Our Day (so far!) In Pictures

Pocket

Where, oh where has my sweet baby girl gone? Today is my first full day with her all by myself in quite awhile, and wow, can the child throw some fits. In my heart of hearts, I truly felt we'd miss the "terrible twos," but I am no longer so sure.

Anyway, moving on, we were at Target yesterday getting baby-proof, toddler-proof or whatever that stuff's called (they should call it adult-proof because I sure can't work it ... I just want to be able to get in my bathroom and tinkle) because Annie can open doors, cabinets, etc. now. Wow, she did NOT like it when she realized we'd fixed it so she can't do that anymore ... not pretty.

She also, as you know, talks non-stop and has apparently added "pocket" to her ever-expanding repertoire. Only problem is she's not good with the "p" sound yet, so pocket comes out sounding a LOT like another word ... maybe imagine "pock" but with an "f" to start it off, and you get the picture. And yes, I'm ashamed to say that the first time she said it, we absolutely couldn't help but laugh ...

Life Is Good

James Blunt

Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow

Whoo-hoo, party people! Big night for us Thursday ... concert with James Blunt (the opening act) and the absolutely incredible Sheryl Crow. And yes, I know, those pictures could be of pretty much anybody, but no actual cameras were allowed, so we had to make do with our cell phone cameras.

I was actually so caught up in Sheryl Crow (she played for a solid 2 hours and never left the stage) that I completely forgot about looking for celebrities, although I'm sure they were there. Who wouldn't be? Except for the Dixie Chicks, that was easily the best concert I've been to. And for the record, James Blunt was really, really good, too. He has the most amazing energy on stage.

Even though Anthony and I had so much fun, it did hit pretty hard how we're getting a smidge older these days. We SHARED a bottle of water (who wants to pay $700 for a beer, uh, Coke?), realized that Sheryl hit the stage at what would usually be our bedtime, and found ourselves basically shouting at each other just to have a conversation on the way home. Have concerts always been so loud? I couldn't hear a thing afterwards. Don't get me wrong, though, it was way worth it.

My second and final post-op dr.'s appt. was yesterday, and I am all free and clear to resume my "normal" life, which (thank you, God) means picking up my child for the first time in weeks. I pretty much smothered her yesterday afternoon. My doctor actually said I was a success story. Those were his words, and they meant so very much to me ... those of you who've been reading this blog from the get-go know what a journey this has been! We consider ourselves ridiculously blessed to have our beautiful daughter and a new HEALTHY life from here on out. Honestly, what more could you want?

On a totally different note, Randy Pausch, the "last lecture" guy, passed away yesterday at the age of 47. Incidentally, his book is so wonderful and so upbeat ... if you don't have it, you should. It'll make you want to go out and live life, not just be taking up space here for awhile. It's truly incredible ... his philosophy was that we should NEVER lose our childlike wonder for all that surrounds us. He may have been taken at a wildly young age and seemingly unfair time, but he absolutely crammed all he could in those 47 years. Or maybe it's just that how long we have on this earth isn't really that important, only what we do with that time. Randy Pausch knew that, and wow did he ever leave his mark.

Bye, Bye, Bye (or not)

So we've decided to try and get Annie away from her pacifier ... she's never been a big user of one, but still we don't want her going to high school (or the convent) with a big pacifier in her mouth.

Well, last night that pacifier became like some little version of toddler crack for her. Having never done crack before (not even sure what you do with it) I'm just assuming this might be the sort of "I MUST have it" behavior one might expect.

Letting Daddy "borrow"the pacifier.

Outta here.

Getting sleepy, so I'll just store the paci in my shoe.

Those crazy parents tried to move the paci onto the bed, but I'll get it.

Got it ...

Ah, parenthood.

** Almost forgot: Sheryl Crow concert tonight ... expect tons of celeb sightings ...

Life's A Gas

Ok, so yesterday I was out and about doing errands, and I noticed something slightly different in my car. Over the weekend, Annie and Anthony were going somewhere in my car. Anyway, most precious husband changed the little odometer thingy so now it shows how many miles to the gallon you're getting as you drive. Well, since I had several places to go (ok, three places) I noticed this difference and within moments was a nervous wreck.

You know how you read in, oh I don't know EVERYTHING, various ways to get better gas mileage? Well, there I went down the road trying to recall these super ways to boost gas mileage ... only problem was I wasn't at all sure if these ways were to make it better or things to avoid so as not to use up more gas.

Anyway, as I said, there I went alternating between going super-slow, somewhat slow, turning the air-conditioning off (didn't last long on this one as car soon felt like Satan's living room), trying not to brake (seems hideously unsafe), not taking off from a stop (red lights mean you have to) like a race car, etc. Then I decided just maybe this new method of nervous driving was absolutely not for me, so I just put the thingy back to the odometer reading. (And, of course, headed to Target to recover from the whole experience.) Therapeutic shopping, you know?

