Pain is such a frustrating thing

Man have I ever been hurting this week. I'm used to living with my chronic pain and for the most part have learned how to manage it; pacing myself, medications, reducing my activities - basically just listening to what my body tells me. This week though its been excrutiating. My hips just won't stop aching and even walking causes me to have sharp pains. I've been having to deal with intense shoulder pain since mid-November and now this on top of that, it's almost to much for me to take.

I try to get Joe out to at least 1-2 playdates a week and thus far I've only managed to get him over to Grammi and Pop-pop's while Elsa was over there so that they could play together. It makes me feel like such a bad mom. Like I'm cheating him out of life experiences and growth opportunities.

Man am I ever frustrated with this situation. I've been biting my poor hubby's head off every time I turn around, and that's just not the person I want to be. I sure hope something let's up soon.

Pop-Pop Rules

Joe has the best grandfather ever who goes by the name of Pop-pop (courtesy of his cousin Elsa - it was one of the first names she said). Yesterday he showed up at our house with a beautifully handmade toy box for Joe. He'd used a beautiful wood veneer overlay and so we didn't want it painted. He stained it and added Joe's name in wood stencils that were stained in a lighter shade. It is just awesome and I bet it will hold almost all of Joe's toys.

I have to clear a space in the playroom for it and then Larry will bring it in from the garage. As soon as he does I'll post a picture. I know it is something Joe will treasure for a lifetime, much as I do the little cabinet my grandpa made Crystal and I.

Thanks Pop-pop.

Boys' will be boys

Well Joe has had a rough and tumble last couple of days. Mom and I took him out to breakfast on Monday and as we're leaving the restaurant he takes off running down the sidewalk. Nothing outside the norm except his body got moving faster than his feet and the next thing I know he's slamming head first into the pavement. Boy did he cry, and cry, and cry. He scraped the skin off in two places, got a knot the size of a golf ball, and had it turning purple in seconds. I cuddles him for about 45 seconds and then he was clamoring to get down and take off again.

The next day he's running from his playroom into the livingroom, going at full speed, and was unable to correct his direction fast enough and went crashing into the big wooden credenza that we have our TV on. Well he managed to hit the side of his head, or rather his ear, and intstantly it get's a purple line across the top and begins to swell.

I usually take his antics in stride, after all boys will be boys, and as for Joe specifically he only knows two speeds - fully stopped and full speed ahead, but when he cries, which isn't often it just breaks my heart.

Let's get cookin'

We got Joey a new 50's diner kitchen Saturday (thanks to Grammi and Pop-pop's financial gifts over the last few months). He absolutely loves it. It has the kitchen on one side and the booth and table on the other. It came with two complete place settings, cups, glasses and ice-cream sunday glsses - or as Aunt Marry calls them, cocktail glasses, and some diner "food". He has been playing with it non-stop since Larry set it up.

Joe's cousin Elsa seemed really taken with it too. She loved putting the coffee pot on and hearing it percolate as well as the burgers frying on the grill. And when it comes to declaring "order up" I don't think there could be anyone faster or more persistent in ringing the bell.

My favorite part is the tabletop jukebox. It plays 10 classic songs from the 50's. It has a little something for everyone and is the perfect kitchen for a little boy.

SuperBowl Sushi

Superbowl sunday and we had a small crowd - Crystal, Jeff, Mom, Bonnie, Larry Sr., Mary, Eric and Elsa. We made sushi for the first time, or should I say Larry and Crystal made sushi. I just managed to make a mess. And Jeff, brave soul that he is, was our taste tester before everyone arrived.

(If our attempts had failed, I would have been placing an order with our local pizza place. But I had complete faith in Larry and Crystal's sushi making capabilities.)

They made beautiful maki rolls and sashimi. I fried up some already prepared vegetable dumplings and chicken potstickers. Bonnie was wise enough to bring over b-b-q chicken and potato salad for those not into raw fish - mainly mom and the babies. Plus she brought over a delicious assortment of cheesecake - YUMMY. Thank god for Bonnie as I hadn't even given dessert a second thought, or a first thought for that matter.

We just all kicked back, ate, played with the kids and of course watched the game on TV. It was a great way to spend a Sunday with family who also just happen to be great friends.