The Real World...

STINKS! Next time I ever complain about being bored at home or being on bed rest (which I pray will never happen again) please tell me to shut up! Today I returned to work...nothing like being thrown back into a job involving teaching, managing, answering questions, listening to, entertaining and transporting 23 kindergartners for 7 hours. That is real work people...trust me, as I barely have enough strength left to continue my post. I don't really know how I do it 5 days a week...but I do, and I wouldn't change it for the world because when my 23 students saw me the look of excitement and the hugs were unforgettable, for about 2 seconds before the questions about the eye began, the tattling began, and the recap of what I had missed all week began...man, what a job! I love you little kindergartners...and Mrs. Rector too!

Anyway...my eye is doing great! The drops are really starting to get bothersome, but I continue on so that I can make a full recovery. Tomorrow is another crazy day with trick-or-treating added to my list of things I must do with 23 kindergartners-wish me luck! Tonight we are off to dinner (who cares that I gained .8 back this week...bring on the Mexican, next week I'll get back on the elliptical). Then we are going shopping for our Halloween costumes for our "Whatever AnnualSometimes Bi-Annual Shannon Halloween Bash." Have a great night, and thanks for checking in on me...I promise a post about our AWESOME patio soon. For now, I'm off to take a nap-a peaceful nap where I do not hear the words "Mrs. Hedgepeth" (or any variation of it)...

Nichole

Free At Last...(again, hopefully for good this time)

So I just got home from the doctor and I have been given the all clear to resume all normal activities...YAY! My eye is looking great, so he says, since I can't see it, and he is very pleased with how my recovery is going. My vision was much better in my left eye today (20/25) but we will not know for several weeks how or if the surgery was successful. They have to keep my eye dilated so that no scar tissue develops, therefore, my up close vision will be effected for several more weeks. I'm feeling pretty confident that everything will go good...I can see so much better already. I get to drop down to 24 drops a day-so that's still fun and entertaining. The doctor did express some concerns about doing my drops at school because of germs and stuff, but I will just have to be extra extra careful. Speaking of school...yesterday a wonderful goody basket was dropped off-I work with the greatest people. I got some gift cards to some favorite food places, so reading won't be required-yay! The basket was also filled with eyeball gummies...they think they are pretty funny over there at Oakdale! I'm excited to get back to work and be with my second family again...I just hope I can stay awake since I've been pretty lazy these past couple of days! Thanks for checking up on me during this rough little batch. I'm excited to be on the road to recovery and getting back to a normal life. The patio is even finished, so that'll be my next post...got to build up the suspense since it took several weeks to finish! Until next time, keep me in your prayers for a full recovery! Thanks!

Nichole

Off to the Dungeon

It's not as bad as it sounds, but I'm off to the cold, COLD dungeon, otherwise known as Room 219 at Hotel DE' Widrick (otherwise known as my parents house). Since my Mom is now "in charge" of getting me where I need to go I've decided to save myself a lot of stress and go stay the night up there so she can take me to my appointment in the morning. Otherwise, I'd be waiting here for her to come pick me up, and many of you may or may not know this, but my Mom is notorious for being late. Therefore, I'm taking that chance away by staying at her house, therefore ensuring I get to my appointment on time. I'll be leaving all 4 boys at home to bond for the night. I'll let you know how the appointment goes tomorrow! Until next time, thanks for checking in on me again...

Hedge

PS-I feel like my vision is getting better and better...hopefully I'm on the road to full recovery!

Bored and Bruised...what a combo!

