I just have not gotten the chance to update on Buddy. With my last update, I mentioned he was going into a brace. Well, after paying the co-pay on this brace, and having it custom made, he complained the pain was worse. So just like that, the doctor took him out of it, and that pretty much ended up being money down the toilet.

Let me break off and say at this point that I just do not like "Doctor #3" (I will refrain from saying his name, only to prevent any issues in my son's care.) Buddy was referred to this doctor for a surgery consult, and was slapped into a brace, instead! (Which...obviously did not work.) "Doctor #3" just has one of these attitudes, a "holier than thou" and just gave me a bad impression from the beginning. He just has no talking skills or bed-side manner!

This last appointment with him (which, incidentally, will be THE LAST) he told me that my son does not have Spina Bifida, arthritis, OR a slipped disc. HUH? He asked me who told me this. I went on to say.... "Doctor #1", "Doctor #2", the hospital's radiology department, my primary care practice, and not to mention the x-ray report I physically gave this office when I was referred FOR SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA. He spent like 5 minutes dumbly flipping through my son's chart, and telling me he sees no indication, and that I have been "grossly misinformed". He went on to tell me my son has a "fracture", but his pain is "not consistent" with his issue. He then sent my son out of the room. His condescending attitude actually got worse at this point, and he asked me if my son was depressed. Anyone who knows my son can tell you he is a goofy, wacky, happy-go-lucky person. Depression? Not likely. The doctor says he is "highly concerned" my son is depressed and fears for his life and well being. WHAT?!?! He suggests I take him to my primary care ASAP to get him properly diagnosed. He goes on to say that his "Depression" is "manifesting his pain", and the pain is certainly not coming from his back. At this point, I pretty much had a permanent frown pasted onto my face, and was quickly losing my patience. Last I checked, this guy had a degree in ORTHOPAEDICS, not therapy! *LOL* So he suggested my son go back to "Doctor #2" for a spinal injection not to help but to diagnose. If the injection brings relief then the pain IS coming from the back. If not, then basically either my son is delusional, or they have to try and figure out what is causing the pain. By the time this comes out, I am thinking, "Awesome, let's go back to Doctor #2, because if I have to put up with you anymore, I think I will hit you."

The following week, my son went back to "Doctor #2". He looked at the chart and explained what the injection would do, and that it was pretty much a surgical procedure similar to an epidural. When we mentioned about what this other doctor in the practice said, "Doctor #2" was kind of stunned. He had dealt with Buddy for a while, and never has seen any indication of depression. And he went on to say that the issue going on, the most recent test DOES show a fracture. So the other doctor was partially right. But "Doctor #2" felt that it was the reason for his pain.

So, yesterday we went in for the procedure. Buddy did very well. However, "Doctor #2" came in to talk to us while he was in recovery. During the procedure, they were able to get a much better look at the situation. The "fracture" is a full blown break at the L5 section. That is what is causing his pain. And the break is much worse than the x-rays, MRI, and bone scan showed. "Doctor #2" is almost certain Buddy cannot recover on his own. He will need surgery to fix this. That being said, we refuse to go back to the other guy. So, hopefully, "Doctor #1" will be able to do this procedure.

The whole "too many doctors' hands in the pot" thing is kinda confusing.

I am really hoping we get a resolution to this soon!

A new year begins, and hopefully things will start turning around for us soon. There really is no new progress for me. I will be starting physical therapy again, soon. But there is really nothing as a particular reason. I guess the doctor figures it won't hurt. My immune system is the same...pretty bad. *LOL* I'm sick again, which is pretty bad timing. But, anyhow, it is really just the normal stuff for me. Onto the others:

Buddy: His new doctor actually decided against the surgeries for now. But, he will have to wear a back brace for about six weeks. He just got it on Friday. I dread what he will be going through in school. I guess he is a bit happy, though, to be free of gym for a while. But...it also meant the obvious exclusion of the musical. Obviously, the PT has been put on hold, as well.

Sierra: They've pretty much decided she has Fibromyalgia, as we suspected. All of the tests came out negative for other stuff. Unfortunately, the medication for Fibro is not yet determined to be safe for anyone under 18. So, medication-wise, she has about 3 years before she can get some relief from Lyrica or something similar. For now, they are trying her out on OMT once a week. They are seeing how it works. It is frustrating, as a parent, to know your child is in pain with the same things you have, and you are helpless. As an adult, I can take the medications she is being denied. Simple things that a normal kid takes for granted are an everyday struggle for her. All I can hope is that these treatments will give her at least a bit of relief. Beyond that? She is in God's hands.

Brian: He is doing SO well! The physical therapist is very surprised at just how much progress he is making. He sees the doctor in a little over a week, so hopefully we will get some good news on the healing of his wrist. As for the lump, it ending up being a hematoma. He went into interventional radiology to have it drained a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, he came home with a drain. He is handling the care of it a lot better than I expected. I think, perhaps, seeing me go through multiple drains over the past few years between an abscess and post-op, it puts things in a better perspective for him and he is more capable of handling it. But, the fluids are not diminishing as much as I'd like. So we will see how it goes! He is getting stir-crazy being stuck not working. So I hope his doctor clears him soon to go back to work.

Kenzie: Once again, she is the healthy one out of the bunch! She is also such a big help to everyone else. And considering she is the only one of us who can bend to pick things up without difficultly, she helps a lot more than she realizes.

