"This schedule has been de conflicted with all observed holidays in accordance with the USARC guidance."
Only the Army can take a simple declarative sentence and make it sound like a military manuver.
My semi-permanent eye make-up
Jul. 14th, 2007 12:46 pmThese are the most visual marks from my mugging experience. I took these the next day. The flash makes the bruise look much lighter than it actually was. Now, four days later it's less swollen and the colors are fading from dark purple to lighter variations of purples, greens, and yellows.
I didn't carry a purse the last two days at work. I know I have to change this because 1. I want to carry a purse and 2. I need to carry my test kit and insulin. I know at least once and probably twice, I needed it at work. Instead, I suffered with high numbers. I am angry at myself for letting him do this to me. I didn't even want to carry a plastic bag - nothing that someone could grab. I started this entry thinking I'd show the photos and say I'm fine, everything's fine, everything is back to normal, then I started this paragraph and realized that it's not. At least twice I've highlighted this with the intent to delete. Even now I think - maybe I'll set this post to "private". It will not make it any less true, if I say this only to myself. Though only a handful of people will read this, I still worry about putting this out in the world. This idea that I'm feeling that goddamn vulnerable from a really minor event. Further below the surface, I wonder if I'm this disturbed by this event, how would I handle a really violent attack. To what level would I change my life to feel safe. After all, there is no permanent physical damage, in fact, because this sent me back to Dr. J for some adjustments, I'm feeling better than before the mugging - how's that for a silver lining.
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I've had better days
Jul. 11th, 2007 04:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stonebenderand dbubley. By the time I came out, the officers were already looking for me. The most serious damage is just above my eye on the lid. It's cut and swollen. It was bleeding quite a bit for about 10 minutes. I'm sore on my neck, shoulder and arm on the right side. This was the side I was carrying the purse on. I have a few other scraps on my hands. I don't think I hit the ground with my face, I think I hit his bike frame. This happened at 8:25 am. When my boss found out around 10 am, she told me to go home, but by that time
stonebender had already left the house to come and see me. One of the co-workers got the first aid kit and put stuff on my eye. She was very sweet. As the word spread, more people called or stopped by to see how I was. I finally left about 1:30 pm. I'm going to take a hot shower, put some ice on my neck and go to sleep for a while. I have an appointment with my body worker tomorrow at 4:45 pm. I know I'm lucky I didn't get hurt any worst and that I still have my purse. I only lost a little blood, skin and dignity. Overall, I guess I'm also lucky to have lived to 50 years old, and most of those years in a city, and I've never had anything like this happen. Counting my blessings where I find them.
(no subject)
Jun. 24th, 2007 10:35 amGilly went in for another post-op appointment last Monday. All looks good on her healing, the doctor is very pleased, but (and you know a "but "always means more $$) her jaw will not stay aligned. She's our little snaggletooth baby girl, with one canine sticking out the side of her mouth. It can look a little menacing, unless her tongue has also popped out on the same side, then she just looks goofy. Oh, scratch the menacing - she always looks a little goofy. And the same canine is turning purple from the lack of blood supply. The vet recommends a root canal or she runs the risk of abscesses forming there. And, since her jaw won't stay in place, we need all four of her canines filed down so she will not continue to create little sores where the canines hit flesh. And, they have to remove the little metal buttons she put in for the rubber band device that didn't work. And while they're in there, they'll clean her teeth. All for the low, low cost of $1000 plus another vacation day off work.
Gilly just came in to get a drink of water (oh, is she a sloppy drinker now), but first she comes and stares at me for a minute with her best goofy look. I think I heard her jump up on the bed, which means she thinks it's time for
stonebender to get a sloppy, wet kiss and wake up. doggy root canal - $1000
cancer removal - $6000
doggy love complete with kisses - priceless
Dbubley and Gilly Update
Jun. 13th, 2007 12:52 amdbubley is much better. She went in on Saturday night and on Monday afternoon they transferred her to the rehab facility (KPPACC for the local folks.) They expect her to be in until next Wednesday. They put a pic line in, so she doesn't have to deal with regular IV lines. Last time she was in the hospital, several of her IV sites closed down, so they had to keep sticking her for new ones. It was painful, but once they put in the pic line she was much more comfortable. And since they can draw blood out of it, as well as deliver the antibiotic, it just made everything so much easy. Her white cell count is almost normal, but because of her previous history, they really want to make sure it's gone before they stop the drug.She's feeling fine and she is happy to be at KPPACC. She said they have much better food and she likes the staff. In fact, when she was checking in, one of aides who took care of her last year came over to say "hi". Her name is Anna, but because of some in-joke between them,
![[info]](https://stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
dbubley calls her "Anna Banana".dbubley asked for a note book and some pens, she's using this time to start writing again. Maybe this is the proverbial silver lining?Gilly is also doing very well. The only weirdness is how crooked her mouth is. We put a muzzle on her as often as we can, but even with that, it goes right out of alignment when we take it off. I don't want it on her when no on can take if off, in case she gets sick and, of course, she has to take it off to eat and drink. That mostly leaves evening and nights. Sometimes in the middle of the night, when she's sleeping between us, I'll pet her and feel her jaw is out (even with the muzzle on she can work her jaw off kilt after a while), so I pull it off. It doesn't help to have it on and reinforce the wrong position. We still have her on soft food, but I've been adding in a little of her dry food and she seems to handle it okay. I hope we can get her back on dry food eventually - I think it's better for her, it's cheaper and it doesn't STINK! Her next post-op appointment is next Tuesday.
