Magical, Medical Mystery Tour

What's up, squirrels? Nice to see ya'll again......I'm not very good about keeping up with this whole blogging thing, huh?

Well for all you delightful folks who have taken the time to read my goings on, thank you. While I started this as an outlet for myself, it's blown me away the support and kindness I've received from so many of you. I feel truly blessed.

Several have continued to ask me what the latest news in my MMMT (see blog title) is & I apologize for putting it off. Due to some "off" test results & a couple of others that needed to be done, I got to go back out to Seattle the week of Valentine's Day. The trip out was much less traumatic than the first time. It was kind of nice to be able to envision where I was going so that mystery was gone. WHEW!

After my trip in December, they found that I appear to have Central Hypothyroidism, so I was started on meds for that. A couple of weeks later it was thought that I may also be adrenally insufficient (one of the tests i had to have re-done this month) and started on steroids as well. So after the new test, they were able to rule out the adrenal insufficiency, which was nice to hear, which meant NO MORE STEROIDS!!! Now I continue on the thyroid meds alone. the other good thing about no more steroids, is that we can start up Cushings testing again!!

I also had to have an IGF-1 test done. Oh, that's growth hormone, btw. In December, my GH level was VEEEEERRRRRYYYY low. The lowest level on their reference range was a 115....mine was 46. the IGF-1 proved that I am, in fact, extremely growth hormone deficient. What does this mean? Oh, all sorts of fun, my friend!! I'm being started on growth hormone supplements, which we're hoping bring with it some positive results. The downside? It doesn't come in pill form. No, it's an injection. That I have to administer MYSELF. Any of you who know me really well, know that this isn't exactly up my alley (is it for anyone?). I heard from my patient care advisor today and everything has been approved and the nurse will be out to teach me how to do it most likely in the next week. The medical diagnosis that is accompanying this is "Pituitary Dwarfism" (anyone happen to find what I find particularly amusing in that? lmbo)

