STRESSSSSSED

Last Saturday, as you all know, we visited the wildlife center and saw gorillas. This was a wonderful day, but it still stressed my pitiful body, which I knew it would.

However; some things are worth it.

I knew I had to get up on Sunday and go to church, NO MATTER WHAT. It was Easter! So this old crippled arose and went. And was blessed.

Monday, Daughter's doctor appointment didn't go as happily as we hoped, and she had to have another biopsy.

Tuesday, my doctor's appointment was okay except that the P.A. cheerfully told me I had some diverticulitis. Well, yay, me.

Wednesday, I took Mother to the dentist and she was told she had to have $3,000.00 worth of dental work done in order to be cleared for hip replacement surgery.

Oh, did I mention my mother has decided, at age 84, nearing 85, that she is going to have hip replacement surgery next month?

Hear that? It's my heart rate speeding up.

Needless to say, she was not a happy camper about the dentist news.

I had not felt well since eating Tuesday afternoon. Instead of getting better, it got worse, until yesterday afternoon I thought I might have to get some fluid. As in a needle stuck in my arm. As in a hospital.

But I'm better today.

Oh, and we had a very big deal go on at our church, which caused me some anxiety. I was worried how some people would behave. But it went well.

My washing machine started sounding like a 747 was taking off in the closet. Part is ordered. Laundry is almost touching the ceiling.

And Best Friend's pseudo grandson (really great-nephew, but not in her heart) became critically ill with a folded colon (the doctors kept saying that's not what it was because children didn't get folded colons and kept not doing anything for twelve hours), and had to have a trip to Scottish Rite and terrify everyone.

Did I tell you Brother of Many Surgeries went back to Emory for a few days as he began leaking in his gut? No? Well, he got himself a new drain tube and is on his way home.

Molly had a seizure night before last at 10:30. Then again at 12:30. Then again yesterday  morning at 5:30. then at 3:30. Today she is panting and looks peaked. My poor, poor puppy.

Truck's gotta have new tires. NOW.

So, that has been my week.

How has yours been?

Time Travel

Let's go back in time so a tale can be told.

Let's go back to yesterday.

We were headed for the big city! I was finally going to see Brother, he of terrible surgery and oft times life threatening daring do. I had not seen him since before the surgery and I was excited. I got his wife some peanut M&M's and the the paper with  my column in it.

Ready, set, wait a minute.

See, our dog had a terrible seizure and she had a hard time coming out of it. We had to wait around a little, take her outside several times, make sure she was okay.

And of course, there was the cleaning up of the mess from seizure, putting dog cover in the wash, etc.

We have a brand new, super dooper DEE LUX GPS that Husband used to get us to Emory. He carefully typed in Emory University Hospital at Decatur's address.

Checked it twice, because a. He is prone to errors and b. He is O. C. D.

I am dressed in my layers, leggings, onesie, wool socks, heavy jeans, sweat shirt, etc. because when I am sitting still my legs get worse due to poor circulation. And while I am prone to hot flashes, the lower half will still freeze.

Down the road we go. A little later than anticipated, but still plenty of time.

About Canton I begin to hurt so badly I confess we have to stop and get something for my stomach. I am on a strong antibiotic for the bladder infection that resulted from the kidney stone last week, and the medicine is killing my gut.

Husband bat turns into Publics, Daughter agrees to run in. "Xanax, right?"

"Ye - NO! Zantac, not Xanax!"

Off she flies, and hurries back with Zantac and Sprite in hand.

We continue down the road. By now it is well past lunch time and we decide Steak N Shake is a great idea. After a terrifying U-turn that Husband makes for no apparent reason other than because he can, we get to Steak N Shake, shook up.

Husband suddenly remembers he forgot to give Dog her mid-day seizure medication.

What a wonderful time to forget that! I cross my fingers Dog doesn't have a seizure and do you-know-what all over the rug.

The waiter seats us, hands us our menus, tells us his name (Josh) and then looks at me and says, "I want to know about your book."

I'm stunned. Flattered. I'm famous! Wow! How does this kid know about my books? Daughter's face looks like I am feeling.

Then Josh continues, "It says to ask, so I figured I better." He says this as he stares at my bosom.

I, too, look down. I have on my sweat shirt that says: Ask About My Book. Oh.

