Friday Five!

1. This cool new fashion accessory I get to wear, an SI belt. Head to your local medical equipment provider and pick one up for youself! They are Cuuuute!

You won't think it's so cute when you see the awkward bulge/love handles it creates in my clothing! HAHAHA!

    

     Thankfully it is worn over pants yet under shirt so hopefully I can disguise it pretty well? Does this qualify to let me break my no-spend and buy some more loose fitting tops since I have to wear this baby for the next month at all times? Haha. Kidding! Kinda... Then I have to wear it for another month after that but just at night. 

     Here's the deal- for about the last 7 or 8 months I have been dealing with a LOT of pain on the right side of my lower back/butt. I so eloquently named it my "butt nerve". It has stayed flared up pretty consistently and recently has just continued to get even worse. There have been points over the last several months where I cannot even sit down because of the pain. I even get to ride on a donut in the car. It's cute too. Anyway, I was still in recovery from my second major shoulder surgery when this all started and it about put me back over the edge. I was like there is nooo way something else is going to go wrong. I saw the doctor about it a couple of times and kind of just managed it but recently he said it was time for me to get to a back orthopedist. They got me in really quickly with a great group in Birmingham and my appointment was yesterday. Basically, there is good news and bad. Good news is there is nothing STRUCTURALLY wrong with my back (no major disc issues, or early fusion, or nerve encroachment, etc.). They diagnosed it as serious inflammation of the SI joint (the sacroiliac joint). Bad news is that its muscular-skeletal again which makes the fifth different joint that I have had serious problems or inflammation in within the last two years meaning there is probably something else going on and back to the rheumatologist I go. It was a God thing I ended up with this doctor yesterday though because she is a resident for the spine orthopedist but already a certified DO (doctor of osteopathy) who uses a combination of natural methods (yoga, meditation, essential oils, and realignment) with modern medicine- which is right up my alley. Her opinions and advice combined with the sports spine orthopedist's opinions and advice were exactly what I needed. The treatment today consisted of some light therapy and manipulation to get the joint back in place (they said it is rolling out of place constantly and causing serious inflammation and fluid build up). Then they did an ultrasound and injected the joint with a steroid shot to hopefully calm down the inflammation. Unfortunately, I suffer pretty bad from "steroid flare" which means I am going to be in horrendous pain in that joint for the next 48-72 hours =( They put me on a mild anti-inflammatory and then gave me a perscription to get fitted for this cute little belt/brace that holds the joint in place and keeps it from rolling. I will start therapy again pretty soon. Yay. Back to the room that I basically lived in for the last two years =/ I am definitely going to be trying Dr. Quinn's suggestions as well though. Which leads me to #2! 2. My "Silver in 6" Aroma Complete came!!!! 

 AHHHH!!!! I don't even know where to start =)

     Last year when I was having such a horrible time with my shoulder, neck, and upper back, I decided it wast time to try something else. This was before I knew I was going to have to have a second major surgery and I was FED UP. I was crying in pain every day and nobody could figure out what was wrong! I was sent to a million different doctors/specialists, they put me on a million different meds, and I was still in pain all day every day. Thank goodness for Dr. Cain at the Andrews Institute for figuring out my rare and crazy problem! Last year was a very, VERY hard year for me because chronic pain can do a lot to do your emotional and mental health as well. I was told about essential oils- one particular oil actually that could help with muscular pain and issues. I ordered it because why the heck not? It HELPED! I was hooked. Over the next couple months I studied and used oils and became an avid believer (in Young Living oils specifically). I started sharing the news and spreading the love because I loved them and what they were doing for me so much. I ended up moving up in ranking so fast that I hit a very special ranking in a specific timeline called "Silver in Six". The reward for hitting that rank is an Aroma Complete. It is over $2,000 worth of essential oils... for FREE! I hit in June and after what feels like AGES of waiting- it came in the mail today!!! I am so excited to continue using and sharing essential oils and using the "medication" that God provided of us through his plants that he gave medicinal and therapeutic values to- he intended for us to use them that way. Yay God!

3. Thanksgiving food. Is anyone else as excited as I am about indulging in delicious Thanksgiving affairs over the next week? Ahhhh! Here is the recipe I am planning to make for my mom's house:

Ruths Chris Sweet Potato Casserole =) 

4. Rend Collective. I cannot stop listening to their album. Check them out on iTunes- their newest album is called "The Art of Celebration" and I love itttt! They are a Christian band from Ireland that  has a very Mumford & Sons sound. Here is the video of one of my favorites.

5. These two makeup products are what I use on my eyes for shadow when I am having a lazy day and am going for more of a "no makeup" makeup look. Yes there is such thing as no makeup makeup and I did it twice this week!

Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Champagne:

Urban Decay Naked2 Basics:

That wraps up my Friday Five! I am gonna rest a little bit then head to the basketball game. I am so excited because my little brother and his sweet girlfriend are coming into town for the weekend and then I have a WEEK OFF OF WORK!! Wooohoooo!!! This girl is about to get fat(ter)!