Read the Label

My restart of my IV was a little interesting since I got the two mixed up.  One used to be three times a day and the other twice a day before we switched to the 24 hour system.  So, I restarted at three times a day which was fine until I ran out of medicine.  When I called my home care team, they couldn't understand why I could be out of medicine.  Well, I failed to read the label and was only supposed to be taking it twice a day.  It might account for the weird symptoms and waking up a lot.  Of course, it took us a little bit to figure this all out.

When we switched to the right schedule, my drug level was still high in my system.  So, now we are down to one 24 hours a day and the other once a day.  It has been working pretty well except for a spell trying to access my port.  Apparently, it is better for me to lay down on the couch and not try to sit at the table.

I have also been trying to have a little fun.  My friend brought home a new baby a few weeks ago and I was planning to deliver her dinner.  Of course, I tend to plan a little too much in a short amount of time.  So, my aunt helped my daughter make dinner and gave me a chance to look a little more presentable.  Last week, she was back with my mom, my cousin and his family, and my sister and her cute girls.  One of my nieces loves to have dance parties in my basement and encouraged all of us to do the same.  It was really fun and it just isn't every day that you can get your relatives to dance to the Jackson Five.

This week, I have had some great last minute help from my mom, one of my friends who took my daughter to the library, and my other friend and her husband who make sure she feels right at home at their house.  Today, we are heading to the U and don't suspect to get done after a two week run.  However, it doesn't hurt to dream...

Blessings,

Cindy

Doctor Day

In the past few weeks, I have gotten a lot of fun deliveries. One included balloons which had already been blown up for my daughter. Another included an assortment of cookies, bars, and cakes individually wrapped and carrying a lot of calories. Another contained a thing to heat up and put on my neck. They are all really fun and have my daughter asking every day if she got any mail.

I have been busy making fun plans for when I get rid of my 24 hour IV. They include some dancing, some travel, a few freezer meal cooking sessions, a garage sale, a birthday celebration for my niece, interviews for a new Pastor, etc. I am really good at making plans. On Thursday, I went to visit my friend and told her, "Life is what happens when you are busy making plans."

Those words caught up to me on Doctor Day. I still have my 24 hour IV. It wouldn't be so bad except that I really thought it was going to be done. My nurse had been to visit in the morning and she thought it was going to be done too. My daughter went along to PFTs and did her best to cheer for me to blow harder. We literally shut down the clinic for the day. She asked the man cleaning the lobby not to lock us in here.

The new plan is to restart the second antibiotic that I was previously on and continue the 24 hour one. It starts the count over at a minimum of three weeks. Can I just say that swimsuit season is upon us? On our way home, my daughter and I stopped for some Chinese food. I think cream cheese puffs at least make things seem better.

Blessings,

Cindy

My new friend

My friend and her daughter spent the night so my daughter could go to the zoo yesterday while I was busy at my "meeting." It was a really great example of prayers in action. When I was trying to figure out how to drop her off early in the morning, my friend said, "We can just stay over."

My husband and I left for the U and my visit to my friends in Radiology. He waited and stayed with me until they were ready for me. We got to see the port that it is now in my arm. I had only seen a picture of it and was happy to find it was a little smaller than I thought it would be.

I did really well until they announced my name and procedure in the OR. Then, my friend, Fran, who was in charge of the good medicine made me go to sleep. Apparently, I can still respond and do what they tell me to do but I have no memory of it. Well, I have a little memory when it started to wear off.

It was supposed to take about an hour for my procedure and it took two. Of course, my friendly veins didn't cooperate very well. First, they took out my picc line. Then, they set out to put in a double port. (Most ports have one point of entry but I have two.) Well, that didn't work. I woke up when they were discussing whether or not to put in a single and calling another doctor. In the end, I woke up with a double but it is smaller than a regular one so I can't put dye in it for certain procedures. Other than that, I should be good to go.

My arm is very black and blue so I am keeping it covered. My daughter, of course, caught on because my clamp is a different color. I told her the other day that God made her perfect. She made a funny face and said, "God didn't make you perfect because look" as she pointed to my IV. Then, she added, "Don't worry. You're still beautiful." I guess it is all in your perspective.

I was hoping to be liberated of my 24 hour IV yesterday but it is going to keep going until I am seen in clinic next week.

When I got home, my dinner was waiting from my friends in the fridge. One of my other friends is cooking dinner tonight. I am very thankful for great help and lots of prayers. I am also really glad we can check my port off the list of new experiences and not have to worry about it anymore.

Blessings,

Cindy