How I spent my summer vacation

Do you remember when you were young and in elementary school and one of the first things that you wrote was about your summer vacation? It was a great easy assignment for that first day back for the teacher to give. Well, if I had to write one this year come the end of summer I think it would be filled with all my trips to see doctors. Considering that before April my last trip was October and my trip before that was more than a couple of years ago, I think I'm doing nicely on making up for lost time in the doctors offices. Wait a second though I should get credit for all the time spent with kids in doctors offices shouldn't I? Oh well, to late to see if that excuse would work.

Anyway, I had my appointment with the orthopedic surgeon today and after I was able to climb back down from the ceiling that he sent me flying through while examining my knee, the final decision is that I get to have surgery. I've torn my meniscus and if I want to be able to do all the things that I should be able to do with my knee, I really need to have this repaired. First step is to wait for Tricare to get me a referal for a MRI to see just what the total damage to the meniscus is, and shortly after that is done I will be sitting down with doctor to discuss what and how this will happen and then the when. I don't think it will be all that long of a process to get from today to having the surgery, or at least that is not how it sounded with doctor this morning. Probably the longest waits will be the referal and then the appointment date for the MRI. Right now I'm pretty willing to bet that come the start of the new school year I will be spending time on cruches and back in a brace after having had surgery. Could prove to be a very interesting start to the new school year. You know the time of year when there is the non stop running of kids here, there, and everywhere! But that is just my guess, and in the coming weeks I'm sure that it will get much clearer on just when. Although I will admit that the idea of not being able to go and do the back to school registration out at the high school would not break my heart. I think Army Guy should have the joy of doing two registration on two different days and losing several hours of his life due to standing in lines that never move just one year at the high school. Alright I'm aware that is a mean thing, but people you really have no idea just what it is like with this school!

So basically this is going to be a summer spent with doctors, on crutches, in a brace, doing a whole heck of a lot of nothing other than bordering on the verge of pulling my hair out because I'm bored! Now that is just some real great fun. I hope that everyone is having a good week so far, and I'll be back tomorrow with another picture from archives.

Monday Morning Time Travel

100_1763, originally uploaded by torri_g.

The great thing about sitting and going through five years worth of picture taking out here in Arizona, is the discovery of pictures long forgotten. Seeing the pictures of the girls make this Mother's heart long for the days when they were so very much younger, and seeing the pictures of other things made me either laugh, or think "Wow! I took that picture?" There are tons of great flash back pictures that now that I have an idea of just what disk, or flash drive they are on, may be making their way to being posted. But that is going to mean sitting and finding them again and transferring from their archive to something more accessible for me.

Today's picture though is from June 2005, and a trip made out to Organ Pipe National Monument. Once you travel the 192 miles west from our place here in Arizona, you land in a town called Why and really have yourself a laugh at how appropriately named that town is. Pass by the Why Travel Shop and laugh a bit more. Go through a border patrol check point and realize that you are just minutes from the border, and then you see the signs for the monument. Of course you are still wondering Why you drove all this way just to see cactus. I mean it is Arizona and I think the state tree is cactus since you can't go anywhere without seeing several different types! This place is special though. There is a wide variety of cactus that grows out there in the desert and one of the only area's that organ pipe cactus grows. If you ever get the chance to make the trip out there make sure to pack a picnic lunch since there really isn't much out there. Be prepared to have birds hounding your picnic area looking for crumbs, and while sitting in the picnic area keep an eye out for all kinds of creatures. Take the time to drive through the monument loop that will take through the desert and the mountains. Even though you will probably need your back adjusted after you are done with the trip because the road is true Arizona dirt road.(For anyone who has never been out here that means we use boulder size rocks for our dirt roads, and love to have them as wash boarded from the monsoon as we possibly can. That way when you get the vehicle up to about say...5-10 miles per an hour, you feel as if the whole thing is being shaken apart.)
The point of this is it was worth the long day trip out there. Even the vibrating roller coaster ride through the desert. There were lots of great things to photograph that day.

