There was no school today because of the recent snow.  Over the weekend we got a lot of snow.  The picture above was taken from my balcony when the snow had barely started....I think we got over 8 inches and the roads were a mess for a while.  Today it looks like they aren't so bad...but that is in town and I am sure the country roads are still a problem. 

Working at the school has been a challenge lately.  I guess the children are excited about Christmas.  They can't seem to sit still for very long or concentrate.  But then I think there is a lot expected of them for first grade.  For instance, number sentences like 2+3=5 are no longer called number sentences but equations.  True, this is the correct name but hard for a 1st grader to comprehend.  They are now being taught the cumulative theory....do you remember what that is?  Much easier just to say that 2+3=5 is also true for 3+2=5.  They aren't getting it...nor are they understanding fact families.  Do you remember being taught that in first grade?  Personally I never attended first grade so I have no comparison.  I started school in second grade due to childhood illnesses so I missed out on a lot. 

During the snowstorm I kept busy by making a to-do list and trying to complete it.  I have over twelve to-do items and completed about half.  Do you make to-do lists?  I enjoy crossing off the items done and it actually helps me to get things done that I usually procrastinate on doing. 

Today my to-do list will include...paying the remaining bills for the month, fixing the school children's gift bags, cleaning the apartment and laundry.   Of course I take breaks to check messages on my new Iphone and computer and read a little on my Kindle.   Most recent read was "The Color of Heaven" by Julianne MacLean.  Very good book and well written. I finished it at 3:30 this morning...another night where sleep eluded me. 

An update on my knee....it is better.  I think now the cold is making it achy.  My physical therapy sessions ended a few weeks ago and I don't have full movement but it is getting better and I think when summer gets here it will be much better than it is now.  I am still undecided as to whether I am glad that I had it done.  Time will tell and it is done and I just have to keep working on it.  

Now to get busy on that to-do list.  Have a great day!

I have had a lot going on lately.  First, I am done with physical therapy.  My knee still isn't as good as I thought it would be but since I stopped PT it has actually improved and I am starting to feel good about it.  I can actually go without my cane now but still take it if I am going to have a long day where I will do lots of walking. 

On Thanksgiving I went to the movies on a "date".  We saw the new hunger games movie, Catching Fire.  I liked it...he didn't.  But then he didn't like much...and I think that included me after I took his hand off my thigh in the movie theater.  LOL....at my age I can't believe I am even trying this again!  

On Friday my phone quit....turns out that my daughter purchased a new Iphone for my grandson and somehow things got mixed up and my number was given to him.  We got it straightened out with Sprint and then I decided for $50 that I would get a new IPhone too.  I got the 5c...it is a skinny little phone.  I had a choice of blue, pink or white.  Since my grandkids had blue and pink I took white.  However, I had to buy a rubber case (in case I dropped it my daughter warned me over and over not to drop my phone!)  The case is red and black so you can't even tell what color my phone is. Next I had to learn to use it.  My grand children had some good laughs at my expense....especially since I said....someone is calling me and words are on the screen...turns out it was a text from Sprint.  
I can get my mail...facebook...and a lot more right on my phone!

I had my grand daughter Hailey on Saturday.  I haven't spent much time with her and I actually enjoyed our time together.  We went shopping.  Tried out the scents in bath and body works...bought her some cool shoes at the resale shop and watched some netflix together.  

Yesterday my grandson Andrew called and wanted to come over.  I said sure.  We went to see the movie Delivery Man.  I was hesitant to go to this movie with him...he just turned 13 and I knew he would have lots of questions about sperm donations and he did.  I guess I handled it ok.  The movie is actually very good and entertaining.  Later we shared some of his birthday cake which he brought over....as he left last night he said that we had a good time and he liked coming to my place....and was going to come more often because I could die someday....interesting.

Today our school is closed for records day.  I am heading out shortly to take the bus to the casino.  I have only done this one other time and I had an excellent time.  I hope today goes well too and that I can get on the bus okay with my stiff knee.  So wish me luck....and I hope you all have a good Monday.

What Does Thanksgiving Mean To Me?

Saturday was our family Thanksgiving celebration.  It got me thinking about Thanksgiving and what it means and has meant to me in the past. 

It took a lot to try to remember what Thanksgiving was like for me as a child at home.  After all it was a zillion years ago...and a lot of my childhood memories somehow seem to be blocked for me.  I used to call my sister, Shirley, to find out how things were back then.  But she died several years ago, so I lost my source.  Sad to say the rest of my family doesn't seem willing to communicate with me.  But I remember Mom got up long before us and must have prepared a lot of the food.  The pies would be sitting on the buffet and the turkey roasting in the oven long before we (the children) woke up.  Our morning was spent watching tv....yes we did have one...black and white...small oval screen.  

When I grew up and married I remembered how frightened I was the first time I cooked a turkey.  You see, I had never planned on being a housewife..I never took Home Ec in school because I was going to live in the big city and have a career....there was no way that I was staying in Ohio and being a farm wife!  Well, I did go to the big city for a while...New York City....but a job led me to Toledo Oh where I met and married my first husband.  So I had no idea how to fix a turkey.  I did find a cookbook and did my best.   I set the oven, rinsed the turkey, rubbed butter and salt on it, and put it in the oven.  While it was roasting, I fixed the other things we ate.  Later as I was carving the turkey, can you imagine how surprised I was to find that plastic bag with the neck and other body parts in it...still in the turkey!  But did I stop to think what Thanksgiving meant to me?  No, I was busy putting on Thanksgiving.

