September, 2003
~is still a miracle wonderful, inscrutable, magical and more,
to whosoever will think of it."
---Thomas Carlyle
September 2, 2003 ~ Family Camp ~~ Bags were packed and one Canvas Handbag filled with medicines. The dogs were ready to be left for Ms. Jay to take care of for the three nights and days we were going to be gone. The golf cart had been loaded on the trailer and hitched to the car for the trek up the mountains to Virginia and the adventure awaiting for one and all. Tbird's family left several hours before Allan, his son and I were able to take leave from our homes. With various details yet to be taken care of, visiting Mother at the nursing center so she could hold Malachi was impossible. We could only drive by long enough for me to take in the phone number where we could be contacted to the nursing station in case an emergency arises. No phones are at the camp itself, but there is one number through which the message could be relayed. I took time to stop and speak to Mother for a few short minutes before giving her a kiss. From there, we picked up Buddy Boy and the excitement stirred as our Labor Day Weekend unfolded.
Rain surrounded us as we drove deeper into roughed the Blue Ridge Mountains which extended through three states. Actually, only a few showers were directly overhead as we watched lightening and rain off in the distance. Our driving time was easy and sped by fast as we traveled the less congested roads, only being on an Interstate for a short distance. We stopped and got some supper in town close to the camp since the dining hall would not be available until Saturday morning. Tbird was not around when we arrived, but her Hubby was sitting out on the porch of their cabin watching for us.
Packing up their clothes, games, and other supplies, including bikes, one very important item was overlooked. DynoKid's clothes had been left behind. A bag of hand-me-downs for Giggles made it up the mountain, but not his clothes. She had gone into town to purchase the clothes he would be using during family. Wonder how many kids go out for Wilderness activities dressed in brand new clothes? Thunderstorms were predicted for each afternoon and there were times that he would surely take part in activities where he would be getting muddy. Sure enough, Sunday afternoon, after swimming and doing some challenges including swinging from ring to ring over the pond, a muddy spot was too inviting. He and his friend spent about an hour or so taking a running jump and sliding through the muddy water pond up on the grass out in front of our cabin. They had to take a detour to the communal showers before being allowed into our cabin.
A group of helpers appeared out of nowhere before we could get out of the car and carried in all our luggage for us. Since it was already dark when we arrived, the golf cart was not unloaded until morning. I chose to walk up about a dozen gravel and wooden post steps. There was a rail to hold on to along the steps, a less steep area was on the other end, but nothing was there to help me get up the steep incline. Thus, I accomplished my first challenge of the weekend and succeeded the task at hand. DynoKid and his friend were sharing the large rustic room with us so he could help keep up with Buddy Boy. I opened up a folding chair and sat out on the porch while others gathered for a bonfire and roasting marshmallows not far away through the woods. Listening to the happy sound of children at play. Soft chattering of adults blending with the night sounds of the forest brought back memories of other campfires at other sites when we were campers with our own campfire and equipment stationed around our Nimrod fold out camper. The serenity of the moment brought a calming warmth of the joy of being one with nature.
Our weekend experience was only beginning.
September 3, 2003 ~ Fruits of Summer ~ Traveling to Virginia last Friday, the sight of fruit stands selling their produce kept catching our attention. It seemed a tad late in the season, but displays of large beautiful peaches appeared over and over. They looked so perfect as the light yellow of the fuzzy skin was accented by lush red tints, bringing thoughts of tasty morsels and peach cobblers. My mouth watered each time I spotted another produce stand displaying baskets of the lovely fruits.
Fruits of this particular summer have been much sweeter than usual. Vines, bushes and trees have been ladened with an over abundance of fruits as a general rule. Out in the field here at home our supply of apples and pears have been smaller because the trees were pruned way back. Next summer we should have a better yield coming from the new growth this summer. What few apples we had didn't get to remain on the tree until maturity. Allan caught the younger of our clan out in the garden and field throwing apples pulled off the trees at each other. They gleefully found another use for green apples and had a great game going on.
The watermelons were plucked before our trip because with all the rain lately, the vines were dying. The fruits were on the small side, but the one that I cut open had an extra sweet taste. Buddy Boy claimed that first one as his own and enjoyed each bite after first attempting to remove the tiny seeds.
