So glad I found you guys!

[Pooka1]

I also have not been eating as well as I should and taking way more Advil for my daily headaches than I should and have had to rely on deep breathing to calm me down as well as too much red wine probably. I do feel a somewhat at peace when I head downstairs to tend to my chinchillas b/c they are relaxing, entertaining and their softness makes me feel good.

As is often repeated around here, you as a parent need to take care of yourself also. You need to be at the top of your game to deal with this, to understand what they are laying down, to know what to do and why, etc.

And I completely dig the rodent effect you mention. It is like magic. They are so compelling.

When my kids were in the hospital and I was staying there with them, my husband would come in and I would come home for a few hours each day to shower and unwind for a little while. This is also when I would deal with the Cherubims. I looked forward to it.

You can do this and you will be a star.

ps. The guy really is coming tomorrow so make sure you're dressed.

[Elisa]

The less wanted and the less cherished, the more important these stray animals are in a cosmic sense in my opinion. People who go to a shelter or rescue and adopt the oldest, least beautiful animal in the place recognize this. We can judge society by how we treat animals.

^^ So true. Being very involved with the chinchilla community I see a lot of really really sad cases. People pick up chinchillas here and there and throw male/female together with intentions of breeding them and making money but then realize there really is no money. Then they lose interest and neglect the animals and they become sick or pregnant and then they have a bunch of animals that are unhealthy and uncared for. It is sad sad situation indeed.

All of my boys are rescues and I've given them the best possible life I can give them and I have helped them restore their health and they seem very happy. I cannot bring anymore fuzz butts into this house though b/c my chin room is so cramped with huge cages that I swear I cannot squeeze a blade of grass between cages, nor if I gained an ounce could I turn around in the room, lol.

[Elisa]

ps. The guy really is coming tomorrow so make sure you're dressed.

Oh, don't worry, I only wear my housecoat for about a half hour while drinking coffee at seven am and then I'm showered and dressed for the day. He said he'll call me first before he comes over.

He said that my son will first visit the medical team in Vancouver for testing and they will determine whether he will be going down to Portland for further review. I am almost positive they will ascertain that he needs to be seen by the specialist(s) in Portland as his spine is bad according to his family doc, the chiro and you guys.

He sounded so sincere and sympathetic on the phone and of course I cried I told him my frustrations and worries and he was so reassuring and kind and a good listener. However, he's not so good with the Net and did give me his wrong email address three times and did have to call me and apologize. Yes one 'dot' does make a difference.

[Pooka1]

Actually we here on the forum are just lay folks spitting in the wind. There could be all kinds of aspects to any given case that we don't know about and wouldn't know to ask about.

The orthopedic surgeon will know what to do and take great care of your son. There is no substitute for that.

[Elisa]

Yes, I realize that Pooka and I am in no way depending on you guys as experts but I also know that people here either have spine issues themselves or have kids with spine issues and that isn't something to dismiss. A picture is worth a thousand words and y'all have said that my son's spine has significant curves and should be seen by a pro so I believe that wholeheartedly.

Off topic, but has anyone ever heard of the disease: "henoch schonlein purpura"? My older son contracted that disease ten years ago and that was just the most stressful time of my life. It's a disease that affects about one in every one hundred thousand kids and it comes on fast and furious and can basically kill the kidneys. My son spent one month in the hospital and it pretty much took him two years to fully recover. He made a full recovery but boy was it stressful. If anyone would like to ask me about this disease, I'd be more than happy to discuss our ordeal with this particular disease.

[titaniumed]

Elisa

Just wanted to say congrats on moving foward....Remember deep breaths!

The hampster sidetrack reminded me of an old post(#66) I made. Sharon will remember. Start reading from post#61.

http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...t=kitty&page=5

We are coming up on Christmas time again. Ho ho ho. Love that eggnog!

Ed

[Elisa]

I still feel as though I'm going to wake up and everything was the same as it used to be, but at the same time I know it's all different. I am so happy my boy is finally going to be looked at seriously.

[titaniumed]

Elisa
Its necessary for peace of mind.

All scolis need to be seen by a scoliosis specialist. Funny, I should feel that way.

Ed

[Pooka1]

The hamster sidetrack [...]

I'm not sure hamsters are ever completely off topic though.

And yes it's exciting for a hammy to have their first Christmas!!!!

[Elisa]

Elisa

Just wanted to say congrats on moving foward....Remember deep breaths!

The hampster sidetrack reminded me of an old post(#66) I made. Sharon will remember. Start reading from post#61.

http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...t=kitty&page=5

We are coming up on Christmas time again. Ho ho ho. Love that eggnog!

Ed

Haha, that was cute Ed and that thread was really interesting too.

[Elisa]

The gentleman from Shriners came by and we had tea and visited for about an hour. What a wonderful man and a great sense of humour too. I have all the papers I need and he explained how Shriners work and it was all so fascinating.

So basically I'll be faxing the paperwork to the office in Vancouver (Burnaby actually) along with the letter I wrote to him and the pics of the x-rays that I posted here. Then I will wait for a call to set up a run time on the bus to Portland. My son doesn't have to go to Vancouver like I thought, just the x-rays need to be sent over. They will do all the testing in Portland apparently.

He doubts the bus will make a Portland Run in December b/c of the holidays and such but thinks it will make a run in January. That would be awesome! I feel like I just won the lottery. Actually it's better than winning the lottery b/c money doesn't mean all that much to me but my boy's health and happiness means everything.

I am absolutely starving and cannot wait until my sister and BIL get here b/c I am taking them out for lunch and will fill them in on everything.

[Pooka1]

Great news! Glad things are going your way.

You can do this.

[Elisa]

Yep, things are FINALLY going my way for a change and a huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders and I can probably cut down on my handfuls of Advil for a while b/c I'm sure my headaches will decrease somewhat.

When I talked to him on the phone he asked if I was at home (cell phone) and I said yes and he wanted to come by straight away and I'm like "uhhhhh, sure, I'm just tidying up at the moment" then he said to stop cleaning and I'm "okay, just give me fifteen minutes so I can brush my hair and teeth" and he says "yes do make yourself beautiful" and then I said "well that's going to take me a lot more than fifteen minutes then." Hahahaha!

[jrnyc]

so pleased for you, Elisa!

here is what cute looks like...a little angel puppy named Sparky...

jess

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...tial_XSjpg.jpg

[Pooka1]

so pleased for you, Elisa!

here is what cute looks like...a little angel puppy named Sparky...

jess

http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/...tial_XSjpg.jpg

Okay that is off the scale cute! Such a good little baby!

Thanks for posting that.