Friday 15 December 2006: VIVA SARAH! VIVA YMA!!!

Heidi says: I love Yma! And I am very hapy to tell you that Sarah's operation went well!! Hooray hooray!!

Thursday 14 December 2006: FINGERS CROSSED FOR SARAH

Heidi says: CAN ONLY SAY: FINGERS CROSSED FOR OUR SARAH DEAR!!!!

Wedenesday 13 December 2006: Heidi is angry for not being treated right

Heidi says: I cannot say much, just that I hate it when I'm not treated right. And that makes me angry.
For the rest, I am thinking of Sarah and cross my fingers for her. I want her to have a perfect operation tomorrow, and be helped by it. I wish no more pain for Sarah. I am sure a lot of people will cross their fingers tomorrow and that will help, I'm sure! You go girl!! Go go Sra!!!!

Sarah says: hey Heidi! We did it again! I guess we were both posting at the same time! I'll leave my today's post down below rather than combine them as it will be too complex right now! Thanks for your thoughts and for last night! How were you not treated right? Hope you feel better! See you soon! Love ya girlfriend!!! Take care!!!! And take care of Face The Day if and when you can while I am gone!!!! Bye for now, bye for now, bye for now, bye for now, bye for now, bye for now....

Wednesday 13 December 2006: Sarah is ready - sort of...and a bit dizzy sort of.. and a bit out of sorts....but OK!!!!

Sarah says:
Okay. In a few hours I'll check into the hospital and by this time tomorrow I'll have a prosthetic disc already in my spine and I'll probably be on something like morphine I guess. Time will fly between now and then and that's a good thing.
My brother and his wife sent me all sorts of goodies that I'll bring to the hospital with me, such as great, great smelling soap and body butter. They also sent a mini- Battleship Game which if I can't play, at least will keep some visitors busy! And they sent some magazines, which will be a good distraction tonight!
I heard that there is no single-person room available at the hospital and that in fact, I'll be sharing my room with two other people. Oh well! There's nothing I can do about it. The last operation I had meant sharing a room too. I got so sick from the anesthesia that I made the person ask for another room. I hope that happens again! No I don't! I don't want to feel that sick again actually! That's the worst part usually -- waking up after an operation. I always feel shaky and freezing and like I can't breath and that I'm dying. It always seems like forever and then I eventually throw up and I start to feel better. I hope this time that all goes better for me!
I am sure I will be fine and I will be so happy once I am home and on my way to real recovery. That will come soon! All my papers are in order just in case something would go wrong and my wishes are known - down to the music to play at my funeral - which sounds morbid, I know, but c'mon! We all have those sorts of conversations with our loved ones and/or friends sometimes - even when there is no operation driving such thoughts! These are things you think about and imagine.
There's a beautiful Nick Cave song on No More Shall We Part called Come To Me, I think. I just love it. It moves me so. And then there is Zita Swoon's version of Raining Pleasure by The Triffids. And there is the Sarah McLauchlan song from Solace - just music and high voice that played at my wedding. I love the mood of that one too. Those are the only three that come to mind right now-- oh, and maybe traveling Light by Tindersticks too!
So what about all of you? What would your funeral songs be?
Another topic: I would certainly want my body used for organ donation and medical studies - all of it, every last bit if they want! I have no need for it anymore.
What about all of you? What would your wishes be?
And yet another topic: I would never want to be kept alive on machines if my mental capabilities were gone for good. Pull the plug!

So that's my story - not at all meant to be morbid - just things you think about. Other things on my mind are GETTING BETTER FAST!

I don't know when I'll be back here on Face The Day. I hope Heidi gets on here sometimes. I come home on the 18th from the hospital so maybe then if I can't update this I can get my mom to for me! We'll see. Anyway, keep checking back because I will be back sooner than later for sure in good form no doubt!

So many people have been so supportive and caring. I thank all of those people for that. It's really meaningful! I feel very loved.

And now I am off to take my last normal "big toilet" for a few days no doubt! You probably do not want to know that but I don't care! That's what is on my mind. The good news is that generally, once your body functions return to normal after an operation, it means you are closer to be on a good track to healing well. So not only do I really look forward to what I am about to do, I am totally excited about the first "big toilet" I'll make in the hospital - probably on Saturday or so - because it will mean I'll start feeling much, much better after that!!!!

