Hit the road Claude!

16 months ago I received a call that my sister Molly was being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in Williamsburg, VA, with a blood clot in her leg which had traveled to her lungs, it was a pulmonary embolism. A blood clot. ICU. It was pretty scary. James and I hit the road at 2300 hours that night and made it to Chesapeake in the wee hours of the morning. After picking up my other sister Nancy, we made our way up to Williamsburg and spent the next four days in the ICU with Molly and my family. We didn't leave Williamsburg until they released her from ICU. She was only 35 years old.

Since January 2009 Molly has had to change almost everything in her life; from eating habits to how she travels. Because she was put on coumadin, a blood thinner, she has been in a doctors office almost every week for blood tests. She named her clot, Claude, and feels that it would have been less expensive to have a baby than a blood clot.

Here are the facts: a blood clot is medically known as deep vein thrombosis. It can lead to death. Learn about this condition and learn how to prevent it. I use travel socks when traveling by car, train, or airplane. If you don't own a pair, buy a pair.

Last Thursday she recevied the greatest news: Claude was gone!!! No more coumadin!!!! It was finally over!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such fabulous news! I had to share! But more importantly to share knowledge about DVT and how it can be prevented.

By popular demand

     Since Kate is out of town and it has been pointed out that I need to "get on the ball", I've decided to do a post of my own.  This will most likely be short, but hopefully it will apease my critic.

     While Kate covered most of what has been going on in the last post, but she did leave out a little bit of information.  For starters, as most of you know I've been back in the states and here in Virginia for nearly three years.  This is a bit long for me to spend in one place, and according to the Army it is almost time for me to move on.  So, this January, right after the holidays, I will be moving to Fort Huachuca, Arizona.  The Army has decided that my "talents" can be put to better use in TRADOC (Training and Doctirine Command).  At this point, I don't know if I will be working as an instructor or as a Platoon Sergeant.  Basically either way I will be most likely dealing with a bunch of whiny trainees, the ranks of which will vary depending on my duties.  If anyone finds this the least bit confusing, you're in the same boat as me.  While this is the earliest I have ever been notified of a pending assignment, I have absolutely no clue what I will be doing.  Kate will unfortunately not be joining me for at least a year, so I will be spending my free time talking to Lulu and Ben and Roosie.  I may or may not actually be sane when Kate joins me in 2012.

     As for a previously covered topic, my table is finished and if I may say so myself, it is nearly perfect! So, hopefully this passes muster with a certain redhead and alos informs some of you a bit as to what's going on with me.

Has it been a month? Update time!

Has it really been a month since I last posted?! I've got to get better about this. Here are the updates bullet point style:

• Dara and I took a trip to the Big Easy mid April to celebrate her birthday. It was the first time for both of us in New Orleans. And we loved it! Such a great city. You can skip Bourbon Street (even worse than Duval Street in Key West, FL) and still have a great time. I have posted my photos here if you want to take a look. I am still working on adding captions and locations. Dara and I want to go back and accomplish and see all the things we were unable to see this past trip. It will be another fun filled weekend I'm sure. Hightlights were Coop's Place on Decater, Cuvee on Magazine, Mardi Gras World, St. Louis Cemetery #1, and seeing the mighty Mississippi River.
• My mom came up for a visit the first weekend in May.
• I got a wicked head cold/sinus infection that I have been battling since April 27th. I think I am finally on the mend.
• I went to New York City for work on April 29th. The meeting was really bad but I got to see Mary Kate (sans family) and she let me drink my way back to Penn Station. It was fabulous.
• James' command had a picnic on May 7th and James came in first place in the fishing competition under the catfish category! Go James!
• We traded in the Escape for a Ford Freestyle I have named Lola (the Land Yacht). She's my "mom car" and I love her. Leather seats, dual climate control, third row seating, I could go on and on about how cool she is. But I won't....we all love it, expect Lulu is still getting used to it.
• Our garden is planted and bulbs are in the ground. And we already have a squash growing!!!! I need to buy some new plants as ones I planted have died off for some reason. I think it is the liner of the basket.
• I have begun Operation Green Light at Dara's. Her birthday present this year was a "green" present. My manual labor to clean, organize, and plant the flowerbeds in her front lawn. She's a trooper but is very thankful for my labor. I need to take some photos to chronicle that journey.
• Joseph celebrated his 11th birthday on Saturday! We all went to see Iron Man 2 and ate dinner at Red, Hot, and Blue which is one of Joe's favorite resturants. We bought him pads and a helmet for his skateboarding adventures.
• I celebrated my birthday this week too. I don't mind my birthday, I just don't like celebrating it. But at the last minute I decided I wanted to go hit golf balls at Top Golf and drink beer. Many couldn't make it due to the last minute invite, but I had a good time none-the-less!

Okay, sorry for dropping off the blog for a month. I will try and do better. I swear!