Is This Thing On?

After not posting for over a month, I guess it's time to face up to the fact that I DO still have a blog.  Poor neglected blog.  Like so many other things this summer, I have not been giving you enough attention.  I'll try to remedy that in August.

July recap:  Although there is a lot to say, I'm not sure how much is worth sharing.

Mostly, I struggled in July.

I finally took my Boot off and started Physical Therapy.  After just a few weeks, all was well enough that the doc told me I could stop.  I - and my wallet - were happy.  But I was also frustrated at the slow, slow progress I was (am) making.

I realize I was much too optimistic about my recovery.  That there is no way I am ready to run, despite being 3 1/2 months out from surgery.  That I can't even do a jumping jack yet.  That I will most likely take the next 6 months to rebuild the muscle I lost during recovery.

It has been humbling.

But I am trying hard to get back to my normal physical activity.  I'm on the spin bike.  I'm walking the neighborhood.  And best of all, I find that I can strength train again - specifically that I can squat.  It seems silly to be so relieved about being able to bend down, but I am.  I really am.  I'm doing the Basic 4 workout found on Go Kaleo and I am eager to regain some muscle tone.  Overall, gentle activity is making the biggest difference and I am hopeful that if I am consistent in August, I may be able to break into a slow jog in September.

Despite these struggles, I've enjoyed this summer.  After the craziness of school, sports, dance, choir, church, and work, the slower pace has been a relief.  And I think I have savored everything a little more just knowing that J will start Kindergarten in a few short weeks.  I am excited (mostly about not writing any more checks to preschool) but it's bittersweet too.  He's my baby boy and although he is more than ready for K (despite having sudden, uncharacteristic anxiety about it), it is yet another signal of life moving on & continuing to speed up.  It also feels incredibly selfish to say, but the start of school also means a few hours of alone time, too.  I've had little shadows for the last 9 years and now that they will both be in school full time, I will (hopefully) have 2-3 hours to myself each weekday.  Honestly, it's hard to fathom right now.  I can watch what I want on TV?  I can read a book without interruption?  I can clean without tiny tornadoes descending behind me? I can get in a workout without having to stop to regulate a dispute, refill a cup of milk, or answer 4,612 questions?  Inconceivable!

Other events in July:  I sold my jogging stroller, we updated the downstairs bathroom, Mega Sports & Art Camp for M (she did soccer), she also lost another tooth (#9), I signed up for Instagram - mostly to keep up with a friend who no longer blogs (you know who you are), we went to the pool a few times, found out a good friend is expecting her first baby, passed through the first step in getting M's medical license, attended our first recruiting dinner (that was an eye-opener!), and ..... that's about it.

Yep, that is a BLUE bathroom.  It looks amazing with the (newly) white trim. 

Soccer Star!

The Tooth Fairy came.

From the Internets

It was an incredibly long week.  

I was in a terrible mood every day (very much not like me, despite what my husband may think), and plagued by a sense of frustration over not knowing if I'd have my job come Monday morning.  

As long as Gov. Kasich signs the Ohio state budget today (get on it, Gov!) all will be well.  At the very least, I still plan to show up tomorrow.... whether to clean out my desk or put in my 4 hours is still TBD at 6:45pm on Sunday.  

In the meantime, I whipped together a blanket for the newest little girl in the neighborhood.  I took the lazy way out, and simply handstitched a binding on a large piece of marshmallow minky.  Soooo soft I almost didn't want to give it away.  

I was also inspired by this post from eighteen25, and made a Dole Whip Fund jar.  I used the Cricut (love that thing!) for the vinyl.  I did find the Mickey figurine at the local Dollar Tree and used the white contac paper (vinyl) I already had.  The jar was from Walmart so I think the entire project cost me $5, and an afternoon.  

Finally, although I don't believe that (most) everything on the internet is true, I DID test out the "all-natural weed killer" that has been floating around.  

And it worked.  

Honestly, I used the very scientific method of  dumping about half a small bottle of vinegar into a spray bottle, and adding 3 squirts of random dish soap.  I sprayed the weeds dotting the crevices of my driveway, and 2 days later they were brown and shriveled. I was shocked.  And am ready to stock up on vinegar.  Is there anything it can't do?  

PS: post #660! 

Friday Notes (on Wednesday?)

