Category: Family

First Day Back at Work

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I went in for my first day of work yesterday. I showered the night before, so all I would have to do was fix my hair and face, eat breakfast and get my clothes pressed. Turns out, that may have been too much! LOL At least I’m not used to doing those things in a hurry anymore, so I was tired before I ever sat down in the car. Dave drove me to work.

Two other people have been using my office since I was last there on Oct. 4th, so I spend most of the day taking back my office, computer and my files. I had a lot of filing to do.

Just as it was when I arrive home from the hospital, it was a bit of a time warp in my office. File folders waiting for jobs to be completed and filed the week of Oct. 5th, were still sitting there on my desk. The catalog pages I had completed and had proofed, were sitting on my desk. My clock had stopped. My calendar on the wall was still on October. Just very strange. I had to become reacquainted with my office and my “stuff”.

I brought along some healthy snacks to munch on and made myself get up from my computer and walk down to the lunchroom to get them, as well as drank a lot of water. I was hoping to work until 4:00, which a lot of people thought highly ambitious my first day back. Turns out, they may have been right. Around noon time, I was pretty sure I shouldn’t push it until 4:00. I listened to my body today. I knew I probably COULD stay there until 4:00, but knew I SHOULDN’T.

So, after I ate and closed my eyes again for 10 minutes, for the 2nd time that day, I let Dave know I would need to come home. God bless him, he left immediately and drove the 30 miles up to pick me up. I was horribly tired and had a pretty nasty headache for about four hours in the evening.

Today, my head feels better, but I’m really, really dragging. I’ll try the work thing again tomorrow and see if it
continues to get better.

It was great to see everyone again. I really missed them and their humor. I laughed a lot, which I needed. I missed
the social interaction and feeling a part of something. It was small taste of getting my independence back again.

I am, by no means, ready for a 40 hours work week. But it’s a small step forward.

The Ultimate

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The day I was wheeled into the operating room for my coiling, my boyfriend Dave, quit smoking.

To my knowledge (and I’d know if he were at this point!) he hasn’t had a cigarette in almost three months. I’m so very proud of him and am so thankful he did that. He needed to. He has low-grade emphysema and it’s also not good for people with aneurysms. I seem to recall the ER Doctor saying something to Dave about it as I was leaving the ER to get
into the ambulance for transport.

Although it was a horrible situation that caused him to quit, I’m glad things turned out this way. It’s so nice NOT
to smell that first thing in the morning and to smell it on his clothes, car and breathe. I hope it continues.

Christmas 2006

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I got through the Christmas season and holiday. Although not able to do as much as I would have liked, I enjoyed every
bit of the stress and hub-bub that goes with it.

One holiday party, lots of food and unwrapping gifts all overwhelmed me at times. I had headaches throughout the
weekend and was very tired by the end of each day, but for the most part, I did good.

Dave and I spent our first Christmas eve together alone since I moved to Maine six years ago and it was very special, then we were able to open our gifts first thing Christmas morning with our kitties. Very nice.

I’m just extremely lucky to be here this Christmas and reminded myself of that on a daily basis. God has blessed me and I should honor that be being good to myself and to others around me.

Here’s to a healthy and Happy New Year!

Just Happy to Be Here

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I survived another birthday on Friday. My 40ish-something birthday. I also survived my first “party” since my ruptured annie. Dave drove me in for the JSS holiday party, but not without letting me open a few gifts and cards at home. My family and friends back in NY & Canada had all sent me packages which I opened gladly. Frankly, I’m just happy to BE here for this birthday. And I was thrilled to be able to go to the party. They always do such fun activities during the Christmas season, and I missed being a part of that this year.

Apparently folks were warned to not “overwhelm” me at the luncheon which was good. Just going up the stairs, getting my food and sitting in a new, holiday setting, was different
and the festivities during the lunch were very enjoyable and funny that my head hurt from laughing at the end and I was quite tired, but overall, it went very well. I received a couple of very nice gifts from my coworkers as well as my boss and unwrapping and all the excitement got to me.

I was tired and had a headache when I got home, but a nap and a Vicadin later, I felt much better and Dave even went
in and picked up an order at The Olive Garden for my birthday dinner. Overall, it was a busy day, but a good day. I did a lot of things and wasn’t in too much pain at the end of the day. All the good meals helped!

Saturday, however, I was pretty wiped out and didn’t do much. No matter where I sat, I fell asleep. I didn’t feel bad, just VERY tired.