That Thing Everyone Really Wants to Know About Homeschoolers.

 "Did you have them tested?? 

How'd they do...?!"

It's become very interesting to me, how invested our culture is, in the supposed unyielding worth, of standardized testing.  If they test "above" the grade they are in... did I do a "good job"??  Conversely, if they don't do as well as grade level, does that mean I... we... failed?  In short, I believe, NO. One size just really can't fit all.  Can it?

I strongly feel that too much precision and accuracy is resting on this false notion that testing measures education, or predicts future success.  It's like trying to measure the temperature with a tablespoon.

The thing is, that we were all given different gifts.  Some of us naturally will be able to mess around with a math problem and arrive at the correct answer, much easier than another.  And I truly believe that oftentimes, achieving that right answer on a test, is not a reflection of the education being given, but rather, of the individual's natural intellect/ability to figure out the task at hand. Are right answers often legitimately an accurate reflection of teaching being done? Sure!  But then, if there is a mish-mash of both scenarios, how "standardized" is the test, really??

There's also the issue of differences across our nation, in regards to socioeconomic status, and the implications of that idea.

"Suppose you're a principal of a school in which most

students come from genuinely low socioeconomic situations. 

How are your students likely to perform on standardized 

achievement tests if a substantial number of the test's items 

really measure the stimulus-richness of your 

students' backgrounds? That's right, your students are not 

likely to earn very high scores. Does that mean your school's 

teachers are doing a poor instructional job? Of course not."

-as taken from Educational Leadership Publication, Volume 

56 number 6

So... did I have our kids tested? It's not a homeschooling requirement in Wisconsin; but  yes, I did.  They took the Iowa Basics over the course of two days, at a testing site, back in March.

But... if I believe that standardized testing is not a true measure of ability, why, oh why? 

My position on standardized testing is not to discount it, altogether, not hardly. One reason I had them test, was to keep the skill of test-taking, fresh and practiced-up.  Someday (God-willing), they'll be seated (without the wiggles, by that time...??) for their ACT.  Also, I felt that the results may be helpful to me in determining general trends, and also in discerning if what I thought were their strengths and weaknesses, actually were their strengths and weaknesses. 

I was right.  Soren is strong in Math... Ava in English.  Gressa wasn't old enough to test this year.  

For what it's worth, and that depends on the beholder... both kids tested above grade level, compositely.  In fact, an equivalent grade level was given for each independent subject tested.

Ava's Vocabulary section came in at a 7.2 grade level, and in English, specifically usage and expression, she tested off the charts at a 13+ grade level, though she is a 6th grader, on paper.  Her Spelling "grade" was equivalent to 12th grade. I was excited to see this, as we dropped official Spelling after Christmas this year, due to that exact fact: Spelling is a clear strength of hers; we spent more time on passions and weaknesses.  I giggled to see that her using "reference materials" score was well above grade level, also, as I'm quite confident we could credit Google with that one!

Soren tested at a 5th grade level for sections of Math, though he's technically a 3rd grader.  He scored 100% correct on the History section, which means... nothing to me. How is it decided what History content to test a 3rd grader on? His Reading Comprehension, Science, and Social Studies resulted well above grade level, too. The sections of using nouns, pronouns, and modifiers, as well as the Spelling sections all resulted at 100%, too.  

And though the benefit of knowing my children inside out and backwards is immeasurable, I can hardly claim that a year of homeschooling either created their scores or disadvantaged them from potentially better results.

The kids may have taken the tests, but the lesson I have learned once again, and which is welded on my heart, is that grasping my kids' strengths and weaknesses counts for more than any multiple choice question or vocab word. We will continue to encourage passions and strengths, and work hard on weaknesses.

Here's what else we've been up to in recent, busy weeks!

muddy dogpark

my flaming, Play-Doh birthday cake

I don't need another birthday to remind me that I"m getting older...
the evidence is on the table.. or my wrist... after playing volleyball with Ava.

