My Chaotic Realm

Winter blahs? PMS? that cold thing that has been circulating at work? This is no time to feel less than well, I might point out. BUSY week ahead! board meeting today, lunar weds...Thurs is New Year's Eve party here.... no idea what that will look like :-) ...Friday is New Year's Day so sleeping in...might go to the IMAX in Austin & see Avatar, not sure yet...Saturday is clean/catch up day...Sunday....might try to go see Mom as that day is free.... I don't see any time to be ill! Do you? Still working with the Dreams lineup.... and faux wood. And, I owe... I owe...so off to work I go, headache & all....

around 9pm last night a small smear on the St David's night staff...but only small. Spirit needed a potty break but the floor nurse had not yet put phone # on duty board. So Spirit presses the "Call Nurse" button on the bed.... no one answered until 10:30pm. Sigh. VERY apologetic when she did, Spirit seemed okay with it. Let it slide...the rest of the time has been grand (except for the pain). Today's schedule? Dr Stovall's physical therapist was there around 11am to show Spirit the basics like how to get out of a bed, into a bed, sit, stand, etc. Had Spirit demonstrate walking with cane...frowned at lack of stability...coughed up a proper walker... MUCH BETTER! Spirit also sounds better, not as much pain in voice. They will write prescription for real walker when ready to leave so that falling is not such an issue. And issue it is, as that is how this whole thing started. Sigh. Then an epidural/spinal cortisone shot after lunch...which, if true to form, will...

Well, I am blessed with friends... I am so grateful to you all. Wont name you here but I LOVE the meatloaf...it was breakfast. Lasagna will be dinner. And thanx, too, for picking up my Rx at HEB as they don't much fit my schedule right now. I missed Dr Stovall AGAIN! ARGH. Apparently he works too freaking much so I keep missing him. He was here right before 7pm. I was looking for a parking space at that time. When I finally got my butt up to the 3rd floor with a change of clothes for Spirit, flowers (from Energy & spouse) and some CDs & DVDs (laptop is a useful thing), he had vanished off the wing. However, another wonderful friend, who had sat with Spirit ALL DAY, was here and gave me the rundown. So, a really rough night ... the flex test last night at 9:30pm was a bit of an ordeal. Bend forward, take an Xray. Bend backward, take another Xray. And repeat. Oh, and, get left standing against the Xray machine because the tech gets so involved in the film that he forgets...

They did Spirit's flex test last night, about 9:30pm. One more test to go this morning and then Dr Stoval will decide on a course of action. Also, Dr. Stoval wants Dr Volpe to do an spinal epidural. Don't have a timeline on that. Dr Volpe is so sweet, really.... turns out he has worked on someone else that lives right around the corner from me, and got RAVE reveiws. Spirit has eaten breakfast, which is more than I can say. i got up @ 5:45am to start on the zoo... and made it to work on time... Yeeha! Stay tuned.

Yes..he has appeared! Turns out his assistant had family emergency so he was doing that job plus his and so did not make it by Spirit's hospital room until almost 9pm. Wants 2 more tests done, epidural in the spine as well & THEN we will discuss diagnosis/prognosis & recovery options. However, as I have been off work for 3 days & the mortgage is due is 2 weeks, I go back to work tomorrow. Some friends will be taking turns sitting with Spirit & getting to know and love the hospital staff like we do. Lauren, if you are reading this, you are a doll! So is the brunette that keeps fishing me out of the wrong corridor & getting me back to room 437. Sorry I don't know your name but I am a bit dazed by the immensity of St. David's North Austin Medical Center. The food there rocks. You order it like room service & it is actually TASTY. can you believe it? So, if you want to call Spirit and wish speedy recovery, patience, or whatever, feel free... 512-901-534...

alrighty, update on Spirit:: Long night but some sleep was found, Spirit after several Vicodin, me on the couch listening intently, even as I dozed. I called docs again today, explained the ER, the regular doc, the PT doc, the trip to the ER again 3am Sunday... and got put through to the appointment nurse's voicemail. Called back and pressed 1 for emergency... woman put me right back into the voicemail program. Called AGAIN and said THE ER told me to tell you I need a freakin' appointment and an MRI right freakin' now..." and Lisa (bless her heart) said "Let me put you through to the back line for neuropathy. And , lo & behold, they made an appointemtn for Tuesday, 9:45am. HURRAH!!! So, after calling a few people (that said prior "Call if you need ANYTHING") I showered, fed the zoo and left for work, knowing that someone was there for Spirit. Also, reiki person came from Bryan, TX to work with Spirit & reduce her pain level some. And another grac...

I kept the right ones out And let the wrong ones in Had an angel of mercy to see me through all my sins There were times in my life When I was goin' insane Tryin' to walk through The pain When I lost my grip And I hit the floor Yeah, I thought I could leave but couldn't get out the door I was so sick and tired Of a livin' a lie I was wishin' that I Would die It's Amazing With the blink of an eye you finally see the light It's Amazing When the moment arrives that you know you'll be alright It's Amazing And I'm sayin' a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight That one last shot's a Permanent Vacation And how high can you fly with broken wings? Life's a journey not a destination And I just can't tell just what tomorrow brings You have to learn to crawl Before you learn to walk But I just couldn't liten to all that righteous talk I was out on the street, Just a tryin' to survive

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLONG day... sigh... this is the song I woke up with and, since my brain would not reboot, I was still singing it tonight, thought I would post before crawling back into bed & seeing if I make it out in the morning or not. Card background is natureprint paper... really.. look it up. This is done with Bastrop pine needles, a pine branch and a leaf. laid needles on the light sensitive paper, placed branch so it threw shadow, and then placed leaf directly onto paper over shadow. Counted to 60, took in & ran under cold water. Awesome stuff. only drawback is the color.. there is only 1 and this is it. Gotta like blue!