This evening Calyn and I walked to a different section of the apartments where there is a little lake with a path around it.  We took the walk and saw 4 turtles and a lot of ducks.  At one point there is a bridge to a little island.  She loved it.  Then we walked around the back of our section and up to the pool area where we stopped and put our feet in to cool them off.  The water is cold still.

Then we walked back and she had cereal and I had a sandwich.  Nothing much else going on right now.

This morning I had my first physical therapy for my back.  I have bulging disc and the L5 spine disc.  It's touching a nerve in my spine and causing pain down my right leg and some numbness in my right leg & foot.  They want me to have the physical therapy and want to give me a shot which will require me to be in out patient surgery and they are guided by xray.  I would have to be sedated. 

I have to check but I think my insurance won't cover it because I haven't met my deductible for this year so, unless they would let me pay it out I don't think I could have it done.  We'll see.

All this started around February 23rd.  At first it was so painful I missed a week of work and was on Vicodin.  It still hurts some but is much more manageable.  I take my heating pad with me to work so if the pain increases I can put the heating pad on my lower back.  That helps to relieve most of the pain.

I'm having to pay for the physical therapy also.  Today's session alone was over $100.  And they would like me to have sessions 2 or 3 times a week for 4 to 6 weeks?  Ha.  I told the guy we'd do one a week and see how it goes.

Ah, well, just another day in the life.  It could be worse.  God has been faithful to help this far, I'm sure He will see me the rest of the way.

As I sit here my granddaughter, Calyn is cutting out oval shapes and coloring them as Easter eggs.  She's telling me it's for decorating around my house.  She's 4.  Won't be 5 until August.  And she has something to say about everything, all the time.

I haven't been on here to post in a while.  First I had computer problems, and for the last month and more I have had a pinched nerve in my back that shoots pain down my right leg.  I've had an MRI (boy that's a story!), and seen an orthopaedic doctor.  On Monday, March 31 I go to a pain management doctor for a shot.  Now I have time without pain but there for a while I couldn't stand, sit, or lay down without pain.  My heating pad is my best friend.  It's gradually getting better.  I was on a dose of steroids for 6 days.

Let me tell you my MRI story!  Get ready to laugh!  Several years ago I discovered at my last MRI that I am claustrophobic.  I scheduled this MRI in an "open" MRI machine.  Well, as soon as they moved me into the machine I started to stress out, I told them I couldn't do it.  The machine was open on the sides but it still went over my head.  Well, I called my best friend, Janice, crying (she thought something tragic had happened) and asked her if she could bring me back when I could be on some anti-anxiety medicine.  SO... I called my doctor and he prescribed some medicine for me.  I was to take it one hour before hand and then I could take another pill just before the MRI.  And I did.  Let's just say, I was staggering around.  The technician said she thought I was asleep.  When I was done I staggered back to the dressing room and needless to say I had no modesty, I just proceeded to get redressed.  We then had to go pick up my granddaughter from daycare.  Janice says I was staggering around, not really talking very sensibly.  I don't even remember getting home or when Calyn was picked up.  I do remember Janice telling me the song that was playing when the MRI was being done was "Yesterday" by the Beatles.  "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now it looks as though they're here to stay, oh I believe in yesterday"  Janice was laughing, like 'what a song to play'!

Anyway, we just got back from a gourmet meal at McDonald's.  This makes two days in a row.  I tolerate McDonald's for the sake of the playground Calyn likes to play on.  My favorite burger would be Burger King.

I hope you all had a great Easter.  I enjoyed having the extra day off.  Yesterday I had to hide the plastic eggs about 5 times for Calyn, then she hid them about 3 times for me.  This is our normal Easter routine - she loves the hunt!

Ok, it's now time for me to go visit some other blogs.... leave me notes!  I'll review them and if your not spamming me, I'll actually post them.

Well, I've been off work since Monday mid day.  I have a pinched nerve or something that makes my right leg hurt from the groin to my ankle and also my buttock.  All only on the right side.  It hurst to sit here and type so this will be short.  I covet your prayers for this.  I had xrays today and Saturday morning I will have an MRI.  The doc said he needs to see the MRI before he knows what we are dealing with.  I'm sure my boss is thrilled that I've missed this week (NOT).  But it hurts to sit in the car much less drive and sit at work.  I have slept a lot - thanks in part to the Vicodin.

I notice the "spammers" have tried to comment on my blog but since I require approval of comments they don't have a chance.    

I'll be back around as I can stand to sit at the computer.

Ah, the day for lovers.  Now it's just the day to remind my family & friends that I love them.  The lover stuff - is over.  I have to say, it does feel weird not having a husband to share Valentine's with.  But then we separated in 2004 so actually this is the 4th Valentine's to "not share".

   So, I share this with all of you.  Happy Valentine's Day.  Hope you had a lovely day.  My morning started with one of the guys at work bringing a little miniature rose bush in a Valentine vase.  One for me & the receptionist & our "boss lady".  The our boss (president of company) brought a box of chocolates, then the VP brought a little basket with truffles for each of us.

