My dad apparently had/has? a pulmonary embolism. Upon being examined more thoroughly after discovering this, it turned out that he had blood clots in his legs. He is currently at home and on blood thinners, although he isn't able to do very much.
Before the gastric bypass surgery, both my parents regularly took children's aspirin, in order to try to avoid blood clots. After the surgery, though, they weren't allowed to take aspirin, because the likeliehood of them developing an ulcer or another serious stomach problem is greatly increased. At the same time, the problems that my dad had with his surgery meant that he was getting nowhere near the calories he needed to be terribly active, and he also wasn't working anymore, so this meant that he became virtually inert. It's my suspicion that this is why he's having these problems now.
My brother was upset that he wasn't informed of my dad's hospitalization until the third day, when they figured out what the problem was. Now he knows how I feel. My mom still contends that she made the right decision there, because it would just worry him. My brother and I believe that we're adults, and we ought to know, say, when my father is admitted to the emergency room. I just imagine something happening to my dad, i.e., death, and then having to explain to my brother why he didn't even know that dad was in the hospital.
My grandfather died of a pulmonary embolism. Not my dad's father; my mom's father -- they have a history of blood clotting on that side of the family. It's reassuring to know that God/evolution was determined that I should have blod clots to contend with from every direction on my family tree.
On Tuesday we are supposed to be moving all the crap that is in our garage, including the majority of my library and whatnot. As it stands now, I will be the only family member participating in that, with the remainder of the work being shared by Julie, Mike, Steve, and Steve's buddy.
I saw Jolie last Thursday, and was reassured that pregnancy has not suddenly changed her into someone who babbles on about the wonder of life and the newness of living. She said that she was miserable, losing weight, and convinced that there is no way on God's/evolution's green earth that she would ever put herself through this again. She is only in her third month. I'm oddly pleased that she did not try to sell me on the miracle of childbirth, nor did she try to make it sound like a voyage of self-discovery. We both agreed that it was a bit gross, and maybe a little creepy. I mean, the idea of having something growing inside you is just so alien to me. This suggests to me that, sexuality notwithstanding, I really never was intended to breed in any event. Straight people tend to get a teency bit defensive when it comes to the concept of breeding, and I appreciate Jolie's frankness. I'm not worried about her attitude; I'm assuming that, upon birth, something maternal will kick in. If not with her, than maybe with her husband.
Anyways, once we had dispensed with the obligatory pregnancy chatter -- which amounted to me saying something not unlike: "I never know what to say to pregnant women, so whatever you're supposed to say or do, let's just pretend I said it, and move on" -- we watched a few episodes from Buffy Season 5. I was surprised to learn that she had never seen "The Body", and I warned her that, if she had any heart at all, that episode would have her bawling and/or calling her mother, just to say hi.
I have this week off, and may have less to blog about than usual. As if that's even possible. I'm planning on going to Rochester, NY, to move all the crap in next weekend. I'm thinking more seriously about moving there, i.e., I've made my mind up, and I'm going to do it. I need something taken care of, and for the time being, that's the only thing I have any control over. Also, I think it would be better if my part of the house was completely emptied out. It still is a little scary, though.
5 comments:
"I never know what to say to pregnant women, so whatever you're supposed to say or do, let's just pretend I said it, and move on."
I like that. I'll have to remember it. Sounds applicable to many situations. That and the flip side, when someone asks a nosy question, to reply with a smile, "Why do you want to know?"
I hope your dad feels better soon.
My thing is that I know that if I were a pregnant woman, a lot of stuff that people would say or do I would find downright intrusive. Like suddenly the fetus voids out the desire for a sphere of personal space around you. Also, a lot of social interaction becomes about being pregnant, which I can't imagine is terribly pleasant for the pregnantee. So my theory is that I will remain a bastion of non-pregnant banter and Buffy fanhood for as long as Jolie needs.
Lest it seem that I am too good-hearted, I also hasten to add that my experiences with pregnant women are fairly limited, and my discomfort is largely a result of a lot of uncertainty over what to say. But I don't think that selfish and unselfish motives can't co-exist.
My dad's fine, helping me pack up the fine china today. He's in pain, but not enough pain to keep him from wondering why my mom needs enough china to serve 17 people. Really, I mean, that is seriously excessive, right?
I like that line, may I swipe it?
I work in an office full of women who are constantly about to become pregnant, are pregnant, are leaving to give birth, or are just back from maternity leave, and never know what to say, either.
Tell Jolie I appreciate her frankness also - her candor is refreshing, and is probably a sign that she'll be clear-eyed and practical as a parent.
Hey, if you like the line, use it. But if you use it in a piece of literature, please cite me where appropriate. Although, be forewarned that the line doesn't always have the desired effect: some women will just look at you like you're insisting the world is flat. And then there are the responses you DON'T want...
Doctors discovered a blood clot in Vice President Dick Cheney's left leg Monday, a condition that could be fatal if left untreated. [!]
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