What We've Been Up To

I'm going to try to do this in a few words as possible, because my blog posts keep getting longer and longer. Soooo....

Monday - we wanted to get out and enjoy some spring weather before it rained for 2 days straight. We headed out to my parents' land. I wanted to find something cool like this or this, but we mostly just dodged thorn bushes. What can I say? We're amateurs. ;) Dale took it all very seriously though, and seemed to enjoy himself. At one point he plopped down on a fallen tree and asked me to take his picture "on this log". I'm not sure where the crossing his arms across his chest came from. I think that's a first - him striking a pose for a picture!

Even though we didn't make any grand discoveries it was nice to get out and just be outside. I think when all the mud dries up (in a month or two!?!) we'll go again. And pack a picnic this time! :)

Tuesday:
Last week Greg looked at me and proclaimed (out of the blue), "I just thought of the perfect gift for you." Tuesday he handed me a sweet card, and inside the back of the card was taped this:
Next to it he had written "Call Sam".
What an exciting gift! I felt all fluttery!
I 'met' Samantha just over a year ago online through Liver Families, a forum for parents of children with liver disease. She has been a tremendous friend this past year, and I adore her 2 girls. In fact, it was Sam's blog that inspired me to start one of my own!

Anyway, Sam attempted to call me several times throughout the 7 weeks we were away for Alan's transplant and I...uh... well.... I kept forgetting to send her the phone numbers for wherever we were staying that week.

Anyway....
After emailing about the gift, I sat down yesterday afternoon to call at our arranged time, and it was So. Much. Fun.

Oh yes, have I mentioned Sam lives in England?

It was amazing to be talking 'live' with someone for the first time, and to know she was so far away! I could go on and on, but I don't think I could ever accurately put it all into words.

At least not while attempting to keep this post short. (ha)
I'll just say again, it was So. Much. FUN!! :)

Other events from yesterday were not so fun.

Just after lunch Alan was pulling up to stand and slipped and bit his bottom lip.
On the inside and out.
Ouch.
And it bled. And bled. And bled.
And no wonder: the child is on ASPIRIN as part of his post transplant meds.

And then?
Several hours later we were all in the kitchen getting ready for supper and Alan was playing under his highchair.
He tried to stand up.
And was too tall.

And he fell back down.
And bit his top lip.
And it bled. And bled. And bled.

And then it swelled to match the other one:
It didn't seem to bother him too much. We all sat down to eat and he had a great time.
I was afraid his mouth would swell shut, what with both lips about to meet in the middle, but he did just fine. He's pretty good with a fork. He usually prefers to eat with one instead of just his fingers.
Look at him go:

Later we watched him spear carrots.
It went like this:
Fork in right hand. Stab carrot.
Use left hand to remove carrot from fork and put carrot into mouth.

Whatever floats your boat, kiddo!

(so much for a short post)