See you when I am back with a new and improved back folks!!!

Tuesday 12 December 2006: When Yma looks at Heidi and Sarah, this might be what she sees - the poor little girl!

Sarah says:
Poor, poor YMA! That little cutie-pie sees Heidi and me like this as webend over talking in high voices to her! What a view! I look rough. If I were a baby, I'd be afraid of me!
I have a million things to take care of tonight and the anxiety is starting for sure! My heart is racing. I'm sure I will be fine. Really sure. But even when you know that you can't help but think about the what ifs! I'm sorry - i know that doesn't help and sounds like drama - but that's where my head is at. If anyone is wondering what this surgery is all about, here is a link with simple information ad here is a little bit of that information:

The surgery
The goal of the procedure is to restore the intervertebral disc height and neuroforaminal height while restoring physiologic motion (similar to that of a healthy disc).
The surgery is approached from the front, with a small incision in the abdomen below the belly button.
Organs are gently moved to the side so that the surgeon can visualize the spine while protecting important anatomic structures.
The collapsed degenerated disc is removed.
The SB Charite disc (or whichever brand of disc) is implanted – first the two endplates, and then the core in the middle, using specialized instruments. The two endplates (made of a cobalt chromium alloy) are pressed into the vertebrae above and below the disc space, and teeth along the border of the endplate grip the bone. A polyethylene core is then placed between the endplates.
The artificial disc stays in place by the spinal ligaments and remaining part of the annulus of the disc as well as the compressive force of the spine. Bending X-rays of patients after the surgery show that the motion of the artificial disc (flexion, extension, side bending and rotation) can closely approximate the normal motion of a healthy disc.

Here's a funny card a very sweet friend sent me! Let's hope my doctors are a little more on the ball than these ones!

Monday 11 December 2006: Man man man

Heidi says: What a weather here in Belgium. It's raining cats and dogs. As long as it snows by Christmas, I'll be happy :))!
Yma is growing so fast. I see here everyday, every second of the day, and even I see her grow. She starts to make controlled noises and movements with her hands. When we give her a toy that is made for babies, she looks at it closely, she touches it and even drags it over her body with her little hand. I can't believe she has been in my belly for nine months...

Sarah says:
Taught a great class of Erasmus students today and learned a lot myself from them! I adore teaching. I wish I could do it much more! Other than that I ran around doing last-minute errands and wrapped gifts and am now working on some translation/editing I have to finish before I head to the hospital. The thing I am feeling happiest about today, because - yes! - I am still feeling quite happy is that I got my period! I know you really don't want to know that but I had to say it because to be perfectly honest, I really, really, really was afraid it would come right on the day of my surgery, which would just suck! I mean I'll be prodded enough - I didn't need that thrown in the mix! So I am really happy about this, seriously. One more check off my checklist in my head of things I need finished before my operation! Yahoo! There are still about 11 things on that list I have to get through tomorrow! And tomrrow I'll see Heidi again and we'll have lunch. I'm going to eat a good Bio Planet meal I think because it will be at least 5 days until I eat good food and start eating normally again after Wednesday. Tomorrow I will also pack for the hospital, clean out my freezer, have my daughter try on all her clothes so I can get an overwiew of what still fits her and what she needs at the sales and I have plenty of other things to take care of too! More on all that tomorrow! I'm like manic right now if you must know the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here's my fave Post Secret entry this week because let me just say clearly: I do not agree with it at all - in my case, I want to get better as fast as I possibly can and get back to life. I want it to be less serious and for the doctor to say everything is just fine and that I don't have to struggle with this any longer. And I know people care. So many people have been so very kind and thoughtful and I appreciate that so much.

Sunday 10 December 2006: Heidi, Sarah and face The Day guests Annabel, Adeliene and Yma wish you a happy Sunday!

