Stormy Weather...

It took me over an hour and a half to get to work this morning because of the weather. Now people up north drive all day every day in snow. But you let it rain in Alabama, and the world comes to a screeching halt...literally. However, more important than how long it took me to get to work is the issue that the schools let out early because of bad weather. When I was in school, I clearly remember getting into the hallway with a book over my head to protect me from the potential of flying glass that lined those hallways - the windows. Now, the school system is so scared of being held liable for something, they put our children on the mobile disasters waiting to happen - buses - cheese wagons - whatever you want to call it - and send our children home in the weather. I don't understand it. Oh and by the way, did I mention that those storms never came today. Have a great one!

Telepathy....

Okay every once in a while, your kids work together. Stephen called me tonight on the way home tonight. He said he was in WalMart buying stuff for supper. As he walked around the corner, what was calling his name? Christmas Tree Little Debbie cakes. So he bought a box. Yes I said "a box." Anyway, when he got home, he said that the front of the house looked different. Upon closer inspection, the kids - Jamie and Jacob - had gotten the Christmas tree out of the back room, put it together and decorated it. Did I mention that they are both still breathing? I was totally shocked! These are the same two kids who cannot ride in the backseat to school in the morning without having a major meltdown. Thank God for small miracles!

My first day....

Well, I have survived my first day as Director of Social Services. Doesn't that title sound important? Oh my goodness!!!! It has been three years since I have been in the nursing home, and boy does it feel good to be back. These residents are just "proud to be here." They are not worried about what clothes the other one has on. They don't care that the food on their plate is not color balanced. They are just happy to have a warm bed to sleep in, hot food on their plates and some amount of independence. I have been accustomed to working in the more "glamourous nursing homes"...is that an oxy moron? Anyway, I don't know that I will ever go back to that side. There are young and old in this facility. There are all sorts of socio economic levels. This is what social work is all about. Meeting a person where they are in life and traveling the rest of the way with them. I have alot of cleaning up to do in the office and just in record keeping in general. But it is going to be a joy to get there. The great thing about my job is it gives me a reality check...everyday!

People Amaze Me Part 2....

Just when you think you have seen it all, something else comes up. As you know, I have changed jobs...again. I have finally decided that nursing homes is where I belong. Anyway, I have worked at MCE for about 6 months. I have done nothing to any of these folks to make them be disgruntled, except maybe because they have had to cover my units when I was in the hospital. Anyway, when I came back to work from the last hospital stay, I was put on "desk duty." Thursday, I was in my office on "desk duty", and I thought I heard, "except Ginny." I was not sure so I did not pay it much attention. In a few minutes, a nurse that I work with, came to my office and said, "do you want me to order you something from Sal's?" I declined because I do not know what kind of food they have. Anyway, she went on to say, "OK, I was just checking...everybody else ordered chinese." Do you see my point? This goes back to "except Ginny." It just amazes me because all of these women claim to be Christians, but yet they treat people like second class citizens. Oh and did I mention, that no one in the office spoke to me all week except for the other social worker, Margaret. Oh well, I guess I just need to let it go. Two wrongs, don't make a right. Love to all.

People amaze me...

For those of you who have read my recent blog you know that I have been "under the weather" so to speak. Well I return to work today to be told by my boss, "We think you need to be on desk duty this week so you don't make yourself sick again." MAKE myself sick again. Is there some kind of sick joy out there to being laid up in a hospital, eating less than desirable food, having needles gouged in your arm while they "look" for a vein, and listening to everybody else's alarms go off on the floor. I wanted to smack her. Oh well, enough of that. Good night.

Come on 2007....

Okay, I have to be the most negligent blogger ever. But I have decided that I am going to do better at blogging. It is a good way for my friends and family to keep up with our day to day lives, but it is also good therapy. Here goes...

I have decided that 2006 has not been a good year. Well I guess it actually started in December. As many of you know, Stephen's dad was diagnosed with cancer in December. I began my adventure with kidney stones in February. Stephen's dad died in March. More kidney stones in April and May. Left DHR, otherwise known as hell, in May. Had a serious situation with Jamie in May. Started a new job at Medical Center East in May. Got pneumonia in June. Made it through July and August without too many bumps. End of September begins the latest...

On September 27, I am driving down Highway 78 and I black out. Yes I said black out. Some how I managed not to flip my truck and ended up in the Food World parking lot. EMS came and got me and took me to Trinity Medical Center - used to be Montclair. My heart is going crazy, blood pressure is sky rocketing and my blood sugar is over 500. Should I mention that I had just had the ^%&^^%*& scared out of me . Anyway, they thought I had had a MI - heart attack. They admit me to the hospital. On Thursday, I go through my first and hopefully last arteriorgram. The outcome was at the tender age of 31 I have "mild coronary artery disease" - thanks diabetes. The cardiologist said it was not enough to worry about at this time - easy for you to say. They dismiss me from the hospital on Saturday. Don't understand why since I was still tachycardic as well as blood pressure still high. Went back to work on Monday. Get on MICU, get cold, clammy, sweaty, tachycardic, blood pressure - get the picture? Needless to say they put me back in the hospital - October 2 - 6. During this hospitalization, they come to the conclusion that I have H. Pylorei, high blood pressure and hyperthyroidism. Did I mention I have gained 32 pounds since July? Let me just tell those of you who are not 30 yet - it goes down hill - slap down hill. So I have to go on this suicide concoction of antibiotics that actually made me feel worse than when I blacked out and had a tube run up my leg to my heart. So I get out of the hospital on October 6. I won't even go into the war that my doctor and I got into. He basically told me I was a fat ass drug addict. I'll share more later. I go back to work on October 8 only to be written up, or as Medical Center East calls it, "positively redirected" because I had excessive absences. Oh I'm sorry I was a patient in your hospital. HELLO! Anyway, drama continues with "orientation reunion." This was a waste of time. This is where the newest employees of MCE come together to talk about their first six months of employment. Oh my - don't you know that I had an earful for them.

Then we go to Maw Maw's house, and wouldn't you know it - a kidney stone hit from hell. I got to pay a visit to the largest hospital in Georgiana, AL. I did not care what hospital big or small as long as they made the pain go away. Meanwhile back at the ranch, I have decided that I do not like "hospital social work." It is not social work. It is cattle herding. Regardless of whether the patient is medically ready or even socially ready - abuse cases - they have to go if the insurance company says so. I don't get to do social work every day. I only get to clean the shit off the fan after it has hit the fan. As luck would have it, word of mouth made it to a nursing home administrator that there was a disgruntled social worker in the community who loved the nursing home and wanted to go back. I was offered a job as the Director of Social Services at a nursing home in Birmingham, as well as the opportunity to train for the administrator's job. It did not hurt that it was a $10K pay raise. So I turned my notice in. Well guess what? Yep you guessed it I just got out of the hospital again. Monday, October 30, I was readmitted to the hospital with DKA - diabectic ketoacidosis and GI bleed. While in the hospital they found that my right kidney "looked funny." Yes this is comforting. Upon further investigation, it was found that this was medulary calcidosis - I think I spelled it right. This is basically that I have had so many kidney stones in such a short period of time that it has made calcifications on my kidney. Oh did I mention I have five kidney stones in my right kidney as we speak? The good news is though that I am not in kidney failure or anywhere close to it. Most of you are probably thinking why do I even bother getting out of bed. Some days I wander the same thing. But as long as I can go I am going to go. If nothing else maybe this can be comic relief that Murphy's Law still exists. Until the next drama, good night.