Just a quick post to let you all know that I'm feeling pretty good after my placement surgery yesterday. I feel like a pin cushion. They couldn't get everything to work in one try so they had to make several attempts before things went into my back the way they wanted. They ended up using a 14 gauge needle (that doesn't mean much to me), so if you know what that means, please let me know. All I know is that it's a big needle.
I'm happy to announce that the pain I was experiencing before the surgery is being controlled very well by this device. Basically I feel an "electronic" buzzing in my back and legs. Apparently the nerve that is causing me so much pain, is right next to the nerve for my legs, so that's why I feel it in my legs as well. It's interesting though, because the sensation is different depending on the way I'm sitting or laying. I turn my head and the feeling is different. It's really cool.
There was a rep from the implant company that was there yesterday, she helped me program the device. I asked her if she has met the guy who invented this thing. She said that she had, and he's a sweet old (97) man, who is very sweet and humble. I told her if she ever saw him again, to give him a big kiss right on the lips for me. She laughed and said that she hears that a lot. I'm amazed that there are people that are smart enough to create things like this. We are all so blessed to be able to benefit from their work.
Anyway, so far so good. I'm going into the Dr on Tuesday to have the "leads" removed and to talk about what the next step is. I'll let you know more then.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Hollywood, The Real Deal?
Today I was listening to The Colin Cowherd show on ESPN radio and he made a point tht I've been trying to make for several years. He was talking about how "real" movie are.
He was referencing a article by a movie critic about the move "X-Files". The critic said a scene depiciting a doctor injecting stem cells into a boys brain was "unrealistic". Really? Well, that's news.
A couple of years ago when the new Superman movie came out, I remember asking a friend if she liked the movie. She said "... it was alright. The scene where Superman saves Lois Lane from the airplane is totally unrealistic, though." OH MY GOSH!!!! Aparantley a movie about a man that choses to wear tights, flighs through the air, and has super-human strength is realistic!! Are you kidding me?
Since when has Hollywood been about being real? All you have to do is look at Pamela Anderson and know that's not true. If Hollywood was about being real, you'd seen Angelina Jolie with saggy boobs, stretch marks, and bags under her eyes because she was up all night with her newborns. Instead what do you see? You see the mother of a 12 year old that looks like Pamela Anderson!!! All you ever see from Hollywood is flat tummies, perky boobs, tight butts in clothes that cost the gross national product of some small island nations!! And the men are no better!! Go check out all the bi-ceps shown in an OK! Magazine, and then check out all the bi-ceps that are at your family reunion and you'll see what I mean.
I am so sick of people acting like Hollywood is the real deal!! Why is everyone so shocked when a star shows their true colors? Has anyone thought that maybe Jennifer Aniston is difficult to be in a relationship with? Maybe there is a stretch mark within the city limits of the Los Angeles metropolitian area!
I know that I sound bitter, maybe I am. I notice that my husband notices all those pictures of women that are either air-brushed or plastic and it bugs me. How do you compete with perfection?
He was referencing a article by a movie critic about the move "X-Files". The critic said a scene depiciting a doctor injecting stem cells into a boys brain was "unrealistic". Really? Well, that's news.
A couple of years ago when the new Superman movie came out, I remember asking a friend if she liked the movie. She said "... it was alright. The scene where Superman saves Lois Lane from the airplane is totally unrealistic, though." OH MY GOSH!!!! Aparantley a movie about a man that choses to wear tights, flighs through the air, and has super-human strength is realistic!! Are you kidding me?
Since when has Hollywood been about being real? All you have to do is look at Pamela Anderson and know that's not true. If Hollywood was about being real, you'd seen Angelina Jolie with saggy boobs, stretch marks, and bags under her eyes because she was up all night with her newborns. Instead what do you see? You see the mother of a 12 year old that looks like Pamela Anderson!!! All you ever see from Hollywood is flat tummies, perky boobs, tight butts in clothes that cost the gross national product of some small island nations!! And the men are no better!! Go check out all the bi-ceps shown in an OK! Magazine, and then check out all the bi-ceps that are at your family reunion and you'll see what I mean.