Sometimes you just need a nap with your pooch.

We continue to love our read-aloud time, and are currently wrapping up Roald Dahl's, "Fantastic Mr. Fox", and also infused in "Matilda".

As we continue to muddle through 6th grade Saxon Math, I brought this home from work to show Ava.  She's doing lots of converting of fractions/decimals/percentages right now, as well as pre-algebra stuff/solving for variables.  Perfect example that math is everywhere (like it or NOT)!

I had samples of 120mg Lovenox doses in 0.8cc syringes.  The patient was ordered 110mg, and so I needed to know how much of the syringe dose was needed for each dose, so that I could teach/show the patient.  

Soren, listening to Gressa explain to him, the movie,
"Heaven in for Real".
 I took the girls.  He had to miss out, after his disrespect tipped the scale that day.

Mother's Day Questionnaires
love, love, l o v e . . .
Ava's:

When my mom was my age, she like to... play weird board games, hang out with friends, and run.

God gave me my mom instead of another mom, because... she is so much like me.

I like it when my mom cooks... meatballs.

When my mom was a little girl, she was... interestingly dressed.

Something I love to do with my mom is... play volleyball.

If I could do anything in the world with my mom, it would be... skydiving.

Soren's

My mom is... great.

I wish my mom would... give me Beats headphones.

Something my mom always says, is... "Soren, Ava, Gressa".

God gave my mom instead of another mom, because... He knew.

When my mom was a little girl, she was... fun.

Something I like to do with my mom is... play sports.

Gressa's

Mother's Day 2013
Trestle Trail Bridge

I continue to cherish our days, and cannot believe this year is almost finished!  Less than 10 math lessons to go, all around, and we will feel pretty much done.  Once these days started feeling like Spring for a few moments at time at least... we whittled our work down to the core of Reading, Writing, and Math.  The rest is... Life.  And we are living it... and learning it.

Ava Girl

hope

v. verb

1. The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.
2. Trust; confidence 

Of all of the things a Mama wishes to pass on to her daughter, scoliosis (or surely, any other genetically-linked condition) would not top the list.  

No scolio diagnosis as of yet; we're calling it a 'postural shift' of 9 degrees.  10 degrees and above, plus vertebral rotation reckons a scolio... (no vertebral rotation yet)

ScolioSmart Clinic, here we come. Again.  Looks like I will have a partner for my exercises, at least for awhile. :)  Dr. Dovorany thinks that twice a day on the disc, for a few months will FIX the shift.  Thankful?  Understatement.  The value of hope is immense and indescribable for this Mom.  Outside of this opportunity, I'd be waiting, and watching.  Watching what?  Watching it get worse and fear and "know" what's likely in store for her days ahead? No. If things go as planned, scolio will be a non-issue for her! 

I think back to her days of competitive gymnastics.  

My radiant, marvelous, free-spirited, daughter.  

From the moment she blessed us with her tumultuous arrival, she's been shining a new perspective on all I've previously known. 

She, with a spirit of zeal, enough energy, intensity, and vitality to carry an entire team of toned and conditioned, strong girls. 

That floor routine was one to remember

 When the ankle injury took her out of the sport she adored, we endured some rocky times of anxiety and self discovery, together. 

Ava, these struggles only helped to shape who you really are!  You will enjoy many successes... as well as pain... and... life, all of it. You will prevail.  

With your Savior's ever-present help, it's my prayer that you always carry in your heart this sure promise: 

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5 3-5

God knows what is best for us. Always. Just as He knew that gymnastics wouldn't be a favorable activity for your back, He knows what's best for you now... not just when He seemingly answers our prayers, or when things go our way, or when they make sense to us.  ALWAYS. Take comfort in His promise to bless us, always. When you don't know which end is up, and you don't understand, remember this!  This truth will bring you amazing comfort.

