One more week down, again a very busy week in work but thankfully with far less worries. Life My last couple of months were very busy with work, since I started a new project. While there's more coming up over the next few weeks, I am also hoping that maybe I have passed the point where it stops being a part of every waking moment and allow me to be able to read without interrupting thoughts fluttering around in my head. We'll see. We got enough snow yesterday for the kids to be able to play and make a snow man. All the snow melted by noon but we are getting more overnight so hopefully there's more snow fun to be had. Reading After not being able to stay with a book long enough to be pulled into it for the past couple of weeks, I was desperately looking for a book that was both a fast read and also one that I would love. That was a high bar to meet even under the best of circumstances, but luckily, yesterday morning, I found just the book. I devoured Meichi Ng's Bare
This post took me a while to write. Mostly, I didn't want to write it at all. So I dillied and dallied for two weeks before I finally decided that I had to write it. I haven't been blogging or reading for the past two weeks. I haven't even had a good couple of weeks. Instead, I lived one of the worst nightmares possible, one that no one should go through. I was on an emergency trip to New York, where my brother is in ICU.
Two weeks ago, my brother had a seizure. It came out of the blue. He had never had so much as a cold, growing up, and suddenly he collapsed one day. Since that day, he has been having seizures every day. Lately, it had become 8-10 a day. The doctors had no clue what was happening. That was not nice to hear. Every single test they did came back negative. For all they knew, my brother could have been just another healthy 21-year old who was sleeping. Except, he was getting seizures.
I have been pretty much low over the last two weeks. I am crazy attached to my bro and the sight of him on a hospital bed, with an ailment nobody could diagnose was too much to take. I must have cried two lives' worth of tears over the last two weeks. None of the anti-seizure medicines seemed to be working, and he has been on sedation most of the time. When he's not sedated, he's restless. The doctors finally had luck with one regimen this weekend. It has now been 48+ hours since he had his last seizure and I'm cautiously happy about it. Cautious because, the last time he appeared to look better (last weekend), he had two back-to-back seizures that pretty much knocked me out too.
So, clearly, it's going to be a while before I can write anything without feeling depressed. I'm extra careful about the books I pick to read, since I don't want to read about any depressed or messed-up characters right now. This also means that it's going to be a while before I pick any ARCs, and I feel guilty about that, but just so that I don't give up on any of them midway or rate them unfairly low just because I feel upset, I'd rather pick them up when I feel that I can do them justice.
I'll probably be taking a week or two or maybe the rest of this month off blogging. My brother is my priority now and I want to see him as his usual self soon. But if I feel up to it, or if I'm in a particularly good mood, I'll drop in a post or two or maybe even a review. I'm back now at my place, but I'll be in NY again this weekend and also during the whole 10-day thanksgiving break I have. I'm so missing my brother now and I've never gone this long without a proper conversation with him.

Comments
With love,
Cathy/The Crazy Bookworm
Sending your brother get better, healthy vibes. Stay strong. I hope the physicians are able to give your family some answers.
Also, remember 2nd opinions are sometimes needed and the best action to take.
I agree reading may not help right now, it is amazing how the smallest reference of something can set you off.
HUGS.
I will be sending my thoughts for healing your way.
We will be hear waiting for you when you feel up to coming back.
{{{{Aths}}}}
Sending lots of healing light and thoughts to you both.
Blogging should only happen if you need a release or if it would work as a distraction for you as you go through this ordeal. We will all be here when your brother is better and you are up to spending time with us again.
We're here for you.
Hugs and Prayers go out to you and your entire family.
*hugs*
Take all the time you need.
My brother was in the hospital once for something they didn't understand and it was terrribly terribly hard for me.
*hugs*
I hope everything turns out alright. Please keep us posted.
jbdownie5@yahoo.com
i sincerely hope that your brother is recovering well and that they can determine the cause of his ailment.
seizures can be tricky.
will be thinking about you both.
I work at one of the best hospitals in the US. While I can't get you in or personally know any doc who may be able to help (I am not a doc), but if you want contact details to see if you can get a 2nd opinion, feel free to contact me okay? cytljjb @ gmail com (take space away)
Be gentle with yourself and stay strong.
PB
Take care....
PB
I am so sorry to hear about your brother and am praying for you and your family.
Sending lots of good thoughts your way.