No news is good news, right?

As I mentioned, my last MRI came back saying that they couldn't quite get a good view of my Common Bile Duct on the scan so it was suggested I get an ultrasound. Great, I go in to get my back checked out and now they're going to find something else?

So, on March 1st, I went for a scheduled ultrasound of my abdomen to a hospital that I've never been fond of. The hospital I usually go to for tests was booked up for a few week. I could either wait or I could go in a few days to the other site. Big breath in. It's just a routine ultrasound. In and out, right?

I had no clue how long I was going to be there. Thirty minutes seemed too short. Even an hour was questionable. Paying for the whole day ought to do it.

I walked in and right then and there remembered why I wasn't a fan of this hospital. The walls looked old. The lights were dim. The ceilings were low. I felt like I was in a flea market as some guy had set up shop in the tiny front entrance selling clothes, bags, odds and ends. There was no nice information booth to register at or ask for help. I obviously looked lost as a lady who worked at the hospital asked if she could help me. She pointed me in the right direction and off I walked down the hall to a tiny little make-shift check in room.

After handing in my heath card, I was directed to sit in the open waiting room with a few other people watching the news on the wall TV provided for your entertainment. Only a few minutes passed, my name was called and off I went into a small little curtained off area where I was asked to change into a gown.

The hospital bed barely fit inside the little box of a room. The lady doing the ultrasound seemed nice. We didn't really talk much except for when she told me to turn this way and that.

It's amazing how many things run through your head while the test is being done -- why did you stop at that spot? what is she typing that? what's that beep for? why more gel? what can't she see? why does she need me to shift? All these small moves that seem so monumental at that very moment.

And that was it.

She said I was done and that the results would be back in about a week or so, or maybe 3 - 5 days. Why did she change how long the results would come back? Did she see something?

I looked at my watch. I was in and out in 40 minutes. I had a whole day left on my parking pass and not one sole in the parking lot to give it to.

Last Friday, four days after the ultrasound, I decided I would call my doctor and tell him the ultrasound was done and to call me to let me know if they had received the results or not. I didn't expect a phone call back that day, but Monday came and went and still no call. I called back Tuesday, get the answering machine, left a message mentioning I had already left a message on Friday and to call me back.

Why aren't they calling me back? There's something wrong and they're trying to figure out how to tell me and what the next steps will be, that's it, I'm sure of it.

Today is Friday, and I still haven't heard anything back from my doctor. Now I'm hoping that no news is good news. I remember I told the girl who checked me in for the ultrasound if she could also send a copy of the report to my neurologist. It's worth a shot. I gave my neurologist's office a call. The receptionist, I love this woman, picks up, checks my file, comes back to the phone, "It's all clear", she tells me.

The.best.words!

Sleepover Time!

I've been sitting on the sofa today fighting off a cold and drinking lots of fluids. Thankfully the kids are at school and daycare so I have some quiet time.

This past weekend, the kids had a sleepover at my mom's house. Lucas was excited to go because he and my mom have this tradition where they go out for pizza and then stop by the ice cream shop after. He loves it and I love that he will always have fond memories of this time spent with grandma. Isabella finally joined this tradition too and had a great time!

My mom sent me an email with pictures of their weekend...

Isabella finally consented to sleep over for the first time at Grandma Barb's last night. She and Lucas were very very good. They watched a movie and TV, did crafts, including making necklaces they were sure Mommy would LOVE, played games and went out with Grandma for pizza and ice cream. Grandma had a good time.

Craft time!

Playing house

A fierce round of Hungry Hippo

Ice cream after pizza

Snack before bedtime

Time for bed
(Bella wanted to sleep with her big brother)

When we went to pick them up, Lucas came up to me with his hands behind his back and asked me to pick a hand. Of course I picked the wrong one at first but when I pointed to the other hand he presented me with a colourful necklace he made for me. Isabella quickly remember the ine she had made for me as well and ran to get it. They are both so beautiful and I've been wearing them with pride. I love my kids!

