ER Visit

The day started out as normal...running late to school, dragging kids out the door half-dressed, yelling at Leah to grab Autum's drink...yelling at Blake to quit chasing the elm bugs swarming the house, and telling Autum that she can have her sucker ONLY after she's eaten her pancakes...while I'm quickly trying to gulp down a protein shake and hope that I remembered to put deodorant on...that I shaved both legs, and that my messy braid hair will be pulled off as a purposeful look.

Dropped both kids off at school. Autum and I headed to the Y so I could coach CrossFit and personal train with a few clients.  Then off to the chiropractor to get some adjustments.  Walking out of the door there, my phone rang..it was the school nurse...telling me once again, Blake hurt himself at recess they did an evaluation and he is fine.  So I brushed it off like usual as him being a boy, and very mobile, and daring.

Then, a little while later, my phone rings again. Leaves a message. It's his teacher, Blake refuses to let anyone put his shoe back on his foot and he is refusing to walk...they carried him to lunchroom to eat and left his shoe off...just to let me know.  Well, I headed up to the school anyway.  I go in to see him, half expecting him to be just throwing a stubborn attitude.  Guessing he will let me put his shoe on when he sees me and knows I mean business. 

Well, I was wrong.  Immediately I could tell there was more wrong.  The teacher explained that Blake jumped off the playground platform and landed on his heels then his back.  They were most concerned with his back. The nurse evaluated. Deemed him good. And sent him on his way.  Only when they tried to get his shoes back or make him walk did they realize there was more wrong. 

Well, it just so happened to be the day the 3rd graders had their parents eat with them for lunch, so I carried Blake around while Leah and Autum hurriedly ate their sack lunches...and rushed to the book fair.  I proceeded to carry him around for another 40 minutes while arguing with Leah that her $5 was to be spent on a book, not lip gloss...we were at a book fair, for goodness sake!  She decides to buy a kitty poster for $4.75...she throws $4 on the cash register and is excited she has $1 left to buy the lip gloss...the cashier asks for her last $1...and Leah argues that the sign says $4 (completely disregarding the $.75)...after much arguing and attempting to reason, she gives up her last $1 and stomps back to class.  My arms are about to fall off at this point.  I throw Blake in the van. Come home. Call doctor.  Of course X-rays aren't done on Mondays at our family practitioner so off to the ER we go.

After initial evaluation, we head to the X-ray lab.  Oh boy. Been there, done that.  As soon as we walk in, Blake begins crying and yelling and kicking and punching...upon his reaction Autum begins to shed alligator tears in sympathy.  I look around, like what am I going to do??  I about choke on my drink when they ask if I could be pregnant and place a X-ray covering over me that weighs at least 10 lbs. and is hot as all get out.  After about an hour of wrestling Blake down, picking him up, consoling him...running to doorway to console Autum...putting her down, running back to Blake...wrestle down for another X-ray...repeat.  We walk out of there, I'm soaking in sweat from my head to my toes, literally looking like I just worked out.  Blake had gotten in his mind that we were leaving the hospital so he was all smiles, high faves and big waves...as if to say, "see ya later you big meanies! You can't touch me again! Ha Ha Ha!!" 

Well, his dreams were crushed when we re-entered the evaluation room to wait.  By this point my phone is dead.  Jerad is working and has no clue what has happened and I have no help and 2 very tired, worn out, confused littles on my hands...for who knows how long...

Doctor arrives and says the X-rays didn't seem to show any breaks or dislocations but hard to tell with what we had to see...and his lack of cooperation.  We tried to stand him up one last time to walk, and NO GO.  The doctor poked on his hips, knees, toes, ankles and no reaction except for Blake crossing his eyes and being silly.  But as soon as the doctor went to dorsiflex his foot, to mimic walking...Blake cried out and drew his leg up immediately...

So...that is all we know.  They temporary casted him, told us to keep him off of it for 24 hours and go from there...
He still isn't putting weight on it today.  Even with cast off.  But is trying to crawl some at least, but won't let anyone near his foot. 

As for what we will do next...I have no idea.  Taking it day to day.

Fear of Being Pretty

For some reason as of late, I've found myself wrestling with the idea of being pretty.

And I believe that is based on my thoughts of what "pretty" means or represents...and I know for a fact that has been shaped by my past experiences with prettiness...

From early on, you could probably say I was tomboy-ish.  I grew up in the country, around a farm, and was put to work at a young age.  My dad made sure we understood work ethic and responsibility as soon as we could.  We had chickens, horses, dogs, cats, and any other wild animal we could capture and make our pet.  We had mud fights, swam in horse tanks, climbed trees, built forts, cut down secret paths to the neighbors houses, rode 4-wheelers and go-carts for fun.  We swung from bag trees and playhouses, we accepted any wild challenge we could and rarely admitted defeat.  As we got older that turned into work.  Chopping and hauling firewood.  Cracking ice in horse tanks during the winter.  Mowing our 5 acres. Grooming and doctoring animals.  Painting barns and shops.  As well as helping with laundry, dishes, and other household duties.  We carried this mentality over to sports.  And everything we pursued, even friendships.  So as you can guess, I befriended most guys over girls.  It was just the natural tendency based on my mentality, personality, and appearance, I guess.

