.... let me explain.
I never found my comfort with being in isolation after the incident with Ginger a few weeks ago and living through what it takes to get help. My blood pressure went sky high - 200/116 on most days and those numbers threw me into a panic worrying about how would I get out should I have a medical emergency that required immediate attention.
Yes, there are some health folks in the village, but most locals will tell you stories how the wait for a medical emergency can take hours and hours and up to days - I couldn't accept that kind of health care for my health and possible life.
I am now back in Wichita, KS - after not being able to get out the original date I was planning on leaving due to fog (again, this validates the uncertainty of getting out for help if needed). Then - an ice storm in the mid west created a few days delay - but I finally made it home and am looking forward to life being settled.
I had this awesome and wonderful plan on how to finalize my blog - but, I think I'll just end it with just a simple period at the end of this sentence.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Let me tell you about MY week!
I will leave this Earth knowing without a shadow of a doubt that my mother loved me unconditionally without reservations.
This past week has been quite the adventure for my mom and me. It all started Friday (12/30/16) night about 10pm. Mom was in bed and reading on her Kindle (like she does anything else... really, she needs to get a life...) and Chloe was under the covers with me; I wasn't feeling so well so I got up and threw up all over the sheets! Mom was a little concerned, but not too much; she cleaned the mess up and then insisted I drink some water - I didn't want water - so, she kept sticking her finger into the water bowl and putting it in my mouth - really mom! STOP.
I threw up again about 4 hours later... then again a few hours later... then some foamy blood... then some foamy blood again. Mom was frantic to say the least - it's not like we live where I can just go to the doctor to be seen; it took 24 hours to get me to the vet! We have to fly out of here on a bush plane (I HATE THEM!! They are loud and scary) Then, we had to sit at the airport of another small village once we got out of here at sunrise (bush planes do not fly in or out of Togiak unless there is daylight). Mom was on a roll... we were heading to get me help (She made me think I was dying!) I watched her basically fall apart on the floor of the airport in Dillingham, Alaska when she realized she didn't pack her photo ID - she was a mess - she dumped everything on the floor and was frantically searching for anything to get us on the plane at 1pm (I had been throwing up for over 12 hours at this time). To find out how that incident played out, you can read HER post that is posted just before MY post. Anyways - about 26 hours after I got sick, we finally made it to the vet office. WOW - I did not like that place... there are so many sick, scared and bleeding animals - I knew I was dying at this point! Mom just went and curled up on a bench in the corner and tried to get some sleep with me wrapped up in her arms - honestly, we looked homeless - it was embarrassing and I was glad that my head was completely covered under a blanket.
The vet took great care of me (SHOUT OUT TO Diamond Emergency Animal Hospital in Anchorage!) I left with a little less blood than I went in with - everything looked fine - the vet said for me to come back in 72 more hours to get things rechecked. Fast forward.... my mom took me in at 48 hours and again in 72 hours... she gets over concerned for me at times.
We stayed at the Motel 6 Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night. I thought Togiak was boring - wow - we did NOTHING but sleep - my mom seemed to be quite happy sleeping in the same clothes for 4 nights and just watching tv and sleeping. (I'm thankful she did pack her hair brush and toothbrush - it helped take away some of that homelessness look we had.)
I mentioned how much I hate flying - so, my mom decided to give me a sedative for my upcoming flights so I wouldn't shake, shiver, pant and become uncontrollably neurotic on the way back home. (She takes the fun out of everything...) So, I was KNOCKED ON MY BUTT - ZzzzZzzz... this is the part of my story where I would be telling you all about the 2 flights back home - how we were diverted back to Anchorage due to weather and had to stay another night - then knocked out again the following morning to actually make it back home - unfortunately, I don't have many details of these events because I was pretty doped up and sleepy. .
A few memorable events that took place during my "I am going to die" adventure:
1) Bob - thank you for taking care of my mom; it's been a very long time that someone has taken care of her out of just pure kindness. It was nice to meet Ranger, his dog, and I really hope Ranger and Bob are okay.
