April 3, 2017 - Sometimes we just need to take it easy

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 9 DAYS

Major Rant!

Monday here and only a little over a week till we leave for London!! 

Wow - do I need to vent!  I am so beside myself with Gianna right now.  She is completely stressed out over her back pain and going back to school that no matter what I suggested, she had a reason why it was not workable.

Are all kids so stubborn at 12-1/2?

I tried to explain to her that her stress level is affecting her back - that she tightens up every time she stresses.  I suggested she do some deep breathing - NO.  I suggested she do a guided meditation - NO.  I suggested that she call her friends to tell them how nervous she is - NO.  I suggested that do some positive thinking to picture the pain going away - NO.  I tried to tell her that she should leave the big work books in the appropriate subject classroom and rip out the assignment pages - NO - according to her "My brain doesn't work that way. I told her to just cry and let it out - NO.

She's worried about not getting into the high school she wants to and that she will not get good grades and do well on the exams this week (even though she studied all weekend) - and told me her brain wont retain anything (I find that hard to believe as she is an A student).

Finally, I just lost it! I told her she has to STOP telling herself all these negative things as it will manifest.  I forced her to take a nice relaxing epsom salt bath and against her desire, put on a guided meditation video on YouTube and set it up in the bathroom while she was bathing.

I asked her how it was going after about 10 minutes and she said "Terrible - why are these people so happy?"  I just can't!

Sometimes an injury just takes time to heal!!

I'm tired of everyone telling me what to do and how there is some magic solution --

"Get an MRI"  "Go to an orthopedic doctor."  What in the hell are they going to say besides,  'there's an injury and it needs time to heal.'

Are these "advice givers" waiting for the answer to be "She has cancer or some disease???"  
Because even the best expert isn't going to have a 12 year old take pain medication or go for surgery to correct a torn or pulled ligament.

So, what is everyone's point? I'm going back to the doctor - - 
What would be really nice is if all these advice givers were to come over and sit with her and tell her positive things or tell me not to worry; that injuries take time and that all the tests she had two years ago proved there was nothing structurally wrong or a bigger problem.

It was simple then and I believe it's simple now - the kid needs to build her core muscles (which she hasn't); she aggravated a previous injury and now she needs to have it heal. I'm so sick of these idiots who put their two cents in but do nothing to help or offer positive input!!!!

I've had some major back injuries in my life - ruptured disks, herniated disks and you know what I was told to do? TAKE IT EASY, REST AND LET IT HEAL!!

In fact, I was flat on my back for 4 weeks when I was 26 for ruptured disks and after I had the x-rays, MRI's and went to a neurologist - I wound up going to the chiropractor 3x's a week and I had to let it heal!  And guess what ????? IT DID. 
But there was no magic pill.  Of course for many years, it "ACTED UP" if I moved a certain way or lifted something and when I was stressed out - in most cases, because of a$$holes I had to deal with in my life.

People make me sick  - they love to stress you out and act like good, old fashioned rest and TIME are a bad thing.  If you can't fix it with a pill or some over-priced expensive advice from a medical professional - then somehow you are being stupid or do not have a clue about how to take care of your child.  


I think I'm done.  I'll keep you posted on the doctor appointment this week.

In spite of being pissed off to the max for the above mentioned reason - I am very happy and in a good mood with the start of a new week.

I love Mondays and the hope they hold for great things in the week ahead.

This week is going to be a bit stressful since I will be driving and picking up the girls from school.  I do NOT want Gianna to carry books or her back pack and therefore, I'll be carrying them in and out of school for her.  I'm not even sure if she will make it through the entire day.  

So, as a result, I'm going to be staying near home, so I can be nearby if I get a call from the school to come get Gianna.  Therefore, I thought it would be a good idea to get stuff done around the house.

London Trip Update...

Packing is also on my list of to do's this week - fine tuning mine and Kelsey's bags and tending to Gianna's will be top of mind this week. 


Yesterday, I received an email from Delta about my flight - apparently, the time of flight was changed by five minutes.  No biggie.  

However, realizing that I booked with Delta, but the actual carrier we would be flying will be Virgin Atlantic, I decided to double check on the seat assignments.  

Of course, just as I thought, I was unable to confirm our seats until we got to the gate for check-in next week.  I just hate that! I like to have all the details buttoned down in advance.

Fortunately, I got an amazing deal on the airfare, so I opted to fly Premium Economy - so instead of 4 inches of room, we'll have 6.  I'm being obnoxious - I just hate how there is hardly any room anymore on flights.  They squeeze people in with no real care or concern for their comfort.

I'll let you know just how "premium" it really is next week.  

Folks, I am so sorry for my foul mood today - I'll be in better spirits tomorrow - I think this "bad back" of Gianna's is finally getting to me. It's hard to relax when your child is in such discomfort.

Thank goodness Kelsey is all better from her cold - one less stressor.  

Here's to a beautiful day and I'll be back to my usual cheery self tomorrow!!

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 3 DAYS

Hello and Happy productive Monday to you!

I got some much done this morning and it felt so good to be checking item after item off of my list.

The kids had their second performance of the weekend yesterday for the Justice for Homicide Victims 30th Annual Memorial Honoring Homicide Victims.
​
This years’ National theme is “30 years: restoring the balance to justice.” ​

It was a media filled event with channels 2, 5, 9 and 11 all there with their news vans and cameras mainly for the appearance and speech by politician Mike Gatto who was on the California State Assembly.

Mike Gatto (c) travelincousins.com

The kids did great as per usual, but it was a long and draining few hours.

My beauty (c)travelincousins.com

Releasing a Dove (c)travelincousins.com

Such great kids who give their time to the community (c)travelincousins.com

Dominic, Cosette and a couple of their friends (c)travelincousins.com

Dominic focusing (c)travelincousins.com

​Once the event had finally wrapped up we headed to try a new place for lunch and then to drop the kids off at home, so that we could do some more shopping.

I was totally stoked to finally find an Easter dress of my own that I am in fact very happy with and did not have to settle. I am not one who like to or condones settling.

After that we had continued our successful day of shopping right up until it was time to fetch the kids and for us all to go to the movies to see 'Kong, Skull Island' which by the way - I did not like!

The story (what story) was lacking and it was just way too ugly with too many monsters!

Why do they have to make things so freakin ugly???

Meanwhile the rest of the fam bam went to go see 'Baby Boss' which I have a feeling I would've liked a whole lot better.

Following the movies was our traditional Sunday pasta dinner. Mmm mmm mmm 

Now the rest of my day is gonna be filled with getting over to the gym (I don't go to the gym on the weekends), taking Cosette shopping for her Easter dress, and by then it'll be time to head on over to choir rehearsal.

Tomorrow, I've gotta put my nose to the grind stone and get to packing for Moab (which I leave for in 3 days), prepping for London (which we leave for 1 week after returning from Moab), and prepping for Hawaii (which Dave and I leave for in 8 days after returning from London).    

Which in order to do so, also means that the chore of switching out our winter/summer wardrobe really needs to be prioritized!

Okay with that and much to do, I'll bid you adieu!
​-T