Monday, April 25, 2011

Superpowers, Part Deux

First off, I need to say that I don't know the results of the scan. When I know...you'll eventually know.

The scan was relatively easy since I am not claustrophobic. At one point the machine was about a centimetre from my nose for about 4 minutes. Of course my nose was itching unbearably during that time, but you need to stay still for the entirety of the scan...45 min! It was pretty cool to watch my skeleton light up on screen. Until they noticed I was watching and turned it so that I couldn't see. ( I should have brought my friend T who used to be a Nuc-Med Tech till she used her superpower of fertility to create 5 cute kids!)

As I was getting ready to leave I noticed a sign that said that if you were planning on traveling within a week of the scan, you needed to get a letter from the technician. So I asked the tech why I would need a letter. She informed me that I would most likely set off the radiation detectors at the airport and the letter gets me through. Well crap. I already have that superpower...you know, the "you've been randomly selected, let me put my hand down your pants to make sure you are not a terrorist" power. I use it all the time when I'm traveling...just to make the experience a bit more fun. The last thing I need is to have that power ENHANCED!!! (just as an aside, another side effect I noticed was massive bruising on parts of my body. I'm pretty sure I haven't been beaten with a baseball bat or run into walls...so I'm thinking it might be some sort of reaction??!!?? I'm sure as hell NOT googling it though.)

Anyways, I'm going east of the Rockies on Wednesday. I'll let you know how it goes!


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter dresses and the tree of Life

The girls always surprise me with their desire to having matching dresses. Here's this year's version, a gift from Hubby's parents.



This year at the church we did an art installation of sorts. Good Friday we had the image of a barren dead tree (which I don't have a picture of). Then this morning was the tree with a blue background, a sign of life

Then folks were invited to come and place their handprints on the tree as a reminder that we are a community together.

The final image. A perfect visual of Easter.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

I'm hoping for superpowers....

For months I've been waiting for a specialist's appointment to find out why my body sometimes feels 37 and sometimes feels 87. Granted, I haven't had a pain free day since I tore my Achilles tendon (5 years ago), but the pain has upped its game these last 2 years. If ibuprofen came in bulk, I be a happy girl.

Any way, I had my appointment on Tuesday. The doctor poked and prodded, asked questions, and poked and prodded some more. Then looked at me and said, 'we need to talk'..and then he paused and looked down into my file. For like 2 minutes! Honestly, I thought he was going to tell me that I was dying. Or crazy. Cause I'm not quite sure which is worse. Finally he looked at me and told me that he wanted extensive bloodwork done and a bone scan. The scan involves injecting radioactive goop into me (my words, not his!) and having the goop adhere to my bones so that I can be scanned head to toe looking for 'abnormalities'.

So, I headed off to get blood drawn and prepared myself to wait another few months for the scan. Then my phone rang an hour later. It was the doctor's office informing me that I'd been bumped to the top of the list and that I was to go in Thursday (today) for the scan. As I hung up, I wasn't sure if I should marvel at the efficiency of my doctor or be scared out of my mind that I've been booked in so quickly. I've gone back and forth between the two in these last 48 hours.
Then I made the tactical error of googling bone scan. Sheer stupidity on my part since it just made it worse. Curse you internets!

So, I've gotten my shot already, which I consider a major victory since just as I walked into the clinic, there was a woman violently throwing up from her test. My tech assured me that it wouldn't happen to me and it hasn't. Yet. In an hour I go for the scan which involves lying still for an hour.

In trying to look at the bright side of things (cause we all know I excel at that), I am hoping for superpowers due to radiaiton exposure...kinda like the Incredible Hulk, or Spider man or the Fantastic Four....(knowledge obtained through Google, yet again. This time for the good.)

I'll keep you posted!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

A prayer for Holy Week

I thank you, Jesus, for becoming a human being
so I do not have to pretend or try to be God.
I thank you, Jesus, for becoming finite and limited
so I do not have to pretend that I am infinite or limitless.
I thank you, crucified God for becoming mortal
so I do not have to try to make myself immortal.
I thank you Jesus for becoming inferior
so that I do not have to pretend that I am superior to anyone.
I thank you for being crucified outside the walls,
for being expelled and excluded like the sinners and outcasts,
so you can meet me where I feel that I am,
always outside the walls of worthiness.

I thank you for becoming weak, Lord Jesus,
so I don't have to be strong.
I thank you for being willing to be considered imperfect and strange,
so I do not have to be perfect and normal.
I thank you Jesus for willing to be disapproved of
so I do not have to try so hard to be approved and liked.
I thank you for being considered a failure
so I do not have to live my life trying to pretend I'm a success.
I thank you for being wrong by the standards of religion and state
so I do not have to be right anywhere....even in my own mind.
~Richard Rohr

Monday, April 18, 2011