2) Carrie - My mom really enjoyed getting out and having some real food - not that I know, but she says the pizza was amazing and the best ever - I wish I could testify to that. Oh, and sorry about how I treated your dogs... I was cranky and a little scared with being out of my environment.
3) The lady at the vet with the tiny tiny ittybitty supersick puppy - My mom prays for your dog every night.
4) The staff at the animals hospital - I hated every minute of it, but you were so careful with how you held me, spoke to me, jabbed me... but, you are also the folks that gave my mom some peace knowing I should be okay to go back 500 miles away from care.
Now that we are back home - mom is actually a little more freaky than before. She is having a really hard time not worrying about me and that makes me worry about her. She gives me strange looks and watches me breath.. she is worried I am not eating enough, worried I am not drinking enough, she looks - yes LOOKS deliberately at my pee and poop to see what it looks like!!
I do hope I am okay - because if not, I don't know how my mom would handle the sorrow. Thank you for loving me so much mom and for being with me every single step through this even though it was fearful for you - I love my mom - she knows it because I lick her right in the mouth every chance I get - I don't know why she doesn't like that...
19 more weeks until Mom, Chloe and I head back home to Kansas. Chloe and I have been both seriously warned to not eat anything not in our food bowl, not to lick things on the floor, not to swallow or chew on anything that isn't our toy and to just live in a safe little germ-free bubble until we arrive in Wichita, KS... We love our mom - but.....
This past week has been quite the adventure for my mom and me. It all started Friday (12/30/16) night about 10pm. Mom was in bed and reading on her Kindle (like she does anything else... really, she needs to get a life...) and Chloe was under the covers with me; I wasn't feeling so well so I got up and threw up all over the sheets! Mom was a little concerned, but not too much; she cleaned the mess up and then insisted I drink some water - I didn't want water - so, she kept sticking her finger into the water bowl and putting it in my mouth - really mom! STOP.
I threw up again about 4 hours later... then again a few hours later... then some foamy blood... then some foamy blood again. Mom was frantic to say the least - it's not like we live where I can just go to the doctor to be seen; it took 24 hours to get me to the vet! We have to fly out of here on a bush plane (I HATE THEM!! They are loud and scary) Then, we had to sit at the airport of another small village once we got out of here at sunrise (bush planes do not fly in or out of Togiak unless there is daylight). Mom was on a roll... we were heading to get me help (She made me think I was dying!) I watched her basically fall apart on the floor of the airport in Dillingham, Alaska when she realized she didn't pack her photo ID - she was a mess - she dumped everything on the floor and was frantically searching for anything to get us on the plane at 1pm (I had been throwing up for over 12 hours at this time). To find out how that incident played out, you can read HER post that is posted just before MY post. Anyways - about 26 hours after I got sick, we finally made it to the vet office. WOW - I did not like that place... there are so many sick, scared and bleeding animals - I knew I was dying at this point! Mom just went and curled up on a bench in the corner and tried to get some sleep with me wrapped up in her arms - honestly, we looked homeless - it was embarrassing and I was glad that my head was completely covered under a blanket.
The vet took great care of me (SHOUT OUT TO Diamond Emergency Animal Hospital in Anchorage!) I left with a little less blood than I went in with - everything looked fine - the vet said for me to come back in 72 more hours to get things rechecked. Fast forward.... my mom took me in at 48 hours and again in 72 hours... she gets over concerned for me at times.
We stayed at the Motel 6 Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night. I thought Togiak was boring - wow - we did NOTHING but sleep - my mom seemed to be quite happy sleeping in the same clothes for 4 nights and just watching tv and sleeping. (I'm thankful she did pack her hair brush and toothbrush - it helped take away some of that homelessness look we had.)
I mentioned how much I hate flying - so, my mom decided to give me a sedative for my upcoming flights so I wouldn't shake, shiver, pant and become uncontrollably neurotic on the way back home. (She takes the fun out of everything...) So, I was KNOCKED ON MY BUTT - ZzzzZzzz... this is the part of my story where I would be telling you all about the 2 flights back home - how we were diverted back to Anchorage due to weather and had to stay another night - then knocked out again the following morning to actually make it back home - unfortunately, I don't have many details of these events because I was pretty doped up and sleepy. .