I am so sick of people acting like Hollywood is the real deal!! Why is everyone so shocked when a star shows their true colors? Has anyone thought that maybe Jennifer Aniston is difficult to be in a relationship with? Maybe there is a stretch mark within the city limits of the Los Angeles metropolitian area!
I know that I sound bitter, maybe I am. I notice that my husband notices all those pictures of women that are either air-brushed or plastic and it bugs me. How do you compete with perfection?
Kolbie The Astronaut
Over the weekend, while we were driving from a baseball game back to our hotel, we heard Kolbie announce:
I want to be an astronaut when I grow up. Except I don't want to go to space.
Reply: Why don't you want to go to space?
Kolbie: Because I'm scared I'll lose myself in space, and that would be not cool!!!!!
All joking aside, this seems like pretty good logic to me. However, I asked Kolbie how she's going to be an astronaut and not go into space. She said:
I'll be the kind that doesn't go to space, Mom. Duh.
Gotta love that kid!
I want to be an astronaut when I grow up. Except I don't want to go to space.
Reply: Why don't you want to go to space?
Kolbie: Because I'm scared I'll lose myself in space, and that would be not cool!!!!!
All joking aside, this seems like pretty good logic to me. However, I asked Kolbie how she's going to be an astronaut and not go into space. She said:
I'll be the kind that doesn't go to space, Mom. Duh.
Gotta love that kid!
Monday, July 28, 2008
A Baseball Weekend
Well, we survived the weekend in Spanish Fork. The team played 4 hard fought games. Unfortunately, we lost all 4 games. As for Chris, I'm so proud of him, I could just explode. He's done such a good job and he didn't quit (which was a bigger deal to me than anything). He played third base, center field, catcher and pitched (and did an awesome job) in the last game. Here are some pictures:
I know I've said before that I wasn't really ready for baseball to be done (with this team at least), but I am. I think that Chris has taken about all he can from this experience. I have to saya quick thanks to Roger, Johnnie, Don and Papi. They were the coaches and scorekeeper for the team. Thank you so much.
I asked Chris what he's learned from being on this all-star team. He said "...to not be scared." That shocked me, so I asked him what he meant. He said that he knows not to be scared when he plays because the other kids he's playing against are just kids his age. He also said that he learned that he made that team for a reason. When I translate all that it tells me that he's gained confidence, and I can see it when I watch him play. He's also not the Drama King he was before (every time he got hurt he was dying -- but not as much now). He even seems happier than he did before. I think its because he's having fun. He also worships Johnnie (he loves all his coaches but really likes Johnnie), he's made learning baseball fun for Chris.
I've said before that one of my favorite things to do is watch my kids do the things that they love. Well, watching Chris play baseball makes me so happy. I can tell when I watch him play that he loves it. His love for playing comes out even more when I take him to practice and he's smiling, and even when he talks about baseball. He's such a good kid!! I love him so much! He's taught me more than I could ever teach him.
I love you buddy!!!!
I know I've said before that I wasn't really ready for baseball to be done (with this team at least), but I am. I think that Chris has taken about all he can from this experience. I have to saya quick thanks to Roger, Johnnie, Don and Papi. They were the coaches and scorekeeper for the team. Thank you so much.
I asked Chris what he's learned from being on this all-star team. He said "...to not be scared." That shocked me, so I asked him what he meant. He said that he knows not to be scared when he plays because the other kids he's playing against are just kids his age. He also said that he learned that he made that team for a reason. When I translate all that it tells me that he's gained confidence, and I can see it when I watch him play. He's also not the Drama King he was before (every time he got hurt he was dying -- but not as much now). He even seems happier than he did before. I think its because he's having fun. He also worships Johnnie (he loves all his coaches but really likes Johnnie), he's made learning baseball fun for Chris.
I've said before that one of my favorite things to do is watch my kids do the things that they love. Well, watching Chris play baseball makes me so happy. I can tell when I watch him play that he loves it. His love for playing comes out even more when I take him to practice and he's smiling, and even when he talks about baseball. He's such a good kid!! I love him so much! He's taught me more than I could ever teach him.
