Snow Storm of 2010

Ella

The Faces We Feed...

I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up...

Me lying on the floor immobilized for 20 minutes unable to move, speak or barely breath.

Here is how it happened. Carson was swiffering the floor in the kitchen while I was folding clothes in my bedroom. I heard the toilet flush and ran to see WHAT was being flushed. Little did I realize that Carson had also taken it upon himself to swiffer the hall. I hit a puddle of cleaner and next thing I know I am flat on my back. It happened so fast. And this was not one of those slip on a banana peel funny falls. I landed as hard as I could have possibly landed on my back. I heard a crash which was my sunglasses hitting the front door- which was 10 feet away. I laid there stunned and writhing in pain. The wind was knocked out of me and I could hear myself gasping for air. I have only one other time in my life gotten the wind knocked out of me- when I was 8 years old in my grandmother's basement. I was balancing on this table that when turned over was like a giant spool of thread. You could actually push on the sides like a wheelchair while balancing in the middle and scoot forward as it rolled. I remembered that incident today as I was lying there trying not to hyperventilate, thinking to myself that my oxygen would come back soon.

The problem was not just the lack of oxygen- I was paralyzed with pain. I have never had a back injury and I did not realize one could be in such pain without having an actual break. I was crying, wheezing, shaking and every time I even tried to get up I almost vomited. At this point in the day, Tyler was still in school (and needing to be picked up in 25 minutes). Tommy was at work, Ella asleep on our bed, and Carson thought I was playing around and was jumping on me laughing. I kept telling him to get the phone and sadly realized what I always wondered- if in a real emergency, would he be of any real help? I found my answer today and the answer is no. He smiled- jumped and babbled until he saw me start to get more vocal in my crying. At this point he joined me. So Carson is scared and hysterical. I am scared and hysterical trying to do the math and figure out when someone might actually come by my house to check on me when I never pick up Tyler from school. After about 20 minutes I crawl to the bedroom and spend another 10 trying to stand. I call Tommy. He cannot understand a word I am saying- I am gasping for breath and crying at the same time. I text him that I have had an accident and to come home immediately.

By the time I am call back and try to actually explain what happened, he is almost home. He walks in to find me panting on the couch- body straight as a board. It feels like someone has put a straight jacket on me and my muscles running along my spine are shooting spasms up and down my sides. Tommy goes to get Tyler and does not return to work for the rest of the day.

I spend the rest of the day crying, taking Tylenol and hot baths. Just now, at 9:30pm am I able to pick up Ella and sort of bend over. I still cannot twist- lean back- lean forward or get comfortable. I have never been this stove up in my life and short of childbirth have never felt such raw pain.

So that has been my day. I am praying that tomorrow I will feel better. I will never take my back for granted again.

A Day With Carson

So basically I followed Carson around the house today taking pictures and documenting things that should have been documented for a while now. With Carson also afflicted with the stomach bug, we are getting a lot of around the house time- which is perfect for me to update everyone on what Carson is in to right now. We are now looking at an almost 2 year old and Carson in the last few weeks has learned how to do some new things. First, we are all ecstatic because Carson's "Peanut" (the satin lined lovie that has an elephant head and he does not put down for 10 minutes during any given day) was found. We had origionally purchased two, after seeing how he had grown an attachment to the first. Only to lose the second one. Not a big deal until the week of the stomach bug hits. When one is in the washer and he is crying for it- it does pose a bit a problem. Well a few days ago I was walking around the back yard and spotted something blue and green crumbled up under some trees and shrubbery in the back yard. I had to crawl through about 15 feet of branches and thorns to reach it. The mystery that Tommy and I could not figure out is HOW is got there. When Peanut went missing, the trees were full and there is no way anyone could have been playing that deep in the woods. We theorized that he took both outside, one had a food scent on it and squirrels dragged it off. Still having one to hold, he went back inside with us and no one was alerted. If you have a better theory, please let us know. Anyway, after two cycles through the sanitary wash- it is back in our little thumbsucker's safe hands.

My sister got Carson a rocket ship tent for Christmas that has found a permanent home in the boy's room. First, the tent started as what was intended- a creative play prop. Now...Carson runs and dives into the back when ever trying to escape___________(Fill in the blank with bath,changing clothes, diaper change, time for bed or nap). And no, it is not the easiest space to crawl into and retrieve the giggling trashing wild boy.

