Doctors, Dates and Deer… Oh My!

Catchy title, huh?

Friday evening I made a new friend.  Wendy was my MRI technician and she could not have been any sweeter.  When it comes to medical stuff, I tend to be a baby.  Seriously.  And the fact I’m claustrophobic and had to get squeezed into a loud tin tube was not the highlight of my day.  But she was able to send me in feet~first, placed a washcloth over my eyes and talked me through the whole process.  It went much better than my fears had led me to imagine.

She also shared with me lots of other options for people who battle with the fear of MRI’s ~ everything from requesting one of the larger units {usually used for folks 400 pounds and heavier, so it allows extra space} to anesthesia.

Though my doctor’s office had promised results that evening, I went into the weekend without them.  And for the record, I’m quite certain NO ONE has ever asked for a photo with the MRI unit.

Though my time with Wendy was fun and all, I gotta say that my breakfast date with my GirlFriend Shari was a much bigger highlight of my weekend.  Shari, like my husband Tim, battles spine issues and has recently had to give up running.  She’s a wonderful friend who’s such a source of encouragement and so fun to be around.  We chatted for hours, enjoying too much coffee and not worrying about WW points!

Saturday night, my man took me to one of if not the most amazing culinary experiences of my life.  We tried a new (to us) restaurant where we enjoyed four courses with wine pairings.  I snapped one photo the entire evening {probably because it was the only time I stopped stuffing my face long enough to do so}.  The menu is fixed, so two courses had two choices while the others were determined.  A M A Z I N G.  Even though the picture isn’t.

We decided to be totally wild and crazy and stay out to see a movie.  We don’t see a ton of movies {in the theater}, so I went all out….  Diet Coke, Popcorn and a box of Milk Duds.  Clearly Saturday was not my shining day of good eating choices.  But, it was a delicious day nonetheless!  We saw Larry Crowne, which I thought would be a no~brainer choice given the fact it’s two stars are Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.  It was fine.  But I gotta say, it was not nearly what I had hoped it would be.

Monday morning I got the results back from the MRI.  A nurse {clearly reading the doctor’s notes and having NO more/NO less information to give me} said I have “disc impingement with nerve root damage” and need to go see Dr. {Tim’s back doc}.  Though I was surprised to hear there is actually something wrong with me, I also wasn’t shocked.  My back hurts.

So I threw myself a little pity~party.  Doggone~It!  I worked REALLY hard to get myself up to running 6 miles.  I really like to run.  I like that the first mile always feels hard.  I like that the next few miles I can get lost in the run, in my thoughts, in my prayers, in the scenery around me.  I like taking part in events with other runners.  I like setting a new PR.  I like running with my friends.  I like the feeling of pushing myself to go faster or longer than I thought I could.  I like the way my body looks and feels because of the running that I do.  I like the feeling that comes when I’ve just finished running and my heart is beating, sweat is pouring down my face and soaking my shirt….  when I walk inside the door back home and my man and my kids say, “I’m proud of you”.

I don’t know if the results of my MRI mean I can or cannot keep running.  I know I’m going to a doctor who will guide me in any possible way to keep me running.  I know that either way, I’m one incredibly blessed woman and I have not lost any perspective at all.  But, if it turns out that I can no longer run it will be a huge disappointment.  And Monday morning, I took the chance to chew on that for a bit.

And, then sitting at the kitchen table with my kiddos, the dogs start barking and we discover these sweet things in our backyard….

I was running around like a crazy woman to get the camera and pictures, but my kiddos saw Momma Deer just inside the trees watching her young ones.  Aren’t they awesome?

Next week, I’ll visit with my back doctor and deal with what’s to come.  This week?   I’m savoring extra cups of coffee over lazy mornings and we’re getting in extra screen time snuggled under blankets watching cartoons.  Our days are filled as we get together with sweet friends, popping corn and watching movies, swimming, long bike rides, baking cookies, and finding new things to do that we haven’t checked off our summer wish list.

This weight loss and change of lifestyle is a marathon, not a sprint.  Whether my journey involves running and I one day achieve my goal of actually accomplishing a marathon….  or not…. what’s important is what I set out to do originally:  Taking good care of myself by making good eating and exercise choices {most of the time} so I feel and look my best, while setting a good example for my family.  And that continues… regardless of any silly MRI results…