Monday checkin on Tuesday

I had a really great day with the grands yesterday. We made "Hand Salads," invented by their father when he was a boy. The kids cut the tops of some small red and yellow peppers, took out the seeds and filled them with lettuce, cheese and salad dressing. They're messy, so better eaten outdoors, but it was cold, and I had some nice, fresh peppers.

Image for your amusement: 3 little boys with colorful peppers full of salad, munching away happily on their after school snack.

After homework we watched "River Monsters" and discussed types of fish. I read the writing/subtitles and we talk about meanings of words, where in the world Jeremy is, and whether whales are fish - not.

It makes another day of nausea, headaches, tinnitus, dizziness and of course, pain, so much better.

Hey Everybody...No real news here.  I remain an enigma (YAY).

Alcie...I adore the adventures with the grands.  Indeed, I visualize them, along with you, making sweet memories. Our Dals found a box turtle this weekend.  We "relocated" him to safety outside their yard.

Fresh peppers and salad ALWAYS sounds good.  My DH claims that mayonnaise and ranch dressing should be a daily required food group.  I made "trainwreck" salads on Sunday after church.  It was basically all the vegetables left from the Saturday cookout.  I sliced some wood-smoked chicken breasts in as well. 

Everyone seemed to enjoy celebrating my aunt's 87th birthday on Saturday. It was bittersweet for me. She's my chosen mom and best buddy.  Her health is deteriorating, but she conceals it well.  She just returned from her winter in Florida and she looked SO frail. 

My tummy is demanding the "ulcer foods" these days.  It's not HAPPY, not even content.  But that's no reason for the folks around me to not enjoy. WHY AREN'T YOU EATING?  Abilene, I understand the "questions" concerning our spine issues.  I was asked repeatedly just this weekend "Are you not feeling well? You look really bad."  Gee, thanks...WHY did I spend so much time applying concealer and blush to be told I looked more pale than a corpse? lol 'cause we have to.

SO MANY MEMBERS are missing.  I may have missed updates.  It's been a rough day and I have many mental miles to go before I sleep.  I'm concerned about each and every one from Birder Nancy to Daesin and BTL to Aned to Vernita (saw update) to Sister Pam, Markh (so many others).

I know that each of us suffers, whether quietly with a whimper, or loudly with a ROAR. It means a lot to feel a hand reaching out through cyberspace, whether to embrace and comfort or tickle your funny bone.

Keep those grandkid visuals coming.  They soothe like a balm.   

~Dixie 

Dr Report: my head CT was normal I do have a brain. The lumbar CT is pretty normal. He said the healing is slower than expected but he thinks it is related to recent infection. Still have a 10 lb weight restriction, and no bending , kneeling twisting position etc. I asked about trying physical therapy and that was a big fat no! I also asked for a steroid injection and that was a bigger fatter no. Right now both him an my pain dr are at odds with this but I will not do it without my neurosurgeon. My neurosurgeon just wants to leave my back alone for a bit and give me some time. I definitely am ok with this! He is hoping with time it will get better, however he did mention a lifetime of pain that they just hope to get it more controlled. They have tweaked my meds a bit. So we are being hopeful.

well yesterday I went to a new primary care provider he is an internal medicine doctor. I can't believe it he actually examined me! Listened to my heart and lungs and poked and prodded everywhere I think! Did EKG, and labs, all the usual complete physical stuff. This might sound like usual stuff for most first time appointments, but the last two PCP's I've went to, all they did was sit on a chair with their laptop computer and ask me questions, no physical exam or nothing, one did listen to my heart! ha!

Anyway I have and continue to have stage three pitting edema in my right leg and lots of pain, and previously no one seemed to care! I have lesser swelling in my left leg but there is a little! Anyway I fired my last two PCP's! Maybe I expect to much from them?? But my new doctor thoroughly checked out the swelling in my legs and said he is extremely concerned about it, and told me that as long as
I was under his care he was going to find out what was going on and treat it!

Whats What's the saying? Third times a charm? I hope!

Anyway that's about all that I have going on! I have been trying to get some above ground garden plots made but my leg and back makes it really difficult to do much of anything! Plus we have had so much rain here, hopefully we are now starting to dry out a bit!

White Beard

Sorry for the lateness an Mia but bad to worse here as I went from the flu to pneumonia so now on two antibiotics, two inhalers and prednisone again. I'm exhausted but lost 11 pounds, I thought that was a celebratory thing, unfortunately my primary didn't! !

Can't seem to shake this lethargy and do anything and its been a week of rainy weather here and that's not helped.