This brings me to the more difficult, personally, of what's going on. 6 yrs ago is when I started getting sick pretty consistently. It's when my falling episodes started and things just got sucky. It was at that time that I ended up in the ER one night because the dizziness had gotten so bad. They did a CT scan that ended up showing what's called an arachnoid cyst in my right parieto-occipital lobe. This started our tour of the neurological community, being bounced from one Neurologist or Neurosurgeon to another all with no success and lots of tears that followed in visit. The problem is that the majority of the Neuro community doesn't believe that A) arachnoid cysts don't cause any problems (total baloney!) and B) that everyone with one is born with it and most don't even know they're there. That's all well and good, but did I mention that mine was the size of a GOLF BALL?? True story. This past May, I was referred to a local Neurologist & we were requesting a new MRI because things just haven't gotten better and in many cases, things are worse. It was during this visit that I hit a very low point. As Iwas explaining my symptoms through my tears, I apologized for rambling & told him "After so many referrals and telling my story so many times, with SO many symptoms, you start to feel like a hypochondriac." He then looked at me stone faced and asked, "Well, is there any chance that you ARE a hypochondriac?" I about died. Plus, would an ACTUAL hypochondriac really admit if they were one? Ugh. He then refused to order a new MRI saying that he wasn't going to waste his time or my money. And we were done. Among my many many blessings that have come out of discovering my doctor in Seattle, was having a new MRI ordered on this last jaunt out. They new of my cyst & had my old films, but were specifically looking for a tumor on my pituitary. The good (ish) news is that they couldn't see anything on my pituitary. I have what they're calling "partially empty sella", the sella being the boney compartment-y area where the pituitary lies. Mine is kind of pushed off to the side, leaving a partially empty space in the sella. Anyway, back to what I was saying. Upon doing this new MRI, they did find something interesting, and not anything that has anything to do with what they were looking for. They presented it to the chief Neurologist in Seattle and my heart dropped when they called. The cyst had, in fact, grown...just like I had feared it had & like so many doctors said it wouldn't EVER grow. BITE ME!!! I WAS RIGHT!!! It has actually grown a full centimeter in all directions, so now it's bigger than a golf ball. lol You have to admit it's kinda funny. So, what does this mean? The Neurosurgeon out west has said that because it's grown so much, he believes it WILL continue to grow (I've waited 6 yrs to hear someone say that) that he wants me to get it taken care of. He says it isn't emergent, but that he'd like to see it done in the next 6 months at most. He says he'll gladly be my doctor for this, but he's in Seattle....not exactly down the road. He has, at our request, requested a surgeon of his calibar in the midwest & he gave us the name of a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic that he used to work with & specializes in issues of fluid on the brain (if I didn't say, an arachnoid cyst is a build up of cerebrospinal fluid). We're now just waiting for my doctor here in Murfreesboro to get the follow up notes from my doctor in Seattle so she can make the referral to the doctor in Cleveland. Doesn't it make your head spin??? Now, while it isn't a severe form of brain surgery, it will be brain surgery, all the same. Yes, I am scared. They'll do one of two things. They'll either put in a shunt (a tube to redirct the fluid from my brain to my abdomen) or they'll do a fenestration, where they drill one or two dime sized holes in my skull and drain it endoscopically or where they actually remove a small portion of skull bone to access the brain directly. Whichever one, you're typically discharged from the hospital 24 hrs after the surgery (barring any complications, of course). If we go with Seattle, I just wouldn't be able to FLY home for 72 hours following surgery. Lots to think about & weigh. My faith in God is helping through all of this overwhelming time and every time I pray for His calming presence, I feel it wash over me almost immediately. Never dismiss how great God is. I have great friends I've been able to talk about this with & without them I would truly go nuts. For my friends, thank you for being my friend, you mean more to me than you can possibly know. In the quiet moments the enormity of all off this catches up with me, I won't lie. I think Scott is a lot more scared then he'll ever ever say & I can't help but feel bad for "making" him go through all of this. I know it isn't my fault, but still. I just pray for the day when I see "that look" finally leave his eyes. I am just blessed that he loves me so much. It would be easy to throw in the towel in times like this for some, and it just strengthens us all the while.

Now, in the event that you, like my mother, question that I actually have a brain, I have PROOF!! HAHA! The cyst is impossible to miss, it's impressive, eh? lol

Thank you again for your prayers and support.

Bachelor "Wings of Love" Ep.2 Recap of Sorts

Howdy do, fellow fliers!!!

What a night for reality "love" in the making!! There were a couple group dates, a one on one with Allie (which was completed by a live concert by Chicago) and finally 3 girls were left in the lurch with no date box. I would have felt worse for the 3 no daters, but Crazy Michelle was one of them, and her tirade was just funny. She stomped her feet and went upstairs TO PACK AND GO HOME because she didn't like that Jake didn't want a date with her. Hello? Crazy, party of one....(spoiler, she didn't go home....I know, shocker, huh? lol)

On the group date to the amusement parked Jake and Nanny Liz totally bonded, even though she told him NOT to kiss her unless he knew he wanted to kiss only her forever. HAHAHA!!! Um, yeah, OK!!! She proceeded to taunt him with not kissing her as they sat alone under the night sky as it exploded with a fireworks display just for the two of them. Meanwhile, the other girls (especially Princess Vienna) hated on the Nanny, what with her bachelor voodoo and all. (my words, not hers!) Vienna, by the way, revealed to Jake (dramatically, of couse) that at age 17 she was engaged to her pastor's son. She broke off the engagement and one month later he was marrying someone else. YIKES!! In rebellion, she then eloped with some guy she didn't even know in Vegas (a la Britney Spears) and 4 months later she was divorced. In a one on one moment Tenley decided she would tell Jake about being divorced but choked and lost her nerve.

We round out this week's show with Chris interrupting the cocktail party while Jake was outside with some random chick, to ask Future Bunny Rozlyn to join him outside. DUN DUN DUUUUUN!!! As we all knew by now (unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last week, which if so...OUCH!!) Rozlyn "allegedly" entered in to "an inappropriate relationship" with a Bachelor producer or staffer of some sort. Rather than just cop to it, Rozlyn's response was "I don't see what my personal life has to do with anything." and "the other girls previous relationships don't have anything to do with here." Are you FROLICKING KIDDING ME???? You weren't engaging in said activities before you got on the show. WHAT A TWIT!!! They told her to pack her bags then and there and go home immediately. Chris went outside to tell our fearless Bachelor the, um, bad? news and boy oh boy you'd have thought Chris had put Jake's balls in a vice and spun him around. When he spoke he poignantly asked "Can I get my rose back?"

So emotional ending to this weeks show. Jake is mad and sad & I feel inclined to let him take his shirt off, climb into my lap, curl into a ball and cry.

Shock, awe and anger fill the ladies when Chris and Jake finally tell them what's going on. Our Twinkettes begin crying just knowing that their future ex-boyfriend is now "brokenhearted". I don't know how to break it to them that he'll get over it in the next couple of episodes, of course it's most likely going to take kisses from all of the "ladies" (10 bucks says Nanny Liz gives in!!).

I now would like to share an open letter to all future Bachelor hopeful female people.
Dear Future Reality Dating Show Contestant:
Before wasting your time, our time and the time of the one looking for (temporary) love, we ask that you decide exactly who you are coming on the show to get it on with. We are totally cool with you lovin on (fill in the blank) but producers, gaffers, light crew, gardners, caterers, interior designers, housekeepers, maintenance workers, chauffers, helicopter pilots, etc will NOT be tolerated. (We reserve the right to add to this list of unapproved staffers as positions come to light).

Sincerely,
Mgmt

And with that, those leaving us tonight are: (insert musical montage looking back at their (not so) memorable time with us)

Michelle!!! HAHAHA....no such luck. Even after telling him she had her bags packed from her little tantrum he STILL gave her a rose!!! OY!!!

Ok, the real 2 going home are......

Ashley the teacher from Pennsylvania
AND
Christina the Restaurant Mgr from California (considering I had already forgotten who she was I'm not saddened by the loss..lol)

Next time on THE BACHELOR "ON THE WINGS OF LOVE":
Jake and a blond go bungee jumping, the girls argue about a whole bunch of stuff, Crazy Michelle is still crazy and Chris is heard saying "You know, I don't think we need to wait for a rose ceremony. I think you should go now." Aren't you just on the edge of your seat???? lol

This is your Captain of Blog. Over & out.

New Season of The Bachelor. Episode 1 Recap

The new season of The Bachelor is upon us! Stupid name this season “On the wings of love”. we get it, he’s a pilot…

Our evening begins with flashbacks of last season meeting Jillian, some of Jake’s “best” moments leading up to Jill sending him packing, all while the familiar twinkly sounding music plays in the background.

“Now Jake will get his chance to find love” (thanks Chris Harrison!) and cut to Jake taking off his shirt. It only took 2 minutes to get there (thank you ABC!) With a few more “memorable” moments from last season, shots of Jake in his pilot costume, er, I mean uniform, the new season is under way.

Cut to Jake in the shower, rubbing himself (not kidding) all wet and shiny. The Jake in the shower shots probably lasted longer than necessary, but I just can’t bring myself to complain about that.

The first batch in the limo and off to meet the Bachelor (which if the past is any indicator, he’ll still be after it’s all said and done) “I’m risking it all for love & letting my heart lead….and in the end hopefully propose to my future wife” How sweet. And how utterly delusional.

Ahhhh, Chris Harrison how we’ve missed you….I just felt that that should be said.

Jake arrives on, a, a, MOTORCYCLE??? Good grief. He is so squeaky clean it isn’t even funny. Ok, maybe a little funny. He sits down on a couch for the mandatory pre-chick arrival interview with Chris and all I keep thinking is “when are they going to show him shirtless again?” If they got rid of the chicks and just showed Jake doing random things with his shirt off, it’d be a much better show. Grocery shopping, chopping potatoes, getting the mail, shoe shopping, clipping his fingernails…who cares!! As long as the boy has no shirt on. ROFL…and adding to his delusion, he also thinks that Jillian and Ed will get married. SERIOUSLY??? I’m dyin here, Jake!!

