Monday November 30

Today was pretty uneventful but a good day.  I had a lazy morning.  I slept ok last night I just didn't have motivation right away.  

Colin went in to work around noon so I went to Advanced Auto.  My engine light came on in my car and I wanted to read the code to make sure it wasn't anything major.  They won't read the code for you.  You have to hook the machine up yourself and research the code.  Luckily they don't charge you to do it.  There was someone else using the gadget when I got there so I asked her if I could watch her do it.  Turns out...she was a mechanic.  After she was done on the car she was working on, she was kind enough to hook it up to my car, read the code and tell me what it was.   It's an emissions evap leak.  She thinks it's the gas cap.  Nothing major so that's a good thing.  I thanked her and offered her money but she wouldn't take it.  Everyone we have encountered here has been so nice.  

I left there and went to Best Buy to talk to them about getting hands free talking in my car.  I'm debating on getting it for Christmas since I am traveling a lot more now.  I think I'm going to ask my mom and dad to get it for me for Christmas.  I really can't think of anything that I want.  After that I went to Macy's to see if there's anything I could find that I may want.   Cyndee has been asking me for a list and I just don't need or want anything.  I don't know what to tell her.  I walked aimlessly around Macy's.   I couldn't find anything so I left.   

I went home and put on my fluids and waited for Colin to get home.  He was home around 4.  He heated up leftovers for dinner and we watched tv.   I put my tpn on early because we have to get up early tomorrow for my appointment.  I'm laying down now and hoping to fall asleep soon.  

That was pretty much it for me for the day.  I will post more tomorrow after my appointment.  Pray for good news!!  Until then....have a good night.

Sunday November 29

Was up at 2 and 4 this morning but was able to fall back asleep.  I was up at 6.  I stayed in bed and watched Law and Order for a while.  When my tpn was done I got up and showered.  

We left the house to check to see if the highway was open.  They have been closing it on the weekends for road work.  It was open and we ended up driving to the strip district.  Colin stopped and got breakfast at DeLucas.  It's a small restaurant that usually has really long lines and has been featured on Man Vs. Food with Adam Richmond.  It's a really busy place.  We left after that and headed home.  I went to Michaels after we got home and returned picture frames I had bought last week because I found them for half the price at target.   I went to target and bought the other ones.

I got home and put on my fluids.  After my fluids Colin wanted to check out a local gun shop.  We took a little ride and looked around.  It was a pretty cool place.  We got home and I made ravioli and garlic bread for dinner.  After Colin had dinner we played Monopoly.  I of course lost because I wouldn't trade any of my properties.  He had hotels 1/4 of the way around the board.  

I had nothing.  It was fun to play though.  It's close to 6:30.  I have a cramping feeling in my stomach.  I'm not sure what's going on with it but it hurts.  I'm laying on the couch with my heated blanket and my overnight bag on so I don't have to keep getting up to empty.  Colin is watching football and I'm typing this.  I hope you have a good night.  I will update tomorrow.  Until then...

Saturday November 28

Today was a cold rainy day.  

We got up and Colin took me to find where my therapy appointment is this week.  I have an appointment on Thursday.  It was pretty easy to get to.  I shouldn't have any issues.  We drove around for a little bit just exploring.  

We got back home and I decided to organize my osteomy supplies.  I had a huge box of stuff that needed put away so I took about an hour to tackle the project.  It sent me into cleaning/organizing mode so I cleaned and organized the closet.   Then I decided to organize the file cabinet.  That took a couple of hours because I have so much.   I got it all done though and had a fairly productive day.  

I put my fluids on and watched tv.  Colin and I didn't end up going to a movie on Thanksgiving so we went to see Creed this evening.   If you like the Rocky movies it was definitely worth seeing.  We just got home.  I put my tpn on and am laying down.  Hopefully I'll get some sleep tonight.  

I was feeling pretty good today so maybe I burned off enough energy to sleep through the night.  I hope you have a good night.  Sweet dreams!

Sleepless

It's 1:30 and I'm wide awake.  This not sleeping is really getting to me.  I really hope they change something at my next appointment.  I'm laying on the couch watching impractical jokers so I don't wake Colin up with the tv in the bedroom.  I'm going to try and drink some of my sleepy time tea and hopefully fall asleep at some point.  

It's going to be a long night.....  

Friday November 27

Had an ok night last night.  Fell asleep around 10.  Woke up at 2 but was able to go back to sleep.  My battery pack on the ton died around 4 and woke me up.  I went back to sleep.  Then the back up battery on my ton died around 5.  After that I was up.  I went to the couch to watch tv so I didn't wake Colin up.  

Around 7:30 I got up and took off my tpn, got showered and dressed.  Then we went for a bike ride.  We rode to Panera for coffee and then rode back home.  

We got home and watched tv for a little bit.  Colin left to go to work and I started looking through all the bills and started organizing.  There was a bunch of stuff I didn't want to throw away so I went online and priced out paper shredders.  I found one at Best Buy for $15.  I decided to take my chances and go to Best Buy across the street.  To my surprise I parked in the third space from the door.  I went in and asked where they were.  The guy took me right to them.  I grabbed it and thanked him.  I started walking toward the line and he stopped me and said he could check me out there.  I was in and out in under 10 minutes.  It was pretty awesome.  

