I was able to find three elastic bands at Walmart, and I started doing the exercises with my leg. It's a little hard to do, because me and the "E" word don't get along all that well. The last time I exercised, I was on our stationary bike, and I tore my hamstring in two places, so I am starting out slow, especially since the hamstring is still hurting.
I also bought a small ankle brace to keep my foot up. I decided I had better go ahead and do that.
I had forgotten to write that Tom and I have decided not to go to New York. It's just going to be too much money. It's disappointing, but that's the way things happen sometimes. The upper endoscopy test I had in July (I think) ended up costing us about $1,000 out of pocket. Instead, we are going to drive to the Black Hills and stay at Palmer Gulch KOA lodge. Barring any unforeseen expenses, that's the plan.
My gastroenterologist wants me to come in for another upper endoscopy in September, but I'm not doing that. I already know I have a stomach ulcer -- nothing more need be said about that.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
It's Time To Blog!
My right foot is still partially numb, but I know the reason now. I went to see a neurologist last week, and he did an electromyogram (EMG) test. During the test, the doctor stuck my right foot and leg with several needles and shot uncomfortable electrical impulses through them. The test determined that I pinched a peroneal nerve. The peroneal nerve is in the back of the leg, behind and a bit below the kneecap. I have no idea how I pinched this nerve, but this is what's causing me to be numb and have foot drop. This is a bit uncomfortable, but not terribly painful. It has been somewhat difficult to walk though.
The neurologist prescribed 100 mg. of Vitamin B6, exercises with an elastic band and a foot brace. The foot brace was prescribed to keep the foot from dropping and aid me in walking. My foot isn't dropping all that much, so I've decided not to spend the money on the brace. The doctor wanted to see me back in four weeks, but I can't get that scheduled for six, so I go back to see him on October 7th. He said I could have this for a couple of months. If I have it longer, I don't know what the course of action will be to correct it, but I'll find out on October 7th.
Many of my family and friends know that I suffer from chronic pain due to fibromyalgia. Frankly, I can't remember a day without pain since I was about 18. That's been 28 years now. This past Monday, I underwent a procedure to aid me with my pain.
Under anesthetic, my doctor made two epidural injections; one to just below the back of my neck, and one to the middle of my back. The medication administered is called Kenalog. Kenalog is a low-dose cortizone that has traditionally been administered for sinus and allergy problems, but also been found to aid in pain control.
For the fourth day in a row now, I have been virtually pain free. This has been a true miracle for me, and I give all the glory to God! The effects of the Kenalog injections could last 10 days, two weeks or as long as a month. I have had a very small amount of pain in my back since yesterday after exerting myself cleaning my house, but by and large, I feel fantastic! I am so blessed.
Now I can only look forward to sunny days! I'm taking life one day at a time, but this has done so much for my spirit! I am truly, truly grateful.
Hopefully, now, I can get my act together and get myself back to church. It's hard to go to church alone; that's a given, but it's even harder to go to church for three hours, which is how long my church activities last on Sundays. When I met with my bishop last month, he told me to take it slowly, come for the first hour, come when I can. He was wonderful and so understanding.
Now being virtually pain free, I am so excited about my future!
This past week, I was informed that I would no longer be reporting to my manager, Rolando, in Jacksonville, Florida, and that instead, I would begin reporting to a new manager in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, down near O'Hare Airport. My new manager is named Pete. Pete and I had a one on one meeting yesterday, and I'm very excited to say that he assured me that in his group, I'll have a lot of new learning and more face-to-face teaching opportunities. This means that I will be doing fewer virtual trainings (over the Internet and conference call from home) and traveling more to conduct face-to-face trainings. I really prefer the traditional face-to-face training environment, because it gives me more fulfillment to physically be with my students. Of course, I don't want to travel 70% of the time, but I could certainly go for travel up to 50 or 60%. So the next few months are going to be very exciting.
Elk Grove Village is only about 60 miles from my house, so I will also have opportunities to travel down there on days I am not teaching to observe other instructors and learn more products.
Tom and I are going camping at Mukwonago during Labor Day weekend. My sister, Theresa and her husband David are also going camping there that weekend, and we're hoping that family and friends will come out on that Saturday for a big family picnic. Mom and Dad will be staying with Theresa and David Saturday night, so that's something nice to look forward to.
Becky is still waiting for her mission call. That should be coming soon, hopefully within the next couple of weeks. I'm so excited for her!
The balloon did not take off last Saturday as scheduled due to unsafe weather conditions. Frankly, we were all very surprised, as it was a beautiful, sunny day and the wind didn't seem to be all that bad. We're thinking the reason for grounding the flight is because the forecast did call for 17 mile per hour winds and perhaps at balloon heights, that's just too much. I have rescheduled the balloon ride for October 5th. If that flight doesn't take off, then it'll be next May before we can schedule it again.
