Tuesday, Aug 19 and still moving along

Every day is a great day! I had to go see the doctor about my shoulder yesterday. He, thankfully, said surgery was not the answer to my problem. He did tell me that the fall ripped a couple of tendons loose on one side, but gave me an injection of some strong steroids into the area and gave a prescription to rehabilitation. I was so afraid he would recommend surgery. I was so thankful this was not my best bet. I was not sure if I wanted to go back into surgery but if this was my best hope, I would not have had much choice. I just knew how much pain this would create and how long it would take to be back to "full" strength. Again, God is on my side and is doing a wonderful job of helping me move forward.
I had two comments posted to my last input. One was from Sallie. She is one of those people that responds every so often to let me know they are still watching my progress. This is always good to hear. The second one was from a friend, Jennifer, that lives in Tennessee. She and Rob are sweet, thoughtful people. She was excited for us to be Grandparents and was also happy for Tiffaney. Tiffaney will be teaching Physics to kids that have yet to pass their TASC test. This seems like it would be one of those things that a 5 year teacher could do better, but Tiff is one of those people that will push these kids forward as much as most people could. It is one of those about her. She is good at teaching kids as long as they will try. She, like most of us, loses patience with people who will not try. But she has a way of reaching these type of people very well. When she was in high school, she tutored some second graders that could not read. She has a way of pushing you without you knowing she is pushing you. When she was in college, she spent her spare time teach some kids that were "challenged" with life how to ride horses and enjoy it. She was everyone's favorite because SHE CARED about them. Most people that were there had to be there because of classroom credit. She did it as a volunteer and stayed with it for a couple of years. Life is a challenge every day and you just have to make the most of it.
Breanna is fixing to start her Junior year of college and seems to be doing good with it. She is like the other two and will push herself to be her best. Matt is going to be starting the 6Th grade next week. He is not real excited about going back to school, but he will be fine once he gets moving in the right direction. He is in the advanced math classes. I know all kids are different but each will excel in their own way. Megan got the news yesterday that she passed the exam for dental school. She had three chances to take this test, but passed it the first time. She was not sure how she did, but her studying paid off on it. It would have cost about $100 to re-take this test each time.
That is about all there is in life these days. I still hurt doing certain things, but that is the way life is now. I will do what I can and ask for help on some other things. Yes, Jennifer, I am very lucky to have these great kids in my life. I am not sure when, but I must have done something right when we brought them up. They are all blessed with intelligence and good sense about things. They are still young enough to know they are still learning things every day. This is a blessing that is great to have around.
I just want to add that Megan said the doctor thinks she is doing fine and that she can't be sure, but thinks the baby is a boy. I am sure this made Matt happy. He will be a great Dad!
I Love you all so much. Thanks for reading up on my progress and I am sorry I get so long winded when I start typing. Smile and move on with life. I know I do and I spend a lot of time just thanking God for keeping me around. It means so much to me every day!
Mark 8/19/08 and still enjoying being around to bother you...

Here is August and still going along

August is on us and I am still getting better. The doctor said my elbow is a bone spur that must have broken in my fall. He said UNLESS is it too painful to live with, it should be left alone. He said they is a "liquid" area near this spot and the wound made from removal would not heal up right. He said some people have openings there that will not close up but always leak. I can live with this problem like it is. He was not too happy about my shoulder, though. He looked at x-rays of it and decided I needed to have an MRI done. I went yesterday (Saturday, Aug 9th) and had this done. The technician said the doctor will get these on Monday. I know that reaching for something with my right arm hurts, but I try not to do this too much. I am hoping surgery is not the answer, but if it is, I am comfortable with this doctor and will do whatever it takes to get rid of this pain.
I have the greatest of thanks to my next door neighbor. I had the shutters taken off the side of the house a few months ago and could not get comfortable on a ladder to put them back. The were repainted and have been waiting until I felt good enough to put them back. I was talking with Mark about them yesterday and trying to figure out who I could hire to do this. He said he would put them back on. He did a great thing for me because I knew better than to try this stunt. Heights still bother me but hanging off the side of the ladder was not something I would try. I can make it up a ladder, but it is not something I am comfortable with.
I don't know how many people still come here to read up on my progress, but I thank you all for being so supportive of me and my family. We saw Megan yesterday and she is starting to show and we are all looking forward to February. The first Grandchild is an exciting thing for us. We all call it "Peanut" for now, but she will want to know what sex she is carrying as soon as they can tell. She is one of those people that wants everything to be just right when the baby is here. Room will be set up just like it needs to be and all the stuff to go with this gender.
Breanna turned 20 on Friday. This was an exciting day for all of us. She is starting a new job right now and this will be a challenge to learn everything needed to move forward with it. She will push herself a lot to make this work out. Tiffaney's new job will start in a few more weeks. Teaching is one of those things that she does well. She will be teaching Chemistry and Physics to 10th, 11th and 12th graders at Deer Park High School. The good part of this is that these are elective classes that people take to learn more. It will not just be a group of kids that don't want to be there. This will be a challenge for her, but this is the kind of thing she enjoys.
My love to you all for reading this. I will post more information on my shoulder once the doctor decides what our best bet is.
Thanks for being here.
Mark 8/10/08