This is a long one-sorry.
I have been to the ER 4 times in the last month. I feel like as soon as I walk in the door they shouldn't even need to ask for a name. Yes, the address is the same, no the insurance hasn't changed, yes, the birthday is correct. Which room of eternal pergatory would you like us to wait in today?
One visit was for me, one for my son. These two visits lasted about 3 hours each, and everything was basically okay with us. The other two visits were for my husband.
Hi All,
Thought I'd give a little update in the thrilling saga known as "Kristen's Life". Okay, so it's not so thrilling. But here it is anyway.
On the work front, as you may remember, the general manager of my restaurant has been out since Feb 10th. They finally figured out what was wrong with him, a condition known as meniere's disease. Basically, fluid builds up in the inner ear causing the balance issues and vertigo. He had surgury on it last week, and so far things are good. He will
I was sleeping on the bed when Patrick's stroke occurred. In my sleeping haze, I remember hearing shuffling going on in our room which I interpreted to being Patrick changing out of his workout clothes. But remembering this is almost more of a feeling than a memory-I was sleeping pretty good.
The next thing I remember is hearing shampoo bottles falling in the bathtub. I was annoyed by the sudden sound, but thought very little of it and resumed my slumber. I don't know how much time passed
Things have changed since the last posting about Grandma. My step-dad made another trip to see Grandma last weekend. I sent him a few communication boards to try and use with her, and my mom had sent a music box for Dad to play for her.
He felt that when he saw her on Friday, she responded well to the music box which I believe plays "Amazing Grace". He also used a communication board her speech pathologist has given her, and he felt that while she could not POINT to the appropriate answers,
Las Vegas!
We arrived about 930am and managed to get to our hotel by 10:30. I had expected to just check our luggage then check into the hotel around 3-4pm, but when we got to the front desk, they actually allowed us to check in.
That was awesome to have a few minutes to settle into our room and refresh ourselves a bit before hitting the strip.
After we pulled ourselves back together, we headed across the street to the Bellagio hotel to partake in their lunch buffet. We heard it was
I've been on vacation all week and feel like I haven't accomplished a damn thing. I get up every morning and get Brandon off to school, then I go back to bed. That ultimately kills me, because my body feels like it's starting the sleep cycle over from stage 1. I wake up again around 11am, try to get out of bed, and yell at the dog who is dancing around and verbally harrassing me.
From there I try to gather myself, look at the calendar and figure out what appointment(s) I have to take Patri
We have been looking forward to this coming weekend for a while now. Patrick's cousin is getting married Saturday and we have been planning to go for some time now. I am glad it's finally upon us!
He is close to his cousin, as cousins go. She almost feels like a 5th sister in Patrick's family. She has had alot of very serious medical challanges herself in the last few years, and it's really good to see a day of joy come her way. I met her fiance while Patrick was in the hospital, and they s
I feel so down today. So does Patrick. While gathering ourselves to leave OT and go to Speech, Patrick had another mini-seizure. It only lasted two or three seconds, but it was what it was. He was sitting on the mat and just slowly slumped over on his side. I was sitting in a chair next to him in the direction he slumped, so I was able to catch him before he fell completely over. No sooner had I started to upright him than he came out of it, unaware what had just happened. He felt fine, so we de
It has been an interesting week. Not all good, not all bad. Guess I'll start with Sunday and work my way through.
Last Sunday- While I am at work my son calls me to tell me he's fallen off his skateboard and feels sick and is having trouble seeing. I left work (thankfully there was another manager on duty) and took him to the ER to check for a concussion. This is my second trip to this ER in two weeks, the last one was for me when I had a dental emergency and gave myself a panic attack at 2
Tom is a "regular" who comes into the restaurant usually on Mondays and Fridays. He is probably in his eighties, although I have never asked. As a matter of fact, I ask very few questions of him. Usually, I listen.
He has his regular server, Angie, who waits on him. She was the first waitress he had at our restaurant after he and his wife moved here from California two or three years ago. They "got such a kick out of her" they requested her every time since. Tom even says Angie is his "adop
It has been a long time since I have had any time off from work- especially considering I get 5 weeks per year- and I finally get to start a vacation at the end of this week. I have been trying to decide what is the best thing to do with this time off, and I am having a hard time working out.
We had been thinking about taking 2 days and going to Colorado Springs and doing the tourist things there. It will still be pretty expensive though, and part of me says I should just stay home and sav
I am a manager in a restaurant. I was a server for this same company for 8 years before going into management. I think I will share a story from time to time. Some of the things people do...
Most recent winner of "YOU'RE COMPLETELY JOKING, RIGHT?" goes to:
On mother's day we had a couple in their 30's dine with us for dinner. Mother's day is the unequivicable busiest day of the year. Their server went to set down their basket of delicious, warm, free biscuits, and one slid out the th
I wanted to give an update on whats been going on around with the three of us for the last few months.
