This past week

I've been receiving blood test results from both the hospital and my primary doctor.   He told me my A1C was up and so was my cholesterol.  So almost every day I have gone to pick up prescriptions and make sure I take them. My PC wants me to get blood work in a couple of months.  I need to check the patient portal for notes.  He strongly urges me to take the meds for the A1C and Cholesterol because if I don’t, I can’t have a stroke or heart attack.

Due to being on antibiotics, the infusion scheduled for Friday was cancelled.  I checked with the rheumatologist, and she confirmed and thanked me for following up.   I don’t know if they will call me back forh this month or just keep the schedule as it is.

I just reordered the one from Dr. Yang.  It’s a huge ass name too.  It should be here in a couple of days.  I will also see her next Friday before I start my vacation.  Although that wouldn’t matter or not. 

I'm working on improving the menus.   To make better choices but that I am finding difficult.  For example.  I had a bowl of cereal this morning (not the usual 2 bowls) but I had coffee a few times today and now having Cinnamon Apple Spice and for lunch three rib steaks thin.  I had planned on cooking all three since they were frozen together and have only one and use the other two for something else in the next couple of days.  I should have put them in the freezer instead of eating them.

I was considering tonight's party food.  I am going to try hard not to eat the wings that I am bringing but I saw on the message board that there will be lots of fruit and salads and some snacky stuff.  Stay hydrated.

I still need to review recipes to see if they suit my needs.   I will let you know

Tickled Pink

I don't know what happened last night but when it came time to go to bed Tiger came willingly upstairs and sat with me. She cuddled at my feet. Then she went underneath the bed. Then I went downstairs to find Sky. I found him under the white chair by the TV. There's a place he's been spending quite a lot of time under. I tried to get him to come out a little he didn't so I let him come on his own terms. Tiger once again followed me up and sat with me a short time later Sky came. They both set up here by themselves.  The Tiger went underneath the bed again. Then she team up then back down. My Hope Is she'll come back up and lay by my legs again. I have to wonder is it because of the end of the summer or what?

What I wasn’t tickled pink about was the litter box  mat was wet. One of them peed on in it.. I just put fresh litter down so I don’t know why they did that.  So that means sometime tonight before sundown I have to clean it... At least they didn’t leave me any hairballs!

As I was getting ready for work this morning I was dawdling and SKy was very vocal  i rushed around and got dressed (after checking things on the computer) and left just before 7::30.  I saw about two buses and many people waiting for their buses.. Traffic seemed a bit heavier than it had been.  Maybe because of school, people returning from vacations, I know as the week winds down it will be crazy by then.

It was just before 8 when I got in but before getting to my desk I did my daily check in with Supervisor Bob and Team lead Lauren.  I reminded them of my appointment later this afternoon... When I arrived I jumped into work. There didn’t seem to be too much which is good..  The only problem I had is trying to remember the sorting (I have been letting DG do it all this time) and I couldn’t remember what order I had them in!~!~

Heard from Jim...just our regular morning connections I guess.  He has been running and posting his time just like I Have with my steps and my walking.  I am hoping I can do another walk tonight but it all depends on how I feel after the class tonight or I may do it instead of the class...not sure yet.

I am leaving early today for the appointment with Dr. Sonia.  I just remembered I needed to get blood work done and should have done it Friday.  I hope I have some time to do it after the appointment.

 

Mid-Week Reflection a day late

It has been quite chilly and frosty this week.  I had to use the scraper on the car before I left a couple of times this week.  The week  seemed to be ending with rain showers and gray skies.

I managed to get TL to sleep with us for a little while this week until about 4 when Sky and she started wrestling by my legs and waist and I could hear Tiger making sounds.  She got up and left and he followed but not before I chastised him.  I was really  getting concerned about this.  They managed to sit on the same chair over the weekend but my concern was dissipated when Wednesday night into Thursday I found Tiger at my side and not my regular Sky.  He came later and he ended up sitting in Tiger’s regular spot.  It's all confusing at that hour.

Had a good Gastroenterology appointment.  Has me set up for another colonoscopy in ten years September 2024.   The Benlysta session was a little awkward my veins were not cooperating in the regular arm so now there is a spot on my left hand.  I did finish early and that surprised Ms Roberta and I together. 

The only other appointment is Debra on Thursday.  I will tell her my usual stuff, work, health, family, activities.   We have to go over the calendar and rearrange our sessions for the rest of the month. 

 The only appointments I have are next week and they are health Coach on Wednesday the Dentist for the filling on Thursday and they are both after work.  Each are half hour.

The Woman’s Club/Girls club went very well.  We have a lot of activities coming up including a date change for one meeting since it's our holiday party and the girls have exams the following week.  We will be doing an additional activity at Birmingham Health Care in December.  It will be a sing-a-long.  Luckily it will be the day after our other sing-a-long but in the morning.  It will not conflict with  the afternoon activities I have planned for that day.

I know have a complete understanding of our new fundraiser.  We will take orders for gift cards at face value and then send the order to the company and when they come we give them to the people who ordered.  I don’t even want to tell you how I was understanding the whole thing.  Sometimes it takes several explanations.

