Run 143 this week!!!

You can keep up with family news at www.rileycandra.blospot.com as there continues to be a lot going on.

Our 3rd Annual 'Run 143' is happening this week to raise awareness & support for orphan care and adoption.  Check out www.run143.blogspot.com for regular updates or www.run143.com to donate to this important event!  We're supporting 2 great families who are adopting from SA, 2 amazing baby homes, and our important local resource/support centre.

Thanks for checking in!
I.B.

little update

Slowly getting better.  Trying to do some lifting.  borrrrrrrrring.  It's been tough to keep things physically slow & not do too much - but I've almost made it!

And 4 weeks in, my mouth is still healing.  I got it checked again today and it sounds like it will need another 2-4 weeks to heal.  I guess that's what happens when you get a cut in your mouth that goes down to the bone....  But at least now I get to stop taking the medicine that has been reeking havoc with my system & energy levels.  And I can take a few bites every meal on that side of my mouth....  Progress is progress.

House update: we're priming the basement now.  Hopefully by the end of the weekend the entire house (up & down) will be primed and ready to paint.  Our goal is to have the entire house painted 10 days from now - Super Lu took next week off to go for it.  She's a really hard worker - so it's fun to see her progress.

I'll get some house pictures up once the paint is on the walls.

I.B.

Together At Last!

Friday was the first time that I was able to work on the build with Super Lu. It was a little humbling having my wife lift all the heavy stuff into a cart while I stood there (& others stare...) - surgery recovery is doing alright, but I've still got a couple weeks before heavy lifting.

We had a pretty good time priming the walls (until 1am).  Except that we forgot to get the primer shaken.... So this is the way we decided to mix the paint!
I.B.

Almost....

Well, February is here - we made it!

But...
I'm still dealing with the after effects of January. The most noticeable now is a good size cut in my mouth on my bottom gums from around my surgery time (I've had it 3 weeks now). It's gotten worse & swollen & gross... I won't get into details! But eating has been really difficult as well as talking (or functioning sometimes). I'm on an aggressive medication plan for the next week, so hopefully this won't go longer than a month....

I'm almost finished my protest of January 2012.

In good news, the main level & bonus room is ready to paint! I'll post some pictures soon. And the basement should be ready to tape & mud by the end of the day! FIL was in all last week & back again this week to help (along with Expert giving me some free help for a few days!). I'll be driving some screws in - at least I get to help a little without overdoing it while I heal from surgery. Super Lu will start priming tomorrow night & on the weekend - she's excited to finally be able to help (role reversal - I'll be taking care of the kids!).

I.B.

And then the flu...

So now my wife is throwing up all day.

It's a little difficult to take care of 4 kids, get to church, etc. being post-surgery.  Let's be honest, it's tough taking care of 4 little kids even when I'm healthy!  The best I could muster on the 'fun level' was to go outside, stand there and watch 2 of them toboggan.

On the flip side, a family from church offered to bring us supper tonight which was pretty cool.  We have some trouble receiving help - we chose this crazy life!  And then my wife's sister stopped by with some popsicles & raspberry ginger ale for my bride.  Our church is really awesome.

I may throw a party on February 1st because it means that January will be finished.

Any good idea for party names?
How about 'Uno Febbraio!"?

I.B.

Gun discharged at school

Well....
In a very scary & odd development, an 11 year old boy brought a hand gun to our kids elementary school and it went off in his classroom (in his backpack & locker).  No one was injured - thankfully!

This has made for some difficult times & worries for our kids, but they are doing alright (all things considered).

Apparently the boy was not aware that the gun was loaded - but there's still lots of questions to be answered.  LOTS.

January will be over soon and I for one will not complain.  What a 'unique' month for our family.  That's the correct word, right?  Unique?

I.B.