Vegas Bound!

It's been almost a year since my last trip to Vegas. Before that trip, it'd been at least 5 years. I'm on my way to Vegas as I type this. I'm going to a meeting, a short meeting, but planning on getting the most out of my time there.

Chris wasn't as enthralled with Vegas as I am, of as I hoped he'd be. He passed on going on this trip.

It will be odd being there solo, but I've got so much planned to keep me busy that I know I'll have fun.

I want to see The Lion King at Mandalay Bay tonight, and Ka at MGM tomorrow. Im going to fill the rest of my time eating, gambling and sight seeing. Oh yeah, and attend that meeting.

I signed up for Google Latitude so Chris, my parents and my brother could track me. I figured it was only fair to let him track me because I am tracking his trek across the west on their camping trip to the Grand Canyon.

I'm taking a shuttle to Atlanta. Great service! Let someone else worry about the driving. I know I'll be especially grateful for it after I arrive back home on the red eye.

I downloaded The Help to read on the plane, but I made the mistake of starting to read it. I finished it yesterday! It is a great book. If you're looking for a great read, get this book. It will definitely make you laugh, and cry, and also make you stop and think.

I'm so glad my parents raised me to be accepting to different races. God created us all and loves us equally.

So, I think I might doze a bit, because I can do that, because someone else is driving.

Long week and a half

It started on October 18th, my friend needing the liver transplant called, he was sick.  So, I took him to the emergency room. 12 hours later, he's been admitted and is settled in a room.  I go to visit at lunch the next day, and he is throwing up into a trash can while the nurse is telling him he is being dismissed.  I knew something was wrong and they just weren't seeing it.  So, I called his transplant coordinator who told us to get him to Emory.

So, off we go to Emory.  About 2 am, they tell us they are keeping him, and I head for home.  It's about a 2 hour drive, so I crawled into bed at 4 am.

It's now Thursday.  I go to visit my friend who is in a battle with a horrible disease.  So glad to get the chance to see her for a little while.  She was feeling like crap, but at least we had the chance to visit for a little while.

Friday night, the other friend is getting dismissed, so we get his mom and head out for Atlanta.  As soon as we got there, they tell us they just readmitted him.  So, we leave to get something to eat while his mom visits with him.  We found a great little restaurant near the hospital and had a really good meal. 

Turns out the friend has a partial bowel obstruction.

Saturday, we had a family get together for Chris's dad's birthday, then off to a party with the car club who held the benefit for my friend.

Sunday, I go to Emory to spend a few hours with him.

Monday, it's back to work.

Tuesday, he's having a really difficult time.  I go home and pack a small overnight bag and head for Emory.  I spend the night in a reclining chair so I can be there when the doctor rounds the next morning.  Once I have the chance to talk to them, and get him showered and settled, I head to home to get a shower and go to work.

I worked late on Wednesday to try to get caught up on a few things.

Thursday Chris had a procedure, once that was finished, I went to work. 

My other friend gets admitted to the hospital for a blood transfusion, so I go and spend some time with her.

Friday, the friend at Emory gets dismissed, so we head to Atlanta to pick him up.

I fell into bed as soon as I got home.

Chris says I'm not allowed to go anywhere today.  He says I need a day to be a couch potato.  He's right.  So, I'm sitting on the sofa, recounting this week.

We saw a lot of nurses this week, some of them went above and beyond and made some differences small and large.  Some of them, were sour and did the minimal amount they had to.  Sometimes nurses can't do anything to correct a medical problem, but they can show kindness and offer a caring touch.  For those who did provide that, I'm very thankful.  I wish I could remember all of their names, but the ones that stand out are Adrienne, Darlene and Lynn.

I am tired.

But, I am home, I am being a couch potato.  I just wish my two friends could be doing the same instead of fighting the tough battles that they are facing.

