It's TWO WEEKS until Thanksgiving! Let me tell you - I am VERY excited about that.
Here are a few things that I've been up to in the last couple of days:
* We've continued to adjust Dorothy's medications to try to get her to sleep through the night but the bottom line is that it just doesn't look likely. She wakes up between 2 and 4, unable to sleep. So the middle-of-the-night boost continues. She has also recently gone on oxygen at night in the hopes that that will help her sleep a little bit better.
* I hit a wall this week. Sunday night we were up 4 times and Monday I BARELY survived work. Tuesday I developed a headache around lunchtime and it persisted until yesterday, when I stayed home from work. I went and saw the doctor who basically told me, "If you don't start sleeping more, you're going to make yourself very sick." They gave me two shots for the headache, one in the back of each hip. Today it feels like I got a tetanus shot in my butt. My muscles are SO SORE. One of the shots made me very nauseous so last night was interesting. I actually had to stop mid-way through Dorothy's bedtime routine and go lay down on the cool bathroom floor for a few minutes. Really the only reason I'm at work today is because I simply don't have the PTO to stay home. I had planned to take Tuesday - Friday off Thanksgiving week but it looks like I'll be working Wednesday now (Tuesday is an OHSU day). Ick. The only reason I can take Friday off is because it's a mandatory day off and I have the option to take it unpaid.
* We have FINALLY found another caregiver! She will be working some of the hours we've currently just been piecing together and will also work Friday evenings which gives me a bit more time off. It's somebody who comes highly recommended by a girl who used to help Dorothy out and we totally trust her judgement. PLUS it's somebody I used to know and our parents have been friends for a long time so we practically don't even need to interview her. I'm thrilled.
And on a totally unrelated note... Do I really only have ONE READER?? Come on commenters! :) I have no material whatsoever for Ask Mikaila Anything! Ya'll gotta make yourselves known. :)
Showing posts with label Crisis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crisis. Show all posts
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
The one where I update you and ask for prayer
Jeez, it feels like there is a LOT going on right now.
Steve has chronic back pain and is on several different muscle relaxers/painkillers/anti-inflammatories to try to manage that pain. Yesterday he had some sort of reaction to something he took and was feeling REALLY sick. He wasn't even able to sit with me in church because what made him feel better and eased his nausea was laying outside in the shade and the breeze. He told me he had his own little prayer service out there.
He is currently in the (paperwork) process of trying to get in to see his sister and brother-in-law's doctor who deals with chronic pain. Steve has been trying to get his primary care doctor to give him an MRI or other tests for well over a year and his doctor won't do it. We're hoping this new doctor is the man who can help him manage the pain. Steve is TERRIFIED of needles because of a somewhat traumatic experience he had when he was little but he told me he is willing to go through ANYTHING this doctor recommends in order to diagnose the issue.
*****
Dorothy saw her doctor at OHSU last week and I was able to go along. I'm VERY glad that I was because I got a LOT of questions answered and I feel like I have a much better understanding of some things. He prescribed a new medication for Dorothy and I was under the impression that it was a muscle relaxer (I found out today that it is actually a tranquilizer). He told us that it would hopefully lower her anxiety level and help relax her lungs and prevent some, if not most, of the choking spells that she has been having.
The next day Natalie gave her her first dose of the new drug. It made her like a limp noodle. She was falling asleep mid-sentence and was just suuuper relaxed. Natalie called the Home Health nurse who told her to half the dose next time and see if that helped. The solution that they found to work is for her to take half a dose at night to help her sleep and a QUARTER dose in the morning. The upside is that it has, indeed, helped with the choking spells. Doozie (who came and stayed here last week, allowing me to have my glorious time off) said that Dorothy only had one the whole time she was here.
This morning I gave Dorothy her quartered dose and left a note for Natalie that I had done so. (It will be one of the meds I give her before I leave for work in the morning.) Natalie didn't see my note right away and gave Dorothy the other dose in today's pill box, which was the half dose for tonight. :/ Needless to say, Dorothy is, again, a limp noodle. She is sound asleep right now, which is good, but I hope she is able to sleep tonight.
The Home Health nurse came by this afternoon to teach me how to use a feeding pump that will allow Dorothy to be fed verrrrrry slowly while she sleeps at night. This will be great because it's hard to get all of her feedings in during the day. I'm anxious to give it a try tonight.
*****
Penny, who lives with Steve's family, called me right as the Home Health nurse was leaving and told me, quite frantically, that Steve's mom is in the ER, possibly in the middle of having a stroke and possibly with bleeding on the brain. (Her symptoms included a bad headache, twitching on the left side of her face and "seeing things on the left side." I'm not sure if that means hallucinations or seeing spots or what.) They were taking her in for an MRI as we were talking (which was almost an hour and a half ago). So far I know nothing else. We are playing the "waiting game" right now.
Steve is in Salem at his sister's right now and I had to call up there and let them know what was going on because Penny couldn't get ahold of them. They're trying to decide whether or not to come down, what to do with which kids and when to come, if they do.
I'll keep updating. I know that's hardly any information but please pray! Her name is Billie.
UPDATE:
7:41pm
I just got a call from Penny that Billie is being discharged home. They diagnosed her with Bell's Palsy. Bell's Palsy is where a nerve in your cranium (head) becomes paralyzed and it effects the nerves on that side of your face. From what I've read/heard, facial paralysis can be a result of a stroke, a brain tumor, Lyme disease... If they don't know the cause of the paralysis, it is called an "idiopathic diagnosis" (meaning they can't figure it out). Bell's Palsy falls under this category. It's facial paralysis with an unknown cause, basically. They can "treat" it with anti-inflammatory and anti-viral medications but most people recover spontaneously and end up having normal or near-normal function. (There, I just repeated everything you would have read in that Wikipedia link I put in there.)
It's nice to have an answer and to know that it was NOT a stroke. Although it still sucks, Bell's Palsy is something that can be recovered from. Thank you for praying (and continuing to pray).
Steve has chronic back pain and is on several different muscle relaxers/painkillers/anti-inflammatories to try to manage that pain. Yesterday he had some sort of reaction to something he took and was feeling REALLY sick. He wasn't even able to sit with me in church because what made him feel better and eased his nausea was laying outside in the shade and the breeze. He told me he had his own little prayer service out there.
