However, I was able to obtain Steffen and Joey’s blood type yesterday (they were born at a different hospital then Michael). I stopped by the medical records office and asked for a birth summary, which they gave to me. At least, if they ever decide to go on missions –I will know their blood type!! I have also called a couple local labs and asked if I could just bring him in for them to do the draw, and was told I would need a request from a doctor. Ugh! Good news however, once we have his blood type and his wisdom teeth extracted, he can submit the paperwork. There is light at the end of this tunnel.
Last week was the end of the first trimester and Steffen received straight A’s again. He continues to amaze me. I also had a great time watching him perform with the high school marching band in the Christmas Town parade one evening and a Christmas tree lighting ceremony the next night. In addition, the school district has finally started testing Joey. He is being tested in math, reading, writing, and fine and motor development. He also has decided to change from PE (which he disliked with a passion) to band. He is tall like his brother Michael—not 6’8” tall, but tall, thin, and awkward and he has never cared for sports, so I believe this will be a good move for him. He wants to play the drums and even stayed after school today to work with the music teacher. He played drums in 4th grade, so I hope the transition will be easy for him. As well for his sixth week exploratory class, Joey decided to take choir, the past six weeks was drama. I am glad he is trying and exploring new things. Again, I am so glad we had the opportunity to transfer him to a different school district this year. I appreciate all they are doing with him to help him be successful in school.
Me. Well, what can I say about me? Medically, I am doing not great, but not bad either. I had an ultrasound several weeks ago, and my doctor discovered uterine fibroids. The OB/GYN feels the best course of action is a hysterectomy and surgery has been scheduled for the first week of the new year. In other news, I had a six-month checkup with my cardiologist. Back in June, I was cardioverted back into normal sinus rhythm after I had gone into atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation (see photos below - thanks Wikipedia) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia cardiac (irregular heart beat) and is diagnosed on an electrocardiogram (ECG). I, for the most part, had been asymptomatic, except for fighting awful fatigue all the time - I can get winded just doing the laundry. Nevertheless, yesterday, my cardiologist informed me I had gone back into a-fib. We discussed options. The first choice is to do nothing. The second choice is being cardioverted again. However, he questions if this is going to work, if I am just going to go back into a-fib a few weeks or months later. He also does not want me to try cardiac drugs, as there is a risk I could go into a dangerous rhythm. The final option is catheter ablation. This is the option I’m leaning towards, but the biggest issue is—it is heart surgery.
We decided not to do anything for now and to re-group in four months, and by then I will have had the hysterectomy done. I will continue to stay on beta-blockers (I have been taking beta-blockers for several years now) to reduce my heart rate. We also agreed to take me off warfarin (Thank goodness! I hated taking rat poison) and be on a daily Aspirin treatment instead. Therefore, for now, no more monthly blood draws by those vampires. Yeah! This makes me very happy—I am no longer a pin cushion! I am hoping fatigue stays at a minimum and I am able to do the things I want to do without being too exhausted. My cardiologist wanted me to take part in a study, and for a third time this year, I was on a 24-hour heart monitor. I don’t mind the monitor, but I detest the sticky adhesive patches and the rolls of tape they glue to the body to keep the electrodes in place, but he wanted to make sure the a-fib was not making my heart beat too fast and to see what my heart does at complete rest, i.e. when sleeping.
In other news, I have been able to help friends work on their writing projects. I am always happy to edit, beta read, collaborate, and share ideas. I have been grateful to work with such talented writers (Lia London, Resourceful, and MeriSalope). I was also able to whip out a short fan fiction story last week, now if can only find the motivation, energy, and my hidden muse and finish a few more screenplays.