Thursday Doctor Visit Results

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!
Well, Chris has officially hurt his back. Thursday morning he and I went to the back doc to look at the MRI film. Luckily he did not hurt his L5/S1 disk (the one that has been fixed 2 times before). He has a small rupture on the disk above it, L4/L5. The doc said he would leave it up to us on how we wanted to handle the injury. The rupture is not big, but perfectly placed on the disk to be pressing up on his nerve. This is causing pain down his right leg, especially around his hip. At night I can hear him roll over because he moans from the pain when he moves.
Anyway, the doc said we could wait it out and see if it gets better or have surgery to remove the rupture. The doc described the incision to be less than an inch and to be a same day procedure. So Chris and I chose to schedule surgery for March 2nd and do both, wait and see if it gets better or fix it then. The doctor said we could cancel the surgery the day before if we liked. Either way, Chris should get over this quickly and then hopefully get back to being active like he wants. He is talking about riding his bike to work again, crazy boy.
We still plan on going to the conference next week. The doc said Chris should play golf and then he would fix his back after. Funny! All is well with us, hope all is well in your families too!

A lot has happened since I last wrote but because I gave our computer a virus I couldn't write:) My brother was kind enough to save our computer before Chris "hung me by my toe nails" I was surfing the web looking for Valentine ideas, ooopppss.
Took Rye to the neurologist they said he looks good even after hitting his head so many times. Jr. Jazz basketball is over but now he is playing intramural bball at the middle school. I think that when playing basketball players (especially Rye) should have to wear a helmet!! Now we will just ask him to work harder on his homework because his "brain" is just fine:) No more excuses.
The insurance company decided to total Megs car so we are now in the process of looking for another car. They called me yesterday to tell me that I needed to return the rental car on Friday:( I'm not looking forward to Friday "I want to keep the van!!"
Chris and I meet with Dr. Rich Thursday morning (8:50am) to go over the MRI and see what Chris needs to do. He is still in a lot of pain. He has a very hard time walking, sitting, getting up etc.
Katie has been sick since Saturday night. Runny nose, fever, coughing like a seal, and all that good stuff. Miserable enough to keep Chris and I up during the night.
Pack meeting was a lot of fun it was the Blue and Gold Banquet. Jacob got his Bobcat award and Tay his Webelos badge and the man that performed the Arrow of Light ceremony did a great job. I took a big sigh afterwards knowing one more boy down, only one more to go:)
This morning we went to Breakfast with Books at the elementary school. We were running late and Tay was upset that there wouldn't be anymore donuts so I bet him that if they were out I'd buy him a donut at the store and do his chore, but if they had donuts than he had to do an extra chore. Of course they had plenty of donuts it's run by the PTA:) Yeahhh for me!!
Tonight is New Beginnings and scouts. Tomorrow the tax lady comes. We decided that we might need help with them after having such a crazy year. Lots of questions, let the pro do it then she can get in trouble not us:) Thurs. is Chris' doctors appointment, Rye goes on a field trip - he is singing at a bunch of elementary schools for choir (hope to watch him perform), Tays valentines party - we are doing are traditional chocolate fountain. I provide the chocolate and the kids bring in stuff to dip. I was smart enough to assign 2 other mothers to come up with entertainment:) What do you do with 5th graders?? (that's how I got a virus-looking for games) And that night Tay has his first 11 year old den meeting. Jacob was suppose to give his 5-15 minute report on Neil Armstrong Thurs but I spoke with Jacobs teacher and she was kind enough to let us reschedule. Jacob wasn't happy with that he was looking forward to having it done. I think he just wanted to eat the freeze dried ice cream I bought:) Do you think Thurs looks crazy??!!:) We all have crazy days that's what keeps us going, (for me it's that and Dr. Pepper).
Hopefully I can write Friday morning and let you know what's up with Chris.
Love, Ricki

