Feeling like I need to get some cardio in. I think that tonight I am going to jump on the ol' beastie (elliptical). Shake the dust off of it. I made up a good list of songs for my MP3 player. Stuff is just pumping. That should get me going.
Haven't had a whole lot to eat today but what I did eat.....not so good. Just wasn't feeling very hungry I guess.
16oz fat free, sugar free, white chocolate mocha latte w/ whip
2 cinnamon rolls (not huge more like bisquit size)
handful baby carrots
14 grams Croutons (new Texas Toast version) yummy! And for the record 14 grams only gets you like 7-8 croutons! Not very many! hahaha
Probably have cubed steaks for supper. Cooked up and then put in Cream of Mushroom sauce with a bag of veggies and slice of bread with a smidge of butter.
Tomorrow I start my physical therapy on my shoulders. Doc already has me on Prednisone. Gave me like a month's worth. I am not sure why so much. Hopefully I will be able to get back to my PowerCore classes in no time with this therapy.
Well there it is. For what it is worth.

Oh no, really? Is it really necessary? A lot of the time that stuff causes weight gain

Very cool about the whole birth daughter situation, and I hope everything is a positive experience all around.

FYI, I have a half sister that I didn't know about until I was in my 30's! Apparently my Dad had a daughter with another woman when they were late teens, who was put up for adoption. Many years later she scouted around and found her birthparents. I ended up hosting a little family get together and had the chance to meet her. We all got along really well.

That is so exciting about your birth daughter! I too can't wait to hear how it turns out.

Glad your other uncle decided to step up. Sometimes people unexpectedly do the right thing in these circumstances.

Wasn't Stacy taking prednisone and having trouble with weight gain?? I can't remember what the drug was she just went off.

Apparently the extent of the damage to my shoulders as far as inflammation goes is pretty bad. The Prednisone is actually making me feel lots better. As for the weight gain I am trying my best to keep that under control with cardio and good eating.

Thanks Karl for sharing.
How cool it must have been to get to know your 1/2 sister. I can only hope that one day Laura will want to meet me.

I am quite surprised that he stepped up to be honest. I think that mostly it was guilt getting at him that got him moving.

I do believe that Stacy was also taking Prednisone. Unfortunately for her she was limited in the things she could do gue to the vision thing. I can still do cardio.

So here is the update for the day.
I got my letter from my birthdaughter in the mail today!!!!!!
It was sooooo sweet
She wrote it in November of 2005. It was totally like she was writing to a friend. Very cute and sweet. Even had a little heart next to her name at the bottom.
Her pictures are gorgeous. Of course those are also from 2005 but they are the first new pictures I have received in a very long time.
She told me where she is going to school at in her letter. I know that the counselor lady wasn't to sure about that since we are not suppose to share any identifying info at all. But her mom said that since she was nearly 18, she turns 18 in Febuary, that she felt it wouldn't be a problem.
I hope that she writes me another letter. One in response to the letter that I just gave her.
I am soooooo excited right now.


Other than that the only other news that I have is about my physical therapy that I had on my shoulders.
IT HURT!!! ALOT!!!!
The lady doing the therapy said she is surprised that I was ever able to do any of the exercises that I had since my shoulders are riddled with scar tissue from all the injuries that I have had and never gone to the doc for.
She hooked up my shoulder to some electrode patches that had some kind of meds in them that when coupled with the electrode sends the meds straight into the muscle. That one was a real joy! NOT Lol
Felt like being stung by bunches of bees.
She said that we should see some progress in 4-6 visits and if we don't that I will have to go see an orthopedic doc, since if there is no progress that could mean actual tearage of the Rotator Cuff.
So we all need to be praying for progress as I can't afford nor do I want to have surgery.
I definately have bicep tedonitis. Which is mostly due to the biceps trying to over compensate for all the other muscle issues that I have going on.
She basically told me I was a mess. But not hopeless at least.
She gave me some stretches to do 4 x's a day. With the therapy that I am getting (it breaks up the scar tissue) the stretches will help the muscle to repair itself without the scar tissue.
I guess I was actually doing more damage to myself by doing all the PowerCore exercises. By tearing at the scar tissue and not stretching it allowed new scar tissue to build back up on top the old scar tissue.
Well I am having a hard time keeping my eyes open, so I am going to head on outta here.
Ciao

I will keep you in my thoughts re the shoulder issue. I hope the PT will fix the prob so you won't need surgery--but if you do, I sure hope you find a way to have it as you will obviously need it.

