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