Sarah says:
This morning we babysat Annabel's daughter and as she was being picked up, Heidi stopped by with Yma. It's so nice to see all these girls together! I can't wait to meet my friend from New York, ED's baby next year. It's due in April! It's going to be a boy! It's so exciting!!!!
It's a beautiful sunny day here in Belgium. I'm going to spend the rest of the day preparing for a course I'll give tomorrow on American politics. After the course tomorrow, I'll start getting my house ready for my "living" in the living room for the next couple of months. On Tuesday other than seeing Heidi and finishing up a translation/editing assignment, I have no plans so I'll just chill! And Wednesday they bring the hospital bed, table and crutches over in the day and I head to the hospital at night.
Last night was fun. We played some games with some people we know and met some new people. I hope while I'm healing I can still play such games. I love it! The night before we saw two concerts: ansatz der maschine and Transit. I can't say that either group is really my sort of thing but I can say they do what they do well. The whole post rock thing just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid, though I do love some elements of it like the repetition and guitar-heaviness and the trance-like stuff. If you let yourself go you can get into it. I just have trouble letting myself go like that because it doesn't hit me on any deep level. It gets me a bit sleepy, which is good before bed but strange at a gig. Ansatz is more artsy - theatrics - clicks and clacks and stuff like that. I like it. I do. But again, it's glosses over me and doesn't really get in. Great for a film - in fact there was a good choppy film playing in the background and that works - though it made me feel jumpy sometimes - the music fits well with films. Seeing it live - hmm - I don't know. I really liked Ansatz live at the 01/10 Vlas Vegas thing in Kortrijk. It was dark outside. A little rainy. The music really worked for me in that setting. Sitting in a theater didn't work as well for me. But then again, it's a hard band to place somewhere. You'll love it or not love it I guess but it will capture your curiosity for sure. I'm still not sure if I like it or not but I need to listen to the new CD The Postman Is a Girl more and see how it makes me feel after a few times. I liked watching Mathijs Bertel, the main guy in Ansatz, working away on his equipment like a mad scientist mixing chemicals. He looked like a nutcase - in a good way - that kept my attention. It was also good to see Greyn's old keyboard player Jan Dhaene playing again. He's good-busy. As for Transit, my husband liked it a lot because of the flange-like stuff going on. It brought up The Cure for him. I liked the Sophia-like quality sometimes. I liked watching the white-guitar player's arm manically moving about. Anyway, check out both bands on My Space and see what you think - doesn't matter what I think - taste is taste and all that!
One more thing - after seeing these two bands - well, while sitting there watching really - I got very excited for the prospects of being in a dirty rock band. As I said, all this post rock stuff just doesn't grab me at all to be honest. The reaction to it is going to be heavier stuff I think. Maybe I'll ride on the next wave of music out there and be a singer in a real rock band - even punk, whatever - just something a little heavy, dirty, easy and underground. I think I'll let myself go into that a bit. I think it's the answer to all the post rock out there! But what do I know. Whatever comes next also won't last long and the genres will turn and turn as they tend to do. Anyway, these concerts did inspire me to throw myself into whatever the next band is! I can't wait!

Saturday 09 December 2006: Sarah has found Jesus...

Sarah says:
I saw Jesus everywhere in Kemmel today. Nothing more to report...More tomorrow if time allows. Have a good weekend!

HEY - NSM - DOESN'T THIS LOOK LIKE LARRY DAVID?

Friday 8 December 2006: Sarah's mom is a Face The Day Special Guest on her 64th birthday today!

