Before I begin blogging my Christmas shopping adventure, I want to update from my lost blog entry. If Will and Chandra are reading this, my neurologist called the night I had the dizziness after it finally subsided. He wanted me to get blood work done so he could check and see if my white blood cell count had gotten any better since I switched to my new medicine. He called me in to see him and unfortunately on the way I got dizzy again but luckily my dad was driving. I had to tell him that medicine was not helping at all. I informed him that I used to take dilantin when I was younger but I was still having seizures and thats when I got switched to keppra. I told him I had not had a seizure ever since I started the keppra 10 years ago (except the 2 times I forgot to take my medicine).

It was a tough decision but he put me back on my Keppra and now I have to go see a blood doctor person to monitor my white bood cell count. during my appointment with my neurologist he realized the new medicine and my keppra both cause low white blood cell count. go figure. I am glad to be back on my old medicine though. I haven't felt dizzy ever since, even when I try to make myself dizzy just to check

Now on to Christmas Shopping. I went Christmas shopping by myself for the first time ever. I drove to the Wal Mart about 10 minutes from my house and parked in the garden section to avoid some of the traffic. It was kind of scary because there was so many people shopping. I kept thinking someone was going to run into me on my left side while I was walking. Pushing the shopping cart was a little frustrating as well. I usually only shop at the grocery store where they have the little carts and if I do go to Wal Mart it is to only pick up one or two things I can carry in my hand. but since I was buying my mom a toaster I knew I couldn't carry that and continue picking up other things. Speaking of the toaster, I miraculously got it into my cart from the shelf without dropping it. I was too prideful to stop one of the shoppers and ask for help so I turned my cart around and lined it up with the shelf then put my hand under the toaster to balance it and put it on its side until it slowly dropped into my cart. Woooh mission accomplished! It was kind of nerve wrecking pushing the cart with one hand once I got everything I needed.

Although it was only 3 things, the cart was heavier than all 3 of my items and there were so many people shopping. I was trying to get by people and cut corners with the buggy without knocking over stuff in the aisles. I am grateful for the man standing in the checkout line behind me and made sure I said thank you 3 times because he offered to put the toaster on the counter for me and I let him! Besides feeling self conscious about my left arm clinging to my stomach as I used all my strength to push the cart, I'll say shopping went well.

Gift wrapping, on the other hand! lol Lets just say it took me a few hours and lots of tape to wrap those 3 gifts. Luckily they are only for my mom and dad so I know they will appreciate the time and energy I took to wrap their gifts with my best effort. Wrapping was kind of frustrating (mainly because my scissors and tape kept getting lost in my left field) but I was very proud of myself. I used my left hand in a fist to hold down the wrapping paper while I reached for the tape and used a highlighter to mark where I need to cut since I couldnt hold the paper and cut from the other side at the same time. It made me feel really good to do my own gift wrapping but I think next time I'll go with gift bags!