Sweet tooth

Something's got to give with this sweet tooth!  I did so well for 6 months on Weight Watchers, then I had my gallbladder out and I can't get enough sweet stuff to eat!  I've gone cupcake crazy.  Put a cookie in front of me and I pretend points don't matter for a few minutes!  I've managed to get off 3 of the 7 lbs I put on, but just not good enough!  And, if the cookies I just ate actually have points in them, I'm screwed for today.

The kindness of strangers

Strangers, you never really think that much about them, that is until something happens that makes you stop and ponder. Well, I did some pondering in the past week.  I have a dear friend who needs a liver transplant.  We need to raise some money for him for his account with the Georgia Transplant Foundation, they will match up to $10,000, so it's very important to raise $10K.

I was feeling sort of alone and overwhelmed with the prospect of where to start, because it was going to be up to me.

A friend of his is part of a classic car group.  They decided to do a fund raiser for him.  They held it last Saturday.  I was completely blown away.  So many people came out to give to someone they had never met.  I was choked up and just barely held the tears at bay all day.

Everyone I met was so friendly, and so enthusiastic about what they were doing.

At the end of the day, they had raised $4200.

We joined the club.  We want to give back.  Their monthly meeting was just 3 days after the fund raiser.  We went, and were just amazed at the energy and the ideas of this group of people. 

We've been living in this town for 4 years, and hadn't really met a lot of the residents, just our close neighbors, and a few people we knew from work, my hair dresser, and people working at the places we frequent - shopping and eating.  I feel like we have increased our circle of friends already.

Strangers no more...

AMC update

So I watched the end of AMC - what an awful ending.  That's all I've got to say about that...

All My Children

So, rewind to 1980.  We are moving back to Georgia - I had been practicing for months for choir tour.  My parents let me stay with Carmella, a friend from church, and her family until choir tour was over.  So, I got to live with them for a month.  During that month, school is out, so we're home during the day.  Carmella watched "All My Children" every day.  I couldn't help it, I got interested, even though I knew my parents wouldn't be thrilled about it.

Once I got home, I didn't watch it any longer.  Then, I move out of their house, and I have a VCR - so I start recording it.  I watched it on tapes for a few years.  And then, for some reason, I quit watching it regularly.  Every now and then, I'd catch up on it.

Then, the Soap Network was born - and I could watch it at night, so I did that for a while.

Seemed that every time I'd get back into it - Tad and Dixie had split up or were getting back together, Erica was marrying someone else or about to marry Jack again, Myrtle was still taking care of strays and giving them a place to live, Adam was still a jerk and Stuart was an angel, Angie and Jessie were on again, off again.  Then there was Brooke, and Opal and David and Greenlee and Kendall and Bianca and Joe and Ruth and Liza... and so many more.  I even remember Greg and Jenny.

Eventually, I just stopped watching altogether, I'm not really sure why, I just did.

A few weeks ago, I heard that it's ending it's 41 year run.  So, I started to record it again last week, so I could watch it up until the end. 

I've got two more days to watch, the finale was this past Friday.  I must admit, I got a little weepy.  And I recognized many of the flashback scenes they've shown.  I really expected them to do a little more in the way of flashbacks, but I guess they had to wind up story lines.

It's odd, even though I had stopped watching, it's just been there for most of my life.  I was 5 when the show first aired  (yes, you can do the math to figure out my age...), it was always there.  So, now that I know it's over, it's bummed me out a little bit.  Watching the episodes this past week made me realize that these characters have been part of my life for over 30 years.

I did just find out there is going to be an Internet version of the show, so maybe I'll check that out, but then again, maybe not.

And, while I'm typing this post, I hear that Desparate Housewives is having their final season this year... grrr.

And that's all I have to say about that

White after Labor Day?

It's after Labor Day, and I'm going to wear white again today. I never really care for certain fashion rules, and this is one of them.

I did however, mind about the guy who came to a business dinner at a very expensive restaurant dressed as if he were about to go to a big truck race. Have a little respect and at least TRY! And, at a minimum, take off your ball cap at the table! The meal sponsored by a company who makes an awesome product, and they invited some hospital staff. So, he was also representing his employer. Someone needs to give him a little lesson... Just saying.

