I'm just now capable of discussing last weekend

Last weekend was a doozy. On Saturday, I went in to work for a couple hours. Tried unsuccessfully to take a nap (why do I ONLY get packages that require someone ringing my doorbell when I'm trying to take a nap?).

Then Nate and I got ready for our big date. Kosair Charities is SBAK's biggest grantor, and every year they have a big gala to give out the grants. Our whole family went two years ago (before I started working there) and it was so terrible it was comical. Really, you have to go back and read that story. Based on that mortifying experience, I was nervous about the evening. This time, I put a lot of care into finding a cute party dress, shoes, and clutch. I found Nate an adorable little suit.

Everyone fell over themselves for Nate in his suit and chucks! He was adorable. And unlike last time, I felt appropriately dressed. This year they had childcare, thank goodness, so I dropped him off there. But I was really nervous for the parade that Nate was supposed to walk in. The idea was that a Shriners board member would walk with or carry a "Kosair kid" in a parade and up on the stage. I prepared Nate best I could and just hoped he wouldn't fall or start crying because the music was too loud or say something loud and innappropriate. :) He didn't. He didn't even see me, and his Shriner was carrying him in. When he was up on stage, he had to stand very still and quietly for a long time, and he did great! He was introduced and taken off the stage, then at the end of the night all the kids came back on the stage. When it was over, I finally was able to go get him, and he was surprised that I was in there because he didn't see me in the crowd of several hundred people. But he was so great all night, and we both had a wonderful time.

Sunday morning we all went to church and then Nicole and Cade, Nate and Georgia and I all headed to Lexington for my playgroup. I knew I was going to be late, so I let one of the moms know, but then we were running late than I expected. We had to stop and get food for the playgroup, and I was just thinking about how crazy this weekend is. I was sitting at a stoplight and saw the light turn green and started going but looked down at the map in my lap to make sure I was taking the quickest route. But the brand new SUV in front of me had NOT started going yet. And I totally crashed into it. I can't believe I did that. I have never done that. Everyone was just fine, but the other driver and I were both shaking. Here's what my van looked like:

Ugh, our brand new (to us) van! It seemed fine to drive though, and the kids were getting antsy in the car (read: smacking each other), so we went on to the playgroup. There just so happened to be a new family there I had never met, and the dad was a former mechanic! He took a look under the hood and discovered my radiator was busted! He said the only way we could drive all the way back to Louisville would be to stop every now and then and pour water in it, but something about something I shouldn't touch ... I said, "I am not qualified to do this." So I called a tow truck and a rental car place. Later on, Nicole was pulling a wagon with 2 car seats and a tray of chicken through the airport ... It was comical. The bright spot of the day was having good friends at the playgroup to help, hug, and listen, and one friend even stuffed all of us in her minivan to take us to the airport for the rental car. We got home late that evening.

Then on Monday morning, Nate and I headed to Nashville for his big appointment to talk about his tethered spinal cord. I do enjoy our trips alone, even if they aren't for a fun reason. I made sure to get there extra early so Nate could watch the trains. Next we went to Urology for a renal ultrasound, which looked fine. Then we went to Spina Bifida clinic, and while sitting in the waiting room, it was like one of our Bowling Green playgroups! There were like 4 families I knew sitting in the waiting room, and we all chatted and caught up to keep our minds off things. Then when we were called back, I saw ANOTHER family I knew! It was like a SB family reunion! It was really neat that it happened that way.

So, just what we were waiting for, Dr. Tulipan came in and showed me the MRI scan. He showed me where the cord is tethered, and he showed me why it would be an easy fix. He asked me again what symptoms I was seeing. I told him about Nate's foot turning out and then decreased movement, and also increased constipation. He said that although constipation can be a sign of tethered cord syndrome, the nerves he was seeing on the scan are lower than the ones that would cause constipation so he didn't think that was related. I asked what those affected nerves control: feet. He told me I had to make a decision and asked me if I'm against surgery. I told him I was not against surgery, but I was scared, since his last surgery was when Dr. Tulipan repaired his back before he was born. He told me that this surgery would not necessarily restore any function that had been lost. The goal of the surgery was to prevent further loss of function. At that point it was very clear what we needed to do. I asked him when he would want to do the surgery, and he said, "How about next week?" I thought I would fall over. He said in a week or two. We have since scheduled the surgery for Sept. 7.

Really, even though this stinks that Nate has to have surgery, it's pretty much the best possible scenario. The loss of function was significant enough that we noticed it and can't deny that it happened. But it is not significant enough to affect his mobility yet. So even if he does not ever regain the function that he lost--although I do believe he will move his toes again--he will still have the same mobility as before. I am thankful for that. I am also thankful that God has given me and Blake peace through this decision.

I think I am recovered from last weekend, but we're heading into another weekend now, with another playgroup tomorrow, and plans for all day Sunday. If I can't slow down, I'm just going to have to learn how to function at a faster pace.