Shake, Rattle and Roll

So one minute you are sitting at your desk in the library and the next your volunteer is standing over you, while you are laying on the floor, asking you what is wrong. Then, because she's scared s*!t-less. and because I banged my head in 12 places on the way down and broke my glasses too...a Rapid Response Code was called to the Library.

Now, nothing ever happens in the Library. It's quiet, has no patients and it's mostly just me in there all day, much like you would imagine a library to be. So when everyone heard this over the loudspeakers, across the entire hospital mind you, they came running!!! So as I was coming round, there's Bunny, then John from Respiratory, Minetta from Critical Care, the boys from Biomed and then about 70 other people I couldn't see, due to not having my glasses on!!

Ok, most people would find this awesome, since when they call a code, you really do want a "rapid response." Well, mostly I was mortified!!! I BEGGED John from respiratory to let me get up and just sit in my chair or even walk down to the ER if that is what he wanted but NOOoooOOOOO(do you hear the sarcasm:)) Since I bumped by head 12 times on the way down, I needed a neck collar. And a back board. And to be lifted *gasp* over the counter and around to the stretcher. *sigh* What did I do to myself? And whose kitten did I kick to deserve this?

Well, I had a seizure. I've known that I've had a seizure disorder since dad's was diagnosed and I was on meds for awhile and yada yada, but it hasn't been an issue since 2003. Well, now it's an issue!!!

So down to the ER I was rolled. Bunny followed, Darcy, Laura, Ayden, Bobbi Jo, Dad and I'm sure more visited. Ayden called Corey (who was at the vet with Jadey) and I spent a solid hour being mortified. And having more seizures. Oops!!! Dr. Wheeler, who was very nice and good at what he did, looked about 25 when he walked up to me, so after I made a crack about him being too young to help me, he assured me that he was actually older than I am.

Bunny made sure I got a CT scan, since I hit my head 12 times on the way down (have I mentioned that?) They found a lesion of some sort of my CT scan so after a long wait (with nothing to eat or drink I must add) I had an MRI. Corey enjoyed my MRI since he got to catch up with Mark Varney, a friend from High school who was administering the test, and he now has proof of my brain matter! The MRI was clear (phew...no stroke lesion!) and I was eventually released from the hospital(around 5 pm) with instructions not to go to work until I saw the neurologist on Thursday and he cleared me.

Phew...that was a long day! I was tired, hungry and thirsty as heck. Corey grabbed a pizza, at my request, Ayden and Josie stopped by with my car and I sent an email. Got up to go to bed, turned to Corey and said, "I'm having another..."

Woke up to Corey half holding me, calling 911 for taking a digger on him! How many friggin' times could I possibly bounce to the floor in one day????!!!??? So the ambulance came (and I cried hard, hoping Corey would just let me go to bed and sleep it off) and it was back to the hospital I went. Had another seizure when I got there and was admitted to the hospital around midnight. *sigh* Poor Corey he sure had a long day of it. He didn't make it home until around 1:30!!!!

So I spent a long night in the hospital, not allowed to get up to potty without a helping hand, with padded bed rails in case I started to seize and then being woken up every two hours for a Neurological check. Thankfully I felt MUCH better by Wednesday afternoon. I needed to see the Neurologist before I could go home, and he wasn't available until Thursday morning.

Luckily, my friends, family and coworkers rallied around. The guys from Biomed hooked me up with a great remote for the TV. Bobbi Jo changed the whiteboard date and wrote in my Nurse and LNA's names. Darcy had breakfast with me and brought a box of chocolate munchkins and a coffee (all cleared by my great nurse Gail). Bob changed my ice water. And then I had a ton of visitors. Dad brought flowers, as did my boss Sally and coworker Julie. Bunny popped by to make sure I was still alive with some flowers and Auntie Carol, Shelley, Connor and his girlfriend brought a beautiful bouquet. Corey spent most of the day with me, going home to walk the dog and bring back some clean undies and other requested items. Poor guy, he was tuckered! Aunt Mimi popped in, Jessie visited, Ernie the volunteer stopped to make sure I was kicking, Daniel and Jamie stopped by and John from Respiratory stopped by in the early AM to make sure his handywork paid off!!! I'm really SUPER lucky to have so many good people I work with, know and love! I also got many phone calls. Jill called, as Corey had told his mom when he'd gone home around the dinner hour. Cousin Judy called, cousin Amy called (she has full on Grand Mal Seizures) and my neighbor Linda checked in. Josie also popped over after work!

Of course, everyone wanted me to tell mom and I didn't cause why worry a Mama Bear when she is 3000 miles away in Florida, but since she knew about the "code white" practically before I did, the gang talked me into calling her. I have some MAJOR lapses in my memory, but Corey assures me that I called her from the ER bay and said "Guess where I am!?!" Sounds like me huh?! She is still in Florida with Jeff, Karen and the kids, but we are now taking bets on how fast she can close the house up and beat feet home to see her baby bear! *GROWWWWL* "NO ONE MESSES WITH MARY'S BABY BEARS!!! *GROWWWWL* NOT EVEN MEAN OLD SEIZURES!!!!

She must have called dad too, as he popped into the ER to make sure his "young 'un" was ok! I heard him from down the hall say, "I'm here to see my daughter Jennifer" and I said to the nurse..."that's my dad!" It was nice of him to come down and he stayed quite a while.

