Sunday, May 7, 2017
A Weekend of Rest
When I left the hospital on Friday, the nurse said to me, "At least the weather has been rotten while you have been sick." He was right, as it has been rotten out - cold, rainy, and windy for the past two weeks. With weather like that there has been no temptation to go outside and tonight I realized that I had not stepped foot outside of the house for 48 straight hours. I was alright with that as I was able to rest a lot. Normally we go out to dinner at least once, but I wasn't up for it and Doug made some delicious ones instead. With him working a lot and me not feeling well we have spent quite a bit of time together as a family. I won't complain about that, and now that Cal has come home we have even more people in the Heinisch home to enjoy.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Starting to Get Some Answers
I spent the day at the hospital taking tests, waiting and getting rehydrated. The best part was that we didn't have to wait to get in. As soon as I started describing my symptoms - shortness of breath, chest and back pain, they didn't let me say anything more. They brought out a wheelchair and took me right back. Within ten minutes I was hooked up to an IV, had blood drawn and answered a hundred questions. The only part that took awhile was finding a vein for the IV. The nurse tried, but had no luck. She called in three other nurses, but they were afraid to try. For the first time in over twenty years, a doctor had to start my IV. Left a bruise, but I was glad that he got it in one try and it held for the day.
After the blood work I was taken to have a chest x-ray. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to hold my breath long enough, but I made it. We waited for well over an hour to get all of the first round of test results. The good news was that the blood work showed that I did not have a heart attack and my white cells were normal. The scary news was that the radiologist felt that I had a hole in my lung that was producing fluid. The blood work also showed that I tested positive for a blood clot. The second part did not scare me as the doctor said a false positive was normal. The first part caused the most worry as 50% of the time a hole in the lung means cancer. With the seriousness of the first tests, the doctor said I would have to have a CT scan.
They came pretty quickly to take me to scan room. It was different than when I had one two years ago. It was a long tube like an MRI. Panic set over me and the nurses could tell. They explained that the normal CT scan was being repaired and that they were using the PET scan instead. I told them about my MRI experience, but we all knew that it was important that I had the scan. They assured me that it would take less than ten minutes. Once they suggested a washcloth over my eyes I was positive I could do it. They got me situated and although it was uncomfortable, I survived. Once I put the washcloth over my eyes, I just pretended that I was on the rides at Disney World that always scared me when I first got on - Twilight Tower of Terror and Rock N Roller Coaster.
The results came back quicker than they originally estimated which I was glad for. It had been a long hour and a half of thinking. The good news was there was no clot or mention of cancer. There was fluid around my lungs in addition to pleurisy. The doctor strongly suggested I revisit Dr. Mulry and set up a stress test and discuss the fluid retention. He gave me a steroid to try for four days with my antibiotic and inhaler. I didn't physically feel a lot better when I left, but I did feel relieved. Pleurisy is painful and exhausting, but it isn't lung cancer and now we know what we are dealing with.
After the blood work I was taken to have a chest x-ray. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to hold my breath long enough, but I made it. We waited for well over an hour to get all of the first round of test results. The good news was that the blood work showed that I did not have a heart attack and my white cells were normal. The scary news was that the radiologist felt that I had a hole in my lung that was producing fluid. The blood work also showed that I tested positive for a blood clot. The second part did not scare me as the doctor said a false positive was normal. The first part caused the most worry as 50% of the time a hole in the lung means cancer. With the seriousness of the first tests, the doctor said I would have to have a CT scan.
They came pretty quickly to take me to scan room. It was different than when I had one two years ago. It was a long tube like an MRI. Panic set over me and the nurses could tell. They explained that the normal CT scan was being repaired and that they were using the PET scan instead. I told them about my MRI experience, but we all knew that it was important that I had the scan. They assured me that it would take less than ten minutes. Once they suggested a washcloth over my eyes I was positive I could do it. They got me situated and although it was uncomfortable, I survived. Once I put the washcloth over my eyes, I just pretended that I was on the rides at Disney World that always scared me when I first got on - Twilight Tower of Terror and Rock N Roller Coaster.
