Back Pain and Tramadol

One of the four numbers on my blood test that measures liver function was elevated. Since I don't drink or smoke, the doctor suspects the cause is the one Aleve I take every morning for arthritis, especially since I seldom take Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Therefore, for the next three months, before a follow-up blood test, I'm to refrain from using any OTC painkillers.

That might be a challenge during normal circumstances, but with my current back pain it's torture. So, to get me through the next few weeks, the doctor prescribed Tramadol, which I've been taking morning and night for the last three days. And sleeping nearly round the clock!

This morning I decided I can't keep sleeping the day away. And, since the doc said my one elevated number is not a serious concern, if the pain gets unbearable, I won't hesitate to take an Ibuprofen. Especially since a little research this morning revealed Tramadol can be addictive with some serious side effects.

Besides my back pain is noticeably better every day. And the doctor confirmed what I found online that it should be healed in 2-3 weeks. Therefore, this time next week I should be nearly, if not completely, pain free. Here's hoping.

Now I Did It!

The first thing I did yesterday morning was walk into the laundry room to do a load of wash. I bent over to pick up a towel and that's when it happened. I strained my lower back.

I've been in varying degrees of pain ever since. Yesterday I applied an ice pack. Today I'm using a heating pad. I'm also taking ibuprofen every four hours.

From everything I've read, it could take 2-4 weeks for the strain to fully heal. And, for the first 2-3 days, rest, ice, heat, and regular doses of OTC painkillers are recommended.

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment to discuss my yearly blood work. I guess we'll have more to talk about now. Although I'm sure a back strain is just a waiting game.

Unfortunately, after not watching either of my grandsons for weeks, this Tuesday and Thursday I have Jonah all day. I'm praying the pain will be manageable, and Jonah won't mind watching a lot of cartoons and movies.

This too shall pass.

Cleaning the Storage Room

We have a small storage room in our basement that hasn't been properly cleaned for at least five years. By that I mainly mean clearing every shelf and thoroughly dusting and vacuuming. Yesterday was the day to get the job done.

Besides the hot water heater, furnace/ac unit, and old refrigerator, the storage room mainly houses seasonal decorations and suitcases. But there are miscellaneous items as well. One was an extremely large plastic storage bin that held "memories." 

For many years, I'd been tossing items in that bin I just couldn't part with yet no longer had any use for. Yesterday I decided it was time to go through all the memorabilia in the hopes of downsizing to a smaller bin. 

What I discovered is I mostly had been holding onto items I no longer had any attachment to. (Seriously, is there any point in holding onto a keepsake if you no longer remember ever having it?) And I easily fit the few items I still care about in my small cedar chest, freeing up shelf space for stuff that had been sitting on the storage room floor. 

My next chore is to go through two bins of computer related items (keyboards, software boxes, floppy discs, cords) we haven't touched in probably 10 years. I have a strong feeling nothing will be saved and I'll be left with two empty storage bins and a big smile on my face :)

Elliott and Jonah's New Home – Post #2

A lot can happen in just five days!

Front view.

Back view, standing approximately where the sliding glass door
to the walkout basement will be.

Checking out the three-car garage.

Love that they picked Lot 8 and Elliott's eight years old!

Last night the boys got to test out the new street.

Elliott and Jonah's New Home – Post #1

After months of planning and decision making, the actual building of Elliott and Jonah's new home began this week. The builder says completion will be sometime in November. Since the boys will then be a five-minute walk from grandma's house, it sounds like papa will get some help shoveling snow this winter!

Entertaining Lose

Today hubby and I went to a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. Hubby's a fan. I just appreciate what a good home team does for the local economy.

Hubby typically goes to one or two games a season, but I haven't been for several years. I decided I was due when we were able to purchase front row seats for half price.

We got beat, but it was an entertaining game that included back-to-back Cardinals home runs, and an impressive line-drive catch by our third baseman right in front of our seats. And hubby caught a foul ball, which he immediately gave to a young fan a few rows behind us. (Yep, he's that kind of guy.)

We also got baseball jerseys since we were two of the first 25,000 fans entering the stadium. And I found another St. Louis "birthday cake."

It was a good day and start to the second half of summer. But it's been a busy couple of days for two people who usually just chill in front of the television during R-and-R time on the weekends. Thank goodness for tomorrow, a third weekend day for just chillin'.

Happy Fourth of July!

For many years, hubby and I spent the week of July 4 on the beach in the Riviera Maya. Spring and summer were crazy busy when we owned a pest control business, but things would slow some the week surrounding Independence Day. So, desperate for a relaxing break, we headed south where we could swim with the sea turtles within 4-5 hours of leaving home.

For the last four years, however, we haven't gone to Mexico in July for a variety of reasons. But we've still kept our Independence Days "low key." That is until this year.

This morning we got VIP access to the reviewing area for the VP Parade thanks to one of hubby's coworkers. The festivities began at 8:00 A.M. with a nice spread of pastries, sandwiches, and drinks. And there was an abundance of party favors, which the grandsons thoroughly enjoyed. After filling our bellies, we then enjoyed front row seats for the parade.

Silly Jonah with one of the many party favors.

Elliott showing just how close we were to the action.

It was a fun event that ended around noon. Now we're all back home resting before tonight's festivities.

This evening, again with my daughter's family, we're going to the JB Blast at Jefferson Barracks county park. Since hubby works for St. Louis County Parks, once again we'll be able to sit in a secured private viewing area.

I typically avoid all local holiday events because I absolutely hate fighting crowds. But if I can be guaranteed an ideal spot with no pushing and shoving, I'm in!

Happy 9 Birthday, Elliott!

Well, it's not really Elliott's birthday. That's February 14. But today papa and grandma gave Elliott his 9 birthday present – a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Orlando, Florida in January 2015.

I'm a big Harry Potter fan and have a small collection of memorabilia, including a box of Hogwarts stationery. I used a sheet of paper and an envelope from the set to present our gift, doing my best to word the letter like Harry Potter's Acceptance to Hogwarts Letter.

There are a number of reasons we needed to tell Elliott so early. But the main reason was to give Elliott time to save his allowances for all the goodies he'll want to buy. Elliott typically feels the need to spend money as soon as he gets it.

So it'll be a long wait, but Elliott and grandma are super excited!