Braces: Then and Now

Lexi has been working very hard, over the past few years, to get her gait corrected.  Due to what we thought was continued tightness in her legs, she is still walking on her toes almost all the time.  We have done Physical Therapy, yoga, regular chiropractic adjustments, swimming and dance, along with regular stretching at home, but we were not seeing any improvement.  Finally our neurologist sent us to a orthopedist who suggested that the biggest reason that she is walking on her toes is because she's been walking on her toes for seven years, and it's just become habit.  He feels as though wearing braces will have the combined effect of helping to break her of the toe walking habit and get her stretched out a bit.  She is supposed to wear them at night, and as often as she can throughout the day.

It's not easy to wear braces on your legs in second grade, but she has been handling it very well.  She's had a few days where she has worn them throughout the entire school day.  We have agreed that she can take them off for recess and gym, but sometimes she just keeps them on.  She also wears them almost every night to bed.  We've only had them for a few weeks, but we are hoping to see some improvement soon.  Allowing her to continue toe walking can cause all sorts of additional problems such a tight achilles and also Scoliosis.

Lexi is a trooper and really deals with all of this very well.  I feel very lucky to have such a great kid, who is willing to do the work to get herself to where she needs to be.

New braces next to the old braces she wore when she was three.  What a funny difference!!

Showing off her braces.  She does not normally like anyone to see them, but she allowed me to take this picture and said it was ok to put it on the blog.

Loooooong Driveway

One of the first things we decided to do after moving into our new house this summer was to widen the very long driveway.  It's long and a bit steep, and we thought it would be helpful to make it wide enough for people to park on, and still be able to turn around and get down.  The project was long and very expensive, as we had to build a retaining wall after cutting into the yard.  We were very pleased with the result...until it snowed...

Dirt from the yard gets piled at the top of our driveway.

Zach checks it out.

Zach loves the machinery!!

Zach checks the work.  Looks like they cut it wide enough!

Gravel gets added to the driveway piles.

The kids really enjoy this project!

Time to dig up the old driveway!

I expected jack hammers, not two guys named "Jack" with hammers!

Unfortunately, I have no pictures of the finished product!  However, despite the massive job it takes to shovel this baby, we are really happy with the result.  And honestly, a brand new driveway with no cracks and bumps is very easy to shovel...but there is a lot of it!

Zach helps with the snow blowing.

Just like Daddy!

Ahren gets a workout going up and down the hill over and over.

Lexi is very happy for some snow!

Under all that snow is our new wall and beautiful Christmas decorations.  Someday we'll be able to see them again.  :)

Emergency

Zach, upon finding our "eight maids a milking" ornament on the floor, "Mom!!  The milkers fell off the tree!!"

Thanksgiving

As always, Thanksgiving began, for us, at the Feaster Five Road Race.  The kids participated in the kids race, though it was such a cold day that Lexi's feet froze and she did not enjoy the run at all.  Zach muddled through, but everyone was happy to get inside when it was over.  The main race went well, as always, but I didn't stick around when it was over, because I had stuffing to make, a shower to take, and a long drive ahead of us.

Jude, Ronea, Vann, Gino, Zach and Lexi get ready for the kids race.

Zach and Lexi show off their bibs.  BRR!!  It was cold!

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with Ahren's family in CT.  Aunt Kim and Uncle Brian hosted, and they certainly had a full house!  It was wonderful to have an opportunity to spend some time with them, as we certainly do not get to see them as often as we would like to.

Uncle Brian browns the stuffing.  :)

Auntie Kae is always happy to play with her nieces and nephews!

What a crew!

Being silly with Auntie Kae and Grampy.

The original Lippman Family.

The Lippman Family - Extended Version

The kids were very happy to see their Great Grammy Duda!

Zach always wants the leg.  It was almost as big as his head!

We took advantage of everyone being together to celebrate Grammy and Grampy's 40th wedding anniversary.

Happy Anniversary!

Lexi's favorite part of the entire day was spending some time with Aunt Kim in the stables.  She loved seeing the horses, and getting to feed them their dinner.  Then she and Aunt Kim climbed all the way to the top of the hay bales into the rafters.  I was impressed that Lexi went right up there (even though there were spider webs!!).  Lexi and Aunt Kim really bonded that evening, and Lexi is really hoping to go for another visit this summer when we can spend more time together.  We are looking forward to it.

Up in the rafters!

Lexi and Aunt Kim have a chat.

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We were so happy to spend it with our wonderful family.

Happy Birthday To Me!

The best gifts a mom can get on her birthday are gifts from her children. Sometimes just the extra love is enough to make it a phenomenal day, as is the case for me. But this year Lexi and Zach also made me these awesome cards!



This card is from Lexi.  She feels as though I have lived long enough, and we must celebrate with cake.  There was no cake.  I guess I'll have to live another year.

This is from Zach.  The two on the left that look like babies are Charlie and Peter.  The four in the middle are Lexi (8) Daddy (35) Mama (57!!) (Also wearing a necklace...not um...boobies), and Zach (5) (or 3).  The guy on the right is a robot.  Only Daddy and the robot get arms.  Charlie has six legs...Peter...legless.

These cards put the biggest smile on my face.  What more could I ask for on my birthday.  :)

Happy 5th Birthday, Zachary!!

Dear Zachary,

Today you turned five years old.  I could not be happier to be the Mommy of such a happy, silly, sweet and lovely little boy.  There is not one day that goes by where you don't make me laugh out loud with your silly jokes, crazy antics, or just from being little you.  Almost every morning I wake up to you crawling into my bed for some early morning snuggles.  You make my heart burst with the hugs and kisses you give me.  You are generous with your love and your neck strangling hugs make me so happy.

You are in the Older Learner's Classroom at New England Montessori this year and doing so well.  All of your teachers love you, and you have made lots of new friends.  You play very well with the other kids, and it is a pleasure watching you have so much fun!  You are very smart, too!  Your teachers tell me that you are doing very well in class.  You are beginning to write a bit, if I give you the letters, and just starting to make out some words.  Occasionally you'll even do some math problems for me.

Your birthday celebration at NEMS - showing off your pictures, and stuffies from throughout the years.

Zachy, you are a darling little brother who, while often terrorizing her, loves your sister to pieces.  You want to do everything Lexi is doing, and would probably glue yourself to her if we let you.  She is very lucky to have you for her brother - even if she doesn't always appreciate your antics.  :)

This year you had an awesome birthday party!  Daddy's friend, and your favorite musician Nick Deysher came to your party and put on a rock concert.  He sang all of your favorite songs from his CDs.  It was such a blast, and you and your friends had a great time!  Daddy and I loved watching you have so much fun.  Here are some pictures from your special day.

Ready for the party to begin!!

VIP passes for all of your guests

Your friends rock out to the music!

You sat and took it all in for awhile.

Dancing with Daddy!!

Happy Birthday Boy!

The coolest five year old in town.

Nick was great!!

He sang all of our favorite songs!

We had worms in dirt instead of cake!  Everyone loved it.

You tore open your presents so fast I could barely keep track of what you got!!

You loved every single present!

Peter is not sure what to make of these new toys!

Happy birthday, sweet boy.  I love you so very much!  You make every day brighter.  You are my sunshine!

Love,
Mama

Nature's Gift

I was surprised to find such beautiful roses growing in my garden in November!  It was lovely getting to enjoy fresh cut flowers so late into the season.  A special gift from my garden.