About to run out of gas..

So, we were lucky to be apart of the 750,000 or so that flocked to the Titusville/Cocoa Beach area today to witness the space shuttle program's final flight.. Atlantis went off without a hitch, it was a beautiful sight.. even if we only saw it for a few seconds because of the clouds. Afterwards, we went back to my uncles' house and had lunch, even got to see an aunt I haven't seen in over 25 years :-). So, were leaving to head home now.. my husband, knowing how much gas we used and how much is left still decided to hop on the beeline and make our way home.. well, I am annoyed to announce that we are down to 1/4 tank and 41 miles to empty. We are stuck in horrendous bumper to bumper traffic, everyone trying to make their way back to Orlando.  Did I mention Carl has to be at work by 3? Yeah, that isn't happening. Looks like our next call is roadside assistance.. 40 miles to empty...

I had to think long and hard about this one...

Let me start out by saying I should have done one these a looooooong time ago. I can only imagine how cathartic it would have been in so many situations of the past year. But, this is not one of those blogs... I am actually starting this at a time in my life when things seem to be virtually drama-free. WOW. I have not said that in a VERY long time.  I am in a pretty good spot right now, albeit from occasional neck issues.. We'll get into all that later.  

This is going to be an "I always have so many random thoughts in my head, silly circumstances in my life, or I need a drink" blog.. But, the first blog is me, me, me :) So, do I describe myself on here? Want to know all my deep, dark secrets?? I will give up none of mine, but am happy to spill the beans on everyone else, LOL. j/k.. Contrary to public opinion, I am able to keep a secret.. For how long is another issue :) 

Anyway, I got away from myself there for a second..  K, I am so incredibly and disgustingly happily married to Carl, 10 years in November (WOOT!!) and I have 2 adorable little monsters named Aaron and Haley who are the epitome of awesomeness in my book when it comes to kids.. I absolutely and unequivocally love these two to the ends of the earth and back. Not to say I don't love other people's kids.. because I do. My bff's little girl Ava should be included on here as well.. But I figured since I didn't birth her, her mom should reserve the right to call her a little monster, LOL. 

So, just now, I'm trying to do this blog and rock out to Tears for Fears on my iPod when Haley decides she wants dinner, so I pull out the Kid Cuisines (never said I was up for Mom of the Year) for her and Aaron to choose from... Wouldn't you know she spends 5 minutes trying to decide (frustrating me to no end), only for her to say she wants baked beans and hot dogs with tater tots (again, no Mom of the Year for me). But, hey, dinner will be done in 20 minutes and I can get some peace and quiet. 
Now, I'm trying to find my mojo again and figure out what to tell you about next..

Want to hear about 4 consecutive neck surgeries? No? Well tough... It's a big part of my life you need to hear about (again) But just know, I will not let it define me. It's something that has taken a huge toll on me, especially this last one in February. It's the one that scared me the most (if you can believe that) partly because of the circumstances.. Let me back it up a little bit. But you're only getting the Cliff's Notes version. I am so sick of telling this story.....
Once upon a time (1999) I was in a car accident. I had neck pain intermittently over the next few years. It wasn't until the birth of monster # 1 and his being a big baby (I will never blame his baby rolls for my problems) that I noticed more frequent pain and numbness in arms exacerbated by carrying him and other activities, I'm sure.. So, I sought treatment from a quack of a chiropractor (I'm not bashing all chiros, just mine) for 5 years. Needless to say, come early 2008, the numbness and pain was so bad that I had to do something about it. I got an MRI, One disc was herniated so bad that it was pushing on my spinal cord. Other discs were bulging, no biggie. I did pain management for a short while. Had 2 epidural treatments, and given pain meds.. No feely better :(  By August of 2008, I couldn't take it any more, I saw a neurosurgeon, it was determined that I would require surgery to remove herniated disc and replace it with a steel one. Pretty cool, huh? I thought so, only to have my body reject it a year later. October 2009, I had surgery to remove the artificial disc and have them fuse the level. Okay, so I'm feeling good for a little while... Come October 2010, Another disc has blown a gasket, so now that one has to be fixed.. Doc tries another type of artificial disc hoping my body will do good with this one.. Any guesses as to what happens next in the story? BINGO! In February of this year, the new artificial disc slips out half-way, just hanging there inside my neck, on the verge of hitting my esophagus. Good times.. Not really. Scared the bejeezus out of me actually. So surgery is done to remove this artificial disc and again that level is fused. I know what you must be thinking.. GET A NEW DOCTOR!! Let me say that I have and will always have the utmost confidence and faith in my medical team. I firmly believe that I am one of the few people to have this ever happen to. I am the exception, not the rule to artificial discs. That's just how my body rolls... But you can bet your ass that if I ever need surgery again (knock on wood) I will be requesting that we just skip ahead to the fusing part. 
So here's where we end this story.. Physical Therapy, muscle relaxers, can't lift anything or do the head-bob like in Night at the Roxbury.. 

Another poignant part of my life involves our move a year and a half ago to the lovely little town of Lakeland..
Here we go: 2009 Hubby gets transferred to Lakeland for job.. I am depressed for months.. I miss my friends and family so much... We don't know anyone here in Lakeland, with the exception of a few people we know that live near here.. ** Can I put in here oh so randomly that I firmly believe that Acqua Panna is the best water on Earth? Haven't tried it? Get it!** Months go by, our closest friends and some family has come up and visited, so that has made things a little better.. Still a hard adjustment for us. I feel bad for the kids, they have no one to play with, etc... School time rolls around and the kids join Cub and Girl Scouts.. They are making friends, I'm making friends.. things are really starting to turn around for us. I have to say that we have met some really great people up here. But the combination of 2 surgeries in 4 months and living in a new area, that was a serious rough patch for me to get through.  There's my cathartic moment.. I knew it would creep up in here somewhere :) 


Alright, I'm going to save any more ramblings for another time.. 


That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be (twss)