Daddy tips

Jason used a headlamp for light to clip Thomas's toenails. Who'd ever have known.

Thanksgiving through a trampoline

This was a memorable Thanksgiving: Jon fell through the trampoline and thankfully wasn't hurt--can't say the same for the trampoline! The kids thought it was fun after they saw he was ok and they haven't complained at all about the torn trampoline. They are sweet. Jon said he'd never forget the look on Thomas's face.

Japanese dinner Friday

Barb and I had a good time watching Gilmore Girls today while Jason and Jon went to see pawpaw Kidd. I ordered the fridge! Got it $200 cheaper than the sale price from a few days ago.

We met with granny, Canellen and Annabel for dinner. It was one of the best dinners.

I had trouble getting up and down out of the seating area because I essentially needed to get down in the ground first. Took meds and was hurting at bedtime.
Had a pretty good PT session today and had some relief through the afternoon.

Things I do differently: leaving a project undone

I'm looking forward to getting these curtains up. Used to, I'd've gone and done this myself, but not now: I'm in charge of healing my back. Patience....I'm sure this will make it to my "can do list" one day!

Thing I do differently: ok with crooked rugs

I can't stand crooked rugs, but I'm a week 5 post op and 5 weeks is a long time to go without scratching an itch. So, I think I have made some peace with crooked or off-centered rubber-backed rugs. I'm still not ok with it, but I can't do anything about it. I observed that only I have this obsession with things lining up or being in their place. :-) It's a good mental health exercise I think!

Things can I do differently: cleaning Jack's cage

Weekly, I used to remove the top of the cage, put Jack out on a towel with celery or a carrot to munch and stand while cleaning out the bedding and waste. Sometimes I would wash the bottom out in the shower or sink because both have handheld sprayers.

Since my back surgery, I have lifting and bending restrictions so Jason has cleaned Jack's cage a few times, but I am
Rolling up on 5 weeks and as part of resuming my normal routine I figured out how I can clean the cage with good back etiquette.

I can sit in front of the cage in a chair and scoop out the bedding from the cage door. Jack can stay in the cage, and scoot around or sit on his balcony. He is used to me and will just hop around my hand and move around in there. He loves his cage and will probably prefer this to sitting in the open on a towel--looking out for a potential hawk or owl swooping in to get him in our living room!

Then, I can wipe out the floor decently and fill it up with handfuls of begging through the cage door. It's not as fast but it will save the back. When the cage needs to be washed, the kiddos can help lift off the top of the cage, one on each side, and lower it to the ground.

What's the same is I using a plastic shopping bag around my hand like a mitt, to pick up the yucky bedding and put it into up to two shopping bags. Always check the bags for holes first!

Tie shoes on your back

Here I am tying my shoes on my back, a new good practice to save my back.

Alvin's wedding

The kids and I attended a beautiful wedding yesterday. I ended up overdoing it, so I'm resting this morning. The kids were sweet and Joanna was able tomaneuver through the crowd and see and talk to Alvin and his bride to my amusement.

The reception was grand and we stayed through dinner, but I had to leave before the cake cutting. I was ready to go before dinner. I stopped at sonic to get the kids milkshakes in lieu of cake. If I needed evidence that I should stay home this was it. Whew!

I hope I didn't do harm, and I font think so, but I had some sharp pain last night and muscle spasms and it continued this morning.

Enough whining. :-) it was a beautiful wedding.

Feeling better but with good days and bad

I have started having more days I can do more. Wednesday was really good but I know I pushed past my limit. Because yesterday was not great. I didn't sleep well Wednesday night so I didn't feel good and had more nerve pain on Thursday. But by evening I was read to make a trip, so I took the kids to chick-fil-a where we ate and they played and I stood and sat in a stool. I had pain while walking in the living room, and only walked 10 min. Last night I didn't sleep much, but it was better than Wednesday.

The doc recommended physical therapy to help relieve the nerve pain and get me transitioned to full activity. I started physical therapy today and have my exercising to do 3 times a day. The physical therapist thinks I am doing well with my recovery plan by easing back to full activity and supports me staying home from work 1-2 more weeks to transition. I called the doc and left a message with his medical assistant to get paperwork started.