I picked up Calyn from daycare and poor thing said she had a really bad headache.  She was not feeling well at all.  When I got her to her house Karen took her temperature and Calyn has fever.  She's been like that all evening.  Poor baby.  Karen & Calyn gave me a vase of yellow roses with red tips and a little windchime, then they went ahead and gave me my birthday present early because Karen will be working a 24 hour shift on Saturday.  I got two movies, Electra (Jennifer Garner) and The Devil Wears Prada.  I've seen them but I love them both.

I came home, ate & watched tv.  Whoopee!  After I finish here I'll go lay in bed and read some of my book.  Tomorrow I will probably be the only one at the office for most of the day.  I'm not really in the mood for that but oh well.

I've noticed lately that I've been feeling down.  Kinda fighting depression.  I guess that's normal this time of year when you live alone.  I sometimes think I only matter to people for how useful I am to them.               Stop and smell the flowers.  haha

My book is calling me so .....    

This has been a busy weekend.  Friday night Calyn spent the night since both parents had to work.  At noon I took her to her dad's work so she could go with him to her cousin's first birthday and spend the night with him.

After we dropped her off, Radonna & I went to Garden Ridge Pottery.  I haven't been there in a while.  We spent hours there.  I got a new picture for my wall & 2 sconces to go on either side of it.  It has an Italian flavor to it but isn't really too Italian.  The sconces are a claret colot which matches part of the picture.  It looks really good.  When I get a chance (maybe tomorrow), I'll take a picture and post it.  After we shopped until we were about to dropped we called Janice to meet us for a late lunch.  We went to Cafe Adobe (mexican food).  When our plates came out we all about dropped our teeth.  Way too much food, we could have just shared one plate.  I ate part of mine and was full for the rest of the evening.

This morning I went to Janice's church to see the baby dedication of her granddaughter who is one. (Madysen Lynae)  Then we went to Culver's and had hamburgers.  From there I went grocery shopping at Walmart.  I got home around 4:30, I left this morning around 10:20 a.m.  I was tired!

Then, Karen calls me crying because Calyn didn't want to go with her to the store, she wanted to come to my house.  Calyn told me she loves me more than her mom.  I told her, no you don't, you love mommy most and you love me too.  Karen was having a melt down.  Apparantly her marriage is a little rocky right now as well.  Karen came in and we talked for a while, then once everyone was calm they left for the store.

It's been a crazy weekend!  I need another day off to recuperate!

     And having said that, I think I will go lay and bed and read some of my book.

For those of you who haven't seen her.  This is my granddaughter.

She was fiddling with her mom's phone and took this self shot.  I thought it was just too cute.  Typical little curious girl!

After I picked her up today we went into this little store by her daycare which is a "39 cent store".  Not that everything is that cheap but they have some cool stuff and it's mostly reasonable.  We found a set which had Avatar Ang and his flying bison, Appa.  We watch the Avatar everyday on Nicktoons between 6 and 7 pm.  Calyn loves this show and we all really get into the story.  I couldn't believe we found this, it was the only one and was only $15.  Needless to say, now there are no more at that store.

Today I hung my wind chimes.  I heard them a little bit earlier but mostly there is no wind.  But now I'm ready for any breezy days.  I love the sound of wind chimes.  I had to bring home a ladder from work because the ceiling of my back porch couldn't be reached from a chair.

I've been having a lazy day.  I have done most of my laundry.  I took a nice hot bath, that felt great.  I did fill in my taxes online and discovered I will get a little bit of money back.

Yay!    

I've been watching some decorating shows on tv.  It's been nice to be home and not have anything I "have" to do.  It's even nice to be by myself... not that I don't enjoy my friends and family but it's been a while since I've had any time to myself.

Have a great weekend!

Today I met with my friend Radonna and we went to see Juno.  We got to the movie early and sat and waited... and waited...  and waited.  Finally the management came out and said they couldn't get the projector to work.  We arranged to come back after lunch and watch National Treasure - Book of Secrets.

We went to Casa Ole for Mexican food.  By the way, Calyn's ethnic food thing last week, the other kids loved the meatballs but Calyn didn't like them.  Everyone else brought Mexican food which is what I figured they would do.

After we ate we went by Barnes and Noble (we were at the mall and all of this was in the mall).  She bought 3 books and we looked around. 

We got to our movie, took our places and were raring to go.  They were playing the pre-movie stuff.  Then the screen went blank.  We heard some sound and thought oh how clever of them to lead into the movie this way.  But, wait, still no picture.  Then the sound stopped and the lights came up.  A manager came in and said they were trying to get the movie started and to bear with them.  At this point I'm beginning to think I should go back home and go back to bed!

Finally, the picture and sound come on and we see the whole movie.  It was good!  It kept me involved the entire time.

After I got home I was flipping channels and found that the first movie of National Treasure was on, so, since I had never seen it I watched it too.  I liked them both.

But it sure was weird that the same thing happened in two different movies to us!  At least it's a funny story to tell people.