My life is pretty sweet

I haven't blogged in a while. This is partially because I haven't had any "brain injury woes" on my mind lately, and partially because I have Facebook and email and my website and text and cellphone and blah blah blah technical overload. Who reads my blog anyway? I forget to check my friend's blogs, but I am ever so happy when I do because I love to keep updated on the latest excitement in everyone's life.

So, now what exciting thing can I blog about my own life. Well, let me tell you. You want exciting? Just wait. . .

Three weeks ago I had Deviated Septum Surgery (my nose was forever stuffed and I honestly haven't been able to breath well, like, EVER). Now don't go get all excited. That's not the exciting part. Dr. Tagge (best ENT in SLC) put me on a Penicillin antibiotic after the surgery to prevent infection.

"Are you allergic to any medication?" multiple nurses and doc asked me and of course I said no because I'm not. UNTIL NOW! Yes, that's right everyone. I had an allergic reaction and I broke out into a miserable case of Hives as a reaction to the Penicillin.

Raise your hand if you've ever experienced Hives. If your hand is in the air, then you understand me when I say that Hives are by far the WORST thing that has ever happened to me (since my 1994 car accident of course). It was as if my entire body broke out in pimples. My lips were scaly and swollen. I itched e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e (written like that for emphasis). I tried Benadryl but it didn't help one single bit. I called my ENT and he prescribed me Prednisone (a Steroid), and after nearly one week of misery, the hives were gone.

And then I got a serious, but plain old COLD after that. I'm blaming it 95% on the smog and inversion that hangs over the air in Salt Lake City (worst air quality in the country right now) and 5% on the fact that my newly cleared sinus didn't know what to do with the dirty air. But now I'm better. Completely. No sniffles. No Hives. No sore throat.

Which is why I titled this post "My life is pretty sweet." Sometimes it's not until you hit rock bottom that you realize how good things are. I'm healthy. Strong. Happy. And fresh air is only a 20 minute drive up the canyon from me.

Dear Universe:

My thoughts and prayers are with Olympic hopeful and top-ranked snowboarding pro Kevin Pearce who sustained a severe Traumatic Brain Injury while completing a twisting back flip. He landed on his head. Ouch. Well, he probably didn't feel it anyway. He is still in critical yet stable condition. The whole twisting back flip thing on a board baffles me (as I refuse to even try snowboarding because just landing on my bum can trigger brain injury flashback, but then landing on your head?) Oh Lord. This man has a long road of recovery ahead of him. I feel his pain for the next decade. Oh Kevin.

I'd never even heard the term "Traumatic Brain Injury" before I got one myself. Now, it seems every place I turn, someone is affected by TBI.