Sunday, March 31, 2019

Let's See. What Haven't I Told You Yet?

Briton's scabs are beginning to peel away, which pleases him.  He worked his full library shifts yesterday and today and has a short one tomorrow.  Still uneasy about driving, he wants me to get him to and from one more time.

My eye is considerably better.  Still using the ointment, though each time I apply it, I get a horrible, 
 shudder-inducing taste in my mouth.

The night that Briton fell, he and his housemate had had people over.  In fact, Briton was walking his date to her car when he fainted.  She is a neurology nurse and knew just what to do  It was their second date.


Saturday, March 30, 2019

1, 2, 3. . .

Briton with dilated pupils.  This is from yesterday at the ophthalmologist, where he was told the fractured socket should heal without any complications or long-term effects.
 
All news continues to be positive, but there's no explanation yet for why he fainted.  He's back at work today, hoping not to scare any of the kiddos at the library.  No driving for him yet, so I am chauffeur.

He was talking on the way in about how lucky he was.  His fractures could have been much worse.  He didn't break his nose.  He didn't bite his tongue.  None of his teeth were involved.  No concussion.  A battery of tests that showed he's perfectly healthy.

Count those blessings.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

And, Since God Has a Sense of Humor

Now I've got this going on:
Subjunctival hemorrhage.  The doctor said it within five seconds of opening the door to the exam room.  I've never had a diagnosis that fast in my life.

I didn't even know anything was going on until Briton's roommate asked me, in the ER on Tuesday night, why my eye was bloodshot.  Not knowing that it looked the way it does, I certainly don't know what happened or when.  Just doing my part to keep Medical Mysteries Week going.

I was prescribed an antibiotic ointment,  (I react to the word "ointment" the way most people react to "moist.")  It's chiefly for comfort, as these apparently tend to resolve on their own.

Can we all make it through tomorrow at least without any drama?

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

So This Happened

Briton fainted and fell (twice) last night, and banged himself up so well he got to spend the night in the hospital.  A CT scan, bloodwork, EEG, EKG, consultations with neurologists, ophthalmologists,  and cardiologists.  Doctors last night thought they saw a very small (3 mm) brain bleed in the CT scan, plus they saw that he had cracked his temple and fractured his left eye socket

Today, neither a different radiologist nor a different neurologist nor a different neuro-radiologist saw it that way: no blood in the brain at all. Major concern gone --- just like that.  And he was able to go home this afternoon, though everyone is still stumped by why what happened happened.  so, to cover one possible angle
He "gets" to wear this event monitor for 30 days.  

He's exhausted.  I'm pretty whipped, too.  Still, if there are any skills a Southern Girl has, they are 1) writing thank-you notes, 2) making Jell-O salad(s), 3) making casseroles using cream of mushroom soup, and 4) sitting up with people at the hospital.  Thank goodness for crossword puzzles, fun books, and, of course, knitting.

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Singularity

Thanks to those of you who offered comments on siblings.  Perhaps I'm hyper-sensitive about Briton and Hannah having lost their dad so early, that they will lose me, and will be the only ones they have who have been through what they've been through.  Too, the times in my own life that I wished for a sibling gave me pause.  I don't want them to feel unheard or unloved or alone.

All that said, they're both still driving me nuts with the problems.  But the hair-on-fire in sync crises have calmed for the moment.

And, apropos of nothing here. . .  The other day, I saw two hearses at a gas station.  Not a thing one considers day-to-day, but they need fuel, too.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Weight

Question, or questions, for you:
If you have siblings, do you get along?
If you are a parent of more than one child, do they get along?
My two run extremely hot and extremely cold.  I don't know how much, or even if, they are in touch with one another.  They each hold grudges from their childhoods against the other, which I have only found out about recently.  I don't have any details (and doubt that I want any), but the hurt is obviously deep.

One thing: if one of them is having a crisis, and has dumped said crisis on me, the other one will follow close behind with an emergency of his/her own.  Today, I got it from both barrels.  They're adults and need to sort things out on their own, but they're also still my babies.  That they can't, or won't, turn to one another for even the tiniest bit of help hurts me.

