February 28, 2008

I started stitching again on Wednesday and finished My Very Bestest Friend by 4 My Boys at 1:52am. I feel so much better! My eyes aren't getting blurry anymore and my ability to concentrate is returning. This, more than anything, has my spirits up and my faith that everything will be okay restored. I know it won't make any sense to non-stitchers, but I'm sure my stitching friends can sympathize with that feeling.


After getting some sleep, I started working on In the Land of the Free by The Sweetheart Tree. This kit called to me because of the message it contains, "We live in the land of the free because of the brave." I don't think anything says it any better. My brother served ten years in the United States Army, and I'm stitching this for him and all the other brave men and women who serve our country.

Catching Up to February 22, 2008

It's been a long time since I've been able to update this, so I'm going to have to make one entry to bring y'all current. The days seem to blend together into one long day when you're in the hospital so the only way I could tell them apart was to take a picture of my progress, at midnight, whenever I stitched.

So here's how my stitching went while I was in the hospital and Heritage Harbour Rehabilitation Center:

January 30: No Matter WhatJanuary 31 February 1February 2: A Finish & Work on Hinzeit's Mini Block Stitch February 3: Mini Block Stitch by Hinzeit Designs (FINISH!), Cabin in the Snow by Hob-Nobb Designs









February 4

February 5 February 6 February 7 (FINISH!) February 12: In the Land of the Free by The Sweetheart Tree February 15: In the Land of the Free & My Very Bestest Friend by 4 My Boys

February 16 & 17

January 28, 2008

I couldn't do any stitching all morning because of more double vision. I was taken to dialysis first thing in the morning and slept through my entire treatment.

I saw the neurologist and an endocrinologist. My nephrologist came by and he said that the endo told him that I may not be absorbing the calcium pills because I don't have a large intestine. I'm not sure if that's correct or not, but will be paying more attention.

I think the general consensus is that I'm going to need these meds IV rather than orally, but when & where I'll be getting them is what they're going to have to figure out.

Following dialysis Saturday my calcium plummeted from 8.9 to 6-point-something less than 8 hours later and it's baffling the doctors. I was symptomatic when my calcium dropped below 6, but now I'm symptomatic (tingling and double vision) when it's below 7. They don't understand that, either. But they think part of the problem is that my PTH has been over 2,000 for almost 2 years, when it shouldn't have been over 70; therefore, it's changing my body metabolically. So it may just be a matter of my body adjusting to the new ParaThyroid Hormone level, but they're going to look into the problems that may be involved with me absorbing the oral drugs, too.

Since dialysis boosted my calcim level, I was able to work on No Matter What. This would have already been done if I wasn't sick, but it's coming along. Right now I'm still working on the brown part of the checkerboard border.

January 25, 2008

For the first time since I've been here I didn't sleep through my dialysis treatment. I was able to make some more progress on Deftly Wrought. My father also stopped by while I was having my treatment. My grandmother stayed out in the car because she wasn't feeling well. The last thing I need right now is to get sick, so everyone that isn't feeling 100% has been staying away.

They let me go after dialysis! I got my central line pulled and received my discharge instructions. Since I drove myself to the hospital, my truck has been sitting in the garage waiting to take me back home. I told the hospital escort that I was walking downstairs. He tried to tell me that I had to be wheeled down. I know that's not true because I've walked out before! I said I was driving myself home, so I might as well walk! Besides, there was a whole cart of bags to take down. He looked at it and said, "What's all this?!" I told him I'd been there for nine days and needed something to keep me occupied!

I got home at 6:55pm to a very excited little Golden. Chet spent the first two hours I was home yelling at me. I guess he wanted to make sure I knew how upset with me he was! I had to laugh when I walked in the livingroom and saw Kasey's toys. There aren't any in her toy basket. Apparently this is where they're supposed to be!

Since I'm still so weak, I just took it easy and watched tv while stitching on No Matter What until I went to sleep.

January 24, 2008

I worked on Deftly Wrought until 4am. I didn't make much progress, thanks to some frogs that visited, but I continued working on the house in the fourth mini sampler. I finally surrendered to sleep when my eyes wouldn't stay open any longer.

I spent most of the afternoon kitting up projects. Uncle Wes brought a whole bunch of stuff to me yesterday, so I had plenty to keep me busy. I put a couple stitches in Mini Block Stitch by Hinzeit designs and then decided to start No Matter What by Hob Nobb Designs. I feel like I haven't gotten anything accomplished and need a "Finish Fix!" This only has three colors, so I should be able to get it done in a couple days, as long as my eyes cooperate!