Ali-1, Scoliosis-0

"Don't believe everything you hear." Have you ever heard this phrase? I have; although at times I take it to the extreme. I have a bad habit. I do no listen well, AT-ALL. I am the Devil's advocate most of the time and  can easily take over a conversation. I also have a talent of some how relating the topic of conversation back to some hilarious personal encounter of my own that is totally unrelated. So although I interrupt you, I can still make you laugh.

Okay, so I am working on this aspect of myself. Genuinely, I love learning new things, going new places & meeting new people, I just lack the listening part of learning. I am working on listening skills; however, when scoliosis was introduced to my life, this strong-willed, question every-thing aspect of my personality came in handy. I am not sure why I decided the Doctors orders were not the orders I wanted, or if I just got lucky and God decided to have mercy on my soul (or spine). Either way, when I was diagnosed with scoliosis I declared war (see below) on the Doctor's opinion. Was surgery really my only option for a healthy spine?

During regular health check-ups throughout college and in my mid-20's I would be asked, "What plans do you have for your back?" I would fill the doctor  in about the information I had found online and what I had discovered through my research on non-surgical methods of treatment. In response I would always receive the same puzzled look...you know, that look you get in the South that says, "Bless her heart."

Bless her heart is right! God was listening because he hooked me up Dr. Deutchman who decided to bring the Schroth Method to the United States, who in returned is helping me get straight! 

 Peter & I went to my 3-month appointment on Monday to get an X-ray and make sure my Schroth therapy is on the right track.
Here are the results!!! Drum roll please....



July 2011-71 degrees                                          October 3, 2011-60 degrees!!!

In conclusion, I had an 11 degree improvement in 3 months!!! These are not my actual X-rays; however, both of these curves are the same measurement as my curve and look very similar to my own.  

In a weird way, I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to experience something like this...I find it amazing how much control we can have over our own bodies and it has given me a new sense of empowerment.

I find it unfortunate this treatment option has just recently been encouraged in United States. By the 1960s, the Schroth Method had become the standard non-surgical treatment for scoliosis in Germany. Schroth treatment is currently supported in Germany by the federal health insurance system, and German orthopedic surgeons routinely refer patients for Schroth scoliosis exercise therapy(http://www.schrothmethod.com/). The Schroth Method is also incredibly more inexpensive than spinal fusion. (The only option offered in the US until recently.) I spoke with a young lady that received scoliosis surgery 5 years ago, her parents are still paying on the medical bill. Why was I only given one option...? Why has the US not been doing this stuff all along? I don't understand.

Granted, this is only the beginning for me. I can only hope for further progression & expect to possibly have let-downs. For now, I am still learning about my own body and what I have to do in order to reverse & control my abnormal posture so that my improved posture becomes a habit. Until next time...here is a cool picture of some amazing results thanks to the Schroth Method:

 

5-year-old boy, scoliosis resulting from polio (left).
After 3 weeks of intensive Schroth treatment (center).
After 8 weeks of Schroth scoliosis exercise therapy (right).

Life with a Swirly Spine....

So, life has started to take a toll on my exercise-discipline. August & September have been crazy months. A 4-day bachelorette party at the BEACH! How the heck does someone find time for a body-brace with four Velcro-straps when bikinis, dresses & heels are in play? C'mon people, I'm a lady...and I had to represent.

Luckily, the stars were partially in my favor for this particular trip. Tropical Storm Lee took place of my worrying about how to keep a full body-brace concealed under a bikini & the occasional Bloody Mary assisted in maintaining comfort while trying to "vacation" with a brace 24/7. (To the left you will see a photo of us shortly after being pelted by side-ways rain.) So what does a girl with an unconventional scoliosis treatment do on a trip like this? Well, duh...pack her special bracing pillow & inform everyone if they hear weird hissing noises in the condo, it is not a fellow lady-friend that has drank too many party favors, it's just me...exercising away, while propping myself up in various positions on the brightly-colored bunk beds and using a weird fish pillow as a temporary away-from-home prop to aid myself in breathing my curve away. Ya know, my regular routine, just edited a bit for the beach-theme. I kind of enjoyed the change of atmosphere...staring at a wall with a framed sailboat picture, while breathing deeply.

