mommakitty's Journal

Stress
Aug 02 2009 11:09

Last Friday morning I woke up with an ear ache and stiff neck.  It continued to get worse, but managed to control it with Ibuprofen and hot compresses.  Sunday morning I had these "things" on my neck.  They were little pustules, many of them.  I had an appointment scheduled for a regular check up on Tuesday.  The stiff neck, ear ache and new pustules continued.  By the time I got to the doctor I now had something happening to my ear.  I had woke up that morning with what looked like a red potato stuck on my head where my ear used to be.

In the doctor's office, the male nurse took my vitals, made a funny face and said he'd be right back.  Two minutes later my doctor came in and said "Tonnie, you need to go into the hospital."  He told me my temperature was 103.7 F.  After he examined me, he said it looks like I have a bacterial infection and that I have shingles!  Holy Moly batman!  I really did not feel like my fever was that high.  I thought it might be right around 100 F or so.

I agreed that I should go to the hospital, but wanted to go home and get some things, like my chemistry book, phone charger, etc.  He told me, absolutely NOT.  I was to go immediately to the hospital.  Do not go home first.  The severity in which he said this made me think that I better obey, even though my rebellious side wanted it "my way."  I hate not being in control of myself.

So, from Tuesday afternoon until Thursday afternoon I was in the hospital.  I couldn't come or go from my room even though I was ambulatory because I was now contagious.  I was irked because I had all this time and no way to get to my chemistry book to study. 

Shingles are stress related.  That is the one question everyone asked me; was I having any stress issues?  Well, yes.  Chemistry class is trying to kill me.  I had studied and studied and still didn't understand all the conversion formulas (lots of algebra).  I had been worried about taking a test.  A stupid test...........

By Thursday morning my temperature was back to normal, but a lot of the pustules had burst and now my neck was an open wound.  I could go home if I agreed to let someone from "wound" care come in and bandage me up.  So, I agreed.  What choice did I have?

This nice lady came in with this pad that measured 5" x 10" to place over my wounds.  By the time she got done taping and wrapping me up, I was just shy of being a really ugly mummy.  Then she wanted to put this stocking over my head cutting a hole for my mouth and eyes.  The top of the stocking had a knot in the end so if this didn't add an even more interesting depth to my already goofy bandaged appearance, nothing else could have.  When I finally looked in the mirror, all I wanted to do was cry.  How was I supposed to get on the bus and go home with that get-up on?  So, I started laughing; there was no point in crying.

I made it home without too many strange looks.  Everyone said that shingles can be painful.  Well, I have to agree, but it's not the sores that are painful.  It is the muscles related to the affected nerves that are killing me.  I can only sit at the computer for about 20 minutes or so before if feels like my neck and shoulder is on fire.  This is making homework hard to finish.  I think my window of pain-free is closing now.  Time for the hot-pack and let everything rest before I start up again.  I will be calling the doctor tomorrow and asking for advise.

Tonnie

I've been bad
Jul 11 2009 21:47

No, not with food.  I've been corresponding with another student "Matthew" for a couple of weeks.  He's extremely funny, and appreciates my sense of humor!  He likes cats (yay for BU); but he lives in Maui.  This is probably the most intelligent man I have ever met.  We video conference on Skype.  (Did I mention, he's handsome?) Yes, you may insert a little devil emoticon here!

School is going great.  Heavenly, thanks for the prayers.  Nichole, I'm sorry I haven't written.  I think your email got buried! Norm is still Norm, but worse in some aspects.  He got a delivery from a pharmaceutical company with a box full of some type of "supplements".  I haven't snooped, so I can't tell you what they are for. 

It is HOT people!  I'm not the type that can appreciate heat.  I feel my ankles and fingers swelling as I type.  I AM drinking more water than a camel.  I hope that it cools off by Monday. 

BU is fine and sends her love to Max and Hailey.  I think she is a professional alarm clock now.  (3:30 this morning she wanted out).  I keep telling myself "I love my cat", "I love my cat".   

