Elusive sleep, vermin and insects

Yep -I'm going to feel rotten in the morning. I have a 9am appointment for acupuncture and an 11:30am appointment with my oncology nurse practitioner and I'm still wide awake.  Dwight and Miya have both been snoring for hours now. It is past time for me to take my pain med so maybe I'll get to sleep easier after I take it. Tonight is the first time since my surgery that I gave Miya her heart medication. She is so heavy now. I am giving her the "lite" formula food so hopefully that will help a little.

I ordered a new GPS system tonight. Mine was stolen when our car was broken into so I called Paul to get an idea of what to buy.

I bought the one he just got for his lovely wife and the mount and charger to go with it. I got it on sale so will be glad to have it in the car for the future. I love to use it when I go for one of my "rides". I start turning on country roads I've never been on before and just let the car take me where it will. Then I turn the GPS on and let it bring me back home.

It seems like about once a year we have a visitor in the form of a little mouse. Dwight buys mouse traps and tells Miya they are going "mouse hunting". So far, only one shows up but it is a pain. We have to take all the bread and chips out of the drawer and throw them away and wait to see if more show up before putting anything back together. I noticed movement above me and it was a big bug crawling across the ceiling which then flew down to the top of the entertainment system.  Dwight was snoring up a storm so I got the fly swatter and killed it...at least I think I did. I never saw it again. Every so often, we have cave crickets show up. Since we got Miya, they have been small ones and we see them after she has "taken care" of them. Usually missing a leg or two. I was sitting here getting ready to take my medication and go to sleep when THIS

crawled up beside my left arm on the chair. Needless to say, my butt muscles catapulted me out of this chair in a nanosecond while I was trying not to scream my head off.  Dwight got up and "took care of it" posthaste. Now I'm wide awake again and my skin is still crawling. Brrrrrr.

I went to sleep last night before I finished the entry before this one. After I had posted it a few minutes ago, I realized I hadn't put up the following picture.

Their Dad sent it to my phone saying they had gone to the lake this past weekend and had a really good time. He visited me last week after he saw me at the meeting. I haven't seen him in years but he looks really good and sounds great. I hope he will continue to grow spiritually.  He is with his family right now and I know they will help him any way they can. Never give up - Jehovah doesn't.

Disappointing week so far.....

It has been a disappointing week so far. By Saturday I was right back where I was before the acupuncture. I've been trying to do my therapy but it doesn't last for long. The only thing that helps the pain is drugs. I take the smallest dose of Oxycodone in liquid form mixed with water every 4 hours but lately have really needed it again by around the 3rd hour. That means it takes awhile to get the pain under control every time. I am also still having coughing, dry heave "episodes" every time I am even a little bit active. I was disappointed that I felt too bad to be at the meeting on Sunday. I didn't even feel good enough to listen in. I've been waking up in the middle of the night and then sleeping late because I don't get right back to sleep - even if I take the Oxy.

Kurt sent this picture via telephone when he went in for his skin cancer screening appointment. I want everyone in my family to do this every year. I have been doing this myself for quite awhile but only had the one on my nose show up. I'm still going several times a year for awhile and they are being quite diligent about making sure the Melanoma doesn't manifest itself on my skin. I only have two appointments this week on Wednesday morning. BigD will be going fishing as soon as we get home and will be back on Friday morning. Deb is going to spend the night with me Wednesday and Thursday and I'll ask some of the sisters to stop by and check on me during the day until she comes to stay at night.

Losing a precious gift.....

I've been close to a family I met many years ago having served in the same congregation with all of them at one time or another. I also worked closely with the oldest daughter for many years. The patriarch of this family was precious to so many of us. He has been very sick for awhile now but his loving family have been taking very good care of him - especially his devoted wife of so many years.  They used to love dancing with each other. He told his children about how beautiful she was when he first saw her and you just knew they shared a deep love and respect for each other.

I was so sad to hear she had died suddenly. She went peacefully in her sleep and they had her Memorial today. It was set it up so those of us who listen in on the phone could do so today. They also set it up so their Dad could hear and see everything through Skype on a computer. I can only imagine how sad he is. It was a lovely talk about her long years of faithful service as well as the love shared by their whole family. I really wanted to be with them but the two girls stressed to me they knew I loved them and to stay home and get well.

Darel and Mich came by for a short visit after the Memorial and told me every seat was full. I told them I feel like we are losing that generation and that is basically what I meant by the title of this post.  What a precious gift they have been to my generation. I really appreciated them coming since I haven't seen them in months. They celebrated their 21st anniversary yesterday. I can't believe it has been that long. They both looked so good today I had to take their picture. I wish I could say I still feel as good as I did last Wednesday but it would be a big fat lie.  I've been trying to do the therapy on my neck the way they did it but it isn't as good since they stood behind me and I have to push where they pulled.  I'm not going to stop though.  I'm actually looking forward to my next acupuncture this coming Wednesday.  Hope I feel as good or better than I did after my first one.  Page called and I told her about the Memorial.  Evidently I am losing it on all levels.  I thought I had told her but she said I hadn't.  We are both getting excited about next weekend. They are going to drive up on Friday.  BigD and I are so glad Bentley is coming too.  It has been too long since we have seen him.

Welcome visitors.....

I had some welcome visitors this week. My dear friend from down East came up Thursday to spend the night with me. I was so excited to see her. Since Bri came down Thursday also, I asked Roseanne to bring her and the girls over so they could all see each other. I was so relieved to see Bri since she has been having so many health issues - I really wanted to see for myself that she is doing better.

