Easter Sunday here in the Big Sandy and I had a physio therapy session today.
My post Operative goals for the first 6 weeks were: by the end of week 2 bending to 40 degrees, end of week 4 bending to 60 degrees, and the end of week 6 bending to 90 degrees.
Today was 6 weeks and 2 days post op - I was bending to 110 degrees!!!
Big milestones in my therapy are things like full weight bearing, no crutches, no brace, straight leg lifts, functional quadricep muscles (no driving a vehicle without those!), pedalling on a stationary bike, having a bath, having a shower.... all fairly mundane things but huge steps in my recovery.
I've been full weight bearing for a couple of weeks now; crutch and brace free (using a cane when I am outside my apartment) for 10 days (bath was achieved at 9 days post op and shower was achieved at 5 weeks). ALL big steps to independence and knee health.
I have not been able to activate my quadriceps successfully - until today. (big grin). Today I was able to contract my quads (I still have good, strong muscle contractions) while seated in a chair and with effort straighten my lower leg and raise it to a 45 degree angle! This is huge. I managed to do 10, slow, steady lower leg raises!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!!
Today was also a big step in the bending department in only 7 days I have gone from 95 degrees (with tension and some discomfort) to 110 degrees (much less tension and decreased discomfort!). This increased Range of Motion (ROM) meant I was able to get full forward rotation on the pedals of the stationary bike (and while pedalling my ROM was closer to 115 degrees). My knee is still tight so no stationary bike at home this week and a retry next week during physio MIGHT mean I am cleared to stationary bike at home 10 - 15 minutes a day. This biking will help restore my poor atrophied quads, lubricate my hip and knee joints, and move that step closer to functional quads (and independence!)
I am super pleased that things are going well.
It is easy to get frustrated and down when something as simple and mundane as getting yourself a cup of coffee ( difficult to carry while on crutches) or rolling over in bed (atrophied quads make this a difficulty) are big challenges. But, remembering that each day is a bit better than the last and, in my case, I have been there / done this only a few months ago when I "kicked butt and didn't take prisoners" on that recovery so, I can do this again (pfft, no biggie).
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Friday, April 3, 2015
My not so adventure filled life
So, it has been awhile since I have been here... basically things have been pretty quiet and therefore not much to write about.
Well, except for the last 6 months...
In October 2014 I had knee surgery to replace a problematic Medial Patella Femoral Ligament (MPFL) on my right leg. Things went pretty smoothly with that process. I opted for a regional / spinal / epidural type anesthetic so I was able to watch the arthroscopy and the rest of the surgery.
The operation involved: harvesting a semitendinous hamstring and inserting the new "ligament" in to the patella with 2 swivel locks and the opposing end in to the femur with a screw - the swivel locks and screw are bio-absorbable and don't show up on X-rays. All in all I was in the operating room for a bit over 90 minutes.
The Hospital was really nice - more akin to a 5 star hotel than a typical hospital. The bathroom had a bath, shower, and all the little travel amenities that you find in a hotel.
I stayed in hospital for 2 nights and was sent home with 3 nights of "significant" pain medication .... there is a great concern where I am that pain medication (Doctor prescribed Morphine while in hospital for example) will cause addiction so, any medication you are sent home with isn't very strong UNLESS several pages of paperwork are completed for a MAXIMUM of 3 days of medication.
The first few days went ok... sleep was a challenge - hip to ankle knee immobilizer and compression stocking 24 / 7.... and then it was time for my first physio appointment. I had a good therapist ( I'd seen her prior to the surgery to try to prevent surgery...) and I mentioned that my knee hurt more than was usual -- but then again, what is usually? I hadn't had this type of surgery before. After a call to the surgeon to clarify my treatment regimen and a brief discussion about my pain it was decided that is pain did not get better to see the surgeon that evening.... the pain did not get better.
In the evening I saw the surgeon and it was discovered that I had developed Synovitis - NOT FUN AT ALL!!! - an inflammation of the synovial sacs in my knee. Treatment? Well, first it had to be determined if it was 1) due to infection or 2) irritation from all that had been happening to my knee lately. This determination is made by drawing out some of the fluid and testing it..... USING A REALLY BIG NEEDLE.
