Sometimes the best laid plans are just that… plans.  They don’t come to fruition. But not for lack of trying.  Sometimes unforeseen things just happen.  They can’t be helped.

The Kids and I were supposed to go to a local nursery school’s spring fair today.  It was a fair slash fundraiser where I would buy tickets in order for the kids to participate in various activities like face painting, necklace stringing, walking through a maze and getting their photos taken in front of a fire truck.  A win-win situation.  The school gets some money and my kids could participate in some activities all little ones seem to enjoy.

It would be a nice calm afternoon of fun after they woke up from naptime.  I had it all planned. We would enjoy the weather.  A nice change from the Nor’easter we recently had. We would be outside our apartment. Always good since outdoor play space is much more fun than adhering to the rules of playing indoors.  And most importantly, I would temporarily forget about work and deadlines.

Bathed, dressed and ready to go were the kids when my back gave out.

Gave out as in one minute I was standing. The next second, a sharp pain shot through my body – more specifically my lower back -- and I collapsed onto the nearest thing I thought would support me so I didn’t end up *smack* on the hardwood floor.

I found myself leaning on my daughter’s chair (packed to the top with her stuffed animals) for support. I cried for her to get me the phone from the other room so I could call for help. While I waited, the pressure from my body leaning onto Natalie’s silently screaming stuffed animals (they were being suffocated by my weight!) sounded my son’s race car that has an engine which turns on by touch.

Spent the rest of today being carried to and from the bathroom. Being turned from one side to the next on my bed trying to find a more comfortable position and upset that my kids’ day was ruined.