A short update

Where have I been? First, I went back to work part time in November '09 at my local craft store. Close to home (5 minutes) and flexible. Casual clothes and comfy shoes. And it worked with my crossing guard job too. I was hired as Seasonal help.

The job was fun. Stressful at times, well make that really busy more than stressful. It worked for me and worked for the store manager too. He invited me to hire on full time in April '10. By then I was being trained to cover the cash office one day per week and also, one of two department managers in Crafts. I quit my job as crossing guard around this time.

Mike and the kids have been getting along with work, school and various sports. Jason still plays baseball in high school and got his drivers license. He is currently a Junior. The twins, Ryan and Megan, are 5th graders and in a brand new school -a middle school. It serves 5th through 8th graders. Ryan is playing U11 Soccer and Megan is competing Level 5 gymnastics. Mike is still with his company for which we are more-than-ever grateful these days. Mike has always done a bang up job of caring for our family, but even more so in the last 6-7 months.

I worked full time all summer and juggled work with kids, sports, family, etc. It is tough. I had forgotten after being a SAHM. Still, my coworkers were nice and I was enjoying myself. As summer progressed, and the kids went back to school, work continued and we settled back into routines.

Thursday, September 16, 2010 started out like every other day. Showers, breakfasts, lunches made, kids to school and Mike and I to work. I wasn't scheduled to work that day; but we had a reset project to do in floral. I was offered extra hours and was happy to work them, in spite of a nagging cold. I feel that it was by God's hand that I was at work that day, and not home alone.

Shortly after lunch, I became ill while working with Lupe on the reset. It happened very fast. A sudden headache and excruciating neck pain, tunnel vision, nausea and profuse sweating. I was helped to the break room where many coworkers were with me. I texted Mike who came to the store. Someone called 911.

Although the paramedics didn't realize the severity of my illness and were not insistent on transporting me--- I was very certain something was not right. Mike agreed and we asked them to transport me anyhow. My other friend at work, Cindy, said she really began to worry when I didn't seem to realize my kids would need to be picked up from school.

It was interesting that the paramedics wore masks and started an IV too on the ambulance ride.

Upon arrival at the ER--- the medical staff was fabulous, quick and I don't know? Led by God?? I think so. While I have lost blocks of time that afternoon and evening, I do know this:

A CT SCAN was performed of my brain. Within a very short time we were told a diagnosis for my sudden headache, neck pain, nausea etc. I had suffered a Subarachnoid Brain Hemmorhage. I was scheduled for surgery and sent to ICU where I spent twelve days.

In my next several posts I hope to share some of my journey. The good, bad and the ugly and the frightening. By sharing I hope I can not only heal mentally, but maybe someone else could somehow benefit too.

May God bless me with the strength and the words to tell about my journey.