Major Update and New Dentist

Hello to all my readers.
Yes, it;s been awhile, but life happened.

First things first…
I finished my second semester in reduced course load. So, technically, I finished year 1, semester 1 in two semesters…. I past the baking practical 1 with a D!! Trust me I celebrated that!!! I knew it would be difficult, just didn’t completely realize how difficult, but I did it!!! In the fall, I will be doing the the theory portion of semester 2 for year 1!!!
One of my goals to possibly make it easier when I do the Baking Practical 2 is a talking kitchen scale!! We’ll see how that goes!

Secondly, I’ve kept putting off trying to find a dentist, due to my previous experiences…but I finally found one, and he’s awesome, just wow!!!
Holy cow, did I ever find out sooooo much!!!
In my first visit about two weeks ago now, I found out this:
1. My jaw issues I have are due to a sevvere overbite essentially taking over my jaw…
2. I was not scolded due to the problems I have with my teeth… decay, etc.
3. He has an awesome technique to distract while freezing my mouth
4. He has a payment plan for things that weren’t covered.
All in all, he’s awesome!! Point, blank, and the period!!

I’m hoping to write again soon, as it’s been way too long…

It’s Almost Moving Time!!

Hello all!!
It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog, so here it goes… I’m happy to report some news… I’m moving in literally just three days!!! I will say, I’m definitely so excited!! I got the offer late in January, and it’s so close now!!! Mostly all packed up, but yet it seems still not packed up enough. I’m so sad to leave the two bedroom, because of its space, but happy because of some not so good memories.

What’s also so nice is my new apartment is on the ground level of the building. Can’t wait to actually see it… so far, I’ve only seen pictures… and the pictures convinced me to accept the offer!!

Bathroom - Shower and Toilet ViewBathroom - Sink and Counter ViewBedroomFront DoorKitchenLiving Room - Kitchen ViewLiving Room

Trying to think what else is new… since that’s the main thing I have to report… oh, I can say, I also applied to go back to school for the Baking and Pastry Arts Management program!!!

Those two things seem to be the only updates I have for this blog post… will try to post more, and not have it be this long again!!

Until next time…

I Have a Job Now!!! Whoa!!!

Good early morning to all you readers!!!

I’m so excited to announce that I have a job!!! Still can’t believe it!!! I have a few things to do on the computer on October 21st, from 3pm-6p7m. I’m so excited to finally have a job, and a part-time job at that.

I had my first day of training on a Sunday at 8am. I can’t wait till I actually start doing actual shift!!! I can say this is another Faithful First.  I have been so excited since I’ve started work. I’ll definitely write more blog posts on this as I keep going.

Hoping this part-time job goes well, as I believe it will. So stoked, and hyper, of course!!!

 

What do you Mean Needles Don’t Hurt?

Today, I went to get blood work done. First, had to find a place that was open, because once I’m out, might as well get poked… ow. Except, this time was different.

This, I will say is a first for me. The girl who did my blood work somehow found a miracle vein. Let me explain this… normally, even if someone finds a vein, it’s usually much more painful, and has my anxiety riding on its edge. Today, all that worry, and by the time all my worry and anxiety was flowing through me, it was done… just like that… and, here’s the shocker, I can now say for probably one time only, that needle didn’t hurt. Wait… wait? They’re supposed to hurt, at least with me…she had good touch. I wish I got her name, because I’d personally go to that location again if I had other blood work, just to get her. She was amazing!!!

This is for sure a Faithful first for me… I hope, if I have to get poked, more times happen like that. I’m still astonished… it didn’t hurt… whoa. I can now understand James when he says, if he has to get poked, he just sits there and takes it. Normally I’m not that lucky. Thank you veins for being wonderful today, and to a great person to do it.

Welcome Aboard, New Baker!

This may sound a little off to all my blog readers, but if you’ve read my blog before, then you shouldn’t be surprised, though let’s be real, I am.

I’m super excited to inform the blog reader world that I am taking Baking and Pastry Arts Management in exactly a week. I never put two and two together until James helped me apply to the program at Algonquin College.

I can become pro in the industry that crept up and said hello, you know how much you like to bake/host people… yeah, that won. Smile 

The program I chose is a two year program, and I get to come up with a business plan for my own restaurant/bakery… yep, another thing to excite me!!! Smile 

Can it be September 3rd yet? Please?

No?

Oh well. Yes, that excited!!! Open-mouthed smile

I’m so excited to show you all my journey!!!

Until I have more to post, this is it… for now.

