It is about as official as a broken toe can get. Definitely broken. Potentially broken in three places. They also tell me I did a number on my ankle (sprain) and knee (potential chip) in the fall. Lucky me!
Today has been a really hard day. Am feeling really achy and horrid and just am having "a down day" in general. I really need some time away today. But, it isn't going to happen.
Frustrated blogger out.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Man, Oh Man, IS My Toe SORE!
When I woke up this morning, I tried to stand up on my left foot. MISTAKE!!! I had pain shooting up my leg extending from the purple spot bruise on my left big toe... and the brown bruisey streak down to my foot. From having broken every toe on that foot at some point in my life, I suspect I have broken the toe AGAIN. I suspect, also, I am going to have to go and get it taped at Urgent Care. If it was another of the toes, I would worry less. But, the big toe is the balance toe. Need to cautious.
Dinner at Kristen's last night was good. I would advise J. to buy more "real chicken" and fewer strips next time. But, the company was great and I enjoyed our evening. The only downside was it was too short an evening. That and J. didn't use her time to talk with her children about B. J. claims that, when she brought it up, neither of her children seemed concerned enough - HENCE she doesn't feel comfortable talking with them about it now. I personally think SHE was the uncomfortable one. Since you both read this blog, children of J., it is up to you to talk with her. Or not. Your choice.
Bruised Blogger Out!
Dinner at Kristen's last night was good. I would advise J. to buy more "real chicken" and fewer strips next time. But, the company was great and I enjoyed our evening. The only downside was it was too short an evening. That and J. didn't use her time to talk with her children about B. J. claims that, when she brought it up, neither of her children seemed concerned enough - HENCE she doesn't feel comfortable talking with them about it now. I personally think SHE was the uncomfortable one. Since you both read this blog, children of J., it is up to you to talk with her. Or not. Your choice.
Bruised Blogger Out!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Update: October 26, 2008
I know it has been awhile since I updated. I have been very busy trying to get on with my life despite some really "not so great" and "great" things happening. The PICC line is out and the scar is finally healing. It ooooozed for weeks. But now... it just looks like a purple chicken pox scar. I'm ok with it. Also, finding out that the Lyme Test may have been a false positive and I have gone through 6 weeks of Lyme treatment for nothing, this was a tad bit of a let down. It also came to me as a great shot when my neurologist referred me to a neurosurgeon to get a second option for the meningioma I have had for years and they have done nothing about. Seems this guy feels that it is getting to the point where something might need to be done. After a higher resolution MRI and an upcoming "more functional" CT scan, I will see him again in November to discuss whether he wants to fish for it, let it go, or send me to a Gamma Knife specialist (please let it be the second or third one!). So, healthwise, the Infectious Disease specialist is now out of the picture. She has handed me back to my family doctor and to the care of the two neurologists. I just want to feel better.
Speaking of wanting to feel better, I have lost about 14 pounds in about 2 weeks. No, it isn't because I don't feel good. It is because I am consciously attempting to get healthier. If I have to feel like this, I might as well lose some weight and get some balance and strength back.
With that said, I guess today is not my day. When I was going down the stairs this morning, my knee gave out and I ended up falling down the last three stairs. OM Gosh! It is a good thing I was hanging on or I would have taken out my vacuum cleaner and probably an end table in the process. Instead, I have a majorly swollen ankle, puffy knee, and the right side of left foot is turning purple and swelling. If it is still like this later, I will probably go over to Urgent Care. But knowing where I hit my foot (on the metal banister) makes my feeling of urgency less urgent. This is the third time in less than a week I've had that knee go out. Blasted knee. Maybe losing the weight is the answer for that, too.
We have been playing with our family Christmas gift a little early this year. Jane decided that our family Christmas gift would be a Wii gaming system. I decided, if we were going to get a Wii, I would purchase a Wii Fit and work out on that. It has been the best low impact exercise program I've ever worked with AND worth EVERY penny spent on it. It doesn't kill my knees like walking these hills and is not as much impact as step used to be. But, I still can do step on the Wii and I am learning Yoga slowly. I think Wii and Wii Fit are going to be the best gifts we have ever given ourselves. It doesn't hurt we've also picked up some great games.
I will try to be better about posting more often. This has been a very long post and it doesn't even cover half the things I wanted to say.
One last thing, I wanted to share my plans for the day. Around 4 pm-ish, Stephen, Jane, and I (Bill is watching Drew at a Water Polo meet in New England) will be going to visit the Catonsville branch of the family for dinner. I am so delighted that we will be seeing them. We don't see them enough and I really enjoy spending time with them. We'll pick up some Popeyes Chicken on the way up and Kristen is making potatoes. Stephen picked up a chocolate chip cake for dessert. Sounds like good food and good company!! What a great day this will be!
