Cramming an entire week in one post.

The past week’s highlights in bullet form:

Monday the 2nd: Dreamy’s birthday

*Smurfette woke up at 1am and announced at my bedroom threshold that she had puked in her bed. I stumbled into her room with one eye open to discover the mound of blown chunks had actually made it to the carpet. Bonus.

*Kept Smurfette home from school. Within hours of waking she was chasing the dog around the house. No fever. Good appetite. Which lead me to believe that my skinny little Smurfette simply ate way more than her tiny tummy could handle at the previous night’s Superbowl Party.

*The family then celebrated Dreamy’s birthday at Outback Steakhouse per Dreamy’s request…he loves a good steak.

*Notice his diligence at scraping away all the good stuff off his dessert. All he wants is the ice cream.

*This is Dreamy's year for the "friend party". All 3 of my kids alternate and so get a "friend party" every 3rd year. Due to the gymnastics schedule and full weekend calendar Dreamy's birthday party with friends has been pushed back a couple weeks. We will be celebrating his 10th birthday with his friends at an indoor water park during their mid-winter break from school.

Tuesday the 3rd:

*Pulled Dreamy from school for the traditional birthday lunch. Big Boy restaurant gives a huge free dessert to the birthday child. We went to collect. Apparently the economy has hit Big Boy because the mound of Brownie, vanilla ice cream, and cool whip has been reduced to a brownie with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. They can no longer spare the scoop of ice cream. This child doesn’t like whipped cream. This child doesn’t like cake (they call it a brownie…but Dreamy begged to differ). So I ate his free dessert and bought him a scoop of ice cream. What’s a mom to do.

Wednesday the 4th:

*Hubs and I collectively had a minor ohmyfreaknGoshitscoldashellout winter blues melt down. So, we decided to call our travel agent and see if she could find this family of 5 a deal to somewhere (anywhere) with sand, sun, and heat... preferably with palm trees. And, to make a long story short…she did. An all inclusive four nights in Cancun. So, now I can muscle my way through the next 3 weeks of winter knowing that our family will see sunshine very soon. I just needed something to look forward to. Nothing helps pass the weeks of winter like shopping for swim suits and sandals.

Thursday the 5th:

*Met some friends for lunch where our annual trip to Florida was discussed. The trip is now officially booked. In roughly 10 weeks there will 6 gorgeous mom’s and wives lounging on the sandy shores of the golf coast with their umbrella drinks in one hand and books in the other. We will be the ones without children. We will be the ones without husbands. We will be the ones with the gleaming relaxed smiles on our face. And you may not want to visit our condo cuz we don’t cook, we don't clean, and we don't clean or pick up after ourselves (or each other) during this trip.

Friday the 6th:

*The kids stayed at Grandma’s over night while Hubs and I went out with some lovely new friends. K & I met at the gym. We’ve been work out buddies since last October. Our husbands hadn’t met till Friday night. Going out with new friends can be a little daunting. Not entirely sure what to expect or what they’re like. But we had a very good time and lots of fun with this couple and look forward to going out again in the future.

Saturday the 7th:

*My parents held a surprise 85th birthday party for my Step Dad’s mom….my step grandma so to speak. It was a surprisingly nice party. I say surprisingly not because my mom doesn’t know how to throw one hell of a spread…cuz she totally does…. but because of the attendees. There was no redneck hillbilly drama. All present were surprisingly pleasant….and kind...and dare I say….friendly. And Granny was touched…moved to tears even. And that alone speaks volumes….cuz this redneck hillbilly hard nosed granny of a woman….doesn’t cry. Ever. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that….

Sunday the 8th:

*Our little boy smurfs had a gymnastics meet at their own home gym. The first of many (we hope). They did very good. It was a very small meet. Hefty was one of 4 in his level and Dreamy was one of 8. They both took 1st place and walked away with a really cool trophy. More importantly, they walked away feeling proud that they had done their personal best.

