Morgan, My BFF

As I’ve mentioned in other posts, I’m fortunate in being exposed to Usher Syndrome before being diagnosed. My best friend all through school (we met in the 3rd and 4th grade) has Ushers and was diagnosed at birth. She does not drive at night, but is otherwise unlimited.

Well, Morgan came and stayed at my house for a weekend before moving to Seattle. She hasn’t met Eleanor or Bryan and was excited to catch up with everything that was in my life. The last time we saw each other was about a year after my family and I moved to Missouri shortly after starting high school. We had fun gossiping about former schoolmates and discussing how our lives have developed.

It was reassuring to meet what some would consider a ‘good case’ of Ushers. The only times I remembered her medical diagnosis was when we were making chicken noodle soup and neither of us could sign next to each other without stopping to turn towards the other person. She also has that tunnel vision when it comes to being on the computer. I think I’m getting better about it since I’m looking more around the laptop than AT the laptop (so I’ll at least know Bryan is sitting next to me rather than before when I spent all my energy staring at the screen, becoming oblivious to anyone else in the room). With Morgan though, her case has gotten to the point where you have to tap the screen to get her attention.

After she left I asked Bryan if he enjoyed the company. He said yes, but found it frustrating he couldn’t eavesdrop on our conversation.

 

Maybe after all of the chaos in our lives right now settles down Bryan and I can sit down and work on teaching him sign language. One can always hope, right?

Whew

Finally, it is time that I can play catch up. I’ll start with most important and work my way down.

I found a therapist! His name is Steve, and we meet roughly once a week to talk. I’ve been having symptoms of postpartum depression and he’s helping me work through them. Still spend most days on the couch but I’m getting better. Bryan isn’t able to make it to our appointments since they usually occur during his work day, but Steve and I both hope someday Bryan has a day off and we can all sit down on techniques to help me with day-to-day stuff. He’s already helped me a lot with the 5 by 5 tool he taught me a couple weeks ago. The idea is that each partner writes a list of 5 things they want to talk about, and together we combat each point before moving on to the next one. It’s helpful in the fact that I’m able to articulate what’s on my mind instead of a spur-of-the-moment argument.

Bryan is getting a promotion. He’s getting his next stripe sewn on sometime in December according to his estimates. We don’t really know for sure since it’s all based on need and funding. But no matter what he will get his stripe on before people lower than him get theirs. We’re looking forward to it as it’s an extra $300 a month, a $300 that will go far in buying baby clothes.

Bryan also is doing ALS (Airman Leadership School). It’s required before he can sew on his next stripe. He already started ALS when we found out the results of the test he had to pass in order to qualify for the promotion.

Speaking of school, I start my Human Anatomy class on Monday. Science was never my strong point, as for the most part I like reading about the end result than the process, in school and I went out of my way to avoid Chemistry and Anatomy. Though I did do some dissecting in my freshman year the actual class was about the environment. So we mainly played with earthworms. Sometimes I wonder if the answer to my prayers about whether or not this was the right time to go back to school really was a ‘no’, or if that was my own fears trying to talk me out of it. I figured if this was a complete crap-shoot, then I’ve learned my lesson on what’s a ‘no’. If it’s a success, then what it feels like when my own thoughts are holding me back.  It seems if/when my eyesight fails and I become legally blind, the best thing I can do is rely on a higher power to pull me through those ugly times when I want to curse the world.

Eleanor is developing remarkably well. She seems really smart and I wonder if I’m really doing all I can do to help her. Right now I’m aiming at at least one play date a week so she gets her social butterfly fix in. The rest of the time she entertains herself pretty well at home. If she wants me she’ll come to me. I still run into those moments where I can’t find her only to discover she’s at my feet. So far the trick has been to leave the room and come back. Something about getting a fresh view of the space usually gets me to find her. If not I’ll just shout her name and she comes crawling.

Other than that she’s doing what most babies her age do: she crawls, babbles, explores, and says ‘ma’ and ‘da’ sounds.

Hiatus

Due to extending circumstances we’re taking a short break until things settle down.

That being said I had my best friend come stay with us for a weekend. It was nice to talk to her about things and to reminisce the past. She left this morning heading to a family reunion-type event while her brother moves out of state. The two best things about the weekend were first I was able to brush up on my sign language and my friend let me know Eleanor was a freakishly happy baby.

Sorry for the sporadic posts, I will update once things calm down.

Minus One Organ and I’m Ok

I had my gallbladder removed yesterday morning after going to the ER. Some friends stayed with Eleanor while Bryan was on night shift and I was in pain.

Long story short, after a few hours in the ER the doc mentioned it might not be a wise idea for me to hold out until next week for my appointment. Since I’ve been having attacks every 3 days or so, it was inevitable that my gallbladder would be taken out. But since I didn’t know how long it would take from my first appointment to a surgery date, it probably would be best to have it taken out sooner rather than later.

I agreed with him as it saved me numerous trips out of town, and the last thing I needed was for Eleanor to be heavier than she already is. So this week has pretty much been filled with recuperating and various pushing myself too far events (which always happens with me).

Before I had my gallbladder taken out Eleanor had her check up with the WIC office. We lost the sticker so I’ll have to wait til the appointment on Friday with the base doctor to give the latest stats.

One of my hearing aids isn’t working so I’ll have to call the audiologist sometime this week. So far I’m doing ok but one hearing aid really puts a damper on what I can pick up.