Lost in the confusion

Somewhere between new patios and broken toes I completely neglected to write my post about the new and improved ME! Which is a shame, really, because the post I originally had in my head to write was full of suspense and intrigue and lots of good laughs. But, now I've gone and blown the surprise by posting pictures on flickr that showed the new and improved me before I even had a chance to mention the new and improved me.

I even took before and after shots!!!! So I'm going to post them here now anyway. Because maybe some of you don't follow my flickr photostream and so it will still be a surprise to you.

So, here are the BEFORE shots.





I have had long hair off and on throughout my life. I end up cutting it for a myriad of reasons. This time it was because it got to the point that whenever I looked in the mirror it looked like polygamist long hair not sexy long hair. And I pined for something that looked less "mommy". So my hair met up with a pair of sharp scissors and THIS was the result.






Plus, I got new glasses, too!




Now I can move forward, clinging to every last inch of youth left in me, pretending that my 30th birthday is not lurking just around the corner.

My Souvenirs

My day at the hospital wasn't a total waste. I did get to bring home two nice (and very expensive) souvenirs.

First, this lovely xerox copy of my foot x-ray.



Now if it weren't for the fact that it was my foot and that I knew without a doubt that it was my baby toe that hurt like crazy I would never guess from looking at this picture that it was broken. Guess it's a good thing I'm not a radiologist. Since the doctor looked at it and said that it was a very definite break. Or maybe she couldn't actually see anything either but wanted to make me feel like it was worth my time (and money) to get my foot x-rayed so she just told me it was broken.

My second souvenir is this lovely new fashion footwear that I will be sporting for the next few weeks.



It's possibly the most expensive single shoe I will ever buy. But to be fair, despite it being less than beautiful, it actually really is quite functional. I have hobbled around with it on and with it off and my toe does hurt less when I walk with it on. Imagine that, something that does exactly what it is designed to do. So I've been trying to walk with it on anytime I get up from my perch on the couch.

Next time I'll just get the tee-shirt instead.

Progress

I am now FINALLY ready to show pictures of how the backyard is coming together. It's getting really exciting to see all the progress. (of course, now thanks to my broken toe progress is going to slow down a bit....stupid toe!)

So, when last I left you the back of the house still looked like this:







A few days later we pulled out the deck and it looked like this:







The following day the Bobcat came.



It dug up all my grass and broke up the old patio:





Then it brought in a bunch of gravel, which was quite a job because the dump truck had dumped all the gravel at the neighbor's house two doors down instead of at my house.



The next day the cement truck and the pump showed up bright and early.



And the cement pouring began!



After it was all poured and smoothed we waved goodbye to the cement truck and they began laying down the design.





Next they smoothed some more, and started coloring it.





The color was actually a powder. I guess I was expecting it to be liquid, because that really surprised me! He would reach into the bucket of powder and just toss it onto the wet cement. Then the smoothed it out some more. There was also some texturing involved, too.





After much smoothing and texturing and coloring and more smoothing the cobblestone paper was pulled up and a sealer was sprayed on. (I actually missed all that part. I left for the credit union and well, you know the rest of the story.)

By the time I got home it looked like this:







A special shout out to Ryan of Overcast Days for taking the final pictures for me, as I was a bit laid up by then. (I just recently found out from a blogging pro that it's correct blog etiquette to give the entire blog name and not just the author's name when referencing another blogger. Hum, who knew?)

So there you have it.

Well, not really. There is still a LOT left to do. First there is the new deck to build, which can't be done right away. The new cement has to set up for at least a week before we will be able to start construction. We also have two sheds to assemble and chain link fencing to install. (Mike started digging holes for the fence poles yesterday, and boy what a big job that turned into!!!!)

There is also the matter of the front parking strip.



Due to the extreme heat and wind the day they poured it dried too fast for them to get the design and color on it. He originally told us he would have to tear it up and re-pour it. But then he remembered he could try an overlay that was the same cobblestone design as the patio. So it will be interesting to see how that is done.

