I'm so over surgery

I had surgery in 2007.  Twice.  Within two weeks of each other.

Then I had surgery in 2011.

And then I had surgery last week.  Last week's was just the surgery to remove my wisdom teeth but let me tell ya, it's been a doozie.  I'm kind of over going under anesthesia and the knife.

I had to have all four removed.  Only one was through about 60%.

The rest were cut and dug out.

Three have healed just fine.  One, though, has been trying to kill me.

I went to Tri-Cities on Tuesday for an appointment and was going to do my grocery shopping and run errands but it was cut short due to the pain I was in, I just couldn't focus on the tasks I needed to get done.
Then I wake up yesterday morning and was actually in tears because the pain was so intense.  Josh looked at me and said that I looked like the times I've come out my big surgeries.  Death.

I have a high tolerance to pain but this has been getting to me.  I ended up taking two of my pain meds throughout the day yesterday (none today, I'm toughing it out).  This morning I called my dentist to see if he could see me and tell me if I've messed something up in there.

Bless his heart he took the time to see me.

Thankfully, everything looks great.  I'm thinking it's the lack of "taking it easy" that the oral surgeon prescribed me.

How does a mother ever just "take it easy"? It isn't possible.  Not really.

But yesterday I basically did nothing.  Today I didn't do much either.  We've gotten school done and have managed to keep the kitchen clean.  Everything else has pretty much gone to pot.

So, you're welcome to come over, just pretty please bring dinner, some alcohol and clean my house while you're here.

The day we moved our deck.

This post deserves pictures.  Lots of pictures.  But I currently don't have any.  So you get words.  And it's early and I haven't had a full cup of coffee and there will probably be even more run on sentences than normal.

Josh didn't have to go to work yesterday because he has to work Saturday.  We were talking about all the things we needed to get done or wanted to get done for the day and for some reason I blurted out, "I wish our deck was on the east side of the house, so I can have a front porch."

Many of you know, but some of you may not, my issues with front doors.  I like to know where the door is of every place I'm going to.  Houses, places of business, etc.  So when we looked at this place 13 years ago, one of the biggest complaints I had was that when you pull up you don't really know where the front door is. I've seen people walk all the way around our house to the backyard and come up to the back door before.

I hate that feeling when I'm that person looking for the door.

Side note: Last week I was meeting friends for Monday Night Football, I was going to be a few minutes late and I get a text saying, "in the bar, first table on the right when you walk in."

This is a friend who gets my issues.  I laughed at the text but was so thankful.

(side note was just to show how awesome my friends are and to help you understand my issues.)

Back to the door at our house.

Our front door faces east.  Faces a carport.  When you pull up to our house, you see the north side of it (but you're facing south) so you don't see the front door.  And there's not really a porch so you just can't tell where you're supposed to go.

It drives me crazy.

Plus, no porch to decorate all cute and welcoming.

So I blurt out that I want our deck on the other side of the house and Josh grabs his tape measure and says it'll fit.

And seven hours, some ratchet straps, jack stands, a flatbed trailer, and a whole lot of head scratching later, it's moved around our house.  It was dark when we finally got it to the front of the house so the neighbors didn't see it last night.  Can't imagine what they're going to think in a few minutes when they head outside to leave for work and our deck is sitting in our driveway on the flatbed.

It's hilarious.

And so redneck.

I love that Josh just does.

I love that he can do anything.

I love that any idea I give him, any dream I have about our house, he makes it happen.

Yes, we have a kitchen that needs to be finished.  Yes, we have two rigs in our driveway with engine issues. Yes, there's a whole lot of other stuff that could have been done yesterday.

We just chose to do something else instead.  And I've found when Josh has a break from what he has to do, to do something he wants to do, it energizes him.  It pumps him up for the projects he knows he needs to get done.

So the kitchen and the engines, they got pushed back a day, but he'll get to those too.

While I decorate my new front porch.

I'm gonna be me...dreadfully me.

"This is so you."

"I saw this shirt and knew it was you."

"I don't like it, you probably do though, huh?"

"This just says, 'Sarah' all over it."

