Polar Bear Swim

It's December, the pool is not heated, and yet he continues asking if he can go swimming. So yesterday I let him. Why not? He'll learn for himself. I've done this before myself when I was crazy and young at a friends annual 'Polar Bear Swim'. Maybe it's time to make some more winter traditions. We could get awards and everything. Sponsor the Gardiner's Annual Polar Bear Swim. Of course they'd have to get their hair wet and swim the length of the pool. What do you think?

His reactions are so great here. I really love this kid.

" Mom! It's like there's ice all over my body!"

I'm doing it!!

We've begun crawling!! It's so exciting and a little bit sad to watch him learn all of these fundamentals all over again. This time around though I get to hear a sweet little voice say, "Mommy!! Look at me! Look at me! I'm doing it!" Every moment brings another new milestone. Yesterday there was quite a bit of crawling etc going on. By the end of the day his legs were shaking horribly and visibly. Today he took it easy. It's a lot of work for those little muscles. The best news of all? He almost slept through the night last night!!!

bye bye BABY bye bye

Can you believe the technicians asked us if we wanted to bring it home? I'm still not sure if they were serious or not!!

BLETCH!!

Dr Udall was finishing up a surgery next door and the PA tried to tell us that we should keep it on for 2 more weeks or so - ummm did you look at the X-rays? because Udall said we'd get it off today if they looked good. - Yes, and they look perfect for 5 weeks in - you mean 5 1/2 - 5 weeks - 5 1/2 - 5 weeks - Um I'm a mom and I've been counting down, it's been 5 weeks and 4 days - Well, I conferred with our other Dr and he agrees that it should stay on for a few more weeks. - Is this based on the x-ray or just your experience? - experience - When will Dr. Udall be here? a few minutes? Oh well...we'll just wait.

hooray for just waiting!!!!

Afterword he held his legs in this position and cried for an hour or so. Once home we took a nice long Epsom salt bath in this basic position while we scrubbed and rubbed and massaged. There weren't as many tears in a bubble bath and after an hour more...

He still makes no movement on his own and is getting used to the stiffness and slight pain. But we're on the right road.

Thanks to ALL that have prayed for us - helped out in our home - brought in meals - gifted things on our doorstep. We appreciate and love you all. Next step? finding another new normal...hopefully one with much less TV.

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow, you're only a day away...(knock on wood)...Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow, you're only a DAY......A......WAY!!!! da da da DAAAA!!!

the opening prayer

We've been focusing on prayers of gratitude at our house. I've been working on getting them to pray for specifics and not just the "we're grateful for everything that has been given to us" variety. Clyde has been doing quite well and tonight he topped the charts for Family Home Evening...

"Dear Heavenly Father,

We're really grateful that Jesus was born so we could get lots more toys. And we're really, really grateful Jesus walked the earth so we could have our sins washed away when we get baptized. In the name..."

SaNtA

Almost too cool...but a little reluctant to stop believing.

This one just knew he was with the real Santa

You can see the excitement on this ones face.

It's a little too scary to sit on his lap and yet...

it's totally fine to take his candy and give up a quick "knuckles"

AnNuAL TrEe CutTinG 2010

It seems my blog is getting repetitive...so many yearly traditions!!

The Bill Arnett Jr family Annual Pinetop Lakeside Tree Cutting Party!!
This year twas StUpEnDoUS!! Sunny, warm and bright with plenty of good packing snow!!

The Brethren-A Full SET!!

me and my dad

jonny, shauna, me, cynthia, sara and kathryn

walter, jenet, monte birk, monte sr and rex making hot cocoa and popping corn (the poppers didn't work so well on the bon fire)

jack-et chillin' with grandpa

clyde-ster!!

alison, andrew, jonny, monte birk

4 Peaks!

If you were wondering what it means when I tell you each Thanksgiving we go to 4 Peaks...just count the peaks on the mountain behind us...The Arnett Family Tradition that has been going on since my memories began.

Clyde and Sr

Walter & Monte

Seth, Jack, Sr, Clyde

Mom and Seth

Sr and Clyde

Me and Jack

ThAnKs!!

ThAnKs to my neighbor, Annie (well not technically my neighbor but my neighbor none-the-less. If you've known me long enough, you know EXACTLY who I'm talking about.) for coming over for HoUrS today while I finished my Christmas shopping! You read right...Finished! Anne you are the BEST, your kids are gorgeous and you are a great friend! Even though we go years between actual visits...I guess that's OK when you'll always be neighbors, right?

"Meet you between the two trees!!"