Samantha:
This afternoon I asked Samantha to get dressed after dance class so she could go outside and play. She got her shirt and pants on and I noticed she was putting her socks on. I told her she didn't need socks because she was just going to put on her crocs and it was a nice warm day. She exclaimed, "Yeah, I need socks because that's how I roll.". I know you're all jealous of my kids!
Alex:
Alex has come up with a new song that I keep wanting to get on camera but he gets all shy and won't sing. It goes something like this. "Me and my teddy, we get ready.". Which, if you didn't notice, rhymes!! Who taught this kid to rhyme?? It's got a cute little tune as well and even at 6:30 in the morning when I want to yell at him for singing so bloody early, I can't help but smile at his first song! He even lines up his animals in his crib and sings to them. I smell American Idol in our future!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
We wear short shorts!
I have hairy legs. That's all there is to it. Oh, and my hair grows really fast too. Like, in the summer I have to shave every day just so Samantha doesn't mention about a thousand times a day "Momma, you have spiky legs!". And so my husband will sleep in the same bed as me. Although, I do enjoy the bed to myself......hmmmm......maybe I've devised the perfect plan! Anyways, where was I...oh, hairy legs. I get so sick and tired of shaving my legs every day so about 3 1/2 weeks ago I got my legs waxed. I've never waxed before and was a little nervous. Turns out I was nervous for good reason. It hurt. Like, really bad. Ouch. Pain. Redness. Soreness. Painful to have any sort of fabric touching my legs for about 24 hours. It felt like a super bad sunburn only without the good memories of lounging on the warm beach. The waxing lady, who I like to refer to as, Frau Pain told me that she suspected the results would only last about a week, week and a half. This was disappointing. Also, she really didn't even get all the hair! I still had to shave some off that night. I guess this is normal, but I was expecting more. I walked away, well, hobbled away quite sad that my plan of only waxing a few times during the summer was not going to pan out. And I wasted $50! Welllllllll, it's now been 3 1/2 weeks and I am still pretty hair-free!!! The hair is growing super slow and I only have to shave about every 4-5 days, which is astounding for me and my hairiness! I am so happy that I just might brave the pain again and get waxed when the hair really starts growing again. Although, it's tough because you have to let the hair grow out for like a week and a half which is super scary in the summer when you're wearing capris and shorts. But that might be a week and a half of being alone in the bed........decisions, decisions!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Blurg
Is it just me, or does everyone else hate all the colorful Mother's Day rings and necklaces that we get overwhelmed with this time of year?? I know my jewelry taste may be a bit more simple than most, but all that un-matching color in one ring is enough to make me evacuate the Oreos that I just inhaled while the kids were pretending to nap.
Explanation
Since a lot of you must live in a bubble and don't know what Samantha was saying or where it came from in the clip below, I will explain.
She is saying....."I will drink your milkshake. I drink it up." Followed by slurping noises. This comes from the movie There Will Be Blood with Daniel Day-Lewis. Here is the clip from YouTube. Every time she sees this clip she laughs and repeats it. Basically, the girl has hilarious taste! Learn, enjoy!
She is saying....."I will drink your milkshake. I drink it up." Followed by slurping noises. This comes from the movie There Will Be Blood with Daniel Day-Lewis. Here is the clip from YouTube. Every time she sees this clip she laughs and repeats it. Basically, the girl has hilarious taste! Learn, enjoy!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Why we love her so much...
Also, in the background is the wicked sweet mini trampoline that Aunt Cathy gave the kids. Not only does she babysit our kids for 5 days, but she buys them awesome gifts! Don't you all wish you had an Aunt Cathy???
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Extras
The posts below are all about our trip to New York and are very boring and generic. They are a travel log mostly for Andy and I to remember our trip but hopefully you will enjoy reading them as well. I'm going to add pictures and maybe links tomorrow. They start with Saturday which is, by now, at the bottom of the page.
