2009 has been one hell of a year.
In the middle of summer, one of the ER doctors (during my usual "I'm in too much pain to function and the entire staff here thinks I have the flu" visit) FINALLY caught the actual problem. My gallbladder had made a ton of small, pointy friends...so many, in fact, that their party had extended into the yard (i.e. my bile duct and liver). That was the single most painful ultrasound ever. By the time I was admitted, I had overheard the words "imminent liver failure" and noticed that my skin had turned a light shade of fake tan orange.
Friends and family surrounded me for literally the entire time - and I now include my boyfriend in the "family" category. He never left my side...until I told him he HAD to go to work...ha. He was there even at night, and had to help me do simple things like get up to use the little girls' room. Three days, three nights, and two procedures later, I was able to go home.
In the weeks and months that followed, my quality of life completely changed. I'm now able to get up and about whenever I want...do practically whatever I want, without the stabbing pain that I'd thought for years was a "stitch" in my side. Early in November, for example, I got really upset and decided to walk it off - literally. I went to the local state park, wherein I proceeded to hike nine miles. I had absolutely NO issues. It was wonderful.
My boyfriend and I are odd. We've been dating over a year now, and there's no doubt in either of our minds that this isn't going to end. We've set a date, but we're not formally engaged yet. We have a location...and as soon as we've got rings, let the planning begin. Look for us on a Friday the 13th at the wedding chapel in Hell, Michigan. I cannot wait. More to come, I'm quite sure.
I'm finding myself missing one of my best friends, especially as life is so busy around the holidays AND I have a nasty cold. I can't wait to see her, though I don't know when that'll be. She's gone from Midwest princess in Indiana and Illinois to Snow Queen in rural northern Minnesota. She's still fun to be around and gorgeous...but now an even longer drive away!
Have some pictures from my hike in November before I go back to nursing my cold:
In the middle of summer, one of the ER doctors (during my usual "I'm in too much pain to function and the entire staff here thinks I have the flu" visit) FINALLY caught the actual problem. My gallbladder had made a ton of small, pointy friends...so many, in fact, that their party had extended into the yard (i.e. my bile duct and liver). That was the single most painful ultrasound ever. By the time I was admitted, I had overheard the words "imminent liver failure" and noticed that my skin had turned a light shade of fake tan orange.
Friends and family surrounded me for literally the entire time - and I now include my boyfriend in the "family" category. He never left my side...until I told him he HAD to go to work...ha. He was there even at night, and had to help me do simple things like get up to use the little girls' room. Three days, three nights, and two procedures later, I was able to go home.
In the weeks and months that followed, my quality of life completely changed. I'm now able to get up and about whenever I want...do practically whatever I want, without the stabbing pain that I'd thought for years was a "stitch" in my side. Early in November, for example, I got really upset and decided to walk it off - literally. I went to the local state park, wherein I proceeded to hike nine miles. I had absolutely NO issues. It was wonderful.
My boyfriend and I are odd. We've been dating over a year now, and there's no doubt in either of our minds that this isn't going to end. We've set a date, but we're not formally engaged yet. We have a location...and as soon as we've got rings, let the planning begin. Look for us on a Friday the 13th at the wedding chapel in Hell, Michigan. I cannot wait. More to come, I'm quite sure.
I'm finding myself missing one of my best friends, especially as life is so busy around the holidays AND I have a nasty cold. I can't wait to see her, though I don't know when that'll be. She's gone from Midwest princess in Indiana and Illinois to Snow Queen in rural northern Minnesota. She's still fun to be around and gorgeous...but now an even longer drive away!
Have some pictures from my hike in November before I go back to nursing my cold:
i wish i had a teleporter. we'd wear it out