It’s been a long week and it’s only Wednesday. And my emotions have gone up and down over the past three days.

On Monday I had a pelvic ultrasound. The facility where it was done was absolutely state-of-the-art, a brand new place adjacent to Huntington Hospital here in Pasadena. I was impressed with everything about it, including the fact that I had no wait time for anything! The technician who did the ultrasound told me I would get the results in a few days, after the radiologist reviewed them and sent everything back to my doctor. I went into work and got a call from my doctor about an hour later with the results. I have a large mass on one of my ovaries. It is probably a fibroid tumor but, of course, no guarantees. I believe the feelings I was experiencing can only be described as shock.

I have an appointment with an ob-gyn specialist on Thursday, 4/8. They wanted me to come in on Monday, 4/5, but I will be in Seattle then. Told them about my trip and they agreed it was ok for me to go. I sort of thought there was something going on inside me and kind of dreaded finding out what it was. After my sister, Jean, developed a tumor on one of her kidneys, I was fearing the worst. So maybe this isn’t so bad. Yet I’m still concerned.

Chances are good that I will have to undergo a hysterectomy. Won’t really miss my ovaries and am hopeful that, if this is the case, they can do all the removal stuff via a laproscopic procedure–meaning little or no cutting!

So after a day of trying to come to terms with all this as well as trying to recover from all the poking around inside me (part of the ultrasound was the use of a camera in places where cameras don’t normally go!), I started getting back to “normal” on Tuesday. Started doing laundry and made a run to the grocery in preparation for my trip. Also started the planning at work for how my work can continue to be completed without me there to do it. I have no real backup person who can just step in and do my job. There are a few people who know parts of my job, but no one who knows it all. And, since I normally plan my time away so that no one ever has to fill in doing payroll, that is my biggest concern. I do the payroll twice a month for close to 75 people, 35 of whom are hourly, 12 who are contractors, and 38 who are salaried. It’s complicated to say the least. I also have to monitor all the hourly folks to make certain all their hours are entered accurately including holidays, vacations, sick time, etc. And that’s only about 1/4 of my total job!

Tuesday went well, though, and I got a lot accomplished both at work and at home. I was beginning to feel better about everything and got so much done at work that I determined I could take off the entire day on Thursday to finish up last minute trip prep. And then I went to work today and had all of that go right down the toilet. Somehow, even though I did everything right, all my hourly people at work were paid hours from the previous pay period rather than the current one. So I spent 9-1/2 hours at work today figuring out who was owed additional $$$, who was overpaid, and all the taxes associated with same. And tomorrow I’ll be going in after all to issue checks to those who were underpaid and writing notes to the others letting them know their overpayment will come out of their next check.

I had planned to do all my laundry, packing, and straightening up the house tomorrow. So, it appears that won’t happen. I’ve started in on all that tonight even though I’m exhausted. Will try to go to work early tomorrow so that I can leave at a reasonable hour and have at least a little bit of time at home before leaving.

My flight to Seattle leaves Burbank at 6:40 pm, so I won’t have to leave the house until about 4:15-4:30 pm. I’m parking at the airport (thankfully!) but still have to allow for rush hour traffic. And that timing may change if we get the rainstorm they’re predicting. Hoping to have the entire afternoon at home so that I’m not rushing at the last minute. Keeping my fingers crossed…

I’m feeling good and trying not to focus on what will await me when I return home. I’m looking forward to seeing Kevin, Soula and Robin (especially Robin!) and enjoying my trip. Hope everyone has a very Happy Easter! Updates will follow next week about my trip and my doctor’s appointment.