Chris asks “Would you give up flying, for love if you met a girl that said she just couldn‘t get in a plane?” (Gee, do you think one of the girls has this problem??) Jake responds with, “You know what? Love is more powerful than flying.” Yeah, sure.

LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN (hope you have all your shots)

25 new “ladies” will vie for his love. They are:

Allie ; 25 blond, cute, she divulges in her interview about her ex bf and how he would cheat on her with her roommate while they all lived together! She brought him a peacock feather? If that was the best gift you had to bring, please get back in the car and go home. Save yourself. From a humor standpoint she redeemed herself when she got one on one time and tripped on her dress & ripped it…lmbo

Alexa: 25 used word orgasm in interview rides motorcycle showed up wearing little black motorcycle gloves. A little rough, ok a LOT rough. I think she would hurt Jake. No, not emotionally, PHYSICALLY!

Tenley: 25 is a dancer (not stripper) but seemingly very flexible and divorced

Elizabeth: brunette, no fashion sense (self admitted) Air Guard. Bottom line, she bores me. Her time is short lived

Rozlyn: 28 is a model and makeup artist, kinda skanky looking, waiting for Hustler or playboy . She informed Jake “Fasten your seat belt. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride” ugh Again…WE KNOW HE IS A PILOT!

Christina: 25 Self admitted “guys girl” brought him a big basket of jellybeans for all the girls as their “parting gifts” started HANDING THEM OUT when she got inside….not gonna be popular

Vienna: 23 This girl can’t walk in high heels (almost bit it walking during her interview trying to look sexy) “I love myself, am a huge daddy’s girl, and spoiled rotten. He (daddy) has bought me 5 cars , I’ve wrecked them all” “mommy” to little rat dog CANNOT STAND THIS GIRL

Ashley: 29 Her mom sent her tons of clothes for show, teacher

Elizabeth: 29, is a stunning brunette, but not ok with Jake kissing other girls & is a nanny

Ella: 29 TN girl single mom to Ethan seems strong in herself. She’s a boxer & kinda looks like southern Jillian . She asked Jake, “How’s it feel talkin to the woman you’re gonna marry?”

Gia: 25 is a swimsuit model, pageant girl, great hair (only really impressive quality I see), annoying voice

Kimberly: 24 NBA dancer

Emily: 23 is a fit model, cute girl

Tiana 31 from Canada that’s really all that’s worth saying about her

Caitlyn: 24 “spokes model” “you look great in a suit, but can’t wait to see you in your uniform”

Kirsten: 25 bland bland bland

Michelle 25 ready to be a wife flew like an airplane to meet him. Vroom vroom…

Jessie “do you have a register for these guns” GO HOME It made no sense!!

Kathryn: flight attendant, blond, adorable

Corrie: Kissimmee Florida, she kinda threw him off asked stupid question

Channy: speaks Cambodian, very very tiny yellow dress

Ashleigh, blond, ANNOYING….literally RAN in to his arms and about knocked him over!!

Alicia brought him DIRT….from TEXAS to “show him their common ground” Dirt? Are you freakin kidding me????

Stephanie: Dance teacher from IL

Sheila: another pilot (2 of the best looking pilots ever)

　

Tidbits from the party:

Jake asked Allie for one on one time first, only to be interrupted by Corrie. During her time alone, Channy let us know that“he needs a little Cambodian Fever” Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but that isn’t something you want your significant other to catch, especially on your first meeting…then she TOLD HIM “you can land your plane on my landing strip anytime!” WHAT????

One of the girls was overheard making a very obvious statement: “A lot of these girls have their ta-tas out to play” DUH!! Have you SEEN this show before????