Alright, today's trip back in time and travel guide is done. I hope that everyone has a great start to the week, now excuse me while my back remembers how much it hurt after that trip.

Quick Weekend

I'm sitting here and can not belive that the weekend is all but over already. What did I get done? Great question really, and there is only one time wasting answer. I sat all weekend going through pictures. Every single picture that I have taken in the last 5 years! Two days worth of looking at pictures really has left me not wanting to look at another picture again for a little while. Which is fine since I actually have other stuff to try to get done tomorrow. Why the major going through of pictures? No I wasn't just looking for a way to be lazy this whole weekend. Army Guy has a friend who asked about me putting together some stock photo's to see about selling. Bad thing is that the more I look at the pictures the more I tend to not like any of them. I had helpers though this weekend. All three of the girls and Army Guy went through the first one's that I selected to help me pick which one's to keep or get rid of. Although, Army Guy only picked one to get rid of, I guess he was either being kind of really just thought they were all good enough. It is done though and there are 200 pictures waiting for him to look at and see what he thinks.

Other than that there really isn't much of anything else. Like I said, I sat going through pictures all weekend long. This week is my orthopedics appointment, and before that on Tuesday I really have to get out and pick up the x-ray's from the hospital tomorrow. There is going to be an assortment of errands to run this week, and school clothes shopping trip for Sweetpea. Which then leads me right back to pictures yet again because of needing to start work on her senior portraits. Oh and the fact that I have portraits to do for someone else in the month of July. Binky Sue has said that she is going with me for any portrait sessions to remind me to be careful with what I do with my knee. Of course this was after she threatened to duct tape my brace to my leg. She's just looking out for her Mom though.

Alright, that is it for this entry tonight. I hope that everyone had a great weekend, and that there is a great week just waiting for all of us.

A kitty conversation

IMG_5753, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Gypsy- So Angel tell me what in the world is with this lady and that thing that flashes bright light?

Angel- Oh don't worry you get used to it, and every week when she comes looking for you with it you will learn to mess with her and ruin her day with goofy antics.

Gypsy- Why does she do it every week if she knows we are going to ruin her great shots with goofy looking ones?

Angel- Well because on Friday she does a post about us animals, though for life of me I can't imagine why she would want to post pictures of those dog furballs.

Gypsy- Yeah those two scare me and I don't see spending a lot of time with them. So since we are back here and she has that flashy thing going give me some tips on how to ruin her shots.

Angel- Well right now off the top of my kitty head I would say if I sniff you then walk off that will pretty much get the job done.

Gypsy- Oh cool! I think you and I can be great friends because you are so smart.

Alright probably not exactly what the conversation would have been, but since I am convinced that Angel just goes out of her way to make shooting a good picture of her impossible, it is the conversation that I think would happen. The great news is that a real kitty break through happened in the back hallway last night. Angel and Gypsy hanging out in the same area and Angel cleaning Gypsy. There was no hissing, no smacking of paws, no fighting at all. We were all happy to see the two interacting with each other in such a great calm way, and yes I had lots of pictures ruined by the two doing things that just were not so cute.

It is Friday again and time to head over to visit Steve and Pickle and all of the great animals that stop by to visit them every week. If you want to play along all you have to do is post your own and leave a link in comments. I hope that everyone has a great Friday and relaxing weekend.

Just simple Thursday

wildfiresunset, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Since my mind is on several other thoughts today, I think just a simple sunset photo taken back in May during the wildfires is good enough for a post. I hope that everyone has a very simple, and good Thursday.

