Hello everyone!! I injured myself!! Not badly thank goodness, but enough where I have been ordered to rest by my husband and friends.
On Tuesday Wyatt and I were home, just doing whatever, and all of a sudden the tornado alarms all started going off. I immediately got Wyatt to our safety spot, which when Billy isn’t home is the hallway. Wyatt is 85 pounds and while transfers are no big deal for me, carrying him down the stairs would be dangerous for us both. I turned on Michigan Storm Chasers on Facebook, and they are so good, they zoom in and can tell you almost exactly where the tornado activity is. And apparently it was moving right at us, like literally our neighborhood, not just our city. I was not comfortable with this situation. I wanted Wyatt to be in the basement, safe and sound. So, I did what any mom would do. I summoned my mom strength and got him to the stairs, where I lifted him up and put him down on each step, one by one, while he had his arms around my neck. I was very scrunched up and standing all weird, and Wyatt was not happy, he felt very scared by the stairs. He almost cried but I asked him to trust me and he relaxed. I got to the bottom of the stairs, grabbed a rolling chair that is down there, and rolled him to Billy’s office. However, by that point I knew that I had hurt something in my back, and it turned out to be my sciatic. Plus, I didn’t know how we would get back up. LOL. So once the storm had passed, and we were safe, I called Billy to tell him we were trapped in the basement. He left work a little early to come home and rescue us. Billy however has pimped out his office with an enormous tv and couch, so we were comfortable, and once the danger was gone, I went up for snacks and water. We just had to hang there for about an hour and a half or so. It wasn’t too bad, except I was in pain.
I have been doing stretches and have been ordered to take it easy, which I have been trying to do but I get antsy. I felt better today and decided it was a good idea to go and try to dig up an area to plant some things, but realized that was a bad idea after I started. So I am back to resting. I need to be physically sound for Wyatt so I am doing it. Sigh.
So, we have been watching some YouTube, drawing and coloring, and reading. I feel terrible that I can’t get him out right now, but there will be other days to do that, IF I rest now. So I am trying.
On Sunday we celebrated my nephew B, who graduated from high school!! I am so very proud of him! He also has cerebral palsy like Wyatt, and has overcome a lot. He participated on the boy’s basketball team as manager, attended almost every school sporting event as their biggest supporter, and just shines his light on everyone.
The first is B. with baby Wyatt, and the second is his graduation picture. I wish him all the joy and happiness in this next chapter as he had his first.
This weekend we have the summer reading kickoff at the library, Wyatt’s last baseball game (this makes me sad, he has loved it so much!), and another graduation party on Sunday, for my bestie’s daughter. I am hoping that she has a beautiful day for it, with no rain!
We are done with school for right now, and are taking a nice break. I have some projects I want to get done, like painting our multi-purpose room and the art cabinet, finishing up the garden, and getting our crested geckos all moved into their new homes. We bought them taller tanks as they need more space to climb, and we just need to get them moved in – but that means substrate, and plants and getting it all in place. I want to totally change up our multi-purpose room because right now it is working but I think we could make it more functional and less…messy? We have a small house, lots of animals, lots of books and games, and lots of equipment for Wyatt. So I want to organize things a bit more, rather than just sticking things wherever in there. I want to move the games, get rid of the big tank that is in there and the table it is on, there is a small loveseat in there we can pitch as well. It needs more organization and less stuff, if that makes sense. I would love to have wall shelves for books and games where the tank and table are, but we will see. Maybe it would be better to have something to hide the games but also have shelves for books? We eat at the table in that room, as well as homeschool. I feel like I can do this. I just need to put on my thinking cap and get creative.
Billy and I have also been obsessed with Widow’s Bay, the tv show. It is soooo good! I love stuff like that, all coastal horror, small insular communities with secrets. Eeek! It reminds me of Haven or of the modern version of Nancy Drew that was on a few years ago. It is so good. We try to limit ourselves to one episode a night which is hard! I love a good summer thriller.
We also watched the Rick Moranis/Steve Martin version of Little Shop of Horrors with Wyatt the other night. It was so cheesy and camp and we loved it. Wyatt was just bopping along to the beats. It was a fun watch. We are really into these old 80s/90s movies right now. I think the tv show remake of The ‘Burbs sort of kicked it off for us. I have a bunch I want to watch this summer! Now and Then, Tremors, The Great Outdoors with John Candy, The Sandlot, Holes, some of the Muppet movies. Billy and I are hoping to watch a few other Kevin Bacon movies as well, minus Wyatt, like Stir of Echoes and The River Wild.
And, I think that is it from me today!! I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile!
Oh wow. That tornado situation sounds scary! Glad you’re ok and I hope you get some rest!
Hope your back is feeling better soon! I LOVED The Great Outdoors and The Sandlot and Camp Nowhere, etc.
Thanks Joanne! I am feeling better today, much better! And now I need to add Camp Nowhere to the list!
I’m sorry about the tornado scare. I was nervously watching the South Dakota radar because I have family there. So scary!
Rest well!