As you can imagine, my plan did not go over to well. Personally, I would rather poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick than perform these exercises in public, much less while I'm on vacation. I mean really... who really exercises while on vacation? (Including the people who wake up early to run on the beach does not count.) We all know this type of exercise is make-believe and these people must definitely be locals, surely not vacationers. Right?! Like any human would do on a vacation, I released and fell out of my daily routine, made excuses & did not get much accomplished on this trip; preforming only a few repetitions a day. In response, my body repaid me by causing a massive headache & ridiculous neck pain while trying to enjoy the best crab cakes the Gulf Coast had to offer, dang swirly-back! However, thanks to vacation, "Mary" was available to helped me out in my time of need at this particular moment as well. :)

Since the party, It has been 2 weeks and I am finally back on routine. This trip is just one of the many times I have fell astray, some strategies I have used to stay motivated are:

• Perform my exercises in different orders
• Cook while exercising
• Use different props..pillows/exercise balls/stick, etc.
• Perform half the reps in the morning & half at night
• Watch multiple episodes of "Weeds" on my laptop while exercising
• Do as many sets in a row that I can handle
• Change locations in my house (Bedroom/Living room/Sun room)
• Watch random YouTube clips of other people doing them (this pumps me up)
• Read about scoliosis surgery and gag

Currently, my routine consist of brewing a pot of coffee and watching CNN while I scoliosize. This by far, has been my best routine...or it is until I get bored. My commitment now feels more real than ever...it is easy for me to skip a few reps...and sometimes I do! (I am human) But I all I can do is keep pressing on, or have my spine screwed together and braced with stainless steel rods which sounds terrible. 

Anyhow, here are some pictures! Feel free to circle what you see different & let me know, ha. Kidding. I have an X-ray coming up in October cross your fingers and say a prayer, because I may rip all my hair out one by one if there is not some progression. AH! 

         

              7.18.11                                                                      8.23.11

9.19.11





Curvature Update!

Okay, not much to discuss here. I had my 1-mth appointment, Dr. Deutchman tightened my brace in some areas & critiqued my exercises.

It seems my exercises are taking on a new meaning. I am correcting some areas of my technique that basically make the breathing techniques a bit more difficult & take more time. I have to be aware of the lateral curvature of my spine & the sagittal curvature. Have you ever twisted a wet towel? This is the sagittal curve. My scoliosis is an "S" with a right twist, which means as I breath I have to concentrate on de-rotating or un-twisting my spine as well as positioning my back to the left, since my curve is right. I have to turn my "S" into a straight line & un-twist the towel...all while breathing into the flat side of my back...sounds fun, right?

Anyhow, Peter and I took a picture of my back on July 18th, my first day of exercises, and tonight, August 23rd. I am not really expecting to see a difference this early in the therapy, but I figured it would be fun to watch the progressions & be hopeful. I am not sure I see a difference yet ...but I figured I would leave the judgement up to you guys. I have a 3 month appointment October 3. I will be x-rayed...to see if there is any improvement in my curve. In the meantime, I will be improving my Schroth technique & hanging on the bars at work to stretch my back, enjoy the gross pictures!

Holy Atlas, Batman!

It has almost been a month since my first appointment. I have officially adapted to the Georgia heat wearing a pair of super tight Velcro biker-pants & a tank top wrapped with 4 different straps under my regular daily attire. I have not slept on the right side of my body in almost a month (I was advised to sleep on my left due to the angle of my curve), I have figured out how to breathe into my "concavities" while driving down the road, and I have re-learned how to spot gymnastics, with my left arm...it's all about balance, folks & re-learning to spot a child's body with your non-dominate arm is like re-learning to write with your non-dominate hand, not easy. Here is a video of me spotting with my dominate arm, before my life changed, now I can do spot on either side! Boo-yah!

During my first consultation a therapy plan was created for me & my spine. Bracing, Schroth exercises & a specific chiropractic therapy called, Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic. Basically, I have my Schroth-Doctor, Dr. Deutchman who I visit once a month, & my Atlas Orthogonist, Dr. Roy Sweat who houses Dr. Deutchman when he comes to town. Dr. Roy Sweat is 84 years old and is the founder of this specific adjustment of the Atlas. http://www.sweatinstitute.com/pdfs/roycv.pdf

An Atlas Orthogonist is a Doctor in the field of Chiropractic, with training in the structure, function and bio-mechanics of the upper cervical spine. This chiropractic method specifically adjust my Atlas. When the Atlas is restored to normal, the body can assume its natural posture, and the distortions along with the various symptoms, may be eliminated. This is the normal "Orthogonal" alignment of the head, neck, & spine.  

