Just Stuff

I think I'm coming to the end of my smoking phase. Granted it's a phase that's lasted 14 years. So, can it really be called a phase? It's getting to the point where it simple put, burns when I inhale. I don't enjoy it like I used to. I guess it's the Lord's way of showing me it's time to end this unhealthy life and move into a better way of life. I do know one thing, when my doc told me I had developed Reactive Lung Disease I felt like I had been slapped in the face. It was truly a wake up call. It was like seeing what smoking has done for my life and I wondered how long it would be before I was told I have emphysema? Just another reason to quit...
Steff and Sadie are at war. I got Steff some juice and a bowl of chips. Sadie is sneaky and will see the bowl and come a runnin' to get a piece of whatever the contents are. She'll steal a chip or popcorn or whatever it is and take off in another direction only to finish the goodie and come back for more. As for Steff's part in this whole facade, she'll just sit there crying and telling Sadie, "Nooooo, Sadie No." It's quite hilarious. They're sure at it this morning. I have to say the most annoying part is when Sadie gets a hold of Steff's juice...she'll attack it and take a swigg and then toss it aside and usually it will spill as she's tossing it and then it slowly leaks out all over the carpet. For Steff's part in this, she simply sits there and whines, "Juuuuice...." It gets old jumping up from what I'm doing and running to the rescue of the juice and my carpet. But the whole thing in it's own right is funny.
As my cute, little, rebel dog learns to pee with his leg lifted I have to laugh...He always, and I do mean always...pees on himself. Usually it's just the back of his front two legs or he'll hit his belly once in a while and one day he even peed on his own face. It was absolutely the funniest thing I've seen him do yet. It almost takes the cake for one of my top ten funniest moments. You see he didn't just pee on his face, he kept looking down to see if he could lower his head as he peed. So each time he did that, he'd bob his head back and then down into the pee and back up and back down all the while just nailing himself with his own urine...It was awesome.
I'm feeling pretty good. Now that my nose isn't so painful I'm remembering the pain in my back. I at least have a reason for being in pain. At my last doc appointment I learned I have Scoliosis. I have lived with back pain since my early twenties and never had x-rays to learn of my condition. Don't get me wrong it's not serious but it is serious enough that I have to wear a silly back brace all the time. I also have Lidocaine patches and I'm pushing for Neurontin therapy since the patches will cost us $180 a month. They work though and it's sad they're so expensive. I'm just honestly glad that I'm not just making this pain up in my head. I was seriously starting to wonder if maybe it was all in my head and that I just wanted the medication that goes along with being in pain but that's not the case at all. I'm so relieved even if it means I won't get any better. I think my sister Jessica might have it too, I know my brother Matt has it. Jess complains of the same pain I'm in and she visits her doctor on a regular basis looking for relief just like I do...I really hope she doesn't and that there is another answer to her problem cuz folks let's face the facts here, Scoliosis doesn't get better or go away...
I'm looking forward to the days when I can be back to full duty. Sounds weird I know...but, hey I've been told I can't bend, lift, strain, or blow my nose for two weeks. So I have to keep sniffing snot into the back of my throat and thus spit it out. I know that's sick but it's also reality and that's what blogs are-reality. I can't even pick up the toys that are always left all over the house because it requires bending. But, ya know what my darling and wonderful husband did? He wrote me a letter thanking me for doing all the things I can do. I've been keeping up with what I can, like the dishes and the laundry and in the meantime I have to ask Ryan for his help with the bending stuff.
I've also been journaling...Which brings up a story...You see, my brother in-law and sister in-law gave me a very beautiful journal as a baptismal gift and I was using it well. I had written a lot about the pain my nose was causing and what I was going through and how my life has been when I had a moment of peace. I don't know how that happened but at some point I was able to run a nice hot bath to soak in...I put some cornstarch and lavender in the water because they are both good for your skin and lavender has such relaxing properties. When it went all down hill...I had placed my journal on the side of the tub in preparation for my experience. As I stepped in I also forgot that cornstarch on the bottom of the tub is very slippery and thus my left foot slid causing my right knee to bend and bump the journal right into the water. At this point it's too late to save the water damage of the journal but I figured I could at least pull it out before it sunk to the bottom. I was so upset and in pain, so tears weren't far off but, I collected myself and placed my once lovely journal on a towel. I took a very short bath and it wasn't relaxing like it was intended to be. Isn't that the way life goes?
Well folks, it's time for me to do something and make something of my day. It's gonna be a busy one with two different doctor's appointments today but at least it will go by fast...Take care of yourselves and remember the Lord loves everything about you...
Tricia