I have a new "love!" The rental company gave me a 2009 Chrysler Town & Country. Both side doors are electric! It's amazing! "I want it, I want it!!" :) Chris looked up the price it's only $33,000!!! I did learn that the heater in my car is still broken. This car heats up so fast and it is soooo warm. The kids had a great time "exploring" they found a built in flashlight and tons of places to store stuff (it's the stow-n-go model). The kids were telling Chris all about it and they kept referring to "our car" Chris put a stop to that:) It will be hard to give it back. I've never seen such a beautiful trunk I could put sooo much stuff in it:) Insurance company take as long as you want:) "Grass is always greener on the other side"
Chris had his MRI yesterday. He was in sooo much pain after because of having to lay on his back for so long and being jostled around. I will call the Dr. today and see what they have to say. I was told that the Dr. likes "film" so I will have to take them to his office.
Love, Ricki

Happy Groundhog Day!!
Just got off the phone with the insurance agent. She took Megs statement. Meg handed me the phone afterwards and it was wet!! Her hand was sweating so bad - poor girl. They have ruled that it was the other drivers fault and so they are going to give us a rental car. The rental company doesn't allow 17 yr olds to drive so I told the insurance agent that we would have Meg drive one of our cars and that I would need a van so that I could fit all of my children in. I wanted to be more specific and say I want a van that has both side doors electric (that's the kind I had when someone hit me, I didn't want my old van back after that:) Yesterday the insurance adjuster came out and looked at the car, she believes that it is totaled. She loved what I did to the car:) And how clean Meg had kept the inside:) I told her not to look in her room - that's a different story!!
Chris had a hard time on the campout. The other leaders tried to keep him from lifting but my stubborn husband did it anyway. He also would not sleep on a bed - he thought floor would be better for his back, he also walked the one mile to his car from the cabin (one of the men drove him up to the cabin as close as he could then Chris walked). Rye also said that Chris was up alot being sick. Chris came home exhausted. I let him rest for awhile and then we took Tay out for his b-day dinner and then went and let him pick out his present. Chris was in soooo much pain. He was verryyy grumpy. I sent him to the front of the store to wait for us:( He couldn't make it to church Sunday he was in too much pain. I feel bad he wants to play and fulfill his calling as young men's leader but he needs to rest and not make things worse for himself. Tonight the boys are going to the pool to work on the swimming merit badge and Chris told the other leader he'd be there to help. I told the other leader to not plan on him because today at 4:45pm Chris has an MRI for his back. Hopefully he can go but yesterday I called an ortho doctor the one that I was told was wonderful by some friends and thank goodness he was on our insurance. They said that they will not even see Chris until he has an MRI then they will review it and decide how quickly they will set up an appointment to see him. I decided to pull the "cancer card" I called are oncologist and told him what was happening and he ordered an MRI for us. Chris is still in a ton of pain. We haven't slept well for three days. I'm a light sleeper and the poor guy has moaned and groaned a lot especially when he tries to get up. I hate to see him in soooo much pain. I know that it must really be hurting him because he isn't one to complain. The trip that he won is scheduled for Feb. 22 but who knows what will happen. He can't play golf and we can't go on the Hummer excursion too much bouncing around and will he be having surgery???? Don't know ahhh the unknown (hate it!!!)
Meg is feeling better she went to school and track practice yesterday. She is doing the hurdles and loves it! I told the insurance agent that we took Meg to the doctor and that she had been on prescription medicine for the pain. She said that if this is all the claims that we send in then she would just pay are health insurance directly instead of us having to bill my dads car insurance. Sounds way to messy!
Just got off the phone with Enterprise I begged for a van that has electric side doors heee,hheee. Hey if I'm going to be inconvenienced than I should do it in style:) Meg will drive Chris' car and Chris will drive "my baby" (he'd better be careful:) Meg will soon (Feb. 10) be able to drive friends around so it's better that she have a 5 passenger car than an 8.
I will write as soon as I know what the MRI says.
Love, Ricki

