Nom Noms

He finally got to eat today after no meals for two days. Water only.

I have to say I've never seen anyone happier eating toast!

Hes getting a CT scan tomorrow- we thought he might be out tomorrow evening but now its looking more like Tuesday or Wednesday.

I'm fine with that as long as he is on the mend.

We discussed some major lifestyle changes for both of us tonight and we both feel really good about them. I think it will be good for us not only physically but mentally and as a couple.

little steps, but good steps. :)

No Surprises....unfortunately.

I was right. But it's not the kind of right where you bask in the satisfaction of being proven correct. Rather its more of the sinking realization of what you didn't want to be true actually happening.

Remember in my previous post where I said that we had figured out what was going on with James? well my hunch was correct. There was something else going on.

Friday morning he woke up in absolute agony. He woke me up because he was moaning so loudly from the bathroom. I got out of bed and asked him what was going on- asked him if he wanted to go to the hospital. He said no, I don't know. I told him to try eating something and take more of that damn fiber medicene.

About 15 minutes later I heard him yelling for me in the kitchen- I jumped out of bed and he came staggering in the room and fell in my arms crying because he was in so much pain. It was a pretty frightening thing- I was freaked out and I'm sorry to say I didn't handle it so well. I was pretty harsh with him trying to get him to figure out exactly what he wanted and how I could help him.

I decided to take him to the doctors as soon as the office opened. We got there about 5 minutes before they opened the office- He signed in and we waited for about 10 minutes in the waiting room. Once we got in the doctors office I told the doctor (a different one from his normal doctor, thankfully)everything that happened in the last week and what his regular doctor had told him, that he just needed more fiber and that he was constipated. This doctor examined him for all of two minutes, wrote a hasty note out and told me to rush him straight to the ER.

I drove right to the regional hospital which thankfully is a five minute drive from the doctors office and dropped him off at the door to the main entrance. It only took me a few minutes to find a parking spot, but in that time they had taken him right back into the ER. No waiting for him- thank god it was so early in the day. We only had to wait a half hour in the ER to be seen, which is no time at all for Ireland.

He was poked, prodded, blood was taken, an IV was hooked up. We waited for the blood results. The ER doctor was hoping that it was a simple infection in the lower colon. Blood and stool results were inconclusive. So then an X-ray was taken. That was inconclusive as well. Big names were being thrown around like Crohn's Disease and diverticulitis.

We were there about 4 hours at this point. The doctor told us he was having a gastrointestinal surgeon coming to look at him. They weren't sure exactly what was going on and he is so young to be having these kinds of problems they wanted to be really sure before telling him it was something it might not be.

Finally later on that day he sees the surgeon, more poking and prodding much to James' displeasure. But thankfully he was on painkillers at this point and in quite good spirits considering the circumstances. They said that it seems to be diverticulitis. But hes so young, they aren't sure and they won't be until they have a CT scan of his stomach.

They then decide after about 7 or 8 hours to check him in and keep him in overnight on observation. He was taken up to the trauma unit and put in a room with 6 other men. He had plenty of fluids and antibiotics flowing in his system and a 9 hour IV bag for the night. He was so dehydrated since his family doctor gave him medicene which induced diarrhea, which was making whatever was going on with his colon even worse than it should have been.

I left the hospital yesterday around 9pm- I got home 12 hours after we left the house in a rush. Completely exhausted and shell shocked. I'm happy that he was taken in and checked out. I KNEW something was wrong. I knew it wasn't fiber. fiber my ass.

I went and saw him today at the hospital- They decided to keep him until monday. He is on a stict no food fasting. only water- not even tea. He is feeling well enough to bitch about not eating, and bitch about his "room mates" not finishing thier dinners- HAH! I went to Tesco and bought him some flavored water for his "dinner".

I feel horrible about leaving him there in that room, I hate that he isn't home with me, I hate being here alone all night and I hate the most that he is ill. I hate that my sneaking suspicions were right. and I hate that his GP was quick to diagnose him with consipation and lack of fiber when he had symptoms that are unusual for someone his age.

