Not Dead Yet!

I know I’ve been gone for a while now, and I'd like to apologize for that. Things got quite crazy around here, but in a good way, and it was leaving me too tired to contemplate writing when I got home.

So, for funsies, I’ve decided my first post back needs to be about happy stuff.

1)      I GOT A JOB!!!!!! A good job. A job I *like*. Very important, that little L-word. I'm now a designer, marketing assistant, and office manager for a small engineering firm. I'm making more money than at my last job, which is great because it means I'll now be able to afford the majority of my day-to-day medical bills on my own. A lot of joy goes with feeling less dependent on others.

2)      I've stopped gaining weight! I've only lost about 2 lbs of the 20 lbs I put over the winter, while recovering from 2 surgeries only weeks apart. But I'm just glad to have stopped the gaining and be headed in the right direction.

3)      Had my annual neurology checkup with the guy who specializes in Movement Disorders. For years, I tremored so hard I couldn't hardly write my own name. I had massive myoclonic jerks, and lots of them. But for the second year in a row, I'm considered Stable and doing Very Well. I had actually gone a few months with zero tremoring/jerks and have had a tiny uptick lately, but we're assuming that's due to stress on my nervous system from other things being weird, and it's minor enough as to not cause any issues with day to day living. 

Biggest and Bestest (that is too a word!) of them all? I had my annual orthopedic checkup. Because I'd been having some bone pain, we went into it with a worry of possible fracture in the femoral neck. I've broken that hip 3 times before, as I'm one of the "lucky" fibrous dysplasia patients who experiences frequent fractures. I had been in touch with my doc, so before my appointment we had already gone ahead and done xrays and a full body bone scan. First off, the bone scan confirmed that my Fibrous Dysplasia is indeed Monostotic and not Polyostotic. Believe it or not, no one had ever bothered to check that. Second good thing, no fractures. But absolute best of all? The scan showed that my cyst is 100% stagnant (a Very Good Thing- this means it's not actively growing) and there's zero sign of Avascular Necrosis!!!! I can actually go 2 entire years before I need x-rays again!!!! 

I'm now far enough into work that I can manage to take care of myself when I get home, which means posting should become more frequent again. I do want to take a moment, though, to thank the various readers I've been in touch with since my last post 2 months ago. You guys have helped me remember why I take the time and energy to do this after a long day of work, and I'm excited to get back to over sharing again. ;)

New Day, New Opportunities

So, I got fired. Fun times. Not. 

I’ve decided to look at this as a good thing. I’ve already gotten word out in the design community that I left my job to “take the plunge”- basically, I’m telling people I realized I was too comfy and busy where I was to ever make it back into design. Which is very, very true, I was just too chicken to quit. I have a degree in design and would love to get back to it.

So I’ve decided to take advantage. This is my chance to get a design related job again. I’m fine if I end up as a CAD Monkey, as they make about 75-100% more than I was at my old job. And it still helps me make connections. I stopped by my old college and convinced one of my old professors to let me come to some of his design classes this semester to get back in the right headspace, and ended up staying for most of his class yesterday debating the how’s and whys of designs with his students. It felt good.

Once that class was done, I hung out and checked out student projects, saw a few people’s portfolios, checked out a ton of sketching (and realized I need a TON of practice), and then headed down to track down my old Technologies professor. He teaches all the 3D design stuff. In under 10 minutes, A helped me find a way to get one of the 2 softwares I know for free (Dad has the other from teaching a class last semester in the Engineering College), AND hooked me up with his websites which has every single lesson plan he teaches every year level in the program as a video for free, unlimited downloads. A kicks ass and I have a total designer/student crush on him, lol. He also said I can email him if I have any questions and that if I struggle I can come to his classes and sit in the back. :D

So, now comes tons and tons of design work. And I do mean tons. Oh, and applying for COBRA and Unemployment, but my friend M (who was fired from the same place mere months ago) and my aunt both gave me some great tips for getting unemployment so I’m cautiously hopeful.

Naturally, the stress has everything in a flare, but it's livable. I'm being careful about over stressing the legs at night so the pain has a chance to die down a bit before attempting sleep.