Stumbelina

I am generally not too much of a clutzy person. I, admittedly, don't have the super-human sense of balance my husband and son have, but I get by without falling over most days nonetheless. Here's what happened: Yesterday was my first day out and about with glasses. So, it was raining and freezing outside and I took Finn to preschool. We were rushing because of the cold and (i can only assume) because of my glasses I misjudged the step and down I went. (I just recently read something that illustrates how when we fall, since we are such tall creatures, that our body accelerates as we fall, thus hitting the ground at a much greater speed than we were originally going - which in this case, was a pretty good clip)

With my left foot, I think I both kicked the step and then caught the top of my foot on it, if that's possible. I had Burgundy in my left arm, holding Finn's hand with my right. Somehow I was able to let go of Finn and use both arms to guard Burgundy from the sidewalk, catching myself with my left knee and elbow. I am not sure if Burgundy hit her head on the sidewalk, or if she just barely missed it. I don't know if the sound I heard was her head or my knee. She cried for a second - more of a scared cry, and then was fine.

The best part was as I was going down, one of the dads was coming up the stairs in front of me from dropping off his kid at school. After landing, I blurted out, quite loudly "FUCK!" (it just happens sometimes). So this poor guy comes out to see me falling and then to have his ears filled with profanity. Regardless of my outburst, he came over to me and asked if I was ok and then helped me up. Thanks, guy.

So we went into the school and I had to hang out for a few minutes because Finn did not want to stay. So I was keeping an eye on Burgundy and she seemed fine. But when we left I went across the street to our pediatrician anyway. (because it was a loud thud - and I hate to think it was her head). So he squeezed us in and examined her, determining that she was, in fact, fine.

So once I knew she was ok, and once my own adrenaline wore off, then I realized, ouch - I hurt myself. My left foot is pretty banged up as I caught it pretty hard on the step I think. The tendon coming down from my left big toe hurts and I can't much use my toe for anything utilitarian, including taking off my other shoe or walking.

And upon waking this morning my left knee is also pretty sore, although my foot is slightly better. I was able to do my Thursday cleaning with the aid of super compression from an ace bandage and a knee brace. Have I mentioned how very annoying it is for me to wear glasses? Especially while cleaning the house? It is. Very.

So, we are T minus 12 1/2 days from Lasik. I cathartically flushed my last pair of contacts down the drain today. Hopefully I can make it through without too many injuries.

Trains!

Well, today we decided to go to Union Station in Ogden which is a train station and a train museum. They had lots of old Utah train pictures, some neat artifacts and a really cool model train set up. I thought Finn would love the model train, but he just kept asking to go outside to see the big trains. Go figure - you spend 12 bucks for an hour and he'd rather do the free part! His other favorite part was a little table with toy trains and wooden tracks (exactly like the ones he has at home).
But we did have fun. I am sure that el guapa would love it so we will have to go back when he is in town!!

Afterwards, we went outside and he was able to climb around all the huge trains. Then we went to the little Union Grill restaurant in the station which was nice - pretty good food. Only problem with that was Burgundy had been in her stroller all afternoon and then in a high chair and she was done sitting and of course our food took forever to get there. So I took her out to the lobby to walk around while Cody and Finn ate, then we swapped and Finn had his ice cream while I ate. It wasn't too bad.

So we had a nice afternoon. I always like to find new fun things like that to try that Finn would like. This one was definitely a winner, but next time, maybe we'll skip the museum and just go hang out on the trains!

I, unfortunately, forgot my camera so I had to take pictures with my cell phone - but you can check them out here on my facebook page!

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Sometimes people perplex me. Sometimes I really wish we could move to the country where we can't immediately see another house upon exiting our own. Ok, we have basically one neighbor to the side of us since we are on the corner. They are nice people. Juan Carlos & Marisel. They have two kids, a boy a couple years older than Finn and a girl the same age as Finn.

Last summer they played a lot. Several times, Finn was invited to go play with them in their back yard or in their house. Then Marisel would walk him back home. The only thing I thought was weird kind of is that many times they would be playing in the back yard, then bring Finn home, then the kids would be back outside playing in the yard again for a while. So Finn would go in our back yard and they would "play" through the fence together. But on these occasions, Finn would keep asking if he could go back in their yard. I never quite got this.

The other odd thing, the kids never ever came to our house or yard. They would play together in our front yard, but many times I offered that they could come over to our back yard, but they never did. Marisel said it was because the kids were afraid of our cats, but when I told them the cats would be inside, they never really said anything else.

So today, they were playing in the front yard, and Finn kept asking me if he could go in their back yard. I told him only if he was invited. So the daughter asked her mom if they could play in the back yard and the mom said "no, we have to go inside in a few minutes." So everyone went inside to their own houses, and five minutes later both kids were out playing in the back yard. ????

