Archive 2

Hope everyone had a good Labor Day weekend. This week was very busy for us. The appointment with Dr. W (his last name is long and hard to spell) on Tuesday along with physical therapy and chatting online that evening was exhausting. I did have about 5 hours pain free from the TENS machine. I just wish it lasted longer. Dr. W is very nice and he's not one of those docs that use all the big words that confuse you. He talked like I was his equal. He's an Army doctor, but that doesn't even scare me. He knew what Chiari was and had done the surgery before so I'm very comfortable with him. I think Eric is too. October won't come fast enough for me.

Tuesday and Thursday I had physical therapy, no complaints. I like the TENS machine it does it's job. I have 2 more appointments then I hope a fast decision.

I continue to take a naproxen with my night pills and it seems to be working. I'm also tracking the level of the headache when I take my pills. I did read somewhere that taking ibuprofen with caffeine increases the 'power' and effectiveness of the ibuprofen. I'm not too sure about that.

Thursday I started to get ready to go to Idaho. I made a list, which keeps growing, of things I must take with me. I think I have everything. If I missed anything I bet I'll remember it next time.

I also did something Thursday that makes me feel a lot cooler. I got my haircut. I had the lady shave the back of my head to just about 1 to 1 1/2 inches from where the incision will start. I also got my hair bobbed to the middle of my ears, the shortest my hair has ever been. Eric was not very happy, but he understands why I cut it. It's a big change that I'll have to get used to, for now. I made another appointment for the 15th of October. I'm still deciding if I want to keep my hair this length for a while. I know getting my hair cut right after surgery would not feel good, I assume.

Thursday afternoon Eric received an award from his battalion. The award is for his performance while being at Ft. Lewis. I would've liked to have been there when he got it, but I didn't go. Eric now has another ribbon for his dress uniform.

Eric and I spent Labor Day weekend with his Dad and Pam in Idaho. They have a ranch and it was nice to see them again. The last time I saw them was the 1st time I met them December of '99. They have a beautiful home out in the country; it's such a change from WA. It was nice to go outside and not hear cars going by, sirens, and people all hours of the night or cars coming and going from the parking lot. I like getting away from WA and all of the people. It's also nice to just get away.

I hope you all read the new things I've added to the site this week. I am getting rather good at adding things. I think it is boredom with doing nothing but being home. I'm starting to get cabin fever again and Eric and I have only been home a few days. Idaho was so nice compared to Tacoma.

I had physical therapy on Tuesday and Wednesday; both were great. I go to talk to the physical therapist and Dr. Garcia (neurologist) about getting a TENS to use at home. Everyone agreed and the prescription was typed into the computer.

Tuesday was not a very good day for me after the therapy. I have a bad headache and I felt like I had the flu. I was cold then hot then cold. I was miserable. I slept a lot and spent the day on the couch. Wednesday I felt so much better.

Eric and I went to Wal-Mart Wednesday. We played Dominoes in Idaho and wanted to get some to play here. There were so many people there I got very nervous and sweaty. Every noise I heard seemed to echo in my head and blend with the other sounds. The cash register was really annoying. I couldn't wait to get out of the building. I had a killer headache after that, but it went away quickly. I don't look forward to that happening again.

Thursday Eric and I were at MAMC to get my night meds refilled and to stop by the department that takes care of ordering medical equipment. We waited about 10 minutes and then about 20 minutes later we were driving to get the TENS machine. As soon as we were in the truck I had the pads on and the machine going. It was very nice to be riding home with a little ‘massage.’ I may use it every day.

After getting the TENS Eric and I came home and I called my aunt Helen. Eric and I went to see her. I had not talked to Helen since May. I took the binder that has all of my Chiari information. The binder made it very easy to explain Chiari to her. Eric and I gave this site to her son Mark so she could read these updates too. Helen asked if she could be there for my surgery and, of course, I said yes. We may need to pick her up, she doesn’t drive anymore, because she doesn’t know if Ervin, her husband, will be working that day or if Mark would be able to drop her off at Madigan. I don’t think that would be a problem with my sisters coming from MT. Eric and I discussed maybe going to dinner on the 17^th so Helen, Ervin and Mark could see my sisters while they are here, don’t think I’ll want to eat out after I get out of the hospital (hahahah).

This weekend Eric and I stayed home for the most part. Eric did have to go to the shop to help get a truck ready to go to the field. I went to post with him. It got me out of the house. I like going with Eric to the shop. I like to know what he does all day and it's fun to see the guys working on the truck. This was an electrical problem, but I was little help even with the electronics I learned in the Army. It was frustrating, but it didn't bother me. I would like to remember more of what I learned in the Army.

