Broken & Restored

Our weekend blew by before we had a chance to digest any thing. Monday rolled around and we were taking Violet to Texas Children's Hospital West Campus. I'd be lying if I told you we were just fine. That it was just another typical day in our lives. Because we weren't fine. We were nervous and anxious. My baby was about to have surgery!!! Trust me, it is very unnerving to know you are entrusting your child's well being with a doctor who is practically a stranger.

As we were taken to pre-op, Violet was asked to change into some comfy scrubs for her surgery. Oddly enough, they didn't give her socks that had the treads on them. I immediately fixed that problem since running on a tile floor with just her socks on is what landed us in this situation in the first place! No repeats of that accident please!

I have to give it to Texas Children's Hospital. They know how to make the idea of a surgery one that isn't to be dreaded or afraid of. There were a couple of gaming stations there, as well as plenty of toys, board games, and movies. It was a childhood dream if you didn't count the surgery.

Violet did okay for the most part. The games kept her interested up until a certain point. Reality began to sink in and fear started to creep it's ugly head. She was such a trooper though. Even as fear started to work its way into Violet's heart she was ready to have her nose repaired. Her beloved Floppsy was with her every single step of the way! Yes, the medical team even let Violet bring Floppsy into the operating room with her. And from my understanding, Floppsy was tucked under her arm as they put her to sleep, and she was there with Violet when she woke up in post-op.

This image is forever ingrained in my mind. Violet was trying to be a brave girl and her beloved Floppsy helped her through that waiting period.

Violet's surgery didn't take very long. She was back in recovery within the hour of them taking her into the operating room. I couldn't sit still during that time and went to the gift shop to find something special for Violet. As providence would have it, I found a sweet little brown bunny that looks very much like Little Nut Brown Hare (one of our favorite bedtime stories). I grabbed him and a sweet balloon that would brighten her spirits. I went back to the waiting room and was sitting with Gregg for all of ten minutes when the doctor came in with the news that Violet did great and her surgery went better than the doctor had hoped.

The purpose for Violet's surgery wasn't to make her look like she did before her accident. No, the purpose was to insure that her nasal passages weren't blocked and that she could breathe freely. Cosmetic stuff can be done later if that is a concern. Dr. Musso came in with a big smile and said that the bone snapped back into place almost immediately (remember, she wasn't trying for a full realignment). Her thought is that Violet will look pretty close to her regular self once the swelling goes down.

Violet's recovery in post-op went very well and we went home after an hour or so. She did pretty well at home for an hour and then got sick. Dr. Musso said to call if she got sick three times and so I immediately made that call when that happened. Poor Violet was so distraught after her last stomach upset because Floppsy was in the direct path of the bucket that she missed. The tears that flowed from her were heartbreaking. Fortunately for us, Violet had a new bunny friend who stepped up and temporarily filled in for Floppsy. Thank you Little Nut Brown Hare! After cleaning Violet up, and changing the sheets on her bed, her medicine kicked in and she slept soundly throughout the night.

Violet is a very tough little girl. She had two doses of pain and nausea medicine when she declared she didn't want any more. I know part of that was because she didn't like how they made her feel. But still, she could tolerate the pain and began to go back to her perky little self. When she started sharing her knock-knock jokes was when I knew for certain she felt pretty good. Laughter really is the best medicine! 

Broken: Part II

After getting some rest and sleeping late, we finally woke up and started to make phone calls. My first call was to the pediatric plastic surgeon who was recommended to us from the ER doctor. Unfortunately, his office wasn't open yet. So, that made our next call to the Ear Nose & Throat specialist, Dr. Musso. Thankfully, we got an appointment later that week. 

Finding a dentist was a little more of a task. But even that turned out to be much easier than we anticipated due to a simple fact - Gregg's office just changed insurance companies and they've hired a service that is like a medical concierge service. You call your representative, tell them what you need, and they do the leg work for you. Within thirty minutes of my calling our service rep, we had a dentist appointment the following day. Truly, it was incredible. Our representative took all of the stressful elements of finding a dentist, a good one, and made an appointment for the next day.

Violet woke up very stressed out on the day of her dental appointment. As we were getting dressed she asked me, "Momma, can we wear our CC (Classical Conversations) shirts?" My poor baby was seeking comfort in her "big-girl" way. Wearing matching t-shirts was a price that I was willing to pay if it gave her an ounce of comfort to get through her dental appointment. During the whole time we spent at the ER and at the following doctor's appointments, this well-love pink rabbit, dearly loved and known as Floppsy, was by Violet's side through it all. Oh, how I love this little toy that brings such comfort to my little girl!

