happy

show:

tell:   Tickle time....I am in bed alot letting my back heal.  But there is still room for tickle time with Jack Jack.   His laugh is contagious.....and makes me so happy, happy, happy!

your best shot: photo competition

This shot is about 15 months old....almost as long as little Miss Tessa has been home from Ethiopia.  

I don't know how it happened....but it remains one of my all time favorite and best shots.... i adore it.

green...paper mama photo challenge

Since I am recuperating in bed....I am admiring the beautiful greenery outside my window.
I decided to take part in the Paper Mama's photo challenge: Green

Little Miss Tessa.....romping around in the yard.  how I love this shot!

bright and vivid: i heart faces

Bright and Vivid: Photo Challenge

This shot of the little Miss just cracks me up....

can't you just see that she is almost 2?   can't you just feel her frustration with her Mama?

I think it is bright and vivid...both in color and feeling!  

Back to....

My back.  It has been the focus lately.  Back to normal?    Not yet, but, at least my back is on its way back to its new normal!

The surgery this past week went really well.   I was actually looking forward to having it done to remedy the discomfort in my left leg.  The nerve there was being pressed on by the disk tissue in my spinal canal.   Thankfully my spinal canal is super-sized, so the pain wasn't as bad as it would be for most.   lucky me....I am grateful!   But it was one of those problems that wouldn't remedy itself and would worsen over time and wear.

The nuerosurgeon had said it was a very "impressive"amount of disk tissue by the MRI's view.  Turns out it really was.  In fact, he said I am in his TOP 5 for the amount of disk tissue that was in there.   Approximately 8 cm worth, which is huge.  He said it was a more difficult surgery for him as a result.  Glad I could give him a challenge.

So, now I am recuperating at home.  We have had the help of amazing friends and family.  People amaze me in how they reach out....texts, email, cupcakes, sleepovers for my kids, picking the kids up for playdates, dinner, flowers.  Oh, the flowers are filling up my bedroom with their beauty and scent.

My sister drove over 6 hours to be here in awful traffic to take care of me, and all of us, with her 6 month old and being half way through her current pregnancy.  Yes, she is amazing and loving.  And did a great job taking care of the house and kids and me.
i love this photo of Krissy...

My parents also made the long trip and are now here doing the same.  They are keeping everyone happy....making sure I don't do too much and rest, making sure I eat, get my fiber and take my meds.  It is wonderful.  wonderful, I tell you.  I am so lucky to have this life.   back to normal soon, but for now I rest, watch way too much reality t.v. on the OWN network and E!....read People magazine, blogs and of course, accomplish a little on-line shopping.

I did have one BIG outting 2 days after surgery to see Seinfeld.  Yep, Seinfeld!!! I WAS. NOT. going to miss it.  We have had tickets with friends to see Jerry for months.  I almost rescheduled my surgery, but the Dr. and nurse both said I shouldn't and that a little outting like that would be just fine for me, especially since I wouldn't need to drive and would have my meds.  So, we did it.  Unfortunately, I got really woozy on the ride to Madison.   Silly me, forgot to eat enough and the meds made my tummy ucky.  Really ucky.  So, I fought it and fought it.  I was able to enjoy Seinfelf for a whole 40 minutes without the uckies and then it came back.  Andy and I went to the family restroom and listened to Jerry overhead while I sat near the toilet.  nothing happened.    But we were able to listen to Seinfeld and laugh...both at him and the obsurdity of all of it.   I was determined....and it was worth it, because the show was AWESOME  and Andy was laughing so hard he was wiping tears away!   good times.....

on my way back to normal.....and I am grateful.  And yes, I am on some very nice "happy meds".  ;)

venting....

Sometimes you just need to vent.  right?  this is a rather lame play on words to introduce my latest project with antique vents.   But here is the thing....a project like this feels as good as venting my feelings with a friend.  I feel so rejuvenated by a creative project and this one is fun, easy and results in a beautifully unique wall decor!

First....I found a variety of antique "vents".   4 of these were a real deal from a garage sale= $50.  The other 2 were from an antique store for $9 (small, simple rectangle) and $30 (ornate rectangle).

There are a variety of shapes and sizes for visual interest.   All but one were painted with a heavy black paint when I found them. This small rectangle is the only one I left with its original "patina" and I used it as inspiration for the rest of them!

I decided to leave this rectangle vent as is....and use it as inspiration to make the rest look as authentic as possible.

This is the first step of layering the vent with undercoats of paint. I used what I had in my house....both spray paint and house paint.

I layered paint colors on the black pieces with the intention of sanding to expose these layers back creating dimension and an aged look.   The top layer of paint was chosen to be different for each piece (blue, silver, green, cream, copper) as to create a "collected" look.

Using the sanding block and a wire brush lightly in some areas and more heavily in others gives the paint an aged, worn look.   I continued layering paint and sanding randomly until it looked authentic and full of interest and character!

I am in love with this wall.  It took a bit before I like the arrangement of the objects.  I laid it out on the floor first, and then ended up doing some rearranging on the wall....which means a little patching and painting, but that is easy enough.

I ended up adding the horse shoe for fun and variety.  I also like that once someone told me that if you have a horse shoe in your home it would "hold the luck...

The rod iron candle holder is another item something I had had for years (from my Mom) and just felt right in the composition.

What all the items have in common is that they are old, iron and served some purpose long ago.
It really was such fun to collect the items, create something new....and because I used paint I already had around the house, literally cost me only $89.  (I think it would be possible to get that cost way down with more garage sales and more time to collect).

So, there it is.   I vented!   It is much better to vent in this manner than listening to me vent about how tired I am, how my back is bothering me or how I wish someone in my house would listen to me.
 opps, just vented.

so long changing pad

Is it weird that I feel the need to document this diaper changing pad?  It maybe so.
But I do and for good reason (in my mind).   I have been changing diapers on it for almost 10 years....to be exact 9 years and 11 months and 6 days.  but who's counting?

As you can see, it is worn-out...and when Tessa came home I didn't want to muster up the cashola to buy a new one, when I knew I could just tape this one up to get through one more kid!  So the packing tape came out and did the trick.

My Mom was here last weekend and told me I may as well take it off Tessa's dresser.  I hadn't even realized it because it has been a constant for soooo many years!   Not only can I not lift Tessa up at the moment to lay her on the changing pad with this back problem (she happily lays on the floor for diaper changes these days) but she really is way too big for it!   My youngest baby is too big, her legs sadly extend off of it.  So, it is time to send it away.

I think I was being "green" to hang on and tape the darn thing up, but I also know I was being sentimental.   For all the pee and poo, diaper rashes, tears, blow-outs and shots in the face,  my heart still fills up with the sweetest memories.   Remembering my first baby, Judson....and then Drew and then Jack and then Tessa.  Their tiny little bodies.....not little, little anymore.  The tickles, the smiles and giggles.  Them laying in their towels on it after a bath, getting a massage with the smell of Johnson's baby lotion (I can almost smell it!)

good-bye diaper pad.....soon I hope to say a long farewell to diapers! until then....I press on through the diaper years.

As I type this I have the Bangles song verse in my head "time...time...time...see what's become of me?" from the song "Hazy Shade of Winter".  It has me giggling and wondering.  I am writing sentimentally about a diaper changing pad....What has become of me?!