Occupational Hazards

Once again, my back is on strike. It always happens when you least expect it. I generally pick up the kids with a knees-bent approach, but if I don't yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyaow! And there it goes. It happened at 8 a.m. on Monday. I ended up on the floor in agony. Pain shot up my spine and my head got all hot. Then ringing in my ears, and then a loss of peripheral vision. I lunged for the phone and begged Emily to come help. Lucky for me she was here. I spent 30 minutes on the couch and tried to relax. I could feel the muscles seizing up. NO NO! I had friends and kids coming over; this could not happen. I doubled up with an ICY HOT patch AND a Therma Care heat wrap. I looked like a geriatric man. The friends arrived. The kids got in the pool. We had a swim lesson. My kids were super clingy. Ugh. Ugh, ugh!

Okay, and also, this was our last night to "go out" before Emily left for Chicago. So I rallied. Went to dinner with Al and our friend Ellen. It was nice. Al made sure I had extra cushioning and ample wine.

Today wasn't much better. We had another swim lesson, this time at another pool. And Emily left. Oh, that is hard. And somehow Al managed to come home just before the kids got up from their nap. Nice. We all hung out in the backyard. The kids ate left over tenderloin and goldfish for dinner. Nutritious! Then they got nudie and helped me feed our plants fish juice. There was free peeing everywhere by both kids and they took turns spraying and pumping the sprayer. I really enjoyed their teamwork. We all bathed and got in the mommydaddy bed for some toons. Both Paige and Graham say "Jerrrweee" for Tom and Jerry. I hate Tom and Jerry. They love it.

Just before each episode ends, Paige senses it, and says, "Mo? Mo? Moooooooooooohhhwa?" She buys herself at least 15 minutes. Graham reclines with a pillow behind his head and chugs milk contently.