Greeting Cards Swap --Swap is over and closed!

[Mickey'sfriend]

Just checking in. I've been working on a paper for school, so as soon as that is finished I'll get to work on my cards.

 

[jennyL]

I started putting some ideas together but haven't started yet. DH is going to football this weekend so I hope to get a jump start.

 

[vanyel]

I'm going to check in now for the 29th, just in case I forget over the weekend. I've got most of my paper and I just bought more envelopes this week. I am still experiementing with several designs. My goal was to finish a blank baby book for a friend who's expecting and then start the cards. The baby book is almost done so it's the cards on the weekend.

I can't believe some of you are done - wow

 

[MazdaUK]

On their way

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Checking in. Will be working on them over the weekend.

 

[angelmom]

I am checking in too.

 

[Downrivermama]

Checking in. I'm hoping to get them going this week end.

 

[MazdaUK]

You can start looking for my stuff - hopefully any time from today onwards Though if its as slow that way as its been this way don't hold your breath

 

[Mickster]

Mine are done! Yippee! They'll go out on Tuesday. Thanks for hosting. I can't wait to get these back.

 

[vanyel]

Well, I'm done with the general note cards but am struggling with general birthday. I had something in mind and bought the paper for it but I don't like the way it's coming together. I finally came to the conclusion that I need to give it up and go with something else. Don't you hate when that happens?

 

[ksjayhawks]

Yes. I have rethought several of my designs!

MazdaUK--your cards have arrived and they are great!

I am pm'ing everyone tonight with my mailing address.

I have been in the hospital the last week, so am way behind.

 

[Mickster]

Holy cow! I hope you are doing better now!

 

[clh2]

ksjayhwaks - hope you are feeling better soon! Was this related to your surgery right at the end of August?

Just checking in - I'm done with my Holiday, General B-day and Women's Birthday cards. Just the Christmas cards to go!

 

[MazdaUK]

I'm so glad they got there safe! I hope the post problems are setled before everything starts coming back

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I have been in the hospital the last week, so am way behind.

Gosh, I hope you are doing better.
Is there anything we can do to help?

 

[ddavis860]

I have been in the hospital the last week, so am way behind.

Oh no, I hope everything is OK now!!

I have my things (got some new punches yesterday on sale ) So, I'll be working on these this week...

 

[jennyL]

I hope everything is ok.

I've decided on my ideas and started cutting. I hope to get them finished this weekend.

 

[vanyel]

Sorry to hear about the hospital stay. Hope you're doing better now.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and thoughts.

I was at home from teaching job that day--last monday--as I just didin't feel well. I woke up earlier in the day, ate, went to do my pt exercises and fell back asleep. Got up and went downstairs, threw in a load of laundry, felt better, was talking with my mom (who lives with us) about making dinner and all of a sudden I got the sharpest pain in my left groin that shot up and down my left leg (my surgery was in my right knee). I almost fell down. I dragged myself back upstairs to get my pain pills and took them, then tried to get comfortable but couldn't sit, stand or lay down. Massaging my leg did no good and I couldn't walk well--it felt like many bad cramps all at once. I thought I had overdone it during the weekend and that was why I was in pain. I overcompensate for my bad leg with my good leg and thought I had pushed it too far.

Finally I yelled down to mom to call Cathy, my neighbor, to come over and bring some ice packs up--thought that might help. When she came up, I got in the recliner and when we went to pull up my nightgown (yes, I was still in it)--she gasped and said look at your leg.

It was purple, swollen, tight, but the major pain was gone. I tried to call my drs--got voice messages, called my dh who had just left for Canada that day and just arrived there. Finally Cathy said we are going to the er and off we went. I scooted down the stairs. I could hardly drag myself to the car as I could put no weight on the left leg--thank goodness I had crutches and her to help me.

Cathy asked me which hospital to go to and I said I don't care. So, she picked the one here in our city which turned out to be a godsend. We got to the er, I was in a room within minutes having blood drawn and an ultrasound and admitted and in a room in less than 2 hours--they didn't even get all the admitting paperwork done before I was in my room.

