Truly Classic
Monday, January 14, 2013
Update on opportunities
Doors are shut. Offered the online job, I declined. The position at Holt was given to someone else. Though I was "impressive" and would be considered for future positions. I don't know how to feel. I am relieved that I don't have to be the bad guy and decline the job, after thinking it over and knowing that it isn't right for my family at this time, but I am hurt that I was not selected for a job that I am qualified for and felt connected to with my experience and contacts. Oh well, just gonna wait for another door to open. More waiting.... hmmm, seems to be a theme in my life.
What a week
On Wednesday, January 9, 2013, daddy had another seizure. He hasn't had one of these in 14 YEARS. The first ones were terrifying. My dad's seizures are violent. After the initial shakes comes the postdictal stage, where dad becomes aggressive. The first times, he didn't know who he was, who we were or what was going on. He lashed out and attacked my mother. Luckily, the firemen arrived and broke policy of waiting for the officers and restrained him, but not without injuries. I know he bit a fireman's leg, through the jeans, and broke skin. It took 6 people to restrain him. For a long time afterwards, my mom was terrified of it, not of dad, but of what he was capable of when he was not in control. I think back to that time often, so thankful to have made it through as a family.
This one was different, but still scary nonetheless. At 5:50pm, as Royce and I were on our way to the auction, I got a call from my dad. He sounded shakey and scared, but otherwise ok. He told me to try to get ahold of my mom, (he had tried) and let her know that he was having trouble in the garage where he was working. He told me his hands were shaking uncontrollably and that his legs had already given out underneath him but that he was regaining control of the legs. I hung up frantic and called mom and explained to her what had happened. I thought she was just inside the house, turns out, she was running errands. She called dad and had him call 911, then she left her grocery and hurried home. I waited impatiently. Finally, I got the word that mom would be taking dad up to the hospital. I left my boys at the auction and met them there. Dad seemed a little slow with his speech and was still shaking a bit. But, he was walking and talking and greeted me with a smile that seemed to say that while it was nice that I was there, it was unnecessary. I went back through ER with them. They took him for a CAT scan. We chatted. He had to think about what he wanted to say, rather than just talk, and he would repeat some things, and his s's dragged out, but he seemed fine. He and mom told the doctor that they were afraid that it might have been a mini stroke. We waited and waited and waited. We chatted. Occasionally, mom and I would be talking to each other and I would notice that dad was kind of spacing out. When the room got crowded with nurses and techs and questions were being asked, he would do his best to answer, then admit that he was confused. But otherwise, he was fine. So, when Royce called for me to pick him up from the auction, I didn't feel too bad about leaving. I said my goodbyes and told mom that I would get the boys and call her, maybe bring up a bite to eat. All was well.
I got to the auction house, got my boys, and as we were putting stuff in the car, my brother called to tell me dad had had a seizure. Oh my god. My heart fell to the ground. As much as I worried for my daddy, honestly, my thoughts were with my mom. I remember how hard the first seizures were on her. I knew daddy would be ok. Somehow, I just knew. But what about mom? Thoughts were running rampant in my head. Then the phone rang. AJ told me that he had been on the phone with mom when it started. He said he also heard dad shouting when he started coming out of it, and one of the first things he said was my name. He remembered. THANK GOD. He knew who we were. He knew ME. That meant so much to me. We rushed to the hospital. AJ met us there. He went back to be with mom as I had already seen them. Then Aunt Joni and Rex showed up. And we all waited. Joni went back. AJ came back, told me dad was still in the postdictal stage, confused, agitated and weak. But he was asking for people he knew and loved. It was daddy. It was a lot of waiting. Hudson was getting tired. Royce too. But I needed them. So, we all waited. I went back a couple times to check on mom and dad. No real change. Dad was ok, weak, sore, confused. Mom was scared, but not like last time. She remained strong. Finally, at midnight, I told Royce to take Hudson home and rest. AJ would give me a ride home. We waited. Lots of waiting. A little after 1 they moved him to a regular room. At 2, AJ and I said our goodbyes to mom and dad. The next few days were a blur. I wanted to be there, to help, but I have Hudson. We visited, but he'd get bored. Or tired. The hospital finally told dad that he had an enzyme on his brain that makes him susceptible to seizures and that they would put him on a medicine to control it. As for the trigger, they don't know what it was. Maybe stress? Maybe lack of sleep? Sounds like LIFE to me. So, really, they don't have an answer except "here, take this." Lovely.
