THE powerchair...

I know you've all been dying to check out Steve's powerchair - so here it is! Plans are in the works to add chome spinners to the wheels, racing stripes, and pirate flags off the back, plus a little NOS to speed it up. =) But seriously, it's been a big help getting him around and keeping off his foot.

Giving the kids rides around his office.

It even fits nicely behind his desk.

This was what he found his first day in the office with the powerchair.

Last night, Izzy complained that her foot was broken too, so she had to sit with it propped on a pillow with ice, just like daddy.

Izzy and hockey

The last two weeks Izzy's been learning hockey in her YMCA class. She hasn't liked it as much as the soccer, but I think that's partly because the stick is taller then she is. =)

Surgery scheduled

Steve's surgery will be Friday morning at 9:30. We've gotten him a powerchair for work, and a manual wheelchair for the house. Slowly things are getting figured out to handle and prepare for the next few months. Prayers for a successful surgery and a quick recovery are always welcome! =)

Steve's Achilles

FYI - Steve tore his achilles tendon in half last night playing soccer. Saw the orthopedic surgeon today, surgery will be sometime next week to repair it. He's looking at 6-8 weeks in a permanent cast after the surgery, where he can put NO weight on the foot or risk re-tearing it. Then another 8-10 weeks in a removeable cast where they gradually increase the angle of the foot to increase flexibility. During that time, he can put some weight on it, but will still have to use crutches. All in all, looking at 3 months minimum on crutches with a cast, 6 months before normal walking resumes, and a year till he'll be 100% again. And oh - it's his right foot - which means driving is out! Guess I just became a full-time chauffeur! =)

Izzy's enrolled in preschool

This morning, I got to get up at 4:45AM and go sit in the parking lot outside the preschool I want Izzy to attend next year, so I could register her when it opens at 8am. Yes - I got there more then 3 hours early to get in line, and I was the 4th person waiting. The first dad arrived at 3am. That's how crazy and competitive preschools are in this area. And this is for the school year that starts 8 MONTHS from now - next September. Last year, people that arrived over an hour early didn't make it in. But we made it, she's registered. And now that we're in, we'll get preferential registration for the following years and when Zach and Emily are ready to be enrolled.

It turns out, North Attleboro has extremely high standards for it's public school system. One of the other parents there today teaches in the elementary schools and told me our standardized testing for 4th graders is what most states use on 8th graders. And the 8th grade tests have students interpreting passages from Tolstoy! Check out what Izzy will have to know BEFORE she can enter Kindergarten:

-know all the ABCs, upper and lower case
-count to 30
-know all the colors
-write her first and last name
-be able to read her first and last name
-be able to write a sentence, copying the letters below (not tracing)
-demonstrate 1:1 relations - i.e. follow directions to count objects on a page, and in doing so point at each picture as she counts
-be able to draw a complete person - with just being told to draw somebody and all their parts, they need to include eyes, ears, nose, neck, mouth, arms, hands, legs and feet
-plus more....

I'm surprised they aren't requiring multiplication tables and long division! Geez - she's got to read and write before she can even get in to Kindergarten! Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad thing, I'm just shocked at how advanced everything is. Guess we better enjoy these last few months of fun before the hard work begins! =)

Soccer

Since Izzy missed the cutoff to start preschool this year, we decided to let her take some classes at the YMCA to get familiar with taking directions from a teacher, being in a class with other kids her age, etc. Her first class is an AllStar Sports class - where they learn 4 new sports - soccer, basketball, whiffle ball and floor hockey. Here she is in her first soccer "game" with Coach Greg. So far, she LOVES it. We hear about playing soccer almost every day now. It's really cute to watch her play, even though she's the littlest one in the class with almost all boys.

She took a turn at goalie.

30 minutes of running around a gym can definitely wear a kid out!

She's also gotten in the habit of having to wear sunglasses whenever we're in the car, just like mommy. =)

Really - we're not bad parents...

We were at Steve's parent's house, and one of their friends came over to visit and brought Izzy a disposable camera to take pictures and play with (thus why the quality is so great!) She also brought along some adult-beverages for herself. Apparently, the cold cans were fun to play with and it was just too funny seeing the babies try to drink from them. =) These pictures could probably get us a visit from child services, but oh well. We all had a pretty good laugh when we saw them. And maybe one day we can use them as blackmail on the kids!


That's drool - not beer, running down his chin. None of the cans were ever opened!

Introne Family Christmas

Our Christmas with Steve's family.

Daddy's putting together their new car. It was probably a mistake buying just one, because they're always fighting over who gets to drive.

They also got a basketball hoop. Izzy's already pretty good and making baskets.

Grandma and Zach... "What's that?"

Family in Oregon

While in Oregon, we went to the Gilbert House - Children's Discovery Museum. Here the kids are in "China".

Izzy got to put on Chinese clothes and pretend to have tea.


There's a "body" area - climb through the mouth....

... and into the stomach.

One of the favorite areas is where you get to make bubbles. Grandpa is doing a bubble all around himself while Zach and Emily try and break it.

We had dinner at Melody's house one night - Zach is once again, wore out.

Izzy tried on Noah's Seahawks helmet - just a little big.

Grandma tried to join in - just a little small!

The next night we went to Matt's house. Jaslyn is helping make the ice cream.

Syrenna and Izzy.

Playing in the kitchen. Izzy spent the night with her cousins that night - everyone's first sleep over. They had a blast - stayed up till midnight playing and watching movies until they finally passed out.

Zach - who knows?

Emily - who knows again?

The boys hiding downstairs.

Day after Christmas - playground

The day after Christmas, the kids needed to get out of the house - so we found this indoor playground where we took them. It had a HUGE sandbox, which they loved. We emptied probably a pound of sand each out of their clothes and diapers when we got home.

Emily preferred to EAT the sand - as much as play with it.


Grandpa giving Zach a ride in the car.

It tired one little boy out.


There was a "doctor's office" to play with. Here's Grandpa with the stethescope. The next day, Izzy kept telling us "I need my stethescope so I can listen to my baby." Hello - I don't know if I'm even spelling the word correctly, and my 3 year old is using it in sentences!

More Christmas Day pictures

Here's more pictures from Christmas Day.

The madhouse of 7 kids opening presents and playing with all the new toys. None of the adults new which kid got what or from whom - it was craziness.

Cousins.

Sneaking candy...

Odessa (Matt's wife) and her brother, Brian - with Matt trying to take pictures.

Melissa and Izzy.

Steve and Matt - we don't want to know what they were doing.

She found candy of her own.

Danielle (Melody's daughter) getting a ride from Grandpa.

This was a face in response to something Matt said - obviously Steve didn't agree!

Mom and son....

... who love each other so much!