The results came back quicker than they originally estimated which I was glad for. It had been a long hour and a half of thinking. The good news was there was no clot or mention of cancer. There was fluid around my lungs in addition to pleurisy. The doctor strongly suggested I revisit Dr. Mulry and set up a stress test and discuss the fluid retention. He gave me a steroid to try for four days with my antibiotic and inhaler. I didn't physically feel a lot better when I left, but I did feel relieved. Pleurisy is painful and exhausting, but it isn't lung cancer and now we know what we are dealing with.
Friday, May 5, 2017
Aunt Linda
Today was the funeral mass for Doug's Aunt Linda. She joined the Heinisch family when she married Uncle Ray over 15 years ago. We were so sad to hear of her death as Linda had been a favorite of ours. She always had a kind word for our family and was a great support to Jeanette when she was dying.
While in DeKalb Doug was able to visit with a lot of family members that he hadn't seen since his Jeanette's funeral. Meg doesn't get to see the Heinisch cousins very often and she had a day to learn more about being a Heinisch, which she enjoyed. It was sad to think that only funerals have given Doug a chance to visit with his family, but we made plans with Dan to get back out to DeKalb this summer. Doug also promised Uncle Ray that we would visit him as well. I am hoping that I feel better soon, so we can start taking trips again.
While in DeKalb Doug was able to visit with a lot of family members that he hadn't seen since his Jeanette's funeral. Meg doesn't get to see the Heinisch cousins very often and she had a day to learn more about being a Heinisch, which she enjoyed. It was sad to think that only funerals have given Doug a chance to visit with his family, but we made plans with Dan to get back out to DeKalb this summer. Doug also promised Uncle Ray that we would visit him as well. I am hoping that I feel better soon, so we can start taking trips again.
Thursday, May 4, 2017
A Fantastic Freshmen Year
Cal drove in this evening about 6:30 with his car packed with the remnants of his Freshmen year. He was happy to be home and we were thrilled to have him. Cal's Freshmen year was filled with studying, new friends, dorm life and endless games of basketball. He enjoyed it much more than he thought he would when we dropped him off. He also did very well academically both semesters in a very demanding business program.
He plans on taking the weekend to regroup, play some basketball and maybe golf if the weather improves before he starts work at Tippy on Tuesday. We've already talked about where we are going to store his belongings and for the first time ever he claimed the bedroom in the basement. It will be cooler in the summer and he will have more room to spread out. I am sure that it will take him some time to get adjusted to home life and by the time August rolls around he will be more than ready to go back. For now, however, we will enjoy having him here in the Heinisch family.
He plans on taking the weekend to regroup, play some basketball and maybe golf if the weather improves before he starts work at Tippy on Tuesday. We've already talked about where we are going to store his belongings and for the first time ever he claimed the bedroom in the basement. It will be cooler in the summer and he will have more room to spread out. I am sure that it will take him some time to get adjusted to home life and by the time August rolls around he will be more than ready to go back. For now, however, we will enjoy having him here in the Heinisch family.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Good Friends, Good Tennis Partners
Tonight was Cam's first tennis match of the season and he was once again paired with Caleb as a doubles partner. They both had improved greatly since last year and they easily won the two matches they played tonight. I was very happy that Cam and Caleb got to play together again this year as Caleb will be moving to Malaysia in June. He has been a great friend to Cam. They enjoyed their time together in 5th grade and have become even closer this year. Caleb made Cam's transition to Bethany a lot easier and he challenged Cam academically in science. I know Cam will miss him when he leaves, but I am hoping with today's technology they will still be able to keep in touch.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
It's Tough Being a Heinisch
Last night Meg had a match at Elkhart Memorial. As I had a field trip with my 6th grade class that didn't get back to Milford until 4:30 I decided to sit this one out. Meg was alright with that as she knew that it would be tough for me to drive an hour and sit in the cold after being with my students for ten hours.
