Friday, January 23, 2009

So...

The PT went pretty well! She said I have excellent movement in my back overall, and that most of the muscles are firing when they should. Woohoo! But she also said that my flexion needs work, and to tell you the truth I don't even really know what that means. :) Maybe it means flexibility? I am totally stiff in most of my muscles, from my neck to my toes. Apparently when I was hunched over that shortened my muscles, which is why I have a hard time stretching or even putting my shoes on. 

So she started me off with some baby-step exercises that are supposed to improve my muscle flexibility... I literally just lay on my back and move my knees from side to side. We are starting out REALLY slowly, but I think that's good because the last core exercises I did made things so much worse. Hopefully I will have some improvement fairly quickly, because I can't afford to have to go to physcial therapy for very long. I can't wait for the day when I am insurable again! 

On a completely different note, today marked the anniversary of Roe V. Wade... congratulations! if you're reading this, you're a survivor. 44 million haven't been as lucky as you and me. 

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Tomorrow...

Is my first physical therapy appointment! I'm a little nervous... Before the neurosurgeon, everyone that got their hands on my back made it worse. I tried to find someone who is experienced with disc problems, but it seems that I have a disc problem on crack or something! It just seems like I've been so different from anyone else any of these people have seen before. Probably because of all of the structural abnormalities (scoliosis, spina bifida, weak muscles, etc.). Still, its frustrating to be the freak that no one can help. I only have to have 2 appointments with the PT (thank God!) so we'll see if he has any nifty exercises that can help my recovery. Overall the back has been *pretty* good lately, although its kind of hit or miss. I've had weeks that have been pretty painful, and even a few times where I wondered if I injured the disc again. But, its been good lately, so I think everything is still okay :) 

Keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer that things go well tomorrow! If they do, I may even be able to get insurance again in a few months! Woo! 

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Classics...

I've been into an old movie kick recently, probably because I've been sick for over a week and therefore unable to flee when my mom has control of the tv remote. My choices when it's her turn: catholic tv or TCM. It hasn't really been that bad though, and it's reminded me of so many great movies and actors that I'm not familiar with. 

So I have a question for any of you that happen to be reading: what are some of your favorite classics? Movies, actors, directors, whatever... let me have it! 

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Vote for baby Kate!

Soooo I happen to be godmother to one of the cutest babies on the planet... and her photographer is having a contest where you can go vote for her! If Kate's picture wins, Mike and Amanda get an 11x14 or something like that :) So go here: http://denaehutsonphotography.blogspot.com/2009/01/happy-new-year-and-blog-contest.html (yeah I don't know how to do the cool link thing) and vote for Kate, she's #14. 

Friday, January 2, 2009

I keep forgetting to blog!

Maybe blogging should be a new year's resolution... since I keep forgetting to keep up with it. Its not like its a chore or anything, so you would think it wouldn't be that difficult. Eh. I'm kind of against resolutions around the new year since they tend to fade so easily, but whatever... 
So what have I been up to since mid-December? Certainly not working! heh... 

Went up to Shaver and had a blast... there was about 3-4 feet of snow at the cabin, and the dogs had a great time playing in that. You can barely see Bailey in this picture, but she's right there next to Captain in the snow... oh, and that's not our cabin in the background :) I think this might be our driveway but I'm not sure. 

We snapped the handle off of the water valve (you kind of need that if you want to shower or drink anything) so we couldn't turn the water on. Luckily some lumberjack-looking plumber was able to jet up and come fix it, so that crisis was averted. (Steph just stop right there... he looked like Paul Bunyon, and not in a good way-- trust me, I would have thrown your name out there had he been a ruggedly good looking plumber who was looking for a highly educated hottie from west Texas... but sadly, this was not the case ;) So anyway, I played beer pong for like the second time in my life, and it was kind of fun actually. Everyone except for Meredith and I ended up hammered (if you smile sweetly and act like you can't drink that much the guys will drink your beer for you, and then they have the hangover the next day and you don't... sometimes I love being a gril.) So anyway, yeah, everyone else was hurtin both days while Mare and I enjoyed ourselves. Went on some walks, built some fires, and had a pretty good time. 

Christmas was great... my aunt Cathy does Christmas Eve the way it was meant to be done... party platters, crab rangoons, and all the shrimp you can eat! It was a really good time... And then on Christmas we got to have cottage cheese dumplings, which are hands down the best family recipe ever (and are not really made with cottage cheese). They were heavenly and probably cut about 2 years off my life expectancy, but they were worth it. They had to make like 110 of them because the whole fam turned out for Christmas. Oh, and in case you're wondering, here's my favorite Christmas present:
Rainboots with elephants on them and an umbrella from JCrew! Sooo cute! Makes me wish we got more rain. :) And don't act like you're not impressed with my outfit... hahahaha. I just couldn't help it. 

I have had the chance to catch up with several friends from high school during the past few days and that's been really great too! Its amazing to see people after 10 years and be able to pick up a conversation like it's nothing. There's something comforting about being with people who knew you when you were young. 

So that's about it... December was a great month. I'm hoping 2009 is going to be a great year... and who knows, maybe it will be the year that I find a job, finish my dissertation, and meet the man of my dreams. Haha... yeah, well, maybe one of those three things will happen :)