F.R.O.G.

Fully Rely On God

I made these for a friend.....

Readin' Writin' Rithmetic Lovin' and Compassion

"I'm running for Levi mom!" That is what Mr. M told me the day before the track meet. "I'm going to give all of my ribbons to Levi".



Yesterday Mr. M had a track meet. He's been working towards and preparing for this meet for months. So have several students at the elementary school where Mr. M goes and like Mr. M, they all chose someone to run for. Someone at their school who is handicapped and can't run. They wrote that persons initials on a red piece of tape and attached it to their sleeve as a reminder of who they were running for as they ran their races and competed.



And when they get their ribbons, they are giving them to the person they chose to run for.



I know reading, writing, and arithmetic are important but if you ask me, I'm pretty impressed with what these students have learned and shown this year about compassion and love to others who are maybe a little different.

Jealous!

As parents we try to give our children opportunities. Opportunities we may not have had ourselves growing up. At times it may seem as if some parents are living vicariously through their children, I am not one of them.



This Native has joined her older brothers in spending her weekends on horseback.



That is all fine and dandy but here lies the problem. I've six more weeks before I can get back up on a horse.



Lucky for this punk because if I could ride, I'd have yanked her off her horse and made her stay home and watch the little ones while I rode off into the sunset.

Signing

Look what Levi learned this year in school!



The signing, not the kissing part......of course.

One Of Those Days.......

Do you ever have mornings when you wake up and you truly hate that when you got your hair cut you loved it so you went back and got it trimmed several weeks later only to have the beautician cut it differently this time so now you hate it, and you feel all fat and sludgy, and after being spayed you're hating the fact that you can't lift more than five pounds because everything weighs more than five pounds, and it is spring and your yard us FULL of weeds and there's nothing you can do about it, and you're supposed to be planting but you can't because of the weeds, and your head feels like it's full of flour and some of the flour has pooled and mixed with some water below your eyes?

Really? Oh thank you for telling me that because I was thinking it was just me. I feel much better knowing I'm not alone in feeling this way.



While I was in the hospital my parents were here. My dad got a kick out of how The Native's sat while practicing the piano. How they each place their feet differently and how it is a reflection of their personality.



Knowing that their piano teacher reads this blog.....we'll pretend he doesn't see these photos since only one of The Native's is sitting correctly.



They all have flour in their heads too.

Cool New Legos!

This Native was born in the 2000's. How do I know this? Other than I am his mother, have proof of his birth, and we are now in 2010 and he's obviously not older than......ten!



The other day I hear an amazingly amount of alarming noise coming from our storage area. A noise that could only mean one thing. Somebody had gotten into the VHS tapes and dumped them.



When I later went to check on said Native (notice I didn't jump right up and assess the situation immediately.....no screaming, no blood, no problem) I saw him busy at work.



Playing with his new Legos. Obvious proof that this kid was born in the era after the VHS.......

Empathy

Image by Josh Pentasuglia

I have never understood those who have an addiction to pain killers. Prescription drugs. Our last baby Mr. J was almost lost because my doctor at the time was addicted to prescription drugs and so I was not given the care I needed. Signs that should have been noticed that something wasn't right were missed. Thankfully, after some time in the NICU Mr. J was able to come home and as you can see, leads a pretty healthy life.

I know that pain killers can be addicting and knowing that I have an addictive personality I have stayed away from them as much as possible. With the major surgery I just underwent not taking painkillers wasn't an option. Maybe an option for someone tougher than me but I'm a wimp. I went for the drugs.

I've joked about the Lortab and being loopy and out of it but as much as I've joked about it, I've actually hated it. You literally can't function. All the things that you would normally do to pass the time, you can't! You can't read, too cross eyed, you can't knit, too cross eyed and can't concentrate, you can't watch TV, makes you dizzy and nauseous. Yesterday I'd had enough and went off of the Lortab. Last night as I lay in bed waiting for the drugs to drain out of my body it really struck me. Those who have addictions to these drugs. Any drug for that matter. I don't condone it but in a small way I can understand it.

When you are on a drug such as Lortab, for me it not only took away physical pain it took everything away. Emotions.....feelings........it literally makes you numb! I felt like I was sleeping through each day when in fact, you think you are sleeping but you're not! The world is passing you by and you're not aware.