We showed up for her appointment, both nervous as two people could be. (Violet's previous dental appointments were not good ones for either of us.) We were seen rather quickly and the dentist that she got was the youngest in this particular practice. He was so nice, incredibly gentle, and very assuring. He took x-rays and did an exam and said to watch for signs of tooth damage but that he thought the gum would firm back up. I breathed the biggest sigh of motherly relief I've ever exhaled in the eight years of Violet's life.

The following day, Friday, was Violet's appointment with Dr. Musso. She took one look at Violet and confirmed what we already knew, "Yep, her nose is broken!" And then my heart stalled with her next words, "She needs to have surgery as soon as possible to correct it." Not what I was wanting to hear but as with all things, our heavenly Father is with us and will get us through this. Violet's appointment is the following Monday.


After Violet's appointment we rushed to our school to catch the ending of our co-op. We didn't stay for the afternoon program, a portion that I help out with, because Kiddo was given strict orders of no physical activities. We caught the last forty five minutes of class and then lunch. This turned out to be a sweet time for us. Violet's class prayed for her upcoming surgery as did the rest of the school during the dismissal. Let me just say, I love our home school program! It feels good to know that you are loved and being prayed for, that you are in fact a part of a community.

Seeing as this post is getting to be rather lengthy, I will end it here.The rest of the story will follow within the next day or so. 

Broken

Our lives have been crazy busy and down right hectic lately. School started back up nine weeks ago. This is Violet's third year with Classical Conversations. We started the school year with gusto, excited to learn, to see old friends and make new ones. Violet was super excited, as was I, to know that she had the tutor she was hoping to get. Then several weeks ago, only our third week into the new school year, Violet took a nasty fall and broke her nose.

Nothing prepares you for accidents. There is no training manual for these things. Little falls, bumps and bruises, are one thing. It's a whole different ball game when the accident is bigger than that. And you can only hope and pray that you have some sort of grace during those times. I don't think I did. Shock hit me and the first moments after Violet's fall are a bit of a blur. I just remember the scream, knowing that it was my daughter, and the icy chill that ran straight through my chest. Without having seen her yet, I knew that my baby was hurt.

We were at a friend's home when Violet fell. It took a little while to discern the seriousness of Violet's injury. She was bleeding and the instinct to protect herself from further injury had kicked in. After what felt like an eternity passed, but in reality was only minutes, Violet finally let us see the damage. She was already swelling and bruising. I couldn't process things and therefore had to judge the severity of the situation by the reaction of my friend. It was only until we were leaving that I realized how badly Violet was hurt. I think the shock was starting to wear off.

Once in the car, and headed to Texas Children's Hospital West, I called Gregg. My calls kept going directly to his voice mail and panic started to set in. After several calls, I finally thought to call our neighbor and, after a brief run-down, she went to get him. Not exactly the way you want to let your spouse know someone has been hurt. I managed to tell Gregg what happened, where to meet us, and that Violet asked to please bring her beloved Flopsy. My beloved moved quickly because he got to the hospital while I was still filling out the paper work. The rush of relief upon seeing him walk in was so great that it reminded me of an old western - the hero walked in to save the day. Our daughter, who was quietly crying and trying not to draw attention to herself, crumbled in her Father's arms. And my heart finally began to beat in a normal rhythm. She and I weren't alone in this anymore.

We sat in an ice cold lobby for several hours, waiting for Violet's name to be called. It was close to 1 AM when she was taken back to a room. Another hour passed before we saw her doctor, who confirmed my worst fear, Violet's nose was indeed broken. We were sent home with care instructions and names of two doctors to call the next morning.

I'll share the rest of the story with you at a later date.

Magic Wands & Boogers

I had an appointment with an ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor) earlier today and went in to the appointment with a bad case of the jitters. Call me crazy but I just was not looking forward to having a wand pushed up inside of my nose. Yeah, so not looking forward to that!

The appointment had a bit of a rough start. I was there at 9:30 and I wasn't seen until nearly 11:00. Add a seven year old kid who is bouncing off the walls, a doctor who is running late and a nervous patient and you've got a mix for a disaster. Thankfully, once my doctor came in, he got straight to the task at hand - checking out a cyst in my right sinus cavity.

