What a weekend I had!

Well everyone, I am feeling 100 times better than I have been since being in the hospital over Easter. I can walk with no issues, sleep through the night, and not as tired as I was before. So my stint in the hospital was the cause of me getting pneumonia. I proved my kidney doctor's PA (physician's assistant) wrong. hahahahaha! She thought ademently that I had a blod clot in my lungs causing me to breath hard. I told her no it isn't that, I have no pain, and my chest doesn't hurt. I said it has to do with added fluid. I know this since when I got to the dialysis center, my nurse listened to my lungs. She told me that there is crackling back there. So I went off of that. I went to the ER right from dialysis, but no flashing lights. Thank God! With having a chest X-ray done, the ER PA told me that it was indeed pneumonia. Her and I both said that if it is a blood clot, we will cross that bridge if we have to. But her and I weren't sold on the blod clot issue. So I got admitted to the hospital with IV antibiotics. I was in the hospital from Thursday to Sunday afternoon. On Friday I was told that I looked 100 times better, and I felt the same as well. Just wasn't able to get all the rest I needed to recover. Which is what I am doing here at home. This week I am dialing back a little on all I am doing. I am passing myself so I don't over due it. Oh! While being in the hospital, there is this hospital doctor called a hospitalist. First off, before I go off about her. I will tell you that I had a chest x-ray, and CT scan of my heart (i think). Now with that, the hospitalist thought that since the rate my heart was pumping on the right side was high. (sorry if that is confusing) She thought I had CHF (congestive heart failure). I said no I don't have that. The reason my heart is like this, is because of the added fluid and pneumonia. She was not satisfied with this. She said that since I am immunosuppressed, have lupus, and on dialysis. That she needs to make sure. Whatever!!!!!!!!!!!! That is what I thought. Then that day, on Friday, I was visited by a Pulmonologist and heart doctor. Ugh! Those two doctors and I were on the same page. That all this has to do because of the added fluid I have. And if hitting me hard on Saturday for dialysis doesn't work, then we will cross the bridge dealing with my heart. Well, guess what? Taking off 6.5 kilograms (or 15 lbs) on dialysis of added fluid, worked. My chest X-ray from Thursday to Saturday improved. So I was right. Now on discharge I have to have a follow-up appointment with the Heart Institute, eventhough, I don't have anything wrong with my heart. But like my dad and Ryan said. Do this just to make them happy and to shut them up. Now with that dealing with the doctors, I was also at my wits end with the people in the kitchen. I was ordering food, and I always order iced tea with my meal. The lady on the other end of the phone told me that I have reached my max with iced tea. I was like "what?" I know I am over my fluid restriction. So what the french toast? The lady proceeded to tell me that iced tea is high in potassium. I was like no it isn't. I only have lipton or normal flavor tea. That is all. So I only got one glass instead of two. Ugh! I still don't get it. I wasn't able to ask my dietian today at dialysis. So hopefully I can ask her on Thursday. Right now with being home I am doing good, taking it easy, and getting a good night's sleep. I just have to take 2 pill antibiotics. All is better though. I am off my soap box. I will talk to you all later! Jodes

I am an Auntie!

Woo hoo! I am aunt to the most handsome little man. His name is Logan James. He is so precious. I know I am prejudice when it comes to him. But in all honesty all little one's are cute and precious.

I just wish when I see him or hold him that he opens his eyes to look at me. So far all he did was sleep. But I got him to smile, kick me (with a smile on his face), and massaged his head were he was in heaven.

Here is a picture of him. I am done rambling about him for now.



Isn't he cute? Done now! More pics of him to come once I get to see him next.

Jodes

Holy Cow I am 32!

Man were has the time gone. I approached 32 better than I did when I was coming up to 30. I was fine with 30, kept telling myself it is just a number who cares. Then the week of 2 years ago, I dreaded my birthday. Plus ALOT of CRAP was going on in my personal life. Seems like everything that could happen, did. But with my amazing friends, many tears, and God never leaving my side. I came through that bad storm of CRAP.

