ASTYM Again!

I went for my third ASTYM, augmented soft tissue manipulation, on my hip and thigh Saturday morning. And it hurt again, enough to cry. I didn't cry. I toughed it out. I'm beginning to realize that when the therapist knows where it hurts the most, she targets that area more. So this last time, I didn't let her know. Didn't work. She found the gritty areas with the plastic device and worked it out anyway. Then she found the horrendous spot on the piriformis muscle. I literally thought I would come off the table and blast through the ceiling. I'm thankful I don't swear or the whole business would have gotten an earful. Once she found it, she continued to inflict pain, real pain, intense pain. I began to worry that it would cause me more pain with my sciatica in the coming days. When I could stand it no more, she was done. After she cleaned off the lotions, she applied tape to support the muscle until I return in three days for more torture. But it is working!! I am able to climb the stairs, get up from a chair, and walk with less pain. I am so hopeful that this procedure works and rids me of the pain I have endured for two years.

The Highly Anticipated/Dreaded Fall Party

As I arrived at school yesterday, I noticed that the children were a little more alive/out of control. I thought it was because of the Fall Party scheduled for later in the day. As we began class, I asked who had been trick or treating so far? About half of the class raised their hands. Then I asked who had eaten candy? About five admitted to eating candy for breakfast. No wonder they were so hyped. The day zoomed by quickly and their activities and volume escalated to a feverish pitch. At the time I could stand it no more, the party was ready to begin with parents AND siblings. At least half of the children brought something to share, so their plates were overflowing with iced cookies, candy, gum, and SUGAR. There were colored sprinkles all over the new carpet along with green punch spilled. I had to resort to blowing the whistle, literally, when it was time to clean up so that they could hear me over the noise. After the third blow they calmed to a low roar and began stuffing leftover candy, cookies and toys in their bags and prepared to go home. I knew that their parents would be so proud of them and their behavior as they arrived home for the evening. And I did not contribute one bite of sugar.

How Much Pain Can I Endure?

Well, I went to be tortured again last night at physical therapy with the ASTYM method. Think of trying to remove stubborn wallpaper or to remove old paint and you will have an idea of what ASTYM is to the body. A different physical therapist worked on me. She was petite, so I'm thinking this won't be so bad. But let me tell you that woman knows how to use that plastic scraper to inflict pain! Since she had not scraped me before, I think she tried extra hard to dig deep to see if she could find the gritty stuff. After several swipes, she proclaimed that I was not as gritty as she thought I would be. That didn't stop her though. She continued to swipe that blade in all directions. If I let her know where something was a little more tender, she would swipe it more often and HARDER. I decided then not to tell her, but she found them anyway when I couldn't contain the pain. Finally, the session was over. I was relieved, until I realized I have to do it all over again on Saturday. Thankfully, she has the day off!!

Spell Check Is Like Forgiveness

I awoke early, on my own, like usual this morning. But something was not quite right. I struggled to determine what day was ahead of me. Thinking it was Tuesday, I dutifully turned off the alarm so that my husband could sleep longer. While turning out the lights in the bathroom, I somehow bumped my hand on the trinket box full of miniatures, knocking it to the floor. Hoping that didn't awaken my granddaughter, I bent to pick up the scattered array and hurt my back. And I was only two minutes into my day. I crept across the creaky floor so that my granddaughter, Toots, would not hear me. She is a joy to be with, but not at 5:30 a.m. when I'm having a bad start to my day. I reached the computer room successfully, turned on the coffee, and clicked on the computer to update myself on Facebook. I wasn't very far down the list of posts when I heard the alarm beeping. How could that be?? I rushed to the bedroom to find my husband turning it off. I lamented that I had turned it off already and didn't understand why it was blaring. He calmly explained that it was never set because today is Sunday. I didn't know if that was good news or bad news with the way my day was progressing in the first 15 minutes. I returned to the computer to begin reading and commenting only to find that my brain and my fingers did not want to work together to type the messages. I reread what I had written and wanted to scold my fingers for being so naughty. How could they betray me in such a way when I have relied on them to be faithful servants? Thankfully, before I posted, I used spell check to correct my numerous errors. Spell check was like asking God to forgive me, His servant, for my many mistakes, but it only worked when I asked.

Sewing Diapers for Haiti

We are sewing diapers this week for a mission in Haiti. It's not hard. We show up and sew, cut, clip threads, turn and so on. During our work last night we had time to fellowship, share stories, and laugh. The two and one half hours flew by. Fuzz up our noses and on our clothes was a great reminder that we accomplished much in just one evening. By Thursday evening our labors will have produced enough diapers to bless many mothers and babies. Thank you, God, for this mission project and for the faithful servants who do Your work.

And the Pain Continues

So, if you read my previous post, you can understand when I say I have pain. Yes, real pain. And it was inflicted by this tiny woman with great enthusiasm. Unfortunately, I have to return today to endure the same treatment. So, I'm thinking that it hurt the first time to have the underlying tissues scraped with a plastic instrument to break up adhesions. Well, today I'm entering the building with a very sore thigh to have it scraped again. I'm dreading the thought of the pain level. The therapist told me that athletes have this procedure done so they can get back to playing. Today I'm telling her that I have no sport to return to, and I don't get the big bucks to endure the pain!! She'll hurt me anyway.

