TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Since I will be in the hospital on Monday and Chewlee is having a sleepover here on Saturday (I'll explain later), I decided to get my wash done.  The Beast has been trying to keep up with his except I do the folding of tshirts and underwear.  I also match his socks for him.  Hey, he does his hanging shirts and his pants so I'm more than happy to do the folding and mating. 

Unfortunately, as I was walking to the washer with the clothes basket, I got a really sharp pain in my right leg that was almost more than I could stand.  I found it difficult to walk even with my cane.  The pain persisted and I finally called the doctor at the urging of Bratfink.  I let his nurse know about it just in case the doctor wanted to order a special test of the area because it might be caused by the artery he is going to do the surgery on this Monday.  I took a Lortab for the pain and laid down with my feet up until it started working.  Once it did, if I felt the area with my hand, I could feel how the pain was just being delayed and will hit me again in a few hours.

Tomorrow I have to report for my preop testing at 3pm.  I told the Beast he would have to drop me off if he didn't want me to drive myself and come back to wait for Chewlee to get here.  The Princess didn't have work OR school today and she had emailed the teacher to tell the driver to drop Chewlee off at home.  It didn't get to the driver because the bus drove right past their house.  So the Princess jumped in her car and came here figuring Chewlee would be dropped off here.  She was right.  I was sitting outside waiting and the Princess joined me.  She jumped up and went to greet Chewlee as she got off the bus and talked to the driver about emailing the teacher.  She made a joke that she got here before the bus did and he made some comment that I didn't hear.  I know she didn't blame the driver.  Chewlee was safe and sound.  But she wasn't a happy camper except about getting TWO smiley faces for the week so far.

Her teacher put a smiley face on Monday and then wrote *sick baby* on the side.  Chewlee was absent for Tuesday and Wednesday but she got a smiley face today, too.  The school Fall Festival was today with a lot of cool things going on for the kids like face painting, extensions, bounce house, a Halloween House to scare the kiddies, plus food and beverages.  There were a few other things mentioned but it did sound like it would be fun for her.

The Princess, however, told Chewlee they couldn't go because she had too much homework she had to do for school and she works for the next three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).  Chewlee said it was okay because she could go by herself then.  When the Princess asked her how she would get there, she said in a low voice *Papa can drive me*.  I'm not sure she heard that but then Chewlee got upset and said she wanted to stay here and not go home.  I told her she had to go home but....tomorrow I had some new games she could play on the computer.  Pogo released a new object search puzzle for the Clue game that I made sure I got for her to play.  I also found different slot games on Facebook that I think she will enjoy.  We shall see.

She wanted to spend the night here, too, but I told her she could have a sleepover here on Saturday.  I told her she could bring some pajamas to wear with her on Saturday night after her bath and I would sleep with her, too.  She likes that I *play* sleepover with her.  She will bring her nightlight animal with her (which is really cute in a dark room).  It shuts itself off after 20 minutes but she is asleep long before that.  It comforts her to have it and it doesn't bother me.  Hell, I sleep with the TV on.  A habit I formed long ago.  If it goes off, I wake up immediately.  It's really weird.  I even do that in the hospital since I have a TV.  Of course, it's with a cable company that sucks but beggers can't be choosers. 

We will play picnic, complete with food that I will have the Beast pick up just for us.  She will want a sandwich and fruit which we have already.  I'll core and cut the apples and we have caramel dipping sauce as a treat.  We also have both oranges and bananas (she loves all of  the fruit).  I may even have the Beast pick up some strawberries for us as a treat for her.  I have to get some apple juice in the house for her so she has something besides milk or chocolate milk to choose to drink.  She's a big milk drinker and she got me started on that again.  It was so cute because she told me I needed to drink more milk to make my bones strong so I didn't lose any more toes. 

My next couple of days will be active ones, obviously.  Chewlee will be playing the new Clue episode with me.  She's really good at finding the hidden objects.  Makes me crazy how she does it but she's good!  She will like the new slots games.  They are animated and that she will find entertaining.

Love you all.  Have a great Friday and an even better weekend. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I tried going to sleep after having some jello for my tender stomach.  The funny thing is, when I re-read my discharge instructions, one of the things they say on my instructions is that my stomach might be upset by the procedure and I need to re-introduce food slowly.  They recommend soup, crackers, jello and other soft type foods that are easy to digest.  I am still hungry after having the jello so I am thinking about some chicken broth and either toast or crackers.