So, it's still a work in progress. And I hope my back lawn survives everything. I haven't been able to water it for a little over a week now because of everything going on. (cement workers not wanting mud, digging up sprinkling lines, loads of lumber in the corner of the yard) Because it would be really sad to finally have a beautiful patio and deck only to sit out back and look at dead grass!

And since I am now less help than before I am not too shameless to send out an open request to anybody who feels the desire to build a deck, install chain link fence, or assemble sheds in the heat. Because otherwise my dear husband will be doing it mostly alone. I promise to keep you well supplied with water and gateraid and food. But I will not, under any circumstances, go to the credit union to get you cash.


And for those who have kids like mine who just can't get enough pictures of the big trucks visit my flickr photoset of the continuing project. There you will find oodles of pictures of big trucks, and a few movies of trucks in action, too.

whew!

I just finished uploading 195 pictures to flickr. Seriously! That's a TON of pictures. So give me a little bit of time to choose the best and get them ready for your blogging pleasure. In as much I'm more or less stuck sitting around with my foot propped up on a pillow I should have them ready in no time. (maybe, I hope)

Stay tuned....

Just my pride was wounded, for the most part

I know many of you are patiently waiting for more pictures of the progress on the big backyard project. Well, and some of you not so patiently, too. I've actually had phone calls, emails, and tweets requesting more pictures! (which, of course makes me feel loved and missed. Thanks for that!)

And I WILL be posting more soon, I promise. But I ran into a little snag today that is delaying the processing and posting of these pictures.

Believe it or not I actually took my first ride in an ambulance today. And it wasn't nearly as exciting at it sounds.

The cement truck showed up bright and early this morning, and the kids were having a
great time watching the big trucks. The patio was looking AWESOME and it really was shaping up to be a great day.

Around noon I loaded the kids up in the car to go to the credit union. I needed to withdraw some money and I thought we could go make the withdrawal, pick up Aunt Natalie (who works at the credit union), go to lunch, and then drop Natalie back off and head home. It was a chance to get the kids out and let them run around a bit so they wouldn't be stir crazy later.

On our arrival at the credit union I load the baby into the stroller. Of course this prompts the older two to fight over who gets to push the stroller. Adam must've actually listened to some of my lectures on being a gentleman and letting Zoey take turns first because he actually told her that she could push it first. Zoey is going through a severe "all by myself" stage right now and was being a bit obnoxious about letting me help her. But in as much as we were in a parking lot AND that she's actually too short to see over the top of the stroller I was insisting helping. In the course of this struggle through the parking lot I tripped over her feet and, since I was just wearing flip-flops (which my husband would tell you was my first problem) I stubbed my toe pretty good.

As we got into the credit union my toe started to really hurt. At this point I was pretty darn sure it was actually broken. But I here on a mission and didn't want to be deterred. I would just have to deal with the broken toe in a minute.

I walked up to teller's counter and told her what I needed. By now my toe was REALLY starting to hurt, and swell up, and get purple. And I was feeling slightly sick to my stomach. (I'm pretty much a baby and have a pretty low tolerance for pain. I also get nauseous at the sight of blood, or if somebody else is hurt.)

I tell the teller what I need and she tells me she'll have to go to the vault to get cash. As she walks away I am starting to feel a bit lightheaded and decide that while I wait I'm going to sit down. The kids have run off to the "kids corner" and are happily amusing themselves so I find me a chair and put my head down and start breathing deeply, hoping the woozy feeling will pass quickly.

The teller got back quicker than I expected so I took a deep breath, and thought I would be okay to stand up again. By now I was pretty much hobbling as I tried to make my way back to the teller. I pulled out my ID (knowing they would want it for a cash withdrawal) and about then the room really started to spin and my field of vision started to close in on me. I knew this was the tel-tale sign that I was about to pass out. I remember kind of leaning into the counter for support and saying "oh shit" under my breath.

The next thing I remember I'm waking up from what felt like a deep sleep and a weird dream, but there were bright lights and lots of people standing around me. I was really confused about what was going on at first. They were asking me my name and how old I was and if I had any medical conditions.

Slowly I began to remember where I was and realized what happened. I wanted to tell everybody that I would be fine and to just go about their business, but they had already called the paramedics, who were rushing in right at that moment.