It's Tuesday afternoon and the boredom is setting in...I want/need to do something. I called my Mom and told her I was going to drive to the grocery store because we need groceries...she yelled at me. Lucky for me she is a great Mom and she's on her way down to get me to take me "out" for awhile. She has to run some errands, so I'm going to go with her. At least it gets me out of the house. Now...the looks I'll get while out and about should be interesting. It looks like I was in a wicked fight, and lost. The left side of my face is pretty swollen and bruised, which I'm sure is pretty normal, considering what I've been through. At least it doesn't hurt. Even more fun...I counted how many drops I have to put in my eyes each day. You wouldn't believe how many...at least 32 drops a day, plus one pill. If I wake up at night, I'm suppose to put a drop in, so that raises the total. I have drops for even and odd hours (confusing, so I've made nice little bags with times)...last night I kept waking up on odd hours and I didn't do my drops because that one really, I mean REALLY burns. Maybe tonight I'll get lucky and wake up on even hours. Oh...and the drops have to be cold, which means I have to pack them in my little lunch box with ice packs...so much fun! Alright...enough complaining, I'm off to run errands with my mom. Later on tonight I might grace you with a picture of the incision on my eye, quite nice, and my nice bruised face, we'll have to see. Thanks for checking in on me!

Bruised and Swollen Hedge

Oops...

So, somehow it managed to slip my mind that today is my parent's 29th wedding anniversary. Sorry for forgetting Mom and Dad...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART!

Love your favorite daughter in the whole wide world...Nichole

What a Weekend...

Hedgy is back to blogging. Thanks BFF Shell for taking over duties last night...I can't believe I let the secret password out...but I guess I can trust you not to break into my blog and put up nasty messages right?! Anyhow...where to start, where to start. I've got to go quick because I'm not allowed to strain my eye which is patch free and on the road to recovery. The story, brief version (yeah right)!

-Yesterday morning I work up with a wicked red eye and soreness. Went to the doctor at 2:30 and he decided to call in the specialist to have a look. Saw the specialist, Dr. Sanders, at around 4ish and it was determined I had an infection, a small one that we caught very early, and needed to do emergency surgery immediately. Off to Presby we go. Got into a room around 6ish and when Joseph ran down to get something to eat they of course came and took me away to surgery. My surgery started at around 7ish (I was apparently great entertainment down in the operating room per Dr. Sanders this morning...I wanted him to tell me everything that was happening, he said he wasn't comfortable telling me how many different needles he was sticking in my eye, so we talked about my cats...he said I was a "hoot"). Got back into my room around 7:45ish, discharged at around 8:30ish and got home around 9:30ish after we got something to eat. What the surgery was is this...they injected some super strong antibiotics directly inside my eye to attack the infection. They also took a culture to send off for testing, but 60% of the time, nothing shows up. Chances of infection occurring from cataract surgery, 1 in 1000...that's just my great ol' luck!

-I've been in very little pain and I had to keep a patch on my eye until I saw Dr. Sanders again today at 1. Took off my patch, and everything looked great. I'm a little dizzy and uneasy because my vision in my left eye is very clouded, but this is to be expected. I got a great report from the doctor...he is very pleased with how everything is looking and says I lucked out because we caught the infection so early. I felt bad for dragging everyone in on a Sunday afternoon/evening, but at the same time, you don't mess with your vision, so I'm very thankful for how quickly everyone worked to get me all better. I am patch free and actually do not have to go back to the doctor until Wednesday (usually every 24 hours but since my eye is looking so good he felt comfortable holding off until Wednesday). I'm not allowed to drive, lift, strain, work out, or work. I'll know more about work come Wednesday, but it's very frustrating because I had like 10 conferences scheduled for this week which are having to be cancelled for the second time (first time b/c of the whole hive incident). But...in the end my vision is most important.

-I feel great...I'm doing drops every hour and enjoying relaxing and catching up on some rest. I didn't sleep well Saturday or Sunday night, so it's nice to be able to rest. Thanks for checking in on me. Joseph has been a trooper and with me the whole time. He'll go back to work tomorrow and Mommy will be taken over my cares-yay! I do have a quick little quiz for everyone...enjoy!

***Which picture is the real Nichole Hedgepeth aka Itchy Nicki, Blind Hedgy or any other names you could possible think of?

A.








B.

C.