A few memorable events that took place during my "I am going to die" adventure:
1) Bob - thank you for taking care of my mom; it's been a very long time that someone has taken care of her out of just pure kindness. It was nice to meet Ranger, his dog, and I really hope Ranger and Bob are okay.
2) Carrie - My mom really enjoyed getting out and having some real food - not that I know, but she says the pizza was amazing and the best ever - I wish I could testify to that. Oh, and sorry about how I treated your dogs... I was cranky and a little scared with being out of my environment.
3) The lady at the vet with the tiny tiny ittybitty supersick puppy - My mom prays for your dog every night.
4) The staff at the animals hospital - I hated every minute of it, but you were so careful with how you held me, spoke to me, jabbed me... but, you are also the folks that gave my mom some peace knowing I should be okay to go back 500 miles away from care.
Now that we are back home - mom is actually a little more freaky than before. She is having a really hard time not worrying about me and that makes me worry about her. She gives me strange looks and watches me breath.. she is worried I am not eating enough, worried I am not drinking enough, she looks - yes LOOKS deliberately at my pee and poop to see what it looks like!!
I do hope I am okay - because if not, I don't know how my mom would handle the sorrow. Thank you for loving me so much mom and for being with me every single step through this even though it was fearful for you - I love my mom - she knows it because I lick her right in the mouth every chance I get - I don't know why she doesn't like that...
Me... the source of worry and anxiety!
The only place where mom felt comfortable..
Going out for pizza! 12 hours of seep in 3 days/72 hours of worry...
Home for 5 nights...
Loving on my mom...
$5 subs are only $10 in Anchorage..
Anchorage was single digit temperatures with frozen fog on everything - beautiful!
Heading back to Togiak
19 more weeks until Mom, Chloe and I head back home to Kansas. Chloe and I have been both seriously warned to not eat anything not in our food bowl, not to lick things on the floor, not to swallow or chew on anything that isn't our toy and to just live in a safe little germ-free bubble until we arrive in Wichita, KS... We love our mom - but.....
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Crisis when you are 500 miles from the nearest vet...
No pictures on this update.. but an account of what happened the other night out in the remote and isolated bush...
1) About 10pm Friday night Ginger threw up just out of the blue. Then again about midnight, then again about 2am and then foamy blood about 4am and then foamy blood again about 5am... I am stuck in the bush with a sick dog.
2) I made a flight reservation (departs at 1pm which would get Ginger to the vet by 3pm) to get to Anchorage asap to the emergency vet - first flight out of Togiak doesn't take place until sunrise which is approximately 10ish am. So, I made the first flight out and got to Dillingham (which is where the flight to Anchorage leaves)
3) I made it to Dillingha with plenty of time to spare - Ginger was soso at this point - I was a nervous wreck with all the crisis happenings and feeling very helpless.
4) Got to the ticket counter at Dillingham (pretty small airport - really just a building with benches and few little counters - no security checkpoints..) Anyways.. When I had to get my ticket she asked for my ID - OMG... guess what I never grabbed in my frantic packing.... (Who needs to carry their ID in the bush.. really; I've had it put away since July)
5) They called TSA to see what could be done with the few items I had (Credit Card, checkbook, and.. well, that was all I had) TSA said I couldn't fly.
PANIC MODE - My dog needs to see a vet! The next flight out of Dillingham to Anchorage is at 6pm...
6) Dillingham's supervisor asked if there was anyone who could get my ID to the bush pilot to bring back with them - what a GREAT IDEA!!! So, I contacted the wonderful pilot of AIA who was going to be making one more trip to Togiak and back - but not until after the 1pm flight would have already departed. But it still worked out - My MOST AWESOME "I couldn't do this without her" room mate dug through my stuff to find my ID and got it to the pilot and I got my ID about 3:30pm and made the 6:00 flight! Ginger is doing pretty well at this point; she is mostly lounging and nervous at the changes taking place in her environment and my anxiety, fear and stress were probably affecting her as well.
