Last night

I will have to break this into chunks...like Raegan's spelling words......

Here is chunk number 1--it is last night after the breathing treatment!

I left the room and was about to the Emergency Room (Red) parking garage. Riverside is made up of colors---the color of the floor or part of the hospital indicates what it's specialty is. Roger is in ORANGE. When you get off on his floor it says "MEDICAL TELEMETRY". I had to look that up because I had no idea what that meant. It has to do with, ah heck-here is what it is:

telemetry: Cardiology The monitoring of the cardiac rhythm and transmission of signals or data from one electronic unit to another by radio waves using a device that provides real-time measurement of a Pt's EKG for various lengths of time See Multiple parameter telemetry, Real-timetelemetry.
Telemetry–indications
Cardiac dysrhythmia
• Atrial fibrillation or flutter
• SVT–supraventricular tachycardia
• PVC–premature ventricular contraction under treatment
• Ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation
• Bradycardia < 50/min
Heart block–2nd or 3rd degree
Angina
Acute MI–transferred from ICU
Respiratory failure
Hypotension or HTN
Electrolyte imbalance
• Hypokalemia
• Hyperkalemia
• Hypocalcemia
• Hypercalcemia
Syncope

We just went hi-tech there for a second in blogville:-)

Ok, back to the story--

I left and got almost to the parking garage and grabbed for my phone...that was a problem-it was still in Roger's room! I walked all the way back and there he was--his cutest little self-headphones on, (the race car kind that keep the noise out) listening to Michael Hansen in his ear and smiling. He had his hand on my phone so I couldn't just slip in and get it.....

Got home Ok--I didn't realize just how bad the roads are--I drive a Honda Pilot and it just took it all in stride.

When I got home the dogs were pretty happy to see the Momma! My Aunt Charlotte had been there earlier to let them out--thank GOD for her!!!!

I put my car in park, went to get out and it just kept sliding backwards in the driveway....it wouldn't stop. I have been known to leave the car running when I get out (blonde moment) but, come on--this was going backwards. I checked-keys were in my hand and the car was still going backwards. Our driveway slants down hill which is good when it rains...particularly bad when it is icy and really bad on this occassion. There is a Corvette sitting in the driveway under a cover. Roger has 3 Corvettes (don't ask--one is really Raegan's and the other Meghan has claimed). He has the red vette (it's a '93) in the garage because he was detailing it. When I start going back into the office to work he wanted it all spiffy and shiny for me to drive. What a cool guy!

The silver vette ('01) and my favorite of all times, models, styles....(that one is Raegan's-she calls it Corvette Magic" because it does all of these things when you get in it to fit to what you want...steering wheel, seat...it is MAGIC). Well, that one is usually in the garage and got booted out to the driveway while the red '93 (is it funny or sad that we have to call them by year or name?) is in the garage.

It is a good thing that a) Corvette Magic has a cover on it and B) that it is silver JUST LIKE THE PILOT! It was about to become one with the PILOT with the ice situation.

Got the Pilot stopped and then when I got out about fell on my rear. I made it to the house and let the dogs out one by one so they didn't wipe out on the deck.

I had talked to Meghan about 8:30 and she and her step-mom, Heather had gone to get Meg's hair cut. They could barely walk to the car because of the ice...so, when we were done talking I asked her to call me when they got home to know they had made it home safely.

The dogs were whack-o's. All 5 of them! Maniacs! I had to eat and so did they and Believe! (the Frenchie puppy) acted like she hadn't eaten in months. (that was the theme of the day-FEED ME!)

I decided to use her energy and train her to jump up into my arms on command. I put a french fry in my mouth and patted my bent knees and said "SPRING" and up she came-onto my knees and into my arms. She is a pretty smart Pig (she's really a dog--but we call her the PIG) and she learns stuff really quickly.

I ate, and then went out the front door to get the Therapy Dog tag for Sweet!'s collar from my car so I could put it on her to bring her with me today. She also needed a bath so she wasn't a stinky Therapy Dog....YUK!

I opened the front door and never had a chance.....out I went with authority....had I learned from Meghan's fall earlier in the week on the ice I would have known that the first step is a killer! And it was....I hit the porch, the sidewalk and out into the grass in one fall. I landed on my knee--the left knee that has had surgery avoided successfully for 3 years....and on my wrist and head. I laid there and assessed body parts and thought--well crap-if I hurt myself and call the squad, they are going to have to take me to St. Ann's---I made it home without incident and now I have done it!

My knee has a huge lump--but no Dr. needed...wasn't going to the ER unless there was blood or a broken bone.

No call from Meghan...eventhough I had called her a jillion times...after talking to her Dad and knowing they were safe I decided to give Sweet! a bath so I could go to bed.

At this point it was 2:00 am. She is really great to do anything with (for me, anyway) and I bathed her and took her into our bathroom to blow her dry with a hairdryer. She hates the big grooming dryer--it scares the Princess....so, I was trying to be nice! After I was 1/2 way done and noticed a smell on her....and taking her back to the tub and washing her again, the Momma's sympathy for the whole scared of the big dryer thing was LONG GONE! I went to the garage-grabbed the big dryer and brought it up to the bathroom and used it....she just shook like a fraidy cat!

Dilemma has a different hate for the big dryer--it makes a loud noise, it blows air on her and it must die......I used to blow it at her and tell her to "skit it" and let her bite it---(note to me-that was really stupid!) I was sitting on the floor, drying Sweet!, trying to keep Dilemma from eating the dryer hose and then comes the PIG--whenever I dry her or get out of the shower I play with her with the towel and play tug with her....she decided to play tug with the towel that was under Sweet! I felt like the washer/dryer scene from one of my favorite movies "MR. MOM" when Michael Keaton is fighting them both in the basement and it is a losing battle.

I JUST WANTED TO GO TO BED!

And I did...much later than 2:00 am!