That is all for now.  I'm sorry that I have been slacking with replying to journals.  I do read them!  Sometimes I just don't have anything sensible to offer. 

Tonnie

Are you sick of me yet? It's been a year
May 12 2009 08:11

I just realized that today is my 1 year anniversary here!  It's been quite the year.  I've lost 33.2 lbs.  Not as much as I hoped for by now, but what the heck.  At least I don't weigh 190 anymore. 

I have made friends, Nicole, Jamie, Amanda, Cindy, Minx, Jho, Kickass.  All of you are wonderful women.  I look forward to reading posts from GI Jane, Lalabanana, Claire.  I've responded to questions, most of the time receiving a thank you; sometimes telling me I'm "full of it".  Not too often on that part.

I don't claim to be sweet.  I expect some sort of verification from others to blanket statements, by providing a link for me to check out on my own.  Just because your mom's best friends hairdressers 2nd cousin twice removed said it, doesn't mean that I'm going to believe it.  I've started a couple of opinionated threads, especially the one about the use of texting in forum posts.  One of my college classes has a whole subject on something called "Netquette".  Sort of like proper etiquette for proper posting.  Text all you want to your friends, family or anyone else that can stand it, but if you are asking a question to a class, and any group in general that you don't know, it is improper.  There was something I also remember reading about how it tends to make the person texting seem illiterate.  (Link to be edited in a few minutes.)

That's been my year, sort of.  I need to get ready for some serious shopping.

My new chair
May 04 2009 19:02

This is nothing newsworthy; hardly worth mentioning, but it tickled the pants off of me.  For 6 months I have been using a hard Ice Cream Parlor style chair (not made for comfort) at my computer.  I have been taking online classes, so I'm at the computer 4-6 hours a day with studies.  I go to bed at night with a tired butt, stiff sholders and neck. 

Today I decided to buy a new chair for my computer.  To me it's beautiful.  To some it's probably tacky.  I got it at Walmart for $54.00.   The box said "some assembly required".  I didn't have a problem with that, as I think I'm a very resourceful person.  I emptied the box of it's 92,000 parts, and felt a bit intimidated.  I know, there's millions out there that don't even need to read the directions.  Whatever. 

Once this beast was assembled, I needed to get it into my computer area.    I have a room that has my computer on a small desk with shelves upon shelves of fabric surrounding it.  There is also a sewing machine that sits in an expandable cabinet that is approximately 4' deep X 6' wide, fully expanded.  Hmm.  The chair doesn't seem to want to fit. 

My cat, BU, seems to think that it is her place to lay on the expansion of the cabinet right behind me.  I had to drop a couple of leavess for the sewing table, disturb BU, cram all the stuff onto the main part of the cabinet and wiggle the chair into it's new home; behind the computer.

I was thinking of sewing something tomorrow.  I guess not.  It's going to take a month of Sundays to unclutter my mess.  I hope I find BU. 

Waiting for hell to freeze over
Apr 22 2009 15:59

What would be the appropriate amount of time for me to wait until I get fed up with the new garbage disposal sitting on the counter and I decide to just install it myself?  I really don't want to push Norm into doing this (he works so hard-sarcasm).  On his days off, he's recovering from the heavy drinking, so surely it would be too difficult for him to even attempt it.  My hands are the only ones small enough to fit into the sink to dislodge the food that gets rinsed down there.  I am tired of this, and fed up with his projects that turn out to be my projects.  He says it's a mans job, maybe one of these days he'll send a man to fix it.  Sorry for growling.  His overwhelming lack of enthusiasm just gets to me sometimes.  It's been a month.

They want me!
Jan 21 2009 08:51

I just got a confirmation email, that Cloud-10 wants me!  I was beginning to wonder and really brought my self some self-doubt about my abilities and interviewing skills.  Happy, Happy day! 