I liked & respected the fact that Ella was forthcoming about having a son & gave Jake a toy airplane from her son. Jake seemed receptive and not freaked out at all.

Ashley came out in a little Halloween costume of a flight attendant…other girls NOT diggin that whatsoever. Jake played catch with a football with Elizabeth the nanny before getting bombarded by a whole gaggle of predators, I mean, suitors Blonds vs. Brunettes.

As Jake is going off talking to girls, Michelle is already in tears, overwhelmed by the situation at hand of sharing him with 24 other women. Ugh, a mental breakdown after knowing him for ONE HOUR!! Get a hold of yourself, dumb girl!!!

So help me if one more of these girls uses the term “I want to be your co pilot” I am gonna puke. We GET it!!! He’s a pilot…ha ha ha, and pilots need co pilots to fly a plane. Ha ha ha ha….oh wait, yeah, NOT FUNNY OR WITTY!!

Enter Chris Harrison…..”We decided Jake needed a little help tonight…” Enter Jillian and Ed. Really? REALLY?? And then Jake speaks: “It just shows that things work out the way they’re meant to. Jason found someone & Jillian found someone. Now it’s my turn.” Um, hey, Jake? Beautiful, sweet, delusional Jake? Jason met and CHOSE Melissa and then, like a total TOOL dumped her for his 2^nd runner up. I don’t know that I would look up to him as a former Bachelor. Maybe as a what NOT to do…..and Jillian chose a guy who was sleeping with 2 other girls while you were vying for her heart. (Say what they want, ya know that one is true!!).

So let’s see what Jill & Ed have to say about our girls. Hey, if nothing else, Ed can find his next woman.

Meanwhile, Tenley went in for a KISS. Wow. Move fast much? However, upon learning that she’s only ever been with one man (her ex hubby) I don’t feel like I can judge this one.

To consider for 1^st impression rose:

Ed: Nanny Elizabeth, Pilot Sheila

Jill: Single Mom Ella, Flight Attendant Kathryn

To go home

Ed: Crazy Mental Michelle

Jill: Crazy Mental Michelle

And the 1^st Impression rose goes to……….TENLEY! At least it wasn’t one of the trashy icky girls. And with that Chris reappears to steal Jake aware from the clutches of the banshees to make his decision.

Blah blah blah, yakkety schmakkety……GET ON WITH GETTING RID OF 10!!!

Still in the running are: (In order of rose distribution)

Single Mom Ella

Nanny Elizabeth

Peacock Feather Allie

Spoiled Rotten Vienna (ick!)

Jellybean Christina

Great hair Gia

Teacher Ashley (flight attendant costume)

Playboy in Waiting Rozlyn

Canadian Jessie

Corrie

Alicia the Dirt Giver

Blond Ashleigh

Flight Attendant Kathryn

Enter Captain Obvious…..final rose

Crazy Mental Michelle!!!!! WTH!!??

And the last rose goes to show that Jake is clearly off his rocker and no doubt more bad decisions are in the works for this season. He let several good choices go tonight & there were more than a couple that I was surprised that he chose to stay. As with any season, however, the remainder promises to be filled with drama, tears, angst and everything else that draws us in to watch this train wreck of a tv show season after season. And lucky for you, I’ll be here to navigate the friendly skies. Consider me your pilot & you? Well you can be my co-pilot. Will you accept this rose??

The fasten seatbelt sign has now been turned off. You are now free to walk about the cabin freely. Until next week, over and out.

The Results Are In....Well, Sort of....

