Rob finished his classes for baptismal in May but we have yet to set a date to get that done. We finished our Pre-Wedding classes in June and have been busy getting wedding stationary, decorations and such done. Though I was getting very frustrated and lil Bridezilla on him because he wasn’t getting his part done. He insisted he create the stationary and has had a year to work on it but wasn’t getting it done. So this month (August) I had to sit for 6 hours with him to get it finished and will finally get it printed this week, only a month behind schedule. UGH!

June 13-15 Rob and I were in upstate New York. My friend Yukiko was getting married. Yukiko and James were married in a grand Catholic Church with lots of stained class and wood carving was very beautiful. Yukiko wore a kimono to the ceremony and a traditional American wedding dress to the reception. We had a fun time. Rob’s stimulus check was supposed to pay for the trip. We put the trip expenses on my credit card and were going to pay it when we got back home but then the dip$#@! Went and blew the money. You can say I was pissed. I’m making him sell his magic cards to pay me back

July 21st Rob began classes he’s taking an intensive Microsoft certification program. Its quite expensive $28,000 (plus loan interest %) for approximately 6 months but he will have earn 4 Microsoft certifications which will allow him to secure a high paying job. The school also helps find employment. Rob needs to use them now. He’s been out of work with out unemployment for 3 months. HE REALLY NEEDS TO GET A JOB. He has looked but hasn’t been very active in his search, lot people out of work specially in Michigan so you gotta be really assertive. The bills are beginning to accumulate. Just paying for his gas back and forth to class is a lot.

Mom took a trip to Colorado from June 17th to July 28th to help out my sis Amber. Amber gave birth to tiny Lorena May on June 18th by C-section. Her husband Paul is stationed at military base in Co. There 1st Child Aaron is turning 5 August 27th, he finally got in to see a behaviorlist and has been identified as having ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, formerly known as “sensory integration dysfunction)

Doctor appointments:
Dr. Macon, Pulmologist on May 29th. He wants me to use the CPAP. He was happy I’d lost lil weight but mentioned the Bariatric surgery again.

Dr. Winegarden, Hematologist on June 25th. I had to do a bunch of blood tests but everything was looking pretty stable or unchanged.

Dr. Nemeth, Internist on June 26. She just was going over results from other docs and doing a general check up. Since I had been having a lot of abdomen pain on and off for last 3 month she sent me for abdominal ultrasound.

July 1st was the ultrasound at St. Joseph Mercy, Howell the lost my referral form twice so I had to wait around for another one to be faxed over, then the ultrasound technician was having bad day or something because she was being rude and offish. I’m so not going there again. Result: My gallbladder looks fine but my spleen is a bit enlarged /swollen.

Dr. Begum, Neurologist July 15th. I’m off Neurotin (gabapentin) the back injections are working better for the pain than that medicine.

July 17th HIDA SCAN to get a more in depth look at my gallbladder. The results showed no visible stones and my gallbladder is draining normally. (1st scan last year showed partially blocked drainage)

Dr. Choksi, Endocrinologist on July 24th. She was covering for my usual Endo Dr. Chun who decided to take a sudden vacation.  Renewed meds, did some blood work.

Dr. Nemeth, Internist on July 28th. We went over the results of the past tests and lingering bothersome symptoms. She referred me to an allergist because we believe bedsides the pollen, mold and such I have food allergies.

Dr. Zacks, Allergist on August 6th. He believes I have a wheat allergy and advises me to go on an elimination diet, slowly adding back wheat to see at what amount I have an immune reaction. They did a skin allergy test on my but it came out inconclusive. He gave me a new rescue inhaler and prescribed me nasal spray for sinusitis.

Dr.Gaetino, Pain Clinic on August 7th. I had a series of 4 injections on either side of my lower spine to alleviate pain. He also requested I get an MRI of my low spine. I’ve had increased pain and in a much larger area because I took a hard fall around July 26th, so he wants to check for further damage.

August 2nd Rob accidently hit my head REALLY hard. 2 days later the pain was not going away and I was having dizziness so my primary doctor’s office told me to go into the emergency for a CT scan. Rob skipped class to come with Mom and I. Five hours later they tell me I have a concussion and contusion, give me a prescription for pain meds and send me home.

August 13th I have my low back MRI at MRI of Southfield. Rob has class in Southfield so I scheduled the MRI while he’s in class I wouldn’t have to waste more gas taking another trip out.

