End of Summer, Reunions and Rehab

It has been a busy, busy week for me! I have had to family reunions in the last week, started outpatient physical therapy, had a Scentsy party and attended a 31 party. Oh... and school starts back in session tomorrow for me. I need a vacation!


Last weekend was our Lyons Family Reunion. It was a great turnout and a huge auction success! Here are a couple of photos of our "clan". 

A collection of my Granny Lyons (pictured here) children and their spouses.

I think a few got away from us but this was the most of the crowd at the reunion . It was great to see some faces that I hadn't got to see there for a few years!

I had another reunion yesterday in Chillicothe, Ohio. This was the Bell Family (my mother's side). I was running late and forgot my camera when I left the house but there were several people taking pictures and I'm waiting to get some of those in my inbox to share with you.

I started outpatient physical therapy last week for my back. I have issues just gradually getting worse over time and I need to try to improve things and avoid surgery later down the road. I had a fall on icy steps in 2003 that left some parting gifts of damage for me. Combine that with Degenerative Disc Disease and a little bit of arthritis setting in and I have some rough days sometimes. So 3 visits a week for 6 weeks and they say they can have me moving and bending in ways I can't now. Can't wait to see the pull that off. I have a great friend who is a wonderful physical therapist but I can't work it out to see him. :( John is the best! His office is about a 30 minute drive away but since I have to leave from work and get straight to therapy, I can't get to John's that many days a week with at least a 45 minute drive from my office. :( Stinks having to "settle" for second best (but still good therapy though).

I can tell it's the end of summer. My college classes resume tomorrow. This semester is Business Math and Psychology. I'm excited to get started again but I'm sure in a few short weeks I'll be counting the days for my short fall break again, as usual. :)

A Little of This - A Little of That and TOO Much of Another!

Just a little randomness today of the last couple of days around here...

Remember the great veggies I came home from my parents' house with on Saturday? I cut up and cooked some of the summer squash. It turned out great, as always. Yes, I know that isn't the healthiest of choices, batter-fried squash - don't judge me... this only happens 2 or 3 times a year. =)

Yummy looking huh? Know what's funny? Hubby is picking up on my blogging thing (though he never reads it) and asked before he touched these, "Did you get your pictures?" HaHa!

I also made some great  homemade blueberry muffins with those yummy blueberries too. I wasn't able to get a photo to show you. They dove in too quick and they were gone in no time! A good sign huh?

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So today I went to the hospital early with my parents. Mom had to have another procedure for a stent. They were scheduled to do but ended up doing just one. She is staying overnight but is doing great and will be coming home tomorrow.

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The very pregnant, stray cat from last week's Post-It-Note Tuesday (pink notes) is no longer pregnant. Good news and sad. She hasn't blessed us with new babies to care for (good news) but we're pretty sure it was her first litter because she's so young and maybe premature, we woke up a few days ago to 2 not-completely formed, stillborn kittens... right on the front porch (sad news). I felt so sorry for her, she seemed lost? confused? But still very protective of what she had and was NOT happy when Abby darted out the door between our legs to check out things with us. I got some bloody & bruised knees protecting MY baby from the cat who was going after Abby while trying to protect her babies. It was quite a site. And you know... you really DO fall in slow motion, just like on the cartoons! LOL

We do have a BIGGER problem now though. We are now the neighborhood "Cat House"... Literally! I don't know what to do! But now every cat (males no doubt, typical!) are hanging around my house now and I'm so afraid that we'll be expecting babies again someday (way too soon) from this cute little mama. 

I have started calling her "little girl". I have to refer to her as something. She (and she alone!) has started to grow on me. She's so loving and adorable. But I still want to find her a home... any (good) home but mine! Because here are the new "friends" that have started hanging around... at least 2 at all times plus her... (names below made up by me as references only to my hubby when we look out the living room window)

1. "Fat Head" - the big, very well fed calico cat that looks like he's mixed with something wild, and has so many scars on his face and around his ears, he's obviously fought many times for his meal.

