This Thursday I received a cancellation appointment for an EMG test. It wasn't a lot of fun (the first part is receiving electric shocks to different leg muscles to see how much response there is, and the second part is having a needle hooked to a computer stuck in those muscles and moved around to get the electrical readings from the muscles recorded!) But it was a necessary step towards a final decision on surgery. We received the results straight away, which was great - avoiding another wait and appointment. The results were the best possible short of saying there is nothing wrong: Only the muscles connected to the one damaged disk are affected, and there are messages getting through the nerve, so the disk pressure on the nerve is not cutting off the nerve use completely. The neurologist recommends surgery, and suggests that the sooner the better for complete recovery of the nerve functions, but it is not urgent.

In fact, recently I have noticed some returning movement in my leg, which is encouraging. Unfortunately with the improvement comes the return of pain... One of these odd instances when more pain means things are getting better not worse!

We are now waiting for a date to be set for surgery, hoping that it will be early June - or even earlier, if God so gives! - so recovery will be nearly behind me when our first "Fall" plans (August 15th onwards) are due to begin. Meanwhile physiotherapy is continuing, with a new bent: to prepare me for surgery and the fastest possible recovery.

Notes

Grace explored finger paint yesterday. It took a while for her to feel free with it after weeks of confiscated markers for coloring on herself!No pictures! Private work...

Jasmin has 6 teeth now! They all came in a once... and we only had red cheeks and a runny nose - no drool or extra fussiness. But then, perhaps it was lost in the shuffle of crossing the world and settling in Canada...

Jasmin took her first steps today. Two steps to her NiNi. Not sure who was more excited and proud: Jasmin, mommy, or NiNi :o) She has kept trying all day, so her number of falls and bumps are on the increase. Not long now before she will be following big sister Grace!

I saw the neurologist this morning. One more step closer to surgery this summer. Some good news though: once the decision is finally made for surgery, the wait is short (usually 10 days or so) and the normal procedure is actually day-surgery! The recovery period is 4-6 weeks of absolutely no lifting, but after that the road to normal life is fairly smooth. The hold up now is that with the extensive testing I am showing weaknesses in my leg that are usually associated with different disks than the one my MRI shows is prolapsed. So, in the next few weeks, I will be getting electrical impulse testing to discover just exactly where the disk/nerve damage is. Then I will be referred to a surgeon who can actually set a date for surgery.

Grace is 2 today!

We celebrated on Saturday, though, so we could enjoy the whole day as family. We went to the Science Center for the afternoon. After initial hesitation and awe at such a huge new place, the girls had a great time! And of course we had a great time enjoying them enjoying themselves! Perhaps more photos to follow, but here are 2 priceless pictures of them mesmerized by a display. NiNi and YeaYea had a wonderful party prepared for Grace when we got home. Grace was intrigued by the party "horns" and worked at blowing one until she finally made it unroll. Her main communication of the day was "That was fun!" and "Look at this!"

Grace wasn't too sure about her cake... It was a big show with big sparklers, after all. Jasmin thought it was great though!

Grace had no problems with the cake once the sparklers were gone! It was made of her favorite - ice cream!I think the only picture where the girls are both looking! See the small mike? We had my parents on Skype with a webcam so they could be a part of the celebration.

Grace is 2! Thank you God for a fantastic two years!

Breakfast Faces - while jet lag was still wearing off...


Grace is loving the deck - especially all the birds that are coming to the feeders already. I'm glad for all the different kinds - she can't name them by anything but color: finches, cardinals, grackles are all easy for her!
Exploring the properties of a screen door...
The main activity of mommy time these days...
This was an attempt to induce an afternoon nap. It failed. Grace squirmed industriously in order to keep awake - for 2 hours! She can make it until 5 o' clock, but then just about anything causes a melt down -- but she falls asleep in minutes! Not the best trade off, but a week of enforced nap times without naps hasn't succeeded in persuading her to sleep.

A happy note for everyone who's anxiously thinking and praying about my back... I have an appointment with a neurologist on May 9th! Currently, I am not in a lot of pain any more - but there is a fair bit of muscle weakness, and I'm supposed to avoid all the activities that made it hurt before! Physio is consisting of simple exercises to keep muscle tone around my hips and abdomen. They are not trying any direct treatment of my back because everything that has been done so far only triggers more pain.