Well, that's it for now. Ciao!
The neurologist prescribed 100 mg. of Vitamin B6, exercises with an elastic band and a foot brace. The foot brace was prescribed to keep the foot from dropping and aid me in walking. My foot isn't dropping all that much, so I've decided not to spend the money on the brace. The doctor wanted to see me back in four weeks, but I can't get that scheduled for six, so I go back to see him on October 7th. He said I could have this for a couple of months. If I have it longer, I don't know what the course of action will be to correct it, but I'll find out on October 7th.
Many of my family and friends know that I suffer from chronic pain due to fibromyalgia. Frankly, I can't remember a day without pain since I was about 18. That's been 28 years now. This past Monday, I underwent a procedure to aid me with my pain.
Under anesthetic, my doctor made two epidural injections; one to just below the back of my neck, and one to the middle of my back. The medication administered is called Kenalog. Kenalog is a low-dose cortizone that has traditionally been administered for sinus and allergy problems, but also been found to aid in pain control.
For the fourth day in a row now, I have been virtually pain free. This has been a true miracle for me, and I give all the glory to God! The effects of the Kenalog injections could last 10 days, two weeks or as long as a month. I have had a very small amount of pain in my back since yesterday after exerting myself cleaning my house, but by and large, I feel fantastic! I am so blessed.
Now I can only look forward to sunny days! I'm taking life one day at a time, but this has done so much for my spirit! I am truly, truly grateful.
Hopefully, now, I can get my act together and get myself back to church. It's hard to go to church alone; that's a given, but it's even harder to go to church for three hours, which is how long my church activities last on Sundays. When I met with my bishop last month, he told me to take it slowly, come for the first hour, come when I can. He was wonderful and so understanding.
Now being virtually pain free, I am so excited about my future!
This past week, I was informed that I would no longer be reporting to my manager, Rolando, in Jacksonville, Florida, and that instead, I would begin reporting to a new manager in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, down near O'Hare Airport. My new manager is named Pete. Pete and I had a one on one meeting yesterday, and I'm very excited to say that he assured me that in his group, I'll have a lot of new learning and more face-to-face teaching opportunities. This means that I will be doing fewer virtual trainings (over the Internet and conference call from home) and traveling more to conduct face-to-face trainings. I really prefer the traditional face-to-face training environment, because it gives me more fulfillment to physically be with my students. Of course, I don't want to travel 70% of the time, but I could certainly go for travel up to 50 or 60%. So the next few months are going to be very exciting.
Elk Grove Village is only about 60 miles from my house, so I will also have opportunities to travel down there on days I am not teaching to observe other instructors and learn more products.
Tom and I are going camping at Mukwonago during Labor Day weekend. My sister, Theresa and her husband David are also going camping there that weekend, and we're hoping that family and friends will come out on that Saturday for a big family picnic. Mom and Dad will be staying with Theresa and David Saturday night, so that's something nice to look forward to.
Becky is still waiting for her mission call. That should be coming soon, hopefully within the next couple of weeks. I'm so excited for her!
The balloon did not take off last Saturday as scheduled due to unsafe weather conditions. Frankly, we were all very surprised, as it was a beautiful, sunny day and the wind didn't seem to be all that bad. We're thinking the reason for grounding the flight is because the forecast did call for 17 mile per hour winds and perhaps at balloon heights, that's just too much. I have rescheduled the balloon ride for October 5th. If that flight doesn't take off, then it'll be next May before we can schedule it again.
Well, that's it for now. Ciao!
Friday, August 15, 2008
I've Gone Numb
That's right, to a degree. On July 31st, I woke up to discover my right foot and ankle had gone partially numb. I called the doctor's office first thing, and they thought I was having an allergic reaction to the Lyrica the doctor gives me for the fibromyalgia, so I stopped taking it. Three days later, I was still numb, so I thought for sure it was the Topamax, and the nurse agreed, so I stopped taking it. Now, August 15th, I am still numb. I went into the emergency room the night before last, because it seemed to travel up my leg a bit, and I had no idea what the problem could be. For all I knew, I had a blood clot!
The ER doctor assured me that I didn't have a blood clot. He did some basic neurological tests and said he felt that I'd somehow injured the leg. I can't remember the medical term he used. The nuerologist on call agreed that I need an EMG test (electromyogram) to figure out why I have this numbing and hopefully figured out a way to get it to go away. I'm definitely nervous. The test is today.
A couple weeks ago, we went to Litchfield for a family reunion. It was great! All of us kids were able to go. It was great to see everyone.
Tomorrow, Tom, Tommy, Paula and my dad are all going on their balloon ride at Sunset! We are going to borrow Scott's video camera to capture the experience. Can't wait!
