open with caution..it's NOT a a pretty sight :\

"I've developed a new philosophy. I only dread one day at a time."--Charlie Brown

...and dread today I did. It all started with an EEG (electroencephalogram, a test used to measure brain electrical activity) which I was not looking forward to taking for the bazillionth time. Not even a little bit. The first step of this test involves the technician marking various parts of your scalp by scratching it off, then gluing electrodes to your head that measure your brain waves under different circumstances. The number one rule of an EEG is having clean hair, which means NO PRODUCT of any kind. When making this rule there was clearly no one who could guess that when putting it into effect, they would be exposing themselves to Kylie hair in its truest form...

I have a feeling they went to work right away on finding ways to change that rule. Alice, who was an amazing and helpful tech, made comments about it right off the bat. She tried to play off the challenge I had presented as a joke, but I'm pretty sure she wanted to get me back by making me look like this...

That's my pal, Zack Morris. He was given to me by a really great friend of mine, and he's one of the best cuddlers I've seen in a long time.

 



Just as I had remembered, between the lights they flashed 4 inches from my face and the seemingly endless hard breathing, it was not fun. BUT at the end of all of that, they actually WANT me to sleep to get a reading during that period, and not being the type to ever pass up a nap, Mr. Morris and I happily obliged :) We woke up an hour or 2 later, had a nice shampoo, and were on our way.

While we waited for my first clinical consultation an hour later, mom, Zack and I got down to the the first order of business everyone should follow when going to a new town: find the best bagel shop! We do this as both lovers of carbs and tradition keepers, and when we found Bruegger's, we knew we had done our job, and had done it well. Although I am strongly devoted to my blueberry/honey walnut combo, I felt compelled to honor my favorite fellow bagel lovers with their favorite...

the EVERYTHING bagel!!!

 

Are you absolutely enthralled by this post yet?!?! Sorry, folks, this was my day. It gets better, I promise... Don't you go dyin' on me!

 



The best part came next: I got to actually meet and consult with my epileptologist! Try not to be too jealous, as I realize this is basically everyone's dream come true. Unlike any neurologist I've ever had, she was super thorough and listened to absolutely everything I had to say. She already helped me understand so much, and I think it's going to be a great connection once I'm actually admitted on Wednesday. She told me a lot of things about my seizures, details with which I will not bore you, but the craziest was that I'm having a lot of seizures every day that I don't even know about! To clarify: all of the times I suddenly blank out and have no idea what's going on when I'm talking or when others are...those are seizures. And there are lots more, too. Freeeeeeeakaay...

 

Long story short, we have a great start for the actual hospital admittance period. I'm not excited by any means, but today helped to ease my fears about the complete unknown. I mean, it's still ALMOST completely unknown, but it's getting there!

 

It has been so great to get such supportive and loving emails, phone calls, texts, and hugs from the people in my life. It means the world to me and, even though they're now from hundreds of miles away, they comfort me sosososo much. Throughout the weeks leading up to this trip, I've been playing the classic Kylie "oh it's no big deal, let's just joke about it instead" card and not really facing the situation. Yesterday I got to go to church and have breakfast with some of my family, and cried enough to make up for all of the time I had held it all in. The opening hymn was one of my all-time favorites, I was utterly humbled to hear my name mentioned in the prayers of the people, and these people I was with are just too darn good at saying exactly what I need to hear and giving hugs that make me weak in the knees. I am simply blessed.

 

P.S. not only am I blessed by ALL of you wonderful people, but I also just spilled cranberry juice on the hotel's light beige carpet, and by some act of God and the magic of what I assume is StainMaster carpet, the stain has lifted! hallelujah! (no one tell Judy!!)

 

God bless :)