Spring Break: Some choose debauchery, I choose decor

When we moved into our house, every single room and all the ceilings in the house were various (awful) shades of pink--no offense to the previous owners--as evidenced by the following photos.




We tried to paint everything before we moved in, but the task was so monumental it just couldn't be done. So, all of my spring and fall breaks from school since 2007 have been spent re-painting, remodeling, or redecorating some room in our house.

I spent my first break re-doing the boys' room which was (yes, you guessed it) pink for about six months before I got to it. Next I re-did the bathroom, which wasn't pink but was still ugly. Then I painted the pink stairwell leading to our unfinished basement. Next up was Camryn's room, because the various puppies in the too-precious-for-words wallpaper border started freaking her out at night.

This past spring break--the last one of my recent college career--I realized I had pretty much painted or re-decorated every room in my house...finally! But I still wasn't happy with our bedroom. I was on a work deadline the week of my break so I didn't have time for a major project. But I figured that with some changes in the wall decor and curtains, I could make my room a relaxing and tranquil place to be.

It's amazing what you can accomplish with $100 of tax-return money and a nearby Target.



(Yes, dears, I realize that the photo frame on the shelf needs a photo....I didn't say I was totally finished, you know.)

It's not as lavish as something you'd find in an Ethan Allen catalog, but I love my new room. Now, if we could just finish the basement so that I could move our office furniture out of our bedroom, I would be blissfully and perfectly happy. But until that time, I am totally content to relax in my room just the way it is.

Be Nice To Your Body, And It Will Return The Favor

I woke up this morning to a nice feeling--the feeling of being able to move without wanting to scream. My back is doing much better today. Ibuprofen, Tylenol, the muscle relaxers Randy brought home with him last night, heat and ice packs, and lots of bed rest have worked their miracles. I'm definitely not back to normal, but as long as I move slowly and don't bend at the waist I feel pretty good. Hopefully tomorrow will show even more improvement. Until then, I'm taking it easy (READ: still in pajamas in bed with a heat pack).

Gimme a Tempurpedic and some OC, STAT!

I am not a person who lives with a lot of pain. I'm lucky to be pretty healthy and don't do a lot of dumb things that could hurt me. Until today.

Last Thursday, I hurt my back a little while lifting my 40-pound three-year-old. It wasn't awful, but it was painful enough for me to bow out of exercise with my friends on Friday. I felt much better over the weekend, so when the alarm went off at 4:40 this morning, I was ready for a workout.

Halfway through the workout, I was laying on the floor of our church gym, realizing that maybe I should not have exercised this morning either. The pain and pressure increased steadily in my lower back, and by the time Randy left for work around 7:30 I knew I was in serious trouble.

I have never been in such terrible constant pain in my entire life--and that includes the 17 hours of labor and AWFUL three weeks of recovery I suffered through to bring Carter into the world. I have been taking Ibuprofen and Tylenol steadily since 6am as well as alternating heat and ice, and I can still barely move.

Until today, I have never desired controlled substances. The thirty pills of percoset the doctor prescribed me after Carter was born lasted me THREE YEARS. But I will not lie--if someone came to my door and offered me a Lortab or some Oxycontin, I would consider selling my soul to get it (just for a second.)

A glimpse into our morning:

-After Carter woke up and went potty this morning, I remembered that all his clean underpants were in the dryer. So when he brought me his pajama pants, I leaned over the side of the bed and just helped him slip them on. Yup--my kid went commando till about 2:00 this afternoon. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.

-I started a movie for him and went and laid in bed, where Carter would find me periodically, kiss my back, pet my cheeks, and say "Ohhhh, poor thing!" I so so so wish his cuteness could cure me!

-I had to email my professors and tell them I couldn't come to class because I injured my back. Do you know how old--and lame--that makes me feel?

-Rather than stand in the kitchen to make lunch, I put jackets over our pajamas and we (slowly) climbed into the car to find food. At that point, sitting in the heated leather seats of my car and hitting the drive-thru with my greasy hair and no make-up was much more preferable than the excrutiating pain of getting the peanut butter out of the cupboard.

-I finally rooted out some underwear for Carter by slowly lowering myself down to a kneeling position by the dryer and then carefully hauling myself up again by gripping the washing machine. Time frame: 5 minutes. TO GET UNDERWEAR OUT OF THE DRYER.

-The only comfortable position I can find is either on my side in bed with a pillow between my knees or on my back with my legs bent, knees next to my ears and arms resting above my head. FYI--these positions are not conducive to doing anything but wallowing in my own misery.

Hopefully my back will forgive me for being so stupid and will improve itself by tomorrow. However, until then, I am open to any remedies which may help. Suggestions, anyone?

If Only I Could Choke 'em Down

Carter LOVES Grape-nuts. Craves them. BEGS for them when we're out of them. He's THREE. Oh, if only my choices could be as wise as his are. Instead, I choose rice crispie treats and really buttery toast for breakfast. But what's really funny is that he can't miss out on one kernel of crunchy goodness. Every day, when he's nearing the bottom of the bowl, he asks "Mom, can you get me the last bite?" And I obediently tip the bowl and scrape the bottom until ALL the Grape-nuts have been found. At least I never have to use that line about the starving kids in China.

Added cuteness of this picture: the little cup behind him on the counter is a planted seed he got from his teachers in sunbeam class last week. It says "I'm thankful for seeds" on the front. After church two weeks ago, he bolted up to me, handed me a bottle of water and yelled "Mom, I'm thankful for WATER!!!" Wouldn't it be great if we all had sunbeam teachers who reminded us to be thankful for the little things?

Also really cute: His Utes pajama bottoms. In spite of the fact that I made them (first sewing attempt in 10 years, but it turned out great, yes?) he just looks so dang sporty in them when he tackles Randy during their nightly before-bed football game.

Go Utes!

For Your Monday Morning Enjoyment

I laugh hysterically every time I see this, so I decided that it's time to put it on the blog so that everyone else can laugh hysterically, too. I present to you: The Sleepwalking Dog.

Decimation of a Bloglist in 3...2...1...

It's amazing how one click of a button can ruin a really good bloglist. Case in point: a few minutes ago when I clicked "Remove" instead of "Cancel." Not to worry, dear friends and family, I still love you. I have pieced together all of your blogs and I am waiting anxiously to add them again. However, blogger refuses to "see" any of your blogs or pick up your URL's. So, I'm giving blogger some personal time to sort out its issues, and hopefully you will all see your names here again soon.

PS--If you read my blog, and would like to be known, and have a blog you think I would like to read, post your URL in the commments please! I like expanding my horizons.