We got Cindi a car! It's a 2002 Kia Rio I found on Craigslist.org. We are buying it from a girl in Milwaukee. Will be picking it up on Tuesday. Cindi moves into the dorm on September 2nd.
I'm having a hard time focusing. I woke up at 1:50 this morning and never went back to sleep. I'm squirrly-eyed and anxious about the test.
The ER doctor assured me that I didn't have a blood clot. He did some basic neurological tests and said he felt that I'd somehow injured the leg. I can't remember the medical term he used. The nuerologist on call agreed that I need an EMG test (electromyogram) to figure out why I have this numbing and hopefully figured out a way to get it to go away. I'm definitely nervous. The test is today.
A couple weeks ago, we went to Litchfield for a family reunion. It was great! All of us kids were able to go. It was great to see everyone.
Tomorrow, Tom, Tommy, Paula and my dad are all going on their balloon ride at Sunset! We are going to borrow Scott's video camera to capture the experience. Can't wait!
We got Cindi a car! It's a 2002 Kia Rio I found on Craigslist.org. We are buying it from a girl in Milwaukee. Will be picking it up on Tuesday. Cindi moves into the dorm on September 2nd.
I'm having a hard time focusing. I woke up at 1:50 this morning and never went back to sleep. I'm squirrly-eyed and anxious about the test.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
So Much!
Well, I have so much to get caught up with! Yes, my last post was July 17th, but since then, I've been to Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and I've had a bit of a health scare.
My trip to Las Vegas was so great! Donny and Marie's new Vegas show is fantastic! They played at the MGM for a week (eight shows), and Kathy and I went to three of those shows! Yeah, I know, I'm nuts, but hey, we were out there to have a blast, and we did! The show is a "Vegas" show, and they definitely did the stage justice. They have eight dancers that share the stage with them. They do a little bit of bantering back and forth, but it isn't too much. They are not doing the old Donny and Marie show that they did when they were teenagers, but there are elements of nostalgia in the show. Marie is singing opera, and it's fantastic. I can't remember the name of the song she sang, but it was truly lovely. Donny did a Stevie Wonder montage I really loved, beginning with My Cherie Amor and finishing with I Wish! That guy is 50, but he can still rock it out! It was also fabulous to see good friends too like Janet, Molly, Donna, Gayle and Bob and several others.
I flew home Monday, worked Tuesday through Thursday, and then flew out again on Friday--this time to Salt Lake City. Becky had won tickets to the Pioneer Day Celebration Concert, which featured The Osmonds. This was going to be a very special concert as it would mark the very last performance the Osmonds (all seven of them) would do together.
Christine picked me up at the airport, and we stayed at the Salt Lake City Marriott Courtyard together. I had a chance to go to Friday night's show, but Chris didn't want to go, so I opted not to go too. I really wanted to spend the time with her, and we had a nice time together. We went to Red Robin for dinner and spent the rest of the night just talking and enjoying each other's company. Then on Saturday, we had a late breakfast and Chris drove me to get my hair trimmed. That was so nice of her! I was real happy with the haircut I got. Then Chris took me back to the airport where I picked up my rental car. She headed home to Eagle Mountain after that, and I'm really going to miss her.
With my rental car, I met up with Donna at the Marriott in downtown Salt Lake City, and then we went over to a restaurant and met my friend Denise and her family from Fresno, California. Denise is really special to me, because she has been battling fourth stage lymphoma for about five years now. She is an amazing miracle! And, another cool thing is a couple years ago, through genealogy study, her husband and I discovered that Tom (my husband) and her husband (Dave) are related. They have the same great great great grandfather! That is remarkable! Denise is doubly special to me, because we made a "connection" about 14 years ago through the Osmond Network. We just got to be really close cyber-friends, and out of the blue, she sent me my first Book of Mormon, with a beautiful note inside in which she referred to me as her eternal friend. What a nice visit we had with Denise and Dave, and I can't wait to see her again, although I don't know when that will be.
Denise did inform me that she will probably have to undergo another round of chemotherapy. She has lumps in her lymphnodes again, and she can feel them. Chemo is very hard on her, and she's not looking forward to this. But if I know Denise, she will be victorious, as she was before. As a matter of fact, while in remission, and in between chemotherapy rounds, she gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy! Denise is 44 years old, married to Dave, a great guy, and they have two sweet children, Hannah, 8 and Logan, 3.
Saturday night's concert at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's Conference Center, right outside of Temple Square, was really excellent! To be honest, our seats were pretty lousy. We got stuck all the way over to the East wall, and although we could see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra beautifully, we could not see the Osmond Family very well at all. We were actually seeing them to the side, and we were pretty far back. We were, however, able to watch them on the big screen on the wall, so that was good. As always, they gave a wonderful performance! And them with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was almost too much!
