The weekend is here again. Last night, Mom, Dad, and I headed to see Hootie And The Blowfish, and Spin Doctors. Ten years later, they still sound awesome. Lucy Shannahan was there too, with her husband, Ken and we all had a great time. This weekend I plan to take it easy, and move into next week positively. The girls are in Orlando today, and will be all this week, so we get a break from babysitting. My Tuesday doctor's appointment should go well. Other than that, the rest of August looks good. August 19th is my meeting for work and the new school year. The following Monday, August 21st, Mom and I are going back to Galveston with Tracy. We'll be there till Thursday. I have no plans laid out for the fall, so I plan to just see what life brings. I'm looking forward to whatever gets done. :-)

Despite the dreary weather, we had a great time in Galveston Tuesday and today, Wednesday. Tracy and I worked on Suduko puzzles, played with the dogs and cat, and enjoyed Jimmy Buffett and Momma Mia piped onto the porch outside. Rachel came later Tuesday night, and we saw a double rainbow on our way to get ice cream. That was really neat to look at. Family saw it from the porch too, and thought it was cool with the sunset. Rachel and I went to Marble Slab, and spent time talking about she and Carlton hopefully moving to Sienna Plantation, roommate challenges, her new life, working for Stewart Title, and she wanted to know more about CP, so we had a good talk about that as well. When we got back to the beach house, she headed out, and the family watched Jaws followed by the news. We hit the sack at 10:30.

Today we had breakfast as a family before Mom, Dad, and I left for Spring. The weather wasn't bad at all. That was a blessing. Now we're doing our own thing. Mom and Dad ran errands, and Dad's getting a haircut. Mom's sleeping. And I'm doing the journal thing. The soundtrack to Hide And Seek is so cool. Dakota Fanning has such eerie vocals. Now I know she'll go far in her career. I'm what some would call a fan. LOL.

The rest of the week and weekend should go well if the rain lets up. No plans for Thursday, so Mom and I just might do laundry again. Friday is the Hootie And The Blowfish concert, and Saturday-Sunday will be days of rest. The girls leave for Orlando FL and Disney World next week, so we won't have to babysit. My appointment with the Baclofen Pump surgeon is Tuesday. I won't have any plans again until August 19th, when we meet at Share And Support for the new school year.

I'm looking forward to all life has to offer. It's going to be a great semester. Tim and I should be able to meet somewhere along the way, so that will be good too. More to come, so stay tuned! ^_^

Last week was really great. I wrapped up work Thursday, met with my neurologist Friday, who set me up to see his surgical colleague on August 1st rather than the pain management doctor, and Saturday was a day in Market Square with Martin at Borders, where we browsed books, music, movies, and bought books. The extra points on my card were good too. LOL. After shopping, we headed to Rockfish Grill for dinner. The seating was fast and service very good. Then we headed back here to talk about Adam, Jen, Stephen, and of course, Martin and Kelly. Everyone is doing well. When Martin left, I spent all night dealing with my dead hard drive. Thankfully, the music and other files I wanted are safe now. Whew. Sunday was also a day of hecticness with TAGS coming to an end. But the girls came and got Chrissy right before we headed to bed. Not a bad weekend overall.

This week, we are taking a couple of days off to go play at the beach house. Rachel plans to meet me down there Tuesday night. It'll be great seeing her, and the wedding photos. Until we leave, it's been e-mails and great educational opportunities to tell others about my upcoming appointments. Not a bad way to spend part of the day. I plan to do some pre packing, and just hang out.

We'll be back Wednesday sometime, so that will be my next post, or early Thursday. Enjoy your week, and I'll be sure and post more on into the weekend as well. Cheers!

I'm working on making decisions about my healthcare at the moment. One decision that has to be made is who will I turn to for a particular medication prescription? Any doctor can write a script. However, most of them don't want to write scripts for a field that they are not involved with. So, I have to figure out if seeing a psychiatrist is really the best option. It's not that insurance won't cover me, but it's the question of will this doctor work with me and family and not slam the door in anyone's face? And will I be pressured to go back to therapy? My most current experiences with that alone have left me sad, frustrated, and deeply concerned. I've been blown off since I was 12. How do I know it won't happen again? This is another risk I take. And when I thought deeply about this last night, I realized that no matter what the therapists say, God would be the ultimate judge. Those who have hurt me in the past will be judged for it all by Him. I don't really think I need therapists to validate this, or my feelings about it, which is why I think I'll take the meds and run, thanks. I don't owe anyone an explanation. I have pills to take, and that's all.

