Good Ending

So overall this week is ending well. I went to a different doctor on Thursday. He recommended I wait to have the surgery to see what my body does. Basically he told me there are no guarantees the surgery would prevent the abscess from returning. So my options are to get it removed and endure the 6-8 week recovery or just wait and see if it comes back and possibly just treat it with lancing until I have time to take off from everything to recover fully.

So that basically means, I'm going to Mexico. I'm pretty excited about this. We are going to Cabo San Lucas with my dad. It will be a great great break!

I also am hiring a Day of Wedding Coordinator. This makes me happy. I'm so glad I'll have a third party person to take care of all the details on the day of our wedding.

Lastly, and probably the most exciting thing for this week is that I decided to kick it into high gear and graduate early. Well, for some of you this isn't going to be surprising. Especially since I was announcing this about a year ago in regards to Baylor. So yet again, I'm going to complete my degree early! That makes two degrees in 5 years. Pretty good I'd say. Really thought this lifts a huge weight off of William and I. This means I get to move in with my HUSBAND in May! Which is so exciting! We won't be wasting money on paying for living in two cities and it cuts off a little bit of money in tuition. Plus we can just get on with our lives. I still won't start my first SLP job until August, but I'll probably work full time at the museum if we are in Houston or wherever we are living!

I'm headed to College Station in a few hours. Hopefully sooner rather that later. Currently I'm in class and my professor is talking so fast. I guess she wants to leave early too. I'm so happy I get to see Jonna (and Bryan). We are going to eat cones, and craft, and possibly plan t-shirts, and it will be like old times! YAY!

I'll post some pictures on Sunday!

I wanted to go to bed early....

I had planned on going to bed early. But clearly that didn't happen.

I've really been falling off the wagon in terms of keeping up my blog recently... so here's my excuse:

Last Saturday (June 13) after my shower I had William take me to the ER. I had a very painful lump on my lower back (just above my butt crack to be exact... i know lovely right). It was making my toes tingly and really the pain was just unbearable. The very nice ER doc stuck a needle in it and swirled it up for me. Now that's not a technical term. Basically she tried to use Lidocaine and her needle to aspirate ("squeeze the heck out of") this-what she termed- abscess. She was unsucessful. Lame. Now not only was I in pain, but I was in MORE PAIN. She wrote me an rx for pain killers and what I later found out were weak weak WEAK antibiotics. Thanks nice ER doc.

So after a few pain killers I was driven back to Dallas on Sunday by my friend's Anne and Christine. Monday morning I got up and drove myself to practicum. Bad. Idea. I barely made it home. I cried the entire time I was on the freeway. I had made an appointment that morning to go to my General Practitioner to see what his take on this "abscess" was. Megan very kindly offered to drive me so that I could again drug myself. Needless to say the GP was a very short appointment. He took one look at it and said "mmmm, ouch, yea... umm... you are going to need to see a surgeon... I wouldn't touch that with a 10ft. pole". Thanks. Really. That's exactly the kind of encouragement I needed.

Fast forward to Tuesday. I got an appointment with the surgeon. And after a night of horrible fever and pain I was ready to have my lower body amputated. And while I was prepared for that, I was not prepared when the surgeon jumped me with a scalpel and began to "drain" the pilonidal cyst that was hugely infected on my back. When the scapel first hit my back I heard this huge "pssshhhhhh" noise, like when a coke can is opened, except it was coming from MY BACK! Then I smelled the wonderful smell that is pussy infection (sorry if I'm grossing you out). And then right about then was when my head went fuzzy and I feel sure my eyes were rolling back in my head. I said "I'm going to pass out". The doctor was like... "oh you are doing great". 45 minutes later when I could finally walk, he decides to tell me that normally he does that in outpatient surgery, but that I looked tough enough to take it. Again... THANKS. That again was exactly the kind of encouragement I needed.

I thought that was the worst... boy was I wrong. I spent the next four days in bed. My mom came into town... and boy was I glad she did. Oh and did I forget to mention that Lucy got sick in the middle of this all? Yea while doped up on painkillers I spent $170 on her at the vet. Great.