My synovia was so inflammed that the needle touching it drove me mad with pain... screaming, crying, almost hitting, finger crushing MAD with pain.... Then some blessed LIDOCAINE was injected along with some steroids, an X-ray taken and blood tests. After 2 and a half hours I was on my way home... my leg in a temporary cast (hip to ankle) to prevent ANY movement of the knee in the hope that things would settle down, a prescription for antibiotics, and bed rest for a week.... Thankfully all the tests showed no infection and after a week I was back in the immobilizer and allowed to move about once again. All in I spent 6 weeks at home recuperating before I was ready/cleared to return to work.
The next weeks, after the synovitis bed rest week, went by smoothly with gains in Range of Motion (ROM) and muscle recovery. By 4 months I was walking assistance free (no crutches, canes, or immobilizer) and hitting 6 month milestones! YAY!!!!!! I was doing well.
I went in on the evening of Tuesday February 17th 2015 to start the next phase of my recuperation - Hyalgan injections in to my knee to help rehydrate the cartilage. This injection was done using the same size - REALLY BIG - needle but it didn't hurt in the least. :-)
The Doctor told me I was a star patient - my hard work and dedication helping me make such a good comeback. :-) :-)
Wednesday February 18th I went to my scheduled physio session and the Therapist told me much the same as the doctor had the evening before... my hard work and dedication were helping me come back and I was amazing. :-)
I was pleased on all fronts - my medical team was happy, my leg muscles were almost back to what they had been before the surgery, I was back to regular exercising (while being cautious of my knee)... things were looking GREAT!
Then while doing squats in that physio session there was a UNBELIEVABLY loud crack and it felt like one of those REALLY BIG NEEDLES was injecting liquid fire in to my knee. NOT a pleasant experience.
My surgeon was not at the clinic so I was seen by another surgeon (in-between his scheduled patients) and nearly 4 hours later I was sent home -- MY AMAZING therapist drove me home AFTER I had more lidocaine and steroids injected in to my knee, followed by the application of a hip to ankle, and instructions to see my surgeon as a walk in the next evening. On the way home I realized that my house keys were locked in my vehicle at the clinic... I called the one person who had a spare and they graciously drove across the city in the middle of the night (in their PJs) to let me in to my apartment.
I managed some sleep that evening.. then a day at work. Well, I was physically present at work and doing my best but my keys were in my vehicle at the clinic and I was limited as all my materials were locked in my office.
Another friend went to the clinic with me on the evening of Thursday February 19th and did some shopping while I saw the surgeon.
The surgeons (my regular surgeon and the one I had seen the evening before as an emergency) thought I had soft tissue damage - ligament or tendon... The Ultrasound showed nothing unusual.... now, the decision was to send me for X-rays... my surgeon had revised his thought of a ligament tear to a QUADRICEPS TENDON rupture and the surgeon from the evening before thought it was a PATELLAR TENDON rupture....
When the X-rays came back they showed my patella sitting right where it should be in the joint - ruling out either of the tendon ruptures - but, showing a displaced fracture of the superior pole ( top portion) of the patella. This would require surgery.
I was sent directly to the hospital - my shopping friend was going to have to drive me to the hospital in my vehicle and then drive my vehicle to my place... in conjunction with collecting things from the apartment for my stay in hospital.
I checked in to the hospital through the Emergency Department (A&E) and eventually got to a room around midnight. The surgery was scheduled for 8AM Friday February 20th 2015 (the next morning).
I was put in a semi-isolated room as I had been hospitalized in the last 6 months and there was a concern that I MIGHT have a Methicillin-resitant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Precautions were taken, tests run, and all my meals were brought on disposable dishes with plastic cutlery...
The operation went as scheduled Friday morning. Again I opted for a regional anesthetic and was able to have up to date information as the surgery went on.
The surgeon had to install a figure 8 tension wire and 4 K-Wires to support the fracture once the pieces were realigned. This operation took almost as long as the MPFL surgery because the normal procedure for K-wires wasn't working and extra K-wires had to be used.
2 more nights in hospital and then home for 2 weeks of limited weight bearing recovery.
After 2 weeks at home I was back to work with 2 crutches and the hip to ankle immobilizer.
Today, April 3 2015 (Good Friday), I am at 6 weeks post op for the patella fracture and recovery is going well. A week and a half ago I had X-rays which show all the wires in the correct locations and the 2 parts of the patella where the surgeon had left them . I am able to weight bear in my apartment without mobility aids (no crutches or cane) and no longer require the immobilizer. BUT, I still get to wear the compression stocking (in +30C temperatures and rising it is even less enjoyable than it was before). Outside the apartment I still use a cane - in part to let people know to give me a bit more consideration and room and in part to help my leg muscles and balance.