My doctor had a lot to work through as I've been dealing with a nasty cold and sinus infection this week. I guess the timing was good for that though. Who better to deal with a sinus infection than an ENT, right? After spraying a decongestant and lydocain in my nose to open up and numb my sinuses, my doctor threaded the dreaded wand into my nose. As he is working his way to the back on my sinuses, the doctor tells me to feel free to take a look on the screen. Umm, no thank you! I was doing well to remain seated and not come unglued at that particular moment. But that didn't stop Violet from taking a good gander at the insides of her Momma's nose! Seriously, what kid could resist that?!!! It wasn't long after that that I heard Violet say, "Ooohh Mommy! I can see your boogers!!!" The proclamation wasn't lost on my doctor, who started laughing as he has a wand inside of my nose!!!

I guess you could say we lived our own real-life episode of The Magic School Bus today. And after I finish a two week course of antibiotics, nasal sprays and rinses, and decongestants, I get to go relive today's magical adventure. Oh joy!

Restoration of Health and Faith

2012 has not been a pleasant year for me for many reasons. Migraines have plagued my very existence for the majority of January and part of February. Definitely not how I envisioned I'd be spending my time. Our life has been on hold pretty much since right after Christmas. And yes, that does mean our Christmas tree is still up. Totally embarrassing! We've finally managed to get all the ornaments down and packed nicely in the ornament storage boxes. We just have to put the angel away and then tear down the tree. We're making progress!

I missed two weeks of our homeschool group days but made it there last week. I'm worried about tomorrow as it's almost 3:00 AM and my brain has yet to shut down. Insomnia stinks and it's not helpful in keeping headaches and migraines away. So here I am, in the hours of the morning, trying to rid my mind of the senseless clutter that keeps bouncing around in my brain. Why did I ever look at a friend's Facebook post that compared Sinatra's music to Justin Beever's? Yep, you probably guessed it, I've got "Baby, baby, baby, ohh" echoing in my brain. Gracious, you'd at least think it would grab onto something I like and something a little more conducive to sleep! But Noooo, mine latches on to something I couldn't even tolerate in the first place!

I have an appointment tomorrow, or is it today since it is now 3 AM, with my neurologist. I'm praying that she will figure out why I've been having so many debilitating headaches. I just want to be rid of them. For good!

Violet has been such a blessing during this time. We've managed some school work but honestly, we are pretty behind right now. Thankfully we have a six week break next week and spring break next month. Those will be our catch up days. After that we will be back on track. Violet's reading is slowly improving. We've crossed our biggest hurdle, which was just the desire to learn to read. She is seeing her classmates reading and it has ignited that spark to learn to read. She brings me books and is asking to read now. That is a huge milestone for us when you consider she would either hide or immediately break into tears if we pulled out her reading curriculum! I cannot begin to explain how happy this make me and Gregg! I've been researching tutors, trying to decide if someone else would have better luck with this than I have. I'm putting those on hold for now. It feels good to have some optimism regarding reading again!

This has basically been our life the past few months. Excruciating pain, trying to keep up with the ins and outs of our daily life and still falling behind in everything... School, housework, chores, and getting down our Christmas tree! Despite all these things though, one thing has remained and held true for us - God has been right there with us, in the midst of everything, never leaving us and certainly never forsaking us. He has been our comforter throughout all of this. When I was at the end of my proverbial rope, He helped me hold on and gave me the strength to make it through all of this. I have a merciful Father who loves me dearly and cherishes me as His beloved daughter just as He loves you in the same way. It would be all too easy for me to give up and let the physical pain swallow me into the pit of despair but that is not Gods plan or will for my life, that is from the enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy those who follow Christ. I am determined that no matter how I may feel physically, I am going to hold onto the truth that God loves me and through Him I will be restored to full health, whether it's here on earth or in heaven, He will restore me to full health!

Migraines

I've dealt with migraines since I was fifteen or sixteen years old. They weren't a regular occurrence but when one would hit it would knock me off my feet for a day. As I've gotten older, the migraines seems to hit more frequently. After dealing with one for the last few days, I've developed a new perspective on migraines. They are proof positive that I do indeed have a brain. So, for all the times I've ever questioned that fact (or my husband, friends, or family have), there ya' go. I do have a brain. But no one can accuse me of using it on a regular basis!

