For The Longest Time

Alright, I updated a friend on something and she said I was expecting to read it on your blog. Wow what a way to realize that I have been so bad about blogging. I don't even know how long it has been, but I read a bit and I am able to catch you up on things.

After the first round of cortizone shots, which didn't work, I had another round, which didn't work. Then I had a third round, which again didn't work. I don't know if you see it but there is a bit of a theme going on with this cortizone thing. Anyway when you get 3 rounds of cortizone shots in 4 weeks they won't let you get anymore for 6 months, I was soooo sad.

Okay so now it is mid June and the shots aren't working so I was given a boot to wear, all day, in fact if I wasn't in the boot and wasn't in the night split the only thing it could mean was that I was in the shower. For the next couple weeks I was the but of all jokes, at work and at home. The kids called it "das boot", cause that 's what everyone at work was saying. Anyway by the end of June I was no longer able to work because my foot was declared non-weight bearing.

So there I was with no job so I had to stop going to Jenny Craig, and I had just reached a 20 lb weightloss. Most of the time I was sitting out back, under the shade, watching the kids play in the pool. By this point I was getting to be very good with crutches.

I had an MRI and a nerve conduction test done to see what was going on, we weren't sure that it was plantar fachitis. When the results came it, we found out that I had plantar fachitis, tarsal tunnel and I had a mass of muscle that was enlarged and encroaching on nerves. The next step was to have some physical therapy. After a couple of weeks and no change it was determined that surgery would be the only option.

While this was going on I was in the middle of looking for a new job, I had applied at Family & Children's Center. I went for the interview and found out a week later that I had gotten the job. I started the 11th of August and on the 12th found out that I was scheduled for surgery on the 20th. Nothing like telling your new boss of 1 day that you need at least a week and a half off. Okay so work went well and then came the day of surgery.

When I awoke in the recovery room it was to find out that even though they didn't think they would have to put me under completely, I was uncomfortable and they thought it would be in my best interest to do so, I had that lovely feeling that something was shoved down my throat. My doctor informed me that not only did she fix the plantar fachitis, the tarsal tunnel and the nerve problem, but I also had veins where there weren't supposed to be, a vericose vein that looked like grapes on a vine and I had a green onion sized cyst on my ankle bone which she took out. I was a wreck.

Well 18 stitches later I was sent home to recover. I had to sit with my foot propped up 24 hours a day. On Sept 9th I went back to work (so much for just being off for a few days), I also had 9 stitches taken out, every other one. On Sept 16th I had the remaining stitches taken out and steri strip tape put on instead. I am still unable to get the foot wet and I am still on crutches. I have fallen going up the stairs several times, fallen at work once, infront of about 4 people too many. Then to top it off yesterday I fell going down the stairs. My left side of my left leg is completely bruised, this also happens to be the foot surgery was preformed. I must have also wrenched my right shoulder cause that hurts. Oh well, I have an appointment tomorrow at 4:30 so we shall see if after 15 weeks on crutches if I will be able to get rid of them.

Now for some good news. School has started and Connor who is in 1st grade is doing wonderfully. He really likes it and seems to be doing well. Nic (that's how he is writing it now), is loving preschool and really likes after school care. He goes from 8-11 every day and from 11-3 is after school care.

And for some even better news, Nic had his annual apt with the Pediatric Cardiologist and he is doing great. The doctor was happy to note that things looked good and that they might even be improving ever so slightly. He is confident that he will only have to ever be monitered, he doesn't see any reason to think that his problem will ever worsen!!!! We were so excited to hear that he is doing so well.

Alright now that I have strained your eyes into exhaustion, I will leave you for a day or two. I will also try to get pic's of the foot posted so that those of you without weak stomachs can take a gander.

Love ya, Jenn

My aching feet

Hey Ya'll

I am sitting here with my feet propped up and watching tv with my wonderful family. Although I am watching a show I don't know anything about, The Sarah Jane Adventures. I'd like to tell you that I have my feet propped up because it is relaxing, but actually it is because I have been suffering from a condition called Plantear Fechitis (I know that I have not spelled this correctly). What happens is the ligament that connects from your heel to your toes is strained. This causes immense pain in your heel. Something similar to someone hammering a nail into your heel. Extremely painful to say the least.

After seeing the foot doctor 3 weeks ago, I was fitted for a splint that I was to wear at night for 3 weeks, this was to fix my problem. Well that didn't work. So Thursday I went back and they injected my heel with 3 hits of Cortizone, then she wrapped it tightly (to the point of pain) which I have to leave wrapped for 5 days. Oh yeah in the mean time I am not able to take showers, due to the not being able to get my foot wet thing. This is supposed to help me and take care of the problem. But let me tell you that I am in some incredible pain. I don't know if it is from the shots or just my normal problem that I have been suffering from. Anyway I am hoping that this starts working and that the pain goes away soon.

