Is that like the commercial many years ago that showed a wise old owl asking, "How many licks does it take to get to the inside of a tootsie pop"? I wish it were that simple! Hi Everyone! How are you? Right now it seems I'm battleing with keeping my pain level under control. Yeah... I was doing great after the last procedure the first week of May, but when I started to go down to 2 steroids a day from the 3 that I was on (20 mg. each, so that is 60 mg of Prednisone a day!), the pain started increasing! I called to speak to Dr. Yakes P.A., Kelly and she approved and called in more meds so I could have 3 a day again and slowly go back to 2 and then one. I have not been able to feel as well as I had been feeling before - no way. Seems now I'm constantly looking @ the time and trying to figure out what I can take to control the pain and not fall flat on my face from over medicating myself! I can't be falling asleep @ work! As long as I'm moving around, I'm ok - but if I close my eyes for a few seconds, I'm gone! Actually, the other day Mark and I (along w/Hanzarella) were on our way back from visiting with Jim and Shelley in Rockport, and Mark was telling me some story about something that happened @ work and I was looking @ him, listening and sometimes commenting on something he said. Next thing I knew, I could hear myself snoring! My eyes were wide open though! I even told him, "I know, I heard myself, I can't believe it"! That was ridiculous! Stop the insanity already!
Ok. So much to do, people to Thank and think about ... ! Last week, Mark and I attended a Mass for our healing intention that our sweet choir friend Terry Schneider has for us every couple of months! I wish I could be there for her, she is dealing with her own health issues lately and here she is doing nice things for us!
I finally went back to have lunch @ the restaurant where I had that terrible bleed before going back to Denver this last time. I just wasn't ready emotionally to go back to that restaurant, and also, I felt bad about what had happened there. My co-workers were always assuring me that the management was asking for me and were concerned about how I was doing! Sure enough, the waitress was very happy to see me and asked that I not be bothered about how anyone else felt about what happened. They welcome me back always! I have to say, kuddos to my co-worker and friend Diana A. - the brave soul that I go out to lunch with some times! She has training in the nurseing program, so blood doesn't scare her - but to think she is willing to be not only seen with me, but to deal with whatever this horrid avm will dish out @ any given moment! She and I have lots in common and enjoy discussing books, coffee, our cross stitching hobby, our pets, The Royals! Her sister lives in England and Diana's brother-in-law works in Parliament, so that always makes for interesting conversation! I'm waiting to receive my commemorative stamp issued the day of the Royal Wedding of Kate and Will that Diana's sister was nice enough to go purchase for us! COOL!
We recentely found a "dog park" that we had heard mention of before, but could never find. Since we love taking the kids to Petsmart, we often have conversations w/other pet owners and had heard about a park in Corpus that allowed dog owners to take their dogs to run and play with other dogs! Started talking to a lady that owns a chihuahua (see photo) named Tako (yes, with a "k") and she was the one that mentioned the dog park! Decided to really look into it and found something we really like! There is an elementary school that allows pet owners to use their playground several days a week, as long as the poop is cleaned up! So, dog owners can bring chairs to sit on, drinks or whatever makes them comfortable, water for their pets and poop bags to clean up after them! Hanz tends to stay close to us, but Bella makes the rounds and gets in a submissive possition on her back and runs around everywhere! See photo. The "dog park" has a Facebook page and is run by Amanda - she has a Great Dane named Phantom and a smaller, cute dog named Lola!
Well, unfortunately, another avm problem I've been having, is feeling (and knowing) that blood is running down the back of my throat! It usually happens when I'm eating, and it's scary not knowing how much I'm going to have to keep swallowing before it either starts comming out my mouth or what! I don't want it to come out my mouth, because I can't open my mouth very wide right now (due to the avm, and not being able to work w/the therabite since my "wound" is too fresh from the procedure still)! When I do bleed and it comes out my mouth, it is alot and globs - UGH! Poor Celia (and Mark), they've both witnessed this and it's not pretty! So a couple weeks ago, about 2:00 a.m. I woke up knowing I was swallowing blood. Got up and woke Mark up where he was asleep on the couch. Wanted to make sure someone knew if I started choking or something! The only thing running through my mind was that no one here would know how to help me if I went to the ER. Called up to CO and woke up poor Kelly (Dr. Yakes Phys. Asst.), but had to find out if I ended up having to make an emergency trip to CO - was Dr. Yakes even in town or wanted to know how packed their surgery schedule was for the next couple days so that I might be squeezed in! I had already decided to just wait until morning to ask these questions, but Mark was already getting Kelly on the phone. It was just going to inconvenience way too many people to try and fly up there in the next day or so - we decided to just wait it out and hope it didn't happen again! When this happened, I panicked - you would think I would be used to it, huh? If I bleed from somewhere that I can apply pressure, no problem! But when I'm swallowing blood, that is another thing! Can't stop it on my own then! This actually has happened again a couple of times, but luckily doesn't last long. I just pray that I don't have any major bleeds until I can get up to see Dr. Yakes in early July!
I wanted to show all of you how great Shalon is looking these days! I am so happy that she has made such progress! She is paving the way for the rest of us that still have a ways to go! I remember before having her first debulking surgery, she really grilled the doctors with all her questions to make sure she knew what they would be doing to her! With her posting her surgical photos and showing us what she went through, @ least it gives us an idea that we'll be ok through it too! I think she looks fantastic! Here she is with her wonderful hubby Josh! He reminds me so much of Mark - loves his wife and very supportive!
Anyway, I just want to thank all of you for sticking by me with all your prayer, friendship, love and support! Look at the lovely prayer shawl our choir friend Margaret Irving made! How fantastic is that?! Wow! You know, once in a while, I was lucky enough to stand close to Margaret (she is a 1st Soprano and I'm a 2nd) while we were singing in the choir loft during a rehearsal, and she has such a beautiful voice - that I would end up not singing because I got so involved in listening to her! Every time she'd see me, she would greet me by saying, "Hey pretty lady"! Celia says Margaret used to laugh @ all the faces I was making during rehearsal over something the director or someone was saying. I didn't even realize that I was reacting that way, but apparently it was amusing Margaret across the room! We've really made some great friends through the years we spent in choir!
So much more to write .... so ...., to be continued.
Ok, I finally have the photos to post of me with the prayer shawl! I was just so moved by the fact that our friend Margaret really took the time to not only make this shawl, but to be surrounded in her prayer as well - WOW! This is why I always say that all of you are with me on this journey as well! I so often tell people that I really am blessed and I mean it! I've included photos of me @ St. Pauls in Flour Bluff, where our dear friend Terry Schneider has Masses for our healing intentions! If you'll notice the kerchief I'm wearing - that was given to me by a friend/co-worker, MJ Gamble - that has become a fun, supportive friend! She'll come across something she knows will cheer me up and brings it to me @ work!
Now, I can start working on blogging from the procedure I just had! Thank you so much everyone for all your love and support!!!
Cyndi
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