I know that sometimes you just have stuff to do and don't want to deal with other people's kids or whatever, that was just kind of weird. Because usually Marisel's inside cooking dinner or whatever and they play in the back yard, and I am in our backyard, kind of overseeing just to make sure Finn is having fun and being good. So, hmmm.

Then another weird thing: Last summer both families would be out a lot, so we had lots of conversations while our kids played. So JC asked Cody if we were going to have more kids, and Cody said no, and he proceeded to tell Cody about his vasectomy in great detail (before Cody told him he was going to have one). And then the next day, he continued, and the next. So it was almost bizarre how much it seemed like he liked to tell Cody about his vasectomy and after Cody had his, asking him about how he was doing, etc. Then we basically haven't seen/talked to them all winter. And we saw them outside for the first time earlier this week and went to say hi. JC says "oh she is getting so big! (about Burgundy) Are you guys going to have more?" And I was confused and wondering if he was joking. So I just kind of laughed. And he asked again, and I said, "no, not without a miracle." Then Cody walked over and he asked Cody "so are you guys going to have more kids?" And Cody reacted the same as I had & JC asks him again. Then Cody said, "um no, I had a vasectomy." And he was like "oh really? I had one!" and started to talk to Cody all about it. I mean, with as much as they talked about it every time we saw them last summer - I seriously cannot believe he did not seem to remember AT ALL. Weird!

So I don't know, it's just kind of weird. Maybe it's just me. The other thing that bugs me is that on several occasions the kids have asked me, Cody & Finn if we go to church. And I don't know, I just don't like this. I know they are kids and so they are curious about other people and if they do the same thing, etc. But I have been here for, what, almost 7 years now, and being an "outsider", this is just still weird to me. Completely a Utah thing.

I know a lot of church-goers. Most of which are completely non-judgmental, but some are the opposite of that. I'm happy to say I don't know too many of those. But knowing that Bart's neighbor's kids are not "allowed" to play with Bart's kids because they didn't go to church and knowing how my ex-boyfriend who grew up here non-Mormon describes being ostracized for that fact, I just don't like it. So somehow I have managed just to "not answer" that question when it is asked. Because how sad would it be if all of a sudden Finn wasn't allowed to play with them? Last summer he drove me nuts asking EVERY day "can I play with Crystal?", and every time he sees them outside he can't wait to get out there to play. It would break my heart if somehow he couldn't do that anymore for the simple fact that we don't go to church. I'm not saying that our neighbors are judgmental, I have just heard too many stories of broken-hearted children. And, frankly, it's not anyone's business anyway.

Springtime

Well, we are all feeling much better around here. And we had a lovely day today! This morning we all slept in, (well Burgundy and I did, and Finn let us) and then we got dressed and went to the park. I found a new park last night (right by my host's house for the Pampered Chef party I did), so we tried it out and it was pretty good.

A few things are different this year. Last year, we didn't go to the park quite as much as the previous year I guess, and when we did, Burgundy was in her stroller. Well, now that spring has sprung Burgundy loves to get outside! She is able to walk and nothing is going to stop her! So going to the park is slightly different and more challenging. I felt bad because Finn wants me to go down the slide with him and climb everything with him, which I used to do, but no longer can because now I am following Burgundy as she wanders around the park. He did really well though, and had a fun time. I think we were all just glad to be out of the house!

So then we came home and Burgundy took her nap, and afterward we all went back outside. It was 60 and slightly overcast, so not too sunny - just a gorgeous day. So this part I enjoyed because seems like for 4 years now I have not been able to do much in the way of yard work (poor me, ha!) which I don't mind for the most part but on days like this when we are outside and I see there is a lot to be done and Cody is super busy at work already, well on days like this I'd like to be able to do some stuff! So I actually did get a lot done. Cleaned up all the old day lilies and got one of the huge fountain grasses cut to it's base so it can regrow. (I would've done the other 2 but I ran out of room in the garbage can!)

Finn rode his bike and Burgundy wandered around the yard. She did pretty good at not going past the sidewalk, etc., and Finn is mommy's little watchdog to keep her safe which I love. (he has told me when I was in the bathroom and she climbed on the glass-top end table, when somehow she managed to stand up in her high chair, and if she got too close to the other side of the sidewalk). What a good big brother he is!! So between the two of us we were able to keep her wrangled in the front yard as I worked.

We took a trip around the block with Burgundy in the stroller and Finn on his bike, then we moved to the back yard and played catch for a little while and I was looking at the curbing ring around the back patio thinking "we should just tear it out". See we have this circular patio and this cute curbing around it which I envisioned constantly full of flowers and beautiful. Well, as it happens, it is less a beautiful potter than a swampy mote around the patio. It just kind of traps the water from the patio so nothing grows there - except mosquitoes.
We were thinking we could maybe plant dwarf bamboo there to make a kind of hedge which would have been awesome, but for 3 plants it costs $100 and we would need a lot. So there went that idea.

