Journey Notes

see the magic in the simple things

3 Positives:
talked with both dr offices yesterday
15 cards assembled, only 5 more to go with this set
chef salad for dinner last night – yumm!

Our Journey Notes:
FINALLY: Phone call from the surgeon’s office. No lesions on the brain. That was the good news. However, there is still concern regarding the cervical spine issues found earlier where there are lesions, stenosis and pinching of the spinal cord. That’s not going away. Blood work ordered. Talked to PCP – same response. But he also ordered bloodwork — so it’s off to the lab at the clinic to get that donethis mo rning since I do have to go in fasting for one of the tests. Hopefully they’ll have things read and ready for a next step by tomorrow, though I’m not holding my breath with the surgeon’s office.

a fresh start begins now.

3 Positives:
got a couple of errands done yesterday morning – and made it out of HL on the cheap! 🙂
fresh veggies and fruit from the farm stand
ministering cards for September are now a project in progress

Our Journey Notes:
Another follow up message to the orthopedic surgeon’s office. Left a message for the PA and the dr. asking one of them to call as a follow up to last week’s message through the health app. Let’s just say, nothing in response as of end of day yesterday. Fingers crossed I’ll hear something today. The waiting has not been fun and definitely not what I anticipated with this office especially since someone read the report a week ago.

find a happy moment today

3 Positives:
last two essential cards for the month are done
plans to have some studio time today — using some new dies that have arrived this month
CD player is getting a workout. It’s been fun to listen to a few of the older CDs I have in my library. They set a good tone for the day.

Our Journey Notes:
Today is T’s last day of eye drops. He’s pretty excited about that. He spent yesterday in the classroom, but he’s still kind of unsure of how many kids were working as his right eye is still pretty blurry. I looked at his patient notes from Wednesday’s visit and let’s hope there’s some help with a new lens for that eye soon. The shunt is working in the left eye and the bleb is functioning with no scar tissue in the right.

No call or message from the dr’s office yet. It will be 5 days since someone in the office looked at the report. I’d really like to be able to check this off and get started on next steps in this journey whatever it is. The waiting isn’t helping my stress levels at this point.

an oldie – but a goodie

3 Positives:
proposal for the roof replacement signed
finished up the last piece for an ongoing challenge on FB
got out the tatting again – the start was a little rough, but I see some progress.

Our Journey Notes:
T’s appointment was a banner one! Both eyes have desired IOP! He can go off the eye drops after tomorrow. He was just a little excited when walking out of the exam area of the office. He also said he could see shapes again in the left eye. Not color, but shapes and that made his day and was an answer to prayers.

Still no call about MRI — so I sent a message through the app. Maybe a call today? We’ll have to see.

Every morning… each and every day

3 Positives:
Roof bid accepted – start date soon
Last piece for the challenge nearly done
Went through a myriad of old program CD’s yesterday to see if they would work and tossed a bunch! I have a ton more of digital images to go through now.
Bonus: Missionary card box needs one more card and the order will be complete. Hoping to finish it today.

Our Journey Notes:
T has another post-op appointment this morning. He’s still having some pain and itchiness. And his eyes are really tired by the time he gets home every evening from work. Fingers crossed that everything is working as it should.

Nothing from the orthopedic surgeon’s office yet re: MRI results and next steps. Hoping today is the day the PA/office will touch bases with me. If not, sending a message through the app requesting a call or tele-visit ASAP. It’s hard waiting when you know they’ve got the results and have looked at them. I know it’s a busy office, it’s just hard being on the waiting end.

hold on…

3 Positives:
Studio time — and a little productivity
Finished another book and opened another
The shunt is working

Our Journey Notes:
T’s appointment went well. Pressure is down – a lot! Eye drop regimin has changed and he will be off the post op drops next week if things are still looking good. He’s had a little more pain than in the past following surgery, but Tylenol seems to work just fine. Fingers crossed that the shunt continues to work well.

Nothing further on the MRI at this point. There’s always that part of you that hopes you won’t have to wait the weekend for the findings and next steps, but that’s not happening. I’m hoping they’ll review Monday or Tuesday and next steps in place and an appointment set to meet sooner rather than later. Fingers crossed.

Yes, please…

3 Positives:
T’s surgery went well (more below)
No dizziness after the MRI (more below)
Everyone got a much needed early afternoon nap

Our Journey Notes:
T’s surgeon was able to use one of the buckles that keeps the retina (surgery pre-2000) in place as a “holder” of the shunt. Let’s hope things are working as they should when he goes in this morning for his first post-op. We’re back to 4 x a day eye drops for the next month starting today after his appointment to remove the dressings. Fingers crossed that all is well.

MRI – was interesting. 25 minutes in the tunnel without contrast and another 5-7 minutes in the tunnel with contrast. I wasn’t expecting that, but then again, I’ve never had a brain scan before. The radiologist had the images read and a report written within a few hours. Not sure what it all means at this point – so now the wait for the “team” to decide what’s next. The techs were great btw, and I’d be willing to do another at their site any day rather than the other setting.

the gift of today.

3 Positives:
Scrapping all plans for a current project and starting over and not feeling bad about it
T’s surgery time was moved to an earlier time
a few treasures were found in the consolidation of some boxes downstairs

Our Journey Notes:
Today’s the big day for both of us. Hoping T’s surgery is a success and the shunt works as it should and we’ll be done with surgeries and procedures on that eye for an extended period of time.

MRI for me today. Hoping the scan will provide some answers and while I know there will be more questions, I really hope we’ll be able to develop a plan for the immediate future moving forward when the results are in.

possibilities exist!

3 Positives:
progress on two fronts – basement pantry and garage
one of the boys being to help with transportation next week for T’s upcoming surgery
blessing set up for T

Our Journey Notes:
T’s appointment didn’t go as we’d hoped. IOP is still way too high in the left eye and another surgery is on the calendar for next week. They can’t push it out any longer — this go round they’re going to try to put a shunt in. Not sure if they’re going to try to use the same flap area or cut a new one to insert the shunt. Let’s hope that scar tissue from previous surgeries including the buckles from the retinal tear (1990’s) won’t prevent a successful result. This surgery won’t restore what he’s lost, but may prevent things from going totally black in that eye. Thankfully, the insurance has been picking up all but the co-pay at the surgery center for his other eye surgeries this year. We hope they’ll do the same for this one.

8.5.26

3 Positives:
quiet reflective time
boxes checked off on the to – do list
a sweet note from a friend via snail mail

Our Journey Notes:
T has an eye appointment today. Hoping the pressures are down as he hasn’t been to the office in nearly 3 weeks now. Maybe today will be the day he gets the scrip for his new lenses.

“Forgetfulness” is happening more frequently, drats. Thankfully, T and A are being helpful with a few reminders — but not nagging. Yesterday was a good day overall… including checking off most of the list for the day. Really hoping for some answers next week and hoping the report findings for the upcoming MRI won’t be dragged out over the following weekend.