Well here is the latest news. My legs have been extremely painful to walk on or lay or sit. So I went in to see the doctor today and he wants me to have a cat scan to see if everything is doing o.k. I am going in tomorrow to get it done. I will let you know what he says about it. But for now I am taking my pain meds every 3 to 4 hours instead of ever 6 hours. That is alot of meds. I have been sleeping alot because they just knock me out. I will keep you posted. Love you all!!!

Well I survived surgery and I am doing better. The first few days at the hospital were some of the worst days of my life! No kidding!! I was so sick and every time I got up to use the bathroom I either passed out or felt like I was going to pass out. I had at least three nurses to help me up and down and pretty much wait on me hand and foot. I couldn't do anything. Including wiping my own butt!!! Nothing is sacred anymore!!! It was good to be home but I have less help. Lynda has been my savior the last few days! She has seen and done it all. Except the butt wiping thing I can do that all by myself! It was quit the accomplishment! It is amazing how many things you take for granite that you can do on a daily basis until you cant do them any more. The journey has just started and I feel that it will be a long road ahead. But with my family to help and my faith that I will get better everything will work out just fine. I send my love to everyone and thank you for all your prayers and telling me you love me over the phone! It really lifts my spirits!!!

Surgery Day

Well Surgery is looming closer and closer. I think everyone is thinking about when they can come and help. So I am trying to coordinate dates with everyone. Lynda has said she can come any week or all month in the month of April but not any in May. I herd Michele wants to come the first week from mom but I would love to hear from everyone and mabye the weeks or days or whatever time frame you want so I can let everyone know so plans can be made all around.
I love you all and really appreciate everything you do.

Well my Dr. Visit went good and I got alot of information about my back problem. The Dr. seemed very optimistic that surgery would go very well and I wouldn't have any further nerve damage. He does want to do surgery right away. I am scheduled on April 9th for surgery. I know it is not very far away and I really need to prepare alot of things before this happens. So many things are running through my head right now. I am not sure how we will get through this but I have faith everything will be fine. After all the Lord wont give you more than you can handle...right.
I have another appt. tomorrow for something not back related. The Dr. wants me to get a brace for the leg I had surgery on as a child, My right leg for those of you who either don't remember or have no idea what I am talking about, anyway it will just help my foot stay in a good position and make it so I don't trip and fall when my leg gets tired. Which could hurt my back even more.
To much fun!!!!

After my surgery I will be down pretty much flat for 6 weeks and 6 weeks after that I can get up and move around but no lifting anything that weighs more than a gallon of milk. For the first 6 months I will have limited activity and range of motion and not much lifting.
We wont know if the fusion has fully taken hold until after a year. Then if everything goes good I have to go to follow up appointments once a year for three years. This is going to be quit the process. My Dr. gave me his web site and it has links to several other very informative web sites . If you are interested here is his web site www.coraldesertspine.com I was very impressed with this Dr. he sat with me for almost an hour talking to me about my options and how the operation would go and what to expect after surgery. His name is Dr. Stephen Hansen.
Anyway....I will have to stay in St. George until the kids get out of school the end of May and then do some recovery at moms house in Salt Lake.
I send my love and hope everyone is doing well. God Bless!!!!

Well the day is almost over. YEAH!!!! It has been a long day for me. I ate breakfast this morning and couldn't eat or drink anything until about 3:00 this afternoon because of the shot in my back. They won't let you have sedation if you eat anything. Bummer. But everything went well. I am a little sore at the injection site but other than that I am doing well. Sarah and Jimmy helped with dishes tonight and I think Jimmy washed the table after a little persuasion. Dustin has been a big help today to. This morning while I was getting ready to go to the doctors he took the clothes out of the washer and loaded them into the dryer!!! Without even being asked!!! So cute!
Now I just need to teach him to start the dryer and we will be doing good!!!! Cameron knows how but he was at school during the time. Well tomorrow is another doctors apt. for me and I will let you know how that goes to.

I am going in for another shot tomorrow afternoon. I have felt some relief from the last one and hope to have full relief from this one.
Troy and I are revamping our backyard. We have put in two grow boxes and cut out alot of grass. I am hoping it will work out better for planting and growing. I am hoping we will get it all put together this weekend.

Tomorrow morning I am going to get a current MRI. 7:00 A.M. Yuck!!! Then Thursday I am going to see another neurosurgeon because the one I saw only does surgery in Vegas and that is to far away to drive home after just having surgery!!!! I also have an appointment for a shot in my back on Wednesday.

To much fun!!!!! I picked up my pain meds this afternoon and paid $72 for them. I about pooped my pants when she told me how much it was going to be!!!! I really do hope we are going to get this fixed so I can get back to my life!!!!!

I love you all and really appreciate your prayers and support.!

Thanks for all you do!

(And will be doing:)

My four angels(most of the time) at Disneyland

March of 2007