Grin and bear it.

After my little post about seeing the health coach, I felt inspired.  When the Wife took Mozart up for his bedtime routine, I headed out for a walk.

And made it about three blocks before I couldn't stand it anymore and limped home.

As you recall that was Friday.  I limped all day Saturday, Sunday, and most of today.  I took 800mg of Motrin in a shot.  Multiple times.  I iced my feet.  Yet still to let my feet, especially my left foot, fall in the usual manner is very painful.  Especially on the heel.  So I find myself doing this twinkle-toed limp where I don't really put any weight on my left heel at all and kind of dance to my right foot where I have to hop back to my left - and on and on down the hall, sidewalk, road, or whatever walkway I find myself on.   And it just seems to get worse!

So I saw the chiropractor tonight and told him of my continuing issues.  He did his usual adjustments and spent a bit of time on my feet.  Afterwards I asked, aside from the exercises, icing, and taking so much Motrin that I should take out stock in it, what I should be doing.  He said I was doing all that I could.  I pressed on and told him how I've been limping around for days because it even hurts to put any weight on my heel.  He looked at me a minute and then says, "Well, that'll only make it worse!"  And then he instructed me that I need to practice, and essentially relearn how to use my entire foot again while walking.  And that, yes, it will hurt.  But that if I don't do it now it will, in fact, become worse.

So I practiced walking for him.  With the entirety of my feet.  Ouch.  But in the name of making this whole thing better, I'll grin and bear it.  Or may scowl and bear it.

The Feet and the Fair.

Apologies and such for leaving days between posts!  This weekend just flew by! I was still recovering, somewhat, from our trip and then was brought back to an even more exhausted place by that parade.  I'd like to have this blog be about happy, quirky, unique, inspirational, and even exasperating things, but I do not want it to just be a forum for complaints.  I have mentioned that I'm putting my feet up and that they hurt, and I've given a description of this crazy pain, but have not really explained the extent to which I am in pain.  The cause for the pain is, apparently, plantar fasciitis. It came on a couple years ago over the summer when I went through a stretch of wearing worn out work shoes and flip flops almost exclusively, and then came back while I was pregnant, but over the past several months it has gotten much, much worse.  I can honestly say, that in the past two months I have been in severe pain on a daily basis.  It comes and goes, as my activity does throughout the day, but all in all it is exhausting.  I have spoken to my doctor, a physical therapist, a chiropractor, and I have gotten exceedingly expensive orthotics - which have helped my back quite a lot, but not so sure about the feet.  I have an appointment with the podiatrist, but not until the end of October.  I do know some of the things I need to be doing, and when I can manage to remember, the pain does lessen a bit.  There is no question that I need to make this a priority.

All that is by way of explanation as to why I have not been as posty as I'd like.  It's hard to keep upbeat when one is in pain.

And that said, Mozart and I had the best time at the fair ever on Sunday morning.  I overdid it, per usual, with the above-mentioned problem and am still paying, but he had a blast, and really I did too.  We got there right when they opened and stayed through lunch.  We looked at all the farm animals, saw a military band, oxen pull, ate fried dough and pizza, saw the crafts, and a fire engine parade.  The best part, though, by far, was the tractors and trucks (we came away with catalogs for future viewing at his leisure).  Mozart was in his element.  He got to climb on them, sit on them, inspect them.  Multiple times as we kept going back and back and  back. He's just waking up, but I'll try to get some photos onto this post later.

More Pee-Puddles

I'd like to say that I've solve the pee-puddle problem.  But no.  Not so much.  On my way out the door this morning I noticed a funny shadow on Prancer's booster seat.  I turned on the light with suspicion.  Sure enough.  One of our cats peed on the booster seat.  The $65 booster seat.  Soaked right through.  No point in trying to clean it.  The cover is not removable.  It is now in a trash bag out back. 

A friend posted on Facebook the following:

Sadly, I'm actually a professional in this area (sigh)... First, you should have at least one more litter box than the number of cats in the house (ie: if you have 2 cats, then 3 litter boxes). You must keep them clean daily...add attractant to litter called "Better Way"...it clumps and is flushable (if you do that), it will make them want to use the box more. Next; get a black light and find/clean every spot of pee with "Nature's Miracle" an non-toxic enzyme that will destroy the urine smell so the cats will not want to remark--clean well at least 2-3x, spray lightly after cleaning and let air dry (this is IMPORTANT, you cannot cover up cat pee with other smells, it will only make them want to remark more). Then apply "Zero Oder" and spray to the same areas as Natures Miracle and let dry. Lastly, invest in "Feliway" cat fermones...these are the happy "check" fermones...cats are less abt to mark in places marked as happy. (The plug-ins are great for long term, spray is great for highly affected areas) TADA!! Cat-Pee-Gone ;) 

oh, ps... your cats love you, they're probably just telling you they are unhappy when you are gone :(

We only have two cat boxes - they rarely use the 2nd, so we haven't bothered with a third as there is not really a place for one.  We might as well take up stock in Nature's Miracle.  We use extraordinary amounts in these spells.  The last time we had a spell we did get Feliway also, and it apparently worked because they stopped the pee-puddles.  Can't find the stuff and am about to go online and get some more...

Am so exhausted tonight, I think that's all I have the energy for.  Walked a 2.5 mile parade today.  In itself, that is not too bad, but had to stay on my feet and chase or push Mozart around in the stroller for an hour before we were supposed to step off, and then an hour before our turn came.  I'd planned on getting dinner at the fair and taking Mozart to some of the attractions on arrival to the Fair, but no.  Definitely not. I think I've mentioned my achin' feet before.  They are literally pounding with pain.  We came directly home.  I have iced the feet.  I have given the feet a warm soak.  They are currently elevated.  Bed soon and work again tomorrow.