So, since I was here last, how about the highlights.
I saw the genetics team/specialist at the children's hospital. I spoke in great detail for a long time with the genetic counselor, which I wasn't expecting, but it was totally great. Really gave me a lot to think about. And the geneticist spoke to me with the genetic counselor in the room, so that we were all on the same page. Clinically speaking, it looks like EDS is official. But those words were not spoken, only hinted at, lest there's a twist in my story still. She is going to get me a molecular study and see what it looks like. Though we both know that genetic/molecular studies do not show all types of EDS, she still wants to see if there is anything to see. If not, we'll go from there. But for now, we're just waiting on my insurance company to approve the molecular study, because it's not something you can do and then bill insurance for later (like blood work or a doctor's visit).....it's very expensive and not very common, so it's something they want pre-approval for, to make sure it's necessary to be spending that kind of money. (if the doctor orders it, chances are, it's necessary, but whatever)
I adopted my little brother's puppy. Since he and his girlfriend are having a baby, they can't keep their puppy. They're on a tight budget as it is, and they have another dog (my brother's 7 year old chocolate lab). And the puppy happens to be an uninsured pit bull. One, the lack of insurance is not good, and they can't afford the insurance or anything else extra for him for that matter. And he's a pit bull puppy who needs lots of attention. And so does a baby. And a pit bull puppy won't know that a baby can't play or defend itself when he gets wound up. So they had to find a new home for him. It's hard to find a good home for pits because you never know if someone is going to train it right or train it mean (both are easy to do). And my brother didn't trust anybody he talked to. Finally, I offered. Although my budget is tight as well, I can better care for him (financially and emotionally) and this way he knows that he's going to a good home. So now I have a silly pit bull pup. So far, we've been to the vet several times (which he loves because they give him lots of treats) because he has eye problems. He has a birth defect in which his lower eye lid is turned outside in and his lower lashes are on the inside, rubbing and poking his eyeball. We thought that was bothering him because his eye was always red and droopy and inflamed and he was rubbing at it constantly and would hardly open his eye. When I took him to the vet, we found out he had a punctured cornea. A few months back, my brother mentioned that the puppy (Bently) was bouncing around the house and banged his head really hard on the corner of the coffee table. The pattern of the healing and the timing of that fit this. He punctured his eye when he hit the table. Once we got that starting to heal, he was a completely different pup. The inverted eyelashes don't really seem to bother him now, so we're not going to worry about it for now (no sense in doing surgery on something that might not need to be fixed). The eye still has a grey area and a sheet of blood vessels over the healing spot, so his vision still isn't great in that eye (guessing) but I'm sure it's better than it was. And he seems so much happier. The rest will heal on it's own in time.
And in 2 weeks, we go back again to get him fixed. Dun dun dun. He's not going to know what to do with himself all day without his balls there to lick constantly.
Had Christmas with my family on the 18th of December. And saw a friend in the hospital. She was in the burn unit; accidentally poured hot grease down her leg. I was glad to see her in good spirits and feeling better. And she even got to go home the day I saw her (she had been there a week).
Christmas was simple and light this year. A lot of gifts were for my bro and his girlfriend and the baby. Even things like diapers and wipes. Because they'll be on a very tight budget and we're trying to help out however we can.
I also made my stepdad a quilt out of his old Marine Corps t-shirts. That was probably my favorite thing this year.
I got a little digital video camera (kinda like a Flip, but different brand, and this one can take pictures as well). Which I'm still having fun learning to use. But I love that it's pocket sized.
Spent Christmas day with my guy (and the puppy). I had a cold which sucked royally, but he took good care of me, and we still had fun, just the two (3) of us. We exchanged gifts, watched movies, listened to music, made a "traditional" Christmas dinner. It was just what we needed. It was so wonderful. I loved it.
New years eve, I didn't have much in the way of plans since I had to work new years day (so I had to be in bed early). But my guy and his family left his parents house (several hours away) early enough that he could get here to have supper with me. We went out, had supper, talked (he had something serious he needed to get off his chest that happened recently), and he brought me home to get ready for bed. But as tired as he was, and still so upset about what was going on (not something that's going to go away anytime soon, unfortunately), I asked him to stay (since my dad was out at a friend's house for new year's eve anyway). So we cuddled up in bed and had our new year kiss very early and went to sleep. And woke up to fireworks galore at 12:30. Then woke up for me to go to work at 5. I'm really glad he stayed, because I miss him when he's not around. And I know he would have had a hard night if he had gone home and not been able to sleep because he was so stressed.
What else new....?
Oh! Bently's vet told me about this heart camp! Last time we were there, I was wearing a low-ish shirt that showed the top of my sternal scar. She asked about my heart defect and then told me she had a daughter with a heart defect as well. And told me there's a heart camp not far from here that goes for a week in the summers, usually in July. I knew there were heart camps for kids out there, and the kinds of things they focused on and everything, but I didn't know there was one so close. So she gave me the info and I got an application to be a counselor this summer. I'm very excited. I would have loved to go to a heart camp when I was a kid. But now I'll still get the chance to be a part of one and change some kids lives. And that's going to be awesome too. I can't wait!
Also going to get another tattoo this summer. Wanted to do it today while me and Matt were both off (school starts back up tomorrow), but he said that he would have to wear a long sleeved shirt to work and that would be too painful (his is going to be on his arm, and he always wears long sleeved shirts to work). Personally, I think getting the tattoo hurts more than your clothes brushing on it (and my first one was right where my belt line is, so my scrubs dug into mine the whole time it was healing), but whatever. I don't know if he just had another reason and doesn't want to tell me, or if he really does think that it's going to be that tender. He said his last one didn't bother him one bit, so I'm not sure how this would be any different. *shrug* I don't know. But it's too late now. So whatever. Guess we'll wait until the summer. Or maybe I'll get one anyway (because there are two that I've decided on right now) and he can wait until summer and I'll get another one then too. I haven't decided yet.
Well, I think I'll end it there because I've been rambling on for quite a while now and I'm getting sleepy sitting here. I need to take the puppy outside to play. And I need to have a snack.
Much love.
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