It occurred to me tonight, as I surveyed the pantry and dreaded the thought of trying to feed the kids while crutching around the kitchen, that I still have a fully-functional left foot. It's like a giant light bulb went off in my head. If the English can drive on the left side of the road, in the right side of their cars, then why can't I drive with my left foot? I'm still on the right side of the car, right? (It's occurring to me that this is a lot of "rights.")
So I grabbed my car keys, had Caiden get the little ones in the car, and tested my left-foot driving skills. We lurched out of the driveway, with Caiden cheering, "Mama! You missed the mailbox! Good job! Mama, you didn't hit that car. Great driving!" I had ecstatic backseat commentary the entire way to McDonald's, where we sat in the parking lot with our Happy Meals, extremely happy ourselves. It's the first time I've driven my car, or even gone anywhere on a whim, in 22 days. Three weeks has never seemed so long in my life. It was a good moment. The sky was blue, birds flew overhead, and we belted out songs with Jack Johnson while munching on fries.
I've discovered there are several things I can do with only one good leg. I can knit. I can teach Caiden. I can shout at the boys to stop hitting each other with their pirate swords on the trampoline. I can share a bag of chocolate chips with Addison, who has discovered that girls and chocolate are a happy combination. And I can sew! My sewing machine has a pedal-free option, so I've spent the last several days making Addison winter nightgowns. The first one was a little rough, and the second one was too big, but she's asleep in the third one right now. It was a satisfying feeling, laying her down to bed all cuddled up in a flannel nightgown made with love (and a little sweat). I was so proud of myself that moment that I went and cut out a pair of pajama pants for Caiden. And a few other things. I'm hooked.
I hadn't realized, until this month, how important it is for me to feel useful. I can't clean my house very well (I have carpet burns on my knees from vacuuming while crawling. Don't even ask.), I can't carry my coffee from the coffeepot to the couch, and I have to sit down to put on my own jeans. It's humbling to be handicapped. I feel bad asking others to do things for me, and I feel guilty for noticing when those things aren't done the way I'd do them. It's frustrating being dependent on my six-year old, and even the three-year old when I'm really desperate. So sewing, knitting, and the occasional vacuuming-while-crawling have saved my sanity.
I hope, when this is all said and done, and I have two functional feet again, that I don't forget what it's like to depend on others. I hope that, in addition to cleaning the daylights out of my house and happily running errands, I can come up with practical ways to help out people around me who are temporarily--or permanently--handicapped in some way, without them having to ask. I have a friend who's about to go on hospital bed rest. My grandmother is in her mid-90s. My next-door neighbor's daughter just broke her arm last night. There are people around me who could use me, even while I still only have one good foot. So while I sit here, finishing the last half of my sentence on crutches, I'm thinking of what I can do even today to give back a little. Think of what we could do if we really took it seriously to be the hands and feet of Jesus. All it takes is a little creativity and some empathy. Even if it means driving with our left feet.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
A Sense of Humor
is a good thing to have in life, you know? The older I get, the more I realize that a sense of humor can be a sanity saver. I read somewhere that the average two-year old laughs about 200 times a day. I think the average 30 year old must laugh significantly less than that--I'm guessing 10 times or fewer.
We laugh a lot in this family. We have to, or we'll go nuts. (Maybe we laugh because we're already nuts?) I'm snickering right now, as a matter of fact, as I survey my little world. My mom left this morning, about 10 minutes after I came down with a migraine. I started getting classic migraines earlier this spring. I adjusted some things and have been migraine-free since mid-July. So of course I'd get one today. As I was sitting at the dining room table, head resting on the cool wood, Chris called to tell me he and my mom were stuck in a traffic jam, and that she might miss her plane. By the time he called to say she made it, after having to throw out all her cosmetics, some of her clothes, and a pair of shoes, to get her luggage taken as a carry-on, I was in bed. Caiden and Grayson are camped out in front of the TV, with a mega-size box of Goldfish for lunch. Addie is taking a nap, or at least that's what I'm telling myself. I think she's actually complaining in her crib, but this is the best I can do today.
My house? It's a wreck. My mom did such a great job of keeping it all picked up and clean, but give it an hour with small children and no adults with two working feet, and it's a pit. Oh, and hey! I forgot to mention that I caught the ball of the pin in my foot on something yesterday and yanked the entire thing out. I think my mom aged a good five years when I pounded on the bathroom door and hollered, "Mom, look at my foot! Do you see a pin stuck in there?" She had been awake five minutes. I was convinced the pin was broken off in my foot and that I'd have to have surgery again. After she spotted the pin stuck in Addie's bedroom floor fan, she looked relieved and slightly shell-shocked at the same time. So after having a mild panic attack and calling the doctor, I was told to buddy tape the toe and put the hard shoe on, to wait it out until my appointment next week. I just sat in the chair and laughed.
I didn't laugh last night, though, when I took off the tape and found a slightly off-kilter toe. Chris laughed, though, and added "Hey, I've had crooked toes my whole life." Good point. Sometimes, you just have to laugh. It's a lot more fun than crying, and it doesn't require reapplying mascara.
We laugh a lot in this family. We have to, or we'll go nuts. (Maybe we laugh because we're already nuts?) I'm snickering right now, as a matter of fact, as I survey my little world. My mom left this morning, about 10 minutes after I came down with a migraine. I started getting classic migraines earlier this spring. I adjusted some things and have been migraine-free since mid-July. So of course I'd get one today. As I was sitting at the dining room table, head resting on the cool wood, Chris called to tell me he and my mom were stuck in a traffic jam, and that she might miss her plane. By the time he called to say she made it, after having to throw out all her cosmetics, some of her clothes, and a pair of shoes, to get her luggage taken as a carry-on, I was in bed. Caiden and Grayson are camped out in front of the TV, with a mega-size box of Goldfish for lunch. Addie is taking a nap, or at least that's what I'm telling myself. I think she's actually complaining in her crib, but this is the best I can do today.
My house? It's a wreck. My mom did such a great job of keeping it all picked up and clean, but give it an hour with small children and no adults with two working feet, and it's a pit. Oh, and hey! I forgot to mention that I caught the ball of the pin in my foot on something yesterday and yanked the entire thing out. I think my mom aged a good five years when I pounded on the bathroom door and hollered, "Mom, look at my foot! Do you see a pin stuck in there?" She had been awake five minutes. I was convinced the pin was broken off in my foot and that I'd have to have surgery again. After she spotted the pin stuck in Addie's bedroom floor fan, she looked relieved and slightly shell-shocked at the same time. So after having a mild panic attack and calling the doctor, I was told to buddy tape the toe and put the hard shoe on, to wait it out until my appointment next week. I just sat in the chair and laughed.
I didn't laugh last night, though, when I took off the tape and found a slightly off-kilter toe. Chris laughed, though, and added "Hey, I've had crooked toes my whole life." Good point. Sometimes, you just have to laugh. It's a lot more fun than crying, and it doesn't require reapplying mascara.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Today
What have we been doing lately? I'm glad you asked! Let's see, I've done a whole lot of sitting in a recliner with my foot propped above my heart, while my mom has done laundry, made lunches, changed diapers, vacuumed, made beds, chased down toddlers, bathed children, answered the phone, run errands, fed the fish, fed the dog, poop scooped, and learned to knit.
