NOOOOO!

Wednesday, I brought Terry home after our hospital ordeal. He was very tired and weak and pale. He asked me to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy before it closed that evening. I grabbed the script, ran up to the pharmacy, walked in, looked at the script, and realized it was for lab work. I went home, ran inside with the car running to grab the script, couldnt locate it. Went outside, turned off the car, realizing it might be a while before we figured it out. Terry realized that he did NOT have additional medication to pick u p and had gotten the message confused at the hospital, after we read all the discharge info and went through the paperwork. I breathed a sigh of relief, because I was feeling rather worn out myself.

Fast forward to Thursday morning. AJ and I were about to go pick up his immunization waiver and go to Chik Fil A to grab lunch. I could not locate my purse. Now, we all know Im rather scatter brained and set things down and find them in odd places later. If I get Alzheimer's when I am older, we will probably have trouble identifying it initially because I do odd stuff now. The house and van are in pretty good condition because I spent all last week cleaning, anticipating our vacation in NC. I thought I'd left it in the van, but knowing me, I assumed I'd misplaced it. We searched the whole house, top to bottom, and searched the van.

We concluded that I left the van unlocked Wednesday night and my purse between the two front seats. My cell phone was in my purse and went straight to voicemail when I called it. We have some troubled teenagers in our neighborhood and the police officer told us that he was certain it was them. But good luck proving it.

What sucked the most? Terry's wallet was in my purse, because I was trying to keep it "safe" while he was in the hospital. I didn't leave it home because I was afraid it would be lost or stolen! So both of our driver's licenses, all of our credit cards and check cards, my social security card (I don't want to hear it, thanks), my picture of me smiling at the camera while AJ glares from his school, my 16 -hour -doesn't- come- off- no- matter- who- you- kiss- or- what- you- eat lipstick, $30 cash, and my purse and fancy red wallet with a pink S my sister gave me are all missing. Oh yeah, and my LG Chocolate phone.

So poor Terry, just home from the hospital, had all this extra stress upon him. We cancelled all of our cards, suspended my phone, put a fraud alert on my social, put stop payments on the missing check book, got Terry a new driver's license (because HE keeps his Social Security Card secure someplace OTHER than his wallet), went to the bank and ordered new check cards. . . .

So if you're trying to call me, call the house #.

Lesson Learned: Lock your car.

Finished!

I don't think it's a coincidence that I finished knitting my Yogini Bolero while Terry was in the hospital. It was incredibly stressful, logisticaly and emotionally, and I found solace in the repetitive nature of knitting. Instead of just sitting in the waiting area at the emergency room twiddling my thumbs or nervously interrogating nurses, doctors or janitors (as I saw others doing), I had my emergency knitting ready to go. My fingers flew and in the end, I have a quite useful product that cost me financially 25% of what they cost new at the store.

When I heard the Yarn Harlot in Vero Beach, she talked about research at Harvard showing that repetitive visual-spatial action helped people deal with stress and trauma. However, they concluded that it wasn't practical to keep "emergency knitting projects" handy. Well, it works for me!

I just found another site called Knit on the Net where a fellow knitter, Betsan Corkhill, is promoting the therapeutic benefits of knitting.

Her site says, "It's already known and accepted within the medical profession that occupied people feel less pain and depression, so that's a good start. However, the large amount of anecdotal evidence suggests that knitting has much more to offer. It isn't simply about keeping people occupied with an activity they enjoy. It's not just 'old fashioned' occupational therapy either. There's a lot more to knitting than initially meets the eye!

"The rhythmic repetitive movements of knitting are important - quite how, we're not absolutely certain of yet, but we have our theories. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that they induce a form of meditation very similar to Mindfulness. Recent research has shown that Mindfulness can be very effective in treating depression and chronic pain. It can also help those who are fit and healthy to combat stress and to manage life's downs. It helps you to put into perspective any traumatic issues that would normally dominate your waking thoughts helping you to find a stable balance between problematic events and feelings and more positive, pleasant sensations within the current moment. It's a state of mind where you're not mulling over the past or fretting about the future."

She goes on, "The rhythm of these movements has a calming effect which is already being used successfully to manage disruptive behaviour and ADHD in children. Many who have written to me say they use their knitting to manage anxiety, panic attacks, phobias and conditions such as asthma, where calmness is important. Of course the portability of knitting means you can carry your calming remedy around and use it when and wherever you need. This portability makes knitting, along with some needlework projects, unique in the craft world.

The automaticity of knitting is important, too. It occupies some areas of your brain, whilst freeing up others. Many find that this enables them to 'zone out' to become 'mindless'. This gives your mind a mini break from any problems, enabling you to escape into the sanctuary of a quiet mind. This brings down stress levels and breaks into negative or ruminating downward thought cycles."

Works for me!

Research

I've been doing some research. It appears that a medication that was prescribed to Terry has caused all of this drama. I'm relieved to think it's not cancer. And pissed to think that a dr would prescribe this medication despite many warnings about it from the FDA.

Hopefully his body will stop attacking his platelets. Hopefully they will let him come home soon. I missed vacation, I've missed Terry, and I'm ready for him to spend some time at home with me and AJ.

In other news, I made it to the grocery store today. AJ and I are having bacon and eggs for breakfast. Because I finally bought eggs. And bacon.

In other news, the pasta maker from Goodwill didn't turn out so well, so I will be returning that tomorrow. We had leftover pasta from about a week ago for dinner tonight in lieu of the fresh stuff. AJ didn't mind.

