WE are off on VACATION....

to DISNEY WORLD...I will be back Friday sometime. We are going to meet with friends from some of my message boards and email groups...and spending a few days in the parks. Taking it easy due to my back!

How sad is this...some people are still so ignorant

Do not know if you remember this story during the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1st...the star football player asked his cheerleader girlfriend to marry him and she said yes.

Well they are getting married this weekend and check out what is going on.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-boisestate-johnson&prov=ap&type=lgns

I sure hope Aviva never has to experience this, come on we should support love.

Well, I WENT and did it........

I got myself a handicapped placard for my car. Went to the neurologist today and he signed off on it. He said I should not have to suffer and feels bad that he cannot do anything for the pain.

So after my appt, went to the courthouse....the office I had to go to was at the other end....I could not believe how far it was...I was in agony by the time I got there. But got the permit, so off I went back to my car, it felt even longer going back. Just glad it is done before we go away!

Also, trying to move more but the pain is worse but fighting through it. And been going to the pool.

GRAINS of GRATITUDE.....

WOW another week of summer has come and gone...hard to believe I will have a first grader in 29 days.

*I am so happy that my MRI and blood test results came out fine and not showing anything. I have a slightly elevated white blood count. But that is normal I guess for me, since it seems to always be that way. That was a big relief.

*Found out that surgery will not work for me and my back, so trying to stay strong and work through my pain, which is not easy. I really wish there was something that would make me feek better...so calling a chiropractor tomorrow.

*Another week of camp is done and Aviva keeps swimming like a fish. She loves to go everyday and have fun with her friends, especially this young man Ryan (who i5) and a C.I.T. She blushes when you talk about him.

*I am happy to say school is going well and have a great professor; who I will have in the fall too and she already sent me the syllabus for the class.

*Spider is allowing me to work so he can clean and declutter....which he enjoys doing. His sister is coming from Jamaica on Friday and then we are off to Disney for 6 days bext Sunday!


Thank you Christine.

How we spent our Saturday......part 1

We went to a birthday party for Aviva's friend who turned 6. She had it at the Broward County Humane Society. And asked for presents or donations for the animals. Oh my goodness they were just to adorable. Would have loved to take them home with me. Spider was seriously thinking about it. But it is a lot of work and a lot of responsibility. We had a nice time.

Part 2....

GOOD NEWS.............

well got the results of my MRI on the brain and orbits and the blood tests...ALL IS WELL...except white count slightly elevated but that seems to be normal with me.

What a relief..the optic nerves are still enlarged but now he believes it is diabetes related. So my sugars are much better, just have to keep working on it.

He wants the regular eye doc to do a field of vision test and will see him again in 6 weeks.

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BACK from the Neurosurgeon and MISERABLE...

not at the fault of the doctor. He took his time looking at the MRI films and reports I brought in. And then examined me by doing different tests.

Then he discussed what we can do. He believes that surgery is not in the picture because he does not believe there is a high enough percentage it would work and does not want to take the chance. He believes it will take 6 months to a year to go away. I just about broke out in tears. My friend and the doc said look it has been almost 6 months already.

Some things I can do is swim since it takes all the weight off my back and lose weight which we are doing now. But does not guarantee the pain will go away.

I am so sad right now because it is so hard to function. I feel bad for Aviva because I cannot do much. I am trying to stay positive and deal with it but let me tell you it is not easy.

Just a LITTLE update on the past 2 days......

Well, yesterday I had my MRI for my brain and orbits. We started the MRI sitting up and I did well for the first set of slides. But then started to move (did not realize it) and pictures were blurry. So they had me lay down. Oy vey is all I can say. It took about 1 1/2 hrs in all. After 2/3's or so of the MRI they then injected me with dye for the contrast part. I did not move the whole time except when she said I could but still basically laying still. When she said it was the last set it was a good thing, because did not think I could do anymore. That is when I started to sweat and basically was done.

So when it was over they tilt the table up to a standing position and boy I felt miserable. They helped me out and gave me some water, took a bit to feel better. Just glad it is over. Now praying it is fine!

