This made me laugh!

Oooh! Look what I can do....

How exciting! I can now post videos! This one is from our trip to CA. Aidan was Emma's best entertainment the whole time we were there.

Dr. Makes-me-feel-good (or better anyways)

I saw the doctor again today and he explained what is wrong with me...I have a compressed disk and the birth defect is that I have extra bone growing at the base of my spine. So that means that bone is rubbing against bone...ouch! (I don't think it's supposed to do that.) The physical therapist did a range of motion test and I have 67% reduced range of motion in my back. (I'm not sure exactly what that means, but it's not good.) When the doctor saw the results he came in and said, "So you're lower back really hurts, huh?" I thought, "Uh, DUH! That's why I'm here!" So he gave me an adjustment and electrical stem therapy and wants me to come back 3 times a week for a month...we'll see. He also is going to give me some core strengthening exercises because that will help with the back pain. (I guess pregnancy isn't so good for the ab muscles...who'd of thought?) I'm actually pretty excited about getting my core back in shape...or in shape to begin with...at least I've got good motivation!

Painful endings

So my back isn't any better...bummer. Anyway, yesterday afternoon I went to see a chiropractor that a friend had referred me to and it was a really great experience (so far). He did a very thorough examination (X-rays, nerve response tests, movement tests, medical history, etc.) He concluded that I have a birth defect in my lower back and my nerves aren't responding as he would like. So he was going to confer with the other doctors in the office and I have another appointment today to find out what they're going to do. I don't really care what they do as long as I can sit without pain. I'll let you know how today goes...

A death in the family

Two years ago Papa took Charis to the Fairmont Fair and they came home with this fish. Charis loved the fish. She named it Mr. Fish and Sarah (depending on when you asked her). It was a good fish, it never made noise, it didn't make too much of a mess and it made the drive with Ben across 2 states wrapped up safe in it's little fish bowl.

Sadly though, this morning we woke up to this:

You can't tell from the pictures but it is still breathing. I'm not sure what to do with it. I think I'll wait until Ben gets home. Until then it's perched on top of the refrigerator so Charis will stop trying to "wake it up".

Congrats to Tom & Amanda!

Ezra Thomas Brooks was born on August 17, 2007 at 4:08pm and weighed in at 6.2 lbs and is 19 1/4 inches long.

Charis prayed at dinner tonight and it went something like this: "Dear Jesus, thank you for this food, thank you for Michael coming over to play, thank you for Mommy's back hurting, thank you for Emma's cold. Amen!"

Back Update

Well, my back got worse so Ben stayed home from work yesterday and I went to urgent care. The doctor gave me two prescriptions Vicodin and Flexeril (pain killer and muscle relaxer-er) and he told me to take it easy (he's obviously never met my two children). So last night before bed I took both medications and slept like a rock...a very dead rock...a very dead and dumb rock. (At least that's how I felt this morning...kind of dumb and dead.) This morning Ben told me I probably shouldn't take both together again. When I asked why he said I was mumbling something about paisley for a long time and I kept correcting myself. I'm not sure what that means but I'm glad he was the only one there! Today I just took the Vicodin so I could still be with it enough to take care of the kids. I still feel a little weird, I think that's why this post is weird and I'm having trouble typing correctly. Anyway, playgroup is here today so I'd better hop (or limp) in the shower.

California!

Whew! I finally am getting around to posting our California pictures. Things have been a little out of whack here since we've gotten home. Actually, I've been a little out of whack. I somehow hurt my back while we were in CA and I've been slowly, ever so slowly recovering. It still hurts to sit (hence no blog posts) and it still hurts to lift anything (like a 20 pound 7 month old). So I'm moving a little slow around here but Ben's been so great and helpful. He went grocery shopping for me last night and our pastor's family brought us dinner last night. It was really yummy! I ate most of my dinner standing up because it hurts too much to sit but it still tasted good. Anyway, here's California!Heading out to GCC on Sunday morning.Uncle Jesse and Aunt Deidre came over for dinner almost every night.

Mimi & Papa spending some quality time at the kids table.

Practicing?

The Holbrooks came over for dinner and a swim. We all had a blast playing, talking and fellowshipping with our old and very sorely missed neighbors.

Papa took Charis fishing for the first time.

Everyone doing what they do.

Waiting for the fish to bite.

Snuggling...of course. (They're still technically newlyweds.)

Pool Party! MamaDuhm, her 4 kids, Danielle, her son, Alicia and her 2 kids joined us for a great day around the pool.

We had so much fun on our trip to visit home! We even got to experience the earthquake...a first for the girls!

Dangerous sea life in Arizona

Charis- "My leg hurts."
Mommy- "Oh, no! What happened?"
Charis- "I got bit by a whale."

Deuteronomy 6:7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

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Well, apparently someone is doing something right.

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I've been sleeping with Charis since we've been at Mimi & Papa's house. Last night I was laying in bed awake at about 3:15 in the morning and I heard Charis whispering. So I leaned in for a closer listen and this is what I heard, "O-tay, Yeth, yeth, yeth Mommy. O-tay Mommy. Yeth Mommy."

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I'll post all about CA when we get back!

We're going to California tomorrow!

(Mimi & Papa bought these shirts for the girls when they were at the Crayola Factory in Pennsylvania.)

The visit

We had so much fun with Auntie Jen and cousin Becca (or Betta, as Charis called her). We went to the mall for ice cream and enjoyed watching the "largest fountain at a shopping mall in all of Northern America" or something like that.On Saturday we went to the Chandler Aquatic Center for some cool fun! It was such a neat pool. They had 2 waterslides, waterfalls, a diving tank and all sorts of fun water play things for kids. Becca gave Charis a ride around the pool. (It was a beach entry pool which was really nice for Charis and Emma as well.)Here is Emma playing in the water and enjoying herself until I got distracted and she did a face plant into the pool. She was ok, a little surprised but ok nonetheless. After playing in the pool we went home and Charis slept for 3 1/2 hours! (You can see how tired she was in thic picture.)
On Sunday it was Becca's 12th birthday so we went to Rainforest Cafe to celebrate! Emma enjoyed herself!After church Sunday night we ate cupcakes and sang "Happy Birthday". Charis had a pink cupcake...could you tell?
On Tuesday Ben took off work and we went to the Phoenix Science Center. Charis was learning how to fly a plane in this picture. (That is why the wind os blowing her hair and she has that funny look.)

We learned all about the pully system and Ben pulled 1/6th his weight and Charis' weight up and down. Charis was spinning and spinning and spinning around!

This thing was totally cool. I don't remember the purpose of it but it made you very unsteady on your feet. (I think it was about balance and your inner ear or something.)

We really enjoyed their visit and we would love to host some of you someday too! (Just let us know a few weeks in advance!)