I've heard these words a lot since I was a teenager from family and friends.  And a lot in the last few years. Stuff that I like is different from stuff that "normal" people like.  I don't just have one style.  Most of what I like is off.  Or random.  I mix it up.  I'm a country girl who likes Wrangler butts (love that my husband wears 'em everyday) but I'm also the girl who buys a Mexican head to replace her family picture on an end table.  I love bright colors and I love muted tones.  I love whimsical clothes and I love prom dresses.  I'm drawn to country decor and modern too.  But the decor in my house right now is neither.  It's a mix of hand me downs and thrift store finds with a little Ikea and Pier 1.

I like what I like.  And usually what I like, another person will not.  I'm okay with it.  But it's taken me a long time to get to this point.

When I was 16 and dating Eric, he and I drove up to Safeway (the old one in GV) and when we pulled into the parking spot, in front of the store was a girl wearing clothes that reminded me of how Ellen Degeneres  dressed back in the mid 90s.  Baggyish bottoms, button down shirt, Vans.

This girl was beautiful.  Simple.  Dark, almond shaped eyes.  Thin.

And she'd shaved her head.  Not scalp shaved but not much longer.

I told Eric, "I'm doing that.  I love her hair."  Or lack there of... He just took my hand and we went into the grocery store and I'm not sure what he bought me, but most likely candy.

After Safeway, we went back to his house and we walk in and his dad is home.

"Hey, Dad.  Guess what.  Sarah's gonna shave 'er head."  I coulda hit him.  In fact, I probably did.

Pat looks me dead on and says, "You shave your head, I'm not taking you on vacation with us."  The vacation we were to leave on in just a couple of weeks.

And if you know Pat, you know that look.  That tone of voice.  And at the time I was closer to him than my own dad and what he said - went.

So I didn't shave my head before vacation and I never ended up shaving it after vacation.  I spent most of the summer of 1996 under their roof so I kept my hair to keep my relationship with Pat.

side note:  I miss Pat and Sharlene, and my time spent in their home.

During high school I wasn't the girl who cared about her hair. Most of the time I'd shower, let it dry and stick the frizzy mess in a pony.  My hair wasn't straight, nor was it curly.  It was just plain dirty dish water blonde and I wasn't a fan.

I don't know what happened but in my early 20s my hair completely changed.  It got curly.  And then I chopped it and it got even curlier and I was in love.  Besides my natural frizz (contain your jealousy) I really like my hair.  It's easy.  I get out of the shower, put my hair in a t-shirt for 45 minutes and then call it good.

But for several years there's been another hairstyle I love.  One that isn't too popular.  And geez has it caused an uproar lately as I've posted to FB what I want to do.



I'm sure there aren't many people who look at this picture the way that I do, but when I first found it on Pinterest, it made me catch my breath.  It's beautiful and free and

and me.

I've been so fascinated and drawn to dreads since I was about 14 or so.  

But even more so now.

I'm not someone who researches stuff.  If I like something I buy it.  I'm an impulsive person.

However, I've decided to start researching dreadlocks and the more I read, the more fascinated I've become.

There are a lot of misconceptions about dreads.  The main reason I haven't done them sooner is that I had heard that when you were done with them, to get them out, you had to shave your head.  And while a shaved head is what I wanted at 16, it's not really the look I'm going for at 32.

So, contrary to popular belief, you do not have to shave your head when you're through with them.  But it will take a vat of conditioner and a patient friend to comb them out.

The site I've been reading at is here in case you're interested.

I've started prepping my scalp by not washing my hair the last couple of days.  I'll wash it every three days for the next month or so while I wait for the products I'm going to order.

When asked why I'd want to do this, my answer is simple.  I just do.  I love how it looks.  Whenever I see someone with dreads, I'm drawn to them.

And lately another reason I want them is to kill the stereotype that so many seem to have about dreads.  That a person is dirty, that they smell.  Sure there are folks with dirty dreads but there's folks without dreads with nasty hair.  Right?  Right.  I'm still going to shower.  I'm still going to wash my hair.

I'm still going to be me.

And in the midst of less than encouraging words, I was thrilled to see this text today from Treena, my sister-in-law:

"Honestly...I like them and I can see you in them.  I know you and I know you will do them."

Thank you.

I'm not 100% sure this is happening, as Josh is not 100% on board.  But I'm prepping my hair just in case.