So, we don't know what to expect from here. Today, he is home with mom, who is also watching Hudson. This week, he is off of work. For the next 3 months, he cannot drive. And so, we wait.
This one was different, but still scary nonetheless. At 5:50pm, as Royce and I were on our way to the auction, I got a call from my dad. He sounded shakey and scared, but otherwise ok. He told me to try to get ahold of my mom, (he had tried) and let her know that he was having trouble in the garage where he was working. He told me his hands were shaking uncontrollably and that his legs had already given out underneath him but that he was regaining control of the legs. I hung up frantic and called mom and explained to her what had happened. I thought she was just inside the house, turns out, she was running errands. She called dad and had him call 911, then she left her grocery and hurried home. I waited impatiently. Finally, I got the word that mom would be taking dad up to the hospital. I left my boys at the auction and met them there. Dad seemed a little slow with his speech and was still shaking a bit. But, he was walking and talking and greeted me with a smile that seemed to say that while it was nice that I was there, it was unnecessary. I went back through ER with them. They took him for a CAT scan. We chatted. He had to think about what he wanted to say, rather than just talk, and he would repeat some things, and his s's dragged out, but he seemed fine. He and mom told the doctor that they were afraid that it might have been a mini stroke. We waited and waited and waited. We chatted. Occasionally, mom and I would be talking to each other and I would notice that dad was kind of spacing out. When the room got crowded with nurses and techs and questions were being asked, he would do his best to answer, then admit that he was confused. But otherwise, he was fine. So, when Royce called for me to pick him up from the auction, I didn't feel too bad about leaving. I said my goodbyes and told mom that I would get the boys and call her, maybe bring up a bite to eat. All was well.
I got to the auction house, got my boys, and as we were putting stuff in the car, my brother called to tell me dad had had a seizure. Oh my god. My heart fell to the ground. As much as I worried for my daddy, honestly, my thoughts were with my mom. I remember how hard the first seizures were on her. I knew daddy would be ok. Somehow, I just knew. But what about mom? Thoughts were running rampant in my head. Then the phone rang. AJ told me that he had been on the phone with mom when it started. He said he also heard dad shouting when he started coming out of it, and one of the first things he said was my name. He remembered. THANK GOD. He knew who we were. He knew ME. That meant so much to me. We rushed to the hospital. AJ met us there. He went back to be with mom as I had already seen them. Then Aunt Joni and Rex showed up. And we all waited. Joni went back. AJ came back, told me dad was still in the postdictal stage, confused, agitated and weak. But he was asking for people he knew and loved. It was daddy. It was a lot of waiting. Hudson was getting tired. Royce too. But I needed them. So, we all waited. I went back a couple times to check on mom and dad. No real change. Dad was ok, weak, sore, confused. Mom was scared, but not like last time. She remained strong. Finally, at midnight, I told Royce to take Hudson home and rest. AJ would give me a ride home. We waited. Lots of waiting. A little after 1 they moved him to a regular room. At 2, AJ and I said our goodbyes to mom and dad. The next few days were a blur. I wanted to be there, to help, but I have Hudson. We visited, but he'd get bored. Or tired. The hospital finally told dad that he had an enzyme on his brain that makes him susceptible to seizures and that they would put him on a medicine to control it. As for the trigger, they don't know what it was. Maybe stress? Maybe lack of sleep? Sounds like LIFE to me. So, really, they don't have an answer except "here, take this." Lovely.
So, we don't know what to expect from here. Today, he is home with mom, who is also watching Hudson. This week, he is off of work. For the next 3 months, he cannot drive. And so, we wait.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Too many opportunities all at one time...
Had an interview at HOLT. Woohoo! right? Not so much. It's 6th grade- eh, do-able. It's only through the end of the year. Not so do-able. :(
Had an interview for an online position. They like me, will probably call me to offer it by tomorrow. Sounds sweet, right? Yeah, except it's 30 hours, not full time, and, as far as I know (without asking) no benefits. But I could do it on top of my work for UOP. Which wouldn't be too bad. Could be really neat. But I don't know how UOP feels about it. And I don't want to push any buttons. So, I will probably pass on it. Eh.
So, now we are back to status quo. Or are we? Only time will tell...
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