Time Has Come Today

I am sorry that reviving "Things I'm Happy About Thursday" lasted all of two weeks. Being in school again, my time is not my own and I have had a hard time accepting that. I am still here. I still plan on posting. I am just not able to plan when.

Things I'm Happy About Thursday #2

1. Fried pickles from Sonic (eaten while driving home from today's twelve hour day at school).
2. Getting past the scariest part* of creating a rocking horse in TEC 322 class. *The scariest part being using a band saw to cut out the head and seat of the rocking horse with a band saw.
3. Being done with the stress of today's math test.
4. Having an admissions specialist take the time to fill out some forms with me today that will make things easier for me later.
5. Enjoying a catch up chat with a former professor in the hall.

Retro Redo

In one of my past blogs, I made a serious effort to post five things I was happy about every Thursday. I did this as a reminder to myself to be grateful always. Sometimes, finding five things to be happy is really tough.
I've been absent from my blog for several months now because I don't have as much independent thinking time as I once did and I decided that reviving Things I'm Happy About Thursday would be good practice towards the habit of 1.) counting my blessings and 2.)posting more regularly.

Things I'm Happy About on March 18, 2010:

1.) Finding these at my local library. I love audio books and this doodad is most convenient for walking around campus.
2.) That My House Is Cuter Than Yours looks to be posting again.
3.) Can I say, "The weather."? I know there is nothing more boring than weather talk, but walking around outside to warmer temperatures is doing a lot to improve my emotional, physical, and mental state.
4.) Hearing (and seeing) someone practice bagpipes while walking on campus.
5.) Axl sharing his Xbox Live Gold account with me so that I can stream Netflix Instant Queue goodies to the t.v. Dr. Who at my beck and call!

Long Time No Post

Oh my goodness! Has it really been nearly two months since I posted anything of substance? Time really got away from me when I quit my job. As it turned out, I ended up going over my end date. That was my fault since I should have stopped working with clients earlier than what I did to give myself time to get all of my personal effects together. I said I was going to be out on Thursday, August 13th but I worked most of Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th. Cleaning out my office and shoring up my files was a miserable process. I will do better should I ever be in that position again.
Let's get back on track with some news. I have some great news and some very sad news. I'll start with the sad news. During the first week of classes, Girl Cat peed on the floor outside the litter box. Peeing outside the box is not uncommon in cats but it always makes me uneasy. Peeing outside the box can be a sign of something bigger. I question, "What did I do differently?", "Did I use something in the box she didn't like?", "Is this behavioral?", "Is she sick?", "What happened?". I expected the vet to come in and tell me that this was yet another urinary tract infection. Sadly, it turns out Girl Cat is in the early stages of renal failure. Evidently, by the time the condition shows in a test, a cat has already lost some of their kidney function. I continue to be utterly devastated by the news. I can't even think about her situation without welling up. Axl chastises me because he says I act like putting her down is something I have to do tomorrow when, happily, the vet says Girl Cat can live comfortably for some time (possibly years) before I have to make my hard decisions. Currently, she gets to eat special food that is low in sodium. She's the house princess so I'm sure getting to eat separately from her brothers suits her. Here's a picture of the princess herself a few years back.
Now for some good news. The cardiologist's physicians assistant called me on the 12th of August to say that the cardiologist had reviewed and finalized my test results and that I do not have a Patent Foramen Ovale. In fact, I do not have a hole in my heart at all. While that is wonderful news, I was well and truly upset that the cardiologist never told me that diagnosis he gave me was only preliminary. Personally, I think he goofed. I think either: A) He read the test and really thought he saw a PFO or B) He read someone else's test thinking it was mine. After all, it was an absolute madhouse in his office the day of my test. When the physician's assistant called me back to give me my test results, I wasn't in the room two minutes that the cardiologist got a phone call and had to leave the room. The physician's assistant was left waiting with me. She stood around shifting her weight foot to foot awkwardly then left the room without much excuse. When the cardiologist came back, he continued on without her. He told me to follow up with my primary care physician and to tell her to put me on beta blockers. As a result, when the physician's assistant called to tell me that I was fine, I had been taking beta blockers and baby aspirin for about a week. Let me say, I'm glad I didn't retract my resignation as I had debated doing. It also does not please me to have an ugly medical bill for something it now feels like my primary care physician should not have ordered as quickly as what she did. I'm happy to be alright but I'm off doctors for awhile.