The real spiritual experience came on Sunday at Music & The Spoken Word. For the past 80 years, the Church has been broadcasting this 30-minute presentation from radio, and now television. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir were in full attendance and sang three beautiful hymns, then the Osmonds sang three spiritual songs that they have successfully recorded. It was unbelievable! There was a point during one of the MoTab songs that I felt a REAL JOLT! I don't know what that jolt was, but I can only believe that it was the Holy Spirit. I became so happy and so grateful that I was there. I was about the only person in attendance who was not crying. I just didn't have it in me to cry, I was so happy.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir finished up with a couple more hymns, and then after the broadcast was finished, everyone in the theatre, about 4,000 people, stood and clapped for what seemed like forever. Then the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson, was escorted onto the stage and personally presented every member of the Osmond family (including Tom and Virl) with a framed document. Later, I learned that framed document contained each of their favorite scriptures. What a treasure! There wasn't a dry eye in the house, except for mine.
During this whole drama, I met the dearest man who sat next to me. He definitely had the Spirit of Christ in him, as he spoke to me so sweetly. He teared up as he told me the story of how one of the hymns came to be. The thing that sticks with me the most though was that he said, "Make sure you go home to your husband and tell him he is married to a saintly woman." That really touched my heart. I hugged both him and his wife goodbye, and he even gave me a little kiss on the cheek. What a nice couple they were.
After the Music & The Spoken Word broadcast, Donna and I said our good-byes and high-tailed it to the Salt Lake City airport. Donna was real nervous about missing her plane, even though I knew she had plenty of time to get to it, but I obliged her and rushed unnecessarily.
I also want to mention that meeting with Rachel and Gerri from the UK and Becky from Iowa on Saturday night after the concert, was just so great. Gerri and I have some kind of spiritual connection. I know her. I knew her before this life, and I know she has a testimony of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is bursting to come out. Her boyfriend, Mark (a wonderful guy who picked up all the checks), is a member of the Pentacostal Church, a very charismatic religion. Gerri goes to church with him sometimes, but not always. So, I'm going to continue to pray for her and connect with her, and we'll see what happens. :)
Before I went to Vegas and Salt Lake City, I had the awesome experience of meeting with my new bishop on July 23rd. My main objective in meeting with him was to allow him to know me completely, so that I can become active in church again, and so that he can be that much more inspired to extend the church calling to me that I should absolutely be in. My last calling was teaching CTR B Primary children, which are 5 and 6 year-olds, and I had them for close to two hours. I did that calling for nine months, and it was very hard on me. I honestly had no business in that calling, and after awhile, I began to hate Sundays, so I went inactive at church, because I couldn't stand to be in that calling any longer.
My bishop was so warm and so understanding. He thanked me for coming in and telling him about myself. He eluded to the possibility of me being called into a family history calling, and that gave me the opportunity to tell him about my 22,000+ genealogical database, of which he was quite impressed. After talking with me for sometime, he also gave me hope in believing that I might someday be able to return to the Temple. I cannot describe how happy that makes me feel. So my meeting with my new bishop was truly awesome, and I look forward to becoming active at church again beginning August 9th.
I have had a little bit of a health scare. Over the last couple of days, I have not been able to lift my right foot. It just hangs down loosely. It is a bit swollen, and I'm feeling the tingling all the way up to my knee. I called my doctor, and they told me that this is a serious side effect of Lyrica. I am taking Lyrica for my fibromyalgia pain. But after speaking with my doctor's nurse and being informed that this condition, paralysis of my right leg, I am immediately stopping the drug. I was also instructed to elevate my right leg and ice it, so that's the position I'm in right now as I write this blog.
My next option for combating the sometimes excruciating pain of fibromalgia is injections under anesthesia. I have discussed this option with my doctor at length, and I'm going to do it. I am just waiting for a call from scheduling so I can go ahead and schedule that procedure. I am a bit scared, because it's a very serious thing, which requires I have a driver, plus, I mean, MY WORD, it's injections! But I really want more quality to my life, and so I'm going to do it. My brother has had this procedure before and it helped him immensely. He, too, suffers from chronic pain.
So that's what's been going on with me the past couple of weeks. Tomorrow we leave for Litchfield to see my Mother's surviving sisters and brother and lots of cousins. I'm looking forward to that. I don't care how swollen my foot and leg are! I am going!! Besides, you can get lots of ice in hotels!
My trip to Las Vegas was so great! Donny and Marie's new Vegas show is fantastic! They played at the MGM for a week (eight shows), and Kathy and I went to three of those shows! Yeah, I know, I'm nuts, but hey, we were out there to have a blast, and we did! The show is a "Vegas" show, and they definitely did the stage justice. They have eight dancers that share the stage with them. They do a little bit of bantering back and forth, but it isn't too much. They are not doing the old Donny and Marie show that they did when they were teenagers, but there are elements of nostalgia in the show. Marie is singing opera, and it's fantastic. I can't remember the name of the song she sang, but it was truly lovely. Donny did a Stevie Wonder montage I really loved, beginning with My Cherie Amor and finishing with I Wish! That guy is 50, but he can still rock it out! It was also fabulous to see good friends too like Janet, Molly, Donna, Gayle and Bob and several others.