And I'm getting pretty stoked.

Pinterest Life vs. Real Life

I'm a big fan of Pinterest.  Big.  You can follow me here if you'd like.

Pinterest makes everyone's lives look so glamorous.  Or maybe everyone's lives, but mine, are glamorous.

I've always tried to "keep it real" here on my blog and today is no different.  I thought it'd be funny to show Pinterest's version of three different life events and my version of those same events.

Number One: Engagement/Save the Date Photos {Pinterest Version}

Source: Pinterest

This couple is super adorable.  I'm guessing mid to late 20s, they're done with college and they've got it all together.

Engagement/Save the Date Photos {My Real Life Version}

Source:   A cute little frame in my house

Who doesn't get engaged at 17 and use their prom pictures as their engagement photos?!  Okay, so we didn't use the prom pics as engagement pics but we could have!  Seriously.  17.  Engaged. (whole nother blog post) While the couple in the first photo is probably most concerned about mortgages and careers, I'm just hoping I'm going to get my high school diploma!

Next...

Number Two:  Maternity Pictures {Pinterest Version}

Source: Klicken Photos via Pinterest

Does this girl not have the cutest pregnant belly?  In her size two jeans.  I admit it, I'm envious.  My jeans are unbuttoned too right now but that's because I ate a candy bar and two slices of pizza for lunch.  With a beer.

Maternity Pictures {My Real Life Version}

Source: My scrapbook

Yes, folks.  That's yours truly.  About one week before giving birth.  Yes, I went to Safeway looking like that.  No, I didn't know that my belly was showing underneath.  I'm a hot mess.  Also, didn't know I had stretch marks until a few days before this when my sister pointed them out.  Thanks, Meg.

I'm so glad Pinterest wasn't around when I was pregnant because I would have wondered why I was the only pregnant chick with cankles, stretch marks and EEE boobs.  

And finally...

Number Three: Gender Reveal Invitations/Parties {Pinterest Version}

Quite a few of my friends are pregnant right now and they are pinning some of the most fun gender reveal ideas!

Source: Pizzazzerie.com via Pinterest

Out of all the ones I've seen lately, this one is probably my fave.  Love the mustache and lips.  So cool.

Gender Reveal Invitations/Parties {My Real Life Version}

The gender reveal parties for my girls were in the delivery room.  Pretty sure not even my husband was thrilled to see those gender reveals.  

You're welcome for not receiving an invite to that party.

this that and some other

I started a post on "Mommy Guilt" and quickly got rid of it.  The post, not the guilt.

I've decided to purchase a cow on my next to trip to the grocery store to keep up with all the butter and cream that is required to make the Pioneer Woman's recipes.

My kids aren't napping anymore.

I just died a little bit admitting that.

I was encouraging a friend today to not believe lies that can sometimes fill our heads (either words we think up or are said to us) when all of a sudden I was hit with the reminder of being told, "you're a fat, selfish, snob" and I had to quickly remind myself  that those words are lies.  They were then.  They are now.

I just slammed my girls' bedroom door.  Because I'm mad.  Whew.  Glad I got that off my chest.

At a stop sign a coupla days ago Spice says, "it's clear, Mama!" so I go.  And then she says, "Mama, what's 'clear' mean?"  I laughed so hard.  Good thing I'd checked and knew that it actually was clear.

Saturday night Josh and I came home from a wedding, started a fire in the woodstove out on the deck, turned up my dad's 1970's Kenwood stereo, grabbed a beer (or 2) made some popcorn and danced and sang with our girls.  It was one of my favorite nights of the summer.

I have a terrible memory.  I remember the most random stuff, usually numbers, but I never remember important stuff.  Like my childhood.  I was talking to Josh about it the other day and there's just so little I remember.  Bugs me.

Clifford just meowed.  He wants outside.

Amber and I are going to collaborate on a book with letters to future selves.  Letters to us as the mothers of adult daughters.  To remind us of the types of mothers-of-adult-daughters we want to be.  We'll likely be the only ones to read it but that's okay.  I will read and re-read that bad girl so that I am the type of mama my girls want to be around and come to for advice or just to talk or sit or whatever with when they are adult women.

