Putting the desk together, after almost a year, on my birthday

Finally, on my birthday, I got excited about assembling the desk. After all, a birthday is a day you should get to do something you want. I was inspired because I didn't want one more dinner gathering with this box in the way.
We're already put the desk tighter a few weeks before. Also, I was inspired because I needed the good feeling that comes from success and creativity. (And, praise God, my back is so much better than it was on my last birthday. I can do so much now but I do have to be very careful about what I choose to lift or shove around. I always get help lifting.)

Joanna was patient to wait for this to be put together. Both kids had a good time doing this together. I got them to do a lot on their own, and together.

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Kids and acorns

The kids are looking for acorns this morning as that wait for the bus. Why? Thomas is using acorns as ammunition for his slingshot and Joanna wants to plant an oak tree. There are plenty of acorns today because we had a storm last night.

Cabo view

The view from our room in Cabo San Lucas

-Amy

Trip to Cabo

School supplies

Jason has been collecting school supplies over the last two weeks as the sale hit. I packed the items in the kids backpacks so they are ready for their first day of school. 

Cleaning house

Today I cleaned the living room and the kids helped. Joanna dusted and got the cobwebs. She dusted the ceiling fan in her own idea. Thomas asked to vacuum. So I let him, talking him through. Joanna vacuumed too. 

Getting ready for our trip.

School clothes and shoes shopping

7-29 I took Joanna and Thomas to JCPenney to look for shoes but there weren't any. We found some clothes though. Finding pants for Thomas is tricky. I got a new purse with the remainder of my 5-year service award. And I got a pair of jeans. I'm going to get rid of my fat pants! 

Watermelon on the other side of the fence

Joanna slept on the couch and Jason in her bed

Last night Jason was tucking Joanna into bed. I had already laid down. I remember hearing their voices. Joanna said Jason was chatting with Joanna,  lounging with his head on a stuffed bear at the foot of the bed.  He started talking more slowly then stopped talking--he was out like a light! 

Joanna got out of bed because there was no room for her to sleep. Then, she climbed on the wall to the foot of the bed. When she took one more step, she woke him up, and said, "I'm just trying to get out of bed." He dozed off again. 

Joanna wandered around the house and started cleaning. Thomas heard footsteps and yelled, "mom, dad, who's there?" Joanna gave nothing away. Then she sat and petted Piper. Piper laid on her pillow and Joanna laid on the couch. She put on "The Ghost and Mister Chicken."

And that's where I found her asleep in the morning after everyone slept all night!

yay for 💤

Thomas the encourager

Monday  I woke thomas up and as I gave him a hug in his bed, he said, "Great job getting dressed, Mom!" 

Wednesday, before dinner I was getting drinks ready. I notice thomas had a cup in the fridge with just a bit left in it, I filled it up, put it back. Later, at bedtime, Thomas wanted a drink. He got his drink out and asked me if I had filled it up and said "Thanks! You get a dollar for that." 

Thomas went to his room and came back with a dollar. I gave it back and told him he deserved it fir being so thoughtful and thankful. 

Thomas prayed with Piper

When Thomas put Piper in her crate tonight, he said a prayer with her. How sweet!

Joanna's half a glass of milk

One evening a little too close to bedtime, Joanna asked for a glass of milk. I told her she could have half a glass. What do you think I found sitting on the coffee table? The big jar. Maybe it was Jason who left it there, but I suspect Joanna got the big jar for a big half glass!

On chronic back pain

The month before my surgery seemed like a year. I couldn't lay any way except on my stomach. I couldn't sleep and I became a completely different person. I was afraid I would never be me again. The best thing in the end was insisting on an MRI. The need for surgery was immediately clear and, after that, no one  tried to tell me my pain was in my head. 

It's especially hard with chronic pain because you don't know when the next treatment will be identified, and when it is, you don't know if it will help. It is so hard to be optimistic and  You can't talk to most people because they think you are complaining...

Meeting my neurosurgeon was a blessing. After talking with me and taking a look at my MRI, the surgeon suggested surgery. I was so happy to walk away from that appointment with the microdiscectomy scheduled for the following month!  I honestly was ready for surgery. I had done nearly everything else except give up: Chiropractor, physical therapy, vitamins, injections, pain meds, nothing helped. Physical therapy did help me from being stiff, but I still got worse and couldn't sleep.