And then all the questions began again. Name? Age? Social? Last menstrual cycle? Are you pregnant? Do you have any allergies? Do you hurt anywhere?

Well yes! My toe hurts! That was the original cause of all this in the first place! Oh, and my head hurts because, in case you didn't notice, I just used it to break my fall on this lovely tile floor.

I kept trying to explain to them that I do in fact have a history of fainting when I'm hurt or have blood drawn, and that I had drank a Dr. Pepper on and empty stomach, it was over 100 degrees outside and I was likely dehydrated since I hadn't had any water today, that I didn't have pain in my neck or back, and if they would just sit me up in a chair and give me some water and some food and a little ice for the back of my head that I'd be fine in a few minutes.

So what did they do instead? Leave my kids with my sister, (who had come downstairs by this time) wrap my neck in a brace, strap me to a backer board, and transport me to the hospital in the back of an ambulance.

All I could think the entire way to the hospital was "how much is this going to cost me?" Which means that the fall didn't result in any serious brain injury.

Once at the hospital they stick me in the "triage room" and then leave me there alone, waiting for a Dr. to come "clear me" to be taken off the backer board. So as I lay there alone I just keep thinking how ridiculous this whole thing is. "triage room" sounds like a place for people with things protruding from their chests, or for people how have rented a small limb shredder Not for people who have a broken toe and some mild nausea, which at this point was actually becoming worse by the minute. But the problem was I was alone in a room and strapped to a backer board, meaning if I had to throw up I was going to be wearing it all. So I began trying REALLY hard not to throw up.

About this point somebody came in and I started doing mental cheers, thinking that this nightmare was about to come to a quick close.

I was wrong. It was a nurse coming to take my blood and give me an IV, which I began immediately to protest. I told her, in no uncertain terms, that I was already dizzy and nauseous and that usually taking blood just makes that worse. Plus I was fine, REALLY. There was no need to stick in an IV "just in case" because I wasn't going to need it! And could I just PLEASE have a little water instead because I really think that would help me not throw up. And how much longer do I have to be on this stinking board anyway? Because my head is really starting to hurt!

She didn't listen to me, of course. She stuck me with her needle anyway, and didn't give me water, and told me I'd just have to wait for the doctor to take me off the board.

This was not turning out to be the good day I had expected.

When Mike showed up I was STILL on the stinking backer board. And getting really upset about it at this point. Do you have any idea how uncomfortable those things are? My hips and legs were really starting to ache from being confined for so long. And my head, which I hit on the tile floor, was really starting to hurt from being pressed up against the hard board. Plus I was really tired of staring up at the spot light on the ceiling!!!!

So when the door opened again I was really hopeful that it was FINALLY the dr. Of course it wasn't. It was the mean IV nurse again. This time come to give me and EKG. Apparently standard procedure when somebody comes in after fainting. And completely unnecessary. Why wasn't anybody listening to me when I told them that I am prone to fainting and that my toe just hurt! My heart is fine!!! Give me some water and some pain killer for my toe please!!!! And get me off this backer board before I kill somebody!!!!!!!!!

Here are a few pictures Mike took with his cell phone.





I look like I have huge teeth in that picture....oh well.


When the dr. eventually arrived on the scene, an hour later, I was in tears because I just couldn't stand being on that thing any longer! I was pretty darn close to just ripping the velcro straps off myself. It was such a relief to have a soft pillow behind my head. I was still woozy and wanted to puke, but at least I was on something soft now. And that helped.

Of course the first doctor didn't stay long. So then we were again playing the waiting game for another doctor to come in and give me the official work over. When she came in I was still feeling a bit stiff from being strapped on for so long, so when I sat up I kind of winced at the stiff pain in my back. So that certainly must mean I hurt my back when I fell and so she ordered x-rays.

I kept insisting that I was just a bit stiff and that I was fine. But I still hadn't had any food or liquid at this point and so when she had me stand up for her I got all pale and woozy again, which also freaked her out a bit. (even though I had been asking for something to drink and eat since the moment they wheeled me in!!!)

