And...She's Back

Whew!  Today was my first un-medicated (well, narcotics...still taking ibuprofen like candy) and pain-free day in, oh, two and a half weeks.  No biggie.  Thank goodness my back is getting back to normal.  A bad back is one big struggle when you have one big baby!  This is what I dealt with during the last two weeks as I could only pick up Big Bad Baby Emmett when absolutely necessary:

So, those of you who care, my lower back is basically damaged goods.  Who knows how or what happened...probably genetic as my Dad, his twin and both my sisters have back probs too.  Lovely!  Anyhoo, after suffering from back pain on and off since High School I finally had an MRI done on September 21st.  The results are in and depending on who you ask (the MRI reader vs. the Spine Dr.) I either have two dead (or squished discs - that was his explanation for "dead") and one herniated (Spine Dr.) or three herniated discs (MRI reader).  All I know is that I have never experienced that much pain.  The two natural childbirths I endured didn't even hold a candle to this pain.  That bad.  But, it seems to be almost back to normal now that the spasms have passed and, thanks to countless deep tissue massages (not so relaxing), the muscles have softened. 

The plan moving forward is that I get to see my new spine doc on the 13th to get this problem solved.  I am all about solutions but am going to avoid surgery at all costs.  As in, I won't have surgery.  No, no, no!  (That involved a pouty face and a foot stomp.) 

Wondering what I was like over the last two weeks?  You'd have to ask Brett as the details are hazy.  But I do remember, while rolling around in pain, I would cry and laugh on and off (usually at the same time) about not being about to pick up my own kids and not being able to go to the gym.  You heard it right, I have self diagnosed myself with Hypergymnasia.  An addiction to working out.  Okay, I am totally joking but I do miss the gym so much and can't wait to get back in to a routine.  I'll also be adding a cleanse in when I am off the four hour rotation of ibuprofen.  I figure my body is due for a week long cleanse full of potions and elixers from my local GNC.  After being sick on and off and this back prob I figure it can't hurt!  I'm sure I'll have lots of exciting posts on that later.

So, Stay tuned and send positive back vibes my way so that I can continue to pick up that big ol' blue eyed cutie.  

Potty Training, Take Two

Potty training Brooklyn was by far the HARDEST parenting test that I have gone through to date.  I can't say that Brett feels the same so this is just from me, hence the "I".  It just stressed me out.  Who I am I kidding, we are still struggling with it.  Ugh.  Thankfully, according to Brett's Mom, Brett was very similar and I am happy to report that he is now fully potty trained.  So, I won't give up hope and have "let that balloon go" so to speak.

Turn the page to Jameson.  I just kept putting it off and off and off.  There was always some excuse.  Sorry Jameson.  Enter October 3rd.  I ask him if he wants to try going on the potty.  His response, "sure."  So, we try it.  Immediate success.  He literally waves good-bye to diapers as he passes them leaving the bathroom and is potty trained.  I was told that boys were impossible to train so I was having recurring nightmares about even starting the process.  Simplicity.  Maybe it just happened to be perfect timing.  Who knows.  He's had accidents here and there but when he had an accident while were out of the house he was so embarrassed and REFUSED to wear a diaper.  Pretty sure those are both good signs. 

I literally just let out a deep sigh of relief.  Join me in celebrating, we are a one diapered buns household.  I am so proud of him and hope he continues to prove me wrong...potty training is possible!

MIA

This picture is pretty self explanatory, that's a whole lot of meds.  Well, actually there is a lot to say but none of it makes any sense due to the fact that pills from each of the above bottles are in my body.  So, I will keep this short and won't be updating my blog until I can complete a coherent thought.  Why so many meds you ask?  Depending on which doctor you ask (I've seen three) I either have three herniated discs or one herniated disc and two dead discs or three bulging discs in my back.  All I know is that the pain that I have been experiencing over the last week is way worse than drug free child labor.  No joke.  But, once the lovely medley of vicodin, valium, flexeril, ibuprofen and tiger balm hits my system I have no pain, barely know who I am and apparently I become very entertaining.  Awesome.  Did I mention I am sleeping on my husband's hunting cot due to the fact that anything soft aggravates my back?!?  Awesome.  Anyhoo, I would like to thank my superhuman husband for singlehandly keeping me alive (and pain free) over the last week. 

So, until I am off the meds and able to sit for longer than a few minutes at a time this blog will sound like crickets...

Jameson Turns #3!

Getting ready to blow out his candles!

Our crazy little goofball turned three on the 25th of September and we partied three-year-old style on the 24th with family and friends. This party is, well, hazy at best. I was at the peak of my back injury, pain-wise, so I was also at the peak of my medicine intake. I literally only remember parts of the party and had to ask Brett to fill in the details. Yes, I am super sensitive to prescriptions. Half a Vicodin makes me hallucinate. No joke.

Talking with Scoutie about cupcakes.

Then eating them...

So, it was super fun, we ate hot dogs, salads, fruit and enjoyed cupcakes for dessert. Thank you to Mimi and Papa (my parent's) for the side dishes, Papa and Grandma (Brett's parents) for the hot dog dressings, Papa and Joan (my grandparents) for all the superhero decorations and Babycakes (a local cupcake-ery) for the yummy cupcakes that I don't remember eating. It was a really warm late September day so we were able to eat and open presents outside soaking up of what was potentially the last sunny Saturday before Fall settled in. Thank you for taking so many pictures Tarah!

