Back in the Saddle

I think the VOR (voice of reason) is slowly returning to my brain. NutJim slid in there for a bit and took over. Maybe that is how I cope with good old Riley, if you can call it coping. I don't think there is any feeling much better than returning home. Being with your family, in your own bed, a bathtub to soak in. All the craziness that 4 extra chattering girls bring to the picture. OH-and might I say fixing a meal you've been craving...potato soup. Made it last night and it was DE.LIC.IOUS. I really enjoy cooking and its probably a little prideful to say, but my cooking in particular. It's just one of those creature comforts. I love that I can take simple ingredients and produce something so satisfying. The best, I have leftovers for lunch for probably the rest of the week! AND-this is going to sound insane too, but Walmart, I actually felt a twinge of, well, I don't know what you'd call it, but going in the Vortex was not a dreaded event. I think it's just familiarity. I remember, as a child, when we would go for a visit somewhere that took a long drive (which was most everywhere since we lived in the boonies) that when we drove back into the small town that was where I went to school, I felt so peaceful and was finally able to relax in the car. Funny how some things about you never change. I remember being relieved that we were back "home". Just a feeling of peace would encompass me. Comfort perhaps of being in a familiar place. Does any of that make sense? That's what it feels like to be home. That same peace flows over me. Now, don't get too crazy on me, that peace swiftly passes as the hustle and bustle of my brood kicks in, but even for a moment it is blissful!

Now let's talk about something that is driving me NUTS- dreams. I am having the CUH-RAZIEST dreams. I should call them nightmares because they so disturbing but not necessarily scary. Last night, aside from the nonsense of what all I was dreaming, I dreamed I was attacked by a man. Someone I thought I could fight off, but was not able to. ICK. I thought I was vividly dreaming because of being at the hospital, but now, notsomuch. I feel so un-rested when I dream like that and when they are so nutty, I hate remembering them. Blech.

I'd also like to say I know I complain about Hotel Riley quite a bit. I would like to mention some things that are just beyond touching that happen there. While some nurses seem completely out of touch, this was not the case on this visit....after being there so many times on the same unit, you start to develop relationships with these people. It is the ONLY sad part of leaving the hospital. Several nurses were extraordiarily kind to me. One of them, I'll call her Ausie...she made me a cake...yes, cake. I don't know if she knows how much I appreciated it. I LOVE chocolate cake. LOVE IT! Another nurse brought me in a Mountain Dew, chocolate, AND some ibuprofen to help me with my headache. Several nurses included me in their dining out and allowed me to order food with them. Then there was another nurse who harassed me to no end and I gave it back to her, which helped to lighten the atmosphere. Ausie and Mapril, I'll call her, both came and listened or just gave me support when I was in one of my crying/want to smack a stupid person mode. These things, I believe, go far above the call of duty and I don't know if they know how much it means. I, of course, said thank you, but that doesn't seem justice for something I feel is so deeply appreciated.

This post is turning into a book so I'll stop.

Do you have crazy dreams?

What do you think goes beyond the call of duty?

Does returning home after being away give you the warm fuzzies?