Stupid way to burn up your expensive gas...

So today is the first day after my first shot. My goal was to get up, drive the car to Tristan's school, sit in a chair and watch his awards assembly, drive to the doctor office to drop off my FMLA forms, drive home and then try to sit as much as possible, either at the computer or upright in any other chair. I'm trying to gauge my tolerance level so I can get back to work. Well, let me tell you how my morning really went...

Of course we are running late as usual. I haven't had to get up early for a month and half now so I wasn't too speedy getting me and Tristan ready. We rush to school and get there right at 8:30 when the bell is ringing. We park in the street and he starts getting out before I'm ready for him to. I'm grabbing stuff, telling him to stand on the curb and wait on me. I'm rushing thinking that I'm causing him to be tardy. We run in the building to find they are not giving tardies as it's assembly day. I sign in and go to the cafeteria to wait the 15 minutes for the assembly to start. Great program...he got a reading award. I go in his room and hug him and so forth. Start going out to my car about 9:25 and can't find my keys. Oh no! Must've left them on the table. No not there. Not in the prinicpal's office or my purse or my pants. Hmmm... guess I left them in my car. Crap!! I go outside and as I approach the car I think, "I hear a car running. Oh surely not!!!" But yes, yes. It was my car. Running and locked up. For the past hour.

I call Chance. He says there's no way he can get there. It would cost too much. More than a locksmith. Gives me a number to call. Call it, tell them what an idiot I am and I find they are in OKC. He says no way he can get anyone there. So I get referred. Referred again. And finally referred to Johnny...told to tell him Christina had me call. He says he can be there in 20 minutes. So I stand outside and wait. All the other parents are coming in and staring at me. I'm just standing outside my running car. I'm an idiot. After about 30 minutes, I am worried he can't find me but he calls. He's lost and after about 10 minutes, I get him to me. He takes about 2 minutes to get my car open. Says he wants cash only. I don't have cash. So luckily he has wireless credit card machine. Costs me $5.00 extra. I wonder if he would've locked my car back up if he didn't have that wireless card machine. I didn't ask. Was just grateful to get in my car. I note I am a dumb a$$.

I get on the road, my leg a little sore from standing all that time, but overall not as painful as driving usually is. I'm happy. Get to Dr. Bever's office (my primary care Dr.) and explain my situation and that I need my FMLA papers filled out. She tells me it's $35 but she says I really should go to the spine specialist since he has the details of what is going on. I say OK...just doing what my HR office told me to do. Drive further on to Dr. Wright's office. Get in there and she says it's only $10 (yay!) but it takes 7 - 10 working days and they only accept cash. Seriously? Not even the debit card which is the same? No. Cash. OK. I'll go to the ATM. Drive down the street to get it and go back. She is very helpful and takes my stuff.

By this time I am exhausted ... I haven't had much physical activity for a while. But overall, I'm feeling good with lower levels of pain. I drive all the way home and I'm happy. I get home after 11 and get to eat finally. Yay. I lay down and snooze a while inbetween fighting off the puppy from wanting to chew on me and everything else in the house. She is an absolute mess. I'm only able to write this cuz she's asleep. It's absolutely like having a baby around.

So...that's what happened. I met all my goals, it just took me a while to get there. I'm writing this in my big office chair trying to see how long I can sit here. Well I have to leave in a bit to get Taylor, Ashley and Tristan from school. But that will be another test of pain.

I was surprised at how easy the shot was. I had heard so many stories of how painful they are but that they are worth it. I guess they gave me good drugs. I dunno. But it was really a strange experience. He puts in the medicine and I feel pressure/pain in my lower back. I let out a small ouch, he says hold on and I'll give you a break. Then he says, OK, putting in some more. This time, I feel it in my butt where I have tons of pain. The exact spot. Freaky. I moan again. He says ok take a break. He tells me he's only putting in 1 cc at a time. Guess that's a small amount but it sure felt like a lot! He does it a few more times and each time, I feel my main pain points get pressure...my thigh and my calf too. It was freaky how it found all the places I have been hurting. It was over in a matter of minutes. I couldn't believe it. I will be able to handle the others no problem. I am sore where they put the needles in and I was kinda funky yesterday. But overall not as traumatic as I thought. I think these things are going to fix me!!!! I am so happy!!!!! If I am not at work tomorrow, I plan to go on Monday. I am very excited.

School is out on Wednesday so we have to plan for schedule changes for the kids. Taylor goes to her mom's every other week and Tristan will be spending all day at daycare. In July, he will attend summer school.

Taylor gets her driving permit on the 27th and then will start her driving with the man from driver's ed. She's excited. I am too. I will have a chauffeur.

Tristan was recommended to stay back in first grade. But then his teacher told me that the IEP lady, the principal and her decided he should go to 2nd grade as long as he spends a minimum of 3 hours per day with the IEP lady. I had to deny the recommendation on paper, but they tell me they can get him to 2nd grade level by 2nd semester. I am taking their word for it. I hope it doesn't backfire in my face. Tristan is excited. After watching him with his classmates today, I am glad. He is so much bigger than they are. He would look so funny with those smaller kids if he was held back. I hope it works. He seems to understand what is going on. I hope to work with him alot over the summer.

Chance has been having better days. He's still wearing the monitor. He hates it. But he's making some diet changes, taking new vitamins and trying really hard to prevent episodes. His work is keeping him really busy. They are behind right now cuz of all our medical issues.

Well I have to go now to get the kids. I hope to write again soon. Until next time... gosh I'm an idiot!!!