Just wanted to update you on Meg she has alot of pain in her neck and shoulder. She went to school but couldn't do anything at track practice because of the pain.
The insurance adjuster never came out today she was kind enough (can you read the sarcasm?!)to call about 3:30pm to tell me she wouldn't be coming today. Monday instead.
Got Rye and Chris out the door for their camp out. Chris was reeealllyy struggling to walk. When he was changing his clothes he fell. Not sure what to do about him. Which doctor do we go too?! What is causing it? He has had two back surgeries in his life and lots of physical therapy. I went and told the other men that were going about Chris and how he's hurting and to pllleeeasssee not let him carry anything. From what I understand they have to walk a mile up to the cabin. They said they would have Chris ride one of the snowmobiles up - poor baby:) They have a lot of food and snow gear to pack in. Hope my boys stay warm:)
Love, Ricki

The other day when I wrote I was thinking "we need a new picture for our blog" Well now we've got one:) So who knew I would be writing again so soon!!:) It's not Chris this time - it's Megan. This morning I received a phone call from a woman that I didn't know that told me Megan was ok but that she had been in a car accident. She then put Meg on the phone I couldn't understand what she was saying she was crying so hard, so the woman got on the phone again and told me where she was. I left Tay, Jacob and Katie at home because they weren't ready to go. I told them that I would take them to school later after I took care of Meg. One of the first things that came to my mind was "Please Heavenly Father let someone that Meg knows help her until I get there" I was very worried about her after hearing her on the phone. Heavenly Father heard my prayer and blessed Meg. One of her best friends mothers happened to be driving by and pulled over. She helped Meg fill out the police report and she called me to update me on Meg and how the accident happened (since I still wasn't sure what happened because I couldn't understand Meg). This car belongs to my dad he has just been letting Meg borrow it, it has Idaho plates and just Tuesday my dad renewed the plates that had expired ahhh...timing. Poor Meg was very worried about grandpa's reaction to a "smashed" car. When I got there Meg was a wreck. I'm sure that if you are reading this it might be bringing back memories of your first accident so you know how Meg feels (I know I do- all to well hee, hee). I finished filling out the paperwork and hugged my Meg a ton, reassuring her that "life is an adventure" and that she is now a teenage statistic (first year of driving- get in an accident), and that at least it wasn't her fault. My first accident was my fault - I hit a Pimps car in Washington DC (very scary).
Chris got there while the policeman was still there. We took this picture of Meg - love the mascara running all the way down to her chin:) After reading the police report I laughed because the other drivers car was not hers she was borrowing it from a dealership while her car was in the shop!!!!
Ohhh... you want to know how it happened well..... Meg was going south and the other driver was at a stop sign, the other driver "says" that Meg was slowing down so she thought Meg was going to turn right so she pulled out (DAAHHHHHHH!) T-Bone! (she was going less than 35 mph). There was not alot of damage done to the other car but as you can see Megs car is toast. I drove it home. Which was dumb I should have had them tow it. Half way home I had to pull over- something from the wheel well was wrapping around the tire. I pulled over and tried to rip it off but it wouldn't come, I also found this black box type thing that was just hanging down dragging on the ground so I ripped it off. Also you can't use the driver side door so I was crawling back and forth over the passenger seat. A dear sweet neighbor saw me and pulled over to help me. The first thing he said was "What tree did you hit???!!" Haaa, haaa!! I reversed the car and he pulled the black thing from the tire. Then we proceeded to pull the bumper off and a couple of other things (don't know what they were) and we also shoved the headlight that was hanging down that I couldn't pull off into a hole that I found. We were having a great time. I finally got the car home. Poor Meg just about died when she saw it she said "What have you done to the car?" Haaaa, hhaaaa What have I done?? Got Jacob and Tay to school. Meg didn't want to go to school so she ran errands with Katie and I. Went to the Boyscout store and then Sam's Club and Harmon's to get groceries for the Boyscout/Young Men Camp out tomorrow (Chris is in charge of making the taco salad dinner) then grandma, Katie and I took Meg out to lunch. She keeps complaining of different body parts hurting - especially her head will just watch and see if I need to take her to the Dr. Just got off the phone with other drivers insurance they are trying to pin this on Meg!!!! Don't talk to me right now I'm steaming mad!!!!!! The other driver is claiming that there was another car in front of Meg that turned right and that Meg went around it and that's when "Meg T-Boned her." I will remain calm!! She received the ticket. The insurance company is saying that because of the discrepancy between statements that they have to investigate further before we can get a rental car. Also the agent is suppose to come out tomorrow to look at the car. After that phone call we received another phone call that Chris' great aunt passed away. At 6:30 pm I took Meg to the doctor she was having pain in her neck and back. Doctor gave Meg medicine. She said that this will help with the pain that she's going to feel tomorrow:)
High note: Chris won the West Area Award!!! He and I will be going on a much needed trip for 2 days. Chris was telling me that he only got picked because "he's going to die" but I told him no way that is so not true. People at work know how hard he works, how devoted he is, how much he cares about his work and his fellow employees. How many guys do you know that try to go back to work 4 weeks after having a MAJOR surgery or go to the ER Sunday night and then go to work the next morning? I don't know of any! Thank you to all that helped in anyway to get Chris nominated. He and I are looking forward to being in the sun!!! (already asked grandma to babysit:))
Tomorrow is Tay's b-day and Chris and Rye go camping. May tomorrow be quieter.
Chris has hurt his back somehow and is finding it hard to walk. I think I feel my eye twitching!!!!!:)
Love, Ricki