While we're on the subject of cars, does anyone else feel car washes rip you off? (not literally.)And, yes, I know I should just be out there hand washing my car, but I can pretty much tell you that won't happen anytime soon. But back to mechanical car washes ... first you go in praying you'll align your car just right and then wait for the wash to begin, with horrific and terrifying sounds only a plane engine makes. (There's a reason I can't take Annie in there.) So you get through the actual wash and then that timer thing starts for the drier, and by the time you realize it, like 15 of your precious 60 seconds have gone by ... And then, once again, you're subjected to the drier and noises that make you think your car's about to lift off. But does it ever get completely dry? No, because you missed the beginning 15 seconds. That's how those car washes get you.

How do I know this? Because I go every few weeks or so. It's so much more fun to complain about it than to actually do something different, don't you think? Just ask my aforementioned precious husband ... I'm fairly certain he could explain it.

Our Geen Baby Girl

Ah, almost getting back to normal life. These are, of course, our usual weekend activity pictures ... spending most of our time outside and just enjoying being together. (that last picture is of Annie learning to "play" her Kindermusik harmonica.) There's really nothing better than being with your family.

Now, lest it appear we do nothing with our child but hang out like buffoons, we are beginning to introduce certain little educational items to her, like colors. Not that we expect her to just bust out with all the colors of the rainbow for quite a bit longer, but we are starting to introduce them to her in little ways.

For example, here's a sample conversation:

"Annie, what color is the grass?"

"GEEN!" (at this point, we of course clap and what not because the grass is green.)

"Annie, what color is Daddy?"

"GEEN!" Ok, no worries. After all, she is only a bit over 2 years old.

"Annie, what color is Mary?"

"GEEN!" (Mary is, as most of you probably know, our precious Black Lab.)

Maybe at this point we hold up one of her little wooden green trees from her new train table.

"Annie, what color is this tree?"

"RED!"

Go figure.

Silver Linings and Beyond

Once again I join you from the ever-exciting world of a woman recovering from a hysterectomy with (once again) non-exciting anecdotes from my tiny existence ...

It really is hard to rustle up any excitement when you're recovering from such surgery. Nothing really happens, just like it's supposed to (not supposed to?) This SHOULD be a time of relative quiet and relaxation. I know, that sounds like a dream come true, but trust me, one can only do so much of that ...

For example, here's a (hold your breath) description of my day: First, my parents are here this week, so precious Annie (yes, Anthony and I have become invisible again) has been whisked away to spend the day with them in Franklin ... now, don't misunderstand: they are doing the truly hard part ... chasing her, changing her, etc. Even though they say they love it (and I know they do) they're still picking her up and doing all the things I can't do for a few more weeks, just like Anthony's mom did last week. As I've said a million times, family is truly wonderful ...

But I digress. Back to me: earlier this morning, in an empty house, I did a tiny load of laundry, had a lovely conversation with myself (thankfully, since I was recently having conversations with people who weren't actually there), and went for a float in the pool. And there we have the excitement for the day ... first, even though the day was sunny, the water was inexplicably cold (as in goose bumps over my entire body) so I just eased onto my raft, giving up on my desire to have an entire tan and settling for a half-body tan, so as not to disturb or splash any of the frigid water onto myself. Yep, I lasted an entire 18 minutes before I came back in. If Al Gore is so set on this global warming thing he should seriously come visit our pool: it's extraordinarily possible he'll change his mind. Just saying.

Ah, but rest assured, dear readers, there's more. I'll be heading out in a bit for a therapeutic driving trip to (prepare for the shock and awe) Target, where I'm allowed to buy any item the weight of a box of kleenex. Having roamed the aisles and enjoying the freedom, I'll check out, walk to the car while enjoying the fresh air, and then begin sobbing when I realize the entire trip probably cost me $700.00 in gas ...

Need another silver lining 'cause I got one: we'll be going to see Sheryl Crow on July 24. She lives around here, you know, so I'm betting there'll be tons of celebrities there. Woo-hoo!

Permission Granted (and denied)

And so it goes ... ( I do love that song ... there's just not much that happens that Billy Joel can't get you through, but anywho) ... another exciting week is upon us, and thankfully Anthony's mom has so very graciously come to stay with us for the week and take care of not only Annie but also anything and everything else with which we need help ... It is going to be a serious shock when life goes back to normal, and the homecooked meals no longer appear as if by magic ... Maybe I should venture outside of only things that come in boxes ... Nah, too daring ...