2. "Smokey" - the dark grey smooth, shiny coat cat who is obviously someones pet that sneaked out or maybe was let out for a little fresh sunshine... and smelled his way to the cute little thing above on our porch.

3. "Jersey" - the white-as-snow. with big black spots all over, who obviously enjoys Little Girl's company but is still skittish of us & runs with a step or two in his/her direction.

And tonight when I pulled in the driveway, coming home from the hospital & spending time with mom I began laughing from sheer madness at the sight of a NEW CAT!!...

4. "Yellow" - another sleek, shiny coat, not a speck of dirt on him cat that followed his nose from his clean indoor home somewhere in the neighborhood to Little Girl on my porch.

I don't have it in me to be mean, and can't stand the thought of Little Girl being hungry if we just cut off the food from our house completely. But I have to get them to stop hanging around here somehow. I called the local Animal Shelter and they wouldn't take her, saying they were "over capacity" now and were sorry.  The local pound would be a death sentence for her and that breaks my heart. I'm at the  point now of PAYING someone to take her in. Then I could bring myself to just "Shoo" off the boys hanging around. 

So tomorrow, after I get mom home from the hospital, I get to shoo them all off the front porch, hose it down and clean off any cat scents that are on it and try to think of a game plan. Any ideas?

Family Update - The Fat Lady is humming!

It's been a whirlwind of emotions in our family. My last post on Thursday last week was about my mother and brother both being hospitalized... same time/days but at different hospitals... 30 minutes apart. Talk about revolving doors. I thought for a few days there I had taken a new job at a hospital.

Thankfully they have both been discharged home! They were both supposed to be hospitalized until Sunday.

But to my surprise, when I showed up Saturday morning around 10am to check on mom, she was sitting up in the chair in her room (and wasn't even allowed to sit up in bed the day before) said they were talking about letting her go if she could get up and walk around okay. I had my doubts but watched her get up and take a short walk down the hallway with her nurse. Thank God for answered prayers! And this is even more miraculous to us because we got a little worse news after her heart cath than what I knew and had posted last week. Instead of the 'light heart attack' the nurse told me about upon arrival to the hospital, her cardiologist talked us immediately after the heart cath and said it was actually a 'pretty big one'. My heart sank at those words, not knowing what he would say next.

Dr Gill told us that she had 3 blockages. The worst was 90% blocked and he'd inserted a stent during the heart cath. He told us the other two were a little less and since her heart muscle was weak at that time (operating at 40%) he was going to have her come back in a couple of weeks to have the other two stents put in. Here is a visual if you haven't experienced anything like this in your family... we certainly hadn't.

So I got to surprise the whole family and bring her home on Saturday afternoon!.

Meanwhile, my brother was still receiving his steroid treatments via IV for 3 days (along with fluids and pain medication) in order to reduce swelling inside and keep down liquids and soft foods. He was able to do this for the first time (since he procedure last Tuesday) on Saturday, mid-morning. He texted me that he was going to be released to go home, just as I was going over mom's discharge instructions/meds at her hospital.

Through many prayers (thank you!) our family can rest a little easier.

"Cast all your cares upon Him, for he cares for you." ~ I Peter 5:7... we certainly had to do that and trust everything would be fine. And my favorite verse!...


For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11


Thank you all for your thoughts, well wishes, and prayers for them both! My mother will return to the hospital on July 12th for two more stents in the lower risk blockages. I would appreciate your prayers for strength regain and successful recovery from the next procedure and beyond. =)

Waiting for the Fat Lady to start singing

Sorry I've been away. It's been a crazy busy week for me so far, and it ain't over yet. That fat lady can start singing anytime now! Just a recap...


