Up the Creek in a Cardboard Canoe

Just WHERE the Heck Have I Been???

Sorry for being MIA for a while with no fresh posts...was in the IU Medical Center for a week, then did 3 weeks of skilled nursing for inpatient physical therapy/rehab thanks to an MS exacerbation that came on much too fast, didn't resolve like it normally would.  As to the stories I could tell about what all has transpired in the last month, I'm debating adding another chapter to my nursing book to tell about what a wierd experience it's been.  If I publish the story there, don't think I should publish it here first.  To give you a little idea of what life's been like....sleep was a fond, distant memory while on the industrial strength steroids.  Then, after those were done, I STILL couldn't sleep right...would get to sleep around 3:30 am, only to be awakened at 5:30 by the nursing assistant giving me fresh ice water in my bedside pitcher(which I never drank)...such banging around made sure I couldn't go back to sleep. So...I'm carrying some dark circles under my eyes!  Maybe it's a new fashion trend?! :-)   Nah, don't think so.   Same for the numerous bruises on my arms from IV's that went bad...when a nurse/patient tells her nurse that an IV has gone bad and not to push IV phenergan there, the patient should be believed.  Instead, I still have a hot swollen spot on my left forearm from infiltrated phenergan...owee!!! So is my abscence excused since it's clearly legitimate?   What do you think, put all the juicy details in the book?

Book Review---"1776" by David McCullough

I know, you are expecting this book to be as dry as your high school history class, right?  Get ready to go stand in the corner...you're wrong!  McCullough is known for his historical books- accuracy, in-depth research,  all put together in a way that even though you know how the story turns out, you want to keep turning the pages just to be sure of the outcome.  In this book, you'll be taken along for the ride as General George Washington tries to put together a Continental Army that can fend off the attacks of the British ground and naval forces.  The chaos of one attack came thru so clearly that it was easy for me to imagine what it was like, the sensory overload of cannons firing for hours on end, not being able to find a safe wall to jump behind so as to avoid the barrage of gunfire, not knowing if it was the opposition firing at you or just maybe your own side by accident!

I can't imagine how many hours of research went into this book...numerous archives are cited, as well as journals, letters, and even cite that in the year of 1776 Washington penned over 900 letters.  My high school history class was not very academically strong; after reading this book I think I have a good understanding of the challenges Washington faced, and how close the Colonies came to being a rebellion successfully put down by the Mother Country and King George.  Out of 5 stars, I give this work *****.

Thought for the Day

Heard this the other day, and it really stuck with me...The only difference between a rut and a grave is that the grave is deeper.  Comments?

Words of Wisdom from Erma

My second favorite hoursehold chore is ironing.  My first one being--hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint. --Erma Bombeck--

Michael J. Fox

What is this latest hoo-ha over Michael J. Fox speaking out in support of a candidate who is pro stem-cell research?  How is this any different from someone who is anti-abortion speaking out for a like-minded candidate?!  If I were in Michael's shoes, and had the fame factor and the money/weight to throw around I'd be shouting from the rooftops, whatever it would take to bring about a cure for Parkinson's.  Instead, I'm pro stem-cell research in the hopes it could make this blasted MS go away...I'm sure the folks with diabetes, ALS, and other truly nasty diseases want to see candidates elected who could lead to their fondest dream coming true.  It's time to decide where you are on the topic- get off the fence, find out where your candidates stand on the issue.  Why elect someone who doesn't share the same value system as you?  And if you aren't registered to vote....SHAME ON YOU!!!

Changes....

Wasn't it there a David Bowie song, "Changes"?  Well, looks like I'm going to go thru a few more changes...tomorrow I'll find out where I'm going to do a couple of weeks of intensive inpatient Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, all with the goal of getting me ready to live a wheel-chair life.    (whoo-hoo)  I guess I always knew the day would come, but now that I'm looking at it straight on, I'm not real keen on it.  For one thing, people in w/c's seem to be ignored by those in an upright position, another thing is that Indy is woefully behind the times in ADA complaince for wheelchair curb cuts...and the list goes on and on.  If you have any feedback on how you made the adjustment to wheelchair living and would like to share it here or with me in e-mail, write on...I'd be very interested to hear any words of wisdom. 