I tried like hell to blur out other children's faces but I can't figure out Photoshop to save my freak'n life. I now have a Photoshop for dummies book and hope to make it a priority in my life real soon.

Monday the 9th:

*We attended Dreamy's 4th grade winter music concert. Where he refused to sing, refused to dance, and refused to do the sign language. And he was standing smack dab front and center. *sigh* This child's stubbornness will be my undoing.

*And here it is Wednesday morning and I woke again at 1:00am to the sound of my oldest child blowing chunks in his bathroom sink. Why his sink? Because someone had used the toilet yesterday and didn't flush....leaving a lovely surprise. Nice. I know. So, now I'm home with another sick child. *sigh*

Other happenings this week....

*My Step Dad used his amazing work shop skillz to make us this fabulous custom made built in bay window seat and book shelf. LOVE. IT! Please ignore the missing panel on the window seat...it will be put on shortly.

*There's lots of shelves and storage behind those closed doors!

*And even more hidden storage under those seats!

The Middle Child

My first born holds a special place in my heart because he's my first born. He taught me how to be a mom. He taught me how to love and nurture. But his first year was difficult for me because I had no idea what I was doing as I explained here.

My last born holds a special place in my heart because she's my baby and my only daughter. But her first year was difficult for me because she was colicky as I've explained here.

My middle child holds a special place in my heart for other reasons entirely. I worried my whole pregnancy how I could possibly hold and give the same amount of love for another child that I did for my first. The idea was inconceivable to me. I worried that it wouldn't be possible to divide my love and attention. But when this middle child of mine entered our world it all became instantly clear. Your love isn't divided. It's multiplied.

I worried that having two children so close together in age would be very difficult. A toddler and an infant. But this child was so easy and content that I felt silly for worrying.

This whole second experience was just so much better than the first. In every aspect.

My pregnancy was more comfortable because I only gained 40 pounds instead of 75.

His birth was a piece of cake. I had hoped to try for a VBAC but after 15 hours of labor and no progress I simply asked for a C-Section & he was born. On his due date. Groundhogs Day. I was awake for the birth this time. I didn't freak out on the operation table this time. I held him, nursed him, bonded with him immediately instead of 8 hours later.

This baby's dimples captured my heart in seconds. He's my only child to have inherited those gorgeous dimples from my father's side of the family.

This second born son held a special place in my heart the instant he entered our world. He nursed instantly and easily. My goal was to nurse him until he was sleeping through the night. He was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks and I stopped producing enough for him. It was an unplanned weening. I never went through the engorgement and pain of weening. It just happened. Easy.

He never cried. And when I say "never" I truly mean "never". He'd let out a little whimper every now and then when he was hungry but that was it. My mother thought there was something wrong with him and thought I should ask the doctor about it because "it's just not natural for a baby to not cry."

When he'd finish nursing at night he'd fall instantly to sleep. There was no dinner/evening time bewitching hours for this one.

He was the only one of my infants to let me rock him to sleep. I could sit and rock him for hours and he would just stare at me and smile. He was my only cuddler. Content to just be in my arms. And yet, if I put him in his crib awake? He'd fall asleep all on his own without a sound or complaint.

He was a perfect baby. The happy and easy infant that every mom dreams of having. If all my babies had been this easy I probably would have ended up with ten kids.

It's 10 years later to the day and he still manages to squeeze my heart daily with his dimply smile and happy-go-lucky eager to please ways. He's got just a touch of my hard headed stubbornness. That stubbornness makes me want to pull my hair out some days....but it mostly just makes me smile. He's my sweet one. The one that will still cuddle with me on occasion. The one that is very stingy with the kisses but gives one hell of a hug. The one that notices when I've gotten a hair cut and compliments me when he likes what I'm wearing. He's the one that offers helpful tips when needed and who's teachers adore him. He's the one that is learning to cope with sensory integration over load and over came his delayed speech and now gets straight As. He's the one that is hoping to get two more card markings of straight As so that he can get the Faux-hawk I promised him *God help me*. He makes us laugh with his goofy ways and sense of humor (only Dreamy could hurt himself on the bathroom faucet while trying to get a good look at his wedgie in the mirror). He makes us (and himself) giggle with his Monk-like OCD ways. He's obsessed with the TV show Monk for a reason. He understands Monk. He "gets" Monk.

