Another typical day ....

Hi Everyone!

Hoping most of you are doing well and appreciate the beautiful days we've been having! Thought I would tell you about my latest "adventure"! It started @ about 6:20 a.m. on Friday - about 5 minutes before the alarm went off... I felt my neck with my hand and felt moisture. Turned the light on and of course found that I was bleeding! Called out to Mark so he could get up and help, and he couldn't believe it! Mark said he had just checked me about 15 minutes w/the little flashlight he keeps under my pillow and I was fine! I didn't know he was still checking on me during the night and early morning! It was hard to tell where exactly the blood was coming from, but I knew it was somewhere from the wound on my face! I tried to peel off the Tegaderm (clear plastic) and meanwhile, blood is getting all over the front of my nightgown, the floor, my crocs! Got a paper towel and wet it and held pressure to my face where I thought it was coming from and finally got it stopped! Mark redressed the wound after cleaning it up and got my nightgown soaking in the wash. Got ready for work as usual - and after arriving, I parked and walked toward the courthouse, I was feeling good, considering what I had just gone through. I thought it was nice that Jim had called Mark the night before and during their conversation he asked about how I was doing. I guess Jim also looks @ Shalon's web site, because I heard Mark say something like, "Yeah, these two girls have sure been through a lot with these avms, and it will be a while before they get to the place they want to be when Dr. Yakes is finally done". So all this is going through my head, I'm feeling special that we handled that bleed well and I'm moving on ahead! I got in the elevator with an elderly lady and she and I exchanged pleasantries. We ended our conversation by saying we were blessed to be alive and well - although I did point out my avm to her and told her a little about it. "At least I have hope, and I have a wonderful support system surrounding me", I told her as I waved goodbye! Started going down the hall to get to the office I work in, when another courthouse employee waved hello to me - her name is Cindy as well! She said she had something for me and gave me a big hug and a pretty blue gift bag! Cindy said it was "just because she was thinking of me"! "Wow"! I told her she couldn't have given me that gift bag on a better day after the way I started my morning! I couldn't wait to look in it - but I was pulling my cart that had my wound care bag, my purse, plus I had my coffee mug in my hand! Soon as I got in my office, I set the coffee down and dug into the gift bag to find the cutest white stuffed bear! It has a sheer white bow on it's neck that has a pink design on it, and it's very soft! Also in the bag, was a tiny book titled "The Best Things In Life Begin with ...C"! It is a little book of quotations and I love it! How did Cindy know that I love things like this?! That really caught me by surprise and I so appreciate it! Last week, I got a cute card in the mail from my life-long friend Patty - it was a cheery card that made me laugh! I can always count on her to make me feel better! She and I have been laughing together for about 35 years! Yowza!

Oh! Don't know if I had mentioned this - but last Friday, I was helping a co-worker do some assessments called ASRs (Alcohol Screening Reviews). There is a gentleman (Mario) that comes from the Texas Driving School to help out as well with all the paperwork and copies that need to be done. It just happened that one of the men needing to take the assessments didn't read, so I was asked to read out loud to him, so he could complete what was necessary. Anyway, @ one point, Mario pulled me aside by my arm and asked if he could speak with me. In my mind I'm thinking, what on earth would he say? Mario went on to say he had to tell me how much he admired me, for always being in such a great mood and being so helpful to everyone! He said I'm always upbeat and full of energy! Wow, that's so nice for him to go out of his way to tell me that! It's these little things that help me get through my days! I have little guardian angels all around supporting me with this darned avm that sometimes brings me down!

Anyway, I woke up this morning feeling so congested! I could just feel the phlegm in my chest. I knew I was going to have to get a good hack to get that out and we all know what that means, right? Yup - a possible, probable bleed. I finally decided to get up and give it a go! Sure enough, I got that goop out - GROSS! - but that also caused a bleed! I quickly put a towel on my left shoulder and got ready to get the tegaderm off again! At least this time it was a slow bleed. The one yesterday was really quick and there was so much blood everywhere! So, again ... Mark cleaned up the wound, got it redressed and I've been in bed most of the day!

I should be doing housework, but whose up for that? Not me! I made some popcorn, got a soda, my candy corn and popped Twilight in the dvd player! Hanz hung out w/me for a while and right now I have the movie on pause! I think I'll get back to it, but just wanted to fill you in on my latest avm adventure! I was hoping to put some new photos on here, just to liven up the blog a bit - but the camera is lost in the abyss of our home! So, this is a current photo of Hanz w/his Aunt Celia! I carry a photo album of "Mommies Angel" and Celia noticed I didn't have a photo of her in there - so, here you go! If I get home before Mark does, I let Hanz out of the kitchen where he stays during the day, and clap my hands and sing him "Mommies Angel, mommies angel"! He gets all excited to see me - but the minute he hears Marks van - that's when the excitement really starts happening! Hanz gets on his hind legs trying to look out the screen door, so I pick him up and we wait until "Daddy" gets out of the van so we can all have fun! Hanz has been such a blessing as well - he makes me happy and keeps my mind off all the avm stuff - we're having a blast with him!

Well, I should get back to the movie - My best to you all! We appreciate all your prayers, special Masses (Terry Schneider), love and support you show us on a daily basis! Our love to all of you!

Cyndi