Has it really been one week already since my last post? Wow! Somehow my daily posts have turned into weekly posts and, in an effort to prevent monthly posts, I have forced myself to sit down and write. Some of you may have also noticed that my blog is not the only blog that I have been neglecting. Sorry I haven't leaving comments on the regular blogs that I read, it is a combination of laziness mixed with being busy.
In my defence, I have (once again) injured my back. UGH! And this time I didn't even have a
forty-pound-monster-turkey to blame. One day I noticed that my lower back was feeling tight and by that evening, the muscle had turned into a big, tangled, ball of pain. Being stubborn that I am, I thought I could cure it with self medication. I spent several days in bed with my boyfriends, Muscle Relaxer, I. B. Proffen and Heating Pad. After five days of this nonsense I wasn't feeling any better and sent the Italian off to the pharmacists. This might seem like a stupid thing to do since I clearly needed a doctor, but what you have to understand about Italy is that Italian pharmacists are allowed to administer medications that, in America, would require a doctor's prescription.
The Italian returned home with a box of the most putrid, anti-inflammatory I have ever come in contact with. The horse pills smelled terrible, a taste that lingered in my mouth long after I had devoured the nasty thing. Even a good dose of Colgate couldn't rid me of the taste. The pharmacist warned my husband that if the strong muscle relaxers weren't working, along with 800 mg of IB's, that I really should go see a doctor. Did I? No! I thought I would wait to see what the anti-inflammatory would do for me.
Did they work? No (again)! And after five more days filled with back pain like I have never experienced, I went to the doctor. The Italian had to work so I went alone with hopes of understanding everything. After a three minute conversation the doctor told me I needed a shot. I figured he or the nurse would give me one right there in the office. Imagine my surprise when he handed me two prescriptions and sent me off to the pharmacists. Knowing I would be in over my head (when dealing with medicine it is best you understand EVERYTHING, clearly), I waited for the Italian to finish with work and accompany me to the drug store.
There the pharmacist prepared a bag with two types of liquid medications and handful of syringes, rang up the bill (it was only 9 euros for everything, try paying that in America), took our money and sent us on our way. Can you imagine the pharmacist in America handing you a bag full of medicine and syringes and sending you home to do it yourself?
"Can you shoot me?" I asked my husband.
"I'm not going to do it," he blurted back.
So I thought, how hard can this be? I'll just fill up the syringe and shoot myself in the a**. The Italian caught me as I was getting ready to do the deed. It turns out that the nurses at my doctors office will do it, free of charge. And believe me, it is a lot less painful this way. So I have been going there every morning for the past three days (three more days to go) to receive pain medicine and anti-inflammatory medication via intro muscular injections. The good news is that the medicine went right to work and after just one injection my back was pain free. And now I am wondering why I waited almost 11 days to see the doctor (did I mention the doctor visit was free?).
On a side note,
the boys have been thrilled about my debilitating back injury. They think I have turned into a cat because I was in bed for a week. I slept a lot (due to the medication) and only got up to eat or use the bathroom. Clearly I had become a cat. I often had to wrangled them for my spot in the bed when I returned because they enjoy the warmth of my heating pad. Sigh, cats!
NOT a good picture of me, but aren't those cats cute? They sure have enjoyed our "bedtime"!
I also have been blog neglecting because I have been using my "creative juices" for
another cause.
Stay tuned........
(for more on Carlos, click
here)
(Please don't think this is a "poor me" post. It isn't. It is a "this is why I am such a lazy blogger" post)
Sending loving birthday wishes across the miles to my Dad. We will be there soon to help you celebrate! In the meantime, have a wonderful day and save us some cake!
On my first visit to Italy, the Italian gave me the sound track to "La Vita e Bella", my all-time favorite Italian movie. I remember quite clearly listening to this song, during that first trip, as I packed my bags to leave his home. The morning sun was streaming through the bedroom window as tears ran down my face. I didn't know if I would ever return to Italy. I didn't know if I would ever come back to Fusignano. I didn't even know if I would ever see "the Italian" again. What I did know was that I had fallen in love with an incredible man and I didn't want to leave.
(click on photo for a larger picture)
Has it really been one week already since my last post? Wow! Somehow my daily posts have turned into weekly posts and, in an effort to prevent monthly posts, I have forced myself to sit down and write. Some of you may have also noticed that my blog is not the only blog that I have been neglecting. Sorry I haven't leaving comments on the regular blogs that I read, it is a combination of laziness mixed with being busy.
NOT a good picture of me, but aren't those cats cute? They sure have enjoyed our "bedtime"!