So now things have changed.  I no longer get to cook the turkey.  Instead, my daughter's fiance does a fine job.  This year we had quite an assortment of food.  I contributed deviled eggs and although I made plenty...they were gone in the flash of an eye!  My son arrived late and I could hear him in the kitchen saying with disappointment.."but where are the deviled eggs that Mom brought?"  (so making a note to myself...make extra eggs next time!)  After eating we just sat around and visited.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon.

Thursday (the real Thanksgiving Day) will be here soon.  I have contemplated how I will spend the day.  I won't be cooking a dinner, nor will I be sitting down with anyone to eat one.  Today I thought about it at the grocery store and decided that it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a turkey dinner...so I bought a Mary Callender's frozen dinner...stuffing, turkey and mashed potatoes...and I bought a pumpkin pie for dessert.  If nothing comes up, I'll be eating that on my TV tray...maybe watching my first Christmas movie.   My family will be getting ready to hit the stores for the pre-black Friday sales...then the real black Friday sales...that isn't for me.

I guess that Thanksgiving is a time for being thankful for the things we have, our experiences, our family and friends, and just to be alive.  It is also a time for remembering...old times, places, dear ones who are departed, and for getting ready for the holiday season. 

What does Thanksgiving mean to you?  How do you celebrate it?

It's been a while...

It's been a while since I last wrote a blog.  I just read my last one and am happy to post that I am much, much better.  It has been three months since my total knee replacement surgery and I still am in therapy but not for long since medicare does set limits to how many therapy sessions one can have.  Two week ago I wasn't making any progress in therapy so we switched my therapy to water therapy.  The pool is small but it is delightfully warm.  It is a salt water pool so there is not that annoying chlorine smell to put up with.  Has it helped?  Perhaps a little.  It relaxes me and the therapist can then bend my knee but still not enough to meet her goal.  I will be happy when the stiffness is gone but I am mostly pain free now.  

After my last blog I realized one day that the pain pills were not for me.  I had been taking two every four hours.  It was no wonder that I was out of it!  So I just decided one Friday morning that I would not take another pain pill.  My daughter had warned me that I would have withdrawal and I sure did.  It took two weeks for it to clear my system but it was worth it.  Next time I will consult my doctor and get something to help get off pain pills.  (Hopefully there won't be a next time).  

I don't return to see the surgeon until February so I am hoping to have made lots of progress by then.   

On another note....I have decided to start writing again.  I have always wanted to write a book...but I am not going to start out with that....maybe some essays, blogging, and some short stories....but we will see.  Right now I am reading a book titled "Everyday Writing" by Laurie Rozakis.  It is a great motivation tool.  

School is going great and I have increased my daily hours to six.  It makes for a long day, but it is enjoyable and entertaining.  I love the children and they encourage me to believe in a future for our country. 

Enough for tonight.  Sleep well.

This is hard.  I am not myself now and wondering if I will be again.  Yes I had my knee surgery and it was successful.  BUT, why must there be buts in our lives, things aren't the same with me.  I have waited several weeks...doing things I have been told.  Forcing myself to eat....try to be cheerful even though I am not sure I am even depressed...just different. 

I am home now, driving, and back to volunteering at the school.  It is difficult but I am making myself do it with the aid of pain pills.  Who knows where I would be if I just stayed home and brooded.  

In trying to figure out what has happened I go back to the evening of the surgery.  My daughter was sitting next to the bed, trying to encourage me to eat because I had no appetite whatsoever and we were chatting.  I was in pain and pressed the morphine button.  It didn't seem to help so there was another button that went to the nerve block in my leg and I pushed that.  It still wasn't helping much but I just assumed it would take time.  All of a sudden I told my daughter I wasn't feeling right.  Right away she knew to push the call button.  I told her I has having shooting pains across my chest and tightening....my vision was blurry and I was so hot!  (And although I didn't know it my blood pressure was dropping dramatically.) So the nurses rushed in and took away my morphine button....and I think maybe increased my drip in the iv.  It got better.  Ten minutes later the same thing happened again only worse.  This time my blood pressure dropped to 60 over 20....and the house doctor appeared by my bedside.  The nerve block was taken away and I was in pain so the house doctor injected a different drug in my iv.  So I was moved immediately to the Intensive Care Unit where I could have constant monitoring.  A nurse actually peeked in every five minutes....I never slept...afraid I would wake up with another spell.  I had one more in the night and at 6 am the doctors stood in front of me and I had another one.  Yup, right in front of the doctors!  What was odd for me was how calm and matter of fact they all took it.  No rushing around and bells and whistles like in the movies.  I was in ICU for two more days and back to the joint and bone unit for one day.  I was then transferred to a rehab unit in a nursing home and stayed for 13 days.  I still haven't regained my appetite....I have to force myself to eat.  For several days I haven't even turned on my computer...and my favorite thing...enjoying tv....has seemed to have gone too.  I mostly just sit quietly...then go and lay down and sleep.  I don't even care if I look at my kindle.  My daughter has repeatedly said that the episodes weren't that serious...just probably a reaction to the analgesia and I just nod my head and agree.  But inside I feel differently.  I feel like I lost a part of me and I am trying to find it....sometimes I almost do when I am sleeping.  Everyone tells me how good I look and how well I am walking...I use a cane but know I could actually walk just as well without one.  One good thing...I lost twenty pounds so far.  