This year I had minor meltdown one day. I was touchy, hence pissy when Ryan would try to have fun with me. I would litterally bite his head off. He made me open up and I told him that I wish my mom was here to celebrate my birthday. Or just to talk to her. I told him, I know you don't understand what I am going through and that you think I need to "get over this." I said I will never get over this. I will just learn to move past it, learn how to deal. I also told him, I might have a few more meltdowns in the years to come. He said that is fine. I told him lastly that other than my good friends, he is the only one I can talk to about this. I don't feel right talking to my family about how i am feeling with my mom's death, cause they then turn it on themselves and how they are feeling. Not what I need at the time.

But Ryan gave me a big hug, and I cried on his shoulder. He said I know I may not understand what you are going through. Since you were closer, much closer, with your mom than I am with mine. I said I know that. I said I will try, but it has gotten better than the year she died. When I would cry with just seeing a commercial or Pastor speaking in his sermon or a song played church or on the radio.

I can honestly tell you I am better now. Now back to the topic at hand. My birfday! ;)

For all you who aren't on facebook, this is what Ryan got me.


Aren't they pretty? He asked me if I was suprised. I said nope. He goes then, "maybe I will stop getting you roses or flowers." I said, " then you will have one not so happy woman on your hands." I also said, I new I was getting roses, just didn't know what color I would be getting. That is the suprise. He goes, "Oh okay."

This is were we went for supper that night.


Very amazing food! I even got a $5 gift certificate for it being my birthday. Woo hoo!

This is the last installment of my birthday. Technically I did it for Ryan, but he says it is for me. Since I complain to him about not going to plays or musicals with me. So here we go. Hell must be freezing over! ;) hahahahaha!


We are going to the PAC Saturday afternoon at 2. Can't wait! Should be fun!

Talk to you all soon! Sorry for the minor vent in the beginning. I needed it.
Jodes

Health Update!

Well, my health is okay. My lupus is ever so active, hence why I am tired so much, have red cheeks, and a low grade fever. But I am used to it. That just means when I have a flare up, I did a little too much the previous weekend. It doesn't take much. I think doing dialysis and then being outside for a brat fry for 5 1/2 or so hours kinds kicked my butt. Plus, I am supposed to avoid sun, which is why in the summer I wear a lot of sunscreen except this past weekend. I just didn't put any on this past weekend, so I got a little sun on my face. Which I felt, and I think that caused me to have a flare up. I am getting better now though. I just have this cough that is producing phlem. The color is off white or clear. It was switching off all day yesterday and early today. Now it is mainly clear. Clear is good.

Also, my dialysis nurse said that she listened to my lungs. Like she does with every dialysis treatment. She said that my lungs are clear, and sounded like nothing was rattling around. She said it sounded good. So that tells me that this is not bronchitis or pneumonia. That it is either viral or a sinus infection. Not sure, but I am starting to feel better. Not coughing as much as I was. Which is nice. Maybe I can sleep at night, and then maybe my headache will also go away.

Other than all this going on. My overall health with the kidney and dialysis is good. All is good on that front. So there is nothing new to report. Until next time.

Jodes

Man can't believe how long it has been?

Sorry I have been lacking on updating my blog. I kinda had life come and bite me in the butt. Literally! Not sure how long, but before Easter I got really sick. I was sick at least for a month, and got worse at time went on. I remember the day I went into the hospital, I looked at myself in the mirror and thought. Holy Crap I look like s$#t! And wow I am pale. My legs were swollen beyond belief. Actually, I think I was swollen all over. I had so much fluid that when they did dialysis in the hospital. I lost in that week about 25lbs. I think it is a mix of fluid and not eating for a month.

The day before Easter my bestie Tanya took me to doctor's office first. The doctor saw me and said you need to go to the ER. She did a quick run through with me, I mean checking me over, and then assisted me into a wheel chair. Then I got wheeled out to Tanya's car, and got sent to AMC's ER. Sitting in the ER room, the doctor came in and did his thing. Once we got some what of a word on what was going on, Tanya called my dad and Ryan. My dad and Ryan came immediately to the ER. Once we new what was going on, and I was getting sent upstairs to a room. Tanya left to go home and spend time with her family.

That night I got a breathing treatment so I could hopefully start to breath better. By the time my dad left, I was having issues. Later that night, on Saturday, I couldn't relax and I was freaking out with what was going on also. So with me not being able to relax, they sent me down to the ICU. Once in the ICU, the doctor told me that if I can't relax, they will have to intibate me. Which is what they did. They knocked me out fully, and put a tube down my throat to help me breath. This way, as the doctor says, I am able to rest and get some sleep. Which I was unable to do before being admitted to the hospital. I slept throught Easter, was out for 12 hours at least. Then started improving slowly. Getting dialysis, and getting everything back to normal.