I'm going a little stir-crazy. My sister-in-law Janae asked me tonight where I'd go if I could go anywhere in the entire world. "To the orthopedic surgeon to get this pin out of my foot. And then I'd take a shower, and then I'd lay in my bed, with my entire body under my covers, and run my feet up and down the sheets." I don't think that's what she meant.
Seriously, I can't think of a more stretching experience I've gone through. When we had Addison, there were things to do. Specialists to meet with, surgeries to schedule, development to track. Add that to raising two other children, and busyness made the challenges a little less real. But this? This little pinky toe injury has rendered me almost helpless, and if you take away my capability, I'm miserable. I feel like I'm stuck in the movie "Groundhog Day." Every morning I wake up, look down and see my foot, catch a glimpse of the crutches, and groan. This has been the longest two weeks of my life.
I'd like to say I'm learning lots of wonderful life lessons, that I'm thankful for the opportunity, and that I'm handling it all with grace. No way. I've been cranky, complaining, morose, frustrated, quick-tempered, and impatient. I give my foot evil looks all the time, and at night I lie in bed, imagining the moment the wire is yanked. It reminds me of being pregnant--you have to be really sick of it to think labor sounds good. I'm sick to death of this "baby." Yank it out; I don't care if it hurts. I want my life back.
And my poor mom is worn out. Thank the Lord I taught her to knit, since it's the only time she has been able to sit down and catch her breath. Today was particularly wild, and I think she'll sleep well tonight. :)
So that's what we've been up to. I've knitted some, sewn some, kept up with school, and complained about my foot (which is constantly stiff and freezing, or burning up, swollen, and vibrating. See why I complain?) a lot. While I sit in the recliner, day after day, I watch the whirlwind that is my life, and it makes me tired. It's very validating--I wasn't crazy all these years; this job really is hard! I love hearing my mom and husband say the same things I've muttered for years: "Not another dirty diaper!" "How can naptime already be over?" "You're hungry again?". When my mom told my dad on the phone tonight how hard this is, I couldn't help but mentally pat myself on the back. And wince at the same time, knowing she's leaving in T-minus 36 hours, and how on earth am I going to do this again by myself for two weeks?
Let's not think about that right now. Instead, I'm watching two little boys' faces shining in the light of their carved pumpkins, their daddy and uncle worn out after creating their pumpkin masterpieces. It's dark in the room, so the candles can shine, and my family is all scrunched on the couch together. As much as I consider this broken foot as an interruption in my life, when I think about it, it's not an interruption; it's another step in the road. It's part of our story, and someday it might even be funny. Either way, it's part of life, and life goes on.
I'm going a little stir-crazy. My sister-in-law Janae asked me tonight where I'd go if I could go anywhere in the entire world. "To the orthopedic surgeon to get this pin out of my foot. And then I'd take a shower, and then I'd lay in my bed, with my entire body under my covers, and run my feet up and down the sheets." I don't think that's what she meant.
Seriously, I can't think of a more stretching experience I've gone through. When we had Addison, there were things to do. Specialists to meet with, surgeries to schedule, development to track. Add that to raising two other children, and busyness made the challenges a little less real. But this? This little pinky toe injury has rendered me almost helpless, and if you take away my capability, I'm miserable. I feel like I'm stuck in the movie "Groundhog Day." Every morning I wake up, look down and see my foot, catch a glimpse of the crutches, and groan. This has been the longest two weeks of my life.
I'd like to say I'm learning lots of wonderful life lessons, that I'm thankful for the opportunity, and that I'm handling it all with grace. No way. I've been cranky, complaining, morose, frustrated, quick-tempered, and impatient. I give my foot evil looks all the time, and at night I lie in bed, imagining the moment the wire is yanked. It reminds me of being pregnant--you have to be really sick of it to think labor sounds good. I'm sick to death of this "baby." Yank it out; I don't care if it hurts. I want my life back.
And my poor mom is worn out. Thank the Lord I taught her to knit, since it's the only time she has been able to sit down and catch her breath. Today was particularly wild, and I think she'll sleep well tonight. :)
So that's what we've been up to. I've knitted some, sewn some, kept up with school, and complained about my foot (which is constantly stiff and freezing, or burning up, swollen, and vibrating. See why I complain?) a lot. While I sit in the recliner, day after day, I watch the whirlwind that is my life, and it makes me tired. It's very validating--I wasn't crazy all these years; this job really is hard! I love hearing my mom and husband say the same things I've muttered for years: "Not another dirty diaper!" "How can naptime already be over?" "You're hungry again?". When my mom told my dad on the phone tonight how hard this is, I couldn't help but mentally pat myself on the back. And wince at the same time, knowing she's leaving in T-minus 36 hours, and how on earth am I going to do this again by myself for two weeks?
Let's not think about that right now. Instead, I'm watching two little boys' faces shining in the light of their carved pumpkins, their daddy and uncle worn out after creating their pumpkin masterpieces. It's dark in the room, so the candles can shine, and my family is all scrunched on the couch together. As much as I consider this broken foot as an interruption in my life, when I think about it, it's not an interruption; it's another step in the road. It's part of our story, and someday it might even be funny. Either way, it's part of life, and life goes on.
Monday, October 22, 2007
I Think I'm in Love . . .
with these
and this
(How could I not love something called "the well-read turtleneck"?
and this!
But not this.
And at those prices, it's a good thing I knit and sew. (Well, I sort-of sew, but with inspiration like that, how could I not get good?)
Can I tell you how thankful I am for online shopping? PurlSoho, here I come! :)
and this
(How could I not love something called "the well-read turtleneck"?
and this!
But not this.
And at those prices, it's a good thing I knit and sew. (Well, I sort-of sew, but with inspiration like that, how could I not get good?)
Can I tell you how thankful I am for online shopping? PurlSoho, here I come! :)
Saturday, October 20, 2007
My Fellow Reviewers!
Wow! When I mention Amy Grant's name, you girls show up!
I typed in a random number generator, and here are the winners:
#45 Tara at serendipitoushousewife.blogspot.com
#77 kRISTY at fourgreatboys.blogspot.com
#83 Kristi, who left a comment on 10.20.07 at 8:47 a.m.
Tara, Kristy, and Kristi, if you will please email me at inthemidstofit(at)gmail(dot)com by tomorrow evening with your last name and address, I'll get the books in the mail to you Monday. I finished it tonight--you're going to love it!
Thanks to everyone who put your name in the hat!! I know everybody says this, but I really mean it: I wish I had enough copies for everyone. I won't give any details of the book yet, but I can say I heartily recommend it :) Look for our reviews on Thursday, November 1st.
I typed in a random number generator, and here are the winners:
#45 Tara at serendipitoushousewife.blogspot.com
#77 kRISTY at fourgreatboys.blogspot.com
#83 Kristi, who left a comment on 10.20.07 at 8:47 a.m.
Tara, Kristy, and Kristi, if you will please email me at inthemidstofit(at)gmail(dot)com by tomorrow evening with your last name and address, I'll get the books in the mail to you Monday. I finished it tonight--you're going to love it!
Thanks to everyone who put your name in the hat!! I know everybody says this, but I really mean it: I wish I had enough copies for everyone. I won't give any details of the book yet, but I can say I heartily recommend it :) Look for our reviews on Thursday, November 1st.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Let's Have a Review Party!!
