The New Floodgates of the Mind

I spoke with my Mom again and she gave me an update. Firstly, she’s staying another night. Her echo of this morning didn’t really help them locate the stones although it did prove the fact that she had sustained a cut/rip from them which was why she was bleeding so much yesterday. So, she’s set for another test tomorrow morning.

Considering the amount of pain she was going through, it’s also an added bonus for her to spend the night so the nurses can keep an eye on her and help her out when required.

She was able to keep her food down today which is another good thing. But, her diabetes level was too high again so they had to give her another insulin shot. She is worried about having to do that on a regular basis, though, and hopes she’ll be able to control it via pills and diet as she’s been doing for years now.

sigh.

Not the easiest of days to go through…

Well, I spoke with my mom at the hospital. She’s in a lot of pain and has been since yesterday. They give her medication for the pain but it doesn’t last more than two hours before she’s in agony again. sigh. Her diabetes shot up as well, to over 17, and had to get an insulin injection. She’s been controlling it very well for years now, always keeping it under 10 and usually at 5 or 7. Plus, she hasn’t been able to keep any food down since yesterday, throwing up whatever is given to her. She went for more tests but they’re still waiting for the doc to see her so they can get some kind of news…

at least she’s in a room now, and not in a corridor as she spent the day yesterday…

Well, what a strange weekend it turned out to be. Something health-related happened to each one of the important women in my life. Friday, my daughter has Bronchitis. Saturday, my wife battles with a gastro. Sunday, my mom is rushed to the hospital for what is believed (to date) to be kidney stones. sigh. I just called the hospital but she had been taken away for soem tests so I’ll have to call later…

In somewhat happier news, Chantale, James, and I picked up our Xmas tree yesterday. What a big sucker it was! Wow. Nice and big! Actually, so big I had to take an axe to the bottom of it in order to make it fit in our stand! 🙂 Then, while Chantale cooked us supper last night, James and I hung some of our Xmas lights outside. Looks rather nice 🙂 We’re gonna run some lights to the small Norweigan Wood provided by the city, so that’ll give us extra niceness 🙂 Sometime during the week we’ll begin to decorate the tree. So, we’re on our way…

This morning… was hell to get in. We shovelled last night before bed in order to get a headstart on it. But it still took me another half hour this morning to clear away the rest that fell (not to mention what was pushed by the plows – but I’m not complaining! At least we got plowed!) But, it was very long going. In fact, I had to be greatful that the last morning train was late since I was able to run for it and make it!! 🙂 Chantale, unfortunately, is still feeling weak and thus had to stay home.

Today… I feel it’s going to be a little rough to get through it. But, the Team’s having an Xmas Supper tonight at Baton Rouge so that’s something to look forward to 🙂 In fact, there are a lot of such events upcoming which will definitely get us to Xmas in a good mood 🙂

Chantale woke up yesterday feeling like hell. She was so sick she ended up spending most of it lying on the couch. Suddenly, all our Xmas decorating plans of this weekend took a back seat.

I knew she wasn’t doing too well Friday night, so on Saturday morning, I let her sleep in and then James and I headed off for some groceries. When we got back, she was up but could not eat anything. So, James and I had a little picnic in the living room to keep her company. We watched some special features of X2 (I wanted him to see the History of the X-Men) and after a while I went out with him again to give Chantale a chance to actually sleep.

We drove off to Komico and pick up a couple of weeks worth of comics. Sometimes, I still get shocked at the price of comics even after all these years. Anyhow, I picked up a few extras for James (Dragon’s Lair) along with his usual Justice League Adventures so he was quite happy 🙂

Since James is going to be singing some Grease songs for his Holiday Concert at school this week, we decided to watch Grease as our regular “Family Movie Night”. So, we got our supper ready and popped it into the VCR (I still have to get it on DVD) and watched the special. Then, before the movie actually started, we showed him how to “dress up” the same way and slicked his hair back and everything 🙂 Very cute. There were a couple of makeout scenes we skipped ahead on but otherwise he watched the entire movie – entranced! It was really fun 🙂

Hard to believe I was 11 when it first came out and I watched it in the movie theatres… 6 times 🙂

Had a rather good day today 🙂

I held my Team Meeting at 10am instead of my usual 2pm and had prepared a nice little presentation for the Team, ABOUT the Team 🙂 It basically was a short overview of the highlights of everything we’ve done/ accomplished this past year, and a look as to where we’re going next year. I even gave them my Theme for 2004 and introduced them to a famous quote from Oliver Wendell Jones. At the end of the presentation, I surprised them all by giving them each an early Xmas gift of a large mug with the quote inscribed on it. I think they were all very pleasantly surprised 🙂

After the meeting, the IT Division had reserved 70 seats at Cage Aux Sports in the Bell Center and thus we headed there for a very tasty meal. After the meal, I was asked to take an advisory role in a new Change Management Committee for a special task force next year. Cool beans 🙂 (Yes, Marc, it was the result of my eRoom message… amongst other things/ events 🙂 )

Anyhow, it’s been a very good day. The only down part was that Melyssa couldn’t be with us this weekend as she’s now got Bronchitis and the little dudette is stuck taking anti-biotics and her pump on a very regular schedule. With the fact that I’m getting over something and Chantale is fighting something, it was decided it would be safer for her not to be here this weekend. So, James is alone with us this weekend. We’ll still get to our planned events (decorating being one of them!) but we’ll leave some things aside as well so Melyssa can join in next weekend.

