What I Forgot

Since I wanted to stay home tonight, because I have a chiro appointment tomorrow, I decided to skip my favorite kickboxing class after dinner and work out this morning before swim lessons. This meant less driving - just one trip to the gym! but it also meant some extra packing, but I figured I could handle it.

This is what I forgot:

• face wash for me
• comb or brush
• regular bra to put on after swim lessons and showers
• swim diaper for Liam
• sunglasses for hanging out at the outdoor pool afterwards
• sunscreen for hanging out at the outdoor pool afterwards
• ipod
• heart rate monitor

I guess that's it. It seemed like way more... of course I'm probably forgetting about something that I forgot.

Barbaric

Just over a week ago I woke up with a horrible pain in my neck. Like nothing I've ever felt before. If you're my friend on facebook, you know, I was desperate. I figured I'd try something new. Well, new to me, anyway.

When I think about modern medicine I can't help but think it's just all so barbaric. The blood draws, blood transfusions, drugs, surgeries, ... not to mention how chemo-therapy works. It just seems crazy. A crazy that has, no doubt, helped so many people with so many issues. But sometimems, I think it's a crazy that's gotten just a little too far out of control.

So, I decided to try a chiropractor for the pain in my neck. I knew a regular doctor would prescribe some sort of muscle relaxer, but I really didn't want that. After spending a few days letting the pain "cycle through," as the doctor put it and then spending a week on vacation, I finally got in to see him this morning.

All went well until he went to adjust my lower back and neck. What? You want to talk about barbaric, here's this guy twisting my body so that it makes these cracking sounds, as if he's breaking me. And my neck? Goodness gracious - the noise coming from there was truly barbaric. And the crazy thing is... I feel a little better. Now, I'm not sure if you're one to believe in chiropractic care, or not. But I happen to believe that it can work - if one is willing to help the process along.

Let me stand on my soap box for just a minute:

what we put into our bodies and how we treat our bodies must have an impact on how our bodies treat us. I don't care how good your chiropractor is, if you're not willing to do the stretches and eat foods that you can pronounce all of the ingredients of, then I have a feeling that the healing process will take much longer.

I'm hoping that since I have been taking good care of my body and getting so much better about what I'm putting into it, this will be a quick process. I suppose I'll find that out eventually.

Anyway... this post wasn't supposed to be about chiropractic care and all it's benefits. I'll save that for when it doesn't hurt to check my blind spot or to kiss my boys.

Right.

Modern medicine.

Barbaric.

So - the chiropractor surprised me, though I don't know why, I've had it done before.

After that I headed on over to my obgyn for my yearly check-up. I complained about still leaking milk almost a year after nursing and you know what he wanted to do? Take some blood. To test my hormone levels. It's not that I can't handle having my blood drawn, especially at my obgyn - they are pros over there - it just seems so barbaric. Does it really matter if my hormone levels are off? The doctor said it was "nothing dangerous", but that he did want to look into it some more.

After I write this post I'm going to have to make an appointment for a pediatric orthopaedic. It's been over three months and now's the time to start talking about surgery.

Surgery on a 4-year olds foot.

That's barbaric, isn't it?

Of course I plan on getting a second opinion. And to research the heck out of whatever it is this is called. (Yeah, I'll have to get the name of the condition written down this time.)

And what happens if we don't "fix" this.

I suppose some would argue that not taking advantage of modern medicine and all it has to offer is barbaric. I would probably even argue that, on some days.

****'kay, so yeah, this post is a little all over the place. Sorry about that. I'm sure you all can deal with it just fine, though... if not - maybe there's a drug to help you focus? Or maybe I should get a drug to help me focus??? What do you think????

Where We've Been

So we just got back from a little vacation up in Wisconsin. And by just got back, I mean we got back last night after the longest drive home ever. What could have taken 3.5 hours took, oh, about 5.5 - after stopping at a mall to just let them run around, oh and eat, that's right, eating is important too. And by just got back, I mean my house is a mess - I've done 4 loads of laundry and have just started unpacking. And by unpacking I mean taking everything out of the suitcases and not really putting anything away.

Anyway... we've done this vacation before. I short trip up to the Dells with Mike's family. Except this time we left a day early and took a look at some properties Mike has been checking out online. Here's where we were.... (click on over people - to see the pictures!)

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

What we're looking for is some land - I think 2 acres is plenty - Mike would love to have 25. We want that land to have water access. AND we want it all to cost us less than $40,000. So yeah, that makes it kind of hard. It's hard to tell what's what online - what sounded wonderful online wasn't so great in person... We did like one of the properities - the first one, but it's not exactly what we want. And so, the search continues. Oh - and of course there is no town called crab ass - that's just a pretty acurate description of that 4 year old after being in a car all day and driving around. That and I let his little brother hold the sign up first, which, you know, is just the worst thing ever.

