While I Was Sleeping . . .

. . . on Sunday night, I herniated my disc again.

Yep, in my sleep, the immediate cause being an inadvertent twitch, the bigger picture being three weeks of coughing.

It didn't seem quite as bad this time, perhaps because of my previous experiences with this kind of pain, my meditation practice, quick intervention (ice/bolster/advil/valium/topical botanical cream), and/or the extent of the injury. But I still couldn't walk or stand on Monday and my physiatrist wanted to see me or send me to the hospital.

So today, we traveled down to the city, an arduous drive made more painful by road construction on 2nd Avenue, where I met with my specialist (who is so wonderful, returning all calls quickly, even that 2 a.m. page), got 6 injections at the base of my spine, and a new-and-improved "Iron Mommy" brace with built in heat/cold core. He's still very optimistic about me, especially since we caught this early, which I didn't know was important. It was worth the 6-hour ordeal.

The kids stayed at home, thanks to the tender-loving-caring generosity of Mrs. Cadbury. I'll be buying her mini eggs by the bushel next year! Thank you so much. It took such a weight off my mind to a). prevent the children from hearing me moan in the car and cry in the doctor's office and b). know that they were having fun and well cared for.

And Mama Teacher, who always has enough on her plate but makes room for more like you would for dessert (and seems so happy to do it), babysat and entertained me while Mama Hungry fetched medicines and heat patches. Sending you a (virtual, at your indication) case of Reese's peanut butter mini Easter eggs.

Then there's Mama, who was a well-organized trooper through the whole thing, remembering pillows and snacks and music (she had downloaded most of the Glee albums for the occasion), and held me hand and stroked my hair and made me laugh. And loves me even when I feel the most broken.

Not sure what the next days and weeks hold, though I'm proud to say I'm walking a bit already (mind you, that's about 6 days earlier than August). I'm still postponing lots of things, including things I postponed during the bout with bronchitis. But I'm hoping to stay more connected than last time.

And best of all, though perhaps not for her, Gommie arrives for her previously scheduled visit tomorrow. Moms always make things better.

(Which I should add, is the real downside to being a mom out-of-commission, but I'm not going there tonight.)