My kingdom for some sleep....

If you've never been treated to high-dose IV steroids before, let me tell you...it's a bit rough!  In addition to giving your immune system a bit of a jolt, your blood sugars quickly increase to the level of needing insulin, your appetite becomes massive, and trying to wind down to sleep takes a big pharmaceutical intervention!  In spite of the sleep meds, I've been getting only a couple of hours of sleep at night, and am trying to play catch-up snoozing in the daytime.  Now, for all this hoop-de-hoo, I still have not recouped the function of my left lower leg, so the next phase of the journey is to be decided...inpatient rehab is a hot topic.  Hope none of you ever have to go thru this, I don't recommend it.

Cathy

Nurses Don't Make for Happy Patients

I'm blogging today from a radically different computer terminal...located in the visitors lounge of the Krannert Unit, 6th Floor of the Indiana University Medical Center.  Seems the MS has thrown a new challenge at me, have been admitted for high dose IV steroids.  The steroids are wreaking havoc on my blood sugar, so have been started on insulin- hopefully when the solumedrol is done the blood sugars will return to normal values, I am not thrilled at the prospect of insulin injections.  The whole business of being a patient is for the birds, still would MUCH rather be on the other side of the equation.  On  the plus side, though...the staff have all been great to deal with so far, have even met a recent new grad in the ER and will be "e-mentoring" her!  (In my nursing book I write about how vital mentoring is to nursing, see- I still practice what I preach!)

Have you been forced to wear those silly hospital gowns lately?  How did you handle your time in the hospital?

Cathy

Check out the blog of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews at: http://standforisrael.blogs.com/stand_for_israel/.

Check out the blog of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews at: http://standforisrael.blogs.com/stand_for_israel/.

If you're looking for a great internet radio site, I've found just the place...you pick and choose what music you want, make as many stations as you like...and, it's getting so popular the folks who run the service are even having town meetings around the country!  Check out http://pandora.com or write me and I'll send you a link for a good station. :-)

Please check out Erik Smith's blog on Multiple Sclerosis at: http://blog.thesmithlife.com .

Free concert in Indianapolis

October 22, 2006 at 3pm there will be a free concert at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul, located at 14th and Meridian.  All are welcome!

"Breadfruit" by Celestine Vaite

OK...this is "chick lit"...but it's an award-winning book nonetheless!  The author is Tahitian; this novel looks at family relationships and love from a tropical viewpoint.  Spending time with Materena Mahi, the protagonist, will leave you wanting to say "Iorana" (hello) to Tahiti.  Congrats to Vaite for receiving the "Prix litteraire des etudiants" in 2004 for this book, as well as the 2006 follow-up book "Frangipani".                                               ****

Check out Anderson Cooper 360 at http://www.cnn.com/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/

Please visit Peg Shepherd's MS blog at http://blogs.webmd.com/living-with-multiple-sclerosis .

Basghdad Burning-  Read about the war in Iraq from an Iraqi woman's perspective. http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com

"Moving Violations" by John Hockenberry

If you live with a disability and are in need of a motivational boost, this book is required reading for you.  John is a world-traveling journalist who just happens to be in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury.  His story is a true wake-up call to not accept limits that disabilities might impose.  The story-telling style lets you feel every bump in the road as he travels to some not-readily-accessible locations. 

Out of a possible 5 stars....****

Welcome to the Blog!

Rants about various topics have become 2nd nature to me...current events, politics, disability advocacy, stem cell research-you'll find all that here, and more. (True, noone will ever suspect me to be a writer for Dennis Miller's rants, but they're heartfelt all the same!)  Along with my ongoing search for knowledge, I'm a voracious reader, so expect to find book reviews here as well- from serious material to light-hearted fluff that leaves us smiling-  if it made me feel something, ANYTHING, it's worth blogging about.  Speaking of blogging, links to other dynamic blogs will be posted here; if there's a blog you'd like to recommend please send the link to ch83greyhound@aol.com and I'll include it here promptly. Please feel free to post comments...I  just ask for no oscenity, no name-calling, no hate- there's enough of that in the world without this adding to it.