1. My cast is off!  It was a happy, happy day indeed.  Of course I do have a lovely (and heavy!) boot to wear for a few weeks, but I have been released to hobble around the house without it.  Doc says I am healing well, and I start physical therapy in 2 weeks.  The only downside is that for now my foot is swollen, stiff, and weak.  And I have a cankle, but only on the left side.  This looks especially great with the lack of discernible calf muscle.  Yep, I'm totally bringing the sexy back.  
   
2. In celebration of the above, I also bought the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette.  (Let's face it, I had a gift card to spend).  L-O-V-E it.  It has 6 neutral, basic colors that can be applied for both day and night looks.  I am completely hooked on this.
   
   
   
   
3. I also bought a 'whitening' toothpaste.  Although my yellowed beaver teeth have been bothering me for a while, it didn't bother me enough to do anything about it until I found this on super sale at Walgreens.  I don't think it's working terribly well, but I'm willing to keep it up for another week or so.  The only real downside is that because it uses essential oils - including what I can only call patchouli - to mask the sensitive toothpaste formula, it tastes like I am brushing my teeth with minty dirt.  Not a refreshing sensory experience, but I am toughing it out.  Hey, can't waste that $2.49!
   
4. I've discovered veryjane.com.  So much cute stuff.  You're welcome.  
5. When asked by his children what he wants for Father's Day, my husband's response was "To not have to take you to see Epic".  Father's Day= fulfilled.  
6. Matt harvested 2 1/2 gallons of honey from the hive.  Now when the Apocalypse comes, we have something to barter with.   
   

Mobile Again!

Monday's doctor appointment went well, with the highlight being the cutting off of the old cast.  I even got to wipe down my pale, flabby limb and clean the incisions.  Thrilling, I know.  

And then the NEW cast went on (I might have quietly wiped away a tear), and I got to pay for the "walking" part of my walking cast.  I never thought I would be so happy to fork over $20 for ONE foam-bottomed shoe, but when I left under my own (slow) power, it was worth it.  

I immediately overdid it by walking to lunch and doing a little shopping but as I had a 2 hour drive home to recover, it was fine.  And then I came home and cleaned the kitchen, swept the floor, and baked 2 loaves of bread.  Yes, I was tired at the end of the day.  

It is slow going, but I have been thrilled to lose those crutches!  

Crutches: UGH

Oooof. Is it just me or was this the LONGEST week?  I think a big part of this feeling is knowing I go to the doctor on Monday to get a walking cast.  I am not sure what this entails, but hopefully it means No More Crutches.

'Cause man, am I sick of those things!

But,  I have learned a few lessons.  Most of which involve varying levels of misery (much like Dante's 7 circles of Hell, crutches sometimes feel like they induce 7 levels of unhappiness).  And a (few) positives.

Pros:

• My upper body is still pretty strong.  I've been very, very lazy.  Like picked-up-a-dumbbell-once-level-of-lazy.  But my arms are still looking pretty toned - mostly because crutches require you to essentially lift and shuffle your entire body using upper body strength alone.  Lesson #1 - I should have done more shoulder work in the weeks leading up to surgery.  
• I can fit lots of stuff in my cleavage.  I knew it would come in handy one day.  I just didn't think it would be to hold my ID and phone.  
• My balance on my right side is great.  You know how trainers tell you to do squats and lunges and planks on an unstable surface to force you to work the supporting muscles?  No need to invest $99 in a Bosu ball, just grab a pair of crutches.  When all your weight is shifted to one side all the time, those supporting muscles tone up fast.  
• Now that I am not doing dishes/housework constantly, I don't wash my hands 9,000 times a day.  And amazingly, my hands are no longer bone dry with cracked cuticles and chipped nails.  
• My kids have been awesome helpers.  Especially Big Sis.  Almost anything I ask her to do, she does with no eye rolling or moaning.  How did I get so lucky?  
• I'm so glad I did this in the Spring.  I can't imagine trying to maneuver on crutches with snow and ice coating the ground. 