One of the biggest new milestones for C-Horse is going down the steps while holding onto the rail. Until a few weeks ago, he was still going down on his bottom. Big boy!!!

Carson is/tries to be a big helper around the house. He still is obsessed with vacuums and has appointed himself in charge of the swiffer. Most of the time he stays on the hardwoods and most of the time it has a cleaning pad on the bottom. The big deal to the below picture is not the swiffer...it is him putting it away by himself. Carson can now open doors!!!! Awesome, right? Well, mixed emotions. Happy that Carson is getting more independant, not so happy he is able to open any door of his choosing unsupervised.

As always, a lot of new and exciting happenings around her. As I am blogging- Carson is in our bathroom putting on Tommy's aftershave and yelling "Man!" Meaning...smell me, I smell like a man (Tommy's teaching).

At Last... I Have Proof

I have been telling friends for some time that the boys fish "Black Nemo" sleeps upside down. I finally was able to capture it in slumber today with my new camera. By the way, this has proven to be quite a dangerous trick. Black Nemo has almost been flushed about 8 times. He is a deep sleeper and sometimes fails to wake up immediately when I start tapping on his bowl. By the way, I am calling this photo shot "Marine Life at Rest".

My Birthday Present Arrives Early...

TOMMY GOT ME A DIGITAL CAMERA!!!!!!!! I am so excited! This is about to take pestering my family and trailing behind them trying to capture the perfect shot to a whole new level. I am going to study up and practice like crazy this week. This is just the beginning folks...

Thank You G-Ma

Both boys have been sick with the stomach bug the last few days and just got a special delivery from G-M!

Cleaning Crew

We start them young in our house. Tyler and Carson dusting the living room. Ella, you will have a rag in your little hand before you know it!

Sleeping Diva

Tyler and Carson were jumping around like a bunch of crazed monkeys today upstairs and I went to check on Ella where she was taking her afternoon siesta in our bedroom below. From our bedroom, the ceiling sounded like it was about to come crashing in around us. I was curious to see how she was able to sleep through the noise...apparently Her Majesty was able to still slumber.

Patty Cake

Tyler entertaining Ella while I folded clothes today. I think she likes this game...

An Underwater Adventure

Tyler has been working on some new water skills to prepare himself for swimming this summer. First hurdle- holding his breath and putting his whole head under water. Now we are ready for the REAL pool!

The Girls

I have big plans for this one. They involve lots of Friday girl nights eating chocolate, watching Grease and The Notebook 100 times and doing each others nails.

Where Have I Been?

Well, I will tell you. Busy and without camera. I found it last night under the bed- we are theorising that Carson hid it and we have never been that good at hide and seek. Especially the seek part. With camera now in hand, I am trying to start taking some good pictures. None yet decent enough to post....however- Tommy took a video of Tyler's new trick in the bath last night which will be posted hopefully today. So there is something to look forward too! Hope everyone is doing well and I will get this blog back up and running ASAP!

If You Insist On Playing Wii...

Keeping Busy On Cold Days

Last night was 11 degrees, today was a high of 26. It is cold here and not warming up any time soon. With all of these freezing afternoons, it has been somewhat challenging keeping the boys entertained while still managing to get them some exercise. Last week we went to an indoor pool and as long as the sun is out and it is close to 30 degrees, Tyler and Carson still bundle up and take a short walk (not Ella- she stays inside warm with me). Below is a picture of Clingsman's Dome- look at the snow!

Since school has been out, the boys have gotten plenty of time to love on Ella. She smiles at them all the time now and enjoys all of the attention...most of the time.

For Christmas, Santa brought Tyler an easel to draw on. He thinks the eat-in kitchen is his personal studio.

And Carson has kept busy by catching the cat. Morris desperately wants to be an indoor cat during the winter- even with his outdoor cat house. Carson has watched us run down Morris and put him outside and now has taken it upon himself to take over this task. It is hilarious- Morris runs in and Carson yells, "No, no kitty cat!" Then the chase begins, and usually ends with Morris being dragged outside in the below position. And yes, Carson is still obsessed with hats and insists on wearing one ALL the time.