For the first time EVER we did not take a family vacation this summer. First time ever. This is not tragic in the OMG we have no MONEY to go on VACATION! Or OMG our car BROKE DOWN and we can’t get it FIXED so we can’t leave town! It was more a scheduling difficulty that became insurmountable once my sister landed in the hospital.
I had planned to visit Precious Oldest for a few days to get her started on a t-shirt quilt she wanted my help with. I did take a day off. The day my sister was taken off the ventilator.
I planned to take off the week before Precious Youngest left for school which coincided with Precious Oldest being home for a week of “vacation”. I did take the week off. My sister had her thyroidectomy.
The Saint and I had planned a trip to Spain this September to celebrate our 25th but some…sort of…up-in-the-air health and finance issues made us decide to postpone.
Labor Day weekend is upon us. The official end of summer. I’m trying to pull up my big girls panties and not sulk. That said? I feel gypped. Anyone else end up with a less than stellar summer?
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
I look pretty damn good for fifty three...
too bad I'm only forty eight.
How do you know you're old you ask?
How do you know you're old you ask?
- You have a child who is a SENIOR in college
- You were invited to your THIRTIETH high school reunion
- The skin on your neck looks more CHICKEN than HUMAN
- Wearing shorts in PUBLIC is simply NOT an option
- Cookware sounds like an EXCELLENT gift
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Hello? Is anyone out there?
Things are a little dusty around here I see. I didn’t mean to abandon this poor space but many, MANY goings-on have been vying for my time and attention.
My sister finally left the hospital on August 5th. Nearly a month after she was admitted. She came home with a defibrillator but minus the thyroid that started all the trouble to begin with. She is lowly re-gaining her strength and she may be able to return to wok the first of September.
Both of my girls are back at school. Actually, Precious Oldest did not come home this summer, but last Saturday we moved her into the apartment she will share with three others for her last year of college. She has lived in the residents halls her prior years, so this is very exciting for her.
Precious Youngest was deposited at her residence hall on August 7th. Much too soon for her mother’s taste, but she had to train as the desk supervisor so she in turn could train her desk attendants and be ready for the first wave of residents who arrived yesterday.
My nails, house and gardens all show the signs of neglect. I haven’t done a proper grocery shop in I can’t say when. Probably prior to the 4th of July. Work, well work is still here. It has been a relatively quite summer and thank goodness because I did not need to have the office weighing on my mind too!
Slowly I hope to fill in some of the pieces. Some are good, some are wonderful and some are not too nice at all. In the meantime I do appreciate the comments and e-mails of support and concern. The power of prayer has pulled us through some very dark days and I appreciate your prayers good wishes on our behalf.
XOXO Fannie
My sister finally left the hospital on August 5th. Nearly a month after she was admitted. She came home with a defibrillator but minus the thyroid that started all the trouble to begin with. She is lowly re-gaining her strength and she may be able to return to wok the first of September.
Both of my girls are back at school. Actually, Precious Oldest did not come home this summer, but last Saturday we moved her into the apartment she will share with three others for her last year of college. She has lived in the residents halls her prior years, so this is very exciting for her.
Precious Youngest was deposited at her residence hall on August 7th. Much too soon for her mother’s taste, but she had to train as the desk supervisor so she in turn could train her desk attendants and be ready for the first wave of residents who arrived yesterday.
My nails, house and gardens all show the signs of neglect. I haven’t done a proper grocery shop in I can’t say when. Probably prior to the 4th of July. Work, well work is still here. It has been a relatively quite summer and thank goodness because I did not need to have the office weighing on my mind too!
Slowly I hope to fill in some of the pieces. Some are good, some are wonderful and some are not too nice at all. In the meantime I do appreciate the comments and e-mails of support and concern. The power of prayer has pulled us through some very dark days and I appreciate your prayers good wishes on our behalf.
XOXO Fannie
Friday, July 30, 2010
Update
Lordy, I had to go back to see what I posted last to even DO an update!
On Tuesday the 27th it was discovered that one of the leads on my sister’s AICD had become dislodged. She went back to surgery that afternoon to have it re-attached.
The next morning, the 28th, they discovered the OTHER lead (there are only two!) had also dislodged. The odds of this happening was .01%. Back to surgery, re-attached, all double reinforced.
All went well and by evening we were able to watch “Top Chef” together.
The surgeon has finally agreed to do the thyroidectomy. He is an ENT surgeon who specializes in cancers of the Head and Neck. he has been deemed by the Endocronology team to be the most qualified to do the procedure. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday the 3rd. There are a number of things they need to do to prepare her for the surgery and he wants to give her body a little more time to heal.
So there we are. Baring unforeseen complications we hope to be on the road to recovery next Tuesday!
On Tuesday the 27th it was discovered that one of the leads on my sister’s AICD had become dislodged. She went back to surgery that afternoon to have it re-attached.
The next morning, the 28th, they discovered the OTHER lead (there are only two!) had also dislodged. The odds of this happening was .01%. Back to surgery, re-attached, all double reinforced.
All went well and by evening we were able to watch “Top Chef” together.
The surgeon has finally agreed to do the thyroidectomy. He is an ENT surgeon who specializes in cancers of the Head and Neck. he has been deemed by the Endocronology team to be the most qualified to do the procedure. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday the 3rd. There are a number of things they need to do to prepare her for the surgery and he wants to give her body a little more time to heal.
