It's going to be 90 degrees tomorrow!)

Grampy Jack and May had a very good time -- she didn't fuss or cry at all, he says. They ate roast beef sandwiches for dinner and Grampy taught May her shapes.

More updates as we continue.

Shoulder Update

While Amanda is immersed in the latest Harry Potter book, Christopher is here to give a one-handed update on his DL status. I'll be going into Cambridge Hospital tomorrow (Monday 7/23) for surgery on my shoulder. Hopefully it will be a quick thing and the doctors expect to have me home before nightfall.

Manda's Dad has been wonderful to take the day off to come up and care for May for the day. I'll be out from work for the rest of the week and in a sling for a total of three weeks. Thank you all for your kind thoughts. We'll be giving more updates as things happen. Hopefully we'll have you all back on a steady diet of cute May pictures and stories in no time.

A bit of a mess

Sorry that we've been off line for a while. We went to a BBQ on Saturday, after the last entry, and at the party, everyone tromped off to play kickball. Christopher, in trying to make a play, fell and landed badly.

Long story short (Nikki, stop reading now and skip to the next graph) the muscle, tendon, and possibly the rotator cuff that allows Christopher to lift his elbow has popped off the bone. It's probably taken a bit of the bone with it.

We're going for an MRI tonight (at 10:30! at night!) and then have an appointment on Friday morning. There's a chance that he may need surgery, likely some time next week. We're not sure.

Keep us in your thoughts, please.

Life's a beach

On a beautiful, perfect July Friday, the Ferrys, the Hobermans, and the Tittlers (minus Drew), all went to the beach. Crane Beach. The weather was perfect -- mid 80s and sunny. The water was chilly -- 61 degrees. The wind was fast -- 12 mph. There were no jelly fish, red tide, green heads, sand fleas, or other beachy nuisances. We had lunch and swam and played in the sand.

Christopher and I both managed to forget to reapply sunblock on one portion of our anatomy -- his feet, my back -- so we got a little burnt. Rookie mistakes. But May, thanks to Grammy's supercool sunsuit, hat, and a vigorous application of sunblock, didn't even get a nice glow.

After we were done, the Hobermans headed home but the Ferrys and the Tittlers went to Woodman's for fried clams. A perfect day.









Click here for more photos. As always, our thanks to Jen for her fantastic photographic work.

Pics for Grampy Jack

Thanks to the USPS's excellent firewall, Grampy Jack cant' see all the vids I've been putting up. So I'm putting up a couple of quick hit photos of May for his (and your) enjoyment. Look for more this weekend as we are going to Crane Beach with David & Jen and Julie and Peter tomorrow and then a kickball party Saturday. May will be wearing her most excellent sun/swimsuit. With matching hat. It's frigging adorable.






Finally, I've had some of you ask what kind of clothes May likes. Well, she's 18 months old, so she hasn't got a really well developed fashion sense. But if you're asking what kind of clothes I like for her, look to Hanna Andersson. She's got feminine stuff that isn't insipid and girly. There's even pink stuff I like! Though that could just be because at least a few of her models could be May's big sisters!

Hell, there's even some women's clothes I like, though I doubt even her XL would fit my generous figure.

Why I'll never be thin

David, stop reading now unless it's Wednesday.

I invented a dessert to celebrate David's birthday. Most people, upon seeing some very ripe bananas on their counter, think "Banana bread." Maybe muffins. Really wild types will throw chocolate chips in there.

When I saw those bananas, I said to myself, well, if I make ice cream using brown sugar instead of white sugar, a lot of vanilla, and those bananas, then it will be Bananas Foster-esque. Even better if I fold in some of the homemade caramel sauce I keep in the fridge. (Don't you make caramel in your spare time? No? That's why you're thin.)

Then, I saw that luscious ice cream and thought, you know, that ice cream needs a base. A butterscotchy brown sugary base. Blondies. And as I was putting the brown sugar away, I thought, you know what blondies need? Crunch. Nuts. Ooooh, candied macadamia nuts!

This is why I'm never going to be thin. But I'm happy!

A busy start to the summer

Check out May and Mom singing "Tick Tock!"



Well, we've certainly had a busy start to the summer here! Now that the rush of the Fourth (and Seventh) is over, I've got a couple of minutes to tell you about it.

We had a picnic at Drumlin Farm on the Fourth with our friends the Enders (Jen, Matt, and baby Cynthia) and the Abrahams (Viv, Dan, and baby Elijah). Much fun and food was had by all.

Then on the 7th, we went to Skip's house to celebrate Betty's and Diane's birthdays. (It was also David H's birthday but he got gypped because his mother in law was visiting. Not that that was a bad thing, just meant we didn't get to see him.) May took her first steps in the ocean and we had some lovely fajtas. We also did a fly-by to see Cathy's new condo, though we missed the grandparents Murray.

Then, yesterday,we went and picked up our local chickens. I've just now come from a roasted chicken dinner with turnips and carrots. Pictures forthwith.

Christopher, being the tidy-minded sort, did some math and realized that we've spent seven of the past nine weekends with family (hosting or visiting)! Whew, no wonder we're tired!

I've got a bit of a cold so I'll sign off now. More videos soon!

At Brookfield Farm

On Friday, we and the Hobermans went to Brookfield Farm -- our CSA -- and did a little PYO. We got two quarts of strawberries and a giant pile of snow peas and sugar snap peas, as well as herbs.

It was a long drive out and David and Jen had to be crammed in the back. They maintained a good humor throughout, however, and we all had a great time. May, especially, discovered she lurves strawberries!

Here's a clip Jen took of her devouring a berry less than five seconds off the vine.



I seem to have made the video kinda distorted. I'll work on that. In the meantime, check out this video of her eating peas! (also distorted. My bad.)



You can view all of Jen's fantastic photos by clicking here and then clicking on "View Slideshow."

When we got home --late -- Christopher helped coax May back to sleep while I made two half-pint jars or strawberry jam and blanched and shocked and froze half of the peas for future use. The other peas I blanched and shocked and ate the next day with an herb-roasted chicken. It was very good. (Savory, yarrow, sage.)

That's all.

Oh. And Jen rocks.