I got an invitation to the 2015 Inauguration today. It will be on MOnday.  November 16, 2015 at the Government Center.  i went two years ago as well and it will be all the candidates.

I may have mentioned in previous entries that I got a letter from the Sewer commission to inform us there will be an important meeting to discuss the sewer systems that were put in.  I will say we all got a letter and feel it's about getting additional paying.   I know we paid taxes on it but I guess this is all part of it.

The next 4th DIstrict is on the 19th I believe it will be at Sharon’s house.  I have the minutes ready to be filled in.  I want to get back into getting them done in a timely manner.  Even if no one really cares when it gets done.

Tonight I had steak for dinner.  Nothing much else either...yeah not the best but it was in honor of this week’s episode of NCIS.  It was a good episode. 

I threw some laundry in and probably won’t go to bed until it gets done.  STraightening up here and there.

Oh and finally for weeks maybe even months I have been seeing the ads for FanDuel and the other “Fantasy Football” sites and over those months I came to the conclusion it was basically gambling.  Well today the NY state government came to the same conclusion.  They banned both sites from taking bets in the state.  Apparently some other states are doing the same.

The last few days

I woke up pretty early.  I called my Team leader around 7:30 this morning and talked about the Doctor wanting me stay home until the 31st.  We talked about her health (she is catching something too) and we talked about who was doing the work.   i called Lee Ann around 9:30 and brought her up to date and told her some things I would be doing.

I did do some more vacuuming (this time the floors).  It seems like I am always doing vacuuming.  I am debating whether or not to clean out the cupboard/closet today or not.  I want to get the bathroom floor done first.  

I finally got the floors vacuumed that it won’t skeeve me out.  The next objective will be to wash the floors if I can manage.  I don’t think I want to do that today though.

I did manage to go out and empty garbage and finally picked up the garbage can lid it was nice out but still chilly.

I got a call from Dr. Gordon and was able to see her yesterday.  She urged me to see the cardiologist asap.  SHe filled in the reports that she didn’t have and confirmed that I did have a flare up and that there was nothing that could be done.  She says I still have some fluid around heart I think.  I won’t be going back to work until next week perhaps.

After that appointment Liz and I headed back to milford got some lunch for me and did some grocery shopping.  The rest of the day is now a blur but I know I rested.  I made the necessary phone calls and had a chat with Debra.

I had a really good sleep last night and even dreamt of Mom

Today was bloodwork that Dr. Gordon wanted me to have done.  It wasn’t too busy but I needed to stay a little longer.  After that I headed to Liz’s so that we could take off for the cardiologist in Trumbull.  

He was hot.  He says the ECG looks good.  He says the medication (the anti inflammatory is working but still need to wait it out.  Antibiotics would not work at this point because its not an infection.  So I am taking the anti-inflammatories.  Need to take more tests.  follow up in two weeks.  Just have to wait it out.  He wants me to build up the exercise (walking mostly) rest when I need.

That’s going to have to be because I got an email From HR rep to fill out FMLA papers.  I have to review the email but Bob asked to have me fill out.  It turned out to be 1 page print out but there is another one I probably will have to get via the website.

Its been raining the last two days.  Its getting rid of most of the snow but for some not as fast as they would like.  I was hoping to take a walk today but not if its that rainy or cold.  I may have to bite the bullet and just go.

Dear Friends

December 9, 2013

Dear Friends:

    Well I am having mixed feelings about the precipitation we got.  While many others got snow The immediate region got ice.  I knew I should have started the car when I took the dogs out.  It took me a while to get the ice off.  I left their house by 7:20 and took a different route than normal.

According to WTNH there were 357 closings or delays and some of them were businesses but mid-day it was down to 9 closings.  I really think they should be separate from school lists.  I don’t have a great reason.  

Anyway its very quiet around the office.  Judy promised she would come in a see me so I would not be “too lonely”.  Even Mama Joanie is not in.  More people came in by noon time.  

    I feel bad that I had to make the boys get up so early.  I wanted to make sure things were done before I left (they are not).  Packy was not very cooperative with walking (but who could blame the old guy?).  I was a little afraid that I would fall if they kept pulling both ways (and they did that a lot this weekend).  I let them go back to sleep for a little while and I got ready for work and had the  TV in the background.

    I managed to get the mail done by 2 and the postage stuff done by 3:30.  I was able to work on the re-address mail as well.  I had asked Judy if I could leave a little earlier than 4 as I had the dr. appointment at 4:30.  She was fine with it.  

The drive to the doctors seemed long but I got there shortly after 4:30.  I got blood work done and then triaged...I lost 8 lbs since our last visit.  BP was good.  He was very pleased with the numbers. He wants me to start taking the iron pills again.  I would imagine he wants me to continue with red meat as well (not a problem).  I don’t  have to do the infusion right now.  My next appointment is January 6, 2014.

I was back with the pups by 5.  I played with them and then called Mom and then took them for their walk.   I hope they do poop the next time I take them out.  I called Mom to tell her I would stay until they got home at midnight.  She wasn’t home but she should be by 7.