My brother, Dan had Lap Band surgery on Tuesday. I didn't know it in advance, but they also decided to do a hiatal hernia repair at the same time. He came home Tuesday night and all day Wednesday he was unable to keep down anything, including water. Therefore, no pain meds were staying down. You see where this is going, right? His wife had to drive herself 2 hours east for a follow-up with her surgeon from a procedure she had done a week or so ago. So my brother text be about an hour before I was off work yesterday, seeking a ride back to the hospital fore re-admittance last night. His doctor prescribed a series of steroid injections to reduce the swelling blocking anything from getting down where it needs to go. They were also hydrating him with IV fluids since nothing was staying down. Oh! And they got his pain under control with morphine via IV too. So he was feeling much better by the time I left him around 10pm last night (stayed until his wife got back into town and at hospital with him) and headed home to my WONDERFUL bed!


Today's update: tests show he is getting a little liquid through but still requiring steroids and pain meds and staying until he can keep something down. So more room service for him there tonight.

My sweet (though starving lol) brother and his wife, Amber.

My dad called me today at work to tell me my mother was admitted to the hospital today (different hospital than where my brother is). She was feeling "bad" last night and still this morning with chest pain and heaviness, and  in her arm too. NOT GOOD! He took her to the emergency room and they admitted her. Tests showed she had a light heart attack. :(


In addition they are treating high blood sugar (324 and she'd not eaten all day) and a UTI. They are rechecking her enzymes to see the level of damage. She has a heart cath scheduled for tomorrow morning so I'm taking the morning off of work to be there for that. She has a round of new meds (Plavix, Lipitor and can't remember the BP med). Of course she's concerned about being able to pay for all those new meds. If anyone has info on any medication assistance programs, please let me know. 

My beautiful mother, Barbara

My week isn't over. Today and tomorrow are payroll days at work. Needless to day I left work early after my dad's phone call about my mom and didn't get anything done today. I'm not planning on more than half day tomorrow (not that if anything comes up after the Heart Cath tomorrow morning). So looks like I'll be working this weekend doing payroll. 

If you pray, please say one for my brother and mother please. Thank you!

Excuse me now while I go in search of the Fat Lady and hold her at gun point until she starts singing, we've had enough here this week. =)

Losing it... 1 at a time

It's going to be all about me now...

Well, maybe not just about me. But I need to focus on something besides school for the long anticipated SUMMER BREAK! I have submitted my last assignment, taken my last quiz. I have 2 Finals to take by Tuesday then I'm putting the books away! ... until Fall Semester of course. :o)


But in the meantime, I'm ready to focus on getting up of the couch and moving, instead of coming home from work... where I have a desk job at a Home Health Care agency.... and sitting again a good part of the evening either reading a new chapter, working on a new assignment, or taking the weekly quiz. And all this for TWO classes! That equals a LOT of immobility, let me tell ya!


I have lost a lot over the last few years and still have some more I want to lose. I didn't put it on overnight and it's not coming off that quickly either. My weight does not depress me. I've NEVER been happier than I am right now in my life. I have a wonderful, supportive family. We're close and I love them all dearly. I have the most loving husband in the world and he's quick to compliment me often. He makes me feel good about myself. But...

He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.  ~Arabic Proverb

I want to be around a LONG time to enjoy life. I already have a diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease (thank you extra pounds and genes from my father). I wake up every morning with back pain. And all the sitting I do throughout the day at work, then more of it each evening (thank you need-to-work-for-insurance and school) cause me pain off and on throughout the day and evening. Too long in one position makes me stiff and immobile almost. I'm in constant need of a back-popping (or a "snap job" as my hubby likes to call it) to loosen me up. I also have a VERY high percentage of diabetes in my mother's family. It hasn't hit me yet and I hope to prevent it from ever finding a home in my body.

Just because you're not sick doesn't mean you're healthy.  ~Author Unknown

So May 1st... beginning of a new month... is the perfect time for me to focus on the positive. To take it 1 step... and 1 lb at a time... to a healthier me!

Everything's normal & a little unbalanced

Confuse you yet? Well the "normal" part is the results of all the tests that were done in the last week. We'll get to the 'unbalanced' part in a few minutes. My yearly labs were all normal. - Thanks hubby for all the B12 injections you give me to keep that level normal. I know you secretly enjoy sticking me with that needle. I think you feel some kind of power from being on that side of the syringe.

