My Stand-In, a Measly Poinsettia

Well this was the end of my third week back at work, and finally, things are beginning to make sense again. I can flow through my day without wrecking my schedule because I have to look something up in a textbook or find supplies in our cavernous clinic. I've done about every procedure I usually do, including cutting open skin abscesses to drain them of pus as well as inserting IUD's for birth control. The computer work is getting easier too after numerous training sessions. We are starting with a few "electronic" patients each day over the next week to slowly build up to using the computer system with every patient within a month or two. That seems doable.

The scrabble for office space is working itself out now too. Bernie, the ER doc who has been filling in for me, is leaving to work at another site. Helen, the nurse midwife who was stationed at my old desk, has now vacated to Bernie's space. We moved bulletin boards, computers and bookcases on Thursday to re-situate ourselves. I now have my old desk back, complete with all the motley snack bars and peanut packages I'd previously hidden in my drawers. I am back to gazing out the window when I type at my computer and get a daily dose of sunshine just working at my desk.

My new officemate Helen, the nurse midwife, is one of those "neat and tidy" types. She confessed that she wanted to throw away the sickly poinsettia that I'd inadvertently left in my office window. The thing looks bad-very little foliage as compared to its big pot still wrapped in red foil from Christmas a year ago. The leaves still present are tiny, and only a few turned red again this season, which I missed in my June 4th (2008) to January 5th (2009) cancer hiatus. Helen said that as much as she wanted to throw the sick thing away, she hesitated because everyone in the office took such care of the plant in my absence-watering it, pruning it, loving it through a hard year. It was the stand in for me, symbolically, and they couldn't let it go. Well I am really grateful that they cared enough to check on my plant and wait for my return. And I'm really grateful that Helen didn't throw it out or keep my desk space. I am getting rid of the snackbars and peanut packs though, since they are pretty old by now.

Friday I discovered a great way to enjoy my 25 minute drive to work. Some people sing in the shower; I sing in the car. My friend Donna Z made a terrific Christmas CD with lots of different songs. Although the season is over, the music on that CD is stellar, and it makes a great accompaniment to my drive. Try it yourself, singing to Josh Groban or the singer of your preference, and you'll be smiling from ear to ear by the time you get to work.

I had my follow up with Tanya at the clinic yesterday. My blood counts are good. My rump is a little sore today from the needles and bone marrow biopsy but not bad. I'll get those results later next week. My next appointment is April 20th for another bone marrow biopsy (every 3 months).

Today's photo is from my neighbors snowman earlier in the week.