I was planning on writing sometime soon just to say "hi" and that everything was quiet but Chris decided to throw me a curve ball so I'm writing to let you know that Chris was in the ER last night. He started throwing up and had a reallllyyy bad migraine around 3pm yesterday. At 7pm he asked me to take him to the hospital. I called my mom and she was kind enough to come over and help with the kids. Meg does a great job but I didn't know how long we'd be there. They re hydrated and drugged him up. They wanted to do a CT scan to see if there was any bleeding in the brain but my "bad patient" told them "No." Chris hasn't been taking his shots like he should (he was already against taking them) so I of course worry that the clot moved from his lung to his brain - who knows ("negative Nellie"). I would like to call the Dr. but I know Chris would have a cow. We arrived home around midnight and Chris went to work today. He has too much to do he says- he probably just doesn't want to hear me nag him:) So we will just see what happens.
Meg celebrated her 17th bday and I celebrated my ? bday. Tay has his bday this week turns 11!!. He will receive his Arrow of Light and Webelos award for Scouts. Jacob finished his Bobcat for Cubscouts. Feb. Pack Meeting will be exciting with Tay and Jacob getting "big" awards. Chris' mom and dad came in from China and spent a couple of days with us, love hearing about their life over there. We've got it so good:) (they go back at the end of the month). I went to the eye doctor last week to get a new prescription (I like to see clearly) and to inquire as to why my left eye was twitching- a lot - very annoying! He told me that it could be a number of things then he started naming them off, I can only remember the first 3 after that I stopped listening because I was laughing so hard. 1- To much caffeine (that's me and Dr. Pepper) 2- Not enough sleep 3- Too much STRESS!!! See why I couldn't stop laughing. I did tell the poor eye doctor my whole story so that he could laugh along also (I'm sure he was thinking I was crazy). We have been off-track since Dec. 23rd today is are last day to play, tomorrow school starts again. Now I'll have to unload the dishwasher, fold laundry and vacuum, oh... and entertain Katie. I'm sad when they leave me:) And, yes we still have Aladdin he has only jumped on the table twice that I know of and continues to use his cat box so I haven't gotten rid of him yet:) Chris always wonders how he, Chris has survived this long, how come I haven't gotten rid of him, hee, hee:)
February 5th Rye has a doctors appointment with the neurologist to check out his brain. Chris has doctors appointment April 9 (unless he makes me mad and I call the doctor- hee, hee).
Love, Ricki