Wow it's been a while....

I thought I would never let my blog slip but the past year has made a lot of things happen. Let's see if I can catch you up to speed. Aidan finally came out of his boot. He was able to play the last tournament. We had 3 basketball teams the past few months! They were a ton of fun but a ton of time as well. We had two YMCA teams, one for Joshua's age and one for Aidan's age. Then we had a 3rd and 4th grade travel team that would go to towns around this area for tournaments on the weekend. We did well especially for some who had never played!! (Brag time real quick Joshua scored 12 points in 3 minutes in one of his Y games. He loves the game.) The Y is having a tournament here in town this weekend that Joshua's age is going to play in and then we are off to baseball.
This past weekend we went to the Women's Final Four in San Antonio to watch Baylor!! We had a great time on such a short trip. Wish our Lady Bears had won but it looks like they have a good chance of building with all the freshman on the team. The bluebonnet picture the kids were sound asleep after late Sunday night when we pulled off to take it. So their eyes are a little swollen. Makes me a little sad the kids have really changed and growing up! Aidan turned 9 in March and Maude will be 6 in a couple of weeks. (Joshua will be 7 1/2 on the 25 of this month as well.)

Finally good news, kind of...

The results are in! Yeah! Aidan does NOT have Subtalar Coalition. We are happy about that and thank everyone for the prayers our way. However, Aidan has to go back in a boot for another 6 weeks. His ankle has not healed as quickly as we had hoped. He will get a new boot that will help keep weight off the ankle. He also had blood drawn to rule out juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Just to be sure that is not why it is not healing as quick. He cried over not getting to play basketball and having to go back in the boot. He didn't shed a tear over the blood getting drawn. Joshua played in his spot tonight for his basketball team. We thought we weren't going to have enough players, so we had him suit up. He played really well for a 1st grader with 3rd/4th graders, and scored 2 points. They are all super excited about Valentine Parties tomorrow. So life is good in the Culwell House tonight.

Of Course...

Aidan broke his growth plate in his ankle over 2 months ago. He came out of the boot a couple of weeks ago and still continues to be in pain and limp. We thought it was just stiff for the first few days. He doesn't want to go back in the boot so he won't tell us it hurts but we can see by his face when he puts any weight on it. He has figured out how to run on his toes and walk without putting weight on it. Last week Cody took him to see an orthopedic. The X-ray showed something called Subtalar Coalition in BOTH ankles and may have been the reason he broke it in the first place. He had a CT scan the same day and still has not ruled it out. So on Wednesday we will be taking him for a MRI. This condition is very rare, of course, less then 1% of the population has it, of course. So like a true Culwell he will probably have it. Still praying that we don't but it would explain not being able to heal. He may have to have surgery to fix or brace of some sort. Thanks for all those who have been praying and continue to pray. Aidan feels very special that so many people care and gets a little grin every time someone lets him know they are praying. I will hopefully have an update the end of this week.

Sledding

So from my last blog were there any of you that thought 'What are the chances of the Culwell's sledding and playing in the snow without getting hurt?" Sunday afternoon we sledded at Jackson park we took a friend of Joshua's with us. They were doing great, until Aidan had a little mental lapse... Joshua was walking up the hill and Aidan wanted to go down that path he kept yelling for Joshua to move. When Joshua wouldn't being the typical MEAN brother, Aidan took off towards Joshua's legs. He knocked the legs out from under him and flipped him in the air! They survived and were fine. We came home and the boys hadn't had enough so they went to our alley hill behind our house. They built a ramp out of snow that had been pushed off the road. (By the way right now would be a good time to tell you they had been watching the Xtreme winter sports on ESPN for the past two nights.) I was watching thinking coming off the ramp onto cement is probably not a good idea! They would hit the ramp and then coast 3 or 4 feet into the alley. Safe enough, right? Well, Joshua hit the ramp a little to the right and got really good AIR, flipped and landed on the back of his noggin! He had his hood on (really wishing helmet) but it still cut the back of his head open. This is one of his smaller cuts and just required, his always preferred, dermabond. On the way over to the ER to meet Dad, who by the way didn't even bat a eye or ask what happened, Joshua said "I got higher than anybody else, didn't I?" Blood running down his neck... When we got home and were sitting on the couch Joshua reached up and pulled out a tooth!!
Loving life...

Snow!

