Ailments

I know, wonderful title that makes you want to read about someone else's problems! But that is the title today.

I haven't blogged since Tuesday because I haven't really been down to the computer much. I'm avoiding stairs. After my 5k run last Sunday, my ankle decided it wasn't healed and started hurting again. Back in May when I had the bursitis drained (which I didn't feel was the problem - I'm just saying?), my doctor made me an appointment to see a specialist, but the earliest appointment was in September (does that make it seem like the doctor is worth waiting for or not?? - he is good, but extremely busy).

Well, for some bizarre reason (maybe because I just said to someone - "I haven't had any back trouble in about five years" - will I ever learn?) on Wednesday night I moved just right to completely put me out-of-whack. I can't tell you what I did, but within a 15 minute window while putting the kids to bed I ended up in more pain than I've had in a long time. A theory held by some of you is that I've been overcompensating to protect my ankle while exercising that I moved just right to hurt something that was on the verge of causing problems.

Thursday was a rough day. I laid in bed most of the day on ice. I told someone that I was coming up with new curse words because it hurt so bad. Thursday night a friend of mine had her husband call (he just happens to be a doctor) and he gave me the right combination of meds that allowed me to sleep that night and start to get relief from the pain. I'm a poor medicine taker, but I stuck with this combination for relief and it has helped - anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxers, and pain killers.

I am doing much better now. Not 100%, but better. I attempted church and shepherding group yesterday and I survived, with the help of some 'friends' (if you know what I mean). Of course, my ankle is feeling relief from a combination of no exercising and drugs.

I know, I know, I'm a mess! But I'm healing - and my appointment with the orthopedic specialist is coming soon.

Can you believe tomorrow is September? (I'm excited, Fall is my favorite time of year, but to go along with the title - it is my worst season for allergies).

Daegan's lunch

While the kids are doing their homework at the kitchen counter I try to start getting their lunches ready for the next day. Then in the morning I only have a few last minute things to add.

The kids have been in school for nine school days. I try to alter their lunches and keep them from getting bored. I also try to make sure they have enough items so they aren't hungry. There is always a granola bar or something similar at the bottom, just in case they need something extra on a certain day.

As I was getting things ready this morning, it occurred to me that Daegan (my biggest eater by a long shot) always eats everything in his box. I know he isn't handing things out or throwing things away because he said he isn't and because he brings the empty bags home.

So, what does a pint-size, giant-appetite kindergartner eat?

A PB&J sandwich, a yogurt (if you put it in the freezer it is thawed and ready by the time lunch comes around), two oreos, a pack of fruit snacks, chips, pretzels and the 'extra' granola bar is always missing too.

I don't even want to think about feeding him as a teenager.

Organize Mode

Today I was going to do as little as possible, but somehow I got started on a major 'clean-out' project and couldn't stop. I was almost late picking the kids up from school because I got so involved that I lost track of time.

What was I doing? Organizing toys!

I went through every toy box in the various bedrooms and tried to combine different themed toys into different boxes. I put matchbox cars in one, all lego and kinex in another, superheroes in one and other characters in another, G.I.Joe guys in one and green army guys in another. I also threw away every toy that was slightly broken (which is why I had to do this while the older kids were in school and finish before they got home).

I came across two interesting facts about our toys that I don't know if I find amusing or disturbing. I had to make the biggest box our "gun box" which totaled 43 guns, and that doesn't include all the ninja stars, swords and other weapons I threw in. Also, and this just disturbed my OCD, in the Lego box I found about 15 Lego bodies (and I know we have more), only three had heads - maybe the vacuum is to blame for this one?

In case you were wondering I did not make it to 6AM aerobics this morning, maybe tomorrow?

Shuffle helps numbers?

OK, I know you are tired of hearing about the Shuffle, but I put it to the test tonight. I've decided (we'll see how long it lasts) that I need to run a 5k every Sunday night. I usually have my best workout on Sunday night because Jason is around and if there is a tragedy, I don't have to stop - Daddy can handle it. I've only attempted a 5k on the treadmill once before (I know it is completely different when attempted outdoors...babysteps), it was right before I was put on 'no exercise' for 2 1/2 weeks due to a procedure done for vertigo.

I'm a numbers person. I know, that may make me a geek, but I like lists and numbers. I keep track of random things, just because. I keep track of my running online. It really helps to look back at what I've done, what my time was and certain conditions (sleep quality, ankle troubles, etc.). I know - geek! I'm also extremely competitive, so this helps me look at what I've done and desire to do better.

Blogging about it also helps me push to do better.

So, tonight I ran/walked a 5k. Here are some numbers that some of you runners could probably laugh at, but for me, they are a huge improvement.

I have run a 13 1/2 minute mile, but my first mile has been around 14:25 consistently. Tonight I didn't want to push too hard because I was going for a 5k, but my first mile was 14:05. When I ran the other 5k (on July 15) my time was 54:50. Tonight my time was 49:05 (almost a 6 minute improvement). I probably could have pushed harder, but I wanted to improve next Sunday night and not get frustrated if I had a slower time - silly, I know!