He is currently in the (paperwork) process of trying to get in to see his sister and brother-in-law's doctor who deals with chronic pain. Steve has been trying to get his primary care doctor to give him an MRI or other tests for well over a year and his doctor won't do it. We're hoping this new doctor is the man who can help him manage the pain. Steve is TERRIFIED of needles because of a somewhat traumatic experience he had when he was little but he told me he is willing to go through ANYTHING this doctor recommends in order to diagnose the issue.
*****
Dorothy saw her doctor at OHSU last week and I was able to go along. I'm VERY glad that I was because I got a LOT of questions answered and I feel like I have a much better understanding of some things. He prescribed a new medication for Dorothy and I was under the impression that it was a muscle relaxer (I found out today that it is actually a tranquilizer). He told us that it would hopefully lower her anxiety level and help relax her lungs and prevent some, if not most, of the choking spells that she has been having.
The next day Natalie gave her her first dose of the new drug. It made her like a limp noodle. She was falling asleep mid-sentence and was just suuuper relaxed. Natalie called the Home Health nurse who told her to half the dose next time and see if that helped. The solution that they found to work is for her to take half a dose at night to help her sleep and a QUARTER dose in the morning. The upside is that it has, indeed, helped with the choking spells. Doozie (who came and stayed here last week, allowing me to have my glorious time off) said that Dorothy only had one the whole time she was here.
This morning I gave Dorothy her quartered dose and left a note for Natalie that I had done so. (It will be one of the meds I give her before I leave for work in the morning.) Natalie didn't see my note right away and gave Dorothy the other dose in today's pill box, which was the half dose for tonight. :/ Needless to say, Dorothy is, again, a limp noodle. She is sound asleep right now, which is good, but I hope she is able to sleep tonight.
The Home Health nurse came by this afternoon to teach me how to use a feeding pump that will allow Dorothy to be fed verrrrrry slowly while she sleeps at night. This will be great because it's hard to get all of her feedings in during the day. I'm anxious to give it a try tonight.
*****
Penny, who lives with Steve's family, called me right as the Home Health nurse was leaving and told me, quite frantically, that Steve's mom is in the ER, possibly in the middle of having a stroke and possibly with bleeding on the brain. (Her symptoms included a bad headache, twitching on the left side of her face and "seeing things on the left side." I'm not sure if that means hallucinations or seeing spots or what.) They were taking her in for an MRI as we were talking (which was almost an hour and a half ago). So far I know nothing else. We are playing the "waiting game" right now.
Steve is in Salem at his sister's right now and I had to call up there and let them know what was going on because Penny couldn't get ahold of them. They're trying to decide whether or not to come down, what to do with which kids and when to come, if they do.
I'll keep updating. I know that's hardly any information but please pray! Her name is Billie.
UPDATE:
7:41pm
I just got a call from Penny that Billie is being discharged home. They diagnosed her with Bell's Palsy. Bell's Palsy is where a nerve in your cranium (head) becomes paralyzed and it effects the nerves on that side of your face. From what I've read/heard, facial paralysis can be a result of a stroke, a brain tumor, Lyme disease... If they don't know the cause of the paralysis, it is called an "idiopathic diagnosis" (meaning they can't figure it out). Bell's Palsy falls under this category. It's facial paralysis with an unknown cause, basically. They can "treat" it with anti-inflammatory and anti-viral medications but most people recover spontaneously and end up having normal or near-normal function. (There, I just repeated everything you would have read in that Wikipedia link I put in there.)
It's nice to have an answer and to know that it was NOT a stroke. Although it still sucks, Bell's Palsy is something that can be recovered from. Thank you for praying (and continuing to pray).
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The one where no title seems right
It's been too long since I've posted. I know, as soon as I said I would be doing those 5 regular posts a week (Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday), I disappeared.
Today, I'm posting with a heavy heart. About 10 minutes after I got to work yesterday, my mom called me with the news of the death of a close family friend. Landon had flown up from California for his brother's wedding on Saturday and flew home late Monday night. In the wee hours of Tuesday morning he was driving home from the airport and fell asleep at the wheel, colliding with a tree. Yesterday was a day full of denial and disbelief... Today is a day full of devastation. My heart hurts so much.
This week is one of those weeks you just pray your way through. Landon's family is a part of our church and I have never met a support group better than what you will find at our church. People are all leaning on one another and pulling strength from each other.
There are really no words.
I have several posts forming in my head that I will try to post over the next several days. I have lots of pictures from the weekend that Steve and I spent at the beach this weekend (after the trip to the free beach house with friends got cancelled - paying customers signed up). I am attending a cousin's wedding this Friday and most likely a funeral on Sunday.
Don't forget, if I haven't posted in several days, check out my Twitter feed over there in the right sidebar.
Today, I'm posting with a heavy heart. About 10 minutes after I got to work yesterday, my mom called me with the news of the death of a close family friend. Landon had flown up from California for his brother's wedding on Saturday and flew home late Monday night. In the wee hours of Tuesday morning he was driving home from the airport and fell asleep at the wheel, colliding with a tree. Yesterday was a day full of denial and disbelief... Today is a day full of devastation. My heart hurts so much.
This week is one of those weeks you just pray your way through. Landon's family is a part of our church and I have never met a support group better than what you will find at our church. People are all leaning on one another and pulling strength from each other.
There are really no words.
I have several posts forming in my head that I will try to post over the next several days. I have lots of pictures from the weekend that Steve and I spent at the beach this weekend (after the trip to the free beach house with friends got cancelled - paying customers signed up). I am attending a cousin's wedding this Friday and most likely a funeral on Sunday.
Don't forget, if I haven't posted in several days, check out my Twitter feed over there in the right sidebar.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The one where Mikaila feels stupid/lucky/stressed/blessed
Ugggggghhhhhhhh.
Yesterday morning I was having a lot of stomach aches and generally not feeling great and I asked to leave work early. My boss approved my leaving and I headed out. I was barely even off hospital campus when I got in a car accident. And it was my fault.