I hope to have more updates soon...

Well, once again life is distracting me...preventing me from posting updates timely. I have not had a lot of time for anything on the computer lately other than necessities like email. (And even that tends to get backed up on the one account.) I will try to get everything in...because a LOT has happened.

Me: Same old stuff, mostly. However, a bit of good news: the wounds have FINALLY closed!

Buddy: He is going through physical therapy at the moment, and the injection was put off. He has upgraded to heavier painkillers (at home, anyhow.) At this point, surgery seems inevitable. Possibly two: one to fix the slipped disc caused by his Spina Bifida, and the other to fuse the spine and correct the Spina Bifida itself. The arthritis? Who knows, the injection may come sooner or later. For now, he made the heartbreaking decision to not do the spring musical. This one requires a lot of dancing, something he just cannot do right now.

Sierra: Not much change, there...

Brian: He has been the main reason for less time in my life. He got into a bad car accident just before Thanksgiving. "Bad" is an understatement. The cops arrived on the scene and were shocked he survived. It gives more meaning to "Thanksgiving", because I am so grateful that he did not leave me. It was during a heavy rainstorm, and he slammed on the brakes because a tractor trailer was in front of him. Because of the rain, however, he hydroplaned into the back of it. (So much for "anti-lock brakes"!) He got away from the accident with surprisingly few injuries...the worst of which was a badly broken wrist. Even that is an understatement, as he did the equivalent of severing it on the inside! (Bones, tendons, ligaments, everything.) When he arrived in the ER, his wrist was actually above his hand. They temporarily set the break, removed glass from his arm, and let him go home. The orthopaedic surgeon at our local hospital saw him a few days after, and let him know it was the worst possible injury for a wrist/hand. He had surgery a couple of weeks later, after allowing time for the swelling to go down. He is now two weeks out of surgery, and went for his follow-up today. The wrist is coming along good, supported by a "bit" of metal plates and screws. They removed the cast, and put on a removable split. He starts physical therapy later this week. It looks good so far, and we are praying that he will not need anymore surgeries. (He might if it starts slipping the other way.) In the meantime, he can not drive or work, so he is trying to get the short term disability from his work. Like we really need more disability battles in this house! *LOL* He has been home since November 16th, and will be out at least another 4 weeks, possibly 6. To top things off, shortly after the accident a large lump starting forming on his upper thigh near his torso. We have no idea what it is (hernia, fluid, etc.) Waiting on a response to the ultrasound.

The car did not survive the accident, and the insurance company will be providing the funeral services.

That is all, for now. Why do my updates have to have so much drama, lately?

I am going to start compiling Black Friday specials for the major retailers. I will edit this as we go, so hopefully I will get everything important in the Cricut/Slice lines. Please email me at lionkingfanatic@netscape.net if I am missing anything.

Walmart:

Cricut Imagine: $187

Michaels:

Cricut v1 (baby bug): $69.99 (Friday doorbuster)
Cricut Expression 2: $199.99
Cricut Cartridges: $24.99
Sizzix/Cuttlebug machines/accessories: 40% off

AC Moore:

Cricut Expression 2: $168.88 (Friday 5AM-12PM; after 12: $199.99)
Cricut Cartridges: $28.88
Sizzix/Cuttlebug/Spellbinders machines/accessories: 40% off

JoAnn:

Cricut Expression: $159.99 (Friday)
Cricut Cake Mini: $89.99 (Friday)
Cricut Cartridges: $26.99 (Friday)
Cricut Expression 2: $229.99 (Saturday)
Cricut Event & Project Cartridges: $18.99 (Saturday)
Yudu: $89.99 (Saturday)

On a side note, cricutmachine.com is having a 48 hour sale right now. The Cricut Cake is on an AMAZING $49.99 special. This is the absolute best I have seen it, and I am officially getting it for my birthday.

Well, for once a blog entry is not primarily about my medical ailments.

As some of you might have heard, my son, Buddy (Brian Jr.), has been plagued with horrible back pain. At first thought to be "growing pains" (he grew from being one of the shortest to being one of the taller kids in school), he was later found through an x-ray to have BOTH Scoliosis and Spina Bifida Occulta. The former was slight, and not something to be overly concerned about. The latter, although usually an incidental diagnosis, seemed to be the culprit over what was causing him the pain. So, on came the pediatric orthopedic doctors. At first, he was sent to physical therapy. But, like me, it just made the issue worse. So, he has been seeing them well over a year now. Finally, an MRI showed something disturbing: the gap in his spine from the Spina Bifida actually caused him to get arthritis...at 16!!! Tomorrow brings a consult with another specialist, who plans to at some point inject something near his spine to hopefully soothe the pain. If this does not work, surgery looks to be on the horizon. My son is definitely not happy about this latest turn. Add that to major dental issues (try forcing a teenager to do anything, much less brush his teeth), and he is not a happy camper. However, on a better note, he passed his "written" test, and now has his driving permit!

Sierra needs to go back to her doctor for further instruction as to her ongoing pain issues (now thought to be juv. Fibromyalgia.)

As for me, just the normal stuff: endless appointments, still waiting on wounds to heal, etc.

Hopefully I will be able to report soon on Buddy. For now, though, we are praying his pain will not prevent him from performing this weekend. Little Shop of Horrors starts its open dress rehearsal tomorrow, and first official performance on Thursday. Sierra is on the stage crew!