Thursday, January 31, 2008

This Cold Is Killing Me!

I have been in bed for days from this dang Sinus infection. Jeff even took the day off yesterday to take care of Logan. THIS IS A BIG DEAL, Jeff has not missed a day of work in 22 years. I was so bad Weds morning that he got out of the shower and told me he was staying home. I have not been able to sleep because I have been coughing so hard, I am depleted of all energy and patience. Thank God I am starting to feel better today, I have a little energy and my cough is starting to subside. I actually slept from 11:30 last night to 3:30 woke up and took some more of my cough syrup w/codeine and went back to sleep until 8:20 when Logan woke up. I have been sick for over a week now, it's got to end soon, my whole mid section hurts from the coughing.

My jaw is still locked up, I can pop/force it open now as it is only my right side being effected by this now (always has been worse on my right) but every time I do that I am causing damage to my ligaments and to the bone itself. I guess it fits in place like a ball and socket (kinda like a hip) so every time it snaps it cause wear and tear so to speak. I haven't been able to sleep w/my bit because of this dang cold, I will try again tonight and see how it goes.

Logan is doing great he came out of his before Christmas funk a totally loving little guy. He has always been sweet but it is a a totally different level now. He has always came to us for affection and given it but now he gives it out like he has always been here. There are no reservations or being scared, he hugs tight and often and he comes and sits in our laps on a daily basis. He craves affection and I love giving it to him. He has for the most part stopped trying to control things, he still does but it is more like a typical 3 year old not like he has to be in control or he is going to lose it. His potty issues are completely gone, I don't think he has wet his pants since just before Christmas.

Any ways, I need to rest a little before he gets up from his nap although I don't think he is going to nap today he has been up there a little over an hour just jabbing his jaws to his animals so I may just go and get him.

Thanks for staying home Jeff, I really needed the rest or I was never going to get better : )

I wanted to include this link I got off of a blog that I follow, thanks Murial for posting this, you certainly do your share of giving back :) I do not know anyone who's child(ren) have Autism but I did read a lot about it when researching International adoption. I was shocked to learn how many children are being diagnosed w/Autism and that there is no known cause or cure. I am amazed how the insurance companies can pick and choose what is covered and what is not. There is an alarming rate of children being diagnosed EVERYDAY. Please watch the video and see for yourself it is only 3 minutes and every click is helping raise funds for Autism research. Copy and paste the link and make a difference : )

http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214=20

Friday, January 25, 2008

Florida Trip

Logan and I took off and went down to Florida to see my Dad and Step Mom for a few days. It was a spur of the moment idea and when I checked flights they were only a $150 each for round trip, how could we not go. We had vouchers from our 4 1/2 hour delay in the airport last summer that I applied and it only cost us $73 for both of us. What a great deal : ) the car ended up costing more. We left late Sunday afternoon and came home Thursday. Jeff did not go, he can't just up and go like that with work, he has to schedule time off in advance.

om.





I planned on taking him to play Putt-putt, he has been asking to go for a month now and there is just no place open around here this time of year. We went to play PP on Monday and it was no longer open so Logan still didn't get to play : ( There was a County fair going just down the road so we went there instead. I have not seen a fair that big in a very long time. There were not very many animals but tons of games, rides and "freak- shows". I could not believe the amount of food booths, we had fun, won Logan a few prizes and had some carny food for dinner, YUMMY!

Tuesday we went to Downtown Disney, Logan got to play in "Lego-Land" for a bit where there is a replica of St Basil's Cathedral, that was really cool. He loved seeing all of the figures they have down there as you can see from the pictures. I took him in the world of Disney store and let him pick out one thing, it's the Mickey in most of the pictures. He was funny there were a few things that he said he wanted and I kept saying "are you sure, you only get one thing" he finally picked up that Mickey and that was it he was not changing his mind.