So the doctor's visit yesterday was incredibly exhilirating, at least the driving part was ... that is until I came upon a massive Cool Springs sign that had fallen and was blocking at least 3 lanes of I-65 on the southbound side ... luckily, I was on the opposite side (and yes, I was using geographical references there, so miracles continue) Then I got to the overflowing waiting room, which is never an overly encouraging sign ... however, I didn't wait too long and went on back to my doctor armed with my little list of questions (mostly requests for permission to do various things) Here's how it went down: I am now allowed to take baths (only showers to this point and oh, how I have missed my bubble baths;) I am allowed to get in the pool but ONLY to get on a raft and float ... absolutely NO swimming, just drifting aimlessly around in the water ... soreness, emotional ups and downs and headaches ( the last two directly related to hormonal shifts) are absolutely and completely normal and to be expected. And lastly, NO picking up Annie for at least 2-3 more weeks. This was the hardest to hear, even though I knew it was coming.

However, if there is a silver lining, it is that we have (as mentioned lots of times) amazing parents who are so willing to be here with us and can take care of Annie. In fact, it's a smidge sad when they arrive because it is as if Anthony and I become invisible. We definitely take a backseat to Grandma and Grandpa or Kay Kay and Pa ... no, that's not accurate ... it's not so much a backseat as not even in the car anymore ...
As I said, and so it goes ...

** One celebrity newsflash: since Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman had their baby girl, Sunday (don't even get me started on that name,) in the very same hospital where Annie was born, I was within blocks of them yesterday. Tis only a matter of time until I actually spot one of these people ...

This Is How I Roll

Ok, so I would like to preface this blog by saying a few things. First, I realize my recent writings have become a bit boring and repetitious, but it's hard to generate much excitement when one is recovering from a hysterectomy (unless you'd love for me to post photos of my scar and its progressive healing. Nah, didn't think so.) Rest assured that just as soon as I am able I shall regale you with our usual stories of life in an Eskimo igloo, our most frequent visits to the South of France (where we are usually guests of Brad and Angelina and their 25 kids) or, and I'm way out on a limb here, our never-ending adventures in the backyard whale pool where we are frequently pelted by bird poop.

In the meantime, I am most looking forward to my post-op doctor's visit tomorrow, to which (permission given by aforementioned doctor) I will be driving. Yes, my first grand and wonderful step toward I-don't-really-know-what. Still, it does seem a progressive step toward something. If only he could give me a shot of stamina we might be in business.

Now, a short explanation of the pictures ... first, Spring Hill had a kids' Fourth of July parade, to which Anthony took Annie. Then (and this so reminded me of living in Gulfport) a very short, very heavy rainfall occurred. You can see the results.

Next, just a cute little picture of Annie in her Minnie jammies. What it is about kids in their pj's that makes you forget their total and complete ignoring of "No, please don't (you fill in the blank)" that you've been saying all the livelong day?

And finally, Annie's obsession with baby strollers ... I wish I had a dollar (ok, a nickel would actually probably do it) for every time she said "baby stroller" in a day ... we might actually be able to get a tank of gas without a tearful outburst from me from time to time. Anthony found this little t-shirt with a beloved baby stroller on it and a hysterical "This is how I roll" saying under it. Too cute, and of course she absolutely loves it. She looks down and says (roughly a million times) "baby stroller" "baby stroller" ...

Life, In A Nutshell

Well, the hysterectomy (minus the insane hallucinations) may have been the easiest part of this entire ordeal ... I physically feel SO MUCH better that's it's super hard to take it easy and let my body heal when I honestly feel like just going out into the street and running around. Ok, so I'd probably collapse because I have not so much energy these days but still.

One major thing I've noticed is that I'm sleeping all the way through the night these days. Yep, for possibly the first time in years I'm actually going to bed and not waking up until the morning. No waking up lots of times because some part of me is hurting ... I don't think I knew what a good night's sleep can do for you until now. It's absolutely amazing.

Nonetheless, I'm trying so hard to be good and do what I'm supposed to ... a little more each day but still resting and letting my body get over major surgery and the fact that half my insides are gone. Wonder what they do with that stuff? Think my ovaries just went into some medical waste bin? Wow, that is a truly depressing little thought after all those little ovaries went through for me.

Hardest part of this process, you may wonder and probably know the answer to? Can't pick my baby girl up ... I absolutely cannot wait to just scoop her up and hold her, even whilst she squirms to get down and do something, anything. I'm ready to just get back to regular life, a life I KNOW is going to be brand new for me. Imagine feeling good every single day ... what a blessing.

In the meantime, even though I know I've said it before, our parents have just been incredible ... never complaining about the constant back-and-forths to Nashville or the time they're giving us or the constant errands, etc. Their generosity continues to overwhelm me ...