And he's the one that tends to get slightly shafted because of where he falls in this family line up. Today is his birthday. Today, as tradition dictates, I should be pulling him out of school and taking him out to lunch for his birthday. But Smurfette decided to vomit in her bed last night and had to stay home from school today. Did Dreamy get upset? No. Did he complain or put up a fight? No. He said "It's OK Mom, we'll go tomorrow."

I love this child more than words can say.

Happy 10th Birthday Dreamy. You've finally made it to the double digits!

New Born Hospital photo:

6 months old:

Monthly photos up to first birthday:

18 months old:

2 years old (would yah just look at those dimples...I just wanna eat'm up):


3 years old:

4 years old:

5 years old:

6 years old:

7 years old:

8 Years old:

9 year old:

What does your medicine cabinet say about you?

I've been watching this meme go around for a few days now and was honestly a little disturbed by it at first. You mean friends/family that have been invited into my home, may possibly be and quite probably are, peeking in my medicine cabinets for no other purpose than to be nosey?? Seriously?? I swear on all that is Holy....to any person reading this that has ever invited me over to your home....I have NEVER peeked in your medicine cabinet for the sole purpose of being nosey. Ever. Not because I'm above peeking in your cabinet, mind you, but because the thought honestly never even occurred to me. And not because I'm worried that your cabinet door might have squeeky hinges that may or may not alert you that I may be peeking in your cabinet. Just say'n....

Now that I'm finding out this is the thing to do....I will be....peeking in your cabinets that is. Consider yourself warned.

You know what? My medicine cabinet is in my master bathroom. A bathroom that only my husband and I use. So, I have nothing to be worried about. I have no medicine cabinet in the bathroom that is most likely being used by my company.

And so now I'm feeling guilty because, as I've just warned you, I'll be peeking in your medicine cabinets and you haven't had equal opportunity to peek in mine. So, Colleen tagged me for this meme and I'll be taking advantage of this opportunity to even the score between myself and any future guests.

I have 3 different areas in my home where medicine is kept so I'll share all three with you and follow up with some necessary explanations.

First on the list is the cabinet in my master bathroom.

This cabinet holds very little in terms of medicine.

Let's break this down.

Several points of interest in above photo:

The Clean Pore bottle in the back? Expired in 1999. I didn't realize pore cleansers expired. We bought this house in 2000. I had to have bought that cleanser sometime in 97 or 98, no? Which means that I had not used it in the 2 - 3 years prior to moving (note the completely full bottle)...but still chose to pack it for the move to this house....then unpacked it and stuck it in that medicine cabinet where it has remained ever since. I remember trying that cleanser and not liking it because it left a sticky (not clean) feeling on my face. So why did I keep it, pack it, unpack it, and keep it again....for 10 or 11 years?? Couldn't tell you.

The bottle of lotion in the back? I won it at my cousin's bridal shower. Like, twelve years ago. I love the smell of it (Lavendar & Thyme) but not the texture of it. So I kept it? Again, no clue why.

Neutragena shampoo bottles? Please note the rusted caps. That is all.

Hemorrhoid cream? Also expired several years ago. And that's all I'm gonna say about that.

WHAT!?!

These bottles of perfume? I've had them since high-school. I don't wear perfume. I don't like perfume. But I keep the bottles anyway. Why? I have no frick'n clue. But, back in college when I DID like perfume Dune and Passion were my favorites.

I prefer scented body sprays such as Victoria Secret's Vanilla Lace.