I was waiting to turn onto the highway and I didn't see anybody coming. I started to go when all of a sudden I DID see a car coming! I have no idea how I didn't see him the first time I looked but all of a sudden he was right there and I was nosed out into traffic. I had stopped the second I saw him but I was sticking out too far and he plowed into the front of my car, taking the bumper clean off.
I'm *hoping* it can be fixed. The hood isn't smashed at all, the lights are still intact... the only thing that needs repairing is the grill and, obviously, a new bumper. I'm hoping all of that isn't too spendy (insurance will cover it but if it's equal to or more than 80% of the car's value they total the car).Nobody was seriously hurt, although I have a pretty sore back. I'm on pain meds for that and they're making me really dizzy. So having said all that, I'm going to lay down and close my eyes.
Just wanted to let you all know.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
This unexpected life of mine
I would love to write a Thursday Thirteen post but, alas, THERE IS NO TIME!
Life got REALLY interesting and crazy this week. Monday evening Dorothy fell while moving from her living room chair to her wheelchair and broke her ankle. Her knees just buckled beneath her and down she went. After a trip to the ER and lots of x-rays they splinted her leg and sent her home (which was kind of dumb, actually).
She's mostly bed-ridden which has made things VERY interesting. I'm sure she wouldn't want me to divulge all kinds of information and details but let's just say the nitty gritty caregiving work has come a lot sooner than any of us anticipated.
We're having a hospital bed and a lift delivered tomorrow which will make things SO MUCH easier. Right now we're using brute strength and sliding sheets to move/maneuver her and it's just not very effective. Once we have the right tools it will be much simpler.
This week my routine has gone something like this:
5:30am, wake up
5:40am, get Dorothy sitting up in bed and start her feeding tube
5:55am, jump in the shower and start to get myself ready
6:25am, check on Dorothy and the tube
6:30am, run around getting my lunch and Dorothy's pills, etc. together
6:45am, disconnect feeding tube, clean up, situate her
6:55am, make a dash for the door
7:05am, walk into work 5 minutes late (again)
3:40pm, get off work, run home
3:55pm, assess the home situation (who's there, what/if Dorothy has eaten, if Charley has been out, etc.)
4:15pm, start feeding tube
4:30pm, start dinner while doing 4 other things
5:15pm, eat (maybe sitting down), clean up dinner
6:45pm, do some sort of shifting/toileting/changing/etc. tast
7:00pm, put away my lunch stuff, load the dishwasher, tidy the kitchen
7:20pm, (it continues like this all evening)
10:00pm, colapse into bed
On top of all that (as if it wasn't enough!) my parents are on their way out of state today to visit with (and minister to) a friend who is threatening suicide. The ultimate goal is to bring the friend back with them but knowing said friend, that is a very long shot. Please pray for all of them.
AND I learned this week that one of my uncles is in the hospital.
AND THEN! Oh wait... I think that's actually all.
But believe me, it's enough!
Doozie came down yesterday to help out with Dorothy and is staying til early this afternoon. Heather is coming down tonight or tomorrow morning. Last night I was able to go over to Steve's (and surprise him!) and spend about an hour and a half with him and Jordan, uninterrupted. My goodness was it wonderful. :) Doozie also took "the night shift" and the baby monitor last night so I was able to stay in bed all night (and I did hear them up at about 3 this morning). I feel much more rested today.
Tonight my goal is simply to go to bed before 10pm. The weekend will be busy but I'll try to post again and I'll try to make it something interesting and non-Dorothy-related. :)
Life got REALLY interesting and crazy this week. Monday evening Dorothy fell while moving from her living room chair to her wheelchair and broke her ankle. Her knees just buckled beneath her and down she went. After a trip to the ER and lots of x-rays they splinted her leg and sent her home (which was kind of dumb, actually).
She's mostly bed-ridden which has made things VERY interesting. I'm sure she wouldn't want me to divulge all kinds of information and details but let's just say the nitty gritty caregiving work has come a lot sooner than any of us anticipated.
We're having a hospital bed and a lift delivered tomorrow which will make things SO MUCH easier. Right now we're using brute strength and sliding sheets to move/maneuver her and it's just not very effective. Once we have the right tools it will be much simpler.
This week my routine has gone something like this:
5:30am, wake up
5:40am, get Dorothy sitting up in bed and start her feeding tube
5:55am, jump in the shower and start to get myself ready
6:25am, check on Dorothy and the tube
6:30am, run around getting my lunch and Dorothy's pills, etc. together
6:45am, disconnect feeding tube, clean up, situate her
6:55am, make a dash for the door
7:05am, walk into work 5 minutes late (again)
3:40pm, get off work, run home
3:55pm, assess the home situation (who's there, what/if Dorothy has eaten, if Charley has been out, etc.)
4:15pm, start feeding tube
4:30pm, start dinner while doing 4 other things
5:15pm, eat (maybe sitting down), clean up dinner
6:45pm, do some sort of shifting/toileting/changing/etc. tast
7:00pm, put away my lunch stuff, load the dishwasher, tidy the kitchen
7:20pm, (it continues like this all evening)
10:00pm, colapse into bed
On top of all that (as if it wasn't enough!) my parents are on their way out of state today to visit with (and minister to) a friend who is threatening suicide. The ultimate goal is to bring the friend back with them but knowing said friend, that is a very long shot. Please pray for all of them.
AND I learned this week that one of my uncles is in the hospital.
AND THEN! Oh wait... I think that's actually all.
But believe me, it's enough!
Doozie came down yesterday to help out with Dorothy and is staying til early this afternoon. Heather is coming down tonight or tomorrow morning. Last night I was able to go over to Steve's (and surprise him!) and spend about an hour and a half with him and Jordan, uninterrupted. My goodness was it wonderful. :) Doozie also took "the night shift" and the baby monitor last night so I was able to stay in bed all night (and I did hear them up at about 3 this morning). I feel much more rested today.
Tonight my goal is simply to go to bed before 10pm. The weekend will be busy but I'll try to post again and I'll try to make it something interesting and non-Dorothy-related. :)
Monday, September 1, 2008
What do you do?
What do you do when you're unhappy?
What do you do when the love of your life asks you if you're having second thoughts and you're not sure?