The Atlas is the very first Cervical Vertebra, this is one of  the vertebrae that is out of align in my spine. (Clearly there are others; however, the Atlas/C1 plays the most important role, it's like Batman and the rest of your spine represents Robin.) If you look at the picture, you will notice where the nerve endings have been highlighted. The nerve endings play a major role in diagnosing a subluxated (out-of-whack) Atlas. If your Atlas is out of line these nerve endings are very sensitive, not to mention when an Atlas is out of place, your head is misaligned which makes you a walking bobble-head doll, nice. Here is the actual X-ray of my bobble-head. Due to my bobble head the vertebrae are forced to one side causing structural misalignment.

A scanning palpation (below) is performed to confirm abnormal conditions & severity of pain. Wouldn't ya know.. the right side of my neck was in pain as he preformed the scanning palpation. I always thought this pain was just sore muscles due to my S-shaped spine.

After the consultation, I received 4 different X-rays to find the specific location of my Atlas. The last step (or adjustment) involved what I like to call, The Laser Beam Tool. Dr. Sweat invented this tool, himself! (See the (link above.

Okay, I know it looks totally intimidating, but it was not at all. He pointed it to my Atlas, & pushed a button  which created a poke & vibration..... & and Voila! My legs are currently even, my posture was immediately corrected and my nerve pain completely dissipated within seconds. I have before & after pictures to prove it. He laser beamed my neck, palpated for correction, laser beam a second time & the adjustment was complete.

No. My back did not straighten, my deformities did not start meta-morphisizing before my eyes; however, it is a baby step. It was also an unbelievable experience and I figured I would share! I meet with Dr. Deutchman on the 22nd. I will be sure to update you on my curve...maybe I have grown new muscles ....or gotten taller from scoliosizing?! Until then ....for your viewing pleasure..... Scoliosizing & Floyd.

The Schroth Method...Scoliosizing 101

If you have been following me and my current life adventure, I am on a journey to looking cute in a swimsuit again. No, I am not starving myself, I am aligning my spine because my current mis-alignment makes my boobs lop-sided, my left rib cage smash together, and my back aches often, not to mention, the spine is basically the powerhouse of our bodies, and I would prefer for my spine in particular, to get it's act together.

My problem is Scoliosis. Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine and no one really knows why it happens. Only the lucky one's get to have a crooked back, & I am totally lucky. My X-rays look like this, but add about 16 more degrees of curvature. Imagine a more compact S-shape...like something a guy with a cool Calligraphy pen would draw, instead of this stand-in google image.

  All scoliosis cases involve asymmetrical muscles. A scoliotic spine twists abnormally due to strength and bulk imbalances among muscle groups in the back and elsewhere that should otherwise be equal. For whatever reason, some muscles on one side of the back grow stronger than the opposing group on the other side and pull harder. The weaker ones cannot maintain a balance, so the scoliosis cycle begins and gradually worsens under the asymmetrical loads. So here is a thought...our lungs breath and expand our chest cavity, which is protected by our rib cage that is connected to our spine. Could our very breath control how a we manipulate our bodies back to health??? 

The therapy I started is called, The Schroth Method. The Schroth method is a system of exercises that was developed in the 1920s by Katharina Schroth (1894-1985), and further developed by her daughter. Basically, this girl Katharina did not like the way she looked, so she took control and decided to take matters into her own hands...or lungs I guess I should say. This young lady lived on a farm, without hospitals or medical facilities. She decided to take the reigns on her health & dominated her breathing patterns while putting her self in specific stretching positions. After she was done inventing this awesome alternative,  she hit the beach with symmetrical breasts and all!

By the 1960s, the Schroth Method had become the standard non-surgical treatment for scoliosis in Germany. The Schroth treatment is currently supported in Germany by the federal health insurance system, and German orthopedic surgeons routinely refer patients for Schroth scoliosis exercise therapy. These Schroth centers have 5-8 hour boot camps that teach individual exercises to people affected by Scoliosis and the government pays for it! Oops, did I mention politics? Let me stay on topic...

The Schroth method helps patients:

• Halt curve progression
• Reduce pain
• Increase vital capacity (Oxygen capacity-Total Volume of O2 in & out of lungs)
• At least partly reverse abnormal curvatures (My GOAL!!!)
• Improve posture and appearance (O yea, bikini weather!)
• Maintain improved posture lifelong (This is hard)
• Avoid surgery (Refer to previous blog)

 The Schroth Method is a physiotherapeutic treatment system which uses

 isometric and other exercises to strengthen or lengthen asymmetrical

 muscles in a scoliotic body.  Its goals are to halt progression of

abnormal spinal curvature, and in the best case to reverse the curves.  Okay, just to keep myself honest, I did not write the 3 sentences above me; however, to put it in easiest terms, my exercises are a lot like yoga...just catered specifically to me for my unique curvature.

