Back Among the Living

Today is the first day in a week that I have not had a constant stabbing pain in my chest. I'm sorry "Stabbing" isn't the word I would use to define my pain. It's more like a "sharp" pain and I would rate it as a 7 on a 1-10 scale. I understand the need to ask specific, measurable, definitive questions to what is a very personal, subjective response. Pain.
I like the idea of having someone describe pain, is it: burning, sharp, dull, radiating etc.. And that the intensity of the pain as well as location can tell you what organ or system of the body is affected. As a pediatric nurse I have asked these questions myself more times than I can count.
But as a patient all I wanted was medication, fast!!

Today, in the middle of winter, we went swimming! N came up with the idea. Of course. But M and I (both sharing a love for silliness and water) joined him. It started in the kitchen where we splashed each other and floated on our backs. Then we moved to the bedrooms and used all of our soft, wonderful pillows (M's words) as floatation devices. We also swam in the living room for awhile until all of the furniture started to sink! I don't think our home owners insurance covers repairs for pretend water damage.
We had a wonderful time, worked up quite an appetite as you often do when you spend all day at the pool. And the best part is no sun burns:-)
Then M realized that it was the middle of winter and the pool is closed! To be opened again sometime after Memorial day of sooner in N's imagation. Such is a day in the life with my two boys!

These were taken a few weeks ago on the University Campus. One of the last warm weekends we had and we took advantage of it! The boys loved playing in the leaves and it was a new experience for them since we only have one tree at home and I don't think it has grown in the last five years that we have lived here (and it shed its two leaves months ago).



Busy boys!
Having fun with Daddy! M insisted upon collecting the best looking leaves and taking them home with us. When we got home he put them out in the backyard!

N wears his red cap every day. He is very picky and high maintenance about his clothing but that is a story for another time.