I feel guilty for not returning at the three weeks mark, and possibly needing the full 6 weeks, but I will try to make it only five weeks. Though, I'm anxious about my job and what it means to be out, and even though my job is supposed to be legally protected, I cannot help but think there will be consequences for missing work. I hope it's okay in the end.

I worked when in pain for more than a year with the last 6 months being terrible. Part of the healing is resting and doing more everyday. I'm doing that.

However, I do know that if I don't get the nerve pain under control first and get to where I can drive the full distance and sit during the day, then going back too soon will not help me improve.

I am sure I will feel better tomorrow and I need to be positive to ensure I heal up. Nothing good ever came from having a bad attitude.

Feeling better

Starting to truly feel improvements! Last night I did not need pain medicine!
I made scrambled eggs for Jason and me this morning for breakfast!
I put away the silverware from the dishwasher.
I finished watching a movie while sitting on the couch.
I knitted a hat, finished today.
Drove a short trip twice today.
Walked 20 minutes in the backyard.
Dinner for me and the kids was simple; pre grilled hot dogs and a sliced apple. It was so big we all shared it and Jack got some too.
I brushed and dried Joanna's hair after her bath, standing up in the bathroom and we had a nice time talking. Joanna showed me she can curl her tounge.
I brushed my teeth with Thomas.

Surgery

Ok, it's taken me since 9/13 to write this: I'm having surgery on my back on 10/11, day after Joanna's and my buddy's birthdays.

It could really happen that I will feel better. Doc didn't promise 100 percent pain free, but I am hoping all the agony will be gone. I can handle discomforts and time-to-time problems, but God truly has been my help in this.

I'm still fighting great bouts of sickening grief of pain. It's maddening that there is no relief, but if there were a way to feel better then I would not be having surgery. I suppose this is all in gods timing. I have had several thoughts on the goodness of his plan:

1. I did indeed have tilted misaligned pelvis.
2. I did have si joint dysfunction, and sacrum pain, too.
3. I did develop levator ani syndrome in April and it lasted unrelenting until mid August, thanks to meds and sleep meds, it relented.still have bouts but nothing near like it was.
4. The PRP and physical therapy did help in many ways.
5. Doc was right in a way about peeling back layers of the onion.
6. If the disc problem was discovered earlier, maybe it would have been fixed but these other issues would not have been addressed as they were. I trust this is to my benefit and gods glory. I am thankful for the ways he has shown me so far through this.
7. I have learned a lot about treatments and methods, and my own tolerances and true limits.

Pain and concentration

It's more efficient to tell folks my back hurts rather than the details, but it is not just my back: it is my low back, my butt, along my tailbone through my pelvis to my pubic bone, down my leg, with numbness in my foot. When standing, and sometimes laying, strong pressure in both legs below/outer my calves with pins and needles. And the pain from my back down my leg will alternate legs as well. Mostly the pain is on the left, but during walking, it will hurt on the right instead of the left and my foot goes numb. It's obviously not the physical legs hurting, but the nerves in my spine are being squished.

All this has been disrupting my sleep since April. I'm getting better sleep now, but it is difficult to concentrate during the day as the pain just keeps my mind on edge.

So, I'm happy it's Friday. But, my back is already killing me before the day starts. Typing about it helps some!

Labor Day weekend

I relaxed in bed half the day on Monday, but I had a big weekend.

On Saturday, the kids and I loaded up and went to Walmart, and one of our list items was a back brace. I bought a lumbar back brace and used it while doing my cleaning and chores on Saturday. Joanna and Thomas helped some with the chores too, after failed attempts to play nicely together outside.

I wore the brace to the family reunion and long car ride on Sunday. It was really helpful. I don't plan on using it constantly, but it is nice to have.

Monday, none of got out of our pajamas until a few minutes before the pizza arrived!

Friday and Saturday used my meds, but I held off both meds the last two nights. Sleep was ok on Sunday night; last night, I was up till 12:30, then woke for the fat at 3:30.