The midwest is just getting pummeled right now. I hope your family has been safe!!
So far they’re good! 🙏
Erin, I almost always read your posts with this big goofy grin on my face. That photo of baby Wyatt and your nephew, followed by his graduation photo…that just makes my heart happy. I am so glad we (as a country) realized the potential of the differently abled and have made space for them in our world. I think my years as a special education teacher were the best because I learned so much from my students. I also learned what a heifer was from one of them! Hahaha!! I hear you on organization. Our house is not small by some people’s standards, but there’s just not enough storage. I mean, everything is bulging. Some of it is because, when we moved in, I just wanted a place to put it. This summer, I want to commit to getting things arranged in a better, more workable way.
How scary you must have been! I love storms, but tornadoes terrify me, and I have never been in one. Well, there was that one last year that swept right over our neighborhood. Our safest place is in the hallway, but we also have a crawlspace. I don’t know that I could get Mike down there (he’s considerably more than 85 pounds). Then, how would I get him out? I’m glad Billy has a place for you to somewhat relax. I really hope your sciatic nerve is soon calmed down. They can be miserable little suckers!
I hope you and your menfolk have a wonderful weekend!
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Lol!! I love that my posts make you smile!! I love that picture of Wyatt and B.! He is a good big cousin, and just a good kid.
I feel like no matter what there is never enough storage! We all sure do like our stuff! LOL.
It was really scary. I was trying not to freak Wyatt out, and I am usually pretty calm but that felt way too close for comfort. We are researching different ways to get him to the basement safely when Billy isn’t home, and I think I am going to make room in his closet for future tornado warnings, because it looks like this summer is going to be a rough one. Neither of us will enjoy that but I can make it comfy and keep the door open a bit and have his room tv on for weather too.
I am sure the hallway would have been fine but I was feeling unsure. We had a tornado that hit nearby a few months ago and it knocked a business down and that is all I could think of. And no, you absolutely should not try to get your hubby up or down into a crawlspace! An 11 year old boy was hard, I can’t imagine a full grown man!
Oh Erin, I’m so sorry about your back and hope it heals soon. That storm was terrible– so were last night’s storms. The warning stopped about five miles from us — no touchdowns but TONS of wind, lots of branches down and a lot of rain. On the one you were in the basement, I was at an outdoor theatre. They moved the show inside for the second act in the basement of the auditorium building, which was a relief.
you have a lot on your plate for summer and so many things sound fun and really productive. Loved the photos. And isn’t “Little Shop” fun?
Oh my gosh that had to have been scary! Michigan is just crazy this year with storms. I am over it. Today is supposed to get nasty too I think. 🙁 Fingers crossed that it doesn’t.
Thank you Jeanie, I am back to normal thank goodness. Wyatt’s PT and I brainstormed different ideas and I am feeling a bit better about a safety plan as well.
Little Shop is so much fun! Wyatt was bobbing along to the music. Lol.
Holy cow that must ahve been scary! I totally understand why you got Wyatt to the basement, I would have done the same. Instinct rules when we are taking carer of our kids. So sorry you hurt yourself though. Rest it up and maybe use some heating pad and ice combo.
Love that photo of little Wyatt and your nephew! That’s a keeper for sure.
It was!!! I was like of course it is heading right here. Lol. I did end up using heat and cold and it really helped, along with some stretches. I am back to normal thank goodness.
And thank you!
I got your letter!!! Thank you so much! I am hoping to sit down and write back today. 🙂
So sorry about your back. I threw mine out two weeks ago and it keeps getting better and worse again, but not as bad as in the beginning. I really hope you’ll be fine again soon!
That sounds really scary.
Oh no!!! I hope you are doing better now, and that it is staying better. I am back to normal thank goodness.
It was so scary!!
I’m so sorry about your back, Erin! But yes, that’s what mamas do to keep their loved ones safe. Glad to see in the comments that you’re recovering already.
We have a lot of tornado warnings where I am in Alabama, and I’ve learned too to take a closer look at where they think the tornado is. Sometimes our sirens go off when it’s really nowhere close to us. I only go downstairs when one gets in our general vicinity. Glad your home didn’t get hit that day!
Right? Instinct just takes right over!
Oh jeez, you must see a lot down there! It’s the same here, the warning will be for the entire county so I am thankful that now there is technology to narrow it down more specifically. And thank you!
I don’t think you know the meaning of “taking it easy!” lol!
Seriously, glad the injury wasn’t worse.
You guys are having such a fun summer so far with the games and Summer Reading, etc. Yay! It sounds great.
I am a dork. LOL.
Thanks Lisa!!
I’m sorry to hear about your back. I have only just caught myself a few times either heaving my friend’s powerchair into the backs of cars or helping her get into place sometimes, it’s hard to remember to take care of yourself when you are concentrating on someone else.
Love the pics of your nephew, and looking forward to hearing more about your lovely summer!
It is hard to remember. I was in a panic but trying to be calm for Wyatt, but also hurry him down the stairs in whatever way we could get there. Lifting a powerchair seems impossible!!!
And thank you!!