What do you do when he offers you the opportunity to take a break from the relationship for a couple of weeks and sort your thoughts?
What do you do when you think you might know how that break will end?
What do you do when you pray and pray and PRAY for two days straight and the answer you get is not the answer you want?
What do you do when you know that you are the cause for his broken heart?
What do you do when you think you have no more tears to cry and they just won't stop?
What the hell do you do when your heart is breaking into a thousand pieces and there is nothing you can do to stop it?
PLEASE pray for me.
What do you do when the love of your life asks you if you're having second thoughts and you're not sure?
What do you do when he offers you the opportunity to take a break from the relationship for a couple of weeks and sort your thoughts?
What do you do when you think you might know how that break will end?
What do you do when you pray and pray and PRAY for two days straight and the answer you get is not the answer you want?
What do you do when you know that you are the cause for his broken heart?
What do you do when you think you have no more tears to cry and they just won't stop?
What the hell do you do when your heart is breaking into a thousand pieces and there is nothing you can do to stop it?
PLEASE pray for me.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The OC
Well. This has certainly been an interesting night!
Yesterday afternoon I was sitting at my desk, doing my thing, when all of a sudden I sucked my breath in HARD and grabbed my lower stomach area. Stephanie looked at me quizzically and asked what was going on, to which I replied that I had no idea but THAT HURT! Every so often I get random pains here and there so I thought ok, maybe I turned funny or something. But then it happened 4 or 5 more times that afternoon and into the evening. Steve got out his medical book and we looked up appendicitis and ovarian cysts and anything we could think of that warranted right lower quadrant pain. Took my temperature, nothing.
This morning I got up and had kind of forgotten about it, until midway through the morning when I gasped again and grabbed my middle. Last night Stephanie had quizzed me on the pain and then asked me what I had eaten and dubbed it indigestion. Today I looked at her and said, "Explain THAT as indigestion!" It happened another half a dozen times throughout the day and I was considering Urgent Care.
After work I got my oil changed, washed my car and got gas and then dropped by my parents' to drop something off. I berated my sister with questions about when she had HER appendix out because she had very atypical symptoms and they were CONVINCED it was not her appendix, but my mom demanded an ultrasound anyway, and lo and behold, she had appendicitis.
She told me what hers was like and explained a couple of ways they would check for sure (pushing here and letting go really fast, yadda yadda). While I was there it happened two more times so my mom offered to go with me to Urgent Care.
The doctor there was VERY nice (I'm much more skeptical of doctors than I used to be, now that I work with them) and asked lots of questions. He did a CBC (blood test) and urinalysis and sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound. He was also not convinced that it was appendicitis but said that if my mom and sister (and dad too, actually) had weird cases of it, there was no reason I shouldn't as well.
We went to the hospital and got right in to ultrasound (lucky there HAPPENED to be a tech there at 7:30 at night). He pushed and prodded and generally made me want to pee on him, but was quite nice. Ultrasounds are interesting things. I asked him at one point, "So... what are you looking at right there?" "Oh, that's your uterus!" Riiiight...
He poked around some more and I said, "THERE. THAT is where it hurts." He goes, "Yeah, that's your ovary..."
Great.
He finished up, I wiped the goop off me and went pee. He sent me back to the waiting room and said the radiologist would read the U/S and then call the doctor I had seen at Urgent Care, who would then call me.
My mom and I sat reading our books for another 30 minutes or so and then my phone rang.
"Yes, Mikaila? This is Dr. Hudson. It looks like you have a very large ovarian cyst."
Well, that is just wonderful.
So, now I'm reading up on ovarian cysts and drinking more water than a fish (who don't actually drink water, I realize) and waiting. He said to have a follow up ultrasound in two weeks to make sure it's not growing or changing, etc. I'll make an appointment with my regular doctor for this week or Monday and we will just WAIT and see what happens.
But for now, pray for me! Every so often I get a stabbing pain that shoots right through my ovary and lasts about 10 to 15 seconds. That's not long at all but I can't move when it happens. Not so fun but at least I know what it is! Water, water, water...
Yesterday afternoon I was sitting at my desk, doing my thing, when all of a sudden I sucked my breath in HARD and grabbed my lower stomach area. Stephanie looked at me quizzically and asked what was going on, to which I replied that I had no idea but THAT HURT! Every so often I get random pains here and there so I thought ok, maybe I turned funny or something. But then it happened 4 or 5 more times that afternoon and into the evening. Steve got out his medical book and we looked up appendicitis and ovarian cysts and anything we could think of that warranted right lower quadrant pain. Took my temperature, nothing.
This morning I got up and had kind of forgotten about it, until midway through the morning when I gasped again and grabbed my middle. Last night Stephanie had quizzed me on the pain and then asked me what I had eaten and dubbed it indigestion. Today I looked at her and said, "Explain THAT as indigestion!" It happened another half a dozen times throughout the day and I was considering Urgent Care.
After work I got my oil changed, washed my car and got gas and then dropped by my parents' to drop something off. I berated my sister with questions about when she had HER appendix out because she had very atypical symptoms and they were CONVINCED it was not her appendix, but my mom demanded an ultrasound anyway, and lo and behold, she had appendicitis.
She told me what hers was like and explained a couple of ways they would check for sure (pushing here and letting go really fast, yadda yadda). While I was there it happened two more times so my mom offered to go with me to Urgent Care.
The doctor there was VERY nice (I'm much more skeptical of doctors than I used to be, now that I work with them) and asked lots of questions. He did a CBC (blood test) and urinalysis and sent me to the hospital for an ultrasound. He was also not convinced that it was appendicitis but said that if my mom and sister (and dad too, actually) had weird cases of it, there was no reason I shouldn't as well.
We went to the hospital and got right in to ultrasound (lucky there HAPPENED to be a tech there at 7:30 at night). He pushed and prodded and generally made me want to pee on him, but was quite nice. Ultrasounds are interesting things. I asked him at one point, "So... what are you looking at right there?" "Oh, that's your uterus!" Riiiight...
He poked around some more and I said, "THERE. THAT is where it hurts." He goes, "Yeah, that's your ovary..."
Great.
