What's the Life You Would Imagine?

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you've imagined." That's the quote I have on my fridge by Henry David Thoreau and somedays it makes me laugh (because a day of dirty diapers, endless demands, hauling my pregnant body around is not my idea of a dream life), other days I just ignore the thought and then there are days like today where it actually really, truly, makes me think. I've never been a big dreamer. Really, in high school all's I thought about was getting through college, I didn't give much thought to life past that. And I'm still not a "where do I see myself in 10 years kind of person." I like to plan, that is true, but like a week to a few months ahead. Thinking beyond that just kind of scares me I guess.
So what were my deep thoughts about that quote today? Well, I was thinking, I'm at a changing point in my life right now. New baby coming any day, Evan starting kindergarten ect. that's a lot of change for me at once. And I was wondering, if I could change my life into anything right now, what would it be? What would I imagine my life to be like? Well, I like to read this magazine called "Guideposts" and they always have these nondenominational inspirational stories about people. A lot of times these people make life changing decisions that lead to serving others in places they never imagined. I love reading these stories because I sort of live vicariously through them. I'm not brave enough to do what most of these people do, which is usually give up the life that they know, make financial sacrifices, take risks to do something they believe deeply in like go to Africa for a few years to dig wells or something. I admire them, would secretly like to be them sometimes, but in the end, I enjoy the story and then go back to my own ordinary life. Today I read a story in Guideposts that sort of linked my thoughts on my fridge quote to what maybe the life I imagined would be like. It was about a couple with 2 teenage kids on the verge of divorce. The couple goes to Italy to put on this business tour to get sponsors and while there they both are so changed by the scenery and atmosphere they decide to sell their house, quit their jobs they don't like anymore and live in Italy for a year and give their marriage one more try. They even wrote a book about it called "Halfway to Each Other".
I like that movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" where Diane Lane's character buys a villa on a whim and fixes it up. It's not all fun and roses, but I like that idea, despite my fear and abhorrence of change, of starting over in such a dream setting. So, honestly, I think if I were brave enough, I would think of it as a grand adventure to leave everything behind and take my family to Italy or somewhere else beautiful and exotic and live there for awhile. Be in a place so wonderful and dazzling there would be no need for tv or video games or media in general. We could just enjoy nature's beauty and each other and live a different kind of life. That's the life I secretly imagine it would be fun and fulfilling to live. And hey, if I could dig a few wells while I was there, all the better!

Pain in the Butt

It would probably be more interesting to blog about my cute kids right now, but really, all's I can think about is myself right now! Sad, but true. I've had a pretty good couple of months with this pregnancy so I was probably thinking I could get away with anything, when it hit me: pain! Pain down my lower back, butt and into my left thigh. Walking was suddenly killer, bending over, picking things up, carrying small children-- impossible! What? I'm not unstoppable? What will I do with my nesting instinct now? I went from scrubbing floors and cleaning out the fridge to trying to just sit as much as possible during the day and not even putting so much as a dish away. So disheartening. I cried to my wonderful and sympathetic OBGYN on Friday saying I could not live with this pain for the next 3 weeks. So, he recommended I see a physical therapist. I was able to get an appointment for Monday so I went today. She said I had really tight hamstrings and it was aggravating my sciatic nerve, but it was mostly my muscles that were causing all the pain. She worked with me, gave me exercises to do and papers on how to sit up, roll over and wag my tail properly. (Ok, not the last one!) It seems I've been breaking a lot of bending over, twisting, rolling over you name it rules. No wonder I hurt so bad, it's like I had forgotten how to move properly. My back is all taped up too. I feel about 60% better and hope, with time and exercises, to continue to improve. It was nice to get some hope back. I'm not good with chronic pain. Now I just have to "take it easy" and remember to pivot and not twist, bend with my knees, not my waist and sit with support and my feet on the floor ect. I can do it!! And I better end this blog because this computer chair is killing my back!!!!

My Dad

My sister Jenn should really be the one doing a blog about my dad, but since she hasn't updated her blog in weeks (for shame!) I thought I'd go ahead and be the one to fill everyone in. So, on Saturday, my dad and my brother-in-law Adam decided it was time to finish cutting down a tree in their backyard. Dad was up on the ladder with the chainsaw while Adam helped direct below. He noticed Dad was in a bad spot and while telling him to move, that's when Dad slipped and fell about 8 feet. Luckily, Dad threw the chainsaw away from himself and didn't land on numerous things he could have (a bench for one!) but he hit the ground pretty hard, landing on his back. Adam knew immediately Dad was hurt bad and ran inside to get help. He told my mom to call 911 and then went back outside to be with Dad and tell him not to move. Dad was having trouble breathing and turning gray. Luckily, the paramedics arrived quickly and were able to stabilize him. Around this time my sister got home from grocery shopping with her 2 boys, Alex and Erik. Of course, she knew nothing about the accident and was shocked to find an ambulance and a fire truck in front of her house. Everyone stayed miraculously calm considering the circumstances. My mom rode with my dad to the hospital in the ambulance where he had to get a chest tube and lots of x-rays. They figured out he broke his shoulder and 6 ribs and had a collapsed lung. They kept him in the hospital till Monday afternoon. He's home now recuperating but he's in a lot of pain. He really can't get comfortable and has to be careful with his breathing, since he could get pneumonia easily because of the collapsed lung. We're so glad though it wasn't worse and that he's expected to make a full recovery in time. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!!