Last day of work

So, today was my last day of work. Well, I called in sick today, but I was honest. I didn't say I was sick. I told them I didn't have any thing left to do and that since I'm only getting $10 per day for any sick days I haven't used, it was more beneficial for me to call in then to work.

I was really sad, but this week I've been much more happy about quitting my job. I can only take one day at a time and I absolutely wasn't going to go any further in my job without an increase in degree status.

I was already paid on the BA degree scale, so when I had attain my BA I wouldn't have gotten any pay increase. I was also at the top of the scale for steps in "years of employment" so I couldn't get any more raises from that. I was also employed as an OT Assistant, which means I can't EVER get any MORE responsibility. As an assistant I'm not allowed to do assessments, program planning, treatment planning, advocacy, nor can I get certified or specialized in ANY areas of OT because I'm the Assistant and not the therapist. This would be fine if I didn't have 16 years of experience and past OT therapists who supervised me had me do the previous tasks because I had the skills and they utilized my experience. As an assistant, if I get a new OT supervisor, it doesn't matter how much experience they have or that I have, I'm still an assistant and my hands are tied as to what I can do to help the kids/patients.
If I was the OT I would be servicing more kids in the schools. Yes, I fully understand the funding and legalities of OT ancillary services, but I also know that OT should be giving in-service trainings so the kids don't have to be "failing" before the teacher or staff know what to do to help the kids. We can be part of the intervention plans for all children with disabilities, not just the ones in SPED.

So, I'm happy to be quitting and moving onto (I hope) a new place of employment, education and to experience opportunities to grow professionally and from within.

New stuff, all the time.

So, Amber and Carlos are in Washington state and are enjoying the beautiful surroundings. For a couple of years now, John and I have wanted to live closer to our daughters. At the time we first begin thinking about it, John didn't want to live in Las Cruces (where Amber and Carlos were) because he felt the city was too large and he liked the idea of living in the mountains, so we chose to eventually move to Silver City, which would have been about 1.75 hours from Amber and Carlos, but much closer then we are now.
Well, of course Amber and Carlos don't live there now.
The original plan was for me to find a job in Silver and for John to retire afterward, however a week before Thanksgiving, John applied for a position (with the same job) in a small town within driving distance to Silver. Last Monday, yep four days after he applied, we heard he got the position.

We are now moving to Silver. Yeah! Yeah to live close to Ashley, Yeah about the beautiful mountains, Yeah about quitting my job!
But I applied this last week at there are NO jobs for a COTA in Silver. This is pretty stressful to me, I've worked for 16 years as a COTA and as a divisional manager before that. This also cuts our income in half. This totally stresses me so, I've been focusing on the fact that I (Yeah) can go to school full-time this semester.
We also have found that housing in Silver is about 25 to 50% more then here, so, we won't be able to afford a house that isn't pretty old because 1. It cost more, 2. I'm unemployed and can't contribute to the income.
But Yeah about the move. I'd rather move then not. I love going to school full-time even if it means eating beans for a few years until I can get my BA and MA.
I again, must put my faith in God and be happy he has gave us this opportunity to be closer to Ashley (We plan on visits to see Amber as much as we can).

Endless changes

Well, the biggest change is that my daughter Amber and her husband Carlos are moving to Washington state. That is very good, and yet very sad. Carlos had difficulty getting a job here in New Mexico. I so very much wish he was able to get something here, but the good news is that the job he did get is a wonderful job and a wonderful opportunity for him. I realize that Amber and Carlos are the kids we get to see the most. Amber had weekends off and so it was easier for them to come here or us to go there. They were the inspiration for us to try many new cool foods, yummy deserts, great beers, wines, music, swimming, and camping, to name a few. So, their company, on a regular basis (every month or two months) will be missed. However; in all the sadness on my part, we have great joy as well. They will love the beauty of Washington and we will have a great place to go for vacations haha!

The other changes are: I changed my major, I am attempting to get my BA as a Rehabiliationist Specialist, I have a new office on my job (start this Monday), I'm am officially in menopause LOL, I just finished my summer classes,I expect to get A's due to the points I've gotten so far, but I will have to wait and see. So, no more changes for now. I will be saving my money to visit Washington state now :) I hope to see it often!

Wow, I really need to reformat this blog LOL

Wow I need to update this blog. My pictures are old and I haven't changed the background for a while.