School is good I am enjoying a new group of grandchildren.  We don't seem to have any so far that stand out.  Some years we have several with behavior problems but this years looks good.  Today we had an extremely hot day and I was glad to come home and take a nap in my air conditioned apartment.  

Tomorrow I have school in the morning and physical therapy in the afternoon so it will be a tiring day. 

Sorry to write such a depressing blog...but I didn't want you all to think I had just given up blogging.  I so appreciate all your prayers and best wishes....and now I just need to really work on finding myself again.

A day at the lake

Yesterday I spent the day at Mirror Lake.  I have a two friends that live on the lake.  Gratia owns the house and lives on the top floor and Vicki, my other friend, rents out the lower level.  Gratia was away visiting relatives but Vicki invited me to come over for the day.  

She fixed a nice pasta salad and we journeyed down about 70 steps to where the pontoon boat was docked.  We took a cooler with cold drinks and planned to tour the little lake and just relax.  She had on her swim suit...but I didn't even bring mine since I figured the water would be cold since we have had some chilly nights recently.

So we untie the boat and get ready to take off and when she turns the key...nothing happens.  She checks that she had it in neutral...tries again and nothing.  We check the leads to the battery...and everything looked okay.....so I figured it was a dead battery...even though the solar panel was hooked up.

We decided that we would tie lines to the boat and just let it drift out a little...she wanted to get in the water and near shore it is mucky.  Well sure enough when she got in the water was cold!
So we did enjoy some cold drinks and some good conversation and we each got a little sun.  It was a-okay with me. 

While sitting there I noticed a beautiful water lily.  Took this picture but it doesn't do any justice to the beauty....it was white with a bright yellow center...not so much in the picture.

This is what the neighbors yard looked like....notice how steep it is!

Well not nearly as steep as Gratia's ...hers goes straight up...wish I had taken a picture of the steps!

These are two pictures across the lake...

For dinner we headed out to the Artisan Wells Restaurant.  We called ahead because this was race weekend....and if you know anything about Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI you would know how traffic and crowds can be on race weekends.  It is always crazy.  Anyway we were able to get a table and had a good meal.  Artisan Wells is like a Harley Davidson restaurant with lots of motorcycle stuff and sports things all around.  

It was a very nice day and I was glad to get away from my little apartment and just relax with a good friend.  

Today I am cleaning and packing for tomorrow....it will be a very early morning and I have to be out the door at 5:15am....tough for someone who likes to sleep in.

Have a great day and of course I appreciate your prayers for me tomorrow.  

Today I had a wonderful lunch with my school teacher and her daughter, Caitlin.  

They took me to Coast-to-Coast Deli.  It is just around the block from where I live and I have never been there.  My sandwich was delicious.  We talked about our summer, my surgery, and the up-coming school year.  I think I have the best teacher of them all...and boy did she look skinny today.  Over the last couple of years she lost a lot of weight and this summer she had the skin on her arms and tummy tightened.  She looked wonderful!

Later in the day the hospital called and said my surgery time was changed.  My heart sank...another change....but hey, they moved it up two hours so now I have to be at the hospital at 7:30am.  And the nurse said...sooner is better because then it will be over with sooner.  Makes sense.  It's just that the hospital is two hours away so I will have an early morning on Monday.

Tomorrow I am going to visit my friend Vicki.  She lives on a lake with our other friend Gratia.  This week Gratia is in Seattle visiting one of her children so we have the place to ourselves...maybe even get to take a boat ride!  So I am hoping for a little warmer weather.

Have a good night and sleep tight!

Good news!  My hemoglobin levels have increased!  My kidney functions are stable and I guess I am good to go for surgery next Monday morning.  I am a little afraid..or should I say nervous but I guess maybe that is a normal thing.  I wish I hadn't read the book that tells pretty much exactly what they do.  When I read I picture everything in my mind and sometimes I think things get exaggerated.  So I am trying to tell myself that the surgeon has done thousands of these....most successful I am sure.  Total knee replacement is a pretty common surgery now.  I also have to tell myself not to expect to get up the next day and be able to walk perfectly.  It is only a couple of weeks until the start of school and I am hoping to be able to start the first day.  Someone told me today that might be a mistake.  I will just have to wait and see how I do. 
I had to stop taking Celebrex today....and I guess I am supposed to wash with Dial soap.  I hope it doesn't irritate my skin, because I remember in the past that it did.  

Last night my son sent me a text at 12:30 am....I guess he forgets that we are three hours different.  Anyway it was a little video of my grand baby Ryleigh.  She was laughing really loud.  So cute.  I tried to download it onto my computer.  Talk about problems....a Microsoft warning came up....trying to help and I got scared and backed out and I think everything is now okay.  I wish you could have heard her laugh.

Tonight I had my first summer sweet corn for dinner.  It was delicious.  I only bought two ears and saved the remaining ear for tomorrow.  I also had one sliced tomato and a hamburger patty.  It was all delicious.   Later tonight I will have a small dish of strawberries for snack.  I love eating fresh produce.  What is your favorite summertime meal?

