Inside the house - BEFORE

The neighbors...

It's house picture time!

I'll start with a before picture of the front...so...

BEFORE

Update

Samson is doing much better. All the creepy stitches are gone so now we're just watching the fuzz grow back and hoping he doesn't end up with a funky bald spot around his scars...because that would add just too much character, I think.

Earlier this evening I had my last pre-scheduled appointment from the original treatment plan with the chiropractor. Found out I have a credit on my account with them, too, so now that I've switched to having an appointment every 6 weeks rather than every 30 days, my appointments will be free for a while. The goal is to eventually spread out the appointments so they are 2+ months apart. Sounds good to me!

Been having trouble with my right arm. Sometimes it's shoulder to fingertips and sometimes it's just right around the elbow. My doctor has me trying Celebrex to reduce the inflammation and a tennis elbow wrap to support the muscles and give them a chance to relax. The Celebrex might be helping, so continuing that. Not so sure about the wrap, but I'll keep wearing it at work and that sort of thing. Maybe it does help and I just don't realize it yet.

Meanwhile, working on getting myself out of this apartment. Packing and eating off paper and plastic. Good times!

Speaking of good times, I'm going to eat a cookie and try to relax for a bit before bedtime.

Samson's booboo

This picture was taken when I got to the farm Friday (the 5th). His wound was 5 days old at this point. It doesn't look quite as gruesome now, but it's still not pretty.

Already in the second half of August?!

It just can't be this late in the year already. Only 2 weeks from Labor Day. Wow.

Went to Denver for a conference and was able to catch up with a few folks which was awesome! The conference could have been worse. The rooms were freezing! But, isn't that always the way it is?

Samson got a serious booboo the night before I left. Apparently he was tearing through the yard (at the farm) at 100 miles per hour and took a turn too tight - ripped himself open on the edge of a fence panel. He managed to bend the panel and tip the post a little. He must really have been going fast. He had to get a lot of stitches and is lucky to be alive. He was totally acting like himself by the time I got back to the farm almost a week later. He still has ugly blue stitches all over his side (must be real heavy duty since they are still there after the 2 weeks they supposedly would last), and a bald-ish patch that is still growing back hair. I suspect he's going to have a funky scar for the rest of his life. I guess it just adds to his character - makes him look tough or something.

I have been packing. Slowly but surely I am getting ready to move to Lincoln. Still working on house stuff, but come hell or high water, I am moving in September whether to a house or an apartment. I definitely will let you know when I know.

I know that it is getting late and I still need to eat and relax (today was incredibly stressful). So my sad attempt at getting this up to date will have to be what it is. Someday I will have more extra minutes to write here more often...but I think I say that a lot and it has yet to happen.

Update *warning - health content goes into detail

So...

I will try to be brief as I am actually working from home right now and am supposed to be recovering, not sitting up and leaning forward to reach computers. (Yes, plural. One for work and one for play - so to speak.)

Recovering from what?

A "diagnostic laparoscopy." I get to thank my mother's side of the family for the endometriosis the doctor found. Where the veins (like varicose veins) on my pelvis, adhesions attaching my uterus to my bowel and softer-than-it-should-be uterus were inherited from, I'm not as sure. My follow-up appointment is next Thursday. I'll know more then about how all this affects me. I do know they "fixed" what could be (albeit temporary fixes, I'm sure). The doctor seemed almost surprised to find I had been right to insist on checking. An expensive venture, but I'm glad to finally know what's going on.

The surgery was Friday. Mom came Thursday night and stayed until mid-afternoon Sunday. What a huge help! Sandra came over the weekend, too and took over where Mom left off. She's been here every night since and has also been a great help. She has been great taking care of Samson for me and doing things around the apartment!

Speaking of the apartment...

I am shopping for a house in Lincoln. I put an offer on one, but didn't get it (someone else made a better offer). I'm going to see another one tomorrow about noon. Dad will be meeting my realtor and I there to give his expert opinion on 100+ year old houses. He should know. I'm so glad he's able to come look. I know a lot of things, but this is one area where others are far more knowledgeable. His viewpoint will be priceless.

The one I'm seeing tomorrow is a "short sale" and is being sold "as is" which means the seller's bank has to approve any offer and the chances of getting anything fixed by the seller is practically null (less anything an inspector might find that is required to be fixed). So, if I did make an offer, I could be competing with other offers and the amount of time it takes for a response to the offer is 100% up in the air. I received my lease renewal notice and it is up on July 31. Month-to-month is $100 extra and they "require" 30-days notice of move out date. Yuck. Not a situation to be in, but I don't really have a choice other than to rent in Lincoln, which I'd rather not do.

Other things I'd rather not do, but had to do anyway...

My thesis has been put off again. Hopefully (though I'm not holding my breath anymore) I can do it in the fall, but that would also be right about moving time or shortly thereafter. Er go...no money.

...or have to do anyway...

Dentist. Switched dentist because something just wasn't right with the one I was going to. She acted like my teeth were going to fall out of my head, said I needed 5 new fillings, and that I needed to deep clean my gums every day. I was practically on a liquid diet because of that direction. So I decided to go to the University of Nebraska's dental school patient program instead. They say my gums are fine and I only need 2 fillings. Very different! Getting the cleaning next week and the fillings done the week after. And it was pretty cool helping out the college, though I could do without the 3-4 hour appointments.

I need to call my insurance company and find out when they will start reimbursing me for chiropractor appointments. I think my deductible has been met, but they seem confused...but I guess it could be me.

I think that sums it up. I need to find ways to save money for a house downpayment (if I ever get that far). All the driving doesn't help, but sitting in the dark as much as possible and running the A/C as little as possible might. Probably have to lose the cable TV I love. This is all so much fun! ;-p

Oh! And my boss just congratulated me on my 1 year anniversary there. Wowsers! Has it been that long already? It has gone by super fast!