Joanna and Amy Jo's Mani-pedi date

Tennis shoes for Joanna

Jason called on my way out of work and we decide to get Joanna some shoes. Today because she needed them for field day! She'd started getting an ingrown toenail that I treated the night before our trip.. It's better now. 

Back pain on trip

I have had the left lower back shoot pain a few times today. Sitting in the plane for a while and standing in the trolley at the haircut place.

Kids on a plane (Fort Worth)

We are off in our long weekend, flying to Fort Worth TX to see John and Barbara graduate with their masters degrees!

What's the slash for?

Typo? Mathematic interpretation?

Hanging the curtains- finished! Yes, the books are still there.

Hanging the curtains- finally

This project has been on standby since last May, I think. I feel ready to tackle it now, completely confident in my core strength and so on...

Salt

Vinegar preserves food

Gourd canteen

Fur from a rabbit

Not a polar bear!

Horn comb

Horn

Horn To call people
Gunpowder holder

River cane canteen

Yellow finch in my backyard yesterday

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Eucalyptus flower wreath

I made this wreath in celebration of Good Friday and Ressuresction Sunday. I have never put out a spring door hanging before. It's a good time to celebrate. Joanna helped, of course! Thomas helped cut some of the wire, but mainly played with the Leatherman tool.

Feet hurt not back

Walking out of the office today, I carried my backpack and purse and happily realize zee d my feet hurt from standing and my back does not.

Piper versus the squeaky cupcake

Joanna's prize from the dentist was a little pink squeaky pig--and she figured out Piper loves squeaky toys. So after her homework, we went to the gym and to the pet store. Joanna picked out the adorable and inexpensive cupcake toy. Piper loved it and promptly destroyed it!

Congrats Joanna on the honor roll

Joanna and mommy nails

I rested at home Sunday. Jason took the kids to church and out to lunch. I relaxed my back and watched star trek and did my nails. I did Joanna's as Jason snoozed. Thomas was a trooper.  He got to watch a few minutes of a movie he picked before I sent them out to play in the sunshine. 

After noon in the park with Papaw Kidd

Back pain saga off the brain meds

The last few weeks have been good-bad,pain-free/full, just a mix. Mainly waking up .Feeling rough like the end if a day in the morning. Sundays have been bad with car rides and sitting. Makes Monday more dreaded than before. Walking a lot today may gave helped.

That sounds normal.
Overall better quality of life as the pain goes.
Still wish I was better. More better. I'm good, but I do hurt everyday. Maybe after going off the cymbalta I realize it helped some. It was not fun stopping taking it due to the withdrawal symptoms.
Mainly being able to tolerate stupid is easier when medicated. Because I get angry at stupid now. And probably that is the normal response. I think I could ignore or blow off stupid, or just not let it bother me as much. Exercise is important here.
Finding a peace in any moment is good too. I need think to call in my peace quickly as a response--it's out of practice. Whatever was a go-to response for a while.
Now off to stoping the next brain med. I may need to quit caffeine, too. Reduced coffee could help me stay calm since caffeine is a stimulant. Certainly don't one.

-Amy

Piper walking

Its important that I walk to help my back but it's easier to relax. I'm enjoying walking Piper. It helps me meet my walking goals.

Piper's belly

Well, not looking a gift horse in the mouth, just an observation: piper has a knit on the inside of her left middle teet. It feels like it is two small bb's or tiny beads stuck together, but smaller. It could be her navel or something like that, but figured I should make a note. 

Piper welcome to our home. Piper is a 7-year old Yorkie. She needed a new home. She is very intelligent and nice. She say on my lap all the way home. She snuffles like a piggie! She has made three trips around or yard on a leash but she stays really close to me as if she wouldn't need a leash. However since all here is new it us safer for her. She's been startled a few times, once but Thomas stomping, once by Joanna tripping, once by a passing truck.

Joanna and Thomas in school

Joanna is going to be in a track meet. The practice is during the school day. She is doing much more dvanced mathematics than Jason or I did at that grade but she does well. 

Thomas is doing well in his speech program. We just had our yearly meeting and the teachers were all so proud of him and he is so happy at school. He has a little girl friend in kindergarten, Carol. He names three boys when we ask who his friends are.