Updated To Do

Decide which position to accept = thankful but nervous


Position accepted!!!  I will be working at JPS (John Peter Smith Hospital) in the Observation Unit!  I'm so excited and at peace with this decision.  As soon as I made the decision I KNEW it was right.  One less thing to worry about!


I leave you with.....GRADUATION PICTURES (and pictures from my induction into the honor society)!!!

To Do

Move back to DFW = check
Get job offers = check (x3)!
Register for boards = check (6/3)
Unpack = ugh!
Decide which position to accept = thankful but nervous

I have tons of pictures from graduation to upload and post.  COMING SOON!

4 Days

In four days Lee and I will officially live in the same home again!  Technically we'll be back and forth a bit to Houston {I have a final Monday...my LAST one} but we're almost back to normal.  I've got a few prospects/options on the job front, and will hopefully figure things out soon.

Lee started working in Granbury a few weeks ago and LOVES it.  He has a 45 minute drive to work, but says he doesn't mind the time to clear his head before and after work.  He has been doing really well in his new role and I am so happy that he is happy.

Speaking of Lee, he spent Monday evening hunkered down under an Exxon station overhang as a tornado went through Fairfield, TX.  THAT was an interesting phone call.  The Spring/Summer weather is here in full force!

Well, that is all for now.  I am sick {again} and in bed ready to go to sleep {it is only 8:30}.  Luckily I have all except the very last season of ER to keep me company.  I am still thinking about studying for my last final.....but I only need a 59 on it so that makes it difficult to get motivated.  ONE DAY AT A TIME!!!

The ER Rocks

That is pretty much all.  I'm an ER junkie after 1 day.  It was that amazing.  Love that I'm in love with something other than what I thought I'd be in love with originally.  Oh, and today I was asked to work in the ER after graduation.  It absolutely made my day.  Unfortunately I have to move back to DFW.   FORTUNATELY I get to move back to DFW.  Love/hate relationship with it.

The absolute best part of it all........

In 27 days Lee and I will live in the same HOME again.  Oh my gosh.  Cannot wait.

Quick Update

Shelley is here in Texas while Adam is in Japan.  We're glad to have her home, but I worry about Adam being over there.  Everyone keeps saying it is safe, etc..., but I would prefer for him to be in America....or better yet, TEXAS!

Lee was promoted!!!  He has worked so incredibly hard and definitely deserves this new position.  He keeps saying that it was possible because I've been in Houston {and he's been able to put in extra hours}.  The extra hours may have gotten him there faster, but he is such a brain when it comes to breaking down the mechanics of a business {hey I get to brag about my husband sometimes}.  His new location is in the small town of Granbury, Texas.  It takes him about an hour to drive there from our house, but it is a pretty easy drive and he enjoys the time to transition from home to work and work to home {or so he says now after driving for 2 weeks}.  Speaking of drive, this new position comes with a car.  We're probably the talk of the neighborhood!  Lee drives a different car home each night that sits in our driveway.  I can only imagine what people think.  Lee took me to see his new town last weekend and I was IMPRESSED!  His store is really nice, the town is beautiful, and there are tons of things to do!  I told our families that the town takes the best parts of Gruene, Rockport, and Georgetown and combines them into one beautiful package!  I can't wait to spend more time there with Lee.

After this week it should all be smooth sailing until May 10, 2011 @ 7p.  I should find out if I get the dream job I mentioned before at the end of this week {hopefully}.  I'm having nightmares about NOT getting it....that is how much I want it.  Oh, I forget, nothing has been said about the job.  OK so in a nutshell, it is a trauma and critical care internship.  It gets me ACLS certified (an advanced certification for life support basically), I'd be a CCRN (a special designation for nurses in critical care that requires additional coursework), and get graduate school credit during the program.  It lasts 7-8 months with a 2.5 - 3 year contract.  Oh my goodness I want this so bad.  I keep going over every little thing in the interview.  Things I wish I had said, things I wish I had said differently, things I should have clarified.......it is out of my hands at this point.

Something Lee and I have relied on very strongly over the past two years or so is that God has a plan for US.  He has always taken care of us, and promises to continue.  We have always known this, but I guess getting older and rocking our little worlds with a few changes really made us appreciate it.

 Sookie and Me {I swear she is human}

With Ms. Ashley Dean

Lee and Me right after our anniversary dinner @ III Forks Houston {photo courtesy A. Dean}

Natalee with the flowers @ North Park 

Nat and I met @ Village Burger Bar after my interview for dream job and also a few hours after the earthquake.  We had a really fun day together even though we were both a little worried about Shelley and exhausted from being up the night before.

Late February

You may be able to tell from the well thought out title of this post that I am not up for much.  I just completed Day #4 with fever, have an extremely sore throat, and generally feel like junk!  On the positive side of things, I feel better today than yesterday and I've lost at least 5 elle-bees {from having no appetite}.

Speaking of elle-bees.....CROSS FIT was amazing and crazy!  Just when I thought I couldn't move it was over.  Saturday morning was GREAT...I was extremely sore Sunday and Monday.  Tuesday was interesting, and today was the first day I could stand or sit without taking a deep breath and focussing!  We're supposed to make this a weekly Saturday morning thing...hopefully I miraculously recover tomorrow!!

It is crazy how things fall into place when you're doing something you should be.  I was a very mediocre student when I graduated from UT Austin.  I recently found out I am in the top 1/3 of my class!  I don't know exactly where I stand, but I'm very happy to be on the list.  I'll be inducted into an honor society the day before graduation and get to wear some extra cords at graduation.

My dear sweet friend, Ashley, had her quarter century birthday last week and there are pictures!!!  We took her out to Pappasitos for an evening of fajitas, friends, fun, AND sombreros!

 The group---bad angle though : (

 Claudia, Ashley, and Me

 Birthday Girl

Who knew there was a beer called Victoria??  MUST HAVE picture!

Three Years Ago Today

Lee and I were married three years ago today!

This is the first anniversary we've spent apart {which stinks} and we've spent almost 1/3 of our marriage living in separate cities.  WOW.  I was being all self-centered and grumpy-gut about it and realized that we're lucky.  We can drive or fly to see each other and it only takes a couple of hours.  Some people live entire continents away from each other!  Some people have a spouse in the military and don't even get to talk to them on a daily basis.  We are SO lucky that we can talk, text, and road trip!

Lee
My handsome husband {yes, I'm about to brag} got what I'm calling a "lateral promotion."  He has the same title, but he now works with 3 different locations for Enterprise.  I am ridiculously proud of Lee's success at work; he definitely deserves it.  He has had an interesting few weeks.  I'll post a picture as soon as I see the damage, but during the ice storm that shut DFW down for a week he went to work {and was never even a minute late}.  The result?  He wrecked into a concrete wall with the bed of his truck after sliding off of I-35.  Lee LOVES his truck and cannot wait to get it repaired in the next couple of weeks.  I LOVE my Lee and am happy HE doesn't have to be repaired!

Haley
I had the best day in the SICU {Surgical Intensive Care Unit} today.  Well, the best day so far.  Each day gets better because I'm more familiar with the equipment/supplies, and because I'm building my confidence in my judgement and knowledge.  I routinely think about the fact that I have to be perfect or I could kill someone.  Kill.  So scary considering the fact that I'm still learning.  I'm learning to give each task the attention it deserves without constantly thinking about mortality, because when I'm thinking about that I'm not giving a task the attention it deserves!!

Both of Us
We're celebrating our anniversary and Valentine's Day in Houston this weekend!  I haven't told Lee {surprise} yet, but we're also going to CrossFit Saturday morning!  One of my sweet school friends is an instructor and she is going to kick our butts Saturday morning.  I'm SO excited!!  Lee may not feel the same way.....we'll see!

Well, that is all for my quick update.  I MUST sleep and then study tomorrow.  I have so much to document/journal/update and I'm going to work on that weekend after next when I have {a little} time off.  Enjoy the pictures!

 Lee & Trevor @ an Enterprise shin-dig

 Lee and Me @ Rachel's Wedding

 My grandma (Neese) & Me @ Christmas (it was FREEZING)

 Libby loves Lee

 I love him more : )

One of these presents doesn't look like the others... 

Maggie "doesn't" climb stairs yet this is what we came home to every day while my parents stayed with us for Christmas.  Nice to come home to sweet snoring puggies!

January is Over?

I have tried to sit down and write for a while now, but everything has been so stinkin busy!  Let me just share the last week...

Sunday - 12 hour shift in the SICU, study time
Monday - 2.5 hour certification, 2 hour meeting, 2 hour presentation, study time
Tuesday - Exam in the morning, quiz in the afternoon, study time
Wednesday - 12 hour shift in the SICU, 4 case studies, study time
Thursday - 12 hour shift in hospice, study time
Friday - 12 hour shift in the SICU
Saturday - study time in the morning, wedding from 3-9

This schedule is insane!  Do you realize I worked 4 12 hour shifts?  I'm taking 20 hours of classes!  I have NO SEMBLANCE OF A LIFE, but.....it is worth it and I'd do it again.

I could use a few prayers....

#1 - for reason to prevail.  My classmates and I had a prayer session each week before our exams and the girl who organized it each week got a cease and desist notice from the University's lawyers.  Evidently they think we are not allowed to pray on campus and can be disciplined for doing so.  I've gone through all the stages of grief with this one.  Perhaps the most interesting and pleasant surprise occurred.  The day after she received that email, a group three times that which normally meets gathered in a study area to pray for the university, for each other, and for our classmates.

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.  Exodus 14:14

#2 - I've got a bad case of plantar fasciitis.  For those of you unfamiliar, my heel basically hurts so bad that I can't walk on it at times when it becomes inflamed.  I start physical therapy tomorrow to avoid a cortisone shot (which I'd like to avoid).  I told the Dr. that he couldn't get near me with a cortisone shot unless I got an epidural or general anesthesia!!

#3 - Lee is applying for promotions right now.  I want him to get the promotion, but only if it is a good place for him.

#4 - I'm currently applying for positions in the DFW area.  There is a trauma internship that I'm really interested in with a 2.5 year commitment but there is another good program that doesn't have that commitment.

Okay that is all for now.  Just a few pictures and a movie for you!  Ok nevermind on the movie and you get 1 picture of my handsome man with Libby @ Christmas.  Silly blogger!!

One More

One more final this semester that is!  I'm really excited that Thursday at noon = 3 weeks of freedom.  I feel like there is some impending doom headed my way, but I only need a 60 on the final.  It is probably just all of the stress leading up to the end of the semester.  Hopefully I'll feel amazing at noon on Thursday!

In other news, Shelley and Adam are in town!  We've had lots of fun all over Texas--Victoria, Austin, Houston, Corpus Christi, Rockport, and more in the days ahead.  Texas is SO MUCH cooler than Japan {or at least that is the brainwashing we're attempting}.  Lots of pictures to come!

Lee and I get to spend the next MONTH together!  We are so excited to be back in the same home for a little while.  I cannot wait to be able to focus on Christmas and family.

Lee has worked really hard while I'm completing this program.  It is nothing short of a miracle that we've been able to do this, and I {finally} trust that it will continue.  Everything that needed to happen--the stars that had to align--even the mid-Fall semester scholarship {random timing} I received just when we thought we wouldn't be able to financially make it.  Believe it or not, I'm kind of excited to re-enter the workforce next Summer.  Obviously the paycheck will be back {thank goodness}, but I'm more excited to be doing something I love.  I've always enjoyed my work, but this is going to be different.  It is already different.  I'm fulfilling a calling that happens to be extremely rewarding.

Speaking of miracles, Lee just called.  It is after 10!  Have a wonderful few days--pretty soon I'll post as 2/3 of a nurse!

Winter Sick

So as I'm sure all of my avid blog readers know, I get sick pretty much every winter.  I have this theory that it is just my body telling me to slow down; I am always very busy around Christmas, and my body just gives up!  In any case, I'm sniffling, coughing, dizzy headed, etc...

I am down to 1 last course to finish before Christmas.  I have an exam tomorrow and a comprehensive 12/16 then I'm done!

SHELLEY IS HERE FROM JAPAN!  We surprised my Mom (video is not coming--it exists, but my Mom would kill me) and showed up.  She screamed and cried for 30 minutes and I'm shocked that the police weren't called from all the action!

Finally, I have to brag a little bit.  We took a comprehensive exam in my OB course today that is administered to most schools at the end of each course (sort of like the TAAS test if you grew up in TX, but on a national level).  I'm doing OK in OB, but I definitely don't feel like it is my strong suit.  Long story short, I scored almost perfectly on the exam.  I was over the moon.  I AM over the moon!

That is all for now.  I'm going to try to do well on my exam tomorrow and then spend some quality time with Shelley...oh and I have to hit the books for my final.

Thankful

I realize it isn't Thanksgiving yet, but I've got a heck of a lot to be thankful for this year. I know I usually don't get into religion on my blog very much, but that should in no way be mistaken for lack of it. I'm just not big on stepping on other peoples' toes, and I have respect for many different religions. So here goes.

I know that God is with me for every second of every day. It is just that lately I've felt His presence more in my life. I don't know why I feel it so much more now...maybe it is because I desperately need divine intervention to make it through school, living apart from Lee, and being alone. In any case, a few things I should chronicle {a little bit} have happened lately.

1. I was told that I needed to become a nurse {it was a divine intervention}.

This was a really big deal. I grew up wanting to be a physician. An M.D. More specifically, I wanted to be in pediatric trauma. You know, the Emergency Room. We're talking George Clooney on E.R. except, of course, a woman! I did the work, but have no doubt that God's hand was in all of it from before it started. How in the world do you explain being able to quit a job, move 4.5 hours away from your spouse, find an apartment where you feel safe less than 2 miles from the medical center, and somehow {I have no idea how} being able to afford to take a whole year off from life? Oh, and not to become a doctor, but a nurse! Now I know EXACTLY where I want to be in nursing. I know without a shadow of a doubt that it is RIGHT for me. I have my eye on a graduate program. I KNOW that I am MEANT to go into anesthesia. I absolutely LOVE it. I can't get ENOUGH of it! How cool is it that by the time I'm ready to start that program they will have a DNP-A (Doctor of Nursing Practice - Anesthesia) available? It is all so much bigger than me.

2. I go to a public school and God isn't really discussed openly in any of my courses.

This seems like a small miracle to me. Other than the private parochial elementary school I attended, I've gone to public school where talk about God is quieted and minimized. Now I'm at UTHSC which seems pretty dark sometimes, yet I find God when I need Him most. A group of us {students, professors, whomever} meet every Tuesday morning on campus to pray. We pray for our studies, our friends, our families, each other, and whatever else we want to. I LOVE it! I have met some really amazing friends that attend, and am so happy that MY CLASS started this prayer group. On top of this, I was under some unnecessary stress last week, and needed a professor to help me out. I prayed all night that she would be willing and able to help. The big thing to me was that she not only helped, but when I told her I had prayed all night she would be able to help, she responded saying that she had so many things to do that morning, but that she felt God had plans for her to be with me that morning. She then asked me if I was a Christian and invited me to her office to pray before we dealt with the source of my stress. A professor. In a public institution. God placed her in my life and made her available at a moments notice.

3. This morning my grandma {Neese} fell off the stairs outside of our house.

This is the MIRACLE of MIRACLES. She didn't break any bones. She didn't need any stitches.  She got sent home from the ER with a scratch and orders to rest and ice her shoulder. If I had fallen onto a concrete slab, I can guarantee I'd break something. In fact, people have fallen from couches to carpet and broken things. Somehow {I believe through the grace of God} she fell off a BIG step {so steep--the size of 2 steps really} onto concrete and only had a scratch on her hand.

These are only examples of a few things that have happened in the last little while for which I have to be thankful. It isn't through luck or chance that I can write this post, but through God's grace.  I am thankful for many other things {family, health, happiness, freedom, truth, prosperity, friends, hope for the future}. Those may get a separate post, but this year, more than other years, I am realizing His presence in all that I have to be THANKFUL for.

I'll leave you with an email I received from a prayer group friend and classmate. She knew I wasn't acting the same, and obviously something was wrong. I didn't tell her what was going on {as you noticed I haven't here either--later--maybe} but that I was stressed out about things I had to deal with later during the week. Knowing only that, she sent me the email below; it seemed like she knew exactly what was going on and what I needed, even when I hadn't told her what I was dealing with and even when I couldn't see it clearly myself.

Remember you are not alone, especially not in spirit. God doesn't promise to meet us on the other side, he walks through the fire, the water, with us. With both of us praying, our cord of two is not easily broken.

Lord, calm Haley's spirit. Put to rest her fears, her qualms, her trepidation. Cast out what is not of you and replace it with your Word, your Truth. You are trustworthy and true. You are unchanging. We praise you for these qualities, for the salvation you have given us, for the access we have to your Throne, Lord God. I ask that you go before Haley, prepare her feet in the Gospel of Peace, outfit her in your armor. Love on her Lord in the most tender way. Reveal to her your presence, let her experience you in such a unique, humbling way. Protect her from enemy's arrows and lies. Place a hedge of protection around her and her family. I pray tomorrow would be a testimony to your greatness. That'd you would use whatever is to come for your glory. Set her feet upon your rock, upon your Word. Do not let her be shaken God. Prepare in her the strength to make it through whatever tomorrow brings, and to be victorious in your name. Guard and watch over your daughter Lord. Help her, encourage her trust in you. Grant her peace tonight, grant her a good night's sleep, and in the morning your mercy will be renewed. Increase her faith in you God, and reward her heart that loves you. Grant her favor over tomorrow. I pray your truth will prevail. In Jesus name we pray. IN your holy name we boldly ask these things. Amen

Life Lately

Sleep, study, repeat, sleep study, repeat, sleep, study, eat, repeat, sleep, study, dangit I have to start eating more regularly!

This is how life has gone lately. I told y'all October would be a doozie of a month and I'm no liar. Even so, I'm not sure I expected the craziness that would ensue as of a couple of weeks ago. Quick recap {because I could study for the next two weeks without eating or sleeping and still not get everything done}:

I go to the Harris County Psychiatric Center, or HCPC, once a week. I DO NOT like being there behind not one, but TWO locked doors on the unit and another TWO to get out of the hospital. It is a really eerie feeling once that door locks and you know you can't get out. I get physically ill before each shift starts. The fact that I'm on very acute units doesn't help much either. The charge nurse got beat up by a patient last week, and the week before that we had two patients get into a fight. Haldol is a staple. I actually really enjoy learning about psych, but don't enjoy experiencing it first hand. In fact, I like all of psych EXCEPT bipolar disorder and schizo disorders. Suicidal 20 something? Bring it on. OCD? So interesting. Eating disorders? I was in ballet and a sorority. Depressed? We can talk.

Now, I'm spending so much time on this because I feel bad about not liking psych. I'm actually pretty good at it {does that mean I'm a little crazy?} and have done really well on my exams, therapeutic interviews, and interventions with acutely psychotic patients that aren't at HCPC {they're in the hospitals I'm doing other shifts at}. For some reason I can connect with many of them. Maybe it is because I'm young. Maybe it is because I'm a student and we have something in common.....NEITHER OF US WANT TO BE THERE!! Maybe I'm a little off my rocker {hey, I feel like a string is holding me back from being committed sometimes}. Whatever it is, {I'm not bragging} I have a knack for it. That said, I could go the rest of my life without seeing a manic patient and die a happy gal, but I have to make it through mid-December with my weekly visits to HCPC. Oh the joy.

I made it through gerontology without a breakdown. I got an A.

OB started and is RIDICULOUSLY hard. I thought it'd be interesting, but alas, staring at crotch all day isn't very appealing. Actually I think I'll like being in L&D, OR, and the nursery, but the learning all of it ahead of time and seeing picture after picture after picture of crotch is just a bit much. Ever seen uterine prolapse? Don't Google it while eating.

I'm almost done with Care II and I'm fighting every second to earn an A in there. It is a Med-Surg course and a lot of fun, but some of the questions are a little wacky.

OOOOOOOHHHHHHH and I felt SO nursey the other day. One of my patients was having excruciating lower back pain that couldn't be helped with anything. We're talking morphine pump, other IV pain meds, PO meds, EVERYTHING pharmacologically didn't work. Now I get bad back pain once a month, and I asked him if I could try something with him. I got the MD to order a heating bad for him, propped him on his side with pillows supporting his back, and slid the heating pad in, then talked to him quietly/calmly/slowly, AND.....his pain DRAMATICALLY improved to the point that he could sleep. I literally almost cried. On top of that it was my last day @ the hospital and I finally felt like I made a BIG difference for someone. He even asked if I could be his nurse the rest of the time he was at the hospital. So rewarding!

OK that is it for now. I'd be incredibly surprised if I post again before the end of the month, so have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN and post LOTS of pics. I do check out blogs on mini-study breaks!

Life

A few days ago I volunteered at an elderly activity center. It was actually my second time at the center; fun because I got to see some of the same people again and they knew me! They ran up and gave us (the students) hugs and wanted to meet the new student that was with us. I knew some of them had memory impairments, but they remembered me and we had wonderful little conversations. One of my favorite ladies (I'll call her Mrs. S for privacy purposes) had looked familiar to me on the first day, but I thought it might be because she had the most beautiful blue eyes and was always smiling. If you choose what you want to act like at 90, she epitomizes it!

During one of the activities, a Rabbi stuck his head in to say hello to the class. We were doing crafts, and he noticed Mrs. S. He said "Mrs. S I was so sorry to hear of your husbands passing. He was a great man of God. Please give my regards to your daughter and if you need anything at all I am happy to help." Now this seemed normal enough; Mrs. S thanked him, we continued doing our crafts, all was well with the world. When it was time to clean up the crafts table and head to lunch, Mrs. S stood up and walked toward the office with a very bewildered look on her face.

The program director asked Mrs. S what she was doing to which she replied "I need to call home. I need to call home right now. Someone needs to pick me up." The program director reminded her that her daughter had dropped her off and her caregiver would be in to pick her up after the program was over; nobody was at home for her to call. Mrs. S repeated her request and the program director asked her who she wanted to call. Mrs. S said "I need to call my husband right now." The mood in the room completely changed as the students, caretakers, and elderly participants realized what was taking place.

Mrs. S then told the program director why she needed to call home. Her blue eyes welled up with tears as she said "I've just heard the most awful news. Someone told me that my husband has died!" The program director confirmed this news and reminded Mrs. S that she had been at his funeral. She reminded her that it was very nice and that her husband had lived a wonderful life. Mrs. S was obviously still upset, but went up to lunch and finished the afternoon activities. Her affect (something used to describe her demeanor, kind of her facial expression and the way she is acting along with it) was very flat. She was very quiet for the rest of the afternoon. When her caretaker came to pick her up, she bolted from her chair to meet her at the door.

"I've just heard that my husband died." The caretaker replied, "Yes, Mrs. S your husband passed away about a month ago. Do you remember him being in the hospital?" "Yes" Mrs. S replied. "Do you remember that we talked about him being very sick?" "Yes, but why didn't anyone tell me he died? Why are you trying to hide it from me?" replied Mrs. S. The caretaker began to remind Mrs. S that her husband had lived a wonderful life, that he was in Methodist hospital and Mr. S lived all the way to 90 years old.

At that very moment, it hit me. She was there after he died. That was the reason she looked familiar. Mrs. S was the wife of one of my very first patients as a student. He died about a month ago 10 minutes before my shift. The hospital had to get everything completed quickly so that he could be buried before sundown (a Jewish practice).

I felt horrible that Mrs. S had forgotten. She is such a sweet woman and always so very happy. She is surrounded by a loving family and a caretaker that absolutely adores her. It was excruciating to see her reliving her husband's death and realizing that this scenario will likely play out a number of times in the future. That day I cried.

I'm sorry if this post is a little depressing, but it is real life. It helps me document my experiences so that I can look back on them one day. I hope it will help me to provide better care to my patients; I know it is therapeutic for me.

One Sixth of the Way

One down, five to go! I'm officially 1/6 of the way through the Bacc2 program at UTHSC. WOW! Every single day has been a huge learning experience. I'm working at The Methodist Hospital in Houston and LOVE it! I'm on an ortho floor, so it is fun to have patients that typically enter the hospital "healthy." Methodist is really awesome because they allow students to learn very hands on. I've already pulled 2 foley catheters (both patients thanked me and said it was painless), been involved when the CERT team was called for a patient that dropped their sats (O2 saturation - not enough oxygen in the blood), administered medications (with supervision of course), and had my very own patient to work-up and take care of. It is crazy how fast things are happening and I can only hope I'm retaining what I will need in the future. The biggest thing I've learned is that it is ALL ABOUT SAFETY...and a close 2nd is WASH YOUR HANDS! Anyhow....I hope to document a few interesting things that have happened (in the future) without disclosing any identifying info. If this post is a little incoherent, it is due to lack of sleep and dimatap consumption due to a pesky cold (likely resulting from lack of sleep....vicious cycle). Hope all is well for y'all. I'll post some pics from the last little while when I can find my camera cord! Until then.......

Last Few Weeks

SO, Friday May 7th was my last day of work.  It was really hard to say goodbye to the wonderfully sweet people I worked with, but I know I made the right decision in going back to school!  

On Saturday, May 8th I had two of my wisdom teeth removed (the top ones).  It was no big deal and I was up and running after the sedation wore off.  No pain medication.  I even floated in the pool that evening!  

On May 15th I moved into my new apartment in Houston.  It was a really rainy day and let up just enough for Lee and his Dad to move stuff in while Lee's Mom and I made a very necessary trip to Target and Hungry's, one of the best places to eat near Rice, I am digressing and will try to keep that to a minimum.  Oh and a huge 'thank you' goes out to mine and Lee's families.  Without their help I would not have gotten moved in and set up as quickly as I did.  Lee and I planned on staying in Houston until Monday when we would go back to DFW and to a Ranger's game!  Sunday evening I went to dinner with a very good friend, more like a relative than a friend, Darla.  We went to Raven Grill which was delicious!  Lee and I went to sleep, no problems, had a great weekend, oh, wait....OK on Saturday afternoon when Shelley and my parents got to my apartment I totally tripped and face planted into the middle of the street {I was excited to see Shelley since she got to Texas the night before from Japan} and really bashed my knee.  Other than that, no problems.  

So I go to sleep and wake up around 3am with horrible stomach pain, nausea, chills to the point of shaking uncontrollably with my teeth chattering, etc... and I'm thinking it was the food.  I am the first person to get sick from food.  I was half asleep so I shook for quite a while, contemplating if I needed medical attention and where I would go, should I wake up Lee, who should I call to tell me which hospital to go to {Laura you were at the top of my list} and fell back asleep after about an hour.  When I woke up Monday I told Lee how horrible I had felt in the night and chalked it up to a bad dinner.  My stomach still hurt a little bit and it changed from being all over in the night to the lower right quadrant, about half-way between my belly-button and hip bone.  I told Lee I thought it could be anything, but was worried about appendicitis.  Not wanting to have to go to the doctor, hospital, or anywhere since I was about to start school and wanted to go to the Ranger's game, I decided it was just a little tummy issue and would resolve itself.  Lee and I drove back to DFW, and when I got out of the car and leaned over the seat of his truck to get my purse, a stabbing pain seared through my abdomen.  At that point I called my Dad, who didn't answer, and then his nurse, and also my Mom's best friend, who told me I should have already gone to the doctor but if it got any worse to go to the ER.  I went to the Ranger's game thinking it was a gas bubble, ovulation, something....ANYTHING but appendicitis.  

I woke up Tuesday and could still feel a little pain, but it wasn't very bad unless I pushed on it.  I made a 2 P.M. doctor's appointment just in case and started to run all of the errands I needed to run in order to finalize my move to Houston and start school 6 days later {oh and let's be honest, I had reading assignments and things to do for school already; when they say school starts May 24th they really mean you have to physically be there May 24th but if you don't work on some of this before then you'll be really behind}.  Well, long story short, I went to my doctor's appointment fully expecting to be told I had gas {or something ridiculous}, and ended up being sent straight to the ER @ Baylor Hospital in Grapevine {do not pass go, do not go home and get your things together, call your husband and get over there, do you want an ambulance and are you sure you don't want an ambulance} to check out my appendix.  I drove to the ER in tears, not because I was scared of surgery or concerned about my health {or life}, but because I had to start school in 6 DAYS and DID NOT have time to have any major health problems.  I had errands to run, syllabi to print, binders to organize!  

The wonderful {and I mean wonderful} doctors, nurses, techs, PAs, and the EMT student who brought levity to the situation @ Baylor made things a lot better.  They tried to keep my mind off of school and remind me that it could be anything and I was more important than school {um, yah but I just left my job to start school and I can't have anything happen to me because I HAVE TO start school}.  I took my 3rd pregnancy test of the day, got my kidneys tested, got a CT scan, had 4 people come and press all over my abdomen, and then found out it was appendicitis and that I would need immediate surgery {I was thinking they'd wait until the morning because hey, I wasn't in that much pain; I turned down paid meds for goodness sakes}.  Lee calls my parents, they get in the car to make the 6 hour drive to DFW, I get antibiotics started, and the entire time I'm asking the surgeon and nurses if they're SURE I have appendicitis because I really don't have time for this.  My anesthesiologist gave me some 'I don't care' medicine before wheeling me away from Lee, Kathy {my aunt}, and Becky {my cousin} which made me very talkative until we got into the OR.  As I was moving over to the table and they were putting the anti-embolism stockings on, that stuff finally hit.  Before I knew it he told me he was giving me oxygen and then that I was going to go to sleep and wake up fine.  I smelled and tasted something kind of nasty but before I could say anything about it, I was OUT.  LOVE the anesthesiologist, hate being put under.  It really is quite disarming.  I'd never been put under and I woke up scared, confused, and STILL asking if I really had appendicitis or if they cut me open for nothing {I'm hard headed and I didn't think it was appendicitis}!  I was scared and in disbelief that I had appendicitis before he put me under, so I think I just woke up like that.  Oh, and I think I was kind of fighting waking up and wanted to do it faster than I could.  I was super groggy, had a hard time keeping my eyes open, and remember thinking I had to focus to take breaths.  Note to self: think about happy things pre-general anesthesia next time, which hopefully isn't soon.

The pain pre-surgery really wasn't all that bad.  I expected appendicitis to be much more painful, although mine was less painful because it hadn't burst.  Evidently my immune system is fantastico because my white blood cells weren't elevated and I didn't have a fever {although I think it might have been different if I had gone Monday @ 3 A.M.} or any other indications other than tenderness and the CT scan.  The pain post-surgery was another story.  I had a laparoscopic procedure with 3 incisions and the umbilical {belly-button} one really hurt.  I had surgery at 7:30 P.M. and was released from the hospital at 3 P.M. the next day.  I'm 2 weeks post-op and doing great {my surgeon's exact words today} but I can't bend, squat, swim, float, jump, roll, hurdle, do anything else that uses my abdominal muscles, or lift anything over 10lbs. {about a gallon of milk} for 4 more weeks.  Two of my books individually weigh >10lbs!!!  Basically I can only walk {which I've done a lot of}.  In any case, I've tried to be VERY good because I don't want a hernia and want to be able to do anything and everything in 4 more weeks.

I'm sure all of you have enjoyed this extremely detailed post, but my intent was not to bore, it was to document my experience so when it becomes a funny story of the past {not quite there yet; had a nightmare they didn't get it all and I had to do it again} I can look back on it.  If anything, you should know that appendicitis doesn't always result in searing, unbearable pain, and if you do get it, the morphine pump will be your best friend for the first few hours after surgery!

Everyone is well, my family took fantastic care of me, and I have started school in Houston. I am incredibly busy, but LOVING every minute of it.  I am so happy to be immersed in the medical community.  Oh, and I was assigned to The Methodist Hospital for the summer {my grandparents always go to one of the surgeon's there and have had such amazing experiences}.  Lee and I are going back and forth to see each other and although the next 11 months will be difficult, we have an end goal and are working towards it {with lots of prayers along the way}.  Future posts may be short and sporadic, but I'm trying to stay up to date with this blog {one of my resolutions}.  Have a happy day!