So if all of you thought that was the end of my horrible story. Wait. There's more. William switched spots with my mom on Thursday so she could go back to work. He took me to the doctor where I found out that I need major surgery to get this thing taken off my back for good. (Look up pilonidal disease). On the way home from the doctor his care broke down.

Okay while there is a whole story about William's car, I'm too tired. So I will save that bit of depressing posting for tomorrow!

The one with shower pictures!

So after I wrote on Thursday about heading home for the weekend... it turned out to be more eventful than I thought it would be. So here is goes.

On Friday Anne, Christine, and I coordinated our schedules so that we could all ride to Houston together for our shower. I was supposed to pick

Anne up at 11:30ish so we could head to school. Since I had to get everything in the car prior to that I got up early early to go to yoga instead of working out at the country club. Except, there was one problem... during yoga I realized I had a very painful lumpish thing right on my tail bone. Theories ran through my mind... pimple? bruise from working out a lot? tumor? my mind wanders... Anyways I chose to ignore it and went on about my day. I picked up Anne and we headed to class.

Now of course this class had to be the MOST annoying, LONGEST, MOST BORING class ever. Dysphagia isn't really any of our favorite subjects... but we go none the less. Well on Friday the 1st semester students decided to take advantage of our weak TA and ask a ton of dumb questions and tell personal anecdotes through out the class, with no mind that there were 115 other students that didn't care what they were sa

ying. So of course, the class lasted until 3:45. When was class supposed to get out you ask? 3:45... except even our real professor NEVER keeps us until then. Okay enough ranting... lets just say the problem was resolved between me and my friends. We decided the next 1st semester student that opens their mouth in class will receive a tracheostomy from me (minus the passy muir valve - which allows talking). This was the subject of Friday's lecture if you were wondering.

So FINALLY off to Houston we headed. Lucy and I dropped everyone off and then headed by Dana's to drop off some stuff for the shower!

Yay for Saturday! I woke up and went to my dress fitting. It looks great! I took my new hairpiece and my new shoes to try on with the dress! They took measurements for my veil and also need to make some adjustments to the hooks in the back for the bustle. Meredith, my dad, and my brother were all there to make sure it went well!

Then my dad and Annette and I went to lunch. We wen

t to a fun place in the heights. Kind of like and old diner place. I then went home and got dressed for the shower. On the way to Dana's I ran by Pretty Penny to pick up my invitations. They look GREAT! I can't wait to send them! Also I went by Get Personal, one of my favorite boutiques in Memorial, and got some graduation/hostess gifts for Dana and Nicole!

Then it was shower time! I had an absolute blast! P

ictures say so more than words.... so here they are!

Didn't break a single bow!

There is more to this weekend's story... but I'll have to save it for another post!

Headed home!

So I'm heading home this weekend for my first SHOWER! I'm super duper duper excited. But first let me update you on my week! Overall... it was pretty great!

Monday: I went to practicum. My client was there and I started evaluating them! It was pretty exciting. My client is a little "apathetic" toward their therapy. Basically they don't really care if they are there or not. In other words, my job is hard as HECK! Trying to habilitate someone with no motivation is like asking a mountain very nicely to move. In other words... unless you are God, it's not happening. This became clear when I began asking my client what they wanted to work on and they responded "I don't need to work on anything." Sawwweeeet first day! I guess it's a good thing I was warned. I was not discouraged... just kept on evaluating and found out the deficits they had (which were plenty in number unlike what they though).

Then I went to class and learned about auditory verbal therapy... my favorite. That class is becoming seriously repetitive though. Oh well... the camp at the end of this semester is going to be great! I picked up the kids extra early and then their parents got home extra early! Which meant I got to go home extra early! Whoo hoo! Then Christine and I went to work out!