Sarah says:
It's my mom's 64th birthday today. That's her up there in the photo. She looks pretty good for her age, don't you think? I see that I look like her in this photo. Aren't I starting to look more Jewish in my old age? I never noticed that in my 20s, but since I hit my 30s, my face is more ethnic or something. Anyway, my mom is staying here for the next two months to help out after my back operation. Today we're going to have lunch and then later she'll get a facial or massage and I'll get a facial, waxing and pedicure! Woo hoo! I need some pampering and am going to enjoy it all -- other than the waxing of course, which will sting like a mofo - but I'd rather get that done than be harshly dry-shaved at the hospital as the nurses do. They come in with a razor, no water or cream or anything, and they just shave away almost in an aggressive way. Not this time! I'm taking care of it first!
I'm still feeling good! All that darkness has gone out of me for now. Damn it's windy here. Yesterday driving to the airport early in the morning was horrid!!!! So much wind and rain! The airline lost one of my mom's bags but called today to say they found it and will deliver it to us by tonight. We got home to see that the beautiful Willow on the other side of the church near my house had been harmed by the heavy winds. Its biggest branch had snapped and now it's a sad half of a Willow. Nature can be nasty indeed! I just hope it grows back and that the dead part doesn't kill the living part!
By the way, at the airport my eyes welled up with tears about three times as they tend to do for many of us as we watch airport scenes. I'm sure you all can relate to that airport feeling, watching as people say hello and goodbye and embrace and shake hands and all that. It's moving and like an eye-magnet. You just have to watch and figure out who is who in each scene of comings and goings. Ani Difranco has an apt song called Arrivals Gate about this feeling. Here's the link to the lyrics.
Anyway, I also had a laugh of sorts watching these two business guys waiting for over an hour for some business contact. I was stuck waiting for my mom for over an hour because of her bag being lost - so I had plenty of time to observe all the other people waiting as I was. So these two guys had to have been waiting for a "short Asian man". How would I know that? Because every single short Asian man that came out through the doors resulted in action by these two guys. First they would look hard at the short Asian man. Then they would quickly ask each other if the other thought it could be the guy they needed. Then one would approach the short Asian man of that moment and ask him if he was so-and-so. Then the one would come back blushing and giggling from shame because it obviously wasn't the correct short Asian man. This went on again and again about 5 times at least within the hour. At one point while the one guy was asking a short Asian man if he was THE short Asian man they needed, another short Asian man came out through the doors. He was really short! He also looked rather young but could have been older than he looked and he was certainly looking for people to pick him up -- you could see it in his eyes - scoping out the hall to find the people that were meant to meet him there. But here's the catch which threw me a bit as it seemed to throw the two guys in search of a short Asian guy -- this particular short Asian guy was a bit scruffy. He had a wool hat and non-business clothing. When the one guy returned to the other, the other guy pointed out this scruffy short Asian guy and I saw the guy dismiss him as impossible quickly. There was no question about he seemed to think, this short scruffy Asian guy was not their short Asian guy! So they waited and waited looking and looking and getting fed up. When a medium-sized Asia guy would come out, they'd look at each other and shake their heads in a "nah" fashion - "not our guy, too tall way. When and Indian-Asian guy came out, they looked up, checked with each other and agreed that couldn't be their Asian because he wasn't the kind of Asian they needed. So the sad thing was that they got fed up waiting so long and realized I guess that this general description of a short Asian guy was not enough to locate their man! So they took off! I don't know where they went! I made myself taller by stretching my neck to try to see where they turned the curve and if perhaps they were chasing after some short Asian guy I hadn't seen come out of the doors - but alas - I lost them!!!! However, very sadly, the scruffy short Asian guy the other two had dismissed for not being businessy enough, well he was wondering around looking for the people meant to meet him. He kept going to the security counter and asking questions. He kept wandering through the crowd of people waiting for passengers to come out trying to make eye-contact to see if one of us there was the person meant to greet him and pick him up! My mom finally came out and it was late ad we had to go and as I left I saw the short, scruffy Asian man with the wool hat still wandering around like a lost puppy. I'll never know the end of that story. I'll never know if he indeed was their short Asian guy and if so, if somehow they found each other via a phone call or something. And if they found each other, I'll never know how the two guys who had to find the right short Asian guy felt when confronted again with this particular short Asian man with the scruffy look and wool hat -- I'll never know if they felt ashamed for deciding he was not their man because of how he looked. I'll always wonder!!!

Thursday 8 December 2006:Heidi and Sarah are happy to see each other in the HEMA with Sarah's mom who just arrived and Yma!

Sarah says:
Look how freaking happy and cheery and jolly Heidi and I look. Imagine that. It's been a while since we looked so naturally happy in a shot together on here, don't you think? Well, it's because we finally ventured out together for the first time since Yma was born I think. We took a short trip to the Hema and had a coffee, like old times during our lunchbreak, although this time my mom was there and did most of the talking and Yma was there and did the sleeping! Today felt like a good day off from work as tomorrow and Monday will feel too. It hasn't hit me yet that work is done for three months. Maybe it won't hit me. Who knows. Right now I feel fine and dandy and I got a nice haircut, which I must say shows off how much thinner my face has gotten. Last time I had checked I had lost 6 kilos but I feel like it's maybe 7 now because of how my clothes are feeling. Anyway, I feel good today and I am happy to have my mom here. She's busy playing with my kid and I have some time to myself. Time to myself is good. Time with Heidi in the Hema is good too...
Here's me with my just-done haircut!

HEY HEIDI AND JB - DID YOU KNOW AS HAD A COOKING SHOW? LOOK AT THE PHOTO BELOW! UNCANNY, ISN'T IT!!!!!

