Update

Hi Friends, Sorry it's been so long since I have posted, but sometimes life happens. Hummmm update. In March I had the lovely experience of becoming a patient in the hospital where I work. Pancreatitis hit me out of the blue. Now fore warning signs nothing. After a CT and US of my abdomen they decided I had a rotten gall bladder which needed to come out. This presented it's own set of problems the very least of which was the Gallbladder itself. First I was started on antibiotics to curb the infection that was raging in my pancreases, next came Heparin drip to get me in a range they thought I could live with then I got the hefty dose of Vitamin k to get rid of all the Coumadin I had spent years building up in my system. OK I wasn't impressed! Anyway after a week they deemed me safe enough to have surgery and the operation to remove my Gallbladder was successful. I was then started on Lovenox injections along with ample doses of Coumadin to bring my INR back up to normal range. (By the way it still isn't within normal range and I'm taking 10 mg Coumadin daily).  Kind of stressed that I am no longer on Lovenox to have my back but I'm sure i'll be fine. The week after I was released from the hospital I found out my Search Dog has Cushings Disease. Another bad stressor. After numerous tests we found he has a tumor on his pituitary gland at the base of his brain but he can and is being treated with medication. I took him in this last week for blood tests and his cortisol levels are within range so that is good. The vet also instructed me to get him back into a training regime. He is back in training but tires easily and I don't think he will be going on any searches in the few years he has left. However we are happily keeping up training and he is still able to do cadaver searches on water. His quality of life is good. The middle of April I walked 6 miles for the MS walk fr the cure, a personal best for me. Especially since i have been on a diet and exercising since January. My Orthopedic Doctor told me i needed to loose some weight if i want my knee to ever heal correctly. I have since found out he is full of Bull Crap. But I have lost about 40 lbs and have gone from a size 18 back down to a size 12 so hooray for me. Come this June I was invited to go to Florida with my Daughter and my Grandchildren to go to Disney World. That will be fun. I've never been to either Disney World or Disney land and i think I am more excited than the boys are. I'm a little nervous about flying but hopefully my INR will be within range by then.  Hopefully this note finds you all well. you are always in my thoughts so just because I don't post doesn't mean I'm not thinking of you and adding each and everyone of you to my prayers. love and miss you all Joyce