We had dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe, they have a BBQ wrap that I love, I hardly ever eat there so that is what I got. When we walked in he was excited and said "Mom in the jungle" he did get a little scared when it started to storm, he said "Mom lets go to the bathroom" I'm not sure where that came from besides we just came from there and it is the only place he seen without the jungle going on. It was getting late and we were parked at the other end of the complex so we took the water taxi back, it was his first boat ride and he loved it. We had such a good time down there and the best part about it was it was not packed : )

We had planned on doing either Sea World or Cypress Gardens. I didn't want do any other of the parks because they are so big, and I don't think that Logan is old enough yet. He is not into rides or really getting close to the characters yet. He wants to see them from a few feet away, although he did give Chuck-E-Cheese a high five when we were there a while back. I want him to have great memories of his first time meeting Mickey Mouse, who he LOVES.

Wednesday we didn't do anything besides go for a walk down to the lake. Logan woke up crabby and misbehaving, we had been on the go since Sunday and we needed a break. We didn't end up doing either park we had planned on but I think what we did do was great and just enough for Logan. I started feeling like I was coming down with something Wednesday afternoon and when I woke up Thursday I felt horrible. It was not a fun day to travel and I felt bad for all the poor people around me but what could I do I needed to come home. My only symptoms are in my throat so unless I talked you would never know. Logan was ready and really started asking to come home Weds night.

He did great on this trip, he was so much better behaved than when we were in Myrtle last summer. He was a GREAT boy in the airports and on the plane especially on the way home when he knew I wasn't feeling good. I am so proud of him for listening so well and helping the way he did in the airports with us traveling alone. He was good the whole time down there until Weds and he was a lot better in the afternoon when he came out from the room from his nap. He didn't fall a sleep, he just laid in there and chit-chatted with his Mickey so I am surprised that he was in a better mood. He always falls a sleep so that was weird but who cares he came out in a much better mood.

We had a good time, it was nice to get away from the freezer we are living in. It was 12 degrees when we left and was cold all week Jeff said. We had great weather down there, when we left Florida it was 78 degree's and sunny and we came home to a high of 22 and snow on the ground, YUCK. I am still not feeling good and just laying around taking it easy.

*TMJ update* My jaw is still locked up, it has been 12 days, ouch!

Monday, January 14, 2008

Suffering from TMJ

I have been unable to open my mouth further than about a 1/4 inch for the past 3 days now. This happened to me about 2 1/2 years ago for the first time. I will never forget I was chewing a Milk Dud and my jaw popped, a few days later my jaw locked up and it freaked me out. I had no idea what the heck was happening. I went right to my Dr. and they sent me to the dentist where he fitted me for a mouth piece to wear while I was sleeping. It was about 4 days before I could open my mouth all the way. I was never told how debilitating this can be in so many different ways.

I have had some minor medical issues since all of this stuff has been going on with my jaw. Besides my jaw locking up and popping all the time I have suffered from Vertigo off and on for years now, NOT FUN! There seemed to be no reason besides there was always fluid in my ears and the Dr. always said that it had nothing to do with my TMJ, but my symptoms go on and on and have gotten worse over the years. I always thought that they did go hand and hand because when ever I was feeling really bad my jaw was tight and popping and I had fluid in my ears. I have never had ear problems not even as a kid but now I have clear fluid build up all the time.

When my jaw locked up this last time I started doing some research on-line. I cannot believe I was never informed about how debilitating this condition can be and how many negative effects it has. Here is a list of symptoms, if there is an X by it I have it. There is no known cure or there very many experts in this field. A Dr. knows nothing about it and most Dentist know little. There are very few treatments and I definitely don't want to have surgery on my jaw but man I am only 36. I cannot live the rest of my life like this and a mouth piece is just a temporary fix. The dizziness alone is driving me crazy. I have found a few people online selling their mouth exercises and they say it works. I am thinking about shelling out the $50 bucks and going for it. Any of you lurkers out there have any advice on this subject?