So Cody got home tonight and said, "you know we should just rip that curbing out." Well, that was enough for me! So he got the shovel for me and out it came. So now we will just have grass up to the edge of the patio. Sad to lose my planter, but it just wasn't working (for the last 4 years) so screw it. One less thing to worry about!

So anyway, today was a fun day, we had great weather, got to play outside and are all feeling pretty much better. A good day.

still here

well, not much has changed. I am still here. Still have pneumonia. I have started some major anti-biotics that tout such lovely side effects as ruptured tendons (!?). Luckily, my tendons all feel fine so far.

I am pretty much over being sick. You know, it's all fun & games when it starts, but after 3 weeks, it kind of gets old. As does everything I guess. I am reevaluating things lately. I don't like feeling obligated to do things. It is starting to bug me a little. Maybe the fact that I am sick and can't do things has spawned it, I'm not sure. Anyway...

I have to say that I am so lucky to be married to my husband. He goes to work all day and then comes home to a child-ransacked house, takes a shower and then gets to cooking dinner for all of us with nary a complaint. What a guy. And I am just on the couch like a slug and have been unable to help him with much of anything. Not only because I have no strength, but because I also have no appetite. It is so hard to figure out breakfast and lunch right now. I have been forcing myself to eat, but my heart is so not in it. I have lost about 5 pounds so far on the pneumonia diet. Just because I have no interest in food whatsoever. Even if I have something I really like, it is a task to eat even part of it.

I am also pretty sad because I missed Laci's bridal shower last night. That is very sad to me. It would have been a lot of fun to go and see her and play some games (although I hear Paula didn't play my suggested game!! A little racy I guess, but it would have been fun. I guess since I wasn't there I can't complain about it :) But they flew Erin in from Arizona as a surprise which was really cool. So I was sad I couldn't see her last night either. Luckily, she wasn't too busy this morning so she did come over for a while and we got to hang out. Even though I was un-showered, un-makeup'd, un-hairdoed and in my pajamas. It was still nice to have a visitor - especially one whom I haven't been able to see in a while!

Jim & Paula also came over this morning to take Burgundy to the doctor. Both kids have had fevers on and off. Burgundy had an ear infection last time we went 2 weeks ago, and she had a fever of 102 yesterday and I was too weak to take her so they brought her in. She is fine. Just both have the nasty bug that has been going around (& around & around). But I think it was a little fun for them since our pediatrician is in their ward so they got to surprise him by taking her in.

I do so treasure our pediatrician. His nurses are so nice and if I call and say I need to get them in, they always find a way. And he is just such a nice guy and I feel like he really cares. (I feel bad when Finn screams at him the whole time). Anyway, I digress. From what I don't know since I am just rambling...

So, not much else to report, just trying to get on top of it. Thanks for all the well wishes from everyone. They go a long way, and it is nice to know I have people who care. Keep up the good thoughts and prayers - every little bit helps!

ok so scratch that. upon closer inspection of the x-ray by a radiologist, apparently I do in fact have pneumonia. hooray.

update

well, here's what's up now. Today I went back into the doctor because this morning I couldn't really breathe. So I was waiting for some time in the exam room so I just laid down on the exam room table because it basically took all my strength to get up and take a shower this morning. So anyway, he came in eventually and he listened to my lungs and said they sounded clear but did a chest xray just in case. I was very glad to learn they had the xray lab right there in the office. I was picturing being sent to the hospital where I would be sitting somewhere waiting forever for some test and just eventually ending up lying on the floor because it took too much energy to even sit in a chair.
But luckily, as I said they had it all in house. So those came back and were clear. So I do not have pneumonia. so that's good. but what do I have? a never-ending cold? who knows. he took like 7 tubes of blood to test for all types of stuff including mono. (I did have mono in high school - don't quite remember what it felt like except that I was just super tired and couldn't get out of bed. I kind of feel that way now but I also feel that way for a couple days when I am really sick so who knows)
anyway, that's what's up with me. still sick. hopefully recovering slowly.

3 weekends

ok this is getting ridiculous. Feb 14th - got really sick and was down all weekend. slowly got better until a sinus infection hit the following Saturday. Got some antibiotics. Started to feel a little better and now bam, this Saturday, high fever, and upper respiratory issues. Started out feeling like I couldn't get enough breath - hit Cody's inhaler a few times, seemed to help a little, and then just went down hill from there. And yesterday evening and today I have been consigned to the couch or bed. Miserable.

I would like to be done with being sick. It would be nice to be healthy again. I am sick of being sick.