Bedtime

AJ goes to bed so nicely.. Thank you, Lord.

It really helps me out that bath and bedtime is so peaceful in my home.

Please keep praying for Terry. He might be released Thursday. Might not.

ugh

we still don't know what is causing Terry's condition. the doctors took him off the immunoglobulin and his platelet count, which had risen to 18, dropped to 7. This is very disheartening. Meanwhile, I'm trying to keep up some semblance of normalcy for AJ, missing Grace who is in NC with her Nana and Grandpa and keeping Terry company in the hospital. The doctors are taking this one step at a time, 1st step being to get the platelet count up and keep it there. So he is back on immunoglobulin. Then they will explore the origins of this and plot a treatment course.

In other news, my mom is going to visit her dad today. Please pray for both of them. That's all I feel comfortable discussing on my public blog. :)

Pray!

Terry had some lab work done at the dr's yesterday and they called us, telling us to get Terry to the ER immediately. His platelet count scored 13 (normal score is 150). The dr was very concerned that he would accidentally cut himself or experience internal bleeding and not be able to stop. He was admitted into the hospital with the platelet score dropping to 3, and then to 1 this morning. We expect him to receive a platelet transfusion sometime today. He was ordered to avoid eating with a fork or knife, no hot foods, don't brush teeth, etc. in case of bleeding.

We learned this morning that his white blood cell count has also dropped, and the doctors do not know why. They have started him on steroids to help interfere with whatever is attacking his platelets.

Ironically, we were supposed to leave for North Carolina early this morning. We have cancelled our vacation plans, although Grace decided to go to NC with my mom and dad and brother. We have a friend who is helping with AJ.

We're disappointed in losing this much-anticipated vacation, worried about Terry and stressed about having NO answers as to the cause of this right now.

Please pray for wisdom in Terry's doctors, peace for Terry and Staci, healing for Terry, protection for Grace and Staci's family as they travel to North Carolina, and peace for AJ as his schedule is quite disrupted.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Poor Terry has to work long hours this week. Those rockets just can't seem to fly without his expertise. I'll have to take him on our special surprise date when we get back from North Carolina!

(No, he does not read this blog. He's welcome to, has the link, but doesn't seem to find my inner ramblings that interesting in print. He listens to me, and that's enough!)

So Grace is at Grandparent's Camp (isn't that the neatest thing? GRANDPARENT's Camp?????!?!?!?!) AJ went to be by 7pm (yes, our children normally go to bed between 7 and 730, and wake up 12 hours later) and I took a loooooong 90 minute bath with a book and a Diet Coke. Terry will be home soon, exhausted from a 13 hour day. I can't WAIT for vacation!

8th Anniversary coming up!

I think I'm going to get a babysitter for AJ (Grace will be at Granparent's Camp with her Nana) and take Terry to Get Fired Up, a pottery studio in town. The traditional gift for the 8th anniversary is bronze or pottery. So we can select a pottery piece and paint it together! Now to book a sitter. . .

Creative Arts Camp

We're in full swing this week at church!! I'm a volunteer, Grace is in the musical and AJ gets some time in the nursery with wonderful helpers. However, it's exhausting!!! It's only THURSDAY and we still have camp tomorrow, Saturday, and our big performance on Sunday!! Singing/music time, choreography class, outside time, snacks and Bible lessons are wearing me OUT! I don't know how my mom managed. I went to bed at 7pm last night, soooo tired.

I thought i had chronic fatigue syndrome or was pregnant. Nope, just tired. Many of my friends said the same thing today about helping this week. It's a very ambitious musical--very wordy with many dance moves to remember. So anyhow.

We went to the dentist today. Gracie and I both have clean teeth and a clean bill of health. No cavities for either of us!!! And Grace isn't afraid of the dentist anymore, so that's good. She listened to her mp3 player while the hygenist cleaned her teeth. They didn't get X-rays taken, but maybe next time. .. . AND the dentist thinks she might be losing her first tooth in a month or two! She told him all about the house fairy and the tooth fairy. :)

In other news, she is running with the Wii Fit, singing "I am free to run . . .I am free to live for you, I am free!" So cute.

piano practice

I was practicing piano today, enjoying some of the music I used to play and sing at Alpine. In the middle of a rousing edition of "Mighty to Save", AJ came running into the room, "Mommy! Mommy! You're going to make me sick!"

"What's wrong, AJ?"

"You almost made me sick! The pi-an-go almost made me sick!"

"The Piano almost made you sick?"

"Yes, you have to stop, Mommy! It's making me sick! (fake cough, cough, cough)"

"Can I finish my song, AJ?"

"Yes, But then you have to stop! "

So much for practice time.

shopping frustrations

I bought a ball of sock yarn and made it halfway through two socks until I came up short. Obviously, I need to purchase another ball. The craft stores in Central Florida don't seem to carry this yarn any more, much to my annoyance. So I went online to a major chain's site, and for three days the site has been very slow and unable to make it to the cart feature so that I can pay, get my yarn and move on with my life.

So today I did a google search (I've spent another hour looking for this stupid yarn!!!!! And it's a common yarn, not something fancy that would require this much effort!) and found Crafts Etc. This was a wonderful place that had a quick loading site, possessed the yarn in question, had it ON SALE for almost half price, and offered free shipping on orders over $25. I bought 8 balls of yarn for less than $30. YAY!!!!!