Contrary to popular belief, I was not hit by a bus or abducted by aliens, or murdered by psychotic fangirls at Kinokuniya's. I am back, and am trying to make up for my stagnant gallery by uploading a few good, recent shots. For any of you that I was doing work for back in the fall, I'm sorry that it never got done. I ended up back in the hospital (again. Freaking-A!!) for.... kidney stones! Wheeeeee!

...

Well, maybe not. But at least I'm having fewer medical problems. I've now had 3 major surgeries, a few smaller ER procedures, probably about a hundred doctor's visits, and a few ER trips. And some scars too, so at least I'm badass.
All the bedrest made me gain weight, and it seemed that as my weight increased, so did my problems, so I've focused really hard for the last three terms, and have managed to still do decently in school, lose 35 pounds, and not have any more hospitalizations.
It's been a long road, but I'm back in commission, and have free time again. My latest fun thing was a battle with bronchitis brought on by a summer cold that I caught during finals week in June. It was exacerbated by my allergies and asthma. I had no voice, and couldn't swallow anything other than liquids. They put me on a burst of Prednisone (a corticosteroid). Pred makes you have insomnia, mood swings, and also makes you incredibly energetic (read: hyper). I was on it for ten days. However, it also produces miracles. I had my voice back and was no longer in pain 30 minutes after I took the first dose .
As I learned today, though, miracle drugs do have terrible consequences. I may have lost some of my visual acuity in each of my eyes, mostly the left. I now have an urgent appointment with my eye doctor to confirm exactly what the problem is. Oh, well. Nothing that a new lens prescription won't fix .

I hope everyone's healthier than I have been; let me know how things have been going!


Kate