It's such a true joy to be your mom, Ava Delaney.  You make me proud in new ways, all the time. I look forward to witnessing it all... the hardships, the wins, the blessings. You are His perfect creation. 

 

Week 2, Day 5: The Last Day of Scoliosis Boot Camp

I brought Ava with me again, on Friday.  She really wanted to come (and had done 4 math lessons on Thursday to build her case), and I also wanted her x-rayed.  It was really nice to have some alone time with her!  Also, we listened to Francesca Battestelli on the way there (her choice) - a nice change of pace from scanning the radio, or the "Frozen" soundtrack. 

Ava and Olivia talked some more this time; here they are exchanging ipod numbers so they can stay in touch. :) Well, Ava's doing the digit-swapping, while Olivia works hard on The Vibe.

We had the same routine as last Fri., and it's exhausting.  

I did not have another x-ray; I will follow-up in June, and that will be for a day and half, to have the office treatments again.  In the meantime, I am supposed to be using the cantilever 4x/day, for 20" each time.  

Oh dear, I thought I was already being taught patience, but it turns out Boot Camp was only the beginning!  Now I need to fit in 80 minutes of this, every day. It's challenging, not just to find the time to do this, but to figure out how to feel well enough to do it! Most Busy Mamas I know (including myself) don't sit down all that much (ever) during the day, and as I go about my daily stuff, I am typically feeling really tired and achy in my back - pretty much the antithesis of "up to withstanding another venture."  So.  I am trying to remember to sit or stretch for just a few mins prior to hopping onto the blue disk for the therapy. That seems to be helping.  Hmmm... maybe I'm supposed to be slowing down a bit, anyway... and getting more sleep... ;D  I think I see this all coming together. :)

Yesterday, after only about 10" of being on the disk, I started to get really nauseous.  Weird.  I finally couldn't ignore it, and had to end early.  Same thing the next time, and the 3rd time.  Ugh!  I had started having a migraine on Fri. night, while trying to watch, "Saving Mr. Banks" with Tony and Ava.  I thought maybe the nausea was just an extension of that.  But then I started to wonder if my blue disk was the problem; the one I'd brought home with me was much more deflated than the others I'd used.  The result was that I wiggled and balance-checked much more frequently. 

Today I just couldn't stand the thought of repeating the flashbacks to morning sickness again, and decided to see if we could inflate it somehow to see if sea-sickness (or blue disk sickness) was the issue.  I'd looked at this immediately yesterday, but didn't think I had the right attachment to inflate it.  Turns out the right 'attachment' for inflation is my husband simply blowing air into it. ;) He inflated it and I haven't had any other problems with nausea! Yay.  

I also needed a major boredom buster to get through this.  I decided to start the "Lost" series.  I've never seen one episode, and it goes for what, 6 seasons or something like that?? Between that and Dateline NBC on Hulu, I should be good until near time for my follow up.  

I got a CD with all of my x-ray images on it, and viewed my neck x-ray for the 1st time in awhile. (The last time was when doing traditional chiro a few years ago.)

The healthy cervical spine should have a nice curve (lordosis), as below. 

(not my x-ray - for pupose of illustration, only)

My cervical spine (neck vertebrae) no longer have a curve. In fact the curve is somewhat reversing (kyphosis, giving forward head posture) near C6.  Without going into too much detail, losing the natural curve in the cervical spine causes all sorts of issues - some which I'm experiencing now (muscle strain in neck, shoulders, upper and lower back, headaches, pinched nerves, TMJ issues), and others that may occur with further degeneration/arthritis. It's a non-option to NOT continue chiropractic care, and Dr. Dovorany's recommendations.

(my x-ray)




So. How do I feel about Boot Camp?

*It was more challenging than I anticipated. And I'm more sore than I expected to be.  I have an understanding of why this is, however, and it's necessary.  I'm trying to re-train these muscles that have been slacking off for years! 