Tuesday: I got up fairly early and went to work out! Then when I got home I talked to Dana for a little while about wedding stuff! After that I went to make some lunch, turned on the water... and NOTHING came out! WHAT THE HECK! I was disgusting! I had to be at class in an hour! Good thing I have a cousin that lives near by. I ran over and took the world's fastest shower and then hopped in the car to head to class. I went to dysphagia, and then went to get the kids. The rest of the night was pretty boring.

Wednesday: Went to practicum as usual. Finished up my evaluation and started to present my "findings" and plan to my client. Except they would have none of it. My supervisor happened to walk in while this was going on so she sat down for a little chat with us. Basically she TOLD the client what we would be working on and then told them that we would seriously reconsider continuing therapy after this semester. The client was unphased! Ohhh man is my semester going to be hard. Oh well...

I went to class and then picked up the kids. As I was getting ready to leave their house it got pitch black outside. We turned on the tv to hear that a "wall cloud" was moving across dallas with great force. Wonderful! I still needed to get Lucy from Doggy Day Care. So I literally ran out the door into the worst weather I think I've ever driven in. Trees were falling on the road in front of me. It was raining like crazy. And the wind was about keeping me from going straight. I finally got her and got home.... finally!

Thursday: I woke up and it was still raining. Turns out it had rained allll night long! Insane! I went to get my eye brows waxed which turned out to be a very scary trip driving through Highland Park where there was zero power. I finally made it back home to walk through about 6 inches of water to get to the stairs leading up to the door! CRAZY! I hunkered down for a few more hours and then finally the sun came out! I drove over to the country club to work out! Then I went to pick up the kids and such!

So in case you notice the trend... I worked out every day this week except for Wednesday (hello the weather was horrible). That's right I'm kicking my butt into shape! I have to... I have a wedding dress to wear of course! I also joined weight watchers again. This week I lost at least 2lbs (my scale told me different things through out the day). I cannot wait to lose 10 lbs. William promises to give me a prize when I reach my first goal!

Alright I'll let you know how the shower goes!

The Weekend

Let's see... what did I do this weekend? On Saturday morning I went to a "bootcamp" class with my friend Christine at the Village Country Club.  I figured it was going to be hard, but since I've never subjected myself completely by choice to something like this I wasn't sure how much I was really going to struggle with it.  In the beginning I thought I was going to die... I mean several times I felt faint.  We were doing Kettlebell workouts where you basically do lunges, kicking, squatting, and other similar activities while throwing around this 12lbs. weight shaped like a cow bell... wonderful! So that part pretty much kicked my butt.  Especially the part where we had to bob around like we were boxing and kick our feet up high.  Anyways so after this part we went on a run... I was like oh my gosh I'm going to die.  But I started running anyways.  And to my amazement I didn't die! Not even close to dying.  I actually felt a lot better while running.  Which I never thought would happen. Then we did stairs, which I slacked on.  Then arms and abs.  By the end I felt amazing.  Again... amazed at myself!  

After that I sat on the couch for 2 hours... ha.

Then I went to Megan and Taylor's to babysit Colin for a bit.  We went to the pool that evening and had nachos and watched the kids swim!

Sunday I hung out and got some work done and then babysat for Colin again and ate dinner with Megan, Taylor, and Taylor's sister, Morgan!

Overall, good weekend! I missed William (he was at drill all weekend).  I feel like I'm always saying I miss William... but I guess I am. I can't wait until there are no time limits to the amount we get to see each other! 

Hayden the Hero!

Tonight I went to Megan and Taylor's for dinner.  I got off work rather early and was looking forward to seeing them.  So I collected Lucy and headed over. It was bath time... typical.  When Colin got out I gave him his bottle since I hadn't seen him in a few weeks.  When I was done giving him his bottle he went to sleep.  So I put him in bed like a good cousin.  While I was feeding Colin there had been a lot of racket outside in the living room... also typical.  But when I came out of Colin's room is was entirely quiet.... NOT TYPICAL!!  So I start looking, in the bathroom (nope), in the other bathroom (nope), Hayden's room (nope), backyard (nope), and the front yard (nope).  So... I'm like okay... two cars in the garage... where are they?

