Progression

I feel like I've slacked off, not writing anything for a week. So, what have I been up to?

First off, the physical therapy update. My hip bone has rotated (most of the way) back. It's been hard to abandon some of the habits that got me that way, but for the sake of reduced pain I can deal with it. Now I get to do balancing exercises and some stretches to build up my core. My therapist's explanation was that since my ligaments obviously aren't doing their job to hold things in place, I need to strengthen the muscles to pick up the slack. I'm liking this program much better because it doesn't hurt. Muscle burn is way better than joints screaming in pain.

Jonathan and I have been pulled into helping crew for the Youth's play Savior of the World. He's off painting sets, right now, and I'm on the makeup crew. I'm pretty sure I get to do Zacharias and Elizabeth's aging. It was both fun and frustrating teaching ~150 teenagers the right way to put on makeup for stage. The girls were generally OK, but the boys (of course) were painting each other like clowns. We had to stop at each table and emphasize that if you don't do it right you don't go on stage.

Monday was a final get-together with Cynthia's family before they head off to Chicago, today, to start Stephen's grad schooling. We all went to Jonathan's parents' house to swim, eat and socialize. Elena discovered that if she folds her arms her arm floaties will hold her head up above the water and she had a great time swimming the length of the pool then climbing out, running back to the other end, then climbing back in and doing it again. She did at least four lengths of the pool, this way. She's been telling me all week that she can swim all by herself, now. After the kids hopped out to dry off and watch a movie, I borrowed Sarah's mattress float and just drifted around the pool without a care in the world. I ran out of direct sunlight (the shadows made the water too cold) right about the time dinner was ready, and we had a great time eating and chatting well into late evening.

Elena and I got to go out with my Mom, Thursday night. Jonathan got the night off from painting because it was pouring down rain every half an hour, so he stayed home with Joseph, who was super cranky because he had a molar half-way through. Since we were in San Marcos because of dad's meetings, we dropped by the outlet malls after we'd run a few errands. It was so good to hang out together and just be girls. Elena was really pretty well behaved so everything went smoothly and everyone enjoyed themselves.

We got invited to the Kyle Stake Pioneer Day party, last night. We had a lot of fun! There was lots of smoked meat (wild pig & buffalo!) plus ice cream, snow cones, watermelon and cotton candy (the only treat we didn't try). We got to ride the mule-drawn wagon--Elena went twice--and jump in the bouncy house--all but me, since Joseph insisted someone go in with him and the pregnant thing doesn't work well with bouncing. We had a great time dancing, the best I've had in ages, and the fireworks were awesome.

That's about it. I know that each of these could have easily been separate posts but I like to do them with pictures and I keep forgetting the camera. Ah well.

Pictures of the 20th

Now that I'm feeling somewhat better (not "good," yet, just "better"), I'll fill in the gaps of our exciting evening, last Friday. First was dinner and dancing at Texas Old Town in Kyle. We invited Stephen and Cynthia to join us when we asked if they could babysit, and they graciously agreed to join the party. We didn't get fireworks since it'd been pouring rain all day, but it was still fun to get out and see friends.



Barnes&Noble was holding a two-hour party for Harry Potter, but because of the stake's we only got there for the last 30-45 minutes. I'm not sure what you can see from the picture, but that's the store way back in the packground, and we're in the closest available parking spot, 5 stores away and on the other side of the lot. It was packed!


Lots of people were in costume. This guy's is probably the best, of what we saw, though there was a really good Rita Skeeter, too.


Someone took the liberty of doctoring the countdown sign.


Here we are, book in hand, before dashing to the car to read the first chapter outloud on the way home.


It was a really, really fun night. At the Pioneer Day party we had good food, a live band, and great dancing. At the Harry Potter party I saw a friend from work, my buddy Matthew; I made a Weasley clock; everyone was really cheerful, even though it was crowded; the employees didn't look too harrassed; and the line went really quickly. If I hadn't gotten sick, I'd have been perfect. Come to think of it, I'd been feeling weird all Friday, too... I'd just assumed it was nervous excitement, but I'm not so sure, now. Ah, well. A few more days and I'll hopefully be back to normal.

Song and Dance

Some days, when I am very lucky, I wake to the serenade of angels. And the words of that song make my heart swell with indescribable joy...

"Twinkle wittle wittle stah
How wonder whatchew ah
Up up in in in in sky
Twinkle wittle wittle stah
How wonder whatchew ah."

Then, on the descant, comes the squeals and laughter of a baby that is utterly content with his current lot in life. It is one of the most beautiful things a person can ever hear.

Today, we watched Finding Nemo, one of Elena's favorites, and when we got to the closing credits we started to dance to the song. It was so much fun we skipped back and danced again.

It's nice to know that the ups and down of life and Mommyhood are not quite so bad as they seem at the time. Here's to happy smiles!