Not uncommon, but still a pain

So over the weekend, actually late in the week, last week. I noticed another spot on my hand, growing at quite a fast pace. The problem is, it is growing on the edge of a spot they just removed. So it is quickly becoming painful, as it continues to grow. My saving grace is that my Dermatologist has told his staff, if I call in, they are to get me to see him ASAP. So I called them this morning, my Doctor is out till tomorrow, I now am going to see him at 3:oo pm tomorrow. More doctors need to be that way, to bad these types are far and few between.

Woohoo, I am not typical....

I went in yesterday for my annual testing to be on the Transplant List. Originally, a year ago, they told me this testing would take up to 6 weeks to complete. It took me not even a day. Anyhow I learned many things yesterday that somewhat gave me a brighter look on things. I already try to look at the bright side of it, but this made it even brighter. Because I have had two transplants and multiple blood transfusions, I have a high Antibody count which makes me a very difficult match. But because of this, I am tested more frequently than someone on there first. Which means I am at the top of the list. The RN at the transplant center told me she knew of at least 6 times I was tested, but there were even more times that she said, she would not be aware of. To me that really shows a light at the end of the tunnel.
The other things we talked of, which really had nothing to do with the list. She told me I didn't look or act like a typical dialysis patient. I thanked her for that, but made me start thinking of what she thought was typical. Most patients just look sick, usually from underlying illness, such as diabetes, lupus and others. Most people when they are told they have to go on dialysis, or that they have some disease, give up. They quit their jobs and live off the government. Since I do not have any underlying and I grew up like this, I really couldn't fathom the idea of giving up my job. I think the more time you have to think about something like this, the worse off you will be. It is a medical fact, the brighter outlook you have, the better the chances you will have at overcoming your medical condition. I know it is probably hard to do for many people, but I have seen people with brighter outlooks do much better than those who don't. How would you react? I hope and pray no one ever has to find out, but don't you think it is better to be somewhat prepared in your thinking before something does happen??

Decisions to make....

Becca and I are planning a trip to South Dakota for my God Son's High School Graduation. It was just gonna be Becca, myself and Theron going. The older kids found out we were going, we didn't think they would be going, being so late in the school year. The older kids have not been there in 2 years and all of them, except Connor, want to go badly. So Becca told them to get a signature from all their teachers, that they are doing good in their classes. The day after, Chance had all of his signatures. Sara is desperate to have her mother write a note to her teachers, so she can just hand them the note. Connor said he does not want to make that long of trip. Ivy gave Becca her big sad puppy eyes, when she hear we were going.
So our decision is whether or not we should take the kids with us, take them out of school for a week or not. I do want to go, my nephew is pretty special young man. He has been offered an Academic Scholarship to one University, at another University he has been offered a partial Scholarship to play football. He was one of 10 graduating students, in the State of South Dakota picked for some award. This is for his 4.0 GPA, his leadership and the sports he did. Before I moved to Texas, I was able to spend quite alot of time with him, I really would like to go and take the kids, we are just not sure what to do.

Boys will be, uh, funny....

Last night, while Becca was at her class, Connor, Theron, Sara and I were the only ones home. Sara was sleepy and went to bed somewhat early. I was playing a Star Wars game of Chances, on the computer. I heard Theron start laughing, hard. I really didn't pay much attention at first, but his hard laughter kept going on and on. When I turned to see what he was laughing at, I found Connor had showered and came out to the living room in just his boxers. This go Theron to strip down to his boxers, then proceed to act out some of Nacho Libre on Connor. Not only were they in their boxers, but the whole chest area, on both of them was a bright red. I then heard Theron say, as he was going after Connor, Nipple Tweest. It was so funny to watch these two chase each other around doing this. Then Becca got home, Theron decided that was getting boring, so he climbed up on the arm of the chair, put his hands above his head and proclaimed he was going to use his Eagle Powers on Connor. Connor, still having fun, laid down on the floor and put a couch cushion on top, so it wouldn't hurt as bad when Theron actually jumped on him. Luckily Becca stopped him, before both got hurt. All in all, it was great to see both of them having so much fun, reinacting parts from a Movie.