The above items are kept on stand by just. in. case. We've had several scares over the years that have resulted in quarantining the home for precautionary measures. The latest scare being last years lice epidemic at the kids' school that lasted a few months. We some how lucked out and haven't had to use the stocked supply of Nix...but one can never be too careful. Because, dudes, if lice should ever find it's way in my home? I'll need to be committed.

Now, let's take a peak in the kitchen cabinet. This is our catch-all kitchen junk & medicine cabinet. Are we the only one's that keep medicine in the kitchen? I'm realizing as I write this just how much this one cabinet says about me. I'm starting to understand the fascination with peeking.

For example, upon careful examination......

You will learn I like to buy in bulk. As evidenced by the 5 pound bottles of flaxseed oil and calcium. Both of which, by the way, have been in this cupboard for several years.

And, FYI, don't take the triple omega unless burping up the taste of fish for several hours appeals to you (has also been in this cupboard for several years....for that reason).

And lets just say I used to have some stomach issues and leave it at that....m'kay?

For the record? My stomach issues seem to be resolved (for the most part) ever since I took up running.

It seems I also have some body image / weight loss issues as evidenced by....

And sleeping issues.....

And three kids who are always sick with one virus or another......

And then there's the hallway bathroom pantry closet.

With more of the same.

I had hoped to use this meme as inspiration to clean these areas out and share the before and after pictures with you but I am now officially out of time and have spent the entire evening running around with the kids. So...it's not happening. Today, anyway. Maybe I'll get to it later and share my purging pictures with you. No promises.

If you are reading this concider yourself tagged. Play along if you like and let me take a peek in your medicine cabinet(s) so I won't have to feel guilty about peeking behind your back when you invite me over for a glass of wine next week.

Edited to add: I swear I'm convinced someone is messing with me. I've edited and re-edited this stupid post because pictures and paragraphs keep sporatically dissappearing. I give up. I'm still missing paragraphs and photos but I'm too frustrated to redo it. BAH! Spell check is not working right now either and I don't have the patience to edit or look things up. You're just gonna have to deal with it. =)

Fabulous Weekend

Fabulous because we had no where to travel to and nothing in particular to do. I love lazy weekends like this.

Friday: Hubby and I had a hot date. My mom came by to stay with the kids and we spent the evening together. We don't do this nearly enough during these winter months because of the busy gymnastics schedule. We had a lovely dinner and then walked down the street to a bar for a couple drinks. We then walked over to the comedy club where a group of middle aged house wives (celebrating a 40th birthday dontchaknow) tried desperately to ruin the show by making a point to let the rest of the audience know that they were surely having a far better time than the rest of us because they were wild, obnoxious, and loud housewives who never get out of the house. They got kicked out after rendering the 2nd comedian speechless. He couldn't get a word in edgewise and didn't stand a chance next to these fine ladies. This sparked a whole conversation with comedian #3 who then proceeded to let the audience know that in his experience it's always the middle aged housewives that cause the problems. I'm guessing that's because many of us feel the need to prove to the world that we're just as young at heart and just as wild & crazy as we once were? Just a guess. It turned out to be a good show once we got past the disruption.

And, yes, we smoked. UGH. Broke the 18 day smoke free streak we had going. But we're back on and starting the count all over again. Once again. So here we are back at day 3 of "Breathing Free." We will forever be quitters. I said I wouldn't bore you with the redundant smoking updates. But you know what? This is my blog. And nicotine addiction is part of me.

Saturday: I spent most of the day doing laundry, cleaning house, and planning and filling out invitations for Dreamy's upcoming birthday party. After the boys returned from gym practice we took the kids to DQ for their report card reward (All "As" dontcha know). We went to the movie store and picked out Hancock. Not the most appropriate language for kids (it's PG-13 for a reason) but a good movie. Smurfette ended the day with 102 degree fever and "tummy ache."