They are pretty sure that he has Diverticulitis. The surgeon told him that if it walked and talked like it, then that is what it probably is. They won't say for sure until they have that CT scan which will be sometime next week. But realistically- that is most likely the case. James' dad was diagnosed with it just a few months ago. But he is in his 50s- the normal age range for someone to get it. James is about 30 years too young. It just worries me because I know now that he is going to have to make some major changes or face consequences like major surgery or a colostomy bag.

Don't get me wrong, I know this isn't the end of the world, and I am thankful its not more serious than it is. Its still upsetting though and its definately an unpleasant reality check.

I'm just looking forward to getting some answers and information and of course getting James home. And I'm hoping our string of bad news has run its course early in 2011 and things will go onward and upward from here.

Hypochrondria anyone?

Yeah so I should never ever look at those Webmd websites.

We found out kinda sorta what was going on with hubs. Basically he needs more fiber in his diet. I don't know about all of this cause he's 26 years old and in my opinion WAY too young to have these sort of issues. I know his diet isn't the best but its definitely not the worst. I have a sneaky suspicion that there is something else underlying here. But I'll hope for the best and be ready for whatever else may crop up.

ANYWAYS- I decided to look up some high fiber foods and diet plans that would be realistic for my extremely picky husband to start eating. As I am sleuthing around on different diet and medical websites I notice several other links to different medical article. With catchy (i.e. terrifying) photos included.

I click on a photo of a rare form of skin cancer. Apparently it manifests itself in several ways. It just so happens that about 5 years ago I got a bump out of nowhere on my right shin that looks similar to the picture that is heading the article.

A little bubble of worry starts to grow deep within my stomach. Thoughts start floating around in the back of my head...

...Abuelo had skin cancer...but he like, lived on the equator. Thats why...right??

...Oh crap, I used to go to the tanning bed a lot....

...NAHHH, Rach, Calm down your fine, The bump has been there FIVE YEARS. If there was anything to it, you'd know by now!

I for some reason, I guess cause I really just HATE to sleep or something, continued out of sick fascination to click on more and more articles.

so basically, after 30 minutes of reading on these medical websites I came to a conclusion....I should have died last tuesday around 4:30 in the afternoon.

I talked myself into about 4 terminal illnesses and perhaps a mild case of a skin rash.

I then went into the kitchen where my husband was cooking a high fiber dinner. He takes one look at me and says- "what happened?!? why are you so pale??"

I told him what I just did to my poor little brain and then proceeded to curl up on the sofa in a little ball of paranoia.

I am SO calling my doctor in the morning. Ya know, just in case. I have this free healthcare I may as well use it, right??

(oh and P.S. totally off topic, but I just tried to "like" an email my mom sent me. I think I may be using facebook a LITTLE too much. maybe.)

Is there such a thing as dumbass proofing?

Cause if so, I need it.

So yesterday between my one hour of sleep, running husband to doctors, going to my WW weigh in and getting ready for work I was a little scatterbrained.

By the time I was leaving for work I felt pretty good about my morning so far. James was all taken care of, left on the couch with juice and water, I was actually going to be 5 minutes early for work and my hair was looking good.

I go outside to my car, hop in. Seat belt on, car in neutral, parking brake off. Key in ignition, turn...nothing. (huh??) Turn key again. Nothing. (WHAT??) Look down at the light switch. Its turned to ON. ($#*&^!!!)

I left my lights on. GAH.

There is no dingy noise for when you leave your lights on. Like most cars now a days. the Jelly Bean of Death is all hardcore like that. Pretty much if you drive this car you better have your stuff together cause if not you'll be sitting there like a big 'ol dummy like I was yesterday.

