Archive 3

This week was less stressful than last week. Eric has been on leave since Monday so he could concentrate on his orders to Korea and start to get us both ready for the surgery and all the family coming for support. We have also been just relaxing; it's been so nice to sleep in :) Eric called about his orders several times this week and on Friday finally got the new that his orders are deleted!!! Finally another stress off the shoulders! Now we can concentrate fully on the surgery and family. I was starting to get worried that the national tragedies would delay the decision on his orders until after the surgery. I'm so glad that that was not the case. It feels weird to be happy about one decision when my heart still grieves for the nation, but I must go on with life.

Eric and I watched the President's address on Thursday evening. I knew that we were going to war, but I didn't expect the ultimatums. I think President Bush is handling this crisis very well and I hope he follows though to the letter. I know that Eric and many of my friends in the military may have to fight in this war, but I know that they will without question. I will, of course, worry about all of them from the start of this to the end. I was worried about my friends when the terrorist attacks happened and e-mailed many of them that day. I was happy to have replies to stop worrying.

Eric and I are planning to donate blood next month, since the blood banks out here have been packed with people. This way we will be helping to restock the bank. I have to give blood before the surgery, because after I won't be able to give. I have found out that when you have a bovine dura graft you are excluded from blood, organ, tissue and marrow donation. I'm going to call my surgeon and see if he can use another type of graft so I will be able to donate. If he cannot change the graft then I will just have to donate my body to the medical classes, so med students can see what a Chiari decompression is and how to operate on Chiarians.

Eric and I never made it to the Seattle Center fountain to see the flowers that were placed in the fountain. I like the out pouring that showed there, several days of constant flowers and people there to comfort. It was handled very nicely and was so touching.

Eric and I went to Michaels, craft store, Friday and we found a flag. This was the only flag I've seen on a store shelf in weeks. We bought it and have it in the window. We may not have a cloth flag outside, but we have a flag in the window, I'm to afraid that if we put out a flag it would disappear. There was a story on the new about a stolen flag, it was sad and made me angry. This was the flag that was draped over his fathers casket after he was killed in Vietnam. I haven't see anything about it being returned, I really want to go back to Montana!

I have started something that would make my Mother and Grandmother very proud, cross -stitch. I saw a pattern at Michaels and thought I had the time, why not. It's not as hard as I thought it would be. Eric and I went back on Saturday so I could get more patterns to stitch. I admit my back doesn't look very nice (when you cross-stitch the back of the cloth/canvas should look as nice as the front). but I'm still learning. After a few stitches it was like I had been cross-stitching for years, I think I'm getting help from above. This should be a good recovery activity, keep my brain working and myself active.

Saturday was painful. My neck and back hurt all afternoon, I took naproxen, but it was no good. I hate being in pain, but I try not to complain about it, I'll be in more pain after the surgery. I'm starting to get impatient about the surgery. I'm excited to have my family coming out, but I know I won't be much of a hostess while they are here. I think they will understand if I'm not a proper hostess.

I have set a goal for after surgery: I want to be able to go to Montana for Christmas. This time I will be the one having Christmas in two different places. I remember my sisters having t juggle two house, tow meals and two families at Christmas time; I told myself I would never do that, ever! I guess I'll just have to go with the flow this Christmas. It will be tough because I know Eric will want to be with his family and I will want to be with mine; but we can manage.

From my Chiari support group e-mails I have seen so many that are about not complaining about Chiari with the state of our nation and I have received many patriotic web sites and poems. This is one of the web sites and it is great. It was posted by a lady Marine. It will be one site I show to my Dad next month, he's a retired Marine. The site is called ‘A Nation Mourns.’ Click and see it is exceptional and so patriotic.

Hope all are well, Eric and I are doing ok. This has been a slow and fast week all wrapped into one. The first part of the week was relaxing, Eric was on leave and we mostly stayed home. The last half of the week was hectic and very busy, Eric getting ready for the field.

Yes, I said Eric is going to the field. He leaves on October 1^st. We talked with his commander and first sergeant and they need him in the field. We do have a plan, thought up by Eric’s commander, to help me out with things. One of the sergeants that is staying back from the filed is going to check in on me twice a day, call several times a day and will take me where ever I need to go. I’m hoping that it works out. This might be a good thing; Eric and I have not been apart for a while. Before Chiari, I like when Eric went to the field; it was nice to break up the routine. I just hope this is the last field problem until he goes to Louisiana in late November. I should be able to do more then and wouldn’t need the supervision.