Kiss The Ground

I have a new found sympathy for kiddos who frequently have ear infections (not that I didn't feel bad for them before). I've been battling an inner-ear infection for a few weeks now. It doesn't hurt very often but when it DOES hurt, it HURTS!!! Mostly though, it just bothers me. You know, in an uncomfortable bothersome kind of way. Here's the kicker with this thing though ~ it seriously knocks me off balance! My world has been spinning wildly out of control. Not only that, it's off kilter (otherwise known as tilted). The best way to explain it all... it's like being drunk without all the fun of the alcohol. Sorry, just trying to put some humor in all of this. Excuse me while I go kiss the ground again.

Validation Baby!!!

My husband thinks he's married to a nutcase sometimes. I say that whatever makes me feel better/safer is a good thing as long as it doesn't hurt someone else. He thinks I'm borderline paranoid. I tell him he's probably right but that it's better to be safe than sorry. He says I embarrass him sometimes. I tell him to get over it. What am I talking about? I'm talking about the little extra precautions I take whenever we fly. Let me share with you what my husband and daughter put up with...

[photo courtesy of Wet Ones.com]

Whenever we fly I always carry a TON of antibacterial wipes with me. I hand the wipes out to my family constantly when we're flying. I've taught Violet to wipe her face first and then her hands. Hubby is okay with these preventative measures, it's once we get on the plane that he says I go a bit overboard. Remember those packages of antibacterial wipes that I never travel without? Well, I use those to wipe down every touchable surface on the plane wherever we sit! I'm the freaky lady that wipes down the armrests, window/shade and wall, the seat back (in front of us), tray, light above us, and most importantly the air vent! Then, once I've done all that, and have my little family buckled in, they get to wipe their hands with another wipe. My husband calls this overkill. He may be right but I like to call it proactive.

Here's the thing though, I would always get sick after flying. I'm not exaggerating either when I say always. Usually I wouldn't get sick until after we had returned home but then it started happening when we got to our destination. This was beyond frustrating, for me and my family. What really got to me though was when we had Violet and SHE would get sick after we flew somewhere. That was my final straw and when I got to be a bit OCD whenever we flew.

There's not much you can do beyond basic sanitary stuff when you fly. The only way to avoid other people when traveling is to either NOT travel (which ain't happening) or to buy a private jet, learn how to fly, and travel on your own (something else that ain't happening!). So, I've learned to improvise. I clean as I go. Is it relaxing? Definitely not! Does it help me to sit back and relax a little? Yes!

Okay, bear with me here as I take you on a little "side" trip on something unrelated but I promise you it has a purpose. I always record the Rachael Ray Show. I don't always get to watch the show during the week and so I wait until the weekend to catch up. She's funny and has some neat ideas on her show. Well, today, while watching an episode from earlier this week, Rachael had a doctor on her show. And what was the topic of that particular segment you might ask? Well, I'll tell you! It was different ways on how to stay healthy while flying. This doctor said to use those wonderful little antibacterial wipes to wipe off the seat in front of you, the light, and most importantly the air vents!!! Yeah Ba-by!!! That was all the validation I needed. So, my husband, the dear man that he is, turned to me and said, "I'm sorry for ever making fun of you and your little traveling quirks."

Here I thought I was probably going insane with all the extra steps I take when flying. I've been doing this since Violet was a wee-little one. And a doctor shows up on a national televised show and basically gave me all the validation I've needed. Thank you!

Meet Miss. Ima Tooth Fairy

I have someone I'd really like to introduce to you nice folks. Her name is Miss. Ima Tooth Fairy. Miss. Ima Tooth Fairy has been hanging out at our place ever since I found her lost in a store somewhere. I only had to pay them $5.oo to take her off their hands. They were rather fond of her and didn't really want to part ways with Miss. Ima Tooth Fairy but after seeing that she would go to a good home they decided to let her go.


Miss. Ima Tooth Fairy knew that she had to come home with me as she has been trying to make her way to our place for over a week. I can only imagine how tired she must be right now. Needless to say, she was rather grateful for the ride. And look, she even carried her own bag! Now isn't that thoughtful of her?



Welcome to our house Miss. Ima Tooth Fairy . I hope you enjoy your stay.

How Is It Possible...