Called my dh and he left the next morning at 2:30 a.m. and got here at 7 p.m. after quite an ordeal of flights, but that is another story. I was so glad to see him.

Turns out I had one blood clot from my "belly to my ankle" (the drs words). I have what is called May-Thurnin (SP?) syndrome. It is rare. I had to remain flat on my back, completely still--liquid diet--until Wednesday evening at 10 p.m. when I was able to get up for about 15 minutes, then back to bed til 8 a.m. the next morning (Thursday). I was finally released Friday evening at 8 p.m.

During my stay I had about 8 hours of invasion therapy/care. I had an iv in my leg to put blood clot busting drugs directly into the clot and a catheter for the waste. I also had an iv in my hand giving me a blood thinner as well. Then they would work on me for 2 hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. I had to roll over on my tummy--try that when you haven't moved--and they sedated me. It was very agressive and wore me out. But it worked, they got 100% of the clot above the knee and most below. I have a stent and am on blood thinner meds--I give myself shots twice a day for at least 5 days and take pills to get to a certain level. I get tested every morning for 5 days. If I reach the required level, it will be diet--watch the potassium--and pills for 3 to 6 months. If I don't, I will have to do another round of shots. Each syringe costs $70--$700 for one round and I only had to pay $35 copay, can you believe that. Hopefully I will not have to be on the pills the rest of my life, but if I do, I do.

I was fortunate that the internal radiologist handling my care is one of the top three in our metro area--he had 6 years of residency alone in this plus advanced training since then. When he talked to me the first day he said he thought I had the syndrome and that he had been researching all night to figure out what to do and that he would get rid of it. And he and his staff did! When I was there the last time, I was coming out of the sedation and I heard him go "YES!"

So God was definitely looking out for me when I told Cathy to pick the hospital er. If we had turned the other way and gone to the other close hospital in the next city, I wouldn't have had the specialist that I needed and who knows what would happen.

They think I had a blood clot that was moving and hit a "kink" and exploded down my leg. It could have been from the surgery--dh says I was moving so funny and awkward after the surgery, even though the pain in the right knee was gone and he thought I didn't seem right. I was always so tired, but attributed it to the surgery, so ??? Or it could have been a clot that I have had for awhile.

I was blessed to have a great sub who put together a lesson plan on blood clots, got internet resources for the kids, had the school nurse come up and talk, and then had the kids write reports. Talk about a real life application of science! He is here again this week.

So I am at home til Weds when I will go to school for 1/2 day in pm, then to school 1/2 day in am on Thurs. Fri is professional day so will do 1/2 or full, depending. I am on restrictions--am to try to build back up gradually, but not do anything for an extended period of time--sit, be at computer, walk, etc. I should be able to go back to school full time next week.

I am so glad to be home, though I got wonderful care in the hospital! The food tasted wonderful when I could finally eat it! The worst was that some of the lab techs had trouble drawing blood so my arms laand hands look like battle zones. When I went in today and the tech saw my arm, she said "oh, you're the one who had THE blood clot last week" so I had my 15 minutes of fame, at least in the hospital. She remembered some of the techs saying how hard it was to draw my blood and it was being done 3 to 4 times a day along with blood pressure, temperature, etc. Thank goodness I has on pain killers and morphine every hour to help me rest.

My fellow teachers and staff at the school I teach at and members of a sorority group I belong to are bringing us meals so I don't have to worry about cooking, another friend brought my mom and ds14 snack foods, fruits, pizzas, soups, etc so they would be able to survive til dh came home. Another friend came and sat with me every night. Cathy brought my mom up several times. Other close neighors came by to see me and ran ds places and checked on my mom. I think it was the worst for my dd as she is in CA and we are in KS and I could tell she wanted to be here so badly and I wanted her here as well. She couldn't see me like ds could and that didn't help any.

Anyway, it is over and I am on the road to recovery.

Sorry this is so long. Again I appreciate everyone's concern--it means so much. Keeping sending the prayers and pixie dust this way!

 

[MazdaUK]

Poor you! What an ordeal! Hope you recover soon and they can sort out your levels ixiedust: