Bad Knees/ Driving School/ Taxes & Vet Visits....

HEALTH

Hello Everyone! Some days are so much better than others when it comes to health. 

The picture on the left  is of my knee the other day after I went outside with my lil man and played for just 2 1/2 hours. 

(Please pardon the paleness)

It was super warm out (For January) and so I went outside with my son, played on the swings, slide & "raced" his cars around before we went in to take a bath.

He had a lot of fun (which is all that matters)

We also came downstairs and played with his cars, played some basketball & then I proceeded to lay down in his bed because I no longer could walk very well :(

It hurts my feelings when my son wants to play and I am unable to play with him for very long.

Anyways... what you see in the picture is a lot of swelling and my knee cap was dislocated with a lot of bruising.

In other news, Yesterday I got a hold of a local Driving School, to figure out some details about their package options, so that after my surgery I can go. (Yes... I will have a license before I'm 28! )

I'm actually only doing this because I'm the one that will have to take my son to school in August if he gets into 4K. Chris works in the mornings, and so does Esther, and so does Kevin... so I can no longer rely on them to get him to school. I'm also not putting him on a school bus at just 4 years old. Not enough trust these days. 

Chris also filed our taxes yesterday! YAY! 

I have to write everything down! So now you can see that on Tuesday (Yesterday) we filed them! And it was important. haha

In about an hour Chris and Esther have to take one of the family dogs (8 Ball) to the vet because he hurt his leg really bad yesterday when he slipped and fell coming up the stairs. :( I'll find out the diagnosis for my big baby when they get back home with him (I claim him as my own... even though we don't pay his med costs or buy his food)

I have to finish up a few more orders today & then I think I will take my booger outside again. 

Have a great (SUNNY FILLED) day :)

-Melissa

CT Scan Results & Surgery Dates....

Today was my follow-up appointment from the CT scan I had last Friday.

Here is a photo of the lobby where USC Med is located :)

Dr. Guy is an amazing doctor, who really likes to dig deep and look for potential issues, even if one thing doesn't work the first time.
Starting this journey with him led me first to get an X Ray (which showed a knee cap dispacement in my Right Knee).

He then sent me to get a MRI done (which showed in-conclusive results because of the poor imaging)

He then sent me to get a CT scan at the same hospital. Today's results were almost what we expected to hear. He let me know that there is not much they can do for my knee at this time, except to operate on it because it has been so long. He didn't go into too many details of what he was doing (but basically, there will be three "cuts" in my knee. 2 holes, and one small slit along my Patella Bone/Tendon where he will move my bone over and knee cap over so they will be aligned in a straight line. My bone is at the left and my knee cap is towards the right.) What we did not expect to hear was that after this surgery... he will be looking at my LEFT knee... because that knee is worse than the right. I've been putting almost all of my weight on my left leg/knee because my right has hurt me so bad and has massive swelling. He will have to perform the same surgery on my LEFT knee as well (but that is not schedule yet, and will be determined)

My surgery has been scheduled for February 20th. This also all depends on Workers Comp & My Lawyer. I have a lot of faith that this will be taken care of, and that there will (hopefully) be no issues.

I hope everyone has had a pleasant week... and I am going to go back and lay down for a little bit.

Until Next Time

Melissa

Health, Work, Little Man, & Chris...

Hello Everyone!

HEALTH UPDATE: 

I had my Dr. Appt on the 5th with hopes that I would get some answers from Dr. Guy concerning my MRI. Unfortunately the images were not good enough quality, and he has ordered a CT scan.

They will inject me with a liquid that will show whether or not I have a small or big tear.

The scan will also take images of my bone, to determine whether or not I have any fractures that would require a metal plate or rod to be inserted.

I am not worrying about anything right now, just because I have to wait to find out when my next Dr. Appt is. They scheduled it for the 15th but I never know if the appointment will be kept or not. I have to wait to get a CT scan first.

WORK

My Etsy Business is doing well & we had a very good 2014. I cannot wait to see what 2015 brings, and I am enjoying making things. I still have not listed pre-made scrapbooking pages yet, just because they take a lot of time. 

CHRISTOPHER

Christopher has registration for 4K on February 19th! He has to take a test for it in May! I'm excited and saddened all at the same time. Is it possible for children to grow up so fast? :/

I'm hoping he will enjoy school as much as I did. 

My favorite part of School Shopping, was the School Supplies. To this day: That is still one of my favorite sections of the store. Always will be I believe. 

