My Trip to the Emergency Room

I have had chronic lower back problems for years and having been seeing a chiropractor for treatment. Monday night I picked up a laundry basket and felt something pull in my lower back and immediately my back went into spasms. I put ice on it, took some Motrin, and tried to relax.

I stayed home on yesterday and went to my chiropractor. By this point it was all I could do to stand without dropping to my knees. I again spent the afternoon lying down or sitting on the dining room chair-the couches are too low and hard to get up from.

By 5:30, as I was making grilled cheese and soup, I honestly couldn't take the pain anymore. I could barely stand and my back was in constant spasm. I called my mom who came to watch Tucker (I didn't want to worry about keeping him entertained for however long we might be there or expose him to anything anyone there might have.)

We got to hospital around 7 and spent a good 45 minutes waiting to be seen. I ended up standing the whole time because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stand up and also the spasms are worse when I go from standing to sitting. when I was getting undressed, Michael noticed some bruising on my back, more mid-back, not really near the area that hurts. So after the PA examined me, I mentioned the bruises to her and she looked at them, then said she wanted to talk with the doctor. She came back in and immediately asked Michael"who did you say you were and what's your relationship" of course, he stuttered a little because of the way she asked. She then asked if I was sure I hadn't fallen. Which of course I knew I hadn't. then they wanted to take me to x-ray. well sitting up was not going to be easy not to mention walking and then getting on the table for the x-ray. so the lady came to bring me over to x-ray and I told I wasn't going to be able to walk so she suggested a wheelchair, "I can't push you on the stretcher because I have a bad back" so off she went. After she left I realized that would only be worse so Michael went out to find her and they came back with someone who was able to push me on the stretcher.

I will spare you the details of the x-ray other than it was extremely painful and then had to move me because I couldn't move at all by that point. I think the x-ray techs felt bad because they had to put me through so much pain and couldn't believe I hadn't been given anything prior to the x-rays. At one point, the PA came in to ask me if I felt "safe" at home, if I had fallen or had been hit. They thought Michael had hurt me! Of course I denied it and explained that I had had a chiropractic treatment that afternoon and he used a clicking tool that may have caused the bruising. (I bruise very easily)

They got the x-rays they needed and I was returned to my cubicle. They did give some percocet and a shot of something to ease the pain and spasms. Thankfully it is not a disc; it is a pulled muscle. I will be out of work for the next 2 days and follow-up with my MD on Friday. I sincerely doubt I will go back to work on Friday. And yes they did give me prescriptions for some meds which I filled this morning (and my chiropractor confirmed that the bruising was from his little contraption which he did not use on me today!)

So that was my little adventure, one I hope not to repeat anytime soon!

Happy Veteran's Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

source...history.com

My Daybook

For today, Tuesday, November 10, 2009 (Better late that never!)

On My Mind...my cousin's son, Nick, who is in Bridgeport Trauma Center. (I think he's 23). He was working on his girlfriend's car Saturday and the car fell on him and dragged him about 100 feet before they could stop it. He has lost one of his ears in addition to all the scrapes he endured...an update on our family friend who fell off the ladder : he's now at Gaylord, which is a sub acute, intensive rehab center in CT. He came out of the coma about 2 weeks ago but still has a lot of residual damage. The part of the brain affected controls memory and impulse control. Please keep both of them in your thoughts and prayers.

Outside My Window...it's a really nice day; this week is supposed to be in the 50s, 60s.

What We're Reading...Still working on An Old-Fashioned Girl. With Tucker, we're still reading The Magician's Elephant, in addition to his regular nightly reading. His favorites this week were: Lincoln's Two Boys and Creaky Old House. As part of a Reading Incentive at school, Tucker is reading books to be in the Reading Hall of Fame and has to read different types of books (Caldecott Medals, biography, poetry, non-fiction, and magazine articles). Toward this, he read a biography (Lincoln's Two Boys) and a Caldecot Medal book (Frog Went A Courtin')

What We're Listening to...finished The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners and need to get a new book!

What We're Watching...the same. It's a three-way toss-up between Joanna, Kellie, and Mya on DWTS. Mya was AMAZING last night! I wouldn't be disappointed if Donny or Aaron are eliminated. Still not sure who I like Survivor. On Amazing Race, I like Meghan and Cheyene (sp?).

I am hoping... that my back gets better. I pulled something in my lower back yesterday and am having a lot of spasms and difficulty walking. I stayed home from work today because I'm having a hard time walking. I went to the chiropractor last night and will be going back this afternoon.

Quotable Quote...(in honor of Veteran's Day tomorrow) The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle, or to be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men. ~ Samuel Adams

In The Kitchen...had all kinds of plans for new recipes but may have to change that because I can't stand long. I'll probably rely on the old standbys.

Around the house...laundry needs to be folded and the house could definitely use some attention!