Overall this was one of the best vacations I've had. I don't feel like a tourist in New York. It feels more like a home to me. I didn't take many pictures because, again, I don't feel like a tourist there. I enjoyed the time I had alone, I enjoyed the time I had with friends, and I enjoyed the time I had with Andy. We don't get to spend a lot of time together these days because of school so it was muchly needed. I hate to admit it because it makes me feel like a bad mother, but I didn't miss the kids much. In fact, I completely forgot to call them on my birthday. I guess it's good that I was able to enjoy myself but as all of you mothers out there know, guilt consumes us in every aspect of parenthood. I knew they were well taken care of by Andy's super sister Cathy and her daughter Julie, so that was a load off.
Part of me wants to move back to New York/New Jersey so bad, but my quality of life here in Utah is far superior to what I would get back there. I have a nice house with a back yard for less than half of what my friends are paying for their tiny 2 bedroom apartment. AND, Andy's commute is 15 minutes versus the hour and a half it was in New Jersey. Can't beat that!
There was always this guy in front of the World Trade Center with pamphlets about September 11th and his tag line to get people to listen to him was "This is history, don't let it be a mystery". That guy always cracked me up and guess what?? I saw him still there this week! It was comforting to know some things haven't changed. Unlike Jersey City that is exploding! There are so many new apartment buildings, condos and townhomes. The place is looking nice!
I am really looking forward to when we can take the kids to New York. I think a couple more years will be good and we will have a fantastic time showing them all around and making their feet and legs just as sore as mine are!!
Overall this was one of the best vacations I've had. I don't feel like a tourist in New York. It feels more like a home to me. I didn't take many pictures because, again, I don't feel like a tourist there. I enjoyed the time I had alone, I enjoyed the time I had with friends, and I enjoyed the time I had with Andy. We don't get to spend a lot of time together these days because of school so it was muchly needed. I hate to admit it because it makes me feel like a bad mother, but I didn't miss the kids much. In fact, I completely forgot to call them on my birthday. I guess it's good that I was able to enjoy myself but as all of you mothers out there know, guilt consumes us in every aspect of parenthood. I knew they were well taken care of by Andy's super sister Cathy and her daughter Julie, so that was a load off.
Part of me wants to move back to New York/New Jersey so bad, but my quality of life here in Utah is far superior to what I would get back there. I have a nice house with a back yard for less than half of what my friends are paying for their tiny 2 bedroom apartment. AND, Andy's commute is 15 minutes versus the hour and a half it was in New Jersey. Can't beat that!
There was always this guy in front of the World Trade Center with pamphlets about September 11th and his tag line to get people to listen to him was "This is history, don't let it be a mystery". That guy always cracked me up and guess what?? I saw him still there this week! It was comforting to know some things haven't changed. Unlike Jersey City that is exploding! There are so many new apartment buildings, condos and townhomes. The place is looking nice!
I am really looking forward to when we can take the kids to New York. I think a couple more years will be good and we will have a fantastic time showing them all around and making their feet and legs just as sore as mine are!!
Wednesday
Wednesday morning we had to get up early and pack so we could head into New Jersey for Andy's work appointment. We caught a cab to take us to the Hertz rental car place to get our cute Ford Edge and left New York via the Lincoln Tunnel. It was fun to drive through Jersey again and when we drove into Woodbridge, again, I cried. Especially when we reached the Holy Grail......WEGMANS!! The grocery store to end all grocery stores! 
We had breakfast and lunch there if that says anything. After breakfast we drove to Princeton and Andy went to his appointment and I wandered around. Downtown Princeton is full of cute shops and the campus is just wonderful and old. I found a great shady bench and watched students come and go and read my book. It was very pleasant.
When Andy's appointment was done we had lunch at Wegmans then drove to the shopping center Jersey Gardens to kill time until my flight. We found some adorable outfits for the kids at H&M but not much else. Andy drove me to the airport around 4:00 and I flew home!
We had breakfast and lunch there if that says anything. After breakfast we drove to Princeton and Andy went to his appointment and I wandered around. Downtown Princeton is full of cute shops and the campus is just wonderful and old. I found a great shady bench and watched students come and go and read my book. It was very pleasant.
When Andy's appointment was done we had lunch at Wegmans then drove to the shopping center Jersey Gardens to kill time until my flight. We found some adorable outfits for the kids at H&M but not much else. Andy drove me to the airport around 4:00 and I flew home!
Tuesday (My Birthday!!!)