I run back inside all flustered like, I decided to call my MIL since she is a stay at home mom and even though she is fairly busy, she is always willing to help cause she's awesome like that. She happened to not be at home and away from her car, So no help there, no worries. The problem was, while I needed to go and call a cab company to get a taxi to work, she had a sudden attack of talkitiveness. She was asking a bajillion questions and was telling me some long drawn out story. Normally I enjoy conversations with her, this was not the time. After about 5 minutes of my silent hurry up please please please dance I was finally able to butt in and tell her that I needed to go and call a taxi and thank you so much and another time and so forth and so on.

I call a taxi.

Taxi arrives, drives me to work. Driver was nice fella. They always ask me if I'm from america and wonder why the HELL I'm living in Limerick. I completely agree with this statement most days.

Get to work. Taxi cost 12 euros (I'm thinking what the HELL, how does it cost THAT much) I swallow my cheapness and pay the man.

*BTW this was the worst week for this to happen since I have now all of 4 euros to last me until friday. hurray for working part time. *

Anyways- This morning my FIL comes over to jump my car. Now this is a man who is always in a rush, even when there is nothing going on. Its like if he doesn't do whatever he is doing at top speed then its not worth doing. You should see him eat dinner- he should seriously enter contests. ok, thats besides the point.

He hooks up the cables, but in his rush doesnt notice that he hooked up the wrong ones in my car. As he puts the last cable on there is a shower of sparks. I say to him- "Ummm pretty sure that shouldn't have happened." He went to start his car. dead.

DAMNIT.

We then spent the next ten minutes getting his car started, which basicially involved him steering it around and me pushing it back up the road of our complex. I bet it was a great show for the neighbors morning cup of coffee.

We finally got my car started with no problems after all of that.

and now I need some dumbass proofing on my car. I can forsee this happening again.

Random Tuesday Thoughts- sometimes some people just need a good kick in the teeth.

Its tuesday once again, and once again I am using my blogging crutch to get me through my period of total un-inspiration. But go check out keely- Shes pretty awesome :)

I got about an hour of sleep last night- thats rounding up. Between trying to fix my sleeping pattern back again (thanks work!) and a sick husband tossing and turning and flailing all night sleep was a challenge to say the least.

so needless to say my patience is paper thin today. Thank goodness I only have 9 hours of work ahead of me. har har.

Weighed in this morning at WW- no great weight loss this week. infact, I stayed the same as last week. I'm actually ok with this- I didn't have that great of a week so I'm glad I didn't GAIN anything. This week will be a different story though. Maybe its portion sizes? Maybe its eating too late at night (sometimes this is unavoidable with working nights and all)- I donno. I'll have to figure something out though.

I caught James watching Sex and the City last night when I came home. He says he was too sick to change the channel. LIES!!! I finally caught him in the act. He must be an in the closet fan. MUST be. Now he can't complain when I watch and he happens to be in the room with me.

Now that I can't go home until June I've been contemplating going on a weekend trip somewhere here in Ireland. I honestly havn't seen much in and around the country and I am going INSANE stuck here in Limerick. I think getting out and being touristy for a day or two would really help me get my mind sorted. I just don't really know what I want to go and do. Dublin is too obvious and I've been there and a lot of other places are kinda of inconvenient to go and see. Apparently Waterford sucks- So if you have ever been dying to go there because you love the crystal, dont bother. My husband suggested going to see the Book of Kells, which I think would be pretty cool since the images are so amazing. He also want to see some solstice thing, Newgrange, Which I KNOW is a hill with a hole in it.


Not exactly trip of the year in my book. And I can almost guarantee that it is stuck in the middle of nowhere and takes an hour and a half from dublin by bus and we will be there for 15 minutes and it will take an hour and a half back. Seriously I sound like such a bitchy old lady right now. I'm tired, gimme a break.

Anyways who knows, anywhere different would be nice I think.

I have read all of my new books and I am rereading some at the moment. I think I need to find some new authors or series of books. Any suggestions? I heard the hunger games were good but I can't find them here....

I love this commercial.

While I'm posting youtube....

such good memories.

I hope everyone has a great tuesday and I hope I make it through without seriously harming anyone. Unless, of course, if I run across the person who made this website. He will not leave unscathed.

