Monday, July 12, 2010

Long Week

I don't even know where to begin other than I've had one of the most hellish weeks I can ever remember.  If you haven't noticed, and really, I don't blame you if you haven't, I've been MIA from the blog world this past week.  Since my last post I have had my world turned upside down.

It all started last Saturday when my dad called me to tell me he was rushing my mom to the ER with heart attack symptoms.  After many tests they ruled that out and sent her home as being merely "stressed."  Little did I know that it was just the beginning.

Sunday I got another call in the early morning that my dad was again bringing my mom back to the ER as she had severe abdominal pain and was throwing up.  We were there for what felt like an eternity.  We waited on test after test, CT scans, x-rays, blood work.  Finally, after 9 hours they told us she had a ruptured appendix and needed surgery right away!  We had no idea that morning when we brought her in that we would end the day sitting in a surgery waiting room.

Her case was severe.  It had ruptured and sent toxic stuff through her abdomen and bowels.  Originally they told us she would be home by Tuesday.  But Tuesday turned into Wednesday, and Wednesday turned into Thursday and so forth.  Today is Monday, 9 days later and she still isn't home.  The infection went gangrene and really hit her hard.  The worst day was Friday when she seemed to have regressed, ending up on oxygen and pretty incoherent.  It has been a hard week since my dad had started a new job and couldn't be there much.  My brother lives about 120 miles away in Sacramento and couldn't be here much, and on top of it all, my sister's boyfriend had heart surgery on Tuesday.  As of yesterday she is doing 100% better as compared to Friday and they are talking about sending her home today or tomorrow.  Fingers crossed. 

Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty bad, too.  I was back and forth between two hospitals with my sister's boyfriend at one and my mom at another.  He was going to have a simple procedure where they shock the heart back into normal rhythm, but the doctor made a mistake during it and cut an artery in his leg that left him bleeding out on the table.  That was a roller coaster of emotions, as my heart was hurting for my sister, Joe and my mom.  Thankfully Joe should be okay, he's out, but in a ton of pain in his leg.  And the crappy thing is, they didn't finish the procedure and have to do it again in a month!  Oy vey!

Through all of this my running has suffered.  Normally when I'm stressed or worried, my running is my sanctuary.  It is my time to think only of one foot in front of the other, my breathing and my foot steps.  But this week, running was hard.  My legs and heart were heavy and they didn't want to move.  It really made me mad as the week before I had a great running week, finishing up with just over 45 miles nailing every pace and distance.  This past week though, hitting three miles was difficult.  I managed one 7 mile run, and a couple of 5 mile runs, but really three was my limit.  I even had a half marathon race to run yesterday but I just couldn't do it.  I got all the way to the race and decided that I couldn't muster through 13 miles.  I knew I would be miserable and angry and didn't need to add any more stress.  So I came home defeated.  I was more mad because I really wanted to try and hit my PR again as the course holds my 1:36 half mary PR time.  But I knew yesterday wasn't the day.  I ended the week with 21 miserable miles.

Today I'm hoping that we get some good news and she will be on her way home.  She will still need a lot of help when she gets home so I will be still taking care of her.  But it will be a million times better than having to spend the day at the hospital.  I now know what it's like to take care of an ill parent.  It's draining, it's scary and it's the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with. 

Thanks for reading this and letting me dump it all on you.  But I thought I would let you all know where I've been :)  I haven't turned my computer on in a week.  I know I'm so behind on catching up on all your fun running and races!  I promise this week I'll get caught up! 

Hope you all have a great week!  I'll drop by soon and say hey!
Happy Monday and Happy Running peeps!

32 comments:

d.a.r. said...

Oh good grief, you have a lot to shoulder right now. I am so sorry about your mom and hope she starts feeling better!!

Hang in there. Escape for some miles, soon. It will definitely help you feel better, too.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about your mom and sister's beau. I hope this week brings them home healthy. Your running will be there for you when you can enjoy it and not stress on the run!

Tara said...

Katie! I've been thinking about you ever since I saw the post about your mom on FB. I am so glad that she is doing better, but I'm very sorry that this happened!!

Thinking about your mom and sending good vibes your way!
Take care,
Tara

Katie said...

Tons of hugs and puppy kisses from me and G. I hope this week brings lots of good news and sunnier skies.

Anonymous said...

Ruptured appendix! No wonder she was stressed. Hope this week is much better.

Indi said...

My prayers are with you and your family! You are strong and will no doubt have the strength to help your mo through this. My mom went through a similar issue 5 yrs ago when they nicked her colon during routine surgery and then things went pretty bad! But she is healthy and strong now and with some time, patience and healing vibes yours will be back to normal very soon. hugs and good thoughts!