If you look at the photo below, you will see the upper right part of my back is where my spine twist, then the lower left back is where my spine twist a second time in order to compensate for the first. (for balance purposes) My lumbar curve (lower back) is around 30 degrees. 

Through the Schroth method, I must now be consciously aware of the "flat" zones in my back. These "flat" zones are created where muscles surrounding my spine have become weak; and this creates a concaved appearance. These zones are also called, concavities. My concavities include my left shoulder blade that is currently performing a disappearing act, and my lower right back that I like to call my "skinny" side, because everything is being pulled to the left side of my body, including my organs....so everything looks super flattened. Convexities are the opposing side of my spine; basically the Rambo of my back muscles, these are the ones causing all the drama. How the spine initially began to twist is less important than recognizing the imbalances.

What I am learning is how to identify the imbalances so I can treat the problem, without rods & screws.  

After understanding where my concavities and convexities are, I must learned to breathe into my "flat" zones while position my body in specific positions. By breathing into my "flat" zones, my (left) ribs open, (when they would otherwise twist together tightly) and the de-rotation process begins. With each breath I take my body slowly begins learning the new posture I create while breathing & positioning. It really is amazing.

The muscle-strengthening and stretching exercises aims to de-rotate and elongate my spine back into its normal position. My exercises take about an hour to complete each day. My commitment to these breathing & exercise sessions is extremely important and they must become apart of my lifestyle.

According to many clinical studies and published reports, only a small percentage of patients introduced to this method of treatment end with surgery. Clinical Studies of Scoliosis 

This first week has been different, my back aches in weird places, I have had to wear a brace 8 hours out of the day, and completely change the way I sleep., Oddly enough, I am okay with all the uncomfort of it all especially when I think about my bikini-ready back & rock hard muscles in my concavities! In the meantime, for your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of me, Scoliosizing....

See ya next time!

Resources

http://www.schrothmethod.com/clinical-scoliosis-studies

 

Scoliosis, My Journey...

If anyone reading this blog knows me well enough to have gone to the beach with me, seen me in underwear, or had the opportunity to speak with me on more than 3 occasions,  they may remember I am the young woman with the "S" shaped spine. Yes, I am that 1 kid in gym class that didn't make the cut during scoliosis check-offs. Yep, that's me, 1 in 1,000 is what I have heard. Wouldn't you know, the uptight, anxious individual, constantly concerned with worry gets the SCOLIOSIS diagnosis...this is what is so interesting about life.

I received my severe diagnosis at the age of 15, measuring at 50 degrees. I never had pain, just a sports bra that wouldn't fit right. After adjusting it over and over I finally realized it was "me" that did not fit the bra...and I am not talking about my boobs; although, this unfortunate truth still stands current.

After my diagnosis, I finally understood why I felt the need to tighten just one backpack strap a little more, why I NEVER could stick a back walkover on the balance beam...

 and lastly, why my body felt like it was 85 years old at the age of 15-20 when I tumbled in gymnastics & cheer leading. So yea...maybe I had pain, but I just felt it came with the territory, commitment is commitment. Poop or get off the pot, I figured pooping was way more fun!

After my diagnosis, I proceeded to do what anyone would have done, visit various doctors with my parents. The doctor's advice was to "watch" the curve. If progression of my curvature continued (progressions are predicted with severe cases), fusion of my vertebrae was the only option. The doctor also proceeded to tell me he had no idea how I was blessed with this lovely S-shaped curve & nicely sent my family and I on our way to make a decision.

Ewww...doesn't this decision making process sound lovely? Vertebrae fusion or pulmonary dysfunction? To make things even more exciting, the surgery entailed a recovery period, minimum of 1 year. The doctor informed me, I could start swimming at the 3-month recovery mark...or wake up paralyzed after surgery, and possibly have to under go other surgeries down the road to adjust my ever-so changing curvature. Are you kidding me?!

If I chose surgery I would have to deny a nearby college that invited me to cheer on their Nationally Ranked team...not to mention lose my source of income that included flipping children, some equivalent to the size of myself. Totally changing my life-plan to get a metal rod placed on either side of my spine sounded like great idea but I would rather NOT have screws drilled into my vertebrae, thank you very much.