So, I went to an immunologist who gave me an actual name of the diagnoses he thinks I have, regarding my immune system. It is called hypocomplementic vasculitis, well at these this is the short version LOL. He can't confirm 100% until I get a purpura rash and they biopsy it. So, I get a rash approximately once a month to one every 6 months so it may be awhile. I'm just glad to find someone who says my test results match something LOL.
Ash had her birthday at our house, I will post pictures another time. I really enjoyed Amber/Carlos and Ashley/Gabe visits. I want to live closer to them so bad. One of the reason's I'm getting a bachelors degree is so I will have options for employment so I can leave Carlsbad and move closer to the kids.
People tease me and say that then the kids will move away LOL. Well, if they do, then they do, but if I could have even one year living in the same town or close enough we could do lunch or nails or shop or have dinner more then once every 3 to 6months, then it would have been worth the move.

Mom continues to be oxycontin free. This is a great thing. She is now back to her mouthy ways, but so far she has apologized when she gets that way, so I'd rather see her mouthy then messed up cognitively due to drug use.
She has no memory of all the stuff she did (or David) or anything about the oxy problems. Even the financial problems. This is a little discerning because she can't learn from anything when she doesn't recall anything. Oh well, nothing is ever normal with her and at least she is independant and thinking clearly now. She has also admitted to having diabetes and she takes her pill regularly and tests her blood daily. At least she believes that this medical advice is good :)
She has also lost her teeth and has hinted to me and others several times how she wants/needs more. I do feel for her though, but she has had two pair already.
Anyway, Life for me is busy but good right now.

The Lord has Been so good to me

I am now doing well. I had a stress test done and a nuclear scan of my heart done. The results were great. I was told I was in better than average shape for someone my age, yeah! I suppose working out at the gym before I got sick paid off LOL. The Dr. said the mitral valve regurtitation won't go away, but unless it gets worse I am to live my life without restrictions. The Dr. will monitor me and I am to have an echocardiogram every 6 months.
Regarding the autoimmune problem. I am suppose to go to an immunologist in March. I really don't want to go because I feel so good right now. I don't want to be given medicine that makes me feel bad, but I promised my primary care Dr I would go so I will.
I am feeling good now and Jesus was there for me and continues to be there for me. This is all I know.
My mom is doing great! I can hardly believe the change in her. She is taking her diabetes pill regularly, which is very important. She is also off all narcotics. Her mind is sharp again and she is demonstrating independants in all daily living skills including her finances. I think when she prayed for me, God must have helped her. It's like I have the mom I used to have many years ago, but she is sweeter LOL. Anyway, I give thanks to God and everyone who was so supportive and sweet when I was sick. Especially my husband who was with me from breakfast to bedtime everyday. Thank you.

Health update

So, I've been out of the hospital since Jan 20. My mitral valve regurgitation is what they term as "moderate". I'm scheduled to have a stress test and nuclear dye pictures taken this month. Feb 21 I will see the cardiologist and hear the results. As far as I know, this will be a "monitor" problem. I don't know yet if the monitor will be every 6 months or yearly. I am finally starting to have some energy and I've recently have been able to breathe freely without any chest discomfort. Last Monday I broke out in a Purpura rash all over my legs, which my Dr says is an autoimmune reaction to ? So, Even though I was feeling good, I guess my immune system didn't think I was good LOL. So I stayed home and rested Tuesday.
Everyone has been so sweet to me.
I missed work on Tuesday and had snow days on Wed, Thurs and today (Friday). I'm off the weekend, so I've been blessed with many days to further recuperate. Now I feel great! I hope this continues. I need to begin working out again, I'm losing muscle tone :( Anyway, I'm ready for my life to become routine again. :)

Still in hospital but good news

So, I'm still in the hospital but not having Congestive Heart Failure any more. Most of the fluid from my lungs and heart has been removed. I can breathe better and my heart is beating good. I had an echocardiogram done yesterday. The Dr. says that it shows good heart muscle and pumping action. It also shows a mitral valve regurtitation. This mitral valve problem may have been there for awhile, they don't know. Either way, the Dr. says that with the exeption of the valve I have a healthy heart in all four chambers, YEAH!
Tomorrow morning they will do a esophageal echocardiogram to see more details of my valve. This will help them decide if it is a "wait and monitor" problem or a "needs repair/replacement" problem.
After this is over, I can go home and try the rest of my recuperation from pneumonia and the whole mess. So, I think God let this happen to find my valve problem. I had attempted to get my other Drs (gyn and primary) to check my heart, but they kept saying I didn't a good enough reason for checking it. I had a "gut" reason for a few years now. So, I'm glad to have found the problem, so we can fix it and move on with life. The lord Jesus has always taken care of me and I thank him so much for continuing to do so.

