I am so sorry that it has been so long. I guess I have been busy and I have been. I changed shifts at work. I now work 11pm to 7am. Much better for me with everything and my health. I thought I was going to hate it but realized how much I missed it. I never should have changed to the day shift. So much harder!!!!
That in itself was one adverture. I was very nervous about doing it because it changes the whole household. But it all seems to be working well even though we are still working out the bugs in the system. Now I have also cut my hours from 40 to 32. Much, much better. More time at home to do things and be with Sue and the animals. You know the drill.
Now, last March, my Sheryl had gastric bypass surgery done. Today she has lost 108 pounds. I was worried about her and this surgery and even though I am a nurse I didn't understand it. I though she would be eating liquids for the rest of her life and that just didn't sit well with me. However, I have since learned that she can eat almost anything. Some things make her sick and she has to wait and try them at a later time. She has to chew her food well, which I know I don't do, and I am sure most of the human race doesn't do, either. I am so proud of her. I saw her in May and could see a difference in her, clothes were looser, jaw line more pronounced and she looked healthier. Did I say how proud I was of her for doing this? She is a very strong woman. But then, I didn't raise wusses!
Now, September 28, 2010, I flew to Raleigh, because my other beautiful, strong daughter, Stephanie, decided she was going to have the surgery and decided to use Sheryl's surgeon for many reasons. And I am very glad she did.
Now, I hate to fly. I don't know why, I guess because I am older, who knows, because I certainly don't know. The closer the date came to leave the nastier I became and I can only say it was because my comfortable world was being violated. Poor Sue, she took the brunt of it but was very patient with me and I do so appreciate it. Thank goodness we have been together 10 years because she knows just how to handle me. Steph arranged the entire trip and thank goodness she order wheelchair transportation in the airports because I really needed it. So the first bad thing for me was these were not direct flights. OHHHHH God!! I thought for sure I would end up in Southeast bumf**k with no cell phone service or something. I didn't. Only because the wheelchair people got me to the right gate at the right time. Thank you w/c people!!!! Okay, now, I left from Bradley, flew into Charlotte, NC but couldn't get off the plane and ride with Steph from Charlotte to Raleigh. Nope, not allowed. So went on to Raleigh, where the girls picked me up about 9pm. We had to be up at 3am to get Steph to the hospital by 5am. Done!
While Steph was in the hospital, Sher and I had some quality time. I have missed this since everyone has moved away. No longer can I call them and say want to do this or that. I didn't do it a lot but it was nice to know they were there. Anyway, Sheryl took me out to dinner at Los Tres. I haven't been to a Mexican restaurant since I got food poisoning at one here about 12 years ago. I have been dying to try again because I miss real Mexican food. I had the enchilada plate and it was sooooo goood! I ate every morsel on my plate. It was just nice to sit and talk to Sheryl and not have the dogs bothering us for something. Then we went back to her apartment and watched TV. I really enjoyed the rest while I was visiting. No pressure.
Too soon it was time to leave. Now this is really where the adventure started. The girls dropped me at the airport. I got to my gate only to find that the flight was delayed which meant I would miss my connecting fight. I was hoping the hour and a half layover would allow me to catch the flight. Well, come to find out, the flight was cancelled. Now I am really worried but I had to pull up my big girl pants and deal with it. I wanted to cry. I met a lot of nice women in the same predicament as me so we kind of hung together and helped each other. Needless to say, I made it to DC but missed my connecting flight. Changed my flight, got a new one, had some time to kill so I was watching the football game and reading. I was also people watching. I love that. I get a call from Sue that my flight is delayed. It hasn't even come up on the screens at the airport yet but it was true. Suddenly, someone must have hung an information sign on me somewhere because everyone was coming up to ask me if this was true. I guess I do talk louder than I thought. Wee, to make a long story shorter, I ended up with a 6 hour layover, and got home about midnight. Sue picked me up and I was never so happy to see her. I almost cried. Next time...I am renting a car and driving!!!!!
I didn't tell you how proud I am of Steph for doing this surgery but I am. I have seen a big change in her esteem and attitude with life. I know as the weight comes off, she is going to be a force to behold. Watch out world.
Just before I left to go down south, I found a wonderful blog called Me verses Lupus. I love, love, love the woman who writes it. She is so down to earth and honest. I try to read her everyday and have even written comments, which is totally not me. So I must really be comfortable with her. She just deals with life and lupus and some days that is not an easy thing to do. Trust me I know and unless you have it you will not know.
This has gotten longer than I thought but it feels good to write. I will try and do it more ofter, I promise because it helps relax me.
Thanks for listening and remember....Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
