Mouse Attack

I was sitting on my couch being a good girl like the doctor told me to. The dogs and cats were outside and I was resting my hips. The next thing I know I see something come down into the living room. It was little and yucky (and kind of cute). Once I realized what it was I went and got Bogo (Barbie wouldn't come in). So Bogo and I went on a mouse hunt. That thing moves fast. But we finally prevailed. I put it in a container and waited for the kids to get home.

My girlfriend told me to flush it down the toilet but I decided I would let it live as long as it was far away from the house. Will was thankful for it. He went to get my camera and so I peeked in the container and that damn thing jumped out and started running up my robe. I of course am screaming and Will came running. He caught it by its tail.

Will then dropped it because as you can see the mouse wanted a little nibble of Will. But it was caught once again.

Cindy and Bogo were waiting for it to escape again. I don't think Will and I could have saved it if it had gotten down. Will took it to the back of the property and threw it over the fence. So now it isn't my problem. YUCK!

Trochanteric Bursitis

I went to the Orthopedic surgeon Tuesday because of sever hip pain I have been having for weeks. It had gotten so bad I could barley walk. He gave me a shot in each hip then prescribed physical therapy and anti inflammatory. This is a description of what it is.


Bursitis is caused by inflammation of a bursa, a small jelly-like sac that usually contains a small amount of fluid. Bursae are located throughout the body, most importantly around the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and heel. They act as cushions between bones and the overlying soft tissues, and help reduce friction between the gliding muscles and the bone.

Relationship of trochanteric bursa between the iliotibial band and the greater trochanter.
Printed with permission from Green WB(ed): Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care, Edition 2. Rosemont, IL; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2001, p. 335.The bony point of the hip is called the greater trochanter. It is an attachment point for muscles that move the hip joint. The trochanter has a fairly large bursa overlying it that occasionally becomes irritated, resulting in hip bursitis (trochanteric bursitis).
Another bursa located on the inside (groin side) of the hip is called the iliopsoas bursa. When this bursa becomes inflamed, the condition is also sometimes referred to as hip bursitis, but the pain is located in the groin area. This condition is not as common as trochanteric bursitis, but is treated in a similar manner.
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Symptoms
The main symptom of hip bursitis is pain at the point of the hip. The pain usually extends to the outside of the thigh area. In the early stages, the pain is usually described as sharp and intense. Later, it may feel more achy and spread out.
Typically, the pain is worse at night, when lying on the affected hip, and when getting up from a chair after being seated for a while. It also may get worse with prolonged walking, stair climbing, or squatting.
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Risk Factors
Hip bursitis can affect anyone, but is more common in women and middle-aged or elderly people. It is less common in younger people and in men.
The following risk factors have been associated with the development of hip bursitis.
Repetitive stress (overuse) injury. This can occur when running, stair climbing, bicycling, or standing for long periods of time.
Hip injury. An injury to the point of your hip can occur when you fall onto your hip, bump your hip on the edge of a table, or lie on one side of your body for an extended period of time.
Spine disease. This includes scoliosis, arthritis of the lumbar (lower) spine, and other spine problems.
Leg-length inequality. When one leg is shorter than the other by more than an inch or so, it affects the way you walk and can lead to irritation of a hip bursa.
Rheumatoid arthritis. This makes the bursae more likely to become inflamed.
Previous surgery. Surgery around the hip or prosthetic implants in the hip can irritate bursae and cause bursitis.
Bone spurs or calcium deposits. These can develop within the tendons that attach to the trochanter. They can irritate the bursa and cause inflammation.
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Diagnosis