So as you may guess, I denied the surgery. Hello, my name is Ali. I am stubborn, I have a hard time listening and I like things done my way, my parents would agree. I also wanted to seek a method of treatment that did not include re-arranging my entrails in less than 12 hours. I was determined there was a different plan for me, my spine, and the rest of my organs. I decided to step outside of my rule-following, structured thinking, organizational-planning self, & take the risk. I opted out of a free surgery at the age of 18. At the time I was on Peachcare, a government health care program that would have paid for my surgery in full, no co-pay, no nothing... 100% free.
Four years later, I started my research, I don't know why I waited this long, I guess I was in denial. I actually went back and edited this blog after rehearsing this experience through my head and realizing how long I really waited.

One day, in 2005 while searching the Internet, I found a therapy called The Schroth Method. At the time, this therapy was not offered in the states and I was a nursing student without health insurance. I continued my research, hoping for the right timing. 6 years later with health insurance & an adult-job I finally stumbled upon a location in Georgia where they offered the Schroth Method.

I decided to start this blog to educate and share my experience with others as I embark on this journey. I also wanted to bring awareness of this non-surgical method for parents & individuals who may be going through Scoliosis.

I started my sessions on July 18th 2011. I plan to blog as often as possible to update everyone on my curvature, the unique breathing exercises and life changes that will soon take place from my new commitment. I also plan on including a blog that goes into to further detail about this therapy and what it entails; however, until then, I included this video: The man's voice you hear is my doctor, Dr. Deutchman. The exercises he explains is what I will be doing in my living room, it's hot. Especially when I make the hissing breathing noises.

So, here I am today with a 70 degree curve in my spine at 28 years old, wondering what the heck I am going to do when Peter and I decide to have children and I have carry a child around in my uterus for 9 months; however, I am still denying surgery. If you care to join me on my trip to recovery, read on! If you or someone you know has scoliosis, maybe you will learn something new!

Until then, enjoy the gross pictures, because hopefully, one day these photos will not look like the backside of Gumby.

Day 1: My Back

 Day 1: My Brace. Yea, go ahead & laugh, dumbest face ever, I know...& I totally walked around this guy's office for 6 hours like this, classy...I know. This lovely attire, corrects me 5 degrees & is meant to reinforce my new & improved posture, that I will learn & must apply to the rest of my life on earth, literally.
Here goes nothing.

My mid-20's Crisis...

I named this blog Mid-Twenties Crisis only to realize that I will be 30 years old in less than 3 years. I am not only panicking about the topic I was planning to write on, I am also realizing 30 is coming sooner than I originally planned in my mind. Simultaneously, I am also encouraging  myself, (or my consciousness is reminding my ego..or whatever Eckhart Tolle* was trying to teach us all about), that I should not look at the glass half-empty every second of the day.

When presented with this equation, I am pretty consistent with my answer, "the glass is half empty." When my husband, Peter was 27 years old, in heated discussions, I would begin with, "You are 30 years old...nag, nag, nag." The poor guy didn't really get to enjoy being 27, 28, or 29 years old, he was always 30..especially when the topics included money or anything that could possibly effect our great-great grand children one day. Yes, I like to be prepared...for anything. I often catch myself getting so wrapped up on the "next" part of life,  I miss out on the "now." I am a recovering proactivaholic. I already admitted the fact I have a problem, now I just have to send a letter into A&E and have them create a show of my life. According to the 12 steps of recovery;

• admitting that one cannot control one's addiction or compulsion;
• recognizing a higher power that can give strength;
• examining past errors with the help of a sponsor (experienced member or mellow husband);
• making amends for these errors;
• learning to live a new life with a new code of behavior;
• helping others who suffer from the same addictions or compulsions

it seems I am on number 4. I am making "amends." Which basically means, I am apologizing to others for how my addiction has affected their lives. Here's the twist, being proactive isn't really a terrible attribute. Our bills are caught up, I have a job, my house is clean, I don't have any cavities, both of our vehicles are up to date on their oil change, and I am doing a great job eating the correct amount of fruits and vegetables a day! I also exercise at least 3 days a week. Just call me, "Structured Sally" loads of fun, right?

I started working on my obsessive behavior a few years ago, when I realized life is boring if it's structured all the time, and sometimes it's better to jump off onto the rope-swing than spend your day worrying about the crocodile that might live in the lake, and that might chew off an appendage, that could possibly lead to a one-footed future. How could I coach gymnastics with one foot?! This is coming from the same girl who would not ride a roller coaster until she was 14. (Thank you Laurie Kaye for making me do it, I didn't barf after all.)