So there we are. Baring unforeseen complications we hope to be on the road to recovery next Tuesday!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Off My Chest
Let’s take a break from the hospital shall we? I am currently at the office trying to "work" while waiting to hear what Dr. Tsue has to say about performing surgery on my sister. So the "working" is not going terrible well.
Soooo, let me re-cap some weekend highlights:
Precious Youngest is house sitting for friends who are away at the beach on vacation. In her first seventy two hours the following occurred:
Day 1 Whilst keeping the very large dogs from knocking her over and simultaneously punching in the alarm code she inadvertently hit the silent alarm button. While she was in the back yard throwing balls for the very large dogs, three policemen entered the yard form various points, one with gun drawn. After producing her driver's licence and answering a few questions she was not arrested.
Day 2: Whist attending a concert, and subsequently arriving back at the house quite late, to find some recent high school graduates (friends of one of the sons who is on vacation) had availed themselves of the hot tub and were enjoying a few adult beverages. They were summarily dismissed.
Day 3: We got a call from Precious Youngest that the house seemed to be getting warmer and warmer. A quick look around, a few breakers flipped on and off and it became apparent a professional would need to be called in. The home owners will be returning to a new air conditioner.
She is handling things well, but we believe she may be due some hardship pay!
NOW, about the trespassing, minors in possession, drinking illegally. I did not find out about it until the next morning. Because while the children were trespassing and having a cold one I was at the emergency room with my niece. She had been scratched on the face by an eight year old girl she was babysitting a few days earlier. The scratch had developed a large, red and swollen welt and was beginning to itch. Waiting to have it looked at did not seem a good option and the Minute Clinic was closed. The ER doctor who treated her agreed with our assessment. Augmentin and a topical antibiotic cream seem to be doing the trick.
NOW, about the boys who were trespassing, minors in possession, drinking illegally. Phone calls were placed to all the parents and they were informed that I did not appreciate the position this placed my daughter in and if it happened again the police would be called. I am in no frame of mind to be fucked with these days.
Last night after dinner we did a run by my sister’s house. I needed to do some cleaning and the Saint needed to pick up her mail (he’s handling the finances at present). We discovered that the tub was (and has been) completely stopped up. We await a plumber to come and deal with that situation today.
I believe the folks who produce movies for “Lifetime” will be calling any day to see if they can use this shit in their next movie of the week. I’m just sayin’.
Soooo, let me re-cap some weekend highlights:
Precious Youngest is house sitting for friends who are away at the beach on vacation. In her first seventy two hours the following occurred:
Day 1 Whilst keeping the very large dogs from knocking her over and simultaneously punching in the alarm code she inadvertently hit the silent alarm button. While she was in the back yard throwing balls for the very large dogs, three policemen entered the yard form various points, one with gun drawn. After producing her driver's licence and answering a few questions she was not arrested.
Day 2: Whist attending a concert, and subsequently arriving back at the house quite late, to find some recent high school graduates (friends of one of the sons who is on vacation) had availed themselves of the hot tub and were enjoying a few adult beverages. They were summarily dismissed.
Day 3: We got a call from Precious Youngest that the house seemed to be getting warmer and warmer. A quick look around, a few breakers flipped on and off and it became apparent a professional would need to be called in. The home owners will be returning to a new air conditioner.
She is handling things well, but we believe she may be due some hardship pay!
NOW, about the trespassing, minors in possession, drinking illegally. I did not find out about it until the next morning. Because while the children were trespassing and having a cold one I was at the emergency room with my niece. She had been scratched on the face by an eight year old girl she was babysitting a few days earlier. The scratch had developed a large, red and swollen welt and was beginning to itch. Waiting to have it looked at did not seem a good option and the Minute Clinic was closed. The ER doctor who treated her agreed with our assessment. Augmentin and a topical antibiotic cream seem to be doing the trick.
NOW, about the boys who were trespassing, minors in possession, drinking illegally. Phone calls were placed to all the parents and they were informed that I did not appreciate the position this placed my daughter in and if it happened again the police would be called. I am in no frame of mind to be fucked with these days.
Last night after dinner we did a run by my sister’s house. I needed to do some cleaning and the Saint needed to pick up her mail (he’s handling the finances at present). We discovered that the tub was (and has been) completely stopped up. We await a plumber to come and deal with that situation today.
I believe the folks who produce movies for “Lifetime” will be calling any day to see if they can use this shit in their next movie of the week. I’m just sayin’.
Friday, July 23, 2010
AICD
Automated Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
My forty-six year old sister has a pacemaker. She came through the minor surgery no problem. From a cardiac perspective? They are ready to discharge her from the hospital.
Endocrinology on the other hand? Not so much. We were told two things on Wednesday night in a pow-wow with the cardiologist, endocrinologist and electrophysiologist:
1. Surgical removal of the thyroid gland is the only treatment option left for her
2. No surgeon will touch her thyroid in her/its current condition
So, yeah. BUT, last night they found a surgeon who has agreed to at least review her chart. He is a surgeon who specializes in cancers of the head and neck. Who knew?
My forty-six year old sister has a pacemaker. She came through the minor surgery no problem. From a cardiac perspective? They are ready to discharge her from the hospital.
Endocrinology on the other hand? Not so much. We were told two things on Wednesday night in a pow-wow with the cardiologist, endocrinologist and electrophysiologist:
1. Surgical removal of the thyroid gland is the only treatment option left for her
2. No surgeon will touch her thyroid in her/its current condition
So, yeah. BUT, last night they found a surgeon who has agreed to at least review her chart. He is a surgeon who specializes in cancers of the head and neck. Who knew?
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