Things just have to start getting better!

I can't take much more of so much going wrong at once. It's a long, long story, but I was basically fired today, and it's mostly my fault for opening my mouth months ago by telling my direct supervisor I was applying to school. And, now, I'm not so sure I can go to school b/c financial aid isn't giving me much aid. So, I owe $10K for just one year, and that's just half of the year's total for just tuition! Oh, and I ripped off a quarter of my toenail by hitting it with a door. Just NOT my day! Please, please could someone send some good mojo my way?! PLEASE!!!

No more Avandia!

I saw my PCOS specialist last week, and guess what?! She's taken me off my Avandia! I've only been taking 2mg/day for the past year or so, but the last time I saw her, she said I'd likely have to take the Avandia forever b/c I wasn't willing to take a glucose tolerance test. But, when I saw her this time, she said she was ready to take me off. I, of course, have to do blood draws at regular intervals to check my glucose levels, but as long as they remain in the normal range, I'm off it! Woo-hoo!

On an unfortunate note, the class I'd registered for this summer which would have applied to my program was canceled at the last minute, literally. So, I scrambled to find something else that might apply. So, I'm taking Electronic Media in Art. Not totally sure it's going to work, but for the most part, I'm enjoying it. (I had kind of a difficult time with the first critique.) See my work at Flickr.

Two and one

Two years since gastric bypass and one year since my sweet Koba died. It's still difficult for me to fathom either. Although, both are certainly easier than they were originally. The memories of actually going through surgery are so distant, but I don't want to forget it. I hope it can serve as a reminder of what I went through to get to where I am now. I strangely wasn't too scared at the time (well, until I was about to be wheeled into surgery), but any thoughts of going through that serious of a surgery again scares me to death! Just the minor wrist surgery I had last fall put quite a scare into me.

We watched videos of Koba last night, the anniversary of his death, and when I saw myself I almost couldn't believe it. Who in the heck was that person? Was I really that big? I didn't bring it up with my husband, but there was a scene in the video where I was taking video of our house. I walked up a short flight of steps (maybe 8) and could hear myself breathing more heavily after just those few steps. I can't even imagine how I lived that way! I missed out on so much that I just couldn't physically do so I wouldn't even consider it. Just this past weekend, we walked about a mile to our local farmer's market, then walked about 2 miles to a downtown restaurant, and then walked home stopping at a creek along the way. Two years ago, walking would have been out of the question! Admittedly, I'm not in as good as shape as I was a year ago as I haven't been exercising as regularly as I had been (although I do want to get there again), but I'm still significantly better off than I'd been in years. It's just been such a gift.

I have decided, though, that I'll likely not mark the anniversary of my surgery again as I don't want to dwell on the past. I want to continue moving forward. I'll certainly never forget how I got here, but I think it could be a mistake, for me, to dwell too much in the past. I'll try to post here on a somewhat regular basis, but once I start school, who knows! I'm soooo looking forward to it, though!

I GOT IN!!!!

The title says it all! I finally learned today that I have been accepted into the Landscape Architecture program for the Fall! Woo-hoo! I can't tell you how happy I am about this news and what a huge relief it is to finally know. Now, I just have to get the financial details worked out ... fun!

To Grandma With Love

Grandma and Grandma & Mom
My grandmother was laid to rest this past Wednesday at a cemetery near her home. And, despite the absence of a close relationship with her, it was a very difficult day for me, but I was so glad I was able to go. It allowed me time to catch up with my uncle (whom I hadn't seen since I was about 15 or so) and my Grandfather as well as meet 2 of my grandmother's brothers and others who had been a part of her life for many years. She truly was suffering in the end, and knowing that she is now in a better place makes the loss easier. I do wish I'd been able to spend more time with them, both in my childhood and more recently. But, it is how it is, and I am grateful for what time we did have and the memories.