The hotel bed was too soft for my delicate back so I was up early with Andy and he took me to breakfast at the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle. The restaurant is called Landmarc and I had the most giant French toast EVER! It was so good and I know probably so bad for me, but I didn't care, it was my birthday!! After breakfast Andy headed into work and I went back to the hotel and took a little nap watching VH1's top 20 countdown. I never get to watch it because the kids dominate the TV in the mornings, so it was a treat! Too bad music these days is CRAP! But the best part was the nap and when I woke up I got ready to meet Sarah and Andy at work for lunch. Sarah was sweet enough to take the day off of work to hang out with me but I think she enjoyed the sleeping in as well! Andy's boss Mike came to lunch with us which was great because he ended up paying and he made some cracks that made me laugh, so it was fun to see a side of him I've not seen before.
After lunch Sarah and I headed up 5th Ave for our day of shopping while poor Andy had to go back to work. Normally I wouldn't have wanted to hike 5th Ave because of the major quantity of tourists, but all of the shopping I needed to get done happened to be located on 5th Ave, so we just went for it. Sephora for makeup, American Girls for a doll for Samantha, H&M for clothes and FAO Schwartz for Alex. The weather was heavenly so after all was said and done we sat in some chairs outside FAO and enjoyed the sunshine and people watching. Sarah bought me some hilarious Smurfs for my birthday so we took some good pictures.
We went across Central Park for the Bouchon Bakery for some tasty treats before I had to head back to the hotel to get ready for my date night with my sweet husband. We had just enough time to make it to our reservation at this Greek restaurant named Kellari and the food was incredible but we had to hurry through it all so we could make our 7:00 play of Young Frankenstein in Times Square. The play was very funny but nothing can compare with the movie. If you've never seen it before......we can't be friends.
After lunch Sarah and I headed up 5th Ave for our day of shopping while poor Andy had to go back to work. Normally I wouldn't have wanted to hike 5th Ave because of the major quantity of tourists, but all of the shopping I needed to get done happened to be located on 5th Ave, so we just went for it. Sephora for makeup, American Girls for a doll for Samantha, H&M for clothes and FAO Schwartz for Alex. The weather was heavenly so after all was said and done we sat in some chairs outside FAO and enjoyed the sunshine and people watching. Sarah bought me some hilarious Smurfs for my birthday so we took some good pictures.
We went across Central Park for the Bouchon Bakery for some tasty treats before I had to head back to the hotel to get ready for my date night with my sweet husband. We had just enough time to make it to our reservation at this Greek restaurant named Kellari and the food was incredible but we had to hurry through it all so we could make our 7:00 play of Young Frankenstein in Times Square. The play was very funny but nothing can compare with the movie. If you've never seen it before......we can't be friends.
Monday
Andy had to go to work Monday morning (this was a work trip after all) so he got up early and I slept in! hehehe. After I got up I put on my swimming suit and went up to the indoor swimming pool in the hotel for a little morning exercise. It was so fun and refreshing but made me miss my kids a bit because I know they would have loved swimming. When I was done I got ready to meet Andy at work for lunch. I'd never been to their office on Park Avenue so it was fun to see it and meet some people I'd heard about and also see some old friends. We had lunch at the Blue Flowers Cafe with Sarah which was casual and huge and just good!
After lunch I took the subway to the World Trade Center so I could hop on the Path and ride to Jersey City. It was the same route that I always took when I lived and worked there and I got all dumb and sad thinking about the good ol' days! Seeing Jersey City again also brought back a lot of good memories. I rode the light rail to my friends house by the Liberty Science Center and the light rail took me right past my old apartment building and I will admit....a few tears welled up! Jersey City was a great place to live! It was a lot of fun to see Maile and her adorable kids and hang out with them for a couple of hours. Kaia was hilarious and came out to greet me in a purple princess dress with pink heels and by the time I left, she was dressed in a chicken costume! It made me sad that we don't live near them because she and Samantha would be such good friends!
Maile drove me back to the Path station where I returned to Andy's work and he and Sarah and I met our buddy James for dinner. We ended up going to Bobby Flay's restaurant Mesa Grill. Andy and I had eaten at the Mesa Grill in Las Vegas before and the food was just as good. We had an enjoyable evening catching up with James and the whole day ended up being another great day in NYC!