I was approached by a publisher a while ago to see if I'd like to read Amy Grant's new book, Mosaic and review it on my blog. I'm excited about contributing, but due to our current circumstances, I haven't been able to read the whole book, and I don't want to review it without finishing it. So I'm going to have to take another week to do the full review--but I need your help!
A neat feature of this blog review that the publisher is promoting is that each reviewer has three additional copies of the book to give away to readers. So I'm asking you to join me in this review! If you would like to receive a copy of the book, can promise to read it within a given timeframe, and then post your own review, I'd love for you to join me! If you don't have your own blog, that's okay, too--you can simply email me your typed review, and I'll post it with mine, giving you credit, of course :)
If you're game, let me know in the comments, and I'll use the random number generator to select three of you. I'll leave this open to comments until tomorrow night at 9 p.m. and then choose. I'll post the three winners, and then I'll need you to email me with your address by Sunday afternoon. I can have your copy mailed out Monday, October 22, and let's plan on posting our reviews on Thursday, November 1st.
A neat feature of this blog review that the publisher is promoting is that each reviewer has three additional copies of the book to give away to readers. So I'm asking you to join me in this review! If you would like to receive a copy of the book, can promise to read it within a given timeframe, and then post your own review, I'd love for you to join me! If you don't have your own blog, that's okay, too--you can simply email me your typed review, and I'll post it with mine, giving you credit, of course :)
If you're game, let me know in the comments, and I'll use the random number generator to select three of you. I'll leave this open to comments until tomorrow night at 9 p.m. and then choose. I'll post the three winners, and then I'll need you to email me with your address by Sunday afternoon. I can have your copy mailed out Monday, October 22, and let's plan on posting our reviews on Thursday, November 1st.
Ready, set, go! Good luck! :)
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
A Smock
Addison's new fall smock. The fabric is pastel leaves, so of course I had to buy it. (Chris understands that. He gets my autumn obsession. He saw it and said, "Oh, a fall smock for Addie?" I love that man.) I adapted the pattern from "Bend-the-Rules Sewing" and lined it, also making it reversible. The kangaroo pocket is made from the lining fabric. Bridget saw it and suddenly felt inspired to learn how to sew. Previously, it was a hard sell.
So tomorrow night Bridget, Brittani, my mom and I are all gathering for our first Sewing Night. Complete with cookies and chips with queso, of course.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Happies
I've mentioned before that my dear friend Erin calls good things in life "Happies." Today I'm getting my thinking straight and started out the morning belting out a new rendition of "This is the Day" to Addie--
"This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made,
I won't complain, that I'm on crutches, and I'll be cheerful instead, I'll be cheerful instead.
This is the day that the Lord has made, I won't be a grump and complain all day,
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made."
It would be an understatement to say that yesterday I was a little crabby. Sitting in a recliner all day is only fun for one day, not five. And knowing that I have roughly 25 more was beating me down. So I decided that I've been having some stinkin' thinkin' and needed to talk myself into a good mood.
Besides, this is a good day! Chris called in reinforcements: my mother arrives this afternoon. Bless his heart, but he is tired! Working all day and then coming home to be Mr. Mom can beat a man down, and considering that this house has three children 6 and under, it's no piece of cake. These are the days when a few teenagers sounds good. At least they could go potty without my involvement!
As disconsolate as I've been, though, I've not been without a multitude of blessings. Brittani came and got my grocery list and debit card Sunday and spent the better part of her day shopping for us. I think her horizons were widened when she saw how much a family of five eats. And she's incredibly healthy; it's probably the first time she's ever bought chocolate chips and Diet Coke in one trip. Many blessings to her for doing my hate-job! She also gave me the gift of a tribute to my toe, which you can read at her site. She makes me laugh.
And Bridget? She's earned a treasure box in heaven for her service this week. She has come over the last two mornings with her two children and run my house for several hours. She swept, she vacuumed, she made lunches, she kept five children alive (four of them are 3 and under), and she did it all with a cheerful attitude. And to top it off, she's coming over this afternoon to make us dinner so my mom doesn't have to do it the minute she walks in the door. I have to stop and realize that I may be on crutches, but they're temporary, and I have the lifelong gift of friends who are priceless. Maybe we can have a crutch-burning party together in November.
The church has offered to watch all three of my children in their childcare center several times a week, and I've gotten flowers, chocolate, and an entire days' worth of help from my wonderful sister-in-law and brother, who swept in Sunday and saved my sanity. Dan got Caiden to ride his bike without training wheels, played basketball, baseball, and jumped on the trampoline. Janae took me to Michaels so I could get stuffing for my dotty chicken I'm knitting from Itty Bitty Nursery, and then we all crashed from exhaustion. Having them here on Sunday saved me from a few meltdowns.
So now my mom, who is recovering from a knee injury, is flying here to run my house until late next week. Bless her soul. I promised to teach her to knit while she's here, in a small token of gratitude. I really can't complain, with friends and family like that, can I?
From my armchair, I've been thinking a lot about handicaps and disabilities and other inconveniences. They range from minor and merely annoying (stuck on crutches for a month) to lifelong and affecting every area of life (paralysis, etc.) As much as I've tried to remember that this is in the "minor" category, I've struggled this week. I am constantly frustrated with my inability to do anything without crutches, and to be frank, I'm not great with them. I can't sleep well for fear of the pin sticking out of my foot getting tangled in the sheets, and trying to do the very basics of life is even difficult. I almost crashed into the bathroom wall this morning just trying to go out the door, and I thought about how humiliating it would be to call 911 from the potty. I wouldn't be the first, I'm sure, but I might be the maddest.
So last night, as I was dreaming of having the stupid pin pulled out of my foot and being restored to the land of the walking, I remembered a purchase I made back in August. We were at the Focus on the Family headquarters while on vacation, and on a whim I bought Joni Erikson Tada's autobiography, The God I Love. I hadn't started it yet, but I decided to pull it out today and start reading it. If there's anybody who understands not being able to be independent, it's her. Paralyzed from the neck down, she can only use her mouth. I read her first book, Joni, when I was a teenager, and I'm looking forward to reading her thoughts now that she has lived for decades in a wheelchair.
I've also had a little more time to read on the computer this week, and I realize I've been keeping some of my favorite blogs to myself. So here are a couple that really inspire me, in different ways, that you might enjoy:
Sarah Clarkson, daughter of Sally Clarkson (Wholeheart Ministries) has a blog called Itinerant Idealist. This is not light reading; Sarah is a deep-thinker. Her blog is the epitome of everything literary, theological, and ladylike, all in one. Her site makes me feel like curling up in a window seat with a mug of something hot and Wuthering Heights. When I read her writing, I'm transported back to college, when I was a creative writing student and spent my days steeped in Wordsworth and Annie Dillard.
Anna at Pleasantview Schoolhouse is a blog I discovered somehow a while back. She and her husband live with their five children in a converted schoolhouse, and she is a domestic genius. She sews, creates her own recipes, knits, paints, embroiders. You name it, and she does it. She sells some of her work on her etsy site, and I bought a skirt from her a while back. Oh, and she's also an attorney in her *spare* time. Her site has encouraged me to really throw myself into my homemaking, and I know my family appreciates it. Her son does all the photography, and it's beautiful. I told a friend recently to get a cup of something to drink and slowly read through Anna's archives. Her posts are short (unlike someone I know), and reading them is like taking time to breathe slowly.
