Unexpected Things & More

So. Much. Going. On.

Unexpected things. 

Things that are changing my routine and causing yesterday's "Gone riding" post.

And so on.

Wednesday I had a follow up appointment for my bilateral sacroiliac joint injection. After showing me a model of the human spine (complete with rubber nerves...), I was told that the leg weakness and the week long terrible headache I'd had post-procedure had not been caused by the injection - the (rubber) nerve pathways showed me why.

So what caused that reaction I'd had? She didn't know. I have had a lot of leg weakness and I do get a lot of migraines. But the weakness this time happened while I was on the table - I'd felt the flush of weakness travel down my legs. And the headache, while really bad, wasn't a migraine.

Another mystery that she and several other specialists are trying to figure out.

But she did recommend that I get a tens machine and try that to help another spot higher up on my spine that has become painful. She showed me several models that she felt would be helpful, and mine arrives tomorrow.

Yesterday, I had an early morning physical therapy assessment. When you walk into the treatment room and you know six, SIX of the physical therapists because they've worked with you before, you know you've had a lot of physical therapy. And have I ever. 

That appointment was so early that I had no time to write and I knew I'd also be getting home too late to write due to other things I needed to do. So, I posted a new "Gone riding" photo, one I think better reflects where I am in my life in a couple of ways. (Did you notice she has grey hair?? Me, too!)

I was only home for an hour after PT when I hopped back in the car and met Curt in downtown Lafayette for lunch - his Mother's Day gift to me.

Sometimes I order appetizers as my meal; Curt did the same and then added a salad and soup. Needless to say, we both took home "dinner" in boxes.

Such a great gift and we chatted for over an hour. In a big family, one on one time to just talk can be in short supply. He and I plan to begin meeting for lunch more often so we can talk again.

I wasn't the only one having a medical appointment. Nashie had to go under anesthesia to have two broken teeth checked and then get his nails trimmed.

He was SO mellow when Craig picked him up and he immediately lumbered onto the couch and was out like a light.

Tammo was so disappointed. He wanted to play but Nash needed to sleep off the anesthesia.

Finally Tammo clambered up onto the couch next to his buddy and napped, too. (Same with Pepper.)

After my doctor's appointment, I stopped by the craft store.

I found so many things for the quiet book, as well as things I might be able to use in future books.

And, this definitely non 18th century mold for a Highland Cow. 
 

I can't make ornaments from it for Kalamazoo or the Feast, but I plan to use it for this year's Christmas ornaments for a few of the grands, including Cambria and Titan who made those Highland Cow keychains last Fall.

Guess who else will get one? A couple of lucky readers!! The Highland Cow blackened beeswax ornament is the May give away.

I won't be pouring until June at the earliest, so the winners will have to wait a bit for their prize. But I will keep the winners posted as to the status of their ornament.

As usual, comment to enter. You can begin with this blog post and any/all that are posted from now until Monday, May 18, 11:59 PM Eastern.

Best of luck to all who want one.

Stay 'tooned!

Horsey Gals Reunited!

(This may be the first post of the day. I have a second in the works; if I get it done, it will post by 11:00 AM Eastern.) 

Just because I am heading to physical therapy (or anywhere else), that doesn't mean I don't let my horsey gal out. 

Horseshoe necklace, horse patterned shoes, and my new Whoa Nelly tee shirt (which may or may not match a tee that Belle bought, hah!) in place, I headed out to meet with Kayla early yesterday morning.

I've had physical therapy more times than I can count - one time I walked into the therapy room and I had worked with all six of the physical therapists who were there working with patients. (It was also a few days before Halloween and I had a six pack of Hershey Bars in the pouch of my walker so I broke it out and gave each one of them a Hershey Bar. Fun memory.)

Kayla is a fantastic therapist and is one of the best I've ever worked with. Natalie was another one (she helped me to finally get a diagnosis on those hemiplegic migraines; thank you, Natalie!) and then there was Dusti.

Also a horsey girl, I knew Dusti's family from my teenage years of horse showing and 4-H. They had one of those huge, six horse trailers with their name emblazoned on it - my 13 year old self dreamed of having the same some day.

To have Dusti as my PT was fantastic. Not only could we talk horses, but she was the best PT I have ever had. (I used to bike 8 - 10 miles a day; Dusti even fitted my bike to me so that healthy exercise would not cause more issues on my joints.) She was so good that a few years later she was made the head of the Physical Therapy department at the hospital.

Kayla had just given me a break and I was sitting in a chair when suddenly a woman came out of a door and approached me.

It was Dusti! 

"I saw your name on today's list of patients and since I am in the building this morning, wanted to come see you," she explained.

I cried, we hugged, we chatted, and had a lovely reunion. Kayla told us to not worry about time but I did need to finish my therapy, so we hugged one more time and then Dusti went back to her office and Kayla and I got back to work.

"I saw you start to cry when Dusti came over," she told me. "I could tell that Dusti means a lot to you and I wasn't about to interrupt that visit!"  (Thank you, Kayla!)

When my appointment ended, the receptionist told me that Dusti wanted to visit more with me in her office if I had time to stay. You bet I did, so Kayla walked me back to her office and Dusti and I spent a good half hour chatting and catching up. We exchanged contact info and plan to get together for lunch soon. (After the Feast, LOL.)

Two horsey gals reunited. What a wonderful, wonderful morning.