The mammogram went well. I insisted hubby wait in the lobby with the other hubby's and patients while I got whisked away to change to a nice fluffy white robe and had a hot cappuccino and thumbed through a woman's magazine in a private sitting area. The luxury doesn't last long though before they come and get me. It's not bad though. Unlike most of the females I've compared notes with, it really doesn't hurt. I've heard it's your size that makes the difference. I wonder if that's true. I hear the smaller you are the more it hurts because they have to pull and squeeze harder to get your breast tissue flattened. I have plenty to smash so maybe I am lucky?? Oh yeah! The results this time around were normal! I went through a couple of 6-month re-checks in the last year because of a little 'spot' uncertainty. But we got an all-clear-come-back-in-a-year.

Dr John also ordered an MRI on my lower back. I have had a lot of low back pain for a few years. I don't recall any injury to my back. Well... except that clumsy moment when I slipped on my steps, and bounced down a couple on my butt. I was sore for a few days over that. I thought for sure I broke my tailbone but I never went to the doctor. Anyway, with no known injury Dr John just wanted to make sure all was well. The only thing that showed was Degenerative Disc Disease. Which is still a blessing to be only that. However at only 42 years of age, I need to figure out if you can stop this, reverse it, or at worst at least slow down the degeneration process. I don't have a followup appointment scheduled with Dr John yet but I'll talk with him about it when I go back. He did tell me though after a few mini tests in the exam room that I had a weakness on my right side. I'm not sure why I'd favor just one side but all the little things he did seemed to indicate the same thing. Maybe I need some Physical Therapy. I'd prefer a script for massage therapy though. :)

As far as the "unbalanced" part. My Wii FitPlus goes through a Body Test. A variety of checks, activities and such before the workout and FUN begins to see what your overall status is. And sure enough, my Center of Balance (COB) is a little to the left. Wii says I need to work on my strength training for my right side to improve my COB. I appear to lean a little to the left.

So my goals are to become more balanced and of course continue burning the calories on the Wii as I have for the last week. I'm loving my Wii! I don't watch the clock to see how soon I'll be done. It's definitely some fun working out and I have looked forward to my Wii time every day. And it's not just some little games. I DO break a sweat each time. The more you do the more new levels variations on activities you unlock.

This isn't my video but here is one I found on YouTube of one of the fun calories burning games. The Obstacle Course has me jogging in place and jumping over things. It's just one of several fun activities I have started working out to. 

Valentines Day Memory

I have to ad this disclaimer in advance. I love my husband and remember, I DID brag on him in posting about our 7th Anniversary last monty. It's the little things that matter and mean the most in the long run. That being said...

He is just NOT the mushy, gushy guy. He isn't quite sure what to buy on they popular gifting occasions... Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary, and of course Valentines Day. I have learned in 7 years if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. So aside from a hit and miss card someone reminds him to get card here and there, I take care of myself for those occasions. He leaves the decision to me and honestly, I get the best gifts this way. Over the years I've picked out for myself a new digital camera, a treadmill (something he would have known better than to pick out anyway lol), scrapbook organizing cubes system, jewelry, laptop, and a Wii... just to name a few things.

I have to thank our family Doctor for last year's Valentines card. Hubby had an appointment the day before Valentines Day last year. I go with him to these because A.) he won't tell him something he should, that's where I come in. B.) he can't remember all the things he WANTED to tell the doctor, and C.) he can't remember everything the doctor told HIM to share with me. Hubby is okay with my attendance. I think I only left the room one time on a Dr appointment. I mean, he didn't need ME making sure the urologist performed the prostate exam right, although I was invited by the Dr to stay if I wanted. Nah, there was a great "How to prevent recurring UTI's" article I didn't quite finish in the waiting area, thanks anyway.

I'm rambling aren't I?

