Surgery time

Once the OR was booked, Vince held my hand as I was being rolled to the OR. He was trying his best to comfort me but he was a complete mess.

“Hon, don’t worry. I’ll be fine. This isn’t the first emergency surgery without anesthesia; knowing me, it won’t be the last time!! Matt’s gonna but a little lidocaine on the area before splicing me open, perform the appy, clean up and close me up. Don’t worry, Vin! Matt’s the best doc around and the only one I trust,” I said.

“Right now, I don’t even want to know how many times he fixed you up without knocking you out; it’d make me worry more about you. I’ll be right here when you get out. I love you, babe,” Vince said.

“I’m looking forward to be back with you. I love you too!” I replied.

Seconds later, Matt, a few nurses and I were on an elevator up to the OR. Once in the OR, Matt warned me that when he gets to perform the actually appy, it’d get rather painful. I reminded him about the mangled up bullet that he pulled out of my clavicle about 18 months ago and I’d refused anesthesia at the time. He chuckled at the memory of me cursing him out and telling him that he’d never pick up a scalpel again. He knew better than that; he knew that he was the only doctor I trusted anywhere within a 70 foot radius of me.

After getting the lidocaine on and letting it start working, Matt started the incision. He was quick to remove my appendix.

“Dude. You are so effin’ lucky that you came in when you did!” Matt exclaimed.

“Why’s that? So you could cut into me?” I asked sarcastically.

“No, you wise ass! If you didn’t come in when you did, your appendix would’ve burst and caused a horrid case of sepsis,” Matt said.

“Just my luck, right? Sew me up and get me into recovery. My husband will be pacing a hole in the floor if I don’ return soon,” I said.

“He’s your hubby? Thought he was your uncle. Sugar daddy?” Matt asked.

“You know damn well I like ‘em a bit older than me! Sugar daddy my ass! You know I don’t have a need for a sugar daddy. Plus you know who funded the hospital so it wouldn’t shut down,” I replied.

Matt knew originally I donated $8,000,000 to the hospital so it wouldn’t shut down plus a yearly donation of $2,000,000 to keep the supplies coming in as well as part of the electricity bills paid off. I also implemented time lights so the lights would shut off or dim after a certain amount of time.

Finally at the hospital

Matt, my doctor, met the ambulance at the doors to the ER. Wasting no time, he climbed into the ambulance, unstrapped me and carried me into the private room he had set up for me.

“Hon, what’s the matter? I’ve never seen you in this much pain!” he said.

“I’m pregnant; about a month. Think it might be ectopic,” I said.
"What makes you think that?" Matt asked.
"Because of where the pain is. The pain is near my abdomen but closer to my right side" I said.
"Right about here?"
"Yeah. Right there!!" I said.
"Your appendix ruptured. I have to get you to the OR but I can't give you anesthesia due to the pregnancy. Is that going to be a problem?" he asked.
"Not a problem! I need you to take care of it right away!" I replied.
"Give me a few minutes to book an OR and I'll bring you up, ok?"
I nodded and watched my dear friend run to go book an OR. Vince started pacing. I could tell that he wasn't thrilled with the fact that I was going into surgery without anesthesia. As much as I tried to comfort him and let him know that I'd be ok, he was still really worried about me.

Sorry for the delay

It's been a hectic few days between work, family and personal matters. I should have a new post up in 36 to 48 hours

Una preghiera per il mio pastore/A prayer for my pastor

La madre del mio pastore morto questa sera. Purtroppo, il padre scomparso dieci mesi fa e il mio parroco è ancora in lutto per la perdita del padre. Per favore prega per i suoi fratelli (e le loro famiglie), e lui in questo momento difficile.
Questo è un po 'difficile per me, perché mi preoccupo per il pastore in un modo che io so non dovrebbe, non ha mai sposato e non ha una fidanzata. So che una relazione tra noi due non accadrà mai

My pastor's mother passed away this evening. Sadly, his father passed away ten months ago and my pastor is still mourning the loss of his father. Please pray for his siblings (and their families) and him during this difficult time.
This is a little hard for me because I care for the pastor in a way that I know should not; he has never married and does not have a girlfriend. I know that a relationship between the two of us will never happen

Taking the next night or two off

Just wanted to let y’all know that I’ll be taking tonight and maybe tomorrow night off from posting a blog. A few friends and I will be going to my brother’s restaurant to celebrate my birthday. It’ll be the first time that I’ll be bringing a date with me to meet these friends and my brother. As the youngest of three kids – and in my 30’s – my brother is still super protective of me and wants to meet any guy interested in me.  I don’t mind this protective side of my brother but at the same time it’s a little odd since my date is 8 ½ years older than my brother (my brother is 1 ½ yrs older than me).

