Curtism

"No bag of chips survive when I'm around!"

Curtism

"Mom there is dog hair everywhere...on the floors, on the walls, on the bed...  This is the type of thing you should know before you get a dog."

New Laundry Room

Here is the big project that Steve has been working on for the past few days.  My wonderful new laundry area.  We had the laundry upstairs...which is good...but it made our bathroom turn into a huge laundry hamper...which is bad...

Now I have room to fold and put laundry baskets.  We have a laundry chute...which I love more than I expected.  Next is the floor in the whole basement.  That will make things very nice.

Locks of Love

Maggie decided to donate her hair to Locks of Love.  It was getting very difficult to brush out and take care of so she took the plunge...we cut off 10 inches which is the minimum they will take.  Her hair is so soft now and we woke up without having a tangled mess of hair.  It should save us about 15 minutes each morning.  I evened it up more after this picture so I think it looks a bit better.  I am so happy that she didn't cry after.  Phew!

Pack Meeting / Derby Races

Here is Doug getting his religious square knot from the Bishop.  Yeah Doug!!!

Here is the boys with their cars...ready to race!

The big race...Let's just say Doug came in 2nd.  :(    Cody's car kicked butt!  It was a great night!

Organize, Clean, Purge...

I love when we undertake a big family project.   My kids (I think) can take it or leave it...  We decided to switch bedrooms last weekend.  It has lead to much cleaning and organizing....and the best part purging!!!  We made the kids try on every piece of clothing...they got rid of stuff they don't need.  Every corner got cleaned and wiped down.  Don't get me wrong...the place is still a mess work in process.  My favorite part is the bags waiting at the door to go to the Goodwill.  Yippee!!!

Today (might) be the Day

Today I see the surgeon again.  Hopefully today is the day I get to drive again...and hopefully today is the day I get to burn this corset/belt thingy I have been wearing for 3 weeks...and hopefully today is the day I can bend over...

Although I am looking forward to a doctors excuse not to do laundry for another year or so...


Update:  I can drive again...get to keep the corset/belt thingy for a few more weeks...and gentle bending...no twisting.  Everything looks fine.  Return appointment in March.

New Glasses Arrive

Doug first glasses ever.  He only has to wear them about an hour a day to help his eyes work better together. 

Maggie's new "pink" glasses.  I think they are cute but she has had purple glasses everytime.  I have to get used to them.  Her eyes are getting better and now one lens is clear.  Yippee!

And last but not least....drumroll please....Jacob in his new contacts!  He is probably happiest of all.

Closet beginnings

Here is the old door configuration.  The plaster was very bubbled and pulling away from the lath.  Then the new opening...shelves on the inside...and finally drywall up.  He also moved the light switch so you don't have to stretch your whole arm down the wall to turn off the light.  Next hopefully trim and more inside shelves. 

Cherry Apple Pie ???

Today I made a pie.  Didn't have enough of one kind of filling.....so I used cherry and apple mixed.  I hope it tastes good.  I am not sure yet...after dinner will be the test I suppose.  Wish me luck!

Homemade Laundry Soap

I got this recipe from the internet world.  I thought I would give it a try.  I have done the liquid homemade laundry soap.  That worked just fine.  Here is the powder version.

1 Cup Shredded grated bar soap (I used Ivory)

1/2  Cup Washing Soda

1/2 Cup Borax

Use 1 Tablespoon per load in front loading machine.

****Just a disclaimer...THESE ARE NOT MY ARMS AND HANDS...THEY ARE MY HUSBANDS!!!!  I just want to clarify that I do not have manly arms. *****

This was a double batch.

****Just a disclaimer...THESE ARE NOT MY ARMS AND HANDS...THEY ARE MY HUSBANDS!  I just wanted to clarify that I do not have manly arms. ****

Back to Normal...and normal is good.

Today is the first day the kids are back at school.  It is quiet again.  Steve has a project going upstairs...it is snowing and I finally get to use my new mixer to make chocolate chip cookies. 

Steve is working on the boys closet.  Making it bigger and more efficient.  LOVE THAT!  He also painted the foyer/entry way this week.  It is nice that he has to be here for this and that because of my operation.  Not being able to drive has really put a crimp in him going to work.  Oh well. Hopefully only a few more days and I will have wheels again. (and a new closet :) )  I love when he is home and a bit stir crazy...things get started that he has been meaning to do for a while. 

We are mostly doing doctors appointments the next two weeks...Dermotology appt today, Eye appt thurs, ortho appt monday, dr appt tues and eye appt tues, and finally Dr. Musser (surgeon) on Fri. next week.  Then I hope to start physical therapy and get my WHEELS Back!

I will post some pictures when the closet comes along more. 

I am so excited about it being done.

Last Day of 2009

I wish I could say how great 2009 was to me...but about half of it really stunk!  With that said I am grateful for many blessings that have come our way this year.  There has been many. 

I look back even a few months ago when all the kids were going to school for the first time and I was so upset about it all...What would I do with my time?  Then I hurt my back...guess that was answered...I would have prefered a day at the spa...oh well.

Before I got hurt I made a list of some of the things I wanted to do this first year that the kids were in school.  I haven't really done much with it so far.  So I think I will turn part of it into my New Year Goal List.

1. Family History

2. Make quilts for Humanitarian Aid

3. Crock pot cooking / Meal planning

4. Service

5. Learn to sew something simple

6. work harder at having Family Home Evenings

7. scripture study... family and personal

8.  Organize photos

9. Work on Food Storage

10. Raising Chickens

11. Blogging

12. Baking Bread

That should keep me busy for 2010...or for the rest of my life!  There are other goals but I am sure this is more than I can handle.   I hope this year is wonderful.  It will be the year I turn the big 40...I haven't wrapped my brain around that one yet...I am not sure if I ever will or will want to.  When does one feel grown up anyway???  I guess that is another blog topic.  Have a great and happy and safe New Year.