Anyhoo...after a EEG on Thursday and meeting with my new Neurologist, I was released this morning. I have to go see him again next Thursday and I may have to go to Dartmouth to have a three day video-EEG something something, but I won't be sure about any of that until I see him next. He was going to consult a colleague first. Mostly the additional testing would be to make sure it is actual Epilepsy instead of a heart issue, since my heart rate drops quite a bit, along with some crazy low blood pressure, when I have a seizure. The biggest bummer is that I won't be able to drive for at least three months. And the three months don't start until I start the meds. *sigh* That will be a hardship for sure, but again, I have many loving family and friends who have already offered to help out and I only live a mile from work and should walk my big butt there anyway. (Oy, that hill!!!)

Ok, didn't make a long story short on this one, but thought I'd fill everyone in. Just hanging around keeping it real. I suggest we post Jokes about Epileptics in the comments section...I'll start!

Seattle

Corey is going to Seattle on May 4.  He is going to meet up with his friend Chris, attend a few baseball games and maybe drink a few beers.  Ok, probably more than a few!  I’m so glad for him that he is getting this opportunity to travel.  Might as well get out and see the world while you have the time. 

 

But I’m jealous too.  I love to travel and I love Seattle.  I feel like I used to be a traveler.  38 states and 10 countries is nothing to bat your eyes at, but that was in my 20’s.  So far, my 30’s has just shown me the wild side of New Smyrna Beach Florida and Moosehead Lake in Maine.  Woo hooo!!!  Don’t get me wrong, I love going to see mom and dad, soaking up the sunshine and the cheap shopping at Bells, but I long for the days of trit-trotting through airports, hanging out in Hostels and sleeping on friend’s floors, all in the name of seeing something new.  It’s been a long time since I have had to overnight in an airport bathroom, pray to the turbulence Gods, or enjoy the Corn Palace!

 

*sigh*  I guess this means I’ve grown up!

Weekend plans

This weekend is shaping up to be a busy one.  Jewelry party on Friday night at Jeanne’s with Karen.  Hair done at 8 on Saturday morning.  Chill with Karen and Rachey while Rachey gets her birthday haircut and pedicure.  Dinner at Lorraine and Korey’s Saturday night (yum, chicken parm!).  Sunday will be my morning of rest followed by an afternoon of activity!  A baby shower to attend (who ISN’T preggers) and then a quick dash home to attend Rachey’s 10^th birthday party!  Holy cow! 

 

I think we are just gearing up for the summer rush!

Jade is 6!

Today is Jade dog’s 6^th birthday!  Hard to believe she has only been with us for a little over a year, but it’s been the BEST YEAR EVER!!!!!  She is such a good pup!

 

PS:

My BMI went from 30 to 29.7. This officially makes me not “Obese”!!!! How cool is that? Now I am just overweight!

*sigh* it’s the little things people!

a quick update

Just a quick update.  I started a new diet this week and it’s going well.  I’m trying Medi-fast for 5 weeks to see how it will work!  So between being sick with the stomach flu last week and starting my diet I now have lost a total of 95 pounds!!!  Yeah for me!!!  I now actually weigh less than I ever have as an adult.  Maybe even less than I ever have since I was 15 or so.  Yikes…how is that for sad!!  So my next update will be in 5 pounds when I hit 100!  Then I will have finally made it to the “century” club!  Ok, keep your fingers crossed!

 

PS:  Sorry about the pictures yesterday, I’m not sure why they didn’t work.  I’ll have to work on that.  Trust me when I say I had BIG glasses in 1993 though!!!!

 

Important Stuff

My brother sent me an email this morning titled "Important Stuff" I figured it had to do with my folks or something. Instead it was these two pictures! My senior picture and then one of the two of us when I lived in Alaska and he visited. We had gone to Denali to raft and on the ride home we stopped to take a picture of ourselves under a Dips sign. It was pretty funny actually!!! (Dips are Alaska's version of Frost Heaves but they are HUGE!)

I don't know what to say about the Graduation picture...except YIKES!!!!

Norovirus Hell

Um, so apparently the Fates heard me talking about pranking Corey and decided I needed a lesson.  So they chose to strike me with one heck of a case of Norovirus.  And sure, I lost 7 ½ pounds in three days, but still….that was a hard way to do it!!!  So that is how I spent last Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Ok, well the weekend I wasn’t actually sick, but recovering, getting my liquids in and doing some light housework to get my strength back.  Ugh, I wouldn’t wish the “stomach Flu” on ANYONE!!!  Ugh!!!

Best Idea for April Fool's EVER

So after reading about some pranks online today I thought up the best prank EVER!!!  I thought, hey, I know a million women who are preggers, why don’t I have one of them pee on a stick and then I can use it as “proof” for Corey that I am Knocked Up.  Ha ha…tee hee, what a great joke!!!  Your unemployed and the little swimmers broke the barrier that is 99.9% effective, ha ha, jokes on you!!!

Well, even though pregnancy is in the water, I can’t find anyone who is pregnant, who I know well enough to ask, who lives close enough for me to pull this off.  The two girls who work in the OR who were preggers gave birth at the end of last month (both had cute little girls).  The gal in Registration who was knocked up gave birth last week, (think it was a boy).  Deidra works in Portsmouth and is too far away, Corey’s cousin Tarsha is in Farmington and Lisa (who is like 5 minutes pregnant!) is in Nashua for the day!!!  There is one gal at the hospital who is still carrying, but I don’t even know her name.  So I think that might be awkward…”Hi, girl who’s name escapes me, you don’t know me, but will you pee on a stick?”  Nope, can’t do it.

 

But with some pre-planning, this could have been the best prank EVER!  *sigh*  Apparently the Jen Davis School of Procrastination just had a Master’s Graduate!!!