I still have a long way to go with recovery from quadriceps atrophy - I lost every thing I had gained back after the first op and I still can not do a straight leg raise (SLR). Quad contractions are strong so it will just take more dedication and hard work.
I know that I will need another op on the right knee - probably in August - to remove the K-wires and tension band (Look at your knee. There isn't much flesh or padding there so you feel the wires all the time - can't 'see' my wires yet, but that will happen). I've done my research and know that this next op should be fairly simple and straight forward and be a lot easier to come back from.
Well, except for the last 6 months...
In October 2014 I had knee surgery to replace a problematic Medial Patella Femoral Ligament (MPFL) on my right leg. Things went pretty smoothly with that process. I opted for a regional / spinal / epidural type anesthetic so I was able to watch the arthroscopy and the rest of the surgery.
The operation involved: harvesting a semitendinous hamstring and inserting the new "ligament" in to the patella with 2 swivel locks and the opposing end in to the femur with a screw - the swivel locks and screw are bio-absorbable and don't show up on X-rays. All in all I was in the operating room for a bit over 90 minutes.
The Hospital was really nice - more akin to a 5 star hotel than a typical hospital. The bathroom had a bath, shower, and all the little travel amenities that you find in a hotel.
I stayed in hospital for 2 nights and was sent home with 3 nights of "significant" pain medication .... there is a great concern where I am that pain medication (Doctor prescribed Morphine while in hospital for example) will cause addiction so, any medication you are sent home with isn't very strong UNLESS several pages of paperwork are completed for a MAXIMUM of 3 days of medication.
The first few days went ok... sleep was a challenge - hip to ankle knee immobilizer and compression stocking 24 / 7.... and then it was time for my first physio appointment. I had a good therapist ( I'd seen her prior to the surgery to try to prevent surgery...) and I mentioned that my knee hurt more than was usual -- but then again, what is usually? I hadn't had this type of surgery before. After a call to the surgeon to clarify my treatment regimen and a brief discussion about my pain it was decided that is pain did not get better to see the surgeon that evening.... the pain did not get better.
In the evening I saw the surgeon and it was discovered that I had developed Synovitis - NOT FUN AT ALL!!! - an inflammation of the synovial sacs in my knee. Treatment? Well, first it had to be determined if it was 1) due to infection or 2) irritation from all that had been happening to my knee lately. This determination is made by drawing out some of the fluid and testing it..... USING A REALLY BIG NEEDLE.
My synovia was so inflammed that the needle touching it drove me mad with pain... screaming, crying, almost hitting, finger crushing MAD with pain.... Then some blessed LIDOCAINE was injected along with some steroids, an X-ray taken and blood tests. After 2 and a half hours I was on my way home... my leg in a temporary cast (hip to ankle) to prevent ANY movement of the knee in the hope that things would settle down, a prescription for antibiotics, and bed rest for a week.... Thankfully all the tests showed no infection and after a week I was back in the immobilizer and allowed to move about once again. All in I spent 6 weeks at home recuperating before I was ready/cleared to return to work.
The next weeks, after the synovitis bed rest week, went by smoothly with gains in Range of Motion (ROM) and muscle recovery. By 4 months I was walking assistance free (no crutches, canes, or immobilizer) and hitting 6 month milestones! YAY!!!!!! I was doing well.
I went in on the evening of Tuesday February 17th 2015 to start the next phase of my recuperation - Hyalgan injections in to my knee to help rehydrate the cartilage. This injection was done using the same size - REALLY BIG - needle but it didn't hurt in the least. :-)
The Doctor told me I was a star patient - my hard work and dedication helping me make such a good comeback. :-) :-)
Wednesday February 18th I went to my scheduled physio session and the Therapist told me much the same as the doctor had the evening before... my hard work and dedication were helping me come back and I was amazing. :-)
I was pleased on all fronts - my medical team was happy, my leg muscles were almost back to what they had been before the surgery, I was back to regular exercising (while being cautious of my knee)... things were looking GREAT!
Then while doing squats in that physio session there was a UNBELIEVABLY loud crack and it felt like one of those REALLY BIG NEEDLES was injecting liquid fire in to my knee. NOT a pleasant experience.
