I just got done blowing my nose - again (I know, gross). I really don't like having a cold but what I really don't like is to just kind of have a cold. When you only kind of have a cold, you still have to get up on time, go to work, and attend to all other professional, church, and family obligations. At least when you are really sick you can spend the day in bed and nobody expects anything. So here I sit at work with a box of tissues next to my computer.

I am not normally a big fan of Valentine's Day. I can't possibly live up to the standard set by FTD and See's. I did manage to buy Michelle a card and take her out to dinner though. We went to a place called The Three Samuari. As the name implies, it is a Japanese place. I had been there once before for lunch about 8 years ago but Michelle had never been there. It was incredible. We just got our tax return back so we didn't feel too badly over spending more than we would normally spend on dinner. The sushi was great and the entree's were prepared perfectly. I had pork tenderloin medallions with mushrooms, Japanese mashed potatoes, and asparagus. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Michelle loved the place and we had a very nice evening. I can do Valentine's Day like that.

Well, back to work. I took a sick day yesterday so I have just that much more to get done today.

Injuries in the Clark family

Caleb's neck has been bothering him for a while. Yesterday he had a muscle spasm in his neck and then he couldn't move his neck to one side.

Sometimes he tries to crack it himself even though we tell him not to. Today, earlier I called the chiropractor right away. Got him in to be x-rayed. I really trust this chiropractor over any doctor I've ever seen, (never thought I'd say that) he just knows so much and so far has made my back problems disappear. Both Jason and I see Dr. Ross at the Bowman Chiropractic Clinic in Iowa City, and we are both happy with how we feel. I knew our family doctor would only give us pain meds for Caleb today, then send us to a specialist and then what? I've been that route for my back and I always end up back at the chiropractor in the end and that's after a ton of physical therapy and lots of waiting and lots of guessing. Plus, I knew the chiro would start helping us today. First he x-rayed Caleb's neck and back, and then did a full exam.

Turns out Caleb has a serious neck condition called Torticolis.This is a lateral deformaty in the neck. Or otherwise called Wry neck. This means his neck is twisted and stuck or locked up in one position.

The chiropractor worked with Caleb's neck for over an hour. Had him in a laying position and massaged and moved his neck. At the end of this painful appointment, Caleb can move his neck to both sides and he couldn't do this earlier, he was in tons of pain. He now has to ice several times a day and will be seen again on Monday. I'm so glad I took him in. Had I let this go he could have had a deformed neck by age 20 and then had major issues.

In the x-ray his neck at the bottom starts to curve like normal, then stops at a point and then goes the wrong direction forward looks so bad on the x-ray that I noticed it. Hopefully all this chiropractic work will fix Caleb for good and he will feel a ton better.

After he came home, iced his neck for 20 minutes, I took him back to High School. Then I was off to get Daniel from 8th grade.

Daniel has been complaining of a hurt toe, he said he hit it on a metal vent when running away from his brothers. I figured he was fine and just doing regular complaining.

This morning he said, "Mom it really hurts so bad and I think it's broke." Then he would turn around and chase someone around the house. Sure enough it was still swollen, so I took him to the doctor. During the doctor's appointment, he decided it needed an x-ray. So I ran across town to the radiologist, waiting 1/2 hour more, then a phone call. Daniel has a broken toe. So I will tape it to the other toe, just like I told him I would last week.

Hopefully everyone else stays fixed right now. I'm tired.