ME: I have been to the doctor to find out if there was something wrong with my heart. After several tests they could not find anything wrong which of course is good. I am trying to have faith that they are right but still have been nervous about exercising again. What started the concern specifically was an episode I had with a "funny feeling" and a (unsubstantiated) drastic drop in heart
While Patrick was staying at the rehab facility in Carbondale, I would drive the 4 hours to see him whenever I could. He would check himself out of the facility, and we would spend the day seeing what trouble we could get into to, usually going out to eat, walking the mall and such.
On one visit, we went into a store in the mall that sold very touristy/new age items, like incense, oils, paper lanterns, dragon statues, and all kinds of funky feng shui junk (misspelled, I'm sure) and also
Patrick and I have been together for 12 years, and married for five. I met him for the first time at a 24 hr diner at about 2 o' clock in the morning. He was my server. My friend, and the man I was seeing on a casual basis, and I went in after a night on the town to have some breakfast. My date had left the table to use the bathroom, when I nudged my best friend and made a comment about our server being kind of cute. Before she could respond I said, "Awe, he's not my type."
Several weeks
I am tired and cranky due to my work schedule this weekend (I got 4hrs sleep last night) so I apologize for the "Pity, party of 1" tonight. But I gotta say this cuz it's buggin me. Mostly, it's a continuation on Jean's thread, but I knew it was inappropriate to say this there, even though I am sure more people would actually read it there. (1/2 empty glass, today)
I am frustrated that most of my husband's family do not talk to me or ask if I'm home when they call to speak with Patrick. I
I am so excited! A server from my work asked if she could be our homemaker assistant!
I was talking to a few of the servers at close one night, just chit chat, and talked about trying to find someone to help with Patrick and Brandon this school year. I had asked her if she would be able to put up a notice at her school, and she started asking me about what I needed. She said she was interested in it, and after talking about the hours and pay she decided yesterday she wanted to do it.
Well, I know longer feel restless. I finally got some cleaning done around the house, and that for the moment seems to have filled the void.
Now I realize few people enjoy housework (but there are a few sick and twisted one who do), and let me tell you, I don't either. The day-to-day cleaning was always Patrick's territory before the stroke. Deep cleaning, organization, and "downsizing" have always been mine. I finally inherited my Grandma Darrah's "if you aren't using it, get rid of it" ge
It's funny how you can remember certain things so easily and block out other things without ever knowing. I have been trying to remember the events of Patrick's stroke, and sometimes it all seems like such blurr. The early memories surrounding the aftermaths of his stroke play in my mind like watching a movie in super fast motion with an occasional second or two in normal play- maybe only remembering the faces of those around me, a word or two, or how the daylight lit a room. I guess my brain w
I have been questioning today, how do you know when to it's time to stop saying "no" and when to start letting him try again? What I am thinking about is, when Patrick was released from the rehab center, I was given "recommendations" of what Patrick should and shouldn't do. For instance, he shouldn't shave with a razor, he shouldn't walk up and down stairs unattended, he needs to use a cane, he needs to wear this leg brace, he shouldn't use the stove or the oven. They did tell me to let him do t
I don't know what it is, but it seems the blahs are going around here-especially with the caregivers- and I'm no exception. Oh, I know what is bothering me, but I have to wonder...Is it the the phase of the moon; are we caregivers on some sort of cycle similar to that of women who live together; are the blahs contagious through the computer like a real life virus; or am I just seeing it in this light because thats the frame of mind I'm in???
I know I am down because our assistant told us th
Ever wondered what life is like through a dog's perspective? I just read the book, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and this book was written through the eyes of a dog. I bought it yesterday and finished it this morning- it was so enganging!
(I won't spoil the story, the plot I will tell you about can be found on the book jacket- I hate when people tell you too much-lol)
The book begins with the end of the dog's life. On the eve of his death the story unfolds as Enzo (the dog) tells of his
I have done something kinda crazy and impulsive, and I am so excited about it!
A few weeks ago, I was window shopping on the internet for a cheap get-away to anywhere. After looking at what was being offered, I saw some deals that I thought might actually be possible. I showed Patrick how much it would cost us for a hotel and plane tickets, and we decided to go for it!
The really crazy part is NOT us deciding to go on the spur of the moment. It is actually because of how long we are le
Well, we finally made it. The move is over, the miles behind us, and a new frontier lays ahead.
It seems many of us here on Strokenet are making changes in our personal lives. I would call this, "The Summer of Change". For me, the location of where we live is the smallest of the changes I want to make this year. The real change I want to make, IS me.
I have been thinking for quite some time about my personality traits, or "character flaws" and there are some things I really want to ov
My family got some bad news Tuesday. My 87 year old step-grandmother had a stroke early that morning. While she may be 87, she was very active and still enjoying life.
It appears that the damage was on the left side of the brain, and she has not spoken and has failed the swollow test she was given yesterday.
She has been very sleepy and has shown nerve sensitivity on her right side. These, as we all here know, are both common reactions to the brain trauma.
My mom and step-dad