I'm Not Gone

I am working on a proper post about everything that happened in August. Sorry for the delay!

Peace In The Valley

Though they haven't gotten past chasing (the dog) and hissing (the cats) at each other completely, this was nice to see today:

Patent Foramen Ovale

Yesterday, I had an echocardiogram and something called a "bubble". To do a bubble, you have an iv put in your arm and bubbles are injected into the iv four different times: the first time you are just injected with the bubbles, the second time they inject the bubbles while you cough, the third time they inject the bubbles while you sniff and the fourth time they inject the bubbles while you bear down. If the bubbles go from one side of your heart to the other then you know there is a hole in your heart.

The results were yesterday that I do have a hole in my heart that is called a Patent Foramen Ovale or PFO. A PFO is less risky to have than atrial septal defect (what my primary care physician sent me to the cardiologist to be tested for). I don't have atrial septal defect nor mitrovalve prolapse (the second thing the primary care physician wanted me tested for).

The PFO is what is causing my migraines because the flap of tissue that normally closes shut over the PFO (which everyone has in the womb) at birth comes open on my heart and allows blood and hormones and body gasses to escape up to my brain. I am not allowed to go scuba diving ever and if I take long trips in the car or by plane I absolutely have to get up and walk around because if I get a blood clot it could go to my brain and cause a stroke. The biggest concern with PFO's is that they make you more susceptible to stroke. I'm not happy about that but of what it could have been, that's not as terrible.

For now, the doctor wants me to see my primary care physician and get on beta blockers and another med to keep stress hormones away from my heart and to see if that causes my migraines to go away. If it does, great. If it doesn't, when the doctor sees me again in a year he will enter me in a study where they will put in the umbrella that closes the hole. The catch is, I won't know for a year if they actually closed the hole or if they just pretended to close it. After a year's time, the results of the study get released and if you actually didn't have the umbrella put in, then the company pays for you to get the procedure done.

I have mixed feelings about the results. While I am happy not to have atrial septal defect, now I worry about whether I should petition to get the hole closed right away.

He's Grown On Me

Very early on in Axl's and my relationship, his dog bit me on the foot. I thought there was no way we were ever going to be able to share a home because Dog has a lot of "rules". For example, the never put your feet near Dog when he's laying on the bed or he will bite you because he thinks you're trying to kick him rule. I'm not used to having to be so careful around a dog. I guess it's "little dog syndrome"? Nevertheless, all these months later I can't resist his little mug.

A Tense Week

Monday: Got coffee with D. I always look forward to hanging out with her. Dear Starbucks, we enjoy visiting your patio but your seating is highly uncomfortable for long-term chatting of any kind.

Tuesday: Worked my first shift at the new job. Felt a little like Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz in Ghosbusters when someone would answer the phone.

"We got one!"

Wednesday: Worked both jobs. I find I hate being at my day job now that I've resigned. I can see they are not going to hire someone before I go. I almost wish I'd given them two weeks notice instead of a month.

Thursday: Sucked. My (soon to be ex) boss told me she thought a social work degree indicated a commitment to a certain type of work. She is very casual in her delivery of comments such as this and the insensitivity of her words always hits me like a slap in the face. Axl spent the day defending his thesis which meant that we were both grumpy by the time we got home. In the evening, he went to visit a friend and I went to the coffee shop for some girl time and knitting with RWKN and C. I should say that they knit and I fretted and cast on and tore out stitches instead of accomplishing anything. I was glad I went out though because it brought me out of the pissed off mood I was in just sitting at home.