CHRIS

Chris is still working at Michaels, and I'm hoping we find out more about this Management Job Opening at a store that is just being built. 

He is however; helping another associate run the back room, while the main person steps down for retirement. Unfortunately... that does not include a pay raise.... which we desperately need if we're looking into buying a home next year. 

Well this is all for now! See you soon! :)

Melissa

2015

Happy New Year! 

We are in a new year, and I honestly am hoping to schedule in some blog entries at least once a week. They may not say much, but I may find some challenges to do or something... Just to keep you guys in check.

RESOLUTIONS

1. Begin paying off my student loan so I no longer have that debt. I have been in forbearance & deferment for a few years now because I was unable to set aside the $100 extra dollars a month I'll need to pay for them. 

2. Successfully complete the 52 Week Money Challenge. The 52 week money challenge (which you can google) is a way to save money so you can either 1. Put it in Savings for the New Year, 2. You can do what I'm going to be doing (Christmas Money) 3. Save for Vacation.... ect.

We're going to be doing the opposite of what it usually says. We're putting $52 aside this week! 

3. Begin looking at houses. I know it will be a few years before we're able to move out on our own again, however; I still like looking at the market and determine what we can afford.

4. Join a gym (I'm hoping this really happens. The only way this can happen though is if they fix my knee)

HEALTH

As every one knows by now I have been struggling with knee issues since I got hurt in December of 2011. They did the first surgery to my knee to fix Meniscus tears  in 2012, but my knee was still having issues. I have gone to court with my lawyer, and have finally won a case! (That was in 2014). I had an MRI on my birthday Dec. 30th & I have another Dr.'s Appt January 5th with Dr. Guy. I'm hoping this will give him some insight on what is happening on the "inside" of my knee. The X-Ray I was given showed my knee cap moved out of place and to the right instead of in the middle. I'm sure I will let everyone know the outcome after the 5th.

WORK

Chris is applying for a management position at a different store (hopefully) in February. This will give us the opportunity to save for a house! :)

I have kept busy making stickers! I enjoy it a lot, and it gives me a little bit of pocket money to help Chris pay the bills. I still get my weekly Workers Compensation check, but that check isn't enough to pay the amount of bills that we have.  2014 was a great First Year for my growing business, and I truly cannot wait to see what this year will bring!

LITTLE MAN

Believe it or not, but come Monday (The 5th) I will be calling the school to see when I need to bring him in for testing (It will be sometime in February) This will be a test for 4K (The grade before Kindergarten) I'm hoping that he will get in, and we can work on his social skills a little more. Without these social skills it will be difficult for him in Kindergarten. 

This is all for now, See you guys Next Week! :)

-Melissa

December, Christmas Photos & A New Haircut...

Happy December Everyone! I haven't blogged as much as I would have liked this year, but I at least am able to give you guys a great December entry full of Christmas photos of my family! (YAY!)

First I want to say that my Thanksgiving went alright. Esther (My Mother in Law) and Chris had to work at Michaels that night, so they didn't get home until about 8:30pm. We shared the dinner with Nicole, Bryan, William, and Bryan's Mom :)

Nicole and William also came down this past weekend to get their tree and decorations. We've already put up our Christmas tree (but Esther still has to put decorations on hers. Might be finished by Christmas ;) )

We bought our annual Christmas ornaments that have our names on them, and we bought some other ornaments (which I actually have to put up.)

And now on to photos! :)

We had our Christmas photos this year taken by Christina, with Christina Alcorn Photography (which you can click on the name, and it will lead you to her Photography Website). She is a wonderful friend & an amazing photographer! Enjoy! :)

Chris, Me and Little Man

Little Man Loved The Christmas Ornaments

Little Man & Myself

Probably one of my favorite Christmas Photos This year! He loved the fake Snow!

Family

I love how his eyes "POP" in this picture

This photo of Chris and Little Man speaks a thousand words. 

My second favorite photo! 

He's Captured Us! <3

Too Much Cuteness for one Photo!

Merry Christmas Charlie Brown!

They came out so great this year! Every year getting Christmas photos done, is like my Christmas present. I start planning out Christmas photos in January,and finalize them in November. I hope those that are receiving Christmas Cards from me this year enjoy them! :)

My other Christmas present happened today! :)

I couldn't donate my hair because it was too layered, but I did get about 8 inches or more chopped off, and I had a slight high light done :) I love it, and it has taken a great weight off of me. My hair is very thick & gives me headaches when it gets too long. So I will enjoy this until it grows back out again and needs to be cut.