April 3rd I had made plans to have lunch with my friend who is back living with her parents because she just left her abusive husband and is filing for divorce. I ended up spending all day with her didn’t go home until after 10 pm. I didn’t want to stay that long but her parents went out for the eve and they didn’t want there daughter left alone. I felt somewhat like a babysitter, lol.

April 9th Rob began his classes for baptism at first he said he was doing it for me but he has actually shown a real interest in learning more about Christianity. Justin my younger sister husband began the classes with Rob but dropped out. When the reverend asked for them to actually attend church it was just too much to ask. 

April 1 Rob and I bought a new queen mattress and frame. Rob took me to a furniture store that was closing. Their mattresses were ½ off, a better price than any where else we’d looked. The bed I had before was an old box spring with a futon mattress which was killing my back.

April 17th I had an appointment with my pulmonologist, he was happy I lost weight. Annoyed I wasn’t using CPAP and told me I had to have another sleep study done.

April 26th Rob’s friend Jake delivered our mattress to us, as Rob had invited bunch of friends to my house for a party. It was not much fun day for me; I had to do all the shopping, set up and cooking. Rob failed to communicate that the majority of his friends were coming an hour later than planned. As a result the hamburgers got dried out as they were left in the oven to keep warm but the brats and sausage come out fine. We had 2 types of beer, rum, vodka, kahlua and lots of mixers and soda pop. His friend Ted brought 3 different schnapps, coconut rum, Jagermeister and RedBull. They were all having fun getting drunk but no one was sick…until Ted decided to be an ass mix up a “graveyard” and the guys all dared Rob to drink it. A grave yard is mix of all the alcohol listed above. Rob was so sick he was thrashing, convulsing, vomiting. I wanted to take him to emergency but I couldn’t carry him and his so called friends were just telling me to leave him in the tub, ASSHOLES. I don’t understand males and the need to hurt one another to increase there own machismo. The majority of the time they’re hurting Rob to do this. 

April 21st Robs mom was back in the hospital, her kidneys were not functioning well and she began to swell up again. She had a port surgically installed and was started on Dialysis.

April 29th I had a check up appointment with my Neurologist. We decided to discontinue use of the Neurotin medication. Now that I am being treated by a pain specialist for my back problems I no longer needed the Neurotin.

May 5th I had my sleep study. There was a new girl working this time and I don’t like her. Its not supposed to hurt when they hook you up to all the electrodes and wires and stuff. She was way too rough. After your hooked up and laid in bed the tech goes to room next door yells for you to move leg, arm, eyes so they can read it on the machine to check its all working. She made air brain mistake of putting the CPAP machine on me and turning it on. As Rob says it sounds like Darth Vadar mask, I could hardly hear her, had to keep yelling “WHAT” and try to just guess what she wanted. It wasn’t a pleasant night of sleep either.

May 11th was Mothers day, Pentecost and the day Rob was officially introduced to the Church congregation. My parents agreed to be Rob’s Sponsors/Godparents so they were there too. (Dad was hobbling on his Crutches because his foot injury was still healing and he had recently injured the knee on the opposite leg.) Since it was Mothers Day there was a big turn out so this made Rob a little more nervous, but his introduction and the few lines he had to say went off with out a hitch. It was a little later in the service there was a problem. Becky, an elder women with rheumatoid fainted and was complaining of severe head pain, so an ambulance was called. The reverend had the congregation say a healing prayer over her and then ambulance arrived, her children, grand children… large family left with here.  Few days later we were notified that she was fine and home.

May 15 Rob got a letter from Unemployment saying FedEx Kinkos contested his unemployment AND wants him to PAY BACK the 2 months(4 paychecks) that he already received. HOW MEAN AND PETTY IS THAT?! he worked for this company 6 years, was dedicated, hard working. SUCH BULL$#@!! 

May 16th my brother Aral turned 30 any one in the acting/theater field in Michigan knows him. He’s worked/working in every theater in Michigan, had commercial or two, a local celebrity.
Also Robs mom returned home from the hospital this day and is off dyalisis now.

May 21st should be Rob’s last Baptismal class and then we will get to schedule the actual baptism ceremony.

May 24th we begin our Church marriage classes; there are three group sessions with five other couples and one private session.

May 29th I have an appointment with my pulmonologist to discuss the results of my sleep study.

March 1st was Rob’s 33 birthdays. We went to the bar with Bunch of his friends had a good time. A nice belated birthday present; few days after his Bday Rob starting receiving his unemployment. I was gonna go postal on somebody if they denied him, he’d been working full time + for 6 years going out of his way for this company and they treated him like $#@!