Speaking of wanting to feel better, I have lost about 14 pounds in about 2 weeks. No, it isn't because I don't feel good. It is because I am consciously attempting to get healthier. If I have to feel like this, I might as well lose some weight and get some balance and strength back.
With that said, I guess today is not my day. When I was going down the stairs this morning, my knee gave out and I ended up falling down the last three stairs. OM Gosh! It is a good thing I was hanging on or I would have taken out my vacuum cleaner and probably an end table in the process. Instead, I have a majorly swollen ankle, puffy knee, and the right side of left foot is turning purple and swelling. If it is still like this later, I will probably go over to Urgent Care. But knowing where I hit my foot (on the metal banister) makes my feeling of urgency less urgent. This is the third time in less than a week I've had that knee go out. Blasted knee. Maybe losing the weight is the answer for that, too.
We have been playing with our family Christmas gift a little early this year. Jane decided that our family Christmas gift would be a Wii gaming system. I decided, if we were going to get a Wii, I would purchase a Wii Fit and work out on that. It has been the best low impact exercise program I've ever worked with AND worth EVERY penny spent on it. It doesn't kill my knees like walking these hills and is not as much impact as step used to be. But, I still can do step on the Wii and I am learning Yoga slowly. I think Wii and Wii Fit are going to be the best gifts we have ever given ourselves. It doesn't hurt we've also picked up some great games.
I will try to be better about posting more often. This has been a very long post and it doesn't even cover half the things I wanted to say.
One last thing, I wanted to share my plans for the day. Around 4 pm-ish, Stephen, Jane, and I (Bill is watching Drew at a Water Polo meet in New England) will be going to visit the Catonsville branch of the family for dinner. I am so delighted that we will be seeing them. We don't see them enough and I really enjoy spending time with them. We'll pick up some Popeyes Chicken on the way up and Kristen is making potatoes. Stephen picked up a chocolate chip cake for dessert. Sounds like good food and good company!! What a great day this will be!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Welll... Bother!
Today I just feel numb. The cat woke me up at 2 am by bringing me an adorable baby mouse... while I was in bed. There is NOTHING like having a baby mouse run up your blanket, followed by a half-proud cat. They both ended up on the floor... the cat chasing the squeaking mouse and catching it several times (making a loud squealing noise). So much for sleep last night. I then decided to shake my blanket out and Stephen questioned what I was doing. At two, I must not make much sense.... I told him I wanted to make sure there were not any more mouse friends. He laughed and said, "No... you are just trying to get rid of any mouse surprise." ACK!!!!! Now I am definitely NOT going back to sleep! Ingesting mouse excrement? Isn't that how you get the Hantavirus? NO sleep for me!!!
Needless to say, since I also had Ambien last night, I did fall asleep... reluctantly... around 4 am. I woke up around 8 am... groggy and feeling really, really (did I mention REALLY) headache-y. My headache (since July 24th) has been around a 7 out of 10. This was worse. It had throab. It had nausia. It had aura. All I wanted to do was curl up and wish the world away. Hopefully, as the day continues, my headache will steadly get better. I was hoping a shower would do it. It isn't cutting it a bit.
We are supposed to go up to my SIL's house tonight. I emailed her last night to tell her that, although I expected to go up there tonight, I wanted to see how awake Stephen was after getting off work. He worked on a computer project until nearly midnight last night. I woke him up with the mouse issue at 2. His alarm went off at quarter til 7. He looked like a living zombie this morning. I have the feeling he isn't in his best of shapes, either. If my headache does not stop AND he still looks like Night of the Living Dead when he gets home, I feel our road trip must be canceled for lack of coherant drivers. I promise we will see you soon, if that is the case, SIL oh mine.
Needless to say, since I also had Ambien last night, I did fall asleep... reluctantly... around 4 am. I woke up around 8 am... groggy and feeling really, really (did I mention REALLY) headache-y. My headache (since July 24th) has been around a 7 out of 10. This was worse. It had throab. It had nausia. It had aura. All I wanted to do was curl up and wish the world away. Hopefully, as the day continues, my headache will steadly get better. I was hoping a shower would do it. It isn't cutting it a bit.