My surgeon was not at the clinic so I was seen by another surgeon (in-between his scheduled patients) and nearly 4 hours later I was sent home -- MY AMAZING therapist drove me home AFTER I had more lidocaine and steroids injected in to my knee, followed by the application of a hip to ankle, and instructions to see my surgeon as a walk in the next evening. On the way home I realized that my house keys were locked in my vehicle at the clinic... I called the one person who had a spare and they graciously drove across the city in the middle of the night (in their PJs) to let me in to my apartment.
I managed some sleep that evening.. then a day at work. Well, I was physically present at work and doing my best but my keys were in my vehicle at the clinic and I was limited as all my materials were locked in my office.
Another friend went to the clinic with me on the evening of Thursday February 19th and did some shopping while I saw the surgeon.
The surgeons (my regular surgeon and the one I had seen the evening before as an emergency) thought I had soft tissue damage - ligament or tendon... The Ultrasound showed nothing unusual.... now, the decision was to send me for X-rays... my surgeon had revised his thought of a ligament tear to a QUADRICEPS TENDON rupture and the surgeon from the evening before thought it was a PATELLAR TENDON rupture....
When the X-rays came back they showed my patella sitting right where it should be in the joint - ruling out either of the tendon ruptures - but, showing a displaced fracture of the superior pole ( top portion) of the patella. This would require surgery.
I was sent directly to the hospital - my shopping friend was going to have to drive me to the hospital in my vehicle and then drive my vehicle to my place... in conjunction with collecting things from the apartment for my stay in hospital.
I checked in to the hospital through the Emergency Department (A&E) and eventually got to a room around midnight. The surgery was scheduled for 8AM Friday February 20th 2015 (the next morning).
I was put in a semi-isolated room as I had been hospitalized in the last 6 months and there was a concern that I MIGHT have a Methicillin-resitant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Precautions were taken, tests run, and all my meals were brought on disposable dishes with plastic cutlery...
The operation went as scheduled Friday morning. Again I opted for a regional anesthetic and was able to have up to date information as the surgery went on.
The surgeon had to install a figure 8 tension wire and 4 K-Wires to support the fracture once the pieces were realigned. This operation took almost as long as the MPFL surgery because the normal procedure for K-wires wasn't working and extra K-wires had to be used.
2 more nights in hospital and then home for 2 weeks of limited weight bearing recovery.
After 2 weeks at home I was back to work with 2 crutches and the hip to ankle immobilizer.
Today, April 3 2015 (Good Friday), I am at 6 weeks post op for the patella fracture and recovery is going well. A week and a half ago I had X-rays which show all the wires in the correct locations and the 2 parts of the patella where the surgeon had left them . I am able to weight bear in my apartment without mobility aids (no crutches or cane) and no longer require the immobilizer. BUT, I still get to wear the compression stocking (in +30C temperatures and rising it is even less enjoyable than it was before). Outside the apartment I still use a cane - in part to let people know to give me a bit more consideration and room and in part to help my leg muscles and balance.
I still have a long way to go with recovery from quadriceps atrophy - I lost every thing I had gained back after the first op and I still can not do a straight leg raise (SLR). Quad contractions are strong so it will just take more dedication and hard work.
I know that I will need another op on the right knee - probably in August - to remove the K-wires and tension band (Look at your knee. There isn't much flesh or padding there so you feel the wires all the time - can't 'see' my wires yet, but that will happen). I've done my research and know that this next op should be fairly simple and straight forward and be a lot easier to come back from.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Road Trip to Fort Hatta, UAE
Well, it has been a while since I posted (I never was very good at keeping a diary or a journal).
I spent the summer in the UAE: a couple of road trips, a few Iftar dinners (breaking the Ramadan Fast), lots of reading, and the all important re-energizing after a hectic end to the last school year (3 weeks of library inventory (1st proper inventory since the school opened) using 350 person hours - 180 of which were mine!).
The start of this school year has been HECTIC! There are many new systems being implemented and it seems that each week there is something "NEW" to do - I am glad I am not a classroom teacher as they seem to be getting hard with all the new systems.
After 6 long weeks we have a week break for Eid al Adha (this Eid is connected with the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son). To rejuvenate I spent the first 2 days with a fever and major flu like symptoms. :-(
Once I recovered sufficiently, I went on a 'Corleen style road trip'. This type of road trip involves either a) no clue where one is going, or b) a vague idea of a general destination but no real clue about what to do once one arrives. This type of trip is about the journey, discovery, and adventure.
