8-26-2019 Monday-4:45pm

Deliberate late start today.  Thought I might as well wait until I had been to see the new GP, Dr. Lien.  

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Anyways, today was Ian's first day back for his second year at preschool.

He was very excited!  :) 

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Was a pretty quiet week.  Caroline came to clean on Tuesday.  Thursday night Leah came over.  We didn't work on cards, but she cut my hair for me and we had a really nice visit.  :)

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Notice Annie's ears?  LOL!   

She was watching the now teenage cottontail. 

Sorry about the weird screen stripes.  Can't seem to avoid them.

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Saturday Ian and I had a quiet, cuddly Gramma Day mostly watching Dino Trucks and Mighty Machines.  But when Leah dropped off Ian she had Liam with and they stayed for a little while.  Was the first time Liam interacted with me.  He handed me bristle blocks and talked to me a little!!  Been patiently waiting for him to come around to strangers.  (He doesn't see me too often.)  I even got a bye-bye!

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Today I finally met the new GP.

I thought it was funny how everyone in the waiting room was glued to their cell phones.  This was only one corner.  There were half a dozen people behind me...all on cell phones--LOL!

When Leah and Liam picked me up we made a quick trip to the Natural Grocery.  Leah picked me up a few things--aww!  Then they came over here until it was time to go pick up Ian from school.

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 There's quite a shift with Liam all of a sudden.  He's acting more like himself around me.  Talking up a storm (even if I don't understand half of it--LOL!).  A hug was too much, but I did get a bye-bye.  ;)

Here's the boys after Ian got home from school on this windy day.

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Rained most of the night last night.  

We've had clouds rolling through...

...some with rain.

Goodness!  While I was typing this we had horizontal rain blasting down for like ten minutes and then it stopped.  Makes life interesting, I guess--LOL!  Scared Annie, though.

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Oh, and what did the new GP say?  Dr. Lien put me on a different blood pressure medication that protects the kidneys--or was it the liver?  The only side effect some people get is a dry cough.  I hope I don't.  Anyways, she wants me to come in just for a blood pressure check after I have been on them for a week or two.  She also thinks that I might find out more what's going on with the knuckle-toe mystery when I see the rheumatologist.  Told me that Dr. Blom (I think that's her name) is really smart and a good doctor.  Nice to hear.

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For my chronic sinus issues Dr. Lien wanted me to use Flonase at night.  But Leah already got me Nasacort which has the same ingredients.  I had been using it for a while but then with all this craziness I got out of the habit of using it before I went to bed.  So, got to start that again, too.

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Did I like her?  

Yup.  She seems like a keeper.  :) 

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Dagan had to go back in to work late and surprised me last night by popping in on his way there to deliver some chocolate mousse type fat bombs and some meatloaf slices where Leah tried tweaking the recipe.  I am so spoiled!!  

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Dagan told me he is now trying Keto, too, as of a few days ago.  The boys aren't on Keto, though.  But they aren't getting as much sugar/carbs as they were.  :)

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Oh, and I think I lost 8 pounds.  

That's a nice side effect.  ;)

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Other than that, been dealing with getting billing straightened out for all these doctor visits.  Lots of phone time, but things are now fine with my medicaid.  Whew!  Always something, right?

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I am trying some other things for pain and/or swelling.  Aleve did nothing for me when I was really bad, but now that I'm back down to toe and knuckle it does help a little when the swelling starts to spread.  Using an anica gel for pain and have some anica tablets coming and little round balls you let dissolve under your tongue.  Still using the CBD oil.  

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Both Leah and I have been doing research online for supplements...for inflammation, fibro, arthritis, etc.  Needless to say, I am taking more supplements, too--LOL!  I do like to take natural supplements vs. chemical stuff...but Aleve will probably stay in my arsenal as well as Nasacort and my blood pressure pills, of course.  

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So exciting that Liam doesn't clam up and avoid looking at me or speaking at all around me--whoohoo!  Not that there couldn't be a relapse, of course.  But  looks like he's finally outgrowing that.  He'll be two on September 3rd!  Eight days.  Goodness they grow so fast.  And if he is more comfortable with me then I will finally get to know him!!  Hurray!  Hard to get to know a frozen, silent toddler who won't look at you--ROFL!

