Betrayed

Last week Wednesday was my day off.  I was getting ready for the day when I dropped something.  I bent down to get it and stood up quickly.  Then, I went to take a step and realized I was in excruciating pain. I somehow did something to my back and I could barely walk.  Sitting, standing, or laying down, everything hurt.  I had been betrayed by my body.

Lucky for me, my brother-in-law is a chiropractor, so he took a look and adjusted me.  (I am so grateful I have family members who are willing to help me when I need something.)  Even after the adjustment, I knew Wednesday night there was no way I could go to work the next day.

Thursday, I woke up initially feeling better.  I had gone to sleep with an ice-pack under my back, and thought maybe I was better.  The moment I tried to move, I realized I was wrong.  So I spent the day re-reading some of my favorite Boxcar Children books.

Though I enjoyed the books, by the end of the day I was thinking of all the things I needed to catch up on at work.  I have so much to do normally, I definitely do not want to fall behind.  And frankly, my coworkers depend on me a little too much.  Lots of things get left undone when I'm not there.  I told my boss I would try to go to work on Friday.

Friday I got up and started getting ready.  It didn't take long for me to realize I couldn't spend more than ten minutes sitting up,  and I was crazy if I thought I could sit up, stand, or walk around an office for ten hours.  As much as I hated to do it, I let my boss know I couldn't make it to work again.

Normally, if I have to call out, I am sick and miserable and in no condition to think about work.   I was frustrated that my body had betrayed me, and though my mind was ready and willing to handle the tasks I needed to take care of, my body was not able.  I wished I worked from home, or was able to bring my work home so I could complete some of my projects.  But as I rested at home, reading and watching a few TV shows on Hulu, I realized how truly lucky I am to be physically able to work.  I am young and healthy.  My body will heal, and is healing.  I was able to work today.

I thought about those people who suffer from an injury, illness, or disability and are not able to heal.  I tried to be more grateful for my circumstances and to not mind the inconvenience, especially since my injury was temporary.

Though my job is not ideal, I have one.  I am grateful I have a decent paycheck with good benefits.  I am grateful I have a job that allows me to take occasional sick time when something like this occurs.  And mostly, I am grateful that I am able to get up each morning and do the work I need to do to keep my paycheck coming.

Babysitting For Fun

This week I got the pleasure of having a little one on one time with my super sweet niece, Brooklyn.

This little munchkin is as cute as they come, but she woke up her nap with a very full and very dirty diaper.  I haven't changed a diaper in at least a decade, and wasn't sure I could handle it when I first opened up that little bomb to discover what was inside.  I used up probably half the wipes getting her cleaned up and nearly put the diaper on backwards.  But we both survived somehow.  I just reminded myself that I would like a munchkin of my own someday so I had to suck it up and take the opportunity to practice my future mommy skills.


And then the little sweetheart spent the rest of the afternoon making up for it.  She is such a happy little girl and has the greatest maniacal laugh.  An episode of Friends was playing on TV while I was feeding her lunch and I giggled at something that happened.  Brooklyn laughed because I was laughing and before we knew it we were cackling like a couple of witches stirring a big black cauldron.









Then the little cutie decided to help me with my laundry and paused to give me an impromptu hug.  I love those.

Brooklyn likes to watch the washer spin the clothes.



I love this little girl!!