I convinced my friend CZ to accompany me - adventure is always more fun when there is someone to share the silliness, expectation, and unknown with.
Our location was Fort Hatta UAE - approximately 1 hour from Dubai (The UAE isn't overly large so nothing is really that far away). The standard route take you through OMAN (Oman sticks up in to the UAE for a few 10s of kilometres). I wasn't sure about the technicalities (visas to transit back in to the UAE, costs, if my vehicle insurance covered a short trip in to OMAN, etc) so I had opted not to take that route. The alternate route would take us through more of the HAJAR MOUNTAINS and would probably only be approximately 30 minutes longer - the best laid plans....
WELL, there was some strangeness on the main 12 lane divided highway we needed to take to get to the turn off. There was a SEVERAL KILOMETRE tailback of transport trucks in the centre lane of my side of the divided highway (yes, the centre land - very strange); we exited the main road a bit earlier than planned and broke out the GPS to help guide us to the desired road. The GPS guided us to the standard route - which we still did not want to take so we added a few more kilometres, some new unexplored territory and another hour to our arrival journey.
When we arrived at Fort Hatta it had started to RAIN - YES RAIN in the UAE. The sky was gun metal grey and there was rumblings of thunder. We made it in to the hotel for lunch before the deluge and were lucky enough that the rain stopped as we finished lunch.
After lunch we walked around the Hatta Heritage Village - a restoration of some 16th century dwellings (not that spectacular - the write up made it sound fabulous), Hatta Hill Park (a lovely friendly stray cat walked with us most of the way to the top), and then we drove back through the mountains to go back to Dubai.
We did stop in the mountains for a short while to photograph some wandering goats - one in particular was quite curious and dog like. this goat even put both it's front feet up on my torso and was trying to get a better look at the camera....
All in all it was a fun, (micro)adventure filled day!
I spent the summer in the UAE: a couple of road trips, a few Iftar dinners (breaking the Ramadan Fast), lots of reading, and the all important re-energizing after a hectic end to the last school year (3 weeks of library inventory (1st proper inventory since the school opened) using 350 person hours - 180 of which were mine!).
The start of this school year has been HECTIC! There are many new systems being implemented and it seems that each week there is something "NEW" to do - I am glad I am not a classroom teacher as they seem to be getting hard with all the new systems.
After 6 long weeks we have a week break for Eid al Adha (this Eid is connected with the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son). To rejuvenate I spent the first 2 days with a fever and major flu like symptoms. :-(
Once I recovered sufficiently, I went on a 'Corleen style road trip'. This type of road trip involves either a) no clue where one is going, or b) a vague idea of a general destination but no real clue about what to do once one arrives. This type of trip is about the journey, discovery, and adventure.
I convinced my friend CZ to accompany me - adventure is always more fun when there is someone to share the silliness, expectation, and unknown with.
Our location was Fort Hatta UAE - approximately 1 hour from Dubai (The UAE isn't overly large so nothing is really that far away). The standard route take you through OMAN (Oman sticks up in to the UAE for a few 10s of kilometres). I wasn't sure about the technicalities (visas to transit back in to the UAE, costs, if my vehicle insurance covered a short trip in to OMAN, etc) so I had opted not to take that route. The alternate route would take us through more of the HAJAR MOUNTAINS and would probably only be approximately 30 minutes longer - the best laid plans....
WELL, there was some strangeness on the main 12 lane divided highway we needed to take to get to the turn off. There was a SEVERAL KILOMETRE tailback of transport trucks in the centre lane of my side of the divided highway (yes, the centre land - very strange); we exited the main road a bit earlier than planned and broke out the GPS to help guide us to the desired road. The GPS guided us to the standard route - which we still did not want to take so we added a few more kilometres, some new unexplored territory and another hour to our arrival journey.
When we arrived at Fort Hatta it had started to RAIN - YES RAIN in the UAE. The sky was gun metal grey and there was rumblings of thunder. We made it in to the hotel for lunch before the deluge and were lucky enough that the rain stopped as we finished lunch.
After lunch we walked around the Hatta Heritage Village - a restoration of some 16th century dwellings (not that spectacular - the write up made it sound fabulous), Hatta Hill Park (a lovely friendly stray cat walked with us most of the way to the top), and then we drove back through the mountains to go back to Dubai.