This is all exciting to me. I was a lot more focused on the goal when I could put on my iPod headphones and not hear all the kids questions/problems.

I still desire to find a good pair of runnings shoes, but I don't know if that really helps your time or just your comfort?

..wonder what the chances are I'll get up for 6AM aerobics...hmmm...?

Shuffle

I got an iPod Shuffle from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law for my birthday (Thanks, Daniel and Heather), it was a very nice surprise. Heather said it was for my new endeavor of running - that was very thoughtful and greatly appreciated. I think it will be very nice to have and I've already enjoyed playing with it - really just setting it up and picking songs has been fun. I have a huge spectrum of music I love - I blame my brother JR for a lot of that. His music taste is somewhat questionable to most(from Tom Waits, to U2, to Fugazi, to Bob Dylan, to...), but he was always in charge of the stereo on the way to school so we were forced into his music.

Here is what some of my Shuffle looks like (no particular order, just a select few alphabetized):

1. Black Dog, Led Zeppelin
2. Black Horse and the Cherry Tree, KT Tunstall
3. Cannonball, The Breeders
4. Crush with Eyeliner, R.E.M.
5. End of the Line, Traveling Wilburys
6. Daughter, Pearl Jam
7. Good Feeling, Violent Femmes
8. Hella Good, No Doubt
9. Hey Joe, Jimi Hendrix
10. If Today Was Your Last Day, Nickelback
11. Just Like Me, Sarah McLachlan
12. Piece of My Heart, Janis Joplin
13. Rehab, Amy Winehouse
14. Roam, The B-52's
15. Selling the Drama, Live
16. Sleight of Hand, Pearl Jam
17. Sweet Dreams, Eurythmics
18. What's Up?, 4 Non-Blondes
19. Yellow, Coldplay
20. Yellow Ledbetter, Pearl Jam

I tried to keep it to more upbeat songs for running/exercising. There are a lot more songs on my playlist, but this is a small sample for me to look back on when I'm complaining about my kids music during the teenage years. :)

What would be/are some of your playlist songs?

Date Night

It has been awhile since we had a date night. A long while.

The house that Jason has been working on this week is 55 minutes away. To make that much driving worth it, he has been working very long days and then has had a long drive home. Therefore, every night this week (even my birthday on Monday, but I'm not complaining...am I?) he has worked until about 8:00. Some nights he even missed seeing the kids, which I hated, but school nights can't be messed with.

Anyway, today we had a very lazy Saturday. This is something I'm not always good at, but I think I did a very good job today. I didn't do my Wal-Mart run this morning (which means I'll get to do it Monday with two kids) and I didn't do a few of the other errands I 'needed' to do. I drank coffee in bed and hung out with Jason until noon, made lunch, played with my new iPod shuffle (a b-day gift from Jason's brother and sister-in-law), took a nap and then Jason and I went out around 4:30.

We went to Target, The Chop House (which was good, but not really worth the money spent - I just really wanted a filet mignon and a good baked potato and that is what we came up with), and then we went browsing at Best Buy. We are exciting people, I know. It was just so nice to be with my hubby without a kid needing something...ya, know?

Ahhh, date night!!!

Never a Perfect Record

Daegan has already ruined his perfect attendance record (ha-ha *cough*cough*) - not really sure how people do that? The last few days he has complained that his throat was sore and this morning he said he had a headache. He has definitely been struggling with some allergy issues, but because he is prone to strep, I let him stay home and took him to the Dr.

He does not have strep, but he does have a cold. He can go to school as long as he doesn't get fever. So here on Day 6 of school, he has already missed his chance to get a perfect attendance for the year.

Seriously, how do people do that?

Summer Reading Pays Off

When Summer '09 started I was going to be very good about keeping Mollee up with her reading and math. The reading we did, the math - not so much.

Today Mollee got two reading certificates for her summer work

for the blog journal

Happy Birthday to me! (sorry, no pics)

Age = 33

Baby 'fix'

I heard 'thru-the-grapevine' that a friend of mine (someone I used to babysit - oh, boy!) was looking for a Nanny/Babysitter (does anyone know the difference?) because she had given birth at the beginning of June and now was headed back to work. I called her to see what she was needing and everything seemed to work out and fall into place for me to keep him two or three days a week. His Mimi lives about nine doors down the street from us and she will keep him the days I can't, which relieves a lot a stress for me if my kids are sick or if I want to attend something at school for the older kids.


Today was Day 1 with David. He is 10 weeks old and was actually a lot of fun - a very sweet baby (hopefully, he'll stay that way). You really do forget how much a baby eats, sleeps and poops when you are two years away from it. He napped, he ate, he layed on the floor and smiled at Capps' goofy games and then he needed to nap again. The boys loved on him a lot and Capps is claiming David as his true best friend! Capps is counting down the days until David comes back on Tuesday.

This is my way to get a 'baby fix' weekly without being kept awake at night with baby woes. Maybe it will work?

First two days of school!