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

Oh buddy!! I am so sorry to hear about all the health issues.. URGH! It is very difficult to fit in working out or even have the mental energy to run in situations like this.

I will pray for your family and for you to be able to return to your sanctuary..

On a lighter notes... Ummmm just have to say that is one SMOKIN FAST Half PR!!

Denise said...

well, good thing i haven't had anything to talk about since i've been in the boot...you're not missing a thing. ;-)

i've been thinking of you and following along when you tweet. don't worry about the running, this is crazy stressful. your body is going through so much. i hope everyone is doing ok, esp your mom. i can't even imagine. hang in there and i'm sending tons of hugs your way!!

Middle Name Marie said...

Wow, last week sounds like a doozey. I hope everything turns out okay--you are in my thoughts. In 2004, my mom was rushed to the ER with extrememly high blood sugar levels. I know times like this are stressful. A short three-miler, might clear your head. I wouldn't push it, but make sure you find some time to digest all that is going on--a run would be good for that.

L.B. said...

That's awful what your mom and family had to endure. I'm sorry this happened to her and all of you. I hope you are able to get back to running soon enough.

Are you on Twitter? I just got into it.

And on a different topic, I'm looking forward to getting my ass kicked by the SF Marathon and meeting the famous Katie A.

Jess said...

So sorry to hear about your mom, and I hope she makes a quick recovery!

TMB @ RACING WITH BABES said...

wow. so sorry to hear about your mom. Hope you get some good news soon and that she can come home. I'll be thinking of you!

LAPT said...

Oh my goodness... I'll be crossing my finger for you and your family!!!

Teamarcia said...

Good heavens K when it rains it pours. Yes I noticed you've been quiet and yes I've been worried. Praying for everyone and sending speedy recovery wishes. Take care!

Anonymous said...

Oh man- My appendix ruptured when I was six and I nearly died...it is so scary and I am so happy to hear she is doing 100% better. Medicine has come so far, I am stunned they did not find anything and that she did not have appendix symptoms prior! When I had mine, they told my mom it was gas and that I was six and six year olds whine. Had I went to bed that night, and had my parents not taken me to the ER and demanded treatment, I would have died. So scary when stuff like that happens. Katie, I really hope things look up for you soon! If you need anything, you have the email!

Christina said...

Goodness! That's a lot of stuff for anyone to handle. I hope your mom and your sister's bf are recovering well. And you, do take care of yourself too and don't beat yourself up on the half marathon. You just have to come back with a vengeance on your next half marathon. :)

Anonymous said...

Wow, that really is a lot to deal with. A friend of mine suffered from a ruptured appendix earlier this year - it was really frightening. I'm glad everyone is doing better. Hopefully this week something amazing will happend to blance out the karma for your family. :)

ajh said...

What an awful week. I hope everyone gets better fast and stays healthy.

Heather said...

Scary! So sorry about your mom - hope she starts feeling better soon. I'll be thinking of you and your family.

Angela said...

Wow, I hope that things are on the way back up now!

RBR said...

Good God. I am so sorry to hear about your hellish week. How absolutely terrifying for you and your family.

If you need anything or I can help in any way please do not hesitate to ask and remember to take care of yourself.

Jill said...

((HUGS!!!))

Christy Ashley said...

Hope you're doing ok Katie! I'm praying for you!

N.D. said...

hugs - I'm keeping you and your family in my prayers.

Page said...

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry to hear all of this happened! Hang in there and I will keep you and your family in my thoughts.

Bethany + Ryan said...

wow, so sorry so much stuff is happening to you all at once. That is really scary and heavy stuff too. I will be thinking about you and your whole family. I'm sending healing thoughts and prayers your way. Hang in there!!

Sarah said...

Hugs and good thoughts to your mom that she can have a quick recovery and be home soon. Love you guys, call if you need anything!!

Aron said...

ugg i am sorry girl :( i hope everyone is getting better and your mom will be home soon. i know this must be so hard. let me know if you need anything, i am sending hugs over the internet!

Angela and David said...

Glad everyone is going to be okay but your family has certainly been put through the ringer. If running isn't the answer right now, do something else that gives you peace of mind. Hope everyone continues to improve.

Lori said...

Sending good thoughts! *hugs*

Jo Lynn said...

Damn! Somehow this post slipped through the cracks. I have been thinking of you.
I hope by this point, all is better?
Still, I'm thinking of you. ;)

RunToTheFinish said...

oh my!! I have been wondering about you! Appendicitis that is sooo scary, I am glad that she has pulled through. You are doing well just taking it day by day and while I do think running is a stress reliever sometimes, when your body is sooo stressed it's probaby just a-ok to let it go for a bit.

Keep us updated as we are all thinking of you and putting good thoughts your way.
((((hugs))))