Sunday: Smurfette was still spiking 102 degree fevers so we didn't do much. I spent the day hemming drapes. My Dad, a man with skillz, built us a custom made bench seat with storage for under our bay window in our office. It's not 100% complete yet. The moldings still need to be put up. This picture doesn't do it justice. Really. I wish I had a before and after photo to show what a difference it makes in the room. But I don't.

This required me to chop off a foot and a half from the drapes. And now he's gonna build us a custom made built in floor to ceiling cabinet to replace this book shelf. It's gonna be perty!

I'm trying to talk Papa Smurf into joining the gym with me. I had hoped to bring him with me to the gym for a work out while the boys were at gym practice but Smurfette's fever didn't allow that. So I went solo and got a run in. And that's it. Our weekend in a nutshell.

And now I leave you with some gymnastics bloopers photos from the last meet in Chicago.

Thou shalt not separate legs on pommel:

Thou shalt not bend body in half, flex the feet, or fall off (3 times) when on pommel:

Thou shalt not fall off Parallel Bars:

Thou shalt not fall out of hand stand (twice) on floor routine:

Thou shalt not take steps on landings:

Thou shalt not.....do THIS....EVER~!

Can't win'em all boys.

Chillax'n in Chicago

It’s been over a week since I’ve last posted and almost as long since I’ve looked in my Google Reader. I miss reading about everyone’s days but I’m really enjoying this time off from the pressure of staying up to date. I hope to get caught up this weekend but I may have to just empty the reader and start fresh. I'm just not getting into this blogging thing anymore. If I'm being completely honest I'd have to say that this has become more or a chore lately than the enjoyable escape that it once was. I'm getting tired of wasting my days in front of this computer.

I have no less than twenty little notes written with things I’ve wanted to share but I’ve gotten so behind that I think I may just have to scrap those notes and, like the google reader, just start fresh.

Our family took a little road trip to Chicago this past weekend for a gymnastics meet. We left Thursday late afternoon and returned at 3am Monday morning. Both drives there and back were horrendous. White out blizzard icy conditions that turned what would have been a 5 hour drive into a 6 ½ - 7 hour drive. I was doped up on pain meds but still in pain and dreadfully uncomfortable. Hubby was cranky from the white knuckled driving conditions and the bitch speaking to him from behind the GPS screen. Once upon a time, it was the kids we had to worry about surviving a road trip with. But thanks to the geniuses at Chrysler who stuck DVD and satellite TV in their vans….the kids were perfect the entire trip. I am forever indebted to those Chrysler powers that be. And for those of you out there who are judging me for sticking my kids in front of the TV to shut them up and missing out a perfect "bonding moment" of a road trip? Bite me. And I mean that in a very kind way.

The weekend in a very brief nut shell.

Thursday - We arrived in Chicago sometime around 11pm. We were tired. We were cranky. We went immediately to sleep.

Friday - Dreamy competed and did not do very well. He had a rough start which stomped all over his confidence and he just couldn't pick it back up. We've chalked this meet up to a much needed lesson in humility. His little ego was crushed as he's become accustomed to sweeping all his meets. As awful as this may sound....he needed this. Sometimes a little beating of the ego is all it takes to remotivate.

Saturday - The kids spent a few hours in the pool while Papa Smurf and I took turns in the gym. Our hotel had a kick'n gym (Did I just say "kick'n" out loud? My kids are rub'n off on me). I actually worked out. And my back was actually feeling a little better. We then spent the afternoon at the Science and Industry Museum which we all really enjoyed. And it just happened to be a free admission day. Bonus. We then met up with the rest of the team at Hard Rock for little dinner and a whole lot of obnoxiousness (the parents ~ not the kids). That was fun. Then we divided and conquered ~ the boys/men headed over to the ESPN Zone for some bonding time (aka grunting and farting) while the girls headed to the American Girl Place to chillax with Kit. (I'm just throwing these pre-adolescent words in here to embarrass my boys...they just love when I try to be all cool like them) Fun was had by all. =)

Sunday - We spent the early afternoon walking up Michigan Ave. It was bitter cold which sucked all the fun right out of shopping. Hubby purchased a new pair of running shoes and we hit the sales at the Disney Store. And that's it. Sad. Hefty competed in the evening. He also had a rough meet but didn't take it as bad as Dreamy. A couple years make a world of difference in emotional maturity. Two years ago it was Hefty beating himself up and sulking over his mistakes and deductions. He's finally learning to let it go and move on.

