Caught up meant I had written about my journey after being in the hospital for two months (in 2012) and I (think) I finished writing about family, pets and my cloud or weather pictures.
2014 has been an unusual year for different reasons.
Around the end of February or first March my doctor discovered I have an illness that required some heavy duty treatment. I had to have a couple of tests to confirm said illness and by the end of April (or so) it was confirmed.
I, however, was sure everyone was wrong! I didn't have any of the symptoms that went along with this illness. I kept telling everyone (that I told); even my doctor(s). But, everything came back positive so I had to go through treatment.
It was also about this time, I had decided to move. I wasn't looking but a complex that I applied to two years ago called and told me they had an empty apartment. 'Could I come see it?' I asked.
I would have a patio! I didn't know how I was going to get out there with my wheelchair but this was, in the end, the clincher.
My spacious kitchen
My non-spacious pantry
View from my bedroom!
My okay sized closet.
I said yes of course. I was concerned about the lack of closet space. My current apartment had a linen and a coat closet plus a very nice sized pantry. I was getting none of that with the new apartment. Why did I say yes?
I was tired of all the drama going on at PM. Really tired. So - I signed the paperwork and started packing.
I also decided to not start treatment until I was moved into my new place. Actually, It wasn't until the end of June that I started treatment. I knew some of what was coming so I wanted to be almost 100% unpacked.
The sizable living room, kitchen and bedroom made up for the lack of pantry space. Okay, not really but I'm still figuring it out. I even think I've decided I know what to do to add a little space.
I moved in May 31, 2014. Once in, I worked every day to get things put away. It took me almost the entire month to unpack, make room, unpack some more but I did it.
On June 30, 2014, I started treatment.
It was difficult. Extremely difficult. The first week was probably the easiest but that was it.
Nausea consumed almost every hour of the five and a half weeks I did the treatment. Because of the nausea, I was never hungry. Although I knew I needed to keep my iron up I simply couldn't help it.
I went for blood draws twice before my next appointment which was about the end of July. My levels dropped a little but they weren't too concerned. I also knew I had lost weight, quite a bit.
It was after this appointment that I began feeling the real effects of treatment. Some of which I didn't realize. I became weak, I kept losing weight and my concentration slowly fell off. Plus my skin began showing signs of sided effects. Tiny openings that looked like I had been cut with a tip of a knife started to show up on my hands and arms.
I was frantic at times. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could see ourselves during times such as this? I tried so hard to give the appearance of normalcy even though I was miserable. I don't think I fooled anyone.
When I had the third blood draw, my levels had dropped dramatically. I was seriously anemic. My doctor ordered a blood transfusion.
The transfusion helped but the day after the transfusion, I woke feeling like someone was sitting on my chest. I tried to deal with it thinking it was a side effect of the transfusion.
Also, with my next draw, it showed my illness was gone. I was hopeful in that it wouldn't return. I would know with a "final" draw at the end of September if it was completely gone.
The issue with my breathing/lungs/heart continued. Sometimes it would abate but it never went away. With all of this worry, I learned my illness had returned.
It is October now, closing in on the end of the month. I still have breathing issues but I'm not gasping for air. Even so I believe the treatment or the transfusion has caused whatever is going on with me. I will have to find out what is going on.
Until then, family will be in town. Actually, as of this writing, my brother, Shelby is home. He is in Yellow Springs. His daughters and families will be here by the weekend starting (I think) October 30, 2014. Everyone will gather here, where I live, in the community room on November 2, 2014. Other family members will also be here and I'm expecting no less that thirty five people, not the ten or twelve I first expected. (This was my not asking enough questions). It's fine though.
I'm prepared, I think. Well, I will be after I go to the grocery this evening. Jeri and Eric will be by to pick me up. Final grocery trip.
I will clean my apartment (really good) all week and begin baking Halloween Day. I am making, pumpkin cookies, peanut butter cookies and brownies. November 1, 2014 I will make a pot of chili.
I am so looking forward to seeing everyone. My great-nieces won't remember me of course but I don't care. They are my niece's children. I'm looking forward to talking to their husbands again, one of which I haven't talked to since I met him before he married my oldest niece. Also the 'significant other' of my youngest niece whom I have yet to meet. It seems serious though, they've been together well over a year.
I can't wait and am consumed with the thought of seeing them all again.
Until next time ~
For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, "Peace be within you."
...Psalm 122: 8
