crazedparent

My body feels old...

What is it about being a parent that suddenly makes you feel old.  Not your spirit or your figure. I mean your body -- your bones, limbs, muscles, ligaments -- just feel achy old. I wake up every morning with a sore lower back (no sass from the peanut gallery). My shoulders kill. My neck is creaky. But of late, it's my right leg and hips (yes, just like my puppy). I feel like I have the body of an 80-year-old arthritic woman.

Tell me I'm not the only one. Please.

My kids are young, which requires me to squat on my knees often while chatting with them during playtime or when we need to see eye-to-eye. But when I stand back up, I can barely walk because the pain behind my right knee is simply awful.

While a little spa action last weekend helped me a bit, I visited my orthopedic surgeon on Friday to see if he could find the source of my little issue. After a hip x-ray turned up nothing, he concluded that my muscles and ligaments around my right hip are inflamed and in need of a rest.

His prescription for recovery was simple: Stop exercising. For three weeks.

The concept of sitting on my gluteous maximus would normally sound quite appealing to me. But not with a toddler, an almost six-year-old and a puppy in tow. I take Luna for multiple walks every day. Q. and I walk everywhere. And Five and I run around like silly fools in the backyard. My town is a walkin' kind of hood. In fact, walking is my main form of exercise these days. My heart started to ache as much as my leg.

Five happened to be with me at the doctor on Friday. Shortly after my appointment, he left with my parents to spend the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa (what we affectionately call "The Weekend of Anything Goes"). On Saturday morning, I called Five as we were about to take Luna for a stroll. It was a gorgeous, crisp Fall day. How could I resist?

"But Mom," said Five in a serious, worried voice. "Dr. W said you're not supposed to walk. No exercise, remember?"

"I know honey," I reassured him. "It will be short, I promise. I'll be okay."

It was a short walk. Only by the time we got home, my leg and hip were telling me I should have listened to my wise son. Even today, I hurt.

So now I'll really be spending three weeks sitting on my ass. Doctor's orders.

Daily Card: 9.30 - When I'm tired...

Six of diamonds: label maker, the image from the second-to-last page from Anita Jeram's book, I Love My Little Storybook (Luna had eaten the book while a laughing, snorting and clearly amused Q. lay on his belly next to his puppy. I was heartbroken...this is one of my favorite story time books. What better way to save a page.)

 

Old school memories...

As my Cal Golden Bears beat the Oregon Ducks this weekend, I got a little nostalgic and remembered the days when the hubs and I used to watch an old SportsChannel show called "Bear Territory." Back then, the Bears football team was fierce. Undefeated. Kinda like, oh, today. Still undefeated and ranked sixth across the country. (Did I mention Stanfurd is 0-2 and sitting at the bottom of the Pac-10 barrel? Old rivalry feelings die hard.)

In tribute to the Golden Bears and that fantastic, ridiculously silly show that only Cal faithfuls can truly love, here's some old footage...from when Cal played the Ducks in Oregon (only that time, Cal lost).

When I watch this footage, it seems so '70s in production. Hard to believe it was only, gulp, about 12 years ago.

Go Bears!

Daily Card: 9.29 - The bullseye of clarity

The ten of hearts: heidi swapp paper, cm round-tip brown marker

Daily Card: 9.28 - Stolen

The three of diamonds: cm paper, starbucks coupon, stamp, distressed brown ink, cm fine pen

 

Daily Card: 9.27 - Registered

Five just started his full-day sessions in kindergarten. With Q. in preschool a few days a week, this marks the first time in almost six years that I've been by myself all day. I'm working at home, mind you. But still. In peace and quiet. With unlimited freedom to do what I want throughout the day. Fold laundry? Sure. Take the dog on a walk at 11 am without a stroller or wagon? Yessiree. Meet a friend for lunch or impromptu pedicure? Bring it.

To commemorate this new stage in my life, I've joined a crafty little something called The Daily Card. I'm crafting up one playing card a day, decorating it with a sliver of something that was part of my day. I'm using a glue stick, scissors (maybe), and whatever I want to make the cards pretty. Or not.

I started creating these cards on Monday, September 26th. You can go back and check them out if you wish. Today I'm just bringing you up to date.

Ladies Rock Camp just announced their 2008 schedule of classes. I'm already unglued, counting the days until I can jam into the wee hours of the night...or shall I say, morning.  This time my fingers will be ready (meaning they'll already be numb...no need for new calluses).

As my daily card for today says, "Registered."

Made with Ladies Rock Camp postcard, glue stick, Sharpie (that I snagged from Rick Springfield.)

The hips don't lie...

Let's get the Luna update over with because every time I really start to think about it I get bummed out.

Her cherry eye is no longer. She's back to being as cute as a button. But she has hip dysplasia on both hips and it's so severe that she'll likely have really debilitating arthritis -- soon -- unless she has surgery. It's quite serious and I won't get into the details because really, I may start to cry for the upteenth time in 24 hours. (And trust me, when it happens you'll know about it!) But CityMama asked me if we're in it for the long haul and yes, we are. So that's the Luna update. Thanks to all for your notes and positive vibes.

Moving on.

I volunteered to assist in Five's computer class about once a month and today was my first visit. The kindergarten class was divided into two groups and each group spent 25 minutes drawing houses using KidPix software on Macs. The kids were sweethearts, every single on them. Hands were raised for help every two seconds and we were scrambling back and forth around the class trying to teach them how to erase lines, find colors, and figure out how to use a mouse.

Five's class came in second and seeing his smile and the expression of pure joy on his face when he told his friends, "My mommy's here to help today!" was almost like an out-of-body experience.  When he was got up from his chair to stand in line while waiting to return to class, he walked over and kissed me good bye. I melted into a million pieces. Can I bottle up his mommy love and give it to him when he's 16 and I tell him he can't have the keys to my car?

The kids waited patiently for their teacher and while in line, they began talking about whose mom would be coming to help in class in the coming weeks. And as they all traded their back and forths of, "I want my mom to help" and "My mom is coming here too," one little boy yelled out, "OH MAN! I want Five's mom to come back!"

I'm feelin' pretty cool today. Kindergarten computer class rocks.

Daily Card: 9.26: Bringin' it home.

Everyday Food page, glue stick, sharpie.

Daily Card: 9.25 - Puppy love.

Paper and stickers from ki memories pet shop kit, glue stick, label maker and sharpie.

 

Bye bye cherry eye...

**Updated: As I was finishing this post I received a call from our vet. He was examining Luna and noticed that her left hip was very loose. A sign of hip dysplasia. I'll learn in about an hour if they have confirmed this diagnosis, and if she has it, how it will impact this little puppy's life. We bought Luna Lovegood from an excellent breeder and her "parents" are two of the best, healthiest dogs you can imagine. So why is it that my sweet pup has been plagued with medical issues. I'm pretty much beside myself and in need of a good cry. Please send all your good juju in Luna's direction. Will post an update later.**

I dropped Luna off at the vet's this morning at 7am. She's having her cherry eye surgery today. It's not all that complicated -- they reposition the right third eye glad with slits and sutures -- but it sounds awful. Because she has one prolapsed eyelid, it's likely that her left eye will do the same. We're having them examine the eye to see if it's already loose and if so, they will prolapse and repair it...proactive treatment if you will. Which, by the way, means she will have red demon eyes and will be practically blind for about 24 hours.

Sad pup.