How Are You Feeling Now, Kristin?

For all of you who have emailed to ask (or all of you who wanted to and haven't yet), I'm hanging in there. I am discovering muscles in my body that I never knew existed. The doctor likened it to having the arthritis of an 80 year old woman. Well, I know my grandmother is older than 80... but she has pretty bad arthritis. If this is how she feels every day, she has, in the last 24 hours, become my biggest hero. You don't know headache or muscle ache until your muscles are spazzing out so badly that you are cramping up and bouncing objects resting against them. I've also learned that painful rashes are much worse than non-painful ones... mainly because of the heat they produce. I have also learned, while sleeping is a good thing, Lyme Disease has found a way to ruin that, too. Every time you move, you are going to wake up in pain. You will be so sweaty that you will change shirts three times a night for 5 days. And, your migraine is going to make you not want to get up in the morning and start the whole experience all over again. But, I am hoping that these problems will get better daily. My head is a TINY bit better than yesterday. But it is still in the top 5 migraine headaches that I have ever experienced. What pain!

Blog at ya later!

Life Learning Lesson #240 - The EKG Sticker

As you read earlier, I was at the local Emergency Room today and found out that I have or "have been diagnosed with (despite blood test not being back yet)" Lyme Disease. While there, you probably also remember I had an EKG. Well, my friends, this experience has created a totally new experience for me. Although I have had my share of EKG's, THIS has never happened to me before. Let me explain...

First of all, I want to state, before leaving the ER, I got the stickers off my leg after Jane reminded me I forgot to take them off. Remember I have a temperature of 101.6 as I type this and am not exactly at my brightest bulb moment.

When we got home, I immediately took my new med and a pain killer, as my head was splitting open. Not a thought in the world was given to removing the 10 more stickers from the EKG. What can I say... MY BAD!!??!! If only I had know what reaction those dang thing have with higher body temperature, I may have just been more motivated to remove those darn stickers soon.

After speaking to my mom on the phone, I went downstairs because something was running down the front of my bra. It was what had been gel from the stickers and was now some kind of, well the best word for it was now, WET STICKY GOO. When my temp. went up again, as it is want to do on occasion recently, the gel became WET, STICKY, and turned into a liquid. This liquid was all over my shirt and shorts and some had dried to my skin... making it VERY hard to separate my skin from shirt... RIP!!!!!!!!

After taking 15 minutes to clean this crud off my body, I came up here to blog about this experience. As I read this to my mother in law, who finds the situation less than blogworthy, I discover this lovely substance IS now stuck to the bottom of my foot and is webbing between my toes. OH GEE! How'd that happen... it travels?????

Life lesson: TAKE stickers from EKG off upon removing gown at Emergency Room. If you don't, you could have a bigger problem than just sticker marks. You could just have a WET STICKY GOO mess!

"So..... You've Got Lyme Disease!"

Ok... many of the people who read my blog probably were unaware that I have been suffering for the last three days with what I thought was the mother of all migraines. My head hurt so badly that it honestly felt like my head was going to crack open. It felt better when I had a spinal fluid leak after my spinal tap several years ago than the head pain I've had in the last three days. The first day, Wednesday, around 1 pm, just before it started to rain heavily, my head started to throb. Jane kindly gave me a Advil Cold and Sinus and, before heading out to my SIL's Books, Cookies, and Conversation meeting (I didn't want to miss another one. My SIL is WAY too important for me to not be there for her), I downed two tylenol in an effort to control that evil throb. I am glad to say that it was a mild annoyance during the Book talk. But, on the way home, it started to kick up again. I took one of my "Vicodin" that I keep in reserve for the REALLY bad head pain migraines and went to bed. I woke up feeling better and felt that we really nailed that migraine before it took over. If only I had known...