The doctor examines the greater trochanter with the patient lying on his/her side.
Reprinted with permission from Green WB(ed): Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care, Edition 2. Rosemont, IL; American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2001, p. 335.To diagnosis hip bursitis, the doctor will perform a comprehensive physical examination, looking for tenderness in the area of the point of the hip. He or she may also perform additional tests to rule out other possible injuries or conditions. These tests can include radiography (x-rays), bone scanning, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
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Treatment
Nonsurgical Treatment
The initial treatment for hip bursitis does not involve surgery. Many people with hip bursitis can experience relief with simple lifestyle changes, including:
Modification of activities—avoiding the activities that worsen symptoms
Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, piroxicam, celecoxib, and others, to control inflammation and pain
Use of a walking cane or crutches for a week or more when needed
There is little evidence to support the use of physical therapy to treat hip bursitis, but many patients claim that it is helpful. The doctor may ask a physical therapist to teach you how to stretch your hip muscles and use other treatments such as ice, heat, or ultrasound.
Injection of a corticosteroid along with a local anesthetic may also be helpful in relieving symptoms of hip bursitis. This is a simple and effective treatment that can be done in the doctor's office. It involves a single injection into the bursa. The injection typically provides permanent relief. If pain and inflammation return, another injection or two, given a few months apart, may be needed.
Use NSAIDs cautiously and for limited periods. Talk with your doctor about the NSAIDs you use. NSAIDs may have adverse side effects if you have certain medical conditions or take certain medications.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is rarely needed for hip bursitis. If the bursa remains inflamed and painful after all nonsurgical treatments have been tried, your doctor may recommend surgical removal of the bursa. Removal of the bursa does not hurt the hip, and the hip can actually function normally without it.
A newer technique that is gaining popularity is arthroscopic removal of the bursa. In this technique, the bursa is removed through a small (1/4-inch) incision over the hip. A tiny camera, or arthroscope, is placed in a second incision so the doctor can guide the surgical instruments and cut out the bursa. This surgery is much less invasive, and recovery is quicker and less painful.
Both types of surgeries are done on an outpatient (day surgery) basis, so an overnight stay in the hospital is not usually necessary. Early studies show arthroscopic removal of the bursa to be quite effective, but this is still currently being studied.
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Rehabilitation
Following surgery, a short rehabilitation period can be expected. Most patients find that using a cane or crutches for a couple of days is helpful. It is reasonable to be up and walking around the evening after surgery. The soreness from surgery usually goes away after a few days.
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Prevention
Prevention is aimed at avoiding behaviors and activities that make the inflammation of the bursa worse.
Avoid repetitive activities that put stress on the hips.
Lose weight if you need to.
Get a properly fitting shoe insert for leg-length differences.
Maintain strength and flexibility of the hip muscles.

Warts?

I took the children to the dermatologist the other day because of bumps on them. Will's looked the worse. He told me they were some kind of wart this is contagious through touch. They actually got them by swimming and touching the sides of the pool with there body.

Audrey has them on her arm pit. You can see by the top how they start then progress in a larger nod.

We have been dealing with this on Will since last summer. His body can not fight them. Most people don't even get them. Of course Will would and not be able to fight it. Here's his. He says they itch. The Dr. burnt most of them and now I have a cream to put on them. I feel bad for Will because now they are trying to get on his face.

Hockey game

Will had spent the night with his friend Cole. They have been friends since Will was 3 weeks and Cole 3 days. They live in different towns, go to different schools but still remain best friends. When you put them together its like they haven't been apart. Well, besides catching up on all the things they have learned good or bad. Of course, they have to teach each other the tricks.
Anyway they went to a hockey game and our local newspaper captured this photo of them watching warm ups.

Dance Camp

Dance camp was a success. Audrey really enjoyed it. Mark and I really enjoyed her performance. She hammed it up as usual.

Here is the beginning of her performance.
Here is the end can you finder her. She is striking one of her Americas Next Top Model poses.

Her friend Emma. They weren't in the same group because Emma is a year older. (actually 6 months but that does put her a grade higher than Audrey).

Emma, Audrey, Hannah and Sarah

Almost back to normal

Mark came home and is sick. He has been working out of town. But of course the kids are going strong with activities. They had a swim meet this morning. I, of course, forgot my camera. But the did well. Will shaved off 3 seconds from his freestyle and 2 off his backstroke. He did not DQ on breaststroke so that is good. Audrey shaved 2 seconds off her freestyle and her backstroke I am not sure. If she would actually use both her arms she would go faster. After the meet we dropped Will off to spend the night with his friend Cole. Came home got Audrey ready for dance camp. I have to go back at 3:30 to watch her perform. I will bring my camera so I can share photos with you.

FLU

Ok, I have had the flu again. I have been in bed for 5 days with fever and other aches and pains. My fever finally broke last night and trying to keep it from coming back. I can't really say what has been going on around here because I do not know. My mother came over yesterday so Mark could go out of town and she made me some yummy homemade chicken soup. The kids come up every now an then just to look at me. I am feeling better so I will probably take over my mommy duties tomorrow. I want to go work out but I will resist (especially since going down the stairs takes all my energy).