I will post soon… promise. Open-mouthed smile

A Week Sick… Gastritis… Really?

This started a good portion before the long weekend, as I was almost severely nauseous, but not throwing up, thank goodness. It took when I went out of city for dog sitting duty with James to know why I was so sick. I went to Pembroke Regional Hospital to get looked at while I was there. While there, I had trouble with my veins, as per usual, but finally got an IV. They gave me several rounds of fluids, did blood work and a CT scan to make sure it was nothing serious.

After the CT, I was told I have basically an irritated stomach, as known as Gastritis. Kinda scary when you have zero clue what that is. I was given a few doses of Pantoloc to calm it down from its overreaction. Then I got a prescription for Celebrex and a strong stomach protection med, which  protects my stomach. I’m gonna probably get a scope done to see why this happened, so we can take measures in the future.

I’ve had acid reflux, but my goodness, nothing like this. Hello to another Faithful First.

Now, I wanted to explore Pembroke and Petawawa, but not like this.

Ugh…

Doing better day by day, but my stomach still hurts when I eat, but that’s what pain pills are for.

 

New Year, New Opportunities!

Happy New Year to all the viewers who read this blog. I’m hopefully going to start a new aveneu in school, which will be awesome!!! And this program is strictly online, which is different for me. Never ever pursued that avenue before, never even considered it at all. Now I am. 🙂

The program I’m seeking interest in is a part-time study program, called Nursing Unit Clerk. I’m really excited to see what this avenue brings for me! I’m so excited for this new avenue of a Faithful First for me. So stoked!!!

I started looking into this avenue, thanks to a PSW who helps me on Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. She mentioned something about taking a course for Medical Terminology, considering I know a lot already, due to being surrounded by medical cases all my life, so I looked into it, and that’s where I found this program, and the medical Terminology course is a part of it, so isn’t that just awesome!!!

So, thanks to that, I’m entering a challenge at full force. Welcome to another Faithful First!!! So happy!!

Time to Relearn Myself

Those who have followed my blog for a while may or may not remember me speaking of my chronic pain issues. Well, hold on, this is a new kettle of fish, a kettle of fish I’m still wrapping my head around, and learning. I’ve had a period where I couldn’t walk for three months, but that only involved my left knee. Now, I can’t walk because my left knee, and my right hip have an issue.

So, for the very first time, I require someone to transfer me from any place to my chair. This is easy,  but hard to accept. mostly because I’ve seen me bounce back. I may, I may not, so I gotta be ok with where I’m at, and still live life. In hindsight, what I’m learning most during this hospital stay, I’m really learning where to not cross a potential painful and harmful line, just so I do something myself. I’m good at asking for help, but not always in this way.

They didn’t do much with me, besides see if I could walk, or transfer, but no. So, tomorrow is home day for me, and I will have a lift at home for the very first time. I’m getting forms s5artted here in hospital for funding for my own lift, as the lift that’ll be at home tomorrow is a rental. This, I can say is another Faithful First for me.

I’m going to take this as it comes, and along the way, ask eighty million questions, and figure out the same me, but some parts relearned. That’s  the key there. I’ll be posting pictures maybe soon, to let people into the world I live in. At the end of the day, I’m still faithful.

Let Me Introduce Myself!

This may be an odd title for those who have known me, or are getting to know me now. Trust me when I say I’m different, but in a very positive way. These changes would be best suited told by those who have seen. them happen, other than myself, but here it goes anyway.

I feel more confident about where I’m heading, than I’ve ever been before. I’m destined to finish up math, and either go straight into nursing, or do a year of health science to get more math first. The choices are endless, as I am currently going back to intermediate math class, as of this coming Monday. Yes, this coming Monday. I’m also giving, someone who was supposed to be my adoptive mother, Gillian, the death stare in doing this. I’m conquering this when she said I wouldn’t be able to. Oh, and I am also gonna get a resume together and start applying for part-time work, which she also prevented me to do. See? Two big changes right there.

I can definitely feel happier about going into school this time, knowing I am doing this for myself, and no one else. I’m grateful for who is supporting me in this, but if you aren’t, I’m still going to do so anyway. This has always been my dream. Now it’s time to make it my reality.

I’ve had three songs that always resinated with me, and until recently, I now realize how much, whereas I didn’t before. Not quite, anyway.

Good Enough – by Cimorelli

Your Way (Bonus Track) – by Love & the Outcome

It’s Your Life – by Francesca Battistelli

These three songs all have one thing in common, keeping going when the going gets tough. I learned that most definitely throughout this past year, and how the first two songs were definite stages of my life, but the third song speaks who who I am now, and that I’m taking my life back, because it’s my life. No one else can live this life the that I present. Only I can.