Moving right along:

After eating, we sit in the parking lot so Husband can turn on the brand new super dooper DEE LUX  GPS and check the address. Twice. (See above)

He says he's making absolutely sure the address is right, because we don't want to go to Emory University Hospital Midtown.

The brand new super dooper DEE LUX GPS takes us to Midtown.

We are now at the tip of the beginning of Midtown rush hour. I'm hurting like a son of a gun, and we know if we can even figure out how to get to 85, we are going to be in bumper to bumper traffic all the way to the hospital.

We have a decision to make: Try it or admit our defeat. The other mitigating factor is this: Daughter has an engagement with a friend that she feels she needs to honor.

She's meeting him at the funeral home.

Sigh.

So I pull up the old big girl drawers and call Brother's Wife. I tell her where we are and she says, "Oh. That's not good."

I tell her of Daughter's previously promised engagement and for her to get there on time, we need to turn around and go home.

She understands.

I am very disappointed. (Not that she understands, but that I don't get to see them)

So we turn around, head home and see the lovely flashing signs that a wreck has all four lanes blocked up ahead and to take an alternate route.

Seriously?
Isn't that what we've done all day?

Fortunately, as we creep forward, the wreck is cleared and we go home.

So close, and yet so far away... sniff.

Dog is fine. Carpets are dry.

I am in pain and exhausted.

And, in trying to stack my pillows on my bed, I knock Jesus to the floor.

Don't ask.

What a Day This Has Been....So Far!

You know, you plan a day. Right? I mean, is that so bad? Sheesh.

First off, I went to bed not feeling well...like I had a low fever, runny nose, throat sorta sore - not really sick, but not all that great either. And I still feel that way today.

And I'm worried sick about my child. Yes, I know she's twenty-two, so what? Her throat is swollen almost shut, there is white nastiness on  her tonsils. And these symptoms flared up WHILE she was on antibiotics! She is exhausted all the time.

Doctors say it's strep, no it's  not, it's the mono recurring, no it's not, it's tonsillitis,  no it's not. Last time this doctor said it was strep and mono, but when I got the paperwork it said influenza.This time he said the cultures from two weeks ago had no pathogens. But then wrote on the paper tonsillitis! And recurring. What??? She's had tonsillitis once in her life.

Boy, I love doctors.

And these are the people who want to do surgery on my child!  Stand back. I have a gun!

So, I've waited too long to eat breakfast this morning. As I start into the kitchen, I hear the lovely noise that means our dog is having a big old seizure. In the middle of the living room rug, no less. I try to get the coverlet under her bottom, but she has already let loose her bladder.

Our living room now looks like we are having a sock hop this evening. rug is pulled back drying, chairs, tables, etc. are up against the wall.

Filter had to be changed on the well water, so of course, we had no water for a while. Right in the middle of laundry day.

I decided to make bar-be-cue chicken today. Went to the freezer. We don't have any chicken.

And, hey! It's supposed to snow again tonight.

So, get here early!

 You don't want a little snow to interfere with the sock hop, do you?

What a Day!

What a day! Trying to decorate for Christmas at my house is akin to running a marathon through hip deep mud.

Here is why:
1. I have pretty severe leg/back injuries, so it's hard to bend. I can, but it ain't a pretty site, and I pay a price. But that's the  least of it.
2. My daughter, who is always very helpful, is, instead, very sick. I'd describe her tonsils, but I don't wanna make you hurl. But she couldn't get in to see the doctor today because (get ready) their computers were down! So, like, if the ER's computers go down and you're bleeding out from a car wreck, I guess you are just outta luck. Keep that in mind.
3. My husband is helpful with decorating usually, but my gun is out of bullets.
4. The dog had the worst seizure she's had right in the middle of all this, on the rug in the living room. She weighs 110 pounds ifyouknowwhatImean,andIthinkyoudo.

So, the whole house is a wreck, decorations and boxes everywhere, a half done tree, a dirty kitchen, sheets off the bed, the bathrooms need cleaning, and I imagine no trash was taken out since it's poured rain all day.

Oh, and did I mention the fraud department of our credit card called and said there was suspicious transactions on our card and wanted to make sure we had made the charge? Of course, we had NOT. Now we are stuck without a card for five to ten days because ours is now inactive.

 In December, no less.

Merry Christmas