News From the Homefront

Wow this has been a busy month!

On July 6th, our oldest had surgery on his right leg. (He was born with a shortened femur that has continued to grow more slowly than the other leg.) The doctors cut the bone in two places and inserted 7 pins. He was quite amusing in recovery, with all the pain meds! They kept him overnight and sent him home on the 7th. I was a nervous wreck, thinking about taking care of his leg!

The doctor attached a fixator on the 14th, which has 2 long screws and an adjustment mechanism. Now, four times a day, he loosens the fixator and turns the screw 1/4 turn in both places. As of the 21st, the xrays showed that the lower cut had complete bone separation and was gapped about 1/4 inch. The upper cut still has some bone attachment, so it causes him more pain when he stretches it.

He's in a bit of pain, but is amazingly nonchalant about the whole thing. I'd be the world's biggest whiny baby if it were me. One of his friends came over last week and all he could say was "Dude, that looks like it HURTS!" over and over.

I think he's getting seriously bored, though. We moved a TV and the playstation so he can play as much as he wants. But, after we went to the doctor on the 21st, the first thing he said is "Can I go over to other people's houses now?!"

Our youngest is trying to pick up the slack on the chores, but his heart definitely isn't in it. So, Dad and I tend to look the other way. We're learning how unimportant some battles are, since he helps his brother a lot if we're not around.

Paka - the cat named "Cat" - is still getting bigger. He's about 6 months old and about 4 times as large as he was when we brought him home! Unfortunately, he seems to have fallen in love with one of my teddy bears. It used to be a white bear, but now - thanks to being drug all over the living room - it's getting a bit gray. No matter where we put it, he manages to find a way to get to it and drag it around the room while we're sleeping.

It amazes me how well he seems to understand (when it's in his best interest) what I say to him. I was in the kitchen yesterday and Paka started yelling at me that he wanted to eat. So, being a crazy cat-lady, I told him to wait a sec, I'd get his dishes. Well, I got distracted and it took me a minute or so to get back to him. He was still sitting right there waiting. But if I tell him "No, you've already been fed.", he'll go lay down somewhere else. Cracks me up!

Hope you're having a great July! Don't forget to stop by JMark Afghans, etc. and see what's new. I've added a photo center with pictures of all the afghans, the family, and (of course) Paka. In the next few days, I hope to add some pictures from our trip to the Grand Canyon and scenery from around where we live. Arizona is amazingly beautiful, and a lot more green than most people expect.

Take care and be happy!

Jules