7.22.2008

BRUNCH AT LA VALENCIA


This was our view as we celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary on Sunday July 20th brunching on the Terrace at La Valencia, a beautiful old hotel in La Jolla. They have the BEST champagne brunch and obviously the best view.
It was a perfect San Diego summer day with temperatures in the high 70's to mid 80's, a cool soft breeze blowing under blue skies.

ANOTHER MEDICAL MYSTERY

This is how I started my day today....I had an appointment for an adrenal CT scan at 8:00 a.m. this morning. I was told to check in at 7:45 a.m.

I arrived on time at the imaging facility to check in and I was greeted by two staff members behind the counter. One asked me if I had drank my contrast liquid. I told her no, because no contrast liquid had been given to me nor had anyone mentioned it....before now.

There was an imediate scambling of paperwork and scanning the computer, and she told me I was supposed to have....some mumbling between the two front desk staffers and I again reiterated that I was there for a kidney scan (hoping that would alert them that no contrast was necessary)...more scrambling, mumbling and whispered chats about my having to have had the liquid two hours prior to my appt and then the two of them decided that 20 minutes would be sufficient and I was handed a big glass of chalky liquid to enjoy while I filled out my questionairre paperwork. *sigh*

Fast forward to the scan itself. My CT professional seemed rushed, nervous, and unprepared, but she was able to confirm that my chalky breakfast drink was unnecessary. But then the real fun began....

First she could not get the IV started in my right arm...too much scar tissue to advance it in my vein...then she quickly called another professional in, saying she was going to need his help (geeeeze.....this is where my panic starts to rev up, being the needle phobic that I am and having already had her gouge and probe my right arm) and the two of them are peering over my left arm. The 2nd tech spots a "monster vein" but in the next breath warns her to be careful because there is a "valve" near it....but she finds the vein on her first attempt (avoiding the valve--whatever the heck that is) and we get going with the scans.

The first part of the scans are uneventful....and then it is time for the contrast....hmmmm..."feeling anything?" she asks.

"Nope"

Some fiddling with the machine and then she asks me... "Any warmth in your throat?"

"Nope"

More fiddling

"Now?"

"Nope...wait...yes, warmth in my throat." Okay, now we are on our way again....

more scans...

then I have to lay there for 15 minutes of "wait time" before she could come back to do one more scan....

I have a blanket on me, but I begin shaking off and on...trying to think of anything but the fact that I must lay there very still and not move my body for 15 minutes. Shaking, resting, shaking, resting.....

Finally...she comes back and does the last scan, takes the IV out and asks me,

"Have you had abdominal surgery?"

"Yes, four C-sections and a tubal ligation with the last one"

"Did they take anything out? We always ask that question...."

I wanted to ask her, "Why, is anything missing?" but I resisted and just said, "No".


AND then I went to work......

7.17.2008

NO, I AM NOT A MISSING PERSON

I can't believe that I have neglected my blog for such a long time! Our move to Tennessee has been postponed by six months. We will be moving in the spring of 2009. There is so much to do to prepare for the move and for several months, I was in a funk about everything that has to be done and just could not manage to begin one step.

We will be settling in Clarksville to start with. Bruce will probably move laterally with his company and I will find a job once we get settled. I am looking at going back to a teaching assistant job with the local school district. I am pretty burned out with law right now. That may change in the meantime, but for now, I feel happy with that idea.

Gosh, I guess I should update with my latest news here. I am going to be a grandmother! My oldest daughter, A is a little over three months along and our first grandbaby is due January 25, 2009. We (soon to be known as"Memaw" and "Pepaw") are so excited and can't wait to have our first grandbaby to spoil. It's hard having she and her hubby, K living out of state and I keep nudging her to get her webcam hooked up so we can "see" her during her pregnancy. They just moved into a new house and are working on it and I cannot wait to see the "after" with new wood floors and carpet and paint!

My youngest son, T is in AE school in Pensacola. He has 7 weeks left and then he goes to Jacksonville for FE (Flight Engineer) school. He has a 4 month hold for FE school and then 9 months of school. So he will be finished with school next summer.

My eldest son, C and youngest daughter, M are both back in college and working. My stepdaughter, B just got a new job working on Base and also going to be going back to college in Ridgecrest. Our latest and greatest news is about my stepson, S who enlisted in the Navy today and will be an OS (Operations Specialist) when he finishes. He is scheduled to go to Bootcamp in March 2009, but could leave as early as January.

I really have to be better about posting to my blog.....really.