Before I move on with things, first let me say Merry (late) Christmas, Friends! I hope that the holiday came and went with joy for each of you. It's so hard to believe that the year and decade just has a few more days left in it...where did the time go??? Let's see.....when the decade began, I was a single mom still working in radio...WOW that one is hard to believe. It seems like another lifetime ago. By late 2000 my life changed when I decided to take a hiatus from radio, decided to temporarily sell furniture and wound up meeting my future husband (even though he was clueless that I even had a crush on him & didn't start dating til February '01 lol) Graham and I were so immensely blessed to have found such a wonderful man to love us and we were married in 2002 & Emalea joined our family later that same year (what can I say....I did marriage and kids a little backwards). Moving to Tennessee where we didn't know a soul, Graham being officially diagnosed with Autism, homeschooling and so many other milestones and events have filled up the last 10 years. As a family unit we've experienced more hardships than we probably anticipated, but I can now say that we've come out the other side a strong family unit. Of course that's a severely abbreviated version of my decades worth of nostalgia. :)

I've had several friends ask me to update when I get test results from Seattle and learn something new. Last week I received a packet from Swedish Hospital with (most) my test results of my week out there. Results seem to be really up and down, roller coasterish if you will. I have a few low results including my T4 (thyroid) and my IGF-1 (growth hormone), a couple of pretty high ACTH levels and some moderate cortisol levels. The CT scan of my adrenals showed some mild thickening at the apex, but they were unable to identify a focal nodule, which they can typically see. This afternoon Dr. Ludlam's assistant, Jennifer (LOVE LOVE LOVE that girl!!) called to go over the results (they didn't know they had been sent to me already, but was good to have someone to go over them). For the most part, they found most of my results to be normal. My highest UFC was a 25, but the reference range goes 0 to 50, so even that is smack in the middle. My Dex suppression was normal and with the exception of a 6.58 overnight cortisol blood level, most others were normal as well. I had one ACTH level that was particularly elevated at 57.9 and they said that that and the 6.58 were at least indications that something is going on, just not diffinitive enough to make a diagnosis yet. The two results that were low were their biggest concern at this point. My low T4 level leans toward hypothryoidism so they are starting me on a thyroid medication to see if that makes any difference in how I feel. They said that underactive thyroid is dangerous if untreated, but low growth hormone is not, neither of which I knew, but found interesting. They want to do continued testing, most of which I can do at home. More urine and blood tests need to be done when I feel "good", but they also want to do growth hormone testing, which I would have to go back out to Seattle to have done. Money alone, makes that impossible any time soon, and they say that if I need to, I can go out a year from my last appointment, but that also means waiting til December. More waiting means waiting longer to continue the search for what's wrong. But we'll do what we have to do. In a nutshell, my levels (and CT scan reading "interesting") were just high enough to lend to something being wrong (and quite possibly Cushings), but not high enough to diagnose with Cushings just yet. So tests, tests and then some more tests. YAY!! I called Scott to let him know (working) and I felt so bad because he was so disappointed. I anticipated the additional tests, after all, nothing (and I do mean nothing) with me EVER goes simply when it comes to the medical realm. He thought for sure that they would give a yay or nay verdict right off the bat, and, well, obviously not what happened.

Thanks so much to all of you who are following this and taking the time to read my ramblings. I tend to forget that I have this blog, so hopefully I'll remember to keep writing!!

Much love to you all & I hope you have a most EXCELLENT New Years!!! Make a good one & BE SAME!!!

Seattle, LAST DAY

*sigh* So the end of my week is here. It's kind of odd how terrified I was coming out here & now I don't know how I feel about leaving. I cannot WAIT to get home and hug and kiss my kiddos & Scott, it's helped tremendously that I have talked to the 3 of them all week through Skype (GREAT invention, by the way).

So the day is done. Wow. I had my PICC line taken out around 10 this morning, after having my dex supression test...an hour of 2 vials of blood taken every 15 minutes. I watched as my nurse, Sig, started pulling the line out. All I could think of was "HOLY CRAP!! When will it end?" that thing, seriously, had to have been over a foot long. I finished up in Ambulatory with "my girls" and immediately burst in to tears when Sig gave me a hug. My nurses down there really were a saving grace for me this week. I saw them basically every single day I was here & they were so funny & dynamic & can say that I am truly blessed to have met them.

