Today's news

The headaches are still here. I have one nearly every day. Some are really bad and make it hard to function, and others are just annoying. Yesterday was my follow up appointment with the general practitioner. She was kind of at a loss for what to do further because there aren't many medications I can take while nursing. She decided to refer me to a neurologist, and I was able to get in there today, amazingly enough. The neurologist said the really bad headaches sound like migraines, and the milder ones sound like chronic tension headaches. (Me? Tense?) That's good to know. He suggested that, since there aren't many medications I can take, I should start some sort of relaxation program--I can pick whatever I want--and that relieves headaches about 40% of the time. Cool--easy, tangible, and cheap. I don't know anything about relaxation programs, so I'll have to do a little research. He gave me a couple sample medications to try and said he also wanted me to have an MRI and an EEG. (Picture me rolling my eyes here.) I know about MRIs because Nate has had a couple, but I don't know what an EEG is. I'm guessing it's not much fun cause the nurse told me to bring a hat if I had to go anywhere afterwards since I'll have PASTE in my hair! Paste! I'm thinking of cancelling these tests and the follow up appointment with the neurologist. For one thing, this is getting really expensive. I already had the CTscan to rule out the possibility that something was really wrong with my brain, and it was fine. I haven't gotten a bill for that yet, but I've had to pay two $25 copays and one $40 copay, plus prescription costs so far. And I'm fairly certain the only thing wrong with me is that I'm not getting enough sleep because I have a newborn and I have some crazy hormonal stuff going on cause of nursing. I don't know, I still have to process all of this.

Anyway, in lighter news. Nate has been singing every waking moment for more than 24 hours. I think he's trying for some sort of record. From the time he got home from school yesterday until currently, he's been singing. He sings songs from his music class, from Sunday school, songs he makes up, and ones from the radio. To my horror, he started singing this country song about "watching that black dress hit the floor" yesterday! Goodness gracious, I've got to stop listening to country music now! This is the second time he's picked an innappropriate song to sing--a few weeks ago it was "God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy." It's K-Love only in the truck from now on.

This weekend, we are participating in the Spina Bifida Association of Kentucky's first-ever Stroll and Roll. The SBAK provides great programming and assistance to people in Kentucky affected by Spina Bifida. For example, they're who I'm working with to do the doctor education program, and we also participate in their playgroups. If you would like to sponsor Team Nate--even $5 or $10 would be appreciated and helpful!--go to our fundraising page: http://www.firstgiving.com/colleenpayne. Of course I'll take pictures that day and post them here!