Well, I'm still in pajamas, somebody is walking around in a stinky diaper, and I need to get it together before my mom arrives. No sense in letting her know how we're really doing. All I know is that I'm starting to have visions of washing my walls and caulking the bathtub and scrubbing the kitchen floor with a toothbrush. No, not for my mom to do, silly! For me, when my sentence is over. (I wonder if this is how Martha felt in prison?) I have the insane urge to pull out a bandana, some rubber gloves, and the Simple Green and attack my house with a vengeance, Aunt Barb-style. Let's hope I still feel this way come November.
Happy reading, friends!
"This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made,
I won't complain, that I'm on crutches, and I'll be cheerful instead, I'll be cheerful instead.
This is the day that the Lord has made, I won't be a grump and complain all day,
This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made."
It would be an understatement to say that yesterday I was a little crabby. Sitting in a recliner all day is only fun for one day, not five. And knowing that I have roughly 25 more was beating me down. So I decided that I've been having some stinkin' thinkin' and needed to talk myself into a good mood.
Besides, this is a good day! Chris called in reinforcements: my mother arrives this afternoon. Bless his heart, but he is tired! Working all day and then coming home to be Mr. Mom can beat a man down, and considering that this house has three children 6 and under, it's no piece of cake. These are the days when a few teenagers sounds good. At least they could go potty without my involvement!
As disconsolate as I've been, though, I've not been without a multitude of blessings. Brittani came and got my grocery list and debit card Sunday and spent the better part of her day shopping for us. I think her horizons were widened when she saw how much a family of five eats. And she's incredibly healthy; it's probably the first time she's ever bought chocolate chips and Diet Coke in one trip. Many blessings to her for doing my hate-job! She also gave me the gift of a tribute to my toe, which you can read at her site. She makes me laugh.
And Bridget? She's earned a treasure box in heaven for her service this week. She has come over the last two mornings with her two children and run my house for several hours. She swept, she vacuumed, she made lunches, she kept five children alive (four of them are 3 and under), and she did it all with a cheerful attitude. And to top it off, she's coming over this afternoon to make us dinner so my mom doesn't have to do it the minute she walks in the door. I have to stop and realize that I may be on crutches, but they're temporary, and I have the lifelong gift of friends who are priceless. Maybe we can have a crutch-burning party together in November.
The church has offered to watch all three of my children in their childcare center several times a week, and I've gotten flowers, chocolate, and an entire days' worth of help from my wonderful sister-in-law and brother, who swept in Sunday and saved my sanity. Dan got Caiden to ride his bike without training wheels, played basketball, baseball, and jumped on the trampoline. Janae took me to Michaels so I could get stuffing for my dotty chicken I'm knitting from Itty Bitty Nursery, and then we all crashed from exhaustion. Having them here on Sunday saved me from a few meltdowns.
So now my mom, who is recovering from a knee injury, is flying here to run my house until late next week. Bless her soul. I promised to teach her to knit while she's here, in a small token of gratitude. I really can't complain, with friends and family like that, can I?
From my armchair, I've been thinking a lot about handicaps and disabilities and other inconveniences. They range from minor and merely annoying (stuck on crutches for a month) to lifelong and affecting every area of life (paralysis, etc.) As much as I've tried to remember that this is in the "minor" category, I've struggled this week. I am constantly frustrated with my inability to do anything without crutches, and to be frank, I'm not great with them. I can't sleep well for fear of the pin sticking out of my foot getting tangled in the sheets, and trying to do the very basics of life is even difficult. I almost crashed into the bathroom wall this morning just trying to go out the door, and I thought about how humiliating it would be to call 911 from the potty. I wouldn't be the first, I'm sure, but I might be the maddest.
So last night, as I was dreaming of having the stupid pin pulled out of my foot and being restored to the land of the walking, I remembered a purchase I made back in August. We were at the Focus on the Family headquarters while on vacation, and on a whim I bought Joni Erikson Tada's autobiography, The God I Love. I hadn't started it yet, but I decided to pull it out today and start reading it. If there's anybody who understands not being able to be independent, it's her. Paralyzed from the neck down, she can only use her mouth. I read her first book, Joni, when I was a teenager, and I'm looking forward to reading her thoughts now that she has lived for decades in a wheelchair.
I've also had a little more time to read on the computer this week, and I realize I've been keeping some of my favorite blogs to myself. So here are a couple that really inspire me, in different ways, that you might enjoy:
Sarah Clarkson, daughter of Sally Clarkson (Wholeheart Ministries) has a blog called Itinerant Idealist. This is not light reading; Sarah is a deep-thinker. Her blog is the epitome of everything literary, theological, and ladylike, all in one. Her site makes me feel like curling up in a window seat with a mug of something hot and Wuthering Heights. When I read her writing, I'm transported back to college, when I was a creative writing student and spent my days steeped in Wordsworth and Annie Dillard.
Anna at Pleasantview Schoolhouse is a blog I discovered somehow a while back. She and her husband live with their five children in a converted schoolhouse, and she is a domestic genius. She sews, creates her own recipes, knits, paints, embroiders. You name it, and she does it. She sells some of her work on her etsy site, and I bought a skirt from her a while back. Oh, and she's also an attorney in her *spare* time. Her site has encouraged me to really throw myself into my homemaking, and I know my family appreciates it. Her son does all the photography, and it's beautiful. I told a friend recently to get a cup of something to drink and slowly read through Anna's archives. Her posts are short (unlike someone I know), and reading them is like taking time to breathe slowly.
Well, I'm still in pajamas, somebody is walking around in a stinky diaper, and I need to get it together before my mom arrives. No sense in letting her know how we're really doing. All I know is that I'm starting to have visions of washing my walls and caulking the bathtub and scrubbing the kitchen floor with a toothbrush. No, not for my mom to do, silly! For me, when my sentence is over. (I wonder if this is how Martha felt in prison?) I have the insane urge to pull out a bandana, some rubber gloves, and the Simple Green and attack my house with a vengeance, Aunt Barb-style. Let's hope I still feel this way come November.
Happy reading, friends!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
A Big Deal
Today is the one week anniversary of breaking my toe. By all standards, breaking a toe isn't a big deal, and a one week anniversary would be ridiculous. But we don't do things by regular standards in this family, choosing instead to have crises in a big way, generally in groups, so instead of merely remembering, "Hmm, I think I broke my toe this time last week," I am lying in bed staring at my foot. If looks could kill, it would be dead.
I'm trying to find a gentle way to break the news to myself, to protect my sanity, but I keep fluctuating between denial and the depths of pessimism. I was told yesterday that I cannot walk--I cannot drive--for four weeks. Let me tell you what that looks like in my house: if I want to take my bottle of water from one room to the other, I can choose to hold it in one hand and hop, hoping I don't slip on a melted ice cube by the fridge or a Lincoln Log stranded in the kitchen, or I can try to grip it in my pinky finger while slowly crutching through the house. The first option only works for a while, as the heel of my good foot is slowly being bruised beyond what I can bear to walk on, and the second option only works with objects that I can hook around my finger. Unfortunately, most don't.
