Monkey Love!

I thought about posting a few times this week, but each time I decided that I needed more material...well now I have so much to report. Everyday when Ellie comes in, I ask how her day went and what she learned. Everyday she says "we did math and monkey bars". Each day she increases the number of monkey bars that she did. We started with 3 and now we are up to 60! I finally got to see her perform on the monkey bars today. WOW! She really impressed me and I got so tickled because she looked like a little monkey. We got back in the car and she asked me if I thought she did good. Of course I went on and on about how impressed I was. She said everyone in her class could do it and Tyler can do 60! Then she said "well, that can't be- there aren't that many monkey bars..." as if she needed to talk herself down from the peak of exaggeration.

Speaking of monkeys...she got a monkey in her pocket this week, which means she "monkied around" a little too much. I can't even remember the details of the reprimand, because all I heard about was "FunRun" and how I needed to "login to .com, funrun, and see if Rainey, Charlene, GiGi, Aunt Pot, David and Milo could sign up to do the fun run. There will be a space bounce and it will be so much fun". I asked her if it was a fundraiser and she said "NO, it is a FUN RUN" (say it out loud and you'll hear how funny that sounds)!

She couldn't have been monkeying around that much if she could remember the sales pitch verbatim. I had to email Ms. Sisk and tell her that she would be so proud of Ellie. I also assured her that the following day would better. She said that she enjoyed having her in class and that Ellie told the guidance counselor that everyday at school was just terrible. When they asked her for specifics, she grinned and said "I'm just kidding". Ms. Sisk, like so many others said "Look out drama class..." And to think, at 18 months of age, Ellie was voted "Drama Queen" of her class by the daycare staff.

An update on my back:

I went back to the Chiropractor yesterday and as promised, it didn't hurt nearly as much as the first time. I left my translator in the waiting room so that maybe I would get more treatment. I did, and Dr. Lott said that I was right on track. It has been one week and I now believe that every day shows a 10% improvement. If this is the case I should be as good as new Tuesday. I am planning to teach class this week; I just know that I won't be able to do things 100%. Jenni led class today and I participated minimally. I went through a lot of the steps, but was very easy on the hips. I could tell that I was working it and I knew when to back off. When I left I felt looser and actually pretty good! I am still wondering if I will ever be the same and able to shake it (like a polaroid picture)...I love to shake it. Liz and Jenni gave me a couple of dirty looks during class (as if I was overdoing it) and at the end of class said that my hips just couldn't help it and that I don't even realize I am doing it! I can't sit around and do nothing, and from what I've heard physical therapy (that's what we'll call my zumba class this morning) hurts!

The Frog formerly known as Prince

It takes a village...or a cul-de-sac in my case, to raise a child. Ellie spent a lot of time with her friends this past weekend while I rested my back. She went next door and fell in love with 2 frogs. As you can see in the pic, she is practically kissing them...I love that she is a girly girl who doesn't mind getting her hands dirty once in a while. It's so much more fun when you don't worry about messing your hair up...thanks David and Milo!

So I went to see Dr. Lott today. I have never been so excited about a doctor's appointment. I didn't expect him to fix me today but at least I would know what the problem is and what exactly I need to do to fix it. I was so pleased to learn that he was the first Chiropractor to go to medical school at UAB. I had my translator with me (Lamar), so as we were making introductions and Dr. Lott began taking notes, Lamar filled him in on what happened to me (as if I couldn't explain it myself). You can imagine...

This was my first visit to any chiropractor so I really didn't know how it would all go. I have just heard testimonials about how "adjustments" made all the difference in the world with necks, backs, and even sinuses (???) Needless to say I was very excited about seeing a miracle worker. I was prepared to say "back off" if I didn't feel comfortable with him "tweaking" my back. But he made me feel so at ease; he knew right away that I had jammed my back (like you would jam a finger) and knew exactly how to fix it. I was so excited!

It all happened so fast...one minute he said "you probably won't like me" and then (according to Lamar) the fear in my eyes was that of someone looking at a freight train coming strait at them. He jerked my leg so hard and fast that my heart nearly stopped. I don't know if it hurt that bad or it just scared me to death. He informed me that I was the first screamer of the day. Meanwhile Lamar is standing in the corner laughing and saying "I didn't feel a thing"!

After that, I was very anxious about the rest of the "adjustment". He almost stopped short due to my screams. He was worried I would scare the next patient...I covered my mouth and let him crack me that 4th and last time. No regrets though; I am confident that the adjustment scheduled for Friday won't be as bad and in the end it will all be worth it.

There was a picture that his daughter had drawn back in 1998 that said "I love you daddy...have fun cracking backs"...I thought it was funny until he cracked mine!

Shake it, don't break it...

Since Ellie was able to speak, I thought about starting a blog. I needed some way to document all of the ellie-isms that come out of her mouth. She's 5 now and I hope I am not too late. I hurt my back at zumba class yesterday and have been instructed by my doctor friend to stay in the bed for at least 24 hrs. Lamar says I should stay here the rest of today but I think by this evening I should be ready to get up and move around at least a little bit. I am planning to call the chiropractors office early tomorrow morning to find out if the injury involves muscle or spine. I have improved by about 10% since yesterday; I cried like a baby every time I had to get up or down yesterday. Today I can at least reposition myself in the bed without experiencing excruciating pain.

I must say that my friends are first-class. Ms. Jenni got on the phone right away to find out what I should do first. She talked to her PT friend and got a chiropractor on the phone ASAP. She brought dinner to Lamar and me which was flipping awesome! My nick-name for her is Betty Fu%$&^% Crocker, which is a huge compliment!

Without hesitation Elizabeth said she would take Ellie to Samantha's birthday party and from there would take her home, feed her and let her sleep over so that I could rest and Lamar could be my bi-otch...just kidding, Liz just knows how much of a Diva I can be...

Melissa called and offered an ice-pack thing, which came in handy since my home-made icepack made from a ziploc leaked all in the bed and I couldn't really feel how wet it was because my bottom was numb....of course the medicine Lisa gave me out the biggest dent in the pain and allowed me to finally get some rest last night. Rhea was ready to bring over some creme but I couldn't let her do that; she has 2 babies in diapers and Rakesh made me feel better by explaining that he had been in this situation and gave me the number for his chiropractor. For some reason I trust Dr. Patel; maybe it's becasue he is a scientist....and he has a british accent that makes everything he says the gospel.

I have to end this post with an Ellie-ism (the reason for the blog). As Ellie explained to Alli what happened to my back she said "My mom was teaching zumba and she hurted her back. All of the sudden it popped and she said 'holy mother of hot-wigs'..."