On a lighter note the picture at the top is from my father in St Maarten. He was on the beach and must have seen this turtle getting ready to bury it's eggs. The police were there to make sure that no harm comes to the turtle. Absolutely amazing! They are returning either today or tomorrow and I can't wait to see them. This is a trip they take every year and each time they come back with beautiful items and great stories. I keep saying that one year I will go too and see all and do all they do.

Well I must get going, we are now watching Dr Who, another show I don't watch so much but something that the kids are really into and outside my window a show I am really into, the lightening show.

Love ya. Jenn

I Won!!!

Hey Ya'll

I know that most of you don't know this, but I am a bit (VERY) competitive. Tonight Dave and I played Sorry and I won. You have to realize that most times he wins and it doesn't feel very good. So yeah for me! I just had to blow my own horn there for a minute.

So now here I sit, me on one end of the sofa, Dave on the other, and a very wiped out Ozzie. We had a lot of outside time today so he's very tired. I guess we all are. The kids had a lot of outside time and Dave after a hard day had to come home and mow the lawn. But after everyone got cleaned up we went to dinner at one of the South Sides best kept secret. It's called the China Garden and it is next to Peddler's Pub. I really liked the atmosphere, it is downstairs and the food was really great. The kids really enjoyed the Egg Drop Soup (always a favorite with them). And even though they put p0rk in it the Shrimp with Lobster Sauce was pretty good. All in all a very nice evening all around. The kids went to bed fairly easy as they were full and tired.

As I sit and write this we are watching the White Sox play against the Giants. Go Sox!

I love how before I started this tonight I felt like I had 8 million things to tell you and now that I am here to tell them I feel like I have nothing to say.

Well I am going to go now because we have a financial planner coming from Primarica to talk to us about some things. They are very good and are helping us to get some things taken care of. I highly recommend them. They come in for free and tell you where you are and how to get any debt paid down, how long it will take and what is the quickest and cheapest route for you to go. Also they tell you what type of insurance you need based on the things you tell them. Anyway tomorrow is our third meeting with them and we feel so much better about things than we did before we started this process.

Alright I am going now. You all have a great night and I'll talk to you soon.

Hugs and kisses
Jenn

Logan's, "Forever", Friends & Weigh-less

Hey ya'll

I just got home from another exciting evening at Logan's. All went well and there were no major foul ups. I have to say that I actually like working there most days, the people are nice and the guests are usually wonderful. There are your really nice people like mine tonight who tip 10% (it was actually more like 9% but who's keeping track). Just in case you don't know, servers here in Indiana make $2.13 per hour. That includes the hour that we don't have guests, like when we are closing the place down. So don't forget to tip your wait staff well. A good rule of thumb 3 times the tax is good.

Right now I am reading a great book (for the second time) entitled "Forever" by Pete Hamill. It is a wonderful book about a man who is given the ability to live forever as long as he never leaves the island of Manhattan. It begins in the 1700's and continues through to 9-11. It contains a lot of true events and helps give some insight into why things are the way they are today.

A fellow blogger and wonderful friend of mine recently asked me to give her some feed back on what some of my favorite blogs of hers were. It took a long time to go through as she has been blogging for 3 years but what I got out of it was great. She has a great sense of humor and a wonderful way with words. I guess that is why she is writing a book and has several compilations of poetry that she has put together. Yea Lolo! I love and admire you always. Don't forget to tell your friends how much they mean to you.

One last note. I am down 14.8 (let's just say 15) lbs and I am so happy. I was talking to my consultant on Monday, telling her that I only have 15 lbs to go and she told me that she didn't know where it was going to come from. That was extremely encouraging. I can tell you that I am wearing clothes that I was never able to wear before. Sizes that were always just a dream for me and the self confidence that I have gathered from all this is just amazing. I have 5 more lbs to go and I am going to treat myself. I have a special present picked out. I don't want to say what it is so that I don't jinx anything.

I am going to try my best to blog more often, I hope you all enjoy. I would love to know what you think so don't forget to use the comments section.

Love and Kisses

Whoa!

jsg 3/29/2008

My how time flies. I can't believe that it has been a month since my last blog. All is well here. We've been busy trying to clean out Nonny's house, 50 some years worth of stuff. Slowly but surely we are getting there.

We all have been enjoying the beautiful weather that we have been experiencing, next week won't be so nice. Oh well that's Indiana for you.

The kids are doing well and Monkey can't wait for school to be out so we can do things.

