Baby

I knew that would get you attention.

Whheeee! Look at me. Tooling around on my new computer. Ok, so it's not just mine, but I'm on it now. It's been nicknamed The Beast by Mr. Mayhem. He was very surprised with the size of the tower. It's 21 inches tall, 22 inches long, and 9 inches wide. It's also not rectangular. It's a parallelagram. The cabinet is also silver, so Mayhem #2 calls it "Shiny Guy". The monitor is wide-screen so even I (aka The Blind Lady) can see it better. The keyboard and mouse are wireless. Are we hip and happen' or what? We still need to get a printer. One that will print all those pictures that are sitting in the computer.

Mr. Mayhem ordered it and had it shipped to work. He thought it would be in several boxes, but it was in one huge 74 lb. box that barely fit in the backseat. I was able to get him to eat dinner before he started unpacking it. While he opened the box, guess who got to go out in the rain to get a power strip for the new baby? He had showed it to the IT guys at work and they told him he better not call in sick tomorrow or they's know why. Mr. Mayhem seems to think he should get some paternity leave.

FOOT UPDATE

The foot hasn't improved any. I see another specialist next week. A physiatrist. I have noticed that I have been babying it so now I'm working harder to make sure I'm walking normally on it. The pain level is about a 12. I've also started hobbling up to the high school and volunteering to make copies again. I guess I need to figure out how to get on with my life. Next weekend I go with the band to Branson, Mo. Where's the wheelchair?

Empty nest practice

Mayhem #1 had offered to let Mayhem #2 come and spend a weekend with her earlier in the school year. We finally got around to it last weekend. I deposited Mayhem #2 and plenty of food that had absolutely no nutritional value at the dorm Friday. I believe they wolfed down the McDonald's food I picked up on the way into town and then they went ballroom dancing for the evening. I was so jealous. I had another 2 hour drive to get home. The rest of their weekend was less than productive, but they had a blast. Once again, Mayhem #2 cried when she got home because she missed her sister.

Mr. Mayhem and I didn't do anything exciting while we had the place to ourselves. We did a little puttering at the mall. Believe me...Puttering is about how fast I go. We went to Blockbuster and rented "Casino Royale" and "The Devil Wears Prada" and had a movie fest that afternoon. Then we had dinner at On the Border. Like I said, nothing exciting, but we told everyone at church that we thought we might like this empty nest syndrome.

The foot is still the same. Now my back has been hurting me for the last two weeks. I blame the pain doctor and his nerve block in my back. My podiatrist is starting my on Cymbalta. It is for depression, but it is also used for patients with diabetic neurapathy. At least he gave me some samples because I'm sure it's not on my formulary list.

Thanks for dropping by Lenise. I did get the comments fixed with a little help from Mr. Mayhem.

Put me down

Well, I’m not dead, but yesterday would’ve been a good day for it. I’ll try to catch you up with my craziness if you don’t mind a little emotional spew.

In Jan., my podiatrist sent me to another doctor for a second opinion after the MRI he ordered didn’t show any reason my foot should still be hurting. The other doctor said I had an 80 year-old foot based on the x-ray. He said the blood vessels had been wide open for some time and that had washed out my bone. He said I had a pain syndrome and sent me to a pain management doctor.

This doctor said he thought I had complex regional pain syndrome. For three weeks I’ve had nerve blocks. One in my back and two in my foot, to try to determine what nerves are causing the pain. This is a big deal because they have to set up an IV and knock me out, which means Mr. Mayhem has had to take off work to take care of me afterwards. I went in yesterday to find out what they had learned and what the course of treatment would be. I didn’t even get to see the doctor. I spoke with the assistant. She said that since the nerve block in my back didn’t help, I probably didn’t have the pain syndrome they thought and there wasn’t really any way to treat the nerves in my foot. I just lost it. I started crying and she went to consult with the doctor. They decided to do the nerve block in my foot again and see if that might reduce the inflammation of the nerve more. She told me to keep my chin up, and I told her that she had just taken away all the hope I had that something could be done. I have the block on Monday.

I had to take Mayhem #2 with me and she was most upset that I cried all the way home and kept crying. This pain is so frustrating. I struggle to walk normally. I use a cane when I go out away from the house. I don’t want to lose the use of the foot. I want to find some answers, but I don’t know where to look. My podiatrist asked if I wanted something for depression on the day that I got the MRI results and started crying on him. I laughed and said, "I’m already taking something!"