We are supposed to go up to my SIL's house tonight. I emailed her last night to tell her that, although I expected to go up there tonight, I wanted to see how awake Stephen was after getting off work. He worked on a computer project until nearly midnight last night. I woke him up with the mouse issue at 2. His alarm went off at quarter til 7. He looked like a living zombie this morning. I have the feeling he isn't in his best of shapes, either. If my headache does not stop AND he still looks like Night of the Living Dead when he gets home, I feel our road trip must be canceled for lack of coherant drivers. I promise we will see you soon, if that is the case, SIL oh mine.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Update: 10/8/08
Ok... it has been several days since I updated how I'm doing. Here's my update:
The PICC line was removed LAST Wednesday around 8:00 pm. The removal didn't hurt a bit. But, it began hurting about 10 minutes later and I have been told that it should be ok to remove the tegaderm totally in about 24 hours. The last check, it was still oozing a little and bleeding a little.
The blood tests have yet to come back from the second opinion. I have an appointment with them on the 22nd. But... I also have an appointment to see a neurosurgeon consult (as referred by Dr. Asad) from seeing the MRI calcified pieces. I have no worries about that... they are going to say "We're gonna keep an eye on it!"
Otherwise, things aren't great... and we are not making progress in the area of headache/aches. But, hopefully next post, things will be different.
The PICC line was removed LAST Wednesday around 8:00 pm. The removal didn't hurt a bit. But, it began hurting about 10 minutes later and I have been told that it should be ok to remove the tegaderm totally in about 24 hours. The last check, it was still oozing a little and bleeding a little.
The blood tests have yet to come back from the second opinion. I have an appointment with them on the 22nd. But... I also have an appointment to see a neurosurgeon consult (as referred by Dr. Asad) from seeing the MRI calcified pieces. I have no worries about that... they are going to say "We're gonna keep an eye on it!"
Otherwise, things aren't great... and we are not making progress in the area of headache/aches. But, hopefully next post, things will be different.
Creative Writing Prompt
Today's Prompt: Write a letter to the 10-year old child you had been.
Dear Kristin:
I know this is hard to believe, but after seeing your future, I felt I needed to write to you. There are things that will happen in your future that, if you know how to handle them, could cause you fewer problems. First of all, I know school is a real bummer for you right now. Everything seems really hard and not really worth the effort. In later years, with your skills that will develop in Language Arts, you will really take off. Don't worry so much about your math skills. At some time, the skills will start to "click". You may not believe it now, but in the future, you will be a teacher. I know right now, your idea is to "get out of school as soon as possible" and you think the best thing is to leave school at sixteen... but, this simply DOES not happen. First of all, you find your place in the educational world when you realize you are a talented writer. Stop laughing... honest! Secondly, you find you work really well with young kids and have a talent for working with them. Just keep an open mind... it will happen sooner than you think!
I also want you to know that you will get out of Iowa soon. You will find somewhere that you actually feel your intelligence is appreciated. I can't tell you much more about that. But, you will.
In the future, you will find a man who will love you very much... and guess what? You love him just as much. You will move from your family to be with him... but you will grow to love your new home and will love your new family more and more with each passing month.
I wish I could make everything better for you. But, the best I can do is tell you to hang in there and keep your mind open to the possibilities of the future.
~Me
Dear Kristin:
I know this is hard to believe, but after seeing your future, I felt I needed to write to you. There are things that will happen in your future that, if you know how to handle them, could cause you fewer problems. First of all, I know school is a real bummer for you right now. Everything seems really hard and not really worth the effort. In later years, with your skills that will develop in Language Arts, you will really take off. Don't worry so much about your math skills. At some time, the skills will start to "click". You may not believe it now, but in the future, you will be a teacher. I know right now, your idea is to "get out of school as soon as possible" and you think the best thing is to leave school at sixteen... but, this simply DOES not happen. First of all, you find your place in the educational world when you realize you are a talented writer. Stop laughing... honest! Secondly, you find you work really well with young kids and have a talent for working with them. Just keep an open mind... it will happen sooner than you think!
I also want you to know that you will get out of Iowa soon. You will find somewhere that you actually feel your intelligence is appreciated. I can't tell you much more about that. But, you will.
In the future, you will find a man who will love you very much... and guess what? You love him just as much. You will move from your family to be with him... but you will grow to love your new home and will love your new family more and more with each passing month.
I wish I could make everything better for you. But, the best I can do is tell you to hang in there and keep your mind open to the possibilities of the future.
~Me
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Challenge: Creative Writing Prompt
For the first time in a couple weeks, I have a little bit of energy. Therefore, I am totally going to blow all of my energy and do something enjoyable. Creative Writing Prompt anyone????