Test completed

Hailey, my grand daughter (pictured above in the darker pink dress) arrived at my apartment this morning at 7:15 am.  Her mother dropped her off as this is my son's weekend with his daughter and he was working.  This saved him a 20 mile trip to pick her up.  

She has been ill for two weeks and I was hoping she was better.  She sure looked cute in her little black lacy skirt and turquoise top.  I wish I would have thought to snap a picture but I was thinking more of my various medical tests which I had to get to by 9 am.  
She didn't know when she came that she would be tagging along with her Nana this morning.

She sat and waited in the waiting room while I had the EKG, the urine specimen test and the blood draw.  Everything went well and I should hear back sometime next week about the results.  Maybe they will be better than my last ones were. 

Afterwards we stopped at Burger King because I wanted to treat myself and her to a breakfast.  For me...a warm cinnabon and for her some pancakes, sausage and hash browns.  I ate all my cinnabon and could have eaten another, but she stalled out on her first pancake saying she didn't feel well.  I asked her where it hurt and she said her stomach.    She had seen a doctor previously and they thought it was acid re flux ..then when she didn't get better they found out she had a bacteria infection which I now learned was strep throat.  She messed up on her dosage and had just finished taking the last pills this morning. 

All afternoon I could tell she wasn't feeling well.  She simply laid around and watched Netflix.  Finally my son got off work and came and I told him to do something...not to let this go by.  I almost insisted that he take her to the doctor.  He wanted to wait and see if she was better and maybe go to the emergency room if necessary.  I told him that wasn't a good idea....surely there would be a much larger co-pay...than an office visit and why wait.  So he called the doctor and was told to bring her right away.

I just heard from him by text and she still has the strep throat.  So I have been busy spraying lysol....taking a hot shower with dial soap and praying that I don't get it!  Of course I said a prayer for Hailey too...

Then I went down to get my mail and visited with some people in the lobby....now I am starving and need to fix something for a late dinner.  Hope you all had a nice day. 

Thursday, August 8, 2013

The inspection was really ridiculous.  They started on the 7th floor at 9am....I live on the 4th floor.  There are about 18 apartments on each floor.  At 10am I could hear them down the hallway knocking on doors.  I was ready...up, dressed and the apartment looked presentable.  So they knock and tell me they will enter in a few minutes.  Knock again....I answer come in....Doug the head of maintenance comes in...walks over to the smoke detector and presses the button....the alarm briefly sounds and he turns to leave.
"What?  Done already?"  I ask.  "Yup, you are good to go."  he replies. 

Didn't even look around for any overloaded sockets...or wires strung around across pathways...never even glanced into the bedroom or the bathroom....not really an inspection at all.

So I played a couple of games on my computer then remembered that I hadn't heard from my doctor's office.  I called  and luckily got the same gal.  She didn't seem to even remember my call from yesterday so I had to go into the whole explanation again.  She didn't think I needed to be retested....oh, but I said that the other nurse for the anesthesiologist said differently.  Luckily I had her phone number right in front of me.  Ten minutes later she returned my call and I am to go in tomorrow for another blood work-up, urine and EKG.  I am glad I called and got things going again.

I went out and did a little shopping....and now I am tuckered out...so much so that I missed the community pot luck tonight.  
I guess I should drink a few glasses of water....last time they had a difficult time with drawing blood...said I was dehydrated.  Of course I can't have anything to eat or drink after mid night. 

Oh ....remember when I said I was working on my closet.  I made it halfway....have one huge garbage bag of clothes to donate...already in the trunk of my car.  Now that half of the closet has a little breathing room!  Next week I plan to continue on the other side...then the floor and lastly the two shelves above the clothes.  One step at a time.

More tests?

Maybe it is because I haven't had many hospital procedures but all of this just baffles me.

Today the hospital where I am going to have surgery called to go over things with me.  Everything went well but then they said that I had to go back to my family doctor and re-do my blood work, my urinalysis and EKG...because they are more than a month old!

I took it well...called my family doctor and the nurse that said she would get back with me??  She didn't today...hopefully tomorrow. I am losing faith in medical people.

Tomorrow they are having a maintenance inspection in the building.   That means they will go through everyone's apartment checking smoke alarms and entrance and exit doors.  Then on the 22nd MSHDA will inspect apartments at random...last time they hit mine.  Then on the 27th HUD will be going through the apartments.  For those who don't know I live in a low-income senior housing hi-rise.  Of all the things I don't like about living here these inspection are on the top of my list.  You have to have your home walked through by strangers....and nothing is supposed to be out of place.  I think it is kind of an invasion of privacy but I imagine if they didn't do it things might get out of hand and we wouldn't have a very nice place to live.  I won't be here for the later inspections and I am thinking that I might want to get out of here in the morning too.  That way I won't convey a wrong attitude.

Hoping all is right in your world....

I will leave with this quote...

Terry Bradshaw - “You can't dodge them all, ... I got hammered plenty of times through the years. But you just get up and keep playing. I can tell you from experience, though. Sometimes it hurts like hell.”