Our first snow in Canadian has been very eventful. We have been snowed in for a couple of days now. School was suppose to start at 10:00am yesterday morning. We are use to snow but the hills have not helped us! Yesterday morning we got our kids up to take to school bundled them up and off they tried to go. The suburban got stuck right off the bat. The pickup wouldn't start on Wednesday and still wouldn't start on Friday morning. So we went to the Ranger for help and it wouldn't start!!! So I called Aidan's school to let them know he would be extremely late or wouldn't make it. I was going to walk the two youngest since we are only 2 blocks away. It took us a little bit to get to the top of the street the drifts and steps to the top of our yard took a while. Then we started walking the drifts were waist deep for Maude in some parts and the cars started sliding towards us and we hadn't even made it to the house next door!! So we turned around and stayed home. Today we were pulled out of the field, the pickup and ranger got jumped! We are back in business. I took the kids to a park to sled after they got bored with our alley. Then when we got back to house we pulled them around in the ranger dragging them on their sleds. Someone said "Why does this stuff always happen to you?" I think God and I get along really well and we have a good sense of humor. He would only joke with those of us who take it really well ;)

The picture of Maude is how close she came to sledding into a bench!

Ballet and Tap Recital

Maude had her Christmas ballet and tap recital today. Yes a little after Christmas, the auditorium they were using was being finished. She did very well and wasn't as scared as I thought she would be. She received flowers from the family and said it was the best day ever. Yeah for best days!!
Aidan came out of his boot this past week. He is still limping around but my floor is looking better! He has been dragging that thing around marking up the floor!
Joshua has had a pretty typical week. He took my razor in the shower and sliced his thumb a few times. He came in the living room buck naked bleeding but not crying. We asked what happened and he couldn't remember exactly. Luckily no stitches but Cody did say "That has to be the dumbest thing you have ever done." Which made him cry, not that he is bleeding but the words. He is fine and now knows the effects of a razor and hopefully will leave it alone.
By my last post I am sure most of you thought that if Cody came down with the stomach but I would be the last to help. Well, Friday night I walked in the door and Aidan threw up. I had Maude go get Cody to see how much medicine I could give him. When Cody walked in he turned and went to the other bathroom and threw up. So I went to Allsup's and got Gatorade, and stayed up with Aidan. They both woke up feeling fine yesterday morning. Short lived thankfully!!

Have an amazing week, I am sure we will.

Get a cup of coffee it's a long one...

So let's begin on Tuesday...
Tuesday morning I went to get the oil changed on the suburban and my nails done. When I got home I kind of felt funny but nothing bad. Went to pick up the kids did the normal after school homework, snack thing and then started dinner. Cody was on call and had txted me that he would be late. So we went ahead and ate without him. The kids were going to watch a quick episode of Hannah or Icarly or something on Netflix and then bathe and go to bed. Simple evening. When I sat down to watch with them I felt terrible and quickly realized I was going down fast with the stomach bug. Cody walked in about this time. I was off to the bathroom only to come back and ask where the meds were. This is were I thought it was a little interesting. He told me where they were but didn't offer to get them. Didn't really care at the moment... After 3 doses of phengran and a long night about 4:00am I finally was done with throwing up. However 3 doses of phengran I guess make you a little sleepy because I slept till 10:45 Thursday Morning!! So I missed an eventful day by the kids description...
I remember waking up and seeing Maude in front of the mirror brushing her hair Wednesday morning. I asked her where everyone was. Maude said "OH we OVERSLEPT and Daddy said for me to brush my hair and get ready he would be back for me after he took the boys!" Yes Yes the 5 year old was getting herself ready for school. Hair/Crazy Clothes/umm different Necklace and scarf in place and hat. So off they went to school. Also on Wednesday they all 3 had dental appointments in Amarillo and were having to be picked up at noon. So Cody had and extra chore of Mommy duty. So at noon gatorade appeared in the fridge and Cody peeped his head in and asked if I could let the dog in. They made it home safely through the freezing rain that night. And on Thursday made it to school on time. Maude came home coughing her little head off but dressed much better then the day before, however the hair was still not done. So we started her on steroids and breathing treatments. I was up till 2:00 am with her. This was the third night on a twin bed for me and I was beginning to feel it. Also gave me some time to think about how my husband not once came to check on me while I was sick. So the next day (Friday) I asked him if something was wrong. He said "No just didn't want to catch it." Hmmmmmm This is the man who sees sick people for a living!! He walks across a field in the middle of the night to the hospital in 1 degree weather to see people like me!! Maude stayed home with me on Friday and we continued with the breathing treatments and hot showers. I also had her take a bath, which she informed me was her first one since MONDAY! We watched an entire season of Hannah Montana. What say What? Yes I just quoted Miley Cyrus and Maude decided to become an actress. Ahhh Life is good in the Culwell Household.

Side notes.
Joshua when I picked up from school on Thursday: Mommy are you all better?
Me: Yes Joshua I feel much better.
Joshua: Oh good I can hug you again.

Aidan's teacher on Friday said Aidan was a little worried about me being sick and his dad having to take him to his dentist appointment.

Maude's teacher from Maude: Maude did you take anything for your cough today?
Maude: No
Teacher: Is your Mommy still sick?
(Now remember she is an actress now so that might not be real) :)

My husband was very sweet and let me get away for a little girl time this afternoon.