Opening presents. Sweet Bearcats hat!

Brett singlehandly got ready for this party. Shopping, cooking, decorating, etc. Go Brett! The night before I was useless on the couch adding things like Ferrets to the list of things to do. Don't ask. Like I said, sensitive to meds. As far as I know, Jameson had a blast at his Spiderman themed party and we loved filling our house with family and friends, as always. Thank you to everyone that came and helped him ring in year number three!

Big Bad Baby Emmett chillin' at the party!

The Daly's w/Baby Kellan.

Lindsay w/borrowed Baby Kellan.

Brooklyn "kissing" (?) Baby Kellan...more like sniffing.

Spiderman and Daddy.

Jameson w/the Bug Vacuum.

Two beauties, Maureen and Baby Maeve (Emmett's future wife).

Baby Kellan putting the moves on Maeve. He better watch it!

Lunch w/My Gram

My Grandma is nothing like yours, I can guarantee it.  I am fully comfortable stating this because my Gram is like no one else I know.  You'd think she was in her 20's.  Dating, traveling, fine dining, high fashion.  The list goes on.  So, naturally, I love to catch-up with her over lunch and we always pad enough time around our lunch dates to do a little shopping, our mutual favorite activity.  Now that I have three kids the lunches have become less frequent so when we do carve out time to meet, it is such a treat for me.  I never eat out or shop with three little toddlers!  :) 

Today we met up at Macy's for a little pre-lunch shopping where I found an adorable sweater and sweatshirt...I had to finally admit that Fall has arrived.  Once we were done there we headed over to our favorite spot, The Nordstrom Grill but it was packed so we headed up the escalator to our second fave, the Nordstrom Cafe.  We talked about how she was working with an interior decorator to help come up with the perfect plan for Mike's, her "boyfriend's", (I know, Gram, that is such a weird term to use but I can't come up with another one.) new penthouse condo in downtown Bellevue, intermingled with what we did over the summer and what activities the kids had coming up.  It all came to an end too soon and I could have shopped all day but after we were finished lunching we headed back to our cars. 

It was such a fun break from my spit-up filled life and made me feel like a real adult for a bit.  Thanks Gram! 

A Freakin' Sticker

Yesterday I sat Big Bad Baby Emmett down in his highchair for dinner because he was starving and after I spooned in one tiny spoonful of rice cereal he unleashed the loudest, most animalistic scream that has ever come out of him.  He followed it with tears and ripping at his eyes and ears.  He was actually 100% normal until that first bite so I leaned in to see if his forehead was hot and that is when he unleashes scream number two.  Jameson ran in from the playroom and said, "Stop it Big Bad Baby Emmett, that hurts my ears."  This confirmed that it was indeed THAT loud.  I grabbed Emmett out of the high chair just in time for him to throw up ALL over me.  I was totally caught off guard because moments before everything was fine.  Jameson ran for cover...far, far away.  Brett was at soccer practice with Brooklyn so it was just me and the barf monster.  So, I set him on the ground and tilted him forward so he could get the barf out.  It was then that he looked at me with these helpless, teary eyes and started gagging but not throwing up.  Lots of in breaths, not a lot of out.  I finger swept his mouth once, twice and felt nothing.  At this point I was getting panicky because he looked totally scared.  I had Jameson grab my phone and I called Brett to walk him through the situation and while on the phone it got much, much worse.  Emmett was only taking breaths in and then gagging, gagging, gagging.  I hung up with Brett and told him if he didn't start breathing fully I'd call 911.  I picked Emmett up, laid him face down on my forearm and started hitting him on the back because I thought he might be choking, not just randomly throwing up out of nowhere.  Hitting brought on lots more puke.  Fountains of puke.  I know, so gross.  Jameson actually checked in at this point only to yell, "So GROSS!" and hot step back out of the room.  Then, the scary part.  Emmett started really choking.  No breathing, just choking.  I finger swept, again.  Nothing.  It was hard, but I then gave him a really hard whack on the back and he gave a really hard cough, gag, cough, loooong gag and what appeared on my carpet, a freakin' metallic sailboat sticker.  Emmett and I looked at each other, both shaking and crying, and I started to laugh (hysteria, I am pretty sure it's called hysteria) and just held his barf soaked body and we cried and cried.  He was so helpless and scared.  And I was too for that matter.  Apparently every once in awhile parents need a reminder that they are completely and utterly helpless.  Ugh.

Lesson here is to brush up on your choking regimen.  Luckily EMT Brett has gone over it with me plenty of times so in my moment of panic my memory took over on autopilot.  I mean, everything happens for a reason, right?  Therefore, I impart choking regimen wisdom to all the parents of infants out there: http://www.babycenter.com/0_infant-first-aid-for-choking-and-cpr-an-illustrated-guide_9298.bc.
I don't know if it is the best guide but it is better than nothin'.    

Hang Gliding

Me: Good Morning Jameson!
Jameson: (Runs out of his room with his arms up) For my birthday, I go hang gliding.
Me: I don't think so.
Jameson: Don't freak out Mommy.  I will wear sunglasses.


Oh good, sunglasses.  What a little goofball!  Now he won't stop talking about hang gliding.  Well, hang gliding and a bug vacuum.  But he will only use the bug vacuum to suck up mosquitoes, not butterflies.  Where do they pick these things up?!?