My hope is that I can take the doctor's advice, hook up with the psychiatrist he recommended, and not play cat and mouse. I can just get my scripts, and leave the office without any explanation or questions asked. At least, this is my hope in the whole thing. Meantime, God can get me through the validation of thoughts, feelings, and actions. This is how I make peace with everything. Turn to God. Of course, the Montrose Counseling Center is also an option for a referral up here. Someone who clearly deals, as a friend said, with the whole person. I'll continue to think and pray, and hope for the best. It's all I can do anyway.

How totally weird...my medication script has been changed, and I was not informed. My drug company just included a note that said to meet with the doctor in 6 months, and gave no reason for the change. My parents and I are scratching our heads now. I can't do anything till Monday, so over the weekend, I just hope everything stays somewhat normal. No calls for birthday celebrating yet, but music is cool anyway. I had leftovers for lunch, and now, I'm just hanging out. More later...I'm trying to figure out what the medical community is up to with regard to my health care in my head before I talk with them Monday. It's always good to be prepared.

Today I am basking in God's presence. Music has always been a special way to connect with Him. Today, things look different for the better with regard to my health. While God is in control, I am able to feel a sense of relief spiritually from friends like Cynthia, Canopy, Emily, my boss, and so many other people. Community is key to healing in any situation.

Last night, we went shopping, and I got to run the errands that I need to take care of. God just makes it all happen. Even the smallest thing. Today, Mom and Dad are at the Farmer's Market in the Square. Hopefully we'll get some goodies! I also had a chance to play with more MP3s, and enhance my computer. Fun! And yes, Christian music is included. Jaci Valasquez, Michael W. Smith...and the list goes on.

Today is also Tracy's birthday, so who knows if we'll do a family thing or not? LOL. I'm just happy. Life just gets better with the passing of time, and this is a great thing to think about. There's more to come this weekend and into next week, so stay tuned! :-)

The rest of my week was okay. I was half an hour late for work because we got lost in The Woodlands due to my bad directions. Thankfully, I still did half an hour of work. That's okay with me. Today has gone well. Cynthia and I got to talk about different ways to manage pain. Most counselors are not trained in disability issues, so this may not be a good fit in the long run. The last therapist I saw for two years tried to put me in the mold of an able bodied person with regard to living quarters, a job from 8-5, etc. She said all I would need is PT and exercise to limber up my muscles. However, she failed to recognize poor vision, pain management and control, and success on the job. So, due to this type of runaround, I may not go back down that road. It appears that it's not appropriate due to lack of education from her end. Besides, if you are disabled and in need of mental help, this is what they should give you...not the whole picture of what they think life should be from an able bodied standpoint.

It's just really hard for me to see which way to go after having gone through therapy many times before. The training and education just isn't there.

Dinner was good tonight. Shrimp, chicken, and veggie pasta. Followed by ice cream with fudge and caramel topping. Yum. Now I'm just getting settled in for the night. My pain has still lingered, but chores and doing things around the house have helped me be productive all the way. This is great. And as far as the therapist labels go, those are her issues. Not mine. I can honestly say that after seeing RENT numerous times, and the documentary on DVD, I can say that turning 30 sucks, and therapists suck. I have always hated ignorant people. Especially the professionals who think they know CP back to front, when in reality, they don't know a thing. They just act big and proud for their own swelled headed-ness. My mistake is walking in, and thinking I'm going to get the best treatment possible. Not so much. Education is needed. Doctors, psychologists, and therapists all need to be a team if they expect to really know how to treat CP. I've just ended up with the short end of the stick in my life so far. I have yet to be impressed by anyone in these areas of work. No one has done it yet.

Unless you count Dr. Wang. He's got the knowledge and the know how to respect family and do a good job at his craft. Most neurologists should take after him. Even my family practice doctor is still new at his craft, and has to do referrals. Bad sign. But if all three doctors can team up, I'll be in good shape medically. The pain specialist is doctor number 3. Here we go.

This is just a rundown of what I've had to deal with. Stats may say we're at high risk for depression. But that doesn't always play out with every case. At least I can read between the lines and really look at the reality of my situation. My 3 doctors are all I need right now. Adding a counselor or psychologist in would just complicate things, especially since the mainstream seems to be their mindset and training. Not in my book. The mainstream, like all mental health workers, sucks. We have disabilities, and need accomodations, not the mainstream.

Okay, enough rambling. I've got to go take care of some things before bed. Hasta luego, y ciao!

