MRI Results

So I realized that I didn't post my results of my MRI. Here's the deal, it was way cool to look at! I was able to see the pictures which were really quite interesting. There are 2 definitive "white spots" in my foot, these are bruises that aren't healing. The bones in my foot are rubbing together causing the bruises, the bruising and swelling are causing the bones to rub together. So the one is causing the other and vice versa. Not fun. I've also got a small chip that there is nothing we can do about.

So what's the solution? I've been on an anti-inflammatory called Voltaren since last week. Boy does it have some nasty side effects if I don't eat a big meal with it, but as long as I eat a lot I'm fine (well, not fine in my hips). I told the doctor today about my side effects and he is taking me off the Voltaren and switching me to something else. Not sure what it is yet, but I'll pick it up from the pharmacy later and start taking it.

The anti-inflammatory will help with the pain and somewhat help with the bruising. What will really help? Not using my foot of course! How can I do that? Well, if you can figure out how I can keep off my foot then please let me know. I don't have crutches because I was told to keep using it, just as little as possible. I was also told to go into more supportive shoes, like sneakers, rather than using the post-surgical boot or the walking cast/boot. The post-surgical boot was not helping at all and the walking cast makes me use my ankle less and weakens it. With the amount of problems I already have with my ankle, it's best to stay out of the walking cast.

I've got to just keep on going, just at a slower pace. I wish I was able to get around more, especially since the kids are part of the summer reading club at the library and one of the things they need to do is get rubbings from rubbing stations at the different parks throughout the county. Not sure if I'm up to walking around in the woods on unlevel ground. Grandma got them 1 rubbing from Codorus, maybe I can convince her to get some more.

Lemonade Award

My friend nominated me for a Lemonade Award! It's an award given to people who exhibit an attitude of gratitude in their lives and on their blogs.

Here are the rules for this award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude

3. Link to your nominees within your post

4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award

5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award

6. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude

So, I now pass along the Lemonade Award to the following bloggers: I'm listing mine in alphabetical order. I don't follow that many blogs, so here are my 4 picks.

A Virtuous Woman

Love, Life, Family . . . And Then Some

Southern Blessings

Stacy from Louisville

I have an attitude of gratitude because of Christ living within my heart. I strive to serve the Lord in all that I do. Thanks Nikki for sharing the Lemonade Award with me!

Post MRI Blog

I wish I had good news to report about my MRI. I don't actually get my results back until Tuesday afternoon so I've got a few days to wait. As for the claustrophobia, it hit me in full force today.

Only my legs were in the MRI machine, but it was enough. I was stuck in a room with no windows and I was unable to move at all. I did have music to listen to, but it didn't help. In fact it got to the point where I wanted to throw the headphones across the room, and I would have if I could have moved.

Thankfully the MRI only lasted 30 minutes instead of an hour. When the technician told me that we were over I yelled for her to get me out of there. She came in and found me crying and she started moving the table out but I couldn't wait that long. I moved myself back, yanked my foot out, jumped off the table and ran from the room. I really feel bad for her because she felt so bad for me. I repeatedly told her that she was not responsible and there was nothing she could have done to make me feel better. She helpfully suggested to me that next time I have an MRI, I need to be sedated.

I hope I never have to have an MRI again. If I do, I'll take her suggestion and get sedated. Now I'm going to have another cup of tea to try to calm my nerves and read or watch a movie. I'm sure I'll calm down in a bit. I'll post the MRI results on Tuesday.

Relay for Life

This weekend Seth and I will be participating in the Relay for Life. The Relay for Life is a fundraising effort on behalf of the American Cancer Society. We are part of the York Young Republican Team and our goal is to raise $1,000 to go toward Cancer research.

So far our team has raised $310. Would you consider helping us meet our team goal? You can click on the links below to reach our personal donation sites online. Thanks for your help!

Donation site for Seth Benge

Donation site for Elizabeth Benge

Nerves

It's been a month since I fell and I'm still in quite a bit of pain. I went to the doctor today and he scheduled me for an MRI tomorrow on my foot with a follow-up appointment on Tuesday where I'll get the results.

I pretty much know my foot is fractured. I can pin point the exact spot where the fracture is because I can feel it with every step. What can they do for it? I have no idea. So what's my problem? The MRI.

I am claustrophobic. Extremely claustrophobic. I can't even play hide-n-seek with my kids anymore. The kids don't seem to mind because I find them awesome places to hide that they wouldn't think of on their own. But I digress....

The MRI is not an open MRI tomorrow, but the doctor said that my head will be out since only my foot is being scanned. I hope that is in fact the case. I've had 2 MRI's in the past, one open and one not open. I flipped big time during the closed MRI. It wasn't pretty and I don't want to think about that again. So needless to say, I'm a bit nervous but trying to be comforted that the doc said my head will be out.

