Halloween 2010

For the Hell-O-Ween night ride I was Ron Burgundy.



We carved pumpkins Saturday. Tried some patterns this year.



I went with the flaming pumpkin again. Using better toilet paper the flames lasted 45 minutes. That's Kade as the Grim Reaper.



Kara was a rapper.



I went as Neo.



Since Jolene is still down with a broken leg, Rachel handed out the candy - and entertained herself by making a sphere from glowsticks.



Jamie was Pocahontas.



Kade and Kara scored a pretty good haul, even with the rain shortening the trick-or-treating.



A lot to like about Halloween. Watch out, Christmas.

Willpower Test

FAIL

Shaving Seinfeld

The Muffin Tops episode of Seinfeld was on last night. It's a good one.

George: All right, let me ask you something: When do you start to worry about ear hair?

Jerry: When you hear like a soft russeling.

George: It's like puberty that never stops. Ear puberty, nose puberty, knuckle puberty, you gotta be vigilant ...

and

Jerry: I did something stupid.

Kramer: What did you do?

Jerry: Well I was shaving. And I noticed an asymmetry in my chest hair and I was trying to even it out. Next thing I knew, (high pitched voice) Gone.

Kramer: Don't you know you're not supposed to poke around down there.

Jerry: Well women do it.

Kramer: (high pitched voice) "Well women do it." I'll tell you what. I'll pick you up a sundress and a parasol and you can just (high pitched voice) sashay your pretty little self around the town square.

(Watch it)

later

Jerry: I can't stop. Alex thinks I'm naturally hairless.

Kramer: You can't keep this up. Don't you know what's going to happen? Everytime you shave it, it's going to come in thicker and fuller and darker.

Jerry: Oh that's an old wives tale.

Kramer: Is it? Look at this.

Kramer walks off-screen and opens his shirt. On-screen Jerry reels from the sight.

Kramer: (high pitched voice) Look at it! Look at it! And it's all me. I shaved there when I was a lifeguard.

Jerry: Oh come on. That's genetics. That's not going to happen to me.

Kramer: Won't it? Or is it already starting to happen?

Quad Chin

In my last post I noticed something disturbing. No, it wasn't the photos of Jolene's stitched up leg (although they are attention-getters), it was this photo:



You see it, right? It sure jumped out at me. Evidently I have FOUR chins.



Or are they gills? I'd be happier if they were gills.

But they aren't gills, they're rolls of skin. Like a Shar Pei.



I already have a hard time remembering to suck in my gut for photos, now it seems I need to not scrunch up my neck. Perhaps turtle necks are the answer.

Dug, may I borrow a phrase? I hate myself.

The Cast

Uh, yeah, blog posts have slowed down. This care-giver stuff takes time.

The kids were out of school so we went to Lagoon Thursday. Rachel didn't feel good so she stayed in the car until noon when she felt better and joined us in the park.

Kade loves bumper cars and Flying Aces - must have done each more than 6 times.



Having fun on the rides. It was a beautiful day.



The park was deck out Halloween style. This dance number was fun to watch. Before the show the wolfman sneaked up behind Jamie and growled in her ear - yeah, she was startled.



Friday was Jolene's appointment with the doctor. When they took off the splint Jolene didn't like the look of her leg, all swollen and lumpy with incisions closed with staples. (The squeamish may not want to look at these photos.)





She got a pretty blue cast. It fits snugly and supports her leg better. It feels OK propped up, but hurts when it hangs down, like when she is up on crutches.



We've figured out and settled into a routine now so most days go fairly smooth. The kids and I are getting better at meals, shopping, laundry, school, etc. Sure makes us appreciate all Jolene does for us.

I had another nasty cold last week but felt good enough to go for a ride Saturday. Wow, I had no zip. Hopefully that blew out the crud so my next ride will be better.

The Hardware

Yesterday we got some x-rays of the hardware in Jolene's leg.



I winced when I saw it. That's more hardware than I expected - two plates and eighteen screws, by my count.

The good news is, it looks like the breaks are closed up nicely. That pointy sliver on the Fibula doesn't look good, but I suspect it will grow back into the main bone.

She has less pain now and it doesn't throb so bad when she stands up. She's getting around on crutches OK. Still, she spends most of the day riding the couch and it got old 3 days ago. She has read all the comments here, on Facebook and e-mails - thank you all for the sympathy and words of kindness and encouragement.

I was determined to fill in and be Mr. Helpful. I did not expect it to be so tiring. I've been a zombie this week. Double my coke intake for the next seven weeks? Those energy drinks seem like a really good idea now.

Jolene will see the doctor next week to get a cast. We'll know more about her mobility options then.

Maybe she'll be bionic.

On The Mend

Jolene left the hospital Saturday. She is comfortable and happy to be home. She has much less pain and is managing OK with pain pills.

She will see the doctor this week or next to have the splint removed and some sort of cast put on.

She's doing OK, but gets down when she thinks about being disabled for 8 weeks. I had to cancel our up-coming family trip to St. George / Grand Canyon, that was sad. I'm just glad her injury wasn't worse.

This photo was taken in the emergency room and is the best (worst) one I have of the break. Not startling, but there is something eerily wrong.


This is her splint. Are moon boots back in style?


She also hit her arm and has a bruise-of-many-colors.


I'm intrigued by this picture hanging on the hospital (Utah Valley Regional Medical Center) lobby wall. Anyone know about "The Pride of Provo"? Nice track stand for the photo.


We're establishing a new routine with Mom out of commission. The kids are stepping up and I figured out how to cook dinner. Tomorrow will be my first day getting the kids off to school.