He finished up, I wiped the goop off me and went pee. He sent me back to the waiting room and said the radiologist would read the U/S and then call the doctor I had seen at Urgent Care, who would then call me.
My mom and I sat reading our books for another 30 minutes or so and then my phone rang.
"Yes, Mikaila? This is Dr. Hudson. It looks like you have a very large ovarian cyst."
Well, that is just wonderful.
So, now I'm reading up on ovarian cysts and drinking more water than a fish (who don't actually drink water, I realize) and waiting. He said to have a follow up ultrasound in two weeks to make sure it's not growing or changing, etc. I'll make an appointment with my regular doctor for this week or Monday and we will just WAIT and see what happens.
But for now, pray for me! Every so often I get a stabbing pain that shoots right through my ovary and lasts about 10 to 15 seconds. That's not long at all but I can't move when it happens. Not so fun but at least I know what it is! Water, water, water...
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The one where something happens every day
A lot has been going on! And at the same time, not that much. It just seems like a lot.
Saturday I babysat for some friends who were moving into their dream house they just built. I have no idea what the temperature peaked at that day but it was HOT! I did not envy them moving and was so thankful to be able to spend the afternoon in a very air conditioned room. Their house is AMAZING. I can't wait to babysit there in the future.
Sunday the daughter of one of my coworkers called. They were doing laundry at the laundromat and had the kids with them. It was NOT working out and she asked if I could PLEASE come and pick them up. I had never babysat for them before. They are two and three and FULL of energy! More energy than I have seen in any kids that age before. First I brought them to my apartment because it was SO hot outside. I thought, worse case scenario, pop in a movie and give them some fruit snacks. After fifteen minutes they had COMPLETELY destroyed my apartment and I called my friend and begged her to meet me at the park with her two kids.
Once we got to the park they were angels. I told them the one rule was that they had to keep their shoes on (most of the park was bark dust). That rule was only broken about... 72 times, but otherwise they were really good. My coworker asked if I would ever watch them again and I said yes, just not at my apartment! I thought it was kid proof/kid friendly but these kids were something else.
Monday night my kitchen flooded! I was rinsing dishes and loading my dishwasher and I turned on the garbage disposal. It immediately started grinding and sounded like there was a tin can in it so I shut it off and decided I would just not use it and let my managers know it wasn't working. La la la, loading dishwasher, water running, tv on... feet wet? I look down and the bath mat I keep in front of my sink is soaked and the water is running out over the floor. I shut off the faucet and open the cupboard under the sink... water is GUSHING out of my garbage disposal. In four places.
I immediately start calling people. First my on-site manager. Then the two emergency maintenance numbers I was given. Then all three again. Then a third time. FINALLY somebody answered at one number. She listened to my story and said yeah, that's a problem, I'll call some people and get right back to you. This was at about 5:45. During all this I threw some towels on the floor and started mopping up the lake that was spreading throughout my kitchen. But before I could get the water all soaked up it started disappearing... down the floor? Under the stove? Turns out, the new owner of the building doesn't really care where the water went. She basically said, "eh" and shrugged her shoulders about it. Which ought to make it fun when the linoleum in my kitchen starts peeling up or the neighbors downstairs start getting a sagging ceiling.
When I finally talked to a maintenance person she said since they just bought the place they don't have an established maintenance crew in Corvallis. Well folks, time to get one! So then the story was that it might take two days to fix. Hello! If I turn my sink on the water comes out the bottom! The plumbers ended up having extra time in their day and were able to fix it on Tuesday. They replaced the disposal and everything's fine so I have no idea what was wrong with it. And no idea where all that water went!
Last night I went shopping for supplies to make invitations for a girls night next weekend. Madre told me we should have a night while I'm house sitting and I told her we should probably ask (it's a guy from our church who she works for and knows really well). She marched me over to ask and he looked at me and said, "Yeah! Have more than one! But seriously, have anybody over that you want. We trust you." So we're gonna have a little party. =) I came up with a super cool invitation idea and as soon as I'm done providing you with information about my crazy week, I'm gonna go put my imagination to work. =)
Speaking of work, the 4th is my holiday to work this year. I much prefer it to a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas but working any holiday stinks (aside from the pay). We're planning to barbecue in the evening so that will be fun. And then Saturday is our annual family reunion/picnic/BBQ on my dad's side which I'm also looking forward to.
It's been (and will continue to be) a busy week! Hope all is well with everyone! Have a safe and happy 4th!
Saturday I babysat for some friends who were moving into their dream house they just built. I have no idea what the temperature peaked at that day but it was HOT! I did not envy them moving and was so thankful to be able to spend the afternoon in a very air conditioned room. Their house is AMAZING. I can't wait to babysit there in the future.
Sunday the daughter of one of my coworkers called. They were doing laundry at the laundromat and had the kids with them. It was NOT working out and she asked if I could PLEASE come and pick them up. I had never babysat for them before. They are two and three and FULL of energy! More energy than I have seen in any kids that age before. First I brought them to my apartment because it was SO hot outside. I thought, worse case scenario, pop in a movie and give them some fruit snacks. After fifteen minutes they had COMPLETELY destroyed my apartment and I called my friend and begged her to meet me at the park with her two kids.
Once we got to the park they were angels. I told them the one rule was that they had to keep their shoes on (most of the park was bark dust). That rule was only broken about... 72 times, but otherwise they were really good. My coworker asked if I would ever watch them again and I said yes, just not at my apartment! I thought it was kid proof/kid friendly but these kids were something else.
Monday night my kitchen flooded! I was rinsing dishes and loading my dishwasher and I turned on the garbage disposal. It immediately started grinding and sounded like there was a tin can in it so I shut it off and decided I would just not use it and let my managers know it wasn't working. La la la, loading dishwasher, water running, tv on... feet wet? I look down and the bath mat I keep in front of my sink is soaked and the water is running out over the floor. I shut off the faucet and open the cupboard under the sink... water is GUSHING out of my garbage disposal. In four places.
