A Pill For Everything

Where to begin... In my last blog I mentioned that I had been to the doctor. I never imagined that mentioning the fact that I'm nauseated on a regular basis would lead me down a rabbit hole of pills and procedures. After a lengthy and heated discussion with my Dr. I was put on a blood pressure pill which I fully intend to stop taking as soon as possible. The medication that was prescribed for the nausea did not seem to be working so I was referred to a surgeon for more pills, more bills, and a scope on Monday. Needless to say, frustration is setting in. For someone who has never taken any medication save for an occasional Tylenol, being thrown into a regimen of taking several a day has been quite the obstacle. I am, however, feeling better. I suppose if you take enough pills one of them is sure to work. I've been in a better mood lately too. I'll blame that one on the blood pressure pill. Devin had better enjoy it while it lasts. Hopefully this will be behind us soon and I can get back to a somewhat normal existence. If such a thing exists. Alas, the battery on the laptop is flashing so I had better wrap this up and head to bed before my ramblings are erased. The lesson learned here: Never tell my Dr. anything is bothering me.

Dodgeball Eye

Back to school time is just around the corner. All the children who have been happily playing all summer without a health concern in the world will suddenly become patients when their teachers over-react to PE induced asthma, art induced smoke inhalation, black eyes from dodgeball, and the occasional seizure. I've been trying to figure out when schools stopped having a nurse in the office that would triage patients and send them back to class before turning the situation into a fiasco. I guess the days of that are long gone.

Much to discuss

Since last we spoke, dear readers, much has happened. Our home study paperwork is nearly completed. We ran into a few snags along the way but have managed to get back on track. Procrastination for my doctor's appointment was one of the major causes for the delay. I hadn't been to the doctor for anything of note since childhood and wasn't eager to hear things spoken that I had thought for quite some time. I suppose knowing a little too much about medicine kept me away from the doctor as long as it did. The nurse was certainly not happy about me arguing with her over whether or not my blood pressure was "high". I suppose doctor's offices have slightly different standards for these things than we in emergency medicine do. I relented my argument and let them say what needed to be said. They were the ones that would be signing documents for our home study so I just went with it.

Of course, life continues aside from the hustle and bustle of adoption happenings. Work has been busy and hot. And did I mention it has been hot? That seems to have been the general theme of late. I enjoy cold weather anyway but this year I am definitely looking forward to snowfall and shoveling. I wouldn't even be particularly upset if we were to skip fall altogether. Except for harvest homecoming that is. The apple dumplings are totally worth it.

In other news, my brother bought a house which I'll be helping to refurnish. Devin's business has exploded with summer orders. Pitchmen is returning to television without Billy Mays. The BP oil disaster appears to finally be stopped. Steven Tyler may be a judge on American Idol next season. And I've been praying every day. OK, there may be a few things in there that aren't personal news but the paragraph wasn't long enough. You can read about these other stories on other sites.

The highlight of that, is the prayer. I've never been one to pray. That is, until recently. Since the day of our yard sale I have worn my orange "Praying For Sam" bracelet that Alex gave me. After a couple of days I was looking at it on my arm and this overwhelming feeling of hypocrisy came flooding over me. How could I wear this bracelet and not listen to it's message. I began to pray about Sam and his parents, my good friends. Then went on to pray about our adoption. It went on from there as there was much we needed to discuss. Since then, not a day goes by that I haven't woke up and thanked God for the gifts in my life. My wife, my family, my friends, my health. Whether it leads to other things, at this point, I do not know. For now, it's nice to just be here. But I'm sure we'll be talking it over.

Yard Sale Success

Last Saturday we had our yard sale fund raiser. It was a huge success. We spent the better part of 2 weeks prior collecting items, pricing, making signs, advertising, and being worn out. It was definitely worth the work. We collected nearly $2000.00 passing our goal for the sale early in the day. We couldn't have done it without all the help from Devin's parents collecting items and sorting through everything with us. Or without all the generosity from our family and friends who donated items. We can't begin to thank those people enough. I was amazed by the generosity of absolute strangers who gave us donations and well wishes when they discovered why we were having our yard sale.