Saying Thank You

Binky Sue w/members of Lions Club, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Last night was Binky Sue's night to meet and say thank you to the local Lions Club for the scholarship. Binky Sue's nerves got the better of her as she stood to talk about herself, future plans, and what went into her decisions for her future. In true Binky Sue form she made a room full of people tear up. She may have been nervous, and she may have been to the point of talking 100 words a second, but the message that she delivered touch every one of the people in that room last night. A very simple don't tell me I can not achieve things, because I can and I will. Don't think that just because I am a child with special needs, it means that I'm not smart enough, because I am. I may have to work harder, and find different ways to understand, but if you believe in me I can do anything.
There were two retired teachers in the group last night and based on things we heard from everyone after the meeting they are very pleased with their choice of recipient of the award this year. Watching them all during her speech we could see them feel her joy, excitement, and her sadness. Basically it was one heck of night. However Binky Sue's favorite part of the night was receiving a tiny little statue of a lion with the lions club emblem on it. It now gives her saying "I'm a ferwosias (ferocious) Lion!" real meaning to her. Even to the point of last night when we got home showing it off and saying "See I told you I was Lion!" Indeed you are Binky Sue and Mom, Dad, and lots of other people are very proud of you.

I hope that everyone is enjoying a good week and that it isn't flying by to quickly.

Slowly going mad

IMG_5609-1, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Does it make any sense to say that the days are flying by but at the same time they are dragging on endlessly? Well, for me that is what they seem to be doing. I'm actually to the point that I can not wait for my appointment next week with orthopedics for my knee. The fact that I can go without the brace is great, but the limitations on available movements and amount of time I can spend walking before achy pain turns to just pain is getting right with me. Having to make sure that I don't kneel, don't twist, don't do a whole list of things with it is slowly driving me mad! I'll say it again, I have never been a good patient probably because I just don't have the patience for it.

The other reason for slowly going mad here is because summer vacation usually has meant getting out of the house with the girls to head out to the canyon area's for some hiking, and discovering of new things. Once again we are back to the topic of the knee! Add to that the fact that for some reason the pool still has yet to open up and the girls are having one very boring summer so far. Which is causing me to hear the ever dreaded words "I'm bored!" Oh this is going to be a very long summer.

Alright enough of my complaining for the day. I hope that everyone is having a good week so far, and hopefully I will remember to take my camera with me tonight to take pictures of Binky Sue at the Lions Club meeting thanking them for the scholarship.

Simple Saturday

IMG_5574, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Still working with pictures that I have taken in and around the house. Good news is that I have ventured out of the house three times this week without my immobilizer brace. Bad news just one stupid mistake with my movements and I shot pain tearing through my knee again this week. Loud popping and clicking does not equal good things, but I really can not continue to "take it easy". Let's just face it people I'm a horrible patient, and I just don't see that changing any time real soon.

I'm hoping that sometime today Binky Sue will have her room back in order and that she will allow me to shot some pictures of the new more organized look. There is also the ever wonderful laundry that needs to be done, and some other cleaning. Wait, lots of other cleaning. I need to grab a notebook and make a list of all the movies that will be leaving the house and heading to my niece for her to enjoy watching with her baby boy. Looking through them in the box that they are in right now brought back memories of all the times certain movies were watched with my own girls. It is a Disney movie collection that is very large and instead of selling them I want to give them to my niece for her to be able to have same found memories of sitting and watching all of her little guys favorites over and over again.
Anyway, I hope that everyone has a great Saturday and that there is lots of time spent with those that you care about the most.

Gypsy Rose and her new places to hide

Gypsy Rose, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Well, since I didn't get any picture of birds like I was hoping to, I'm going with Miss Gypsy Rose and her new hiding spots...I mean bed and tower. Binky Sue has been down sizing her room and doing a college makeover and Gypsy Rose this week got a very pretty and super soft bed and a kitty condo tower. I think the only reason Gypsy likes them is because it is right now giving her new places to hide. I do have to report though that a break through has happened with Gypsy. She now runs towards the door, and on a couple of occasions she has taken four steps out the door and sat in the hallway. Alright so she has not sat for longer than maybe 30 seconds at any given time, but it is a HUGE deal. Take into account that when she came home here to live in February that she trembled when ever anyone other than Binky Sue got close, I was thrilled to see her run towards the door and venture out into the hallway, even if it had only been 5 seconds.
However with all of the major changes going on in Binky's room this week Gypsy is back in hiding. Mostly because of other people coming in the room to help with things. Let that door close and no one but Binky Sue and Gypsy in the room, and Miss Gypsy Rose is snuggled up on her girls lap watching endless videos on YouTube.