Today was the eye doctor who is really nice. It is a follow-up from 3 weeks ago. Well, she took the pressure in my eyes...which is fine, then dilated them. Then saw Dr. Katz, and she was happy they had the mri report to be faxed to her too. She looked at my eyes said you have us a bit worried about you (oh great, just what I needed to hear), but we will take care of you. So more drops then off to get photos of my eyes to see if any changes from 3 weeks ago. She will call after Friday's appointment for a follow-up with her.

Tomorrow is the neurosurgeon, hoping to get some ideas what they can do next for the pain!

I am a bit NERVOUS.......

for tomorrow and this week. I am not nervous for the MRI...just nervous it may show something. Hoping the retina specialist has the blood test results Friday. And hoping all is fine.

Then going to the neurosurgeon Wednesday....just want to be out of pain already. Yesterday went shopping with Aviva and got back to the car in tears and so much pain. She asks me to open her soda I got her and I did and exploded all over me and the steering wheel and I just lost it. With her and myself...I yelled at her and was crying. Most of it due to the pain I just cannot take it anymore...feel like my life is on hold and cannot do anything with her anymore.

GRAINS of GRATITUDE......

Another week of summer has gone by and boy it has been very hot this week. I stayed inside enjoying the A/C.

*I am thankful to have had 2 good doc appointments this week. Both doctors were happy with my health and progress I have made. Blood pressure is normal with the help of Micardis and my Blood Sugars are doing much better.

*Aviva had a great week in camp and she is having a terrific summer...swimming twice a day and being with her friends makes her happy.

*Aviva is so excited because we leave in 2 weeks for Disney with Auntie Marie. I am just a bit worried due to my back and renting a scooter. We are going to meet up with friends who live in the area and who will be at Disney the same time as us!!! So should be fun.

*I am enjoying my class I am taking this term and have a great professor. I also registered for the fall. Taking another class on autism-Intervention for Students iwth Autism Spectrum Disorders, I am almost done with the classes for the endorsement and taking the Characteristice and Needs of Students with Developmental Disabilites. I think will really like them both.

*I am grateful to my friend Audree who will be coming with me on Wednesday to my appointment with the neurosurgeon. She is a nurse and I can use the help.

I have been tagged.......

EIGHT things you did not know about me....

1. I am a Diet Coke Addict.

2. I spent 3 years living in Mexico...in the cities of Mexico City and Cancun.

3. I love to read...and if I have the time would read a book a day.

4. I plan our Disney trips and after paid for I let Spider know when he needs to take off from work. He just says OK...which is good.

5. I want to open my own school that will be based on inclusion for children with and without disabilities.....for pre-k to 5th grade.

6. I am a really good listener....and pretty good at giving advice. Some of my friends think I should get another master's (when I finish this one first). I love to help people.

7. I cannot sleep without the TV. Spider is gone 5 nights a week doing overnights and one night he has a gig...so the TV keeps me company.

8. I do NOT like living in Florida!

Just had to say...........

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH!!!!

13 is my lucky number, what is yours?

Finally some GOOD doctor news....

This week had appointments with the endocrinologist and cardiologist.

Tuesday was the endo. I must say it is nice to hear you are doing well. He liked how much better my blood sugars were and we talked about my back pain and therefore cannot exercise yet (helps the blood sugars). But he was happy and do not have to go back for 6 weeks.

Then yesterday my eye doctor called in the evening...a surprise. She wanted to see how my visit to the retina specialist went Friday. Told her I had an eye scan and then an angiogram type test for the eyes. And explained he saw that the optic nerve was enlarged and there was a problem with the blood vessels and blood in the eye. And he is sending me for an MRI for the brain and orbits with and without contrast. So she was happy to hear that and will see her Tuesday. What a nice surprise that she called.

Then today off to the cardiologist....He is really nice and funny too. My blood pressure was good 120/78...normally a little lower but I have been in a lot more pain this week with my back so that can be it. He was happy with everything so we chatted a bit and then said see you in 6 months.

Always nice to hear the good news after the past few weeks. Done with doctors till next week.
July 16-MRI

July 17-Eye Doctor

July 18 Neurosurgeon

July 20-Retina Specialist.

Have to reschedule neurologist same time as eye doctor.

GRAINS of GRATITUDE...