How is it possible that a person can have an upper-respiratory infection without even the tiniest hint of a runny nose? Seriously, where is all this junk coming from? Because, if I knew the answer to that, then I might not curse this blasted cough so much every time I'm hit with a coughing fit. My lungs hurt simply because I can't take a deep breath. My ribs, back and stomach hurt from all the coughing. I'm tired because my cough is keeping me awake at night. I'm grumpy because my cough is keeping me awake at night. Do you see a theme going here? Because I certainly do! Enough already! The drugs that my doctor so graciously gave me are not doing what they're supposed to be doing and that makes me grumpy too. Why spend money on a good antibiotic when it's not gonna work? Please God, let them start working soon!!!

I can't grumble about everything though. Kiddo has been very pleasant and sweet this week. Which we all know, when you're sick the last thing you want to deal with is a kiddo that won't behave. Dear husband has been more than helpful and I can't thank him enough. I've not had to do too much around here this week which is always nice. My house is in order though and that makes a BIG difference. I'm still a bit cluttered but I'm finally getting things cleared out, cleaned out, and organized. A clean and organized house makes me VERY happy! And a happy momma/wife equals a happy house.

Zombies Are Taking Over The World

I'm tired and achy folks. Which means I feel like crap. What I thought was only major sinus issues has turned in to a horrible full-blown cold. A good ole' snot fest, if you will. Sorry, that may be way too much information. Forgive me, I've taken a cough medicine and it has made me a tensy bit loopy. Ah, thank God for drugs! Seriously, you gotta love them when you feel like death warmed over. When I go lie down in my comfy bed I am praying that I won't begin coughing up a lung or something like it because that wonderful cough medicine is actually doing it's job. We'll see. So, sorry, I've not picked up the camera all weekend. I had my lazy bum curled up on the couch and have caught up on alot of movies that we've been recording. I hope to feel better soon. If not, zombies will begin to take over the world. And I'll be their leader.

Dreaming of Better Days

[photo courtesy of eHow.com]

I'm dreaming of better days to come in the near future. I went to the doctor yesterday and discovered that I have a sinus infection, something that I already suspected since my face hurts (ALOT!), and an upper respiratory infection. I was given a shot of the miracle drug Cortisone and sent home with antibiotics and a cough syrup. Life will be much better in a few days and I can't wait!

It Continues

Violet is doing much better. A giant thanks goes out to everyone who has said an extra prayer for our precious little girl. Please continue to keep us in your prayers though. The fever continues but this time I'm the one who has it. I've been keeping Tylenol, Mucinex, and Zicam in business, I'm sure of it. I wish I could take Ibuprofen because it works wonders with a fever but I'm highly allergic to it. I'm fond of breathing and so I gladly skip that particular medicine.

My stomach is terribly unsettled and most of my day has been spent chanting, "Please don't get sick. Please don't get sick." It seems to be working but I'm ready for this to pass.

Violet returned to daycare today so that I could rest and get over this bug. Hopefully, in the next day or so, we'll be back to our regular schedule. I promised Violet that as soon as I'm over this that I'll take her to the Zoo. Needless to say, she is excited about going to see all the animals. I can't wait either. The Houston Zoo has a new elephant exhibit that we've yet to see. So, be looking for some new photos fairly soon. In the meantime, I pray that everyone is happy and healthy.

FEVER!

Violet came home with a terrible fever on Friday. We've not been getting much sleep around here with this little bug working overtime in our little girl. She's been having some serious sinus issues which affects how well she sleeps. Listening to your child snore brings about all kinds of feelings. You can't help but smile at the sound but it also makes you worry. Then there's the fever, we can't seem to get rid of it. We'll shake it for an hour or so but it always comes back, with a vengeance. So, we've been alternating between Tylenol and Ibuprofen along with a regular dose of Benadryl. This helps us keep the fever down and the snot to a minimum. (Look at that precious nose of hers, it's raw from all the nose blowing and wiping she's been doing.) Hopefully we're through the worst of this and we'll be able to resume normal activities soon. I don't think I can handle another day spent in this house. Violet is climbing the walls and my head hurts. We've now gone three days without natural sunlight and it's starting to take it's toll on us all. If the fever's not gone in the morning then we'll be going to the pediatrician.