Bullet Points

A myriad of things going through my mind this morning.  I think a bullet point list is in order:

• Wondering if Leona is remembering the shirt folding trick I taught her. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5AWQ5aBjgE My mom actually sent it to me to see if we could do it.  She said she thought Chris would be able to master it.  He watched it one time and got it, and after a few tries, managed to teach me.  Now, I use it all the time.  Just re-watching that video, I realize that I start out on the right shoulder, and they start on the left shoulder, but oh well, the result is the same.  Leona liked it, and she got it after two tries - so I think maybe she'll stick with it.  She said she makes hospital corners on her bed, so I'm thinking this may be her new thing.  I was thinking about this because I'm in the midst of doing a week's worth of laundry.
• Thinking about Willy a lot this morning because I went back and read through some of my older blog posts.  Of course, I think about him daily.  I would think I'd be further along in the healing process of missing my little boy, but let's face it, I'm just not.  I get sad every day, but I do smile when I think of him too.  If he was here right now, he'd be next to me, because he always was in tune with my moods.  He'd know I was upset and would be loving on me.  Gabby doesn't have the same instinct.  I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed with that.  It was always a comfort to me, and that is one of the things I miss more than anything.  That, and watching his expressive tail.  I could tell his mood by his tail.
• Eminent Domain - read my old post here: http://juleebean.blogspot.com/2009/11/eminent-domain.html - an update.  The county didn't pass the SPLOST last year that was going to pay for the purchase of our building.  This year, they voted to renovate the current courthouse and not put the expansion of the courthouse on the ballot.  So, it looks like we are staying in place.  It's really a relief in some ways, because moving an office is TONS of work that goes on for months in preparation, and months after - getting settled, changing address, etc, etc.  But, on the other hand, it would have been exciting.  But, all in all, it's okay.
• Weight Watchers - I simply have GOT to get back in the right frame of mind!  I've let myself gain 6 pounds back.  While, that's not a horrible amount, it is still a G.A.I.N.  I haven't gone back up a size.  I'm still in a 14 pant (down from size 18, and even bigger than that at different points.)  Heck, I even bought a size 12 recently, a cute little black skort (yes, skort).  It fits, but could fit a tad better.  I'm stoked to be in a size 12 anything!
• The Johns Hopkins Spine Line - my case is on there.  Put there by my neurosurgeon.  You see, I'm having more difficulties relating to my spine.  Turns out EVERY disc in my C-spine is either bulging or degenerating.  One of my thoracic discs is bulging, but none of that significant enough to cause the symptoms I've been having since March or April this year.  I don't want to give TMI, so I'll highlight one of the main symptoms, and that is when I walk any distance, my legs go numb from the waist down, and when I bend my head forward, I get an electric type jolt from my waist running down to my feet.  There is actually a name for that, it's called Lhermitte's Sign - who knew?!  Anyway, my neurosurgeon is at a loss, we've done MRIs, CTs, vascular tests, some ultrasounds... nothing pointing to anything.  I told him that I actually expected that, and realize it's probably something that I'm going to have to learn with.  He told me that HE wasn't satisified with that, and considers himself meticulous.  The Spine Line didn't offer him any help.  So, he's referring me to a different neurosurgeon before we throw our hands up in the air.  He told me that the next test will probably be a lumbar puncture, because there could be an issue with the spinal fluid pressures... stay tuned!
• Favorite music artist right now is Adele.  Recorded the CD to my Music Collection hard drive on my car, and it has been playing constantly ever since, well, except for last night when Chris was riding with me, and it ISN'T his music obsession, so he took control of the channel surfing on XM.
• Loving my new car. I am still a wee bit shocked that I bought myself a brand spanking new 2012 BMW X5

