Thursday, September 30, 2010

Cloud cover kindness

On the contrary to most people these days, I am not super stoked about the gloriously sunny autumn days we've been having this week, still being oversensitive to light since my surgery. Rather I prefer the fog and overcast weather. At least those days I can bare to be outside, and since I was starting to feel a bit couped up, I welcomed a trip this morning to the skateboard park with the kids and Grandma Lady.

I'm fast approaching week 3 of recovery and although I would say my vision has totally returned, I'm discovering it is a bit wonky with my previous glasses prescription. As I was a devout contact lens wearer prior to all this fuss, it has taken some getting used to wearing my glasses again. My vision has always been poor enough that I can't really function without, so until my eyes heal and settle enough to get a new prescription, I'll have to get by with these ones.

It's been more so the environmental factors that seem to be holding me back. I'm pretty wary of being outdoors when its bright or windy and still unable to tolerate too much rapid eye movement (reading, blogging, premier tv week watching). So what have I been doing then?????

Well there is always a silver lining to every bad situation they say. For me it has been the opportunity to see and spend time with my kids with more intention and less distraction. With Grandma Lady here to help, and my condition to just chill, I've found many hours to sit and play and just be with them. They are both incredible little unique wonders and I feel so priviledged to be their mama.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Gotta wear shades

Two weeks post eye surgery, and I am actually feeling pretty good. The first week I spent hidden away in dark rooms, mostly lying flat on my back at my mother in law's home. Thankfully with Robin at my bedside to keep me company, but he has since returned to Utah to put his head down and make some work. I can't imagine what those first few days post surgery would have been like without him here and am so grateful that he was able to make the trip back with us all. I was actually pretty comfortable, having prepared myself for more pain, rather it was more like discomfort and the irritance of being subject four times a day to a deluge of eye drops and ointments.

Knowing the kids were happy and in good hands with my mom, it wasn't so hard to keep my promise and rested that week, trying my best to avoid any undue eye strain. I spoke to them everyday on the phone, sometimes several times a day, and they both seem content and well settled in with Grandma Lady but I sure missed their giggles and warm little arms around my neck. After my follow up eye appointment and a happy report from the surgeon last Tuesday my brother and I made the three hour drive from Calgary out to Golden. It was certainly an enthusiastic reunion, although I think Roscoe was more interested in the load my brother was hauling in and behind his truck than the overdue cuddle from his mom.

We've been having a fairly low key week here, adjusting to me joining the routine my mom had set about creating with the kids on her own. My vision is still slightly blurred, even with my glasses and I am now into the dry eye phase, despite the continuous eye drop treatments. My eyelids are still refusing to open right up, but that is likely a strategy they've come up with on their own to keep the light out. I think I might be wearing my sunglasses for awhile anyways.

Just happy to be on the other side and on the mend!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Hugs all around

Today is the day and I think I'm ready. The last couple weeks gave me plenty of time to prepare and set myself and my children up for this little life disruption.

We made the two day journey back to Canada over the weekend and gave ourselves a buffer day yesterday to just relax and do nothing essentially. The kids were happy and all smiles yesterday morning as they headed off in Grandma Lady's car. Isla was sure to give her mommy an extra cuddle before she left which I am holding on tight to.

I'm also the grateful recipient of many many cyber hugs these past few days. Thanks to all that have been sending your thoughts and prayers, its an amazing feeling - love, that is.

Robin and I are off to the hospital where I'm sure I'll get at least one more hug.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Back in the groove

It didn't take us long to pick up where we left off four months ago and seem to have easily fallen back into our Logan lives as though we never even left. We have visited all our favourite spots in the course of this first week back; the ice cream shop, the Mexican hole-in-the-wall restaurant, the pool. We even started up our ol' Sunday Supper tradition again tonight and made fresh pasta with local eggplant, tomatoes and basil that we'd picked up from the Gardener's market.

With each beginning of the school year here, it seems to get easier. Especially with all the unanticipated events of the last two weeks, I am surprised to find how at ease I feel being back in our place here in Utah. It truly feels like home. The kids have seamlessly slipped back into their day and nighttime routines, sleeping better and eating healthier. Despite the initial frustration of having my surgery delayed, I am indeed grateful for the little bit of down time granted.

Robin is fully back into the swing of things in the studio, teaching and making pots. He's also putting together his thesis proposal right now with the intent to graduate at the end of this semester. With that as the goal, I'm realizing that our little brick house won't be our home for much longer, and I'm already tuning into some of the things that I'll miss.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

An equation


two young lovers + one elaborate white wedding + a year travelling together overseas + several different mailing addresses + one large and loyal german shepherd + one strawbale timber framed house + a pottery business and gallery + ten tons of brick + two adorable children + a crazy graduate school adventure = nine years of married bliss.