Another day done

Today seemed like the longest day.  Nothing bad happened...and nothing overly good either.  I decided to try to do one nice thing each day to create a more positive attitude in myself.  So yesterday while cleaning and sorting,  I discovered a superman ring, an action figure and two care bear movies in my possession.  I decided to give them to my new neighbor.  I met her and her grandson in the hallway the other day.  He seemed a typical kid to me.  Hanging on the wall railing...and running down the hall to beat his grandma back to the apartment.  When he went in the apartment she mentioned that he has a hard life...I don't know exactly what that means....it could mean that his family is poor...or he has had a deep sorrow...or someone is mean to him....but I just wanted to do something.  Does it seem right for a six year old to already have a hard life?

So I dropped off the movies and toys this afternoon..and my neighbor Carol was appreciative...luckily she has a VCR player and says that she enjoys showing her grand kids movies...(mine are too old now for Care Bears).  We chatted for a while and then I wondered down to the community room to visit with whoever was there.  There were two people not playing cards so we visited a while and I came back upstairs and played a game on my computer.  

I decided it was too quiet so I checked out what was on tv.  Nothing I wanted to see.  I have eliminated a lot of channels because of my finances...then Dish is warring with CBS so there goes some more channels.  Frankly I think when this happens they should have to put a premium channel in place of the ones that are blacked out...after all, you are paying for a certain number of channels and aren't able to receive them.  

So I tried Netflix.  I have a hard time finding things I like on Netflix...I guess I need my grand son to come and give me another lesson on using it.  So I settled on a series called The Lying Game...it is about two twins separated at birth...they reconnect and switch places...so the one twin can go and search for the birth mother...Kind of teenager-ish, but, besides that, it is interesting.  That has been my day....I am discovering that living alone is not always fun...especially day after day...with no job to go to, no money to travel about and no one stopping by it makes life kind of deary....I have been cleaning my apartment because while I am in the hospital there will be two inspections here in the building...and besides when I come home it will make a nice homecoming to have everything tidy.  Tomorrow I am going to tackle my closet....try on clothes and decide to keep, sell, or donate...so wish me luck.

Got out today and stopped at the farm stand and bought some tomatoes.  Michigan tomatoes aren't ready yet...the gal told me that these are from Ohio....now Ohio is right next to Michigan so I might guess these are greenhouse...but I ate one and it was pretty tasty so who knows?

I was reading today about juicing.  Have any of you done that?  I don't eat enough vegetables so I am wanting to give it a try but juicers are expensive so I am afraid that I will buy one...use it for a short time then it will sit on a shelf somewhere.  What do you think?

Good news...my knee surgery is scheduled for August 19th.  My knee has actually been feeling pretty good lately...so I debated whether to even have the surgery.  I am bone on bone, but if it isn't hurting than maybe I can go without it.  So I left my apartment and did some walking (through Kohl's)....after about 1/2 hour my knee started hurting....so I guess I am doing the right thing.  It's either that or stay at home and rest all the time.

I have been missing my grandson that is visiting his mom in Florida.  Here is a picture of him with his brother...they really like each other a lot and look forward to having summers together.  

Have a great evening!

Three good things

I have three good things to tell you about. 

Today I decided to move to Florida.  It won't be right away.  But I am hoping for about a year from now.  I spoke to my daughter (Arlene, in Florida) and she agreed that it was a good thing for me.  I just need to do some planning and saving.  So today I decided to pick up my learning Spanish again.  I had three years of Spanish in high school.  I actually found at the library a copy of the book we used in class.  I also found another book that came with two cd's.  I am looking for someone that I can converse with in Spanish.  That should prove interesting. 

Second, I went to see the doctor about my scopes.  He had only positive things to say.  All the tests that he ran were benign.  I had a list of questions and he answered most of them except for the kidney one and he told me to go back to my regular doctor for that. He believes the low hemoglobin is due to a couple of ulcers he found but with proper medication he said those are healing so he increased my medication and said they would be healed in a couple of weeks...or maybe four.  But it is nothing to worry about.  
So maybe tomorrow I will call the surgeon to get rescheduled.  I am not as gung-ho about the surgery as I once was.  I actually liken it to a balloon that is so pretty when you first blow it up...then you let the air out and blow it up again and it doesn't look as nice.  In the morning I am going to try to take a walk and I know that it will convince me to have the surgery.  I know this sounds silly, but that's how I work things out in my mind.  

The third thing is, I found the spider!  He was dangling in the bathroom...before he was in the hallway.  I sprayed him first and then I took my flip-flop and squished him and threw him in the toilet.  I will sleep better tonight.  I just hope he had no friends or relatives visiting.

It was cooler here today and just a really nice day.  It felt good to visit the library and sit in the shade reading while I waited for time for the doctor's appointment.  I hope you all had an equally nice day.

Waiting is over

Hi friends, 

I haven't heard from Terry....last night my ears were ringing.  When I was young my mom told me that someone was thinking or talking about you if your ears were ringing.  So my brother and I would start naming names until the ringing stopped and that would determine the person.  Sometimes we found it to be true and other times not so true.  Last night it stopped on Terry.  Maybe she has decided to remain distant.  It's okay....I, at least, offered a hand. If I hear from her I  will let you know.  Hopefully she is well again.