School starts next Wednesday, and this job doesn't start until February 13.  What a relief!  Busy, busy I will be.  I am so looking forward to this (both).  I have been stagnant for so long.  I feel like a butterfly bursting out of my cocoon.  I am going to fly.  Okay, that's corny.  I don't know how else to express my happiness right now.  There's probably a few other sayings I can write, but the one that I will end with is "Thank you God!" for this opportunity to make myself feel like a valuable person on the face of this earth.  ~Tonnie

It WAS too good to be true!
Jan 17 2009 09:13

Yesterday I celebrated my joy over Norm cleaning up his kitchen mess.  This morning I find that the real Norm has returned.  BBQ sauce everywhere.  Glops all over the floor and the refrigerator door handle was sticky!   I guess the one day of cleanliness was all he could handle!

I am now enrolled as a full time student of Nutrition Science at Kaplan University/online!  Yay for me!  Classes start January 23rd.  Better than waiting for my local college semester to start in March.

This morning I got a confirmation for an appointment for an interview for a temporary job where I will be taking calls and answering questions about the DTV transition that will start on February 13th.  Again, Yay for me!   If this works out, I might be asked to do other projects for this company.  I have my darling daughter, Mia, to thank for that lead.

We've been having some pretty wonderful days around here.  No snow and the day time highs have been in the upper 50's to lower 60's all week.  It still gets down to freezing at night.  I've went through my house and put up the plastic all over the windows, so I'm hoping that will help with the heating bills.  Last year they were killer.  After I paid my rent, cable, phone it left me with about $100.00 for food and all other incidentals (BU food!!), bus tickets, a pack of gum (maybe).  T'm really optimistic about this year.  I've been through the thrashing, and now I'm ready to get on with all these exciting changes that are coming my way.  Thank You God.  Hope everyone is well, and warm.  I've managed to stay healthy.  The flu has bypassed me.   It did get to Norm though, but I really think his ailments were "self-inflicted", if you get my drift.   Take care, and Gods Blessings to all.  ~Tonnie

Who are you? And what did you do with Norm?
Jan 16 2009 05:45

I was blown away this morning and thought I should write something positive about my roommate for a change.  Norm had went food shopping yesterday and I almost dreaded seeing the  big pig mess that he normally leaves for me to clean up.  It wasn't there!  He actually put his food in the refrigerator, wiped down the stove and at least put the dirty utensils and pots into the sink!  Who ever this person was that cooked last night; thank you so much for not leaving me a mess to clean up after. 

Experimenting with Food Analyzer
Jan 06 2009 20:10

Shrimp Roll-ups

I don't know how well this will work as I'm a techno-geek.  This is a recipe that I adapted from Recipe4Living web site.  Looks good, but I haven't made it yet.  I'm sure it could be made with crab as well, just adjusting the calories (not sure if up or down though)!

I'll write more later.  I didn't realize it was so late.  ~Tonnie

Doing the Happy Dance for real!
Dec 29 2008 05:11

Joy! Joy!  I finally got down lower than my lowest weight ever.  This rotten plateau was making me crazy!  This morning I weighed 155.8 lbs!  Lowest weight before was 156.  I know it's only .2 of a pound, but I will take this minor victory; which really isn't so minor considering is was a 2+ month struggle to get here.    Only 20.2 lbs to goal weight.  I never thought I'd hear myself say that ONLY 20.2!!  This is wild.  I think I will dress extremely nice today when I go in for my chest x-ray.  I might even pull out a shirt from the back of the closet that I bought that was intentionally too small a while back and see how it fits (no gaposis in the boobs I hope).  Even if it's still too small that will be okay!(Don't worry, I won't wear it--that's disgusting!)   Another important thing that happened when I stepped on the scale--I SAW weight loss.  My scale is right in front of my bathroom mirror.  I had written my measurements down a while back and the tape measure never seemed to change.  I'll go find that slip of paper and see just what I have done.  Good day people!  No, I change my mind, terrific day! ~Tonnie