After lunch I took the subway to the World Trade Center so I could hop on the Path and ride to Jersey City. It was the same route that I always took when I lived and worked there and I got all dumb and sad thinking about the good ol' days! Seeing Jersey City again also brought back a lot of good memories. I rode the light rail to my friends house by the Liberty Science Center and the light rail took me right past my old apartment building and I will admit....a few tears welled up! Jersey City was a great place to live! It was a lot of fun to see Maile and her adorable kids and hang out with them for a couple of hours. Kaia was hilarious and came out to greet me in a purple princess dress with pink heels and by the time I left, she was dressed in a chicken costume! It made me sad that we don't live near them because she and Samantha would be such good friends!
Maile drove me back to the Path station where I returned to Andy's work and he and Sarah and I met our buddy James for dinner. We ended up going to Bobby Flay's restaurant Mesa Grill. Andy and I had eaten at the Mesa Grill in Las Vegas before and the food was just as good. We had an enjoyable evening catching up with James and the whole day ended up being another great day in NYC!
Sunday
Sunday morning we slept in, packed, and left the hotel. We took a cab to our next hotel in the city called the Le Parker Meridien. It was a very nice hotel and we had a very big room and the biggest shower I've ever been in!! I kept thinking how much the kids would have loved to play in that shower! I know I did!!! We dropped our bags in the room then went downstairs to this awesome restaurant in the hotel. It looks like a little hole-in-the-wall place but it's in this fancy hotel! It's called The Burger Joint and we each had a juicy cheeseburger. Num. After being recharged by the food we wandered around for a while and found a Pink Berry to have some frozen yogurt. We had it with blackberries and Fruity Pebbles. It was delicious! We shopped around, went to Chelsea Market and back to a Brooklyn Industries where we spent even more money on cool clothes (Andy bought a button-down shirt with blue pigeons on it...trust me, it's cool). We figured there might be a street market going on at Union Square so we went to check that out and I'm glad that we did! We have a couple of pictures up on a wall in our staircase that we don't really love and have been looking for something else to replace them, and we found a beautiful print that is colorful and I think will look great. I'll take a picture of it when Andy brings it home and post it.
There is a little place called Pommes Frittes that sells only French Fries with about 30 different dipping sauces and is SO yummy. We snacked on that before we headed to our friend Sarah's apartment to visit and bake cookies. Sarah moved to NY from Utah about 2 months ago and lives in a great little apartment......except it's 5 bloody floors up!! No elevator!! I guess the exercise is good for me! We talked and baked my chocolate chip cookies for all the guys at Neovest (and James) and then went to the Delta Grill for dinner. It's a southern restaurant which I generally don't enjoy, but I had some terrific Mac and Cheese there and everything else we tried was delicious. We caught a cab, took Sarah back to her apartment and headed back to our hotel.
I have to add.......the weather thus far has been great.....and it only gets better!!
There is a little place called Pommes Frittes that sells only French Fries with about 30 different dipping sauces and is SO yummy. We snacked on that before we headed to our friend Sarah's apartment to visit and bake cookies. Sarah moved to NY from Utah about 2 months ago and lives in a great little apartment......except it's 5 bloody floors up!! No elevator!! I guess the exercise is good for me! We talked and baked my chocolate chip cookies for all the guys at Neovest (and James) and then went to the Delta Grill for dinner. It's a southern restaurant which I generally don't enjoy, but I had some terrific Mac and Cheese there and everything else we tried was delicious. We caught a cab, took Sarah back to her apartment and headed back to our hotel.
I have to add.......the weather thus far has been great.....and it only gets better!!
Saturday
We arrived in New York on Saturday morning and tried to check into our hotel in Brooklyn. The hotel was packed with a bunch of school kids so we were not able to check in. They suggested we try back around 1:00. We roamed around Brooklyn Heights after a terrific breakfast at a little cafe. Brooklyn Heights was so nice and had so many cute streets and shops.....not to mention a fantastic view of Manhattan! After roaming for a couple of hours we passed a movie theatre and decided to watch a movie until 1 when we could hopefully check into the hotel. The only movie we thought might be good and played at the right time was Forbidden Kingdom (the Kung-fu flick with Jackie Chan and Jet Li). Let me just say, it was awful! The kung-fu was good but the acting and story was TERRIBLE! I was so tired because of the overnight flight so I curled up in the seats, laid my head on Andy's lap and took a little nap during the movie! Best $8 nap EVER!