This afternoon I got a call from my doctor's office from one of the doctor's assistants.  He said that I now have surgery clearance.  I was so surprised.  I asked him how that happened since I haven't had any more blood tests.  And he said that the doctor believes that I had a bleeding ulcer that healed itself and I am all right for surgery.  ???  When I called my daughter she was equally baffled.  Then she told me what happened to my grandson's father.  He is around 35 years old and a diabetic.  Type A I think.  So his doctor required him to have an eye exam.  He had two younger sons so his mother took him to the eye doctor and dropped him off and took the kids to her closing appointment (she is a realtor).  They dilated his eyes and he is waiting and starts feeling funny.  Like he is going to be sick.  He calls for someone and they come and have him walk to the wastebasket and he passes out, falls on the floor, breaks his nose which bleeds excessively because he takes blood thinners, and skins up his face.  Finally they bring him around and he has cotton stuffed in his nose and they decide he should go to his regular doctors.  They get a wheel chair and wheel him out to the reception desk.  Then they allow him to get up and walk three blocks to his doctor's!  How stupid is that.  He couldn't see clearly,  he was weak and told them he needed to eat and they told him he could get something from his family doctor.  He could have wondered out into the street or fallen again outside.  Thankfully, he made it and is now home.  So I have begun to have no faith in doctors.

I guess I will get the real story tomorrow when I visit with the doctor who performed my scopes...you know I will ask about the ulcers that mysteriously healed themselves in two weeks.
Oh...you know maybe it was a miracle.

Does anyone know how to get rid of spiders when you can't see them?  Lately I have had several bites...I thought they were mosquito bites but they swell up and itch for several day...then they seep.  Well, the other night I saw a spider dangling down from the ceiling.  I tried to get him but he got away and I couldn't find him.  This morning when I woke..I had two new bites on my arm which are quite itchy and swollen.  I need to find that spider.  Any ideas?

Waiting....

This is my grandson Tristen.....he is angry because his mom keeps taking pictures...but his expression mirrors my feelings at my doctors.  I guess I have to be patient and wait for them to be able to see me...to have the results of my tests...but all I have been getting is the run around.  I just need to take a deep breath and calm myself...maybe it is a good thing not to see them right now.  My whole summer has just been a waste..as they say the best laid plans etc.

Today I decided to try to reconnect with an old friend.  We had a falling out about two years ago.  I have missed her.  So I have been going through my "stuff" and found a couple of books that she would love and also have decided that she would like my jewelry making supplies...so I bagged the stuff up and headed to her house...I didn't call first because when I called her number I just get a generic message...and when I got there I noticed the yard hadn't been mowed...so unlike her.  Her dog was barking in his pen...but all the shades on the windows were drawn and the place looked abandoned.     So I knocked...then noticed a little note pad on the inside door...there was a message there from July 6...saying that she has been very ill and to just leave a message.  So I did with my new phone number...now the bag still sits in my car.  I hope she is okay.  I hope she calls me.  Please say a prayer for her.  Her name is Terry.

This week is our county fair.  I wish I could go.  I have missed so much this summer...just recently the Ann Arbor Art Fair...now perhaps the county fair too.  I guess I am just in a funk...do you ever get in a funk?

I am so happy for William and Kate and their new arrival.  I have always loved the royals...sometimes I think it would be nice to have a royal family in our country....but hey, I guess being part English I will just appreciate the English royals as my own.  Just this week I pulled my pictures of my trip to England and relived my memories of that time.  I guess that is why we take pictures...to remember. 

My grand daughter has been sick for 5 days.  They finally took her to the doctor's and she has acid re-flux   I never knew that young people got that.  I guess she is on a bland diet.  Can you imagine a teenager being on a bland diet?  And for how long?  She will visit me on Friday so I will find out the details.  

Have a nice evening.

Here are a couple of pictures that you might find amusing...taken while still at my daughter's house/pet sitting

and Sambi says...leave me alone Sophie...

let's battle this out....

please let me outside NOW!

and why you might ask?

this dog won't let my tail alone!!

I made it through the house/pet sitting and came home and prepared for my two scopes....still waiting for the results...and surgery has been postponed until further notice.

Many people have been talking postcards.  I have one on my refrigerator....here it is...(excuse the glare)

My daughter (the one in Florida) sent me this a couple of winter's ago....she was rubbing in the wonderful Florida sunshine during the winter....I kept it as a reminder and a goal that someday I could switch sides.

Have a nice evening...

July 10, 2013

I went to the doctor's again yesterday.  I was scheduled to actually see her nurse practitioner but was soon switched over to the other side of the office and had to see the doctor.  I guess I had questions that the nurse couldn't or wouldn't answer.  Like, was I still going to be approved for surgery.  Like, what was happening with my kidneys and why wasn't I told.  

Of course, I remained cool, calm and collected.  It is better that way.  The doctor would not approve me for surgery.  And yes, there is problems with my hemoglobin and kidneys that need to be cleared up.  I think she waited until she got the cardiologist's report before she made that decision.  So now I have to have a gastroscopy and and a colonoscopy to see where I am losing blood...I don't think I am but obviously they do.  So next Tuesday that is on my agenda.  Today I had an echo-cardiogram ..by the time they are finished they will know me inside and out!

After I went to the doctor's I stopped by my apartment and actually had to lay down for a while.  I was exhausted.  I was out like a light.  
I know it wasn't for long because I was watching a recording of Joel Osteen and it was still on when I woke.  Maybe twenty minutes.  But when I looked out my balcony door the scene had changed....a big storm had started.  I thought about just waiting a couple hours before heading back to my daughter's but then I thought that maybe it would get worse...so I headed out right away.  