*I didn't expect to (or necessarily care to) make friends.  But I did. :) 

*The outcomes were different than I expected, but satisfactory to me. The end result is that I gained 8 degrees.. so far. The way I see it, is that neuro-muscular training is BY FAR the best option for scoliosis.  No, I'm not ever going to have a straight spine.  But, if I avoid surgical intervention, it's Mission Accomplished, in my book! 

Day 1 of Boot Camp ~ 3.31.14

Boot Camp, Day 8 ~ 4.9.14

*I will continue to search for pain control.  After this experience, I'm convinced that my worst pain is due to my right SI joint that is in a constant "locked up" state. This is directly related to my scoliosis.  I am going to look into dry-needling for some potential relief, once I can gear up to search for help, yet again! 

*I never expected to get teary on the last day.  But I did.  Spending all day for 2 weeks with awesome people you won't see anymore, does that to a person. Dr. D, Andi & Amy, and the other Boot Campers all added such value to this experience!

To me, every degree earned back, is added insurance against a surgery - a surgery that has no guarantee whatsoever, in fact, has around a 40% failure rate, and a very high rate of complications.

I will fight for every degree.  

But now, I am more ready than ever to return to my life.  I'm ready to incorporate my new needs into this chaos and get back to being a wife and mom!  

My family were such GREAT SPORTS!  

I love them so!

Thanks, too, to so very many for all of the prayers, food, calls/texts, playdates for the kids, and support & encouragement through the past two weeks.  It's appreciated more than you'll ever know!

The Last Day!
Top Left/Bottom Right: signing the, " I Survived BootCamp" poster
Top Right: BootCamp crew! Mira, Olivia, me, Kim
Bottom Left: Dr. Dovorany and me
Middle: Olivia and me

"Free to Be Me" ~ Francesca Battestelli

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKSQjSdU8VA&feature=kp

Week 2, Day 4: Tool Time

Today after my first adjustments, Dr. D took an unbelievable tool to my right SI (sacroiliac joint).  Drill/jigsaw resemblance, and 12 thrusts per second or something crazy like that. 

Its' name is: ArthroStim

I mentioned in a previous post that he'd used this on my neck, to help with my reverse curve.  This image sort of shows what I mean by that.

The way this felt on my SI joint/ligaments was nothing short of phenomenal.  

He said the middle to lower parts of the joint were completely 'locked up'.  I've heard this before, and even if I hadn't, I know it to be true.  My biomechanics are not my friend :(. 

The ArthroStim gave me new life!  Freedom! Do you need a license to operate that gadget?! Does Amazon sell this thing?! Turns out, no, but I did find another site that does... googling while on The Vibe with my cantilever.  Cost? $1,279.  Hmmm... a bit steep?!  Surrrrrrre is tempting.  

Not much else to report for today.  Tomorrow is the last day, already. Will be curious to see what follow-up will look like, how often I will be coming back for tune-ups.  

Will ask:

What types of exercise can I/should I do, for consistent cardio?

Am I a candidate for the ScolioSmart Activity Suit, which creates new muscle memory and encourages unwinding of the spine?
http://www.scoliosisactivitysuit.com/

Do you have an extra ArthroStim to loan patients??  If not, and yours is ever missing... it wasn't me who took it.

Headed to bed tonight, again, with a full belly of tasty dinner from friends :) So so thankful for the blessing of generous, prayerful, and thoughtful family and friends!  How much easier this was on all of us, because of you all! 

G'nite.