How do they stay in business??

I have a free moment, so I thought I would put this out, mainly because of frustration. About a year ago, the company I work for, moved our old system, which really consisted of about 4 different systems to one. This in turn was suppose to streamline how we built customer's services and billing. It hasn't, as a matter of fact, this one system is worse than the 4 we had before. The latest issue I have been dealing with for 8 hrs a day, the last two weeks, is when I build out a system for a customer, only half of it is being built. We started noticing this a few weeks back, when the tech was on site to install a Fiber to the Home customer, there were no services there. This new system should have built all services to the customers premise, in fact it use to. So I was given the task to find out why, I have gone through this database as far as I could and could find no reason why this was happening. Today, there are 5 VP's from the company that sold us trying to staighten out known issues. Problem, the more they dig the more problems are arising. Our GM has already told them if they cannot fix it, we will be going else where, at there cost. They are will aware we have not gotten out of this system what we paid for, roughly $750,000. I did find for what I am working on, someone in their company removed a module, necessary to bind equipment placed at residence, which in turn flags it so it will build correctly. The tech I have been dealing with said once we stopped using this new system this way, these Fiber installs stopped flowing correctly. I explained to him we have no control over what modules are used or not. He could not answer my question after that, much to the displeasure of the VP that was listening in on our conversation. I think this company needs Matt and Gabe to go and fix there issues.

Thinking

I have been reading all the blogs lately, not actually commenting, just reading. Time constraints and lots to do at work keeps me from being able write much. Then when I get home, I have dialysis to be on and it is somewhat annoying typing, one handed. I have always wondered, I know when we die, we will be restored to our perfect form. Our spirits reunited with our bodies, no scars, no pain. But I have always wondered if I would be reunited with the body I have now, or the body I would have had, if I had never had the illness that somewhat stunted my growth. It doesn't matter, I am just curious. I like to think, through all the trials I have had in my life, that I have become a better person from them. I can only hope that I am as good of a parent, as my parents were to me. I always hope that I am a good husband to my wife, though I know I could do more. I look at the relationships my wife has with her family, and wish all my siblings could be more like that. I do wish I could get more rest, but that will come one day. I feel I am more understanding to people's disabilities than most people. I wish I had more free time, if so I would volunteer to help those in a similar situation, that I am in.
I don't have to do anything great, to even be recognized at doing something worth while. To me, I am the only one who has to recognize that I have done something to help someone else. Too many people these days will point out how great they are, for what they have done. It is only great when you are humble about it. So for now, as I get older, these are some of things I still hope to acclomplish in my life.

Customer Service??? HA!!!

I have to get prescription medications at least once a month, more if I get sick. I left a pharmacy, CVS, for poor service; not getting the correct amount of medications, when they filled them. Not filling them when they are suppose to auto-refilled. So I changed to Walgreens. They were great, when I first started going there. But as of late, I stand in line for 45 minutes just to drop off prescriptions. They do have a drop off window, but the lady there said she couldn't help me. So I am standing in line, 10th person back in the line, and I notice there is only one person working the counter and the drive thru window. He would help one drive thru customer, then a counter cust then back to the window. I waited almost 30 minutes, which in turn resulted in only two people being helped in the counter line. I left with another 5 people behind me, 8 people in front of me and 8 cars in the drive thru lanes. All of this and only one person waiting on all of them. The busiest time of day for pharmacies would have to be after work, but the bulk of employees work earlier then that, when the number of customers are a fraction of the later hours. Mind you, I do not blame the store itself, but the corporation in general. I overheard one of the pharmacy techs mention to a customer, that the corporate offices had cut the number of employees working the pharmacy. To me that doesn't make much sense, considering there are more people everyday going to Doctors, then the doctors write out the prescriptions, then the pharmacy fills them. It is just trying to pick them up or in my case, trying to drop them off where you might as well take a lawn chair to sit in. They are however, Pharmacies, it states it in the name.