I've finally reached the start of what will likely be a very stressful two (plus?) weeks! Tonight is the last night in my apartment of 3 years!!! Jason and I have been packing pretty much nonstop, and we're almost finished! Actually, I have no idea if he has done much packing on his end, but I know a lot of his apartment things were in storage, so hopefully he didn't have much to do. I have had a LOT to go through, throw out, organize and pack, and we've been working on it for weeks.
Tomorrow night, I am going home to my parents' house because I am having surgery on Tuesday. The goal was to be fully packed before the surgery, and I think we're pretty much there! There's only one small filebox in the closet that I didn't get to go through, so at this point we'll just throw it in a box (with the papers on top of it!) and I'll sort it out once we're all settled. Tomorrow morning, I have a lot to do - still haven't quite worked out the short-term disability paperwork between the neurosurgeon and the insurance company, so I must take care of that. I have to go to neurosurgery office first thing to pick up prescription for xrays, then go to radiology to get at least 3 xrays of my implant. Then a GI appointment at 10am. I was originally going to stop by work after that, but I think I will email my boss the committee things I was going to discuss with her. I was also originally supposed to have a psychiatry appt at 3:30, but I'm cancelling it because it is more stressful to lose that time of packing and getting ready for surgery! My dad is going to come over tomorrow evening to help me with the last of the packing and loading up the car. I have a lot to bring home, plus my cat and all his things!
So then the surgery is Tuesday. I saw the nurse on Wednesday and did my pre-op testing. She feels that he could do one of 3 things: remove entire stim, remove just leads and leave battery, or just clean out wound and leave all of implant intact. We're thinking it'll either be option one or two, though! At this point, I've come to terms with the fact that even though the stimulator has been the first help I've truly had in years of pain, this whole thing may be a blessing in disguise for a variety of reasons. I won't go into that all here, but I will say that everything happens for a reason. And while it will be a loss, I can get a new stimulator hopefully in 3 months. I should be coming home the day of the surgery, but if he decides to do IV antibiotics, then I might have to stay overnight. I actually really want him to try IV antibiotics to finally knock the infection out for good, so even though I would prefer to come home after the surgery, I will still ask him if he would be willing to try the antibiotics. I've dealt with this infection in some form or another since basically shortly after the implant (it first showed symptoms the weekend after my mom had her first surgery for the breast mass), and I'd like to finally kick it hard with something and kill it for good!
Jason is going to come to my apartment here on Wednesday after he gets done work to try to get it setup the way he wants it since he and his friends are doing the actual moving. We move Saturday - he has reserved a truck and recruited I think 3 friends to help, plus both our sets of parents. Our parents are meeting for the first time on Saturday, too! I am hoping that I will feel well enough to just be present for the move, even if I can't help. (Hope that doesn't piss them all off too much! To move my stuff when I can't help!) If I can't be there, it's fine - yesterday we signed the lease and made the payments - I think he can do the start of the move in without me if he has to. And I still have this apartment through the end of the month, so if he can't move every single box or item, we can come back for things later! The most important thing is to get the furniture and essentials moved. We saw the apartment for the first time on Thursday morning, and it looks great! We are very excited!!
Then, my grandfather's open heart surgery for double valve replacement (mitral and aortic valves) has been scheduled for the 17th at last. He has chosen to have the surgery at our local hospital, which is affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic. The surgeon is excellent and comes very highly recommended, so I trust he will be in good hands there. 2 of my uncles and 1 aunt arrive in Philadelphia this Saturday (day of the move!) and are staying here until a few days after the surgery. It'll be nice to have everyone together, albeit not for a great reason really! We will, however, be able to celebrate my grandparents' 65th (!!!) wedding anniversary on Sunday, hopefully!! The surgery is huge, and he is 86 years old, but he is very healthy and has a strong heart, so I have faith that he will come through okay. I am worried, but he needs this - without it, he will not have much longer to live, and what time he has left will be of poor quality. He's a very strong man, and I know he can get through this.
So that's that! As I've lived in this absolutely wonderful town of Narberth, PA for 3 years, I am a bit sad to leave. Where we are moving, you cannot walk really anywhere and we're not in the cute, nice town that I'm in now, but it is still a great place and a very nice apartment. I am still a little unable to wrap my head around the fact that this very well could be the last time I ever live alone! It is exciting to be starting on this new chapter of my life, even though I am a little sad to be closing the current chapter!
Sorry for the length! I don't like asking (I really don't....) for much, even though I have had to ask several times over the past few years - for good thoughts, prayers, or vibes. But my family and I could really use them these next few weeks! It's not going to be easy, and if we ever needed everything to work out smoothly, it's now. Many thanks in advance - and your (collective) lips to God's ear, for those that believe.
Much love, hugz, and PF wishes,
Carrie
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Bring on the Mayhem! (Read 3161 times)
