Starting From Square One…Again!

Every time I go into Spine Team Spokane I learn something new about my conditions.  I am lucky enough to have about 5 separate problems with my ligaments, nerves, tendons, etc. They have all 'ganged' up on me and made my life a 'living hell'. 

However, I am acutely aware that things could be worse, and I should 'count my blessings'. And I do - I could probably count my blessings more often though!

Here's the latest laundry list of my conditions, and of course, although none of them can be treated by surgery and require more  work, at least two have been almost eliminated already through splinting and exercises:

Left neck pain/stiffness due to fall 34 years ago - almost gone due to exercises! I went to chiropractors for years because of this pain.

Right shoulder impingement, shoulder bursitis and tendonitis causing lots of nerve symptoms all over, including loss of fine motor hand\arm skills, vertigo, ear pains, stuffed up nose, slurred speech that comes and goes, back large muscle spasms, and on and on. Had a shot to reduce inflammation and help healing, and also to help me do exercises better. So far, pain is greatly reduced but other symptoms are not - yet!

Left  middle finger, 'trigger finger'- look up if you want, but almost all gone. This was very painful.

Right hip causing aching, pain and numb toes of both feet that worsens when standing. This coming Friday they will give my hip a 'numbness diagnostic shot'. I am praying this works. I've had this since before kids were born. Between this condition and the vertigo - caused by that nerve being pinched - I have a hard time walking.

Vertigo caused by a pinched shoulder nerve. I am doing exercises every day for this, but because the nerve is pinched the exercises only help the vertigo for a couple hours. This won't resolve until the shoulder swelling goes down and frees up the nerves.

I'm really happy about the neck pain being gone! Wow, after all of these years. So, I'm still trying to eliminate what's left (!) and in the meantime, I am sewing and decorating - but slowly for me. 

My new cookie mold - thanks to Mom - and in honor of the Little Sheep flock!

XOX

A Glimmer of Hope! An Update.

I have been putting off this post all day, because I'm so cynical and unbelieving when I get good news about my nerves. 

The last news I gave was that I'm now being treated in a clinic in Spokane, called Spine Team Spokane. They specialize in non-surgical therapies for spines, backs, nerves, bones, muscles, etc. They go over your MRIs (I've had 3) and diagnose your symptoms using your MRIs and your input and an exam that includes a lot of physical testing.  They not only have a medical doctor running the clinic, all of the doctors (there are 3) and the Physician Assistant, are Board Certified, and each has many years experience. 

 Their Physical Therapists are 'McKenzie'

certified, and in the case of my PT,  he is a McKenzie Diplomat (highest you can go). McKenzie trained PTs are highly regarded and trained to get results - go to the Spine Team website and you can look up 'Treatment', then 'Physical Therapy': SpineTeamSpokane

Anyway, I was diagnosed by Spine Team with several problems, each will be dealt with separately, but none of them require surgery, and I have no bulging discs, or nerves being pressed by bulging discs, according to them and the Doctor's reports that came with the MRIs - BY THE WAY, which I never saw, (I saw someone else's) or had the reports read to me. In fact, the MRIs I saw after mine were taken, were very different from the MRIs I saw - by accident -  at the other place 5 months later. Since I've stopped the decompressions, tractions and in general the bone treatments, the pain has reduced, and with the new PT and some injections in my shoulders (my upper body diagnosis), I have a 70% reduction in pain. 

In a nut shell, and because I can't remember medical names, I can say basically,  I have been diagnosed with shoulder(s) muscles that are injured and impinging on my nerves which effect my arms and hands, upper legs, ears, mouth, eyes, etc.  This very symptomatic soft tissue injury makes a lot more sense considering my garden accident. 

My lower legs in the hip area have caused symptoms in my lower back, feet (numbness that is worse the longer I stand) and sciatica on both sides for years -  I have finally been told after all these years, that the main nerve does not got through it's proper area and is chronically swollen. No wonder chiropractic never worked on my lower back!

I also have a treatable form of vertigo (ugh!) and Trigger Finger! What a mess I am.

What this means is that I'm still very symptomatic but the shoulder/back related pain is better and some of the symptoms are coming and going, instead of everything getting worse,

 or staying bad.