• Chris is building a wonderful storage shed with a ton of help from his Dad.  His mom is also pitching in, and well, so am I a little.  Of course, I'm footing the bill, so that counts as helping, but I've also done some of the manual labor - mostly holding this, and handing that... but it is a contribution.  I'm excited to see the end result.  And, I'm excited to get things moved out there so the X5 can claim her spot in the garage.
• Do you name your cars?  I have had some that I did, and some that didn't get christened with a name.  However, I did name the X5.  I named her Pippa.  I chose that name because she is the sporty hot sister to the luxury cars.  (even though, I have to admit, Pippa is pretty luxurious herself, I'm finding myself very much liking having a BMW).
• Soccer season is here.  Going later today to see my nephew play.
• My Dad and Mom have a new puppy.  Her name is Missy.  She got off to a rough start at their house though when one of the cats took a swipe at her and punctured her eye.  She had to have surgery, but she's recovering nicely, and we're very hopeful that she's not going to lose sight in that eye.  I haven't met her yet, but I'm told she is a very sweet little girl.  My Dad is taking her to obedience classes. He's very excited and already very attached to her according to my Mom.

• Last night was Chris's aunt's birthday dinner at his Grandmother's house.  The person of honor (and any other family members who had a birthday in that same month) get a red You Are Special Spode plate to eat on, and gets to go first in line.

• I'm still praying for my friends facing health issues.  My friend with breast cancer is having a tough time,  I'm going to stop by for a quick visit with her today.
• I went to Emory Hospital to the Transplant Center with my friend who is on the list to get a liver transplant.  His appointment was this past Monday.  The doctor feels like he will get a liver within the next month or two.  He said if he hasn't gotten one by the end of September, he's going to write a letter to the committee to try to get him moved up higher on the list.  Praying for his liver has at times to me seemed so odd, because when he gets a liver, that means someone died.  What will be happy for us, will be devastating to someone else.
• Another friend's daughter is expecting again.  Okay, so my friends are grandparents now!  Yikes!
• Work has been keeping me VERY busy lately.  It seems though, the hardest part of my job is having to deal with OTHER people's moods.  Come on people, we all have to be there 8 hours a day (at least, even though mine are usuallly 9 or 10...), getting along makes the day so much easier!  Constant interruptions to deal with this problem or that problem really hampers my productivity.  I am very thankful to have a job, and a job that I like.  A job that affords me the capability of having Pippa... and health insurance, and a house, and food... you know, stuff like that.
• There are tons more things swirling through my mind, I'll think of something and by the time I get to the next bullet point, something else has put itself in the forefront of my thoughts, and pushing the other thoughts back... and these days, it's hard to retrieve those thoughts that aren't first and foremost in line.  I am looking at the time though, and I need to start getting ready to leave for the soccer game and visit to my friend.

Good times

So, my friend Leona got to come for a visit.  She was working nearby and stayed with me instead of getting a hotel room.  We were able to fit in a quick visit with our mutual friend Ashley.  Good times! 

Rest in peace Kadin

Much loved, greatly missed.

Update time

I left off with my lung surgery -- well, not even a month later, my gallbladder decided it needed some attention.  So, back to the O.R. it was.  The staff was like "you look familiar..." And a month after that, I had to go in for the day for a CT myelogram, when I walked in, this time the staff was "you're back!" 

Copays have been taking a huge bite out of my budget!  I'm so ready for all of this stuff to be over.  Alas, I have a couple of MRIs scheduled for next week.  And then, I'm going to hang it up with the doctors for a while unless I get some news that I can't ignore. 

I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that some things, I'm just going to have to learn to live with.  And, to that end, I've been living with them for a while, so I kind of have a head start huh?

Gabby has had a couple of issues herself - we've been assigned the fun job of wiping her hiney with an antibiotic cloth, and you can rest assured that she likes it even less than we do.

A week after she was at the vet for that, she started limping.  I thought she'd hurt her paw, but couldn't tell anything, so I took her in again.  I had to leave her.  They called me that afternoon and asked if they could sedate her to examine her, because she was a really unhappy little girl.  I said sure.  Turns out, she had hurt her shoulder.  Poor girl. 

