I gave notice yesterday!

[srblanco7]

Congrats on the ER disneysteve!

[moneybags]

My wife is still dealing with her back troubles so we're not currently able to do much as far as travel or other activities but hopefully she'll get better soon so we can be out and about enjoying ourselves.

Does she have a good physical therapist? Mine has done wonders for my back problems (and my commitment to doing the exercises). It's not perfect, but the improvement has made a difference.

[GoodLiving]

Congrats! This is fantastic!

[GoodSteward]

Congrats! I hope you guys have an awesome time just being together more. . Working from home more has really helped me value that experience.

[rob62521]

That's wonderful! Congrats!

[disneysteve]

Thanks everyone.

As it turned out, we finally found the source of all of my wife's back pain and it wasn't good - but she's on the mend now. Our assumption is that the last injection she had for the pain actually caused an infection that was brewing for a couple of months before making itself known on April 23. She was admitted to the hospital with a huge abscess in and around her spine, destruction of two vertebrae, and a large fluid collection in her left lung. She had spine surgery to clean out the infection and stabilize and rebuild her spine and lung surgery to drain the fluid and clean out the pleural space. She got 3 transfusions along the way. 19 days in the hospital including 4 in ICU. Finally came home last Wednesday and is healing slowly but surely. She stopped using the walker after a couple of days though didn't come down from the bedroom until yesterday because she was too weak to do the stairs. Followed up with the spine surgeon yesterday and everything is healing fine. PT started yesterday as well. She sees the lung surgeon next week. Oh and she's on home IV antibiotics until June 6.

So a huge mess but she's on the other side of it now thankfully. Full recovery will probably take 6-12 months, and maybe longer for the nerves to heal completely.

I was pretty worried there for a bit. Fortunately my job was great and let me take as much time as I needed. I just went back to work yesterday after not working since 4/23. I'm pretty sure I used more PTO than I have so I might owe them a couple of shifts but I'll let them figure it out.

The good news in all of this is that by the time I switch to per diem status in August, she should be in pretty good shape so that we can enjoy our time together.

Money is great. Time is great. But without health, nothing else matters.

In the meantime, I've continued to build my ebay business. I paused my sales for a week when she was first admitted and then didn't really list much so I have some catching up to do. Still, YTD I've done about $2,700 in sales and about $1,800 in profit. Considering my goal was $200/mo profit and I'm actually averaging $360/mo despite that whole ordeal, I'm pleased with that. Once I cut back at work, my goal will be at least $500/month profit.

[ua_guy]

Holy smokes, DS, that's a lot. So glad to hear your wife is getting better. That's so scary.

[disneysteve]

Holy smokes, DS, that's a lot. So glad to hear your wife is getting better. That's so scary.

Thanks. It was scary for sure.

And to top it all off, while my wife was in the hospital, my mom got admitted with mild heart failure. Same hospital fortunately (well, I took her in so I made sure of that). She spent 6 days in the hospital. So now I'm helping coordinate visiting nurses and physical therapy for both of them and a home health aide for my mom.

[Like2Plan]

Oh my gosh Steve! What an ordeal. Your poor wife. I am glad both are recovering now.

[kork13]

Yikes, Steve! Ordeal indeed! Best wishes for quick recoveries all around. I'm glad they at least got a definitive cause for the back pain & were able to address it properly.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Scary, yeah! I'm glad you were able to take the time off.

May you slide into retirement with much health all around and lots of freedom and delight!

[srblanco7]

Thanks everyone.

Money is great. Time is great. But without health, nothing else matters.

Glad all are doing well. Enjoy ER. The quoted line pretty much sums it up...life's short, enjoy the journey.

[scfr]

Wow - that sounds rough for your wife and scary for both of you! Best wishes for continued healing. I hope the PT goes well for both of them. And good luck with the home health aide situation; hopefully you won't have a very long wait to get someone and if you do have to wait I empathize.

[My English Castle]

Oh my goodness, Steve! I'm so sorry to hear this news, but so glad it seems the worst is past. Thinking of your family and sending you all good wishes.