Monthly Archives: February 2013


Not Even a Week

Well, we have not officially lived in our home for even a week and we are needing to make a major upgrade/replacement. A few seconds before the heat would kick on, I would small gas. Not good. Yesterday I finally figured something was up and Melissa called UGI to have someone come. Apparently this was a much bigger deal than I thought because she said someone would be here within 30 minutes. Much to my surprise, they actually were.

The gentleman from UGI indicated that whatever machine he was using was detecting carbon monoxide and basically the house was unsafe. He shut off the gas to the furnace and then turned the furnace off as well. Fortunately we are still able to use the gas to cook, keep our water warm, etc. We needed to have someone else come take a look at whatever was happening with our furnace, which we did, and they indicated the issue could not be fixed and the entire unit needed to be replaced. We freaked out. Thank god we purchased a home warranty which will cover a huge amount of the cost.

We are however, living without a main way to heat our home. Thank god family has come through yet again. Cousin Nate let us borrow a few space heaters which worked wonderfully last night and today. Melissa did hear from the home warranty company and the new furnace has been approved and hopefully will be installed between this coming Monday and Wednesday. We are keeping our fingers crossed for as early as possible.

So that’s our latest excitement. That and I started experiencing excruciating pain in my neck again. Hopefully this will pass. Also, my baclofen procedure has been rescheduled for this coming Monday so we are definitely looking forward to that.

I hope everyone as well!


Trial? Failure!

So my morning got started at 4:00 AM today to get ready for my baclofen trial. We were to be at the hospital by 6:30 AM but we were running behind and got their closer to 7:00 AM. Really no big deal there.

I get checked in, taken upstairs to where everything is going to go down, get transferred into a bed from my wheelchair and got changed. Then they started trying to insert an IV. Wow. Total failure. I think they tried four times. I think they were trying for probably the fifth time when the Dr. showed up and told us he was unable to do the procedure because I was taking a blood thinner. He was well aware of this but never told me to stop taking it days before the procedure, as they should have. He apologized and took full responsibility.

There is more to this story that I will share later but right now, that’s about all I can write without getting completely frustrated all over again. The good news is I believe I will be going back next Monday to try again.

I will keep you posted!


Moved In and More

So we finally moved into our house yesterday! I’m so thankful for my family and all of the help they offered with the entire ordeal. Everything went great and as of right now, everything is really coming along, getting unpacked and it already looks like home! It’s a good feeling but we definitely miss my Mom and and the old house. We are so pleased despite the mixed feelings. It’s not like she’s going away; at least we hope not! 🙂

Without any real time to take a breath, tomorrow Melissa is going to accompany me while I do a baclofen trial for my ever bothersome spasms. We have to be at the hospital around 6:30 AM, meaning we will probably get started around 4:00 AM, if not earlier. Fortunately this is not an overnight stay, at least it’s not supposed to be. I will be admitted, giving local anesthetic, followed by an epidural to administer the drug to see how my body reacts and if I am a candidate. I forgot to mention, prior to any of the actual testing, a physical therapist will evaluate me and my spasticity prior to receiving the baclofen. Then, he or she will check in with me every so often throughout the day to see how things are going. They said this generally takes 10 hours, give or take I would imagine. We shall see!

Both of these things are very exciting times in my life! The trial could potentially be life changing, just because how bad my spasms have gotten and how they have altered my life, and obviously purchasing and moving into your first home with your family goes without saying!

I hope you all are well and I will check back with you soon!


Blogs!

Please check out my wife’s new blog! She has done a great job so far and I love reading it, especially called the great stuff about me! 🙂 Here is the address- www.sciaaronmelissa.blogspot.com . We have also had the privilege of getting to know another couple dealing with life and an SCI. Here is Dana and Mike’s web site – http://www.lovelikethislife.com/ . You don’t have to be living or dealing with an SCI to just appreciate the stories, information and sometimes life lessons you can that are offered. They are definitely worth a read! Feel free to pass along information!


Downton Abbey

If anyone out there is looking for a new TV show to start watching, I highly recommend this. I would never in 100 years would have guessed I would enjoy this as much as I am. This is coming from a from a man who loves Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead. I just heard so many great things about it and I’m really happy we finally caved in and started watching. I would be curious to hear what other people think.

That’s all for now! Just a random thought.


Counting Down

Our house is finally coming together, although we have not yet moved. Our days living with my mother are limited, and that makes me sad in certain ways, but also is very exciting because of the new chapter in our lives that we are starting. After all, I am almost 31 years old, married, with a stepson and living at home with my mother. Who would have guessed? I never imagined this is where I would be in my life at this stage but then again, it’s almost getting to the point where this seems somewhat normal, if that’s at all possible. August will mark four years since my injury and everything I knew before hand has either changed significantly or is no longer part of my routine. Some days are easier than others. Some days bring more joy than others. Some days I really struggle to be anything than miserable and I hate it. It’s not fair to anyone. Not myself but more importantly, not to those that love me and sacrifice so many things on a daily basis just for my benefit. That’s why I’m hoping this new chapter of ours will allow me to get a new start, if for nothing, only for my own mental health! Besides, my wife and stepson deserve my absolute best. Not that the time that has passed with them was horrible on my end, at least I hope not, but I could have definitely done better. I guess everyone can always do better, but I’m really looking forward to this fresh start. So anyway, sorry for this long and rambling post, but I wanted to say hello and give you a small idea of what’s going on. I really appreciate any of you out there who still follow these little blurbs about what’s going on in my life. It means so much. I know I keep saying that I’m going to write more often, but this time I mean it! I promise! I hope that all of you out there are well. Talk soon!