I flew home Monday, worked Tuesday through Thursday, and then flew out again on Friday--this time to Salt Lake City. Becky had won tickets to the Pioneer Day Celebration Concert, which featured The Osmonds. This was going to be a very special concert as it would mark the very last performance the Osmonds (all seven of them) would do together.
Christine picked me up at the airport, and we stayed at the Salt Lake City Marriott Courtyard together. I had a chance to go to Friday night's show, but Chris didn't want to go, so I opted not to go too. I really wanted to spend the time with her, and we had a nice time together. We went to Red Robin for dinner and spent the rest of the night just talking and enjoying each other's company. Then on Saturday, we had a late breakfast and Chris drove me to get my hair trimmed. That was so nice of her! I was real happy with the haircut I got. Then Chris took me back to the airport where I picked up my rental car. She headed home to Eagle Mountain after that, and I'm really going to miss her.
With my rental car, I met up with Donna at the Marriott in downtown Salt Lake City, and then we went over to a restaurant and met my friend Denise and her family from Fresno, California. Denise is really special to me, because she has been battling fourth stage lymphoma for about five years now. She is an amazing miracle! And, another cool thing is a couple years ago, through genealogy study, her husband and I discovered that Tom (my husband) and her husband (Dave) are related. They have the same great great great grandfather! That is remarkable! Denise is doubly special to me, because we made a "connection" about 14 years ago through the Osmond Network. We just got to be really close cyber-friends, and out of the blue, she sent me my first Book of Mormon, with a beautiful note inside in which she referred to me as her eternal friend. What a nice visit we had with Denise and Dave, and I can't wait to see her again, although I don't know when that will be.
Denise did inform me that she will probably have to undergo another round of chemotherapy. She has lumps in her lymphnodes again, and she can feel them. Chemo is very hard on her, and she's not looking forward to this. But if I know Denise, she will be victorious, as she was before. As a matter of fact, while in remission, and in between chemotherapy rounds, she gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy! Denise is 44 years old, married to Dave, a great guy, and they have two sweet children, Hannah, 8 and Logan, 3.
Saturday night's concert at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's Conference Center, right outside of Temple Square, was really excellent! To be honest, our seats were pretty lousy. We got stuck all the way over to the East wall, and although we could see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra beautifully, we could not see the Osmond Family very well at all. We were actually seeing them to the side, and we were pretty far back. We were, however, able to watch them on the big screen on the wall, so that was good. As always, they gave a wonderful performance! And them with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was almost too much!
The real spiritual experience came on Sunday at Music & The Spoken Word. For the past 80 years, the Church has been broadcasting this 30-minute presentation from radio, and now television. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir were in full attendance and sang three beautiful hymns, then the Osmonds sang three spiritual songs that they have successfully recorded. It was unbelievable! There was a point during one of the MoTab songs that I felt a REAL JOLT! I don't know what that jolt was, but I can only believe that it was the Holy Spirit. I became so happy and so grateful that I was there. I was about the only person in attendance who was not crying. I just didn't have it in me to cry, I was so happy.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir finished up with a couple more hymns, and then after the broadcast was finished, everyone in the theatre, about 4,000 people, stood and clapped for what seemed like forever. Then the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson, was escorted onto the stage and personally presented every member of the Osmond family (including Tom and Virl) with a framed document. Later, I learned that framed document contained each of their favorite scriptures. What a treasure! There wasn't a dry eye in the house, except for mine.
During this whole drama, I met the dearest man who sat next to me. He definitely had the Spirit of Christ in him, as he spoke to me so sweetly. He teared up as he told me the story of how one of the hymns came to be. The thing that sticks with me the most though was that he said, "Make sure you go home to your husband and tell him he is married to a saintly woman." That really touched my heart. I hugged both him and his wife goodbye, and he even gave me a little kiss on the cheek. What a nice couple they were.
After the Music & The Spoken Word broadcast, Donna and I said our good-byes and high-tailed it to the Salt Lake City airport. Donna was real nervous about missing her plane, even though I knew she had plenty of time to get to it, but I obliged her and rushed unnecessarily.