I won't so quickly say yes when they ask me if they can sedate her again.  She must have had some horrible hallucinations - she howled and hissed and growled for 24 hours!  All I wanted to do was hold her and all she wanted was for me to get out of her sight.  I felt so bad!  I called the vet, and they promised me it would wear off.  I was very happy when I got home from work the next day and sweet Gabby greeted me!

So, now, not only are we wiping her hiney, I have to spice up her food with some "kitty cat yogurt", a medication for her shoulder, and her preventative L-lysine.  She gets so impatient with me while I'm mixing it all up every morning. 

Her tummy issue is better, but not resolved.

She has started playing again!!  She must have been hurting for a while, but I didn't pick up on it.  She would be interested in playing, and would make a half-hearted effort - I just thought she was bored with our games.  She makes up games, and I play along.  She's been very snuggly lately, so I'm glad about that.

We are building a storage building in the back yard.  Well, let me clarify that, CHRIS is building the building.  His Dad is first assistant, and I am the 2nd assistant.

They are doing a great job.  I'm excited to see it come together.  And now, I want a gazebo...

My friend in need of a liver transplant is now on the transplant list.  We are now just waiting on that phone call.

My friend battling breast cancer is dealing with a spread of the cancer to her spinal fluid.  She's a fighter, cancer's a loser.

I have a friend coming from Phoenix in a few days to stay a week, I'm really excited to get to see her again!

Puzzle solved

So, I had the biopsy last week, spent a lovely night in the hospital with a tube sticking out of my chest.  I've been through a lot of surgery and experienced a lot of pain in my life.  I will say that lung surgery is like no other pain I've ever felt before.  Imagine a fire spreading across your chest while someone is repeatedly stabbing you and not being able to catch a breath at the same time.  h.u.r.t.s.

They did a frozen section during the surgery and found out it was not cancer.  :)

The final pathology has come back, it is nodular lymphoid hyperplasia.  Apparently nothing to worry about.

My incisions are healing.  Skin is very sensitive and the left side of my chest feels numb,  and now it is starting to itch.  A small price to pay for finally KNOWING. 

So - day before yesterday, I had to go to a different doctor and ended up having a minor procedure.  I ended up in respiratory distress and being put on an ambulance and taken to the emergency room.  It was such a scary experience.  Part of me knew that it was going to be okay, I was surrounded by medical personnel, and part of me was terrified, because when it first started happening, I could not breathe at all.  I couldn't speak.  The PA was very attentive and realized that something had gone really wrong.  They all responded promptly and very professionally.

I've been a little weepy this past week - maybe part of it is from being put on a ventilator during the surgery, and part of it going into respiratory distress, and relief, and worry, and pain, and the stress of things piling up on my desk at the office.  The little ambulance ride cost me a couple more days at home taking it easy while things at work kept piling on.  I think of how differently things could have gone on so many accounts.

Today I find out I have 4 leaky heart valves.  What's the saying "getting old ain't for sissies"?  And then this afternoon, I had a to have a medical test that was by far the most mortifying thing I've ever had to do.  I won't go into the details of it, but I sure hope they got the information they need!  I won't voluntarily do that again!

I do wish all of my body systems would start playing together nicely.

The main thing is that the question mark about what was in my lung has been removed, and me and Chris and my family and friends have been able to breathe a sigh of relief.  Thank you God for answering our prayers.

The question has been answered

So, referring back to my post To bx or not to bx in August of 2009 - after a lot of consideration, I decided to not do the lung biopsy and just follow the protocol of having CT scans of my chest for 2 years.  They stretched the frequency back from 3 months to 6 months, and then out to a year.

I had my last CT about two weeks ago and went for the results on Thursday.  I got a little nervous just from the doctor's mannerism, and then his statement "this was supposed to have been your last CT", and I felt my stomach flip.  I told myself to concentrate on what he was saying.  He said there are changes on the CT, the nodule has enlarged and is irregular in shape.  He told me I need to have it excised, but that I need to have a PET scan first.