Alright it is Friday again and that means time to head on over to visit Steve and Pickle and all of the great animal friends that gather there. If you want to play along all you have to do is post your own and leave a link in comments. I hope that everyone has had a great week and that there is a very good weekend ahead for all of us.

Poor Puppy

Poor Puppy, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I know it isn't Friday yet, but some pictures of animals just can't wait. Imagine my surprise to come out of the back side of the house to find this laying on the couch. The look of "leave me alone I'm depressed and trying to nap here" that Trinity had on her face was to much for me. Poor pitiful puppy had been left all alone in the living room. I can guess how she got the pillow and blanket down on her, with 70 pounds of doggy bashing her body into the back of the couch would be how. I'm guessing with Sweetpea and Little Bug out at the park, and Binky Sue and Mom doing stuff in their rooms, Trinity just really didn't like the fact that she was all alone. Ah once again I say poor pitiful puppy.

Mindless Monday

IMG_5700, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Because the easiest things for me to photograph are either in the house or just outside my front door, I have another sunset photo.
Kind of getting a very slow start to the day here because of staying up late with the girls. Mimi left very early this morning to head back home and we were up late being goofy and filling the house laughter. She has to head back though since she has a boot camp date for the end of the month. With great protest from her last night I handed her probably the single most important thing that you can hand someone heading out for boot camp...a new book of stamps. It is the not so subtle hint for her to write to us and let us know how she is doing. When she has some free time of course, which odds are she will not have much. My real hope is that she will send at least one and then we can send her mail encouraging her during her training time for the Army. She may not be my baby girl, but she is in my heart just as much as any of my own baby girls. We are proud of Mimi, be safe traveling back home, and enjoy the last couple of weeks before your feet start walking the path that you have chosen for your adult life.

Yes, I'm a little emotional here this morning, but saying good bye is never a great thing. I'm sure that I will have three girls here today that will be even more emotional than myself, but that is just how it works out every now and then. I hope that everyone has a good Monday and that there is a good week ahead for all of us.

Sibling Sunday...It starts again

Sweetpea, originally uploaded by torri_g.

We are not even a full month since the end of the school year, and all things about senior year have started to roll into the mail box already. The reminders about senior portraits for year books, and the non stop flow of paperwork from all the photographers in the area wanting the business. Sweetpea doesn't want them though, she wants Mom to do her portraits, and we have already started talking about how to make them match her personality. We have talked about doing probably more outdoor type shots, because she just isn't the girl that is that into same "fancy" shots that her sister Binky Sue liked so much. As much as I dread the expense of another senior year, I'm looking forward to seeing just what Sweetpea will want or not care about. The best thing for Sweetpea is that she doesn't have to share her year with anyone else. There will be no other sibling or cousin with graduation this year. She can't wait to start with her senior portraits but of course there is a shopping trip that needs to be made before they can happen. Must have a new senior year wardrobe after all. Oh and there is a little thing about needing to have Mom out of the brace that would be very helpful too if I'm going to be shooting the portraits.

Other than the non stop mailings to the house about all things senior year, summer vacation is passing pretty quietly. There are up late nights and sleeping in till noon and not to much of anything else. Binky Sue got all of her thank you notes finished to go in the mail come Monday, and has a couple of college related things to do this week. Little Bug needs a trip to the library for some AP English summer reading books, and our visiting guest Mimi may be leaving this week. I have a very long list of things to get through but I'm finding that until I can get out of the knee immobilizer brace a lot of it is just going to have to continue to stay on that list. Great news though I did finally get the referral for orthopedics in the mail and can start my week off with getting an appointment.