Friday: Looking forward to getting finished at work, going home, and doing some things I want to do this weekend which is what I need most. I hope you get to do what you want and need to do most this weekend too.

Monday: Found out that COBRA is going to cost about $528.00 a month. Considered taking back my resignation and delaying going back to school by a semester. Axl says no, that we will work it out somehow and to keep my plans. Such a gem, he is. I couldn't do this without him.
Tuesday: Scheduled an appointment with the cardiologist. August 5th, it is. I'm trying not to bite my nails while I wait. I just want to know what I'm dealing with already.
Wednesday: Went to the mall after work with Axl to return the Posie Tint I purchased over the weekend. In the store, Posie Tint looked like it was going to be my new makeup best friend. I'm so pale and this product livened me up a bit. At home, victim of poor lighting in the bathroom, I may have applied a little more than I should because I looked like I'd been slapped. Plus, the tint settled into my blemishes in such a way that I suddenly had little red freckles. *sigh*
Thursday: Training day at my new part-time job. Some of the girls in the lab were frosty but other than that I liked it. I had three practice sessions and was told each time that I'd done a good job.
Today: We've discussed going to see a punkabilly band tonight. If we do, it will be fun to put on a dress and get dolled up. If we don't, vegging out on the couch sounds devine.

Discovery

I just had to share the sweetness of My Milk Toof with you.

Matters Of The Heart

When our move began, I would jot down notes for post topics and when I would revisit the list later the topics would feel like ancient history. Time is flying by faster than I can blog about it. Here are some recent highlights:
On Monday, I resigned from my job. My boss took the news well. She stated that she is excited for me, that I've done a good job for the agency, and that she understood that my job is an entry level position with no opportunity for advancement. My last day at my job will be August 13. The same day I resigned, I received a call to interview with the local university for a survey research position I'd applied for in June. I interviewed on Tuesday and was hired. Hooray! I have a part-time job that fits around my school schedule for this fall. I am hugely relieved by all of this.

Previous to my good news, I had a tiny scare around the fourth of July when I thought I might have a blood clot forming in my left leg. I'd had a persistent squeezing sensation (think of how it feels to have your blood pressure taken) and pain behind my knee so I went to see my general practitioner. She ordered an ultrasound of my legs and, very thankfully, I was told the test came back just fine. Still, what caused my symptoms? I was stymied when my general practitioner didn't follow up with me. As I was commenting about this to a friend (J.), she said I should see her doctor because her doctor is very thorough and has a great bedside manner. I am forever bitching that my general practitioner and ob/gyn aren't thorough enough so I made an appointment with J.'s doctor. My first appointment was this morning and wow! Dr. M discovered I have a heart murmur possibly caused by something called atrial septal defect (asd) and she thinks she heard the clicking noise associated with mitrovalve prolapse. Dr. M is recommending me to see a cardiologist at the university to have an ultrasound of my heart. This cardiologist has found a link between asd and migraines, which I also have. Am I scared? A little. When I read about asd online, every article mentions frightening complications. For example, there is a complication called Eisenmenger's syndrome that generally results in death by age 40. I'm assuming (read: hoping) that is only if Eisenmenger's goes undiagnosed before age 40. Ultimately, I figure it is better to be hearing I have a heart murmur/asd and mitrovalve prolapse now while something can still be done about it than later when my activities of daily living may be impaired by it. Having asd would certainly explain some things I've noticed through the years (unusual tiredness after physical activity, heart palpitations, fainting and migraines from a young age on up). In addition to sending me to see the cardiologist, Dr. M ordered a battery of blood work that will show if I am susceptible to any clotting disorders. Since I am adopted, I don't know much about my birth family's health history and Dr. M. felt that by having this test we could put to rest any questions we both have about whether I am at risk for blood clots or stroke. Though I am excited by this turn of events, I am also concerned about my upcoming lack of insurance since I might possibly need surgery to close the hole in my heart. Hopefully, I can do some sort of COBRA thing.