On the way back the weather seemed to clear up but there sure was a lot of water on the road.  At one point almost all the road was covered and luckily the car ahead of me saw it and slowed and we were able to drive around it on the other side of the road.  

So I reach my daughter's house and this is what I saw....

 

this gazebo was set up just before 
my daughter left on vacation...they were
so proud of it and it looked quite cute sitting there with four chairs and a table with a potted plant on it.  She also had hung the Chinese lanterns that we bought at the Christmas tree shop.  Of course, I hated to call them and ruin their vacation...especially since this was their last day...but I thought it better than for them to come home to a nasty surprise.
The gazebo had been staked down but with all the rain we have been having the stakes didn't or couldn't grip the soil good enough.  She asked me to just put the chairs in the garage and they would do the rest when they get home tomorrow night.  

I will be glad to get back home.  It has been nice getting away from the apartment...but having pets..is a great responsibility...especially a puppy.  

Well the sun is back out now...maybe I will sit on the deck for a while.  Have a great afternoon!

Housesitting

This morning I packed up my car and headed out to my oldest daughter's.  They have left on vacation and I am house/pet sitting.  

Here are the pets...
   the black cat is Isis....the puppy loves to tease her.

she didn't want her picture taken!

This is the puppy...Sophia

Some of you might remember Sambi...he use to be my cat...now my daughter's.

and a tank of fish....

it was raining...and raining...

the patio is wet....I will enjoy it on a better day.

Remember my tomato plant....the first tomato fell off the kids saved it for me....I enjoyed it at lunch.

My excitement of the day.  The one thing my daughter told me was to be careful that Sophia didn't get outside without her lease.  Well, I had let Sambi out and wanted him in and while I was calling him, guess who dashed out the door.  I chased and chased and finally got a hold of Sambi and Sophia came over and I reached for her and missed...so I tried again and slipped on the wet grass but caught her all the same.  I am thankful that nothing broke.  I brought her inside and put her in the cage for 15 minutes...until I gave in to her whining.  I hope it never happens again.  I must be more careful!

It should prove to be an exciting week.  Tuesday I will be visiting my doctor again and hope to make a decision about the upcoming surgery on my knee.  I am almost ready just to postpone it.  

Anyway have a nice evening.

Updating

Yesterday I visited my cardiologist.  I expected a stress test but he didn't think it was necessary at this time.  As we were talking he shocked me by saying that he doesn't think I should have surgery until I get my other issues straightened out.  I told him that I had already talked to the surgeon's office about my iron problem and they didn't have a problem with it....then he said something strange..."did they address the issue with your kidneys?"

"My kidneys?"  I asked disbelievingly.  It turns out that my kidneys aren't functioning properly.  So now I have an appointment back with my regular doctor's office to get to the root of my kidney and iron problem.  I can't believe that no one told me about my kidney problem!  Could it have something to do with my iron deficiency?  Then he ordered a thyroid test and an echo cardiogram to be done...
I hope I'm not falling apart.

Last night I still went to my Joint 201 class held at the hospital where I am getting surgery.  The nurse answered a lot of questions and we were able to see our future rooms.  One lady was having surgery tomorrow..which is today....which surprises me because they said their unit was closed until after the holiday.  I guess the doctors need a vacation/holiday too. 

After our class my daughter took me shopping at The Christmas Tree Shop.  Have you been to one?  I didn't even want to go in because by this time I was tired.  I thought it only had Christmas things and wasn't in the mood for that.  Instead....it had a lot of neat things.  I got a fish that lights up, a personal chip-n-dip plate, and two Chinese lanterns.  (I didn't even see one Christmas item.) My daughter treated me so it was cost free.  
Here is a picture of my treats....

   

I will be putting the fish and lanterns on my balcony (probably after surgery).  The chip plate I might use tonight!

If I don't make it on tomorrow I wish everyone a happy 4th of July!!

The Battle has begun

Hi folks,

If you have read my previous blog you will know that I have tried to take the iron supplement that the doctor prescribed for me.  Well, I emailed the doctor about the problem of them making me physically sick and have heard nothing back.  So I decided to wage my own war so to speak.

I purchased the items in the picture below to help me:

I was reading on the Internet that cast iron cookware will actually
disperse iron into food.  So I bought a grilling pan and a large skillet.  I think I will be able to cook almost anything in at least one of them.  Please note that they are made in the USA!  I bought some Lima beans, dark chocolate trail mix with nuts and raisins, and Total cereal which seemed to have the most iron.  Of course I also read that there are some food one cannot eat because they cause your body to not absorb iron.  I need to go back and write down that information and tack it on my refrigerator.  If anyone has any other information, please let me know.

Next, some have asked about my tomatoes....so I took a picture of my plant...you will see that it is making progress and still has the two tomatoes and now has some blossoms too.  Oh yes, my neighbor did give me a small tomato from her plant and it was delicious!

 

 

I had my grand daughter Hailey here for a couple of days.

 

 



Here she is with Arlene.

While here I taught her a basic crochet stitch....she was quite proud of herself for finally catching on.  She took her small practice square and the needle with her.  I told her next we would work on a scarf.  We will see if she remembers for next time.

Any plans for the 4th of July?  I was hoping for someone to invite me to spend the 4th with them....maybe a day trip and seeing fireworks at night.  It hasn't happened....so I'm not sure what I will be doing, I guess I still have a few days for something to pop up.

