The Ups and Downs of Recovery

Thanks everyone for your concern and emails of encouragement. Here's a quick health update: I'm doing better - the doctor has said that all of the blood clots have 'resolved themselves' which is a very good sign. I still don't feel like I have full lung capacity, but that could also just truly be because I'm out of shape!

My blood tests are still coming back low so they put me on daily injections and pills (basically returning to the level of medication that I had when I was in the hospital). I've also changed my pills from one that works faster, but is less stable over time to one that is slower working, but achieves greater consistency. I'm meeting with a blood specialist on Friday to do some additional tests and make sure that I don't have any genetic issues, but won't know more until I get the test results. Although my blood test was low it does show an improvement in values, so it's heading in the right direction.

So, given that I have an active imagination that can quickly spiral out of control, I go to bed each night with some positive affirmation and visualization of my blood coursing freely and at the right pace through my veins...it's good to put an active imagination to work on positive things!

That's all on my end from a health standpoint...I'll be adding more posts soon to highlight Danielle's recent visit...super fun!

Mucho mejor en Mannheim

In case you haven't noticed, I really like alliteration. Just thought I'd share that with you.

Anyhoo, I am back in Mannheim (woo hoo!). I was able to leave the hospital on Wednesday and flew home Friday evening. Man, what an experience!

I don't think the potential severity of the situation has really sunk in, but it is ironic that the day before I left the hospital I came down with a pretty bad cold. So, while I didn't blink at partically blocked airways and 140/99 blood pressure, a stuffy nose and sinus pressure had me huddled under my covers whimpering like a baby! Yeah, I'm a little weird.

While this whole experience is not one that I would ever want to repeat there were quite a few silver linings:

1. Being in Spain. I'm much more comfortable with Spanish than German so it was great that I was able to communicate with the doctors to understand what was going on.

2. Having Tere come to the hospital. I have gone through quite a few major life events alone so it was actually really nice to have a family member with me during this experience. And, it gave Tere an opportunity to 'come to the rescue' using her pre-med and Spanish knowledge. A total win-win.

3. Meeting Enrique. I was actually in Spain for work and Enrique was my work contact there. He was so super stellar the whole time I was in the hospital. Being around me and my sister for basically a whole week didn't even phase him and he graciously allowed us to completely mangle his language in our attempts to use what little we knew. He was pretty amazing. Pues, Enrique esto es para ti...MIL GRACIAS! Y ya sabes...siempre estas bienvenido donde estemos!

4. Getting a mini holiday without having to take vacation. You know, after all of my travel I was thinking: I really need a vacation where I do nothing but sleep and relax. Well, no sooner said than done. I was confined to my bed for the first few days and, after that, I was granted the right to walk to and sit in a chair (less than a foot from my bed) and, glory of all glories, walk to the bathroom! Sleeping, watching movies, and journaling where pretty much all I did for a whole week. AWESOME.

So, all told...

One week hospital stay: 3,242 euro
Having one's physical, emotional, and spiritual health renewed: Priceless

Saludos from Espana!

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to thank you all so much for the outpouring of concern and support. So, after being in the hospital for a few days, I have learned that the official diagnosis is bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism and is actually even more serious than I first realized. I guess ignorance really is bliss.

I will be staying at the hosptial for at least 5 more days as they allow my body to work out the multiple clots and reach a consistency where I am safe to travel. (yikes!)

I'm feeling TONS better. I was able to say 'bye, bye, bye' to the oxygen tube and am able to breathe more deeply now without experiencing any pain. I have realized that I am not out of the woods yet, but at least I see the clearing ahead.

One of my sisters (Tere) just arrived today from Canada and its been great to have family here. She also brought with her the movie 'Knocked Up' which was surprisingly funny and heartwarming.

Anyway, just wanted to provide a quick update on my status and thank you all for your concern.

In the throes of thrombosis...

This week, I had the grand plan of traveling to Spain, having a meeting, visiting some dealers, and then spending the weekend with friends. All I can say is, the best made plans....the best made plans. So my reality is sitting here in a hospital room in Spain with an oxygen tube up my nose. This is a very real time blog posting because I am sitting in this hospital room bored to tears.

Why am I here, you ask? I, my friends, am a victim of deep vein thrombosis which migrated to my lungs causing pulmonary embolism. Sounds scary, right? Apparently it is. As in could cause death! I won't bore you with all of the details, but since I returned from the States in early September, I had problems with my left leg. When I was in Canada last week, I almost passed out playing tennis with Tracie. I chaulked it up to stress and poor health - work is a bit nuts right now.

