Archives: April 2005
Thu, 14 Apr 2005
Doctors and Nurses and Hospitals Oh My!
This has been a week of hospital and doctor and medical lab visits. I guess there's something to be said for getting 'em all out of the way at once, but I'll be glad when this week is over.
I went into hospital this morning for an endometrial biopsy. For the uninitiated, that's when they stick a long narrow suction device through your cervix and into your uterus and take some of the uterine lining for testing.
The procedure itself went as smoothly as these things can go, but tonight I am sore and bleeding and a little anxious awaiting the results.
Also on the health front, I had a blood pressure series done on Wednesday and discovered that I have high blood pressure. This is so new. I have always had normal to low blood pressure, even during pregnancy. In fact, my obstetrician told me once "You are the only patient I've ever had whose blood pressure has gotten lower as your pregnancy has progressed. At this rate, you'll be dead by the time you give birth."
So, what has happened? Why have I suddenly developed high blood pressure? Lots of people have speculated various causes: stress, illness, too much salt in my diet. The only thing I know is that there is a history of high blood pressure in my family and therefore I am more likely to develop it than someone without a family history. But the exact reason why it happens is not known. I don't know yet whether I will need to take tablets. I still need to hear back from my doctor regarding the official results.
On a more positive health front, though: my mammogram was fine, my cholesterol is normal, and so is my glucose, thyroid and iron.
Sigh. Is this what getting old is all about? Endless tests and trips to the hospital?
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Sat, 09 Apr 2005
A Modern Three Graces
Beauty, charm and grace.
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Fri, 08 Apr 2005
Natural SFX
by Andrew Burke
Standing at the edge of
the Western Desert,
minus 2 degrees Celsius,
I listen for
silence. Moon late,
campers asleep,
fires out, I hear
a distant road train
kicking up red dirt
like a country & western song
when all you want is
the white space between
church bells tolling.
Frogs listen too
between the lap-
slapping of
Niagara Dam's hundred-year-old
waters on
red rock shores. It's
as close as I'll ever hear to
hearing nothing,
like Basho atop
an old craggy mountain.
Charles Tomlinson writes
"it rings true: for
silence / is an imagined
thing." Listen
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Sat, 02 Apr 2005
Buzzy Bees and Honey Trees
My mother-in-law sometimes says she can see the look of the "old ones" in babies and children. She believes in reincarnation and that some children show the wisdom of the ancients that they once were.
I sometimes think I see this in Matthew. Mostly he is just a normal, rough and tumble six year old boy. But sometimes he belies a determination and intelligence beyond his years.
I will never forget the first time I held him in my arms as a baby. I had not been awake during his birth, and we were separated for six hours. When I finally held him, he looked up at me with the most incredible look. He was so calm, so peaceful. But he looked straight into my eyes with such a knowing, piercing look. He knew who I was. I will never forget that look.
Every night Matthew and I have a little ritual. He asks me "Mum, what can I think about?" And I reel off a list of things for him to think about, play words, rhyming words, and I always end with "...and Christmas!" His eyes light up and he says "Okay!" with a big grin on his face. It has become a little game for us.
"Mum, what can I think about?"
"You should think about polar bears and panda bears and brown bears and and cuddly bears and Cookie Bear and Fozzie Bear and teddy bears.... and Christmas!"
"OH, okay!"
Or "You should think about soccer games and cricket games and playground games and baseball games and rugby games and marble games and pick-up-sticks games and musical games.... and Christmas!"
Or "Buzzy bees and honey trees and sunshowers and rainbows and pretty flowers and pink bats and yellow cats... and Christmas!"
I love his big grin and the way his eyes light up before he eases down into his pillow to snuggle into sleep.
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