The New Year has definitely started out with a bang. We officially started potty-training a couple of weeks ago and Joshua has mastered pooping and peeing in the potty. We've only had a couple of accidents, and Joshua reminds me that “accidents happen, Mommy, it's ok.” We are so proud of him and it is SO NICE to be out of diapers. Yesterday, however, we had a BIG ACCIDENT and not a pee or poop kind.

Yesterday, we were invited to a Birthday Party at Pipsqueaks, an indoor play zone, designed specifically for preschoolers and toddlers here in Rochester. Josh is always game for a birthday party, except today it wasn't so much fun. Joshua was running, jumping and skipping around the indoor playground having a blast with his friends until he rolled his ankle on a “super big jump.” It literally took his breath away as he rocked back and forth in pain. It was VERY scary for me. Fortunately, there was a Sports Med doc at the party and she graciously looked at it before we left. She didn't think it was injured too bad as she was able to press around on it pretty good. She said just to ice it, elevate it, and and monitor him over the next couple of hours.

By 2pm, though, he still couldn't put any pressure on it. That's when I decided I better bring him in. We were lucky enough to get in to see Dr. Jacobson (Our family med doc) which was somewhat of a distraction for Joshua because “Dr. Jacobs” can cure anything. When we arrived at the hospital, Joshua was greeted with a wheel chair since Mommy's hands were full with Audrey. The nurses wheeled him into the exam room, which he thought was pretty neat. X-rays were an order the nurse said, so we wheeled over to the Super Camera (X-ray machine) station to take some pictures. Joshua did such a super job. Dr Jacobson didn't think his leg was broken at first, but after seeing the x-rays, Dr. Jacobson said to Joshua “I think you need a cast buddy.” Joshua spent the rest of the day at the ER getting suited up in a nearly full-leg cast put which pretty much immobilizes him for now. The doctors called it a “buckle fracture” on the lower Tibia. He has to have the cast on for 3 ½ to 4 weeks. Since crutches will probably be more of a pain than they are worth (for Joshua and Audrey – getting bonked by them), we are hoping Bob, our handyman and Josh's other favorite friend, will be able to construct him some sort of walker to help him get around. It's definitely going to be a challenging month ahead with two toddlers unable to walk. However, Audrey is very close to taking her first step so, she might be on the move before Josh is!

This story is proof that you never know what's going to happen next. We'll keep you posted on Josh's recovery and the big question "who will take the first step? Joshua or Audrey?"

Quick update...(I owe a decent blog later, but just got to put something up quick for some important news)

Josh broke his tibia and fibula right next to the foot yesterday. I think they called them 'compression fractures' or 'buckle fracture' (can't remember anymore as yesterday was kind of a blur) - but you can see one of the breaks in the x-ray in the 'big bone' on the left side about one inch up - kind of looks like a hang nail ;). It wasn't a clean break or anything 'major' like what I had when I was 5 ;).

I don't know how he broke them (figuratively). He was at an indoor child play area jumping off spongy blocks down to a play mat (I feel kind of bad as I was promoting this the day before at the Rochester Athletic Club). After that became too easy/boring for him, he decided to try and jump from the blocks to a big lady bug (again spongy). Well, when he landed he twisted his ankle and collapsed. That was at 11:30am.

By the time I met up with them (I was at work when it happened), it was noon and he was refusing to attempt to walk on it. So we planned on putting him on the couch and icing it hoping he'd walk on it later. He was kind of in shambles but he was mostly whining instead of crying. I told him to suck it up if he wanted to continue to be my kid. Just kidding :)

I hung around until about 12:30 and then headed back to work. Ann iced it for a couple hours, and after Josh took a little nap. However, at 3pm he still refused to walk on it.  So Ann schedule x-rays and at 4pm we found out he had broke his leg in too spots (tibia and fibula near the foot).  I mean how can a 30lb kid break his leg in two spots from jumping off a 2 foot sponge box?!?!? He must have a high pain tolerance however, b/c basically after I went back to work, he was 'fine' all through the afternoon all way up through doctor exams until the 'casting' started.

After casting it up, he was a disaster again, sobbing uncontrollably 'milking' that his leg hurt, but in reality he just didn’t want the cast on.  I told him to quit crying or I'd break the other leg too!

In all seriousness, Josh is doing great, I'm very, very impressed with how well he dealt with the whole situation and it's kind of going to suck for Ann and Josh. Ann having to drag around two kids who can't walk and I don't think Josh is going to like the sedentary life style, but I'm sure he'll get through it!