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Well, Annie has ventured out from behind the toilet after the storm whipped up and she ran for the hills.  At least that's where she usually hides for some reason when there's a storm.  The sun is trying to peek through once again and it is time for dinner.  Till next week!  :):)

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"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

Marcel Proust

8-19-2019 Monday-11am

Good Morning!

I caught a picture of the partridge family one day last week!  

Yup!  They came back at least this once when I saw them again.  So, probably more times.  I hope that means there will be more partridges coming to eat this winter.  In fact, I relented and put out some seed last night.  I will keep my eyes open for voles.  Will probably take them a while to find it as they haven't had food here all summer, but Annie and I both miss all the birds.   

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Well, even that last round of steroids didn't seem to do much.

I did send a long email to Dr. Ryan (orthopedic doctor who drained my knee) with pictures.  Despite him telling me to let him know how I was doing in a month...he replied that there wasn't anything else he could do for me--LOL!  Basically handed me over to my new GP when I see her next Monday.  Told me to keep in touch with her until I see the rheumatologist October 2nd.  

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The steroids don't do much anyways.  

So, just living with it.  

Another limitation to work around.

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Leah came over Thursday night again but we never did work on cards.  She helped me with things around here that are hard for me to do with this hand--like empty ice cube trays, for example.  We had a really nice visit and she was able to leave earlier (more sleep).

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When Dagan brought Ian over for Gramma Day on Sunday he emptied out the Litter Genie for me and he and Ian took it to the garage...and they brought out trash for me, too.  That Litter Genie is too hard for me to deal with right now with the clunky, painful hand.  Got a regular little slim pop-top trash container for scooping duties that is much easier for me to handle on my own.

And Leah brought me that big purple litter scoop.  (She got one for Dagan, too, as he's the litter person at their house.)  It's much lighter and does work much easier than the big metal one that hangs behind it.  The Amazon reviews were correct!  Thanks, Leah! 

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Needless to say, I haven' been up to much this past week.  I think I am going to have to learn to do more things with my left hand.  I am doing what I can but I am terribly clumsy--well, totally inept--with my non-dominant hand. Practice-practice-practice, I guess.

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Ian and I  watched some more Mighty Machines.  (Gramma really enjoys that show.)  We finished putting together the doughnut and pizza from the craft kit and then wrapped them up in packing paper that we "decorated" (scribbled and doodled on) for a surprise for Mama and Daddy. 

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A bit of chair cuddling is always a spirit lifter!  ;)

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I watched the last season of Orange Is The New Black.  Been watching a lot of Silent Witness--22 seasons and still counting.  I am on season 20!  I have tons of good things to watch, thank goodness.  Been writing letters--very slowly--when I am able.  Still easier to hand write than to type.  Not that either is easy--LOL!  Hanging in there.  

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My guess would be that this will be the new normal until I see the rheumatologist, at least--if not longer--or forever.  Waiting for it to go away and thinking that it should...just gets me down.  So--can only change my own mind, right?  I am working at acceptance of the here and now.  Then, if it does change for the better or go away one day--whoohoo!  That would be wonderful!  But--in the meantime...I shall have to learn to adapt to the new circumstances.  After all, it's been 2 1/2 months now.  Out of the blue stuff is harder to accept than gradual change, I find.  But--I've had years of my body running my life...being the boss of me.  Just have to (no matter how reluctantly) hand over even more control.  I have soooo much to be grateful for. 

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Other than that...

Life is good.  :):)

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 Till next week, my friends.

I am so very grateful for you all!!

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"A problem is a chance for you to do your best."

Duke Ellington  

8-12-2019 Monday-4pm

Well, I had planned to post after seeing the new GP, Dr. Lien, but I turned out I had to cancel and am rescheduled for Monday the 26th.  Embarrassing explanation to follow. 

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Warning: 

Ugly knuckle pictures.  

But it's better than pictures of my uglier toes--LOL!  

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Sorry.  

You guys are probably so sick of hearing about all of this, but I can guarantee you not as sick as I am of living with it--LOL!  The infamous knuckle and toe have been gradually getting worse over the last week or so.  The huge, painful knuckle is why I am not online as much as normal and comments are usually brief if I make any.  For quite a while it had been easier to hand write because of not having to hardly move the knuckle.

But over time since I quit the steroids it has slowly become more swollen...and the swelling was spreading.  