I feel a little weird about it this time around because my date is a co worker who’s been married and divorced twice and is the father of three kids (age range is 2 yrs to 18 yrs;  I’m 13 yrs older than his eldest). I don’t mind that my date is 10 yrs older than me, twice married and twice divorced but I worry about how my brother will be.

I’ve been hurt before (let’s face it…we all have) and my brother doesn’t want to see me get hurt again. I explained to my brother that I do care about my date but I don’t see a long term relationship with him. I want to get married, have kids and settle down sooner rather than later whereas my date has no desire to get married and is done with having kids.

My date is a good man, a hard worker, a good father to his kids, is financially secure and shares my sense of humor but he just isn’t interested in anything long term; as in anything over 18 months. I’m looking for long term but he can’t provide that for me, unfortunately.

A trip to the ER

“What’s wrong, babe?” Vince asked me.

“I believe I’m having a miscarriage,” I said. “I can’t wait for the EMTs to get up here. I’m going down to meet them.”
I made an attempt to grab my wallet, jacket and phones but I was rather shaky. Vince helped me with putting my jacket on. As soon as we opened the door, the EMTs were right there and had a stretcher.

“I’m walking out,” I said as I stumbled and grabbed Vince’s elbow.

“No way, Lieu! You’re not gonna collapse on the floor. We’re gonna take you out on this stretcher!” Phil, one of the EMTs, said.

“Over my dead body, Phil,” I replied.

“You’re gonna be dead after taking the first stair down, Lieu. We’re taking you in the stretcher. If you misbehave, we WILL strap you all the way in,” Phil replied.

I grumbled with dissatisfaction as Vince helped me up on the stretcher. Once safely on, the lap belt was fastened and a blanked was spread across my lap.

“Vince, take the bike and go ahead to the ER,” I said. “You know who my doctor is there. Please get him to meet us at the door.”

Vince nodded and grabbed the keys to my motorcycle and booked it to the valets. The EMTs and I were out the door about a minute later. The stomach pains were worse; at times like this I was grateful that I had an apartment on the first floor.

A bad scare

Although I was a bit uncomfortable with A and Vince reconnecting in the apartment, I’m glad that Vince is getting to speak with other people other than myself and all the coworkers I have. I knew that neither one of them would break the confidences that I have in each of them but still felt weird having them together.

I decided to go back to the PD to clean my messy office. I go through all the papers that I’ve had laying around and in my desk that I’ve had for several years. After deciding that the papers weren’t important enough to keep, I shred the pile; it took about an hour and a half! I got rid of the yearly calendars that I had as well as candy wrappers, Styrofoam cups and dead plants.

By the time, I had sorted out on what to keep; I had a 5 gallon garbage can filled to be tossed in the dumpster.  I dusted the desk, computer and printer; taking off several inches of dust off the top of the printer. 

“Hey, Deppgrl!” Al said as he was walking past.

“Hey, Al. Just doing some cleaning,” I said.

“I haven’t seen you clean in a few years. What’s up? Not like I mind the clean area and desk or anything…...” Al said.

“My ex fiancée is apparently friends with my husband and they’re both in the apartment. Let’s just say that I’m a bit uncomfortable so I came here. Once I got here, I figured that I might as well clean,” I said.

Al nodded his head and just went on his way. He was good like that; not prying into someone’s life. I left and headed back to the apartment. Once inside, A was gone and Vince was in the office on the computer.

I went over and let him know I was home. After kissing him, I went into the kitchen and drank half a gallon of orange juice; something that I normally wouldn’t do since I don’t like the stuff.

All of a sudden I started having the WORST stomach cramps of all times. It was worse than any stomach bug I’d ever had.

“Babe?” I screamed. “Call me an ambulance. I need to get to the ER!”

Vince came rushing in as he was calling the local emergency squad. He was as white as a ghost.

Awkward moment

The next day I head on over to the FD and explain to the captain that I’m no longer doing any freelance work for them due to being pregnant. He was sad to see me go because of my capable eyes and nose. He completely understood and said that after I have the baby, I’d be welcomed back if I choose to go back. I thanked him and left.
I went to the office to go over the staff’s payroll, sign off on expenses and authorize the staff’s paychecks as well as mine.
I head back the apartment and I see Vince there with A. I was a little nervous but they seemed to be getting along pretty well. At least Vince didn’t hate A.
“Um, hi guys. Vince, I didn’t know that you guys knew each other. If you wanted to meet my ex fiancée, all you had to do was ask,” I said.
“We actually knew each other before you two met. We were in a small band together but we disbanded about 5 months after forming the band,” Vince said.
“Oh. Awkward moment for me here. I’ll let you guys catch up. I’ll go someplace else,” I said.
“Stay, please,” A said. “It’d be good to catch up with you as well.”
“It’d be nice, A, but a bit awkward for me. I was engaged to you but married to Vince now. At one point I was in love with you but now I’ve realized that it was always Vince. It’d be just awkward for me,” I said as I left the apartment.