I immediately start calling people. First my on-site manager. Then the two emergency maintenance numbers I was given. Then all three again. Then a third time. FINALLY somebody answered at one number. She listened to my story and said yeah, that's a problem, I'll call some people and get right back to you. This was at about 5:45. During all this I threw some towels on the floor and started mopping up the lake that was spreading throughout my kitchen. But before I could get the water all soaked up it started disappearing... down the floor? Under the stove? Turns out, the new owner of the building doesn't really care where the water went. She basically said, "eh" and shrugged her shoulders about it. Which ought to make it fun when the linoleum in my kitchen starts peeling up or the neighbors downstairs start getting a sagging ceiling.
When I finally talked to a maintenance person she said since they just bought the place they don't have an established maintenance crew in Corvallis. Well folks, time to get one! So then the story was that it might take two days to fix. Hello! If I turn my sink on the water comes out the bottom! The plumbers ended up having extra time in their day and were able to fix it on Tuesday. They replaced the disposal and everything's fine so I have no idea what was wrong with it. And no idea where all that water went!
Last night I went shopping for supplies to make invitations for a girls night next weekend. Madre told me we should have a night while I'm house sitting and I told her we should probably ask (it's a guy from our church who she works for and knows really well). She marched me over to ask and he looked at me and said, "Yeah! Have more than one! But seriously, have anybody over that you want. We trust you." So we're gonna have a little party. =) I came up with a super cool invitation idea and as soon as I'm done providing you with information about my crazy week, I'm gonna go put my imagination to work. =)
Speaking of work, the 4th is my holiday to work this year. I much prefer it to a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas but working any holiday stinks (aside from the pay). We're planning to barbecue in the evening so that will be fun. And then Saturday is our annual family reunion/picnic/BBQ on my dad's side which I'm also looking forward to.
It's been (and will continue to be) a busy week! Hope all is well with everyone! Have a safe and happy 4th!
Friday, December 7, 2007
You did WHAT?
Today was NUTS at work. We were basically down from 5 people to 2. Also, it's the end of the week so a LOT of physician's who get suspension warning letters on Wednesday (yes, they can get suspended) come in to do their charts on Thursday and Friday.
In the middle of the chaos my mom walked in! It was cool to see her and let her see where I work and for her to meet my manager, who was "honored" to meet her. Then she told me that she was there because my brother was downstairs in x-ray.
He sprained his left wrist and BROKE his right wrist.
How, you ask?
Playing unicycle hockey.
For those of you who want details, apparently it's a tiny bone that doesn't get much blood and he has to be REALLY careful with it in the next few days. No movement, no swelling, basically no use. In a week or two he'll go to see an orthopedic surgeon and they will probably take the cast off, look at it and recast it. He'll probably be wearing a cast for 2 to 3 months. He has yet to find out how this will affect him at work (he got his new job the same week I got mine).
I'm sure he'd appreciate your prayers! Those of you who see him will probably get to sign his cast. =) Come up with your witty lines now!
In the middle of the chaos my mom walked in! It was cool to see her and let her see where I work and for her to meet my manager, who was "honored" to meet her. Then she told me that she was there because my brother was downstairs in x-ray.
He sprained his left wrist and BROKE his right wrist.
How, you ask?
Playing unicycle hockey.
For those of you who want details, apparently it's a tiny bone that doesn't get much blood and he has to be REALLY careful with it in the next few days. No movement, no swelling, basically no use. In a week or two he'll go to see an orthopedic surgeon and they will probably take the cast off, look at it and recast it. He'll probably be wearing a cast for 2 to 3 months. He has yet to find out how this will affect him at work (he got his new job the same week I got mine).
I'm sure he'd appreciate your prayers! Those of you who see him will probably get to sign his cast. =) Come up with your witty lines now!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
My hopes are up!
I'm feeling good today!
My cousin's girlfriend wrote me today and said that her mom as already ok'd taking Critter and now she's working on her dad but she thinks there's a good chance they can take her. YAY! I'm super happy about that because I know they'll take good care of her and I can still see her on occasion.
Also, I have a very good lead on a car. It's a '92 Toyota Corolla. And it turns out, the woman selling it is in Diana's department at work! I asked her how she thought "Xiumei" was pronounced and she goes, "Hey, I know her!" It's a small world.
I'm hoping to be able to test drive the car on Friday and maybe buy it next week! My bank was supposed to get back to me yesterday on how much I can be pre-approved for on a loan and I have yet to hear from them, but assuming I like the car and decide to buy it, I could have a car by the end of next week!
I have found the downside to working in the hospital. At a small clinic you sometimes run into information on people that you know, but it's usually boring information and just goes in one ear and out the other. Working at the main hospital you learn very interesting/detailed things about people and sometimes that's a disadvantage. Today I learned that the victim of a horrible car accident that I read ALL about this morning was a very close friend of one of my relatives. When I found out who it was I wanted to throw up because the accident was that bad. My prayers are with the victim's family and all those involved.
Last night I went to bed at 7:45 and it felt so good. Obviously that's not the case tonight, but I'm on my way to bed. I got our Christmas picture back today and it looks fantastic! I also got my first Christmas card in the mail today - thanks, Nana! It's beautiful. =)
Keep your fingers crossed about the car for me!
My cousin's girlfriend wrote me today and said that her mom as already ok'd taking Critter and now she's working on her dad but she thinks there's a good chance they can take her. YAY! I'm super happy about that because I know they'll take good care of her and I can still see her on occasion.
Also, I have a very good lead on a car. It's a '92 Toyota Corolla. And it turns out, the woman selling it is in Diana's department at work! I asked her how she thought "Xiumei" was pronounced and she goes, "Hey, I know her!" It's a small world.
I'm hoping to be able to test drive the car on Friday and maybe buy it next week! My bank was supposed to get back to me yesterday on how much I can be pre-approved for on a loan and I have yet to hear from them, but assuming I like the car and decide to buy it, I could have a car by the end of next week!
I have found the downside to working in the hospital. At a small clinic you sometimes run into information on people that you know, but it's usually boring information and just goes in one ear and out the other. Working at the main hospital you learn very interesting/detailed things about people and sometimes that's a disadvantage. Today I learned that the victim of a horrible car accident that I read ALL about this morning was a very close friend of one of my relatives. When I found out who it was I wanted to throw up because the accident was that bad. My prayers are with the victim's family and all those involved.
