Lalalala

Summer is halfway over and I can not believe how this summer is turning out.

I'm finally starting to get on the mend; starting my new "normal".  Who would have thought the new normal would be taking five pills in the morning alone along with my vitamin.  The new normal would be getting blood work every few weeks and visiting doctor's offices every 6 weeks.  The new normal would include knowing what it means for your stomach to flair, or to be extremely relieved to be off my blood thinners.  But it's normal.

And there are other new normals too.  Working in the pharmacy and having to fight every week to get proper credit in the computer system.  I have been fighting since April to get what I deserve, and it's still not right at the end of July.  I wrote a note to the store manager last night because I never seem to work during the time he's there.  And for once, I plan on bugging/reminding him every day that I need something to change, and some serious back pay, in order to be happy.


I've been in a weird mood and I'm not sure why.  I'm happiest when I get to hang out with the boy.  I honestly can't wipe the smile off my face whenever I'm around him.  The best part is hearing things that happened but in his own words.  It's funny how different a situation can be remembered.  But I don't know about the other things and I wish I could shake it.  These uneasy feelings happens every now and then.  Eventually I can shake them....so now it's just a waiting game

Seven Months Later....

There is a sense of irony that I would finish my Warfarin about seven months after I was rushed to the hospital for not being able to walk, and subsequently discovering I had a blood clot which I later named Henry.

Today marks the day I had been wishing for since starting my Warfarin.  The last day I have to take it.  Today is the last day I am able to take a full dosage and thus means I am done after today's 15 mg dose.  

To say I am relieved is the understatement of the year.

I have had to deal with Henry now for seven months.  Those are seven very long months.  From crawling on my ass to get to the bathroom before we knew what it was, to graduating to crawling down the stairs when I needed to go to doctor's appointments, trying to laugh as I rang in the new year in a wheel chair, returning to work, having to deal with swelling if I was on it for too long, the countless ultra sounds and blood works, to the moment when I was told Henry was gone, and the time I would eventually go a day without thinking about the blood clot.  It's been a long journey for my family, friends and I.

While the journey continues with us discovering why I got Henry in the first place, today marks the first day of the new year that I can say I'm officially off one of my medicines that I started that day in December.  To not have to worry about taking those 2.5-3 tablets every night is going to be a serious highlight of July.

I wish I could say I'm done with blood work, but that's not even close with the other medicines I'm taking.  Small steps though right?

I really do want to thank everyone who has helped me throughout this journey of mine, especially when I was down and your kind words brought me back up.  I don't know what I would have done without my mom, dad and Chris, who were a constant support from those first few hours.  Mom, I still remember laughing to the point of tears when I had to scoot to the bathroom, before we knew the severity of the whole situation.  Your tears may have been from laughter, mine was a combination of laughter and pain now that I think about it.

Don't worry folks, I promise to keep updating this thing.  It's a form of escape for me, and while I have been failing at updating recently, I have some things I need to work out in forms of entries in here.  Even if nobody else reads this, at least I have something to show about this journey with Henry and the colitis.  Goodness, I sound like a 90 year old and not someone who is 24 years old.

Shots From Washington

The bride looked absolutely stunning....like a Disney princess.  The crappy weather left just in time for a blue sky for the ceremony.  Vicky and Dave looked so happy to be getting married to each other that it brought a smile to my face.  I honestly was honored to be part of such a wonderful wedding, with some of the nicest people I have met in a long while.  And to have so many Disney songs play?  Fabulous

I Miss Her, A Lot

When I got back home yesterday, it hit my once again that we no longer have Madison.

For those of you who don't know, our family had to put Madison down the Sunday before I went to Washington which I guess is a week ago.  For those few days before my trip, I just felt as if Madison was sleeping over on one of her hospital stays. 

Last night when I walked in the door without her bounding to me with kisses and a tail wagging so fast, I was heartbroken to remember that she is no longer around.

I miss her like crazy.  I think Mandy misses her like crazy.  Mandy is her normal self, not really excited about much but there is a sadness too around her.

Now I just have to remember that Madison is in a better place where she is no longer hurting.  Love you Madison, you were the best first dog a girl could ask for.

Leaving On a Jet Plane

Today marks the start of the big trip.  I'm off to Boston, then flying out with Alanna to Washington.  We will be getting in later tonight....probably 1 or 2 in the morning Eastern time.

I'm scared that the clot is going to come back, but I am trying my best not to worry about it too much.  I'm also nervous for the fact that the last time I traveled on a plane, I was stuck in Florida for a few days.