With A Hobbled Walk

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this or not but I've been having some pretty intense pain in my left foot the past few months. I don't remember exactly when it started to bother me but it seems like it was early summer when it began. After having problems walking (read, not being able to put weight on the foot) for a few days, I broke down and went to a podiatrist. That was last month. He told me I have a bone spur and then immediately recommended surgery and nothing else. After being told that I'd have to stay off my foot for a minimum of two weeks, up to four, I had a minor meltdown. Needless to say, a second opinion was in order.

So, with a hobble in my walk I went to an orthopedic surgeon today to have him take a look at my foot. Three options were given to me ~ a steroid/cortisone shot in the joint, a shoe insert to help align my foot in a better position and to take the pressure off the joint, and then surgery. I already feel much better about seeing this doctor.

I was given THE MOST PAINFUL Shot in History today!!! Seriously, it freakin' hurt!!! I can't recommend the shot because I won't know till the end of the weekend whether it worked for me or not but if you want to experience some SERIOUS pain, then heck yeah, get the shot. Also, my doctor gave me a "prescription" (if that's what you'd call it) for the shoe insert. Guess you could say we tried to kill two birds with one stone today.

I really hope the shot does the trick because, even though I'm not a shoe freak, I do enjoy the few shoes I have and don't want to give them up. Yes, that's the least of my worries and maybe I'm a little vain for thinking about it but I can't help myself. I have shoes that are older than my daughter! They have sentimental value to me. Okay, maybe that's a stretch but I think you get my point. Besides, what girl wants to wear ugly shoes? I know I don't. Most importantly though, I hope the shot works and I won't need surgery.

Check-Ups

I hate yearly check-ups. I took Violet in for her 4th. year check-up and it was the hardest one yet. First, we had to have some blood drawn for some tests (that's a whole different story that I'll fill you in on soon but it's not anything serious). Then, two shots in each leg plus an added one due to the needle slipping making the total of needle pricks 6! I don't know who these check-ups are hardest on, your child or you. Your child gets the physical pain of the shots but it hurts you emotionally to watch them go through that, even though it's for their own good.

Violet did very well with the blood draw. She didn't cry until right at the end.

Her left leg looks very similar to her right with the exception that there are three band aids on it instead of two. I'm not happy about that! You can already see a bruise starting to form at one of the injection sites (right next to the Tasmanian Devil band aid).

Look at that precious face! I wish there were some way to absorb the pain for her.

Violet received a free Junior Frosty coupon from Wendy's to get a treat with afterwards. She cried as we left the doctor's office until we pulled into the drive thru at Wendy's. That little cup of soft-serve was exactly what she (and I) needed to calm her down.

Being Green ~ No, Not THAT Kind of Green!

I went to the doctor today. I decided five days with a fever was enough. My family doctor is out of town but fortunately for me, and the rest of his patients, he has other doctors working in his office this week. It was easy to get an appointment and although the wait was a little longer than usual I was seen by a doctor who gave me drugs. Er, I mean medicine. Amoxicillin and a shot of the wonder drug Cortisone to be exact.

I am praying that the antibiotic will kick this infection's tush! And, that the cortisone will enable me to breathe freely very soon. My family has been a major contributor to the pharmaceutical companies this year and it's getting old. We've also been keeping a certain tissue company in the green. (I'm not just talking buying them folks but also what's on them!) Oh, and I've been sporting these this week. Sexy, huh? Sorry, lack of sleep and feeling miserable has done something to my sense of humor.

After dropping Gregg off at work, and Violet at daycare, I had a little over an hour before my appointment. I decided to kill some time at the local dollar store (sorry, I don't have a link for ya'). Oh my gosh! I have been ignorant of that little store, not knowing what a precious gem it is. Granted, some of their stuff is cheap. Well, it all is hence the name of the store. BUT! But they've got some really great stuff there too. So I'm not going to bad mouth them. No, I'm going to shop there whenever I can!!! They already have out some of their holiday items and I am determined to get my crafty groove on very soon with some of their items.

I have no Fall decorations and now I don't have an excuse. I can get some cute things for my home to celebrate one of my favorite times of the year and not feel guilty about it. Also, they're selling Halloween candy (so soon, yes) for just a buck! Good candy. Candy that you wouldn't be ashamed to hand out to the neighborhood kids! We live in an apartment complex so I don't anticipate having any kiddos knocking on our door but I'll be tucking a bag in our cabinets. Just in case, ya' know? Besides, who doesn't love a little lolly pop on occasion?