Tooth fairy for Audrey

This past weekend we were at an hockey game and Audrey was cheering when I noticed that her bottom big teeth had come in. The problem is she never lost her baby teeth. Well I knew that I was going to have to call the dentist and get the baby teeth pulled.

I made the appointment and told Audrey that she was going to have her baby teeth pulled. She said she wanted pictures with her baby teeth in. So I was happy to.


And of course Audrey was already and posing. I think I got like 7 pictures of her posing. The next morning we got up took Will to school. We got to the dentist at 9:30 and they did not take us back until 11:00. I was not very happy. When we got back the put tooth gel on her gums to deaden the area they would be giving her the shots. When they did this to Will they put a lot on, but for Audrey they didn't. Then they decided to give her the shots. When she began to cry I thought it was because she saw the big needle but then I realized that it was hurting her. I started to cry a little and i held her hands. After 4 shots they let her sit and let her mouth go numb. Once it was all numb the dentist came over and wiggled her teeth out. She did not feel it at all. I asked her if she still wanted to be a dentist now and she said yes. She said she wants to give people shots. she was unable to eat anything hard, crunchy, spicy, salty all day. So we went to the store and got ice cream. We already had yogurt at the house and she wanted spaghetti maranera for dinner.

So here is her first picture without those two teeth. As you can see she had just got finished eating chocolate ice cream. I even made her wash her face. There was just to much ice cream though. She is still beautiful.

Here are her two teeth, roots and everything. They are so tiny.

I put them next to this dime just so you could see how little.

They gave Audrey this treasure box to put her teeth in so the tooth fairy could find them easier under her pillow.

When I got home from my book club meeting I realized Audrey's teeth were in the truck. So I came in and woke her up so she could put them under her pillow. Of course she saw the camera and was ready for the photo. She is always photo ready.

She shoved it under her pillow and fell right to sleep. I don't think she even realized I was in there.

I then went into Will's room and took his picture while he slept.

The next morning Audrey woke up with ten dollars from the tooth fairy. This is how it was broken down 2 for each tooth, 2 for each root and 2 for having the dentist pulling them. So now she is ready to lose more teeth. I asked her if she was going to give the money for the toy I bought her for having her teeth pulled and she thought about it and said "NO" I told her I was just kidding that she was a brave girl and deserved it.

Will & Drake

Will and our neighbor Drake decided to do some stunts or at least appear to do some.

Aren't they cool!

Reba & Kelly, 2 voices, 2 worlds

Santa Claus brought Audrey and the family tickets to the Kelly Clarkson, Reba Mcyntyre (not sure how to spell that) concert. So the night came and we got ready for the event. It started at 8pm, which is late for Audrey but she was up for it.

I was getting my camera ready when I see her putting her lipgloss on. So of course, I get the shot.

Now she is ready for the show. Kelly Clarkson is her favorite singer. She has both of her cd's and knows all of her songs. Of course she does not know what the lyrics mean.

Will is all ready as well looking mighty handsome. He also looks tired. He fell asleep on the way there.

Will decided to take a picture of Audrey and I. I am tired too also having a terrible hair day. It had been raining all day. All I wanted to do was sleep.

We got to the concert late because of parade traffic. There was a comic first so we didn't miss anything. Reba and Kelly came out at 9 o'clock. It was so loud. Even Mark said it was loud and for him to say it is loud you know it was loud. Anyway about 10 Audrey gets in my lap and falls asleep. Before then she was up singing and dancing. But she just fell asleep. Her little body could not take it anymore. It was a good show. But the do need a new sound man. Kelly's mic needed to be turned up and her drummers needed to be turned down.

Amazing

About 10 years from March or April I had reconsturctive jaw surgery. Afterwards I could not feel my chin. There is a metal plate in it with several screws. I could feel the skin in some places and others nothing. I couldn't feel any deeper than that. The other day I worked out and went outside, got in my car. I felt pain coming from my chin. I touched it and it was deep pain. Then I rubbed my tongue against the scars in my mouth and felt that as well. I could not believe it took that many years for my nerves to get back together but they are. The only problem now is it hurts. After the surgery I didn't really have any pain at all. So now I am having some almost 10 years later.