Update on the Dixon's Backs

I haven't blogged for quite a while. And I have a lot of information I want to put on here so that I don't forget any of it down the road. So here goes... I will start with the new developments in my back. About two weeks ago I finally decided to go see Andy's chiropractor because my back had been hurting constantly for about 10 days. I was having shooting pains, tingling and numbness down both legs, and was getting very concerned. I had been planning on going to Dr. Brennan for quite a while, but thought i'd wait until we could more financially afford it, but the situation called for a more drastic timetable than I had originally planned. So I went. Dr. Brennan did x-rays and found a miriad of things that we are addressing with my back. Apparently I have had an injury to my neck when I was younger. That is what has caused my constant, neck pain for as long as I can remember. My bottom two vertebrae are twisted to the left and cocked up towards my right hip, and the upper part of my back is off in all sorts of directions. So, I am going in twice a week right now to try to get everything back in correct working order. It is WONDERFUL, I must say. Sure I am sore a lot right now, but that is to be expected, afterall, all the muscles and bones are trying to be retrained to be in a place they've not been used to for a very long time. I have to tell you, for anyone who does not know it, every vertebrae in your back directly affects a different part of your body. For instance, when Andy told Dr. Brennan about my acid reflux problem I have been having in my stomach, he told Andy that I needed to have my back adjusted because my "T6" was most likely out because that is the vertebrae that affects things to do with the stomach. Well, I have been completely sold on chiropractic treatment ever since Andy started going to Dr. Brennan, afterall, he has not had a migraine headache in over a month since he got Andy's neck back into alignment through his chiropractic therapy. Before that he was having those headaches constantly and they would put him into bed all evening sometimes. Anyway, back to the subject...I began my treatments and after the very first treatment, he told me that I may not have complete relief in my stomach right away, but by the end of the treatment I will definately notice a difference. He did tell me however that I would probably sleep better that night than I had slept in a very long time. Well, the next morning I woke up on cloud 9! I cannot tell you when the last time I slept like that was. It was amazing! I also noticed that I did not have the same knawing sour feeling in my stomach that I have had every morning for the past 6 months either. I have only had a couple days out of the past two weeks that I have had a semi-sour stomach and I'm only in week two of treatments. That, to me, is AMAZING. And those are only two of the many many benefits that I'm experiencing. If you think I'm trying to sell you on chiropractors--especially Dr. Brennan--I AM! I am a believer! I cannot remember the last time I've slept as well as I am sleeping now. If you have been to a chiropractor and not gotten results like this, you need to go see mine! Anyway, I am enjoying all kinds of relief, but am looking forward to having no pain or soreness in a few weeks. Meanwhile, poor little Braden is having to be a big boy now and do everything on his own since Mommy has been restricted to not lifting just like Daddy. I have trained him on how to climb in and out of his own highchair, crib (by putting a ottoman next to his crib and lowering the side of his crib), carseat, and he has to walk everywhere we go because I cannot carry him. He does not like it too well either. He has thrown himself on the floor many times and tried to refuse to walk, but I've been persistant, because I do not want to jeopardize my progress by lifting anything that would prolong my progress of healing. Well, I'll let you know how it all ends up..... Meanwhile, Andy is still in agonizing pain with his back. He has been on all three medications: Percocet, Oxicontin, and Flexoril, everyday for the past month. He works as much as he can on good days, and comes home and crashes into bed for the evening every afternoon. He is in constant pain and only gets temporary relief when he has all three drugs in him and he is laying in a good position in bed. The research he did on the internet about the Laser Spine Institute (LSI) in Tampa FL has been his main focus for the past few weeks. He contacted them, talked about everything, asked about a million questions. Then, he sent a copy of his MRI's and Dr.'s reports to them for them to look at to see if this was something they thought would help his back. They told him that he was a PRIME candidate for the type of surgery they do. They told him they could get rid of all the bone spurs, most all the scar tissue, take care of the degenerative disc that he has, and even correct the bulging discs. They assured him that they absolutely do NOT recommend this surgery to people they don't believe it will help. The next question was where is the money going to come from. The surgery costs $30,000 minimum and up to $80,000 depending on how many procedures they need to do on you. Also, they require $30,000 up front and depending on if your insurance will cover it, they bill the insurance and you get reimbursed the money after the insurance pays them. well, seeing as how Andy has what has been termed the "worst health insurance on the market" we have been very sceptical that they would cover any of it. Well, I put this situation in the Lord's hands a few weeks back as you may remember and I have been trusting in Him that he will take care of this situation one way or another. We have continued to pray ernestly that somehow, someway, Andy would be able to get this surgery. That maybe there is a slim possibility that the insurance might cover it since Andy has a PPO, but where will the money come from up front. Also, how will we get down there, airfare, accommodations, food expenses, what to do with the kids while we are there........ all these things are swirling through our heads. Well.................we got a phone call today from the very helpful Dawn Bader from the Laser Spine Institute. She contacted Andy's health insurance company and found out that they will COVER Andy's surgery! We have to pay our deductible and come up with the money they require up front though so we'll see how it all pans out