Alright there is the sibling update and me finally being back on track with posting around here. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Sunday spent with those you care about the most, and that there is a good week just waiting for all of us.

Simple Saturday

IMG_5693, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Posting later tonight than usual but worth the wait for the sky to give me a a bit of a show with the sunset and clouds. We are having a very simple Saturday here in Arizona, and enjoying every minute of the chilled out relaxing weekend. I hope that everyone else has enjoyed a great Saturday and I will be back tomorrow with a return of the Sibling Sunday posts.

All Things Trinity

Trinity, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Well it has taken me a while, but I'm finally back to posting pets on Friday! This week Trinity gets the spotlight, and then I'll see about getting some new pictures of birds for the coming weeks.

All things Trinity...hmm, not really sure just what that would be. She is just a big coon hound, who for the most part just loves laying around doing nothing. Well, until the cat gets her all fired up or she gets the sudden urge to irritate Mia. I have come to realize that Trinity triggers about a good 80% of the irritation for Mia, mostly because when Trinity wants to play, she really wants to play. Mia isn't a I want to run wild playing in the house bashing into things kind of dog though. Trinity is still the funniest dog in this house though. The looks that she gets on her face, and her whole body language tells a story. Oh and let's not forget her voice, because when she finds things unfair, or wrong she is more than willing to let you know with her coon hound voice. I call her mouthy quiet a bit of the time because she will stand an argue with me. Trinity does still think that at 70 pounds she can be a lap dog, but at least most of the time she tries to be kind about it. She is a daddies girl who spends most of her day in his recliner seat waiting for him to return. Heaven forbid anyone else should dare to sit in his seat. Trinity is also probably the biggest chicken dog that I have ever seen. She will bark loudly to let you know something, but you are going to find her hiding behind the biggest piece of furniture in the room till she is sure that all is well.

It's Friday and that means time to head over and visit Steve and Pickle and all of the felines, furballs, and feathers that stop by. If you want to play along all you have to do is post your own and leave a link in comments. I hope that everyone has a great Friday!

Keeping teenagers busy

IMG_5632, originally uploaded by torri_g.

When you wake up and realize that because of a huge storm the night before you have no cable television and no internet connection, and you have four teenage girls living in your house. You find your self having a bit of a panic attack about just how the day is going to go. Remember I can't drive right now because of the right knee and the immobilizer brace. The pool down the street has yet to open for the summer season, and well there just isn't all that much to do without someone driving some where. Ah, but thanks to Army Guy and his helping the Germany SGM with his big truck this weekend, I had a front patio full of things to do. We will just call it the 2009 extreme summer makeover to the living room. The modular shrunk was given to Army Guy for helping move so much other stuff over the weekend. Which made me very happy because I love it! Now Binky Sue, MiMi, Sweetpea, and Little Bug might not have been so happy with Army Guy because they ended up having to move a lot of stuff yesterday. Of course when you are moving stuff anyway, there should be some deep cleaning that goes on also. So floors were vacuumed, scrubbed, things were dusted and wiped down, and a few walls needed some attention to. The question of "Why?" was a big one yesterday, and I swear they all paid attention to the time because they knew that I had appointment at 1:30, which I don't any of them were willing to let me be late for. The moving and cleaning of everything took a lot longer than it probably would have if I could have done it myself, but they did a great job and by late afternoon the cable television and internet were repaired and running again. All my girls got kisses, candy, and a big thank you from me for all of their hard work. They may not have liked it very much but they did do a great job, even if Little Bug and Sweetpea got fired from mopping the floors. There is still a long list of things that I want to try to get done around here, and hopefully by sitting here giving my leg a break from the brace for a little bit I will be able to get those things done myself here today.
I hope that everyone has a great Thursday, even though I'm not real sure just where the week is flying by to.

