oh yes, my friends.  my back decided to take a long, painful vacation last night… it actually started about two or three weeks ago, about 10 days after our little madeline came home.  as i’ve explained before (and i’m really not wanting to give her a complex, but…) lifting a 28 lb child off the floor (or out of a crib that’s down on the lowest rung) without getting a little ‘oomph’ from the little babe really does take a toll.

countless people have said, ‘oh, lift with your legs…’ or ‘make sure you squat…’  listen people, i KNOW!  it’s not as if i’m bending over with my knees straight and trying to do some ’strongwoman’ thing.  i’ve been trying to stretch it out, go for a walk to limber it up, even making a valiant attempt at shedding some of these needless (and countless) extra pounds.  i’m telling you, though… nothing can prepare you for 28.25 pounds of giggle, slippery delight being lifted out of the bathtub… nothing.

so, being typical me, over the course of the past week or so, i’ve been trying to pretend it’s not really happening.  i go to bed each night, fully believing it’ll be fine when i wake up in the morning, as if i’m still 17.  i’d been being careful, trying hard not to needlessly overwork it and yesterday during our walk, I could feel it was getting a bit better.

until… (dun, dun, dun)… i took a little trip to cvs last night to pick up a couple of things.  i knew i should’ve walked down there (considering it’s so close to the house i’m actually embarrassed to say i drove).  everything was fine until i got back in the car.  as i swung my left leg in and closed the door, my back seized up to the point where i couldn’t actually lift my right elbow off the armrest to start the car… so i just sat there… in the car… with my butt off the seat, my elbow on the armrest.  it was quite comedic, you know, if it weren’t for the searing pain.  i finally got a handle on it enough to start the car and was thankful that it was only two right turns home (as turning the steering wheel was so painful i could’ve cried).

long story short, this morning started with me working on my computer on the kitchen floor and a trip to the docs and is now concluding with 800 mg of ibuprofen, one (or perhaps two) tylenol with codeine… and a muscle relaxer for later, you know for dessert.

have i mentioned how much i love my husband?  (you out there?  wink wink)  i have to get a good word in considering i may be in drooly heaven this evening and not able to be on night ‘duty.’  shucks.