BETHANY'S BAD BACK BRINGS BEDREST

I love alliteration, so I'm using it as a way to find something positive in a bummer situation.

As most of you know, yesterday was my birthday. It wasn't the greatest day I've ever had, that's for sure. You see, it seems that Friday morning I pulled a muscle in my back, though I don't know exactly how or when. It hurt periodically through the day, particularly if I turned quickly or twisted my torso, but wasn't a big deal.

Saturday it didn't hurt too badly, a blessing since I was having fun on my feet all day. Saturday night it became obvious that the blessing may have actually been a bummer. Apparently all that running around put more strain on my back and I was pretty uncomfortable Saturday evening. I took some Tylenol PM and hit the sack.

Sunday morning, which was my birthday, I was uncomfortable, but I went to church and ran a couple errands with the kids afterward. By the time I got home I was in a foul mood, due to majorly increased pain. I laid low for most of the day, but every move I made caused back spasms. Keep in mind that Devon and I share a birthday, so I was trying desperately (and not doing very well, I must confess) not to ruin his day, while wallowing in self-pity that my day was lousy. I was uncomfortable and irritable.

Sunday evening I took some Tylenol PM and was in bed by 9:00. The drama started at 10:00 when a spasm woke me up. I decided to go to the bathroom while I was awake and it took me about ten minutes to get from my bed to the door about five feet away. By the time I reached the bathroom I thought I was going to pass out from the pain. I called Tim and asked him to get me a cool rag for my face, then started lowering myself to the ground so I wouldn't fall so far if I fainted. Bad move. Well, it was a good move in theory, but I ended up stuck on the bathroom floor. Tim had to lift me up off the floor. Pathetic.

I slept a couple more hours, then woke up when Tim came to bed, which I never do. Couldn't fall back asleep and my back really hurt, so I decided to move to the couch. Another idea that was good in theory, but I couldn't sit up. Tim had to lift me out of bed. Really pathetic.

I spent four hours, from midnight to 4:00 am alternating between the floor, couch, and chair, spending time resting or distracting myself online. I was in pain no matter what I did. I can't sleep sitting up, but knew I wouldn't be able to get up if I laid down. Ugh. It was miserable.
I finally laid down at 4:00, with the plan that Tim could lift me up on his way to work. A back spasm woke me up at 6:00.

When Tim walked out, realized that I'd only slept two hours, and saw how much pain I was in, he decided to stay home. This is his last week of school and he's already missing two days because of a conference they're flying him to. So staying home was a sacrifice of important work time and I'm really grateful. He headed out to get me an anti-inflammatory and some ice packs, got a sub for work, then made waffles for breakfast. He spent most of the day working from home while monitoring the kiddos. That allowed me to go on bedrest. I took a nap in the morning, but spent the entire day in bed or on the couch.

Tim also got subs for the games he was supposed to work tonight, made dinner (Italian sausage with bowties and Leslie's salad, already one of my favorite meals, tastes even better when someone else makes it!), and is taking the kids to the park for a while. He's earned some major "good husband" points today!!

The drugs have helped me stay fairly comfortable, the ice packs feel great, and I've given my back muscles a day to do nothing but heal. I can't do bedrest for the rest of the week, which is why I took full advantage of it today, but I'm going to take it pretty easy until I have full mobility without being drugged. It's just about killed me to do nothing when there are a gazillion things I could get done, but I've been good. You should be proud. I must say, I certainly have a new respect for people with serious, chronic back pain!

I will add, in an attempt for this not be an entirely whiney post, that there were a few bright spots on my birthday. Tim had taken the kids to go birthday shopping for me on Saturday night. Then he and Devon left early on Sunday morning for their doughnut date and the rest of us met them at church. When I walked out to my van on Sunday morning I noticed that it had changed color. No longer was it varied shades of grey, but had been washed and was now a shiny white. They had taken it to get washed the night before! You know you're getting old when getting your car washed is a great birthday present. If nothing else, you know how filthy your car was. When I opened my door I found a singing birthday card and a Cold Stone gift card on my dashboard. My family loves me.

I was also blessed with a gazillion birthday wishes via e-mail, Facebook, and at church. My grandma came over for a few hours, joined us for dinner, and brought me a gift. My sister sent a group gift (perfect, as she lives overseas and we have a bunch of summer birthdays) for the family. Wonder what it was? A Cold Stone gift card. Do you notice a theme here? My family certainly knows what makes me happy!

Birthdays and bedrest. That's my world.