Waving hello to everyone, and a huge thank you all for your good wishes and support. I’m recovering well. It’s been about 2 1/2 weeks, and I’m off pain pills in the day, I just take Tylenol if, and when, needed. Nights are a little tougher, but I do pretty well. I saw my surgeon last week, we did some x-rays, and everything looks good so far. I have a plate and six screws in my cervical spine 
Once I saw the images, I had a little more patience with myself, and a better grasp of why it takes six weeks to three months at the very least to heal. I’m already having fewer headaches, which is great. I still have tinnitus and think I always will, and I’ll cope with that. Millions of people do. As for the nerve pain, it seems a little better, but I won’t really know about that for weeks yet since I’m not at my regulator activity level. And it can take a long time for nerves to improve.
Wizard has been a rock star through this. He’s doing everything, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, walking Maggie every day and all the usual work he does around the house like cutting yards, etc. After the first week, I’ve been doing a little more each day, trying to make it a bit easier on him. This weekend I was even able to cook breakfast with just a little help. Wizard never complains though. He’s a little tired, but who can blame him!
We had a little scare this week with Maggie, but she’s fine now. Tuesday morning, she jumped off a side hill and went suddenly lame in her right rear leg. We thought she’d been stung by a bee, but I couldn’t find the stinger, and she couldn’t stand or walk on the leg. Luckily, Maggie has a great vet, Dr. Tran, whom Youngest Son’s fiance works with as a Vet Assistant. They got us in, and after examining Maggie, the vet was pretty sure it was a bite or sting of some kind too. But obviously Maggie was having a pretty dramatic reaction and swelling. She gave her a steroid injection, and because I wasn’t feeling well, they kept her for a few hours to watch her. After about an hour, Maggie was finally able to walk on her leg again. We were so fortunate! Finance then brought her home for us after work, along with a small amount of meds. She was such a huge help! I really don’t know what I would have done without our soon-to-be-daughter-in-law and Dr. Tran. We really appreciate them both so much. Maggie has been fine since then.
As for writing, I’m still officially off per my doctor, but I’ve printed out my book to read though as I feel up to it. No pressure, but it gives me something else to focus on and think about when I’m feeling restless. I’ve been reading a little, but a lot of time I’m just watching TV and counting my brain cells as they die off, LOL!
In other news, two of my sons and their wives are going through a tough time with sick family members or animals. We love them all so much, and wish we could fix things, but sometimes, all we can do is support them. Life isn’t always easy or fair, is it? But as we go into a week where we celebrate being thankful here in the U.S., I am thankful for sons who are trying their best to help those they love.
And I am thankful for all of YOU who’ve been supportive of me as I’ve battled this physical problem with my neck.
Now that I’ve rambled on, tell me how things are going for you! How was your weekend? Anything new going on?
I still won’t be posting regularly for a couple more weeks, but I’ll keep checking in.
November 19th, 2018 at 5:37 am · Link
:hugs: So glad you’re doing better. Little by little, you’ll get there. Go Wizard! He rocks. Oh, no, poor Maggie. I’m glad she’s doing better, too. Thank goodness for your awesome support system. The writing will come, but I know you’re probably chomping at the bit. So sorry your sons are having a rough patch with other stuff right now. :hugs:
Nothing new here. And everything is fine. Raking leaves, which is the price we pay for living in the woods. Reading lots. Watching the tube. Surfing the ‘net. Working on spreadsheets for the pay-job. Trying to sell books. The usual. I made cake cookies yesterday and discovered that Dark Chocolate Fudge cake mix might perhaps be too dark for me. They’re okay if you cover them in vanilla ice cream, so not a total loss. ;o)
I’m thankful for Hubs and family and friends like you. :hugs to you all:
November 19th, 2018 at 12:54 pm · Link
B.E., thanks. Maggie is good now, so we are happy about that, and very pleased for the help. I’m doing better day by day it seems, and going to establish a little time each day to catch up on work, and social media, things. But I won’t overdo
And my sons, thank you. They are grown men taking care of their families, but I will always be their mom and mom-in-law, and worry about all of them.
Spreadsheets…yeah those aren’t fun but they pay the bills. Having an accountant hubby, I get of easy. He creates all the spreadsheets, and I just have to fill them in.
Putting ice cream on the dark chocolate fudge cookies sounds good to me! Or crumbling the cookies on top would work too. Good save!
You’ve been a really good friend, thank you! And thank you for SLEEPING UGLY, that was such a fun book exactly when I needed it!
November 19th, 2018 at 4:02 pm · Link
It’s so nice to hear that you are coming along in the healing process. Bet making breakfast wore you out even with help from Wizard. He’s an angel :).
Poor Maggie. It always hurts us when our fur babies are hurt or unwell. Glad you have a good vet and a great soon to be DIL. You know they are going to take great care of Maggie whenever she goes in to see them.
How is Wizard holding up?
Are you guys going to one of the kids for Thanksgiving? Baby Slayer is going to love this time of year. I hope you all get together and have a wonderful time.
I am having it here on Thanksgiving for the first time since eldest and Cassie got together. I usually have the family meal on Friday. This year Cass said she only wanted to do our place.
I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
November 19th, 2018 at 4:03 pm · Link
I’m slow getting around the blogosphere today! Yay on all your good news. So happy nothing too serious with Maggie. You have a wonderful family. I’m so sorry the kids are having some tough times–people and pet-wise, but y’all are like the James Gang. When there’s trouble, we all grab hold and pull on the same rope. That’s what y’all do.
Continued good thoughts on your healing process. It DOES take time. Trust me, you’ll be strong and healthier for letting nature take her course.
Life here is pretty much same ol’, same ol’. Bit by bit, WIPs are coming together but far slower than I’d like. I’m ticked off at some favorite authors over their new releases but that’s just me. At the moment, I’m between books. I need to find something to listen to.
Y’all hang in there and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for and one of the things on my list, Jen, is your friendship and the camaraderie of those of us who hang out here. Big hugs!
November 19th, 2018 at 8:05 pm · Link
So glad to hear that you are recovering well. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
November 19th, 2018 at 9:22 pm · Link
Viki, thank you, I’m doing well, and Wizard is holding up well too. We’ve had a rough weekend and Monday, but I’ll talk about that another time.
Seeing Maggie hurt was so hard, but having my soon to be daughter in law around made it easier. I knew she’d look out for Maggie when I wasn’t up to it. Maggie loves her too
How wonderful that you having Thanksgiving! I bet you’re already doing some prep.
Thanksgiving is small this year, we’re doing a small meal at my house (Wizard will do most of it) with my sister and possibly oldest son. Middle son needs to be with his wife’s family right now. We will see youngest too at some point. It’s kind of fluid right now.
I hope you and your family have a really special holiday with the family and Harrison!!
November 19th, 2018 at 9:30 pm · Link
Silver, thank you! We’re doing exactly what the James clan does and gathering around those who need us. I’ll tell you guys next week. This week I want everyone to know I’m thankful for all of you, and want you all the celebrate with your friends and families!
I hope your WIP’s get more cooperative, but all progress counts! It’s so hard to write a great book. I had to laugh at being ticked at some of your favorite authors, i’ve had those moments too for various reasons. Sometimes it’s just that I don’t need to know so much about them
Here’s a book I really enjoyed in case you haven’t seen it. It’s 99cents, then I had to buy the second one, and now I’m waiting for the third! https://amzn.to/2qVCecA Full disclosure, I was on pain meds when I read the first one, but I thought it was fun and difference twist on vampires.
You’re definitely on my Thankful For list too!! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
November 19th, 2018 at 9:31 pm · Link
Valerie, thank you so much and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family too!