But today, the really good news that I'm having trouble allowing myself to get excited about, is that when I had my right shoulder injected today (to make the inflammation go down so I could tolerate physical therapy better), it was done - as the left shoulder was done a couple weeks ago - using a sonogram so the injection area  could be better seen and would be more accurate;  this time I saw and the PA could see an inflamed area near the shoulder area that wasn't normal. When he injected the area and dug (!) around - my fingers, elbow, neck, lips - in short, my symptom areas were buzzing and/or had pins and needles. 

I am going to get back to normal, and I'll get a new limo too!

I felt like maybe they were right and I really am not crazy! WELL, I won't go that far… I have exercises and other work to do, but I was so relieved to see that inflammation!

More as I PROGRESS!

xox

Same' Ol Same'Ol

This is my absolutely favorite picture!

I've been asked a lot lately how my discs in my neck and back are doing, so I thought I'd do an update.(If you want to find out more about my injuries and treatment, go to "Labels" in the bottom right hand column of this blog and click "Spine" and scroll down.)

So far, the exercises, decompression, and traction have loosened up the muscles protecting the spine/neck and back, but the discs are still pinching my nerves and I have a lot of symptoms from that: vertigo, constant pain and stiffness in my neck, back and arms. I can't write at all - not even a shopping list -
as have no fine motor control.  The slurring speech and heavy eyelids are better - the nerves are shifting under the pinching and do change around a little, so my symptoms do change. 

When they do decompression I can feel the pinched nerves being pulled; and my tongue, eyes, ear, ARMS!, fingers, leg muscles all have tingling and nerve sensations. I have to keep moving, the discs harden after ten or so minutes of not moving and it becomes like a hard nail pinching the nerves instead of a fingertip, then my symptoms really become worse and more noticeable. 

Sooooo...I'm still doing the exercises, machine decompressions, traction, chiropractor adjustments, physical therapy sessions and begging prayers and good thoughts! 

My spirits are good, but I'm seriously limited as to what I can do physically, and I easily poop out! But what a life, huh?

Not my favorite picture! White being the worst, then red, orange, yellow, green, and blue being cool. Blue/Green is normal.  Ouch!

x o x

Sherry's New Toy

My new food dehydrator by Nesco. It has been in use daily since I got it - mostly with drying herbs that are coming up now in the garden. I also made some organic lemon zest (below) which smelled up the house very nice today. Liz and I really like homemade zest.

Bob worked really hard this past weekend in my garden - he's really not into 'gardening' so this was a real chore for him. I'm anticipating a big crop!

On my list for new appliances this year to make things a lot easier on my neck/back I have the new Heavy Duty Commercial Grade 7 qt Pro-line Kitchenaid Mixer;

and the new Kitchenaid Pro-line Commercial Grade Food Processor and Dicer:

Both are reduced price at Williams Sonoma, so I'm going to ask for gift certificates from there for birthdays, X'Mas, allowances, etc., until I have enough.

The bulging discs in my back have not un-bulged or un-pinched any nerves - so although I'm much stronger and more 'fluid' I am preparing for things to remain the same for a while. But I'll still do my tractions, exercises and twice monthly machine decompressions. I'll also have to make things as easy as possible in my everyday life. 

We never had our cabinets fitted for insides of any type (and  everything is piled on top of each other - pots, lids, pans, etc.)  and to get anything out of them I usually have to use disc damaging brute strength, or try to get on the floor and heft stuff around and pull out what I need, then get up - and do it all over again when I put it back. So we researched Rev-A-Shelf cabinet inners and we're fitting our handmade, non-standard cabinets with these - one cabinet at a time. Why is everything a chore!?

x o x

Deck View Last Week

It was beautiful and hot last week! I took these pictures from our deck. Everything's still green and lush, and the hummingbirds are buzzing around. Worth the wait.

Still doing my exercises and weekly decompressions and feel really loose, but the pinched spinal cord and nerves are still holding on. So, not much to report.

Spring!

Happy Birthday Liz, Pictures and Miscellaneous News

We've been busy this month! I have pictures of Liz on her birthday, the laundry/seedling room, the cross stitch projects I'm working on, new side bar quotes and books I'm reading, and news from up here.

Liz has been making her rounds for her '21 Acts of Kindness', but she also celebrated her 21st Birthday in various other ways: a home dinner, out with her brother and his friends, and at a local trendy bar with her friends. She had a really great week and great birthday!

Liz at 'Bardenay', a restaurant and distillery, with her very close friend Katie (who is married and  having a baby in July!)