After the movie we were able to check into the hotel and we watched the Pope make his way up 5th Avenue in the Popemobile. We were both still tired so we took a little nap and woke up around 5:00. We got dressed and headed to an area of Brooklyn known as Park Slope. We wandered the streets there and found a great store called Brooklyn Industries and spent a good chunk of money there. Then we found a cute Italian restaurant where we shared a pizza and some of the best ravioli I've ever eaten. For dessert we went to The Chocolate Room and had some Butterscotch Custard and a Triple Chocolate Cake that was featured in an issue of O Magazine (Oprah's magazine).
It was a very fun, successful day in Brooklyn!
By the way, food is important and fun for us, so you will hear a lot about what we eat.....get used to it!!!
After the movie we were able to check into the hotel and we watched the Pope make his way up 5th Avenue in the Popemobile. We were both still tired so we took a little nap and woke up around 5:00. We got dressed and headed to an area of Brooklyn known as Park Slope. We wandered the streets there and found a great store called Brooklyn Industries and spent a good chunk of money there. Then we found a cute Italian restaurant where we shared a pizza and some of the best ravioli I've ever eaten. For dessert we went to The Chocolate Room and had some Butterscotch Custard and a Triple Chocolate Cake that was featured in an issue of O Magazine (Oprah's magazine).
It was a very fun, successful day in Brooklyn!
By the way, food is important and fun for us, so you will hear a lot about what we eat.....get used to it!!!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
I told you!
I told you that I'd suck at posting while I'm here in NY! In my defense though, I haven't had a laptop with me except in the evenings when I'm rubbing my sore feet and applying bandages to my blisters. Busy, busy!
I have written down every days events though and will fill you all in when I get home. You're excited....I know it!
Thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday today!! It was a fantastic day! Maybe my favorite birthday! I fly home tomorrow evening and am excited to see my babies again! Thanks for the wonderful trip to NY, Andy!!!
I have written down every days events though and will fill you all in when I get home. You're excited....I know it!
Thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday today!! It was a fantastic day! Maybe my favorite birthday! I fly home tomorrow evening and am excited to see my babies again! Thanks for the wonderful trip to NY, Andy!!!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
We're here.....but first....
We are here in Brooklyn and having a great time so far, but before I post on our happenings thus far I need to write the funniest thing Alex has said/done before I forget!
On Friday we were in Costco (surprise, surprise) and they were giving out lots of samples. One of the samples the kids spotted was cheese and crackers. Not some mild cheese that kids usually like, but gorgonzola cheese. I have to admit I was looking forward to their faces when they realized how nasty the cheese was and spitted it out. Alex took a bite and just kept on chewing and looking around all casual like while Andy and I peeked at him to see what he would do. He chewed and swallowed, looked down at the cheese, looked up at me, held up the cheese and with a furrowed brow exclaimed, "This cheese tastes stinky!". I haven't laughed that hard in a LONG time! To make it even better, he popped the rest of the cheese in his mouth and ate it all! What a freakin' cute kid!!!
I'll catch up the blog tonight with our New York fun. The pope is in town so we might hang with him, ya know, bless some people, chill at Mass in Yankee Stadium, the usual!
On Friday we were in Costco (surprise, surprise) and they were giving out lots of samples. One of the samples the kids spotted was cheese and crackers. Not some mild cheese that kids usually like, but gorgonzola cheese. I have to admit I was looking forward to their faces when they realized how nasty the cheese was and spitted it out. Alex took a bite and just kept on chewing and looking around all casual like while Andy and I peeked at him to see what he would do. He chewed and swallowed, looked down at the cheese, looked up at me, held up the cheese and with a furrowed brow exclaimed, "This cheese tastes stinky!". I haven't laughed that hard in a LONG time! To make it even better, he popped the rest of the cheese in his mouth and ate it all! What a freakin' cute kid!!!
I'll catch up the blog tonight with our New York fun. The pope is in town so we might hang with him, ya know, bless some people, chill at Mass in Yankee Stadium, the usual!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Phew!
We are leaving tonight for New York on the midnight flight and it's difficult for me to express how badly this trip is needed!! So I won't. Let's just say that Andy's sister Cathy who is staying with the kids is my hero!!! Thank you Cathy!
We will, of course, have a computer with us since Andy will be working while we're out there, so I plan on posting every night about the days events. We'll see if it actually happens!
I love you dearly Samantha and Alex.......and I will love you even more after some time away!
Toodles!
We will, of course, have a computer with us since Andy will be working while we're out there, so I plan on posting every night about the days events. We'll see if it actually happens!
I love you dearly Samantha and Alex.......and I will love you even more after some time away!
Toodles!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Ahhhhhhhh
Yesterday Andy and I were sitting together on the couch and we kissed. Samantha saw the kiss and said "Ahhhh, true love's first kiss!". What an observant little girl we have........orrrrrrrrrrr we've watched Enchanted too many times!!
Also, (this is for you Andy) our daughter has trouble CONTROLLING THE VOLUME OF HER VOICE!!!!
Also, (this is for you Andy) our daughter has trouble CONTROLLING THE VOLUME OF HER VOICE!!!!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
I'm gonna be a star!
So, a few months ago Andy and I were eating at Ruth's Diner (I posted about their goodness a while back) and we were commenting on how it was the perfect location for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives to do a spot at. We joked about how we should write into Food TV and tell them how delicious the food is at Ruth's. So, on whim, I did. Yesterday I got an email from someone at the production company telling me that they were seriously considering filming the show at Ruth's and asked if I would be interested in showing up that day and being interviewed! I called them right back and said "Hell yeah!". Not really in those words though. They are going to be in Salt Lake May 5-9 filming at various locations and are going to call me if they pick Ruth's and give me all the details. I think it would be hilarious and fun so I will keep you posted on the happenings!
Unwanted Company
Do I have a sign on my forehead that says "Hey, when I'm in the bathroom doing my business, feel free to join me! I love to have a party while I'm evacuating my bowels!!". No??? I didn't think so! Can someone please tell that to my children? Thanks!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Apron
Here is a picture of the apron I made for my sister. I am glad that you can't see the details very well because they need some work! I am also glad that you can't see my blue fuzzy socks and my sexy lounge clothes! Well, I guess you can see peeps of them!
Mmmmm.... Pie
Remember those Hostess Fruit Pies? I loved me some Hostess Berry Fruit Pies when I was a kid. Actually, it's probably safe to assume that I still love them, but I made the mistake once of looking at the nutritional information label on one. A third of the total fat that I can have in a day, and HALF of the saturated fat? I can find tastier treats. Anywho, I ran into this crazy article on Wired.com today that explains what is actually in those things. Perhaps I should re-title this post "Innocence Lost".
P.S. Check out these recipes from the Hostess website. Gag me with a spork.
Friday, April 11, 2008
NYC Flashback Friday
Remember when we went to the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden? The game was pretty lame until the 4th quarter when suddenly the Knicks came from behind, made the game close and ended up winning! It was a great comeback and a great ending to what was mostly a boring game. Who cares though......it was the Knicks at the Garden!! How could you not enjoy that!?! Do you remember who they played, Andy?
The Back Saga
A couple of my favorite Murray girls (hey Tiff and Michele!) asked what happened to my back after I posted my x-ray, so this post is more for them since a lot of you have already heard this story. So, here goes.....
We believe the original injury occurred one winters night while I was visiting my sisters house. She is known far and wide as having the most dangerous front steps in all of Springville, as I first found out. It was quite the fall. One of those cartoon falls where my whole body went up in the air and landed right on my BUTT!! Kami said the entire house shook when I fell. I'm not sure I should have admitted to that.....oh well. I knew that I broke my tailbone but didn't feel any other back pain until a few years later. When we were moving from New Jersey back to Utah my lower back just started hurting. Not from picking up any specific heavy box or anything, I just think the combination of moving things and herding kids and the stress and everything caused the disc to just bulge and break and put pressure on the nerve. It went on hurting for a few months before Andy finally made me go check it out at the doctors. After a bunch of doctors appointments I finally got an MRI that showed a huge herniated disc. I am no doctor and I even looked at it and knew something was wrong. I was referred to a great back specialist who told me that the disc was dead. Gone to heaven. No life left in it. Meaning, no liquid left in the disc. The only thing to fix it would be surgery. I don't know about you, but I've always heard the one surgery to avoid is back surgery, so I was a bit apprehensive about all of it. I knew the pain wouldn't get any better (even after I started physical therapy) and someday I would need the surgery, so I figured I'd get it over with while I was young and healthy.
So, a year after the pain started I went in to remove the disc (which the doctor said was so bad it was in pieces!), put in a spacer to fill in where the disc was, put a couple of screws and rods in to hold it in place and I was finished! I was back taking care of the kids full time 2 weeks later and only went to physical therapy a few times before she said I was all good!! There is still some pain, mostly from stress and the fact the kids keep me running all day, but if I lay down and get some rest it's managable. On my last appointment with the doctor the only question I had to ask was "Can I go water skiing this summer?". The doctor said yes. THAT, my friends, is a happy ending!!!
We believe the original injury occurred one winters night while I was visiting my sisters house. She is known far and wide as having the most dangerous front steps in all of Springville, as I first found out. It was quite the fall. One of those cartoon falls where my whole body went up in the air and landed right on my BUTT!! Kami said the entire house shook when I fell. I'm not sure I should have admitted to that.....oh well. I knew that I broke my tailbone but didn't feel any other back pain until a few years later. When we were moving from New Jersey back to Utah my lower back just started hurting. Not from picking up any specific heavy box or anything, I just think the combination of moving things and herding kids and the stress and everything caused the disc to just bulge and break and put pressure on the nerve. It went on hurting for a few months before Andy finally made me go check it out at the doctors. After a bunch of doctors appointments I finally got an MRI that showed a huge herniated disc. I am no doctor and I even looked at it and knew something was wrong. I was referred to a great back specialist who told me that the disc was dead. Gone to heaven. No life left in it. Meaning, no liquid left in the disc. The only thing to fix it would be surgery. I don't know about you, but I've always heard the one surgery to avoid is back surgery, so I was a bit apprehensive about all of it. I knew the pain wouldn't get any better (even after I started physical therapy) and someday I would need the surgery, so I figured I'd get it over with while I was young and healthy.
So, a year after the pain started I went in to remove the disc (which the doctor said was so bad it was in pieces!), put in a spacer to fill in where the disc was, put a couple of screws and rods in to hold it in place and I was finished! I was back taking care of the kids full time 2 weeks later and only went to physical therapy a few times before she said I was all good!! There is still some pain, mostly from stress and the fact the kids keep me running all day, but if I lay down and get some rest it's managable. On my last appointment with the doctor the only question I had to ask was "Can I go water skiing this summer?". The doctor said yes. THAT, my friends, is a happy ending!!!
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
If wishes were fishes we'd all have a fry!
I wish that my children would simply state, "Mom, I'm hungry", rather than rip books, chew their faces off, shoot laser beams out of their eyes and scream so loud the international space station calls to tell me what a horrible mother I am.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Comparison
This is a comparison test of a tiny baby versus my giant baby Samantha! This is my cousins baby Katherine. She was a little premature and if I remember correctly was just over 4 pounds. Cute little mite!!
Now, to compare, this is Samantha at just a few days old. She, on the other hand, was 9 pounds 5 ounces. Yeah, I know, large baby!!
Alex was a large baby as well weighing in at 8 pounds 10 ounces....I think. I kind of forget sometimes. I don't have a picture of him in his car seat to compare, but I always chuckle at this picture of his first bath. That is one pissed baby!!
Now, to compare, this is Samantha at just a few days old. She, on the other hand, was 9 pounds 5 ounces. Yeah, I know, large baby!!
Alex was a large baby as well weighing in at 8 pounds 10 ounces....I think. I kind of forget sometimes. I don't have a picture of him in his car seat to compare, but I always chuckle at this picture of his first bath. That is one pissed baby!!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Some seriously silly kids
Alex with a plum slice smile. Unprompted, by the way, which is further proof of just how nuts this kid is! You can't help but love him!
Samantha doing her pirate impersonation. If you could hear her say "Arr Matey" with that look on her face, it would be even better!
