Symptoms

This has been a week full of co-pays for ZPJ and I. I spent the afternoon at the doctor's office today after a sleepless night of terrible back pain. This pain has no known cause, although there are several things that cause suspicion:

• the new bed that is not as firm as it was when we bought it
• old bras that are stretched out and not so supportive as they used to be
• heavy bags full of conference supplies
• cats sleeping on top of me

After several hours at the doctor's, I am no nearer an explanation, although I am now going to go in for physical therapy and I'm wearing a new bra.

ZPJ has been plagued with strange rashes and bumps for the last month or so, and he now has been diagnosed with dermatographism, which is roughly translated as "skin drawing". He is not allergic to any specific thing other than touch, and scratches and touching make his skin raise up in red marks. A good example is:

He's not letting me have nearly as much fun as I would like to have with his new disease, but I managed to let me abuse and mark him to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our dear IPJ, who took us to an interesting radio play and caused us to drink texas-sized drinks.