Granted, society demands practicality...but here is where my crisis comes into play. I graduate in May of 2010 and I have yet to find a teaching position. In my past (take note above; step two states: examine past errors) when things are not going my way, I freak out and start planning, preparing, and reminding Peter how close to 30 (or now almost, 35!) he is and how our great-great grandchildren will not have any money for college. God, bless him.

Some of the thoughts that constantly circle in my brain are: should I continue to coach? I could look for a job in recreation, that way I can coach and receive a decent paycheck! I should apply for a special education job ANYWHERE...commute or not. I could create a special needs program at the recreation department I currently work for, and create a position for myself. Maybe I should keep collecting a measly paycheck as a teacher's assistant and wait for a PE job to open (keep in mind the verb, waiting is not in my vocabulary).

Then, I take a breath and remind myself not to revert to old habits, patience and goal setting is the key. So for now, I have decided to give myself a time limit. I will patiently wait for the most picture-perfect teaching position and if it does not make itself available to me by the next school year, I will revert and rebel against the 12 steps.

I will take on my assertive, proactive, anticipatory, up-beat, preemptive ways, and I will be totally content with waking up everyday coaching. I could possibly help run a program somewhere doing what I love to do! I will blame my non-sense addictive behavior on the economy for not throwing me a job soon enough... and then this "crisis" will be over. Although, if you know me well enough, coaching is my heart and soul...and for some reason I am starting to think this "crisis" may have been created by me, running from the voice in my head this entire time.







*Author of the book, The Power of Now.

What makes us, us?

Sometimes I wonder what life is all about. What makes us, well...us? Sometimes, I have asked myself this...and that is when I started writing this blog. To maybe relieve some stress or just talk (or type a lot). If you know me, I like to talk...a lot. I also interrupt, and I apologize for that. Mostly,  I just tend to get excited...about everything, I don't mean to be tacky..I just have to get my thoughts out, often. So now you have a choice to continue reading or not.

To start things off, I am a middle child. I have two brothers; my youngest brother, Jay just finished celebrating his 20th birthday and my oldest brother, Bradford just turned 35 in October. Not only did I get rough-housed by my older brother, I was in charge of diaper-duty from the age of 7 to around 9; or however long it took my little brother to start peeing in the pot independently. I am among the small percentage of people whose parents are still married, and my parents pretty much rock. I can't say we had a picket-fence, Brady-bunch family portrait, but who did?

I was a typical kid. I enjoyed being outside and riding my bike. I made dog-bowls from red clay out of my backyard, rescued various woodland animals (and missed school for mourning after each and everyone of their deaths), climbed trees, was lucky enough to have a 'club' house, and I caught a plethora of objects on fire during my klepto-stage; which I still, to this day, have a scar on my left pointer finger from my last burning extravaganza.

I was also a gymnast, which I sometimes believe had a significant effect on my social development. Sure, I had gymnast friends that I practice with around 20 hours a week, but when it came to boys and make-up I didn't have a clue. (This is justified in the photo below). Not to mention the first time alcohol touched my lips I had to tell to anyone with two ears...yep, I was that high school freshman.

After high school, thankfully, I no longer felt the need to share stories of alcohol-related experiences. However, I used my skills to continue coaching gymnastics and I also became a college cheerleader. My first semester at UWG I proceeded to major in art. The 2nd semester I changed my major to nursing. After a semester of finger-pricking I decided I should be a teacher, only to once again change my mind and transfer to a technical school to become a radiology technician...which eventually led me to nursing school (again?!). After being accepted to nursing school, I had a difficult time accepting the fact that hospitals run like corporations, and then, you guessed it... I quit.

Well, somewhere between then and now, I finally received my undergrad in something that does not involve insurance companies, taking x-rays, or cleaning butt-holes. It's amazing how easy it is to make a decision when you begin making choices for yourself, ahh, enlightenment. For this, I have to give the credit to my amazing husband, Peter.

 I am not sure what makes someone who they are, but I do know all of the decisions (practical or not), actions, and relationships that I have made along the way have had a vast effect on where I am today and who I am as a person, and for that...I am pretty happy with my life.

It just so happens I have started accomplishing a few of my major goals right around the same time that our economy really sucks-ass and thousands of birds, for some un-known reason, are dropping out of the sky on various continents...not to mention Nostradamus, and few other calendars predicted the world may end 12/12/12. When life starts to get stressful,  my family and friends are what gets me through the day. I figure all of this craziness and unfortunate timing will probably create a pretty cool future for myself, it has thus far.

Isn't the unpredictability of life what makes it fun?