Now magnify that times a million: I cannot pick up my baby and carry her from one room to the next, and when it's time to change a diaper, that's bad news for me. She's fast; I'm slow. I cannot lug the laundry basket from the closet to the laundry room. I can't vacuum, sweep, or mop. Even getting up from the floor to a standing position is near impossible, because I literally can't put an ounce of weight on my broken foot because of the position of the wire protruding from it. And because of that wire, I'm not allowed to take a shower, and getting into the bathtub requires help. Talk about humbling. Errands? Forget them. No grocery shopping, runs to the library, or even the occasional trip to Sonic for a treat to break up a long afternoon. I can't go to church, or the post office, or do anything on my regular Monday afternoons when our sitter comes. I'm a mom! This is not a good time in my life to be temporarily crippled! You can see why I'm having a hard time keeping my chin up. What once was just a toe has now turned into a Big Deal.
For the last couple of days, I've had plenty of time to ponder things, since Chris was home to run the house and keep the kids alive. Just yesterday I was thinking about our positions in life and in ministry, and how vital each one of us is. Ask most career-driven, high-powered women, and they'll say my life is drudgery. They might say I'm aiming too low, living like a martyr, or am wasting my good years. On the other hand, some women who desperately want to be at home will raise me to sainthood, elevating my status as wife and mother to the heavenlies.
The reality is that what I do is important. It's hard work, with very few tangible rewards, and even the intangible ones are sometimes hard to see. It's common work, requiring no advanced degrees or experience or skill. Anyone can do it, although whether most do it well can be debated. But take me out of the picture, and my family crumbles. I am needed to support, to complete, to encourage, to clean up after, to comfort, to train, to manage. When I'm not at my best, nothing else in our family goes very smoothly. My husband had been gone only a few hours today when I looked around and realized we were deconstructing quickly. The kids were dirtier than dirt, toys had relocated to all the wrong places, dishes needed to be done, and laundry was overflowing. I may not do brain surgery, but I am vital to the health of this family. A lot like a little toe. Crack it, and life grinds to a halt.
The Bible says that we are each like a part of a body, and that though some of us are more highly esteemed than others, we are all vital. We are all necessary, and when one of us is missing, the rest of us suffer. I may be tempted to look at some ministry wives and think of the traveling they do, the books they're writing, and the honor given to them, and wonder what I'm worth, surrounded by stomach viruses and Tonka trucks and potty training. But ask my kids, and they'll tell you I'm the most important woman in the world. Ask the Lord, and He'll tell you I'm exactly where He has placed me, and who can argue with that?
I have to be honest--I am fighting with every ounce against my four week sentence. It grates my every nerve to see a mess across the room and be unable to clean it. It frustrates me to realize my library books are overdue, that we don't have milk, and that I needed to go the bank a week ago, and not be able to strap on the seatbelt and efficiently take care of it all. A loss of freedom, no matter how small or temporary, is still frustrating. But when I look at it outside the temporary, I realize that God can do big things during these four weeks. Even if I only come out of this with a new appreciation for the place He has given me, that's enough. I have a feeling, though, that He's also instilling a new appreciation for my role in my husband and children, as well as teaching us how to work as a true team, serving each other with gladness. Or at least without gritting our teeth. I know there's much to be gleaned from my forced confinement, such as contentment, not complaining, taking care of myself, and sharing responsibility. So as much as I dread the coming days, I am thankful there's at least something that can be gained.
But if He wants to teach me all these things in less time, that's okay, too.
I'm trying to find a gentle way to break the news to myself, to protect my sanity, but I keep fluctuating between denial and the depths of pessimism. I was told yesterday that I cannot walk--I cannot drive--for four weeks. Let me tell you what that looks like in my house: if I want to take my bottle of water from one room to the other, I can choose to hold it in one hand and hop, hoping I don't slip on a melted ice cube by the fridge or a Lincoln Log stranded in the kitchen, or I can try to grip it in my pinky finger while slowly crutching through the house. The first option only works for a while, as the heel of my good foot is slowly being bruised beyond what I can bear to walk on, and the second option only works with objects that I can hook around my finger. Unfortunately, most don't.
Now magnify that times a million: I cannot pick up my baby and carry her from one room to the next, and when it's time to change a diaper, that's bad news for me. She's fast; I'm slow. I cannot lug the laundry basket from the closet to the laundry room. I can't vacuum, sweep, or mop. Even getting up from the floor to a standing position is near impossible, because I literally can't put an ounce of weight on my broken foot because of the position of the wire protruding from it. And because of that wire, I'm not allowed to take a shower, and getting into the bathtub requires help. Talk about humbling. Errands? Forget them. No grocery shopping, runs to the library, or even the occasional trip to Sonic for a treat to break up a long afternoon. I can't go to church, or the post office, or do anything on my regular Monday afternoons when our sitter comes. I'm a mom! This is not a good time in my life to be temporarily crippled! You can see why I'm having a hard time keeping my chin up. What once was just a toe has now turned into a Big Deal.
For the last couple of days, I've had plenty of time to ponder things, since Chris was home to run the house and keep the kids alive. Just yesterday I was thinking about our positions in life and in ministry, and how vital each one of us is. Ask most career-driven, high-powered women, and they'll say my life is drudgery. They might say I'm aiming too low, living like a martyr, or am wasting my good years. On the other hand, some women who desperately want to be at home will raise me to sainthood, elevating my status as wife and mother to the heavenlies.
The reality is that what I do is important. It's hard work, with very few tangible rewards, and even the intangible ones are sometimes hard to see. It's common work, requiring no advanced degrees or experience or skill. Anyone can do it, although whether most do it well can be debated. But take me out of the picture, and my family crumbles. I am needed to support, to complete, to encourage, to clean up after, to comfort, to train, to manage. When I'm not at my best, nothing else in our family goes very smoothly. My husband had been gone only a few hours today when I looked around and realized we were deconstructing quickly. The kids were dirtier than dirt, toys had relocated to all the wrong places, dishes needed to be done, and laundry was overflowing. I may not do brain surgery, but I am vital to the health of this family. A lot like a little toe. Crack it, and life grinds to a halt.
The Bible says that we are each like a part of a body, and that though some of us are more highly esteemed than others, we are all vital. We are all necessary, and when one of us is missing, the rest of us suffer. I may be tempted to look at some ministry wives and think of the traveling they do, the books they're writing, and the honor given to them, and wonder what I'm worth, surrounded by stomach viruses and Tonka trucks and potty training. But ask my kids, and they'll tell you I'm the most important woman in the world. Ask the Lord, and He'll tell you I'm exactly where He has placed me, and who can argue with that?
I have to be honest--I am fighting with every ounce against my four week sentence. It grates my every nerve to see a mess across the room and be unable to clean it. It frustrates me to realize my library books are overdue, that we don't have milk, and that I needed to go the bank a week ago, and not be able to strap on the seatbelt and efficiently take care of it all. A loss of freedom, no matter how small or temporary, is still frustrating. But when I look at it outside the temporary, I realize that God can do big things during these four weeks. Even if I only come out of this with a new appreciation for the place He has given me, that's enough. I have a feeling, though, that He's also instilling a new appreciation for my role in my husband and children, as well as teaching us how to work as a true team, serving each other with gladness. Or at least without gritting our teeth. I know there's much to be gleaned from my forced confinement, such as contentment, not complaining, taking care of myself, and sharing responsibility. So as much as I dread the coming days, I am thankful there's at least something that can be gained.