That's great about the letter from your birth daughter. I hope that the two of you can meet up at some point soon. What an emotional day that will be!!

I'm glad that prednosone seems to be helping you with the pain--you've suffered long enough, eh?

That's so cool!

Sorry about that--but you're absolutely awesome for trying your best and having a warrior-like attitude on it




WHOA! That is.....just.....a bummer, look I'm speechless, but THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL! Glad about that--take care of yourself, I'm sure you will!

I havent had a proper catch-up with all that has been going on for you - but I have to say - what a week or so of ups and downs you have had.

Firstly - accept my belated condolences on the loss of your uncle. The world is full of eccentric people who live by their own rules. No-one should lose their life because of this. It is sad that a youngster has blighted his life by making such a tragic mistake - but more sad that a person has lost his life.

Then - I have to say that I couldnt believe it when you said that you had heard so swiftly from your eldest daughter. It must have been so exciting for you. I know that you have hoped for some opportunity to bridge that gap - whilst understanding that may not happen. Congratulations on the whole thing. You must have absolutely loved the new photos and the knowledge that she was actively wanting to make contact with you. This is all just too brilliant for words.


ps - sorry that the physio hurt such a lot!

Really Quick as it is nearly 2 in the morning and I really should be in bed sleeping.
I just wanted to let ya all know that I haven't completely fallen off the earth. Just been real busy since last Wednesday.
Things are going well or at least as well as can be expected under the circumstances. (Shoulder issues and the Prednisone)
I will update everything tomorrow when I can find the time to do so.
Thanks to everyone for always keeping up with me and helping to keep me encouraged.
M-Wah! <3

So here is the 411.
Shoulders are feeling better. In fact I can actually rotate/do some moves that I haven't done in literally years. With minimal pain. Still hurts when I get teh therapy done but not nearly as bad as that first day. Therapist says she is fairly certain that my problem can be resolved with continued therapy, NOT SURGERY!!!! YEAH!!!
Only thing is I will need to be careful to always be mindful of my shoulders and what they are "telling" me in the future. So that means I can still PowerCore but I will need to be smarter about some of the moves. And make sure to always, always. ALWAYS!!!! STRETCH before and after every workout. NO EXCEPTIONS.
The next session starts my strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff. That and she is trying to get the humerous head (part that fits in the socket of the shoulder) to sit further back in the socket. Apparently mine sits way forward which really limits my ability to rotate the shoulder.
Haven't been eating so good for about the last week. I am sure the combination of the predinisone and my cycle coming has something to do with it. I quit taking the predinisone all on my own a couple of days ago. I don't think I need it anymore. Since the shoulders are feeling better that is.
Was told that I could do some low resistance exercises starting today so I am looking forward to that.........YEAH!!!
I popped back up over the 200 mark since the Predinisone. Hopefully I can get it back down. But it will be hard since this week is Thanksgiving. But I am going to my best. I made it last year without gaining a single pound thru the holidays. I can do that again. I could be happy with not losing as long as I don't gain.
Spent 9 hours Saturday sitting the ER with my mom. She fell down at her apartment, dislocating one of her toes and cutting her foot. They ran all kinds of tests on her trying to keep her in the hospital but they weren't able to come up with anything conclusive enough to warrent her staying. So I had to take her back home. And of course she hasn't done what the doc told her to so I am sure that she will be back at the hospital soon. Seems that she is on some kind of 4-6 week schedule. It is really starting to get to me. I am feeling incrediable guilt 'cuz I feel like she is wasting my time when I go with her to these ER runs and sit there all day only to have her NEVER change the exact behavior that landed her there to begin with.
Basically she just won't take care of herself. Very Frustrating.
Well that is about all that is going on here.
Gonna go get on the elliptical so will chat at everyone later. Maybe later tonight. We'll see, since we will be processing a 180# buck. Could take a while!
Ciao!!!

That is so sad about your mom! And frustrating, too. Wow, makes me wonder about my own parents! At least my stepdad is 10 years younger than mom!

Hey--congrats for getting off the Pred--and I'm sure you'll be back in Onderland soon

Dumb question, but I have to ask... Did you drop doses and wean off of the prednisone? I have taken this many many times in the past for lung issues and you are supposed to wean yourself off on it by reducing the dose over a period of days.

BTW, boy do I feel ya on the mom thing... I don't have enough time, space of patience to be able to do all the ranting I'd want to do about mine's trips to the hospital or drug interactions or _________ (enter health problem of your choice), all largely due to here innate stubborness.