At this point - I'd not eaten anything at all that entire day and the last meal (and even a drink of anything) was the night before.. I was sitting at Dillingham and our tech guy from the school district, Cory, happened to be there coming back from a flight - He was concerned for Ginger when he found out what I was doing there and all the drama of finally getting a flight out. A hour or so later, he shows up with a bottle of water, an apple and a package of peanut butter cracks... It was a FEAST for me at that point.
7) Boarded the flight! Made a quick stop at King Salmon and then finally landed in Ancorage - grabbed a cab - got to the vet and met some super nice folks while waiting for Ginger's test results... (This one guy, Bob, had his sick dog there - he comes in weekly for his dog to have chemo for stomach cancer - Bob is a kind soul and everone knew him well - he did a great job at keeping my mind off things that were going on...)
8) Doctor comes out with test results and called me in - I told her, "I came all this way for this information and now I don't want to hear it..." She said..."Yes you do!" Ginger's results were perfect! Blood, urine, etc.. all looked great great great (We thought she may have gotten into some antifreeze or something - we had no idea) - the only thing is there was a little area on her tummy where something may have scratched her belly (probably a rock!) and that was what could have upset her stomach and caused the bloody vomit - nothing a little coating of medicine can't fix. Vet sent us "home" (Motel 6) and said to come back in 24 hours to have tests done again just to make sure she is good to go back to Togiak.
9) Bob was getting ready to leave as I was - he gave us a ride to Motel 6... I have a new friend!
Sitting at Motel 6 while I write this.. No flghts out of here to Dillingham on 1/2 (Monday) the only flight out on 1/3 (Tuesday) is after 6pm and that puts me in Dillingham and stuck somewhere overnight there... 1/4 (Wednesday) has a 6:50am flight which will get me to Dillingham in time to hopefully get on the first bush plane to Togiak and be home by noon. I am grateful beyond words to my room mate who is taking care of Chloe during all this - POOR CHLOE... I guess she is pretty lonely :( She is probably so confused where everyone is and has nobody to snuggle under the covers with for 4 nights..
This is not how I expected to spend New Year's Eve.. or 3 days afterwards. I am stuck in Anchorage.. but, at least I am within a quick ride to the vet should anything change with Ginger.
If you are still reading at this point - I am impressed!
Happy New Year everyone.
Ginger is doing well - eating, drinking
1) About 10pm Friday night Ginger threw up just out of the blue. Then again about midnight, then again about 2am and then foamy blood about 4am and then foamy blood again about 5am... I am stuck in the bush with a sick dog.
2) I made a flight reservation (departs at 1pm which would get Ginger to the vet by 3pm) to get to Anchorage asap to the emergency vet - first flight out of Togiak doesn't take place until sunrise which is approximately 10ish am. So, I made the first flight out and got to Dillingham (which is where the flight to Anchorage leaves)
3) I made it to Dillingha with plenty of time to spare - Ginger was soso at this point - I was a nervous wreck with all the crisis happenings and feeling very helpless.
4) Got to the ticket counter at Dillingham (pretty small airport - really just a building with benches and few little counters - no security checkpoints..) Anyways.. When I had to get my ticket she asked for my ID - OMG... guess what I never grabbed in my frantic packing.... (Who needs to carry their ID in the bush.. really; I've had it put away since July)
5) They called TSA to see what could be done with the few items I had (Credit Card, checkbook, and.. well, that was all I had) TSA said I couldn't fly.
PANIC MODE - My dog needs to see a vet! The next flight out of Dillingham to Anchorage is at 6pm...
6) Dillingham's supervisor asked if there was anyone who could get my ID to the bush pilot to bring back with them - what a GREAT IDEA!!! So, I contacted the wonderful pilot of AIA who was going to be making one more trip to Togiak and back - but not until after the 1pm flight would have already departed. But it still worked out - My MOST AWESOME "I couldn't do this without her" room mate dug through my stuff to find my ID and got it to the pilot and I got my ID about 3:30pm and made the 6:00 flight! Ginger is doing pretty well at this point; she is mostly lounging and nervous at the changes taking place in her environment and my anxiety, fear and stress were probably affecting her as well.