This is what happens....

When your sleep patterns get completely screwed up.

Every. Single. Week.

Now that I've been reduced to working part time I have four days during the week to get my sleep pattern sorted. In bed by midnight, read a little bit. Snuggle with the hubs, sleep.

Then- the other three nights- I'm working late. The earliest I get home is 11pm. I'm usually too wound up by then to really get quality sleep time. I end up in bed by 2 at the earliest. The worst part? I have three days in a row- one day I work until half ten, the next- until two-freaking-o-clock in the morning. inhumane i tell you. Then the next day I work until half 10 again.

After this three day period my sleep pattern? shot. its now 3:38 am and I am wide awake. Wishing i was in bed with James snuggled up and fast asleep but I know that's not possible. And if i was in bed right now I would be keeping him awake. sigh.

So instead I watched tv- hunched over infront of the space heater with my woolly blanket. Then I eventually smell burning. I look down to see I have melted the front of my slipper on the space heater. You know, the one I'm WEARING.

I decided that maybe sitting in front of the space heater was hazardous to my health. And toes.

So now I'm in the office- sitting NEXT to a different space heater. Toes and blanket (kept it with me) appropriately spaced from the device.

It has been a terribly windy day, it seems that tomorrow will be the same- all i can hear, over the space heater, is the wind howling around the house. Hopefully it won't be raining as well tomorrow- It was literally raining sideways most of the evening.

We finally had a bit of good news today. James got his grant. (he should have had it in November. They have been jerking us around for MONTHS now) So he gets to pay tuition and gets himself a new shiny (much needed) computer. And we have a little breathing room. Whew.

I got a call from a job that I applied for. Oh irony. It was tesco, again. The job ad never said the company that they were looking for a manager for. I interviewed with tesco a few months back. Its honestly my dream job at the moment. Its pretty much exactly what I did and loved and excelled at back home working for target. When I had my interview in October I was pretty much told I had the job- Was told my pay and expected hours and even employee benefits. Everything but this is your start date and here is your name tag. I came home on cloud nine.

But then, I never got a phone call. Instead I got a letter. Thanking me for my interest, but that I wasn't qualified for the position. a lie. Bold-faced lie infact. The district manager told me himself I was EXACTLY suited to the position. I called to try and find out what happened, what went wrong and of course, every time i called someone was in a meeting. How convenient.

Anyways, long story short- So now I may or may not be up for another Tesco job. I'm not holding my breath. I would LOVE to get that opportunity. It opens so many doors for me. I'm split between thinking this is fate that I get a second chance or its a very mean joke from the job gods.

I just wish sometimes I could go up to someone, anyone, that could give me a great job- grab them by the shoulders and say- " I am the BEST thing that will happen to your company. Just hire me and give me the chance to show you."

I went and had a tea date with a friend yesterday. I don't really know her terribly well- she runs in our large circle of friends, but whenever we are out and I've been able to talk to her I've always really enjoyed my conversations with her. So I decided to be quite forward and ask her out. Haha it almost felt like going on a first date! I went to the wrong place at first and was all nervous and awkward when i finally showed up 5 minutes late.

We ended up having a great time though. We chatted for two hours and three cups of tea. (I'm talkative if you couldn't tell so that's never HARD for me. HAH) She told me that she was actually nervous before meeting me (i wasn't the only one hurray!) but that shes really glad I wanted to meet up. I really like this girl, But i don't want to be all forward crazy like "lets be best friends forever, can I braid your hair???" I have a great group of friends here, but the girls I have gotten super close to all either live far away or have babies. I would really like to get close to some girls and have people to meet up for a coffee or see a movie with. I'm really missing having close friends like that around me. So who knows? I'm hoping something good happens. I feel all middle school awkward about budding friendships again. But since I'm in Ireland for the foreseeable future I think making some solid roots is in order.

seriously...this wind is making me paranoid. I feel like I'm listening to the sound track of someone in a tent in the arctic. It may be also that it is now 3:53 and I am up, like a hermit with a woolly blanket, hunched over a laptop.

