My life on wheels--part 1

It must have been around 1986-87 that my step-mom and mom noticed me "walking on my toes." I remember walking down the sidewalk with my step-mom "teaching" me to walk heel-toe, heel-toe. Fast forward to softball on the Scorpians team. This was the summer of 1988, or maybe 87?. It must have been almost halfway through the season when my mom decided to take me to Iowa City. Oh the first visit. Such joy. If you have ever had an electromyogram (sp?), it's where you get to have little needles put into the very top layer of your skin. Then, they send tiny electrical shocks through your muscles. Now before you go calling DHS, (too late now, by the way), they did have a purpose. Eventhough I screamed like something out of a Frankinstein movie, these electrical currents bouncing through muscle tissue told us about my muscle tone. Why does that matter, you ask? If there is too much reverberation, (I think in a normal muscle, it's 600-1200) we know there is a problem. I think my score was 6,000+ or 60,000--it's funny how things get jumbled in your memory.

It turns out that was not the end of my problems that summer. Getting back to softball. I really could hit that ball like nobody's business. I just wouldn't. I knew I couldn't run. It felt like a strong wind was pushing against my chest. I accidentally hit the ball once, and that was the end of it for me. That's when my mom KNEW there was something wrong. Hence the Iowa City visit. Shortly after my first of many visits, I was scheduled for a biopsy. A full-on going under the knife biopsy. I have to interject that my calf muscles were the ones that worked. That being said, do you know what muscle they cut into? That's right, the calf muscle. Commercial time: does anyone know my fear of IVs? Hate. Them. Knowing that I would have them if I had kids someday. I'm surprised I had kids! Just the thought of a needle staying in you. Eeeew.

OK, back to the story. Needless to say, I freaked out. Good thing they put me under right away. That whole summer, I couldn't walk. I would crawl, or try to use crutches, but I wasn't very good at those. After getting the surprising results back that my calf muscles were fine, I was scheduled for another biopsy. This time on my thigh. Duh. That's where the muscle weakness was. I refused an IV. They sedated me some other way. I remember throwing up twice through the surgery, but that was better than an IV. By the way, I got right up off the table and was walking after this surgery--only a little limp. Gee, I wonder what muscles I was using to walk? Just for my memory's sake, I remember either having my first biopsy in 87, and the second in 88, or both were in 88. Either way, I was diagnosed in the latter part of 1988.

More to come...

Update and stuff

Sorry again, for the long wait. Why oh why do I have writers angst? I'll start out by sharing a little quip from DS2. This young man likes his time in the bathroom. While on the toilet one morning, (he does this every morning), we like to have a daily chat. Sometimes we play I Spy--in case you ever wanted to know this. DS2 randomly interjects, "this day just keeps getting poopier and poopier." How fitting! I had a good laugh. Kids say the greatest things. I will update again today. I just had to share that.

The Best Birthday Ever

I am 30 today. There, it's out. I did no cooking at home, and got 7 inches cut off my hair. I went all out today. Here was our day: God forgives me for sleeping in, I believe. (Also, half of E's throat has been swollen and hard for him to swallow, so we didn't want him in an enclosed classroom setting with other kids). For lunch we went to a restaurant with fireplaces. When it's 3 degrees out, is there really any question? I had bananas foster, yum. Then onto the movies to see the new Veggietales movie. Yes, I like them too. And to hear the kids say, you're the best, mom. That was nice, too. You see in our family, the birthday persons' day is actually their day. We make a big deal. So if that person decides to do something we all like, it also shows that we can be selfless, even on our day.
Next it was off to the mall for a grown up hair cut. I actually spent money and had someone wash my hair and cut it. Not skipping myself as usually all the man-boys in the family get dibs on the money for haircuts. We then went to the movie, then on to Ohanas. Anyone who has been there can attest: it's just plain cool. It is a Japanese restaurant where they cook the food in front of you and do cool things with knives. A boy's dream...oh and I guess I liked it too! I got a polaroid of our chef pointing knives at my head. It was great times.
I am now approaching the time of night that I was actually born, 9.9 lbs by c-section, into this wonderful world. I am so thankful for these 30 years. I plan on living to be very old, so I'll be seeing a lot of those birthdays ending in zero.

I had a new commenter, http://atomiccity.blogspot.com/, wonder why the wheelchair. I got to thinking, have I ever actually talked about it, and how many of you actually wonder about that? So fear not, I will be posting about that more in detail in the next 1-2 blogs. So hold onto your hats for a glorious medical journey.

Snow Day!

Technically, our school district had a snow day. We got about a foot of snow, so that cancelled church as well. Basically, I've been in this house for 3 days straight now. I'm actually not going crazy. As stated in last post, I am blessed to not have to BE anywhere in this weather. All vehicles are finally fixed, $480 later. That's OK. God takes care of all things, so what do I have to worry about?

In March, we hope to get our house refinanced. That will also take care of residing our house and hopefully another down payment on other property. Owner ship is 9/10 of the law or something like that. We don't want to be in this winter crap, I mean weather all our lives. We homeschool for goodness sake, we should be able to do that anywhere and have our main residence in Iowa.

I have to admit, I let the kids play too many video games and watch too much TV today. Our internet was sketchy, so our online schoolwork was not happenin'. We did play board games, puzzles, and listen to Adventures in Odyssy (thank you minimemoirs). I made some rockin banana muffins. Yes sir, from scratch. I am getting culinary in my old age. But, Mama Podkayne needs to tell me how to make her butter.

DH is currently going through our filing cabinet. Bless his heart. I am an organizational disaster. I figure once I have a system, I'll actually use it. That's the plan. With 400 extra square feet, I will have to change my habits and not just pile up junk (aka papers). Does anyone else cringe when the mail comes? I am half excited at the prospect of getting good mail (not bills or ads). But for the other 98% I get flustered. I am a hoarder at heart.

Hope all is well with all you blogsters out there. Sweet dreams.

Surprise!

It has been a great week. It all started with the surprise party my husband threw for me. He had accomplices, but the idea was all his. There were people there from local to Quincy, IL. I was so shocked. It was great. I can't even tell in words how loved I feel. To know that these people dropped everything for one night just to celebrate some girl turning 30. I feel blessed.

Our weather has once again driven us inside. That's so OK with me. I remember the days of having to go to a job outside the home. Ick. My hubby is even having to drive my van as his is broken down at the moment, so I am not running errands or anything...yahoo!

Today was such a great day. A good homeschool day. We did math to our little hearts content. We did so well that I forgot language arts. Whoops. But we did read. Older DS is really digging the Magic Tree House books. So am I! Does anyone remember those pick-your-own ending books from the 80's? I loved those things and think I want to read some. I really want to pre-read anything my sons read, so I might as well start now. As I write, I can hear DS reading to himself in his bed. So wonderful. I almost cry. And you know what? We don't have to get up for school tomorrow, so he can read all night for all I care. He is READING.

I want to thank all of you for the patience with my absent writing. I really have writers angst. I want to read all about others lives, but not write about my own. Thank you for having such interesting lives. I plan to complete a couple of tag-me posts while I check blogs tonight. I just love you all and if you're in the area, travel safely!