I also want to mention that meeting with Rachel and Gerri from the UK and Becky from Iowa on Saturday night after the concert, was just so great. Gerri and I have some kind of spiritual connection. I know her. I knew her before this life, and I know she has a testimony of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is bursting to come out. Her boyfriend, Mark (a wonderful guy who picked up all the checks), is a member of the Pentacostal Church, a very charismatic religion. Gerri goes to church with him sometimes, but not always. So, I'm going to continue to pray for her and connect with her, and we'll see what happens. :)
Before I went to Vegas and Salt Lake City, I had the awesome experience of meeting with my new bishop on July 23rd. My main objective in meeting with him was to allow him to know me completely, so that I can become active in church again, and so that he can be that much more inspired to extend the church calling to me that I should absolutely be in. My last calling was teaching CTR B Primary children, which are 5 and 6 year-olds, and I had them for close to two hours. I did that calling for nine months, and it was very hard on me. I honestly had no business in that calling, and after awhile, I began to hate Sundays, so I went inactive at church, because I couldn't stand to be in that calling any longer.
My bishop was so warm and so understanding. He thanked me for coming in and telling him about myself. He eluded to the possibility of me being called into a family history calling, and that gave me the opportunity to tell him about my 22,000+ genealogical database, of which he was quite impressed. After talking with me for sometime, he also gave me hope in believing that I might someday be able to return to the Temple. I cannot describe how happy that makes me feel. So my meeting with my new bishop was truly awesome, and I look forward to becoming active at church again beginning August 9th.
I have had a little bit of a health scare. Over the last couple of days, I have not been able to lift my right foot. It just hangs down loosely. It is a bit swollen, and I'm feeling the tingling all the way up to my knee. I called my doctor, and they told me that this is a serious side effect of Lyrica. I am taking Lyrica for my fibromyalgia pain. But after speaking with my doctor's nurse and being informed that this condition, paralysis of my right leg, I am immediately stopping the drug. I was also instructed to elevate my right leg and ice it, so that's the position I'm in right now as I write this blog.
My next option for combating the sometimes excruciating pain of fibromalgia is injections under anesthesia. I have discussed this option with my doctor at length, and I'm going to do it. I am just waiting for a call from scheduling so I can go ahead and schedule that procedure. I am a bit scared, because it's a very serious thing, which requires I have a driver, plus, I mean, MY WORD, it's injections! But I really want more quality to my life, and so I'm going to do it. My brother has had this procedure before and it helped him immensely. He, too, suffers from chronic pain.
So that's what's been going on with me the past couple of weeks. Tomorrow we leave for Litchfield to see my Mother's surviving sisters and brother and lots of cousins. I'm looking forward to that. I don't care how swollen my foot and leg are! I am going!! Besides, you can get lots of ice in hotels!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Happenings
I had forgotten that Tommy, Elyse and I went to see "Hancock" with Will Smith at the movies, on Sunday, July 6th. It was o.k. Out of 4 stars, I would give it 2-1/2. I don't think it's doing very well at the box office.
Tom got home on Saturday and I'm so glad. He wasn't happy to be home, because it meant he was going to have to go back to work, but that's living.
I made an appointment to see my Bishop. It's 7/23 at 7:30 p.m. I'll be meeting him at the church. I plan to tell him all about myself, my physical and mental health, so that he can become inspired and extend a calling to me that's right. I honestly don't think I could do a calling that involves children. When I taught the children last time, they about killed me. I had six five- and six-year-old kids, and it was nuts. Those kids were naughty, and I had a hard time keeping up with them. Their parents weren't any help either.
I've been blogging for fromlabortolaughter.com, but Julie has only blogged once, and that was like a couple of weeks ago. I've decided not to post any more blogs until she posts another one. I do have one ready, but I'm holding it.
Tom and I have been trying to make plans for our New York trip in September. Money is very tight right now, and will be until December. So I think we've decided to stay in Secaucus, NJ, five miles outside of Manhattan. We can get a nice hotel there for $150 a night, and the bus and train lines are close enough for us to walk to. We can also get half off on Broadway tickets if we buy them at ticket outlets in Manhattan. Food is expensive in Manhattan, like everything else, but if we eat from the street vendors part of the time, we'll save money there too. So, I think we're going to be able to do this.
We have considered cancelling our August 1st Litchfield trip, but Tom hasn't given me an answer on that yet. It would save us some money that we could put toward New York.
I am very happy to report that my friend, Becky, passed her GED test! Yes, the whole thing! That means she'll be putting her mission papers in soon and will be called out on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! She's very excited! I'm so proud of her!
Kelli is doing o.k. in her new home. We met her roommate, Jimmy, and he seems like an o.k. guy. She is now romantically involved with him. I worry, because he's 26 years old, unemployed at the moment and doesn't have a car. That is not my idea of a good match, but I don't say anything to Kelli. I've just told her to be careful. It's not good to have a relationship with a roommate, because if the relationship goes sour, then she's out of a place to live and will have to move back home.