I'm crazy busy at work. I had an all day training today (Tues.) and tomorrow I only work a 1/2 day and then my boss and I will go to Costco to shop for our department's annual full staff meeting. It will be all day on Thursday and we're in charge of, well, we're in charge of most everything. Continental breakfast, snacks, lunch and general organizing of the agenda. This will be my first staff meeting in my new job. I suggested a local Italian deli for the catering (Genova's) and did the ordering, so I'm feeling a little pressure. I hope I ordered enough (75 people) and that they like it. I'm prepping all the sandwich fixings the night before. I've shifted into my hostess mode complete with my organizational spreadsheet. Better get to bed, I've a long couple of days ahead of me.
"Enjoying" the Wild Ride That Is Life
Jun. 10th, 2007 11:43 amLast night we went to the ER at 8 pm, I finally left at 1 am, because we knew she was staying the night. At first, we hoped she would just need a course of IV antibiotic and some pills to go, but the blood test showed her white count was too high. When I left she'd not yet been moved to her room, but we had talked to the hospital doctor and had everything sorted out - the meds she usually takes, extra pain meds ordered for the pain she'll be in because of the hospital bed, her need for a cpap and an assurance she could keep her wheelchair in the room. In fact, they gave her a private room because it's a little larger. The good part (if there is such a thing) is she stayed in her wheelchair the entire time, until she could go to her room. This saved her several hours of back pain; the gurney's are even more painful for her than the hospital bed.
Happy Anniversary
Jun. 10th, 2007 11:11 am[Edit: Okay, so your actual anniversary is tomorrow. The wish still holds for today, tomorrow and on and on]
(no subject)
Jun. 3rd, 2007 03:14 pmstonebender: I'm hungry. I need to eat now or in the very near future.Me: what's the difference between "now" and "very near future?"
stonebender: "now" is now and "very near future" is Now plus 5 minutes.Okay, we're off NOW to get food in the VERY NEAR FUTURE.
Note to Diabetic Self
May. 24th, 2007 04:04 pm
Good Gilly News
May. 24th, 2007 10:42 am
Better Late Than Never
May. 20th, 2007 10:48 am![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
kalm responded to my "ask me" on March 24 with these questions. I meant to answer them right away, I really did, but then life got in the way. Things are calming down. Notice this will be the first post in a long time that's not "All Gilly, All the Time". But there will be Gilly content since the first question is about her.1: what made you fall in love with a dog that looks so much like a hippopotamus? (she does, in that icon! it's the broad flat nose.)
That is Gilly's "I know nothing, NOTHING" look, with the subtext "And if I did know something and I told you, I'd have to kill you. So just be happy that I love you and believe me when I say 'I know nothing'."
We first saw Gilly online - she was at a Dobie Rescue in the Sacramento area. One photo was a cute, but nothing special, picture of her sitting up looking at the camera with her floppy ears erect and head tilted. The second photo was a completely goofy looking shot of her playing with a basketball - her all time favorite toy. When we met her, she was all excitement and energy. The woman running the rescue had health problems and I think she really wanted to get as many of the dogs settled in homes as possible. After giving us the third degree over the phone and filling out a lengthy questionnaire, we expected the meeting would just be a meeting. Next thing I know I was writing a check and they were loading Gilly's crate and some dog food in our van.
We had a rough few months in the beginning. I thought we might have to send her back. I had to keep explaining to her she'd been adopted by 3 old farts. Of course, falling in love with a dog takes me only about 10 minutes, but after that initial NRE is over, I can say loving Gilly is easy. She is always ready to play, she can go from sleeping to bouncing off the walls in .38 seconds - just pull out the laser light. If she hears me crying, she will come to me. Once, I was laying in bed watching tv. Something stuck me as hilarious and I laughed and laughed. Gilly jumped up on the bed and stuck her nose in front of my mouth. Looking up at this big nose attached to an even bigger head hovering over my mouth made me laugh even more. She kept sniffing, as if she could figure out what this noise was all about if she could just get the scent of it.
