Life as of lately

Child life happenings....

2010-03-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a fabulous picture I came across from our Child life Winter Olympic event! I forgot who won... oh ya they ran into the Jewel Charity Ball marble wall...

Child Life Rocks Romania

2010-03-08T08:55:00.001-08:00

We are so proud of our fellow co-workers who have braved the cold and headed to Romania. For those of you who missed the news story on them, here is the link!

http://cbs11tv.com/local/cook.childrens.medical.2.1538605.html

Child Life Retreat

2010-02-25T10:06:00.000-08:00

Wanted to share some pictures from the retreat last week! Thanks to everyone who worked to make it a great one!!!

" Be the solution not the pollution"

How very blue of you Alana...

my photography

2009-11-15T14:53:00.000-08:00

I had the chance to take a few pictures of my niece, kennedy, for her one year old birthday. I went up to Stillwater, Ok halloween weekend and we took her to OSU campus. She was so funny because she just got so quiet, just taking everything in. my sister said she loves to be outside, but that she's always so calm, especially in new places. we couldn't get her to smile for anything. Got a few at least. The next day we put her in the backyard and she was so active and wouldn't sit still. I played around with some new editing techniques. I'm starting to like Adobe a little more. Hope you all enjoy! Brenda

Kristin Knieriem becomes Kristin Haire!

2009-10-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Wanted to share a few pictures from Kristin's wedding this weekend. The wedding was beautiful and Kristin looked so happy the whole day! She's off at her honeymoon for two weeks in a "suprise" location..somewhere tropical! I'm sure she'll have lots more to share when she returns.
~Brenda

Child Life at Camp

2009-10-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

Camp NOW, TEAM Teen Retreat, Hemotology/ Oncology Teen Retreat
All at camp together!

Hello Friends!

2009-08-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I really hope that I'm doing this correctly. I have never blogged before, so it might be a miracle if this actually posts!

I am doing great at home!

My surgery was August 6 and it took just over 10 hours. Can you believe it!? That's a long time! I have nothing but great things to say about the operation. My surgeons were able to remove the entire tumor. Although the tumor was pressing on my facial nerve, the facial nerve wasn't involved in the tumor at all. That is a huge deal, because I would have had facial paralysis if that nerve had been involved. I am so blessed to have not had that as an issue! The nerves on the right that communicate hearing and balance from the ear to the brain were removed (the tumor was growing from these), so I am learning to compensate for not having those abilities on both sides. My balance has not been a huge issue, but I did take a big fall last Thursday. I wasn't hurt, just bruised...a lot!

I was discharged from the hospital on August 9, only to be readmitted on August 12 with a CSF leak. I know it sounds gross, but when I would lean forward (like when brushing my teeth) CSF would literally drip out of my right nostril. Eeeww! That put me at an increased risk of getting meningitis. So, my doctors placed a lumbar drain (think about what an epidural is like) in my lower back and every 4 hours around the clock they would drain 10cc of spinal fluid. I would lay completely flat for about hour to avoid getting a big headache...and that worked most of the time. The purpose of the drain is to keep my ICP low enough to allow the leak to heal itself. Thankfully it worked and I was discharged again on August 16. Yeah!

I did lose my hearing in my right ear. We knew this would happen as a consequence of accessing the tumor, and yes, it is permanent. That has been the biggest adjustment. I am completely deaf now on that side, but my brain is perceiving a "shhhshhhing" sound ALL of the time on that side. It sounds like listening to the inside of a seashell. It could take months or years for that to get better, if at all. So, when I am in a situation where there is a lot of background noise (like last week's Meet-the-Teacher at the girl's school) I have a difficult time hearing. I am easily overstimulated at times like that, so the "shhhshhhing" sound gets a little worse.

I have a C-shaped scar that more or less traces the outline of my right ear. It is healing well, but is still sometimes sore to touch. Ouch! So, I'm not sleeping on that side for sure. :) But, the brain tumor is gone!!! So, everything else is worth it.

I had a follow-up with the doctor yesterday and he said that everything is looking great! He wants me resting most of the time, but to also start putting myself in some "real-world" situations to see how my balance and hearing (or lack there of!) do at those times. He said to pace myself and just listen to my body as far as what's reasonable activity. He wants me to have another MRI in a year and see him again at that point. Yeah!!

As for work, I just can't even imagine being there right now! My energy level will be almost normal and then I'll just crash. It makes me laugh out loud to even think about being at Cook and taking care of those kids. I can't even take care of myself!!

Thank you all for all of your prayers and support! I had no idea how much help I would really need following all of this. Thank you for continuing to take care of me! Keep praying!

Linsey
817-366-6256

2009-08-20T16:39:00.000-07:00

From Betsy... if anyone is interested in joining a "loser" football pool please let me know, the one I was in last year is up and taking entries. $20 to get in and the winner last year won $2200!! You don't have to know much about football, you just pick one team each week that you think will lose. If your pick loses, you advance to the next week. If your pick wins, you are out. Simple and kind of fun. If you or anyone you know is interested, let me know and I'll forward you the info!

2009-08-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

Whenever you guys write on the blog will you write your name after it or something so we can know who the comment is from. Unless your blog entry already identifies you. Thanks! -Dani

2009-08-12T19:04:00.000-07:00

This could be very interesting during college football season...

Great Idea!

2009-08-11T18:54:00.000-07:00

Way to go Dani in getting our blog set up!!!!!

New Blog

2009-08-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks for visiting the blog! We hope this will be a fun and encouraging way to stay current on the events in the lives of our co- workers! If you can't remember how to post to the blog here are the instructions! Can't wait to see what everyone is up to:)

Step 1. On your internet browser type in lifeasoflately09.blogspot.com
- If all you want to do is read the blog you can do so at this point. If you would like to post something to the blog continue to step 2.
Step 2. Sign yourself in on the upper right hand corner: Your username is childlife2009@yahoo.com Your password is : childlife
Step 3. In the middle of the page select the blue button titled NEW POST
Step 4. Title your entry in the top thin box.
Step 5. Write your entry in the large box.
- During this step you can select the small box in the top of the text box with the mountain picture to add photographs to your post.
Step 6. When you are finished with your post, select the orange box titled PUBLISH POST. A screen will appear stating you have successfully posted to your blog. Select VIEW BLOG to see your entry and others on the blog.