Sunday Morning

Gustav predictions are still fuzzy, but it looks like it's pointing towards New Orleans again. Those poor people! At least with it being a long holiday weekend, and with how preparation procedures have been drastically changed since Katrina, everyone has been given a lot of time and warning to get ready and get out of town in that area. There have been many reports showing how people have been bussed out of town to shelters farther inland since Friday. And from what I've seen and heard, it's been very civil and orderly, with no issues to report. That's nice to hear that the people of that area aren't going through what they did last time. Since it's too early to tell where Gustav is definitely going, we're still going to get ready in case it takes a turn West like some people are saying it could do. Today we'll pack a suitcase with clothes and necessities. I'll throw some food and other items in the car if the reports say it's coming this way. Some reports are saying that it could hit land, and then circle back around and head West as well. So, we're not out of the woods yet, and we know we'll get plenty of tropical storm rain if nothing else, so it will be interesting to see what happens. Gustav keeps going up and down as far as category...it was a 3, then it ramped up to a 4, and now is back down to a 3. And don't forget the two other hurricanes that are coming afterwards...Hannah, and some other one they haven't named yet. B and I are both critical/emergency employees for our respective jobs, so that means that unless our bosses say "go", we have to be onsite when they need us to. Last time when Rita hit, KSBJ was the only radio station on the air, so we were a voice of hope and reason during the horrible conditions that came through. And with B being a nurse, she definitely is needed during this time. Unfortunately, if this all happens like that, then that would mean that we'll be separated during this ordeal. I would take the kids, only because I think our building is safer, and plus, if we're both needed, I would have a little more time to help take care of them...not to mention more people the kids would know and be more relaxed around.

How about some non-hurricane talk now?!

I received some partially bad news on Friday. The MRI I had done last week on my back and shoulder showed that both will most likely require surgery. I will be speaking with my Dr whenever this hurricane thing passes, because he wasn't available when I called and so I spoke with his assistant. She said that my shoulder shows a partially torn rotator cuff, a large bone spur, and lots of inflammation. My back shows three slipped discs (that's no news to me, as I've had those slipped discs like that for about 10 years), a large bone spur, lots of inflammation, and something else she said (I apologize I can't remember what she said it was) that made me think cancer, but she said it wasn't. She said that I needed to talk to my Dr to get the full explanation, since she isn't a Dr, but has looked at enough MRI's to tell a bit about what she sees. So, again, when this hurricane stuff gets over with, B & I will head in and get his opinion. I don't want surgery if I don't have to, but I have done a lot of things for my back and it's been 10 years. My shoulder is more of the same, except I had surgery and it was pretty good for a handful of years and only lately in the last year or two has it been giving me fits again. Just would like to get rid of or lessen the pain, ya know?

Yesterday, I completed phase 1 of cleaning our garage. That consisted of organizing, trashing, and moving everything in the garage. I completed about 90% of it. The only thing left to do is have B go through the boxes that are left, to see what else she is okay with getting rid of to clean up even more room. What plans do I have for the garage you may ask? Well, I have dreams of cleaning it up so much that I could use half as an actual garage, but those are far fetched dreams. We just ahve too much stuff that we need to store, but not enough storage room for it. So I'll settle for plan B. Use half for storage (hopefully not a full half), and then the other half for my workshop/workout area. The workout area is there already, but I want to put it on the other side of the garage, which it will be once B & I go through the last of the boxes. After going up to Iowa this last time and seeing that I'm the only one on the Roos side of the family that doesn't have a shop, I finally said enough is enough, and it's time to learn it. I'm super pumped too! I'll take pics and show updates as we go.

Yesterday went really well concerning the garage cleanup, but then after I was done, the pain set in. My back is killin' me! Last night I tried ice. No help. This morning I'm trying a heating pad. It seems to help more, but still hurts too bad to do much. Advil didn't touch the pain earlier, so I'm trying ibuprofin. Alieve is usually my drug of choice for pain, but we're out. On top of that, Braden has diarhea and Jaelyn is puking a bunch. Poor Avery is gonna be leaned on something fierce today.

The workouts have been going really well. I burned 1000 calories in a workout on the elliptical machine this week because "I just wanted to see if I could do it". I also then started running on a track instead of a treadmill, because I wanted to get outside instead of looking at the same tv/wall that I see at the Y. So, after my first five minute warm-up walk, I started to run. I ran my first two laps and said "what the heck, let's see if I can do a mile". I did it! It was in nine minutes, but I was able to do it. Not fast, but not slow (at least in my eyes). Now, my buddy Doug from Iowa, and I are going to keep an online spreadsheet up to date with our progress. This way we can push each other and try help each other get up there in running. Who knows, maybe some day we'll run a 5k, 10k, half or full marathon together later! Getting in shape was tough to do mentally in the beginning, because I had hit my lowest of lows, and even though I'm not where I want to be physically or mentally, it's so fun to see where I started and where I am now, as well as where I am planning to go!

Well it's time to wrap this up, because Evan is dying to sit on my lap and he keeps hitting buttons while I praying he doesn't erase this post (as he's done in the past). Have a great rest of the long weekend. Pray for the people in the path of this hurricane.

God bless.