The Final Member of the Family and an update

     Finally!  The finished family.  Yes, the cat took me a week.  Or rather, the cat took me a few hours, but motivating myself to make the cat took me a week.  My back, neck and shoulders have not improved in 2 weeks (!).  BUT, I have stumbled upon this book by Dr. Sarno.  I have never heard of this man before, but apparently Howard Stern (of whom I am not a fan) has had his back pain cured by him as well as oodles and oodles of other people who then went on to write positive, if not utterly giddy, reviews of his book on Amazon.com.  Basically, in a nutshell, Dr. Sarno's theory is that chronic back pain is caused by tension and stress.  It is painful, but it is not real pain because it is your brain's way of dealing with repressed emotions (I know, I know, I can almost see some of the eye-rolls).  Once you accept this as your diagnosis (it's called TMS), then your brain can't hide these repressed emotions as pain in your back anymore and it starts to release itself.  I fit the personality type of people who are prone to develop TMS like a glove.  I still have pain, but it's not supposed to be lifted away until my subconscious mind also accepts the diagnosis.  I felt a little bit silly writing that last sentence, but I honestly believe that TMS is real.  Dr Sarno makes valid points in his book.  I'll hold my recommendation for a couple of weeks, but if the pain does go away, you will see a giddy review of my own.  I have to say though, that one of his strategies is to go ahead with your normal activity instead of being intimidated by the pain, so you will see more pillow monsters being blogged!

    In other news, I decided to go to school in the fall.  I was accepted into the Masters in Art Education program awhile ago, but I was a bit wishy-washy about whether or not I wanted to go back to school or pursue Pillow Monstering full-time.  I love my pillow monsters from the bottom of my heart, but I think while I have the time and no babies (something that will hopefully change in the next year or so) I mine as well go for it this year.  The decision has not really sunk in yet, but it's made!  

I hope you all have been wonderful, and thanks to the oober patient family who made the request to be pillow-monstered!  I had a great time!