23 Things.

1. Last night, I took my computer down to one of my favorite local restaurants to work. Within minutes of coming home, Josh Downs had opened a family-size package of toilet paper rolls he had picked up from the grocery store early in the evening and started throwing them at me.  So at 10pm last night, while all the kids slept, Josh and I ran around the house with our arms full of toilet paper, laughing like a couple of eight year old girls, ducking behind walls and bombing one another with rolls of toilet paper.

2. I love my husband and I am so glad that he is the person I get to walk through this life with.

3. Remember on my last post when I said everything was ok.  That was probably only a half-truth.  I'm just kind of in a funny, little place right now and we're dealing with some pretty heavy (but personal) family stuff. 

4. You haven't really missed out on any pictures during my blogging hiatus because I really haven't been taking any.

5. I'm not ready to start blogging again.

6. Please don't feel like I need sympathy because I do not.

7. God brought me so close to him in the last few months and now I realize that it was just his way of preparing my heart and my mind for what we are currently dealing with.

8. As you can see, I desperately need to repaint my toes.

9. I'm teaching the One Day Photographers' Workshop in Florida this October.  I'll be at Whim So Doodle in St. Petersburg on Saturday, October 23rd (727 827 4911) and at Scrappy Boutique in Orlando on Sunday, October 24th (407 856 8070)

10. I have something to tell you guys but you'll have to give me a second because I'm too nervous to write it.

11. The kids are all back in school and loving it (but I didn't manage to get a single back-to-school photo.)

12. On our way out the door to back-to-school night, Coley fell and smashed his head.  In hindsight, we probably should have gotten stitches.  (We had to keep pressure on it during the majority of back-to-school night.)

13. There sure is a lot of unfortunate 'hindsight' involved in parenting.

14. Ok, I'm ready to write it now...I started training for a triathlon a couple months ago and didn't want to tell anyone because I have a very long & consistent history of quitting every exercise regimen I've ever started.  

15. I'm loving the biking, mildly-enjoying the running and hating the swimming.

16. I haven't lost any weight.

17. Please don't tell me that I'm gaining muscle and losing fat because honestly, that doesn't make me (or my fat rolls) feel any better.

18. It may not be helping me lose weight but it sure is helping me alleviate stress.

19. Annie got a bagel stuck in her throat last night and couldn't breath.  Thankfully Josh handled it calmly.  I'm worried now though because I'm convinced I have some sort of narrow esophagus syndrome that I unknowingly passed along to my child.  I even had to have the the Heimlick Maneuver done on me in a restaurant once and had to got to the ER another time with something lodged in my throat.  I get stuff stuck in my throat all the time.

20. I was actually choking on Spinach Augratin at Ruth Chris's Steakhouse when I had the Heimlick Maneuver done on me.

21. If you haven't had the Heimlick Maneuver done on you before, let me just tell you that the embarrassment is even worse than the pain of having some huge stranger stand behind you, thrusting his fist into your ribcage.

22. I also have RLS (Restless Leg Sydrome) but my husband is convinced that it is a make-believe syndrome.

23. That's all for now.

Comments

[Shauna M]

things will figure themselves out eventually.. even if its not the way you wanted them to, or as quickly as you would like.. Also going thru some re-arrangments of 'life' here and not exactly enjoying it.. but trying to see the 'bigger picture'.. and hoping that I'm making the right decisions getting there..
it was good of you to send a quick post.. its odd when I pop on here (and I do almost everyday) and I don't see anything written from you..
take care xoxo

[Addie]

Oh Karen, I missed you so! Hugs to you and the fam! And WooHoo to you for training! That's awesome!

[tanyawebster]

24. I love you. tons and tons. and I'm super glad we are friends.

[Kimberly]

Your blog was the first blog I followed...I've missed your updates, glad to hear from you. Take care, God is always good, even if situations and life aren't...I've learned that lesson the hard way...Take care, stay in prayer.

[jen]

Sending prayers up for you ... stay strong! And thanks for the update. :)

[Ingrid from the Netherlands]

Thank God, you're still alive. I've missed you and your stories about Annie, Coley and the rest of your darling family.
Well, take your time to deal with things, but please, will you be back here now and then to give us a sign of life? Thank you!