Update

Mayhem #2 survived her wisdom teeth extraction, but we're still dealing with it. For the last week, after the dry socket, they've been treating her for muscle spasms in the jaw. She's still on a "no chew" diet. She's also taking muscle relaxers at night. The pain has lessened so hopefully after we see the doctor today she'll be able to eat normally. She tells everyone she's hungry all the time. I thought that was part of being a teenager?

My little tiny incision, five minute surgery turned into a one hour, three inch incision ordeal. The doctor couldn't find the head of the screw because the bone had grown over it. Plus he took out alot of scar tissue. It amazes me how many people ask me, "Well, are you all better now? Does it feel better?" The answers are no and no. I get the stitches out Wednesday. I'll be glad because they are itching like crazy. I'll ask him about getting back to therapy. It was a little depressing when he told me to get a permanent handicap parking placard.

I hope y'all are done with your shopping. I'm not. Mayhem #1 helps out when she's not working. When she drives I can take a pain pill and get a wheelchair. Otherwise I don't attempt to go to the mall. In case I don't post before the holiday, "May you all have a blessed and wonderful Christmas." From the Mayhem Clan

Here we go

In a little bit, I get to go out in the cold and wet to head to the surgery center for my pre-op appointment. Next Thursday the doctor is going to take the screw out of my foot. (I don't want to hear anyone else say, "I've got a screwdriver. I'll take it out for you.") I pray this will alleviate the pain. It's been worse the last few days.

Mayhem #2 has her wisdom teeth taken out tomorrow. She's thrilled. Me neither. I don't do teeth. However, Mom's do what Mom's gotta do.

We had a great Thanksgiving up it Washington state. We enjoyed visiting with Mr. Mayhem's brothers & wives, nieces, nephews, their kids, and his Dad. And Scooter the canary. I had special permission to wear my shoes in the house, since it's normally a no-no. Grandpa and I should've had races up the stairs since we both took them one leg at a time. Mayhem #1 was most distressed when I told her that it wasn't going to snow while we were there, just rain. It snowed the day after we left.

I hope everyone is ready for Christmas because I'm not. I haven't even written my annual letter yet. It may be another New Year's letter.

Frustrated

Indeed I am very frustrated about my foot. I went to the doctor yesterday and I told him it still hurts a lot and it seems to be along the screw. I point-blank asked him if the screw could be causing some type of irritation that was causing the pain every time I try to roll through a step. He said yes, but he's only had it happen three times in his career. He added back the old pain medicine and I'm up to three pills a day on the new one. Needless to say I'm pretty spacey, which is a little scary when I'm driving. I'm to continue therapy, at least for the 12 more visits that the insurance will pay for this year. I'm also getting a tens unit. I'll try it, but I don't want to live the rest of my life with wires running down my leg to leads on my foot. I go back to the doctor in two weeks, and if things aren't better, he said we'll schedule surgery to take the screw out. I'm not sure, but I assume it would have to be the same type of surgery he did to put it in.
This would throw a big kink in the plans. Mayhem #2 is already scheduled to have her wisdon teeth taken out on Dec. 1. We have to move everything of Mayhem #1 home over Christmas break since she's changing dorms. Surgery would have to be before the end of the year since we've already paid the deductible. Boyfriend is suppose to come for a visit. And there is that little holiday called CHRISTMAS! I so need help deciding what to do. I so want to sit and have a good cry, but I have to go pick up Mayhem #2. I guess it'll have to wait.

Phenomenal

Marching season is pretty much over now. Although the band made it to the finals in the area competition, they didn't make it to state. The kids were pretty disappointed. The parents were giving high fives when the kids weren't looking. Everyone is trying to catch up on their sleep and school work. Our last away football game was last week on Thursday. Of course it was an hour away. Mayhem #2 had a paper (rough draft) due on Friday so I quietly asked the band director if I could take her home after halftime since she doesn't play in the stands. He said no. Did I mention that she hadn't been able to work on the paper very much earlier because of all the band stuff? Oh well. She got to be about 12:30 in the blessed A.M. Her English class is second period and the teacher didn't even look at the papers. She just asked who had it done. There were five kids in the class that had it done. All the other band students decided to "turn it in" late and get 10 points off.

