Will life ever slow down?

I've been so busy my head is spinning! Thursday morning I took Jonathan to the Neurosurgeon. He checked him out and said he was healing very well. He does have 2 places in his incision that have scabbed over and have the potential to open back up, but they assured me that it would be ok. To which I replied that it would NOT be ok because I would fall out in the floor if that incision opens back up! :) I don't know why I am being so wimpy with this... I mean Jackson has broke bones, had a snake bite, had his teeth go through his lips, handle bars on his bike went into his stomach.... and I handled all of those things without fainting, but for some reason I can't stand to look at Jonathan's back. So anyway, back to the DR's visit... when the nurse informed me that they were going to remove the staples from Jon's back, I told her that I needed to step out of the room. I stood outside the door while the nurses held him down and started pulling them out, but I could not stand hearing him scream in pain, so I ran back into the room and held onto him. When they were finished he said something like "I can't believe they put those things in my back!!!" He always has something funny and/or sarcastic to say. The Dr told me that he is clear to get up and move around, but because he knows that Jonathan is a bit of a daredevil, he would like to limit Jon's activities to "gentle play," sitting up in his bed or highly supervised play on the floor. It is still extremely painful for him to sit for long periods of time, so the bed is still the most comfortable place. He will return to the Neurosurgeon in 6 weeks for another check-up.

The Dr recommended PT 3 -4 time per week. Our problem is that our insurance only allows 10 PT visits per year, so I had to request more visits... it will be a while before we know if we are approved. Our other problem is that the Neurosurgeon is out of network with our insurance, so I am requesting gap coverage because he is the only Neurosurgeon in our area that preforms this surgery. Pray that both of these insurance issues are resolved quickly. I have enough on my plate... I need to take care of my children, not bang my head against the wall with the insurance company. :)

On the way back home from the Dr's appointment in ATL, Jonathan screamed in pain because he had to sit in his old car seat. It puts his legs at an angle that causes him to have major muscle spasms, not to mention he is too big for it now that his back is so straight and tall. So I ran by Target to purchase a booster seat. I'm having to lug him around in a wagon. Just like we did when he was int he hospital. I have blankets and pillows in there for him to lay on. Boy do people look at us like we have lost our mind! Here's this big boy in a wagon with his long legs hanging off the end of the wagon. Anyway, I am happy to report that he can sit up like a big boy in this new seat! YEAH! I bought one that has great back support and lots of cushion for his back and bottom. It's soooo much better.

After that I took him up to my MIL's house. She had taken Jack and Alexis to The World of Coke while we were at the DR. Jack and Alexis enjoyed the field trip, but my MIL said that every elementary student in the state of GA must have been there.

So I ran back home, met my sister and she drove me to my Dr's appointment. I have been getting these shots in my hip, SI joints and spine to help with the pain from the degeneration. Unfortunately, the last 2 times I have had the shots my heart rate dropped so low that I passed out and got pretty sick. It was so bad the last time, that the Dr could not finish the procedure, so I have been in a lot of pain with my back... then add all the bending over the hospital bed, sleeping on that rock they call a couch at the hospital, and trying to carefully lift Jonathan... ouch! I was in desperate need of some relief, so the Dr decided to sedate me this time. I am pleased to report that it worked! I was not completely out, just a little loopy. I was back home within 1.5 hours! Josh picked the kids up from his mom's house and brought them home and it was back to work for me.

Thank GOD I have such GREAT girlfriends! I have not had to cook dinner since we got home from the hospital! Every evening around 5 or 6pm someone delivers a wonderful dinner. This has been a HUGE help to me... especially Thursday night (thanks Rhonda)! I was in so much pain and still a little out of it when the kids came barging through the door, so it's a good thing someone else prepared dinner ~ there's no telling what I would have whipped up while I was so out of it! LOL!

Friday Jon had PT. Then I dropped Jack off at rowing practice. He is there for 2+ hours, so while we were waiting for him I ran over to Jonathan's school so that he could see his teachers and therapist. I wheeled him into the school in his wagon... he was thrilled to see everyone! We talked for a while, then I drove back to the lake to pick Jack up. His Grandfather had come to the practice and even got in on the practice... he was out there in a boat and even ran laps with the team after practice! Once we were back home my mom came over and we planted some new roses and other flowers. The rest of Friday evening was spent just hanging out and relaxing.

Saturday Jackson had his first race of the season. We were out on the lake from 9 -12... which is not bad because sometimes the races can take ALL DAY! In the canoe race his team came in 3rd and honestly I am not sure about the other races because they did not call out the placements like they have in the past. This was just a fun race, so it was not formal like the next race will be. Once we left the race we got some lunch and headed over to the YMCA. Jack and Alexis swam. Jonathan went to the kiddy room in his little red wagon. They had one worker sit with him while I worked out... isn't that awesome!?!

Sunday was spent cleaning, doing laundry and just hanging out with the kids. Whoo Hoo!

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for.... PICTURES! :)

Jonathan sitting in his new Buzz Lightyear rocking chair.

Jonathan at PT. Look at his flat feet!! He was even able to lift his left leg to put it on the next step! YEAH!!!

Another pic of Jon's feet flat on the ground!

Jack in one of the Dagger boats.Jack and some of his team mates playing around during practice.

Jackson in one of the canoes with some of his team mates.

Jonathan in his wagon during Jackson's race.Josh and Lexi during Jack's race.

Me and Lexi at Jack's race.

Go Jack, GO!!!!
This picture reminds me of something funny.... I was filling out the ad for the parent program. You know, where you put a pic of your child and say something encouraging like "we're so proud of you" I was trying to think of something clever to say, but I was a bit stumped, so I asked Josh if he had any suggestions (big mistake ~ LOL!). He suggested that we put "paddle hard, I hear Banjos!" For those of you that don't get that... watch the movie Deliverance! And no, I did not go with that quote for the ad, I went with the tried and true "We're so proud of you!"