She can be a clown, a lover, almost as stubborn as
stonebender, and a food hound, but first and foremost, she is our dog.2: how did you meet stonebender?
We met in college (Southern Illinois University) in the Science Fiction club.
3: why do you live in the city you live in?
It's where we could afford a house in the Bay Area. And it's only 1.5 miles from a BART station, so it makes it do-able for
stonebender and dbubley to get there on their own, if need be.4: what is your favorite thing to eat?
Chicken or beef (often left over) in a salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions and my own vinaigrette dressing. Of course, I have many favorite things - chili, my own spaghetti, a good rib eye steak.
5: who is your favorite artist?
Tomye is a friend and I really like her work. I do have one original by her. http://www.energyart.com/tomye/tomye_painting_exhibit_page_1.htm
And just like the food question, I have many artists I like from Judy Chicago to Ansel Adams.
Yet Another Gilly Update
May. 17th, 2007 07:33 pmBaby Girl is miserable. Since the pins came out of the teeth, there's no way to anchor the band to keep her jaw in alignment. I'm sure she'd be miserable anyway, but the jaw moving in and out of alignment has got to be weird, if not painful. I know the noise, when it pops, makes me cringe. I try to put it pack in place, but it's not always easy. I decided to take another few hours off and take her back up to the surgeon so she could replace the pins and band. Dr. Lommer said it would be okay if we wanted to wait until her 10 day post-op appointment next week, but I couldn't stand it. And, hey, we still have a few bucks in the checking account, we'd hate to waste it all on bills or gas or food or stuff, when Baby Girl needs it!
I've explained to her how many hours of entertainment and love she owes us for all this money. TANSTAAFL I've told her over and over again.
dbubley had her most of the day, When Gilly was whining in pain, she would sing to her and it seemed to quiet her. I'd try singing to her, but she'd probably leave the room.Another Gilly Update
May. 16th, 2007 12:56 amShe is still bleeding a little. And her white cell count is down 10%. This might be caused by the diluting factor of the plasma she was given with the clotting drug in it. They should be doing another blood test right about now (1 am Wed. morning) and if her white cell count is still down they will give her some whole blood. The doctor will call me around 10 am with her status. We really hope she can come home tomorrow (today). I called my boss this afternoon and told her I probably wouldn't be in tomorrow (Wed.)
After
dbubleydoctor's appointment, we stopped in to see Gilly. She seems to have figure how to keep her tongue in, so I don't think we'll have to deal with that problem. She was looking better, but her jaw is swollen and they have it packed with gauze. We took her for a walk in the parking lot. They have a pain patch on her. I'm totally wiped out, but my hip is hurting in that "fun" way where it hurts in all positions; sitting, standing or laying down. Where's my pain patch? ;-)
Quick Gilly Update
May. 15th, 2007 12:08 pmShe is having clotting problems. Dobie's have this problem and she was tested for it before surgery, but they think it was such a low level factor in the blood it didn't show up. Gilly will be in the hospital until tomorrow morning at the least. She is getting a blood transfusion with extra stuff to help her coagulation factor. And they're doing chest x-rays and some other stuff.
Everyone says she is such a sweet dog - which she it. They had her out with the office staff last night for a while. She was whining and once she was with people, she stopped. She's doing her velcro dog bit and leaning on everyone she can, almost knocking one of the techs over because she was kneeling down to pet her when Gilly gave her all 75 lbs of dobie girl.
Off to take dbubley to the doctor now.
(no subject)
May. 15th, 2007 09:05 amI went to bed at 3 am, then woke up with hip pain at 5:30 am. Tossed and turned a little, then decided to go sit in the recliner with an ice pack. Just started to doze off when the phone rang. It was a doctor at the vet hospital. Gilly started bleeding at 3 am. Packing with gauze and applying pressure stopped it, but then it would start again. The doctor really tried to get me to come get her and take her to the surgeon, but the surgeon isn't at the same site today. She works 2 days at a clinic in S.F. and 2 days in Corte Madera. I said I really couldn't do that today and what was our option. Finally, she said they had a staff surgeon coming in at 8 am and they could look at her. Gilly might have pulled a stitch out, but it's so swollen, they had trouble seeing. I'm waiting for the them to call. I suspect they will have to put her under and go in and look for the source. More pain for the baby girl and of course, more money.
Too wired and worried to sleep and yet too tired to do anything more productive than solitaire.
Stay tuned . . . .
