A Pain in the Neck!

Okay.  I feel pretty silly explaining this, but I am going to do it anyway.  I have sprained my neck, again.  In March of 2004 I sprained it originally while jumping in a big, blow-up, play house with my children for their birthdays.  It was absolute torture for almost two weeks after that.  I had just learned I was pregnant and so would not take any pain meds and woke up crying every night for a week just because I tried turning over in my sleep.  What makes me feel silly now is not that I sustained an injury in a semi-harmless manner, but the ways in which I continue to re-injure it.  About every 9 months since then I have managed to aggravate my neck again and again.  Once I did it by leaving a towel circled around my wet hair and started working on my kids' scrapbooks.  The weight of the towel coupled with leaning over the albums caused too much strain.  Again, out for another week.  Unable to turn at the neck, roll over at night or pick up things off the floor without using a full squat.  Another time I sprained it by showing my kids how to rock out to Michael Jackson just shortly after his death when they were playing his songs for the entire week.  We were headed to Day Camp and they were laughing at me for singing so loud and "banging" my head.  Within a about 4 minutes I  regretted that little display.  The worst has to be this Saturday that while I was shampooing my hair I felt a burning in the back of my neck and quickly realized that I could not tilt my chin up in order to rinse.  Shampoo!  For crying out loud.  One other time I can recall setting it off was when helping a friend to paint her house.  She was short and so painted the lower half of every room.  I, being taller, took to painting the upper half to the ceiling.  All that looking up did me in.  I wish I could recall the other methods in which I have caused myself this pain, but those will have to do for now.  I continue to add to my list the things I should not do in order to avoid this pain, but I'm just going to have to continue taking my chances with the shampoo.

Mom Eyes

Tonight I received a very sweet gift of a white chocolate candy bar with strawberry pieces in it.  While balancing my checkbook I decided to open said gift and test it out.  I quickly realized that it was an item of distraction for my children so I, of course, took advantage.  They all promptly lined up like soldiers at my side with wide grins and batting lids.  I told them they could each have a piece if they did a chore first.  I sent them to make their beds (I know they should have done it this morning, but it's Friday so I wasn't motivated to see that it was done).  They made them in record time.  They were lined up at my side again.  I shared the goody.  Hmmmm.  I had to think of more chores. I was beginning to regret all the work I had done myself today as there was little left to suggest.  Nolahn, my 5 year old, promptly held up his "idea" finger and said, "I know!" and then ran off.  In moments he returned to inform me that he had cleaned up all his clothes from his room.  I know that there was a rather decent size pile of clean laundry in there for the little guy.  I said, "Are you sure?"  He emphatically said he was while nodding his head in extreme emphasis.  "Really?", I questioned again.  "If I go look they won't be under the bed or on top of the dresser or all shoved in one drawer, will they?"  He stood perfectly still staring at me and said, "Mom!  How did you know what I did with them?!"  And ran back to his room.  He has not yet returned.  I love having those "mom eyes" that see all.  My kids think I am brilliant mind reader and I'm not about to tell them otherwise.

Has it really been a year?!

Many thanks to my lovely sister-in-law, Dedra, for pointing out to me last night that it has been almost an entire year since I've bothered to post anything here.  I couldn't even remember my password.  Lame, I know.  Anyhow, with some help from Dedra I now have a better idea of how to manage this thing and am willing to attempt to make it more fun, for me anyway, even if it isn't really all that fun for my readers.  So, as I am worn out from the day, I will retire to watch mindless movies with my children and see what good stuff I can add later. Thank you Dedra and Nicole for spending the night with me and the girls.  Sorry I didn't say good-bye when you left.  I had a great time visiting with you.  I am glad we share common interests, goals and testimonies.  You are awesome.