Two months

It's been two months since my surgery.  As my friend The Sea Monster chastised me for going so long between blog posts (Dude, I had nothing even remotely interesting to say--still true, by the way--you have been warned.), I thought the two month mark would be as good a time as any.

How am I?  Ow.  It still hurts, a lot.  It really is too soon to know whether it worked or not (I define it a success if I can sit upright again, like a reasonably normal person.).  The nerve issue is still at play.  That will take a long time to heal.  Nerves are the slowest thing in the body to heal and mine took a walloping. Should the time come when my leg and foot have normal sensation and function and my back still hurts this bad, I will be quite sad indeed.  For now, there's still hope in my mind. 

For now, I do the best I can.  I am diligent about my physical therapy.  I'm going once a week, and I do my exercises every day.  I also ice a lot and take anti-inflammatories and pain meds as needed.  I am too busy.  But there's no help for it.  With Mark's schedule, he's not available to drive Anna to dance or writing very often (Soon to be reinstated--violin lessons.  Her teacher has had some time off but will be returning shortly.).  He does whenever he can, but his store schedule is variable.

Speaking of that: SHRIEK!  He's been consistently asking for fewer shifts at the store, and they've been consistently ignoring him.  Last week we were thrilled when he worked four shifts instead of five (and his three nights off were strung together, so he'd get home from school--and stay!), but this week, back to five.  And now his counterpart is leaving the store and they are never in a hurry to hire and train, so it looks to be bleak indeed, as far as the schedule goes.

I mentioned to my friend Lloyd, right now, with Mark working 10-1 at the school every day, plus the store most nights, we have lost all our scheduling flexibility, with none of the benefits of the school job, which will come when he's full time (and down to ONE job).

I wish I could say we have loads of cash with him doing both, but you know, it never works out that way.  Medical bills alone, not to mention LIFE keeps getting in the way (What broke?!  We need what?  Both cars need gas this week?  Anna, those shoes aren't that tight, are they?).  Yeah, life.

School's going ok for us.  We're rolling, at least.  I wish I had more prep time, but what teacher doesn't?  It's hard that home is both home and my work space; it's a balancing act, for sure, as is being the mom and the teacher.  Think that's hard?  It is.

I wish eating were going better.  I need to get on the scale, but I fear it.  I'm not blind, though.  I can see it in my (lame, round) Scandinavian face, and I feel it in my pants.  It's disheartening, to be sure.  Will this battle never end?  I am having a hard time getting back to eating scarb free.  I hate to admit it, but I am.  And really, any advice or encouragement you have for me, I'm all ears.