I love you buddy!!!!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i THOUGHT YOU WOULD ALL LIKE TO KNOW THAT MY DOCTOR GAVE THE OKAY FOR MY SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR IMPLANT!!! I'm so scared but so happy!! I'm hoping that this works so I can get my life back!!! I spoke to another patient recently that gave me some hope about the implant. She said that it was the best thing she ever did since she started having cronic pain. It sounds kind of freaky, but hopefully it will work.
Thank you for all of your kind thoughts and prayers, I would be so grateful if they would keep coming. I'm not "out of the woods" yet and could use all the help I could get.
We're having my family over for dinner and fireworks tomorrow, so I'm going to try to post pictures soon. That is a VERY big deal for me, I'm not very computer savvy.
Thanks again.
Thank you for all of your kind thoughts and prayers, I would be so grateful if they would keep coming. I'm not "out of the woods" yet and could use all the help I could get.
We're having my family over for dinner and fireworks tomorrow, so I'm going to try to post pictures soon. That is a VERY big deal for me, I'm not very computer savvy.
Thanks again.
Prayers, Please
Things have been surprisingly quiet on the baseball front this week. YIPEE!!!! I must say that I'm surprised.
Right now I'm at my parents house and Dad's having a rough week. He just doesn't feel good at all. His speech is slurry, and he's even in some pain this week. The thing that is so frustrating about this #$^*$#@ disease is that you can have serious symptoms and your blood work comes back in the "normal"range. I can't tell you how angry I get when Mom tells me that all Dad's blood work is good. I don't want my dad to be sick, but he's got all these symptoms and his blood work says he's fine. I know it's the nature of the disease, but what gives?
Kolbie and I are going to go to my Doctors office is a little bit, to get my medication adjusted. I'm so tired of this ride with my pain, it sure makes the days drag on. My appointment today is to adjust my meds. I really don't get it, of course I'm depressed, this is a depressing situation. I've never been scared to tell people that I've had a life long relationship with depression, but I find that (lately) people are a little judgemental. Most people don't mean to be, but stupid things just fly out of peoples mouth.
So yes, I'm clinically depressed, I have been for most of my life. I remember being very small and feeling depressed, that's just part of who I am. Amazingly enough, the people that love me accept this part of me better than I do (most of the time, it's one of the things I hate the most about myself). I still don't understand why Greg would want to stick around, but he loves me, even if I don't understand why most of the time. So anyway, I'm going to get my meds adjusted by the dr.
I'm also going to talk to him about giving the ok for my pain implant. I asked my dr if one of his patients who has an implant if they could call me and tell me about it. So I got a call from a woman about my age. It sounds AMAZING!!!!!!! So, if I could get the doctor to give me the okay, that's the first step to get my life back.
So everyone, think good thoughts and say your prayers that 1) I can get my implants and 2) Dad can feel better (or maybe worse, so he can get his transplant).
Oh, and if you could pray for the Mets, they let first place slip from their fingers!!! They need all the help they can get!!!! They have to get to first place!!!!
Right now I'm at my parents house and Dad's having a rough week. He just doesn't feel good at all. His speech is slurry, and he's even in some pain this week. The thing that is so frustrating about this #$^*$#@ disease is that you can have serious symptoms and your blood work comes back in the "normal"range. I can't tell you how angry I get when Mom tells me that all Dad's blood work is good. I don't want my dad to be sick, but he's got all these symptoms and his blood work says he's fine. I know it's the nature of the disease, but what gives?
Kolbie and I are going to go to my Doctors office is a little bit, to get my medication adjusted. I'm so tired of this ride with my pain, it sure makes the days drag on. My appointment today is to adjust my meds. I really don't get it, of course I'm depressed, this is a depressing situation. I've never been scared to tell people that I've had a life long relationship with depression, but I find that (lately) people are a little judgemental. Most people don't mean to be, but stupid things just fly out of peoples mouth.
