Uh-oh A Shot In the Back...

Since last March or so I've been having trouble with my lower back.  First it was stiff when I would get up from sitting. Then in July I started feeling weakness in my butt muscle and some pain and thought I might have an inflamed bursa in the hip. 

In to the Dr. went I and got steroid injections which helped the hip joint as I did have some swelling in my hip bursa, but the pain and weakness in the butt muscle was still there.  I proceeded to therapy and did strengthening exercises and did everything the Physical Therapist asked of me. I got a little relief but after two more cortisone injections and lots of Arthrotec (anti-inflammatory) the pain the the butt muscle increased and started progressing down to my knee. 

Good explanation of problem 

In December I went back to the Dr. and was informed that the next step was an MRI. On the last day of the year I had the MRI.  The results were not exactly what I was hoping for.  I have degeneration in the spine, due to age, along with Scoliosis as well as Lumbar Stenosis which is affecting the Sciatic Nerve and causing extreme discomfort down to my knee in the left leg. The weakness in the butt muscle is greatly affected and is a bother on so many levels. 

Today I went to the Oklahoma Surgery Center and an Anesthesiologist gave me an epidural injection of Cortisone in my lower back. I really liked him. He explained to Dave and I what my condition was and what the MRI showed.  He also explained what he was going to do. He said it may take two rounds of medication to help and to not let the pain get away from me. I noticed on the procedure sheet that it might take a week for the medicine to work.  They wanted me to keep a good watch on my blood sugar as Cortisone raises blood sugar to high levels. 

The nurse was a real sweetie and very helpful. She has been a nurse for 29 years and has a great desire to go back to Yellowstone.  I hope she makes it. 

Once the procedure was over I got dress and Dave and I left.  So far so good. I need to get my stability ball out and start exercising on it. The Dr. was saying that it would help my back if I were to strengthen my core muscles. 

So now it is a wait and see game.  Hopefully I will only have to have one shot and be done with it however it could take up to three shots to get the job done...we shall see.

Oh the joys of joining the ranks of 65 and older, two more months exactly as of today. Whoopee I go on Medicare...

{{{Burrrrrrrrrr}}} Are You Kidding Me?????

Baby it's COLD outside!  What a name for a song but Baby it's COLD outside!  The wind is kicking up to 25 mph, the temperature gauge is reading 29 degrees and falling.

How was your Christmas?  Ours was wonderful.  We headed south to warmer weather, saw the grans and had a great time playing with them.  Noah requested Play-dough again this year so I made some with him.  Andy climbed up and watched me stir the pot. 

 

Making Play-dough

I had been sick with Bronchitis just before the break and had a second round of antibiotics which left my system depleted of good bacteria so ended up with a severe case of Thrush.  Not fun!  But I did manage to clear it up on my own without having to spend more money on Doctors or prescriptions.  I still have a lingering cough due to the cold weather but I feel so much better. 

Our daughter from Kansas City arrived on Saturday after she had participated in a Cross-fit contest with another Cross-fit Gym in KC that morning.  She drove in horrible weather-snow and ice-but she knows how to drive in it since she had a great teacher, her dad, who hails from Canada. 

We finished wrapping all the gifts and had a small problem in that we were not going to take our big Suburban but her Ford Escape instead.  Task: How do you get 3 people, 3 dogs, their dog beds, Christmas gifts, suitcases, pillows, blankets and a big boxed playhouse all in and on the car?  Problem solved: She has a 1" trailer hitch on her escape, we have a 2 inch Hitch  on our car and a Hitch Cargo Carrier. 

We ended up getting an adapter and put it on the back of her car for the carrier. We emptied out her camping trunk, filled it with presents, put a tarp on the carrier put the trunk and suitcases on the cargo carrier wrapped the tarp around the luggage and such and secured it with bungee cords.  The playhouse was another challenge as we had to move her roof rack bars into position and lash the box to the top of the car. The back end of the car was filled with bagged presents, blankets and pillows, cameras, and various other items. The two big dogs laid on their beds in the folded down seat next to Dave, the small dog sat in the front floor board between my feet and Christie drove.  It was quite a site.  Coming back we had lots of room and all three dogs were in the back seat of the car.  

The boys made a haul as it should be. They got lots of neat stuff.  A mini card table and chair set. A batman cave, a big metal Tonka truck, cars and super hero suits, new jammies and new movies to watch.  

Playing with the Bat Cave

Towel sets for the kitchen

I got a new iron, yes you read right, but it's what I asked for. I needed it so I could finish some Christmas gifts I was making. My other iron has seen better days.  A nice new warm thermal shirt and coat. Christmas socks, DVDs and a wonderful sign that Christie made for over the door of the trailer when we get it. 

Home is where the RV is parked!

Dave and I must have been thinking the same thing as we got each other the same gift.  Wireless Headphones for the TV.  You should have seen the expressions on our faces when we opened our gifts.  Priceless...

We went out to J's parents place to have Christmas day dinner.  J's mom once again out did herself.  That woman loves to cook. 

Thursday night we went to dinner at The Butcher Shop, it was yummy as usual. Afterwards we went out to Santa Land.  A family there has a large piece of property that they decorate.  I would say there is at least a thousand different displays.  The kids just loved it.  

We came home on Friday as the kids had a photo shoot to prepare for.  It was a good trip as we went through Dallas at 9 at night (not as much traffic), ended up looking for a Starbucks to get coffee.  It turned out to be an hour long side trip.  Seems it's hard to find a Starbucks along the highway at Mesquite, TX. You have to get off the highway for about 2 miles before you find one, thank goodness for GPS. 

We pulled into our driveway at 1 in the morning to be met with downed tree limbs from the ice storm we had just before we left. We are very thankful that the wind did not pick up or we would have had severe damage to our trees, whats left of them.  

New Year's eve was quiet and we enjoyed each others company and had our customary kiss and toast of eggnog.   New Years day we did our annual movie day. This year we only got 2 movies in as I had to return to work on Thursday and the movie times did not line up with the stars.  We saw The Hobbit, The Desolation of Smaug which was great and The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, it too was great and a great story.  Interestingly they both left you hanging when least expected.  We enjoyed them both and look forward to the last of each trilogy.   Our third movie would have been the animated Frozen.

It dawned on me the other day that I only have 351 days until retirement. WOW! 

I hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas and New Years Holiday.  May you find peace, may you have a prosperous 2014. And for all our friends out on the road...stay safe in your travels.

Happy New Year!!!!