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September 04, 2007
Georgian Bay and Mom
WOW! It's been incredibly busy for me...so much so that I haven't had any chance to do any job hunting in a while. I've been looking after Mom (and the rest of my family while they're in Kalamazoo), then took a break to go to Miami, Florida for a weekend to train in martial arts (photos are here), then back to Kalamazoo, then back to Ann Arbor for just a few days before taking a holiday weekend in Canada (City of Meaford, Georgian Bay, Ontario). And now I'm back in Kalamazoo again.
The trip to Canada was really cool. We left Thursday at about 5:15, got to the border at about 8pm and got through customs after only about 15 minutes (record time!). Then we got to the cottage at 11:40 and we only had to stop for dinner for about 20 minutes. The whole weekend was just PERFECT, gorgeous weather. Sunny and warm, light breezy, perfect for being out on the lake or the beach. I got lots of great sun and took some really good naps on the catamarand while Don helped the guys take in the boating equipment and prepare the cottages for the end of summer.
Saturday was eventful...Tom wanted to take his boat out of the water, so him and Don and I jumped in to take it to the marina so Tom and Karen could put it on their trailer. Don drove the boat 2/3 of the way there, but the waves kept growing bigger and when water started splashing over our heads, Tom decided to take the wheel. The waves still kept getting bigger and we got close to the harbor, just outside the entrance when we got caught between two 4-foot waves. The one behind was pushing us into the one in front and about 6 inches of water washed over the bough. It nearly washed Tom's shoes and sweater overboard and Don and I thought we'd be swimming back to shore. Luckily, Tom had shoved the boat into reverse as we hit the front wave, repelling the full force of the water. Thank goodness that only happened once--if it had happened again, I would have thought we'd be done for. Though since it was only once, I was confident Tom had things well under control and wasn't too worried.
Anyway, we managed alright to the boat launch and while Tom and Karen were busy getting the boat onto the trailer, I took a moment to wring out Tom's sweater when I felt a sharp sting on the inside of my thigh. I quickly realized a bee or wasp had flown up my shorts and stung me!! The NERVE of that thing stinging me there!! How DARE it?! And as I swatted it away, it stung me once more before flying off. MAN, DID THAT HURT!! It took everything I had not to curse my bloody head off, seeing as I WAS in a public place. Luckily, Karen had some burn ointment in her first-aid kit which she graciously lent to me. That helped a LOT with the initial pain (which I felt right down through the muscle of my leg). It's a good thing I'm not allergic to bee stings. It swelled up alright, but not terribly huge. Once we got back to the house, Karen continued to administer her wonderful Florence Nightingale skills to treat my sting. She gave me an "after-bite" ointment that has ammonia in it which is used for stings, then she made me up a baking soda and water paste to apply (I think that sucks the toxins out), and THEN she even gave me several ice packs after that. Oh, what would have happened without her! Mostly, it hurt the first day/night. I had to sleep with an ice pack on it all night long because the moment my leg returned to normal body temperature, it would ache incredibly. Once I woke up the next morning, it was much less painful and in fact, the skin was really just itchy and somewhat raw. Though I did have a cramp in the side of my butt because of the way I had to position my leg all night. And it progressively got better throughout the day so that I was even able to take a ride on the Sea Doo later on. I'll have a link to pictures once Don's uploaded them.
Anyway, I'm back now in Kzoo till Thursday when I switch shifts with my brother who's staying here till Monday. I'll come back when he leaves. Right now, Mom's back in the ICU having to use a BIPAP respirator (a mask that looks like a fighter pilot's mask and puts positive pressure in her lungs to help her breathe better). The doctors are going to do some needle tests tomorrow to test the fluid in her belly to see why she's still distended (her belly should have decreased in size by now). It's such a tricky thing balancing her recovery from surgery with her heart conditions and she seems to have been having one problem after another. Plus she's so tired that she never wants to do her breathing or walking exercises as she's supposed to. As a result, her bowels are not returning to normal use and she's had to be on a nutritive IV as well as all her other medications as well as a foley (a tube that helps you get rid of urine waste). It's stressing us all out because we're so worried about her and I think it's starting to get to my dad and my brother because they're snapping at me a bit. It's starting to get to me too, but I just usually feel like I want to cry, but don't in front of the others. Plus, being here takes me away from Don which adds to the stress. But there's nothing to do about it except to keep prodding my mom to do what she needs to get out of the hospital. Next week is her birthday and I'm hoping and praying she'll be out by then.
I'll keep you all updated. And thank you to all those who have sent me their well wishes for my mother's quick recovery!! It's much appreciated.
Posted by Amy at September 4, 2007 08:29 PM
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