One more thing..

Well at last have seen the Dr for the last time (until I get back) and have been cleared for take off..whew. The fevers and sweats have lessened, med side effects are much much easier to handle...such a relief! Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement, what an awesome little community we have here!!

Bags are packed just a few last minute things to catch up with today, why are there always so many last minute things to do? Wash dogs, get groceries...book cab....squish suitcase(s) shut!!

Kennedy and I have started another site for our travels, here is a link if you want to follow us around Africa, am truly not sure how much time we will have for visiting other sites, but we wanted one place to put our pics and journal our holiday, it was the easist way we could think of sharing our little adventure with you all.

A Quick Update

Time seems to be flashing by now at an alarming rate. I saw the Dr today had more labs done, my titres from last week have gone up a bit, so my meds have been doubled, he assured me this was a common occurrence, and he feels confident that I will be well enough to travel. Final visit with him next week before we leave. He will have a full report typed and copies of my labs to take with me, so I should be good to go! Last year Swine Flu..this year Valley Fever.. life with me is soo exciting!!!

I'm still having the fevers but I don't think they are as high as before, I honestly feel as though my thermostat has been broken somehow and this warmth just seems to course through me uncontrollably, after which I'm engulfed in a huge a sweat then that passes and I'm left feeling more exhausted than Ive felt in a long while. Its a cycle which repeats itself again and again..but with a little more time between episodes now. The side effects of the meds are definitely decreasing which is good.

I have eventually succumbed to sick leave, my Dr booked me off for 5 weeks (no arguments), so no more work until I get back from holiday. Its a relief, this past week was wayy to hard on my body and not the smartest thing Ive ever done!

We have had friends of my moms from South Africa here for the past few days, they have been delightful! He was a pilot for the Parks Board back home, and has the most fabulous stories to tell, he is a born storyteller too, and I have almost wanted to get my pencil and notebook out as he speaks ..he is that interesting and my brain is mush right now. She was a librarian and is as quiet as he is talkative, she just allows him his space and while she must of heard these stories hundreds of times she never interrupts or becomes impatient, they are both retired now and have travelled all over the world. More stories from him to come thats for sure!

So next weeks plan is: a bit more packing, one or two last minute bills to pay, get international drivers licence , groceries to last mum the month, meds for a month...and rest..lots of it!

Studies in Blue

The soft autumn light filters through blue glass on my coffee table......

the colour spills and pools

leaving fleeting

puddles of Blue

~ these pictures have not been altered in any way ~

Picture Perfect ~ Obscured

Welcome to

Picture Perfect

this weeks theme is

OBSCURED

partially visible

Valley Fever Update! week 3

aka Diary of a Mad Sick Woman

Had another appointment with my GP today, I will see him every week until I leave on my holiday...he went over all my blood tests thoroughly and repeated the titre tests, but he says they may go up a little before they start coming down. I don't feel any better, but I don't feel any worse, which is a good thing.

Trying to cope with some nasty side effects to the huge doses of Diflucan, but that will settle in a day or two. My head is woozy and my appetite is not good, feel a bit nauseous at times. Still having these bouts of fever which rock my world!

Am having a sinus MRI on Monday, as the primary source of infection isn't clear. Still sweating more than is humanly decent, but my headaches are so much better!Lethargy takes on new proportions arghhh!! I have been given a letter for my gym, no exercise for three months, and short shifts at work, I really shouldn't be working at all I guess but I don't want to lose any more holiday time!!

Today, drinking loads of water, resting and watching the Chileans rise from the depths..wow wonderful stuff!!

Happy Birthday Maggie!!

It happens so suddenly.

One minute you're at junior school (I remember it as though it were yesterday) and the next youre middle aged looking back counting your blessings, regretting decisions, wishing you could have the years back, do them over.. do them better maybe. A lifetime of living seems to pass in a flash.

It was my sisters 50th birthday today

I was almost 3yrs old when my parents went to the hospital to bring her home, (we are both adopted) and they must of made a big deal about that day and choosing me a sister because I remember many details which still surprise my mother.

I was left at home with my paternal grandmother and I recall standing at the front door waving them goodbye. I dont remember them coming home though..I dont really remember her as a little baby at all, but I do have vivid recollections of her as a toddler, and young girl..a teenager, a nurse, a mom, I remember her always as being a deep and integral part of my life.

Its a strange phenomenon in many ways.. having a sister, being a sister. You're close but there's a healthy distance, unspoken rules of engagement I guess. Always there when the one needs the other though. Probably because we were just two we have felt as though we are the other half of another..and being adopted made us feel special, different in a way, but we knew no better..or worse, for we lived an idyllic childhood with parents who were blessed with more love for us than they really knew what to do with, and a huge dollop of common sense that went a long way in shaping who we were and who we were to become.

We've lived much of our lives on different continents, my sister and I,

we have missed births and weddings and birthdays of the other, missed the excitement of moving into new homes,

or the forging of new relationships,

even deaths and funerals,

we have said more hellos and goodbyes at airports than either of us care to remember.. but we have remained close throughout it all..we have maintained contact across thousands of miles and many time zones, always involved in where the other is

no matter what the circumstance.

We are very different people her and I,

our bloodtypes are not the same,

our genetic makeup is no closer than that of strangers.

We hold different views on many subjects, have different interests and hobbies. However the relationship survives and thrives because of deep seated memories, of having a bond closer than that which is set on paper, forged by circumstance cemented with years of love, and many tears of pain and of joy.