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Dagan came over on Wednesday to take out a heavy trash bag for me.  I had promised them because of my back, but my hand couldn't have handled it, either.

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Thursday Leah came over again for a Craft Nite--tada!  She had planned to work on Liam's invites for his birthday, but she hadn't gotten all the okays on the date yet.  So we started working on the other set of three-tree cards.  Leah started taping the fronts on (removing all the two-sided tape is a project)...

...and I used a tape runner (much easier) to put on the inside piece. 

Sadly, that is the one card I managed to finish.  My hand was too sore to even use the tape runner.  Leah took a picture of how much the swelling was spreading--other knuckles, was going up my finder next to the knuckle, and it even looks like my hand and wrist might have been swelling.

So, I reluctantly decided to start that last steroid refill I had on Friday.  Thinking I would be seeing the new GP today on Monday, right? 

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I am so tired of this knuckle business interfering with my life. 

The toe was getting worse, too.  The swelling was spreading into my foot and neighboring toes at the bases--but your toe isn't as much of a hindrance to daily life, you know.  You don't brush your teeth with your toes. 

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Anyways, I decided to try the last of the steroids to see if they would do anything.  

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Meanwhile, Annie has been very attentive and--dare I say--cuddlier.  I think she's worried about her food source--LOL!  ;)  That clump next to her is a flower from the catnip plant that went to seed that she bats around.

She's even been coming up to sit next to me on the arm of the chair while I was slowly writing letters.  Normally she didn't want to come up if my lap was occupied.   

Anyways, after a couple of days on the steroids I could hand write again with less pain because of less swelling coming up that finger, too. 

I know it's not that easy to tell but the rest of the hand swelling around the knuckle had gone down some...

...even if that darn knuckle remains a small, hard mountain. 

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The steroids effect my ability to sleep very long but make me really tired--so in no time I was napping around the clock.  I had to cancel Gramma Day on Saturday.

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On Sunday I did make soup.  Completely new combination for me.  Trying to stay closer to Keto but needing less broth-y and more my usual stew-y, filling soup.  I put in a few beans, all kinds of veggies, some of my Gardein fake hamburger (got to get the rest out of the freezer), and mushrooms.  Really delicious!  And so much more filling than broth with cabbage and carrots--LOL! 

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Leah got the date okayed and wanted to pop over on Sunday to finish up Liam's birthday invites.  She asked if Ian could come with since we didn't have a Gramma Day.  Sure!  (Neither of them mind if it's a house dress day.) 

I had purchased the ingredients for a meatloaf back when Caroline got groceries for me on the first.  Have been thinking about meatloaf ever since because it's been over a decade since I've had any and I used to love it--maybe even has been 15 years?  But my hand hurts to grip or squeeze--well, do anything really--and hasn't gotten well enough to be able to put it together.  Leah said she'd do that for me--whoohoo!  

So, I thawed out the meat and Leah mixed it all up for me and popped it in the oven before they left.  Was absolutely delicious, I have to admit.  :) 

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BUT--I totally blanked!  My own fault.  I know better.  The steroids make me quite hungry and extremely thirsty, but that's no excuse.  Because of the IBS with the fibro I usually am so careful about what I eat the day or two before I have to go anywhere and I usually don't eat after lunch the day before...plus the steroids have given me the very same issues, too...well, duh!!

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Let's just say that is why I had to reschedule Dr. Lien's appointment and why I am also writing the blog so late in the day--LOL!  I am finally finished with throne time.  Good grief!

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I do have enough BP pills, though.  I counted.  Feel so silly.

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Well, Dr. Ryan, the orthopedic doctor, wanted me to email him to let him know how I was doing in a month.  So probably tomorrow I shall do just that.  And let him know it's not gone, etc.  He may want to see me again or prescribe more steroids...who knows?  Anyways, I'll let him know.

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Besides all that health stuff...and despite the swelling flaring up worse in the knuckle and toe game over here...I have been in pretty good spirits and enjoying the cooler weather so much!  So has Annie.  I have the patio cracked or wide open as much as possible.  This doesn't feel like August weather.  But I love it!

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When I do get dressed I am often, like I said I would, wearing things I don't normally wear.  Long, flowing, crinkle dresses do surprisingly lift my spirits.  And for some reason Annie likes to lay on them between my legs on the chair.  Maybe they make her feel a little glamorous, too?  ROFL!

