Back to Back

One of my favorite phrases when I was younger was “Back at the ranch…” one of my favorite newspaper comic strips used that as their transition pretty regularly, and so did a popular TV show of the day (okay Bonanza, so now you know how old I am, it was in re-runs!) and in highschool it became part of my transitional language when running out of something to say, or changing the subject.  

Anyway, for a few days we had a lot of fun with words and phrases using the word “back.”   Back at the ranch, backdrop, back ground, back up, back against the wall, back-breaking, backstage, back in time, back to the future, double back…

Ian was annoyed with me, almost from the very beginning. How did you know?

Well, the good news is that after an extraordinarily hectic fall with lots of physical therapy appointments, and doctor’s appointments, Ian is feeling much better.  He is running some, which was simply not possible before because of the pain, but he has been advised to run lightly and not everyday.  He isn’t limping at all, unless he’s really tired.  He is feeling better when he gets up in the morning.  He has been rowing really well!  I’ll have some posts on that shortly. 

In fact, I’ll have posts on a LOT shortly.  I have been saving photos, and ideas, for some time when I wasn’t working on a newsletter project, somebody else’s blog, or preparing Women’s ministry bulletins, training, prayer rooms or presentations, or working on a Children’s Play set, or teaching dear daughter.  So now that things are back on track…(couldn’t resist) look out…

More backtracking…

Thanks to all who have been praying for Ian! 

It has been eventful the last few weeks, with exotic (for us anyway..we rarely go to the doctor) tests, and physical therapy twice a week.  Odd that in the midst of the hippocratic hecticness Ian timed a personal best record on a 6K ERG (that’s a very fancy rowing machine) at crew practice putting him up with a few of the top rowers in his weight. 

So, Friday morning was a bit of a shocker as we learned that Ian has a condition with a big Latin name that ends in itis which means inflammation, and in the middle, spondo which means spine.  He will need to take an immuno-suppressant drug to get his immune system to back down from “over protecting” his spine.  This over protection creates the swelling, which is giving him pain.  So far so good, except this medication has to be injected…by needle…every week…by me. 

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

Pour it on LORD, I’m going to need it!

As we left the doctor’s office, my mind buzzed about things that need to “change” in the household to accommodate his injection, his reduced immune capacity, and my queasiness at sticking needles full of cytotoxic medicine into my son.  Ian was…hungry. 

 ”Can we go to Subway?” 

Ah the resilience of youth.  Lunch.  After lunch, ”You know, Mom, there’s really no point in going back to school now.”  So off to therapy, and then to the boathouse for  Crew practice.  Ian’s fine…

I’m not.  But I will be. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understand; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.   Prov 3:5-6

Back tracking…

Thanks to all of you who are praying and asking about Ian!  We have found the last week or so an interesting journey into the world of Sports Medicine!   The most recent test was an MRI at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, which was last night, September 22, and we hope to know more about the test results after Ian’s first physical therapy session this afternoon.  The doctor has promised to stop by and brief us while Ian is getting his therapy. 

To provide perspective, you should know that Ian rowed yesterday without pain, and helped carry the boat up to the boat house as is the norm, albeit with his now-very-familiar limp.  

Finding the reason Ian has pain when he runs, and oddly, when he is completely still in bed, and yet can happily row,  has involved side tracks and back tracks much like sourcing a leak in the roof of a 90 year old house, something else we unfortunately have learned a lot about!  After you scurry to  place buckets at the point(s) where rain is actually dripping into your house, the next logical step is to fix the area directly above said point(s), only to find later that the leak originates somewhere else…