Writing from the Hospital

So, I'm writing from the hospital. I've had one heck of a week. Last Tuesday I became very ill and Wednesday morning decided I needed to go to the emergency room. They admitted me for pneumonia. On Thursday, while in the hospital I find out that my blood cultures reveal blood poisoning (Sepsis) of the bacteria that had infected my lung. I was given high doses of strong antibiotic called Levequil or something like that along with another one, which I don't remember the name of, but it made my head itch badly. I was told basically that the itch was worth the cure, so I took it. On Friday, I began bloating really badly. I told the nurse about it and she shook it off and told me it was a side affect of the meds. I was nausaus as well, again, told side affects. I asked if he was going to do any xrays before I left and he said no.This continued thru Saturday. When the Dr. came in to Discharge me I told him. He said, side affect and to take some antacid. I went home. I began to improve with the pneumonia and fever, but continued to bloat. By Monday morning I noticed that even my legs and feet were bloated. I had tried on some of my pants on Saturday and couldn't even get them around my butt. Monday morning I weighed myself. I had gained 22 pounds in only 5 days. Not Good. So, after several calls to Dr offices who didn't open on MLK day, I went to the emergency room.

Now here I am, admitted with Congestive Heart Failure. Wow, I can hardly believe it. Part of me wants to cry and be so sad about the prospect of a possible earlier demise then what I ever thought I'd have. Another part of me wants to say, well at least we know and now lets find a cure. So, I'm going with the second part of me. I will eventually die anyway, we all do, so I get a chance of preventing mine for a bit by finding the cause and following the treatment. At least I didn't have a heart attack out of the blue and just die. So, that is all I want to write for now. I'm getting a bit tired. Of course the whole time I was writing I didn't have one interruption from hospital staff. They are waiting for me to attempt a nap. Which is what I'm going to do. Later.

So, I realize I haven't updated my blog in a while. First, my Bone marrow biopsy was good, meaning I don't have anything that is diagnosable. This is good because I don't have anything too serious right now. The doctor said my results were "interesting" LOL. Anyway, long story short is that the parts which were abnormal were areas which can be abnormal for either an autoimmune/inflammatory disorder or a mild pre-leukemia. So, I am still a lab rat :) The oncologist wants the rheumatologist to rule out autoimmune and after I seen the rheumatologist (Dec 21) he has wanted the biopsy to rule out pre-leukemia prior to treatment for autoimmune disorder. So, from both Doctors it is a monitor and see what happens down the road. If I begin to get worse as months/years go by then whatever surfaces, that is what I will be treated for. Meanwhile I take anti-infammatories for an achiness and take good care of myself so my immune system doesn't have to react to itself. The end.

Now, for life update. Christmas was very good, but we missed Amber and Carlos. This was the first year that Amber spent away from us at Christmas (now that Carlos and she are married then in-laws get a turn), which is fine, such is life. We had a wonderful time in Silver City with Ashley and her boyfriend Gabe. Thanksgiving was spent at Ashley's in Silver City(due to the convenience of travel for Amber and Ashley and days off). Next year, I have no idea where we will be for Thanksgiving, but John insists that we aren't "going anywhere" for Christmas. I think he got tired of traveling so much. We had went to the trainings for the Chrysalis in Oct, Nov, then Thanksgiving, then Dec, then Albuq, then Christmas to Silver. I really would love to stay home for Christmas, but I don't want to be alone with just the two of us. So, I hope next year the kids can travel to see us or I will be very sad at Christmas time.
I'm going to be taking a math class (online) this spring. It starts in two weeks. I hope I can do it. I haven't had math in about two years and it was basic algebra then. This class sounds like fun. It is Math Appreciation and it has problems in it like I used to do for fun in the brain books (logic puzzles, etc). I really like math, but I don't know all the mathematical terms and reading a word problem without knowing all the terms and procedures can be intimidating especially when it is online and your teaching yourself LOL. Oh well. My resolution for the new new year is #1 Get through it with my sanity in tact LOL and #2 Maintain my current weight loss.