Liz somehow injured the tendon of her left pinkie, so she had to put off her RCM test until November this year. She's trying to work some tennis (which she loves) in when the weather permits, which is about once a week, so far.



Liz and Bob do a lot together. She or Frank, and sometimes both of them, have lunch with Bob or attend police type award ceremonies, pot lucks, etc., and Liz usually volunteers.

Frank, Liz and Bob target practice this week using the rifles. Frank's friends from work, and local friends, also target practice often here. Liz took a gun course and target practices when she has time. Love her outfit! Little cold up here maybe?  

Julie groomed and 'gussied up' for the Spring.

Here's what I've been working on this past month and I'm almost done. It's a garden and I made it with our house/barn colors. I also changed the women to reflect myself, and Liz near the frog under the basket - they look a little less Victorian too.

***

ANNIVERSARIES OF THE HEART

Lately I've been collecting quotes - some quotes are really deep, other quotes are just too true, and strike me as funny! Here's a quote to start the Anniversaries of the Heart cross stitch project info:

"God would not have made me this creative if He wanted me to clean."

The 'house' (an old symbol for the soul) blocks are made like a calendar - snow in January, hearts in February, etc., and you can assign different people in your life, or family, based on what is in the block (colors, symbols, or month). They are laid out above and each has a leaflet with a picture and a chart (see pictures below). If a person or couple has children I add their initial or I'll add their parents' initial to a child's block.

I've already assigned the blocks to family members. When I work on a block I think of the person(s) being represented and add or changes colors and symbols to better represent them. While sewing I can think of the many ways they've influenced me over the years, I pray for their intentions and I'm thankful for them. 

This is my Mom's (Alta's) block above. I'm working on this block now (far right block on original below). I've made many changes on this block: added blackberries along left side, waves instead of Greek key, bigger and fewer windows on house, Chester and Lulu dogs instead of birds on bottom, different colors here and there. She likes tulips and there are many, and she's always had potted plants, so I picked this block for her.

From the top left: my Dad Frank, then Ed & Viola's block, then fourth from left is my sister Maeve, then my mother Alta's is unfinished. 

Gail & Bob's will be all the way on the left, second row, then Dick & Connie's, Al & Edna's,  Liz is fourth from the left, second row, then Chuck & Mikel Ann. 

Third row from left: Bruce and Sheri, Frankie, Chas and Alison/AJ,  and double block for us.

This  project will take a long time to do. I pick it up and put it down to do other, more seasonal projects - but I love the colors and the overall project itself. 

More pictures later as I make progress on it!

The 'seedlings' are taking over! And we can't get them out of the house and planted until May 15th to be safe from frost (it was 25 degrees last night!). The greenhouse has a a flat of strawberries and some volunteer Lemon Balm I potted and two pots of blueberries - but I close the GH door every night.

You can see Mom's kitchen slowly becoming a laundry room and my new Speed Queen washer! (Dryer comes in a couple weeks.)

SPINE/NECK NEWS

Well, I had my '20th Decompression/Appointment' checkup last week and although my Spine is much more fluid and the exercises help my pain, the main symptoms of my bulging neck discs are the same. My lower back is much better. So, based on what I've researched, I'm going to try the decompressions another 10 times, and after that I'll continue the exercises, home traction, inversion chair, maintenance appointments, and use the info I've learned.

Yawning Shadowfax

xox

Back To Square One

Happy Eastertide! The weather here has been warm for us, 65 - 70 degrees, but sometimes it's windy and overcast to remind us that it isn't Spring yet. We actually BBQ'd on Easter after Mass and had what I thought was a very relaxing, if not traditional, meal.

Liz has been gathering ideas for her '21 Acts of Random Kindness' she's doing to celebrate her 21st birthday coming up. I really like this idea. She has a lot of 'acts suggestions' from friends and family, but she would love more (especially cheap or free ideas) so leave a comment here below or send me, or her, an email. 

Some 'acts ideas' are: filling all the car meters on a busy street, bringing thank you's and candy to nurses at hospital and coloring books/crayons to hospitalized kids, lots of 'paying it forward' suggestions, bring free snacks for Frank's work - already done!, and more I can't remember. Much better idea than getting drunk because now 'you're old enough' - and, actually, she told a friend she's old enough to do a lot of things, but that doesn't mean she does them...She also has a Piano Performance exam in May for her Royal Conservatory of Music program that she's studying for (and fretting about!)

