posted June 9th, 2005

What a relentless year so far! First Tom and I get sick, then we come to find out our dog Summer has breast cancer...and now I've gotten another disc in my neck that's causing problems.

For those of you that don't know, I had one cervical disc removed in my neck three years ago in the summer. It's called an extruded disc. It put so much pressure on the root nerve running to my right arm, that I lost feeling in my hand and my muscles atrophied. Surgery and the recovery were a total pain! Literally AND figuratively!

Fast forward to May - I wake up with a stiff neck that worsens over the next two weeks. I ended up in the ER being sedated. Since then I've been in physical therapy 3x a week, had x-rays, and an MRI. Another disc has gone awry. This time the pain is in my left arm and hand. Wish me luck as I head to the neurosurgeon yet again later this month. :(

Meanwhile the house is in shambles during the renovations. We still don't have living room furniture or flooring put in. It's just an empty room at this point. We're living in the bedroom for the time being...not that we're complaining!

It's hot in Pittsburgh - like July hot, and very humid.

Tom's struggling with gardening responsibilites while he tries to take care of me and work on the house...so as you can imagine, nothing's really getting done. He just has too many demands on his time. And really, I'm just useless right now. I can barely go for walks around the block!

We're trying to enjoy the spring/summer regardless. We've got some flowers already planted and our veggie plants ready to go. I'm going to be testing out Lancome's Flash Bronzer self tanning stuff soon since I can't lay out anymore with this stupid sun allergy. Oh! And Tom just bought me the cutest flip flop bracelet last weekend! He also treated me to a gift bag full of Bath & Body Works lotions and body washes (he wanted to cheer me up while I was bed ridden with neck pain). Whatta guy!

The dogs officially have a new room all their own! A month ago we put the finishing touches on a playroom that Tom made for them. So far, they love it! We installed a cat door so that Randy our cat can come and go and keep them company!

I'll end here. The next report from me might very well be after I undergo surgery again :( What a summer bummer!