The kids have had a great beginning to the school year. Daegan can't stop telling us all the exciting things about school. His teacher was very sweet to send the parents a picture of the class doing "I love you" in sign language halfway through the day yesterday. Tavis is glad to have a few of his close friends in his class - he actually brought home his lunchbox, but forgot to turn in the tissue box for his teacher. Today he found the skull of a squirrel on the playground, of course, that was exciting. Mollee, of course, was glad to be back to social world. I think she has heard me (and other 3rd grade moms) talk about the math being difficult this year. She said she had a good day, "And we didn't do any math".


Capps and Mac and I enjoyed our 'Pretzel Date' and then some time at the mall playground with cousins and friends and a little bit of shopping. I also decided to tackle a project that I didn't dare do while everyone was home.

We have a closet downstairs that is our storage/junk closet. We get a lot of hand-me-downs, which I love and will never complain about, but we have gotten a lot of things lately that are still a little too big for the kids. I just keep setting things in the closet and hope to get to it later - out of sight, out of mind. Plus, as the kids grow out of things I'm always just throwing a few things here and there.


I pulled everything out of the closet (yesterday and today), went through boxes and sorted into size/sex/season, goodwill pile and a pile of things to sell at a consignment sale that starts Sunday, (which means I had to tag all of those items for the sale).

Here is my closet now (you should have seen it before).I really love to organize and I'm so happy (is that sick?) to have everything labeled and easy to find.

Can you guess what kind of diapers we use?

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for the big kids. Of course, everyone was excited and ready way too early (which I know will not be the case by the end of next week).

Capps and Mac wanted to be included in the picture taking event.

Of course, we had to get individual pictures.

Here is Mollee (very proud of her new lunchbox) in her new "first day of school" outfit - don't worry she has a "second day of school" outfit too. :)

Tavis isn't holding his lunchbox proudly, because the SpiderMan picture got ripped off last year - he "lost" his lunchbox once a week and his big sister always found it in the Lost-And-Found for him. I joked that he wasn't getting a new lunchbox this year since he didn't take care of his other one, but when I went to buy him a new one, he said he didn't need one - it was just a waste of money!

Daegan has been waiting for this day for a year (we held him back from going last year for various reasons). He picked out his shirt at Target and he picked out a Transformer lunchbox. I was afraid he wasn't going to go to sleep last night, but he was up and ready as soon as I walked in their room to wake him up. Capps was feeling a little left out so we had to get his picture in his Scooby Doo PJs and his bookbag.And, just for fun, Daddy and Mac watching the activities of the morning.

Here are the boys watching Curious George and eating breakfast at the picnic table in the den - maybe it won't be so bad at home without older siblings??

Facebook Flair

I know this will make me look like a geek, but I'll take my chances. I'm just trying to make you smile today.

On Facebook, there is something called Flair. It is a bulletin board of pins, aka Flair. What is it for? Absolutely nothing. Just another way to waste time when you should be cleaning the house.

I've been sent two different ones over the past month that really made me laugh and I wanted to share:

One of them said:

"I have CDO, it is just like OCD, but the letters are in the right order....like they should be"

and my favorite:

"I don't skinny dip, I chunky dunk"

Meeting the Teachers

Today the school was open from 1-3 for the kids to meet their teachers and get their supplies in their desk. This is always a chaotic afternoon, but thankfully Jason was home for the younger two to stay with, which made it a lot easier on Mommy.

Mollee, 3rd Grade -

Tavis, 2nd Grade -

Daegan, Kindergarten -

36 more hours!!!

Vday

Yesterday was Vday at the Brown House - we are surviving, I mean, Jason is surviving! Thanks for your prayers!

Haircuts

I love it when the boys have fresh new haircuts. It has been haircut week here at the Brown household (I guess getting ready for school?). I've cut all the boys hair, except Mac missed out because he was asleep during all the fun. I took Mollee to get a few inches cut off her hair. I usually cut it, but I had a coupon for a $5 Back to School haircut so I thought I'd treat her to get it done professionally. I, myself, went and got 10 inches cut off. This was only the third time I've ever been in a salon and it was a nice treat. I was tired of my long hair, even if my husband liked it. I really wanted to get it cut even shorter than I did, but I'll adjust him to short hair gradually.

Summer coming to an end!

This is the last full week of summer. It has been a good two months (remember when it was three?). At the dinner table last night we listed all the fun we've had this summer and then everyone picked their favorite........ Music Camp, the Beach Trip, Fireworks on the Fourth, Bowling, the Lake, Library and Playground on Thursdays, and a few I haven't blogged about like multiple picnic/playground trips, going to the pool many, many times, playing in the sprinkler, free movies at the Rave, etc. It has been a fun, full summer!

I had fun listening to the kids remember certain parts of each adventure. They got very animated and excited at all this remembering and it helped me realize how important these memories are to make (not matter how much work they are for me sometimes).

This summer we've had a lot of picnics and not a lot of fast food, due to not a lot of work to go around for trim carpenters. Today I decided to treat the kids to McDonald's - and get Happy Meals!! We haven't gotten Happy Meals for a few years, we usually take our own drinks and get the least amount of food as possible. The kids were very estatic and very appreciative for the Happy Meal news. I called a new friend to join us and she and I got to visit while the kids played on the playground.

It was another summer memory to store away.

The kids get to meet their teachers next Tuesday and then school starts Thursday.