I wouldn't say I'm the smallest person in the world, but I can say I'm one of the weakest. Some of the tasks I complete on a weekly basis remind me of the need to start lifting weights. (5 lbs max) I have trouble carrying multiple bags of groceries up one flight of stairs, my arm gets tired after vacuuming my apartment that has three carpeted rooms, I have dropped one of my dogs when I tried to carry both Miniature Doxies in each hand and after weeks of dealing with horrendous back problems, I was told I should consider flipping my mattress because I refuse to spend more than 15 minutes in a store.

Ahhh... My mattress. The one thing in my house that has been with me since the beginning of time. It's a decade old. The brand label is no longer readable. It has a chewed corner from a cat I once had that got eaten by a coyote while visiting my Dad in Indiana. It is where both of my pups slept for the first time. It used to be so comfortable that my roommates in college would actually sleep on it while I was out of town. (True story here people.) Clearly it's time to upgrade, but again I HATE spending time in stores. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to shop... But I rip through the store, buy what I need or think I like, try it on later and if something doesn't work when I come across it two months down the road, I take it back.

My fabulous mom is full of amazing advice. When I mentioned the Costco size bottles of Tylenol I was going through each week to ease my back pain, she said it was time to get rid of the ol' mattress. However, she also told me to expect the purchase to be a time consuming process. I must sit and soak in for 15 minutes on each mattress I consider buying. Right. Not happening. I decided I'd just flip the thing one more time and get a good 20 years out of the sucker. Not a chance. I don't know how something that feels like it's filled with rocks can be so soft.

I put it off... But it wasn't long before my young Kitzel ( Mini Doxie #2 ) started experiencing back problems as well. I woke up in the middle of the night and Kit wasn't on her side of the bed with her tiny head resting on her tiny pillow. She was at the end of the bed, looking up at the ceiling on her back. She seemed extremely comfortable - a state I know she hadn't been in for quite some time... so I tried it. I made the flip. My head was at the footboard and my feet were at the headboard. I don't think a mattress made of NASA material (or whatever those high end hooks out there are) could beat the flip I made.

It was the perfect move. And after a string of good luck and simple choices I no longer think about how weak I am... And will put off another day at the gym or considering lifting those weights. Kit and I are sleeping through the night (or day because I work through the night). My vacuum broke, so my arm hasn't been throbbing in a while. Zaxby's and Sonic bags weigh far less than those grocery bags I had to haul upstairs and I shipped Yao to my parents for the summer (just to trim down a little bit) and I now only have one dog to tote around. So, if you're close to flipping out... Consider flipping things around. I'm confident you won't lose anymore sleep and everything will work out.