At this point - I'd not eaten anything at all that entire day and the last meal (and even a drink of anything) was the night before.. I was sitting at Dillingham and our tech guy from the school district, Cory, happened to be there coming back from a flight - He was concerned for Ginger when he found out what I was doing there and all the drama of finally getting a flight out. A hour or so later, he shows up with a bottle of water, an apple and a package of peanut butter cracks... It was a FEAST for me at that point.
7) Boarded the flight! Made a quick stop at King Salmon and then finally landed in Ancorage - grabbed a cab - got to the vet and met some super nice folks while waiting for Ginger's test results... (This one guy, Bob, had his sick dog there - he comes in weekly for his dog to have chemo for stomach cancer - Bob is a kind soul and everone knew him well - he did a great job at keeping my mind off things that were going on...)
8) Doctor comes out with test results and called me in - I told her, "I came all this way for this information and now I don't want to hear it..." She said..."Yes you do!" Ginger's results were perfect! Blood, urine, etc.. all looked great great great (We thought she may have gotten into some antifreeze or something - we had no idea) - the only thing is there was a little area on her tummy where something may have scratched her belly (probably a rock!) and that was what could have upset her stomach and caused the bloody vomit - nothing a little coating of medicine can't fix. Vet sent us "home" (Motel 6) and said to come back in 24 hours to have tests done again just to make sure she is good to go back to Togiak.
9) Bob was getting ready to leave as I was - he gave us a ride to Motel 6... I have a new friend!
Sitting at Motel 6 while I write this.. No flghts out of here to Dillingham on 1/2 (Monday) the only flight out on 1/3 (Tuesday) is after 6pm and that puts me in Dillingham and stuck somewhere overnight there... 1/4 (Wednesday) has a 6:50am flight which will get me to Dillingham in time to hopefully get on the first bush plane to Togiak and be home by noon. I am grateful beyond words to my room mate who is taking care of Chloe during all this - POOR CHLOE... I guess she is pretty lonely :( She is probably so confused where everyone is and has nobody to snuggle under the covers with for 4 nights..
This is not how I expected to spend New Year's Eve.. or 3 days afterwards. I am stuck in Anchorage.. but, at least I am within a quick ride to the vet should anything change with Ginger.
If you are still reading at this point - I am impressed!
Happy New Year everyone.
Ginger is doing well - eating, drinking
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Happy Birthday Jesus...
It is a Thursday and I am still home in my pajamas and drinking coffee at 9am.... because Christmas break is finally here! Yippee - whoopee - yeehaw and zippity-do-dah!!! I go back to school on January 10th, 2017 for 2 days of in-service; the students come back on the 12th. I am going to spend much of my break catching up on ME... reading, knitting/crocheting - walking and taking pictures and hanging out with my dear friend Shuk drinking too much coffee.
Also, yesterday marked the half-way point of my adventure. I have been in Alaska for 5 months and in 5 months I will return to Wichita to enjoy civilization with the simple pleasures I miss - Subway being one of them.
The weather has been pretty nice really; I can't complain too much about 20s and even 30s. The downside to nice temperatures like this is the snow melts during the day and then refreezes; this causes ice! Walking to school on the ice is a bit treacherous to say the least; I've included a picture somewhere below of my "heavy-duty, I could climb Mt. Everest without even slipping" ice cleats.
Nothing much has really happened over the last week to write about... so, in my usual lazy style - I will let the pictures speak for me - in a very random order too...
Togiak School, 2016-2017 Staff
5th grade buddies and my 1st graders enjoying Christmas pattern blocks
Special gifts from special folks...
My LL Bean boots with the amazing ice cleats attached.
Life of a puppy owner... I'll find the matches later.
The view from the little apartment window that is in the hallway
Random beauty taken at various times - usually when I am walking home for lunch/back to school
Yupp....