I got home and started the task of organizing the file cabinet.  It's going to be a project.  I put on my fluids and worked on organizing for a little bit.  I got out food for dinner and made dinner for when Colin got home so he didn't have to eat leftovers again.  

He got home and we watched Impractical Jokers for a little bit.  I put on my tpn and am laying in bed watching Four Christmases.   All in all I'm feeling pretty good today.  I had a little more energy and I'm not falling back into the fog I was in.  Tomorrow is supposed to rain all day.  Not sure what we are going to do.  I'm sure we will figure something out.  

I hope you have a good night.  I will update tomorrow.  Until then.....

Thursday November 26

For my standard blog post of the day.   My night was ok.  I went to bed around 9.   Was asleep by 9:30.  Woke up around 2.   I got up and read a couple chapters in my book.  I still wasn't tired so I went to the couch so I wouldn't wake Colin up.  I fell back asleep around 4 and was up at 6.  

I am done with the antibiotics as of yesterday so that's three hours a day that I'm not hooked up to an iv.  I got showered and dressed and waited for Colin to do the same.  We needed some poultry seasoning for the turkey so we walked across the street.  We stopped at McDonalds for coffee and hot chocolate.  Then we walked to the grocery store.  It was a beautiful day today.  Not too cold and sunny.  We took our time walking home.  

Once home we got the turkey ready to put in the oven.  We put the turkey in around noon.  It was done around 2:30.  It definitely wasn't a Carlock Thanksgiving but it was the two of us and we made due.  Our first and hopefully last Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh.  Hopefully next year we will be home and healthy!  

Right now we are watching naked and afraid.  We are going to go to the movies this evening to see Creed.  We are starting our own tradition.  So that's the plan for today.  I'm actually feeling pretty good today.  I don't seem to be in a fog which is nice.  Hopefully it was from the antibiotics and it doesn't happen anymore.  

I hope you all had a wonderful day!!  Happy Thanksgiving!  Sweet dreams until tomorrow!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Thankful......

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!   I have a lot to be thankful for this year.   I am thankful to be alive.   I can't believe it's close to a year since my medical disaster.   

I am thankful for my husband Colin.  Without his support and unconditional love I couldn't have gotten through this past year.   He has sacrificed so much to take care of me and has never complained or made me feel guilty about it.  He keeps me positive and looking towards the future.  He is an amazing man and I don't know what I would do without him.  Thank you Colin for being my rock.  I love you!

I am thankful for my parents.   They are always there for me no matter what.  They are always supportive and encouraging.  I don't know what I would do without them.  They love me even on my worst day and when I'm miserable.   I know my parents would fight for me until their death and for this I am forever grateful to them.  Thank you Mom and Dad for everything you do.  I love you!

I am thankful for my family.  Amber, Bobby, Carter, Caden, Shawn, Courtney and Dana.   You have all made the past year more bearable.   Between all of the visits to the hospital to the daily check-ins to make sure I'm ok.  You have shown me genuine love.  I know that if I need anything at all they are only a phone call away.  Thank you for always being there.  I couldn't do this without you.  I love you!

I am thankful for my in-laws.   Between Cyndee taking care of the dogs while we are in Pittsburgh and allowing us to live with her until we moved; to David driving the moving truck to Pittsburgh in the middle of the night; to Brooke making sure Colin has food and is taking care of himself; to the kids sending cards and artwork; to Charity making weekly calls to check in on me.   You have been there for us and have never questioned or complained.  Thank you for everything.  I love you!

I am thankful for my friends.   I'm not going to name you all because there are too many people to name.  I want to thank you for the unconditional love, support and prayers through this difficult time.   You have done so much for us.  The benefit/gala was a huge success as well as the golf tournament.  Without you....this never would have happened and we wouldn't have raised the money we did for my transplant.   What you did with these events was mind blowing!  Thank you for the constant check-ins, cards and visits.   You have made the last year more bearable.   I am thankful and blessed to have each and every one of you in my life!  I love you!

I am thankful for my doctors.   Starting with Dr. Chory and Dr. Johnston....they saved my life.  Without their quick actions I would not be here today.  Dr. Harborson and his colleagues....they have taken care of me over the past year and have gotten me in with the doctors here in Pittsburgh.  Dr. Cruz, Mary Roberts and the team here in Pittsburgh - I am forever thankful.   This team of doctors has kept me "healthy" and out of the hospital for a record of 7 weeks now.   Previously....(since December) the longest stretch I'd been out of the hospital was 4 days.  I am forever grateful to each and every one of my doctors.

I am thankful for my nurses.   Each and every one of you has shown me compassion, empathy and care.  These nurses are barely recognized for what they do and they are the ones who work tirelessly to make sure every need is met.  You not only took care of me, you have become my friends.  I thank you for being there for me and I will never forget you. 

I am not sure what the future holds but I do know one thing..... I am touched by the people in my life and I will never forget what you have done for me.  I am truly blessed.