I would lay in bed thinking I'd slept for an hour or more. I'd look at the clock and (you'd think I would be shocked but you're numb....there's no shock) only a minute or two would have passed. Days and nights go on this way. You don't care. You watch the clock slowly ticking and think more time has passed. Quite literally a circus show could be going on in your bedroom and you won't bat an eye! Your house would burn down around you and you'd roll over and think, "oh well......". And you think I'm exaggerating! Okay, maybe a little but you get the idea.

If you were in pain emotionally and mentally you would want relief from that pain and this stuff would do it... Do I agree with this? Absolutely not! Have I been in that kind of pain to know what I am talking about? You betcha!

So, I have empathy. I don't agree with it.....my heart goes out to all those who are in that much pain that they feel this is the only way to numb or take it away. Notice I didn't say fix it. A pill can't do that but our Savior Jesus Christ can. And does!

The Road to Recovery

Couldn't find original photographer of photo.

The road to recovery looks a lot like this. Lots of ups and downs.



Couldn't find original photographer of photo.

I'm okay with that. As long as the ups start to be more up than down.



Image by Eric Moretti at www.10inkstudios.com

I'm learning that on this road even if you feel like a race car you can't drive at race car speeds.


Original photographer unknown

Nope! This journey has to be driven more like this. And that is okay too because there is a gorgeous view out there to be taken in along the way if I'm willing to look.

I have to admit that recovery has been nothing like I imagined. I've had a gazillion kids! I expected it to be much like that. A few days down resting and then up and at em. Nu UH! I have to keep reminding myself that I had not only one surgery but two and the word major comes into play.

When you have a baby you come home sore and exhausted but euphoric! At least for the first week.....then reality hits and you're a zombie for the next 18 years. I'm thinking this is going to be the opposite. Zombie for the first few weeks and then euphoric because I won't be in that kind of pain anymore!

I'm embracing this next chapter in my life. I think it is going to be fabulous. I think.....my only complaint......is I'm gonna be embracing it sitting in my freezer naked if someone doesn't turn down the heat soon!!

Advice

Some words of wisdom and advice from one who knows: When you come home from surgery and you are on this stuff......Assuming that you aren't completely cross eyed, loopy, and can actually read.......



One should not read this kind of book before going to bed.....it makes for some really trippy dreams! Dreams that are made all the more real by the hot flashes you are now experiencing.

Side note: If I ask you, "Is it really hot in here, or is it just me"?....just nod your head and say yes and pretend to fan yourself. I'm still in denile and blaming it on Lortab and crazy dreams.

The Pink Panther is in the House.

Comfy clothes to wear to and from hospital. Check!

Adorable pedicure with bonus cute nail color and dazzling jewled flower. Check!



Do your worst Doc! Rachel's in the house!

Surgery. It's Time.

Tomorrow is the big day. The day I wrote about in this post. (Click on the highlighted words "this post" Virginia, it's a link).



I was a little bit nervous but am feeling more calm about things today. I know I'm in good hands.



So, I'll see you all on the other side of anethesia!

P.S. I wish it was as easy to mold and fix a body as Mr. C makes it look creating a vase out of clay.........

Tooth Fairy!

Henny Penny stuck this next to my bedroom door after I forgot to call the tooth fairy two nights in a row......and still.......I forgot for two more nights......

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Who ever invented the tooth fairy is an idiot. Yes, you heard me. An idiot! Who in their right mind would think it was so stinking cute to wait until an excited child is asleep (takes HOURS), sneak into their room, dig around for something microscopic under their pillow that inevitably rolls down out from under the pillow and lodges itself under the child without waking the excited child on hyper sensitive "I'm gonna catch the tooth fairy" drive, and put money under the pillow all without getting caught?

An idiot I tell ya! And I'm an even bigger idiot for buying into it and not telling The Native's from the get go that there is no such thing as a tooth fairy!!

In the next life, I'm gonna hunt down the inventor of the tooth fairy and wrap up her/his wings with her/his tights with her/him still in them!

And now Henny Penny is upset because the tooth fairy didn't write her back........well how the heck was I supposed to know that there was not only a tooth to be found but a letter as well? I thought I was doing good finding the blasted tooth!

So, the sign is still pinned next to my bedroom door reminding me to call the tooth fairy AGAIN so she/he can write Henny Penny back........I was supposed to do that last night......but forgot......