I associate PET scans with cancer.

I managed to ask some semi-intelligent questions.  I managed not to fall apart.  I did start shaking as soon as the doctor left the room to get the PET scan scheduled.  I texted Chris, then we talked.  He is concerned of course, and now we are both ready to move on, get it done, but as with all things medical, you have to WAIT.  I have to wait a week to have the PET scan, then wait a week to see the doctor for the results, and then I have to wait for the surgery to be scheduled and then I have to wait for biopsy results.

My parents and family and friends are all obviously concerned.

Even though I have to wait - I do have some things on my side, other than God who has me in his hands, I work for 3 wonderful cardiothoracic surgeons.  2 of them went to the hospital that same day and personally reviewed my CT scans, and discussed them with the radiologist and the pulmonologist.  All 4 agree that the nodule has to come out.

I feel so much better though now knowing what their line of thought is - the edges of the nodule are ill defined and it is very difficult to compare and say with certainty that it has remained stable.  They are unable to feel confident that they are comparing the same slices.  So, their recommendation is biopsy.  The question has been answered - yes I will biopsy.  They also all four feel that it has a very low chance that it is malignant - but we need to have an answer one way or another.

The Queen of Lungs is doing my surgery.  That's what my friend who is the director of the cardiac services line at the hospital where I will have my surgery calls her.  She's called the Queen because SHE.IS.THE.BEST.  I'm so blessed to have her as a boss, and as my surgeon.  I feel totally confident and comfortable.

The pulmonologist had told me that I would need to have a thoracotomy which is open lung surgery and a couple of days in the hospital.  After reviewing the CT, my boss says she can do a VATS (video assisted thoracic surgery) with a wedge resection.  It's less invasive and should only need one night in the hospital.

So, that's the plan.  I have an answer to the question about whether or not to biopsy, so now it's just going through the motions to get to the final answer to the puzzle.

I'm feelin' groovy

I'm feelin' groovy, come on get happy!

Yesterday afternnon, I went to my Goddaughter's 10th birthday party.  I hadn't seen her, nor the rest of her family, since May of 2010.  We all lead busy lives, and there is the occasional text or email.  I had not told any of them about my weight loss efforts.

As the day of the party grew near and I got more excited about seeing all of them because I miss them since life changed because I moved to a different city and my job took me literally in a different direction.

I shopped and found Ella just the perfect gift.  Her favorite thing right now is Vera Bradley.  Luckily I found a store nearby my office that sells her product line. 

The way the afternoon unfolded, and each person arrived - I got to see the reactions to my weight loss - talk about NSV's!  I'm at 41 pounds loss right now, and feeling so good about that.

I think the best one was when Karina did a double take - her jaw dropped, and I could see it registering with her.  She told me that she was trying to figure out which mom I was and which kid I was there to pick up, and then she realized it was me.

All of the reactions were great, and it is such a positive reinforcement - so yeah, I'm feelin' groovy.

NSV

I just learned what an NSV is.  It's a "Non Scale Victory" on Weight Watchers.  And, I was happy to learn that I have had a NSV.  My rings are too big.  They keep slipping around and I have to constantly straighten them up.  Irritating? Yes.  Annoying? Yes.  Do I mind? That's a big ole NO!  Because as of this morning, I've lost 28 pounds since November 1, 2010.

I have to say that I am proud of myself.  My sister inspired me - she's lost 57 lbs, maybe even more than that since the last time I asked her.  I watched her having so much success and because I am so proud of her, I thought I'd give it a try. 

I'm so glad I did.  It's been one of the easiest things I've ever done.  I've learned some good habits.  I'm accountable to myself - something I never took seriously before, but I do now.  I have loved watching the scale go down and the number of lost pounds go up.  I feel confident that I can maintain.  I don't want to gain it all back.  I think about everything I put into my mouth - is it really worth it?  I find that it has been easy to avoid things.  I've found new snacks that I look forward to.  And, if I want a piece of cake, if my points for the day will allow it, I let myself have a piece, albeit a smaller piece that I would have gotten pre-WW.