Nichole's Emergency Surgery

Hey guys! This is Michelle blogging for Nichole tonight. She gave me her secret code (while she was a little loopy, she might regret it later!) so that I could sign in to give everyone an update. She had emergency surgery at Presbyterian Hospital this evening. The surgery went well - the purpose of the surgery was to inject antibiotics into her eye to get to the infection. The doctors said the antibiotics started working immediately so that's good news. She has a patch on her eye and has to go back to the doctor tomorrow at 1:00. She's out of work for at least a week and has lots of drops to put in her eyes for the next few weeks. Good news is she also has some Vicodin so the next few days should be good (hence why I'm doing the blogging!) She said her vision isn't very good and that when she looks in the mirror she sees this...

Put the Cart Before the Horse...

So...I got a little too excited last night about my messed up, not normal eyes. This morning when I woke up my left eye was in rough shape. Once I finally was able to open it (about 10 mins after waking up) it was extremely red, sore and my vision seemed hazy. Called the doctor, and the doctor said see you at 2:30...and put drops in left eye every 30 mins. Fun fun. I'll let you know how it goes. Time for Tylenol and more drops...say an extra prayer at church for a good doctors report. I'm a little nervous...

Nichole

FREE AT LAST!

Today I blog without contacts or glasses...how amazing is that?! I know I probably make too much of a deal out of this, but I have had glasses since I was 7, contacts since I was 12, and told since I was 16ish that I'd never be able to have corrective surgery until I was in my 40's at the earliest, but probably more like 50 or 60. And today, I'm 27 and cataract free thanks to a wonderful doc who showed me some mercy (and worked the system a little bit too).

Yesterday's surgery was A LOT better then two weeks ago. It seemed like the prep and waiting was a lot longer, but me and my Mom just laughed at the loopy guy next to us to pass the time. They had some trouble starting an IV, three sticks later they finally got that in, and then it bled out a little, but they fixed it. I got a shot of some "good stuff" before going back, which really relaxed me (per dr. orders since I was so uncomfortable last time). Once back there I got some more "good stuff" and the surgery was much easier! I was even prepared for the tacky pic they take, so it was better too! Once home I slept the rest of the afternoon. I did not sleep well last night, and actually woke up in a good amount of pain/discomfort. I got up and watched tv with my sunglasses on (how freaking funny would that look?), took some Tylenol and headed to the doc for my recheck. Got a clean bill of health and will go back in a month for a recheck. The pain comes and goes, but I think it's related to trying to focus. I can see perfect far away, it's the up close reading stuff that gives me trouble. He says I'll learn to adjust and it'll take some time. But other then the minor discomfort I'm good...I'm trying to do some reading and surfing on the net to begin training my eyes to work together...it's hard, but I already feel like things are getting better. Thanks for checking in on me...it's just absolutely amazing to me!

On a completely side note...does anyone think cats can be "midgets"? Rocky is really tall, Tripp is medium height, but Charlie looks like he has really short legs to me. I'm going to try to measure them tomorrow. I'll let you know how that goes-haha!

Alright...I'm off to watch a chick flick in bed. Thanks for checking in on me (and us I guess, Joseph is doing great...almost finished with the back patio-rain delay). Until next time, as always, please Remember Jackson!

Cataract, glasses and contact free Nichole

I have a dilemma on my hands (or with my eyes)...

So, this morning I woke up and had a little bit of a dilemma on my hands. Some of you may have forgotten that today is SURGERY DAY! Anyway, I'm not allowed to wear my contact today (in my left eye). So, the following were my options on how to get through the morning before my surgery (keeping in mind I had to 1-drive to work safely, 2-finish report cards, 3- have a parent conference (which is late/about to be classified a no-show, giving me time to blog)) and 4-drive back home safely...

A.) Ignore the new contact rule and put it in so I could go to work and finish up what I needed to finish up.
B.) Drive without the assistance of a contact or glasses (legally blind in left eye, blurry vision in the right)
C.) Wear my glasses, even though they make my right eye even more blurry since I don't need them anymore.
D.) Look like a dork with my glasses on, with the right lens taken out.

