Good News!

Took Nate in Monday for another MRI.  Ugh poor kid.  He was stuck laying there in that loud as Hell, enclosed tube for over an hour.  It took so long because they imaged from his brain down all the way down his spine. Guess if you have to do it, all at once is the best.  He was pretty upset cause they lady kept telling him not to swallow.  Try that...laying on your back for an hour and not swallowing, yeah not.  Anyway, we went in for the follow-up visit with the Neurosurgeon today.  She reviewed the MRI films from Sept and the ones from yesterday and had only positive things to say. The Chiara is still there but is no longer being labeled as abnormal.  It has shrunk quite a bit lessoning  the pressure on his spinal cord and his brain stem. YAY!!! That's what we were hoping to hear.  She also said that there is NO build up of any spinal fluid anywhere!  There is no need for the surgery at this time!  WOO HOO!!!  Couldn't have asked for better news.  One less thing to worry about now. He still get the headaches but no where near as bad.  We'll still follow up with the Neurologist to see if he will need to continue the meds or if we will be able to ween him off of them. 

My Climb to Conquer Cancer team is increasing daily and there is still 30 days left to sign up! I'm so excited.  I thought I would only get a handful of people to sign up and walk.  My team, Logan's Heroes  is now up to 26 walkers and new people are signing up everyday.  I'm trying to get approval on some fund-raising ideas for work, so far we have raised $585.00.  Look out for a donation letter coming your way soon ;-)

I finally did it!  I got my first (and probably only) tattoo!!  Bet ya can't guess what it is???  I got a pink ribbon just above my right ankle.  It's only about an inch and a half tall but perfect for what I wanted.  The kids went with me to watch (and to take pictures so they could laugh at me later) I think they have now decided that they won't be getting any tattoos for themselves.  They asked if it hurt and I responded to Nate by saying " you couldn't figure that out when I grabbed your jacket and looked at you with the "OMG I'm dying here look?"  YEAH it hurt!!!  That's OK, I'm glad I finally did it.

I have more to write but it's getting late and I have a huge day tomorrow  Time for bed. Night all. 

A New Year...

Well its the middle of January and I haven't written anything since Christmas.  Think I'm past due.  I'm quite sure it will be all over the place and not make much sense because my mind is working overtime right now.  

I spent New Years not really the way I had wanted but I had a good time. I'm glad to have been able to put  2008 behind me and  start a fresh new year.  It seems to be starting off a little bumpy right now but I'm excited to see what the future holds for me.  

The kids and I are adjusting well to our new lives.  I've always been close with them but our recent changes seem to have brought us together even more.  They are the best!  School has started back up. Between school and work, our schedules don't work out the best. There are sometimes I feel I haven't seen them in days. 

Nate had to have a root canal the other day. The dentist gave him the same pills they gave me to sedate him.  HAHAHAH...who's making fun of who now!  Both the kids had a blast at my expensewhen I was all drugged up.  Telling me all about the crazy things I was saying and doing.  I got to get Nate back this time.  He was sooooooo funny.  Seeing dragons fighting and eating each other, thinking there are random chairs or people moving around,  not remembering how he got home and got into bed.  I guess you just had to be there to get the full picture but OMG it was so funny. 

I haven't been feeling to good lately.  I've lost quite a bit of weight since July.  19lbs... That is just way to much for me to lose. I'm to skinny as is.  I'm back up 5 pounds now so that's good.  Hoping the weight lose is just due to all the stress I've been under and I'll be able to gain it all back soon.  I did end up going to the Dr.  You know how I am with all the breast cancer stuff.  I do my monthly exams religiously.  This month I found a lump.  Thankfully, my Dr. was able to get my referal submited and approved the same day I saw him and I was able to get in the following day for an ultrasound and a mamogram.  I'm so glad they called back so quickly with the results I would have been even more of a basketcase then I already was.  Everything turned out to be benign.  Thank goodness!!!  I didn't tell anyone (well one person) what was going on because I didn't want to have anyone worrying  and it is pretty personal stuff ya know,  but then I got to thinking...cancer can strike anyone at anytime.  What have I been doing for the last 2 1/2 years?  Trying to raise awareness for exactly this!  I haven't been running around telling everyone my personal stuff  but I have had several people tell me I reminded them it's that time again or that they really should pay better attention and do the monthly exams and get checked by the Dr regulary.

That leads me to my next journey.  I'm getting ready for another walk.  Climb to Conquer Cancer.  It's a 5.5 mile hike up South Mountain.  (ha then you got to walk back down...or at least I will be =-)  This will be the 4th year I've particapated in this one.   I decieded to form my own team this year.  Logan's Heroes (thanks Remo) I soooooo love the team name!  (so does everyone else)  I have about 5 people signed up as of now with quite a few more joining soon.  I'm really excited about getting back out there and doin some walkin.   Also working on getting the center I work for involved for some fundraising. I'll let you know how it all turns out.

I hate health insurance companys!!!!!!  I'll try to make this the short version. (trust me I could REALLY go off on this one) anyway... So Nate was scheduled for his follow up visit with the neruosurgeon Jan. 6th.  Two days before his appointment, I get a bill for $280.00 WHAT?!?!? It was a 20 min. office visit.  You've GOT to be kidding right?  Nope.  My ins. company says the surgeon isn't covered by my plan.   I called and talked to the lady at the Dr office to figure out what was going on.  Turns out that the Dr wasn't contracted with the insurance till November.  We had to move our appointment up from Dec. to Sept. after we had the emergecy room visit per Dr's orders.  The Dr's office is going to try to try to get the claim to go thru and I'm going to appeal it. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.  In the meantime though, I've had to change his appointment 3 times while we try to get this straightened out.  We want to be sure that he will be covered or I'll have to find another Dr and start this whole thing over which I REALLY don't want to do.  He is feeling pretty good these days.  I do think the meds are helping.  He still has his headaches, he's not had any really, really bad ones with all the crazy side effects thank goodness.

Opps....think this one got away from me tonight.  It's after 1am...I'm so tired, been working a lot of overtime again.  Keeps me busy I guess and not bad for the pocketbook either. 

Wishing you all well, 

~Terri~