(no subject)
May. 14th, 2007 08:14 pmstonebender and I tried to lighten the mood. We talked to her. We made bad jokes about her and her new lispy bark. In the rare moments of silence, I worried she had died. Then she'd start again. I hated that noise, but loved to hear it. It was a long ride. The hardest part was seeing her after we arrived at the hospital. Her tongue had been hanging out the whole time. I couldn't see this as I drove. It was purple and swollen and dry. I immediatedly flashed on Isaiah, our first dog. He died running in a field. I was the only one with him. He fell. I managed to half pick him up, half drag him into the van and drive like hell to our vet. I kept looking back at him and I could see his tongue sticking out, purple and swollen. I knew he was dead, but I pushed the panic button when I opened the door at the vet (same vet, Dr. Hack). The staff rushed him away, they tried to revive him, but he was dead. Then I had to go home and wake up
stonebenderand tell him his dog was dead. Definitely one of the hardest moments in my life. Today, Gilly looked bad. She tried to sit up, but she was too drugged. She bled a little, but not too much. I think I would have been better seeing more blood and a normal tongue. Blood I expected. I'm glad I had the vet give me a copy of the transfer information, because the hospital couldn't find the fax. As it was, it took about 45 minutes to check her in. All the time I'm trying not to get too emotional. It was a losing battle.
I have to pick her up tomorrow morning between 7 and 8 am. I hope she's looking better. If she is still having trouble keeping her tongue in, I will have to wet it every 2 or 3 hours per the doctor's instructions. I can only do this until about 2 pm, because I have to take
dbubley to a doctors appointment in S.F. I have to make a gruel of her food and try to get her to eat. GOD, I hope we did the right thing.
(no subject)
May. 13th, 2007 05:54 pmMore excitement as she sniffed the trail of every dog who'd passed this way recently. Then it's on to the wash area. Very nice really, with wide steps she could easily climb. If she knew what was waiting for her at the top, I'm not sure she would have been so eager. Once she was secured in the top by a short lease attached to the wall, the real fun started. I dialed in the orange smelling flea and tick control shampoo and started to spray her. She wasn't crazy about it, but stayed relatively calm for the "sudsing" and rinsing.
stonebender thought she enjoyed that part of it, but I'm not so sure. The next step, the warm air blower, was not fun for her at all, but it really moved the water off her. Then I had the bright idea I should brush her now too, so I send stonebenderto buy a brush. I think she was at her time limit for being fussed with. I only brushed her for a few minute, before she let me know how unhappy she was by twisting around and whining loudly. Nothing like a semi-wet 80 lb dobie twirling and doing her high pitched whining to get on my last nerves. We bought some cans of dog food and left - she was semi-dry and I was semi-wet, she was clean and I needed a shower. She just had her last meal - no more food until after the surgery. Even though the tooth looks very ugly and sore, it has NOT interfered with her appetite. For breakfast I made her a 3 egg omelet with cheese and left-over white rice. Yesterday
dbubley made her tuna salad. And just now she wolfed down a can of dog food. I think that's the first can we've ever given her. Now I remember why I don't like wet dog food - the smell lingers. And I know it will also be on her breath. I do think dry dog food it better for their teeth, but she'll be on canned until her mouth heals. I think I'll need to look into doggy breath mints.Gilly Update
May. 12th, 2007 02:10 amThe biopsy came back with a strong probable diagnose of osteo carcinoma. This is the cancer that anywhere else in the body would probably lead to palliative care, but in the jaw, we have a chance. Boy, does this doctor move fast. Gilly is scheduled for surgery Monday morning in Corte Madera. They don't have a hospital on-site, so she will need to be transported to one for overnight observation. We could have a pet transport service do it, but it would add several hundred dollars to an already big hunk of money. So I will go get her and take her to a vet hospital in our town. It has a very good reputation and oncology department. The doctor said she hates for "parents" to see patients in this doped up, fresh from surgery condition, but it really would be best to have her close to us. We should be able to pick her up the next day.
It will take a couple of weeks for the final report on the cancer. The most important question, "did they get it all?" will be foremost in our mind. The surgery will be hard enough, I'd hate to put her through radiation or chemo. And this is pretty much going to drain our regular saving for a while. And even without any additional treatment, she'll have follow up visits and tests for a while.
Did I say how much I love our vet, Dr. Hack? Tonight (Friday) at 9 pm he called us to see how Gilly was doing. He spoke with the specialist earlier in the day, but he wanted to follow up with us. He was glad to hear she is scheduled so soon and asked us to give him a call and let him know how she's doing. He'll also follow up with the surgeon.
Her life, health and happiness is our responsibility. It is the contract we enter into - she gives us love, kisses, comfort and entertainment and we take care of her. We can do no less than the best for our baby girl.