This is an older picture of Bri but trust me, she looks great even when she is sick. She is better but still sore and weak. We will all be so glad when she has finished her treatments and healed completely. It has been a rough time for this sweet family.

Fran is always beautiful. I love her smile and bright eyes. I tried my best to get her to stay one more night but her hubby was missing her at home. She wants me to come down for an extended visit again. I had a wonderful time when I visited her a few years ago. I will be so happy when I feel like traveling again. How about when I don't have to have pain meds and can drive again? That is a big goal!!! BigD cooked a pot of spaghetti and his delicious garlic bread.  They all seemed to enjoy it. Fran brought some wine, fresh strawberries and dark chocolate.  Man, I'll be glad when I can taste food again!!!!

We can't forget June and Rose. They are so cute and Bri had matching outfits on them. Click on the top picture of June to see her sweet little smile.

Fran snapped this picture of Princess Miya on my lap Friday. She sleeps on me a lot during the day and night.  Sadly, I think I lost another day.  All of Roseanne's children came to town to have their annual Family Dinner together. I sent all of them a text message this morning saying I hoped they had a good time at their Family Dinner and started gettings responses telling me it is supposed to be tonight - not last night.  Wow - I'm losing it.

You are going to stick that needle where???

I was introduced to the world of acupuncture this morning. We were already running late and went to two different facilities before we found the right place on the third try. I felt my blood pressure drop as soon as I entered the facility. Then we were taken to an alcove that had nice sofas all the way around it facing a stone wall of water across the hall from us. Then we were escorted across the hallway, around to the other side of the wall of water and yes, there was water falling on that side too. We were seated facing a bamboo garden in stones.

By this time, I felt like I had walked a mile and had already had two episodes. I'm glad we had a few minutes to relax before I was taken into one of the many rooms surrounding this little garden. My specialist was very good and so happy to know I was all for this. She asked how my hubby felt and I told her he was a little skeptical. After talking for awhile and asking about any other problems, she asked me to get on the table. I was pleasantly surprised because it was actually more like a twin bed. She pulled the head up with two pillows and put a round leather pillow under my knees. It was SO comfortable. She explained that she likes to know as much as she can about other problems so she can "needle" those areas at the same time. I asked BigD to come in with me to see how she does it and he said no because he HATES NEEDLES!!! As soon as she was ready to start, I asked her to ask BigD to come in for a few of them and he did. When he saw that I was okay, he went back outside. After she had placed all the needles everywhere, she rubbed an ointment on both sides of my neck. She turned the light down and left me alone for a few minutes which was nice. I felt very relaxed. We talked about why I can't use heat for the pain in my neck area because of the radiation still working in there. She placed needles in a way that she said it should cool it off some. I'm glad I found this picture of her on their web site later.

When I walked out to where BigD was, he stood up and said, "Well you definitely look better!" I asked him later what he meant by that. He said you just looked so much better. You looked so tired and worn out when you went in and you looked totally different when you came out. AND - I'm trying to be realistic but I do feel that my neck is cooler. Is that strange or what? Anywho, I go for my physical therapy in a few hours and hope it goes as well as this morning did. I don't think my insurance will cover the acupuncture and she wants to see me once a week for about 5 more weeks. I told her I would see what I could do. It is very expensive without the insurance but if it really helps, I would love to keep doing it. I did schedule another appointment for next Wednesday morning before my appointment with Jennifer. BigD is going fishing Wednesday afternoon and coming back Friday morning. Deb is going to spend both nights with me and I'll ask someone to check on me during the day.

Notice the little Panda Bear who should have eaten all this bamboo up by now. When we got home, we put clean linen on my chair and it feels so nice right now. I would love to take a nap but we are afraid we won't wake up in time for my afternoon appointment. Oh man......

Progress.....

"prog·ress (prgrs, -rs, prgrs)1. Movement, as toward a goal; advance. 3. Steady improvement" I'll have to admit that I have been challenged this week so far regarding the word I was told to focus on by not only my radiologist, but also by my surgeon and nurse practioner, regarding my progress. That word is TIME! Today has been an up and down kind of day emotionally. Physically, it has been difficult because of the pain. I have not been able to bring the pain under control at all. On the plus side, I have been more mobile today and have worked on using salt water and baking powder rinses in my mouth. I got some good news from Page - she is going to fly up and work out of the Raleigh office the week BigD goes fishing. She will fly up on that Saturday, be off Monday and work Tuesday and Wednesday. She will then fly home Thursday. She also had some good news to share regarding her job.

My friends who were assigned to serve in Washington State near Seattle are being assigned back to Texas near the friends they used to serve there with. The climate will be much better for Marj's health. They traveled down to visit and see where they would be living. I know the friends in Texas are so excited to have them back with them. I got the feeling they were very excited about their upcoming move.

I received this picture from Eileen saying how excited she is to finally have the pickets on her deck she has been asking for. She has to be so excited to know she is coming closer and closer to her dream of living there full time. I will miss her so much but I will also be  happy for her. She has brought so much love to me during the last 8 plus months of disruption to my everyday life.

I received this lovely message from a young man who visited me this past Sunday after the meeting. He sent me the loveliest message via text message yesterday and then today I received this one. I'm very proud of him and hope he continues in his endeavors to learn more and be able to make his life more positive every day.