Starting My Back Treatment

Hi Everyone!

Well, I was sitting in a meeting & moved forward & my back did something odd. Not sure what, felt on my left side like it collapsed down a bit to the left of the spine in my small of my back. I got through my class & then called my doc. The 4th yr attending said I may be getting closer to needing the surgery...ugh...called the Vax-D people & they said can you come in today. I was shocked. I made a payment & they were ok with that.

So after class I drove up to the train station, to the train downtown & then walked 2 blocks to the office. The doc re-examined me & I was already releaved that whatever happened in the afternoon didn't seem to cause more problems because I could put my legs up & push & pull without too much problem.

Then they got me on the Vax-D table & it was ok. It made my tummy a bit quizzy though. I've had that on & off...maybe it is my stomach muscle tensing...we all know how important abdomen muscles are to the back so...Then some STEM & ice & a bag of supplements to take home, a lumbar brace I have to wear 3 hours after & then teaching etc. I took home a lumbar chair pillow to try too. I have to go back tomorrow (Fri) and then back starting Tues. 4-5 weeks doing this trip...ugh! It is about a 30-40 min drive to the train station, then the train is about an hour. Then treatment 1 1/2 hrs & then back. So you can see that is a big chunk of my day! I hope it works. I figure if it works & I can avoid surgery it will be worth it in the long run.

It does 15 pulls, 1 minute pull with 1 min rest. They went up to 55lbs pressure today. They will eventually go to 75-80lbs. They said usually most people really feel better between 8-12 treatments. I have to bring my TENS unit tomorrow so they can show me where to place them when I'm home.

Well, I got my students first quiz ready & now I'm really exhausted from my day so I think I'll go lay down. I'm glad I just have to get through tomorrow & then a 3 day weekend to rest. I'll let you know how this goes every so often. I'd certainly appreciate some prayers.

So True...

Oh this is just too funny...but true! Read Lisa's entry on "Why Women Go In Pairs" Ha!

Laughing With Elvis

Ok, last week David Letterman's Top Ten Contest was "Top Ten Things Elvis Presley Would Say If He Were Around Today" Check it out! Not surprising #1 was "Viva Viagra!" HA! I thought we could have some fun here & see what you can come up with! ;-) I'm sure Elvis would laugh with us!

Tags: Elvis, Jokes

Go Cubbies!

Wow! What a game tonight! This is fun! Reminds me of when the Cubbies were doing so well when I was in college. I remember also going to a game & it was a double header & a rain make-up day...OMG...double the people than seats! People were standing in the stair ways & they didn't stop serving alcohol until the 2nd game so people were pretty drunk. One guy almost fell over the rain on the upper deck...just a mess...but fun! HA! I so want to go to one now!

Well, at least if we are going to be soaked lately we can stay in & watch the Cubs...they are a bit of sunshine now. It was pretty nasty by me last night! Tornados at our state park & a town just west of me. Our sirens were going off, clouds were going in all kinds of directions and this little black one came down a bit from the others...I know I was watching it just in case! It was definitely the weirdest. Although it didn't get green that I saw but when I dragged the kitties into the bathroom I heard hail hitting the furnace pipe outside...ugh! Wind was weird too. My hanging birdbath is a goner! Cracked off the chain. Some stuff on the ground & someone's sliding glass door screen is in my lawn. We missed the afternoon storm. Hit about 20 min north of us though. I saw all the huge trees down when I brought Sam & Ella back from the doc. The evening one is the one that got us. Came fast just as I got home. The boyfriend wanted to come get me...I'm like by the time you get here you will be in it or when we are heading back to your place...makes no sense to me but...so he just kept calling me! HA! I must admit that is a lovely feeling to have someone worry about you and want to make you safe.

Well, just finished my first week of classes. So far going well & my students are really active & engaging. Gotten some cool emails from them. One says I'm the most laid back prof they have ever had. I'm not sure that is good or bad! Ha! She meant it as a compliment though so...hopefully she stays feeling that way. Unfortunately, my back is doing some odd things this week. Probably doing too much. I'm really trying to get started on this Vax-D treatment soon. Called them & my doc today. Ice & Anti-inflammatories this weekend to see if it will settle down.

Well, should be a quiet weekend! YA! My niece is back home since school start this week for her. I'll probably catch up & veg at home. One of the fairs was canceled I think due to the weather so that is out. I'll have to let you know what I end up doing later. Watched part of the Elvis by the Presley's on TVland tonight. Pretty good! I hope I can catch the rest later.

Well, enjoy your weekend!

Thank You Elvis!

Hi Everyone!

I will be in my 2nd day of in-service meetings all day & then I am planning to head to the Bears training camp for the evening practice so I thought I would honor Elvis by posting in the evening all the tribute postings made. If you make a posting please email me & let me know & I'll add it to the list & then Friday you can come look at any you may not have seen.

Here is one from Sugar already!

Some others:

Sharlene's trip to Memphis

TVland's Special movie clips & interviews!

I just found the song I wanted to attach here...oh baby thank God I don't have a camera on my computer! HA! You should see me dancing in my chair! I'm sooo pissed my back won't let me dance to this now! I'm going to bring this song to my back doctor & tell him this is the goal...I want my hips & back back because my spirit still needs to dance to this! ;-) Oh baby...THANK GOD FOR ELVIS!



Tags: Elvis, Tributes

So Who is Flip Flopping Now?

Hi Everyone!

My sister just sent me this & I think it is just incredible! Not even making any political side here...just any politican that goes from one extreme to the other. I know Sept 11th happened & some may think then it is ok for him to change his mind but we are still basically in the shape he said we would be in so...Watch it is not very long! And much is used during political campaigns on what people said or voted for earlier in their careers and what they are professing now when really if you look at both sides, everyone does it and this is a PERFECT example!

And speaking of "flip flopping" did you see the article in the Chicago Tribune on the dangers of Flip Flops? They mention Dr. Grady....he did my foot surgery! :-)

Tags: Cheney, Iraq, flip flopping

Martian Child

Hi!

Well I made a comment on someone's journal about the movie Martian Child (view trailer) and they had not heard of it & I thought I better make a post on it then. It has been advertising all summer in the theaters by me. I thought it was coming out this summer but the release date is Oct 26th! Ugh! It looks AWESOME!!!!

It is about a boy who lives in a box & John Cusack wants to adopt him. Some definite paranoid delusions going on here...although many a time I have thought a few people just may be Martians...family members included! HA! Though they probably think I am! HA! It also gets into issues of what is "NORMAL" behavior which I love! Like the scene with him throwing plates in the kitchen...reminds me of the commercial where the boy squirts his mom with the pop & she turns on the sink faucet on him...some people just don't get life you know! :-)  

Amanda Peet is in it, as well as John's sister Joan. It will definitely be a field trip for my psych students! It looks like a very lovely movie & I think John really has wonderful potential for more serious roles in the future! And you all know from my past postings how much I'm in love with him! HA! My oldest brother looks like a blonde version of him I think!

Well, I'll remind you when it gets closer to the release date because you know I will be going that day! HA!

Tags: Martian Child, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Amanda Peet