The new house!

Ah, yes...not quite home ownership....but at least we won't be hearing the neighbors every move! :) We signed the lease today, pick up keys in 3 weeks and move in. It's in a nice neighbourhood (mixed area, townhouses and houses--near the university). It's rather large (4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths) and has a fenced in yard for the puppy! :) So I'll again be a full time dog owner! I'm sooooo excited! The extra rooms will be good to allow for Pat's kids to visit as they've not felt so comfortable doing that with me here in the small apartment. :( So this is a good thing for us.

And then there is the new house at work too! Another really nice thing. :) More staff there, so I'm getting to know a few more people as well as being able to feel more at home with procedures and everything else. :) So I'm glad that is going well. I should be able to have some time off to move too. And I'll be trying for a trip back to the states to pick up my things, see friends and family and tie up a few more loose ends.

Oh, and the Dr. visit today. My kidneys are fine. So the doctor says "I didn't see any varicose veins in your lower legs...but I didn't look above your knee when I was doing your physical. Do you have any varicose veins on the upper legs? And did your mother or grandmother have varicose veins?"

Well Dr. K, the answer to both is a resounding "YES!" I've had varicose veins in my thighs since I was a teenager. And both my mother and both grandmother have had them too. My maternal grandma's legs looked like a spider web. So the answer to why my lower legs seem to swell up frequently is that because of the very small size and proximity to the surface of my veins....they don't have enough pressure to push both blood and fluid back into my trunk. So the fluid stays in my legs until I put my feet up or lay down at night. :( OK Doc, now what? Well...I'm getting some compression hose. Not just the kind you buy at Wal-mart, but honest to goodness, go to a specialist and get them made for you hose. We'll re-evaluate in 3-6 months and see how that goes. If it isn't helping we'll either try for tighter hose or a combination of hose and water pills to pull the water out. So here's hoping the lightweight hose do the trick. Interestingly enough...one of the other odd things that can happen with this problem is that your legs may itch (varicose dermatitis) especially after walking, running or excercize. When Dr. K mentioned that could happen in the future, I had to say...uh, well, it's happened for about 20 years now. But since it's always happened...I just assumed it was the way my body was built. The look on Dr. K's face was one of amazement. He then launched into a mini lecture on really thinking of anything and everything that has been "unusual" in comparison to friends, co-workers or strangers. And if it is unusual and bothers me in the least...I'm to tell him about it.

It was funny...he also made sure to ask how I was adjusting to life in a new country, if I was starting to make any friends, and if I had joined any groups yet. It was nice to be asked about that part of my health too. And I am adjusting well, have started making some friends and have joined a church. So he was happy about that.

I was just about to leave when he noticed I had a bandaid on the back of my right hand. Last week a consumer who was upset about a parent leaving grabbed my hand and squeezed it. It wouldn't have been bad, but his nails were a bit long and one of them broke the skin. Again, not a huge problem, but while working I have my hands in water (either cleaning, washing my hands, doing dishes or assisting with personal care) probably about 20-30 times a day. Needless to say...not the best way to get a puncture wound to heal. :( Dr. K wanted to take a look, cleaned it out and put on a new band-aid. And told me about Canada's answer to OSHA. It's called WCB here (worker's compensation board) and every injury (no mater how slight) is supposed to be reported to them. Somehow...I doubt my company does this. :( But Dr. K suggested I do it myself and gave me their number for future injuries. (hopefully---they will be rare!)

Wow...that was a long post. Guess today has been an exciting day!