During third period the day went slightly out of focus. I get a call from the school nurse who says that Mayhem #2 is saying she can't see properly out her right eye. I pick her up and the doctor's office says to go to the ER. Mayhem #2 is very upset because she doesn't know what's going on with her vision. I was playing it calm, but only on the outside. The prayers for both of us was fast and furious. They check her out and we get to a room pretty quickly. The administrator rolls in her computer and admits us and takes my money. That receipt was the only paperwork I got from the hospital. The doctor isn't too far behind, but Mayhem #2 is feeling awful. She tries lying down and then sitting up and can't get comfortable. The doctor tries to look in her eyes with the lighted tool that is in her room, but decides it isn't bright enough. We find an empty room and try another tool. He decides that she needs to be discharged and sent to an opthamologist. One of the nurses tells me sort of where the doctor's office is and I realize I know where it is. They give me a paper with a map and address on it.

I start driving to where I think the office is and then I look at the map. That's not the same address and location the nurse and I had discussed. I spend 15 minutes driving around and around a six block area trying to find the right medical building and the right parking garage. During this time Mayhem #2 starts dying. She says, "Mom. You know how everyone kept asking me if I felt nauseous? I do now." By the time I get parked, her head is causing her excruciating pain. While we're waiting on the elevator she says she has to throw up. We step back into the parking garage for that event so that we would spare their carpet. We finally get to the office and it's the WRONG office. I should have gone to the one I thought it was. We get back to the car and are working our way out of the garage when the hospital calls to apologize for the confusion about which office we were suppose to be going to. I was not in the mood. Basically, I felt the hospital had just thrown us out.

We get to the right office, and I put Mayhem #2 in a chair while I speak to the ladies at the desk. She breaks for the bathroom that (thankfully) was right in front of her. I follow and we go through the above mentioned routine except we hit the toilet instead of the garage. I am no longer calm on the outside. I'm struggling very hard not to just lose it a cry everywhere. We wait awhile and she's asking me to shoot her because her head hurts so bad. We get called to a room and, after a detour to the wrong room with the wrong assistant, we get to the right one.
The lady asks questions (Hands me the trash can when we mention the throwing up.), and checks her eyes. The doctor does a preliminary exam and then has her eyes dilated and the pressure checked. He comes back and apologizes for having to shine very bright lights in her eyes. He explains that she has had an occular migraine with a visiual phenomenon. He's telling me that it's not a tumor or anything that will lead to a larger problem. She's reaching for the trash can. I'm reaching for the long red hair. He says it may never happen again or it could happen tomorrow. He sends us home with just a prescription for nausea medicine.

She collapses on the couch while I go to the drug store. She doesn't want the medicine. She just wants to sleep where it's dark. I put her in Mayhem #1's room after I put a dark sheet over the window. (Her room has two windows and it's only dark in there at night.) She sleeps for 12 hours. I just so happened to be awake when she woke up at 3:00am. We talked while she ate a few crackers and water. She doesn't even remember most of what happened. I'm just glad she's doing ok.

I think I should complain somehow to the hospital. They sure didn't make us feel good, or ease our fears. Heck, they didn't even give me a HIPPA paper.

Band on the Run

Well, Hi everyone. So nice to see you again. (Not that I can really see you of course.) I hope everything is well with you. Ok....enough of the pleasantries. Let's get to the crazy stuff.

Saturday will be the fifth Saturday in a row that I've been at a band competition. Last week the band made a "1" at the Region UIL competition, so this week it's the Area competition. If they make the top 10 out of the 25 schools in the preliminary round, they go to the finals. If they make the top 5 in the finals, we go to the State competition in San Antonio on Nov. 6. We've been told that if that happens, it's going to be a one day trip. That's 5 to 6 hours on a charter bus, practice, march the prelims, hopefully make the finals, march the finals, hopefully win, and come home on the afore mentioned charter buses. Oh, I'm excited.

The foot still hurts, and now I go to physical therapy twice a week. The guy that did my evaluation seems to think that they can fix my foot. I'm doing all my homework. I had a doctor visit yesterday, and he's still confused about why my foot still hurts. He changed me to a medicine that addresses nerve pain. No help after one pill, but the dosage increases each week until it starts giving me relief.