Eye Pain and Eye Problems:

X Bloodshot eyes
X Blurring of vision
Eye pain above, below and behind eye
Pressure behind eyes
X Light sensitivity
X Watering of the eyes

Head Pain, Headache Problems, Facial Pain:

Migraines
X Forehead pain
Cluster headaches
X "Sinus Type" headache
Hair and/or scalp painful or sensitive to touch
X Headaches at the back of the head, with or without shooting pain

Teeth and Gum Problems:

X Clenching during the day or at night
X Grinding teeth at night (bruxism)
Tooth pain
Sensitive teeth

Mouth, Face, Cheek, and Chin Problems:

X Discomfort or pain to any of these areas
X Pain in cheek muscles
Uncontrollable tongue movements
X Jaw and Jaw Joint Problems
X Limited opening
X Inability to open the jaw smoothly or evenly
Jaw deviates to one side when opening
Inability to find the correct bite with teeth
X Clicking or popping jaw joints
Uncontrollable jaw movements

Ear Pain, Ear Problems:

X Hissing, buzzing, ringing, or roaring sounds
Diminished hearing
X Clogged, "stuffy", itchy ears
X Feeling of fullness
X Ear pain without infection
X Balance problems, vertigo, dizziness

Throat Problems:

* Swallowing difficulties
* Tightness of throat
* Sore throat with no infection
* Voice fluctuations
* Laryngitis
* Tongue Pain

Neck and Shoulder Problems:

X Neck pain
X Tired, sore neck problems
X Shoulder aches
X Back pain (upper and lower)
X Arm and finger tingling, numbness, and/or pain
X Stiffness

As you can see I have MOST of the symptoms listed. The neck and shoulder thing I have had for many many years. The only thing that it has not effected is my throat.

Random Stuff!

Can you see the ears, this is Logan's Mickey Mouse pillow, it came as a set with a sleeping bag that is pretty light weight and designed for a little one like him. I think this is by far Logan's favorite gift he got from Santa. He lays in the sack and on the pillow everyday, he hugs on the pillow all the time, he is so adorable with this.

Wow, I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted. We have been on the go lately, last week was a busy one. We had a play-date on Tuesday w/my friend Renee and her son Tyler. Then on Thursday we met some friends at Chuck E Cheese for dinner and to let the kids play. We had friends over on Friday for dinner with 2 of their 3 kids. Their girls are older but very cute and Logan was loving Emily who is 12, my boy is such a flirt with young pretty girls. I noticed this on our first trip to Russia. The first day when his care taker came for him, he just clung to me and didn't want to go to her. She was an unattractive older lady. The next day was a whole different story when a young pretty lady came for him, he reached right out to her. We found it funny and Jeff and I have joked about it many times, well he is still very much that same way but now he will always choose me : ) no matter how young or pretty.

OK, back to what I was saying we then had a play-date with my friend Debra and her son Alec on Sunday. Logan and Alec get a long very good and play really well together. I am sure they are going to grow up to be life-long friends. Debra and I are taking the boys in Feb. to see Sesame Street Live, I can't wait they are going to love it. We were supposed to do something with Renee and Tyler again tomorrow but I called Renee and asked to switch it to Thursday or Friday my boy needs a break.

I SUFFER from TMJ. I have been doing some research on it lately because my jaw has once again locked up, I can only open my mouth about a 1/4 inch without pain and not at all past maybe 1/2 inch. I cannot believe I was never informed about how debilitating this condition can be. I was fitted for a mouth piece to wear when I sleep and that was it. My next post is going to be on this subject because there is way to much to say on it.

We went and seen Busia and she made a wonderful meal and we had a really nice visit. Logan got a little radio and head phones along with some money for his piggy bank.

Jeff, Logan and Busia


Jeff and Logan, not afraid of any animal skull, YUCK!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year!



We woke up this morning to a beautiful blanket of snow which our Siberian baby LOVES, he is definitely from Russia : ) He really cannot get enough of playing in it. I am glad that ii is kind of warm so we could enjoy it. We have had snow a few time already this Winter but this is the first time we were able to pack it to make a "Snow-man". Logan's first "Snow-man" was a success, even the neighbor boy came out to check it out, Jake does not like the snow, LOL.

Any ways, I hope you all had a great celebration last night.

Happy New Year from our family to yours and I hope we all have a wonderful 2008!