On August 9th, we're going to take Cindi out to try to find her a good used car. Carmax in Schaumburg has two Chevrolet Cavaliers that we might be interested in. It's really hard to find a small car that is only about 4 or 5 years old, but we're looking. People are holding on to their small cars, because of the high gas prices.
I've only been teaching on the average of one to two classes per week. This is the slow time, but it should pick up in September. As a matter of fact, I'm scheduled to travel to New Hampshire and to Tennessee for two one-day teaches. Those will be whirlwind trips; in one night, teach the class, and fly out that day. The company gives me a day to travel home too, but it's cheaper to fly home sooner if I can.
Cindi has applied for a dorm room at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and should hear back from them soon on that. She has applied for a single room, because of her social phobia disorder. She's very anxious about having to room with someone she doesn't know. I hope she gets it. She really needs to live in the dorm, so she's not spending as much money to commute back and forth. It's about 30 miles each way.
Well, that's about it for now. More another time.
Tom got home on Saturday and I'm so glad. He wasn't happy to be home, because it meant he was going to have to go back to work, but that's living.
I made an appointment to see my Bishop. It's 7/23 at 7:30 p.m. I'll be meeting him at the church. I plan to tell him all about myself, my physical and mental health, so that he can become inspired and extend a calling to me that's right. I honestly don't think I could do a calling that involves children. When I taught the children last time, they about killed me. I had six five- and six-year-old kids, and it was nuts. Those kids were naughty, and I had a hard time keeping up with them. Their parents weren't any help either.
I've been blogging for fromlabortolaughter.com, but Julie has only blogged once, and that was like a couple of weeks ago. I've decided not to post any more blogs until she posts another one. I do have one ready, but I'm holding it.
Tom and I have been trying to make plans for our New York trip in September. Money is very tight right now, and will be until December. So I think we've decided to stay in Secaucus, NJ, five miles outside of Manhattan. We can get a nice hotel there for $150 a night, and the bus and train lines are close enough for us to walk to. We can also get half off on Broadway tickets if we buy them at ticket outlets in Manhattan. Food is expensive in Manhattan, like everything else, but if we eat from the street vendors part of the time, we'll save money there too. So, I think we're going to be able to do this.
We have considered cancelling our August 1st Litchfield trip, but Tom hasn't given me an answer on that yet. It would save us some money that we could put toward New York.
I am very happy to report that my friend, Becky, passed her GED test! Yes, the whole thing! That means she'll be putting her mission papers in soon and will be called out on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! She's very excited! I'm so proud of her!
Kelli is doing o.k. in her new home. We met her roommate, Jimmy, and he seems like an o.k. guy. She is now romantically involved with him. I worry, because he's 26 years old, unemployed at the moment and doesn't have a car. That is not my idea of a good match, but I don't say anything to Kelli. I've just told her to be careful. It's not good to have a relationship with a roommate, because if the relationship goes sour, then she's out of a place to live and will have to move back home.
On August 9th, we're going to take Cindi out to try to find her a good used car. Carmax in Schaumburg has two Chevrolet Cavaliers that we might be interested in. It's really hard to find a small car that is only about 4 or 5 years old, but we're looking. People are holding on to their small cars, because of the high gas prices.
I've only been teaching on the average of one to two classes per week. This is the slow time, but it should pick up in September. As a matter of fact, I'm scheduled to travel to New Hampshire and to Tennessee for two one-day teaches. Those will be whirlwind trips; in one night, teach the class, and fly out that day. The company gives me a day to travel home too, but it's cheaper to fly home sooner if I can.
Cindi has applied for a dorm room at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and should hear back from them soon on that. She has applied for a single room, because of her social phobia disorder. She's very anxious about having to room with someone she doesn't know. I hope she gets it. She really needs to live in the dorm, so she's not spending as much money to commute back and forth. It's about 30 miles each way.
Well, that's about it for now. More another time.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Independence Day & Garage Sales
Rita came over yesterday and stayed the night with me. She came over about 11 a.m. and we left for garage sales pretty quickly. There weren't very many, as it was Independence Day, but we did hit three or four.
My coolest find was an awesome disco ball for Kelli for only $2.00! I called Kelli right away to tell her I wanted to bring it to her. She absolutely loved it and gave me two hugs and told me she loved me twice.
Yesterday afternoon, we went over to Paula and Raul's place and Raul cooked out. About 8 p.m. we drove down to the lake with Christina and Justin and Christina's friend, Annette. We had fabulous seats on the beach pretty close to the lighthouse and the fireworks were wonderful, especially the finale, of course. Rita and I got back to the house about 12:15 a.m.
This morning, we hit a few more garage sales. I found a couple of frogs for Cindi and two pair of jeans and a hoodie for Kelli, which I'm going to bring to her tomorrow.