The next evening, after a day of working in basement, in which I understand I was a little bit on the "grouchy" side (Ok... another word would fit better... this is a family blog), I noticed that I was getting a really odd rash. It didn't bother me toooooooo much, since I figured it was one of two things. It was either a heat rash or it was some kind of dermo-skin allergy rash. Around 9 pm, I started to feel "funny". Lightheaded, blurred vision, waves of warmth, neck stiffness. Immediately, I went downstairs to take my glucose reading (being hypoglycemic for 20 years, lightheaded is usually my first reaction). It was normal. I, on a whim, took my temp. I couldn't believe my thermometer! 101.6! No way could that be right. I, in general, felt fine. So, I borrowed Stephen's thermometer. 101.7! Hmmmm! Let's find a non-digital thermometer. So, I borrowed Jane's thermometer. As I sat there, I realized I couldn't read the clock. So, I counted to 300 and found Jane to read it for me. In Jane's defense, I don't think she understood HOW much pain I was in with my head. She is a very caring wonderful lady who would never let me unneedlessly suffer. Jane read it as 99.something. I breathe a sigh of relief and settle down to watch the ceiling start sprouting blurry grass.

As I prepared for bed, I grabbed my puke bucket (Hyacinth) - a reference that British Comedy lovers will understand - and went to bed. No stomach awareness moments occurred that night, but the temp., according to Stephen's thermometer, was 102.8, at 3 am. I was getting worried.

The next morning, I was back to normal, temp wise, but still had a lingering headache. I thought that this was starting to get VERY annoying and, perhaps I should go to Urgent Care to get some pain meds. I decided, at that point, since I was schedule to see my family doctor on Saturday, wait it out. My fever was gone... I was fine, right?


AT quarter to 4, I took my temp. again. 101.8! YIKE! We started pushing fluids and gave me aspirin at 4. When we took the temp. right before dinner, after three bottles of water and two full strength aspirin, it was now 102.4! Jane was now looking a little worried. I asked when, if at all, we should start worrying about this temp. I never register a normal temp.! So, to me, this was starting to worry me... especially as my neck was getting MORE and more stiff. Jane told me to wait til Saturday, since I already had an appointment. My Stephen concurred. I wasn't totally sold on this, since I was still getting a little scared, since I start work on MONDAY. But, I trust my family, RIGHT?????


Before bed, my temp. was 102.7. At 3 am, it was over 103! Now, I am getting really freaked. The shower I had before bed and the icee weren't working!!!! And my neck was now feeling worse than my head. And, my head was no picnic. Believe me! FLASH forward to this morning.... at 9:10 am, I walk into the doctor's office. He sees me within 5 minutes of getting in the room and checks my rash that appeared several days earlier and that "mysterious bruise" I'd had for several weeks. Needless to say, my bruise kinda looked like a bullseye. But, with the neck stiffness, I got sent to the ER. L. Regional, here we come!


Before you ask... no, that isn't my bullseye. Mine is in a place that I really cannot show on the internet. But it looked like the very first inside ring level of the one above. Expect mine is perfectly round.

Ok.... back to my story! When we get to L. Regional, we get triaged immediately. They shove a mask on me, put me in a low pressure room, and pretty much quarantine the hospital room. They took an EKG, a chest x-ray, and several LARGE bottles of blood... three of them looking remarkably like large Tabasco bottles ( I was told they were specimen bottles for CBC) - they still were trying to rule out Meningitis. Then, they did a chest x-ray and told me to hang on to see if they were going to have to do a lumbar puncture. EEEEEEEK! Not another one! NEVER! But, I didn't say that. I just started praying VERY hard. Jane stayed with me and read from her Jasper Fforde book (Something Rotten - book 4 in the Thursday Next series). Something about Jane and Emergency Rooms makes her want to read to me and I LOVED every second of it.

In comes the chest xray. Then, after about 2 hours, the doctor comes back and says, "You don't have meningitis. Tests won't be back on Lyme for three days... but..." I leave with a script for an antibiotic, a paper that might as well say, "SO you have Lyme Disease!" that details what it is, how it is treated, symptoms, and how you'll probably feel, and the normal 'if you feel worse' letter.

I want to know... WHY ME? Why three days before the start of my new job do I have to go and get diagnosed with something that may or may not (doctor danced around that one) reduce my headache to the point I can shove boxes on Monday. ACKKKKKK!

Oh Tree... Oh, TREE!