But if He wants to teach me all these things in less time, that's okay, too.
And I You...
Spontaneity is the word of the day: go here.
Yep, that's our new blog! Enjoy :) (And Chris/Pace says we'll make the site pretty later.)
And yes, I'll provide an explanation for the Chris/Pace thing later, too!
Friday, October 12, 2007
A Picture of Motherhood
"In the daily moments of eating, sleeping, and meeting the essentials of life with His disciples, Jesus taught, healed, fed, trained, loved, laughed, and instructed. Not only did the disciples hear the spiritual admonitions of Scripture, but they felt His devotion to them, demonstrated in reality as they felt His touch, heard His voice, and received the love of God incarnate. It's a picture of what we want to happen in our homes with our children."Sally Clarkson, qtd. in "Homeschooling Today"
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Links
I've had several people ask me lately if:
1. I knew that my sidebar of links was gone (Yes.)
2. I had plans of putting it back (No.), and
3. If I could please tell them where they can find the people I've linked to (Yes, mostly).
So here's the list, in no particular order, as best as I can remember it. If you were on my sidebar and I've forgotten (hydrocodone will do that!), please leave me a comment with your web address and I'll add it.
My Family:
Scratchin' the Surface www.grammy55.blogspot.com
A New Chelsea Morning www.anewchelseamorning.blogspot.com
Flight Song www.jboazphillippians4-judith.blogspot.com/
And Baby Makes Three www.and-baby-makes-three.blogspot.com
My Friends:
Embracing My Cup www.embracingmycup.blogspot.com
Holding Little Hands www.holdinglittlehands.blogspot.com
Rocks in My Dryer www.rocksinmydryer. com
BooMama www.boomama.net
Big Mama www.bigmama1.blogspot.com
He Thinks I'm Funny www.lcarot.blogspot.com
Baby Bangs www.babybangs.blogspot.com
Encouragement, whether in my walk or in my home:
Sally Clarkson www.itakejoy.wordpress.com
Susie Anderson www.susanbanderson.blogspot.com
Sarah Clarkson www.itinerantidealist.wordpress.com
Wholehearted Moms www.whmoms.wordpress.com
Pleasantview Schoolhouse www.pleasantviewschoolhouse.blogspot.com
AshleyAdams www.ashleyadamsjournal.blogspot.com
Living in Grace www.living-in-grace.net
Lots of Scotts www.lotsofscotts.blogspot.com
Ivey Sirmans www.iveysirmans.blogspot.com
Above All I Could Ask or Imagine www.aboveallicouldaskorimagine.blogspot.com
5 under 6 www.theharps.blogspot.com
Living Proof Ministries (aka Beth Moore) www.livingproofministries.com
My Quiet Corner www.momrn2.blogspot.com
And Some New Ones:
Charlotte Mason website~
Simply Charlotte Mason www.simplycharlottemason.com
Ambleside Online www.amblesideonline.com
Sewing websites~
Angry Chicken (sewing blog) www.angrychicken.typepad.com
Superbuzzy Fabrics www.superbuzzy.com
Reproduction Fabrics www.reprodepot.com
My Flickr page of my sewing/knitting projects http://flickr.com/photos/14446160@N07/
Now, here's my friendly word of advice: bookmark these, or join a blog subscription group like bloglines or google reader. You can sign up for free, and either service will let you add your blog links, and then when a new post is written, that blog's name will show up boldfaced, so you can just check on those, instead of looking at every blog you read to see if anything new has been posted. That way you won't lose the location of your favorite blogs. I know of one person who puts her links in "folders" in bloglines, a few for each day of the week, and she simply checks that day's set of blogs. That's one great way to keep up without getting bogged down. Or, you can do a web search if you remember the title of the blog. And for those of you who like to live in the slow lane, you can also use the "old-fashioned" method of writing the blog addresses down in a little notebook.
In the interest of full disclosure, though, I don't do any of the above. I basically read the same blogs, and since we started homeschooling (and I started obsessively sewing), I haven't been a frequent reader, so I don't keep up as well, and I rarely leave comments. I'd like to say that once I'm on my feet again, and the house is clean, and I'm caught up in all areas of my life, I'll be a better reader. That does sound impossible, though, you know? That's just part of the ebb and flow of life, I guess.
Anyway, I hope this list helps those of you who've asked, and again, if you were on my sidebar and have been left off this list, please let me know. I forgot to write the entire list down before I changed templates, and my brain is a little foggy today. Also, as I come across other great websites, I'll update. For now, my sidebar includes only a few sites, and I like the clean look of it. Especially since my house is not. :)
1. I knew that my sidebar of links was gone (Yes.)
2. I had plans of putting it back (No.), and
3. If I could please tell them where they can find the people I've linked to (Yes, mostly).
So here's the list, in no particular order, as best as I can remember it. If you were on my sidebar and I've forgotten (hydrocodone will do that!), please leave me a comment with your web address and I'll add it.
My Family:
Scratchin' the Surface www.grammy55.blogspot.com
A New Chelsea Morning www.anewchelseamorning.blogspot.com
Flight Song www.jboazphillippians4-judith.blogspot.com/
And Baby Makes Three www.and-baby-makes-three.blogspot.com
My Friends:
Embracing My Cup www.embracingmycup.blogspot.com
Holding Little Hands www.holdinglittlehands.blogspot.com
Rocks in My Dryer www.rocksinmydryer. com
BooMama www.boomama.net
Big Mama www.bigmama1.blogspot.com
He Thinks I'm Funny www.lcarot.blogspot.com
Baby Bangs www.babybangs.blogspot.com
Encouragement, whether in my walk or in my home:
Sally Clarkson www.itakejoy.wordpress.com
Susie Anderson www.susanbanderson.blogspot.com
Sarah Clarkson www.itinerantidealist.wordpress.com
Wholehearted Moms www.whmoms.wordpress.com
Pleasantview Schoolhouse www.pleasantviewschoolhouse.blogspot.com
AshleyAdams www.ashleyadamsjournal.blogspot.com
Living in Grace www.living-in-grace.net
Lots of Scotts www.lotsofscotts.blogspot.com
Ivey Sirmans www.iveysirmans.blogspot.com
Above All I Could Ask or Imagine www.aboveallicouldaskorimagine.blogspot.com
5 under 6 www.theharps.blogspot.com
Living Proof Ministries (aka Beth Moore) www.livingproofministries.com
My Quiet Corner www.momrn2.blogspot.com
And Some New Ones:
Charlotte Mason website~
Simply Charlotte Mason www.simplycharlottemason.com
Ambleside Online www.amblesideonline.com
Sewing websites~
Angry Chicken (sewing blog) www.angrychicken.typepad.com
Superbuzzy Fabrics www.superbuzzy.com
Reproduction Fabrics www.reprodepot.com
My Flickr page of my sewing/knitting projects http://flickr.com/photos/14446160@N07/
Now, here's my friendly word of advice: bookmark these, or join a blog subscription group like bloglines or google reader. You can sign up for free, and either service will let you add your blog links, and then when a new post is written, that blog's name will show up boldfaced, so you can just check on those, instead of looking at every blog you read to see if anything new has been posted. That way you won't lose the location of your favorite blogs. I know of one person who puts her links in "folders" in bloglines, a few for each day of the week, and she simply checks that day's set of blogs. That's one great way to keep up without getting bogged down. Or, you can do a web search if you remember the title of the blog. And for those of you who like to live in the slow lane, you can also use the "old-fashioned" method of writing the blog addresses down in a little notebook.