So our family doctor (Dr John) is awesome, not only does he feed ME with compliments on all my visits and hubby's (like telling hubby it's good to see his daughter with him today lol), he REALLY listens. You never feel rushed or could even tell he has every exam room and a waiting room full of people to see him. Last year as Dr John finished up, and was shaking hubby's hand before headed out the exam room door, he looked him square in the eye and told him sternly, "Don't forget her tomorrow, you hear?" I had to stop at the super Kroger to get the new scripts filled and hubby said he needed to pick up a couple things while I waited in line at the pharmacy. I finished up and went in search of hubby. I looked in all the aisles I thought he might be in picking up some of his favs... steak at the meat counter, shrimp in the seafood section... no hubby. I walked by the card/gift section on my way to another place he could be and out of the corner of my eye, I saw him squatted down, pulling out cards, reading them and putting them back. He looked for just the right one. I walked on by quietly, not wanting to make a point of him doing what the doctor ordered.

The card was the most perfect one ever. The words were perfect and while there was no chocolates, jewelery or roses attached he expressed things that aren't said in quite that way, nearly enough for most of us. Things that I do for him, that seem taken for granted are pointed out in a wonderful way! And are reminders to me of the many things he does for me that most of my friends cannot say about the men in their lives. I've had the boyfriend who showered me with gifts, had roses delivered to me on a regular basis at my office and seemed like the perfect loving guy to everyone... but me. He never really gave me himself. Although I did find out he gave other women himself. So I remind myself of the material things I had and the things I didn't have and I wouldn't trade them off for nothing. So I'll tell Dr John on Tuesday when I go for my appointment (alone, hubby stays home) that I had the best Valentines Day ever!

 Here are a few hearts I made for some of the special people in my life. Make your own here.

 

  

  

 

Okay, so yesterday afternoon was "Mammo: Take 2". Once again I arranged for an early leave from work to get the 6-month followup. I've decided that I'm putting this on hold. Not because I take this issue lightly. The fear I experienced... and he prayers I prayed... in March this year were and still are real. Not a fear that has any power over me, but a healthy fear... one of caution. I arrived this time with the order in hand to give them. Things were looking up this time. At least I got further into the process before I was sent home, without the mammogram, once again. Yep, you read that right. I was checked in, wristband in place and waiting for my name to be called. The wait was a short, but interesting one. The lady at the registration desk had stepped away to take my paperwork to the technicians in the back, when in walked this smiley, friendly lady. She looked like she was about my age or older but had these little girl blonde braids hanging over each shoulder. I thought to myself now there is a woman who is comfortable with herself. She and I were the only two in the waiting room. She promptly removed her jacket, laid her insurance card on the registration desk and chose a seat just feet from me where she laid her things. Without a second thought she said (and almost without taking a breath before she was done)...

"When she (pointing toward the registration desk) returns, tell her I just left my insurance card for her - I'm leaving my phone and purse here (pointing to her seat) - and it's your job to watch them - I gotta pee." As she walked away toward the door she'd just entered, she looked back over her shoulder at me, feeling the need to explain her quick getaway and said, "I drank coffee." Then she was gone. I sit there wondering if I'd just imagined that whole scene. Who leaves their things with a complete stranger to watch? And then I was wondering... what do I do if they call my name before she returns and I have to decide, wait and watch her things? or leave them in the waiting room alone? I marveled at her comfort level. I remember days of trusting your neighbors and the community you lived in. Leaving your doors unlocked at night because you didn't have to be afraid. And I missed them.

I love the whole idea of the Primitive/Country theme I love decorating in. The theme I see around me makes me think of the country, where I was raised and the values and morals people used to live by. Slowly but surely I want to transform my surroundings with things that remind me of simpler life. I stumbled upon a great site today that I've enjoyed going through. She may seem over the top to some but Aunt Ruthie shares in some things I enjoy and believe in as well.

Sugar Pie Farmhouse

I can't wait to try her Hillbilly Spaghetti Pie!

Welcome To Your Mammogram!