The county finally came for the tree today. When Jane called, they said they had three phone calls about the tree and would be there ASAP. I have to give them credit, they got here within 2 hours after that and got to work immediately. ONE small issue, though. They left the branch attached to the wires. Only Verizon may touch the rest of the branch. When we called them, they said they'll be here on the 5th of August. Jane pointed out to them that our neighbors are without phone because of this and asked if we could send them these pictures. I guess the lady acted offended and said, "There is no where to send us emails. So, no... we don't want your photos." Verizon should be ashamed of itself. In this photo, taken from the right side of the log, you can see the exposed wiring and how the line literally runs RIGHT through the tree branch.
This is from the other side (left) of the tree. It literally demonstrates how that line had the tree grow around it over a number of years. It isn't like we didn't warn them years ago.
This is one of my favorite pictures. This is my father in law, Bill, demonstrating how low that wire is to the ground. He is about 6 feet tall and, with putting his hand slightly above his head, can touch the branch leftover. Also, see the pile of wood... that is what was left over from the fallen branch that they left us for firewood. I cannot remember EVER having a fire in the fireplace, much less needing firewood in this house. But, I bet the wood will be gone when we wake up tomorrow. Neighbors will scavenge.
This is the log/branch leftover from the front of the house. You can see Bill's hand. This thing is probably a 20 to 30 lb., if not MORE, log still hanging on the phone line. AND they want to wait until the 5th of August?

A closer picture of Bill to show how very little he had to stretch to touch this chunk of wood hanging in our front yard.

I wanted to get one last picture of this &^(*-ing phone line log. The darn thing is just "THERE" and I still feel a fat squirrel walking on it can make the whole kit and caboodle snap. This honestly worries me. Verizon is very foolish to leave a branch of this magnitude hanging there... especially with that exposed wire. THEN again, it is a utility. When have they ever been really rationale. That is, unless they want their payment. Then the deadline is a RIGHT NOW. :)

The Tree: Part 2

This first picture with this grouping is the actual split in the tree. I took this picture with a zoom feature on the camera. I was several hundred feet away since BG&E had not cleared the tree yet (no power lines difficulties). It is now almost 20 hours later. BG&E still hasn't cleared it.









This next picture is of the "line" that is stuck in the tree. We "THINK" that it is a phone wire. However, even phone wires can have electrical connections. So, the power company STILL needs to participate.









This third picture is of the yard. The tree came down in the storm last night (around midnight). As I said earlier, the green car next to the tree is my car. I am delighted it didn't knock the tree the other way. But, just to be safe, Stephen moved my car WAY out of there. By the way, in this picture, you can see our attempt at growing grass. There is a grass line with new versus old grass in front of that railroad tie.







This picture is to show exactly HOW close it came to the house. That window in front of the tree is where my Father In Law has all his "stuff". It is the room he feels the safest in. There is less than 2 ft. from the tree and the house.









Another shot of the split in the tree. I wanted to get the picture to people how big a split this was. Jane had warned the phone company for years that that tree was a hazard. They wouldn't do anything until the line came down. Well... still been almost 20 hours... WHERE ARE YOU??? You can also see my car just behind the tree again.








Between when I took this picture and now, the split has become more defined and the tree branch is closer to the ground. We, luckily, still have power, phone, and cable. I keep saying that, one overweight squirrel and we are toast, though.

The Tree: Part 1

When I got up this morning, I was met by my mother in law stating that she "had a surprise for me". She took me outside and showed me the tree branch. That green car by the tree??? MINE! It wasn't hurt a bit.

Welllllll?????????

Welllll..... I start Monday! :) Bought work boots and gloves for work within an hour of being hired. WOOOHOOO!

BACK!

Just got back from my second interview. Went well. Have third interview tomorrow at 2. :)

Well... Interview Time!

Today is my call back for UPS. I have to say I am a little bit nervous. I haven't been on a non-educational interview since my first year of teaching ended (other than last week). Last week, I had direction of what to wear. Today, I have NO clue. I think I will wear a nice polo shirt and khakis again. It worked well last week. Wish me luck.