The Era that is Halloween

Halloween isn't just one day in our household anymore, it has turned into the "Era that is Halloween." About a week ago, we began carving pumpkins. I had found a stencil kit that I was eager to try out this year, so Ben and I had fun with that making 5 different designs. One is not pictured.... This is the design Ben picked. We made it first and weren't sure what we were doing so it ended up collapsing before Halloween and so I made him another one while he was at school Monday. It was a little time consuming, but a lot of fun making the pumpkins. I'm sure it will be an annual tradition for Ben and I from now on. On Monday night we went "Trunk or Treating" at a local elementary school. Ben wore his Ninja costume because we didn't want to do the whole face painting thing 3 nights in a row. He has a whole tote of costumes, but likes this one the best I think. I dressed Braden in Ben's old Pooh costume that he wore at around Braden's age. He doesn't mind things on his head and it was pretty cool that night, so it worked out well. Braden did not know what to think of all the whoopla at first. He would just stare at all the people and watch them put candy in his pooh bucket and walk on when I would drag him. It was so funny....After a while he realized he had suckers in his bucket and had a hayday. He began to figure out the routine and by the end of the line, he was dragging his full bucket of candy beside him, sucker in hand, sticky and happy! :)

This is the costume my Mom got for Ben. Ben is SOOOOOOOOOOO into "Army" (camo) stuff right now. He had looked forward to me painting his face for a very long time. We actually did it twice Tues night b/c it didn't look all that great the first time.

Tuesday night, we were going to go "Trunk or Treating" at the high school (not really for the candy, but just for the experience of it all) but Ben was really tired and not in the mood to go when he got home from school. School still wears him out a little no matter how early I get him to bed. Plus Monday night he was up pretty late, so we skipped the trunk or treating that night, but got all dressed up to go and visit Andy's folks to let them see the kids costumes. We knew we wouldn't have time to stop by Wed. night, so we wanted to have some time with them Tues. night. Ben and I had also carved a kitty cat pumpkin for them since they have always loved cats and had them up until Andy and I got married. We wanted to take that one to them so they could enjoy it on Halloween. It also gave Ben and I a chance to experiment with his "Army" camoflage face paint.

Ohhh, tough guy!

I walked off and left my camera at home so I didn't get any pics at Gma and Gpa's house :(

Wednesday I took Braden over to my Grandparents house to visit and let them see Braden's costume. We had lunch and hung out for a while too. Braden liked all of Grandma's decorations! I took some of Braden's "choo-choos" to keep him entertained while we visited. He fell in love with Grandpa while we were there today. He followed him around and just "talked and talked" to him in his own little language. The whole time Grandpa was talking at lunch, Braden was "talking" too. When we were leaving, Braden stood at the door and waved and waved and waved and said bye in his own little way for what seemed like 10 minutes. He was just loving them to death! It was so cute. I wish I would have had it on video!

Wednesday night we went over to my parents church for their Halloween festivities. Their children's pastor organizes the set up of carnival games all over the church and fellowship hall. They also have inflatables in the lobby. It is quite the production. Ben looks forward to it every year. My parents, brother and sister-in-law and their kids were there too. We had a great night. Braden went as, well, what else, a "choo-choo" of course. :) This was also one of Ben's old costumes. Braden was thrilled when I first showed it to him. He hugged it and walked around with it draped over his shoulders saying "choo-choo!" It was a lot cooler outfit for the indoor activities. The highlight of the night was "carpet ball." Ben and I got to play several rounds and then the little ones got in on it. Braden kept trying to throw the pool balls meanwhile saying "baaaaaaa." We had to remove him from the scene. :) That is his cousin Isaiah with him above. Braden enjoyed the slide and playset more than anything. Braden started saying "sheese" (cheese) for me the day before Halloween....just in time for the holidays--yea! Whew, what a week! Good thing it's the weekend!