Have a good night....tomorrow is July!

Good Saturday Morning everyone!

I sound chipper...but I'm not.  I decided last night that I would try my new iron pill first thing in the morning. So I did and 15 minutes later I was in the bathroom throwing up.  Uck!  I am feeling better now.  My son and grand daughter spent the night and he was so kind to make me toast and my grand daughter went downstairs to buy me a coke...it seems to settle my stomach.  I sent an email to my doctor and told her I was not going to put myself through it anymore and we need to find a better solution.  Hope she comes up with something.

Yesterday our local YMCA put on a community party.  Free food and free activities...which seemed mostly for kids but I took myself and my grand daughter.  As we were standing in the rain (again) in line for food I saw my grandson Kobe!  I was excited.   Got a picture of him to share.

As you can see...he has grown a lot since my last photo....and notice how muddy and wet it was.  Every afternoon we have been having storms and today it looks like the same again.  Maybe if I close my eyes at 3 I can pretend I am in Florida.

Have a great weekend all...

Thursday was test day

Today was my day for tests for my upcoming knee replacement surgery.  I had to fast last night and get to the hospital early.  There were lots of people in the waiting room so it took a while before I went in.  I was lucky and my poke was very light.  I had a whole battery of blood work to be done and a chest x-ray.  The other tests were done at the doctor's office and turned out fine.

So this afternoon I was surprised to get the results so soon.  The chest x-ray was fine but they did find a glitch in my blood work.  Seems my hemoglobin count is low.  So the doctor prescribed some pills to correct this before surgery.  I wish I hadn't read the side effects because after twenty minutes of taking the first pill I got nauseous...of course I had read that was a side effect...so I am wondering now if it is mental or real.  Thank goodness that only lasted a few hours and I am fine now.  I don't look forward to being nauseous every day for a month so I am hoping that my body will adjust and be fine.  Now I know why I am always tired and have no energy.  Also if could be the cause of my leg cramps...I am hoping to see all these symptoms disappear.

My stress test is schedule for July 2....same day that I go to the hospital for a Joint 201 class that will go over my procedure and recovery options.  I think this class will ease my mind a little about the surgery.  And some of your comments have also helped with that.

My school teacher just had her surgery and is doing well.  She had lost a lot of weight...maybe over 200 lbs and was getting a skin job and stomach stapling.  It will be interesting to see how she looks in the fall.

I just want to apologize about my earlier blog.  I wrote a blog this morning regarding the recent Supreme Court decision and some other things and decided that it was just too controversial and took it down.  I forgot about google and didn't take it from there so some people were getting a blank page.  Sorry about that.

We had a lot of rain here in my town today again.  The streets were flooded and one person had to be rescued by the fire department and taken to safety.  I watched from my balcony window....personally I love storms as long as all are safe.

Well it is late and past my bedtime.  Everyone have a good night.

Tuesday, June 26, 2013

Today is my grandson Kobe's birthday.  Here is a picture of Kobe...

This is when he was 4 years old....today he is 7.  Real sad that I don't have an up-to-date photo of him.  He is my youngest son's child.  When he was three my son and his mother split up and I barely get a chance to see him.  He lives here in town but my son lives in Las Vegas....so time goes by and I miss him.  I guess I will have to make a greater effort to see him....what has held me back was that I hate to remind him (by seeing him) that his dad is so far away.  The last time my son came home from Vegas he begged Kobe's mom for a visit and the answer was no!  So sad.

Change of subject....

Today was my doctor's appointment to get my surgical clearance from my family doctor.  Yesterday I expected a reminder call about my appointment and didn't get one...so I had that gut feeling that something was amiss.   So it didn't hardly surprise me that when I got to the doctor's they had no record of my appointment!  The doctor was very nice and took me anyway even though her waiting room was full.  So I had my EKG and Urinalysis and tonight I need to fast so I can get my blood work and chest x-ray tomorrow.  I also have to visit a cardiologist for a stress test.   Before I left the doctor made me promise to come back after surgery and have some other routine tests that I haven't attended to.  She also explained that they had to let one employee go from their employ and kind of thought she might have been the one who messed up my appointment.

I am nervous about the surgery.  I am trying to think positive or not think about it at all too much.  My stomach is all in knots when I think of it.  So today I thought I am going to start a journal and document all my experience with this surgery...maybe it might help someone who is considering it....or maybe I will just use it to relieve my own stress.

What do you think about the new ruling concerning marriage?
I was shocked at first.  I never thought I would see a day that this country would lower their beliefs to make this ruling.  I thought our country was based on Christian principles...but we seem to be drifting far from Christianity.  I am concerned that God might not continue to bless us as a country.... I am concerned that someday this won't even be a Christian nation.  Here is a you tube video...tell me what you think of it.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/6-3X5hIFXYU


try to have a nice day!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Today was the day for meeting some of the gal friends I haven't had a chance to hang out with for a while.  We each made a dish and had a lovely meal together....but before that we visited the farmer's market in Ann Arbor...I took a few pictures for you to see...

We got there after 2pm so some people were already packing up to leave....

Some big tomatoes...

 

Little cubes?

 

 

 



 

Beautiful flowers



 

and more tomatoes...



 

I didn't buy anything but it was fun just walking around looking at everything.  All in all an enjoyable day!