Then I see the neighbors.  They are like "do you see the house behind Megan and Taylor's, it's on fire".  I'm like "huh? fire? where?" So I walk to the back gate and sure enough there is smoke pouring out of the house.  I conclude that Megan and Taylor and Hayden must have gone to check it out.  

When Megan, Taylor and Hayden walk back into the house.  Megan is like... "HAYDEN IS A HERO."  I look over at Hayden who is in full firefighter gear by the way and say "What did he do?" Apparently Hayden had gone and put on his firefighting gear and told his mom to come outside and help him fight the fire.  Well since Hayden is Hayden and has QUITE an active imagination, Megan didn't believe him.  She thought that he was kidding.  So after more annoying squeals from Hayden she walked outside with him.  And wouldn't you know it there was a fire! Taylor hopped on his bike and rode over to the house and called the fire department.  Megan and Hayden followed close behind (don't forget Hayden is in full fire fighter garb... he has on the pants, the jacket, the hat and don't forget... the boots).  Well when they got there the firefighters were busy trying to get in the house.  Once the fire was safely put out they came to see who was responsible for saving the house.  Hayden obviously stood out from the crowd.  The firefighters proclaimed him the hero.  They also let him wear a real hat and spray the hose! One neighbor even asked if she could take a picture of him! 

I guess from now on we will have to listen to him when he says there is a fire. Tomorrow he plans on putting a sign on the people's door that says "Hayden saved your house." I'll let you know how it goes!

I've Got Attitude!

So today is 175 days from our wedding.  It is so close... but so far at the same time.  It is so much closer than the 727 days of engagement that we will have endured when we finally get married.  But yet as I watch all the people get married in may, june, july and august I can't help but be extremely jealous that I still have 5 months to go.  

This week was my first real week of practicum and school for the summer.  I already had my first test (which kicked my butt) and I interacted with my first adult client on Wednesday.  My specific client didn't show up, but I helped a fellow clinician diagnose her client.  I am very excited about Monday though.  My client is a very young adult (read same age as me) with a Traumatic Brain Injury.  Now at first I was very weary about this client.  My supervisor preceded telling me who my client was by saying "Now Peyton we are all going to support you.  Don't worry we will get you through the semester with [client].  You see, [client] has a little attitude."  After she said this, two of my friends erupted in laughter... and you can bet I knew why.  I let off a huge sigh of relief and replied, "We will be great for each other then, because I do too."  Later my friends confirmed that they were thinking how perfect it was that I got that client.  Both of my friends are quiet, sweet individuals and I am definitely neither of those things.  Not to say I can't be a nice person... but let's face it, I do NOT put up with other people's crap! And quiet... HA! I'm the girl that spoke up so much in class that all my professors new my name the first week of school.  I even had one professor deny me the opportunity to answer questions aloud until several other people had attempted.  So anyways, back to my client.  Now I'm ready... I've got my game face on and when they show up on Monday I'm determined to preform a successful assessment and get some real work done this semester.  This client has been known to sort of attitude their way out of things.  Well... not with me!

This weekend, William has a training operation with the National Guard. He's going to be at some base in Texas, but right now I can't remember the name... oh well. I've got some homework to get done, but other than that I'm going to work out, and hang out with megan, taylor and the kids. This time next week I'll be on my way to Houston for my first shower which I am extremely excited about! I really cannot wait! It's going to be so fun to see all my friends together again... maybe for the last time until my wedding and even then I don't know if everyone will make it!

Alright, Lucy (the dog in the picture below) keeps biting my hand... I take it she wants to go outside! Have a nice Friday folks!

Jonna and Bryan's wedding!

This weekend was Jonna and Bryan's Wedding! It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed getting to be there with her as she makes a big step in the direction of her future.  

William and I also had an unusually good time together this weekend.  No petty arguing and no wedding planning!  It's so good after a stressful week to be able to see each other and joke around and have fun.  I love seeing him smile!

Here are some pictures from the weekend!