I have always and still do, consider myself one of the guys when I am around guys.  I feel like I think like a guy most times too.  I know what they are thinking, or at least am guessing what they are thinking. Just because I was always around them. Guys would talk around me as if I was a guy.  Things like: "that new girl is so hot..."  "damn, she is pretty..."  "did you see what so-and-so is wearing today...wow!" I always heard them talk about the "pretty girls," but never ever considered myself to be one.  Besides, I was the tough girl, who loved to work hard, accept any challenge, and hung out with guys...I was most confident in that persona.  I had no problem with it at all.  It was who I was.  I distinctly remember a few of my closer guy friends say things like, "well, maybe if you'd wear make up every now and again, you'd look like that..."  all in joking words, of course.  Or, maybe "if you owned a dress"...And as I got into high school sports and had to start dressing up for sports, I remember the struggle....mentally.  I felt so awkward and ugly in dresses and skirts.  It did not fit who I felt I was at all.  I thought I looked best in workout clothes.  And I remember my guy friends always saying things like, "who are you?"  "Man, you do clean up halfway decent when you try..."  or "did you borrow that dress?" Hahaha, it always made me laugh and I knew they were joking.  I honestly never thought anymore of it.  Just that I couldn't wait to get my uniform on to play--and out of that skirt.

As I've gotten older in my adulthood, I realize that mentality has carried with me.  I still feel most confident in workout clothes.  I think I look better in them than jeans.  Hence the reason you rarely see me in them.  My kids ask if we are going somewhere special when they see me put jeans on. :) 

I still feel like one of the guys, most times.  In the gym, I can talk like one of the guys...making fun of a guy I catch red-handed checking out another chick. Or comment that he is looking "tiny" and needs to hit the weights more, etc.  All in guy commentary fun.  In fact, I truly think they see me as that too...joking with me about feeling 'girly' one day because I wear a headband with sparkles on it or paint my fingernails for once. 

So in my mind. Pretty means, "the ditsy girl that dresses in scantily clad outfits to get a guys attention...who knows she's pretty and can use it to her advantage..." She is the girl who all my guy friends would drool over.  Comment on.  And try every pick up line they could to win her over.  She was the "it" girl.  And I think now, I almost see that as weak.  Pretty means weak...in my book.

Wow.
I have made a valiant effort lately to try to be okay with "pretty."  In fact I've worn my hair down, out of a ponytail, on several occasions...and kid you not, I was not recognized by people I know, and see often, SIX TIMES! 

What does that tell you? 
I wore jeans to a football game the other night with my hair down and a little bit of make up (gotta start small) and received a few comments on how nice I looked.
Hmmmm...
Could it be possible I could be "pretty" too?  Without feeling like I'm being weak...or giving in to that image of "eye candy" for every guy to prowl upon. 

I am hoping maybe I can redefine pretty for myself...as Strong, actually.  Bold.  Independent.   Fit.  Fun. Carefree. Confident.  I'm still working on the rest.  But in the meantime, if you see a gal with a mess of long hair blowing in her face, waving at you like she knows you...look again, it might be me...
...trying to be okay with "pretty."

Short Stories from Woods Household

This month is flying by...seems like I start all my blogs that way! Ha! But here is a quick run down of where we've been, what we've been doing, and how we have done it!

This past weekend we participated in Oktoberfest at Disability Supports of the Great Plains. (where I work) Face painting.  Costumes and photo booths. Bouncy houses. Games. Root beer. Bierocks.  Chocolate cake.  Rides.  Pumpkins. Music...aka My kids' dream fun place!  Needless to say the 2 little ones took nice long afternoon naps after...

At the end of September, I flew off for a weekend getaway with my coach, and some friends I met there.  We played and we worked hard training.  And of course it was on the beach in St. Petersburg...had a great trip, only wish it would have been a longer
trip.  So here's to next time! :)










My clients have been working really hard...training at the Y. Working out. And inspiring me.

Blake joined me in a workout session the other day and I loved it!  He loves to learn, can mimic anything, and his motor skills are off the charts!  Love this kid!



















Autum participated in her first cheerleading performance and camp Friday night.  She was a junior bullpup...and we all froze as we watched her yell, jump, and pump those fists to a Bullpup football win!  I think she is hooked. She keeps asking if she can do it again and again...

 Autum has also been participating in her own tumbling and trampoline class at Next Level Gymnastics in McPherson.  This girl can pick up movements fast.  She's doing well and loves it!  She's fun to watch.

And both Blake and Autum have figured out a new way to settle their sibling rivalry.  Put on the gloves and get out the bag!