We went to IHOP for lunch, and I had two pancakes with strawberries and bananas and maple syrup, two eggs and two pieces of crispy bacon. It was fabulous, and I ate every bit of it. Afterward, Rita and I hit another garage sale, then came back to the house to watch Juno on DVD. I absolutely loved that movie and it deserves all the alcolades it got!
Now I'm sitting here at 5:15 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, with no further plans for the day. Tommy talked about going to see the latest Will Smith movie, which we might do. He didn't come home last night, and I assume he stayed over at Elyse's. I might give him a call to see what he's up to.
I really need to work on Jim's church website some more and write my next blog for fromlabortolaughter.com, and I'll do that if Tommy doesn't want to go to the movie.
Well, I just got off the phone with Tommy, and we're going to see Hancock tomorrow at 3 p.m.! Then afterwards, I can meet up with Kelli and give her the things I got from the garage sale. Life is good, and I'm happy and doing well, even though I do miss Tom quite a bit. A week has gone by and I've survived. :)
I talked to Tom on the phone this morning, and he informed me that his aunt has landed in the hospital. The day before yesterday, she had a 103 degree temperature, and when she got to the hospital, they did the test to determine if she has the Mersa virus again. Apparently, she's had it twice before, and it's a very dangerous virus that can kill. So I am waiting very concerned to see how that is going to turn out. I honestly regret not going out there this time. I would have flown out after finding out that my trip to Jax next week was cancelled, but it was kind of late, and I would have had to give up the trip to NY, because I get only three weeks of vacation a year.
That's about it for now. Going to work on Jim's website now.
My coolest find was an awesome disco ball for Kelli for only $2.00! I called Kelli right away to tell her I wanted to bring it to her. She absolutely loved it and gave me two hugs and told me she loved me twice.
Yesterday afternoon, we went over to Paula and Raul's place and Raul cooked out. About 8 p.m. we drove down to the lake with Christina and Justin and Christina's friend, Annette. We had fabulous seats on the beach pretty close to the lighthouse and the fireworks were wonderful, especially the finale, of course. Rita and I got back to the house about 12:15 a.m.
This morning, we hit a few more garage sales. I found a couple of frogs for Cindi and two pair of jeans and a hoodie for Kelli, which I'm going to bring to her tomorrow.
We went to IHOP for lunch, and I had two pancakes with strawberries and bananas and maple syrup, two eggs and two pieces of crispy bacon. It was fabulous, and I ate every bit of it. Afterward, Rita and I hit another garage sale, then came back to the house to watch Juno on DVD. I absolutely loved that movie and it deserves all the alcolades it got!
Now I'm sitting here at 5:15 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, with no further plans for the day. Tommy talked about going to see the latest Will Smith movie, which we might do. He didn't come home last night, and I assume he stayed over at Elyse's. I might give him a call to see what he's up to.
I really need to work on Jim's church website some more and write my next blog for fromlabortolaughter.com, and I'll do that if Tommy doesn't want to go to the movie.
Well, I just got off the phone with Tommy, and we're going to see Hancock tomorrow at 3 p.m.! Then afterwards, I can meet up with Kelli and give her the things I got from the garage sale. Life is good, and I'm happy and doing well, even though I do miss Tom quite a bit. A week has gone by and I've survived. :)
I talked to Tom on the phone this morning, and he informed me that his aunt has landed in the hospital. The day before yesterday, she had a 103 degree temperature, and when she got to the hospital, they did the test to determine if she has the Mersa virus again. Apparently, she's had it twice before, and it's a very dangerous virus that can kill. So I am waiting very concerned to see how that is going to turn out. I honestly regret not going out there this time. I would have flown out after finding out that my trip to Jax next week was cancelled, but it was kind of late, and I would have had to give up the trip to NY, because I get only three weeks of vacation a year.
That's about it for now. Going to work on Jim's website now.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
No H Pylori Virus
I found out yesterday that my stomach ulcer is not caused by the H. Pylori virus, but instead is caused by my intake of aspirin. Aspirin really helps me with my fibromalgia and headaches, so I am basically in a Catch 22 situation. My pain doctor increased the Lyrica to 125 mg. now and also gave me a muscle relaxant for the headaches and another medication for the migraine headaches with strict instructions that I am only to take it up to twice a week. He also told me he wants me to take two of the acid inhibitor capsules everyday. The acid inhibitor is the strength of four Prylosec -- each day. That's a lot of Prylosec. So I am spending much of the day shoving pills down my throat. It sucks. I just have to remember that this is all temporary.
This week I had no classes to teach and next week, I have just one. That also sucks, because I need to keep busy. I miss Tom, and can't wait until a week from Saturday when he'll be home again.
This week I had no classes to teach and next week, I have just one. That also sucks, because I need to keep busy. I miss Tom, and can't wait until a week from Saturday when he'll be home again.
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