I haven't down loaded any photos or video yet. I'll get to it eventually and share them with you.

My back is feeling much better. I'm sleeping again. Without the assistance of illegal drugs or stomach tearing NSAIDS I might add. That's always a good thing. There's a whole lotta crack'n and creak'n goin on down there now but I think that's a good thing as maybe that means everything is trying to work it's way back into place.

And now I must go and beautify myself as hubby and I have a hot date tonight. I also must clean my house as my mom is coming to babysit my kids and my house is a mess. Have I mentioned that I'm trying to go without my cleaning lady. It's not working out so well. She hasn't been here in over a month. She used to come, on average, 3 times per month. I can give up a lot of things but I just don't think I'm ready to give up the cleaning lady. My inner domestic goddess died the day I gave birth to my 3rd child. And I'm OK with that. But I'm NOT OK with having a filthy house. Thus, the cleaning lady.

I'm only human, people.

Trudging right along....

I'm muscling my way through yet another 6 y/o's knock knock joke phase. I'm a little disappointed that after her I won't have any more lame jokes to laugh at. Besides my own of course. It's funny that all kids seem to go through this somewhere between Kindergarten and 1st grade.

dd: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Me: To get to the other side?
dd: No, To save the world. MWAHAHAHAHA.....



dd: Why did the duck cross the road?
Me: I don't know.
dd: So he could fly and save the world like batman. MWAHAHAHA....




dd: Knock knock

Me: Who's there?
dd: paloopidoop

Me: paloopidoop who

dd: paloopidoop poop. MWAHAHAHA....




dd: Knock knock

Me: who's there?
dd: cha cha cha cha cha cha

Me: cha cha cha cha cha cha who

dd: cha cha cha cha cha cha doo doo. MWAHAHAHA....

dd: Knock knock
Me: Who's there

dd: Strawberry doo doo
Me: Strawberry doo doo who
dd: Strawberry doo doo mama's feet stink. MWAHAHAHA....

Clearly she gets her humor (or lack there of) and her potty mouth from me.

On another note: I forgot to mention in Monday's update how the boys did at their gymnastics meet in Lansing on Sunday. I was too busy ranting about my failed diet and sucky Michigan weather. Hefty had an incredible meet. He could do no wrong. Took home 6 gold medals. A gold in 5 out of 6 of the events and the All Around. Dreamy could only compete in 3 of the 6 events because of an injured finger. So he couldn't compete in the all around competition. But he took a gold and a silver in 2 of those 3 events. I am a proud mama.

On another note: Dreamy came home from school yesterday afternoon with 102 degree fever. Thus begins round 348 of the winter virus blues. Poor kid can't catch a break. He's missed more practices than he's actually attended in the last couple weeks because of the finger and now he's sick so he missed yesterday's practice as well....which was the last practice before he's scheduled to compete in Chicago on Friday. We still don't know how his finger will hold up on those 3 other events because he hasn't had a chance to test it out. So it should be an interesting meet. Hefty isn't scheduled to compete until the very last session on Sunday so we have all day Saturday and half the day on Sunday to meander around the city. Should be fun. Assuming, of course, I don't lose a nipple or two to frost bite.

Let's see. What else?