After picking up Chantale tonight, the three of us went for a quick clothing check/ pickup. Got a little outfit for my neice and some items for James. Xmas presents can be fun 🙂 Now, after a very tasty supper and some down-time together, James went to bed and I wanted to pop in here quickly to check mail and post this. Chantale is playing Animal Crossing (it’s pretty cool how there’s snow all over the village now 🙂 ) and I’ll go up to join her soon. I’m gonna make her a nice camomille tea to try to help settle her tummy. Will probably make myself an echinacea one, too 🙂

Ah, it’s the weekend…. how absolutely wonderful that sounds… 🙂

Well, I went to see my Doc this morning and he was very impressed/ surprised with the effects of the cream he had prescribed for my neck and vitiligo patch. I told him I’d actually stopped using it on a regular basis and have been only applying it about once a night every other night. Still, he said it was very noticebably improved. So, he prescribed me something less potent. Cool. We’ll see.

In other news… I finally finished off the Church Newsletter last night and mailed it off. No replies yet which is bizarre. But, at least it’s done.

I didn’t get a chance to get through the Parents Council Minutes but I did manage to update the September ones with the approved changes and sent those off to the web master for the school page. I began the outline for the new Minutes but just was too tired to finish them. Tonight.

Also, I got myself a nice haircut last night. Chantale and I went together (which is always more fun) and chatted away with the hairdresser who is an old family friend. Boy, do I feel better this morning! It’s incredible what a good haircut will do 🙂 I even noticed a lot of female-head-turning towards me this morning on my way to the Doc’s so it’s nice to be noticed again 🙂

And, in other news, I’m getting my LOMA “Diploma” / Laminated Certificate tonight from Claude Garcia himself, President of Standard Life Canada, for having successfully completed the first two courses. Bonus 🙂

That’s it for now. Got work to do 🙂

Got a funny note today by a friend of mine. He stated how he knew I was really sick because I hadn’t posted anything in a few days and he was ordering me to get better. That put a smile on my face. Same as Chantale ordering me to stop coughing last night. I’d love to, I’m trying, but… the flesh is weak when battling illnesses… (weak smile)

I am feeling better, though. I’m still coughing at night but at least I’m not hacking as much as I used to. I’m mainly battling headaches… must be a sinus thing… Like right now, actually. I’m feeling like hell and trying to comfort myself with a hot chocolate and some Oreo Fudge cookies 🙂

In other news…. my in-laws celebrate 25 Years of Marriage TODAY!! Wooot! How incredible is that?! 🙂

I can’t believe this. 9:45am someone rings our doorbell, startling me out of bed. By the time I get my brain in gear to understand what it was and head towards it, I see his back as he walks away to the house across the street. Fundraiser of some sort. First time someone’s come to the house to ask for money.

Worst part is that immediately upon waking, I fall into a coughing fit. I try to settle back in bed but it doesn’t work. Deciding that I’d better let Chantale sleep and that the only way it could happen was for me to leave, I got up to get something to drink, cough syrup, and some Advil since my head had decided to attempt to split wide open again. Bah.

Waking up is much more difficult than getting to sleep… *sigh*

-This has been a Saturday Morning Hacking Report…

Bah. I hate coughing. Especially when I can’t stop. Especially when it starts to both itch and hurt at the same time and there’s nothing I can do about it. Even liquid isn’t helping right now… 🙁

Finally watched The Children of Dune tonight. All three parts 🙂 Twas interesting, yes. I’m wondering how much more I could or would have enjoyed it had I ever read the novels. Yes, don’t all fall down gasping. I’ve never read any of the Dune novels. 🙂

After Chantale came home from her Branch’s Xmas supper, we made some munchies and cuddled up to watch X-Men. I’m much too cuddly a bear, it seems. She was asleep in my arms when the movie still had a good half hour left to it 🙂

She’s in bed now while I’m sitting here hacking up a lung. *sigh* I’m tired, too, though. I want to go to sleeeep…

Well, I’m feeling somewhat better. For now. I may be due for more medication soon, though.

Either way, I managed to sleep some more this afternoon which really helped. I must admit to having been somewhat surprised at myself at my ability to pass out and sleep. I think that if anything proves I actually AM sick, it’s the fact that I’ve fallen asleep.

Anyone who really knows Mikey, knows that Mikey can’t really spend too much time sleeping in bed because Mikey always has too many things to do. Today, Mikey slept. Insane.

But, I’m better-ish now. Trying to get some stuff in order so I can begin preparing for Comicopia. I did all the Distribution Manager stuff, so next I can actually concentrate on my duties as member! 🙂

Of course, I also have to get the Church newsletter put together and distributed by about Tuesday night at the lastest. AND, I have to get the Parents Council minutes all typed up and distributed by Wednesday night at the latest.

In other news… I miss the NaNo gang. It’s been bizarre not talking with them on a regular basis. Heck, my one-time nemesis still hasn’t joined LJ yet even though I gave him a code! Silly bugger. I guess life kind of has to get back to normal now… oh well. I also guess that I miss having regular GTs. Maybe I’ll go to an LJ Meetup one of these months… although not in December 🙂

Okay, gotta write. Talk more later.