Sunday, April 06, 2008
All the cute you can handle!
If you've never checked out www.cuteoverload.com you are missing out!! Whenever I've had a bad day it is the first thing Andy tells me to go look at. You can't help but get in a better mood after you've checked out all of the wicked adorable animals. My favorite, and something that has made it's way on to my want list, are the Scottish Fold kittens. If we ever decide to get a cat or a dog, I think this kitten will win out over all the rest. Now check out that site and tell me that kitten on the first page isn't the cutest thing ever born???
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Tag
My friend Ashly tagged me to tell 10 things about myself that people may not know. Honestly, I don't know that I could even come up with 1!! Sorry to disappoint Ash! It's a good thing you know just about everything about me already! Maybe if ya'll want the scoop you could ask Andy to write my list of 10. He may be able to come up with something scary to embarrass me.
Friday, April 04, 2008
NYC Flashback Friday
Remember when we went to the ESPN Zone with the guys from work for Torts' farewell party? We sat around eating appetizers, drinking and laughing for a few hours after work and just thoroughly enjoyed each others company.
Speaking of Torts, remember when I yelled at him for swearing on the phone and he thought it was hilarious! And when you first told him we were dating and my name was Kristi Loveridge and he said he thought it was a great porn name. Then there was the time at Todd's wedding when out of nowhere this little Italian guy from the Bronx ran up and hugged me; which was a little awkward considering his face came right smack dab into my breasts! That was the last time we saw John Tortorella.
Rest in peace JT. We love ya!
Speaking of Torts, remember when I yelled at him for swearing on the phone and he thought it was hilarious! And when you first told him we were dating and my name was Kristi Loveridge and he said he thought it was a great porn name. Then there was the time at Todd's wedding when out of nowhere this little Italian guy from the Bronx ran up and hugged me; which was a little awkward considering his face came right smack dab into my breasts! That was the last time we saw John Tortorella.
Rest in peace JT. We love ya!
2 Assinine Arguements with a 3 1/2 year old
Samantha : "Is this tomorrow?"
Me: "No, this is today, Friday. Tomorrow is Saturday."
Samantha: "No, this is tomorrow, MOM."
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As we were driving to a restaurant for lunch we passed by a car dealership.
Samantha: "Momma, I want to eat at that restaurant." (She says as she is pointing to the car dealership)
Me: "No honey, that is a place where you buy cars. We'll be at the restaurant soon."
Samantha: "No, you don't buy cars there, we eat there."
Me: "Whatever."
Me: "No, this is today, Friday. Tomorrow is Saturday."
Samantha: "No, this is tomorrow, MOM."
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As we were driving to a restaurant for lunch we passed by a car dealership.
Samantha: "Momma, I want to eat at that restaurant." (She says as she is pointing to the car dealership)
Me: "No honey, that is a place where you buy cars. We'll be at the restaurant soon."
Samantha: "No, you don't buy cars there, we eat there."
Me: "Whatever."
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Titanium
Ladies and Gentleman, my back.4 screws, 2 rods and a spacer : $15,000
2 nights in hospital : $16,000
Spine surgical team of 9 : $30,000
Having insurance pay 95% : Priceless
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Wanting to shout it at the top of my lungs!
As part of my "lose a few pounds" scheme I purchased a few of the frozen entrees from various companies; Lean Cuisine, South Beach, Weight Watchers, etc. I wanted to sample each brand before I bought massive quantities of any one type. Well, in my first try I found a winner!! It was the Lean Cuisine Panini Chicken Club and it was AWESOME! Maybe my expectations were just super low, but I found myself thoroughly enjoying it! It had tomatoes, chicken, bacon and cheese on a sourdough bread that came out of the microwave crispy and delicious. It only had 9g of fat and 350 calories and was high in protein and fiber. I've never had good feelings towards these frozen "health" foods, but this one may have changed my mind.
Thumbing my nose at the snow
Yesterday as I was terribly depressed because of the yucky weather and my difficult children, I decided to lift my mood by putting the new duvet cover I made on my bed. It fit better than I thought it would and looks great, I think. Samantha stood outside my room when I was finished and just said "Oh momma, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty!". It was cute. Every time I went into my room after putting it on, I smiled. THAT is the sign of a good looking room!
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