No, really!!! www.creativewritingprompts.com ! This is number 8. List 40 things that happened to you this month. They can be funny, embarrassing, happy, or infuriating. Then pick one and write about it.
I had a very long list of things that I came up with. They ranged from the semi-ordinary (my sister in law came to visit and she and my niece brought dessert... I always love seeing them) to the very odd (No longer working with Home Depot because of not being able to read the screen at the cash register... I use magnification software on my own computer... never thought about it being a problem!). I also thought about some of the medical tests I have been through this month (and how some of them were out and out painful). And, I also considered how happy I was spending time with Stephen recently. But, with all of those memories and thoughts, one sticks out in my mind above all others. Let me talk about that one.
Well.... it all started a few weeks ago when my niece was visiting us. Her old pal M. (name hidden to protect those of us who don't want to admit she lives anywhere NEAR us) came over and was attempting to get my niece to come over and spend time with her. Although my niece didn't go anywhere with M., M. decided to share some bad news with us. Her mother was about to put M's two animals to sleep (due to old age). M's dog, Barney, is a staple to the neighborhood with his classic "Awwwwwrooooo" that echoes throughout the neighborhood in a bally-hooing manner. Barney would definately be missed. Need I say more? I didn't think so.
Anywho... both my mother in law and I were both saddened by the news and really didn't give it a second throught. That is until about a week later. We both were working on something out in the yard (putting in new bushes) and, all of a sudden, we heard a Barney bark. We both looked at each other and raised eyebrows. "That cannot be Barney," we both exclaimed. We both decided that we were so used to hearing Barney that we imagined we heard him and there was just a similiar sounding dog. Then, a couple days later, we looked out the window and THERE was Barney wandering down the street, awwwroooooooooooing away. We noticed he certainly looked solid and alive. Three weeks after his "imminent demise", there he is... just strolling down the street. My husband returned the dog back to the neighbor's home and I decided that I was glad to have gotten to see him one more time.
Unfortunately, nearly a week later, I saw him again yesterday. He was, once again, wandering happily down the street, awwwroooing in the way only a happy Barney dog can do. My father in law spotted him and took him back over to the neighbor's house. This makes me realize that he is probably going to be with us a little while yet and that I really have gotten used to his happy little noise. Our neighborhood will just not be the same without him.
No, really!!! www.creativewritingprompts.com ! This is number 8. List 40 things that happened to you this month. They can be funny, embarrassing, happy, or infuriating. Then pick one and write about it.
I had a very long list of things that I came up with. They ranged from the semi-ordinary (my sister in law came to visit and she and my niece brought dessert... I always love seeing them) to the very odd (No longer working with Home Depot because of not being able to read the screen at the cash register... I use magnification software on my own computer... never thought about it being a problem!). I also thought about some of the medical tests I have been through this month (and how some of them were out and out painful). And, I also considered how happy I was spending time with Stephen recently. But, with all of those memories and thoughts, one sticks out in my mind above all others. Let me talk about that one.
Well.... it all started a few weeks ago when my niece was visiting us. Her old pal M. (name hidden to protect those of us who don't want to admit she lives anywhere NEAR us) came over and was attempting to get my niece to come over and spend time with her. Although my niece didn't go anywhere with M., M. decided to share some bad news with us. Her mother was about to put M's two animals to sleep (due to old age). M's dog, Barney, is a staple to the neighborhood with his classic "Awwwwwrooooo" that echoes throughout the neighborhood in a bally-hooing manner. Barney would definately be missed. Need I say more? I didn't think so.
Anywho... both my mother in law and I were both saddened by the news and really didn't give it a second throught. That is until about a week later. We both were working on something out in the yard (putting in new bushes) and, all of a sudden, we heard a Barney bark. We both looked at each other and raised eyebrows. "That cannot be Barney," we both exclaimed. We both decided that we were so used to hearing Barney that we imagined we heard him and there was just a similiar sounding dog. Then, a couple days later, we looked out the window and THERE was Barney wandering down the street, awwwroooooooooooing away. We noticed he certainly looked solid and alive. Three weeks after his "imminent demise", there he is... just strolling down the street. My husband returned the dog back to the neighbor's home and I decided that I was glad to have gotten to see him one more time.
Unfortunately, nearly a week later, I saw him again yesterday. He was, once again, wandering happily down the street, awwwroooing in the way only a happy Barney dog can do. My father in law spotted him and took him back over to the neighbor's house. This makes me realize that he is probably going to be with us a little while yet and that I really have gotten used to his happy little noise. Our neighborhood will just not be the same without him.
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