A funny thing happened...

Hey kids! Remember when I said that this is going to be the year that pushes me over the edge? Sure ya do, cuz it's two posts below this one. Pay attention. Anyway, turns out I was right. Sorta. My stress level has indeed gone thru the roof, but the school year hasn't even officially started yet. First, let me give you a little background. Our daughter Darien is a fabulous, smart, funny, beautiful and athletic 14 year old. Yes all that and a teenager at the same time. Weird, huh? She loves volleyball. This summer she went to volleyball camp and then last week had volleyball tryouts, which were brutal. She fought her way all thru the week and then on Thursday found out she made the JV team. Only 2 girls made the team that hadn't been on a high school team before, and she was one of them. We are so proud of her. So Friday was her first practice. Our brand spankin' new middle blocker was going against the other middle blocker and the other middle blocker came down on her foot. Hard. She was fine when I picked her up. But then it hurt more and more as the night went on, so Saturday she went to the hospital and they said it was a bad sprain. And there was possible ligament damage. And she'd have to be on crutches for several days, but she'd be good as new in 2-3 weeks. How bout that? Starting school on crutches. Yeah. Oh, but there's more. When Darien plays volleyball, she collects injuries like trophies. So, her knees are all banged up, with big bumps and bruises and she's so proud of them. Oh, did I mention that although she's athletic, she's not the most graceful of the bunch? Yeah, which is so strange considering all the years of ballet she's had. So, coming down the stairs the other day, she kinda slammed into the wall/banister at the bottom of the stairs, which skinned and bruised her arm pretty badly. Wait, there's more. When she got her braces off, there was an issue with her gums, so they needed work so her teeth wouldn't open even with her retainers. So, Friday (this is before THE practice - ya still with me?) she had her gums lasered. Which turned them temporarily black. Now they're just kinda scabby and oh so lovely. Actually, now it's just a little red bump right in the middle of her two top teeth. Whew. So, to recap: I've got a beautiful, yet lumpy, bruised, scraped, hobbly, brace wearing, crutch using teenager with scabby gums off to start her sophomore year. Again, I ask, who's ready for school?

Yeah, so I've been a little busy these past couple of days. And I've still had 2 other girls to get ready to go back to school. I do have a card to post, but that will come tomorrow. Promise. I had to get it in Dana's hands before I could put it online. So, no pretty card today, but you do get a picture of my pretty baby. K, let's hear it: Awwwww.