Pictures of the Dells will follow shortly. And by shortly, I mean whenever it is I actually get to it.

Oh hi there, internet.

So, I know, my writing here as been lacking. Almost non-exsistent, really. Seems as though I just pop in every few days to post some pictures. It's not that I don't have anything I want to write about, oh no, there's plenty of half written posts up there in my over-crowded brain, just that there's so much I want to say, I never know which one I want to actually put together. So yeah.

Anyway, the boys and I met up with some friends at the "forest". The boys had a blast checking out the map and figuring out where we were. Also - the working well - how fun! Liam loved throwing sticks off of the bridge... Of course, here's some pictures...



It was decent. But I realized I need to start checking out more forest preserves around here... that was something I always enjoyed as a kid and then through high school and college - I've got to get back to that.

Weekly Winners - The leaping lizards! We went to see fireworks! Edition

Jump!





Face Dive!

Baby Shower

Twilight

All American

Approaching Naptime

Boom!

boomboom!

Boomboomboom!






So remember last week I said I was going to Wow you with some amazing firework pictures? They turned out okay, but I gave up before the grand finale, because I didn't think that we were getting any good ones. (my husband, who may or may not have had a few drinks, was in charge of the camera since I was in charge of Liam). I did set up the settings and the tripod - but couldn't situate myself to actually take the pictures. Maybe next year.

Ahhh... The Run

So, this has been something I've been wanting to write about for awhile now. The elusive run.

It all seems so simple to me. I'm not in horrible shape - I can hold my own in any kickboxing, step, or dance class. I can spend a good hour on the treadmill - alternating running and walking at a steap incline - keeping my heartrate high, but not too high. I can squat-press almost my entire weight. I can hold a plank for a full minute. I'm not weak.

So why is something that seems so simple, and as Mandie put it, so organic, so frustratingly difficult for me to handle?

Running.

I've been trying it a bit more at the gym, on the treadmill. Instead of my usual run for 2 minutes walk for 2, I forced myself to run through an entire song - of course the songs I pick tend to be well over 5 minutes, but still, I can do it. I feel like I'm going to die at the end of the song, but I can manage. But what I can't imagine, is to continue running. Run for a total of 40 minutes? or even 20? I thought that by now I'd be able to.

After talking with two different friends, each at a different level of running, each saying that I just need to run outside. "Running on a treadmill is different. You can do it outside. You'll see."

So I tried that. I strapped on my heart rate monitor and ipod shuffle and took off.

Liars.

It's not that I want it to be easy. I get that exercise is not easy. It's just that I don't want to feel like I'm going to die. And my heartrate? Shoots way up there - real quick.

I want to enjoy it. It seems so natural - just go for a run... all you need is some shoes and you're set.

While I was running a good song came on the shuffle and you know what I wanted to do? I wanted to dance! Not run. Maybe running just isn't for me....

But I want it to work. I want to be one of those that enjoys a good run.

I used to hate yoga, but I stuck with it and now I enjoy it, I still find it difficult, because I'm not flexible, but I truly enjoy it. Maybe running will be like that?

Maybe.

Happy Monday!

Weekly Winners - A Family Day Out and About

Long Feathers

Just Waiting

Funny Face

Dirt

My Name's Not Noah

Our plans to see fireworks got rained out yesterday... so no fireworks or bright and sunny fourth of July pictures from me. Hopefully next week you'll see some from the Fifth of July - we've got plans to go and see some fireworks tonight and the weather is supposed to be great. I even looked up how to photograph fireworks, so hold your breath, people, you might see some amazing things here next week. Then again, maybe not.

Today

Today we went to the Taste. Not the Taste of Chicago, the Taste of the Town in Which We Live.

We left the house with $50.

We came back with one large inflatable hammer, one plastic sword, a play gun, a racket and ball type toy, a bloated belly, heart burn, and one henna tattoo. Oh and $6.

The end.

Look at Liam

Look who had his pictures taken this week.

Guess who spent just a little bit too much money on prints?

Summer School

Quinn's been busy learning a lot this summer. Of course, as a teacher we spend all our mornings looking at flash cards and learning sight words. Ha! Just kidding! I guess I haven't spent any time talking about the way I really feel about things like that... but anyway... that post will come.

But for now - take a look at Quinn's newest aquired skill.

Folding Washclothes

First you fold it in half.

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Then, you fold it in half again.

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Finally, you add it to the pile.

He has also mastered the art of putting his own clothes away, clearing his spot at the table, and handing me clothespins as I hang up our clothes on the clothesline.