...my own self

Strep throat, doctor's appointments, antibiotics, a compressed disk and severe sciatic nerve pain, a trip to welcome my college roommate to 35, helping my husband complete his required credits for work (go ahead, ask me anything about cardiovascular disease, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction...because I pretty much know it all), and birthday plans for a soon to be 5-year-old...those are the things that are taking the place of blogging these days.

I've been crabby, cranky, rude, sad, frustrated, stressed, mean, and emotional this week. I bet you're glad you don't live with me! Ellie got strep throat and has been a clingy girl who wants to be held 24/7. Steve has a compressed disk in his back and could barely move for five days. Kate got a fever and I rushed her to urgent care for some antibiotics, only to be told that she didn't need them (despite the fact that Ellie had strep throat). I had to leave everyone for a quick trip to visit my friend Erica, who was turning 35. When I returned on Sunday, the girls were still in the same pajamas I put them in Friday night, my husband hadn't moved much from the couch because his back hurt so bad, and Kate decided that daddy was "the awesomist" because he let her eat McDonalds (twice) and watch TV all weekend.

Now, I'm up to my ears in birthday party plans, and I'm promising myself that next year's birthday plans will be simpler, because little girls do not need two birthday parties, cupcakes at daycare, and a trip to a Hibatchi restaurant. Seriously, though...what is she going to expect when she turns 16????

The one thing that has continued to make me laugh throughout this crazy week is Ellie's new insistence on independence. She says, "I do it my own self," All.The.Time. She wants to get dressed herself. Get undressed herself. Go to the potty herself. Brush her teeth herself. Holy cow...now we have a new reason for being late to everything - it takes this girl ten minutes to put on her socks, but dog-gone-it she's going to stick with it until it's done...by "her own self." It's kind of funny and I'm trying to appreciate this characterstic in my sweet girl. Independence, motivation, and perserverance are all wonderful attributes!

And so, if you made it this far in my long-winded and ridiculously whiney post, I will reward you with this picture of my girl...doing it her own self.