One of those weeks...

Well, I don't have any cute pictures to post today, so I'll have to work on that. It has been one of those weeks. I've been completely overwhelmed lately. I have had tears the last two out of three days and I'm not usually a crier. Uhhhh. My to-do list is a page long. Here is an update of what is going on. Normally I like to keep my posts happy and about the kids, but as I said...it's been one of those weeks.

-Back pain and leg pain. My pain level on a scale from 1 to 10 is a 12. I can hardly sit. I cried the whole way home from work two days ago b/c I'm in so much pain. I am going to the Mayo Clinic two months from today and it can't come soon enough. I hope to get some answers. The pain meds don't even help anymore and that stinks to put it mildly. Mark my words. I bet I will be having another surgery. Out of commission for 6 weeks and no lifting--hmmm, that will be fun with two little ones. Then add two kids and work into the mix and it's just hard to deal with. No one has a clue how much pain I'm in ALL the time. I try to keep it to myself. Nick had a certificate for a free massage and I went on Sunday. Big mistake. I have felt a lot worse and think the low back was irritated by the massage. This also leads to lack of sleep. I have been up between 4:30-5:30am all week b/c I wake up in so much pain and can't go back to sleep. That makes for one unhappy mommy and wife--I need my sleep. I have a follow up appointment at the pain clinic next week so hopefully my doctor there will have some suggestions (I had two injections a few weeks ago--got some relief for a few days, but it's back).

-Nanny situation. I'm so sad our nanny is leaving us. We found someone new and I think she will be great. It's just stressful thinking about having someone new watching the kids when I've been so happy and had that trust with Monica for almost two and a half years now. I am sad that the kids will not get to see Monica after she has spent so much time with them over the past couple of years. She requested visitation rights, so I hope we'll still see her :)

-Hunter starting school. It has been great and he loves it. I can't complain, but the change in schedule takes some getting used to. Taking him to school and dealing with traffic. Stressing about if he will have accidents at school. It sounds silly, but the mornings used to be so laid back--I didn't care when he got dressed or ate breakfast and now we have a time table to deal with.

-Sick kids. Both have had colds. They are pretty much over it now, but Hunter was throwing up, runny noses, coughing, sneezing...YUCK.

-My friend's dad died. We are going to the visitation today. Our husbands were college roommates. Her dad was so nice and such a great dad and grandfather. They were just here for a week visiting and stayed with us for a few days. They had just driven back to Texas and he died a few days later of a sudden heart attack. I am so sad for their whole family and have been thinking about it a lot. It's scary to think that stuff happens...she's my age, has a 4 week old, 3 & 5 year old, and her dad was in good health. My heart just breaks for them and I get so sad thinking about what they must be going through.

-Hunter's birthday. He is turning three next Monday. Have to figure out gifts, ceremony and snack thing they do at his school, and his party on Sunday. I really wanted it to be Saturday, but ended up having to change it. I'm not happy, but Nick insisted. It's Hunter's first pre-school class at church on Sunday, and then with having school the next day, grrrr. I am excited to have his party, but it's a lot of work! I put this upon myself, so I shouldn't complain.

-Not getting along with people. I will leave it at that. People asking me to do things I don't want to do and don't feel comfortable doing and they just don't care. I've had tears and unnecessary stress over it and it's just not worth arguing about, but it's upsetting.

Well, all of this in combination with my real job. I feel at times like I don't have time to go to work. I am done complaining for now. I am so fortunate to have such a great husband...he's so supportive and is a great dad, so thanks Nick :) Tomorrow I am starting MOPS, getting my house cleaned, and hanging out with the kids...it will be a good day! I have a lot to be thankful for too--Nick, healthy kids, a great job, a home I love, and a lot more, so I know it could be worse. I've been wallowing in my own pity for the last few days and it's no fun. Please say some prayers for me in terms of my back pain--I can use all the prayers I can get right now.

***Update. We went to the visitation in Battle Creek this afternoon. On the way back, Nick made a spontaneous decision to stop at Firekeeper's Casino for 20 minutes. That's all the extra time we had to spare to get home on time. I won $110 playing blackjack in about 15 minutes--no joke. I had a quick lucky streak and walked away. Nick won $35. I was so fun...and considering we could have lost $100 each in that amount of time, it was awesome! That made my day end on a more positive note :)