Well, today was supposed to be 'the day'. The six-month recheck for an abnormal mammogram done in March this year. I wait and watch the clock all day to leave work early and get this done. The drive alone was dreadful. No one drives like you think they should when you are in a hurry. So I spend nearly an hour weaving in and out of traffic, trying to get ahead of the pack. I finally arrive at 5:04pm to my 5pm appointment. Let me add here I HATE to be late for anything. I'd rather be an hour early and sit and wait than be a minute late. So I walk at a brisk pace to the front door of the Advanced Imaging Center.

Just inside the door to the right is the elevator to take me to the 2nd floor. As soon as the elevator door opens and I step inside I hear a PA system announcement... that must have been heard by some of the people waiting in the downstairs lobby... "Welcome to the Advanced Imaging Center. The Breast Center is on the 2nd floor." Of course that is the ONLY thing on the second floor so no secrets to the onlookers as to why I am there. The door closes and I go up. As the elevator stops and the door opens, once again the PA system announces "WELCOME TO THE BREAST CENTER!". So now anyone in ear shot on the 2nd floor is alerted to my arrival for my mammogram. I almost felt like there should be a pink carpet runway with confetti and applause at the over-zealous welcome. Of course there was none, just little 'ole me waltzing out of the elevator, alone, shyly looking around to see how many people heard the announcement of my arrival.



Immediately upon checking in at the window I am asked, "Do you have an order?" This is where it all goes downhill from the grand welcome that made you feel it was 'all about you' today. I had no order. When this thing was pre-scheduled some time ago, and the doctor's office was supposed to fax the order to the imaging center. They had not. A call to the doctor's office proved fruitless. They'd closed at 4:30pm. I stood at the window while the nervous young girl clicked away on her computer mouse, trying desperately to find some hidden instructions in the computer to appease and hopefully lower the emotional temperature of the new arrival. My reply prompted her call to another department or two.


"Are you telling me that you are NOT going to do this mammogram today? After I took off work early and drove nearly an hour to get here?" 

At this point I was no longer feeling bad about being a tad late. Her calls confirmed there was nothing that we could do... except reschedule. It didn't help to question their protocol in whether to be sure each morning that THEY had received orders for all appointments schedule for the day. She didn't seem to care for the suggestion but she got it anyway. So now I have to go back to work tomorrow, explain to my supervisor that someone screwed up and we had to do it all over again on Friday. I left only after requesting an 'excuse' confirming my arrival for a scheduled appointment and explanation of the error and necessity to reschedule. The poor girl not only heard but felt my frustration as she nervously wrote out the paper and asked for my approval of what she'd written. Once again I hear the friendly voice in the elevator "Welcome To The Breast Center!"... thank you, come again. Never fear, I'll be back before you know it!


So now it's up to me to make sure that the order is sent. Before relying on the system again, I will stop in the doctor's office myself tomorrow for the order and hand deliver myself on Friday. Maybe I'll even add a big pink ribbon. :)

How "fit" can you get in 2 weeks... REALLY?

I have a routine appointment with my Family Doctor two weeks from tomorrow on the 20th. I hate the scales more than anything else. I wonder just how much difference I can make in 2 weeks? I'm thinking maybe I can distract him with reports of the 2 6-month repeat test appts I've had. He's great and covers his bases to be sure we don't overlook something. So many doctor appointments these days are rushed. They barely have time to shake your hand and write a short note in your chart before they are out the door and headed down the hall. Dr Gilbert gets comfortable and listens til you are done talking. I'm sure his time is still limited but he doesn't let it show. 

I just don't see me forming the necessary relationship with my treadmill in a two span that I should. When I get up between 6:30am & 7:00am work til 5:00pm (and most of the time straight through breaks and lunch to keep up), head home at 5pm and a few nights a week stopping at the store for something one of us thinks we need. Then the domestic responsibilities and schoolwork are waiting. By 10pm or 11pm I'm so tired I welcome the cold sheets I crawl into. I'm not sure where I fit the "Fit" part into. I know I procrastinate and the whole "if you really wanted to, you'd find/make the time" but I just plain feel TOO TIRED to think about it, let alone follow through. And waiting until two weeks before an appointment. When I do get a few meager minutes free I'd much rather spend it doing something enjoyable, not sweating on a treadmill. 