Week 2, Day 3: Bootcamp Breakdown

I'm going to try and clarify the actual treatment I am receiving, with this post.  I'm getting a lot of questions about treatment specifics, and realizing that pretty much no one has any reference for what in the hey is going on with this. ( I mean, I know I didn't, before I started looking into it! It's also quite difficult to verbally describe without photos, and hey - I really should get it all into writing and pictures before I someday forget what I actually did here... (as if)
I start out each day this way:

Eckard (Mermaid) Table, aka: place to FaceTime the kids, because my hands are free and my head is not entrapped in some kind of device. Plus, by the time I get to the clinic in the morning, I've typically received a text or twenty from the kids wondering if I'm on "that table" yet, so I can "talk". :)
I'm strapped in quite tightly and straps pull against my curve and anchor me to the table, while my lower body moves up and down, stretching and prepping my muscles to loosen up.
Feels awesome. 20 minutes, 3x/day. No complaints. After the 1st session of the day with this, I get that drill massage that I mentioned in my 1st post.  The staff keeps assuring me that it is not a "rigged up" operation, but I'm pretty sure I'm headed to Home Depot one day very soon in order to plot how to make my own.

Next is the VT (Vibrating Traction) Table.  5lb weight dangling from my head, in an effort to restore the natural curve in a healthy cervical spine.  Mine is a reverse curve, developed as a secondary adaptation process, due to the scoliosis. The weight and weird-looking head and chin thing, vibrate like mad.  Not painful, kind of a feel good stretch... at the same time, pretty annoying.  Sandbags lay on my hips and knees while my legs take turn in figure 4 position.  5 mins, each leg, 3x/day.  This helps stretch out my hips and flexors.  That part feels great.

After the VT Table, I do alternate knee-to-chest grabs, while my legs dangle off the end of the table (one at a time), with a sandbag attached.  1 1/2 mins, 3x/day.  These stretches feel really good, too. This is another thing I'd like to recreate for home.

\Below... this is NOT something I'd like to recreate for home.

These are the de-rotation/traction (itchy) chairs.  I'll spare you a pic of me in this thing.  12 lb weight dangles from head, pulling head upward, into traction, while entire chair vibrates. It lengthens the spine and encourages neutral position/de-rotation. 30 mins, 3x/day.  My nemesis.

There's always a movie playing in the chair room, and it's been geared toward the pre-teens I'm in Bootcamp with.  I had to giggle today, when "Cheaper By the Dozen" was on.  I'm wondering if Tony is starting to feel like Steve Martin's character(who is completely hysterical), in this movie... after 2 weeks of trying to work from home, run homeschool, and parent simultaneously.

In the 1st round of the day, after the above 3 stations, I get adjustments from Dr. D., using the pelvic tilt table, followed by neck and roll-squeeze adjustments. (Just like it sounds, I squeeze a foam roll across my chest while he adjusts my thoracic spine.) Then he adjusts my neck in each direction. This feels so good, and my neck is feeling better than ever before, which is a relief!

After the adjustments, it's off to do the cantilever work.
My cantilever was adjusted, yesterday.  So now, what I've got going, is this:
Rather than wearing just one lever with the 15lb weight off of the right end and the 10lb hand weight on the left, I now have a second lever (one with roll under armpit), as well.  The 10lb weight is still on my left, but instead of holding it, it now hangs from the lever. You can see it in the photo, clipped onto the lever.  On the right is the 15lb weight, also clipped on (cut out of photo, inadvertently.  Olivia took this picture ;D).

After I get geared up, I step onto the blue disc, and the vibration is turned on. 20 mins, 3x/day. This is really tough.  This is truly the heart of the treatment, and what changes the spine most.  It is what allows the brain to find and learn a new way to distribute the body's weight. Now, instead of the lever pushing only on my curve, it's pushing my entire spine over, encouraging it to move more toward mid-line, and nudging those wasted muscles on the inside of the curve, to fire.
All of the above, is 1 round.  There is a quick, 10" break, and the round is repeated (minus the chiro adjustments. Lunch break.  Round 3 (with adjustments added back in).

After just 3 sessions of the new lever setup, there was another x-ray today...

The result?  Mixed feelings and emotions!