I'm having my wisdom teeth out soon.

I've been baking up a storm lately.  Not sure what my deal is.  I wore my apron to the grocery store by accident last week.  To be honest I'm more embarrassed about the apron in public than the prom dress.  Maybe because the apron was an accident and the prom dress so wasn't.

I'm putting us back on a budget.  Which means less driving around.  Less spending.  Less being fun.

I overhead Sugar say to Spice, "let's pretend we're sisters and we like each other."  To some it would be funny.  For me it hits too close to home.

We started school yesterday.  Can ya tell?



The other night my sister and BIL were over and the kids were playing.  Spice hit her head on the coffee table and started to cry.  I picked her up to check her over and Jerry said, "she's bleeding."  Sure enough there was  a lot of blood.  I panicked.  I looked at Meg and said, "what do I do?"  She grabbed Spice and said, "you give her to me."

Megan and Jerry both used to volunteer with a local fire department and both are trained for situations like this and I was so glad they were there.

It was amazing to see my sister in action.  She took Spice, set her on the counter, looked it over and determined that while it was deep, she was fine.  I would have been fuhlipping out had they not been there.  We put pressure on it and within no time the bleeding had stopped. I would have rushed that kid to the ER for stitches.  She was her chipper little self within the hour and has been just fine.  I haven't been able to brush her hair though because some of it is stuck in the scab.  Yum, huh?  You're welcome.

Josh put in a 14 hour day yesterday.  I love that he's not lazy.  He never complains but is always saying he's so thankful for his job.  I love that he's a hard worker.  I love that he doesn't expect or depend on anyone else to provide for our family.

That's hot.

We're a lot of things but mostly we're a good time

Have you heard about the Taylor Bridge fire?

The fire broke out on August 13th and burned over 23,000 acres and destroyed over 60 homes.  It took over 16 days to contain and over 1,000 firefighters. (be still my heart)

A few weeks ago my friend Jessica linked to a fun run fundraiser for the Red Cross, with donations going to those affected by the Taylor Bridge fire.

I signed myself up and told Amber we should do it together.

In our prom dresses.

She agreed.  Signed up.  And for the last couple of weeks we've had banter back and forth on FB or texting talking about this 5K (3ish miles) that we'd be doing in our prom dresses.  We've had friends comment, some disbelieving we'd really do it, laughing with and at us.  We've had friends not comment at all, believing - with eyes rolled - that we would.

It's best to not doubt our ridiculousness.

It knows no bounds.

Saturday morning I woke at 5 with a bit of anxiety.  The anxiety wasn't over the running of three miles in a prom dress, it was over wondering what people were thinking of us.

I woke Josh up and asked him if we were stupid.  Like, stupid stupid.  (I know we're silly stupid)

He says, "no, you guys are fun.  And you're putting the fun in fundraiser."

I laid back down and thought a lot about it.  About what you might be thinking of me.  Of us.  And our silly prom dresses.

It ends with me not caring.

But it started this way:

You might think us irresponsible.  But does irresponsible work 40+ hours per week to raise two kids on your own?  Because that's what Amber does.  Does irresponsible homeschool and keep house for a family of four?  Because that's what I do.

If so, yes, we're irresponsible.

You might be thinking we're 32 and need to grow up.

To that I say, see above.  We're grown ups.  We're just really fun grown ups.  There's so much seriousness to our lives.  There's drama we'd rather not have.  There's junk we'd rather not be dealing with.  So if we have the opportunity bring some excitement, silliness and fun to it - you bet we're gonna do that.

After seeing our dresses (they're strapless) many people were concerned how we'd run without the dresses falling down.  Do you really think we'd run with dresses falling off?  C'mon.  Give us a little credit.  I had joked that we were finally going to be famous if those dresses came down.  Fully knowing they were not going to fall down (and that my fame will have to come another way, dang it).  Rest assured, the dresses kept us covered at all times.  Much to some people's relief and other's disappointment.

Life is too short to take everything too seriously.

Loosen up.

Have some fun.

Do something silly out of your comfort zone.

Like run 3 miles in a prom dress for a fundraiser.

We like to have fun.  We like to be silly.  We like to make other people laugh.

So laugh with or at us all you want.

Just don't be judgey.