Last night I went to bed at 7:45 and it felt so good. Obviously that's not the case tonight, but I'm on my way to bed. I got our Christmas picture back today and it looks fantastic! I also got my first Christmas card in the mail today - thanks, Nana! It's beautiful. =)
Keep your fingers crossed about the car for me!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Overload
Whew! My brain is so full! I'll start at the beginning.
My roommate told me a couple of months ago (or sometime recently) that she's dropping out of the PhD program at OSU. She's been thinking about it for awhile and is quitting at the end of this term (in just a couple of weeks). She's been working in one of the labs for about a year and a half and one of her professors was going to hire her to work through the end of next summer. Yesterday she found out that she can't be hired after all (something about money) so as of the end of December she'll be jobless.
This leaves her a couple of options. She could either move back home to the Portland area, or she could try to find a job here and stay through next summer when our lease expires. She really has no reason to stay here (other than our lease) so she talked to her parents about it yesterday and I think she's decided to move back home.
This means breaking our lease, which I really have no problem with because I hate our managers and a lot of other things about this place, *except* that it's $1,200 to break the lease.
I have two friends in Albany who have a house (the house belongs to the grandfather of one of them and when he passes away, she inherits the house) and they are looking for a third roommate. The house is available December 1st but they told me that they could cover a third of the rent if I wasn't able to move in until January (it would actually be the very end of December). Rent would be cheaper there than here because it includes utilities, which I have to pay extra for right now. Plus the perks of living in a HOUSE (private backyard, washer and dryer, garage, etc.).
At this point, it looks like I am moving to Albany in less than 6 weeks. That means I have less than 6 weeks to come up with $600 (my half of breaking the lease) and a CAR. I've been checking out craigslist this week and today I e-mailed a couple of people with questions about potential cars. Ironically, the three I am looking at are all very similar in year and make. So I'll probably end up with an early 90's Honda!
The worst part for me is that I was told I can't bring my cat. One of my friends already has a cat and isn't supposed to, so she told me it wouldn't be ok for me to bring Critter. I feel awful about it because we haven't had Critter for THAT long (just since summer) and I'd hate to change her home again. I can't give her to my parents because I already dumped my last cat on them when I moved the first time. Diana can't take her because her mom is deathly allergic and Critter would never survive as a barn cat at Diana's - especially with all the coyotes around there. Steve already has two cats and probably isn't taking them when HE moves. Everybody else I know is either allergic, can't have a cat where they live, or hates cats. It's a predicament. My best shot at this point is to contact the people we got her from. They told me if for some reason she didn't work out, to let them know. I'm sure they meant if she didn't adjust, but I want her to go to a place where I know she'll be well taken care of. She really is a good cat. Anybody want a young, sweet kitty? She'll sleep on your bed at night and keep you laughing with her antics!
I have *possibly* sold my car stereo system. I got an e-mail last night from a woman who said she'd like to buy it and asked for details on it, which I gave her. She told me she lives in Oregon but is on business in Michigan and could I please send her my address so she can mail me payment. She said once I receive the payment then she'll arrange to pick everything up. And she needs all this done by Tuesday next week. I don't think so lady - that sounds too fishy. I never said anything about receiving payment before she picks up the equipment, so I'm not sure why she thinks she needs to do that. Plus, she's seen pictures of the stuff, but not the actual stuff. So I told her that rather than give her my address, I'd like to set up a time next week to meet somewhere (with Steve) and exchange money and equipment all at once. I thought maybe the parking lot of my bank so I can just go right in and deposit the money. Haha. So if that DOES end up working, there's half of my $600. However, after I told her that I didn't get anymore responses, so hopefully it wasn't a shot at a scam. (If it was, go me for not falling for it.)
Anyway, if y'all could pray for me, that would be splendid. Just that everything will fall into place (my managers not being the typical jerks that they are, the house staying available, buying a car...) and that I'll be able to come up with the money. To my guy friends, I'll probably be asking you to help with moving at the end of December! But don't worry, you'll get incentive. I'm a pain in the butt to move.
Also, for those of you who read my Christmas wish list - scratch everything. I want CASH this Christmas. =)
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
My roommate told me a couple of months ago (or sometime recently) that she's dropping out of the PhD program at OSU. She's been thinking about it for awhile and is quitting at the end of this term (in just a couple of weeks). She's been working in one of the labs for about a year and a half and one of her professors was going to hire her to work through the end of next summer. Yesterday she found out that she can't be hired after all (something about money) so as of the end of December she'll be jobless.
This leaves her a couple of options. She could either move back home to the Portland area, or she could try to find a job here and stay through next summer when our lease expires. She really has no reason to stay here (other than our lease) so she talked to her parents about it yesterday and I think she's decided to move back home.
This means breaking our lease, which I really have no problem with because I hate our managers and a lot of other things about this place, *except* that it's $1,200 to break the lease.
I have two friends in Albany who have a house (the house belongs to the grandfather of one of them and when he passes away, she inherits the house) and they are looking for a third roommate. The house is available December 1st but they told me that they could cover a third of the rent if I wasn't able to move in until January (it would actually be the very end of December). Rent would be cheaper there than here because it includes utilities, which I have to pay extra for right now. Plus the perks of living in a HOUSE (private backyard, washer and dryer, garage, etc.).
At this point, it looks like I am moving to Albany in less than 6 weeks. That means I have less than 6 weeks to come up with $600 (my half of breaking the lease) and a CAR. I've been checking out craigslist this week and today I e-mailed a couple of people with questions about potential cars. Ironically, the three I am looking at are all very similar in year and make. So I'll probably end up with an early 90's Honda!
The worst part for me is that I was told I can't bring my cat. One of my friends already has a cat and isn't supposed to, so she told me it wouldn't be ok for me to bring Critter. I feel awful about it because we haven't had Critter for THAT long (just since summer) and I'd hate to change her home again. I can't give her to my parents because I already dumped my last cat on them when I moved the first time. Diana can't take her because her mom is deathly allergic and Critter would never survive as a barn cat at Diana's - especially with all the coyotes around there. Steve already has two cats and probably isn't taking them when HE moves. Everybody else I know is either allergic, can't have a cat where they live, or hates cats. It's a predicament. My best shot at this point is to contact the people we got her from. They told me if for some reason she didn't work out, to let them know. I'm sure they meant if she didn't adjust, but I want her to go to a place where I know she'll be well taken care of. She really is a good cat. Anybody want a young, sweet kitty? She'll sleep on your bed at night and keep you laughing with her antics!
