OT October Chit Chat part II

[nuthatch]

(((((Jeanie))))) you deserve a break!

[Cherie]

I've been communicating with Jeanie via email and this is the first chance this week I've had to check in here.

Peg...so sorry to hear about Nora. I keep waiting to hear that either Kristof or Gregory is headed for the ER for similar. knock on wood.

Busy, busy week at work. Friday, I was ready to call it quits last week but regrouped over the weekend, wrote a job description, took it to our lawyer at the office (he loves me...very helpful with helping me cull the description to something less all for everyone and little for me). Lots of production this week at work and the powers that be seem to either not be there or be avoiding me. They know they have taken advantage and asked me to do things that are not within my realm of expertise and for which I am not legally qualified. And I'm not getting paid for what they want me to do. (over all...I think I am making 2-3 dollars/hour for the work that goes into every transaction).

Anyway...setting limits big time. No major repurcussions.

David came home a couple days ago and cleaned the house for about 4 hours mid day because I have been at the office so much and in NY with my parents so much that even the basics are falling behind. I was able to take care of plants and finish laundry and clean bathrooms today. Had friends over for dinner after church and our 89 year old French gentleman friend had a major accident in the bathroom and I ended up scrubbing him and the walls and toilet and floor and sink and putting him in other clothes to go home. Still can't get the smell under control. Laundry is going again with bathroom carpets and towels and clothes.

Shot the tube this week for the first time in nearly 4 years and there is no evidence of disease progression. Seems the Cytoxan nipped the last big slide in the bud. Even the brain stem lesions which appeared 4 eyars ago are no longer visible. BP is normal. Blood sugars are normal and I have lost 20 pounds in the past 10 months without dieting. All good stuff.

David is scheduled for another lithotripsy Wednesday (he is still having night sweats and flank pain and blood in the urine 5 weeks after the last kidney stone blast and X-Rays indicate the stone (the size of a dice) is still present. He is less symptomatic and uncomfortable the past 4-5 days so is thinking he may say no to doing it again.

Lovely sunny day with temps at 70 degrees, sunshine and light breezes today. We are near peak foliage right now.

Blessings all. Sorry not to be more regular here.

Made another stole for my daughter this week. Photo attached. She designed this one from scraps of other vestments I have made but there wasn't enough fabric to do anything meaningful with...till this.patchwork stole.jpg

[Virginia]

Oh my goodness! I don't check in for a week or so and everyone and everything seems to be falling apart.

Jeanie, you need a break - big time! However, I know it is not possible when your Mother and Husband are involved. I am glad your Sister is planning on going to your Mother's. You need to be able to help David now when he gets home without feeling pulled in two different directions. I think Gabriella said it all when she said stealing your scooter was the same as the worse thing anyone could do to an able bodied person. Will insurance at least cover the cost? I am glad you got a break on the driver's license test.

Gabriella, you too need a break!!! Your husband's weight should concern any physician who sees him and especially one who can look back and see what he did weigh just six or seven months ago. It is ridiculous that you have to even point out these things. I do wish they could get a
firm diagnosis. I think for me, personally, the not knowing is worse than dealing with what I know. In addition, with your own set of problems I can understand that it is just overwhelming. I am sorry that you seem to be going through a bad stretch with the MS hug and other problems with the MS. I hope things settle down soon. Just keeping up with and going to all the Doctor appointments for two is a lot of stress in itself.

Cherie, the robe is beautiful. I know your Daughter is proud of these things that you make. I hope the very best for your Mother and Father. Seems they are both on a decline. Your elderly friend really had an "accident" at your house. I know he must have been quite embarrassed, but I am sure you handled it in the best way possible.

I lost a brother in law this week. He and his wife, along with one of their sons live in Daytona Beach, Fl., but they carried him back to Dalton, Ga. to be buried. That is where my husband's family is from. It has been sad. I keep thinking of all the times we were all together back when we were young and we just had so much fun. My husband had a large family and they were always fun to be around, but so many of them are gone now, but most especially the males.

Think I'll go get some yogurt for lunch and then settle down with my book for awhile.

Virginia

Renee, Agate, Sally, Ann, Jendi and some others I hope life is treating you a little better.

Gary, your situation is sad. I just can't think what I would do if that happened to me. At this point, already disabled, I think I would be paralyzed
with depression. Please try to watch that because I think you sound as though you are quite depressed and with good reason.

I worked some this month for the people I use to work for. It took up more of my time than it should and I am not being paid like I use to be.

I just read a book titled "Life of PI". I had to read it for my book club that I joined recently. It was well written and all the way through I kept thinking it would be great book for a teenage boy to read. When I went to get my flu shot Friday I had the book with me and the Nurse said her son had read it not long ago and loved it. He is 16 years old. She also said they were going to make a movie out of it.

Other than that one book I usually read mysteries. I have one that I am going to start this afternoon.

I voted by write in ballot yesterday, so that is out of the way. I have requested that I get all ballots sent to me in the future. It is so much better for me than trying to go to the polls.

[agate]

Jeanie, I'm glad you won't have to worry about renewing your driver's license for a while. At least that's one less thing on your plate just now. What's the story on your stolen scooter? That you certainly didn't need!

Virginia, I'm so sorry about your brother-in-law. It's always so sad to lose someone we cared about. Maybe the memories of the good times you shared together will be a comfort as time goes by. I hope so.

I've been voting by absentee ballot for many years and just received the ballot for the November election. Oregon has lots of leeway in what gets listed on the ballot, and so there are 7 candidates for President, as well as 12 measures to vote on. I'll be busy just figuring all of this out.

Cherie, another lovely stole! Thank you for sharing the photo with us.

renee, hope you'll keep posting about how you're getting along with Copaxone.

Waving to stillstANNding, jendie, Peg, nuthatch, Gabriella, salpalsally and Gary! Take it easy but take it, as someone used to sign off on a radio program years ago.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi everyone. My sympathy to you and your family Virginia.

Agate I will probably never see the scooter again. It has a red leather seat which is unusual as most have black or grey seats. I got it used and the seat was ripped so I had it reupholstered in red. Since I bought it from a person I have no receipt so insurance won't cover it. The sheriff said he would keep an eye out for it as he patrols our neighborhood daily.

I called and emailed the local TV staion but heard nothing back. Luckily I had another scooter I bought used for a back up. My son and his friend got it in the van and I went to the battery store and got $160. worth of batteries. Kind of annoying as I just bought new ones for the scooter they stole.

This one is wider and bigger but usable. I will get used to swinging it wider around corners.

My coughing is getting worse so I will call my doctor again tomorrow. I hope it is someting fixable.

David will be home Wednesday. He has some new blisters from using his hands too much. He will have to adjust to not doing something every minute of the day. I've had years to get used to it but he has never been very ill before.

My Mother was moved from the hospital to St. Catherine's rehab again today. My sister is coming to town to see about getting Mother home on Tuesday.

Everyone take care. Thanks for being here and for the prayers. Jeanie :)

[Gary]

Jeanie, I have become somewhat an expert on insurance lately.................. STAND ON THEM!!!! yes I am yelling, it does not matter whether or not if you have a receipt, I certainly do not have any for the household items. You will have to have a Sworn Proof of Loss form were you estimate the original value and replacement cost (if you have replacement cost coverage).

Virginia sorry for your loss. Yes I am very depressed. I find lots of excuses to avoid having the house demolished, even typing this hurts. My wife had a check up last week and the first question out of the Dr mouth was how are the AD's working? I know it isn't going to fix itself and I will get over this but I wasn't this upset over being Dx'ed with MS. As I write this I have the phone book open to Demolition contractors. It is sitting on the table staring back at me. My escape is not drugs or alcohol but police dramas go figure. Too many years working in corrections I guess.

[SalpalSally]

{{{{{Hi ya Gary}}}}}

[Virginia]

Gary, my heart truly does go out to you and your wife. I just cannot imagine being where the two of you are now. Thankfully, you have each other - and of course the kids, but you have to grief this loss. I don't think it would be normal if you did not.

[Pegakafarmgirl]

Hello boys and girls..<waving>..

well we were in summer time temps, but mother nature had a change of heart, and gve us Canadian cold front, and rain,,,, brrr,, its down right chilly,,

Hang in there everyone,, life can sure hand out lemons,, so then we make margaritas,,:=)

Nora is doing fine,, she was carrying a temp of 102,,, but hopefully its down,

not much else happening, Joe is once again, on a 2 week vacation,,{hide my gun,,please ? hahaha ! }

just checking in.. later,,

[agate]

Peg, it's too bad about Nora's temp--no fun, I'm sure.

Getting over a flu shot here. Sometimes flu shots do a number on me. Tylenol takes care of the problems pretty well though.

Hope nobody is overdoing. Slow but steady wins the race, and anyway there's no race.

[SalpalSally]

Hi Friends. I hope you are all as well as you can be, under your circumstances.

I'm okie dokie, just a little lonely and nostalgic this time of year. Missing my DH, my DBro, my Mommy...and the list goes on. We used to all do so much together during Autumn (DH and I).

My MS is not flaring or anything, just the usual daily carp. Taking a day at a time and muddling through.

[nuthatch]

I have been super stressed this week. I got an e-mail from brother #2, early Mon. morning telling me that my other brother (who lives with my parents) had called him and told him that Mom had been sick and vomiting, ect. with the flu and in bed all weekend. My mom will soon be 90 and flu kills old people!!! She asked him to take her to the doctor (you know it's bad when they ask to be taken) so he was trying to get an appointment. Then my dad told him that he's urinating BLOOD! Brother #2 was scheduled to fly out of town in 2 hours, so he wanted me to call and make sure he got them in. He tells me that on top of all that, Dad hadn't taken any of his meds all weekend cuz mom gives them to him and she was too sick! Dad takes a ton of meds, including a blood thinner that has to be monitored very closely with blood tests every 2 weeks, an antidepressant, heart meds, gout meds, and several others! Since he was bleeding, it was actually a good thing he hadn't taken the blood thinner at least. Dad is nearing 91, near deaf, dingy and sleeps most of the time!


Long story short, they got in to see the doctor and were sent right to the emergency room. Mom was weak and severely dehydrated, so much so, it scared the doctor, so she had to have an IV. Dad was bleeding pretty bad, had his bladder flushed and tested for infection, but it came up clear, catheter inserted and sent home to see a urologist the next day.
Tues, Mom was a little better, brother took dad to the urologist and they removed the cath. They don't know what the problem is yet, but for now he's stopped bleeding. My dad had prostrate cancer and radiation years ago, and the uro says it's not uncommon for men to have bleeding years later as a result of the radiation. He could have a kidney stone that is causing it. If he starts bleeding heavily again they will go in and cauterize it. He goes in next week and they are going to send a cam up there to take a look around.


I have been on the phone all week giving reports to three brothers and lining up more health care for the folks so they are never alone. My poor brother has taken 4 days off work and he's afraid he's gonna loose his job. Yesterday morning my dad started the barfing flu and the runs and last night my brother started feeling sick.
Today, mom is much better, dad is half there, brother is sick and the plumbing backed up! OH JOY!!!
I feel so helpless and wish I could help more. At least they have a male healthcare worker there now to handle things with dad and a plumber came and fixed that problem. My poor brother needs a break.
When it rains it pours.


This getting old is no picnic in the park! Hopefully things will start looking up.
Keeping you all in my prayers while requesting prayers and/or positive thoughts.

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi everyone. We spent the day at the VA hospital. David had a CT scan and it looks like his tumors have gotten slightly smaller, and at least no new ones showed up. His hands and feet are really blistered and some are cracking and dry and peeling. David has lost more weight and is very thin now. Also some of his mustache has thinned and they told him he would lose his hair.

One of his heels has about a 2 inch diameter blister on the sole and he has to walk or stand on it. He also has some on the bottoms of his toes and sides of his feet. One of the peeling ones while we were at the VA needed the skin cut off. The canteen had no nail clippers.

So we went to the podiatry department and the doctor there trimmed it off and gave David some cream and nail files to smooth rough spots. He told him to get his Primary to give him a referral and he would treat his blisters.

I called my doctor today as he asked if I was not better and he would refill the Amoxicillin. I am not any better and I have loud expiratory wheezes and I am not an asthmatic. I am coughing almost constantly it seems. I'm beginning to think I have chronic bronchitis as this has been hanging on for several months.

My sister has decided to take Mother home tomorrow and she is going to set up people to care for Mother before she leaves on Tuesday. She met with the discgharge planner today. I sure hope she gets Mother set up well.

I am still so relieved that I do not have to take the driving test for 2 years. I guess all the stress I have been under my immune system just can't get the coughing stopped. Also I am exhausted.

Please keep us in your prayers. You are all in mine. Jeanie :)

[agate]

nuthatch/Joan, you've certainly had a lot to deal with, to put it mildly. Things will have to improve for you soon because they couldn't get much worse--or at least that's one way of looking at the situation. Being able to keep your head while coordinating all of the details is a rare skill. I hope you'll get a much-deserved rest soon.

Jeanie, same goes for you. You've been run ragged for so long. That's good news about the tumors! I hope you can get the coughing under control.

I'm back from the podiatrist, a trip I combined with getting a flu shot. The podiatrist found a fungus I have to take medicine for for a year (!) but also said I didn't need new diabetic shoes yet, and that is welcome news because they're costly even though some of the cost is covered.

The flu shot was Wednesday but I'm still treating myself to lots of Tylenol because I've been feverish-feeling with a sore arm. Sometimes these flu shot reactions last a couple of weeks for me. I'm hoping this one won't be that bad. Much better than the flu in any case.

[nuthatch]

Sal, saw this and thought of you. My thoughts are with you.

Joanin heaven, in home.jpg