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

[Erin]

#22 - I get RLS when I'm pregnant. I'm currently on pregnancy #3 and it gets worse each time. Thankfully, it goes away. But my mom has it and I'm hoping it doesn't eventually come back full-time. My husband calls it dead-leg although I'm not really sure why. ;) To anyone who hasn't experienced it, it is so hard to explain. It's unbelievably annoying and disruptive and it sucks.

[jennifer Compton]

I love you. I hope that's not weird. I swear we'd be BFFs if we actually knew each other. But you already have one so maybe we could just be besties. Or one-drink-and-we're-drunk friends. Or we could be I-really-need-to-get-out-more buddies. Or God-is-so-good sisters. Or we could just have a toilet paper war. I'd like that.

[Melanie]

I hope everything is ok Karen. Sending prayers for things to get better soon. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[Trish]

My heart hurts for you. We are all here on this planet to learn our own lessons and I hope whatever you're experiencing will lead you to knowledge and wisdom somewhere down the line. Remember to be kind to yourself. You know how much you love your kids? That's how much He loves YOU. Hang in there, and know that you have shared so much of you and your family with us--you are entitled to every personal moment in privacy. Sending you a ton of love and gratitude for your grace...xoxo...

[Paige Rodriguez]

I just laughed so hard my eyes filled up w/ tears at those last few on the list. Especially the fact that you seriously choked on SPINACH AUGRATIN!! I do know the feeling b/c I choked on cornbread in a Black Eyed Pea once and it was an out of body HUMILIATING experience. I seriously eat cornbread slower than a bird would now. I've been checking (and hoping) for a new post, and this was just what I needed today! I'll say a prayer for you, and just know that you're so missed out here in blogworld! :)

[Ellen Patton]

Just today I went to your blog to see if I had missed anything. Your blog is one of my faves (I heart blogs that keep it real). Take care. :)

[meg duerksen]

i wonder if everyone who has narrow esaphogus disease has RLS also.
i think i have both of those too!

[jaymee]

DUDE. RLS is TOTALLY real and it sucks. Miss you but love you and will always be here when you return to blog land. Until then I'll keep things tidy without you. : )

[Lauren]

Oh, Karen I was soooo excited when I just opened my reader and saw you here!! So glad that you are in so much love with your husband, and glad that the kids are all happy in school. I totally understand and respect you not being ready for blogging just yet...and also your personal family stuff. Just know you are in my thoughts and prayers, friend. Oh, and I've always said I have RLS too - - I can relate to ya. Also, thanks for encouraging Erin on here tutorial video! Can't wait to buy it. Can't wait to see you back here! Take it easy! ;)

[Dawn]

OMG - I have restless legs syndrome, I get stuff stuck in my throat all the time, and I quit every exercise regime I begin as well (but you can DO IT!)... Loving the sharing of your thoughts. All the best. Take care.

[Melanie]

I was so happy to see your post on my blog feed. WOO HOO! Congrats on the training....I don't have the exercise gene in my body:( I had to laugh about the muscle thing. My rolls laugh at that answer too!

Have a great weekend.

[TerriB in Oregon]

Way to go on the triathlon training. Very brave of you. I am pretty sure I am not brave enough to do that! I do miss you, but have told myself to "Buck -Up"!. This is my latest mantra to most everyone. I will pray for you and your family to have strength and conviction for your personal issues. Poor Coley! He will love the scar when he is older, will make him look "tough"! Restless leg syndrome is real, and pretty crappy. Hopefully you are able to get some sleep. Hey try the soap under the pillow, what could it hurt?? And last but not least, don't get sucked into the "hindsite" part of parenting. I think parenting is about making the best decision at the time with the knowledge you have at that time. There will always be "should've dones", but don't listen to them. You and your hubby are great parents, you love your children, you accept your children, and you respect your children, what more could a child want? Take care.

[Jack]

RLS is horrible. I had it for years until I had an emergency blood transfusion and had to have a course of iron pills. That combined with giving up being vegetarian after 17 years and eating more red meat has completely cured it. I'm convinced it's caused by an iron deficiency! Looking forward to your return to blogging and sending lots of good wishes your way!

[Denise]

I too, have restless legs (or feet, I guess) so tell that cute hubby of yours that it's not all in your head. Good job on the running/training - you have more motivation than me! And for whatever you have to say...just say it, perhaps it will help getting it off your chest. ((HUGS))

[Susan Bowers]

So so missed your posts; I've enjoyed your humor immensely (not to mention your photography). I know the feeling about starting exercise regimans and quieting. The only time I was faithful was in the Air Force and I was swimming like crazy (lost alot of weight swimming after my twins were born!!!)

I understand if you're not ready to begin blogging again. Just know that I'll be reading it when you do.

[Stephanie]

As you know, I totally missed my K-Russell fix! Still keeping you in my prayers. best, Stephanie C

[Cathy B.]

So glad to see you back, even if you're not ready to blog again. Believe in the power of preayer - it surely got me, and still is, through some rough times. Hope all will be well with the family - life has a way of working things out - someitmes just not the way we want it to. Keep up the silliness with Josh - it helps to get through the rough patches.

[Shannon Riggs]

I have been reading your blog since the beginning and I was missing it. I hope everything is alright.

Good luck with the triathlon training-that is awesome!!

[Cyndi]

You've had lots of comments about possible RLS remedies, but I haven't seen anyone mention calcium. That's what works for me...milk or Tums. And while I am 100% sure you can do anything you set your mind to, you know none of us will think badly of you if this isn't the time. But you can do it! Go Karen go!! :)

[Laura O'Donnell]

Ugh! I remember when my dad (my parents are both nurses) did the heimlick on me when I was about 13 or 14. I was eating a super cheesy cheese stick in a packed restaurant. I pulled the thing outta my mouth like a magician pulling scarves out of his sleeve. Then I just sat there frozen. That's when my dad jumped up and started swinging me around in my chair. I was fine. I really just needed a moment, but after that I NEVER wanted to go to that restaurant again. A decade later I became a CPR and heimlick instructor. Ironic!

[Suzanne]

love that chair....so textured. If furniture could talk.....

Good to see you post even this lil bit. Was beginning to think you'd won the Lotto and skipped town...

Life is bumpy sometimes. Sometimes it's bliss. I'm praying that God leads you to the Blissful side soon. Prayers for whatever you've got going on....

[Victoria Hassink]

I miss your sense of humor and so happy to "hear from you" but will keep you in our thoughts to keep you strong.
I too am training for a triathlon, and have decided to hide the scale in my daughter's closet and just stick with how my clothes feel...so much less stressful that way. Good luck to you, it does help take the edge off some days!

You have an awesome partner...he's a keeper!

Take care.

[Carrie P]

Have missed you also. Isn't God to see us through. Keep depending on Him!
Will be praying that things get worked out.

[JenGallacher]

No sympathy. :) Just letting you know how grateful I am for the way you've touched my life--helping me realize that documenting the everyday is important. I also have RLS. Have your hubby sit in an ant pile and then let him tell you it's made up. ;)

[Kathy Aylward]

Glad that your hubby can make you feel like a child throwing rolls of toilet paper....gotta love that!!! I'm sure you and your family will get through the tough times and don't worry about us (blog readers) even though we miss you your family is way more important than anything so focus on yourself and your family until you are read to blog again (even though we all miss you). When you said you had to be brave to write it down.........for a moment there I though OMG she is PREGNANT........... but then you said you were wanting to do the trialthon....phew...(for you hey). Just take one day at a time re your problems and also your training. Regards Kathy (australia) recent student.