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Anyways, I am fairly confident that Dr. Ryan will probably either have me come in or call in a prescription for more steroids.  (I can send him the pictures--LOL!)  Meanwhile, Annie is parked between my legs but keeping her eyes peeled for any critter visitors.  I think she really misses me feeding them every day so that they were around here all day long.  Fall is coming soon enough.  ;)  I miss them, too.  I may start again earlier than I think.  I just hate to think I am feeding those voles.  But I haven't seen one for a while now.  They may be trapping them.  

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Okay--time to go.  Knuckle is not as happy as I am--LOL!  I'll rest my hand a while and then it's time for dinner.  I think I hear meatloaf calling me.  Have a great week!  :) :)

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"Just to be is a blessing.

Just to live is holy."

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

8-5-2019 Monday-11:45am

Good Morning!

Woke up so plugged up I have to breathe through my mouth.  But it's a beautiful morning now that the sun is peeking out.

 Had thunderstorms during the night and it was dark this morning for some time--she says sneezing and scaring Annie into the bedroom--LOL!

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This week Caroline came to clean on Tuesday.  Wednesday Leah dropped me off at the West Acres Clinic and went to drive around because Liam was sleeping in his car seat.  I went in only to discover that my online appointment that I made...well, it didn't exist.  I won't try making an appointment online again, that's for sure.  Had to make a new appointment for the 12th, then texted Leah to come back to pick me up, and she dropped me off at home again.  So, I don't meet the new GP till next Monday.  I have enough blood pressure pills to last me till then, so no problem.  But I felt badly wasting Leah's time.  :(  She said she didn't mind. 

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Thursday morning Caroline came with groceries.  In the evening Leah came over for a Craft Night!!  I asked her if she could make it over to work on Christmas cards last week because I needed some "normal" soooo badly--even if I couldn't do a lot.  

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We had an absolutely wonderful evening.  Worked on the white-three-tree cards.  I am so glad I bought all these trays we can use for drying stuff!  This was the stack in the studio after Leah left.

We were so close to being done.  I only managed to tape on the inside red sentiment with a little tape runner.  Leah did most of the work.  She punched out the snowflakes... 

...and glued the bauble in the center (can't remember what they're called but they look like a big water droplet) and then glued the snowflake on the inside.

We finished that set--TADA!!!  Feels fantastic!

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Yesterday I moved them out onto the kitchen table... 

...to fold and stack them. 

This is the satchel we keep Christmas cards in.  (I have another one for sets of birthday cards.) 

This set took up half the satchel because of the bling on the snowflake--LOL!  But this the the card we plan to use this year for Christmas, so they'll be out of there in no time.  ;) 

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Saturday was a Gramma Day.  Ian and I worked on another of the craft project boxes Tori sent Ian from England.  The parts had glue on them that wasn't dry yet so we stored them in a shoebox on his bookcase until next Gramma Day when he can finish putting them together.  Hard to tell but this box was about baking and this is a doughnut and a pizza--LOL!

Strangely the doughnut has two icings--pink and brown.  Maybe there was supposed to be two doughnuts?  We decided we'll put icing on both sides of the doughnut--LOL!  Ian doesn't care.  The process is what is the fun part.

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Then yesterday I did a load of laundry...and got it put away in sections throughout the day.  Hand was pretty sore.  Yes, hand and foot still the same--along with everything else with this old, cranky body.  Except waking up clogged up and sneezing--that's new--LOL!  But no big deal.

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They're mowing for those apartments across the way that I see out my window.  They zip by on their riding lawn mowers.  The grass has to still be quite damp from the thunderstorm and it's 68% humidity.  So even if it is only supposed to get up into the low 80s it is going to be thick and sticky out there today.  

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Leah is planning to try to come again for a Craft Night on Thursday again this week!  :)  Pretty soon she'll need to make invitations for Liam's birthday party which will be coming up early September  too.  Feels sooooo good to be working on something creative again!!  I needed some normal.  I really did.  Even if things aren't normal...yet--LOL!   ;)

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Have a thoughtful week, my friends.  Let the people you love and care about know what they truly mean to you.  Spread the love and positives.  The whole world needs it.  We can start in our own back yards...lavishly spreading.  :) :)

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"The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them."

Elizabeth Gilbert