A "Break" from New Jersey!

With Chris finishing busy season and continuing his VERY long hours (often 12-15 hrs per day), I decided to head to North Carolina to spend time with my parents and other extended family:) Our timing worked out well as my mom was up in the Bronx helping my sister, Jen, take care of her two wee ones while her husband, Paul, was out of town for the weekend and offered to help make the long drive with Aiden and Andrew.

We picked my mom up Sunday night and were planning to start our long drive south early Monday morning. Many bags were packed, stroller was by the door, and coats were laid out all ready to go! As I took the first load to the car and was running back to the house to pick up another load, I slipped HARD on some black ice and fell into a snowbank. (I'm sure the neighbors got a nice laugh from the major slip that I took!) After laying there for a couple minutes in some crazy pain, I picked myself up and hopped to the front door where Chris and my mom realized that I was in a bit of pain. As I laid on the couch with some ice, Chris loaded the car up as my mom got the kids ready to go. Thinking it was just a little pain, I loaded in the car with my ice pack and on we went...

Fast forward to thirteen hours later, my mom and I had survived a road trip with our itty bitty baby and a two year old (No easy feat if you have attempted it. If you haven't tried it, I wouldn't suggest it unless you feel like you must!). Thanks to our new DVD player and the movie Madagascar ,Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, MANY pacifiers, McDonald's sweet tea, and a mocha latte for Grandma, we were lucky to have two great travelers! We finally arrived to Cary, NC and I realized that my ankle was in a lot more pain than I thought. This is a moment where I have to give my mom a HUGE thank you as she unloaded the entire car, picked us up a Chick-Fil-A dinner, helped get the rooms ready for bedtime and the kids into bed at 10:30 at night when I felt like I could barely walk, even when she had to leave for work at 6:40 the next morning.

Since my mom had to head back to her junior high science classroom in the morning, my dad decided to come and help me get to the doctor and manage the kids. We spent Tuesday morning at two different doctors and entertaining the kids (not an easy feat...let's just say that Grandpa took many elevator rides with Aiden to keep him busy)! After getting x-rays, they scheduled me to see an orthopedist the next day. We spent the rest of the day laying low and enjoying time with Grandma and Grandpa. I headed to the orthopedist on Wednesday afternoon to find out that I have a broken fibula-YIKES! So now I am sporting a fashionable black boot and crutches for the next couple months.

We are stuck down here for a few weeks as the doctor wants to do the follow-up checkup with him before sending me back to New Jersey. He didn't think that any bones had shifted and will not have to operate, but will do another examination at the 2 week appointment to make sure.

I can't believe that I have actually broke my ankle:) Daily, I talk about how much I hate winter (Yes, I know I lived in Iowa for many years, but I really do HATE winter) and I guess it was just paying me back for all of my trash talk about the piles of snow, terrible ice, and nasty cold. I hate to say it, but this spill just made even more ready for spring. Second, back in high school, one of my awesome friends Olivia wore a black boot from a stress fracture! I used to tease her all the time about her BIG, GIANT boot...so I guess it's her turn to sit back and laugh!! When my mom was wearing a boot (also for a broken ankle), I couldn't understand why she couldn't walk any faster. Now I know...

Although it is a bit frustrating trying to take care of two kids while on crutches and wearing a boot 24/7, I couldn't ask for better circumstances. My parents have been great help managing the kids, helping me get the boys up/down the stairs, out of the swing, to the table, etc. They are also great playmates for the little ones so I don't injure my ankle more by chasing them around all over:) Since Chris has a couple more weeks of busy season and can't take any time off until February is over, I am not sure how I would manage up in New Jersey with no family, few friends, and two kids. I can't even get to the store by myself right now! Third, the weather here is awesome...supposed to be in the 60s all next week, so I can get Aiden outside daily. And in the end, it is reminding me to slow down and enjoy the days with these precious boys: