Back to Work

Yesterday was interesting. It was my first day back. I wasn't very nervous. I've had a priority shift as you can imagine. So going back to work didn't stress me out; it can't.

It was really nice to see my coworkers. Everyone has been so great and supportive. I tried to talk with my students about my situation and about dialysis. But, with one mention of "needles" and "blood" one of my students hit the floor! She totally passed out and fell out of her chair! I could not believe it.

Then, later in the morning I was moving a box from one shelf to another and it fell. It hit me in the face and now I have a huge fat lip with a blood blister on it. There is a bloody mark from my tooth. too. I thought about packing up and going home after all that!

But the afternoon was great. Jason always sends me flowers on the first day of school. This was my first day of school, and there were the flowers. So nice. An anonymous family at school has asked if they can adopt our family this holiday season and "take care" of Christmas for us. I can't believe it! They usually adopt a family through their church, but this year they want to help us. I can't believe it! And they want to remain anonymous, so we may never know who our Christmas Angel is.

Finally, my last three classes were upper-classmen and seem like they are going to be lots of fun. They were very interested in my story and very interested in dialysis. They asked great questions and were very sympathetic. I'm looking forward to getting to know them as the year moves on.

We'll See How it Goes

Today is the day I'm nervous about. I'm on dialysis now and need to be back at school by 12:30. It shouldn't be a problem since they said I could come to the hospital at 7:00. But the nurses were in no hurry this morning. I got on around 7:15 and should get off around 11:30. That leaves enough time to stop bleeding and to get to school. We'll see how I'm feeling, too. I sometimes feel really worn out and other times I can make it till around 4:00 before I start feeling bad. I'm going to take some Tylenol even if I feel okay, just in case,

Lots of Blockage

I had my arm worked on yesterday. I told them to give me more medicine this time since I felt everything they did last time. It was much better.

It turns out that there were several blockages in my arm. One place was 90% blocked, two were 70% blocked and several others were 20-30% blocked. I could tell they did some serious ballooning cause my arm hurts today. And now that I'm running, my pressure still isn't great. It's still higher than it should be. It worries me because the doctor mentioned that if we can't get this figured out they might have to put a fistula in my right arm. I will be pissed! I have a feeling they won't take the left one out first. I don't know if I can handle two fistulas.

Stupid Arm

I hate my fistula. It sounds great...that's what everyone keeps saying. But the pressure is too high. And it's always high, so it's not just a bad stick that's causing a problem. So the doctor wants me to have it "ballooned" again. That's tomorrow. He said that if it doesn't work this time then I'll have to see the surgeon again. I'm not sure what that means...fix it, take it out, replace it with a graft? I do know one thing. Last time I had it done I could feel everything they did. I was given some medicine for the pain, but it didn't work. I was also supposed to get some medicine that sort of makes you forget what happened. Obviously, I still remember. And they didn't give me any pain medicine when I left. I need to make sure they know I was uncomfortable last time.

Sleeping Beauty

We fed Anna at 6:30 last night and she fell asleep around 8:30. She didn't wake up to eat again until 4:30! It was amazing! I'd love to think that this will continue...but I know better. Alli slept the whole night once and then it took several months for her to do it again. Here's hoping!

6 Days

I go back to work in 6 days. Yuck. I will work for one normal week (all day Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and afternoons Tuesday and Thursday). Then it's conference week. So I'll work Monday and Tuesday and then it's Gatlinburg for 5 days.

Yep, she told me for sure that I'm set for Gatlinburg. I have an 11:45 chair time on Saturday. It's the only time I'll need dialysis while we're down there. I'll just miss one afternoon of Shattuck-family-fun and be back for dinner. Not bad, I guess. I'm just glad to be able to get out of Dodge for a while.

Mr. B

Mr. B is a man in my pod. A week ago he just wasn't himself. He was talking about the helicopters outside his window (they were apparently blue and red and black). THEN, he talked about the rattle snakes here in the Unit. He looked at me and said, "You're still here? The gorillas haven't gotten you yet?" And he hasn't been back for a while. I guess he had pneumonia and when he has an infection he goes a little nutty. I'm glad he's back to normal.

RIP

It's been a while since I spoke about Martha. I haven't seen her since I had Anna and started coming on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. A nurse just told me that Martha passed away. She always called out, "Lord, help me." She won't have to yell as loud from now on.

Also, Claire passed.

They lost four people this week.

Sad.

Bigger Needles

I came in early today because we have people coming over this afternoon. I'm surprised that they were able to put me on before my schedlued time. The nurse used a larger needle this morning. Our thought is that with a bigger needle we can run the blood flow faster and I won't have to run as long. But he had trouble with one of the needles, so I've got one in my arm and one catheter running. I told them not to bother digging around with the second needle. I'd rather get out as soon as I can.

Reflux

Anna's been throwing up alot so I brought her to the doctor yesterday. They checked her weight to make sure she's still gaining. And she is. She's 9 pounds 11 ounces! Still smaller than some babies I know when they were born. The doctor thinks its reflux. So she's starting a prescription for Zantac. It tastes terrible...yes I tasted it! It's pepperminty. Not really a flavor that a baby is used to. She has to take it three times a day. Poor thing.

Back to Work...Soon!

I have 11 days till I go back to work. I'm not excited about it at all! I first got sick in May and haven't taught since. So I've really been off work for 6 months. It's hard to believe it's been that long. In some ways it's been the longest 6 months of my life.

I felt the urge to buy a lottery ticket yesterday. I guess I feel like I'm due for some good luck. Not so much this time. Not a winner.

Anna seems to be a little more alert these days. She's been looking around and following us with her eyes. Her neck is getting really strong, too. But she has been spitting up alot. It's been about a month that it's been happening. About 2 hours after we feed her she'll start gagging. Poor thing. We go to the doctor next week so we'll see what he says. She's still gaining weight, so it must no be that big of a deal, I guess.