That's a lot of choices! A is out completely because I'm not taking the risk of messing up my one chance at freedom! B made me pretty nervous because I'd like to live to see without glasses or contacts. C also a little risky, because I'd have to drive with my right eye closed. So...that leaves D. Today I look like a dork, but not in front of everyone. Certain co-workers (Hyslop) would make fun of me, he already calls me "Itchy Nicky". I could not give him any more ammunition. So...I drove to work with my glasses on...right lens removed, which was a small undertaking for Joseph this morning since I do not have a "glasses repair kit" that would have the perfect size screw driver to remove the lens. I will only be in dork mode for a few more hours. After that, I pray I will be contact and glasses free for the rest of my life...WOW!

Nichole aka Itchy Nicki aka soon to be Cataract Free Nicki

PS-Thanks to many of you for all the sweet emails and calls on one of my 1% days. You will never know how much all of those small gestures really mean to me. I love you all!

99%

That's how often I have a good, and sometimes even great day. That other 1%...well it can bring you down. Today was one of the harder days, and I don't even know why actually. Things just seemed heavy on my heart today and a coworker (new to Oakdale) saw a picture of Jackson and we talked about him for a little bit while I showed off the pictures I had of J-man with me. I don't keep very many at school because I don't need to have 5 year olds asking me about it. Anyway...after showing him off I just couldn't get him off my mind. I came home and watched his video from the funeral and balled my eyes out. It just hits me so hard some days that he's gone forever...but with that I know he's better, but it still just hurts, and really pisses me off sometimes. Anyway...I curled up with his blanket and let it all out, and felt much better. In true Mommy form, my mother just seems to have a knack for knowing when I need something, so she had us up for dinner and YUMMY apple crisp (don't even want to talk about how many points that is!!). She didn't know today was a rough one for me, but just being with her and my Dad helps...and sitting around where Jackson use to hang out helps too. So thanks Mom...you didn't even know you were helping me out...LOVE YOU!

Anyway...I guess I just needed to vent or something. And what better place then my blog right?! Tomorrow I take 23 very loud and active students on a field trip, followed by 3 hours of working the Fall Carnival. Oh...and my blood work is back and still off, so they have changed my dosage of synthroid. I got back in 4 weeks for a retest...nothing too major. Thanks for checking in on me...please say an extra prayer, they help me on these rough days. As always, please Remember Jackson!

Nichole

And I wanted to post a special picture of him tonight, one that many have never seen. I love it...

Love You Jackson Cole!!

Seriously?!?!!!!

I can not believe I am about to complain about what I'm about to complain about...but seriously! I went to Petsmart today to get treats for Charlie (which is a whole 'nother story) and this is what I saw....

I AM NOT READY FOR CHRISTMAS...this coming from the tackiest decorator at Christmas. Can I at least get through Halloween, and maybe Thanksgiving?! Why are we already putting Christmas things out?! IT IS CRAZY! Rant...over!

Anyway...Charlie seems to be on the upswing (fingers crossed). Last night he totally freaked out with his medicine...the doctor said it was gross tasting. So today, I got him some soft treats to hide the medicine, and that seemed to work. It only took me hours to get through all of the Christmas toys, then Halloween toys, before I got to the treats-whatever!

Things here are great...Joseph continues to work on the patio. I hope to have the pictures up this weekend. He's gonna have to boggy this week before the rain gets here on Friday and Saturday. I'm still waiting on the results from my blood work on Friday. I'm assuming they were ok since I didn't get a call today, but hopefully I'll know more of the specifics tomorrow. That's all for this time around. Until next time, as always, please Remember Jackson!

Nichole

One Paver at a Time...

Today, FINALLY, Joseph started laying the pavers for our new back patio. Some of you know, many of you may not know, that Joseph isn't capable of building a "normal" wood deck. No...we have to have this really nice, raised paver patio. But...I must admit, that it's looking pretty awesome right now. Check out the first paver...

