A Broken Back

Unfortunately, I cannot sue Chloe.  I already get to kiss the cuteness outta her, that's all she has to give.

I have a broken back.  Well, more specifically, I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and a herniated disc that sits on touchy nerves.  It really gets on my nerves *hyuck hyuck*  I kill myself.

And when I go to see the doctor, like every other month, I get the same lecture (while Chloe is bouncing on my lap, ironically):

Dr.:  You really need to stop picking up heavy things, like babies.

Me: *Blank stare*

Chloe: *Drooling* *Bouncing*

Dr.: Try to stay down for a few days.

Me: *Blank stare*

Chloe: *Bouncing* * Squealing* *Gaining another pound*

Dr.: Ice and heat.  But most importantly rest.

Me: *Blank stare*

Chloe: *Jumps off my lap, crawls under the table, starts pulling out plugs.*

I mean, are doctors blind?  What he should have said was, "I see you have a Wiley 28 pound, 15 month old baby.  Let me admit you to the hospital with a regular morphine and steroid drip.  All the cable and hospital food you want.  No visitors.  Three days."

Boom.

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!!

And honestly, I don't think it should take 8 years of medical school to get to that conclusion.

Medrol, Vicodin and Flexoril are this weeks best friend.

Between a Tree and a Hard Place

December is my month to shine.

It's the only time I get festive.

It's the only time I decorate.

I love twinkle lights and green garland and red and white striped Christmas tree ornaments.

I love my nativity scene.

I love the smell of cinnamon and pine.

But, I'm moving next weekend.  And I have no desire to put up decorations for a few days, only to take them down again, and then put them up...again.

Contrary wise, I don't see myself moving into a new house and jumping right into the garland and tree skirts.  In fact, I don't even know where those things are.

So I'm between a tree and a hard place.  I don't know when I'll get to decorate, or if I even will.  And it makes me feel...sad.  Everything is different, and it would be nice to have some...sameness.  To indulge in some nostalgia 

So in the mean time, the in-between time, I'm going to put some of these together, and hope that I actually run into someone in need.

I guess this is a good opportunity to get back to basics this season.

Still, don't stare at me weird if you drive past the Christmas tree lot and you see me sniffing the pine...it's my way to cope.

Vogue

This girl has super model blood.  She's just missing 3 feet.  And I'm pretty sure she'll never get those 3 feet, thank heaven.

In the meantime, the camera comes out, the inner Madonna makes her appearnce.

Vogue

And it doesn't matter what she's wearing, or how her hair looks, she will always strike a pose...

And you  may be wondering, does it slightly annoy me that she looks gorgeous when she rolls out of bed wearing yesterdays clothes and hair do?

Slightly.  And am I a little bit concerned that I've already given birth to "Kembry: The Sequel"?

Just a little bit.

But there's so much more to my girl than her gorgeous looks.  It's just so hard to see beyond them, sometimes.

For example, she makes friends within seconds of meeting someone.

Her cousin Judy.  It took the pair all of 40 seconds to become BFF's.  

She's lovable and compassionate.  She cares about anyone who is hurting or struggling or is sad.  

She's charismatic; always the life of the party.

She's my little Jeany-Bean.  

She's the apple of this mommy's eye.

And the cameras best friend.

Every Time a Bell Rings...A Winner Gets a Book

*Ding Ding*

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#3

CONGRATULATIONS TO BETHANY @ The Finlinsons!

You're gonna love it.  But Eden won't, there isn't too much tapeworm or intestinal blockage in it...

Email me your address at neffajawea at hotmail dot com


Thanks for playing everyone!  I'll have another give away in J-J-J-January.  Oh wait, it's not cold in Arizona.  Woo hoo!

It's a Christmas Miracle...Or Just a Good Book Giveaway

Awhile back I mentioned that a web-friend of mine had written an awesome book.

This is the first book review I'm doing based on a writer that is still living.  I'm a wee bit nervous.  She knows my address.

But no fears, Liz, I LOVED the book.

It was one of those Saturdays where you spend the entire day reading one book.  You read it at stop lights.  You stay parked in JoAnn's parking lot a little bit longer just to catch one more chapter (and to piss off the old lady honking at you to hurry.  What?  It's Mesa, people!).  You let your family starve to death.  You fake broken bones to get a few more minutes alone.  Just me?

Anyway, I've passed the book around enough times, now, and I just want it to sit on my shelf.  But I also want all my buddies to read it.  SO A BOOK GIVE AWAY IT IS!

Here's how to enter:

Read the review.  That way, you know what you're getting into.  Unless you're like me, who will enter for anything as long as "FREE" is involved.  I mean, really, why do I even need moon boots?

Follow my blog.


Leave a comment.


Boom, free book.  

And the best news: Only 3 people ever comment, so your chances are goooooood.

And you have until...oh let's say 11:56 pm on Saturday evening, until the moon rises with the goat and the animal crackers wax lain.  I'll announce the "winners" on Sunday.

Now on to the review:

I'm gonna sum it up for you.  This is a memoir of how Liz met, wooed and married her sweetheart.  It's about a friendship that is tested by the evil "C" word: cancer.  It's about sleep-poking husbands and explosive pipes.  It's about not being perfect in a world that demands perfection.  Liz is honest and witty throughout the whole book.