After all was said and done we had very little left unsold. A few boxes of things that will be donated to good causes. What we were left with was an inspiring testament to the good nature of people and a renewed energy for the road ahead. We have far to go but we keep moving forward.

Yard Sale

After talking with the adoption agency it has become apparent that we will be coming up with lots of creative ways to raise money. The first of which, we have been planning for a while.

We will be having a large, multi-family, yard sale on Saturday, June 5th. Please come and shop till your heart's content. It will be held at 217 Cherokee Circle in The Village neighborhood. That's behind Arby's in Mt. Washington. Our goal is to raise $1'500 to put a dent in our upfront costs. We can use all the help we can get and will gladly and humbly accept any items you would like to donate to the sale. We will make any arrangements necessary to pick up the items from you if you'd like.

We hope to see you there. Thanks in advance for your support.

-Joseph & Devin

#1. Banana Pudding

Today we took the first steps towards becoming adoptive parents. This morning we got up early, filled up the gas tank, and headed to Danville. Why Danville? some may ask. Well, (other than having a McDonald's, a couple of stop signs, and a Wal*Mart) the small town is where Adoption Assistance is located. That being the agency tasked with putting us on the path to parenthood. Though not easy to find in the back of a very residential looking building with no street number, we managed to make it there on time.

We met with the director, Julie, who was very good to us and answered all our many questions. She seems to think that we are good candidates for domestic adoption and should be approved for any age group. Of course all that is subject to the results of our home study. The home study, I am told, will consist of a very in depth researching of our life, finances, backgrounds, and favorite desserts. Mine is definitely home-made banana pudding. At least I have one answer figured out. The rest I will nervously ponder over for much longer than is necessary. That's just how I am.

When we got home it was decided that we should probably empty out a room if we're planning on having a child live with us. Although we haven't lived here for that long we had certainly amassed a lot of things in every room of this house. Combining two rooms was a fairly difficult task. As I write this, my computer now sits on my desk in what's left of my office. Basically, just my desk and the chair I'm sitting in. The rest of the room has become the new home for Devin's business. Change, compromise, and sacrifice are necessary. My OCD will just have to get over it.

It has definitely been a very long day. Though I sit here wide awake. My mind is racing with nervous anxiety. My stomach churns with yesterday's white castle mistake. Walking into the room next door a wave of calm rushes over me. Looking at the bare walls and floor there is only potential. A potential that I had perhaps got close to giving up on somewhere between the doctor's visits and disappointments. The road will be long, but the first steps have been taken. The feeling is indescribable.

Hold What You Got

I'm reminded today of all the hours spent in the back room of my grandfather's house. He had fashioned it into an office and bar. Stocked with his choice of liquor and soft drinks for me and my brother, it was the first place I ran when we came to visit. I knew that's where he'd be. I'd climb up on a stool and order up a coke and we'd sit and listen to stories until my grandmother had dinner ready. Even if I had heard the stories a hundred times before I loved every minute of it. I can still recite most of them now, probably better than he can remember them himself.

Now, in the twilight of his life, he still prides himself on telling me a good story. Today he sat in his hospital bed, in pain from the chest tube they had just replaced. He still smiled, though I know it hurt, and told me stories. Though drastically different a circumstance, I found myself delighted and engrossed in every word he said. For a time, I almost forgot that we were sitting in a room at St. Mary's awaiting the next nurse to come in.

As I got ready to leave the hospital today, he told me something I had never heard him say before. He said, "Don't work too much. I was always happier and felt better when I was poor." It may have just been the morphine talking but that just hit me and hasn't left my mind these past few hours. I think it was his way of telling me that I need to come visit more often. Generally, work is my excuse for not attending a family function or holiday. I sit in uniform at work wishing I could be with Devin and listening to him tell her his stories. She's a new set of ears as far as he's concerned. She might actually believe that he picked up a car for an RC cola.

I fill my days off with so many things of unimportance. I delude myself into believing that I don't have time for things. The reality is that I must make time. I'm glad I was reminded of that today.