He’s been putting out his resume, got couple hits, a temp job but nothing solid yet. He’s also planning on taking some online courses, start earning a certification/degree.

Sunday the 23rd was Easter which was rather mellow but the usual gathering of family and feasting .

March 25th I had my 6 month check up with the Eye doctor to check my visual field and optic nerve. I hate these appointments cuz they take so long. 20-30 minutes doing the peripheral eye test, then stinging yellow stuff in my eyes so they can numb then and put the pressure device right onto my cornea. Then eye dilating which blinds me, waiting around forever in between each step.  Finally seeing the actually Eye doctor to have him tell me everything looked fine.

Around Wednesday 25th I was getting bloated, dizzy and sore and figured I was just going to have a menstruation soon. These symptoms continued to increase over the next few days. On Saturday eve I began to have right upper quadrant pain in my abdomen and sever chills sweats, shaking and pain lots of pain. In my back, head, & joints a burning ache, in my side a stabbing pain. I was have a full on gallbladder attack AGAIN.
My body was acting so violently that I was visibly shaking and nauseas from the pain. I had been on the couch wrapped in a couple blankets with hot tea but couldn’t get warm, around 11pm I put on 2 pair of sweatpants, 2 shirts crawled into bed with 2 blanket & a comforter and a cat on my head but I was still cold. About an hour later I began heavy sweating but didn’t finally “warm up” until 7 am Sunday & I got up used the bathroom kicked off a pair of sweatpants and finally slept for couple hours until I got up around 9:30am. For Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday I’m still a little dizzy, sore and nauseas. I’ve eating lot of popsicles cuz I’m not tolerating much food but doing ok. And rub salt into a wound I did start my period Wed so I’m having back and belly cramps on top of it.

April 1st “April Fools Day” was my parents Anniversary. They celebrated by having there taxes done and going out to dinner. 

My insurance quit covering the Altace when 2008 hit. My Primary, Dr. Nemeth tried me on Lisinopril but it was giving me violently painful migraines. I say violent cuz it hurt so bad I wanted to punch anyone who touched me.   So I decided to not take any BP med see if I can maintain a decent BP on my own.

Sunday Feb 17th Robert & I had planned to go to a Bridal show but freezing rain caused the snow to melt into ice slick. We attempted to get out but just did circles and slid around the road. Lil scary, no damage, got the car back to the house. The main roads are likely fine its just getting off our dirt back road thats always a problem. The township no longer provides dirt barrels, nor do they salt/sand/scrape the road unless multiple request are sent in by the school bus drivers. 

Mom & Dad are on Vacation in Florida they left on Feb7th. Enjoy that Sunshine.

Tue Feb. 5th was my appointment with my Neurologist. She just discussed my last Lumbar puncture, how my intracranial pressure is still too high. That rapid weight loss/surgery is my best option. She was Pleased I had lost over 40+ lbs last year but it’s not enough. She also wants me to ask my Endocrinologist about increasing my spironolactone even though I’m on quite a high dose but it’s the only diuretic medicine I have been able to tolerate and she hopes an increase in this medicine would decrease my intracranial pressure.

Mon Jan 28th I once again returned to the Brighton Pain clinic. I did not need them to tell me I was NOT pregnant because miracles or miracles I had begun menstruating that day. The last time I had a menstruation was February 2007.
So I got prepped again down to undies and hospital gown then was taken to the procedure room. I had to lie on my belly on a hard flat table. Which made it difficult for me to breathe, my ball bladder/liver or something is swollen and was pressing on my lungs causing pain and shortness of breathe. This is turn made getting the injections in my lower spine more painful because I couldn’t do my meditative breathing.
My back was sore for about a week but is doing pretty good now. No more injection site pain and the deeper bone ache has decreased quite a bit.

December 13th I had a return visit to Dr.Nemeth. She prescribed Zithromax but my insurance refused to pay for it so I had to wait few days for my doctor to find one a stronger antibiotic they would pay for. I believe it was a generic form of Erythromycin. Which was kind of a pain since Zithro is a one a day pill and Ethythro is 3 a day but I took all my meds like good girl and finally got rid of the infection.

On the 16th we had a big winter storm snow and ice very nasty. My Dad tried to go out and walk down the hill he didn’t get more than few yards before he slipped on ice and ended up seriously injuring his right foot. He tried to play tough guy and not go to the hospital but few days later when pain still quite bad Mom talked him into seeing the doctor and getting x-rays. He tore up some tendons and ligaments. He was on bed rest for 10 days then on crutches with limited activity. Though he has not completely obeyed and he’s older so it’s not healing very quickly.