So keep me in your prayers that I won't be flipping out tomorrow. It's an hour long scan that starts at 5:15 tomorrow night. Now, to find clothes that don't have buttons or zippers to wear so I don't have to wear an icky little gown. :)

5 Favorite Wedding Gifts

Today's Housewife has been talking all week about their favorite wedding gifts. I've been thinking this week about what my favorite gifts from my shower and wedding are and I can safely say these are 5 things that I received 9+ years ago and am still using.

1. My crock pot. I received my crock pot from my bridesmaid Amanda. She gave it to me for my bridal shower. This thing is a beast! It holds so much food it is ridiculous! I've broken and glued and re-glued the handles on, but it still keeps kicking. I love it!

2. A crystal bowl. Not just any crystal bowl, this is a punch bowl size crystal bowl. (Not a punch bowl because it has no glasses.) Being Southern Baptist, we eat a lot of potlucks and I love to make desserts. My favorite (and the favorite of my church for me to make) is Death By Chocolate. It can only be made in a huge bowl and this bowl does the trick.

3. My microwave. My mother-in-law bought us our microwave for our wedding. It still runs like brand new. I've had people come over and use it and tell me it heats faster and hotter than their brand new microwaves.

4. Our dining room table. My grandparents gave us money to put toward a dining room table as their wedding present to us. In fact it was clearly stipulated that we had to put it toward the table and not blow the money on our honeymoon! We found a cherry wood, Queen Anne style table with a leaf and 6 chairs at a resale shop for $150. It was an amazing find and with just a few scratches, 9+ years later it is still in great shape.

5. A whimsical picture frame. My family and friends know how much I love to hang pictures in my home. My wedding photographer showed up to let my mom & I see my wedding pictures at her office and one of my mom's coworkers saw the picture in this frame, took it out of the package, framed it in this frame and gave it to me. I haven't changed it because it is perfect.

There are other gifts that we received for our wedding that we still have and use, like our electric carving knife and a set of 3 canisters we keep in our kitchen. But these 5 are the most important to my hubby and myself. And yes, I did ask him what gifts were most important and still useful to him and he said the microwave and the dining room table.

June Cooking List

I am still having difficulty standing for any length of time since I hurt my foot 3 weeks ago. Walking is getting easier, but frequent stops are needed. It's going to be rather interesting on Friday since we have tickets to go to an amusement park, but at least with my injury I won't have to wait in line for the rides. :)

So here's my menu for the month of June. I'm going easy on myself and the majority of my meals have 5 or fewer ingredients to make for speedy mixes. Quite a few of these are new and I'm looking forward to trying them out. Of course Stromboli and the Sausage Twist are kid favorites and are habitually in the mix. I'm only doing 28 meals because I know there are a few nights that we'll eat leftovers or will be eating out. If you'd like the recipe to these meals please send me a note and I'll send the recipes your way.

1. Red Beans and Rice
2. Vegetable Rice Skillet
3. Dill and Lemon Pepper Fettuccine
4. Chicken Manicotti
5. Ham, Vegetables and Bows
6. Maple-Glazed Turkey
7. Parmesan-Dijon Chicken
8. Oven BBQ Chicken & Cheesy Biscuits
9. Marinated Flank Steak
10. Jack Burgers
11. Cheesy Corn Casserole
12. Teriyaki Burgers
13. Chicken Nuggets
14. Ham and Cheese Quiche
15. Pork Tender Wellington
16. Oven Baked Pork Chops
17. Italian Slow Cooker Chicken
18. Sausage Quiche
19. Fragrant Sticky Chicken
20. Sausage Twist
21. Easy Chicken Bake
22. Raspberry Glazed Chicken
23. Stuffed Sausage Balls
24. Sweet Onion Pork Chops
25. Upside Down Pizza Casserole
26. Teriyaki Chicken
27. Parmesan Garlic Chicken
28. Stromboli

Painting

It's only been since October, but an end is finally in sight. The front room has been painted and we can now buff the floor out before we move back in. The rest of the work to be completed can be accomplished while we are living in the room. We plan to add the bookshelves that will flank the fireplace, tile the fireplace, add a mantle, refinish the front door, add crown molding and base boards. But as I said, all of that can be finished with us moving into the room. Here are some pics of the painting and the finished job. Even kid #2 got in on the fun. The colors we went with are Merlot for the walls, the ceiling is Bermuda Sand, the trimwork and the built-in bookshelves will be Percale and Sweet Annie will be the green that will go into the dining room and kitchen. In these pictures you can only see the Merlot and the Bermuda Sand. The gray is the tinted primer that allowed us to only use 3 coats of red instead of the 6 that it took in our last house.