In the interest of full disclosure, though, I don't do any of the above. I basically read the same blogs, and since we started homeschooling (and I started obsessively sewing), I haven't been a frequent reader, so I don't keep up as well, and I rarely leave comments. I'd like to say that once I'm on my feet again, and the house is clean, and I'm caught up in all areas of my life, I'll be a better reader. That does sound impossible, though, you know? That's just part of the ebb and flow of life, I guess.
Anyway, I hope this list helps those of you who've asked, and again, if you were on my sidebar and have been left off this list, please let me know. I forgot to write the entire list down before I changed templates, and my brain is a little foggy today. Also, as I come across other great websites, I'll update. For now, my sidebar includes only a few sites, and I like the clean look of it. Especially since my house is not. :)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Crooked No More
"There was a crooked man who lived in a crooked house . . ." I just love that poem, although right now I can't remember any more of it. I am happy to say that I'm not a crooked [wo]man anymore. I just got back from surgery and am comfortably propped up in bed with an ice pack and the remote control.
Other than the IV insertion--which was horrendous--all went well, and the nurses and surgeon were wonderful. There isn't even an incision! The doctor used an x-ray machine as a video monitor and repositioned the bone, then pushed a wire through it to hold it into place. A month from now it'll come out, and I'll have my regular foot again. Piece of cake. So to speak.
That's all from me right now. I was given morphine after surgery, and you don't even want to know how long it has taken me to type these three paragraphs. I'm a little fuzzy. Thank you for your well wishes and prayers, and a special thank you to my pastor and his wife for the flowers, to Bridget, Brittani, and Angie for meals, to Kristina for always being available to babysit, and to my mom and sister for hiring maid service for me for next week. And above all, thank you to my husband, who has played the role of Mr. Mom, Nurse, Chauffeur, Cook, Maid, and just Slave in general this week. With family and friends like that, even surgery isn't that bad!
I'll write again when I make sense. Until then, have a happy week!
Other than the IV insertion--which was horrendous--all went well, and the nurses and surgeon were wonderful. There isn't even an incision! The doctor used an x-ray machine as a video monitor and repositioned the bone, then pushed a wire through it to hold it into place. A month from now it'll come out, and I'll have my regular foot again. Piece of cake. So to speak.
That's all from me right now. I was given morphine after surgery, and you don't even want to know how long it has taken me to type these three paragraphs. I'm a little fuzzy. Thank you for your well wishes and prayers, and a special thank you to my pastor and his wife for the flowers, to Bridget, Brittani, and Angie for meals, to Kristina for always being available to babysit, and to my mom and sister for hiring maid service for me for next week. And above all, thank you to my husband, who has played the role of Mr. Mom, Nurse, Chauffeur, Cook, Maid, and just Slave in general this week. With family and friends like that, even surgery isn't that bad!
I'll write again when I make sense. Until then, have a happy week!
Monday, October 08, 2007
A Little of This, a Little of That
I'm happy to announce that the sewing machine and I are becoming friends. I've conquered several projects, and my latest one has even met Addie's approval. Bridget, Brittani and I are tentatively scheduled to do our first Sewing Night together this week, but we'll see how that works out. I have surgery scheduled for Wednesday afternoon (I know! Really! It's crazy that a stubbed toe has ended up in surgery! I'm still a little shocked, myself. But then I look at my foot and realize that yes, something is definitely going to need to change. Either that, or I'm going to be wearing triple-wide shoes.) So the Sewing Night is on hold, although Bridget and Brittani think I'd be fun on hydrocodone, I'm not sure how straight the stitching would be. Notice that I've capitalized "Sewing Night." I figure by making it totally official, Brittani won't be able to back out.
I've completely fallen in love with the book my mom sent me, "Bend-the-Rules Sewing" and all its projects (Except the dog collar. You'll never see me sewing for the dog.) . I've made two versions of the smock, but I lined mine and made them a little bit nicer. I love the look of a smock over a long-sleeved shirt and jeans or corduroy pants on a little girl. And Mary Janes, of course. I made Addie a girly version of fall colors. This one has pastel leaves all over it, and it's lined in a polka dot pastel olive green, if there's such a color. It fastens at the back of the neck with a sweet Beatrix Pottery button, and I think it turned out really well.
Since the Toe Event, I haven't had as much leisure time as I'd hoped. It turns out that "leisure" is not possible in a house with three little ones, and as much as Chris has helped, I still feel guilty if I'm not doing something. He, a veteran of foot surgery himself, told me tonight that I won't be hobbling around checking on the kids and vacuuming and folding laundry after surgery. I didn't know whether to say "Oh no" or "Good." But I did get some good knitting in while waiting for my surgery consult this afternoon, and Grayson's little fall hat is turning out well. I just hope it fits over his big noggin. My sister-in-law said today that a study came out that the most beautiful people have big heads. If that's the case, Grayson will grow up to become a model. But don't tell Addie. She has a pea-sized head, and I still think she's pretty cute. Either way, their heads are sure to be covered in style.
I have pre-op stuff tomorrow morning, and Bridget and I spent a good while on the phone trying to decide whether I can wear some sort of covering during my chest x-rays and EKG. If not, I think that may rate as worse than the actual act of breaking my toe or having surgery. I'm trying not to cringe as I type. I have modesty issues. I believe all people should remain as covered as possible, at every given second. People just look better dressed. But that's another issue for another day.
On a happy note, today was Grayson's birthday, and I'll have wonderful photos of the pirate to post later on. Bridget got him a full pirate costume, and Janae came with eye patches and gold earrings, so the entire family got into the mood. Combine presents, barbeque, and balloons, and it's a party any three-year old would approve of. Ours did, anyway. Now that he's officially three, I guess we should do something about the diapers. Just not this week.
I've completely fallen in love with the book my mom sent me, "Bend-the-Rules Sewing" and all its projects (Except the dog collar. You'll never see me sewing for the dog.) . I've made two versions of the smock, but I lined mine and made them a little bit nicer. I love the look of a smock over a long-sleeved shirt and jeans or corduroy pants on a little girl. And Mary Janes, of course. I made Addie a girly version of fall colors. This one has pastel leaves all over it, and it's lined in a polka dot pastel olive green, if there's such a color. It fastens at the back of the neck with a sweet Beatrix Pottery button, and I think it turned out really well.
Since the Toe Event, I haven't had as much leisure time as I'd hoped. It turns out that "leisure" is not possible in a house with three little ones, and as much as Chris has helped, I still feel guilty if I'm not doing something. He, a veteran of foot surgery himself, told me tonight that I won't be hobbling around checking on the kids and vacuuming and folding laundry after surgery. I didn't know whether to say "Oh no" or "Good." But I did get some good knitting in while waiting for my surgery consult this afternoon, and Grayson's little fall hat is turning out well. I just hope it fits over his big noggin. My sister-in-law said today that a study came out that the most beautiful people have big heads. If that's the case, Grayson will grow up to become a model. But don't tell Addie. She has a pea-sized head, and I still think she's pretty cute. Either way, their heads are sure to be covered in style.