What a funny child I have lately. We are driving in the car and she tells me when she is 18 she knows how she will break up with a boyfriend. I said, oh really how and she goes very seriously, I will DUMP HIM. Gave me a good laugh and I go how will you know how do it. Aviva goes I will practice. Then she asked me later on if she can have TABLE TOPS for dinner. I said what and she repeated TABLE TOPS. I go you mean TATER TOTS. She definitely is fun to be around, and has many funny things to say, Makes my day.

Aviva has really improved in swimming since lessons last summer. Yesterday Spider said she was swimming like a fish in the deep end. And now has been in her bathing suit all day waiting for daddy to get home.

Spider has been training for a new position and studying really hard and working tons of hours. But passed his tests with all A's. I am very proud of him.

I still have more doctor appointments this week but thankfully just follow-ups with the endocrinologist and the cardiologist. Must say my blood pressure has been great at about an average of 110/50. It has been a tough few weeks with me and just hoping for a nice smooth week.

TODAY is Friday.......

so for me it must mean another doctor's visit. Yes I had an appointment with a retina specialist today and it was very long.

I was there for almost 4 hours. The first hour or so they working on insurance, have no clue why when they had all my info ahead of time.

Then the nurse/tech finally called me in and asks lots of questions, takes the pressure in my eyes, tests them and then dilates them.

OK now off to another waiting room to wait till eyes are dilated and then some.

Finally called into see the doctor. He checks the eyes and looks some more. Then says my optic nerve is inflamed and there is blood in my eyes and he needs to find out why.

OK back to the waiting room and have to give permission for this test where they inject dye into my arm to get to my eyes, so I do...wait some more.

Called back by the eye tech who first takes some more info and then does an eye scan. Then off to do the other test like an angiogram to see where the dye goes. She started to inject the dye in my right arm but blood vessel would not cooperate and it hurt so over to the left arm and it worked. She got some good pictures and then we were finished.

Back to the room so the doctor can view the pictures. So finally we are getting some where.

The doc comes in and says it seems there is something going on and the blood is not going where it is suppose to and there is blood in all 4 quadrants of my eye. So now he wants to send me for blood work...a few different tests. And then, an MRI of my brain and orbits with and without contrast.

So will call Monday to schedule the MRI and go to the primary to give blood---oy vey will it ever end.

What an amazing group of YOUNG MEN....

I started watching Nightline last night and I am so glad. They had a story about this boy named Darius and how his group of friends came and rallied around him to try to get MTV to Pimp his Wheelchair.

See he was born with Muscular Dystrophy and went to a Special Needs camp for many years and ran into this boy at the camp. This young man and a group of other young men took Darius on a cross country journey. They made the trip into a documentry called Darius Goes West. It has been in many film festivels and won many awards.

I had tears in my eyes through out this piece. It is a must read and see.

Check out how one company benefits by hiring individuals with disablities.....

You have to check out this video that was on the NBC Nightly News tonight. It is a great story of inclusion and how one company works to give jobs with individuals with disabilities. It plays after the advertising.

What a great thing they are doing!!!!!!! Makes me very happy to see stories like this.

The MANY FACES of AVIVA..........

Aviva takes her self portrait!

Aviva and Dawn being silly

GRAINS of GRATITUDE

What a busy week with doc appointments and my best friend was here visiting.

I had a great week long visit with my best friend....we did not do much but she relaxed and enjoyed the Florida sun. We went out for lunches and dinners and had a really nice time together. She came to my doc appts with me. She made it safely home!

Finally got my Jeep back on Tuesday, such a relief. It is nice to be driving with A/C again.

Four weeks from today we will be in Disney World......I will be renting a scooter and still going to have a great time. It is Marie's (my SIL) first time there and I want it to be great. Aviva is ready to go today!!

I am still in a lot of pain with my back but let me tell you what a help Aviva was yesterday. We had to go to the grocery store so we came home and I was really hurting. One bags handle broke and then climbing the stairs another one broke and I started to cry. She came and got it from and put it by the front door. I put my bags by the door too and went back down for more. While I was getting the bags Aviva carried them all inside and put them on the counter and got the rest I carried up on the second trip and then got me my ice pack. She truly is a very sensitive and loving child.

I am just thankful for my husband and daughter they keep me going...I have been in pain since February and it has not been easy. But they are there to take care and love me. And I can not ask for anything more.