I think what I really found this week was myself. Maybe that sounds weird, but I really feel that. I feel closer to God, closer to my friends & have found that I have true friends where I never saw them before. My heart is full. Not knowing anyone here really pushed me to be, well, ME! Friends, some of you might say that I am "too perky" or a people pleaser and I have tried to tone it down for some time now, because I have felt like that is what I was supposed to do. I found that girl again this week and it just happens to be the girl I am. You can choose to like or love that about me, it's ok, but i LIKE making people smile, I LIKE making people feel special, like they matter, if to no one other than some strange girl that commented on how pretty your scarf is in an elevator. For heavens sake, the dining room workers all knew who I was by the time dinner rolled around tonight, because all week I had made a point to forge whatever sort of relationship I could with them during my stay here.

The only thing (aside from needles & blood draws in the middle of the night..lol) that I hated most was being alone. I don't do alone well, although I was so proud of myself this week. Seattle is a huge, rather daunting city and I stepped WAY out of my comfort zone and journeyed out on my own. ALONE. It was exciting, awe inspiring and bottom line...FUN. It was well worth every bit of exhaustion and pain that my body felt, which isn't something I can ever say.

I think that before this trip, I have often felt that I care for my friends and family much more than is reciprocated, maybe it's just in my head. As a stay at home mom, and in addition "sick", you tend to lose your own identity. I am hoping that some people maybe have a new perception of me, a new respect for me and what I go through and do on a daily basis when I get home. I deal with more fears than almost anyone knows, except my husband, every day & I just keep hearing my mom's voice in my head. She keeps telling me this week "you are exactly where you need to and doing what you need to be doing." I doubted it for a bit, but see it now.

Now, only time will tell what will come of this week. But what I have come away with is maybe worth even more. I found me. I embraced myself. I have a stronger bond with God, and I have felt more love and support from my friends than i ever imagined. I started this blog more as a way for me to feel closer to something, to get my mind off of what I was afraid of. I didn't really think that anyone would read this and for those who have been following, thank you. Thank you for caring. I have felt you all here with me, which has filled the void tremendously.

I love you all so so much & am honored to call you friend.

Seattle Day 3, Part AWESOME!

Holy sweet peppers I had a day!! I chose to step out of my comfort zone and (for the first time ever) rode a public bus to downtown Seattle for an adventure!!! My knees and back prohibit me from doing as much at once as I would have liked, but I knocked out a huge chunk of my to do list & it was AWESOME!!!!

I started out the day uneventfully with my CT scan of my adrenal glands. I have the cd of it, but no drive on my netbook to look at them, which is driving me bananas. I had to do a great bit of waiting and got REALLY bored and EXTREMELY punchy. The proof is in the photos. This sign, for whatever reason made me smile

Next I found extreme amusement in this:

The box reads "Your comments are important to us. Thank you." THAT is not what I found funny. What WAS funny was that the box was stuffed and actually overflowing with comment papers that clearly hadn't been emptied in some time. So now you tell me...just how important are the comments to them?? lol Maybe just me, but I thought that was hilarious. Now here's the punchy part of the morning. I made a friend. He was very tiny with bright blue eyes and as we talked, the more impressed I became. Feast your eyes upon Mr. Fingers' photo of his days as a race car driver, tryin to impress the ladies....Lady Fingers, if you will.

CLEARLY I have issues (and WAY too much time on my hands!) Now on to the rest of my day!!

With pep in my step (for me..lol) and a smile on my face, I set out to experience Pike Place Market, and anywhere else I might end up along the way. Now I have to start by saying something that makes me sound like an idiot. I had NO idea that Seattle was a continuous series of crazy hills!!! It was like watching the opening credits of Full House and seeing the streets of San Francisco! As I turned on to Pike Street I saw different boutiques and kitchy businesses, each unique and carving out its own unique space. I then got to the crest of the Pike Street hill and what I saw took my breath away. I don't even think that the picture I took will do it even miniscule justice.

