Ms Sparky

Do you need a break from the daily KBR crap?? Here is a conversation I had with my 5 year old grandson last night after his bath. I had to share it. It is just too adorable.

Let me set the stage. Keelen has just finished his bath and I am trying to get him out of the tub so I can get him into bed.

Me: Come on it’s time to get dried off and get your pajamas on.

Keelen: Grandma I don’t want to wear THOSE pajamas!

Me: OK…which one DO you want to wear?

Keelen: I want to wear my Army Camo ones!

Me: OK (I head off to get the “Camo ones” thinking what in the hell is the difference!)

Keelen: Thanks Grandma. I really need to wear these ones tonight.

Me: Why? (Now I’m curious)

Keelen: Cuz I am going to sneak out later and get ice cream and I don’t want you to see me.(He’s as serious as a heart attack)

Me: You think so huh!! You do know that Grandma can see right through Camo!! (I am trying so hard not to laugh because he is so serious)

Keelen: That’s just not fair. How am I going to sneak around and get away with stuff? (Tears welling up in his eyes. I wanted to say, “Oh I’m sure you will figure it out.” But didn’t want to encourage him. )

Me: It’s not OK to sneak around try to get away with stuff. Now, It’s bedtime…

I got him dressed and sent him off to bed.

I was impressed and concerned at how thoroughly he had thought this whole thing through. He was totally serious!

If that doesn’t put a smile on your face…you’re just not human.

Ms Sparky

For those of you new to my blog….I am not just some “crazy old woman” trying to improve working conditions for US workers working overseas and poking KBR with a stick every chance I get. This “crazy old woman” is also a wife, a mom and a full-time grandma.

Today was the first day of kindergarten for my 5 year old grandson and he rode the “big boy” bus all by himself. Independent and fearless. You are looking at a future Marine…OOHRAH!!! Read the remainder of this entry »

For those of who have been reading, you know I have been having some problems with my back. I’ve never had any chronic back problems. Just occasional crap from working construction. Nothing major.

I woke up last week with some lower back tightness and have been going to my chiropractor and under going physical therapy. I had been doing great. Yesterday my chiropractor told me my back was looking good but he wanted me to do another day of physical therapy. No big deal. Some back strengthening exercises, some stetching, some shock therapy and some heat.

I was lying on my stomach, my physical therapy was over and I felt great. I put my hands under my chest to push myself up off the table…like a “push up”, and all of a sudden my lower back started to spasm and the worst day of my life began.

I was half on the table and half off and couldn’t move either way. With natural child birth being my worst pain ever, I’ve always compared my pain to that. This was much worse. I was ready to pass out, throw up, I broke out in a hot sweat, I was shaking uncontrollably all over. The muscle spasms, 10 times as bad as the worst charlie horse I’ve ever had, were coming about every 3 minutes and lasting about 1 minute. This went on for at least an hour before the spasms started to ease. I told my doctor it reminded me of labor and if I ended up with a baby at the end of all this I was going to be pissed!

I was there six hours before I could even walk. And I only attempted that because I had to pee so bad! My girlfriend Laurie came and got Keelen. My neighbor Mike came and got me and I called Cal and he flew right home from Ohio.

I walked in under my own power and feeling good and I left in excruciating pain and using a walker. Anyone who knows me knows how much I hate having to have my husband dress me!!! It takes 15 minutes for me to get to the bathroom, so there’s no waiting till the last minute. I went to my Primary Care Physician today and got some good drugs!!!

I really like my chiropractor and I don’t think it was his fault or that of my physical therapist. It was just one of those things.

I am now convinced I HAVE to get this extra weight, I put on after Iraq, back off. That has to be playing some huge part in all this!

On a positive note….I have learned that my maximum pain tolerance is much higher than I thought!

It’s time for my muscle relaxers!! Woo Hoo.

Ms Sparky

For my regular readers and close friends and family you all know that my lower back has been really giving me some grief. I have learned that the whole “misery loves company” thing really isn’t true. If you persist in trying to make your friends and family miserable, you aren’t going to get any company!!

I woke up yesterday with a pain I could only compare to natural childbirth. I called my new chiropractor and her office didn’t open until 2pm. I was pretty certain I would be dead by then. So I called my old chiropractor/physical therapist and told them I was on my way.

My back muscles were so tight and balled up he couldn’t even adjust me and no amount of massage and heat was going to change that. I have never cried in the chiropractors office. Let me tell ya…..I cried!!!! I’ve had broken bones that didn’t hurt that bad.

He turned me over to another physical therapist that took me to the physical therapy room. He hooked my back up to this shock therapy machine and told me to relax. What?? I’m an electrician. I can’t relax when I am being shocked. All my electrical instincts are telling me to GET AWAY!!! And contrary to popular belief….WE DON’T GET USED TO BE SHOCKED!!! WE DON’T BUILD UP AN IMMUNITY!!!

On a scale of 1-50 on the shock-o-meter, I was only able to get up to 13. I have to go back today for another treatment and I going for 20.

The treatment seems to be working. I could actually dress myself this morning! There’s nothing like having a five year old help you get dressed.

Oh yea…Keelen was with me yesterday at the Chiropractor’s. He asked him “Can you fix my grandma? She’s been kind of cranky!” The things kids say!

Ms Sparky