She is my sister always, part keeper of my heart.

Today they sit in some remote cove on an island in the middle of The Sea of Cotez, the first leg of their world cruise just underway. I wish you well both of you as you chase your dreams together!

Happy happy birthday Maggie!!!

Lounge Lizard

For the past three weeks or so my couch, my bed and the TV have been my best friends. I have been sick for so long it seems! Today though, I have a real diagnosis, and it's actually quite a relief knowing..no matter how scary.

After 2 weeks of feeling lethargic and out of sorts I suddenly developed a moderate fever and night sweats. 'Hmm' thought I, 'damn menopause!!'

I struggled at work, swallowed Tylenol and Motrin like candy and hoped it was just flu and would pass. It hasn't. The fever only really spikes about twice a day and once while I'm sleeping, but in between bouts I feel lethargic my muscles ache, but have had a lingering headache with or without the fever. I'm on and off my bed all day it seems.

Its all been a bit worrying with our trip coming up, and believe me my mind has run riot with what it could be. Last Thursday (after much hassling from my other half) I went off to see my GP, I had worked the night before and when I arrived I could feel a fever starting to spike, and with it each time..comes this desperate overwhelming feeling of extreme emotion. I promptly burst into tears the moment he walked into the room and sobbed 'I cant do this anymore'

He took one look at me, touched my face which was burning up, never even took my temperature but went ahead and ordered a battery of tests immediately, as well as a chest X ray and MRI.

There have been times when Ive thought I was imagining my symptoms, I feel well after a couple of Motrin have kicked in, and then had niggling thoughts about my fever being a hot flash..really I did. As you can see I don't rush of to the Dr for just anything..lol

Today I called his office to find out if any of the results were in, I was told it would take another day or two. At 5pm my GP called me and told me all three tests he had done for Valley Fever were high positives. He paused, and then added that they are the highest titres he has seen in many years. 1:58 I think is what he said, but I'm not sure. He called in my prescription and told me to collect it immediately, which of course I did, I was horrified to see that he had prescribed 4 months of treatment!!

What is Valley Fever?

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection which is caused by inhaling the spores of the fungus Coccidioides immitis. Its common in desert and farming areas as it is found in the ground, and whipped up during heavy winds or agricultural digging and inhaled. Naturally archaeologists, construction workers and farm workers are most susceptible. I live over the road from a farm!

There are three types of Valley Fever, I'm not even thinking I have anything but the simple acute one (only time will tell if its anything else) I'm aware of all the complications and variations of Valley Fever, I am, but right now I cant go there, I have a diagnosis and its tangible and its curable.

The treatment is high doses of the anti-fungal Diflucan, which is not expensive at all, and it should take 2-3 weeks before I feel well again, just in time for me to board that plane. Its not contagious. I'm not allowed to drink any alcohol which I'm on the meds..which doesn't bother me at all, and my chest X-Ray was completely clear. The next few weeks will be telling, but I truly believe the meds will kick right in and I will feel better soonest.

I'm just relieved I don't have to feel guilty about being a Lounge Lizard any longer...

More Valley Fever Info

Love Light

Every night while I work,

you scribble your love onto pieces of paper

and leave them here

for me to find when I come home

exhausted..

As I lie in the dusky morning light,

the words flicker softly on the wall

reminding me how how empty I am without you

and your words slip eagerly into my heart

Autumn crept slowly...

through my window today

(well, it tried..but got caught in the act!)

In Loving Memory of Moo

What a sad few hours my son has had. His sweet sweet kitty, Moo, died this afternoon, she was only 2.

Its a long story and my heart is too heavy for details, but she swallowed a small metal washer this afternoon which got stuck in her oesophagus. She was alone for an hour while Nic fetched Jenn from work, when they got back she was in agony, had vomited the washer up but had torn her oesophagus in the process and was bleeding internally, they took her to the vet where after some long hard look at costs and the chance of survival it was advised that they have her euthanized.

I'm so glad Jenn was there to support him and make some tough decisions. To hear his grief from so far away was extremely difficult for me. Moo was a little bundle of mischief, his best friend and he adored her...and she him.

~ RIP little girl!~

I've got an angel
She doesn't wear any wings
She wears a heart that can melt my own

Lets play...

Remember the game last year about what color bra you were wearing at the moment?

The purpose was to increase awareness of October Breast Cancer Awareness month. It was a tremendous success and we had men wondering for days what was with the colors and it made it to the news.

This year's game has to do with your handbag/purse, where we put our handbag the moment we get home for example "I like it on the couch", "I like it on the kitchen counter", "I like it on the dresser" Well,you get the idea. Just put your answer as your status with nothing more than that and cut n paste this message and forward to all your female friends to their inbox.

The bra game made it to the news. Let's see how powerful we women really are!!!

REMEMBER -DO NOT PUT YOUR ANSWER AS A REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE-PUT IT IN YOUR STATUS!!!

PASS THIS TO All THE WOMEN YOU KNOW

After we are deleted..and blocked...

Isn't it wonderful to have a little code called The Eraser....which removes them from your life forever!

You never get to see their comments on mutual friends pages, or groups to which you both belong...whew..its like they never existed at all...

Guaranteed to take the angst out of blogging forever..

And, this is the way we...

wake up in Africa...

in the morning..(after coffee...)

My Pic of the Week

Mum ~ October 2010