Doctor, Doctor Gimme the News

So a few of you have been praying for me in the last few months as I trekked back to the GI doctor's office for some testing. I waited for awhile to post and write back to some of you. BIG apologies. All my tests came back fine. However, I had a "nagging" feeling that I wasn't finished yet.

I was right. :-P

For those of you who don't know, I've been under the care of a GI doctor since my early teens. I've been diagnosed with acid reflux, IBS,"sluggish stomach," and every other GI condition you see in drug ads on TV.

I have not been diligent in taking my medication in the last two years - particularly the pills that control my acid reflux. When Dr. Lucas called me back a couple of weeks ago, she told me I had done significant damage to my esophagus. The "up and down" of the stomach acid has created several pre-cancerous spots that we will have to monitor closely every year. Before this latest round of testing, I was going in for an endoscopy once every five years. Now I have to have one every year. Boo.

That was not the only reason she called back. When she was poking around in my insides, she did a biopsy on my small intestine and found that my villi were "blunted" instead of long and skinny.

How does this all come together?

1. I have weird, unruly villi. :-)
2. I have IBS.
3. I might have Celiac disease. (A gluten intolerance = Gluten free diet = No fun.)

She ordered a blood test to determine whether or not I have Celiac disease. I get the paperwork for said blood work and off I trot to the place I will now refer to as "The Scariest Lab Ever."

The Scariest Lab Ever is inside of a nearby hospital, so initially I feel fine. I walk up to the window and sign in. Thirty minutes later, my name is called:

"Mih Boo...."

Is that me?

"Mih Abigay Boo"

Yup. That's me.

I walk back to the window and I am greeted by Tomeka. (Toe-mee-ka) I hand her my paperwork.

"Ooh! What dis?!"

Oh my.

"Um, this is the paperwork my doctor's office sent. I have to have blood drawn for the Celiac Profile. See?" (I point to the box checked on the paperwork. There are also instructions beside it.)

"I ain't never seen this afore. I'ma haffa call somebody."

Yes. Yes you will.

She opens the door for me to come into the tee-tiny lab. Panic sets in. She is the only one in the lab. She will be drawing my blood. HOW DID SHE QUALIFY TO DRAW BLOOD???

Five minutes later, she is wrangling with my arm and I am trying very hard not to curse. I swear she was actually wiggling the needle around in my arm.

When she is finished, I hear, "I hope dis is right."

You and me both, Tomeka. You and me both.

Within two hours, I have a massive bruise on the inside of my arm. When I ask my sister Kadee eabout it, she said that Tomeka went through my vein instead of just going inside it.

Shocker.

Two weeks later, my doctor's office calls me back. The blood work was done incorrectly and they don't know whether I have Celiac disease or not.

Imagine that.

I have to go back, but I can't yet because my insurance won't pay for it. Evidently they haven't met Tomeka.

I'll let you know when I go back. (No worries - I don't have to go back to Tomeka.) Until then, keep your fingers crossed!

Our Latest Addition

We are pleased to welcome our latest addition to the Smyrna Zoo:

Booney Bird!

Because I have been terrible about updating since going back to work, I haven't had the chance to introduce Booney to his new adoring public. For obvious health concerns (aka: a house with four cats), Booney lives at Fair Oaks in my classroom.

Peek-A-Booney

He's actually our class pet at school. On the first day of school, we were outside for recess when I heard, "Miss Boone! There's a bird on the playground!" I made the HUGE mistake of replying, "If you can catch him, we can keep him!"

Ha.

In all seriousness, he is a lovely bird and probably would have been cat food if left outside to fend for himself. Our best guess is that someone decided they could no longer care for him and "set him free."

Because all cockatiels can live on their own. In the wild. In Georgia.

Chillin' in the classroom.

He really has been fun to have around. He plays with our jewelry, eats erasers, squawks when we leave him alone in the room, and sits on our shoulders while we work and teach. We let him out for most of the day in the classroom - with the door closed. There was a brief "escape" from the classroom that ended with my running up and down several hallways screaming "BIRD!" and muttering four-letter-words under my breath. Luckily, it was 3:30 and all the children had gone home.

The kids did name him - although I do think his name is fabulous. When they found out I would no longer be Miss Boone, they decided the bird needed to be a Boone. There is also a popular book we've read, Goony Bird Greene by Lois Lowry. They combined the two. Hence, the name "Booney Bird." :-)

Come see us - all six of us at the the Smyrna Zoo. Thanksgiving Break should be interesting! :-)

Look, Ma! He's Famous!

Well, almost.

Bryan was recently interviewed for a Food and Wine article in the AJC. It was published last week, and I've been fighting off the ladies who want a piece of my connoisseur ever since. I am ever so proud of my wine-0.

:-)

Read it here.

Tell him how smart he is here.

Election Thoughts

I've been trying to think of what to say about the last 24 hours and how they have played out across our country.

(courtesy of the New York Times)

Before I say my piece, here are few wise words from some blogs I read that have said exactly what I've been thinking...

From Charles at Blessed Endurance:

"I'm hopeful that good things are to come for the United States, both for its citizens and for its role in the international community."

From Lydia at A Day's Grace:

" Did Obama win last night because Christians didn't pray with enough fervor? NO! Obama won because, amazingly enough, God has a plan for his life and he was meant to play a role in our nation's history. Is he evil? No. Is he wicked? We all are. So, please folks, get off your high horse of judgment and stop posting dooms day type scripture that does more harm than good. I'm all about some scripture, but the intent of most of the scripture I've seen posted as of late has been to make digs and allude to negative or wicked character. God doesn't like His words being misused - so I would encourage one to study their own heart before using God's word to name call."

I watched both candidates carefully. I prayed about it. I voted for Obama and I am proud of my vote. I may not agree with everything Obama says and does, but I do believe he is (and will be) the best man for the job.

However (like most people these days) I have a soapbox:

I am tired of people calling him the messiah of America. I am tired of people implying that he thinks he is the messiah. I am tired of the paranoia-hysteria that seems to have overcome some Americans. He is not the Anti-christ. Obama has not deified himself. The media has, and people need to wake up and regonize it. It's time for people EVERYWHERE to realize that he is simply a man - a child of GOD, like each one of us.

I am excited to see what GOD has planned for Barack Obama and our country in the next four years. I am ready for change.