We did stop in the mountains for a short while to photograph some wandering goats - one in particular was quite curious and dog like. this goat even put both it's front feet up on my torso and was trying to get a better look at the camera....
All in all it was a fun, (micro)adventure filled day!
Some of the scenery along the drive
Courtyard of one of the houses in the heritage village (with watch tower in the background)
The friendly 'puppy-goat'.
Friday, May 17, 2013
New furry family member
Where to start....
Last summer Hooligan and I dealt with the passing of Koshka and then moved to Dubai - to say it was a bit of a stressful summer would be a bit of an understatement; there were a lot of roller coaster emotions.
Moving to Dubai seemed to be tough on Hooligan - I work long hours (new job, 25 minute drive from home), the many of children in the building are rambunctious and play in the corridors unsupervised, and there were a myriad of other 'adjustments' poor Hooligan had to make.
Hooligan had a few health issues related to the stress he was experiencing - easily treated but not fun. The latest issue was a bladder infection with no apparent cause (seems cats can get bladder infections because of stress!). When I had Hooligan in to the vet last Saturday (May 10 2013) I started to discuss with the vet the possibility of getting a "special needs" cat from one of the rescue societies as a companion for Hooligan (many of the special needs cats are difficult to re home - blind, deaf, amputee...). The Vet brought me into the surgical recovery room and in one of the cages was Boris, a kitty looking for a home.
Boris had been living in the recovery cage for 2 months, he is only about 9 months old! He was either a stray or someone wasn't prepared for kittenish "Joie de Vie" and Boris ended up at the vet's.
Hooligan and Boris were introduced in the examination room; Hooligan hissed, Boris rolled over. Hooligan hissed some more, Boris barked (ok, not quite a bark but much closer to a bark than a meow...)... I left the vet's with both cats.
It has been a week now, Things have gone remarkably smooth. There is still some hissing, and annoyed room leaving / getting off of the furniture but, no fighting.
SO, because I will be home today working on a bunch of computer files, which means I can supervise, I refreshed the catnip spray in the 'crazy pants' cat toy and the kitty condo. it has been an interesting morning. :-)
Last summer Hooligan and I dealt with the passing of Koshka and then moved to Dubai - to say it was a bit of a stressful summer would be a bit of an understatement; there were a lot of roller coaster emotions.
Moving to Dubai seemed to be tough on Hooligan - I work long hours (new job, 25 minute drive from home), the many of children in the building are rambunctious and play in the corridors unsupervised, and there were a myriad of other 'adjustments' poor Hooligan had to make.
Hooligan had a few health issues related to the stress he was experiencing - easily treated but not fun. The latest issue was a bladder infection with no apparent cause (seems cats can get bladder infections because of stress!). When I had Hooligan in to the vet last Saturday (May 10 2013) I started to discuss with the vet the possibility of getting a "special needs" cat from one of the rescue societies as a companion for Hooligan (many of the special needs cats are difficult to re home - blind, deaf, amputee...). The Vet brought me into the surgical recovery room and in one of the cages was Boris, a kitty looking for a home.
Boris had been living in the recovery cage for 2 months, he is only about 9 months old! He was either a stray or someone wasn't prepared for kittenish "Joie de Vie" and Boris ended up at the vet's.
Hooligan and Boris were introduced in the examination room; Hooligan hissed, Boris rolled over. Hooligan hissed some more, Boris barked (ok, not quite a bark but much closer to a bark than a meow...)... I left the vet's with both cats.
It has been a week now, Things have gone remarkably smooth. There is still some hissing, and annoyed room leaving / getting off of the furniture but, no fighting.
SO, because I will be home today working on a bunch of computer files, which means I can supervise, I refreshed the catnip spray in the 'crazy pants' cat toy and the kitty condo. it has been an interesting morning. :-)
Monday, December 31, 2012
December 31 2012
Well, this year is coming to a close. Boy, has it been an eventful year.
January
May
January
- I travelled to Canada to attend TORF and surprise my nieces - the first time I was actually with my oldest niece on her birthday AND it was the first double digit birthday!