So I had to put the lovely hospital gown on and was wheeled off for x-rays of my lower back and my little toe.

When they returned me to the triage room after my x-rays there was finally something for me to drink and nibble on. I started with the apple juice and cookie, in an attempt to raise my blood sugar levels quickly. And boy was it was a night and day difference in how I felt!!!! The nausea finally subsided and I could sit up without the room spinning.

So I ate, and we waited, and waited, and waited. Somebody came in to take the kid books that were in my room. And we waited some more. I eventually took it upon myself to put my clothes back on because I was that sure that once the doctor looked at the x-rays that they would be sending me home.

After some more waiting the doctor came in and guess what the prognosis was....I had a broken toe and a small bump on the back of my head. Nothing more. So they taped up my toe, gave me an RX for some pain meds, and sent me on my merry way. 4 1/2 hours later.

On the way home I told Mike that Disneyland would've been cheaper than my little (completely unnecessary) trip to the ER, and it would've been a lot more fun!

So it looks like I'll be staying off my feet for a little while. Which means the backyard remodel will have to go on without my help for the time being.

The good news is that I'll have lots of time to post all the pictures that I've taken so far.

But not tonight. Because tonight I just took some lovely pain medications that are about to put me to sleep.

I couldn't resist

Okay, I'm not supposed to be blogging right now, but it's so much more fun than all the other things I should be doing. Plus I found this so funny I just couldn't resist.

Take a look at the following picture and see if you can find anything that is a bit unusual. If you are having trouble just click on the picture. That will take you to my flickr photostream, complete with helpful notes.



And for those of you who can't wait to see the progress on the yard, visit my Backyard Remodel set on flickr. I have labeled and put much commentary on all my pictures there. And you can see them even if you don't have a flickr account, so no excuses for not stopping by. :)

Okay, I just got caught blogging, so I'm off to be productive again. I'll stop by again soon.

I'd rather be blogging

Hi all! I know, you miss me. I promise to return soon. I have so many pictures of the backyard remodel to share....just no time right now. But believe me when I say that I'd rather be blogging!!!! Just hang in there, and be patient. I promise to make it worth the wait.

And speaking of waiting, those of you who are crazy and are counting down the days, have a stop over at my cousin's blog. She's got a fun t-shirt for sale that some of you may be interested in.

And maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to squeeze in a little blogging today, between loads of laundry and the field trip to the dentist and demolishing the old deck and renting a bobcat and reserving a dumpster.......at least it rained saving me the hassle of hand watering all my new flowers.

MIA

I've been a little MIA as of late. (as in "missing in action" not as in "Mama Mia")

So, lest you think I gave up on blogging, thought I'd give a little update as to why I've been a little gone lately.

See, we got this "brilliant" idea to pour a very large patio in the backyard. (like 900+ square feet!) As well as build a new deck large enough to put the grill on, to hopefully prevent any more knock overs. We also getting 2 sheds to store all our crap in and thus also need to fence off the backyard.

And while in the long run it will mean less grass to water and mow, as well as a fabulous place to cook and dine outside can I just tell you that it's a TON of work!?!?!

So while I usually blog in the wee hours of the night when the kids are in bed lately I have been getting up at the crack of dawn to work outside before it gets too hot and so by the wee hours of the night I am out cold. I know you all terribly miss reading my whitty commentary on life in general, but you will just have to wait a while longer because the project is still not even close to being done.

The guy that is pouring the concrete says he is ready to start excavating by next Wednesday, which means we have a TON to get done this weekend!!!! Wish us luck!

In the meantime I'll still be checking in with all your blogs as often as I can, and taking lots of pictures along the way so that when it's all done I can treat you to the ever popular before and after shots.

So please forgive my absence for awhile, I promise I will return! And then when it's all over we'll have a BBQ in my new and improved backyard. I know you can't wait!

Things that make you go hum

I am looking at a website for company that rents equipment for landscaping and excavating. While looking down the list of the equipment they carry I see they I can rent a "small limb shredder"

Now I'm wondering, what exactly falls under the classification of small limbs? I'm sure the baby's arms are still considered small. But what about mine? Are mine still small limbs? I'm sure my legs and my massive post-baby thighs are surely now considered large limbs. (and if I eat any more of this phish food sitting in front of me they will most certainly become extra-large limbs before too much longer.)