Merry Christmas everyone!
Happy Birthday Mom!!
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Insert a very COLD title here...
I lived in upstate NY for over 20 years and remember the extreme cold temperatures and heavy snowfalls. I have also lived in the middle of a Kansas farm prairie where the wind just blows and howls in negative temperatures and you become frozen to the middle of your bones and it takes an hour and 2 cups of hot chocolate to warm up your insides. Oh, how I wish I could have a few more of those warm days back...
I love my students - I love what I do - I love their hugs and warm smiles... BUT - with Christmas break just around the corner, they are having a hard time of chilling and being the sweet little darlings that I have grown to love over the past 5 months. So much has gone on in the past month that I am surprised they have been able to focus much at all really - Operation Santa, Cultural week, Thanksgiving, Pep rally, and now Christmas break approaching. Okay, I forgive them :)
I don't have any awesome content to write about for this week. I spent some evenings crocheting, have done some reading, taken a few walks with a few teachers, and that is about as exciting as it gets this week folks. So - I'll just share some beautiful pictures and continue counting the weeks until I am back home with my friends and family. I miss home so so much.
I introduced my students to Tangrams! It is the best "I am finished, now what" activity ever. They have no idea they are actually learning about shapes while playing - shhhhh... don't tell them!
As promised - I will explain the one way ticket I bought last month... I am going home at the end of this school year. Why? Not because of the job or students and not because of the crazy insane cold.. not because of the complete remoteness, loneliness and isolation - but - I miss my home, I miss my friends and family, I miss Subway, I miss my car, I miss the idea of being able to drive for 1 1/2 hours and be at my daughter's house, I miss having coffee with Tom... I miss home.
I have zero - I have negative zero - regrets of taking on this adventure... but I will save all that for a much later date... 22 more weeks to be exact - but, whose counting!? :)
PS - I love you Tom.
I love my students - I love what I do - I love their hugs and warm smiles... BUT - with Christmas break just around the corner, they are having a hard time of chilling and being the sweet little darlings that I have grown to love over the past 5 months. So much has gone on in the past month that I am surprised they have been able to focus much at all really - Operation Santa, Cultural week, Thanksgiving, Pep rally, and now Christmas break approaching. Okay, I forgive them :)
I don't have any awesome content to write about for this week. I spent some evenings crocheting, have done some reading, taken a few walks with a few teachers, and that is about as exciting as it gets this week folks. So - I'll just share some beautiful pictures and continue counting the weeks until I am back home with my friends and family. I miss home so so much.
These 2 pictures were taken in October. I walk up this steady inclined hill twice a day and am usually on the phone with Tom from back home while huffing and puffing my way upward. Just as the walk/climb was starting to get easier, winter hit and now I walk this with the added weight of snow boots, snow pants and other heavy and thick winter gear. My heart says thank you for the great exercise!
"Bear" I'm becoming quite fond of this gentle giant. His presence gives me a great deal of comfort on my walks - especially when it is pitch dark outside in the mornings on my way to school.
These 2! I love them so much and taking care of them is my world and happiness at the end of each day.
Ginger loves to run and watch the planes as they land. Bush plane sounds are the norm around here.
Look at the size of those crows. I seriously have had images of the movie "The Birds" come into my mind some days while I am walking home. These birds are pretty much all over the place and will swarm the dumpster.
Recess at 0 degrees - my kids love going outside no matter the temperature or weather conditions. They have the appropriate clothing and they really do enjoy the outdoor playing. (It wasn't until after I took this photo and looked through them that I noticed a student lying flat on the ground lol.. I have no idea what he was doing...)
You can almost see the cold!
Painting feathers for cultural project
The kids made their own Christmas wrapping paper. Cute, huh!
Less 4-wheelers around and more snow machines.
Saving the BEST for last - Look at this most precious baby ever :) He looks like his daddy so much!! It is photos like this that keep me warm.
I have zero - I have negative zero - regrets of taking on this adventure... but I will save all that for a much later date... 22 more weeks to be exact - but, whose counting!? :)
PS - I love you Tom.
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