Anyway... yesterday was our "family" gathering to celebrate my birthday. All-in-all, it went well. The only "glitch" in the thing was that my husband's grandmother, being the kind soul that she is, brought lemon cookies and two bite brownies. I only had some of the lemon cookies (and I thought they were great). But, my brother in law wasn't fond of either of the items. Some things got said that made my husband's grandmother sad. I made it a point to tell her how much I liked the lemon cookies.

We also had time to sit down and watch my new favorite movie, Keeping Mum. It is a dark comedy from the Brits. Great movie... but rated R for language and nudity.

I also received three great gifts. I got a copy of Flogging Molly's latest CD from my sister in law, and a cat pillow/picture frame from my niece. Cool, huh? :)

If all goes well, I'll try to blog again when I get home from the interview. Blogcentral OUT!

How'd It Go, Guy Smiley?

To answer the question, the interview went well! I have a call back interview for Monday! I really would like to be offered this job. Why, you may ask, would a teacher with a Masters degree who is starting law school on Sept. 3rd want to be a UPS package handler? One word and one word only can explain it. BENEFITS! Although I will have next to no take home pay (I made more take home pay per week as a newspaper carrier when I was 11), I will have some of the best benefits known to man. Once I have put in my required time, I will get 100% covered health, dental, and vision benefits. On top of that, they will pay 3,000 for my degree A YEAR! And the scholarship starts at the end of my first semester, meaning I could get 1,000 for this semester and each after it. WOOOOHOOO! It also has great hours. UPS also has great partnerships with companies such as Dell, Panasonic Electronics, and Verizon Wireless. Fingers crossed.... wish me luck!

Happy Birthday To Me?

So far, July 17th, 2008 has been a rather uneventful day. For a birthday, so far it really ranks very low on the birthday list. Once again, the C&O Historical Society's convention has hit upon my birthday. So, my parents are absent from being here. The highlight of my day plans is the fact I have an interview at UPS at noon. I just really think this is going to be a really blah day.

*SIDENOTE* I just got called to the phone. My sister in law called me to wish me good luck at the interview and to tell me happy birthday. I feel like this might be a slightly better day because of it.

I have to say, I wish it wasn't my birthday today. I want to be able to smile and be happy today and I have no desire to be happy or celebratory. I'll try to post later and tell people how the interview went.

The Memory Game From Ashli's blog

I stole this from Ashli's blog. She found this one on Kelly's blog and decided she'd play along since it sounded cool...

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

The Blogger Catches Up On Vacation Blogging

Has it ever been a busy vacation! We are just getting settled back into the Dayton area after spending several days in Louisville and Columbus. Last weekend (Sunday) brought a really fun family gathering. We had some interesting pictures in which I attempted to get rid of all my unused disposable cameras. *SIDE NOTE* I noticed that all my older (at least 2 years old) gave me better pictures than my NEWER cameras.... what's up with that?!?** It was nice to see everyone... but, we really missed seeing Ashli and her family. Hopefully her children are "on the mend".

All I want to say about Louisville is that we had a good time. We saw some great stuff and did some things I'd always wanted to do... all lead by a born and bred Louisvillian... Louisvillien... person who lived in Louisville. I am equally going to say that our trip to Columbus was a success and that I personally had a good time seeing those people I had not seen in awhile.

Now that we are back in Dayton, I have a couple more things I want to get done. I want to visit one of my favorite restaurants, Elinor's Amber Rose. The Amber Rose is an Eastern European restaurant that specializes in homemade German, Polish, Hungarian, Russian and Italian dishes. I absolutely love their pieroggi and virtinai platter. I also would like to go down to the Cox Arboretum. We have been invited to a "wild" party on Saturday evening and it also looks like we may head down to CityFolk fest in Dayton. I really only have a couple more food requests... but I am really getting sick of fast food... so, I may give up my requests. In an ideal world, I would be able to eat Penn Station subs and W.G. Grinders subs and get in a trip to Ritter's Custard before we leave. Right now, I'd be happy if we hit ONE more before we leave on Tuesday.

Will blog more when we get back to the homestead on Tuesday. Blogmeister OUT!