You're Getting Very Very Sleepy

I'm pooped.  The week was a little stressful I guess and took a little toll on me I suppose.  I had a goal to finish some independent studying by the end of the week so I could test today.  That meant 4 nights this week of studying from supper to bed time.  I also had a class I took and a test I had to take for that.  A little stressful there.  Yesterday I had a dentist appointment and I'm feeling it a little today.  So, I think I am just worn out.  Seems to be go, go, go and do, do , do that I can't get caught up with the do, do, do here at home.  On that note, I'm gonna go be lazy because I can and I choose to!

*smile*

Yay for the weekend. We had the carpets cleaned Friday morning (just the living and hall) because someone had made it a pee pee room and Marley thought it was okay to continue that. Rusty rearranged the living room and it looks so much bigger. Plus we don't have the glare on the TV from the windows and we can also sit in our recliners and see out the front window. I had a wonderful day at work. It was quiet and I got lots done. Of course there is always more to do and I love that. It is a never-ending cycle and that means never sitting there twiddling my thumbs because you've already done everything possible without having to do it ALL. Anywho...... Friday evening I don't honestly remember what we did. Let me ask.........Oh, we went to Quizno's and ate then we played Scrabble on Facebook together. Simple lives.....I like it!

Saturday was a day full of geocaching! It was chilly to begin with but the sun came out and it was a gorgeous day for it. Except for ONE thing.............TICKS. Marley succumbed first. I hate to admit it because it changes my excitement about geocaching but I am now afraid of ticks. Never before in my life have I cared, even when I found then in certain unmentionable places. It took ONE tick on my neck last year (at almost this exact same time) to ruin it for me. It was while geocaching that the tick attached at my neckline and about two weeks later (while in Oklahoma for graduation) helped me to realize it had given me Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Dear readers, that is the first time I had puked in at least 12 years. I knew something was wrong. So, I was constantly on the lookout when I first noticed them crawling up my jeans yesterday. I am itching as we speak because I am writing about it. So, geocaching was awesome other than the fear of the ticks. Rain storms popped up everywhere but luckily we were at one of our last ones. We got out of that particular storm to catch a few more. There were cows out EVERYWHERE! A particular group thought we were going to feed them and I have a video of their parade to the gate. We also encountered an old farm home with vultures in the windows and on the roof but I couldn't get my camera fast enough. Either way, I have some pics. Marley was wore out towards the end! We went to Russell and ate at A&W which was awesome. We will be going there more often! They have the coney dogs that are like Sonic's used to be! The root beer is unbelievable too! Yumm-e!!! It rained off and on the whole way home which didn't bother me a bit. I was ready to head that way.

After a much needed trip to the grocery store we rented a movie and came home. We treated ourselves to DQ's BOGO going on right now and got a blizzard. We ended up not watching a movie because the Thunder game was on and it was amazing. Yay for OKC right now! That is awesome.

Today is laundry and some much needed studying. I also am going to work in the yard in a bit, if it warms up a little more for me. That wind is brutal too! Here is a picture of my FAVORITE flower, the Mona Lisa Lily.

Marley seems pissy. You would think after her long day out yesterday she would be satisfied. She's just like her momma. Always wanting more!  Enjoy the funny video!  I had fun with it.  Wish we could have gotten out and let the cows in but I am no cow wrangler!  <3

"There's a point in your life when you get tired of fixing everything & trying to make everyone happy. When you finally decide to quit, it's NOT giving up. it's realizing you dont need certain people and the bullshit they bring in to your life." ~Katherine Heigl as Dr. Izzie Stevens~

Catching Up

So it's been a little while since I blogged.  Mainly I was waiting for some more pictures to post!

My college advisor/professor/"dad" is retiring after he finishes the spring semester.  Dr. Mather was one of the best things to happen to me in college, along with Dr. Magrath.  Dr. Mather was there for my college graduation and he was also there for my wedding.  He is a permanent fixture in my life and USAO is losing a GREAT professor!  Here is a pic of all the students that attended the off campus retirement party.  Also one of the very happy Dr. Mather!

I have also included some pictures of our beautiful tree budding out front and Marley.

Here is a comparison picture of my back.  I have an MRI image from 2009 and one from 2010, almost exactly 1 year apart.  Mom, this will be easier.  It looks like I can see a little difference.  I wouldn't mind seeing more being that I am waiting on my vertebrae between L2 and L3 (marked with arrows) to fuse naturally.  I have been doing my stretching and it has helped along with the prescription anti-inflammatory.  I am actually going to stop taking it every day and try for every other day and then only when I feel a flare up.  I am coming to terms that it is all going to be a process. Closure will come.  I made the pic super big so my older readers could see it.  Love you mom!!! LOL

Work is moving right along.  Still busy, busy and always will be which I love.  Things are moving right along, smoothly and in the direction we were working for!

Tuesday Was Monumental

April 13, 2010 was a very big day for Rusty and I.

One thing was my visit with my neurosurgeon.  My recent MRI showed accelerated degeneration between my L2 and L3 lumbar vertebrae.  (You can see the location of them above.  I will try and post my actual MRI picture showing the degeneration.)   This is something we have known about and have contemplated doing fusion surgery for.  I also have a lot of trouble with my sacroiliac joint.  We discovered the trouble with the sacroiliac joint was because it was overcompensating for what my back could not do because of the injury/disc and I also have one leg longer than the other.  The degeneration has caused the muscles to become so constricted that they aren't functioning as they should be.   So, for other people who use their strong backs to put on shoes, pants, underwear, stand up, sit down, even hold themselves up to brush their teeth....I am having to use my sacroiliac joint and it is severely inflamed.  I will continue to take my anti-inflammatory more regularly.  It is a stronger medication mainly used for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.  Main thing, I am not relying on pain pills.  Stretching and anti-inflammatory medication only.  Now, for the fusion part.