I made a beeline for the street level entrance to the market, which was buzzing with patrons, the melodic sounds of street performers and bursting with the colors of an array of fruits, vegetables and the freshest fresh fish I have ever set my eyes upon. There were several fresh fish vendors, proundly displaying the catches that had just come in off the boats this morning, but only one seemed to strike a chord with the passers by, including myself. Three or four young men in their mid to late 20s playing to the growing crowds, making the fish "fly", telling jokes, and scaring the tar out of (mostly) women getting close to a huge, ugly monkfish to take a picture. Little did these unsuspecting folks know that they had the monkfish tail rigged to where they could tug the tail and the fish appeared to jump out. HILARIOUS! Gorgeous pinkish orange salmon on ice and a huge fresh octopus were just some of the wares they had on display for purchase.

It was truly an experience I will remember forever. Vendors from different countries, with unique visions for the items they were selling. Fresh cut flowers with colors so vibrant and fragrances so sweet that they could easily evoke emotion. Here are some more pictures from my Pike Place adventure.

I ended my day by getting back on the #3 bus (only after getting lost...which is how I stumbled upon the Winter Wonderland where the carousel was located) anticipating my return to Swedish Hospital and my small, yet cozy room that was calling my name. When I got ON the bus it was packed as tight as a sardine can. Once the passengers were down to just me and my friendly bus driver, I asked him to let me know when we were close. That is when he informed me that I had gotten on the #3 going in the wrong direction, and that while it WOULD get me back to my destination, it wouldn't be for another 40 minutes or so. I was too sore and tired to feel upset, and at that moment could only laugh it off. Where did I have to be? I embraced this change in plans and saw it as an opportunity to see ALL of Seattle, parts I never would have seen otherwise...and all for $1.75. Rolling hills, sweeping, majestic views of Lake Washington and different mountain ranges, magnificent architecture, and a cast of ever changing characters/passengers made for a truly unique experience.

It was a wonderful day, free to escape the walls of the hospital. It was funny though, how at the end of the day, all I wanted to do was get back to the tiny room I had started the day eager to escape, if only for a little bit. Tomorrow is another day. I'm excited to see what it brings.

Seattle Day 3, Part 1

Good morning, friends. I want to start the day by thanking you for all of your prayers and well wishes, they have brought such calming to my spirit, which means more than you can possibly know.

It was another night of blood draws every 4 hours, and my body has decided that it does not need to sleep, apparently. I got a great nap in yesterday between my noon and 4pm draws, and then didn't sleep again until after my 4am draw this morning. I'm fairly certain that since the draws started at midnight Tuesday I've slept about 8 hours in all...and that's being generous. But my brain seems to disagree and right now I'm not tired at all. One nurse asked me how it is that I am so friendly and "red faced" (assuming she meant rosey..lol) on such little sleep. She said most people going through this regimine are reeeeaallly tired, dragging and non talkative. I have no explanation.

About 40 minutes ago I had my LAST BLOOD DRAW!!!! HURRAYYYYYY!!!! I turned in my 2nd UFC test right after, salivary tests are all packaged and being sent out today. Productive morning, I'd say...and all in less than an hour span. Right now I'm just waiting for the pharmacy to open so I can pick up my Dexamethasone pills (which I start taking at 1pm) and then I check in to admitting for my CT scan of my adrenals at 10:30am. CT needs to hurry the hippidy dippidy up though.....had to fast this morning and mama needs COFFEEEEE!!!! Aside from all that I have nothing scheduled for the day. Kinda weird. Just take a pill every 6 hours, tomorrow too.

It's another remarkably beautiful day here in Seattle. It's the kind of blue sky that belongs in a crayon box with not a cloud to be seen. I'm in my room looking out over downtown Seattle and like how the city city is the center of all this serene beauty of water and mountains. I seel all of this grand scenery and it's almost like it's all hugging the city. It's almost, I don't know...cozy.

So that's it for the time being. I don't get the PICC line out just yet..not til Friday after they do the Dex Suppression test. I hope you all have a truly blessed and wondrous day, as for me, maybe I'll venture out. The idea scares the crap out of me, but I don't want to regret NOT going out and experiencing this city first hand when I have the opportunity. We shall see!!!