I have to tell you we were in the car yesterday and just chatting and CB said something about piddly things and the boys wanted to know why I bought piddly things, CB couldn't stop laughing and I was about to smack him!

I have doing well on Jenny Craig, I am down 12 or so lbs and am toning up really well. I only have about 18 lbs to go, it seems to me to be getting just a tad harder instead of easier. I have a short term goal for the end of April of 140 and I am 3-4 lbs shy of that right now, so I really need to work hard. The only problem that I am facing is that I pulled a muscle in my back on my right side and I have Plantar Feschitis (sp) really bad in my left foot. (Sever pain in the heel when walking or even sitting sometimes).

Oh well I'll keep you updated. Also going to Carmel on Tuesday to see another blogger called the Yarn Harlot. She is hilarious. It ought to be a hoot, going with mom and sister.

Love and kisses

Still Here

I chose this picture because it decided today to start snowing again. Could we please have some 55-60 degree weather?? Is that too much to ask?

CB (my husband) is away on a business trip and won't be back till Saturday. So I am doing the single mom thing. To all those single mom's out there, WAY TO GO!!! I don't know how you do it, I applaude you.

While CB is away I am working on the bathroom that I started 6.5 years ago. It is coming along. I still have to prime the cupboards and then paint them and put the hardware back on and I'll be done. CB has no clue that I am working on this project and should be pleasantly surprised Saturday. I had several projects that I wanted to work on but there just doesn't seem to be time to do it ALL. I'll be able to work on it a bit more tonight and then a little tomorrow before I work. Not sure what all I will get done on Saturday. I have to make a dessert for a book club that I am attending.

Speaking of book club if you are looking for a fun, quick, chit lit book have I got an author for you, her name is Emily Giffin and the books are Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof and she has a new one coming out in a month or so. The first two are connected so you must read both and I suggest that you read Something Borrowed first. This Saturday is our first official book club meeting and we will be discussing the first two books.

So as I said above my hubby left Wednesday and he's not even gone 12 hours and I have already maimed one of the children. We were at a local home improvement store, I told you I am motived to get things done while CB is gone, and Peanut asked to get out of the cart. I pick him up and swing him around kind of behind me and I hear "thunk" and then crying ensues. I know exactly what has happened but not the extent. I hold him to me and whisper mommy words and such. I pull him away and he looks okay, a small scratch on his nose, you know no big deal. I hold him to me again and then pull him away to say everything will be okay and that's when I see the BLOOD!!!! Oh Crap! I don't want to go the hospital without CB and to make matters worse I am watching a friends 10 year old. He says "are we going to have to go to the hospital?" Peanut starts crying harder. Monkey says "Mom I think we'll have to amputate" (our standard saying when someone is hurt) and Peanut starts crying harder. We take him up to the front to get him cleaned up and that's when I notice that it is not a cut, it is an indentation in his forehead. The rug rack impaled him!!! I look it over and determine that he's going to live, not need stitches and more than likely we won't have to amputate.

Now he wears a bandaid like a proud badge and he's not shy about telling everyone that I did it to him! Nice! Mom of the year here.

I'll let you know if any other fun ensues.

Welcome back

Okay so it's my fault that it has been so long, June, since I last blogged. I really don't have much of an excuse except that a lot has happened in the past 8 months.

First I am happily employed at Logan's Roadhouse on Ireland, come and see me. I am usually working Tues-Thur and either Friday or Saturday and then again on Sunday, all evening shifts. It is a lot of fun and I really like all the people that I work with.

Monkey is back in school and is really thriving, we can't believe how well he's doing and how much progress he is making. We are so excited for Peanut to start next year.

My Grandmother who was 100 in April passed away in November. She lived a long and wonderful life. I am trying to put together a history of her life, it is extremely interesting.

Christmas here was wonderful, the kids were absolutely spoiled and I loved every minute of the whole season.

Now here we are in a whole new year and things are pretty good. The boys have a new dog, a Yorkie named Ozzie. He is 8 weeks old and adorable. We are working on the potty training and sleeping through the night. It's like having another baby. I love it but can't wait for him to be trained.

Monday I made a big decision for myself and indirectly, my family. I have joined Jenny Craig. I have been quite unhappy with my weight for as long as I can remember, mostly since High School. I have determined that I want to lose 37 lbs. It seems like a lot and at first I was like I don't know if I can do it. But they have a lot of support and the food is really good so I am really excited. This is actually something that I have wanted to do for a really long time and I decided that I am not getting any younger and this is something that I am going to do for myself.

I am really going to try and work harder at making this blog something that everyone will want to read. If you have any feed back for me just comment and let me know what you think.

Love
Jenn