- Signed a letter of intent to take a position in Dubai
February
- Returned to Korea from Canada and Koshka (aka girl cat) was ill; vet diagnosed her with end stage renal failure. This signalled weekly trips to the vet, multiple blood tests, and daily medications for Koshka
March
- Started part 1 of a 3 part specialist qualification in Teacher Librarianship through Queen's / Ontario College of Teachers - in conjunction with finishing up the remaining classes for my Master of Education Degree through Deakin University in Australia
April
- Started the paperwork process for my UAE visa. NOT fun or inexpensive. Hired a lawyer in Australia to take care of all my Australian paperwork and a firm in Canada to take care of all the Canadian paperwork while I was living in Korea. (Paperwork for UAE visa must go through several steps in the originating country before it can go to the UAE Embassy in that country, before it can pass through immigration in the UAE...)
- Koshka spends a week in hospital after a 'crash' with her blood work numbers. Sent home with a nasal gastric tube for feeding and hydration - she hates the tube and the tube is removed after 2 consecutive 'good' sets of numbers.
May
- Finishing up last papers for MEd and starting process for cats to leave Korea and enter UAE
- Finished part 1 of Teacher Librarianship specialization
June
- Finished all requirements for MEd degree. Waiting on confirmation of graduation
- Start part 2 of Teacher Librarian specialization
- Koshka has another ' crash', another week in hospital, and finally comes home with another nasal gastric tube which is replaced with an esophageal tube for hydration only - she would eat without the nasal tube.
July
- Waiting on visa confirmation from UAE
- Koshka goes in to have the esophageal tube checked and adjusted - doesn't come out of the anaesthetic. RIP Koshka
August
- Final preparations for moving to Dubai.
- Hooligan departs 6 hours before me for a road journey to Seoul, some time at the exporters facilities, transfer to veterinary quarantine in the afternoon for a midnight departure. Hooligan will arrive in Seoul 4 hours after I do and will go through the importation process with a local importer and be delivered to the Dubai apartment.
- I depart a few after Hooligan for a rail journey to Seoul, have too much baggage and have to pay baggage overages, flight delayed out of Seoul, arrive in transit through China - they don't like the fact that my passport isn't pristine and it takes 'awhile' to clear customs to change planes. Flight out of china delayed due to late arrival of onward aircraft, further delayed by bad weather (yes it was monsoon season and it was a near coastal airport), finally bussed out to plane several hours later to walk through the deluge to the steps of the aircraft to sit on the tarmac for a further 2 hours in the hopes that the weather would clear enough fora take off.
- Arrive in Dubai with all my paperwork to be told by UAE immigration officer I was denied entry - it was sorted when he looked up the correct flight. (he had assumed that because I had a Canadian Passport and a Canadian originating flight had just landed that I was on that flight and of course there was no record of my immigration status connected to that flight).
September
- Started work at the new school - hectic, busy
- Start to furnish my empty apartment
- Finish part 2 of Teacher Librarian specialization
October
- Start part 3 of Teacher Librarian specialization
- rented a car (Nissan Tiida 4 door coupe) and started to drive in Dubai (yikes!)
- Attended a 3 day IB workshop (level 3) on Librarianship and the IB
- MEd (Educational Leadership and Administration) degree arrives - it is official I now hold a MEd(EdLead&Admin) degree.
November
- Purchased a Mitsubishi Outlander GLS V6 3.0l CVT. Finding driving less stressful - in part due to some confidence and in part due to driving something a bit bigger
- Saw Skyfall (Daniel Craig is a very good blend of the earlier 'man of action' James Bond and the more recent ' ladies man' Bond)
- Hooligan still not acting himself after the loss of Koshka and the move. Off to the vet's. THANKFULLY just a bit of digestive and elimination issues - new food, some laxative paste and he was back to his old self. (the relief I felt was immense.)
December
- Finished part 3 of Teacher Librarian Specialization
- Awarded Teacher Librarian Specialist qualification on my Ontario College of Teachers teaching license.
- Spending the winter break in Dubai, watched Twilight Breaking Dawn pt 2 (I had seen the others on the movie channels while in Korea, it seemed only correct to finish the series), The Hobbit an unexpected journey 3D, The Life of Pi 3D, and Argo.
I hope that 2013 is a wonderful year for anyone who is reading this - that any challenges you face help you to grow and the opportunities which present themselves to you are breathtaking and adventurous.
Happy New Year one and all.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
How was your day?
I have spent the last 4 days nearly going blind doing data entry (ISBNs and Barcodes) due to a 2 year back log of cataloguing for the library - there is no scanner in the back room and the software/database license was allowed to lapse so EVERYTHING has to be done manually.