I should've had a V8

You know those moments when you come up with the PERFECT thing to say....10 minutes too late! I had such a moment today. It left me doing the "could've had a V8" head slap. (please tell me you remember the commercials....because if I have readers that don't, well that just makes me old!)

Anyway, I was teaching a class at church today and the topic was obedience. And for some reason whenever you start talking about "things you should be doing" at church the topic of emergency preparedness and food storage comes up. And I will be the first to admit that I am no expert in this area. So I'm trying to get the class back on track, so hoping to end this particular topic of conversation I say that somebody who is good at food storage will have to come teach me, and I can in turn help them with something that I'm good at. I thought that would end the discussion, but then somebody pipes up in the back "Well, what are you good at?"

I got flustered at the question and mumbled something under my breath and then tried to move on with the lesson.

10 minutes later I thought of how I should've responded. I wish that when the question shot up at me from the back of the room "Well, what are you good at?" that I had looked directly back at this women and said "Multiplying and replenishing the earth."

If you like Pina-Coladas, and getting caught in the rain

A fellow blogger reminded me that today was 7-Eleven's birthday. Which means, of course, FREE SLURPEES.

And I would like to take this moment to mention that it is my humble opinion that Pina-Colada is the only true slurpee flavor. Sure, everybody likes the blue rasberry because it turns your entire body blue when you drink it. (remember the scene in Juno?) But if you are going for pure flavor heaven it has to be Pina-Colada. But alas for some reason I can never find a Pina-Colada slurpee when I want it.

Which posed a serious problem when Pina-Colada Slurpees were the only thing I craved when pregnant. I remember many a summer day driving around with my little brother to every 7-11 in a 100 block radius on the quest for a Pina-Colada Slurpee. And remember, these were the days before the lovely built in satalite navigation system in my new Saturn Outlook. These were the days of the '97 Nissan Sentra. So we had no easy way of pulling up a map with turn-by-turn directions to every 7-11 in a 100 mile radius. No, we drove around aimlessly and did lots of u-turns in our search for the Holy Grail.

So I think I will enjoy me a free slurpee today. And as I drink I will savor not only the flavor, but also all the sweet memories of summers past that the heavenly flavor unlocks from my mind.

look on the sunny side of life

I've been trying ALL week to come up with at least one good thing about my husband being out of town. And I finally thought of something.

With my husband out of town I get to leave my toothbrush head on the Sonicare handle all week. No need to screw it on every time I brush or take it off each time I am done. All me, all the time. Happy teeth.

your flickr blogging lesson for the day

I read a lot of photography blogs, which often have step by step photoshop tutorials. Or how to get that great picture tutorials. So, in the spirit of being a blogger that gives back to her readers I've decided to post my first tutorial.

It's an overly simple tutorial, I'll be the first to admit. But I've actually had a few of my faithful readers ask me how I get my pictures into my blog. And for all of us first time bloggers it's a valid question.

I'm a HUGE fan of flickr and I use it for ALL my blogging picture needs. So, let the tutorial begin.


Okay, two easy ways to add photos from flickr to your blog.

If you only need 1 picture on your post (and want it at the top) do the following:

Upload your picture to flickr.
Go to that picture's page on flickr. Across the top find the "blog this" button (4th from the left) and hit it.
Follow the directions to link flickr to your blog (if you haven't already)
After that it's super easy! It will let you even write your entry and post it straight to your blog all from inside flickr. I love it! I just can't seem to figure out how to make it post pictures interspersed within the text this way. So if you want to do that.....see below.

If you want to post multiple pictures or a picture in the middle of your post

Upload your picture to flickr.
go to that photo's flickr page.
across the top of the picture pick the "all sizes" option (5th from the left)
choose the size you want to post on your blog. (I usually do medium or small) and click on that size at top.
Go to box 1 underneath the photo that says "copy and paste this HTML into your webpage"
select it and copy it
open another browser window and go to your blog post (either a new post you are working on or an old post you are editing)
Put cursor in position within your text where you want picture to appear on blog.
paste.

your picture is now embedded in your blog. seriously. it's that easy!!! you don't even need to know html. flickr did all the hard work for you! yea!!!!