Goodnight weekend

I mostly rested Saturday, and then took the kids to a birthday party, and shopping for a gift first--a record-short, 15 min trip to the store! I will note that I did not feel like going and I was uncomfortable the whole time, but it was good anyway. Glad Joanna could go to her friend's party. Thomas enjoyed himself too.
Sunday We all went to church, and had lunch per Joanna's request at Osaka, then home. I started laundry, then relaxed between laundry loads, except and quickly cleaning Jack's cage and bathing Jack with Joanna. Not pleasant but needed and Joanna was sweet!

Then the kids and I took a quick trip to the gym. I swam about 25 min. I fixed them and myself a quick dinner. Jason had a Diet Coke for dinner. ;/)

Now I realize I did all my chores! It made a difference having several good nights of sleep this week. Even though last night and the night before were poor sleep nights, I was still able to do my chores well and I'm happy. Here's hoping I well sleep well and I did not overdo it on those chores.

On a sad note, we missed a funeral. I didn't realize it, as I thought it was last Tuesday, during the day. I didn't know or forgot about the event today. God bless the families. I wasn't up for being out in the car any more though. I'm sorry to say that.

I'm glad I did more than I had but I'm still not up for all others would have me do. There was a long list of unmet expectations of others. Not mentioning what I simply missed!

Thomas' l replay from Geometry Dash!

Replay from Geometry Dash!

Watch my replay from Geometry Dash
https://everyplay.com/videos/32669688


-Amy

Don't get too excited...

Well, I did sleep well those two days, then it was back to the
regular, 3 hrs per night, Friday and Saturday night.

Sleep! Yay!

Wednesday night, for the first time since the beginning of April, I slept 5 hours in one stretch! 10-3! Then, I was able to doze back off for a few minutes between 5:30 and 6.

Thursday night, I slept 11-5! What in the world!

I'm feeling amazing... Praise God for his help!!!

There is a story behind how I finally got the needed relief! But I just wanted to record the wonderful news, before I fall asleep for hopefully a nice sleep!


-Amy

More waiting

Last Monday I saw dr dewese for medicine and he gave me something to take at night, to call in 2 days. I reported that it wasn't effective on Wednesday. Through leaving messages we ended up on Thursday that Dr D would defer to the pain consultants appointment. I have continued taking the meds hoping it would help in the meantime waiting for the appointment on 8/08.

On 8/08, I visited the Pain Consultants of East TN, and ultimately scheduled an SI injection on 9/16 and 9/21. But that is based on the doctor availability after 9/11 when the insurance begins to pay for this whole process and nerve ablation. A staff member estimated the cost of 490 for one SI injection, to pay out of pocket to get this earlier than insurance coverage begins. There may be an earlier appointment with a different doctor.

I had asked if there was anything that could be done in the meantime, and described the problem of not sleeping, and he said just said that was it. I think there might be a problem, because I asked the nurse to speak to him about medication. She took my question and said they had an order for the procedure only and they couldn't talk about medicine.

I looked back at my patients portal record of the 8/01 visit and I saw dr l's notes for referral for procedure and pain management.

I will talk to someone at PC tomorrow to find out if they have that on the referral order or not. Obviously it was his intention, but was not realized.


-Amy

Appointment today

I'm trying not to be optimistic today. I am afraid I will be disappointed if I expect some relief from pain at this appointment. I can't help hoping. Dr D put off changing my meds last week after I reported that they didn't help. And I was at the end if my rope already last week. He wanted to defer to this new doctor. So I tied a knot at the end of the rope to hang on.

-Amy

Ibuprofen is key

I skipped my self prescribed 800mg dose of ibuprofen this morning, just to see how much it helps. Yes, it helps! Dear Lord! At 8:15 I took it at work.

I felt it necessary to try the day without it. I don't want it to be part of my baseline. I also don't want that dose to be part of a new normal at the end of my next treatment.

However, my short term goal is to sleep through the night.
Next, it would be good to get the diagnosis confirmed.
Then, perform a procedure I may not have had yet but that is an available treatment approved by my insurance.
Then, a month from now...after 9/11, pursue the next procedure that will be a available/approved at that time.