The Occasional Back Fold Becomes Usual?

Let’s start with November and work to today.

November
So, I’ve always dealt with my back folding occasionally, for whatever reason, I still don’t know, but this time was quite different.

One Sunday in November, I started to notice my back hurting, though I just thought it was my normal scoliosis issues I’ve dealt with, so I just rested, like I usually do when these happen. Got up on Monday morning, realizing I could no longer sit up, except with support. I still thought, ok, maybe my back is just being “paperback” as I’ve called it many times before. I waited the whole day, and it didn’t get better. If I had to use the washroom, I had to be held up as I got there, but fearing with every step that my back would buckle. Ouch!!!

Fast forward to early Tuesday morning… I was waiting on an ambulance to take me to the hospital to get this looked at. The doctor who saw me just thought it was pain related, so he got me pumped up with drugs, which, of course, like I knew, didn’t help the back folding situation any. The emergency doctor got me to walk, after all the meds, and finally he realized that pain wasn’t the issue. So, I was admitted.

Fast forward to when I actually got a room. The medicine doctor anted to get a CT and x ray of my back so they knew what they were dealing with. They didn’t tell me at first what the diagnosis was though, which is what upset me somewhat.

Physiotherapy came to see me and wanted to see me sit up on the side of the bed. I told them I couldn’t, without my back folding, but I did it just to show them… and it did. Both my physiotherapist and my nurse saw it. So, since I couldn’t get up on my own, PT wanted the nurses to use the tack lift to get me up, which is what they did.

The next day I went to the PT room and with two therapists, I attempted to stand using the parallel bars they had. That didn’t work so well. My back folded as soon as I stood up. Mel, who was the official PT suggested lowering my center of gravity by bending over slightly. That worked for my back, but put tremendous pressure on my right hip, which pain already radiated to anyway, but this made it worse. Then came the idea of the platform walker they had! I’ll tell you right now… genius!!

The platform walker started off on its lowest setting, which enabled me to have a lower center of gravity.

The walker was on this setting for approximately two days The next two levels don’t have a ton of difference visually, but each setting had my back straighter and straighter.

Since I was doing so well with the platform walker, PT thought I’d be strong enough now to use a two-wheeled walker. I, of course, was nervous at first, or shall we say “cautiously optimistic.”

Doesn’t that look like success to you? It sure does to me. Now, it had been two weeks, almost three that I’d been there. The final step before actually going home to heal the rest of the way on my own was my crutches!

After that weekend on crutches, my own crutches, I was discharged home. Oh, and I finally got told within this time period what was wrong… I had a herniated disc… that’s a first for me… a Faithful first. Now, fast forward to:

February – Family Day of all days….
So, here we are again… there’s a lot to tell that got me here, specifically, but this time was also very puzzling, since I don’t know when it all started. There was a winter storm in January, and I was traveling from Blair station, heading to what I call my second home. Once I got there, I took the side path to the apartment door, but since it was snowing rather bad, I tripped on the edge of the pathway, and my hip gave out, my right hip to be exact.

It took me a few days to recover from that fall, but then I went back and did my normal, as close to it as I could manage. Then, at the start of February, my friends and I went to winterlude, which was so much fun. Unfortunately though, I had to walk too far for my hip at that moment, since we got on what was the last shuttle bus to where we were going to, but we didn’t know this until later.

Fast forward to Family Day weekend. On Thursday of that weekend, my back gave out again, but with crutches, I was able to mobilize around the apartment, and still visit my friends’ apartment. That was until Sunday…

I was laying down, and as I tried to turn over, my back gave out again. That was when the possibility of my herniated disc being aggravated again came more into view, but still didn’t know for sure… keep in mind, even though I went into hospital again, I never truly knew for sure… once admitted, they just followed the same treatment as in November. Great, but I still would’ve wanted to know for sure.

Back to the lift, and platform walker…

Used this until I was discharged on Tuesday. This round, I had to experiment a lot on my own, since people really didn’t keep an eye on me or anything. Not much, anyway. But now I’m home, and on the road to recovery again. Because I had to use my last week of leave from Academic Upgrading this time when I was in hospital, when it expired, I would’ve been still in hospital, which meant, for now, I had to withdraw. This does give me time to recover though, as long as I return within six months.

This book can close anytime now though… yay woo it’s a Faithful first, but not a fun or exciting one. I took my time writing this blog for that very reason.