Before I left to fly to Pennsylvania, the doctors there seemed as though death was imminent for my grandmother, and advised any and all family members to come quickly to see her. By the time my plane landed and I was whisked directly to the ICU where she was, she was sitting up in bed, feisty as ever, pink in her cheeks. Apparently, the shock to her heart righted a lot of wrong things that were happening, and the end is not near anymore. The biggest issue now is finding an appropriate rehab facility/nursing home for her to go after leaving the hospital: her heart is okay for now, but her strength has been zapped, and her left arm is still broken, and she just cannot live unassisted anymore.
Never let it be said that any visit to my family is a wasted visit - I'm glad I got to see Nana and spend time with family. However, the flight out was both expensive and inconvenient, and I missed some really valuable study/class time. My mom and her three brothers were all there, and it was emotionally exhausting, seeing them all stressed and worn out beyond capacity. Plus, it would only be too soon if I never laid eyes on a Bob Evans restaurant again. Just the sight of yeast rolls is enough to inspire permanent heartburn. Chambersburg, while growing steadily, is pretty much a small town still, and there's just not much around besides restaurants: Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans, Country House, etc. Things with a lot of butter.
I'm back now. Tonight, I'm missing yet another Kaplan class to go celebrate my husband in his new job and his birthday (tomorrow)over dinner. Needless to say, we are NOT being taken to Bob Evans! I'm just really tired and pretty certain that I gained about 5 pounds on this trip, but I have no energy to correct that. Sigh. Still, I am so grateful to be home. I missed Jason something terrible - I had no idea how lonely I would feel with just 5 unexpected days away from him. When he picked me up at the airport, I thought my heart was going to burst, and I wanted to surgically attach my body to his, just to be that close.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
calling out to you
For those of you who are patient enough to still follow my poorly-kept blog, please keep me and the family in your prayers. My Nana was admitted to the ICU a few days ago; the staff could not stabilize her heart, and she kept rocking back and forth between extremes, both with blood pressure and pulse rate. Her attending MD told us we should come right away, so away I go: I take a flight into DC, and a short drive into southern PA to Chambersburg, where Nana and most of my mom's family lives. My mom is there now - she called not too long ago to report that the staff had performed a planned shock on Nana's heart (synchronized cardioversion, for my RN friends/family), and her heart rate has now stabilized. This is not a promise, just a current status report. No one knows what will happen from here.
Nana is my last surviving grandparent. I am entering an extremely unstable situation on so many levels. I am not too sure what to expect. I may have a very nice visit with my grandmother. I may be attending a funeral. I may do both. For many very good reasons, Jason cannot come with me, and I'm nervous to go alone.
I'll be home Monday.
Nana is my last surviving grandparent. I am entering an extremely unstable situation on so many levels. I am not too sure what to expect. I may have a very nice visit with my grandmother. I may be attending a funeral. I may do both. For many very good reasons, Jason cannot come with me, and I'm nervous to go alone.
I'll be home Monday.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
shamelessly stolen from kathleen
1. Explain what ended your last relationship?
I liked him a lot more than he liked me. Thank God.
2. When was the last time you shaved?
last night
3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.?
"Check, check, one, two, check, check, hellohelloooo, check, one, two..."
4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Watching a very creepy cartoon dog sing "Never Gonna Give You Up". Bad 80's flashbacks...
5. Are you any good at math?
Ummm, BASIC math, yes. I can add in my head, also subtract, and multiply and divide to a point. Anything beyond that...no. No. No.
6. Your prom night?
Alas, I was the rebel that didn't go to prom. I went to Disney with my best friend instead and had a much better time.
7. Do you have any famous ancestors?
Probably some infamous ones back in Sicily, I'm sure.
8. Have you had to take a loan out for school?
Ugh. Let's not talk about it.
9. Do you know the words to the song on your myspace profile?
I do.
10. Last thing received in the mail?
A letter from the state Board of Nursing stating that they can't tell if I have graduated my degree yet. Let's not talk about that, either.
11. How many different beverages have you had today?
Coke, coke, more coke. One, I guess.
12. Do you ever leave messages on people's answering machine?
About half of the time.
13. Who did you lose your CONCERT virginity to?
Classical: National Symphony Orchestra when I was 9 years old. Rock: Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket when I was 15 - totally awesome.
14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?
Not really.
15. What's the most painful dental procedure you've had?
A dental hygienist getting overzealous with the scraper-thing and, later, floss. OWWWWW.
16. What is out your back door?
Warped wooden planks. A nice barbecue grill. A parking lot.
17. Any plans for Friday night?
Hmmmm - probably dinner and a movie, possibly at home. We'll see what the finances provide.
18. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
Turns my hair into a tangled, dreadlocked mess? Absolutely.
19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?
I agree with Kathleen - caramel is best. Plain is OK. Cheese - eh.
20. Have you ever been to a planetarium?
Yes.
21. Do you re-use towels after you shower?
I think everything gets reused around here...
22. Some things you are excited about?
Oooh... okay:
--starting as a graduate nurse as soon as the state can verify I'm graduated
--not being in abject poverty and being able to make rent
--becoming a mom... SOMEDAY ;-)
--my friend K getting a HUGE promotion that she totally, completely deserves
--joining Netflix (they ROCK!)
--my husband starting a cool new job in a week... and, in the meantime, taking a week off to be at home with me
--catching up on reading good books
23. What is your favorite flavor of JELLO?
Mmmm - strawberry with Cool Whip on top
24. Describe your keychain(s)?
Too many keys, several store coupon tag thingies, and an old 10% goal WW keychain (hah!)
25. Where do you keep your change?
Where do I NOT keep my change? It's everywhere!
26. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people?
Does singing count? About 350-400 people this morning.
27. What kind of winter coat do you own?
Charcoal grey pea coat, dark red London Fog raincoat
28. What was the weather like on your graduation day?
Every time, it's been hot as hell. That's what graduation is like here in the Sunshine State.
29. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed?
Open - otherwise, we'd be subject to incessant caterwauling from my cat all night. Perhaps that's why it's called "CATerwauling"? She does it well.
I liked him a lot more than he liked me. Thank God.
2. When was the last time you shaved?
last night
3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.?
"Check, check, one, two, check, check, hellohelloooo, check, one, two..."
4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
Watching a very creepy cartoon dog sing "Never Gonna Give You Up". Bad 80's flashbacks...
5. Are you any good at math?
Ummm, BASIC math, yes. I can add in my head, also subtract, and multiply and divide to a point. Anything beyond that...no. No. No.
6. Your prom night?
Alas, I was the rebel that didn't go to prom. I went to Disney with my best friend instead and had a much better time.
7. Do you have any famous ancestors?
Probably some infamous ones back in Sicily, I'm sure.
8. Have you had to take a loan out for school?
Ugh. Let's not talk about it.
9. Do you know the words to the song on your myspace profile?
I do.
10. Last thing received in the mail?
A letter from the state Board of Nursing stating that they can't tell if I have graduated my degree yet. Let's not talk about that, either.
11. How many different beverages have you had today?
Coke, coke, more coke. One, I guess.
12. Do you ever leave messages on people's answering machine?
About half of the time.
13. Who did you lose your CONCERT virginity to?
Classical: National Symphony Orchestra when I was 9 years old. Rock: Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket when I was 15 - totally awesome.
14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach?
Not really.
15. What's the most painful dental procedure you've had?
A dental hygienist getting overzealous with the scraper-thing and, later, floss. OWWWWW.
16. What is out your back door?
Warped wooden planks. A nice barbecue grill. A parking lot.
17. Any plans for Friday night?
Hmmmm - probably dinner and a movie, possibly at home. We'll see what the finances provide.
18. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair?
Turns my hair into a tangled, dreadlocked mess? Absolutely.
19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns?
I agree with Kathleen - caramel is best. Plain is OK. Cheese - eh.
20. Have you ever been to a planetarium?
Yes.
21. Do you re-use towels after you shower?
I think everything gets reused around here...
22. Some things you are excited about?
Oooh... okay:
--starting as a graduate nurse as soon as the state can verify I'm graduated
--not being in abject poverty and being able to make rent
--becoming a mom... SOMEDAY ;-)
--my friend K getting a HUGE promotion that she totally, completely deserves
--joining Netflix (they ROCK!)
--my husband starting a cool new job in a week... and, in the meantime, taking a week off to be at home with me
--catching up on reading good books
23. What is your favorite flavor of JELLO?
Mmmm - strawberry with Cool Whip on top
24. Describe your keychain(s)?
Too many keys, several store coupon tag thingies, and an old 10% goal WW keychain (hah!)
25. Where do you keep your change?
Where do I NOT keep my change? It's everywhere!
26. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people?
Does singing count? About 350-400 people this morning.
27. What kind of winter coat do you own?
Charcoal grey pea coat, dark red London Fog raincoat
28. What was the weather like on your graduation day?
Every time, it's been hot as hell. That's what graduation is like here in the Sunshine State.
29. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed?
Open - otherwise, we'd be subject to incessant caterwauling from my cat all night. Perhaps that's why it's called "CATerwauling"? She does it well.
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