What do I do?  Has a mother entering her children's frays ever been a good idea?

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Toldja

There is a Little Free Library in our subdivision.  Yesterday, Tap and I walked to it.  It was a breezy morning-almost-noon, an excellent day for the trek.  It was nice, and I came away with three books, and Tap took a longer than usual nap in the afternoon.  Everything went swimmingly . . . except for my knees.

Not a long walk, a couple of slopes either way,, slow pace (Tap's first Spring.  SO MUCH TO SNIFF.)  No issues last night.  This morning, though, 
(This is the point at which I remind you that rest and painkillers were my first treatment choice.  See what happened with moderate exercise and use, like the orthopedist suggested?)


Sunday, March 17, 2019

Dull, Dull, Dull

The knee exercises continue.  I'm well aware that this isn't exactly what's happening, but the pain / sensation is that my kneecap shifts out of place.  It jolts me to a stop, and it takes several seconds before I'm able to move again.  Although this is a different condition from what led to knee surgery on my right side many years ago, the exercises are largely the same: working the tendons and ligaments to hold everything in place.  Bor,  Ring.




Friday, March 15, 2019

Second Opinion

Went to the doctor Monday, and, yes, the knee is hyperextended.  My orthopedist is a believer in treatment via exercise and physical therapy, while I believe in painkillers, rest, and pronounced hobbling with which to gain sympathy.  If avoiding surgery is the goal, though, I have to go with the exercise.


Sunday, March 10, 2019

#Chewy Influencer, March --- Right Treat, Wrong Pet

Well, Riley doesn't like them, but Tap and Madeleine do.  As in, Riley would knock these aside when they were offered to her, and Tap and/or Maddie --- whoever was closer --- would snarf them right up.  So, fifty - fifty on these?  They weren't a hit with their target audience, but others certainly enjoy them.



As a Chewy Influencer, I am allowed to choose and try two products each month.  I do not pay for these products, but Chewy expects my honest reviews of my, and my pets', experiences with them.


Wednesday, March 6, 2019

I Have Become One of Those People

A while back (and how I got there is unremembered), I came across weighted sleep masks to help with headaches.  As regular and as crippling as my headaches are, something that might possibly make a difference with them is worth a try.  So, I bought one.  
I already sleep with a bite plate for my TMJ (and related headaches), and it took a while to get used to it.  I wondered if it would take some time with a mask, but it didn't.  The sensation is like lying down with my glasses on.  It took no time to grow accustomed to.

But you know how it happens on the Internet.  You start out looking at one thing and wind up with half a dozen tabs open, wondering how you can fit them all into your time and, often, budget.  So sleep masks led to sleep sounds, and it turns out there is a slew of apps which can provide you with binaural beats and Delta and Theta waves and all sorts of sleep-helping sounds.

I now sleep each night wearing a mask, listening to sleep hypnosis sounds.

Make of that what you will.



Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Has This Ever Happened to You?

I almost always underestimate the amount of yarn to lead with when casting on.  Why haven't I, after 30+ years, developed some sort of method to solve this problem?  It seems I once ran across a "formula" that was something like "X number of inches for each X stitches in your cast-on."  Obviously, it didn't work for me, or I'd still remember it.

  All this to say it took me 6 tries (SIX) to cast this vest on.



Monday, March 4, 2019

Projects, and Things in Which to Carry Them

This came in around my birthday, and I just realized it hadn't been posted here.  It's roomy, it's canvas and it's loved.  A friend since high school sent it to me out of the blue!

My Drea's Shawl is done:
Done only in garter stitch, it scarcely needs blocking, save for the side where the strands of yarn were carried up.  These are fun to make, and an excellent way to make a dent in that Sock Yarn Stockpile all knitters have.  Today I cast on for a vest out of grey tweed, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if another one of these found its way onto some needles.




48

If you've ever rented a movie on Amazon Prime, you know you have 48 hours in which to watch it.  (By the way, why do we "watch"...