Knowing your cat finds you funny

IMG_5623, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Yes I know I'm on the wrong day for this post, but since I just need to drop the link by this coming Friday, I'm still good.
Sunday was a day of would have been really cute photo's with Angel. I swear she was doing it because she knew there was no way I would be able to get out to my camera and back again in time. The one that I really wanted to get was her sprawled out across the top of the laptop with her paws holding onto the corners of it. Perfect caption and title would have been "No! It's my computer time!". But that picture just was not meant to happen since the cat could hear me and my crutches making our way down the hallway. Finally I just sat in there with my camera in hand while Angel wandered all around me in a taunting "HA HA" kind of way. When I begged her to please let me take a picture of her, this is what she gave me. No joke people 30 minutes, about 25 pictures, and every single one of them has this look on her little kitty face! Now when I would press the shutter button the look wasn't there, but being that she moves fast enough, and I swear is laughing at my pain of trying to capture a picture of her, this is the look for the week.
I also think that miss kitty is enjoying getting the dogs all fired up to chase her and comes running past me on the right side just so the dogs will come slamming into my leg. Her name maybe Angel, but I'm thinking the word Evil needs to come before that. There are several other words that I'm thinking need to come before that but I will just keep those to myself.

I know I missed doing a entry for Trinity and will try to get her royal dogginess captured in a picture for this coming Friday. In the mean time head on over to visit Steve and Pickle and all of the wonderful animals that visit them. Have a great Tuesday!

Monday morning randomness

traitor knee, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Back from the doctor and other errand running for other appointment this week, and I will probably be sitting with my leg up for the next couple of hours. This traitor knee of mine just seems to be enjoying the pain that it can cause me. Anyway, doctor said that I have to keep wearing the immobilizer brace, probably for a lot longer that I would really like to, and I am going to be off to orthopedics to be seen. Based on the exam the thought of either a torn ACL or PCL still stands, and then he tossed in the possibility of a torn meniscus. I can at least put weight on the leg, and can walk for short time periods without use of the crutches. For any amount of walking outside of the house I am to use the crutches for walking with. Oh joy...I just so love those crutches so very much! I am supposed to take the brace off a couple of times a day and try working the knee in a straight out to bend position as long as I do no twisting of the knee and it doesn't cause to much pain, but no walking without the brace except for showers and getting dressed. The fun of this...if there is a fun to this...is that I have to keep wearing the immobilizer brace till orthopedics tells me to no longer wear it, and since I have to wait for the referral to show up in the mail, heaven only knows how long that will be.

In other news Little Bug is starting to feel a little bit better and maybe today she will be able to get through the day without 5 nap times. Although I do need to wake her up to take her medicine which we are no an hour late on, but I was out making the 500 mile trip with the crutches. (Have I mentioned how very much I hate those things?)
I hope that everyone has a good start to the week.

Simple Sibling Sunday

IMG_5620, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Sleeping in on Sunday morning is a great thing, but one guaranteed way to get 4 teenage girls up well before noon is home made waffles. Add some fresh strawberries, cherries, redi whip, and sausages, and you have your self a stamped of teen girls heading towards the kitchen. They were willing to let me take pictures of plates of food but not them this morning. I'm guessing just waking up probably had a lot to do with that, I mean who really wants their picture taken just minutes after they have gotten out of bed?

Not to much in the way of plans for the day. Army Guy cooked breakfast this morning and will be cooking dinner for us tonight. I'm going to continue my very slow approach to getting laundry done here, and probably not much of anything else. The girls...well I know that one is leaving the house today to go hang out with some other friends, but my three girls are more than likely going to spend the day hiding in their rooms for fear that Mom may call on them to do some chores.

I hope that everyone is enjoying a great weekend and that today brings a perfect end to the weekend for all of us.