I followed up with my doctor yesterday regarding my blood work. I switched doctors in the practice because I wasn't liking my old one too much. I was busted though...he saw me getting my blood redrawn and asked what I was doing. He doesn't know he's been fired...but hopefully he'll figure it out without me having to come right out and tell him. Anyway...we are retesting some of my issues, like the thyroid and blood sugar. I should know more on Monday. The dr. did explain that I will always be hypoactive regarding my thyroid. I thought I was now hyperactive but he says no...I'm just on too much medicine. And in all actuality, the steroids have a known side effect of making hypoactive patients hyperactive, so I should go back to my "normal" soon (whatever the heck that is right?!). Anyone confused yet?! Joseph still doesn't really get it, and I'm not sure I do either. I'll wait until Monday...

Yesterday also found me taking a sick kitty to the vet...Charlie was having some tummy issues. We are on meds and I've had to change their food per Dr. Mazur. They are now on adult food. What?! Where did my cute little kitties go? Oh well...hopefully Charlie is on the upswing too!


And that's all the time I've got...busy, busy weekend. We are off to our "Couples Bunko" cookout-yummy! And then we may even go bowling-watch out! Tomorrow finds us wicked busy too...I've got to work the nursery at church, then we'll go to late church, watch my beloved Panthers in a critical game and then off to another party. I know...we are just so social! Hope everyone is doing great! Until next time, please Remember Jackson!


Nichole

It's Wednesday!

Which means we've made it through half the week-YAY! It's been such a crazy, busy week, which is great because it makes time fly by! Today was quite the day...made me realize that no matter how I try to stop it, I'm getting older. My cousin Sarah "shadowed" me for the day today. I was 10 when she was born...I remember it like it was yesterday. Today, she's a senior in high school thinking about colleges. What?! What happened to little Sarah (who of course is MUCH taller than me)...I use to rock her to sleep, and now she's going to graduate high school. WOW...it's just amazing! Sarah was an absolute life saver today...my assistant Pam had to leave (her baby was sick) and I was without a sub. Lucky for me...I had Bear (oh, she even has a really cute nickname, so she can't be that old). It was better then any other substitute I could have had because I could tell her what to do without having to worry about being all nice and sweet...it was great! She's probably at home in the bed...it was a long, crazy day. I'm so glad I got the chance to experience that with her though. It'll be one of those memories we always have!

I got some bummer news back today regarding some blood work I had done this week. Each year we can get a complete workup at a decent price, so I signed up. Man oh man...looking at some of my numbers isn't too pretty. First off...my thyroid (which I HATE) has now decided to be hyper (overactive) instead of hypo (under active). This kind of explains the lose of 5+ pounds this pass week considering I ate pizza for dinner twice, drank a bottle of wine and was on steroids which normally make you gain weight. Now...I'm liking losing the weight, because I do need to lose weight, I just want to be healthy as I lose it. Another red flag was my cholesterol. It was sky high, which of course is an indicator of heart disease. I don't come from a very good line of heart healthy grandparents. Three of my grandparents had major heart issues, so that makes me very nervous. I've even been cutting back on all the bad food since I started the diet thing and it was still high. I'm very nervous and look forward to talking with my doctor about it to see what we need to do. I also tested high with my sugar, again. As you know...this has been an ongoing battle where sometimes I test high, sometimes I don't, and sometimes it just does whatever it wants to do. Diabetes also runs in my family...again, three out of four grandparents, so I really have stuff to be concerned about. I meet with my doctor on Friday to discuss all this blood work stuff...I'm sure I'll let you know how it goes!

I also wanted to introduce everyone to our latest family member...Tiny! She's awfully cute...check her out...

Joseph decided he needed to buy a "beater" as Tiny is known as to get back and forth to work since gas prices were sky high-pushing $4/gallon. So...we buy Tiny, and in true Hedgepeth luck, gas prices drop! I paid $3.08 today! I'm not complaining, I'm just saying, it figures!