I am on a course over the weekend, 8- 4 both days, excited about the course but as I am feeling completely burnt out I am not so sure the timing is the best! Then, I return to work to spend another week doing more data entry ( I describe it as fighting a forest fire with a teaspoon) - basically I am working a 12 day week.
I find out this morning my CC is blocked due to a bogus $1000 charge - some place called " NO MORE RACK"... those who know me will see the humour in that! I need to fax the bank to sort this out as the bank can not find my POA forms for my POA can't do anything.
I attempted to rent a car today - will need it for this weekend course and to get around while I look for a car to purchase - but didn't have all the necessary papers. EVERYTHING requires a ton of copies of a ton of things!
Phoned an Electronic shop in the Mall of the Emirates to ensure they had what I wanted - the clerk swore blind that they had it in stock and yes, madam, several of them.
I took a taxi to a few blocks short of the Mall of the Emirates - forgot I hadn't gone to the bank yet, walked the rest of the way to the MoE and promptly went to the ATM.
I bought a printer and a few other electronic items (The printer I wanted, the one the fellow swore blind was in stock - of course it wasn't)!
THEN, I spent a lovely time with security as I "BEEPED" leaving the story - clerk forgot to demagnetize one of my purchases and with several bags, multiple pockets and many places in my handbag it took awhile to find my receipt. The hysterical giggling woman (me) seemed to unnerve the security guards. There were many apologies from clerk, security and store once I produced the receipt - I kept giggling (I couldn't stop) and said " It was just that kind of day."
So how was your day?
I took a taxi to a few blocks short of the Mall of the Emirates - forgot I hadn't gone to the bank yet, walked the rest of the way to the MoE and promptly went to the ATM.
So how was your day?
Thursday, August 23, 2012
First day of Work in Dubai
Ok, well it wasn't exactly work, but it was all related to work.
The schedule was: 0800 pick by bus, delivery to school, introductions, then off to medicals 0900 - 1300. 1300 - 1400 lunch at school, 1400 - 1600 presentation, 1600- 1800 bank to cash furniture allowance cheques.
Reality:
at pick up for 0800... no bus... several phone calls... bus pick up a bit after 0900. direct to medicals.. dropped off at medicals to await individual from school with necessary paperwork....
eventually called for blood test, then a bit more waiting before being called for chest xray. Medical finished at 1230
off to school for lunch. Presentations cut short due to equipment malfunction. given to keys to my apartment as my bed had been located and moved to the apartment.
driven to bank number 1 - closed. driven to bank number 2 closed. driven to Dubai Mall, let off to wander the mall looking for a bank. eventually found a bank and cashed furniture allowance cheque.
driven back to morning pick up location and dropped off.
Stopped in to my apartment for a quick look - bright and sunny with LOTS of windows (kitchen 1 window, living room 3 windows and a glass door, bedroom glass patio door....)
back to my sponsor's apartment - Hooligan VERY vocal and pleased to see me...
Now for a shower and an early evening as tomorrow I will shift my luggage to my apartment. I will also measure the living room so that I can order a sofa and chairs etc....
The schedule was: 0800 pick by bus, delivery to school, introductions, then off to medicals 0900 - 1300. 1300 - 1400 lunch at school, 1400 - 1600 presentation, 1600- 1800 bank to cash furniture allowance cheques.
Reality:
at pick up for 0800... no bus... several phone calls... bus pick up a bit after 0900. direct to medicals.. dropped off at medicals to await individual from school with necessary paperwork....
eventually called for blood test, then a bit more waiting before being called for chest xray. Medical finished at 1230
off to school for lunch. Presentations cut short due to equipment malfunction. given to keys to my apartment as my bed had been located and moved to the apartment.
driven to bank number 1 - closed. driven to bank number 2 closed. driven to Dubai Mall, let off to wander the mall looking for a bank. eventually found a bank and cashed furniture allowance cheque.
driven back to morning pick up location and dropped off.
Stopped in to my apartment for a quick look - bright and sunny with LOTS of windows (kitchen 1 window, living room 3 windows and a glass door, bedroom glass patio door....)
back to my sponsor's apartment - Hooligan VERY vocal and pleased to see me...
Now for a shower and an early evening as tomorrow I will shift my luggage to my apartment. I will also measure the living room so that I can order a sofa and chairs etc....
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