So yes, I'm clinically depressed, I have been for most of my life. I remember being very small and feeling depressed, that's just part of who I am. Amazingly enough, the people that love me accept this part of me better than I do (most of the time, it's one of the things I hate the most about myself). I still don't understand why Greg would want to stick around, but he loves me, even if I don't understand why most of the time. So anyway, I'm going to get my meds adjusted by the dr.
I'm also going to talk to him about giving the ok for my pain implant. I asked my dr if one of his patients who has an implant if they could call me and tell me about it. So I got a call from a woman about my age. It sounds AMAZING!!!!!!! So, if I could get the doctor to give me the okay, that's the first step to get my life back.
So everyone, think good thoughts and say your prayers that 1) I can get my implants and 2) Dad can feel better (or maybe worse, so he can get his transplant).
Oh, and if you could pray for the Mets, they let first place slip from their fingers!!! They need all the help they can get!!!! They have to get to first place!!!!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The Calm Before The Storm
This has been a weird weekend, nothings happening. No ball games, birthday parties, weddings, ect. So I've spent Saturday doing my laundry. I've had some energy and (surprise, surprise) some ambition. My definition of the laundry being done, is EVERYTHING is washed, dried, ironed and put away (including socks)! Which means my laundry is NEVER done. I've come pretty close today, but not quite finished. And unfortunately, I'll be paying for it tomorrow (today actually). It's only 7pm and I'm already in a lot of pain.
Also, we've had Connie Ficker with us this weekend while her parents are out of town. She's a good kid, and I enjoy having her around, she makes me smile.
Katie is getting ready to go to Mill Hollow on Monday, and she is so excited. She's so excited it's not bordering on annoying, but she's only 11 so she does annoying well.
Chris has spent most of the weekend hanging out with Austin, they went to the Geex Festival. It's something about video games. He bought 3 games for 10 bucks (all of them sports games--we already have a million of those), he's so excited because he got such a great deal. His sisters and I have enjoyed making fun of him because he willingly went the "Geek" Festival.
Kolbie is been playing with her best buddy Annie. She's been a little stinker about doing chores, reading and doing her math flash cards, so if anyone has any ideas about how to help with that I'd really appreciate it.
We're all looking forward to Chris' All-Star team playing in a tournament next weekend. Practices start next week. YIPEE!!!!!!!!!!! We've been so bored this week, I can't wait. I hope that none of the other families are going to make this tournament difficult because I'm really looking forward to it. I have a weird feeling because one of the other Dads asked Greg what kind of tournament it was. He was shocked when Greg told him it was a "Super League" tournament. Oh well, hopefully nothing will happen.
This has got to be the most boring blog I've ever written, there's just not much going on right now. I'm grateful for the quiet, but I'm a little nervous. You know the old saying, "...the calm before the storm..."
Also, we've had Connie Ficker with us this weekend while her parents are out of town. She's a good kid, and I enjoy having her around, she makes me smile.
Katie is getting ready to go to Mill Hollow on Monday, and she is so excited. She's so excited it's not bordering on annoying, but she's only 11 so she does annoying well.
Chris has spent most of the weekend hanging out with Austin, they went to the Geex Festival. It's something about video games. He bought 3 games for 10 bucks (all of them sports games--we already have a million of those), he's so excited because he got such a great deal. His sisters and I have enjoyed making fun of him because he willingly went the "Geek" Festival.
Kolbie is been playing with her best buddy Annie. She's been a little stinker about doing chores, reading and doing her math flash cards, so if anyone has any ideas about how to help with that I'd really appreciate it.
We're all looking forward to Chris' All-Star team playing in a tournament next weekend. Practices start next week. YIPEE!!!!!!!!!!! We've been so bored this week, I can't wait. I hope that none of the other families are going to make this tournament difficult because I'm really looking forward to it. I have a weird feeling because one of the other Dads asked Greg what kind of tournament it was. He was shocked when Greg told him it was a "Super League" tournament. Oh well, hopefully nothing will happen.
This has got to be the most boring blog I've ever written, there's just not much going on right now. I'm grateful for the quiet, but I'm a little nervous. You know the old saying, "...the calm before the storm..."
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