But, today when I arrived in Spain and could take no more than a few steps without gasping for breath, my colleagues readily agreed when I finally decided that I should head to the hospital to get checked out (I think they were relieved to eliminate the possibility of my passing out during our meeting).

Now, most people only have one clot. Apparently, I have multiple clots that are in several distinct locations in both lungs. There are times when being ahead of the curve is a good thing...this is so clearly not one of them....and, the thing that makes me so mad is that I've always taken pride in my superior blood clotting abilities.

I know it sounds strange, but I love giving blood to the Red Cross - not only for the humanitarian impact, but also because I never have to leave with a band aid on my arm. My blood is completely clotted before I even finish one of those semi-stale oatmeal cookies they give you after you're finished. Argh, the irony!

Anyway, so my week is shot. I'm here in the hospital for 'a few days and some tests'. But, at least I have my health and in the words of Count Rugen from The Princess Bride, "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything."

So, my friends, I hope this posting finds you in great health...If all continues to go well, I'll be joining you there shortly!

Go shorty, it's your birthday...we gon' party like it's your birthday - Fiddy

So, in keeping with this whole 'family means a lot to me' theme I headed up to Canada on Sept. 22nd to celebrate my uncle's album (ok, CD) release party - which conveniently fell on Sept 25th (my birthday). It was an awesome, awesome time!

Unfortunately, not everyone could be there for the weeklong celebration that included my uncle's release party and his girlfriend's art musuem opening. So, during the time I was there, my sisters Tere, Joy, and Tracie, my parents, and aunt were there.

My uncle gave an amazing performance. His music is total positivity and is a fusion of gospel, jazz, and funk. I have never seen him look so happy or in his element. There is definitely a lot to be said about the passion and positivity that comes from doing something that you genuinely love. Check out his website (it's totally hot): http://www.slimwilliams.com/.

There's so much I could say about hanging out, but I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves. In the first photo, it's a picture of me and my sister, Tracie, with my uncle. In the second photo (my mom is going to KILL me)...it's me and my mom. Unfortunately, my mom wasn't having a good moment at that particular time, but Tracie (the photo taker) and I thought it was absolutely hilarious (as you can probably tell from my face). The next photos are of my sisters (Joy, Tere, and Tracie), Tere and aunt Riconda, and then of my parents.

Ireland...the country with untapped potential

When I went to visit Ireland...I so clearly did not have the luck o' the Irish with me. On a whim, I decided to go on a 3 day weekend trip with a friend of a friend. Note to self: NEVER do that again.

While my travel companion was a perfectly lovely person with a very interesting life story (she had married a German and lived over here for over 15 years before returning to the States last year), we had very different timetables and planning approaches.

Unfortunately, she was for the 'let's just see what happens' perspective, but that was not paired with a desire to actually get out there and see what was happening. So, this trip was really about all of the lovely buildings that I never got to go into and all of the wonderful sites that I only saw pictures of in the tourist center...which, incidentally, is where we spent most of our time since we had to scramble to find accomodations for every night but the first one and, guess what, there was a major rubgy game that weekend.

The travesty that was my trip to Ireland is too extensive to go into detail on a blog, but I have learned a very valuable traveling lesson: choose your travel partner wisely. It can spell the difference between reading about the Cliffs of Mohr and actually seeing them!

Well...I guess that just means that I have to keep Ireland on my 'countries to see' list! There are worst things to do, I guess!

Cora and Owen - the most adorable kids ever!

So, one of the things that I have realized since moving over here is how much my family (gulp) means to me (Tracie you can NOT comment on that statement). We are a pretty dramatic lot and for a long time I just did my own thing and made sure to show up to at least one annual holiday gathering.

Imagine my surprise at myself to realize that I'm taking more trips back to the States to hang out and celebrate different family events.

Now, I know that every uncle and aunt the world over think that they have the most adorable niece and/or nephew ever. Well, I guess I'm the exception...I don't think I have the most adorable niece and nephew...I know I do! :)

In early September I was able to spend a couple of days with my older brother and his family. I guess I got there in the nick of time since Owen seemed to think that I was Aunt Rachel (the youngest of the family). Such a mistake clearly could not continue.

So, I spent the few days that I was with them reading TONS of Dr. Suess and playing baby gerbil. Yeah, don't ask. All I can say is that Cora is a born actress with a vivid imagination and has no problem assigning opposing roles to whoever is willing (that would be me - the sucker aunt). It was scary.

Now, as much as Cora is into the land of imagination, Owen is grounded in the world of trucks, fire engines, and backhoes...yes, he is my nephew! Even though he can point out and correctly identify construction equipment when he sees it on the side of the road, we still have to refine his knowledge so that he can point out the best BRAND. Nothing runs like a Deere!