A letter to my angel

IMG_5555, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Maybe it is because the last month has been one heck of a roller coaster ride, or maybe because my mind has been a million other places, but today has not been the dreaded painful that June 6th usually is. The usual dark clouds that surround my heart on this day gave way to some light, and laughter. Whatever the reason for it I'm not going to question it at all I miss you Alexandria Marie, and if tonight typing this is the only time I cry today, then I'm doing far better than any of the last 15 years. It has been a year of big miles stones here for your sisters, and I have found myself almost daily drawn to thoughts of you, and where in the mile stones you would be. I have found there is nothing wrong with that, till the fact that you are no longer with us hits me. I think because today so many of the little ones that I have asked you to keep watch over had reasons to celebrate today, placed it firmly in my mind that sometimes this date on the calendar isn't so bad. Over the course of the day I have watched your sisters, and listened to them and their laughter and found a real thankful comfort with it. I may no longer have you here with me, but in my heart just like them, you will always be here with me. I love you very much my sweet little angel, and continue to do the great job of keeping watch over your sisters and all of the little ones that hold a place in my heart.

Little Bug & the case of strep throat

Little Bug, originally uploaded by torri_g.

The picture is from a couple of weeks ago, because I'm pretty sure if I were to point my camera in Little Bugs direction right now she very well may beat me with one of my own crutches. Army Guy was off like a flash with Little Bug yesterday morning to the clinics to find out if I was right with my thought of strep throat. Sure enough I was correct, and Little Bug now has a arsenal of medication. Strep throat plus cold equal a very miserable Little Bug! However, hopefully since we have the medications now she will be feeling better soon. I'm hoping that this is all for the family take down with this summer cold stuff. Binky Sue started it and Little Bug kicked it up a notch and that is more than enough already because I don't care to see where Sweetpea takes this to. Oh and I don't want my visiting girl (who we are working on a nick name for) to get sick while staying with us.

Speaking of all my girls, I need to mention what great help they have been since Tuesday night. They have taken over the cooking, and cleaning. Heck they have even taken on the giving of lectures. Most of the lectures are being given to me about taking it easy, and "just where are your crutches Mommy?" and "Why didn't you call one of us to help you?" I have to admit that they are very good with the lectures though. They really must have been paying attention all these years.
I have follow up on Monday for my knee and then there will be some other errand running for another appointment later in the week. I hope Army guy doesn't get tired of having to drive me all over the place.

Well now with all of the major distraction from Binky Sue and Mimi or Jojo and Mojo the bad little monkeys (which is what they are going to be called for now). I'm going to say that I hope that everyone has a great Saturday and enjoys a day filled with laughter surrounded with those you care about the most.

Clear mind needed for being a Mom

Well, if I had any doubts about my stopping taking the pain killers yesterday morning, I have none left now. My nausea and vomiting stopped as soon as the last pills I had taken worked their way out of my system. The blurred fog seemed to last a little longer, but by last night I felt clear to think again. Which is a good thing really since in my fog state I missed the fact that Little Bug was complaining about her throat being so painful. She started her day off Wednesday with a fever, but seemed to be running the same course that Binky Sue did about a week and a half ago with her cold. Little Bug by last night and Mommy finally feeling clear of the fog, I noticed just how much pain she was in with trying to swallow. Little Bug grabbed the flash light for me and a quick look in her mouth and I'm thinking it might be possible that she has strep throat. So this morning as soon as that appointment line is up and going I'm going to be seeing about getting her in to be checked. Well, I will be trying to set the appointment at least, the driving today is going to have to be up to Army Guy. I'm also going to see about getting an appointment set for myself here today because someone has got to have a better way for dealing with this pain that doesn't involve vicoden or any other major drug that is going to make me sick to my stomach. I'm not sure how happy work will be with Army Guy, but since he is right now the only one that can drive, they are going to have to deal with it. By they way, this is why there should be quick fixes for Mom's because there really isn't any time for down time. Just a thought...I'm sure it will never work out that way though. One other thing is very clear to me though, this Mom can not take pain killer medicine because I like having clear brain function to much, and missing something like Little Bug and her major throat pain is just not acceptable to me.

I hope that everyone has a good Friday, and I will be back later with an update on Little Bug and possibly a Feline Friday post.