I have *possibly* sold my car stereo system. I got an e-mail last night from a woman who said she'd like to buy it and asked for details on it, which I gave her. She told me she lives in Oregon but is on business in Michigan and could I please send her my address so she can mail me payment. She said once I receive the payment then she'll arrange to pick everything up. And she needs all this done by Tuesday next week. I don't think so lady - that sounds too fishy. I never said anything about receiving payment before she picks up the equipment, so I'm not sure why she thinks she needs to do that. Plus, she's seen pictures of the stuff, but not the actual stuff. So I told her that rather than give her my address, I'd like to set up a time next week to meet somewhere (with Steve) and exchange money and equipment all at once. I thought maybe the parking lot of my bank so I can just go right in and deposit the money. Haha. So if that DOES end up working, there's half of my $600. However, after I told her that I didn't get anymore responses, so hopefully it wasn't a shot at a scam. (If it was, go me for not falling for it.)
Anyway, if y'all could pray for me, that would be splendid. Just that everything will fall into place (my managers not being the typical jerks that they are, the house staying available, buying a car...) and that I'll be able to come up with the money. To my guy friends, I'll probably be asking you to help with moving at the end of December! But don't worry, you'll get incentive. I'm a pain in the butt to move.
Also, for those of you who read my Christmas wish list - scratch everything. I want CASH this Christmas. =)
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Update
I didn't have access to a newspaper yesterday so I wasn't able to read the story about the crash that happened the day after mine. I did find it online this morning. You can read the story here. It's the GT so I don't know how accurate the story is, but it matches up with everything else I've heard.
Please keep praying for me. I came back to work this morning and am totally exhausted and emotional. My wrist is still really bothering me (the doctor said it would probably get worse before it gets better and that's proving to be true). It's tough when people ask me, "How's your new car??" and I have to tell them that I don't have it anymore. I'm gonna have to stop showing people pictures because they're hard for me to look at over and over.
I weighed myself this morning (when Steve went with me to the doctor on Monday he guessed my weight to the exact pound before I even stepped on the scale) and I'm losing again. I'm sure it's a combination of stress and not feeling like eating so please also pray that my appetite would return. When I get below a certain weight I get cold all the time and don't feel as well. I am still within a healthy weight bracket but my body says it's too low.
I am still so thankful for so many things.
Please keep praying for me. I came back to work this morning and am totally exhausted and emotional. My wrist is still really bothering me (the doctor said it would probably get worse before it gets better and that's proving to be true). It's tough when people ask me, "How's your new car??" and I have to tell them that I don't have it anymore. I'm gonna have to stop showing people pictures because they're hard for me to look at over and over.
I weighed myself this morning (when Steve went with me to the doctor on Monday he guessed my weight to the exact pound before I even stepped on the scale) and I'm losing again. I'm sure it's a combination of stress and not feeling like eating so please also pray that my appetite would return. When I get below a certain weight I get cold all the time and don't feel as well. I am still within a healthy weight bracket but my body says it's too low.
I am still so thankful for so many things.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The car
Okay, imagine the hood not popped up like that and this is what my car looked like before the accident.
And after...
I took a friend and two of his friends over today and they dismembered my car (it's still weird to say "my car") and got my stereo and subwoofer out. It is now all sitting in my living room so eventually I'll have to haul it all out to Steve's storage unit because the thing is huge (it looks smaller in the back of a car). I learned a lot about the car as they were tearing the dash apart. I was able to get a couple of things out that I forgot the night of the crash (an extra piece to Jordan's car seat and some petty paperwork) and take these pictures which I'm glad to have.
Emotionally it was hard. I didn't think I got very attached to the car in 4 days but I was wrong. It's the car I crashed in. It's the car that was finally going to make me more independent. It's the car I payed for myself. The car I learned to drive stick in. It's a GOOD car. And it's the car that virtually saved my life because had we been in Steve's car... things would be a lot worse.
I'm exhausted. I'm weary and emotional. I drove by the scene today (and the scene of the fatality, which was actually on the other side of the highway, but still the same area) and saw the skid marks from my car. It all replayed in my head again. When I saw the skid marks is when I actually remembered skidding.
Tomorrow I go back to work and I am so not ready.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
The way my evening went...
I was traveling west on Hwy 34 when a car traveling east decided to turn in front of me. I panicked because I've only driven a stick about three times and kind of freaked out for a second, slammed on the brakes, swerved and smashed into the back of his car.It was an old gentleman who I think was trying to go home, but he missed his road and was probably trying to turn around in the parking lot. His car spun around and landed in the ditch.
Jordan was asleep in the backseat, which I think was probably a good thing because he woke up to the shock but didn't have to see it happen.
The whole thing happened in slow motion. The panic, stomping on the brake, the screeching tires, me yelling, Steve yelling, the smash, the lurch...
I tried to drive the car off the road and killed it twice. Steve said all he could think of was getting Jordan and I out of the car. When we first crashed a lady ran up to my window and asked if I was okay. I said yes and asked if she was okay and she said yes, but I didn't realize until about an hour later that she wasn't part of the accident. I honestly believe she was a guardian angel. Her husband helped Steve get the car off the road and they almost got hit two more times in the process because the accident was on somewhat of a corner and people come zooming through there without paying much attention.
We are so lucky. Yes, my car is totaled and probably no insurance company will ever insure me again, but Steve and Jordan and I are all okay and the old man in the other car is okay. I remember thinking in the two seconds after the crash, "Maybe it's not that bad..." and then when I walked over to the front of it to see, I just burst into tears. For four days I owned a car.
I'm really shaken up. My left wrist got jarred pretty bad (but the air bag didn't deploy) and I think tomorrow I'll probably be pretty stiff and sore. I'm trying not to play the "what if" game because the what if's include us dead on the highway. That's the stretch that I've always referred to as Death Valley. I am not one of those crosses on the roadside. God was watching out for us and I have a guardian angel named Jake.
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