Frank is plugging away at work and online classes - busy boy. Bob is working hard around the house, he's trying to pick up my slack - there are definitely things I can't do  -yet - and trying to catch up with for his campaign year 'off'. As usual, he's in really good health, good shape and so FUNNY! With Bob, as you all know, his cup is always full and over flowing - mine is usually half empty and drying up rapidly, so, he really helps me to see the brighter side of things!

Speaking of my cup: I've been sick with a stomach/head cold bug for about a week and it has made my neck/spine problems much more painful and the other symptoms worse also. So I've been sort of back to square one while waiting for this bug to end so I can resume my treatments. More later on that!

Thank you for the funny email forwards, Easter and Get Well cards, good wishes and prayers! 

XOX

Two Steps Forward - One Step Back

My neck/back are still getting better, but the injury that causes the most symptoms persists. The Dr. says I'm right on target so that helps dispel my despairing moments! I'm starting to look forward to the exercises and decompressions - like my body needs them. So, 'still keeping on'.

xox

Gardening in North Idaho

OK - you Californians - today and yesterday we've had sun, hail, rain, and snow - in one day! 

But, here's a picture of my garden (it doesn't show but it was very windy), and of half of my hopeful garden seedlings. Yes, I just planted seeds - and I won't plant them in the ground until around May 10th -  depending on the weather.

Grandma Alta sent this picture of her puzzle - almost done! I sent this to her as a Christmas gift, and I'm glad to see it almost completed because the weather in California is 'Springish' all over the state and soon it'll be too nice outside for puzzles.

I got this picture today of some beautiful budding trees from Bonnie, a friend in San Jose, CA.  But I've also heard from Nevada and Southern CA that there's enough really warm days for winter to be over there.

I go to my back appointments twice a week now but continue to do the exercises and weights 2x day. I ice very infrequently now. Things are getting better - the edge is off most of my symptoms except the area causing the most symptoms! If that bulging disc would pop back in place I could almost live with everything else! 

Grandma Alta sent me her friend Maggie's Corned Beef recipe which she's been using for years and Grandma and Charlie seemed to like it, so here it is:

Maggie’s Corned Beef

1 package of corned beef - cook meat as directed on the package until tender, but first throw away the flavor packet inside the wrapping.

Instead add to the water:

2-3 Tablespoons pickling spice (a must - but to your taste).  

Note – can throw the spice in the pot of water or put it in a pouch and add to the water for easy retrieval.  I’ve done it both ways. 

I also tried cooking cabbage, carrots and potatoes in the same pot with the meat but I thought the spice was too much for the veggies so have cooked ( Sherry here: bake?)) them separately ever since then, so throwing the loose spice in the pot is OK since it is not getting mixed up with the veggies. 

Cook meat as directed on the package until tender. When done, take the meat out of the pot and put it on a broiler rack or on a cake pan.  

Make a sauce by mixing equal parts brown sugar and yellow mustard.  Actually any type of mustard you like is good. Start with around ¼ cup of each and make more if needed to cover the top of the meat. Pour or spoon the sauce over the meat and put it under the broiler for a few minutes until the mixture bubbles on top. 

Take the meat out, plate it or on a wooden cutting board and slice it up thin.   It’s great cold for sandwiches, too! 

I'm going to try it. I love recipes - especially of food I can eat. Sharing recipes, and seeing weather and garden photos from all over is fun - so please send them to me and let me know if they can go on this blog.

XOX

Neck, Back, and Appliance Troubles

I came upon this prayer in my Missal last week: Third Sunday of Lent, Gradual prayer (to the right-scroll up) and thought it was a perfect prayer for me - and this blog. It is funny and uncanny!

As I head into week 5 of treatments/exercises I can say that although I am much better and the decompressions and exercise are less painful, I am not 'cured' completely yet. I am much more flexible - spine/discs and overall. My balance is better and my family says I look straighter and am doing my usual housework more easily. These websites have much more information if you are interested:www.diskandspinenorthwest.com  and
http://pettibonsystem.com/about/how-pettibon-works.

So, I keep plugging away... I am invoking all your prayers when I pray and I also pray for your intentions. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.

Mom and I are having a puzzle 'challenge' this winter - yes it's still winter here - and here's mine BEFORE I finished it. She sent me this puzzle and I just love the birds. Maybe she'll send me a picture of her puzzle to put on the blog -hint!