For my friends and family with a medical background, here's the dealio:
I have a pretty severe left postural shift.  Also, the bone remodeling, specifically to the left side of L3 and even worse on L4 (including bone spurs) is, unfortunately, making the Cobb Angle resistant to further change.
Left: pre-treatment, 3/31/14
Right: today, 4/9/14

On the x-rays, L4 (second vertebra from the bottom of the film)subsequently shows quite a bit of tilt, and is actually a wedged vertebra at this point.  You can note the height difference, left side of L4, in comparison to right side of L4  This really makes it almost impossible to change, Dr. D says; this makes sense to me.

L3 has responded to treatment some, in comparison with the initial x-ray, and he thinks there is still room for improvement, there, despite some bone remodeling.
Translation of the above for all of you non-medical people who think the x-rays just kind of look like gummy worms (as Ava says they do):
My curve may not be able to be further reduced.  This is because my scoliosis has been present so long, that bony changes in the vertebrae have occurred, in order to try and deal with the curve.  These changes make the bones resistant to change/straightening.  These bony changes are most prevalent in lumbar vertebrae 3, and especially in L4.  L4 is the bone 2nd from the bottom on the film. 

As a result of the scolio and bone changes, the vertebrae also adapt by tilting. This is noted on the x-ray. This tilt may not be further reduced.

The reason for my severe right hip pain, he says, is clear to him.

#1. The right side of my pelvis and hip is acting as a sort of 'guide wire' to pull down and away from the left lumbar curve, in compensation.

#2. After all of this time trying to adapt to my scolio, my body has developed severely inefficient and detrimental movement patterns, to compensate for the curve and muscle imbalances.  These movement patterns have left the left side of my spine/pelvis hypertrophied, and the right side weak and atrophied.  These imbalances cause muscle contractions and spasms, pain, and all kinds of other issues in my asymmetric pelvis, and pelvic and SI joints. These just further the imbalances and uneven body weight distribution as I go about daily life, and especially with any weight-bearing exercise. On the exercise note... not yet ready to discuss those permanent implications.
The good news:Though the curve may not be further reduced (andddd it still MAY be), I still have 8 degrees back (one more degree, after changing levers/weights just yesterday), in a week and a half :)  This is far superior than ANY other option for scoliosis, and much more promising for future results, too.

Also, if you look at the x-ray on the left, you'll notice that it says in red, "72 mm".  This is the distance measured from the worst part of the curve, to the body's mid-line (where the spine should be). Then, in looking at the second x-ray, you'll see that it says, "59mm".  So, essentially, it's moved 13mm in the intended direction, so far.

This distance that my entire spine has traveled from left to body mid-line is substantial and really encouraging.  If we can get the whole spine - curved or not - to move even more mid-line, this will mean less compensation by the right side of the pelvis and the right hip, less muscle contracture, and spasms, and more evenly-distributed body weight. All of this would result in less dysfunctional movement patterns and thus, less pain!

Additional good news is that although my spine is severely de-rotated, that is also coming back, nicely.

I definitely have reason to hope that this new lever set up should really help things progress!



The moral of this story?  If you or your child has a known scoliosis, don't wait to treat it! Begin neuro-muscular retraining before your body begins to adapt and change because of the curve.  The body's response to change will be SO much better! Dr. D said he'd x-ray and review Ava on Friday, free of charge. :)

And that, folks, is All She Wrote for tonight! 

Week 2, Day 2: The Comparison

"It’s often when our suffering is at its 

worst that the devil walks in, ready to 

attack our faith." 

This, a quote from today's WELS' Daily Devotion, titled, "The Comparison". It's amazing how God knows just what we need to know, and be reminded of, and exactly when. 

By the devotion's title, you may have thought that "The Comparison", referred to the contrasting of my recent x-rays. Instead, it suggests both the damage we do, and the risk to our faith, when we measure ourselves up against others, be it achievements, looks, earthly possessions... It also highlight's the time we have here, for life each day on Earth, is so brief,in comparison to the time we'll spend in our eternal home in Heaven.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's heard a sermon on a Sunday and marveled at its' perfect timing and personal application.  This is exactly how I feel about today's devotion. Read it here: http://www.wels.net/spiritual-help/daily-devotion/2014-04/devotion-april-8-2014

Really.  It's worth the read. 