Our tomatoes are some of the best we've had in several years. Apparently nature's critters agree with us on that one point. Some of the fruits had to be tossed because of huge bites being taken from them as they hung from the supported vines. A white larva usually found in ears of corn made it's way into the kitchen on one of the tomatoes. If I had the energy, I'd freeze some tomatoes and juice for use this winter. Meanwhile, those 'mater samiches sure hit the spot.
Returning home on Monday, we stopped somewhere near the Tennessee - Virginia State Line and purchased a peck basket of those beautiful peaches we spied as we were going to Family Camp. Our car was loaded already with the two adults and three boys along with clothing, bedding and other gear. The basket was placed on the front floorboard under my legs for safe keeping. They proved to also be in temptation's reach. Some of the fruits were not completely ripe, but the ones that were ripe smelled heavenly. I just couldn't wait to test just one of the peaches ... It was every bit as tasty as I imagined when we spied them last Friday. Yes, a peach cobbler would have to be made.
September 4, 2003 ~ Back On The Doctor Trail ~~ Time has come when the journal once again takes note of medical happenings surrounding moi. To ignore and take leave of the topic would be so much easier. Enjoyment comes when writing about other topics, but the birth of the journal came about in order to chronicle events during the knee replacements and recovery. Time before those surgeries it was so much easier to block out any discussion of pain and it's related issues. Seems that much of my life has been ruled by a situation presenting way to many difficulties, uncertainties and perplexities.
A little over four months have passed since yet another of the episodes began. It has taken that long for me to face up to reality and due process. Looking back to that event in late April, I recognized the symptoms and events, but didn't want to react properly. From past experience, I knew that the symptoms of headache, dizziness, nausea and blurred vision heralded problems. When I passed out and landed on the floor, it was even more evident. At first, I could only lay there as my head continued to swirl around. To call out or being able to focus my vision was impossible, A different pain burned along my right side and movement seemed impossible, I knew what had happened, but had no desire to face up to the reality.
Luckily Buddy Boy had spent the night with me and came to my aid. He was playing a game on the computer and was on the other side of the house. By the time he came looking for me to share a new accomplishment, I had recovered enough to have him hand me the cordless phone and I was able to push the memory button and call Wes to come to the rescue. After handing me the phone he patted me on the tummy and ran back to continue his game. Wes came with Wendy and BingoKid to help me up from the floor. Mainly I only needed a sturdy chair to use to pull myself up off the floor. He wanted me to go to the Emergency Room. Allan wanted me to go to the Emergency Room. When Allan called my doctor the next day, he suggested I come in to be checked. I didn't want to hear what he may say. I didn't go, but did promise to seek help if I should pass out again.
Returning to the present, I have the follow-up visit with the Heart Specialist. He is concerned about the tidbits shared with him and orders another ultrasound/echo of my heart to see if there are any changed. After the test is finished, the Dr. continues talking with me and asks me to promise to get to the Emergency Room immediately if event a small hint of a repeat of what happened back in April. Once I visit the neurologist, he wants to change some of my meds and do a Doppler of the arteries in my neck, and schedule a time for me to wear a heart monitor. Yes, all the fun has once again entered my lifestyle.
September 8, 2003 ~ Time To Bare The Facts ~~ Lolling around the house with the excuse of just not feeling well must cease. Of course I haven't felt up to par and there has been an underlying explanation. I clearly want to push the facts back into one of those dark hidden crevices of the gray matter, pretending there are no symptoms of a genuine justification for being lethargic. True must out. I'm tired, depressed, achy and out of kilter as weakness along the right side keeps me off balance. This isn't the first time I've traveled this road and all the caution lights have been blinking danger ever since I passed out and fell on the floor back in April. I knew then that symptoms signified I'd had another stroke. It was not as bad as the first one, but it brought more weakness to an already weakened right side. It also has affected the right eye enough to be an aggravation to me. When I am tired it is impossible for me to pronounce some words, no matter how hard I try to say them correctly. The sounds will not cooperate with my efforts.