I received some positive feedback from several of you about the cookie molds. Here's our pictures of this week's cookie making - cleaned up a little first! (The entire kitchen, myself, the floor and most of my kitchen gadgets were covered with cookie mess or  powdered sugar and flour.) 

The cookies dry for 2 -3 days before baking. This is so the pictures will be dry & solid and make it through the baking process. They puff up during baking from the middle of the cookie leaving the top intact - we hope.

The 'cleaned up' version of our table on cookie making day.

Cookies waiting to dry. These Springerle cookies take most of the day to make and then clean up after.

The really large cookie mold above (13" d) is the Nativity Scene surrounded by animals, and then fruit/plants (Creation). It's from 1654 AD - so it says on the mold. The original carving (very detailed!) was obviously made crooked over time. It's hard to get a proper exact size cookie from it as it is warped. So we use just the center Nativity. That's powdered sugar on the readied molds.

Liz made some colored chocolate candies in our candy molds for the St. Joseph Table -  and our Easter.

Bob and I are replacing our water heater this week - last week it was the fridge - and we're looking at a new washer/dryer soon. Over our married years I've learned that appliances always seem to go at the same time!

Next week I'll show pictures and explain the Anniversaries of the Heart cross stitch project I'm sewing  - when I finish it (in a year maybe) it will be a real keepsake. I'm very proud of it not just because it's a lot of work, but because every family member on both sides of our families is represented and their block is full of the colors and symbolism I've chosen for them. What they have meant as part of my life all these years. While I sew I think about that family member, which is really nice - to spend time with my fondest memories of them.

xox

Feast Days Before Easter

I am still exercising and going to treatments and there are improvements to report especially regarding the movements in the overall spine and especially my neck. Not much more happening- just keeping on....

Right now Catholics are in Lent - a penitential time in preparation for Easter - so my pain, and especially my inability to do my usual work is fitting for this time. Thinking about Easter and the coming feast days helps get my mind off my back issues.

During this month of St. Joseph it's traditional for homes and/or Parishes to have a St. Joseph Altar or a table or shrine in his honor - his feast day is March 19th. Right now this is especially important as he is the Patron Saint and Protector of the Church (and of families, fathers, homes and workers and other countries and other causes) and the Church is electing a new Pope. 

Our Parish has a St. Joseph Altar (in Parishes they usually take an entire room) traditionally filled with great - mostly Italian -desserts and other traditional foods (see the book, a must have for pictures, history and recipes, titled St. Joseph Altars, by Kerri McCaffety - www.amazon.com). These foods are afterwards given to the poor along with food from our pantries and food gift cards. A simple St. Joseph shrine using a picture or Holy Card and flowers, etc., can be put in a home or apartment whether your Parish does an Altar or not. You can hand out food to your neighbors, or the local food bank too.

Each year I've been making Springerle Cookies (a dense cake/cookie) from reproduction molds made from original and very old carved wooden molds in European museums. Some of the molds are Medieval and were handed out by the Guilds as gifts to celebrate the feast day of their patron saint - like this intricate cookie mold (6 inch diam.) from the Baker's Guild in an area, probably from the 1600's.

What I love about these molds is they don't need decorating, they have a story, the molds will last a lifetime, cost relatively little and the finished cookie looks astounding and lasts a long time. There are many types of cookie molds - from simple designs to elaborate ones.  The St. Nicholas molds are wonderful! You can see or buy cookie molds at www.houseonthehill.net and wood carved molds at www.cookiemold.com. Generally, the deeper the carving, the better the mold. The following book is the cookie mold encyclopedia with recipes, history and pictures: Baking With Cookie Molds, Anne Watson at  www.amazon.com.

So, to contribute to the St. Joseph Altar in my low energy way I am making some Springerle cookies and some molded chocolate candies - also low energy - just melt and pour. These candy molds as well as the cookie molds, can also be used with paper sculpting or beeswax to make cards, ornaments, and so on. 

They are about $2 each and also available at www.amazon.com under (Religious) Chocolate Candy Molds. There's two candy molds for the 12 days of Christmas, which have to be searched for under '12 days, etc.' and also search for 'Jesus and Mary chocolate candy mold' for the one on the left below under 'Jesus, etc.'

As for St. Patrick's Day, which is also coming - (March 17th) in Lent before Easter, years ago Liz and I made these pins (I never seem to have green clothes on that day) from buttons, scraps of material and holy medals and I'm going to fix them up: replace ribbon and maybe add a trinket.