The Beast had been told about my having to have easy to digest food for a while so what does he bring me for lunch?  Some shredded beef he marinaded on a hoagie roll.  I almost barfed right then and there.  He was trying to be kind but it was a bit thoughtless.  My stomach just rolled at the thought of trying to eat something like that at the time.  Even oatmeal would have been better.  I hurt too much to do much for myself.  My instructions said I should call the doctor but I was only running a one degree temperature.  I could have taken a pain pill but I try not to take one if I can stand it.

Instead I am up doing what is a daily challenge or two, actually.  Since they are ones that I like to do, I'll do Bratfink's for her.  When the games are ones she likes or is good at, she does mine.  It works for us.  But I know I should be getting some rest.  I guess I will try to get some now and see how that goes.

Love you all.  Hope your week has gone well.  Chin up, it's Thursday and the weekend is close now. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

Looks like next Monday is another one shot for me.  That will be my surgery on the clogged artery in my hip area.  I hesitate to call it my groin because it's not but it's also not really my hip either.  It's just kind of in-between both those places.  Up from the groin, interior of the hip.  Got it?  The doctor didn't want to wait long to get that done because it's apparently been that way for a while and is keeping my foot from feeling better than it does right now.  I'm all for that!  But, like he said, since we messed around in that area, he doesn't want anything to come loose on me.  Not after I've been through all this!

Chewlee and I were both sick today, together.  Actually, other than her coughing, I'm pretty sure she felt better than I did until kind of late today.  She got the poops....the runny kind and got mad at me because she was running for the bathroom when I made her stop and then she stood in front of me in tears saying, *Grandma!  You made me poop my pants because you made me stop!*  I ushered her into the bathroom and was happy that it hadn't been all that bad.  I got her half undressed and on the pot in the blink of an eye (it does pay at times to be an experienced mother).  I whipped off some toilet paper and put it in her hand while I got her underwear off her and rinsed it off.  Thank goodness she was wearing one of those cute skirts with shorts built-in although she came strolling in bare-ass after she had finished and done all the wiping.  I made her get the skirt and told her that, since it had shorts under it, she could wear them without panties and no one could tell.  After we put them on her, she sat down, looked under the skirt and said, *Oh!  Okay.*  She just HAD to check.

I've had a stomach ache for two days and it finally became apparent why.  I had an IBS attack (irritable bowel syndrome) today.  So Chewlee and I were suffering the same way except hers are smaller (bowels, I mean).  I think this one medication that Chewlee was taking was responsible for her loose bowels.  It always affected my kids that way even years ago.   But I was totally out of my IBS medication so I had to send the Beast out to get some for me AND I also wanted something like a Prilosec or a Tagamet because I've been feeling like I'm getting an ulcer or some such thing.  It could be just the windup of the IBS but why take chances?  I wanted to cover all my bases.  The Beast went and got me what I needed almost.  I also asked him to get me square cloth bandaids.  So what does he bring me?  A box of 2x2 gauze pads.  I kid you not.  Then he says, *Well, what's the difference?*  I was stunned.  I said, *A bandaid does NOT need tape to hold it in place.  It includes it.*  He walked out of the room with a shrug like I was being unreasonable.

The Beast had a Prilosec in his ditty bag that he uses when he goes away so I got one right away, took it and laid down for a bit until my stomach ache eased up.  Bratfink's butt cheek had deflated so she had gone to lay down and let it re-flate.    I was at last able to sit up and not be in pain so I figured I would just wait for her.  Sheldon promised her pizza when he got home so she has visions of another Philly Cheese Steak pizza for her late meal.  I hope he doesn't disappoint her.

Chewlee did something cute today that I have to tell you about.  We were watching Little Bear on NickJr.  His best friend, a turtle and two other of their friends (a rabbit and a beaver) are trying to play a game but Little Bear keeps falling asleep.  It seems his parents are painting his little sister's room and he's sharing his room with her.  But she is a restless sleeper AND sings in her sleep, too....loudly!  End result is that he's not getting any sleep at night. 

Chewlee was half asleep on my recliner with her head on one of the arms and she was clutching her (spare) blankey that she keeps here.  She suddenly gets up half-asleep and comes over to me and says, *Grandma, I have to share my room with my two sisters and one of them talks in her sleep and the other one sings.  I am SOOOO tired because I can't sleep now.*  I realized she was half asleep so I said to her, *Why don't you go take a nap on my nap bed then?*  It was then that she shook herself totally awake and aware and said, *No, no...I don't need a nap.*  If I hadn't said that, I might have gotten her to lay down and take a real nap but NOOOOOOO...I said the *n* word. 

I think she will sleep well tonight though, as long as she doesn't continue to have diarrhea.  That upsets her no end.  If she poops in her bed, she will be totally traumatized.  But we took her temperature twice today that I know about and she had no fever.  If all goes well, she might actually make it to school tomorrow.  If not, she will be here with me suffering through our coughing.  At least SHE doesn't have a runny nose like I do.