The drive down to Hickory was made amid huge trucks and fast cars. Everyone was driving as if they were supposed to have arrived at their destinations several days ago. Attempting to drive the speed limit along that stretch of road puts a driver in dire peril to say the least. Once in the city only one turn was needed to put me on the road that led through the middle of town and onward toward Newton. Along Tate Boulevard was the office of the neurologists. The office had grown and moved to a larger area since last I was there. I was impressed by the doctor that I saw. He is only a doctor part time and a lawyer working with medical lawsuits the rest of the time. You have to wonder how he ever had time to get a double degree like that. He does know his area of medicine and knows it well.
It took little time for him to determine that I had extreme weakness on the right side. In fact the right leg worked more like a wet log instead of a leg. It didn't respond well at all. I had little control over it. Before long I had two more new medicines to add to my stash. One to take the place of the aspirin which I can no longer take and the other is one used for seizures and has a side benefit of strengthening the artery walls. It will take me a month to build up to the level I need on the seizure med. I must admit that I've had petite mals all along since the stroke back in 1988. This is not unusual for folks that have strokes. I was given the option of taking meds for it if I wanted them. I chose at that time not to take anything. This time there was no choice.
When I return to the neurology office I will be seeing the doctor that took care of me in the beginning. He is completely booked up through this year so I am on the call list for when someone calls in and cancels. Samples in hand and prescriptions to fill later, as well as an appointment for a MRI and a paper to get my blood sed rate checked I was ready to tackle the traffic back up the road toward home.
September 11, 2003 ~ Hey! Wait A Minute!! ~~ Everything isn't supposed to explode at once. Why do things have to happen when they are not even wanted?? I certainly have not asked for any of these recent happenings to pop up and take charge of life. They did it on their own without as much as a warning of what lay ahead. It's just one of those times when one must roll with the punches. If only those punches will swivel up and blow away!
One of the grandchildren had left the Styrofoam stompers in the kitchen instead of putting them back with the toys. In my youth we had stilts made with a stick of wood and tin cans or a triangle of wood nailed on to walk around on. Today it is stompers with cords to pull up tightly as they walk. Tuesday evening one of them lay in waiting for me to take a misstep. It wasn't long until that ill-fated step back was taken and it was followed by a tumble to the floor by moi. Allan was actually beside me when I fell. We were fixing supper together. He held a chair for me as I used it to maneuver myself up off the floor. Only when I began to get up did I realize that my right leg was useless. It would not help with lifting. I had to wiggle around some and got barely on the edge of the chair. From there I was able to work myself back into the chair as I rolled over the right side. It wasn't easy, but, I did it.
Of course, a tooth on the right side had to choose now to become abscessed. My dentist had me to come by so he could take an x-ray to see what was happening. One look at the picture and he said, "Stormy, I'm afraid it doesn't look good." I knew that from the swelling along the gum. His receptionist called and made an appointment with the oral surgeon I was surprised that he could see me today. I had to have the Doppler of the throat arteries this morning, so he saw me this afternoon. The root canal only took an hour which wasn't all that bad, but he had to call in an antibiotic for me to take to get rid of the infection. Later this evening I drove up and picked up the medicine to begin taking it. I had taken 1500 mg of antibiotics before going in for the root canal so I had to wait awhile before starting the new prescription.
I'm tired of so many medicines. Yet, here I am having more added and none removed. I have to wonder what it would be like if all of them were tossed away ....
September 20, 2003 ~ Struggling Through The Week In Review ~~ It's been the sort of week that no one ever wants to face. Too many of those, "Bless your heart," "Hope you get to feeling better," "I'll be thinking about you," and that doesn't include the hurricane coming in along the Outerbanks of North Carolina. We were fortunate in our area in that we only got some wind along the fringe of the hurricane. The winds around here were around 30 mph which was nothing compared to the winds which did so much damage along the main path of Hurricane Isabel.
The raging hurricane within is much more of a challenge. A challenge which is difficult to accept and deal with on a daily basis. This is the type of inner storm that demands all of ones attention as it drains away strength replacing it with more pain and frustrations. No answers are in the offering for the near future. There is only the struggle to stay on top and strive to overcome the problems being faced.