Why do we spend so much at Christmas?

Why exactly do I worry about Christmas?  Why do we spend so much time and effort on finding the right toys?  My kids aren't spoiled by any means but I find it funny that they are done with most store purchased items in a few days.  This is the latest game they have thought up...well it is a version of the pull 'em on the blanket game...the slippery pants made the blanket not necessary.  Without the blanket apparently you can do smaller circles until you both eventually get dizzy and wipe out.   I particularly love the bike helmet...another part of the game and fun is wapping your head off the floor when you finally spin off out of control.  I am glad they thought of the helmet!

So Stressed...

Well...today I am trying not to freak out...trying.  I woke up this morning and my leg hurts again.  Not as bad but yet it hurts the same way...It has only been one week since my surgery...one blissful week of no leg pain.  I am stressed!  I really really really really really don't want to deal with this any longer.  Plus today I am going to the doctor because my blood pressure has been running about 140/100  my pulse has been about 100 bpm.  Usually I would say...oh I hope they don't put me on medicine...now I am like...give me the meds so I don't have to think about it any longer.  Probably the wrong attitude but I am so sick of not feeling right and all the worry.

Plus it is still snowing and we have to travel all the way to Youngstown to the doctor.  I hate driving in the snow...with all the kids...in the doctors office...I am sure my blood pressure will be fine when we get there...ha ha!!

Curtism

After listening me lecture Jacob...it gets quiet and Curtis says "What is Juvy anyway?"  I told him it is where bad kids go... "oh" he said, "like kids that litter?"

Recovery Mode

The operation went well.  Other than me being a complete basket case. No more leg pain.  Now it is just really hard to move because of the incision.  I haven't had to take many pain meds.  Compared to the pain before...this is nothing.  It is hard to do much still...no bending or lifting.  So basically I can mill about and see all the stuff that needs to be done.  That can make me a bit nuts.

Tomorrow is Christmas and I am so happy to be able to spend it with my family.  I am hoping each day I feel a bit better and that this will all be a memory. 

I can't wait to see the kids open gifts tomorrow.  That is one of the best parts. 

Have a Great Christmas!!!

The Last Day

This morning before I was really awake...kind of half in and half out of a dream...I start thinking about my day and what to accomplish.  My "organizing time" if you will.  I thought I could try and make some bread with my new super duper mixing machine...some laundry (undies at least), wrap a few presents, really need to clean the bathroom before someone from Relief Society comes to clean my bathroom, and a host of other things I have been not doing around here because I haven't been able to bend or move real well without pain.  I thought "today is the last day" because tomorrow is the operation and then I won't be able to lift or bend for who knows how long.  So I could do it today..with some pain...I thought.

Then to awake to the realization that today is the day with absolutely NO Pain MEds.  I kinda cheated yesterday.  I couldn't stand it. 

By the time I reached the bathroom and sighed over the pile of laundry covering my floor...I gave up on that idea as I pictured myself literally crawling over mounds of dirty clothes...brushed my teeth in a disgusting sink that someone "forgot to clean" when they were assigned the bathroom chores...and headed downstairs...ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch bleep ouch ouch bleep ouch....by the time I reached the bottom...baking bread was out.  I barely got myself a bowl of cereal because no one has done the dishes in days.  I scored the last bowl and semi clean spoon. Yeah me.

By the time Jacob left...I was done...I was dressed but went upstairs...ouch ouch ouch ouch bleep ouch ouch...and went back to bed for 15 min until it was time for the others to get up.

Time to get back up...I felt blessed to be able to score two pair of clean underware for the kids in less than 10 minutes.  We cheated and bought some new socks the other day...so that was an easy find.

Mostly dressed and ready...Maggie had forgotten her homework...crisis.  Finished in time but couldn't find her mittens.  Running out of time I sent her without them.  The thought of crawling around on the basement floor to look for them (because they aren't put away...get real) was too much.  I know I am a bad mother...I admit it.  Hopefully they won't go outside today, because she is in a skirt (no pants left to wear) with no mittens. 

I am so wanting to do stuff and my back says "oh no your not!"  I hate this so much!!!

Tomorrow is the big day.  I am scared out of my mind and that is an understatement.  I know people get operations every day...I know it is outpatient surgery...I know I am a wimp...I know I probably won't die...probably.  I know that when I wake up I will know that I worried for nothing. 

I hope tomorrow is the start of the end of this very long awful chapter of my life.  Almost 5 months of daily pain and popping meds.  I am tired and sick of being like this.

I am hopeful that today is the last day of this kind of pain.  Everyone says the pain from the operation will be there...but I am ready to trade this back and leg pain away for good. 

Merry Christmas from Our House to Yours

May you all have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I pray you all have many blessings given you this year. 

To Do List for Today...

1. Bills (Yuck)
2. Wrap gifts and figure out who has what and how many gifts. ( Yuck)
3.  Call the Doctor about what meds I can take before my surgery (yuck)
4. Laundry (double yuck)
5. Clean (yuck yuck)
6. Break down and get a new mop. (maybe depending on the bills this month)
7. Stocking stuffers (once again dependent on #1)
8.  Cash a check (yippee!)
9.  finish paperwork for surgery (yuck)
10. find a picture of Maggie when she was a baby for school.  (Uuuhhhggg)
11. Oh yeah I almost forgot...start refering to surgery as a "procedure."  :) I think that will help me.

I can't think of anything else other than stuff I can't do because of my back.  Paint the foyer, mop the floor, pick up junk.  Clean the basement.  Oh well that will all have to wait...maybe 12 weeks or so. :)