MRI Results

So, my OB/Gyn called me today to give me the results from yesterday's MRI. First, I need to explain something. She is referring me to an oncologist because he deals with fistulas a lot more than she does and NOT because there's anything cancerous going on. If you look up cervical fistula, it can be caused by radiation therapy, certain cancers, PELVIC SURGERY and traumatic vaginal births. So the OB is NOT WORRIED about cancer, but she wants me to be seen by the best, and that's the Gyn Oncologist. Anyhoo, the OB/Gyn said that she and the oncologist looked over the MRI together and saw that the fistula only goes from my cervix to the vagina, similar to my regular cervical opening. Since it doesn't affect my bladder (or any of its requisite parts) or my colon, they decided not to even touch it. Doing surgery to "fix" the tunnel would probably do more harm than good in my case. The oncologist even said EXACTLY what I said to the OB--that it should make getting pregnant easier now that I have TWO ways to get to the uterus! Heh I'm awesome and holey. :-) Get it...holey? Anyone who knows what book that comes from gets a bonus point. Now we'll see if this theory holds true... Two holes are better than one, right?

G-d is Good

Yep. He really is. A few days ago I signed up for a website that has postings from potential au pairs and nannies. Some of the people on the website live in the US, some out of the US, some who want to live in your house, some who want to live out, etc. I posted our family's profile and went searching for Jewish au pairs...I didn't find anyone that really stood out. Then yesterday someone "hot listed" my family (meaning they saw our profile and thought we'd be a good fit for her). An Israeli girl ALREADY LIVING IN BOSTON!!! No specific child care experience, but she has nursing experience (which includes bathing and full care of all ages--babies to adults) and she also worked on a maternity ward (my dream job!) She came to our home for an interview today and got to meet the twins briefly. We went over the "job description" and all of that fun stuff. I just felt so comfortable talking to her, and I could tell she was comfortable with us. Shmuel and his mother also liked her, so once we have a chat with her references, I believe she's going to move in...like before Shabbos!!! How awesome is that???

In other news, I had my MRI today. It really wasn't *so* bad, because they put me in feet first. My head was just at the very edge of the machine, and I even got to listen to my favorite radio station (sort of) through a pair of headphones. The buzzing and banging was very interesting. Whenever they would change the setting on the machine it would make a new noise. It was loud, but the headphones made it softer, and I could still hear the music even if it was a bit fuzzy and muffled. The whole test took about an hour, but I got a short break part way through. Basically, they did the whole test (about 40 mins?) and then took me out of the machine. They said that they wanted to put ultrasound gel "down there" to try to get a better picture of the fistula, since ultrasound gel shows up very well on MRIs. I asked if I could go to the bathroom first, and then they put me back into the machine (now with ultrasound gel oozing everywhere...gross). They took more pictures for about 10 or 15 mins, and then I was done. YAY! During the test I was fine while the banging was going on...I just breathed slowly and closed my eyes. I could open my eyes and look up and behind me and see outside the machine a bit, so that helped my nerves. But almost every time they changed the settings on the machine they would inch me into the machine a weensy bit...like probably a 1/2 inch, but to me felt like a ton. So I would have this panic that they were going to stick my head the whole way in, but once the noise got going I calmed down since I knew they wouldn't move me even a centimeter while it was taking pictures. The nurses and the doctor were so nice, so I felt in good hands. I have no idea what the results are yet, but I will let you know when I know!

She's Gone...

Shifra left early this afternoon. And I wanted to respond to something that was left in my comments. I did love having Shifra with our family, and I was very hurt when she decided to leave. Sure, she got on my nerves, but so would anyone living in the same house together. My hubby gets on my nerves and I get on his...when I was living with my best friend we definitely got on each other's nerves, so getting on someone's nerves really doesn't mean much. I tried to welcome her into my home in the best way I knew how. I gave her gifts on Chanukkah (and I didn't even get Shmuel anything...) I tried to cheer her up when I knew she was down, I got her foods she wanted to eat, I did anything she asked of me. And I really thought we had a connection, but when she told our childcare coordinator (in front of me) that she felt no connection to my family and wanted to leave as soon as possible, I was devastated. I couldn't imagine what I had done to deserve that. I had no idea what else I could have done to make her feel at home. And here she was practically running out of my house as if I had the plague. She didn't even bother to say goodbye to the twins...and she might not have said goodbye to me if she hadn't needed to give me a note and the cell phone she borrowed from us. I'm still shocked, and it may take me some time to get over that hurt.

In other news, Chana pulled herself up to a stand by herself for the first time yesterday! Yaaaaay! And I'm going to have my MRI on Sunday...whoop de do. :-P I asked the office if they'd be able to do my surgery before Jan 1st, but they said that would be impossible. Greeeeeat, now I'm going to need to pay for part of the surgery (that would've been covered in full had it been done in 2009). Although the nurse in the office said they might not have to do surgery, I'm not particularly hopeful for that outcome. That would just make things too easy, and almost nothing is ever easy for me. :-)