Author Archives: Christene

Ducky’s Birthday

I managed to make Ducky’s cupcakes in time for the party. It took all evening and all morning since I had to stop every few cupcakes to go lay down on my back. Sleeping on the floor last night helped enormously as I was able to walk upright for the most part. And I am about to say one of the most cliche things I have ever said, but seriously what kept me going was envisioning Ducky’s smile when he saw the little duck cupcakes I made him. And when he saw them, I got just that.They look a little weird, but everyone who saw them concurred that they were indeed ducks.

I made a little army of them.
The venue was nice for a small child’s birthday party. Ducky got his own little guitar balloon, crown, and front row seat to the mouse concert.
I spent most of the party sitting at the table trying not to exacerbate my back problems, but the kids had a great time. On the few occasions I did make it out onto the game floor, I got this great picture of Ducky with his favorite uncle.

We sat Ducky in front of the cupcakes to get him to blow out the candles. After which I asked him which cupcake he wanted. He said “the yellow one.”

I was trying to get him to look at the camera.

Chuck E also tried to get him to look at camera, but Ducky instead decided to point too, while looking away.
The kids had a great time, so as far as I am concerned the party was a success.
I am still pretty sore, so back to laying down for me. Aside from Ducky’s thing my back has managed to cancel my entire weekend. Granted I would never miss my son’s birthday, even if I would have to be carried there. But I would have liked to do all the other things I had planned as well.
Needless to say, I won’t be having dinner tonight with my friend who just got back. I emailed her this morning, and it turns out she is also coming down with a cold, so it may be for the best that neither of us go anywhere. But…. but…. I had a cute little top I wanted to wear. Oh well… there is always next week. I will try to use my evening wisely and get some studying done.

My Poor Back

I had plans for today. My back had other plans. Everything was fine when I woke up. Then, after the kids went to school I went on my run. Nothing out of the usual, just my normal route. I got back, got in the shower, and then my back went out. Again.

This doesn’t happen *too* often, but often enough. Usually though it is just minor back pain where I am hunched over for a few hours until the pain subsides into a tolerable dull throbbing. This is only the second time in the last two years where it got so bad I couldn’t move.

So I spent a large part of today laying on the floor on my back, starring at the ceiling. Most movement caused bursts of shooting pain through my nerves, so I only really tried when necessary. On the bright side my arms got a great work out since I used them to propel myself onto things. And I even got to practice my little army crawl on several occasions.

The only thing I could pretty much do was read. Except the book I am reading right now is really heavy and my arms got tired of holding it up above my head while I continued laying flat on my back. It is not even a big book, just hardcover. I am pretty sure I am going to be feeling this tomorrow.

Then Tanya came over and there was yogurt and coffee involved. This was so far the highlight of my day.

Several heating pads and hot showers later I am able to sit up, and I can sort of walk. Not in any completely upright position, but at least get from one room to another without pretending I am in a war zone enemy camp.

Of course tomorrow is Ducky’s birthday party, and I was planning on making his duck cake tonight. We will see. I will try. He may end up with a store bought cake.

At least being in this much pain on my son’s birthday is appropriately ironic. I was in similar and worse pain exactly two years ago. So I guess I should be thankful this is not as bad.

The kids want me to pick them up and don’t understand why I can’t. Last time I told them I was hurt they got pretty freaked out, so I don’t want to scare them. Especially considering how unpredictable everything is. One minute I am sort of hobbling around and the next I am on the floor immobile. I think they need to go and spend some quality time with daddy tonight.

And I think I need to go spend a little more quality time with the floor. Ugh….

Office Pool

Today I found out there was an office pool going on. People were betting on how long my marriage would last. It started years ago, and no one ever told me about it until now. I guess now it doesn’t matter any more.

The longest anyone thought was two years. I outlasted all of their bets by two and a half years.

Everyone lost.

I don’t know the details of it, didn’t really want to know. In fact I was a bit angry about it. Seriously?

All I know is that the shortest anyone betted was three months, and the longest was two years. Who betted what? I don’t want to know.

At first I thought they were joking. When I realize they weren’t I got mad. Most of these people were at my wedding, wishing me well. And then gambling against me behind my back.

I used to get upset at the people who blatantly spoke against everything from the beginning. I got upset with Tanya when I emailed her hours after I took the pregnancy test and told her what I had decided. She emailed back within minutes, harshly admonishing me for my hasty decision. She told me she understands how badly I want to have children, but marriage wasn’t the only solution. Numerous other people responded the same way, and I was mad at all of them because I thought they didn’t want me to be happy.

But today, finding out about the office pool, which was better? Those who did not hesitate to try to help me, or those who congratulated me openly while plotting my failure?

Yes, everyone saw the same thing, but the difference is in how they handled it. I have to admit that from some I would expect no less. But there were those who I thought better of.

Like I have always said, I am the most optimistic pessimist. Constantly expecting the worst, but still hoping for the best.