Friday evening was a strange night. I got very cold, shivering, bad headache and later had aches. Eric put two blankets on me and turned on the heat. I’m usually sweating all the time. I was cold for about half an hour, slept then after a while I was burning up. I felt like I had the flu, but I didn’t feel sick. I had a little nausea, but that was it, nothing else flu like. After about 2 hours I was fine, no aches, no chills, no nausea, and just a mild headache. It was so strange I e-mailed the Yahoo group and got several e-mails from others that have had the same thing happen. Some had it go away after surgery and some didn’t, I hope I’m on the did side of that symptom. I am not found of the sweating most of the day and Friday evening was torture. The aches afterwards were painful, I felt like my head was going to explode and it was hard to walk. I’m not a fan of pain, but who is a fan of pain?!

Saturday Eric and I did all of our grocery shopping for the next two weeks and then some, field ‘poggie bait.’ I finished all of the cross-stitches I bought last weekend so we went to the craft store down the street and I bought a large pattern to do. It’s the Tomas Kinkade painting ‘Beside Still Waters’ and will be 14” X 11” when I’m done. It’s going to be a long while before I’m done with it, but I’ll have plenty of time to get it done before and after surgery. I’m hoping that it will help me get my brain to start remembering if it’s coming or going. I need the memory and hand-eye coordination that cross-stitch needs. I like it too, that’s always a plus. I bought a smaller one to use as a relaxing one, but you only stitch the wording at the bottom.

Well right now it's 12:45 Sunday afternoon and I have been up for 24 hours. I could not sleep last night so I worked on my new cross-stitch. I didn't have a bad headache, in fact I was feeling really good, just not tired. I do know that I will now have to fight to stay awake, so I won't get my clock all messed up. There is plenty to do before tomorrow, laundry, cleaning and some last minute shopping. Eric has to pack too and be up early tomorrow for a 6 AM formation.

I almost forgot that today was Sunday. This week went by really fast. With Eric in the field I've been doing little things here and there and a lot of stitching. I almost have an 8th of the Kinkade pattern and over half of one of the kitty patterns. I have been working on cleaning the house and getting everything ready for the surgery. I may be packed by the 12th when Eric gets out of the field.

I've been feeling very good this week; I think it's the relaxing and not worrying about he surgery. I've tried to keep my thoughts about the surgery to just about none. I know what the surgery is and I've read everything I can get my hands/mouse on about the surgery and how others have progresses during the recovery. I thank the yahoo group for all the posts about their experiences.

I have a social security appointment on Tuesday to do a memory test. Eric will be out of the field to take me to the appointment. I'm not sure if he'll be home the night of the 8th or early the morning of the 9th. My appointment is at 9:30 am.

I was up early this morning so I could watch the NASCAR race and was shocked when they broke away from the starting ceremonies for the news about the bombings id Afghanistan. I have been clicking back and forth between TNT, where the race was being shown from, and NBC. I've been watching the race more because I think there will be more bombings of Afghanistan in the days to come so why watch it all day. I watched the news all day for days after the terrorist attacks and was stressed out and drained afterwards.

I'm sure most of you have read the words for thought section of my web page, if not read it. Anni e-mailed me this week and was scheduled to have her surgery on the 17th, the day before mine, and we were planning on recovering together. Well, he insurance company, Cigna, denied her the surgery. Her case was reviewed by a GP, general practitioner, and he didn't even view the MRI or the X-rays. He even dismissed the diagnosis and recommendation of Dr. Rosner, her neurologist. Dr. Rosner is a well-known doctor in the chiari 'world,' and is one of the best surgeons. This GP said that there was no clinical evidence for the surgery. If any of you have Cigna please write them a letter and complain. Anni is filing her 3rd appeal on Monday and is sure that it will get denied too. Please pray that the appeal falls on open ears and eyes of someone that will take all of the evidence and rule in favor of the surgery. If you know of a way to possibly help Anni please e-mail me and I will tell Anni. Anni is a wonderful person and her e-mail sounded so depressed. She has even gone to the hospital to see another chiari patient during their surgery. This was someone that Anni only knew over the internet. I think that she is a wonderful, intelligent and caring person.