We are still waiting to hear about Eric's orders. I would be extremely surprised if they send him to Korea Then again the military can do weird things. The lady that is handling Eric's orders said that if we are still waiting on September 20th, Eric's report date for Korea, not to worry because that will just put Eric on administrative hold until a decision is made. I'm hoping that we don't have to wait that long. We have enough to worry about without wondering if Eric will have to go to Korea.

Wow, what a sad week. I thought about not posting an update this week, but I need to do something ‘normal.’ I have been so sad. I am not a crier, but this week I cried a lot. Eric called me Tuesday and woke me to tell me about the World Trade Centers, I turned the TV and computer on right away. I didn’t know what was going on until about half an hour later. It was scary to me, I was worried about the many people I know in the military. Now I’m not so worried about them, I’m more worried about what is going to happen next. I have not complained once this week about my Chiari, it’s not that important to me right now. I have watched or listened to NBC since Tuesday morning. I cry when they air the stories of people looking for a loved one, I cry knowing that there are so many people lost in NYC and DC. I’m in fear for war. I don’t want Eric or any of my friends to go to war, especially since this war will be waged everywhere. I hope that I won’t know the worry that my Mother, sisters and brother felt when my Father was at war. Things are so different now then they were then, we now have all of these weapons that can be used. I know that killing Benladin will just make him a martyr and his ‘cells’ will just fight harder. There is no way to win a war. I can’t dwell on this any longer. I was glad to have a full day to pray for the families and victims of the attacks this week. I lit a Friday morning and kept it lit all day. I put a printed flag in our window and Eric and I have a flag in each of the vehicles. Eric is O negative so when he’s not at work all day he and I are going to give blood, probably not this weekend. I need to before the surgery because some blood banks won’t let me give after the surgery, something about the bovine graft will eliminate me from donating.

I have done other things besides watch the news. I went to a baby shower on Wednesday evening. It was fun to get out and be social. I didn’t win any games, but I had fun. One of the ladies there has been in and out of the hospital too. She and I talked about our illnesses and symptoms. Her symptoms sounded so familiar, I gave her this site and told her that she should puss to get an MRI, just to be safe. I hope that she doesn’t have Chiari, she has 3 kids to raise and is also a nurse. I wish her the best and have added her to my prayer list. My prayer list has grown so much the last few months, but I have the times all day to pray for everyone. I also copied a flag off the internet and taped it to the window, I'm afraid that if we buy a flag and put it out someone would steel it, so the printed on on the window takes that place. I also have a page that says 'United we stand' and 'God bless America' with a flag in between. I lit a candle at 7PM along with several groups in and around Seattle.

Eric tried to put in for leave for next week, because his company is planning to go to the field, he wants to work on getting information about his orders and his commanders want him to go to the field for 2 weeks. We are going to work on getting some letters from my doctors letting them, Eric's commanders, know that I can't drive. Since I can't drive I can't get groceries, pay bills, get to the hospital if I need to or anything during the day. His commanders were behind him in getting his orders deleted, and some still are, it's one that is leaning on Eric everyday. This guy is getting on my nerves and I think Eric is getting mad, too. I'd like to go and see this guy and tell him just what is going on and let him read my Chiari binder, it would be nice to have him spend a day in my head too. Some times the military drives me so crazy! This guy has been putting pressure on Eric before the alert change this week, so it has nothing to do with the attacks on NYC and DC. This guy lives in his office so I think it might be that he just needs to get a life that is not centered around the Army.

Well, some of you know that I type this up almost every day. Today is Friday. Tonight at about 850 PM I heard 5 gunshots. I looked out the sliding door and turned on the scanner. I heard that the police had been called to 7-11, across the street, and there was possibly a person in a car not moving. When I got to the gate of the complex there was a girl there that saw the shooting. I didn’t see anyone running around like some one was shot so I stayed by the complex. The police got there about 2 minutes later and Eric got home about 5 minutes after that and I came home. It was scary to hear the shots and know that they were near you. I thought that they were fired in the complex and when I hear 7-11 on the scanner I felt a little better. I don’t like living in the ‘big’ city. I like Great Falls being a relatively small Montana town.

Saturday Eric and I did some shopping and got some things for the hospital. We were at the Puyallup Wal-Mart and saw Ervin, he looks really good. I now have everything that I will need for the hospital, even some munchies. It was a relaxing day.

Today we are planning on maybe going to see the fountain at the Seattle center, it has been filled with flowers by the people of Seattle as a memorial. It was supposed to be just a few hours on Saturday, but has been extended until midnight on Sunday; because of the overwhelming amount of people that have come. It's very beautiful in the news, but I would like to see it 1st hand and put a flower in also. If we do go I will put pictures of it on the internet.