Meg had a tough opponent to play - a D-1 committed athlete with a tennis court in her back yard. Meg went into it with a good attitude and handled the hour weather delay well. She said that she lost the first game without winning a point and decided form there that every point she won would be a victory. She did well after that and although she didn't win a game, she did win a lot of points and pushed several games to deuce. Doug said that the Memorial coach talked to him during the match to tell him that he thought Meg was playing well. Meg was happy with her return of serve and overall she felt pretty good in the end.
I was in bed when she got home, but she came in to tell me all about her evening. After she talked about her match she had to tell me the moment she enjoyed the most. One of the other players had also been beaten by a tough opponent. Because of this she asked her parents to get her something to eat before they left to help the ease the sting of the loss. They ran to a local fast food and made sure she was alright before they took off for Syracuse. Meg decided at that point that she would ask her Dad to get her something to eat as well trying to use the devastation that she felt at losing her match 6-0, 6-0 to play on his sympathy. After she made the suggestion, Doug looked at her, walked over to his car, and gave her a bag of chips that she left in the back seat several days earlier. He then told her good job and drove home. Graham and Meg laughed about that all night.
Meg had a tough opponent to play - a D-1 committed athlete with a tennis court in her back yard. Meg went into it with a good attitude and handled the hour weather delay well. She said that she lost the first game without winning a point and decided form there that every point she won would be a victory. She did well after that and although she didn't win a game, she did win a lot of points and pushed several games to deuce. Doug said that the Memorial coach talked to him during the match to tell him that he thought Meg was playing well. Meg was happy with her return of serve and overall she felt pretty good in the end.
I was in bed when she got home, but she came in to tell me all about her evening. After she talked about her match she had to tell me the moment she enjoyed the most. One of the other players had also been beaten by a tough opponent. Because of this she asked her parents to get her something to eat before they left to help the ease the sting of the loss. They ran to a local fast food and made sure she was alright before they took off for Syracuse. Meg decided at that point that she would ask her Dad to get her something to eat as well trying to use the devastation that she felt at losing her match 6-0, 6-0 to play on his sympathy. After she made the suggestion, Doug looked at her, walked over to his car, and gave her a bag of chips that she left in the back seat several days earlier. He then told her good job and drove home. Graham and Meg laughed about that all night.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Too Cold For Me
Tonight Meg had a tennis match at the high school against West Noble. I got there early to take some pictures and found out that they had delayed for an hour. I decided to run home and work on sub plans for Wednesday. Meg has several appointments that I need to take her to that day. I got back in an hour, but they were still trying to dry the courts. Doug was able to pickup Cam, drop him off at Mom's and get to her match before they had senior introductions.
I did get out of the van to take pictures of Meg being announced, but after that I decided to watch the match from my vehicle. I still feel horrible and the wind, rain and cold were too much for me to sit through. Doug braved the elements and had a prime spot for watching, but I could still see most of the action from the side fence through my passenger window. Meg played well, had some great rallies and won some awesome points. She came up short in both sets, however, losing by a break 6-4, 6-4. She was upset when she got home that she was the only one who lost. We reminded her, that without her taking on their heaviest hitter, everyone else would have to play up a position and then the team wouldn't have won the match. Don't know if that helped, but we have been very proud of her this season for taking on the area's best players. She has gained a great deal of experience.
I did get out of the van to take pictures of Meg being announced, but after that I decided to watch the match from my vehicle. I still feel horrible and the wind, rain and cold were too much for me to sit through. Doug braved the elements and had a prime spot for watching, but I could still see most of the action from the side fence through my passenger window. Meg played well, had some great rallies and won some awesome points. She came up short in both sets, however, losing by a break 6-4, 6-4. She was upset when she got home that she was the only one who lost. We reminded her, that without her taking on their heaviest hitter, everyone else would have to play up a position and then the team wouldn't have won the match. Don't know if that helped, but we have been very proud of her this season for taking on the area's best players. She has gained a great deal of experience.
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