On 22nd most of our family in Michigan went to see my brother perform “Every Christmas Story Ever Told”. The show had been running at the Meadow Brooke Theatre through November and 1st of December and ended its run at The Williamston Theatre.
We all convened on this day to see his performance along with some of his girlfriend’s family from Ohio because he had invited us to see a special end to this show. He proposed to his girlfriend, AWWWWWWWW. It was sweet. She did notice all the family there so she knew something was up but was still surprised. They are planning for a 2009 Wedding. I still am wondering how my Wedding this coming October is going to turn out. Rob is a PAIN he wants to be involved in all aspects but won’t settle on a decision or has ideals that don’t translate well into our budget and resources.
I know my wedding it’s not going to be a grand fairy tale wedding but I hope it comes out really nice.

Christmas eve we spent with Rob’s paternal family (Rob’s fathers’ mom, sisters, brothers etc.) it was quite… interesting lot of big drinkers in his family.
Christmas day we spent with my family, lots of food, presents, noise and cheerful chaos.
I always enjoy watching people open the gifts I gave them and I received lot of nice gifts too. Even the Kitty’s all got presents.

New Year’s Eve I was annoyed. A girlfriend had agreed 2 weeks in advance to come out to my place & drag Rob along.  So we all could have a safe New Years Eve. I had enough beds/couches at my place for guests to crash so no one would be driving.
The Night of Dec 30th she cancels but doesn’t even perform the courtesy of calling me. She just tells Rob, so Rob calls and begs me to come down, which I did. I wanted to spend New Years with my fiancé but he will tell yah I was fuming. I ended up having pretty decent time anyway.

We had another big snow storm beginning of 2008 so I came home to about 2 feet of snow filling my drive way. I had to park in the road. The next morning of Jan 4th Mom was shoveling a path for me and trying to at least clear the end of the drive to park my car in. I was of little help I tried to shovel but my illness makes me weak and useless. What was ironically funny was at that moment I was wishing I had a show plow, a few minutes later a neighbor stops and tells us he’s got a plow; he’d come back and clear my drive. Leo owns a sprinkler/ lawn service and snow plow business and he lives just down are road. When he came back with the plow truck we sent mom inside to get warm. I helped him cut branches off trees lining the drive so his BIG truck would not get scratched up as he cleared my drive. THANK YOU kind neighbor Leo.

Jan 7th I walked Joan’s dog yesterday I felt I needed the exercise haven’t been walking much with all the bad weather. That pain in my right foot up my leg is back. It would probably help if I had better walking shoes and some supportive insoles. My sneakers are pretty worn out. I need to get some winter hiking shoes/boots but I won’t have money for that until next month too many bills to pay.

Today is January 8th I had an 8:00am appointment to meet the doctor who was to perform my 2nd lumbar puncture and drainage because of the PseudoTumor Cerebri.
I arrived at the main hospital and was told they didn’t have me on the schedule. The receptionist asked if I was scheduled at the other building. Neither my doctors nor the receptionist who made my appointment thought to mention that there are 2 building both housing different sets of doctors working for the same division. Today’s appointment was in the newer building around the block.
My doctor Brandon Gaetino and his staff were excellent. Kind, compassionate, skilled, 300% better than my last lumbar puncture and he was cute.They made me feel comfortable, at ease and got the needle in on the 1st try, unlike 20 + impaling stabs from the previous clinic. I did have high intracranial pressure again, NO DUH. My opening pressure was 27.2 mmHg they drained 15ml with a closing pressure of 19.7 mmHg. A pressure of 25 mmHg or greater is indicative of intracranial hypertension.
Poor mom was freaking in the waiting room because she was worried it be another nightmare procedure but a nurse went out every few minutes to give her updates
My back is sore and I was little dizzy all day but I’m doing fine.

I visited with Rob this weekend helped him do some of his holiday shopping. Getting to and from his home wasn’t much fun because of the nasty winter storms. My poor old car doesn’t like it much either she blew a fuse or has an electrical short. The panel lights, radio/clock lights are out as well as the heat fan not working. Very sucky!

Oh, also week or two ago I got a surprise belated birthday gift ‘Michael Love’ a yahoo/web friend sent me couple books off my amazon wish list. I was totally surprised since I’ve not had a chat with him in a long time.  Thanx Mike.