Hoping everyone else shows back up soon

Susie thank you for the thread! You didn't check in..... Hope you are well.
Alice I am so glad you had a good time with the Grand-babies! That sounds like such messy fun!
Abilene I am so glad you were not hit hard by the storms!
Dixie did you try the rice water and were you able to get the tea? Hope your appointment goes better than you predicted.
Melagain I sure hope that your PM appointment goes well today!
Proudmom... so glad you have a brain! I had to be checked for one myself, I was so glad they found it because I have misplaced it many times lol. I hope the change in your meds helps.
Chartreux so awesome your husband is home. What will you make with the blueberries? I love recipes.
White Beard OH how wonderful it is to find a Doctor that doesn't just listen but hears you... Congrats on that. It so eases your mind to know they take you seriously. Third time is a charm!
Pitmom I would love to see photos of your beautiful garden. Can't wait to hear about the veggies. I am so jealous I love my clothes line but since my arm won't work they way I want it after one load I am using the dryer. I was thinking that I may have to get a stool so I don't have to lift my arms over my head. Love the smell of clothes off the line.
Vickie OMG hun be very careful. Blessings and love to you. I'll pray hard. hugs

Me .... Dad still in the hospital. They called a meeting Thursday at 8am and I can not go because I have an apt with surgeon at 9am. I can't cancel because it was moved up do to pain and workman's comp doesn't look favorably on that. I'm asking for a PM at the instance of workman's comp. Everything has been sent out to the Congressman in Washington DC to get after the VA for payment of his bill. Cross your fingers everyone. Three weeks in the hospital and two surgeries.

My youngest got 3 yes 3 more stitches out of my arm last night! They left small holes in the incision and it is a little sore but, boy oh boy do I feel better. It was like having festering splinters removed. Bless my little rooster for sticking it out with me and trying over and over.

I am praying I get a PM tomorrow because this can't be the best I can be. Hopefully the Surgeon will address the popping in elbow, shoulder and scapula.

Blessing, healing and love to everyone. Extra healing to all who are unable to post due to health issues xxxxx

Not much to say here, medically. Same old shingles pain, but otherwise I'm doing okay, not super great, but okay, and I'll take that. Working on planting flowers at our new house. Got three roses done--old fashioned climbing roses by the porch--and six more will be coming. I can do about two a day max. It's funny how I don't notice a problem while I'm working, and strangely enough the digging actually helps the shingles pain temporarily by loosening up those chest muscles I guess, but am exhausted afterwards.

Hope everyone is doing as well as they can expect and that health issues improve as we get some more sunshine and summer weather.

James, I'm envious! We have black spot fungus here and roses don't do well at all! I've substituted a flowering quince for the blossoms and peonies for the scent!

Leila, how in the world are you able to keep everyone's comments straight in order to reply to them all!?

Kids birthday parties! Cool! Brings back memories when AV mentioned 'bite sized tacos'. One year we did a home party for the kiddies and made mini hamburgers and used Pillsbury biscuits for the rolls and rolled the cocktail wieners in crescent rolls! We also made vanilla and chocolate cupcakes and they also had their choice of little cups of ice cream or ice pops! What a hit! Kid sized portions!

One of my neighbors has a landscape/maintenance business and offered me some nice black mulch for the flower beds. Yesterday I ran a hose under the trailer to the 'far side' and set up the weeper hose. The mulch covers it nicely and the plants should do well over there this year. He gave me enough mulch to do the main bed in the front yard too. I was fine, until I got out the rake and broom to collect the leftover mulch into a small pile...holding those handles has left my thumb joints in agony! Guess it's time to pay the piper!

Susie, I sure hope that you get that new pain pump soon! I am sorry that you are having to wait xxx I love archery and want to do that for my birthday next month, so jealous!

James I am so sorry that you are suffering from shingles! I am glad though that you have got some roses planted and it is helping. I have 25 bushes. My favorite are my George Burns and Hot Coco. I want a Rock n Roll and a Doris Day next.

Angelic, I am sorry about the migraine, I start to feel mine coming on and before I head to the hospital for a demerol and Phenergan shot I load up on the caffeine... coke, coffee, and chocolate. Sometimes I can slow it down. Hope you find relief. Yaaaa a new kitty. All I can say about your son and ex is "WHAT the ****!" Excuse my French!

Pitmom, I do a load of scrolling up and down lol. I know when I post it is nice to have someone acknowledge you have spoken. I am desperate to see photos of your beautiful yard. As I look at mine that has weeds in the front and back (bum house on the block) because the lawn mower took a dump.... I feel sad.

For me Dad is back in ICU because now the left lung clasped and the right (surgery lung) is at 40%. This is looking horrible. I had my appointment today and was referred to a PM YYYYYAAA! finally. Had all of my prescriptions renewed and was set up for PT. He feels there is nerve damage and bursitis from the thumb to the scapula. Bad news but at least I feel that I am moving forward.

Blessings and love to each of you

Dixie, hugs and kisses. Don't give up, with all of your issues you have taken your time to lift me up when I am down. You can do this! I have Faith! I'll pray and pray that you can find some relief and feel the love that is being sent to you xxxx

Friday morning and my thumbs are still screaming! It's the big joints where the thumb and palm meet. It does get a bit better during the day, after I've been using them a while. Sunny out, but chilly. We probably won't get out of the 50's today. The only garden chore today is watering. Think I'll set up the sprinkler instead of holding the spray nozzle!

AV? Did you get the info on the dog? How does the bite site look? Hope it's healing well. I also hope your son doesn't have a fear of dogs in general now. I was bitten on the leg by a Doberman when I was in my early teens. The scar has faded nicely, it wasn't deep thank goodness. I was raised with dogs and have 2 in my home now, so no long lasting 'trust' issues. People yes, dogs no! Ha!

Hope everyone has a nice, pain free day!