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Friday, May 24, 2013

Oh...What a Week

Oh my, what a week. I've had no time to visit here, and barely any time to write. I know I hadn't been commenting very much, but I was still reading. I miss everyone. I still have comments to answer, but am so totally exhausted that I can't focus so well right now. So take that as your warning that this post may go nowhere.

I spent the first 4 days of the week in intensive training for the new job. It was extremely physically grueling. Not to mention the fact that I had to dress appropriately, which means I actually had to wear underwear and shoes everyday, ugh. I spent two hours on my knees, getting CPR certified. I have bad knees and don't kneel well, especially on a concrete floor, my knees still bear the bruises. Right after that, we took a two hour walking tour of the facility, it's extremely large. Unfortunately, we were behind schedule and shoved 2 hours into under an hour and a half. My knees were so swollen and burned beyond belief for the next 2 days.

I am working with intellectually disabled senior citizens in a day program. Imagine if you will, an adult daycare. The first day that I was actually onsite they introduced me to the patients in a group setting, they applauded. I've never been applauded just for showing up before. It was kinda sweet.

Today was my second day on the actual job site. My boss informed me that she has never done this before, but because I "have so much experience", she felt comfortable I could handle it.  She gave me patients of my own to care for. Let me just say, yes, despite the fact that I had no idea where anything as far as supplies or necessities were, I could handle it. It quickly became obvious that the staff had discussed me before I got there because everyone referred to how much "experience" I have.

I received hugs, kisses, pats on the head and pokes in the arm from my patients today. They like to introduce themselves and shake my hand, repeatedly. One patient even attempted to tickle me. I played games with them, watched a movie with them, said prayers with them, and helped them exercise. Yep, I think I've found my niche. That is the good, if challenging part of my week.

The bad part of my week, my brother has been hospitalized again. The chemo did not work, his cancer has spread. He has undergone 2 emergency surgical procedures in less than 24 hours. He has received multiple blood transfusions but is bleeding out faster than they can get it back into him. At one point the doctors told his wife that if these surgical procedures did not work it would only be a matter of weeks.

All his major internal organs are now compromised by the cancer. His heart is starting to fail and they can't get a good balance between the internal bleeding and the blood clots. He currently has 4 clots, that's down from 7.  My sister in law and the boys are devastated, no big surprise that. It's just so hard to be so far away and have her telling me she is so stressed and in shock that she is physically ill, but hiding that from my brother.

She is an extremely strong woman and is doing everything humanly possible to be strong for her family. It breaks my heart because I know she isn't telling anyone else about her moments of weakness. She tells me how she wishes I was there with her, I wish I could be, so badly, but it just isn't possible right now. That fact, while I understand it, pisses me off.

Musicman had his appointment with the new specialist this week. I was not impressed with his office staff even one iota. They were so unprofessional and in my opinion uninformed, that by the time we got to see the doctor I was spitting tacks and ready to kick ass and take names later. Musicman told me I couldn't do that though, so I let them live.

I did agree, after extensive questioning, with the doctor's proposed plan of treatment. Unfortunately we are now in a fight with the insurance company to get it paid for. Apparently they haven't heard what a bitch I can be when it comes to getting him the treatment he needs. Time for them to meet the pitbull.

My house is a huge mess, which bothers me terribly. There have been issues with both kids, because of course, a week without  making Mom tense is just no fun for them. My old dog is getting worse by the minute and I have resorted to feeding him peanut butter and ibuprofen sandwiches just to keep him comfortable. Tornadoes are ravaging the area of the country that my extended family lives in, which makes watching the news hazardous at best for my sanity. Musicman has received numerous calls from his extended family asking him for help with major needed repairs.

Yeah, it's been one of those weeks. The kind of week, when I tell Musicman, give me half an hour I can have us packed and we can run away. He said no. Darn man.


26 comments:

  1. It sounds like so many things are hitting at once - it could be overwhelming. i'm glad there are some positives sprinkled in there. Holding you and your family in my thoughts... sending healing energy for them and peace of spirit for you.

    hugs,

    sophia

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    1. Too many things are hitting at once, but sometimes life is like that. Thank goodness I don't have to face any of it alone. I appreciate the energy and the support sophia :)

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  2. good grief, there must be some VERY GOOD Times coming!