I love this wreath and hope to recreate it with some of the pretty decorations I saw at the store today...
OR, maybe this one...[both photos courtesy of Corner Crafters]

The first wreath appeals to my formal sense while the second strikes my "fun" side. I may just have to try my hand at both. Tell me though, which one do you like the best? I know, a shameful ploy to get comments. But hey, I'd still like to know what you think.

Ahh...

Ahh, I had an appointment with my new best friend today, my chiropractor! I went in with a pretty heavy headache and it was gone when I walked out the door. Dr. Rocque did some physical therapy on my neck and shoulders and then worked on the same muscles afterwards for a good thirty minutes. I was loose as a goose, so to speak, when he finished the little massage. Afterwards, I had a session of stretches and then an adjustment. I felt a couple inches taller when I walked out the door.

Oi' My Back!

[photo courtesy of Health Journal]

Oi' my back is really giving me fits! A few weeks ago I twisted my back while trying to wrangle my precious daughter. I was holding Violet when she nearly did a nose dive. I might as well have been holding a greased pig at that moment. I over compensated, in my attempts to prevent her from falling, and really did a number on my lower back. Not to worry though, I managed to keep Violet safe despite her best efforts to do a flip in the air.

Ever since that fateful day my back has been in knots. I tempt muscle spasms any time I turn at the waist. That doesn't seem like it would be difficult to avoid but it really is. Think of how often you turn in the car to check your blind spots while driving. Yes, that tiny movement has caused me pain. Then there are the times when you stretch to reach something, are loading clothes in the dryer, etc. etc. You'd be surprised at how often you turn at the waist.

I've been doing stretches lately in an attempt to work out the kinks and they seem to help some. Also, the ice pack has been getting used quite frequently. Last week I had an appointment with my doctor for a follow-up exam and mentioned my back issues. He immediately arranged physical therapy for me and, let me just say, it is marvelous. Although, as much as I love the p.t., it doesn't seem to be working all that well for me.

I finally broke down and went to see a chiropractor today. At this point I would stand on one foot and jump up and down while singing "Yankee Doodle Dandy" if I thought it would make the pain go away! My chiropractor did a p.t. treatment along with stretches and a type of massage and it was very relaxing. I go in for another set of treatments tomorrow and I'm hoping for the best. Before my appointment though I think Violet and I will go to the pool. I'll kill two birds with one stone, so-to-speak. The water will be good for my back and Violet will be entertained.

I would like to ask you kind people to say a prayer for me and my family. 2008 has been a particularly rough year for us. Our little family needs a break from health related issues. We're tired of living like this and just want some normalcy in our lives.

Thankful

Hallelujah, we are all feeling well! Seriously, I am not saying that in a sarcastic tone at all, I really mean it. It has been one battle after another in regards to our health and I will praise God for every single moment of healthiness (is that a word?) that we are fortunate enough to have.

We try to praise Him in every circumstance but fall short too often. It's easy to get caught up in your circumstances and only see what's going on at that moment. If you let it affect your outlook in life you're screwed. Needless to say, it's hard not letting our spirits get pulled down along with how we've been feeling physically. Thankfully, the rays of sunshine are finally breaking through the clouds of ill health and our spirits are getting the much needed vitamin D that we've been lacking. And soon our bodies will be getting the real vitamin D as we start to spend more time outside.

Violet still isn't eating as well as we would like but at least there is something going in. I think it'll take a while before her appetite is back to normal but as long as she eats something then I'm not going to worry. She's not losing weight and it doesn't seem to affect her level of energy so I think she's good to go. My tummy has finally settled down but, just like Violet, my appetite isn't all that great. Which that is a good thing if you ask me!

We're looking forward to our trip coming up in a few weeks to visit my parents, Violet's MiMi and Grandpa P. The anticipation here is building with each passing day. "Is this the day we go see MiMi and Grandpa?" Violet asks, "No sweetheart, not today." I answer. We go through this dialogue at least once a day. I foresee a paper-chain craft in our near future: one link for each day to count how many more days there are till we leave. We've also got a few Father's Day craft projects to work on before then. Shhh, don't tell Gregg!

I am excitedly hoping to go to an art glass show while we visit my parents. I love colored glass and am amazed by how art glass is created. It is truly incredible how talented glass blowers are able to turn something that is not that special into a thing of beauty. And, I am hoping to find a little treasure there, in the gift shop, to bring home with me that will add some beauty to our little humble abode, preferably something in red.