Cons: 

• My house is filthy.  I know, everyone is dirty in their own way, and I am not overly OCD about having a clean house, but this is getting ridiculous.  I hope that I get that walking cast just so I can sweep, vacuum, and take less than 15 minutes to gather and start a load of laundry. 
• My left leg is shrinking.  Visibly.  I was getting dressed last weekend, and almost cried when I saw how much muscle I've lost in my thigh.  I knew this was going to be a long process, but I am readjusting my expectations on recovery.  Looks like I probably won't be starting couch-to-5K August 1.  
• The dog has been a jerk.  He knows that I have limited mobility, and when he is feeling sassy, he knows just how far to stay out of my reach.  
• I hate feeling helpless.  On a normal day I am overly independent and reluctant to ask for help.  Pretty much ever.  For anything.  So this has been very humbling.  
• My healthy eating has taken a back seat to just getting through the days.  We are not hitting the drive through every day, but I will say there have been multiple meals of PB& J.  Meh.  A little cereal for dinner never killed anyone.  
• I am super emotional.  Analytically, I'd say I have a touch of depression.  I guess that's what happens when you spend months floating on a cloud of exercise-induced serotonin, then sit on your bum for weeks on end.  Most days my nerves tend to fray by about 4pm.  But then there was the afternoon that I came home, J went down for a nap, and I watched The Perks of Being a Wallflower.  And sobbed.  That's totally normal, right?    
• I have very little to wear in public.  This is mostly mental.  Because I have to wear the compression sock 24/7 until I am cast-free, I feel embarrassed to wear skirts.  I have a few pairs of work pants I can pull over the cast, 2 long skirts that cover everything up, and 1 pair of jeans.  I'm sure no one would say anything out loud about my non-matching legs, but the crutches draw enough attention to me.  I don't need to feel like a harlequin jester by exposing my one bright blue leg and one blazing white leg.  

Enough whining!  Let's end on a positive note:  

Husband harvested the first jars of honey this week.  We're giving some to friends, but I foresee us having a sizable stock by the end of August.  And I can't wait to use it in a honey peach frozen yogurt recipe I found!

Weekly Recap: May 2013

Not sure exactly why I'm doing a weekly recap, as it wasn't anything super special.  Mostly because it's the first Saturday in 2 months that we didn't spend scrambling to gather our stuff and blast out the door to make it to a soccer game.

So essentially, because I can.

First, here is my mini Iron Man.  He had the pleasure of attending a mid-week birthday party for one of his pals, and had a BLAST.  I think the highlight was when he had the fastest time on the obstacle course.  Yep, small but speedy.

Second, I cut myself some bangs (gratuitous selfie alert!).  I still love my new haircut, but am having trouble styling it.  It is wavering into dork territory, and I thought I'd help out by adding some bangs.  Love it when it's pulled back, and it's very ugly-chic when down.  I'm sort of enjoying it.  

Finally, I thought I had posted this last month, but along with the other minor kitchen upgrades, we got rid of the hideous ceiling fan & swapped in track lighting. 

Before (moving day) 

After

We'd talked for months about ditching the ceiling fan, and once it began to buzz and flicker like an electrical fire waiting to happen, April suddenly seemed like a GREAT time to make that swap.  

I went back and forth for days about simply replacing the fan with a more attractive version.  I don't care for ceiling fans in the kitchen, but they are definitely practical in the summer months.  In the end, aesthetics won out.  After all, we do have central a/c.  

I initially ordered a track light from Home Depot and LOVED it.... but of course it arrived broken.  It was just a single shattered light cover, so I had high hopes that it could be easily replaced.  

But, NO.  

I was told that because the product was Made in China (and um, what isn't these days??) that no replacement parts were available.  And of course it took me several hours and 2 phone calls to get this Final Word on the matter.  I was incredibly irritated (and so was my husband, who had proceeded to begin installation due to the assurances of the FIRST customer service rep I spoke to), so that night we drove the 30 minutes to the nearest Home Depot to return the broken light.  And then went to Lowe's and bought a replacement that was half the cost and works just fine.  Food prep is much more fun now that I have a bright kitchen to work in!

The End of Spring Soccer

The weeks felt long, but the season was short.  I can hardly believe that last Saturday was our final day of Spring soccer games.  

The Orange Warriors went out with a bang - almost everyone on the team scored a goal, including J!

He's already excited for the Fall season to begin.  

And even the Fireballs won, with M scoring 1 goal, and 1 assist.  

I am so proud of these kids.  I was never athletic as a kid (pudgy + nearsighted = incredibly uncoordinated), and I sincerely hope that our encouragement and support of athletics will benefit them throughout school and beyond.  We never push them - choosing to participate in sports is totally up to them - but we make sure they understand that once they commit, they MUST follow through with every practice and every game.  As long as they enjoy it, we are happy to keep supporting them.  Even if they are never soccer "stars", good things will come from this... for all of us.