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Put your head on hold

Spending a lot of time in the hospital has had an interesting effect on me.  I think the effect has been multi-faceted.  I'm not sure if it is a by-product of the stress that we have been under since we found out about Elliot's diagnosis, way back in the 20th week of pregnancy, or if it's just related to not working certain parts of my brain during our long hospital stays. 

For instance, as we were faced with more and more issues to overcome and negative doctor's reports, the more my vocabulary suffered.  Strange I know, but it's true.  I really struggle with getting "stuck" on a word now.  It's a little embarrassing, especially when I have to give a presentation in front of the board of directors for the bank that I work for.  I mean, we're talking the CEO, CFO, COO and everyone else of importance of a publicly traded company and I can't get the word "inventory" out of my mouth.  Instead I'm reduced to saying, "uh, buildings…and uh, infrastructure… moving on…".

That's just one example.  Easy words that I know and use quite often, I can't think of, they elude me and I'm stuck trying to describe the word to someone and it only goes downhill from there.  

In Philadelphia, during our two month stay, I was a voracious cross-word puzzler.  Hoping to keep my mind sharp for when I did go back to work.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure that it worked.  Getting back to work feels like swimming through cotton.  Lovely.

So I'm trying to work through my head issues, but I don't know if I'm seeing much success.  I should read something, a book, not a magazine.  I tried reading "The Invisible Man" at CHOP, but it was lost on me.  I got about half-way through it and got bored.

I'm thinking about The Kite Runner.  Yeah, that sounds good.  However, I don't have it right now….so maybe just one more game of CounterStrike.   :)

Are you in a mental rut?

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  1. October 22nd, 2007 at 21:43 | #1

    I hear you!! As always, your most _____(fill in the blank) admirer.
    Love you.

  2. October 29th, 2007 at 22:22 | #2

    Totally know where you are coming from. I was a bit of a mess coming back to work myself after the long stay at CHOP. I was forgetting the very basic things at work. It did eventually pass though.
    Don’t forget your (and Sunette’s) own mental and physical health through all this. You can’t be a good parent if you are 100% spent all the time.
    I’ve heard of a great therapy treatment that involves buying a new Mac. At least that’s what I told Shannon. You might want to Google that and try it out.
    Take care. No really… take care of yourself. We’re thinking of you and praying for you all.

  3. onedrafttaft
    October 31st, 2007 at 12:57 | #3

    Try “See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA’s War on Terrorism” by Robert Baer.
    Starts off in the 60′s. Funny, interesting, and a good read.
    Reading will help get you back in verbal shape.

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