Ear Infections & Back Surgery

This is how my life seems right now:

Once I went to the doctor because I thought I had an ear infection, and left there with an appointment for my second back surgery.

I am on "volume 2" of my chart with my primary care doc. We have this funny little relationship. I go in because I have (or think I have) some silly weird symptom, she runs a test to make me feel better, and then finds something completely unrelated that is actually wrong with me. We have gone thru the hoops many times. It is never life threatening, but I have had tests, procedures, more blood sucked out of me than if I lived with a vampire. All in all I am lucky, but this time, I am a little nervous.

I had my follow up appointment this afternoon for what was supposed to be the back pain/CT scan appointment from a month ago. For those of you keeping score, I ended up reading the results (that other doc stuck in my file), and discovering some comment about a heart abnormality. My REAL doc ordered a follow up echo cardiogram, and they called over and got the results when I was there today. The ECHO confirmed the original finding in the CT scan and showed a few other things that I don't understand.

After hearing the story about my mom, she called the cardiologist who originally read the ECHO, talked to him while I was there, stated I was completely asymptomatic, but then related the story about my mom, but casually added that I did not think it was related. Did he want to see me? Yes. Tuesday. And with a battery of blood tests and an EKG. The EKG conclusion was that one part of it was abnormal, but inconclusive. Nice.

I requested a copy of the echo report and a copy of the EKG (I still have the CT Scan), and brought them home. I asked Dr. Lisa if I should call my mom's cardiologist, and she calmed me down a bit and told me the call off the dogs, but agreed that I should stay off a treadmill until I see him. But I am stewing a little.
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• On the other side of life, Jackson called me "fatso" last night. After having a discussion about what is nice to say to people and what is not, I thought we were done, but he concluded in a very matter of fact voice, "But Mommy, you DO have a fat tummy." Some times the truth hurts. BUT I can put off the exercise until at least tuesday!

• I have been communicating with a man via email who lives just outside of town. He is a small town guy, but sounds nice, witty, bright and professional. We will see. Thanks, Lisa and Lisa for your online inspiration.

• Jackson learned a lesson about money for the first time this week. He wants a Bakugon ball/action figure/game piece guy. They cost somewhere in the greater $5 range. We just had Christmas and I am NOT going to buy it for him. So I told him he could do extra chores and earn the money to buy it himself.

For those of you still not paying attention, HE IS THREE!!! I thought this discussion would come MUCH later the first time.

But he is. He helped me change the 7 light bulbs that were burned out on our main floor. And got 7 "monies" out of the change jar. Then he helped me sort the change in said jar into piles. And learned that the big ones with the giant eagle on the back are quarters and are worth 25 monies, and the pennies are worth one money. He got it right away, and wanted lots of quarters.

After we were finished, which was no small task, he ended up getting to take 2 from each pile. He thought he was set to go buy his Bakugon. Not so fast, buddy. You need at least 20 of the quarters!

So now we are about to fold laundry and sort the new batch. He can earn more money, and maybe by next week, get to buy his Bakugon. We will see.

p.s. In case my heart blows up, let me sister know he has his money in the McQueen cup on his dresser. AND Dr. Lisa has the email of said internet man in case my heart blows up OR I get abducted and they need to do a Missing or CSI or Criminal Minds or some other cool cop show about me.