[Cassie]

Hugs to you...and glad you and your husband are close and have eachother during hard times. And tell him that RLS is NOT make believe...I used to just think maybe I was dreaming about playing soccer...but I am glad it was a real 'condition' because I really sucked at soccer. Now Requip is my best friend! :)

[Maggie H.]

For the RLS you should have your iron checked. Try drinking Tonic Water, the quinine in it is supposed to help. My father swears by it. Good luck.

[teresa b]

Wishing you well..<3

[Tina]

You're soooo funny! I'm convinced I have restless leg syndrome too...my husband (who is a surgeon by profession) also laughs at me & calls it "jimmy legs"! Hope you make your way through whatever it is your dealing with!!!!!!

[Jenna]

Woot woot on the tri! Do you have one you're targeting?

[gina harpur]

I missed your blogs too! Wow, very cool that you are training for a triathlon. You'll love it (mainly after you've crossed the finish line...the last 30 minutes suck!). Which one are you going for? You've got all your fans wishing the very best for all that you're going thru right now & always!!

[Geny]

Nice to see you again and here about some of the happenings of your life....and I think I have RLS too but my husband thinks it is make believe too!!!! Hope all is well...good luck with the training!

[Amy N]

Glad to know you're doing ok and wanted you to know I'm praying for you! God will be with you every step of the way through everything! :)

[allison]

love the toilet paper thing! my husband and i act crazy like that too.

[Eva]

I've missed you but totally understand that some things are too personal to share. I will pray for you guys though.

[Grace]

xoxoxo don't know you but love you for writing about this. I am guessing the world is a little off balance right now. I am going through alot also and just thought wow what is going on. Hang in there honey...

[YvonneC]

Hang in there. Hope the personal family stuff works out for you. I too enjoy reading your blog and the funny family stories.

[Kelliann]

Glad to see you post. No sympathy just prayers for you and your family for whatever it is you are going through. Miss your posts so much!
Keep up the training-a triathalon is a great goal. I am just running right now-5K here I come! Take care Karen-you are missed!

[Nita]

Sorry you're dealing with family issues, but I think this is God's way of making us stronger. Hang in there, and just remember, He is ultimately in control.

And, thanks for sharing that you are training for a triathlon. Congratulations! I'm just trying to lose weight, but I can also attest that I haven't lost any weight. And, I seriously doubt I'm gaining muscle! :D Hopefully, this will all pay off in a few months...for both of us!

I'm glad to see you posted! Hang in there! Everything will work out!!

[Krys72599]

Missed you!
Just a comment or two...
LOVE your #1 and #2.
Sorry about your #3 - sending good wishes your way.
#4 and #5 - okay.
#6 and #6 - thank goodness for God.
#8 - not me, but I'm also out $30...
#9 - Wish I lived in Florida.
#10 - don't be nervous, we're all friends here!
#11 - YAY!
#12 - oh my, and
#13 - uh, yeah.
#14 - #18 - I start yoga next week and I have to tell everyone (including you and the thousands of strangers reading your blog comments) because if I don't, I'll bail...
#19 - #21 - OMG, and you DON'T have some rare deformity that you've passed on to your daughter! I know that and I'm not even your MD...
#22 - it's not
and #23 - we'll be here waiting, when you're ready to blog again...

[Melissa]

I've missed your blogging and was so glad to see a little something from you today!

I'm sorry for whatever it is that you are facing and dealing with right now. I hope things will resolve soon.

Congratulations on the training! I need to find some motivation to just get moving more. I wonder now if having a specific goal (aside from lose the rolls) would help. Hmmm...

Hang in there!

[Nina]

nice to see you back Karen...even if it's just briefly. Congrats on the training thing..better woman than me! I think I have RLS too....I put a bar of soap under my sheet and it went away. So I know that sounds dumb but I read it in a pharmacy column. My husband thinks it is all in my head too but hey, the soap worked

[Irina Klassen]

Glad to hear from you again. Also really glad you've been growing closer to God. I wish I could say the same.

[Shari Kimmey]

Thanks for your post today, Karen. It's so great to hear from you. Please know there are many of us thinking of you from your past classes (and beyond). Hope you can feel the love and support.