The necklace Lucas made is the longer one
and Bella's is the shorter one

I am...

enjoying some me time!

The boys are at the Toronto Maple Leafs game. Bella announced at 7:30pm that she was tired so I quickly rushed her upstairs and took advantage of the situation. She was sleeping by 8pm!

I'm now sitting on the couch, watching HGTV, with a glass of Guilty Men white wine in one hand and a Cadbury Cream Egg in the other (yes, it's that time of year again. Woohoo!) while I do a little catching up on what's going on in the blogosphere.

How are you spending your night? Hope you're having a good one!

My Date With Mr. MRI

I mentioned in another post how I had a date with Mr. MRI. Well, the date has come and gone. Now for the deets as I'm sure you've all been anxiously waiting...

Multiple Sclerosis has always been just a another bump in the road of life for me, but I'll admit it, some days aren't as sunny as others.

In December I had my regular check-up with my neurologist where it was suggested I get an MRI done of my lower back as I've been having a lot of intense lower back pain lately. I had the MRI done last Wednesday night and received the results less than a week later (holy fast batman!) by way of a phone call from my doctor.

My doctor said the showings are all part of having MS but after getting the report by fax all I seem to be focusing on are the words...moderate degenerative disc and facet disease, minimal retrolisthesis, small disc bulge with spondylolisthesis, common bile duct seems somewhat prominent given the age of the patient, prominent distal CBD. Ultrasound is recommend for further evaluation.

Even with it saying moderate, minimal and small at the beginning of the findings, what does any sane person do? Check Google of course (should have taken my own advice not to do that)! Now I have proof when I say I feel like a 35 year old trapped in an 80 year old's body.

I noticed in the report that it mentioned an ultrasound be done because of something to do with my Common Bile Duct that they couldn't quite see on the MRI. Since my back pain has become consistent these days rather than coming and going, I have an ultrasound booked for this coming Tuesday.

Today's a new day....onwards and upwards!

I am...

thinking about how much I enjoyed my Venti Non-fat Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks today. Best of all, it was half price! You too can enjoy a half price latte from Starbucks between 2 - 5pm until February 20th.

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Um, ya, I think more coffee is in order..hehe.

But there will be some knocking going on later. My back has been specially selected to be serenaded by the sounds of knocking composed by Mr. MRI himself. Should be a lovely evening!

Oooo, I wonder what I should wear?!

I am...

enjoying a cup of joe from my Keurig and listening to Nelly's Just A Dream cover by Christina Grimmie and Sam Tsui.

Love the power in their voices!

You can hear the passion -- a love for what they do!

Producer Kurt Schneider and the teams creations are refreshingly brilliant!

MS: Going With The Flow

I haven't talked much about my MS lately. I think because I've been trying to hide behind the good to make me feel better, focusing on the positive things life brings my way. But, lately, the pain is getting to be too much. It started at the beginning of the year in my lower back, and that's where it has stayed. It comes and goes -- sometimes to the point where I can barely move. Lately, it has been constant. I went to the doctor, had an xray, bloodwork and bone scan -- all came back normal which is great but doesn't help understand why I'm having so much pain. That's when my doctor prescribed a medication to dull down the pain. It's the first medication of many that I've tried over the years that has actually worked some.

So, that's where I'm at with my MS. I'm still at the same place I have always been except with more pain. Thankfully, the major MS attacks I've had previously haven't showed their ugly face lately. Probably because I'm not working and can manage my MS better.

To keep up with the positive thinking, hope everyone has a joyous weekend! I know I will spending time with my family. Any fun things you'll be doing this weekend?

Happy Chanukah!

Wishing you a Festival of Lights...
sparkling with fun and lit up with smiles!

Happy Chanukah

Sushi Anyone?

A toy after my own heart....

[wooden sushi playset found in the kids section at HomeSense]