It was originally suggested that I would in deed need back surgery.  That was the only way to get relief.  What we found out yesterday was awesome and such a relief to hear.  With the rate of degeneration, the disc will completely degenerate.  When this happens, or in the process of, new bone will grow and my two vertebrae will actually fuse themselves!!  This is where they came up with the surgery to begin with.  This is just natural and takes a little time to allow it to occur which could mean quite a bit of pain.  I am so used to pain anyway, I think I'll be okay.

As I explained to Rusty, it is very depressing to go to bed in pain, wake up in the middle of the night in pain, get up in the morning in pain and so on and so on.  What was even more awesome was how happy Rusty was to hear the news.  As he put it, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I can actually look forward to it getting better instead of wondering IF it will.

Progress

Well, I didn't get everything on my list done.  I didn't get my bulbs bought therefore not planted.  And, as expected, the hubby nixed my screen/doggy door idea.  I may just do some research and see what I come up with.  I really wanted to build something yesterday! LOL

Just because I didn't build doesn't mean I didn't accomplish.  We went out front to do some work.  In front by the mailbox we have a rock garden that was separated by landscaping edging.  I didn't like the separation so I pulled it up and filled it with rock.  It looks better but will look even BETTER when we get our different landscaping edging around it.  I also don't like the "hard" edges.  I'd prefer a curve.  A little at a time.

While out there I decided that if we were in fact going to get rid of the tree then I wanted it done yesterday too.  So, it came down.....mostly.  Our batteries died on our tools so we have two more branches to cut off.  The major mess is the rock bed below it.  We have been moving the nicer rock to the front of the house and also to the mailbox bed.  There are layers among layers.  Last night we stopped around 5:00 because we had worked through lunch and I was getting a headache.  We still have a little bit of a mess but we'll get it.  Bodies are sore but it feels good.  It's only 1:00 and I'm ready for a nap!  Looks like Ma is too....or it's just too sunny!

So, here are some Spring Pics to enjoy!  And, also, my baby girl and a few of the mess we have made.  These are "in progress" pics.  So much we would like to do around here.....just gotta be patient and do a little at a time!  There's also a video of Bubba.  I've been taking him out front on a leash when we are out there relaxing.  He wanted out today too.....

I See in My Future.........

Pulling weeds.
Pulling up edging stone.
Planting bulbs.
Moving rock.
Building a screen/doggy door (if I can get my hubby on board).
Enjoying nice weather!

Last night we watched "The Collector" and it was very, very freaky.  I kept my face covered quite a bit and looked over my blanket.  There was so much gruesome stuff.  Kind of like Saw, which I love, but this was NON-STOP gore!!!  Good movie though.  I suggest it!  Before the movie Rusty and I bowled on the Wii then we played some Tennis.  Need to do it more often, even if by myself.  I don't think Rusty enjoys it much but I do!  Plus, it does count as exercise!  If I could lose just a few inches I'd be happy!  A tan would be nice too...........

So I'm off to get some sunshine!

It's Only 3:20?

That was my thought today at work.  What followed though was the most awesome thing.  My next thought was "good, I have so much to do!"  I am super busy all day long.  My days FLY by!!  It's nice to be anxious to get in there and get busy so I can get as much done as possible.

Looking forward to a beautiful, relaxing weekend!

10:00 Again

As always, around 9:00, I think I should get to bed.  I always wait until late.  Well, here I am again at 10:00 blogging.  Oh well!

Here's a  thought...............

I always get a little peeved when I go into a restroom and the tp is under and not over.  A few weeks back I had the interesting realization that I really shouldn't care.  What matters most is that there is tp on the roll!

I really have made some changes and breakthroughs.  Life really is much better.

I miss someone, but it's in her best interest I suppose.

I really don't have much else!  Just riding the waves finally!  Let's hope it stays that way.

Nighty night!

Loser

I'm currently watching the Biggest Loser and I really enjoy it each week.  Apparently not enough to get off my chunky ass and exercise, but I enjoy it regardless.  Maybe I will get some motivation soon.  I'm on my surfboard finally and making my way back up the wave.  Slowly, but surely.  We'll see what the next week brings.  Hopefully it's not a huge wave that knocks me off!

Saw this quote on facebook and really enjoyed it so I'm sharing it with you.  Mom, you'll like this!

Love me or hate me, you're still thinking of me... and that's why I keep my page public, so you can keep checking.

3.7 CM

Did you know that 3.7 cm is roughly the size of a golf ball?  May sound small to you but it sounds pretty damn big to me.

Still In The Trough.....

Life is a roller coaster, at least for me. Thank you to those who choose to ride. I love you all.  If you don't understand the title, check out wavelengths.  I'm hopeful to crest soon.  Here are some pics from the last two weeks or so.  They contain a friends baby shower, diaper cakes I have started making in which my friend Renee now joins me doing so. The gender specific ones are way easier/prettier to do.  The first one was using non-gender shower colors and the colors were a little bright.  For my first one, not bad.  Hoping to get some business out of it.  I mostly just enjoy doing it.  Then some geocaching at Castle Rock here in Kansas.  Oh, and an Easter pic of Rusty and I.

P.S. My mom posted this on my facebook wall and it really was nice to read! Thanks mom. LOVE YOU!
Just remember, if you can bring joy to someones otherwise dull and boring life by giving them something to talk about, life is good !!