I'm not sure how to keep making it through the day, though. I'm quite unhappy in the current situation, between a rock and a hard place. My husband has made me afraid to speak at work about this, and I am somewhat uncomfortable talking to him now. It's hard to hear, "just be thankful you have a job." And I know it is true, but it doesn't make me feel better.
-Amy

On to pain management

Monday I saw my physiologist and he referred me to pain management for evaluation for a nerve block, or nerve ablation. I also saw my regular doc and asked for pain med. I had finally surpassed the point of dealing into suffering; Jason helped me realize it was time to do the next step. My physical therapist is seeing me one day a week through the next few weeks. I'm doing all my stretches and exercise. Also I'm swimming and using the elliptical trainer for cardio. I m still waking all through the night, rarely sleeping more than 4 hours a night, and at most 3 at a stretch. It is really starting to make me crazy after 4 months of it! First week of April, after PRT injections, this started. Now, there was some improvements especially in the mid to upper low back, rarely is that sore, but it's the left SI joint and this new issue with pelvic muscles.

-Amy

Wow! an improvement!

I have been having trouble going to sleep, waking two times a night, usually between 11-3 and the last time is hardest to get back to sleep due to discomfort. Tuesday was the worst so far. Lucky me

Doc RX'd gabapentin on Tuesday. Therapist put me through the wringer. And that night I woke the same but it was less intense.

Yesterday was no physical therapy, and Emily RX'd elliptical or swimming, walking at the least on off days. I went lap swimming at gym. (Swimming at grandma's on a Saturday led to a wonderful Sunday 2 weeks ago.)

Last night I fell asleep at 11 or so after reading. Didn't even need my audio book. Today, I woke around 2:30 and 6:30. I was so glad that the second time was this late and now I'm just awake for the day, in a happy mood even though I'm hurting! Sleep makes a big difference!

The gym is very close to me, and 30 bucks a month is reasonable to pay for the gym even if I use the pool facilities only. I'm going to join.

I'm hoping I will improve and then taper off these meds. Doc thinks I will need a dose increase after a few weeks. I hope the smaller dose is enough. Seem hopeful it will help get over the hump.

-Amy

God is good!

Good visit with Jon and Barb! God blessed me with their visit. The children loved spending time with them!

Rested on Saturday made such a big difference on Monday morning. I felt good. Tuesday not so much but still not the worst!

-Amy

Meds changes

I started some RX'd meds today to hopefully help ease the pain short and long term. Short term I didn't want to take an NSAID since it would counter act the PRP shots. I was hoping that I could avoid the long term meds but I am to the point that I am ok with it. Maybe it can help. It's cymbalta.

-Amy

On Chronic Pain

I have never written about back pain but I decided I really should. It's been an unfortunate part of my life for about a year on a consistent basis, but before that too, but growing in intensity and being more disruptive over time.

I keep feeling like it's getting better, but then it starts hurting again. Currently, I am having episodes of intense sharpness in my right buttock/SI. The worst was 2 Tuesdays ago, before my PRP on Thursday. It happens when I stand after sitting or lean forward from sitting. It is sudden and I gasp or even yelp.

But this is probably better than before.

Previously, my right leg would hurt when walking, too, all the way from my back to the calf. Now just the calf hurts intensely for a few minutes when walking and my foot hoes slightly numb, but that subsides. This only happens when standing and walking. It will go numb about halfway but not so much that I can't walk. When it comes back, it's just back. it doesn't have pins and needless.

My back proper feels pretty good. I used to think it was my low back, only, and maybe a disc problem, but maybe the muscles and tendons are healing and strengthening to overcome compensating for the SI joint issue.

It sucks not being able to take NSAIDs. They do effect the inflammation. I had to stop taking them wrote the Prolo therapy and then I just had PRP so that's about 6 weeks now with Tylenol only. Heat and the tens unit.

Today I broke down an used ice. It was us so painful when I moved slightly a few minutes ago, I had had it. I will not use it long, because it reduces the purposeful inflammation from the PRP--and that is something I don't want to counteract lightly. It was super painful, and nobody online talks about the details, I'll just say it, or folks would not do it. It's called an "injection" but it is not just one! It's across a large area. It really has seemed to help in many ways. Just wish it was 100 percent better already.