And finally...my right eye! It is completely amazing to me that I do not have a contact in my eye and I can see! It's still a little blurry, which is to be expected until I get my other lens on the 24th but things are great. My vision gets better every day so I know the infection is gone. Dr. Jabon has been great...he's called everyday leaving messages and finally today had his secretary call to talk to me because he was very concerned. But...things are great and hopefully the left eye won't be as bad as this first one with some extra "good stuff."

That's all for this time around. We are out to dinner with my family to celebrate my grandparents 53rd anniversary. I hope that Joseph and I can make it that long! Thanks for checking in on us! As always, Remember Jackson...

Nichole aka "Hive Free Hedge" (thank goodness!)

A Whole New Blog...Again

So, all weekend I've tried to update and make my blog pretty again. All I managed to do was really mess things up, so I decided to just delete the old one and start a new one. I did lose all the old post, but they weren't to important....pretty blog over old post any day right?! There has been SO much going on, I decided I better get started and fill everyone in...

On Friday afternoon I had my first cataract surgery on my right eye. It was horrific, I did not like it, I do not want to go back! The anesthesiologist was really nice...he walked into my room and said your not 60, what are you doing here?! Which made me laugh and he was a lot of fun, probably the best part of my whole experience. I talked with him afterwards on how I was not very comfortable and he has promised me more of the "good stuff" the next time, so hopefully it will be better. The other great part was that the nurse who brought me to recovery where my wonderful Mommy was waiting for me thought she was my sister, so that made Mom's day and mine too, she deserves to hear how great she looks! I had to go back for a follow up Saturday morning, and that didn't go to great. My eye is showing signs of infection and Dr. Jabon didn't like that at all. I had to do drops every hour all day yesterday and they seemed to really help. I wouldn't know if it was working or not, the only thing I was to be aware of is pain or worsened vision, which I haven't had, so hopefully everything is on the up swing. It completely freaks me out that I can see with only one contact in. My vision isn't great...and it won't be perfect until I get the other lens in my left eye, but it's just amazing. We'll be driving down the road and I'm just in aww that I can see signs out of my right eye. I'm constantly covering it up and winking and just getting use to seeing with out a contact...absolutely amazing! In two weeks, Oct 24th, I'll be contact free...can't wait!

Last week on Monday morning I woke up with hives. Fun...not so much! I went to my regular doctor and he gave me a pill and said I should be better that afternoon. After two of his "pills" and 6 benedryl I was not better so off to urgent care we went. I couldn't hardly walk b/c of the hives on the bottom of my feet-but we got there. The doctor there was hesitant to treat me, she pondered sending me on to the hospital, but she didn't. Instead I got 3 predisone pills and a shot in the bottom. She told me to rest all day Tuesday, and by Tuesday afternoon I was hive free and doing great. Back to work on Wednesday, and they attacked me again. This time even worse! Back to the doctor for another shot, a pack of steroid pills and the "Cadillac" of antihistamines as he said. Wednesday afternoon I'm dying after all the shots and good stuff so I call the doctor and they instruct me to take 2 benedryl...nothing...take two more and finally manage to fall asleep. Wake up feeling better and Thursday finally found me working a whole day of work! I was so nervous with the hives because I was afraid they would cancel my surgery, but they didn't, they are gone and I'm good to go. Every time I itch somewhere I freak out a little bit, but hopefully that horrific experience is behind me, for good! They don't even know what caused it, so I just pray that it doesn't happen again!

So, that's been my crazy week in a nutshell. There have been other things going on too. Joseph is still working on the new patio (week 6, he promised me 2 weeks top). Hopefully soon I can post pictures of the final project! I also joined Weight Watchers with a bunch of people from work and it's been really working. I've lost 4 pounds so far, which is a start, so hopefully I'll be back to my "fighting weight" in no time! There's lots of other stuff too, but I've run out of time. We are heading out to hang out with the gang, so I gotta go! Hope everyone has a great week, and I promise to not let a month past between post! Until next time, thanks for checking in on us and please always REMEMBER JACKSON!

Nichole