Coming Up This Week...our first week without soccer!!...a home visit Thurs...Tucker's getting a haircut Thurs...Cub Scout Pack Meeting Thurs...Sleep-over at Battleship Cove with the Cub Scouts Sat-Sun...possibly beginning indoor soccer on Sun.

Some Picture Thoughts...I didn't get a chance to post about Tucker's last soccer game so here are some pictures!
Some game shots!


This is Tucker's good friend , Mason

The coach's son, Colin, was the assistant and the kids had a good time playing with him!

This was the third year Tucker and Gino have been on the same team! We're hoping for four-in-a-row!

Shelf Discovery Challenge

This one looked like fun!!

Hosted by Booking Mama, The Shelf Discovery Challenge will run for six months (November 1, 2009 - April 30, 2010). Participants must select and read at least six books mentioned in Lizzie Skurnick's SHELF DISCOVERY: THE TEEN CLASSICS WE NEVER STOPPED READING. After each book is read, the participants can then write a "book report" so they can share their thoughts with others.

After much debate, I have decided on the following books:

Classics Bookclub- Louisa May Alcott

The only book I've read by Louisa May Alcott is Little Women so I was excited to have to read another title of hers! I chose An Old-Fashioned Girl and am so glad I did!

This is the story of Polly, a country girl, who comes to visit her wealthy cousins in the city. Polly has led a very simple life focused on family and her cousins worry more about the latest fashions, and are not very strong as a family. One of the girls, Fanny, is her own age and spends all of her time worrying about latest fashions and gossip Polly, through her gentle ways, shows them the importance of family and how much one can gain from their own family relationships.

I enjoyed her simple way of looking at things and her determination to remain true to herself, someone she and her family could be proud of.

My Daybook

For today, Monday November 2, 2009
On My Mind...

Outside My Window...it is dark, of course! I've decided that I would rather drive to work in the dark and have it be lighter later! As Tucker said, "when it gets dark early, it makes everyone sleepy"

What We're Reading...I'm almost finished with Old-Fashioned Girl. With Tucker, I just started The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo, in addition to the nightly picture/chapter easy reader. He's still listening to The Cricket in Times Square with his class.

What We're Listening to...I finished South of Broad and cannot say enough great things about it!!!! I'm now listening to The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners by Luanne Rice, which as it turns out, is a continuation of the The Geometry of Sisters. Luanne Rice uses a lot of the same characters again in other books.

What We're Watching...Missed the ending of Survivor last week; still not sure who I like for the winner. Still like Kellie on DWTS and not happy that Melissa is gone but Louie needed to go! SYTYCD is on break because of the World Series, which of course we are watching! Amazing Race was hysterical last week with Mika and her floaties (for those who don't watch, one of the challenges as they neared the Pit Stop was to go down this water slide and she was terrified which is all fine and well but she in her mid-twenties, at least, and somehow got FLOATIES to go down this vertical drop into 3 feet of water! It was basically go down this slide or check in last and be eliminated, which is exactly what happened! They were there for at least 30 minutes while she whined and cried and it was all her boyfriend could do NOT to throw her down the slide! Another team came along, she had 2 minutes to make up her mind, she didn't go and the other team was safe. I don't think Michael will get over the Floaties for a long time!!)

I am hoping...to get some decent sleep tonight. The time change-no matter which way it is- always messes me up!

Quotable Quote...There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle ~ Albert Einstein

In the Kitchen...grilled cheese and soup tomorrow, a new chicken recipe for Wed, pancakes Thurs (I'm working late), out for pizza Fri after soccer, not sure about Sat yet.

Around the House...laundry to be folded as usual! ...need to take down the Halloween decorations and put up the Thanksgiving stuff.

Coming Up This Week...Soccer practice Tues and Fri (last week!)...Cub Scout den meeting Wed...soccer mini-tournament Sat...scrapbooking with my mom on Sun.


A picture thought...I have officially passed my Matchboxes on to Tucker! He's just starting to get into them and I had told him he could have them. We got them out of my mom's attic when we went there yesterday. Here he checks them out!

Trick or Treat!

I'm going to attempt to catch up on all the pictures and what we've been up in the past week! I've decided to start with the most current and work my way back!

Our jack 0' lanterns and bowl of candy. We very rarely get kids but I always leave a bowl of candy!

Tucker was a clone trooper this year

He insisted we dress up this year so here is Michael as a werewolf...

...and me as a witch ( I also wore this to work on Friday and was quite a hit!)

A couple pictures of me and Michael


Trick or treating at our neighbor Don's house (we always start here!)

Tucker and his friend Freddie (we went with him last year, too! He has a really great neightborhood for trick or treating!)

Checking out his loot!


Today we went to the grandmothers---what I like to call "customized-trick-or-treating" (think only/lots of Tootsie Rolls and Skittles!)