Merry Christmas!


-Melissa

Hello October, Vacations, Work, Little Man & Life Lately....

Hello Everyone! Even though October is almost through, I figured I would write an entry before we got into November. 

My blog this year has not really gotten far, and I was really hoping that I would be keeping up with it more than I would. I should be able to find things to write about and to share every day, but the truth is sometimes words evade me.

I do have plenty of things that happen in my life. Maybe there is too many to name. Too many activities going on in these past few months to really write about? 

I don't like super long blog entries. Maybe that is it? Maybe I'm just trying to sum up everything all into one, so that it is easier on the eyes to read? hmmm.....

VACATION

We finally got our vacation! :) 

We traveled to New York on October 3rd! Boy was that a long ride. We left South Carolina at 4am and didn't get to New York until about 7pm. Truth is we have a 4 year old who is still potty training, so we kept stopping so that he could go potty :)

We spent about 4 days with my papa! We had a big cook-out with all the family (I mean family that Chris just now met (after 8 years of being together) )

And I also got to see my father (I haven't seen him in 8 years either)

We spent a day at Chris's grandparents Lake House on Deruyter Lake. That was fun and little man had a blast! It was a little chilly, so we really didn't get to fish. (We really didn't have the proper clothing either)

We then spent about 4 days at Chris's dads house in Hopewell Junction (about 3 1/2 hours away from Deruyter Lake)

We went to this pretty cool, local, small music store where I finally got a violin! I have been practicing almost every day since :) (I haven't played since I was 10)

We left New York on Monday (the 13th) and we didn't get back to South Carolina until 7pm on Wednesday. 

We broke down (needed a new alternator) and ended up having to stay 2 nights at a Best Western. 

We had to borrow money from Esther in order to get home (we needed $150 more dollars... ugh)

But we finally made it back home and we miss New York horribly.

I have already been looking for houses up there, because I know that we'll be moving up there in the future. I no longer have family in South Carolina, I have a brother I don't talk to that lives in Florida, and I have a sister in North Carolina who I would see more in New York than I do here in South Carolina (even though she is only an hour and a half away)

WORK

My etsy shop has been doing so well. I enjoy making stickers and doing this. It provides an extra income for my family and it helps pay the bills every month!

Chris of course is still at Michaels. I'm unsure when the new store is supposed to be opening. I think Chris said sometime this coming Spring or Summer. 

LITTLE MAN

Little man of course is growing like a weed and his vocabulary is getting better everyday.There are some SUPER FUNNY things that he likes to say! He also is in love with all things music, and he sings with me everyday (and night when I sing a special lullaby) 

He is 40" tall!

Well this is all for now. 

Williams birthday party is on Saturday and it is still hard to believe that he is turning 3. Esther and Kevin want to go to the Renaissance Festival on Sunday. We may or may not go, depending on if Chris works or not. We really need the money right now, and can't be spending it. As it is we still owe Esther $150, plus $400 rent (for the month of September and October)

I still have yet to get my back pay and we are really relying on that to come.

I also need another Dr. Appt and an MRI appt (still trying to get in to get one)

Hopefully I write one more time this month. If not...

Till November :)

Melissa

Fall Is In The Air....

Here we are. Another month has gone by & September is now upon us. Fall Is In The Air!!!! It is getting slightly cooler outside (thankfully) but rain rain rain...

UPDATES ON LIFE

Little Man is still on the wait list for Head Start :/ I think we waited for him too long for him to get in, so we don't think he will even be able to go this year.

He tests for 4K in February.

And speaking of the number 4....

Christopher blowing out is candles! 

My baby boy is now 4!

We had a great birthday party for him on the 6th. Nicole (Chris's sister) made that awesome cake! We had a few friends over & there were a few children! :)

He has his 4 year check-up tomorrow (September 11th)

DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS

I have a Dr. Appt tomorrow! :)

We won my court case & are now able to go to the Dr. of my choice. Dr. Guy is an amazing doctor who works closely with our USC Football Team & was also on the Medical Team for the Beijing Olympics!

PATRIOT DAY

Tomorrow is Patriot Day. A day I will never forget & I will always remember.

Take a moment tomorrow to reflect. to remember. and if you Pray... say a silent prayer. 

Here's to hoping I can keep up with this blog better! :)

-Melissa