When Dad is away...

Christopher was in Texas from Friday morning to Saturday night. Not a huge time away from home but technically the girls didn't see him from Wednesday evening to Sunday morning at church. He worked late on Thursday evening and they were both sound asleep when he got home and his flight in on Saturday didn't land until 10:40pm. He also had early morning meetings before church (which is usual). A long time for 2 that are use to seeing their dad every day.

I can't really remember the last time Chris traveled for work/school/etc, and while we did the whole long distant thing while dating-that was well over 10 years ago. I like having that guy around so I wasn't all that happy with the idea of him being gone either. Especially the weekend!

If Chris were a traveling man, here are a few things I learned about myself...

-My house wouldn't stay as neat as it typically does. It was kind of a vacation for me! And while Christopher isn't a neat freak or expects things to look a certain way when he gets home, I like to have things completely done before he gets home so I've got a break too. Because if he gets to leave work at work why can't I right? The house didn't completely fall apart while he was gone but it was fun to not do any housework all day on Friday.
-There wouldn't be nearly as many home cooked meals!
-I would stay up way too late doing crafts.
-My blog would be way more up to date.
-I would read much more than I already do.
-Our tv would never come on.
-We would spend WAY too much money! I don't want to be at home, let's go spend some money!
-And my girls would have a WAY earlier bedtime! And they already go to bed between 7 and 7:30pm. I'm thinking 6pm would be a great bedtime!

And yes, while I understand that the newness would wear off and we would get use to a new normal without dad around as much, it was a fun playtime for all of us!
My girls were excited to have a GNO and Elodie wrote all about it in her journal! It's fun to spice things up a bit every once in a while but like I said, we enjoy this guy of ours and we kinda want to keep him around!

{Picture taken when the girls saw their dad for the first time at church on Sunday. They were so happy to have him home!}

Valentine Outfits

{I wanted to post these last week but in the process of learning something new I have disrupted my camera, computer, and my editing program. Very frustrating. I think my kinks are coming out...slowly but surely!}

I had so much fun making the girls valentine skirts! Thanks so much to my friend Jen who helped with the cutting and my mother in law who gave me some pointers and tips while they were in town.

Elodie loved wearing her skirt to school. Originally I was planning on sewing L-O-V-E (in the same fabric as the skirts) on the front of white shirts but it proved to be a little more complicated than I wanted to deal with. Let's just say I spent more time seam ripping than sewing! I bagged the idea and settled on these cream shirts I found at Target.

My next skirt project is skirts for Addysen and Grayce's 3rd birthday. Which is just around the corner!

And yes, there are more pictures of Elodie than Addysen....A 6 year old is way more cooperative than an almost 3 year old. And seeing as I'm 4 weeks from delivery, I chose not to get picky!

{Lately}

-The transition to the bunkbeds went WONDERFULLY! She even naps just the same in her bed! It's amazing!

-She says "What's that mean" to everything. "What does food mean?" "What does rainbow mean?" It can go on forever..

- Her bowl and spoon have to match for breakfast. And speaking of breakfast, she wants to eat the minute her feet hit the floor. It's nice now because I can get the girls breakfast at the same time whereas she use to sleep through Elodie's breakfast so I wouldn't feed her until after we got home from taking Elodie to school. Our mornings are much more efficient now even if it means I'm put to work the minute I wake up!

-She likes to put the utensils away. For a while I was going behind her and organizing the utensils properly but now I'm just going with it! Who cares if the short forks are mixed in with the long forks..right?

-She has started calling Elodie by her name and can say it REALLY well. Before all she said was "Sister". It kinda makes me sad...

-She is convinced she has a baby in her belly still.

-And speaking of her baby..she thinks she will get everything if she needs it for her baby. "My baby needs a fruit snack." "This will make my baby feel better." And she says it so sadly.

-She says silly things like "doedoe" and "Boodie". Elodie thinks it's so funny. We don't mind it..unless we are reading scriptures and you ask Addysen to repeat a verse after you and you say "and the Lamanites" and she says "and the Lamanites DOEDOE!" Then you have to refrain from laughing!

-When she says the prayer she always says "Bless me that I won't have bad dreams about fireworks." Disneyland really messed her up! And her prayer voice is very soft and dainty. So unlike her normal voice!

-She is a fabulous eater and the only thing she doesn't like are blueberries.

-She always wants to play Mom and Dad. "Let's play MOM AND DAD!"

-She is getting the hang of her tricycle and can go backwards perfectly. She needs a little more weight on her body to get going in the right direction although she has gone forward a few times, she just keeps taking her feet off the pedals! We refuse to push her around anymore, it's time for her to figure it out!

Physical Therapy? Yes Please!

Last week was not my best week ever. It is pretty much flying high up there with the weeks of vomiting....so yeah, no fun.

I had my doctor's appointment on Tuesday where my doctor told me "no heavy lifting, no bending, no excessive activity...blah,blah,blah!" I mean who really listens to their doctor when he says all those things? I should have...

Wednesday started like any other day. A playdate for Addysen in the morning and a list of to-do's. I also started my computer class the week before so I had a few things that needed to be wrapped up for that too. After I laid Addysen down for her nap, I decided to clean the bathtubs.

Long story short, I pulled a muscle in my back and spent the rest of the day in pain on my couch. A heating pad became my best friend. By the time Chris came home I was in so much pain I couldn't even get off the couch. I didn't want to miss my second class so I took some tylenol and sucked it up. The pain was so severe during my class the teacher stopped right in the middle of his lecture to ask me if I was okay. I left early.

By the time I got home I was practically crawling to my bed. The pain got so bad that it was creeping into my stomach and causing me to have really bad contractions. I seriously thought I was in labor the pain was so bad! I was up all night long because I couldn't get comfortable! And on top of that the pain was making me so nauseated I threw up 3 times in the night. It was so bizaare! By Thursday morning I was sitting by the phone waiting to call my doctor for some pain relief! I had a friend take Addysen for the morning so I could rest and that helped a ton. Thank heavens for great neighbors!

When I got a hold of my doctor he filled a prescription for me with instructions to find a physical therapist and make an appointment.

The weekend was barable but I definitely did some damage to my back...

Today was my first appointment with the physical therapist. I have to admit I was a little skeptical about the whole thing. (I know they mostly wanted to make sure I didn't do any severe damage to my back.) When I walked it in there were a TON of old people in there. It is snowbird season and all but I really felt out of place!

However a few minutes into my appointment my feelings changed and I didn't want to leave!

The first thing I got to do was lay on a heating pad in a recliner for 30 minutes....with a magazine! Seriously? I just lay here and do nothing for 30 minutes? And I'm not at home to be distracted by laundry, dirty dishes, or a whiney 2year old? Yes please, I will take 2 of those!

The second half of my appointment was spent laying on my side while the PT massaged my back....hello!?!? I think I was secretly transported to a day spa! It was amazing! When the PT was done she asked me how I felt. Well, duh?! Of course I feel amazing! The real question is how will I feel when I am warped back in to reality and have laundry to do, a dishwasher to unload, homework and piano to help with, and dinner to serve. After all that is done THEN I will tell you how I really feel! Right in that moment? I felt amazing!

The PT wants to see me again on Friday...DARN! I have to go through all that again?!?

And in case your worried...no really damage was done. Basically, I sprained my back and only time and relaxation will heal it. Until then, no more cleaning the bathtub!