Wednesday 06 December 2006: Sarah can identify with The Onion article about a Wednesday feeling like a Thursday!

Sarah says:
It's Wednesday but it really feels like Thursday! I can't explain why. Just trust me on this! I also can't imagine that Christmas is almost here! My last day of work until March today! Imagine that. How very strange!!! I still feel happy and hopeful so that's a good thing. My mom arrives first thing Thursday morning. I have a haircut lined up for tomorrow and Heidi and I might go to the HEMA together finally!!! Friday I have a waxing and a pedicure. Monday I have an eyebrow job. Friday night there's also a concert to see and Saturday there's a lunch to celebrate my mom's and mom-in-law's birthdays and some games at night. Sunday It's time for my kid to get some attention from me. Tuesday it's maybe shopping with Heidi and my mom! Wednesday it's off to the hospital - in one week! So I have some good distractions lined up to keep me feeling light! The "spoof" newspaper The Onion is always a good distraction and is more truthful than the truth, Ruth!

Here's the link to The Onion and here's the link to the below article.

Report: Recent Wednesday Felt Like Thursday
December 6, 2006 | Issue 42•49
NEW YORK—An informal study of U.S. citizens has revealed that a recent Wednesday, specifically November 30, was intuitively and subliminally perceived to be a Thursday by office workers, retail personnel, and any others who had occasion to give thought to the day of the week. "I don't know why, but it was a total Thursday kind of day," said Sue Seversen, an assistant program coordinator at Minnesota General Services who theorized that the change from daylight-saving time or the recent drop in temperature could be to blame. "All day I kept thinking that at least tomorrow would be Friday. But then I'd realize it wasn't. Too bad." Over 90 percent of those misperceiving the day also professed some degree of disbelief that Christmas was almost here.

Tuesday 05 December 2006: Heidi and Sarah think life is like a jungle sometimes and it makes them wonder how they keep from going under…huh huh huh..

Sarah says:
Heidi and I took a trip into the tropical jungle at lunchtime today. They saw birds. Palm trees. Maraccas. It was lovely. YMA smiled so much at me today. YMA LOVES ME! One more day of work! I have some good days lined up before my operation. I’m going to have fun, fun, fun! Not much more to report today. I feel good today though. Positive. Optimistic. Enthusiastic. Hopeful. Jolly. I hope this lasts!

Monday 04 December 2006: Sarah has the nesting-instinct and is feeling manic as she reflects on November…

Sarah says:
Today is a typical Monday though last night wasn’t typical at all. It’s as if I’m about to have a baby and I have nesting instinct. I started cleaning out the drawers in my kitchen all of a sudden and there was no stopping me. Life is like that lately. We are getting so very organized at home. Finally fixing lamps, setting up couches, cleaning out closets and drawers, getting rid of what we don’t need and getting what we do need. There’s tons more to do before my operation of course but it’s strange how something like that can get you cleaning house. I guess what’s driving me right now is the idea that I will have to stay-put for a few months and my mom will be taking over my kitchen and people will be visiting and things need to be in order so I don’t have to worry about any of it – so it can just function smoothly for everyone. In the end it’s not really all that important. But it feels necessary right now – get the home in order and don’t stop till it’s ready! But the question is what does ready mean? This whole process seems endless. Once you begin cleaning up its hard to see the light and to know where to stop. And because of my back it all goes slowly and I have to ask my husband to bend for me and to carry everything! Anyway, I am so very WIRED! It’s been like this for a few days. I have so much energy. My brain is going and going and my heart is beating and beating. I’m like racing with the clock or something. It doesn’t feel like stress right now. It’s strangely feels exciting. In the end it’s all pretty mundane things I am keeping my head busy with right now.

It was hard to find a Post Secret to put on here this week because the ones that caught my eye were too personal. I have never really been a fan of grey-rainy-dark-starting-to-get-cold-noses-sniffling-hibernating beginning -November so I chose this one. The old old Greyn used to have a song called November which was not written by me but by someone else in the band. This postcard made me think of him for a second and how nice the song was because it was with drumming on the guitar itself rather than on drums. It also makes me think about what a strange November it was for me this year…and it makes me look forward to all the reading I’m going to do in the next few months!

Sunday 03 December 2006: Sarah has two special guest on face The Day today: the famous Belgian Jean-Marie Pfaff and Moustache the cat!

