Of Psychological Damage and Repair

Bicycle repair, that is.

Today was a big day. Dale rode his newly repaired bicycle to work today! Yes, the same bike I was riding when my helmet got cracked like the shell on a hard boiled egg. (I get to go to Logan and Sarah's health classes this week and talk about the accident. I'm seriously considering an object lesson involving eggs and one of Logan's Chevron cars...Stay posted for pics and how it went!) Dale was beyond ready to start riding again; I was more on the worry-wart-wife side, which is not really like me, normally. However, as much as I would like to forbid him from ever riding again, I settled with making him take out a life insurance policy and double checking his safety gear like he's in kindergarten or something. He kept the eye-rolling to a minimum out of respect for my manic ways. (How noble of him!)

He rode hard, staying off the main roads as much as practical, and reported when he made his mandatory "I-made-it-safely" call that he is completely out of shape. He'll get there fast, though. As far as me being okay with this? I have to admit it wasn't as hard as I thought, although I must confess it was in the back of my head the whole time.

I was driving my kids to school this morning, just hopin' and praying Dale didn't get run over by a car.

Of Pain, Impatience, and Frustration

I figured it was time for an update on my post-being-run-over-by-a-car saga. (This story starts on July 22--see archives if you're behind and work your way up.) I am currently working on getting all the way better, which is a huge PAIN! (Literally. In my shoulders, specifically.) I am attending physical therapy twice a week to try and alleviate my daily pain, but now its a matter of patience. Obviously, I can't expect that after a few session my range of motion will be back, my posture fixed (my shoulders have rolled forward to compensate for my sternum/ribs injuries) and a miraculous ability to get back to caring for my baby and toddler 100%, but that doesn't have to mean I like it!

I'm getting tired of it. I'm doing more than I should. What choice to I have, really? It is so frustrating to stop at Fred Meyer to get groceries and have to psych myself up to lift the baby from the van to a shopping cart. She must be getting heavier, because this is getting harder every time I have to do it. Either that or I'm getting worse. Who knows. I've been able to lift her SOME in the last few days, but imagine my aggravation that I am not able to hold her in my chair without an adult in the room, because she's too wiggly and she tries to jump out of my arms. While I can hold her to feed her, or if she's being still (which are not always at the same time!) I can't get out of my chair while holding her. Thank goodness Danitra is cleaning my house, or poor Dale would be completely over-loaded. He already is. He does 100% of the cooking, laundry, baby-carrying (while home), getting kids off to school, (although I can drive now, I don't make lunches or "crack the whip" to get them out the door) driving me to therapy (I'm too sore afterwards to drive) etc. etc. etc. He's working about half time; thank goodness for dividends and the FMLA, or we'd be sunk. After school I pick up the kids (it doesn't require me to carry the baby. I just have to sit there and wait for them to get their little behinds in the van. Then I have to pysch myself up to carry the baby to the family room, have one of the girls change her diaper while I down another couple of Tylenol, and watch her crawl around the floor until it's time to get Dale. Then I have to psych myself up to put her back in the car, corral all the kids, and go pick up Dale, knowing that it will all spell P-A-I-N in the end! I hate it. Yes, my Mom told me that "hate" is a very strong word, and I thouroughly agree!

No wonder I come home and collapse in my chair. Without the baby. Man, it's hard to feel like a Mom right now, when I cannot physically care for my kids. Do you have any idea what it's like to not be able to hug your children? I shake my four year old's hand every night before bed. She won't' go to sleep without her "hand squeeze". Puh-thetic.

The kids are being troopers, though, and so is Dale. Danitra is a huge help. I'll make it...eventually. The PT is going to help, I can tell. It's just going to take TIME.

I was reveling in the fact that I am a Therapy Mom, not a Mom who needs therapy (physical, anyway) when I got run over by a car.

Nostalgic Photos of the week:

Just a couple of pictures of past trips to Whittier, Seward, the inlet, and Girdwood. We love you, President, Sister, and Elder! Wish you were with us, and yet so glad you're not! :)

Whittier Alaska, 2005

Pre-Elliotte, Seward Alaksa, 2006

Grandma and Lily on Captian Hooks Boat the next day. (we really love boats in our family!)

Uncle Tyler and Fam, Girdwood Alaska
(possibly the best drive of our lives! I miss that red truck...)

Logan is SO little compared to the inlet!

Both boys needed a haircut.
Logan refused to get one in those days, and Ty was partial to his sister's cutting skills!

Pre-Boat ride, Pre-Mission (but on the way!) Seward Alaska

Aboard yet another cruise on Cap'n Hooks' boat.
While it may be a family favorite, Lily didn't agree!
Oh, and yes, I'm expecting in this picture.

Happy Birthday, Boy!

A week ago Saturday Logan turned 7! Wow! I can hardly believe it. I don't think I'll ever get through a birthday of his without reflecting on how far he has come. The miracle that is Logan will likely be known only to a few, but can you believe this kid used to not be able to talk? Used to withdraw so completely that I worried he'd never come back? That "Autism" and "Aspbergers" were household terms being thrown around with too much reality for comfort? I thank God for miracles; I thank God for Logan.

We went to the Sea Life Center, and thought about all our missionaries...a lot. We've had some good times there with Gma and Gpa and Uncle Tyler. When we told the kids we wanted to go to Seward, Logan asked if we were going to take a boat ride. Alas, a boat ride wasn't in the plan, but a trip to the Sea Life Center was! I have a million pictures of all my kids there, but here's a few more, including some of Elle (first time caring even a little bit being there!)

The obligatory pictures with the congenial harbor seals

And more.

Couldn't keep Sarah away from them!

Or Rebecca.

Logan, however couldn't be bothered long...

...he just wanted to play with the wooden boat the whole time!

Dinner, anyone? Too bad Logan insisted on...
...Red Robin instead of Chair 5 Pizza!

This is what he did the entire time the crew was singing, "Happy Birthday". Oh, well. I didn't make him a cake (my arms don't work; don't judge!) so have at it, kid! He insisted on Christmas wrapping paper and LOVED his presents. Think he likes Webkinz? He asked for, and recieved, two lil' Kinz lioness Webkinz so that his boy lion (Wily) and lioness (Cheezy) could have babies. They are married, by the way. It was a lovely ceremony. (He's got four sisters! It was the wedding of the century!)

Happy Birthday, Boy! You're da Man!

"I want to be Mis-Matched!"

For the record, I made her hold her second matching shoe to prove that she CHOSE this for herself! She actually searched for a non-matching sandal. Notice she has two left feet, literally. Comfy. Yes, she also chose to mis-match her socks and put her pants on backwards. What's up, Kriss Kross?