Maybe some of you know better or easier ways.....but this is what has worked out well for me. So, hopefully it will help some of you, too.

Happy flickring and blogging to ya'll.

Remember when....

Okay, I'll play the blog game.

I posted on Melissa's blog.

Here are the directions for any who want to play along.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Classic chick flick

I just finished watching an oldie but a goodie, Fools Rush In. And as far as oldies but goodies go, it's got to be one of my favorites.

It's one of those movies you go years and years without seeing. You almost forget about it...but then you see it on the $5 rack at the store and you suddenly remember how much you like it. Well, at least I did. So I bought it. And watched it. In the middle of the day. And I didn't even fold laundry while I watched it. Or any other chores for that matter. (well, okay I labeled pictures on flickr while I watched...but that doesn't really count as a chore. And have you noticed how much folding laundry comes up on my blog? hum....)

Anyway, the point is I never just watch a movie alone in the middle of the day for no other reason than watching a movie. But I did, because I really REALLY wanted to watch Fools Rush In.

So, my two favorite parts.

I love when he says "You're everything I never knew I always wanted." I mean, does it get any more perfect than that?

And I love when he comes home and she's fixing dinner in the kitchen and she's dancing and she doesn't know he's watching. But he is watching and he mouths the word wow. I'm getting all gooey inside just thinking about it. So sweet!

If you haven't watched it in awhile, do it! And fall in love all over again with a much younger Matthew Perry. You'll be glad you did.

Ask and ye shall receive

In a previous post I mentioned that I was irked about the foot tall weeds at the neighbors house. These are some of the pictures I took on Tuesday.



Then this morning I looked out the window to find this:



What a difference a day will make!

Now breaking

Went to pick up pizza tonight at Papa John's. (tried the new whole wheat crust, and it's actually pretty good. Okay, Mike thinks it's a little dry and says he'll order it with extra sauce next time. But I thought it was great.)

Anyway, as we pulled up to pick up the pizza there were literally 6 Papa John's employees just standing out front. I started laughing at the "Now Baking" sign in the window and told Mike that it should say "Now Breaking" because how could they possibly be baking when every employee on shift was standing out front?

So, of course I had to sneak a picture with my phone.

Top Ten pet peeves (for this week at least)

1-Traffic lights with left hand protection arrows that never actually cycle!

2-People who don't stand when the flag comes by during a parade!!

3-When people don't leave detailed voice mail.

4-Neighbors who let their lawns turn into foot tall weeds!!! (especially when it's right next door and said weeds are encroaching upon my lawn)

5-People who clap on the wrong beat at concerts!

6-People who don't return their shopping carts!

7-People who damage library DVDs but then just return them anyway!!!!

8-Anonymous comments on blogs

9-Junk mail directed at a total different demographic than what I am. (we get advertisements for hearing aides all the time...I'm not even 30 yet for pete's sake....and who's pete anyway?)

10-People who make Pet Peeves lists, acting as if they are so free from fault themselves.

One of Summer's simple pleasures

I love a good cucumber sandwich on a hot summer day. My husband is pulling a funny face as he reads this because he can't think of anything more repulsive, but even if it means he won't kiss me the rest of the day I'm having a cucumber sandwich for lunch!

Lightly toasted bread, thickly spread cream cheese, thinly sliced cucumbers, and a lot of salt! Does it get any better than that? I don't know why I love it so much, I just do. It's salty and sweet and crunchy all at once.

If you're not afraid of salmonella you can even throw on a tomato slice or two, but the tomato is not an essential part of the equation.

Last year Mike has a boss with a garden so once in a while he brought home fresh cucumbers. They were so good it almost made me want to grow my own garden. (almost) Too bad we didn't consider the loss of fresh cucumbers when Mike decided to take a new job last January.

Excuse me now, I have a perfectly good sandwich waiting for me. I can't be bothered by blogging right now.