Spoiled kid

My oldest daughter takes her driving test next week. I am still not ready for her to drive. I know it will be a helpful thing for me as a mom because she can help with driving the other kids around. But I am still not ready for it. She also had it in her head that she would get a car. Of course, doesn't everyone automatically get a car when they turn 16? For that reason alone I refused to get another car. Well, then we came upon a great used car and we caved in. My rationalization goes like this. "It is not your car. It is my other car. I cannot drive dad's car because it is a stick shift. With my prosthetic leg it is just too much shuffling around. So I need another car in case dad needs the mini van to drive all of you somewhere. So it is mine. Yes, I have 2 cars now and you still have none. If you would like to drive my car sometimes then I will allow it but only if you are nice and your homework is done." How does that sound?
I know, I caved in. It will never be my car. She will probably destroy it before too long. And she is spoiled.

It is an Acura of some kind. I haven't yet named it.

Run..run as fast as you can

 I have been loving my new prosthetic! Yesterday I decided to see if I could run yet. Now I have tried this before and sorely failed (ie. tripped, stumbled, tumbled). But this new leg is much lighter. The previous one was 4 pounds. Now that doesn't sound like alot but if you could imagine tying a 5lb pound bag of flour to your leg then you would understand that it was just dead weight. I don't even notice this leg. AND.. I was able to get jeans on for the first time in months. Thankfully they still fit too. My knee is normal size too. Okay, back to the running. It was quite comical and I felt like a complete dork. But the kids laughed it off with me as I ran from the living room to the kitchen and back and forth. It is a really weird sensation. My brain told my leg what to do but I couldn't feel it. Very weird sensation! If you have ever seen the movie Enchanted, think of the opening scene when the troll comes chasing after the prince and makes that stomp, stomp, stomp kind of run. That is how I felt. Very clumsy. My helpful husband looked at me and said, "You know, if you would finally go to therapy then I'm sure you would run much better." Killjoy.

First date

Now that Courtney is 16 she is legal to date. Her Dad wanted to be her first date.

Found: Right Leg

The new leg is amazing!!!!

And my knee is back

Student of the Year!!

My littlest guy has made huge progress in school this year. And today he was awarded Student of the Year for his class. Way to go Ben!!!

Sweet Sixteen

My baby turns 16 today. We celebrated big last week with her best friend who has a birthday tomorrow. It was a dinner, games, and a dance party with about 50 people. They had their closest friends and family there to celebrate with us.  What a fun night.

The birthday girls!

Waiting for the guests to arrive

Today we are going to have birthday cake and officially blow out the birthday candles!!!!

This is what 16 looks like...

Finally time to wear the birthday hat!!

Oooze

More infections for me. I just can't stay out of the doctor's office. I got another infection from a spot on my lucky fin. Just from constant rubbing of wearing the bionic leg. But this one got the size of an egg. Do you know how painful those cysts can be?? Oh my gosh. I actually got the chills and threw up from the pain last night. So today the doctor lanced it and drained out the gunk. She then said, "Stay off it for a few days and keep it elevated". I looked at her puzzled. She said, "Oh, do you work?" I replied, "Well, I have 5 children at home." "Well do the best you can," she said. It is 5pm and I finally got my prosthetic off to elevate it. This will only last about 20 minutes cause I have dinner to make. At least I got some antibiotics.
But I took an 'after' picture of it. It doesn't look as bad as it feels. I would expect it to have green fumes coming out of it for how much pain it is causing me.