Middle of the Night (and some layouts!)

Ok, I have my sleep schedule all mixed up! The past few weeks I have had a terrible time sleeping (besides staying up late to chat with my sister!) because of the fist in my throat feeling. I have had to prop up almost to a sitting position and sleep on my back and with head in a certain position in order to NOT feel like I was being strangled. Really uncomfortable. Well, Sunday night I had just fallen into a light sleep and I woke up to a voice telling me to get up now. I did. I wasn't sure why I was getting up but I obeyed, LOL! On the way out of my room my legs got all rubbery and my head was swimming, like the day I passed out at work, so I called out to my son who helped me to the living room. I was fighting to stay conscious, my heart was racing at high speed, and then I got to shaking so hard and couldn't stop it. This went on for a couple of hours, off and on. I was up until 4:30 AM, because I was afraid to go back to bed. I am pretty sure I was having a panic attack, but who knows really? I truly thought I was dying. It's hard to describe. I know that seems really strange but I didn't imagine that voice that told me to get up now. I think I had stopped breathing.

Hours later I was able to relax enough to try to sleep a little. And I slept like a rock! I slept through both of my alarms and woke up about the time I should have been leaving for work. YIKES! The people I work for have been so good and since I have never called in sick, or been late that wasn't a problem. I did call my doctor and he saw me later that day. Promptly gave me some antidepressants and an anxiety drug. great. I am sure he was thinking that I am a total basket case! He said my thyroid was enlarged but not enough to block my airway, that I shouldn't be feeling like I am choking. plbbbbt. That didn't change the fact that I was living with it every day and night. That was Monday.

Tuesday morning I woke up after sleeping off and on for a few hours, and started my morning routine. By the time I had showered I realized that "fist in my throat" feeling was gone! I had energy I hadn't had in several weeks! I had a great day that day too...except for a developing rash...hmmm. oh well so what is next, I put some cream on it and went on to bed that night.

Wednesday morning....totally covered with a horrible rash that worsened by the minute! my stomach and back were a solid red swollen miserable mess! My left arm was almost as bad. I could feel it creeping up my neck ears and sides of my face and then to my scalp! I went ahead to work, I didn't have much choice since I have no sick or annual leave because I am so new. I've missed alot of work lately due to medical appointments, but I stay late or work on Saturday to make up the hours. But my dear co-workers kept at me to call my doctor again so finally I did. I just dreaded going after the last visit two days before. I never did start the antidepressants or fill the prescription for Ativan that he gave me. I talked to one of the girls in the office, and she pulled my chart and went to ask the doctor if he wanted to see me and he said yes, today. I went on in there and he was shocked at the way I looked, LOL! It was pretty bad. But the thing is, other than the itch, I felt great. I must have been high on some of the histimines running through my body or something, hahahaaa! Anyway, he told me that it appeared to be a rash associated with an allergic reaction to a medication. But the thing is I don't take anything but Nasonex spray for allergies. That's it. period. Ahhhhh, but when I said something about the CT scan I'd had the week before, the mystery was solved. (Another physician, the ENT surgeon, had ordered the scan so this dr. didn't have it in my chart.) I was having a delayed reaction to the dye contrast that was injected into my veins for the CT scan. And all the fainting episodes were most likely related to that. So, maybe I'm not crazy. I believe I was very blessed to have had a "voice" telling me to "get up now". All I know is that I feel better than I have in a very long time. I'm sleeping way too much, I have been going home from work and sleeping for hours at a time.

Good restful healing sleep. Catch up sleep.

I came home from work today, went straight to bed. I woke up at bedtime, ready to roll! So, that is why I'm sitting here typing this boring stuff in the middle of the night! LOL!

God is very good to me. I know there have been many people praying for me, and I want you all to know that I appreciate those prayers very much. There are some dear people I consider my friends that I have never met in person, but I hold them close to my heart. Thank you so much for caring and for praying!

Now, I have some layouts to make your visit worth reading through all that stuff! LOL! This is a two page spread of my grandsons using photos taken during the two weeks my daughter and hubby were in China adopting Meikina. I had the honor and blessing of taking care of the boys while they were gone, what an adventure that was! We had a great time and stayed busy to help the time pass quickly. I sent new photos by email every day so the parents would feel connected to the boys, these are just a few of the many, many photos I took during those TWO WEEKS.


You can click on the photos for a larger view.
Credits: Background paper - Carla Gibson. Swirls - LeWanna Desjardin. Glitter paint - Meredith Fenwick and Christina Renee. Cardboard - LindaGB. Alpha stamp - Michelle Coleman. I used a template by Penny Springerman, altered somewhat, the frames and drop shadows were included.

Here is another one from the day Tammy and Kenneth arrived at the Louisvile airport with Meikina. The photos are really bad quality but I think for a layout like this, it doesn't really matter. (sorry, the old pro photog in me still stresses about things like bad lighting!) It's the memories and the journaling that are most important. Both of these two pagers will be in my Shutterfly photo book.


Credits:
Background paper - Michelle Coleman. Glitter paint splats and the tab - Christina Renee. Frames are - Nancy Comelab. Alpha Stamps - Amber Clegg.

I have lots more but this will do for tonight! Thanks for checking in!

Blessings and Hugs,
Cheryl