Anyway, this is why my posts are infrequent as of late. I am as distracted as distracted can be.

Welcome To My Party

On Saturday, Axl called me to say he was at a garage sale and having a terrible time keeping folks away from a major vintage hat score. A man had already bought the marching band hat and top hat that were for sale and was now reaching for the hats Axl had his eye on so Axl stepped up and said, "How much for all of these?" and, luckily, the man backed off. Now, Axl was just waiting for me to arrive and pay the good woman selling them. Oh my goodness! Look! What a great treat to wake up to! I think there are about 21 hats total. Thanks, Babe, for the good looking out.

You Never Expect What You Don't Plan For

Imagine my surprise today when I did the final walk through with my landlord’s maintenance guy and he got down on his hands and knees to sniff the carpet. I did a mental "Thanks." to the Universe for giving me the foresight to Febreeze. Maintenance Guy wrote down on his form that he detected a “very, very, very slight pet odor” but that it didn’t seem to be coming from the carpet and I thought to myself, “If it’s that slight, why even mark it down?” After 2 years and nine months at a place, I figure that a very, very, very slight pet odor is remarkable. I had the place so clean you could eat off the floor. I’m not saying you would but you could. That’s usually enough when it comes to walk throughs.

My biggest disappointment came when Maintenance Guy tested the smoke detector and it didn’t go off. That damn smoke detector has gone off every time I’ve had the oven on in the last six months and it gave up the ghost on walk through day? Wtf?!? So, he told me they might charge me for the battery and you know landlords, they won’t charge me the going rate for a 9-volt battery. I’ve never in my life been counted off for a smoke detector battery.

Let’s hope they see reason and give me my full deposit back.

*Sigh*

We Now Return To Our Regularly Scheduled Program

Goodbye, Old Apartment. Thanks for being there.

It's Made Of People!

Just a little update. Me and the kitties (I have three) stayed the night at the new apartment last night. I woke up several times in the night to the sound of people entering the apartments around me and I jumped out of my skin the first time the church bells chimed nearby but all in all not too shabby. There was the sound of a car accident at one point that startled me but, as Axl pointed out, once the television is connected the noise from it playing will drown out a lot of that sort of thing. The kitties seem to like the new place better already. I'm sure there is more for them to do here since I don't have to keep the place buttoned up like Fort Knox as I did at the old place. I've honestly missed living up a story or two. First floor living has its conveniences but being able to leave the curtains open without fear of someone scoping out your shit for a later break-in is much better. The cats love the large windowsills at the new place and spent most of today hopping up in them to look outside. Now, I do have to share with you the grossest thing ever. Earlier today, the maintenance man came to replace the garbage disposal. To his surprise and mine, when he took out the old disposal it was full of cat litter. Nasty! Who puts cat litter down the sink?

Kind Of Loving This Commercial

Busy As A Bee

If I go quiet, don't become concerned. We started moving to our new place last week and I have intermittent internet access.

Picture found here

Ikea Comes Through!

The day before yesterday, Axl and I thought our dreams of sitting together comfortably on a couch were dashed. The trouble was, we could buy the two couch pieces we wanted but only one of the slipcovers. It was that last slipcover that was holding us up. To our surprise, Ikea doesn't ship store to store. So, even though we could see online that other stores had the slipcover we needed in stock, we had no way to get one other than to drive to another state. Tempting, but not feasible. Axl persisted with Ikea's customer service and managed to find out that one of the stores will ship outside its store. God bless 'em. We have our couch!

Meh!

We just found out that the Ikea Tylosand couch we want is being discontinued and that the Ikea we buy from only has pieces and parts of it. We are so disappointed. I know, I know...not getting the couch you want is not that big of a deal in the big picture scheme of things but, as a couple who has never known the joy of sitting next to one another comfortably to watch a movie, it sure has us bummed.