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.