New School Year Faves

Well, by this time next week, it will be autumn!!

The school year began a week ago and it's off to a great start (other than the constant back pain!). The good news is: the sciatica symptoms are winding down....much less prevalent.....the bad news is the back x-ray showed arthritis in my back (no surprises as according to the doctor, most adults over 35 yrs have a form of arthritis; in the back it is the simple name for degenerative disc disease) and because I am still having moderate to severe pain in the lower back after a month of it, I will be getting an MRI to rule out other things....or to see what might be going on other than an injury from the painting/moving, etc.  Meanwhile, I'm trying to find the blessings in a good, but difficult week...if that makes sense?

Counting five blessings with other friends and linking up with Susanne from over here.  Feel free to join in with us!! and please leave me a comment sharing one of your faves!

MY FIVE FAVES FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR

• SPECIAL STUDENTS!  This year I'm on a team with 6 other Special Education Teacher Assistants, 2 Special Ed/Literacy Teachers, 2 interns, 3 OT's, 1 PT, and 1 Speech Therapist.  We have 18 students, 5 of whom are in the self-contained room due to being multiply handicapped.  I am working mainly with a little guy, age 7, whom I had in kindergarten 2 years ago.  He is now in a general ed 2nd grade classroom and the blessing is that it is the same classroom I was in last year!! The teacher and I get along great and when little P is NOT in her room, we are in the self-contained room working on his reading and math goals and I help with the multiply impaired little ones. They are all K-3rd grade.  It's a great team but we are very busy.

• GOD'S HAND OF PROTECTION!  On Wednesday, we had a crisis in the self-contained room.  One of our 7 year old boys, who is the size of a 2 year old and multiply handicapped (in a wheelchair, legally blind and deaf and was born with some brain injuries) began getting sick and couldn't stop. (he also has a feeding tube that only the nurse is allowed to manage).  The ambulance was called after his parents could not be located.  He ended up needing major surgery to replace his shunt which had started to malfunction while in our class!!!  This was God's hand of protection on this little boy. The dad is in Pakistan currently and the mom has limited English and was finally located sometime yesterday afternoon.  It is actually a blessing that this happened while little A was with us because mom doesn't drive a car and wouldn't have known to call 911.  I am so thankful I could offer a quick prayer for him while in school and that God protected him!

• CHIROPRACTOR!  I had about 10 minutes of no pain at all in my leg, butt, or low back on Tuesday and Thursday right after my chiro appointment.  He says I am on my way and that it will take time to get rid of the pain. I have 4 lumbar exercises I need to do daily now to help get my spine settled properly.  He wants me to try the steroid again so I will probably do that over the weekend. My doctor gave me the script and the go ahead and is hoping it works this time to reduce the inflammation.  She explained about the arthritis but we will know more after the MRI which I need to schedule at some point today during my work break.  I love going to the chiropractor because he is so encouraging and am hoping to be pain free soon!  It has been difficult but the blessing is that I am working with a good practitioner.  I'm trying not to stress..........

• PRAYER FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS!  I don't know how I would survive this back problem if it wasn't for the small group friends I have who are texting me and calling me to pray over me, and for my husband and youngest daughter praying with me at night.  Even my oldest daughter, away at college, emailed and texted (and called me last nite!) to tell me she and her floor fellowship group, led by our pastor's daughter who is the RA, are all praying for my back pain to heal!  It means alot to me and really helps me to stay focused.

• HOT COFFEE!  It is so nice to get up in the early morning hour (5:45 a.m.) and have a hot cup of coffee waiting for us....thanks to the auto feature on the brewer.  My sleep has not been good since last Friday evening. I am falling asleep ok but waking up about 2 a.m. due to the pain.......even the pain killer I started taking isn't helping......so....I am praying that tonite I will get a good nite's sleep. Either way, that morning cup of coffee sure helps to get me going!

That wraps it up for me. I'll try to catch up on everyone's blogs this weekend....it is always a couple of weeks into the new school year before I have time to sit and actually do much writing on here or to visit my fave blogs.  And now I have all these extra exercises to fit into my day and evening!  I'll get back to more regular blogging as soon as I have more pain-free days!!

Have a nice weekend!!