Once again I find myself linking to and commenting on Chica Chic’s blog. In “Religion and Me” she talks about her journey, her history with religion, what the religious culture is in her neighborhood and her fears on how this is going to affect her children. Wow.

As a non-practicing Catholic I understand where she comes from. My family isn’t really… devout. We have beliefs. We occasionally go to Mass. And we call ourselves Catholic. But we aren’t strict in our observance of the religion. And it’s mostly habit.

I admire her her candidness in talking about what concerns her about the way her beliefs are going to impact her child’s life. Interesting (says the non-mother).

I’ll be looking for more on the topic.

I posted this on Chica Chic’s blog as a comment to her latest entry:

I have a herniated or pinched disc, a bulging disc, a disc that’s dessicating, and the beginnings of arthritis in my spine. The bulging disc is at risk of pushing against my spinal cord, which could create permanent damage in my leg muscles. The herniated disk creates intense pain often. The dessication will ultimately create a need for surgery. And the only thing I can look forward to with the arthritis is pain, lots and lots of pain.

Today I am at home, bed-bound, since I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed and make it into work. Normally, on those mornings when I have to literally roll out of bed because sitting up is too painful, I put on a hot pack, take my Valium and Vicodin and make myself go into work anyway. Today was not one of those days.

Having been through the MRI experience myself, I understand what you’re talking about. Being told, after that awful experience, that there’s very little medical science can do for me right now other than medication, was not a pleasant experience.

What I look forward to is a lifetime of pain management. Doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, precriptions to things that are habit-forming (for which my doctor will monitor me), and the knowledge that I’m never going to be well again.

Of course, as a fat girl, I don’t see the mushy you’re talking about. Tell JR that you look forward to seeing what childbirth does to his body…