Hi Everyone! How are you? I just had to make the announcement of making it through the entire work week after my procedure! Whew! Wasn't always easy! There were a couple of times I contemplated calling in sick or going home @ noon because I wanted to just be in bed, but I stuck it out knowing I could make it those last 4 hours of the day! I was discussing the recent story on American Idol with someone, of the couple that was newly engaged, then the girl is in a car accident 2 months before the wedding and is essentially a vegetable now and the young man says, "What kind of man would I be if I left her now"? Wow - I told Mark I agreed, but I also had to agree when Mark said, "Yeah, but she isn't the same person he proposed to". So I go on to tell this person I'm talking to that even though I'm functioning throughout my day, that doesn't mean I feel well enough to be working or doing anything other than being home resting and recovering! This past procedure just took it out of me and I was not feeling myself until the early hours of the morning after the embolization! It is so tough, to get up in the morning for work, when I've been up several times during the night due to medication keeping me awake, restlessness, anxiety, pain .... unfortunately, I bother Mark without meaning to and poor thing, he needs his rest to function @ work too! Every time I get up, I have an entourage that follows me to the bathroom - yeah, Hanz and Bella have to see what Mommy is up to! Actually, there are times that Bella stays asleep, but since we want to make sure she doesn't wee wee on the bed, I pick her up and take her to the pee pad when she is more asleep than awake until she does her duty and gets a treat! Big brother Hanz is right there waiting for a treat too! I am totally out of vacation and sick leave @ work, otherwise I would definitely stay home when I'm not feeling my best! Seems everyone has been passing that crud around, and it was finally my turn to get it! All I needed after having my embolization right? I called my sister Celia to ask her opinion on what to do and she said to call my PCP right away, which I did. He called in a z-pack for me and that really helped!
I was recently asked to look in on someone that had a trache put in a couple months ago, an older lady in her early 60's - to see if there was anything I could do to help. The first thing that became clear to me, is that most of her family is not there for her! Seems only the person that asked me to look in on her cared enough to make that move - but the patient needs to be THE MOST IMPORTANT person is this equation! She is going through something very severe and needs as much comfort as possible! I am so grateful to my family that inquires on any way to help me. Mark especially puts up with all my needs besides his own, the household needs and the furry kids needs! Today, Mark fixed breakfast, worked on the retiling of the kitchen floor, took us all to Petsmart, took the dogs for a walk in the neighborhood, came in and fixed dinner, and gave the dogs a bath! Wow! I really need to emphasize that Mark also has to deal with me under the influence of steroids, which means I am always h-u-n-g-r-y, and having hot flashes! To boot, I'm also trying to keep my pain under control and that does not always make me a happy camper! Not to mention the narcotics making me drowsy, so I really need a 2 hour nap when get home from work! Is my husband an angel or what? Actually, Hanz is Mommy's Angel and right now Bella is being a little monster, but she's only 4 months, so we're gonna cut her some slack because she's a very cute baby! Ok, I've gotta go before I fall asleep here! Ciao!
Cyndi
Ok, I just got an e-mail from Sadie, the Patient Coordinator for Dr. Yakes and she says there will be no debulking in March as Dr. Hepworth had hoped. Fine by me! If it isn't time for that, then it isn't time - I trust that the doctors know what is best for me! So, it will be a routine embolization for me in March! Stay tuned for the latest and I hope to pop in a photo or two in here of us w/our babies when possible! Weighed both kids @ Petsmart and Bella is @ 10.2 lbs and Hanz weighed in @ 13.2 lbs! Yikes!
I Made It!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Posted by Dulce at 11:36 PM 0 comments
January Embolization
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Posted by Dulce at 7:53 PM 0 comments
Mouth bleeds!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Hi Family and Friends!
How is everyone? Wish I were doing better - a few nights ago I woke up because I was starting to bleed inside my mouth! Got up, took the trache tube from my neck, stopped the humidifier, put the stopper plug thing on my trache and headed to the bathroom! When this happens, I get clots in my mouth that I end up gagging on and my nose starts getting runny and I'm trying to spit those clots in a tissue and throw them in the trash and all the while the blood is flowing! Had another one last night when we got home from my sisters, it wasn't too bad - but woke up early this morning having another! This one was bad. Mark was already dressed to go to Mass and I felt I should stay home - but I told Mark he should probably stay home as well. I was bleeding a lot and didn't want to faint and be home alone with the pups! I'm just sharing this with you since I've said having an avm is hell - this is part of it! The bad thing is, I can't open my mouth up very wide, so it's hard to see exactly where the bleeding is coming from! I may have to end up taking an emergency trip to CO to get this taken care of! I actually have an appt. in 11 days, but don't know if I can wait this long if this keeps happening! Meanwhile, my sister Celia was to go w/me on this next trip and she's only been home a week from Italy and was sick most of the time she was there, so she may not be up for a trip so soon!
For now, I just threw in a load of wash and after breakfast and a nap, I'll tke a shower and throw in another load of wash! Here's hoping there won't be any more bleeds! I just wanted to enjoy my weekend with Hanz and Bella! I'll keep you updated!
Cyndi
Hi again! I wanted to add more to this blog entry! While there is such horror with this avm - I also wanted to point out the good things going on around me! My wonderful husband is still with me through all the bleeds, waking him up @ all hours and not being able to keep up w/my chores! My children are loving and adorable! Funny, always chasing each other and making us laugh! My favorite thing is all 4 of us in bed together enjoying each others company! Most times Mark is watching TV, and I'm reading and we both take turns playing with Hanz and Bella or giving them tummy rubs! Bella is getting a little better w/the potty training, but needs a little more work.
Celia brought me a beautiful Gucci purse from Italy! More importantly though, she took a photo of Shalon and I with her as they visited the tomb of Pope John Paul II! That's all that I had asked her for on this trip, since I have had the good fortune to visit Italy, I didn't know what I could request for her to bring. I was very touched that she said the photograph she took was one of Shalon (fellow avm-er) and I together! The entire Fossum family does so much for us in helping with my avm problem - my family and friends are extremely supportive and that is what helps me get through when I'm going through the "hell" part of the avm. Thanks to all!
Posted by Dulce at 12:30 PM 0 comments
Just because photos!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Posted by Dulce at 4:01 PM 0 comments
Bellas First Play Date!
Posted by Dulce at 1:26 PM 0 comments
Happy New Year Part 2!
Posted by Dulce at 12:57 AM 0 comments