Today things are getting done around the house from mom's end. I'm talking to friends, and figuring out when I can do my own laundry. Hee hee...that's always fun. I'm listening to music and getting ready for lunch and the soaps. Today is the final show for Benjamin Hendrickson who plays Hal Munson on As The World Turns. Sam has his vet appointment today, and then we'll go out to dinner together as a family. I'm looing forward to it. I also got in touch with the doctor's office about paperwork, and the doctors are all in Sadler Clinic, which makes obtaining files easy. Life is just in full swing, and I'm trying to enjoy it. That's what counts. :-)

The weekend was good with my relatives here. My cousin and her friend took lots of pictures, and they went shopping with us at the mall and outdoor shops in Market Square. We ate lunch at Barry Hill there, and the girls really had a good time. I'm caught up on sleep and chores, slowly but surely, and I'm getting ready to tutor this week. My pain levels are out of control, but I'm still getting things done, which is a miracle. To stand up for chores like ironing really takes a toll on my legs. But I do what I need to in order to get that done. I had leftover fish for lunch today, and it was good. I also spent time with Mom after she came home from an errand that didn't get done. The errand has been moved to tomorrow, so I hope she and the kitty will be okay this time around.

Life is good here. This weekend we can really relax, and not worry about plans. We just have some birthday celebrating to do, but it won't be as strenuous as company from out of town.

This week and next week I work, and I'll hopefully get to see friends along the way too. That's always fun. More to come...I'm going to do a little cleaning this afternoon, and try to live with the pain that my legs and feet endure now daily. May the pain go away soon, and my spirit remain strong.

Today has gone quite well with babysitting. The girls took a break and came to see us and the baby. Nice! We can't see Melissa Etheridge next weekend because the lawn is closed. Apparently, they want to make this an intimate event. What dorks. We got a surprise call from my uncle saying that my aunt and cousin are going to be in Houston tomorrow. They'll pick up my cousin's car in Katy, and stay with us in Spring. It should be a great visit. My cousin graduated from high school in May, so it'll be a time to celebrate. Other than that there isn't much else to report. My random errands didn't get done this weekend, so I'll have to wait till later. I hope the weekend is going well for everyone, and I'll post again Monday when my aunt and cousin leave to head back to Fayetteville, Arkansas. Ciao!

Today has been quite busy. The baby keeps us going! The weekend is here, and I plan to run a couple of errands, continue babysitting, and talk to friends over e-mail. Tonight will be a good night with all of us home for dinner, etc. For now, Mom and I plan to enjoy lunch and the soaps again. Despite Benjamin Hendrickson's death, the show ATWT will go on. I'm looking forward to the rest of the summer with the show. Speaking of stars, I found the site for Amber Tamblyn. She's signed on for The Grudge 2, so we shall see what happens with that. What would I do without the Web? There's more to come this weekend. I'll post when I can. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a good weekend, and I'll definitely be in touch next week.

The rest of the week after the holiday weekend has gone well. Today I went to work again, and this time, I got to see my student's closets in her two rooms. We talked about clothing in Spanish, and toys. Playing Cooties was fun too. I haven't done that in a long time. Mom and I watched the soap operas today too. One of our favorite characters is dying, and the tears just kept on coming for the cast as well as for us. We know it's all TV, yet there is something to be said about one's last wishes and words to friends and family. I've been planning my funeral for years now. My best friend from NYC knows what I want. He's going to play or sing two of my favorite songs from the musical RENT. I'll Cover You and Will I?. I even know where I'll be laid to rest. My parents bought a couple of niches in the church's columbarium, and my brother is already in his slot. I'm actually glad the soap operas and such bring about such a difficult topic like death. It's really opened my eyes. I miss my friends and family that have gone on, but I know one day we'll all be together. I'm just happy to know that my final wishes will be granted just the way I'd like.

With my body behaving the way it is, I'm blessed to have family, co workers, friends, etc. around me. Nothing could be greater than this. I'll most likely post again on July 10th, but until then, may this open your eyes to truth, faith, hope, and love.

July has gone well so far. The party in Katy July 1st was fun. It was good to see everyone again this year. July 2nd was a day of rest, and July 3rd was a day of shopping in town, and the trip to Houston. We went to Niko Niko's for Greek food, and then headed to the baseball game. The Astros beat the Cubs 7-2, followed by fireworks. Huzzah! We all got home late, but it was fun. Today, July 4th, we are taking it easy, and may do more shopping at Foley's. I'm addicted to shopping, although I don't do it as much as some people. Tomorrow I'll review lesson plans again, and get ready for work Thursday. It's so hard to get back into the swing of things after a great holiday weekend. :-(

I'll manage though. This coming weekend we have to babysit again, but I think it'll be good. More later...I'm going to see what else needs to be done around here. I'm hoping it'll still be a good day, with or without shopping.