I have pre-op stuff tomorrow morning, and Bridget and I spent a good while on the phone trying to decide whether I can wear some sort of covering during my chest x-rays and EKG. If not, I think that may rate as worse than the actual act of breaking my toe or having surgery. I'm trying not to cringe as I type. I have modesty issues. I believe all people should remain as covered as possible, at every given second. People just look better dressed. But that's another issue for another day.
On a happy note, today was Grayson's birthday, and I'll have wonderful photos of the pirate to post later on. Bridget got him a full pirate costume, and Janae came with eye patches and gold earrings, so the entire family got into the mood. Combine presents, barbeque, and balloons, and it's a party any three-year old would approve of. Ours did, anyway. Now that he's officially three, I guess we should do something about the diapers. Just not this week.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Oops
I'm blaming it on my mother: she never put me in ballet lessons. I didn't even have a tutu for playing dress-up when I was a little girl. So now grace isn't my strong suit. Or maybe it's the fact that I inherited her feet, long enough to support a 5'10" frame, but I forgot to keep growing after 5'6". Either way, it's completely her fault that I stubbed my toe on the bench in my hallway today.
(Please ignore my pitiful pedicure. But I just couldn't bring myself to touching it up before taking this photo. Now it's all black and blue, so this is as good as it gets for a while, I'm afraid.)
Yeah, do you see that? Toes are supposed to go the same direction. That's the first thing I thought when I saw the little toe trying to run away. So after I called my husband in a panic, I did the logical thing: I called Bridget for a ride and farmed out the kids to my neighbors, who graciously offered to take them all to a party with their own four children ("What's 7 when you already have 4?" my neighbor asked. Personally, I think almost double the normal number sounds frightening. ) Bridget dropped me off at the urgent care, and I tried not to feel scared when the nurse at the counter shuddered when she saw my foot.
After x-rays and a chat with the doctor, I was sent home with a prescription for the pain and a list of orthopedic surgeons. Evidently a bone that's broken completely through and pushed out of place doesn't heal itself. It's sounding like surgery is in my near future. Oh, bother.
But have no fear: my sewing machine has a foot-free option. And now I have a perfectly good excuse to spend all my time knitting the wonderful projects in my new copy of "Itty Bitty Nursery"* rather than cooking, cleaning, and running errands. This isn't sounding so bad after all. Or that might just be the hydrocodone talking. Either way, I'm camped out on the couch with my laptop, crutches, and knitting bag. Not a bad combination, in my opinion.
*A post completely dedicated to the deliciousness that is Itty Bitty Nursery is soon to follow. I got my copy last night and am in heaven. If I hadn't already learned how to knit, this book would make me want to learn! Go out and buy it--even if you don't knit, it's a beautiful book to own!
(Please ignore my pitiful pedicure. But I just couldn't bring myself to touching it up before taking this photo. Now it's all black and blue, so this is as good as it gets for a while, I'm afraid.)Yeah, do you see that? Toes are supposed to go the same direction. That's the first thing I thought when I saw the little toe trying to run away. So after I called my husband in a panic, I did the logical thing: I called Bridget for a ride and farmed out the kids to my neighbors, who graciously offered to take them all to a party with their own four children ("What's 7 when you already have 4?" my neighbor asked. Personally, I think almost double the normal number sounds frightening. ) Bridget dropped me off at the urgent care, and I tried not to feel scared when the nurse at the counter shuddered when she saw my foot.
After x-rays and a chat with the doctor, I was sent home with a prescription for the pain and a list of orthopedic surgeons. Evidently a bone that's broken completely through and pushed out of place doesn't heal itself. It's sounding like surgery is in my near future. Oh, bother.
But have no fear: my sewing machine has a foot-free option. And now I have a perfectly good excuse to spend all my time knitting the wonderful projects in my new copy of "Itty Bitty Nursery"* rather than cooking, cleaning, and running errands. This isn't sounding so bad after all. Or that might just be the hydrocodone talking. Either way, I'm camped out on the couch with my laptop, crutches, and knitting bag. Not a bad combination, in my opinion.
*A post completely dedicated to the deliciousness that is Itty Bitty Nursery is soon to follow. I got my copy last night and am in heaven. If I hadn't already learned how to knit, this book would make me want to learn! Go out and buy it--even if you don't knit, it's a beautiful book to own!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Disjointed
I've written a post several times in my head this week but am too scatter-brained to write it down. When I do, it comes out like this:
Must check this out.
Love triangle quickly forming with the sewing machine and hand embroidery. So many projects, not enough time. Knitting isn't suffering, though. Grayson's head needs a wasabi-green turtle hat for fall. (Cleaning the house might be suffering a little.)
Speaking of fall, trudging through furrows of hay with an umbrella stroller and roasting marshmallows in 95 degrees at the pumpking patch does not feel like fall. Just for clarification.
Worrying about asymmetrical bowleggedness and internal hemmorhaging is nonproductive, but a shake from Chick-Fil-A can cover a multitude of sins. When will I figure out how not to worry and still be a mom?
Staying up too late poring over this book makes for fuzzy mornings, but it's nothing a pot of coffee can't handle. I need to keep a notebook for ideas beside the bed, so when I have project-induced insomnia, I can write them down in comfort.
This web group intimidates the life out of me, but oh! the creativity! If I wasn't already sunk, this would put me over the edge. Where, oh where, has sewing been my whole life?
Need to post pictures of the lined apron, delicates bags, jewelry bag, hair ties, and adorable skirt for Addie that I've made in the last week. Yes, I promise I've fed my family and continued with Caiden's lessons. I just haven't slept much. I cleaned the bathroom at 11 p.m. last night.
Like I said, I'm scattered. :) Happy October, friends! What are you up to??
Must check this out.
Love triangle quickly forming with the sewing machine and hand embroidery. So many projects, not enough time. Knitting isn't suffering, though. Grayson's head needs a wasabi-green turtle hat for fall. (Cleaning the house might be suffering a little.)
Speaking of fall, trudging through furrows of hay with an umbrella stroller and roasting marshmallows in 95 degrees at the pumpking patch does not feel like fall. Just for clarification.
Worrying about asymmetrical bowleggedness and internal hemmorhaging is nonproductive, but a shake from Chick-Fil-A can cover a multitude of sins. When will I figure out how not to worry and still be a mom?
Staying up too late poring over this book makes for fuzzy mornings, but it's nothing a pot of coffee can't handle. I need to keep a notebook for ideas beside the bed, so when I have project-induced insomnia, I can write them down in comfort.
This web group intimidates the life out of me, but oh! the creativity! If I wasn't already sunk, this would put me over the edge. Where, oh where, has sewing been my whole life?
Need to post pictures of the lined apron, delicates bags, jewelry bag, hair ties, and adorable skirt for Addie that I've made in the last week. Yes, I promise I've fed my family and continued with Caiden's lessons. I just haven't slept much. I cleaned the bathroom at 11 p.m. last night.
Like I said, I'm scattered. :) Happy October, friends! What are you up to??
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