Stupid sleep pattern.

I believe I am going to go and attempt to correct this.

Random Tuesday Thoughts- they're random most days, but tuesday will do

its that time of week again people, tuesday. I'm playing again, i haven't done it in a few weeks but its fun! you should totally go check Keely out over at Un-mom, shes pretty awesome, dancing raisins and all.

So our house kinda has two front doors. We live in the corner of our building so we have two doors that we can access easily. I think the builder got confused when numbering our house and putting on the doors. Our "back door leads into our front hallway, and our "front door" (with the house number and mail slot) leads into the back of our kitchen. So we use our "back door" as our front door and our "front door" as the back door. confused yet?
Well since our house is so open its hard to tell sometimes which door gets a knock- our friends know to come to the "back door" so that is the door we open first- Just a minute ago there was a knock at the door- I yell "Hold on a minute!!" and run and get the keys- open the back door and there is no one there but an old lady with her dog in the green space....hmmm. So I go to the "front door" there was a man there with a clip board and name tag. I nearly shut the door in his face I was terrified that it was the TV license man and he finally tracked us down...There is NO WAY we can afford that this week! Thankfully it was just a door to door salesman. I coulda hugged him, but instead politely blew him off. PHEW.

Went to my WW meeting this morning.... 3.5 pounds down! woo hoo! makes 4.5 in two weeks. not too bad! would be better if i was more active. I should have lost 4 pounds this week though, and I am blaming that half pound squarely on my husband! Yesterday i was trying to "fast" and eat mainly zero points food (i know, i know that's not the point of the plan, but gimme a break i wanted a good number)Well shortly before i went to bed I sat down with a cup of tea. James had left a package of digestives out....the temptation was too much. I had one. (and when i say one, I actually mean five.) I then went into the office and told him that he shouldn't leave yummy biscuits laying around when all his wife ate was fruit all day. poor man, he never wins.

and BTW because i know anyone from the states who hasn't had much exposure to Ireland or Britain has NO CLUE what a digestive is....They are cookies....or biscuits as they say here....(when will they EVER learn to use english correctly- SIGH!! (haha i kid i kid)) and they are sweet- perfect to dip in a cup of tea. My first exposure to them was when i was backpacking through Europe with James before we got married. I seriously thought they were a constipation medication of some form and refused to eat them because I thought i was going to be stuck in the bathroom all night if i did.
It took him a while to convince me that digestives were NOT laxatives LOL. They are actually one of my favorite snacks now, definitely my favorite biscuit here, cause seriously people, the cookies SUCK here. Oh, and digestives are the closest thing you get to graham crackers here. They are essentially the same except the taste isn't as honeyish as graham crackers. For instance, when you make a cheesecake here, you crush up digestives for the crust.

Anyways, enough about digestives...(can you tell I'm on a diet??)

Miguel left for Mexico again about an hour ago- it was nice having him here, he was staying with us for about a month. I'm so happy we have that spare bedroom- It worked out well since he pretty much had the entire back of the house to himself. Now I know it won't be an issue when people come to stay....if they ever do...AHEM. I will miss having someone else around to talk to and joke around with. Not that James isn't great conversation- its just that sometimes getting details out of him is like trying to get blood from a turnip.

I really need to sign myself up for a drivers theory test. I hate that even though im fully licensed I have to go through the entire process of getting a license here. If i don't hurry up and get my full Irish license before April I will be screwed! In April they are changing the laws which means, even though I'm fully licensed I will have to take 20 lessons before I can get my license. that's around 600.00 Euro folks. there is NO WAY I am willing to pay that kind of money for someone to teach me something I've been doing for over a decade. That's more than what I paid for the JBOD in the first place!!

I have to go and get ready for work....I can feel the internet sucking me back in with its flashy graphics and bright glow.....damn job. And its sunny today as well. damnit.

ah well! Hope everyone has a great tuesday!!