toy box or fire truck

The story started with finding the pattern with hardware on the Internet. After a wait the package arrived and the task of gathering materials began.

All of the parts are cut from birch plywood.

After the many little pieces were cut and sanded they are primed before painted the appropriate colors.

Pieces are assembled with care.....

One last inspection from the young man who will store his favorite toys in this container.

Jeff put so much of himself into the building of this gift for Ridley. I enjoyed watching him make the dials and his excitement when he found the official FD sticker and a piece of hose to adorn the lid of the box.

I told Jeff that Erv would have been impressed with this project. He did a great job and had a lot of fun making it. I'm sure that he will find a new project to entertain himself when his foot is feeling better.

The toy box is now holding the toys that Ridley holds dear; and the sippy cup he had, a DVD and the TV remote. He enjoys storing things in the three compartments. He has to use a stool to get in it for now, but at the rate he is growing it won't be long till he can reach the boxs without the stool.

A totaly new foot

Please let me warn you that the last of the three pictures is a bit gross, but I thought the fingers after the saw mishap a few years ago was much worse for the gross factor.
Even with the bandages on the foot took on a much different shape after the surgery. As you can see in the first photo of his pre-operation x-ray; his toes didn't go in the same direction as most of the worlds toes.

In the next x-ray you can see how the doctor removed a chunk of bone where the 2 screws are in place of the bunion. The joint inside the foot on the second toe was removed because it was mis-sharpened. Jeff got a pat on the back for good behavior and keeping the foot in a rested state. The operation took close to 3 hours and wow, he really changed the look of this foot. It is going to take about 6 months to get the swelling down and have his shoes fit better.









































The pins that look like thumb tacks will come out in time. The scares will fade over time and he will hopefully be able to ware some of the shoes in the closet. We are both optimistic.
I think this is amazing!

The most adorable Hockey player

This is the most adorable hockey player; with his own teeth.

I saw that....you smiled too.

Jeff's surgery went well today. The bunion was shaved down and the three toes were re-aliened and pointing in the right direction with the use of screws and pins. He is in good spirits and is dealing with the pain quite well. Of course I will make sure that he has his pain meds on time.

He is not to put any weight on it for at least 4 weeks and isn't going to be able to drive during that time either. After the one week of doing nothing, I will take him to his appointments.