Let's share the latest news

So here is where we are. Don't fret, it's not bad news. The doctor finally returned my call this morning (after a tense and busy weekend). He said that they could see the...thing...on one of the images but not on all of them. This apparently has led them to somewhat uncertain conclusions. However, they (maybe just he?) think that it could be even just a blood abnormality or something. Or it could be a hemangioma-type situation like I described before. His conclusion was that as of now the level of concern is "low" (I'm not sure what color that would equivocate to on the concern scale, but there we are). The next step to determining what this little...thing...is would be to do a biopsy, but that would be invasive and I would run a high risk of bleeding out and other very unpleasant things along that line. So he said we aren't going to do that right now (which I appreciate; I am totally on board with not bleeding internally, particularly right before finals). Instead we are going to wait 4-6 weeks and then he wants me to go for an MRI with contrast to get another, perhaps better, look at the little bugger. So it was not the "free and clear and back to reality" verdict we were hoping and I was counting on, but not as bad as it could be, and at least I have the comfort of knowing we are keeping our eyes on this thing when we check it in a few weeks.

So until then I am going to try to just go back to "normal". Luckily this is all occurring at a very busy time for me, as I have one big, scary final on Thursday and an even bigger, even scarier final a week from tomorrow. As I noted in an email I sent out earlier to some family and friends, I will now be returning to my study lair for the next 9 days. I will emerge from said study lair approximately December 14th at 10pm at the conclusion of aforementioned biggest and scariest final. Between now and then I am hunkered (is that a real word?) down with mounds of textbooks, my computer (my lifeline, really), baby Wells (who is not enjoying the boredom of watching me study 12 hours a day but is adjusting his nap schedule accordingly), and the occasional bathroom break.

I am also subsiding on my go-to study anxiety foods of Saltines and every variety of cereal I can lay my hands on. So far in the past 5 days I have worked my way through the better part of a box of Corn Pops and I think an entire box of Frosted Mini-Wheats. Which reminds me, next time I emerge for resources (most likely at night seeing as sunlight would probably burn my eyes which are now well-adjusted to the laptop glow) I...need....more...cereal.... Perhaps I could contact the Dharma Initiative to see if they would kindly airlift some supplies to me. That would be ideal.

Anyway, thank you ALL for your continued thoughts and prayers and following. I look forward to my study breaks in the next couple of weeks which I will devote to sharing my endeavors and my record cereal eating accomplishments with you.

C