Today's therapy seemed to go a lot faster than previous days'.  The idea that I don't have to CONSTANTLY be thinking about not falling off the blue disk, while using the cantilever, is - I believe - a true testament to the whole basis of this treatment.  The idea is that the postural control center in the brain is learning a new way to hold posture. When I first stood on The Vibe (the vibrating disk used while wearing the cantilever), I absolutely could not break concentration, or I'd fall.  It was like I was trying to balance on a full-sized, ball.  Now, it feels more like I'm simply standing on a trampoline.  And I can talk, and move, and I don't (usually) fall.

Today's x-ray showed no change in curve reduction (Cobb Angle); I'm still at 35 degrees. BUT, it did show that vertebral rotation is improved, and my entire spine is shifting more midline.  Dr. D was encouraged to see this, and adjusted my cantilever to persuade my whole rib cage and spine to continue moving along to the right! It's fascinating how each person's spine and response to treatment is unique.  It's fun to watch how the treatment changes and progresses, accordingly.

I've been very forthright with the doc, as well as Andi and Amy, in letting them know that I am prepared to do the uncomfortable - even painful, if it's going to work/help me!  I think maybe he's bringing me that challenge.

It's quite heavy, now.

15 lb weight on my right, and the newly-added,
2nd lever with a 10 lb weight, on the left

the myriad of cantilever weights

The biggest positive so far, is that it seems curve stabilization has occurred. Seeing as though, the surgical threshold for a fusion, etc., is around 40 degrees, I'll take my 35 over my 42, any day. Simply assuming I may avoid any surgical intervention, is a big win.

How do I feel?  Sigh.  I don't know?!  My pain gauge has hit the road, and it's so far gone.  It's odd.  I ache and hurt so much on my curve, which is working really hard to change.  I also hurt on the right side of my spine, where these newly-activated muscles are trying to react. A lot of the therapy feels good, and relaxes my tight hip flexors and other hip and lower back muscles, so some things do feel much better.  My neck, also feels much improved.  I think it's going to take me getting back into my normal routine at home, and away from constant therapy, to see what this has done for my pain.  Regardless, I am whole-heartedly convinced that it's the best option I've got.

I'm not, mistakenly-pour-oj-in-the-cereal-rather-than-the-milk kind of exhausted this week.  Phew!  I'm still beat, but it's manageable.

Off to bed I go!  I stopped to buy Garmin a new bed today, during lunch break.  He seems to approve. :0)

Week 2, Day 1

After a busy, dutiful-filled weekend, brimming with both catching up from last week, and scheming ahead for this week, it did feel like a break as I drove to Green Bay this morning.

Happily, I've been much more successful in getting between the sheets at a decent hour, and so I'm less lethargic than last week, without a doubt.  There is room for improvement, to be sure, but no more of that 1am business. Also, since the exercises are not brand new to my body this week, I think that makes things easier, as well. 

"Relaxing" on the vibrating table and the Eckhard table went quickly, before it was time to sit in the de-rotation/traction chair, and use the cantilever. 

Facetiming with Gressa during time on the Eckhard table!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch... Tony is taking this "work from home" thing to the next level.  

As I got ready to leave the clinic today, the receptionist handed me all of this goodness.  LOVE YOU, sister!

There are several letters to Doctor D and Andi and Amy, that decorate the office walls.  This one really was touching.
Tomorrow, there will be an xray, again; the first, in 5 days.  So hopeful!  Dr. D is aiming for 10 degrees' correction.  I'm secretly hoping to kiss the 30s goodbye...
42 ---- 29 would be pretty sweet. The idea that this treatment will stabilize my curve, at the least, is still completely overwhleming to me.