By the way, St. Patrick was not a drunk, fat, leprechaun! He was a brave and fearless defender of the Catholic faith. He is a Saint of the Catholic Church, who is honored for converting the brutal pagan tribes of Ireland after escaping from there as a slave, and being educated and trained to the priesthood and eventually made a Bishop. He is the Patron Saint of Ireland. The shamrock symbol associated with him is a representation of the three persons of the one God. His prayers and letters are still in print although he was born in 387 AD.

Happy Feast Days!

xox

Hurts So Good!

Yesterday and today were more painful during the machine decompressions. More icing (!) -  but we're getting past the tight muscles and decompressing the vertebrae that are causing the pinched nerves in my neck that effect my arms. Lots of new tingling and burning of my face, arms, hands and lower back.

I get a break from appointments tomorrow and then start up again Thursday, but I keep up my daily exercises.

When I go into Disc and Spine I do warm-up exercises that take about a half hour. These include balancing and wobbling with weights, stationary neck traction, 'fulcrum' and core strength exercises, and so on, at different stations there. While I and others do our workouts, we talk about our issues - how we got where we are physically and what we've tried so far, our worst symptom and our lives in general.

I am amazed by these talks - the number of people who have hurt their backs and how they have been to chiropractors, physical therapists, and doctors for years - like me. I'm also amazed at how many people I know (that responded to my email) that are in some kind of therapy for back pain. (I'm Prayin'!)  I had no idea - I thought everyone complained as much as I do!

This past Sunday we had our Parish Young Adults Group meeting here for dinner and pool, ping pong, 'nerf gun' wars and other games. What a fun group. We've had several of these 'parties' over the last few years and always have a good time. Our Parish Prior came for awhile, dinner was chili - dessert was cookies - perfect! Frank and his girlfriend Theresa came also, and we had about 50 'kids'. There's nothing like 'young' energy!

I hope to have more pics later today or tomorrow.

Neck/Back Treatments

This has been a crazy week - sick 'kids' and trying to adjust my daily life to include my 1-1/2 hour  'exercises' twice a day. Liz has been my greatest help - cooking dinners, doing dishes, driving a sick Frank to the doctors twice and to get his meds, while I go to appointments. She's also been encouraging and cheerful!

I finally have some time to write about my spine treatments, and I'll start with my various spine problems. As I said in my initial email I have bulging discs in my neck, lower back and at least one degenerative disc in my middle back. On top of this, my neck is bent and deeply curved (forward neck syndrome) causing my lower back to compensate by becoming very straight and inflexible - it should curve towards the belly button. The curved neck further pinches the bulged discs which pinch the nerves. So, it all has to be treated at the same time. These pinched nerves cause all kinds of symptoms and I think they're worse than the treatments! I've had several injuries over the years which have contributed to the initial severe whiplash I had gotten (in Tahiti!) when I was in my early 20's.

I am being treated at Disc and Spine Northwest in CDA,  and part of my treatments include using the decompression machine there, chiropractic treatments, cold laser treatments, good nutrition, lots of exercises, traction, weights and so on. You can look this all up at: www.discandspinenorthwest.com, and also at one of the sites of the systems they use: www.pettibonsystem.com. My treatments and exercise take about 4 hours a day, and are designed to fix and retrain/re-mold my spine.

I have to avoid anything that brings my head/neck forward and down for extended times - which is everything I do: cross stitch, embroidery, computer work, painting, reading, etc. Very difficult!

It's hard work and painful - but I am determined (and thankfully my family is helping me!) to keep at it. I will undergo these treatments for 4 - 5 more weeks, then the exercises for 6 more months, then once a day for the rest of my life.

Bob took more pictures of our 'creek' and the 'farm' before it started snowing again, and he'll upload them later today.

Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts!

xox

Daily Life

Family and Friends,

I've never 'blogged' before, and I hope that as I learn this becomes easier and more creative. I plan to make weekly entries to this diary - mostly about what we're doing, pictures of our chores and projects - instead of numerous emails.

Once everyone gets this 'blogspot' address (SCF2319.blogspot.com) they can read the updates about my neck/back treatments and any news around here.

So far, my treatments are uncomfortable - very. But it's taken 30 years for my neck, especially, to get in this condition. After week two of treatments I'll write more about the diagnosis/treatment plan.

I'm anxious to see if this works.....

xox