So I have been washing the sheets and discovered I found my two cards I couldn’t find.  They were in the washer.  I am so relieved.  I had been trying to call the deli where I last used one of them and no answer.

I received an email from the husband of this woman asking if people they come across would post in their own blogs something they are thankful for.  Apparently she has been blue and wanted to do something for December.  I have no idea where he found me but I think I should do it.

Here is the email he sent:

Cameron Von St James writes:

“Hi Kathleen!

I am reaching out today because of your blog! My name is Cameron Von St. James and my wife Heather is an 8-year survivor of mesothelioma - a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. When she was diagnosed, she had just given birth to our little girl, Lily. Heather was told she only had 15 months left to live. I was quickly thrown into the role of caregiver, and together we decided we would do whatever it took to beat the cancer. Nearly 8 years later, Heather is cancer free and doing what she loves most; raising Lily. Because she beat the odds and is one of few long-term survivors of mesothelioma, it is our mission to spread awareness of mesothelioma by sharing our personal story.

If her cancer has taught us anything, it’s the value of life and the value of gratitude. Her diagnosis was in the Holiday season, and every year around this time she gets what we call the “Holiday Blues” Therefore, she created “30 Days of Thankfulness” where she acknowledges something in her life that she is thankful for every day throughout the month.

This year, we decided to take this idea to the blogosphere. We’ve been so lucky to meet some incredible bloggers who have helped us in our journey to spread awareness and I was wondering if you would do that same! This December, Heather and I are asking bloggers to post about something that they are thankful for, along with sharing a little bit of our story with your readers. I hope you are interested!

Here is the link to a short video where you can learn more about our story: mesothelioma.com/heather

Let me know what you think!” 

I think I should participate!  How about you?

Dear Friends

August 26, 2013

Dear Friends:

The day started off dreary.  Reports of clouds and rain and possible thundershowers were expected throughout the day.  My ankle seemed to confirm that.  The rain didn’t start until I got home and it wasn’t very long.

Work went really well I got a lot done and managed to work on the readdress mail when the rest of the stuff was done.  Many people came back from vacation recently and it was really good to see them.  I hope they share their adventures with me.  

This week is month end so I am hoping the next four days will be more than satisfactory for everyone.  I am expecting the rest of the week to be heavy in lockbox and electronic and regular volume for me.

I left a little after 4 for my appointment with the Hematologist.  It was the fifth and final iron infusion for the next month.  He says it needs time to regenerate and I will get to see him in late September.  I was pleased that with everything I have been eating I still managed to lose a pound in a week. BP was good too.  I even realized its been quite a while since I had any dizzy spells.

When I got home Mom was making dinner and a quiche.  She had told me the doctor told her to get red meat out of her diet.  This will help her from getting sick all the time.  This also includes pork.  The FDA considers that red meat she tells me.  The pork industry has lied to us!!! LOL.  She says she doesn’t have to see this Doctor until November.  I asked Mom if not having red meat upset her and she said no.  This also means I won’t be getting red meat as much either.  I am not opposed to that idea either.

After dinner Mom finished cleaning up and working more on the quiche.  I could tell she was getting tired so I am doing dinner tomorrow.  NOw she is trying to find something to watch.  I am not sure she was successful.  I know I wasn’t.

Mom tells me we have been invited to baby Olivia’s Christening next month.  It is the weekend after Labor  Day.  I am going to make arrangements to have the girls (snort) help out or maybe the newest community service High Schooler.

WEll I think I am going to bed.  My leg is bothering me tonight so I need to get off of it.  Have a great night...

Kate

Dear Friends

August 5, 2013

Dear Friends

Happy Monday.  I hope your day went well.  Since I had a rough night of sleeping I overslept and truthfully procrastinated.  I had to get gas for the car.  So needless to say I was l-a-t-e.  Luckily the mail volume was light so I could do the re-address mail.

I talked with Mom this morning she had been up a short time and about to get thing ready in preparation for Jim and the kids visit.  It wasn’t until I got home I found out the kids had other plans with their mother so he came alone.   He will be here until Wednesday morning.

Yes I finally got a hold of Liz today.  Actually I left a couple of messages everywhere...she called me back midday.  She and the kids (Chris joined them too) went on a mini vacation up to Waterbury for the waterbury water park.  Its attached to a hotel.  Its called  Coco Key Water Resort and Hotel.  I haven’t been there but I have heard only sporadic things about it.  It has gotten mixed reviews here.  I will see what Liz has to say about it when I see her later this week.

my Iron infusion went well.  I saw Dr. Lu for 15 minutes first and I had some blood work done.  I did show him  the redness on my arm from the last infusion and that it was tender.  He prescribed an antibiotic for it.  I was given my infusion and watched the news for the next thirty minutes.

It was almost 5;30 when I got home.  Jim was in the guest room reading and Mom was getting dinner started but we didn’t really eat until 6.  We had steak and perogies and salad.  As we were cleaning up M&T came over to visit and to share the peach pie for dessert.  

AFter awhile it was just us.  I helped with the dishes and then talked with JIm while Mom watched TV

Now I am going to bed.