Sarah says:
Had to go to the dreaded Molecule in Vichte today to check out new cooking pans and I was fortunate to run into Jean-Marie Pfaff advertising some glue or something. Anyway, I asked him for a photo and he gave me that and his signature - woo hoo! I actually am placing this photo of me and him here just to amuse Heidi! It would have been better of course if both Heidi and I were there getting a photo of him because it's always fun getting famous Belgians on here - it doesn't matter what they are famous for of course -- we just love a famous Belgian on Face The Day! A famous anyone from anywhere for that matter!
My other special guest is our new Cat, Moustache. Sinterklaas brought it for my daughter this morning. It meows, purrs and moves if you are nice to it. If you pull it's tail, it gets mad. It looks great on our new white couch! We are going to pretend it's our REAL pet cat. Our house could really use a pet. Our daughter wanted a pet so badly so we settled on this one since we can't have a real one. Too many of our friends, such as Heidi, are allergic to cats sadly and we have no garden so that means no real pets -- except Moustache of course.
Three more days of work! I can't believe it! I have a lot to get done in the next three days!!!

Saturday December 2006: Sarah says sit back and relax with her in her new and comfy couches! Has Sarah found a new band? Heidi has a new headband!!!!

Sarah says:
Yippy! I have a normal sitting area for when people stop by to say hi and a cozy family room now too! I love it all! That's my kid already lounging out in the hook couch in the family room. She got in her PJs early just to get comfy on the couch. I'm about to join her on the couch and we can cuddle and both put our feet up and be comfortable. There's a small fold out thing to make a bed. Whoops! Heidi just arrived! I'm going to take a photo of us and upload it right now! There's the photo of us above. I got to see YMA smiling at her mommy again. What a cutie! Heidi's all pleased because she bought that red headband today and went shopping! Too bad she's got a mean headache and might be coming down with a cold.
As for me, besides my happy couches, a slow weekend ahead really! Today I met up with three guys from Gent who play in the band Secret Agent Men. We tried a song or two out to see how it grooved. Too soon to tell and to be continued in february/March after my operation. It would be great to have a new band already and it did feel good to sing again. But I'm in no shape now to make plans. It's a big we'll see! But I'm glad we got to try some stuff out before I go under the knife. Those three guys could be a lot of fun to play with... Now, back to my couches... Can I get you a drink? Some Bugles with goat cheese maybe? Porto? Please don't spill anything on my couch!!!!

Friday 1 December 2006: Sarah is more hopeful than ever today about the future of her back problems and happy her new couches will arrive today!

THIS PICTURE JUST IN OF A BROODING HEIDI! SHE DOESN'T LOOK VERY HAPPY! WHAT'S WRONG HEID? TELL US! HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND! COME OVER AND TRY MY NEW COUCHES!
Sarah says:
Check out this article about how stem-cell research going on right now might lead within the next few years to non-evasive back surgery for back problems like mine. Apparently they will be able to take a person’s own bone marrow and then grow cells from it and inject it back into the spine through a small incision in the back – a one-day-in-the-hospital-only procedure to fix degenerative disc problems in the lower back especially. This means that if my prosthetic disc doesn’t take or doesn’t work out or gives out after some years or wears out after 10 years, there will be another better procedure out there to repair the non-existent disc! I chose the prosthetic disc surgery over the much more invasive fusion procedure with the hope that in a few years there would be better procedures out there to choose from. The fusion is not reversible. The prosthetic disc apparently is. So this gives me great hope because I know that once a back patient – most of the time – always a back patient. Good thing I live in Europe where there is controversy but less controversy about stem-cell research than in The States thanks to Bush and his right-wing friends. The nice thing about this stem-cell procedure is that the stem-cells are grown from the patient’s own bone marrow so no foreign bodies are being introduced into the patient’s body, which could be rejected and cause secondary problems. I just wish I had it in me to ride all this pain out for another three years or so until these sorts of new procedures are available – but alas, that’s not an option as I have waited a few years already and the last year especially has been too hard on my body and soul. It’s time but right now I feel okay about this – for once!