Mayhem #2 survived to turn 16 on Sunday. Believe me, her longevity has been in doubt on numerous occasions. Friday night she and I drove to Dallas for the Women of Faith "Revolve Tour". It's a conference for teenage girls. I called and made sure her favorite band was going to be playing Friday night, because we knew we couldn't go back on Saturday because of band competition. The only reason we got to go on Friday was the football game that week was on Thursday night in Dallas. Her band, Zoe Girl, only sang one song while Natalie Grant did three or four. Mayhem #2 was most disappointed. Even the schedule that was in our seats said her band was suppose to play, but when we got home she found the fine print that said the schedule was subject to change. I have to admit I was pretty bummed too. I thought I had done everything I could to guarantee her what she wanted for her birthday and it didn't happen. I did get her a couple of books, a Zoe Girl poster, and this cool pen that lights up in a gazillion different colors. One of the books was titled, "The Truth About Guys." The author spoke and he was hilarious. Mayhem #2 thought the part about girls' brains being spaghetti and guys' brains being waffles was brilliant and funny. KJ 52, a Christian rapper, was also there. I liked the one song he did, but I'm not much into rap music. At the very end, I noticed this guy in the aisle next to me, and as I turned around farther there sat KJ 52 on this big glow- in-the-dark X that was on the steps. We knew something was going to happen with that X. He started throwing t-shirts. We didn't get one, but we were just three feet away from KJ 52! I'm all atingle! If we had tried to get any closer, the bodyguard would've taken us out.

Her other gifts were a hit. Mayhem #1 had come in the weekend before and gave her a couple of books, always a great choice. We went out a week early for the birthday dinner. We went to Friday's for appetizers and desserts. She also got a CD, a Batman shirt, some Beanie Babies, and "The mu-oose that bit her sister." That last one was a real hit.

This week has been Red Ribbon Week at school. It's an anti-drug campaign. Monday, after we got back from her field trip to the theater, she changed into her pajama pants for the rest of the day. Tuesday was sports day. I don't think she wore anything special for that. Yesterday was "Super Hero Day". She so wanted to be Batman, but I couldn't find any costumes or even capes. She stuck with the Batman show and went as Harlequinn. Luckily, I had made that type of costume for Mayhem #1 years ago so that was ok. Today, after I bought her a pocket protector, she went as a nerd in white shirt, high waters, nerd glasses, and dad's old bowtie. Tomorrow is camouflage day. I went to the Christian bookstore and found a camo shirt with a Bible reference on it and figured she would wear that more than once. Tomorrow is also game night with an extra band rehearsal thrown in. Mr. Mayhem is going down to be with Mayhem #1 for Family Weekend. And Saturday starts with the kids having to be at the school by 7:45am. We should be back from the competition by 11:00pm assuming we make the finals.

Did I mention that I'm still on crutches?

Mousekewhat?

Sunday afternoon, Mayhem #2 is eating lunch. You have to understand that with my girls, eating lunch at home on the weekends is an event. First they find a book they want to read. Next they fix the "hot" part of the food. (That means whatever they heated in the microwave.) After that they drag out their chip of choice and pour half of the bag on the paper plate or eat straight out of the bag. Then they nibble on cookies or candy for dessert. With Mayhem #2, lunch is not finished until the coke is finished. She'd nurse that thing all day if I'd let her. All of this eating happens while reading afore mentioned book.

Back to Sunday. Mayhem #2 was reading a non-required book during lunch when I came in, somewhere after the cookie part, and said, "Shouldn't you be reading your Mouseketeer...I mean Musketeer book?" She looked at me like I was crazy and said, "What's a Mouseketeer?" I was flabbergasted! She was serious! So I sang, "M-I-C- See you real soon. K-E-Y- Why, because we like you. M-O-U-S-E."

I said, "Don't you know about Annette Funicello or Bobby of "Thank you, Sissy and Bobby?"" ( I think that's too many quotes.) Mr. Mayhem piped in with, "More recently, Brittany Spears, Christine Aguilera, and Nick Somebody, one of the Backstreet boys." I said, "They don't count because they didn't wear ears!"

Just a note

According to Mayhem #2 I've been falling down on the job. And I didn't even know it. One day last week I was working on dinner while she was cleaning out her lunchbox. She asked,"Mom, why don't you put notes in my lunchbox any more? I miss them." I reminded her I sent her off with one on the first day of school. I also said I usually send them on special occasions and there haven't been any lately. Her comment, "Every day is a special day."

I get the hint. I sent not only a note this morning, but a surprise as well. The "chip" portion of her lunch was crunchy chow mein noodles. That's her favorite part of eating at a Chinese restaurant. Sometimes it just takes little things to make them happy and feel good.