Angela and Liz were "later in life" friends, as I like to call them.  True love at the sighting of a book popping out of Angela's purse that Liz loved.  They antiqued together, carpooled, laughed, and really cried.  Their friendship is real.  It's heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Here is an excerpt:

"Is it possible to predict who our dearest friends will be?  Can we make a list of qualities and say, "Any best friend of mine will be outgoing and preferably drive a low emission car because, you know, the environment is very important to me?"


I think we all know the answer.  Friendships are no different than true love.  They can't be planned or predicted; they come into our lives like great gusts of wind that knock things off the shelves and force us to stretch ourselves in uncomfortable yet beautiful ways.  Sometimes friendship strikes like lightning and you know, instantly, that you and that person will be friends when  you're old.  You know that the two of you will be grumpy little old ladies shopping in Kohl's, arguing with the staff about sales prices and the proximity of the nearest parking space.  


It was that way when I met Angela."


-Elizabeth Owen "My (Not So) Storybook Life: A Tale of Friendship and Faith

Near the end, Liz asks God "why"?  I can't think of many people who haven't asked God this same question. And her answer is "to have gratitude".  What a touching testimony.  What a beautiful message.

This is an excellent book.  It goes on the shelf next to all my other hard backed favorites.  And I'm pretty sure it will be on yours, too.

Happy reading and good luck!

Physical Therapy and Gratitude Days...Many

I had a great time last night at a girls night.  I got high on Dr. Pepper and estrogen, it was awesome.  We stayed out until midnight.  I haven't done that since I lived in Utah and "watched" movies until 3 am, and then let my best friend walk home alone in the cold, dark, rapist-filled night.  What?  SHE INSISTED!

And then I stayed up until 2 in the morning talking to Brett about the meaning of life.  There was a lot of giggling...erm, and of course, manly chuckling.  We get pretty serious about the meaning of life.

Today I ripped off that stupid finger splint.  My finger is killing me, but I think typing is great physical therapy.

Tomorrow we spend 6 hours on the road to Mesquite.  Half way to our home-before-home.  Time with family, friends, and kid-free hotel zones...I'm so gonna be in heaven.

So I am grateful for cars.  For not having to spend 2 weeks to get home again.  For portable DVD players.  For a husband that jimmy-rigs the Wii to work in the car.  And I am SUPER GRATEFUL for my shaggin wagon.  Grateful that my children have oodles and gads of space between them.  Their own space.  Their own air.  They couldn't poke each other if they wanted to.  Awesome.

Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and black Friday.  Those two go hand in hand... fortunately...unfortunately?  Whichev.

Gratitude Day 13 & 14

There were many things Heavenly Father wanted me to hear tonight, and so He arranged for a babysitter to appear out of thin air at the last minute so that Brett and I could attend our Ward in White tonight.

We got really spoiled in Utah, getting to go to the Temple 2 sometimes 3 times a month.  We haven't been to the Temple since we moved here, and it's been really rough.  Shoot, we haven't even been on a DATE since August.  Needless to say, we were in much need of a spiritual uplift.

I'm so grateful for the Temple and the peace it brings me when I'm there.  I'm grateful for the personal revelation and knowledge I receive there.

I'm grateful for my eternal companion.  I'm thankful to know that if I play my cards right, and endure all these trials, that I'll get to be with him forever.  It was promised to me by someone who held the keys and authority to promise me such a thing.  And for that, I am so grateful.

Mesa LDS Temple

Gratitude Day 9, 10 & 11 and 12, Why Not?

I have a lot I'm grateful for, but I also still have a broken finger.  So until next Wednesday and possibly a week or two of physical therapy, my posts will be short and sweet...and mildly crazy.  Possibly a lot of mistyped words.

I'm grateful today for morning prayers.  I love how they set the mood for the day.  I love laying down and going to sleep with the Spirit, but I love even more going through my day with the Spirit.

I'm grateful that I have funny children.  I love that they have a sense of humor, because I think that's super important in this day and age.  I'm grateful that my family and I know how to laugh at ourselves.

I'm grateful for the energy I've been blessed with recently.  Despite being sick, run down and burnt out, I've managed to stay upbeat.  I even managed to clean yesterday.  Cohen's response, "Wow, you're cleaning finally.  Good for you!"  (Please see "Sense of Humor" section of this post.)

Finally, I'm thankful for years and years of past posts.  I've gone through and read some, and was reminded about other "hard times" I've gone through, and it definitely buoyed up my resolve to endure to the end.  I really feel that was a special blessing from my Heavenly Father to remind me that I've been through hard times before, and I survived.  So did all my kids.  Really, a miracle in and of itself =)

I'm looking forward to being able to do my hair again, bathe the children, do the dishes and change a diaper without it being this huge production.  I'm looking forward to washing my right hand again!  Here's to next Wednesday and healed fractures!

Gratitude Day 8: "This, too, shall pass."

I am grateful today to know that even though rough times happen, they don't last forever.

I'm grateful I've had a few experiences that have been awful, but have passed.  So that now, because of those moments, I know I can get through hard times.

Just pop a couple Xanax and sleep through it all.

Just kidding.

Xanax doesn't even make me sleepy.

I can do sleepy all on my own.

And now we nap!

Gratitude Day 7: Tender Mercies

It is a well documented fact: I have a bad back.

This past week was awful, but it could have been made so, so, sooooo much worse if my back decided to flare up. 

And it had plenty of motive.  I carried around 28 and 38 pound children for three days.

Can anyone deny it is a pure miracle that my back didn't flare up?  

Tender mercies of the Lord, friends.  Tender mercies.