Blurred Life

Yes I know the picture is difficult to look at because it is so blurred, but since that is how I'm feeling here this morning it works well. I'm finding myself this morning with that drug induced hang over feeling, and really have never been a huge fan of that feeling at all. I know that I'm supposed to take it easy, and try to stay ahead of the pain that is currently tearing through my knee, but taking the pain killers is killing my brain function. I'm also a little tired of the nauseated feeling that has been the last 24 hours for me. Feel sick as shooting pain goes ripping through my knee because I made the wrong movement with it. Feel sick because of taking the pain killers even with eating each time I take the things. Now let me complain about the never ending sitting and doing nothing. There are times that I don't mind sitting and doing nothing, but this is something else entirely. I've never been a very good patient and this time is going to probably get me yelled at. I don't care to have everyone in my house doing the things that I should be doing myself. I don't care to have everyone waiting on me. I really don't care that yesterday I probably logged more hours of sleeping than I have in the past month! I have chores that I need to do...that I NEED TO DO not my kids or hubby. I have a brain that I want to use and not have that drugged up feeling. If you can't guess, I'm probably going to be difficult here today and yes I will deal with getting lectured and possibly yelled at. I don't like doing nothing at all for days on end!

I hope that everyone has a good day, and I will try to not be to difficult with the people in my house.

Stopping me in my tracks

Well, I really did it with my knee. By 7:00 last night Army Guy had me in the local ER because after trying to put on a shoe and hearing three loud pops, the pain ripping through my knee and entire leg was a definate 10 plus. I'm on crutches now and not supposed to put any weight on the leg for at least two weeks. I'm supposed to get in with my PCM and probably over with ortho and see if they want an MRI done of the knee. Based on look and I think the look of pain on my face every time they touched the leg to move it, the doctor was sure that I have torn ligaments. Now the needing an appointment and MRI done is to see if it is the ACL and or the PCL and just how much damage I did.

My basic thoughts after last night are that slip on shoes are the way to go from now on. The little x-ray gal at the hospital is evil. I had two of the very best nurses ever! That the doctor that saw me was very kind with her perscription of pain killers for me. Oh and when sleeping in the recliner becomes the best option for causing the least amount of pain...you know that you did a dandy of a job with your injury.
Anyway, I hope that everyone has a good day.

Settling into summer vacation

IMG_5113, originally uploaded by torri_g.

We are now in the second week of summer vacation and yesterday was the first day that it really felt like it. There was no running to do that couldn't be put off a day, and all of the girls slept in. I'm sure in the next couple of days I will start hearing the groans of them being bored and wanting to go do something, but for now I'm going to enjoy the quiet that is over half of my morning. The girls views of summer vacation right now is sleeping in late, staying up late, and bumming around in pj's all day. There was talk last night about seeing in the pool was open and what times. Of course as they find out that information and start going the monsoon will probably get started, because that is how it works here in Arizona.

Since lazy seems to be the name of the game this week, I don't really have to much more for this entry. I hope that everyone is having a good week so far, and enjoy summer vacation with kids if possible.

All things Mia

IMG_5539, originally uploaded by torri_g.

No it isn't Friday, but since I'm trying to get back on track with things I'm going to start the week with an animal post and end the week with one. Little Bug and Binky Sue were not the only one's to graduate during the break from blogging. Miss Mia graduated from her doggy training this past Saturday. I was very proud to watch her go through the tests with flying colors. We still have an issue in the house though. Mia does fine with every other dog but Trinity still. Which we are working on and learning new ways of dealing with every day. At some point in time the two sibling dogs are going to have to learn to share the house with each other again, and hopefully that day will come very soon. But for now I'm going to let Mia rejoice in the fact that she was the only doggy to graduate this past weekend and not hear the words that maybe she should come back for another round of classes. GO MIA!

Now we need to head over to visit Steve and Pickle to see all of the great animals that stop by over there. If you want to play along all you have to do is post your own and leave a link in comments. I hope that everyone has a great start to the week.