Military Surprise and Updates

It's been quite awhile since I've written. Our daughter is home from the Army. I was awoken to an early birthday surprise. We expected her home in December. 3 days before my birthday I was called out of our room with my eyes closed, I was led by the man, told to open my eyes and there before me was our daughter in her military wear, with a bouquet of balloons and holding a cake. I was so happy.

She came home with a certificate as an IT specialist. The Army is paying for 14 more months of schooling. GI bill, Health insurance for a time being, 2 more years of using the PX, she can continue to honor herself and the Army wearing her ACU's when appropriate, etc. We're really proud of her effort and achievements.

A few days before, on Monday, I was gifted another early present. A baby kitten. He's adorable and we bonded closely right away.

On my actual birthday, the 26th of October, I was in a terrible flare and rested the early part of the day. They made me a spaghetti dinner. Loved it!

I've been busy at MDJ, but we hired 1 co-leader approx. 2 months ago and 2 more approx. 2 weeks ago.

I've managed to pry myself away from our bedroom and am out in the living room much more that I had been the last several years. My laptop hasn't been in our bedroom since our daughters return home. Had already planned on making that change and did that same evening.

When I turn in for the night, I'm no longer near a computer. If I nap, I'm also not near it.

I've been playing Wii with the family and Guitar Band (I'm the singer) It's fun!

I'm still only taking 2 meds from the 7 I was on for many years. I went from 20mgs of Suboxone a day to my current 12. 8mgs in the morning and 4mgs in the evening. 1mg of Suboxone is the equivalent of 25mgs of Morphine. I used to take 30-45 mgs of Morphine a day. Suboxone would be as if I was taking 300 now and when I was taking 20 it would equal 500. eeps! I still get a lot of break-thru pain and some days I still can't budge so I turn to relaxation, breathing and meditation.

So that I didn't have to go back on Zanaflex/Tizanadine (24mgs of muscle relaxer, I was on for 5 years) I opted to try Calcium and Magnesium supplements instead this last Monday. It's for the Dystonia and myoclonic jerks and spasms. It's worse when I'm laying down or about to fall off to sleep, but it started back in my entire body which was previously eased by the relaxers.

I continue to use the tools and coping strategies learned in the FRP aka my Flare-up protocol.

Phase 2 is Monday evenings.

Beginning yesterday, We're home schooling our son. It's actually Independent Study (ISP)

We created his daily subject schedule of 6 courses last evening.

Am staying as busy as possible even through the crashes.

I know there's much more, but think that's it for updates... cannot recall much more going ons at the moment..

Hope you all have been well..

Until next time...

Still No Shower For You Girl

She went to have her staples removed yesterday and was a ginea pig wench for a girl in the office who's learning to remove staples and outter stitches. Have known this girl for quite awhile and wasn't hesitant to have her learn on me. She did really well, felt little discomfort, no more than a slight tug in one or two of the 17 total. Then the doc this one see's often, not her pain manager/surgeon came in to look her over. This ones butt area looks really good, but the incision on her back we have to watch carefully. There's redness and it's not healing as quickly as the other incision. She see's her actual pain manger next week April 8th. Have been able to cut down on the Norco's since yesterday. It was much easier to try and sleep without having those medling pieces of metal fragments in ones body. Was not allowed to take a shower as planned. Ugh. Back to the baby wipes and such.

In better and more wonderful news

During a phone call this morning we learned that...

Our daughter passed AIT and is not getting sent home on a medical discharge but instead is coming home to visit soon before being deployed.

Knew she could do it.

Until next time...

Back in the Army Again

Early yesterday morning we drove our daughter and future son-in-law back to San Francisco Airport to board their flight destined for Georgia. Another approximate 6 months to complete AIT.

Having our daughter home for Christmas was absolutely wonderful. Meeting her boyfriend and then having him ask my Master (her father) for her hand in marriage was for sure a memorable moment. We really like him.

It's hard being separated from a child.

The drive to the airport seemed to take forever, yet it's only an hour and a half from us. They could have flown into Sacramento, maybe 20 minutes away from us, but the tickets to fly into S.F. was cheaper. And so that's what they did. We did the same thing when we went to her boot graduation in October.

They slept in the van on the way to the airport, we listened to CD's and talked. There were some moments of silence, wandering minds, knowing we'd be hugging her g'bye soon.

And we did soon enough

Love ya, Rikki

Back in the Army again.

Surprise of the Day

My pain has been tough lately, I was allowed to sleep in again today. Our son came in and said "Somethings here mom, you need to come see". I was asleep so in my groggy moment I replied with "Put it away, Rikki doesn't want us to see". (Rikki is our middle daughters nick name) What I meant by that was that our daughter had told us gifts would be arriving in the mail and to just put them away until then without opening the boxes. I didn't get up.

What must have been a few moments later, my Master came in and said there's something you need to come see, still in a groggy state, I replied with something like, I can't right now. He said I need you up NOW! With what was a command I leaned up right away and without hesitation. He said we'll get you some coffee and I declined.

I walked slow and limping out into the livingroom, I caught a glimpse of our older daughter standing at the end and to the left of the hallway that leads to the dining area, by this time I knew either something was wrong or they were waiting for me to see something.

As I turned to the right toward the livingroom before me stood our second daughter who's in the U.S Army and beside her her boyfriend also in the Army, both stationed in Georgia at the moment.

I couldn't believe what I saw and had to take a second look. I hugged her immediately and pulled the boyfriend to me also. The first time we've met him.

I gratefully accepted the coffee

Originally we knew she was coming home for Christmas on the 17th. And then it changed to not knowing when or if even at all.

The family was all in on it. A surprise for me. I was sad thinking she wasn't coming home, but was trying to remain positive.

What a very Merry Christmas it already is. All our children home for Christmas. Also the first one celebrated in our new home.

I couldn't be more happy.

My surprise of the day!

Fall Outs

I've been having a fall out with someone for awhile now. Unstable for the last few weeks. It's best to fix things and move on. I just worry it will happen again if I let my guard down once more.

Time always tells.

If any of you out there have fall outs, try to fix them, it's not healthy for any ones mindset to wonder what they did or what they could have done to change it. Things happen. Fix it!

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Christmas is so near, our daughter and her man should be arriving from the Army by next week. First they were suppose to arrive home the 17th, and then weren't going to make it home at all. That was heartbreaking! And now a possibility that they will be home afterall. I sure hope it doesn't change again. We miss her and are very much looking forward to meeting her boyfriend.

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Pain isn't treating me kindly, the cold weather doesn't help my bones. Having difficulties walking at all today because my right leg keeps seizing. That's something that comes and goes and never quite sure when it's coming. My flares have been rolling right into another. It's tough. No complaining though, everyday is a lesson learned on how to cope.

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I do hope everyone out there is having a good holiday season.