And it’s the weekend! Hope you all have a great weekend! I should. Getting new couches delivered today! Meeting up with possible new band in Gent for our first jam tomorrow. Hanging out with my husband and daughter and maybe a friend or two. Relaxing. Getting ready for next week. I’m in a good mood today. That’s a good thing!!!! Hope it lasts…

Here’s a picture of Heidi and me from last year for y’all on December the 1st when we were feeling funny and like wise-guys! Oh the fun we used to have…

Thursday 30 November 2006: Heidi, YMA and Sarah do lunch out for once in a long time!!!! Check out what the Flemish are up to!

Sarah says:
No time to talk really. Was happy though to have some time at lunch with Heidi today to chit-chat and chew the fat out and about once again! Heidi even whipped em out and fed YMA right there in front of masses and masses and masses of people, well – actually maybe just three other people – but she was proud nonetheless and YMA was well-fed and happy. Heidi and I LOVE our BIO Planet in Kortrijk Sheep-Cheese Sandwiches! Everyone should try them! They are fantastic.
Read this article about this: Wed 29/11/06 - Flemings spend almost half of their time on personal hygiene; a large-scale study by the Free University of Brussels (VUB) has shown…

Wednesday 29 November 2006: Sarah looks as worn out as she feels. Heidi has crying eyes. The sun is welcome, beautiful and lovely….

Sarah says:
What am I thinking putting this ugly tired and worn out head on here for all of you to see! What a day yesterday! My back went out at work. I could not move for a few hours without being in terrible pain. Agony really. I thought – okay, this is it. I am done. From now till the surgery on the 14th I’ll have to stop working and stay still. Miraculously, however, after a very long and hot shower and a good sleep (thanks to valium no less) I slept straight till 4:30 am and woke up able to move again. The back is amazing in the way that it just locks itself up like that and then starts working again just as fast. I am so happy that I can move again today. I got scared yesterday. I’m not ready to breakdown yet. I’m saving that up for the day I go into the hospital and am ready! If only we actually could plan these things!
Heidi had a bit of a scare today and that’s why she has crying eyes but everything is okay now!
The sun is grand! It’s warm! Loving it! This is a great fall day despite tears, hurts and pains.

Tuesday 28 November 2006: Sarah wants all of you to sit at a 125 degree angle as she starts to flip-out a little... Heidi, are you out there? Join me!

Sarah says:
All right. I was calm for a day or two but I am flipping out again - quietly, but still... Same old story. Broken record. I NEED SOME SLEEP!!!! Lack of sleep makes you feel high, stoned, trippy -- that's how I sort of feel, which isn't bad actually but I have too much to get done so it's sort of hindering me. Oh well. Oh well. Oh well. I need to re-look into pot as a pain-killer. That's probably what I need - a good pain killer. The real ones hurt my belly so I don't take them. I need some good old ole' fashioned dope -- that would come in handy after the surgery I'm sure. Christmas present?

While you're here, pull up a chair and check out this article about the right way to sit at a desk with or without back problems and see photo below...

Monday 27 November 2006: Heidi and Sarah finally find some natural light and look all the better for it....

Sarah says:
Heidi surprised me at lunch today. Well not really -- I had this feeling she'd show up at my door and there she was with YMA! It's always good to see those two! Today was more relaxing than usual. I remained calm. No stress today. That's good and important. Sadly, when I stepped out of my car after work I tripped on the cobble-stones and really hurt my back even more! Now everytime I move I get this surge of pain that stops me from even being able to move. It will pass. It always does. No stress. Stay calm! With all that said, check out how bright and healthy Heidi and I look today - outside for once in real light!!!!

Sunday 26 November 2006: Heidi morphs into a cat a few minutes after her birthday ends....and Sarah is sick of how pain defines her!

Sarah says:
Heidi's birthday ending with her sprouting cat ears and a wild cat's tail. I guess her birthday wish came true! All she needs is some fur and a purr and she'll be a wild cat...
Here's my favorite Post Secret entry this week about pain and how it can define you so you want to hide it but fact is you can't because it takes you over. I can relate to that - to say the least. I really look forward to all this back pain not defining me. I really, really hope this operation helps me. I hope this prosthetic disc helps me to move, move on and redifine my life without pain being the major-player in it. I can't wait for the day that I don't think about it at all. Not one bit. That will be a wonderful day indeed!

Saturday 25 November 2006: It's Heidi's BIRTHDAY!!!! Happy 28th Birthday HEIDI!!!!!!