Ah. I finally bit the bullet and went to my doctor yesterday about my back. What a waste of time (and money) that was. I knew there wasn't much he could do for a pulled muscle but I wanted to get some drugs (pain killers or muscle relaxers) so I could sleep (I haven't gotten a decent night's sleep since last Thursday) and I've been over dosing on Motrin and Aleve for 5 days straight now. If I don't end up in the ER for the back pain then I'll surely end up there for an ulcer. I also wanted to make sure I could tolerate the 5 1/2 hour car ride to Chicago tomorrow. I can't imagine sitting in the car for that long with my back hurting like this. And then sitting in bleacher seats for 5 hours to watch a competition. Do you know that SOB wouldn't give me a prescription. Pissed me right off. So I'll be taking Leslie's advice (thank you Leslie) and bumming a couple more Vicodin from dear old dad and taking them with a benadryl chaser. Actually, my neighbor's an ER doc...maybe I'll hit him up for a script instead. Come to think of it...so is my team fitness partner. I Should'a just done that to begin with. I think it's time to find a new doctor. Which is really a damn shame cuz he's awfully cute.

*After re-reading that last paragraph I feel I need to add a disclaimer....Just so ya'll know, I am NOT a drug seeking narcotic addict. The last time I took prescription pain medication was....years ago....probably with my last c-section. Just say'n.....

I just now...as in 2 seconds ago....received a phone call. It was a Chrysler Financial automated message asking me to "please hold for an important message from the next available representative." Are you eff'n kidding me?!?

Before that? I received a phone call from my darling husband telling me that (another) "emergency" has arisen at work and he will be unable to attend Hefty's Dare Graduation at the school tonight. Are you eff'n kidding me?!?

I think I'll leave the phone off the hook for the rest of the afternoon.

On a brighter note....I'm starting to plan our annual girls' long weekend "group therapy" themed trip to Sanibel, Florida. 4 nights and 5 days sans husband or children. *sigh* Can't wait.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is officially kick'n in.

I apologize in advance for this ridiculously boring and pissy post.

So, one week into my New Years declaration and I'm doing, OK. Just OK. I haven't dropped any pounds but I haven't gained any either and when you consider the fact that this is day 8 of "breathing free" that's really quite an accomplishment for me. Only a smoker can fully appreciate this. When the hand mouth oral fixation isn't being satisfied through smoking we replace the cigarette with food.

Note to self: Invest in an industrial size bag of suckers.

Don't judge. It's very unbecoming.

I was doing really good with the eating healthier until yesterday. We were at a competition and the food that was available to us didn't leave us with many choices. So I snacked on crap all day. And by "crap" I mean gigantic (and by gigantic I mean 8 inches in diameter) m&m sugar cookies and big buckets of popcorn. Our family also ended up at a fast food joint last night because it was late and we were out of town and we had a long drive home and we didn't have any healthier options. Yes, I could've chosen a healthier alternative than the crispy chicken club (fresh from the deep fryer) from Wendy's. But I didn't.

Sue me.

And this week Thursday we leave for another gymnastic's meet in Chicago and so eating healthy this weekend will be a (another) huge challenge. There's always something in the way, isn't there?

I worked out 5 days last week. Monday - Friday. Did something really awful to my lower back during Friday's Fitness class and was down and out in pain all weekend. I think I pulled a muscle. The pain progressively got worse all day Friday until I ended scamming a couple Vicodin from my dad so I could sleep. The Vicodin took the edge off but I was up all night anyway itching from the drugs. Figures. The pain is still there and I still can't sleep because of it and I'm just not a nice person to be around when I can't sleep. I'm over dosing on Motrin and Aleve, I smell like freak'n Bengay, and I walk around with a cold compress strapped around my waste all day. Still trying to decide if I should just suck it up until it heals or actually make a trip to my doctors.

I'm tired, I'm crabby, I'm in pain, and I am sick. to. death of winter. Seriously. I've had enough.

Forget yesterday's post. I was high on drugs. Michigan sucks.

Excuse me while I go take a hefty dose of Vitamin D.

And to add fuel to my fire I can't space my paragraphs apart in this post....or yesterday's post. WTH!