Torture and Pain, and I had to Pay For It

OUCH! That states the mild reaction to the pain I felt during my first physical therapy for ASTYM treatment. ASTYM stands for "a serious torture of your muscles". Really, though, the therapist used hard, plastic scrappers to scrap my hip and thigh, deep down into the muscle. She was breaking up adhesions and reinjuring the tissue. The goal is to make it heal correctly. OUCH! As she was scrapping, she offered me a wash cloth to bite on for the pain. I wanted a stick and the bottle of whiskey! She said many of her patients cannot stand the pain, and she marveled that I took it so calmly, without washcloth, stick, or whiskey. I'm sure feeling it this morning, though. Great news!! I get to return for the same torture in just two days. That is if I am able to walk.

Covered Bridge Festival, the Ultimate Yard Sale

Have you ever heard of the Covered Bridge Festival? Millions of people trek to Park County, Indiana, to attend the event. It is scattered throughout several little villages, all complete with covered bridges. On the off season, you would not venture into most of the places or even see them as you sped by. But during the festival, people flock from many states away to attend the fall event. Food, junk, junk food, antiques, crafts, junk, knick-knacks, junk, "I can't believe they are selling THAT", spices, food, very old antiques, glass dishes, ice cream, jewelry, shoes, clothing, Christmas decorations, junk, food, junk food, sweatshirts, t-shirts, recycled items, repurposed items, food, junk, socks, purses, signs, equipment, and food are all for sale. On a good day, you can fill you car with your purchases. On a lucky day, you can come home empty-handed. It all depends on how you look at it. I'm going today to see people, eat foods I don't normally eat, and look for that rare item, probably something repurposed that becomes my trophy.

Update on the Bible Bowl Yard Sale

Well, the sale was great. At least for me. I was able to buy about 30 books for my school library at a low price. My students will be thrilled with the new books. I also found books for my granddaughter, and she has already enjoyed them the first time through. I also found two plastic chests with three drawers each. Once they are cleaned up, they will be a great addition at school for additional storage. I found cookie cutters, Christmas decorations, plastic containers with paper clips and push pins, a staple gun that works, a small basket for cards, and other containers. Once I clean them, I will be so thrilled to have them at school. BUT, my job at the sale was to help people find and buy items. I'm good at that. And I helped sell many items, especially the wooden entrance door with leaded glass. I knew it was perfect for my neighbors so I called them to come look. The husband was not sure until I told him it would look perfect in their gazebo. He bought it.

I Hate Yard Sales! Well, Most of the Time

I mean, I hate doing a yard sale. I'd rather give the stuff away. But I am working one of those sales today. Our Bible Bowl teams are hosting a yard sale to earn money for our season. It's a ton of work, but worth it for us and all those people who were able to unload their stuff on us. All the shoes that are wearable will be pulled aside to be sent to Honduras, to a mission we support. Sometimes other items are pulled out to be distributed to other groups in more need than just our fund raiser. So all in all, every minute is worthy of our time and your.

It's in the Jean Bags

The new desks at school are not quite big enough for all the books and library books of my students. Too often, books were piled on the desks or on the floor. I decided to try something to hold their books. I took old jeans, cut off the legs, and sewed in a bottom. Then using zip ties, I was able to attach the bags to the sides of the desks. It took me about a week sew all of them, but it was worth it. The kids love their jean bags. One boy had all of his desk in the bag. I had to urge him to return some of the books to his desk.

How Many Bibles Do You Have?

That is a good question and probably one we don't consider. We are so blessed with the Bibles we have, all the versions, various sizes, as well as study guides. I know of a place where they are desperate for the Bible, to hold, to read, to study, to share. Our small group has taken on the challenge to buy and send Bibles to that place--Honduras. The challenge is not the money required to purchase the books, but the way to get them to Honduras inexpensively and quickly. Our small group has purchased a dozen study Bibles and have a way to send them. We hope to be able to purchase and send many more. Soon!! The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that's the book for me, I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E!

A Rainy Walk to Defeat ALS

My sister-in-law, Sherri, and I walked in the Walk to Defeat ALS this past Saturday. It was a miserable day with pouring rain the entire time. I only saw two people, presumably with ALS, in wheelchairs, when we usually see 15 or more. They cannot afford to get sick. After Sherri and I registered, I told her that we didn't really have to walk the walk, we could walk back to the car and say we did. I asked her what Joe would say. She quickly replied, "He would say that since you are already here, you might as well walk." So we did. I'm not sure of the length of the walk, but I am sure that it rained the all way with pools of water in many places. My jeans were wet from the knees down as well as my shoes and socks. But we did it. Joe would have been proud of us. Let's pray that the money raised will help discover a cure for ALS, the always fatal disease.