Now I am doing 100% better than at Easter. I can breath, not swollen, and slowly getting back to normal. My ankle gets swollen, but that is common.

My new weight is 174 and I am loving it. I just need to lose the part on my stomach. My goal is 150. I have 24 to go. I will get their. I also need to start walking more, and working out a little more also. I have dialysis T-Th-Sat at 6:10am for 4 hours. Hopefully sometime this month my dialysis time will get knocked down to a lesser time. Well, that is about all for now. I promise. Until next time! This is my update thus far.

Jodes

Tis the Season......

Well, it is getting to that time of year yet again. And I am trying really hard to soak in every Christmas moment I can. I just need motivation today. I am really not feeling that well, I mean my cold is kicking my butt. My throat is fine. I am just tired, sneezing, and stuffed up. I feel like I can't get a good night sleep. I try, but it isn't working. Ugh! As for the Christmas projects I have yet to finish. I just have to finish cutting strips on my SIL's blanket, thatn that is done. I also have to finish tieing Ryan's blanket, then that is done. Also, another thing I have to do is finish his scrapbook. I am not stressing out about them not being done. I swear I will not stress out.

Other than that, Christmas this year will be good. Ryan left this morning to go to Chicago for Christmas with his mom, sister, and sister's boyfriend. Ryan and his mom will be coming home Saturday in the afternoon. I am hoping either late afternoon or early evening. That way he can come out to me, see my dad, brother, and sissy-in-law. Screw it! She is my sister. Enough of the in-law part.

Tonight I will be going over to my aunt and uncle's house next door for a little family get together. Tomorrow is church, then it is CHRISTMAS!!!

Has it really been almost 2 years?

I keep asking myself that. I can't believe that it has been almost 2 years since my mom has died. I was thinking yesterday when I was at church, that going to Colony Oaks with Pastor, Ryan, and the youth was going to be hard. Well, it was actually good. I did okay! I did better than I thought I would. I helped the kids get comfortable around them. Since Ryan and I have had ample experience with that part. Thank you mom! So when we were singing Christmas Carols, there was this lady in the front row, that I swear reminded me of my mom. She just starred at me, and smiled. Really all I had to was when they looked at me, I smiled, and they smiled. We so brightened up their days. It made me feel good. Many said Merry Christmas to us. And loved seeing the kids there. We, mine and Ryan's group, raided the lunch room. Then walked down the hall we were assigned. I swear we get the same hall every year. But that is okay. We gave a card to those who weren't in the lunch room. And wow was it HOT in there. I had my coat on and my sweater. Ugh I thought I was going to pass out. It felt good to be outside. But I understand why they keep it so warm.

Now back on track. I am actually doing pretty good. I am just concerned about my dad. I could tell last night he was not in a good mood. See yesterday 2 years ago to the date, she went into the hospital. I only cried mildly thinking of that lady at Colony Oaks. But Ryan has no clue I had tears in my eyes. My dad is better today though. I am slowly decorating the tree with the ornaments that HAVE to go on the tree every year. Man we have a lot of ornaments. At least I was smart enough last year to put the ones that we always use, in one box. I am smart.

Christmas I think will be better this year. I hope. I am better than last year. Way too much went down last year. Ryan leaves Thursday in the morning to go to Milwaukee, get his mom, then head they head to Chicago for Christmas with his sister Renee. He will be coming home Christmas Day sometime, so hopefully I can see him that day. If not we will see each other at church the following day, then have Bible Study, have our Christmas, and then go to my grandma's for Christmas at her place with all my family. My BIG family. I have a new baby second cousin I can't wait to meet, and then another one on the way. His name is Isaiah. My other cousin is having a little girl. I can't wait to meet her also. I mean I can wait, I don't want her to go in labor early. I think she is due in March. Oh! And a friend of mine is having another baby also. She is due in January. Can't wait to meet that little one also. A new year with 2 new little people. What more can a person ask for?

I am really doing okay though! I just want to say Merry Christmas everyone! Hugs and kisses to all my amazing freinds and family. I love you all! And thank you all for always being there when I need it.

Love,
Jodes