Recently I wondered if I shouldn't just start taking a prescription pain medicine, but I'm afraid I wouldn't want to stop taking them.

The mornings have been good the past two days! The evenings always are hard and I am sorry that my family gets the tired and hurting version of myself. I have been generally more short on tolerance as I just have less physical tolerance and its wearing me thin.

I know God has a plan and I know that going through this, I can rely on him, and bring him honor by my behavior. Maybe I can recognize to be patient with others in the future when I encounter someone in a similar situation. I will be more suited to give them grace, rather than a hard time. Maybe without having this experience, I would look down on them or judge them in some way.

Maybe I will need to learn now what I simply cannot learn in any other way than experience.

-Amy

Good Saturday Furniture Shopping

Today was a nice day together with my family. We relaxed in the morning. Thomas played super Mario after breakfast. Jason napped after suggesting I take a bath! I took a bath and Joanna gave her doll a bath! I caught Joanna sitting on Jason and it was so cute!
Jason cooked while I took the kids to the pet store to get Jack some food and bedding. The clerk treated the kids to playing with the animals.
Joanna found me in the aisle to show me the snake!

I was really surprised!

Joanna helped clean Jack's cage when we were home. I looked up bedding for Thomas and he picked out a nice masculine and tasteful choice! I was impressed!

We ate lunch--Jason made chicken lettuce wraps. And cooked a Thai chicken dish for tomorrow, and I did the laundry. Thomas helped put in the soap and start the load. It's something he showed interest in. Whereas Joanna likes sweeping.

I finished watching Star Trek vi the last frontier. The kids played outside and played super Mario.

I talked Jason into going to look at furniture for our room. I had been out a few times with the kids shopping and wanted to go to oak factory outlet. We liked a set of furniture a lot, but it was not oak! It was alder wood. We also went to Knoxville wholesale furniture, to see the kinkaid furniture I liked as well. We ended up buying it, and they had a floor model of a bed I had really liked! It was a really good deal and I'm so glad I waited and researched the beds a while. It made the decision easier having known what a deal would be. We got a floor model of a bed and adjustable base they were no longer going to carry.

Dang though that Joanna scratched her back. She and Thomas were horsing around on the beds and she slid off onto something. She and Thomas had fun but also were good together especially since Jason was there.

The kids ganged up on us and asked to eat out. So we went to Olive Garden and enjoyed ourselves with the kids menu activities.

Jack's song

I hear somebody cutting something somewhere!
I hear somebody cutting something somewhere!
It may be an onion; it may be an apple.
I don't care; just give me a sample!
I hear somebody cutting something somewhere!

Spring break

Joanna and Thomas are having a great time at PaPaw Fox's house tonight!

Help, but be careful!

"Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won't be tempted."
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:1‬ ‭HCSB‬‬
http://bible.com/72/gal.6.1.hcsb


-Amy

Re: Random acts of flowers

On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 7:02 PM Amy Kidd <amyjokidd@gmail.com> wrote:

There was a nice bouquet of roses in poppas room today. I let poppa hold one and he smelled it on his own.




-Amy

Joanna's baptism

Snow day - January 20, 2016

Joanna's special day of salvation

Today Joanna asked Jesus to be her savior and give her eternal life.  She sought out Pastor Richard Spencer last week about when she could get baptized. Then today, she asked him to talk again after church. He sat down with us in the sanctuary and talked to and prayed with Joanna. She's so happy and looks forward to her baptism!

He even made a special note in her bible to mark the date aand time. Jason and I were in tears of joy and agreed it was the best day! Never in our lives have we had so much joy! 

other special moments from today: 

Thomas was attentive when pastor spencer spoke and asked questions and was answering some questions, too.

I gave Joanna her new bible before church this morning. Prior to this, she was planning to take a doll on the car trip. But when it was time to leave, Thomas saw the doll and reminded Joanna that she forgot her doll, she said that she didn't want to take it anymore. I told her about John 3:16, and she found and read it all by herself and When we got to church she asked if she could read it to her class. I told her of course she could. And of course she did. 

May God bless all the special people who have showed Joanna the love of Jesus. And I give special praises to God for those who have specifically shared scripture or prayed with my daughter!