But I can not wait to see how beautiful Vicky is going to look.

Signing off for now....

Yesterday, the medication FINALLY got cleared with insurance and I was finally able to start taking it.  Last night we dropped in to pick it up, and I started to read the information on the bottle and the label.  

And boy, did that scare me.

First off it said I would not be able to drink alcohol, which Dr. I told me was not the case when I first started to talk about this medication.  He said I would be able to have drinks especially after I told him I planned on having a huge celebration when I got back from Washington.

But one of the side effects is losing your hair.  UMMMM, seriously I don't want to lose my hair.  No thank you.  One of the first sentences is something about how the drug is used for cancer. And how I have to wash my hands after touching the freaking pills.  But I guess if it's going to make me better, with no flair ups, then I can't complain.

No More Craziness From You All

As some of you may already know, my family has not had a dull moment this year.  Fourth of July was no different, only this time, I was NOT the cause of the craziness.  Unbelievable right?  Yeah, I agree.

Mom was brought to the hospital in the morning of the fourth which I didn't find out about until I got out of work.  Obviously I cried, I have become a complete wreck this year which I'm not a fan of but I think I was justified when I started to cry after hearing about my mother in the hospital.  

That morning, she was experiencing chest pains and was told by her coworkers that she was going to the hospital.  If I know my mother, she didn't want to go and was thinking she could just go home, but they went to the hospital.  She was put into a special part of the ER for chest pain patients and when I got there, she was already going stir crazy saying how she didn't want to stay overnight.  While I completely understood her feelings, I was happy to repeat what she told me all those weeks ago during my week long hospital stay that the doctor's knew what was best for her.  Dad and Mom both got a chuckle out of it but nobody found the irony more then me.

Anyway, yesterday Chris and I went to visit Mom after her stress test and I believe an MRI but I can't promise that one.  She was saying how she had no sense of time and just couldn't wait to go home.  It sounded so freaking familiar.  Anyway, she eventually got to go home last night which she was pumped about and I couldn't be happier about as well.  Today she spent the whole day resting and while I know that is not what she really enjoys, the idea that stress can be a huge influence on the chest pain means that she needs to start relaxing more (COUGHCOUGH HOPE YOU ARE READING THIS COUGH).

Anyway, one bright spot in the whole thing was trying the food carts outside of Yale.  Let me just tellllll you, it's something you have to try.  When Chris said they had everything, he was not joking there really is everything out there.  And it is inexpensive and yummy.  Plus there is this really cute little area that you can sit outside on the benches and just people watch.  Which is obviously what I loved to do.  I seriously would love to just try each and every one of the carts but that would take a while to try them all.  Maybe someday.

Well that has been my eventful couple of days and it involved the hospital but not having to go into them for me. Yay!  Let's cross our fingers that mom continues to get better

Baby Your a Fireworkkkkk

Last week I was told that a prescription was being sent into the pharmacy for my colitis.  However, insurance companies are the most amazing thing ever and I need their permission for the medicine to go through.  I'm still waiting for that.  I have to hope that it will be good because the doctor who prescribed it is the one who I really truly trust but it's been a week now and there is still nothing.  Unfortunately, I have a doctor's appointment with Dr. I this week and it was to discuss the medicine and how things are going, but with the holiday this weekend and everything, I don't think that's going to be possible.

11 more days till I head off to Washington.  I'm really excited to be part of Vicky's special day, and to spend a few days with Alanna because I have been so bad with keeping in touch with her recently.  I know this wedding is going to be tons of fun and Vicky will be a beautiful bride.  I can not believe that one of my good friends from college is getting married so soon and that other people are getting engaged.  Seriously blows my mind.

This wedding is not only a milestone for my first friend getting married, but it's also the milestone of being off the blood thinners.  I am beyond excited to be done with them.  The blood work isn't going to be over, but I won't have to worry about the different doses of the Warfarin.  And it means I don't have to get the phone calls from Dr. P who messes with my moods more often then anybody else during this whole thing. 

I've gotten to see two different firework shows which I have been unable to do in the recent years.  I don't remember why I haven't been able to see them, probably thanks to work, but I have been made up this year.  During one of them however, we had popcorn thrown at us the WHOLE TIME.  And whenever we tried to figure out who was throwing the said popcorn, nobody made any indication that they were throwing the popcorn.  But we got to watch the fireworks on the beach, obviously my favorite place.

I hope whoever reads this has a wonderful and safe holiday weekend.  I really wish I go to picnics, but I am working on Sunday and Monday which is totally fine.  Happy 4th Everyone!!