Sarah says:
So Heidi is now 28 years old! Woo Hoo! You go girl! I hope you had a nice birthday and have a fabulous year! I hope my carrot-tofu-garlic-ginger soup didn't disturb yours or YMA's bodily functions too much! In the photos above, you can see Heidi celebrating her happy day with some friends, a cake and some sheep. Below you can see Heidi celebrating her birthday last year at age 27 - drunk and wild as can be! A lot has changed in a year! Enjoy Heidi dear! I love ya kid! And I love your beautiful smiling daughter too! YMA smiles now! It's so very cute. And Heidi sure looked cute in her cat ears! There were great food and drinks from everyone there. I hope Heidi could enjoy herself a bit even though she had to tend to YMA a lot of course and wasn't able to totally relax I'm sure...

Friday 24 November 2006: Heidi feels a little 'cold' and Sarah is happy it's Friday and don't forget Heidi's birthday tomorrow!!

NEWSFLASH: This is Sarah here reporting to you that for the first time at the same time without knowing it Heidi and I were making today's Face The Day entry and blocking each other - at least she was blocking me! Anyway - we must have pressed "publish" at the same time because all of a sudden each of our entries were there for all to see. Anyway - I'm going to fix that and delete the other one and have already added my entry below-- we can't have two on the same day!! Very exciting isn't it! I knew you all would want to know. In Face The Day World - this is breaking news!!!!!


Heidi says: I have a cold and a headache. But that's ok. Nothing major. I do feel a bit lonely too today, and I think that's worse. But hey, tomorrow is a special day and I'll love that!!! I can't wait for Nico to get home now. I need the weekend to start and I don't want to do that alone. Well, I do have my sweet baby darling girl but I also want my man! Come home!!!! :))


Sarah says:
The week is over - work week- and I'm glad because I am really tired and feel like by back is giving out a bit more than usual! I need a little rest I think. Tomorrow we have to buy a rail for our attic stairway so I can make it up and down those steep stairs safely with an unsteady spine. And other than that and some food shopping, I have no weekend plans besides celebrating our dear Heidi's 28th birthday tomorrow!! I have to make some soup. I still don't know which one! I'm going to look in cook books soon -- I'm thinking something with carrots and celariac -- gotta be careful what I put in this soup as Heidi is still breastfeeding YMA so we wouldn't want to give that little munchkin gas! I look forward to seeing Heidi in person! When did I last see her face to face -- not this week! I think it's the first full week I have gone without seeing her in a really long time! So all the better reason to shower her with food, presents and good times tomorrow!

IF ANYONE HAS ANY GOOD SUGGESTIONS FOR A SIMPLE BUT TASTY NON-GAS CAUSING SOUP - PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT HERE TODAY OR BEFORE 10AM BELGIAN TIME SATURDAY! AND TOMORROW, DEAR FACE THE DAY VIEWERS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE HEIDI YOUR BIRTHDAY WISHES AND LET HER KNOW YOU ENJOY SEEING HER FACE ON THIS SITE EVEN IF SHE IS BORED WITH IT!!! LET HER KNOW IT'S NOT THE SAME HERE WITHOUT HER!!!

Tonight I'll head over to Unie der Zorgelozen for their last Friday of the month meal and after that I will sleep early I hope!
Sunday - no plans!!! Yippy! Rest! Relaxation! I am way too high-strung and stressed out lately! It's high-time for me to slow down a bit. I shall do my best this weekend and then just 8 more work days and then a few days off and then the back surgery on the 14th! Time is a ticking!!!! Have a great weekend everyone!

Thursday 23 November 2006: Heidi is bored with face the day and wants to find new ways to make it exciting and on Thanksgiving Sarah is thankful for

Sarah says:
Happy Thanksgiving all you Americans out there I know and love! Hope your turkey or whetever you eat has been grand. I celebrated by working way too hard all day and eating oatmeal for dinner! That lovely girl in the photo above is the one thing I am most thankful for for sure in my life!! She is my greatest joy and I am so lucky to have her!!! THANKS to her dad too for that of course!


Heidi says: No, it's not that I want to give up, but I'm just bored with my face and the way I take my pictures. They are not saying anything anymore. I need inspiration. I'll think about it...

Sarah continues:
And I'm thanksful I lost a little bit of weight and can wear horizontal lines (though I have to say, seeing the lines in a photo, I do agree it makes one wider!) - I love my new shirt from Mexx! I can fit into Mexx size large now! Before I had to squeeze into it!