Stupid foot

In the past week, I've found out some interesting things about my stupid foot. Instead of hurting on the right side every time I take a step, it hurts on the left. (That is where the screw is so I don't know if that's why or not.) Mr. Mayhem and I went out last weekend to look for an exercise machine that we'll actually use. We've decided that a recumbent bike will probably be the best. The bike doesn't hurt my foot, but I can feel it working my ankle and that's probably a good thing. The elliptical machine hurt Mr. Mayhem's knees. When I tried the elliptical, I found out just how weak my ankle is. The darn thing almost threw me off, and I don't think Mr. Mayhem would've caught me. He was laughing too much. I've also been trying to do things with my foot that will stretch it and make it stronger. (This is called physical therapy without the therapist. I hope I'm not doing more harm than good.) Last night I decided to try to go from flat-footed to rolling up to my toes. I was barefooted by the way. Of course it hurt, but it all hurts. I did it a few times using both feet, but I discovered that my good foot was doing most of the work. I thought I'd try just the bad foot. I thought about it. I tried. Nothing happened. Well, except it hurt. I couldn't pick myself up at all. I guess I have something else to ask the doctor about next week. Stupid foot!

I tried

I tried to come by and visit yesterday, but Blogger wasn't happy then. Now I'm not too happy because whatever crud Mr. Mayhem had last week, I now have. If I could cut off my head I'd feel better.

Next week is homecoming for Mayhem #2 so I've been getting ready for that. I bought a lion to decorate with all the streamers and cowbells for her to carry around school next Friday. This week we have to go to Hillsboro for the football game. It's about an hour and a half away. I told a friend at church where we were going and she said she'd come along if I'd drop her at the outlet mall that was there so she could shop. The drum major has gotten very serious about this year's marching competition. This is our year to go to state, so we now have at least one extra practice a week, not counting sectionals. I called Mayhem #2's piano teacher and told her we'd have to put that on hold until after marching season. That's about the only thing that could give. The homework has to get done, and there has been alot of it.

Mayhem #1 has been working on a big painting for school and I can't wait to see it. She took a picture of a statue we saw when we were in Orlando and turned it into her project. She really seems to be enjoying her classes this year. I think next month her aerobics class starts. No more roller blading. Anybody want to buy some skates and pads?

Mr. Mayhem commented the other day that he would like to get back here some day. He now has a laptop from work that he carries around. He says we would need to upgrade our internet service. I think he just hates our dial up. It's all I know so it works for me. Anyway, to upgrade our internet, we probably need to upgrade our computer. We've been talking about it and looking at the financial aspects. I think we'll have to get a new computer so Mayhem #2 can get her homework done faster and we can get her some study programs for the SAT and ACT. It has absolutely nothing to do with all the new computer games Mr. Mayhem's been eyeballing. Nooooo.

6,5,4...Steroids

I broke down and called the doctor Friday, but of course he was in surgery. They worked me in this morning. He took more x-rays and said all the bones looked ok. (I swear I must glow in the dark after all the x-rays I've had in the last six months.) He said there was some arthritis around one of the joints. He put me on a steroid pack for the next few days, and gave me some anti-inflammatory/pain medication for after that. I go back in about three weeks. He didn't have any explanation for me about the pain. I'm kind of disappointed, but I home the meds will help. Although I am waiting for the first hot flash and sleepless night.

My house is so filthy it makes me want to cry. I need to get up and clean, but it hurts and that makes me want to cry too. Maybe I'll go pick up in my bedroom for a while before I pick up Mayhem #2. I've planned an easy to make dinner so that will help.

Mayhem #2 over-heated at the football game Friday night. We met some very nice firemen from Venus, TX. She's ok, but I'm ready for her to stop this. I thought she was prepared, but I guess she needed more water or Poweraid. The firemen did say that once you've had a heat episode that you're more likely to have it happen again. Great.

Here lizard, lizard, lizard...

I had an interesting animal experience yesterday. Actually, it started Monday. Mayhem #2 found a little baby lizard running around the house. Not the green kind. He was a little brown thing. Before we could catch him and put him out, he had run under the computer desk. Mr. Mayhem told Mayhem #2 not to sit at the computer barefoot unless she wanted her toes nibbled. We figured the lizard would dehydrate and that would be the end of him. I hadn't really thought of him again until I was getting dressed yesterday. I picked up my shorts to put them on and the little fellow fellow out of my pants. I thought he had run under the dresser, but then I saw that he couldn't but he was running around the edge. He blended in with the wood pretty well. I had an empty toothpaste box which I thought I could catch him in. He was a quick little sucker. I tried to use the box to block the corner so he had to run in the box, but he got by. Luckily he stopped before he slipped around behind the dresser. I herded him back the other way and got him in the box next time. He is now free and happy in the front yard. I told Mayhem #2 it was a good thing I found him before I put my shorts on!!! I don't think he would've survived otherwise.

The foot still hurts. You know those little pain charts from 0-10. If I don't have my four Advil in me every four hours, the pain is about a 12. Is this normal? I'm afraid Mr. Mayhem may have to put me down yet.