I started out quietly, I didn't make it known that I was on WW.  I didn't want to fail.  As the pounds starting falling off, and it started showing in my face and the comments about my weight loss started, I started letting people know that it was WW.  2 other women I work with have now joined, and are having success.  One of our bosses lost 50 pounds (I didn't know it was WW while he was on it, just saw him saying no to all of the goodies in the office and exercising like a fiend.).

I've gone down one size, and really 2 if you count the fact that I was occasionally having to buy up a size because the scale had been going up.  I'm between sizes actually and can fit into the next smaller size, but right now, I wouldn't be seen in public wearing them just yet.  The NSV of being able to actually put them on and zip them up without difficulty is a great feeling.  I had to buy a new pair of blue jeans yesterday and I was able to buy them in the regular section of the store, not in the "Plus Sizes", and they weren't "Women's"  Now, that is a great feeling.  Clothes are so much cuter in the regular sizes.  I've lost 9 1/2 inches total.

I joined the gym, and have gone once.  I can't do a lot of the exercises because of the back surgery I had last summer.  I'm still having problems, and actually don't feel like the surgery made any difference other than the peace of mind to know that it won't get worse - it is locked in place with the rods and screws.  I am hopeful that it will get better as I get stronger.  So, my main plan is to swim, I did that the one time I was there, and swam for about 45 minutes, and really enjoyed it.  I've never actually been in a pool to swim seriously, and let me tell you, it was hard.  An Olympic size pool is huge!  I was really working out.  I'm walking 30 minutes on the treadmill three times a week now which I just started recently. I just finished 4 weeks of PT, and the Physical Therapist gave me a list of exercises that were okay and a list of things to avoid.  I accidentally washed that list when I did laundry that night, oops.  So Chris, who is also going to PT for a knee injury, is going to get me a new list next time he goes.

We are quiet the gimped up couple! He's got at least 8 more weeks of PT to go.

I think adding the exercise is going to help a lot.  It's nice to have the energy to be able to exercise.

So, yes, this was totally a bragging post, but I think I deserve it.

Winter Storm Part 2

So, I ended the Winter Storm post with the sentiment of "it could be worse", well, it got worse.  Not so much from a standpoint of more ice.  It did start melting more, and we were able to open the office at noon on Tuesday.

Fast forward to Friday and the town Chris works in still hasn't thawed.  While at work, outside, he slipped on the ice.  He landed on his knee.  I knew it was bad when I told him he should go to the ER and he didn't complain.  I met him there.  He left with a knee brace and crutches and a clinical diagnosis of a torn meniscus.  A few days later when we can finally get to see an orthopedic surgeon - we find out he actually has a torn ACL.  So, yeah, it got worse.

Winter Storm

It's the Deep South - and who can't get excited about the winter storm that is heading your way?  The news prepped us for 3-4" of snow in our area, and 6-8" north of us.  Finally around 10 pm last night, it started rolling in.  Guess what, we were in that tiny part of the huge system that just got ice! The crap end of the storm.  About a 1/4" in our yard this morning, and it's raining.  It's warmed up to a blistering 34 degrees, so it's melting when it hits.  We went out and got a few pictures, but I just couldn't get excited about it, esp when my SIL said they got 6-7" of snow and the kids were out making snowmen, snow angels and throwing snowballs.  I'm glad the niece and nephew are having fun though!

I got a snow day from work, but honestly, I needed to be at my desk.

It could be worse though, the power could be out, but so far, so good.  We've had a few flickers, but it's still on.

Happy Birthday to Pops & AG!

Happy Birthday to Pops and Anna Grace!  Love you both.  Hope you have a wonderful day.

Blogger's block

Yep, I have it, what to do about it?