    (((hugs)))

    thoughts/prayers/re your brother and his family xx

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    1. Oh mamacrow, I certainly hope so. Thank you for the prayers, I really appreciate it :)

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  3. Seems like my family has been going from emergencies to emergencies lately....prayers for your brother, and strength for all of you.
    hugs abby

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    1. I'm sorry to hear your family is experiencing emergencies too, they always seem to come by the bucketful, don't they? I will remember them in my prayers :)

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  4. I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. Everything has happened so fast for him and I know how hard that has to be on his immediate family and all of you. You are all still in my prayers.

    I hope you will love the new job. It sounds like something great for you and for your patients. I hope you let the insurance people live - and make them do what you want. I hope you and your family will all stay safe in this storm season.

    Hugs,
    PK

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    1. Thannks PK, some days I really just want to rage at God about the unfairness of it all, but that is just a waste of energy, so I pray instead. Thank you for the prayers, I believe they help :)

      So far the job is going very well, despite the fact that the orientation was so intense. I am very excited about it :) I promise to let the insurance people live, as long as they give me what I want and Musicman needs. If they don't, all bets are off, lol.

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  5. Oh Faerie, I am so sorry to hear about your brother. I know how hard it is and harder still because you can't be there. I pray for you daily.

    Glad the new doctor has a plan for MM and you just keep on the insurance people. They never want to pay for anything.


    Glad the job seems to be just what you need and hope life gets better soon.

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    1. sunny girl, I have been thinking of you quite a bit this week, I know you are in the vicinity of the stroms too and have been praying for you and your family to be safe.

      Ya know what they say about a pitbull's bite, once they get you they don't let go. I won't give up fighting until he gets what he needs. I will probably pester and argue with them so much that they will pay for the meds he needs just to get rid of me ;)

      I'm very happy with the job so far, and really do think that will continue to be the case.

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  6. I'm so excited for you and your new job. Yippee for up!!!

    I'm so sorry about your brother. It is so hard to be so far away. You're in my thoughts.

    Glad the doc for MM is better than the staff. Hope things will continue to look up for him. Yes, unleash the Pitbull on the insurance company. Clearly they do not know who they just denied.

    Hugs to you and your family. Best wishes for your brother and his family.

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    1. LOL Sarah, clearly the insurance does not know who they are dealing with, oh well they are about to find out :)

      The job has been great so far and I think given a little more time to adjust and learn the specifics it will get even better.

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  7. Sometimes life becomes crazy...

    The worst thing is to live so far from those who have a hard time and not being able to help. Fingers crossed for your brother that he can handle this crisis. I pray for his family.

    Your job seems very exciting. Good luck with that.

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    1. Thank you Mona Lisa(love the name), I keep trying to convince Musicman to let us run away when life gets crazy, but he just won't do it, lol.

      I wish I could bring my brother here, so I could be close enough to help some more, but he is getting excellent treatment where he is. His wife is a very strong woman, so I know she will tell me when and if she needs me to come.

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  8. I wish you well with your new job.

    My thoughts are with you and your brother and his family.

    Hug,
    joey

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    1. Thank you joey, the new job is going well and I think that I am going to find it very fulfilling and fun.

      Thanks for the support for my brother, I really appreciate it :)

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  9. Stopping right now to pray for your brother, his family, you and your family. Love, Belle L.

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    1. Thank you Belle L, I know it isn't a pleasant thing to read about, but he needs all the prayers he can get to keep fighting.

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  10. Sending up prayers for you and your family.

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    1. Thank you Mrs. D, my family and I very much appreciate them :)

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  11. I'm so sorry baby. I applaud your strength to keep writing. I couldn't read or write for so long. But I need the support of my community, which you have. I know you know this because all faeries do, but I'll tell you. Everyone you meet in a positive way in your life, you spin a silver thread. Some fine as spider filament, some thick as transatlantic cables. They never break. When you get to heaven the light you see are those silver threads.

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    1. Emen, it's so nice to hear from you :) Don't applaud too much, I haven't been reading or writing nearly as much lately. It's just been too hard to do, despite the fact that the support of the community is needed.

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  12. I will pray for you and your family. Hang in there

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    1. Thank you Blondie, the prayers are very much appreciated :)

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  13. I'm thinking of you and your brother and your family of course, too. (((((((((hugs))))))))) I hope it all works out okay. You must be exhausted between that and the new job. But, it's great to hear they appreciate you there :)

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  14. Thanks Riley, life has been a bit exhausting lately, but change can often be exhausting :) Things are getting better, slowly, but that's okay too.

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