So mark October 8th (next Monday) on your calendar as my day for surgery.  I will be in at least two days, possibly three if all does not go well.  I just may bring my laptop with me or else get hold of Bratfink and have her post for me to let you know if all goes well. 

Love you all.  Keep me in your prayers if you think of it.  I'm really getting tired of all this surgery. 

TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

I had a great time not being knocked out for this surgery.  I even got to see some of the pictures that were being taken inside me.  The doctor showed me weak spots he found and he put stents in to strengthen the spots.  He also found the source of the problem and it couldn't be taken care of with a stent.  It would have just caused a huge clot to be freed (or it might have broken up into smaller ones).  The area is about 85% blocked so it needs to be taken care of fairly soon.  It probably will be within two weeks, maybe less.  The type of surgery will be like what I had on my left side back in February.  Or you could compare it to the surgery on my carotid.  At least it won't be a large incision and I should only be in the hospital 2-3 days.  Three days only if there's a problem the doctor said.

I got a strange new thing to close up the incision that was made for the camera wire.  They called it a plug.  When the nurse first put it in place, she had to hold pressure on it for 15 minutes and then it was bandaged so that if it started bleeding, it would be easily seen.  I was told where to hold it if I had to cough for any reason.  Since I did cough, the nurse immediately looked and laughed to find I had my hand on it and was keeping pressure on it.  I told her, *I know how to listen to instructions.  I don't want to start bleeding and not be able to go home tomorrow.*  The interesting thing is that after the bandage was removed today, I looked and all I could see was a pink area of skin.  I felt it and that's just how it felt.  Very strange.

The doctor asked me how much I remembered about everything and I told him just that....everything.  He was the one administering the *joy juice* and I told him he was too much of a piker and it never knocked me out.  He said I was so funny with the jokes I was cracking that he had to stop a couple times until he stopped laughing.  I knew the girls were laughing because they didn't try to cover it up.  He told the Beast I was just too funny for words.  I told the doctor that he had better put me under for any future surgery if he was having a hard time keeping from shaking with laughter.  He said he had learned his lesson.

When I woke up this morning (Room Service woke me up), I ordered some breakfast since it takes them 45 minutes before you get it.  I figured I would have woken up enough to actually eat something.  Not true.  I felt like hell when I went to the bathroom.  That kind of scared me because all I could think of was....Oh shit!  Don't tell me I am sick!  That would have been enough for them to keep me to make sure I hadn't picked up an infection.  So I put on a happy face when the nurse brought in my morning meds and stood there until I took them.  After she left, I laid down because I was breaking out in a cold sweat.  I think I fell asleep for a bit but when I woke up, I got my clothes out of the closet and got dressed.  Then I called the Beast and told him to hurry to pick me up because I might end up having to stay again.  He didn't ask why; he just said he would be on his way in 5 minutes.

When he got there, I told him I had tried (and partially succeeded) throwing up but didn't have anything in my stomach.  I had the aide take the tray of breakfast out because the smell was making me nauseous.  I didn't tell her that; I said I just wasn't really hungry that early.  I got the nurse in to remove the stuff that needed removing and she brought in the discharge instructions.  The aide got the wheelchair and I actually managed to get down to the car as the Beast pulled up and get in without throwing up.  I laid my head back, then the seat and just relaxed until we got home.  I made it into the house and got to my room where I sat in my recliner and actually fell asleep for two hours.

I forgot to mention that I really hadn't slept well at the hospital.  The mattress felt like it had a concrete core.  I tried a lot of different positions but there was just no getting comfy.  That made for two nights that I didn't get much sleep.  I think, from the way I feel now after another 3 hour nap, that THAT was the real problem making me feel sick.  I'll nap again probably around midnight and then, after my 2:30am pee break, I'll be able to sleep until morning. 

Chewlee is sick with the flu.  She got sent home from school on Monday and the Princess stayed home from school with her today to take care of her.  Poor baby was just miserable, I'm sure.  That's what melts the Princess's heart enough to make her stay home from one of her important math classes.  It's the ONLY thing (other than the Princess being sick herself) that would cause that.  When I was trying to reach the Princess and not getting a reply, it turned out that she and Chewlee were taking a nap together.  Chewlee didn't wake up and the Princess, I'm sure, went back to sleep, too.  I hope my poor baby feels a bit better tomorrow although she will come here because she has to go 24 hours without running a fever before she can return to school.

Love you all.  Have a great Hump Day and thanks for any prayers you might have sent up for me.