BACK FROM THE ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR

I had my appointment today with Dr. Slater..he took another x-ray and it showed that I do have arthritis in my hip. After reviewing the MRI of my back, he thinks that is what is causing my pain. Next Thursday, I will receive my first lumbar epidural steroid injection. He said that I may need a series of three injections. He said this will also tell if all the pain is coming from my back. I will continue going to PT three times a week. Hope the injections will do the trick!

ORTHOPEDIC APPOINTMENT

I finally have an appointment with an orthopedic doctor tomorrow morning...hopefully, I will find out the problem and praying that it will be treatable without surgery! I am so ready to get this resolved and get back to work.

My sweet sister, Kimberly, has kept me supplied in beautiful new stamps sets, paper and embellishments....so thankful that I have the use of my hands. When I was going through my arm therapy and treatment, I couldn't even write! That was hard! You are thankful for the little things in life, for sure!

It looks like we may be rain free for a couple of days. It is amazing how much a little sunshine can brighten your spirit!

Again, thanks to everyone for the calls, prayers and cards. As always, I get by with a little help from my friends!

PRAYING!!

I had another appointment with Dr. Curtner on Tuesday. He did x-ray of my hip, at the suggestion of my physical therapist. He said that the x-ray showed arthritic changes in my hip! I will now be referred to an orthopedic doctor....thought that I would be able to find an orthopedic doctor here in Hot Springs, but after calling, found that it would be over a month before I could get an appointment. Dr. Curtner is going to get me an appointment with Dr. Webber in North Little Rock. He will hopefully rule out that I DON'T have avascular necrosis in my hip. From my research, this is not something I want to face right now....especially if it means surgery...you see, I don't like surgery LOL! If I do have this condition, I hope that we are finding out early enough to be able to treat it with medications and physical therapy. That is my latest prayer request!

ANNIVERSARY

Today would have been my Mom and Dad's 63rd wedding anniversary! They were very happy together. They had many funny stories to tell of their early days....think that is how Mom got her nickname of "Lucy"! On their honeymoon, they drove with friends to California...they said money was tight, so they had to eat moon pies all the way there! June 6th is our 39th wedding anniversary. I always wondered why they didn't get upset when we were getting married only three months after we met...to the day. Finds out, they only knew each three months also!

I miss them terribly! I talked to them every morning until the day they died. Even after six years, I find myself wanting to pick up the phone and call them! What is really strange about that is that we live in their house now LOL! We had many good times together. Growing up, we always knew that we were loved. I will miss them always. I am so thankful that I have many memories to cherish!

GOING FOR THERAPY

I had my second Physical Therapy treatment this morning. After my first one, I hurt so bad that I didn't sleep at all that night...hopefully this one will not be so bad. I know that the muscles have to be stretched. Yesterday, every time I got up from sitting, I was almost in tears. Today, they showed me how to get up from the sitting position. The therapist thinks that alot of my problem may be in my hip. She said if I don't see improvement in two weeks, I will need an x-ray of my hip...said I could have arthritis in my hip! I am just ready to get over this and get back to work. It is no fun being off work and not being able to do what you want to do. I am not complaining too much though, because when I was off with my arm, I couldn't even write or use my right hand and arm at all. I thank God that I can use my arms! I am thankful that I am able to use this time to get ahead on my prayer list cards.....perhaps, I will even start on my Christmas cards!

I appreciate so much all the cards, prayers and well wishes! It means alot to me!

ANOTHER HURDLE!!

I've still been having this horrible leg pain. I had a MRI on Thursday. It showed that I have a bulging disc and spinal canal stenosis! I am so very grateful that it wasn't bone cancer...I was really beginning to wonder since the PET scan had revealed a bone lesion and I had this horrible pain. I will start physical therapy three times a week on Tuesday. If that doesn't work, then I will have to see a neurosurgeon...which I am really not wanting to do. I am putting my faith in that the physical therapy will work.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. So many wonderful memories of my Mom and of Jennifer. I treasure all the memories of happy times past. I can't help being sad and missing them so very much. My Grandmother died in 1966, but until the day my Mom died, she couldn't go down the Mother's Day card aisle without crying. You will never get over the loss of your Mother or the loss of a child.

I want to wish all of you a Happy Mother's Day....if you still have your Mother, give her an extra big hug, if you get to be with her...if you can't be with her this year, pick up the phone and call and tell her how much she means to you!