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!

Friday, June 21, 2013

Good Morning everyone and Happy Summer!!

For those of us up North it is a day we look forward to almost all year.  The beginning of summer.  I am not a winter person but have spend 66 winters here in the frozen North....I wonder if I will ever become a snow bird?

Well, my daughter (Arlene from Florida) called me this morning and is coming over today.  I am glad I stayed up late working on the storage stuff.  I emptied the tubs and put all the papers from 2007,08, 09 back in their boxes and am taking them back to storage...maybe before she gets here today.  She told me at ten o'clock last night to go to sleep and not worry about the mess....but I do expecially with a four year old coming over.  She also offered me a trip.  She wanted me to ride back to Florida with them and then she would fly me home after the 4th of July....I sadly had to turn her down as next week I have my pre-opt appointment with my family doctor and all those pre surgery test to take.  You don't even know how sad this makes me. :(  She has a free condo package and I will miss out on that.

Well, I am keeping this short today...going to do my morning reading and then get busy on getting stuff done before my cuties show up.  Have a great day!!

Unmotivated Thursday

Yesterday I finally found myself to be alone again as my grands and relatives all took off the night before.  So I made a list of things to accomplish.  However, I found a small bottle of eye drops on the floor and while trying to find out who they belonged to ended up getting invited to lunch by my oldest daughter, Holly.  She knows that I can hardly say no to dining at my favorite Mexican restaurant, The Grasshopper.  On Wednesdays the enchiladas at $1.50....they are very good.  So after eating, she asked what my plans were for the day and I told her I had to mail the package of baby items to my son and then I was headed to work on sorting out my storage unit.  She offered to help...how could I refuse?

I headed to the post office.  Last week I went to Walmart and bought a shipping box and tape and then found out it is better to use the post office containers.  So I had the baby items in a bag.  I went to the counter and asked for help and pricing.  I had the best cashier ever.  She pointed out the boxes and then decided she would just get me on.  We took out the baby items and I thought I would need the bigger box which shipped for like $16.....she got this small box and I didn't think things would fit into.   Somehow she made them fit...it was unbelievable and I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen her do it.  It included a home made a baby afghan, 3 outfits, 2 beany bears, a rattle and hair ribbons.  I was just amazed and it shipped for $9.65.  I hope they like everything....here are 2 of the outfits...

 



 

After mailing the package I went to the storage.  Eventually they joined me.  I had planned on only doing a little and she thought we were going to do a lot.  Anyway somehow she talked me into bringing  6 storage totes and 3 boxes of stuff back to sort in my apartment.  sigh.....  the problem is there isn't anywhere to put

anything in my tiny apartment....so then this morning I pull stuff from the closets...now my apartment looks like a tornado hit it.

 

AND I have run out of motivation....I work a few minutes...then go and check email....looks outside....get a drink...go back....pick up something....lay it down....look at facebook....check out blogger...

 

so here I am.

 

 

I am desperately hoping that no one drops in.  Especially my daughter from Florida.  I think she is visiting Matt's relatives today....Yesterday they visited someone with an interesting yard...I think he is a photographer....here is a pic of Andrew and Tristan that I thought was nice...

 





and another....

Well....the stuff is calling and my tummy is growling....have a great day and enjoy this beautiful weather.

Family Visit

My daughter surprised me by appearing here early Sunday morning.  Matt, Arlene and Tristen had driven all night straight through.  The last I had heard is that they were going to take their time and it might be 3 days of travel from Florida. 

Matt dropped Arlene off at my apartment.  I had allowed Andrew (her Michigan son) and Hailey (my other grand daughter) to spend the night.  And what a night it was....up all night watching movies and playing the Wii..I was exhausted.

As soon as Arlene got here, she whispered, "Don't wake up Andrew...I want to go running first."
So 12 miles later she returned...and we had the happy reunion.  

While Arlene showered, I fixed the father's day lunch that my son had requested....Sloppy Joes, Mac and Cheese and green beans.  Hey, it was his choice.  Then we all piled in my car (which has no air conditioning) and headed to the Toledo Zoo.  I was kind of interested to see how far I would be able to walk! 

This is a pic of the two girls in the back seat....

and what was Andrew doing?

how were the girls dressed?

a photo opportunity at the zoo....

Tomorrow we are

going to my other daughter's house (Holly) for a visit....will try to get pictures of them including Matt and Tristen for another blog.

Tonight I just have Hailey as the other visitors are off to visit Matt's side of the family.  It will be good to get a night's rest tonight.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Did you get a chance to sleep in today?

I had the opportunity but why is it that on the mornings when we can sleep in our eyes pop open and no way can we go back to sleep?  That's how it was for me this morning.

So I went through my two bags of stuff that I brought home from school yesterday.  Here is something I will share with you.  At the beginning of the year the teacher had the students draw a self portrait of themselves.  A couple of days ago she had them make another self portrait.  After completing the second one she passed out the ones from the beginning of the year.  Since I am a star pupil here is a picture of mine.

 

 

 

This year the kids gave me a new name.....Grandcracker.....(please ignore the date on the pic...I can never get the setting right on my Kodak).

 

 

Here are some pictures I took of my flowers and plants on the balcony....

 

 

 

and my tomato plant...

 

 



     I was so happy with my little tomatoes already coming out until I glanced over to my neightbor's
    balcony....

 

as you can see...she had huge tomotoes and hers are already turning red.  Do you

think she will share?

 

 

Friday, June 7, 2013

Hi Everyone....old friends and new.

First,......I have not disappeared.  I just haven't had much to write.  So I came to check on everyone and I usually see all my friend's blogs listed on my reading list....and there are no blogs there.  Have I missed something??  Do I need to change something?  Well, I went searching and somehow clicked on something that added a bunch of new friends.  Although it was an error on my part, I am hoping the 100+ people that I added might turn out to be good new friends.  I see some of you have added me back...don't know what this means exactly but oh well....I will try to remedy my problem.

Today was the last day of school for me.  It was a sad thing for me.  I am usually not sad but I will not be doing the children's summer reading program (due to my upcoming knee surgery) so I am sad and will miss my kids.  I didn't even give them good bye hugs....simply because I didn't want them to see my crying.  A few had asked my for my phone number....and I gave it to them.  It will be interesting to see if any of them call me.

If any of you have had knee replacement surgery, I would appreciate hearing how it turned out for you.  I have heard good things...but then I got on the computer and read a lot of bad stuff.  Now I am nervous.  I didn't exhaust all of my other options ...like getting the injections....because I just want the problem over with.  I am bone on bone and can't walk a shopping mall without being in agony.  It is affecting me in other ways....like my back, my other knee and being tired all the time because I am always fighting the pain.  My surgery is scheduled on July 15....and I am hoping to be better to start back to school in the fall.

If I am better by the second week in August I was hoping to travel to Wisconsin for my daughter's next completion.  This is an invitation only competition.  If she is successful and places she will qualify to train for the Olympics. 

What is the price of gas where you live?  It is $4.20 a gallon here in Michigan.  I might need to learn to ride an electric bike or something...lol.

Have a great weekend!