On the upside, my trips to the doctor are a self esteem booster. Because of the difference in my health in the last few years I am still way ahead of where I would have been. I look and feel younger and I particularly enjoy the doctor's comments when I go to Tommy's appointments with him and Doc says he's glad Tommy's daughter (or granddaughter) could come with him. :) 

Tests and more tests

My first year in my 40's wasn't so bad. It wasn't nearly the tragedy I'd played over in my head the morning I woke up to "40!" After thinking about it I was healthier than I was at 30 (thanks to surgery and a 100+ lbs weight loss), I look MUCH better than I did at 30 (see previous reason), I wasn't a struggling single parent as I had been at 30. This 40-thing wasn't so bad after all. What a tease year # 40 was. Shortly after turning 41 (in January this year) I started falling apart... physically, not emotionally as you might think (I'd beat that part). My very first abnormal PAP was at 41, in March. So I was scheduled for a 6 month repeat. That appointment was last wee and I received the "all clear" postcard in the mail yesterday... false alarm. My very first abnormal Mammogram was at 41, also around March. I have the 6 month repeat for that scheduled for Oct 6th (2 days from now). I'll let you know how that goes. I find my faith and prayer life get stronger in times like these.

Speaking of Mammograms. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I found some great buys at the grocery store that not only helped my budget, those purchases were in support of breast cancer awareness. I got 2 really cute pink butterfly/ribbon reusable grocery "bags" that I couldn't resist... helping the environment and breast cancer research all for only $1.99! I didn't actually have M&M's on my grocery list and certainly didn't need them but with the purchase of two bags of peanut M&M's I got a beautiful Pink Promise Bouquet free. Another thing I couldn't pass up.

Aren't they lovely? I remember now though why I rarely have fresh flowers in a vase in my house. The cat likes to eat them... not a healthy supplement for him either. And now with Abby in our home, we've found that he assists her in struggles for "no-no's" that are out of her reach. I'm thinking after admiring the flowers for a couple of days on the buffet, I need to take them to the office, or give to my mother before I wake some morning (or the middle of the night) and find a puddle of water on the floor, overturned vase and 2 happy little babies sniffing and nibbling away.

I guess I don't know my own strength

Yesterday evening Tommy asked me to 'pop' his back. I do it frequently as he does mine. He laid on the living room floor and I positioned myself above him. I always do it the same way but I never get the results I did last night. As I pushed on the middle of his back we head the LOUD pop! All in the same second, I pulled my hands back and froze, as Tommy screamed out and slowly sank the rest of the way to the floor, moaning. It was definitely a different sound than the usual popping vertebrae we hear. Adam was sitting in the floor close by, and was as shocked as we were and the look on his face said he had the same question I had. I looked at Adam and asked, "What was THAT?!" I was afraid to move. I asked Tommy if he needed to go to the hospital, his only reply was a deep, low moan. I had to help him to bed and checked on him a few times. I heard him all evening from the other room (til I knocked myself out with Ambien at bedtime) moaning and groaning... one of us needed to sleep right? :)

Today wasn't any better after what I thought would be a night's rest. He hurt just as bad when I left for work, grimacing and wincing from the pain each time he tried to cough, turn or walk across the floor. I finally convinced him he needed to see a Doctor, just to get it checked out and get something for the pain he was in. An X-ray confirmed that nothing was broken but just dislocated. Still haven't figured out how you dislocate a rib but I'll be checking into that.

I got him back into the car and home with a couple of prescriptions to get him through the next few days. He'd asked the nurse at the Urgent Care if he should call the police and file a domestic abuse report. I told him on the way home, be careful or I'd break the other side. We all know what I'm capable of now. :)

Not sure how I feel about letting him popping my back now either. That'll take a lot of thought.