Can you believe that April is almost over!
We've spent the week getting ready to head to Mayo this week-end. Most of the details have been taken care of. I need to finish packing today and I want to load the car with everything except the essential things we will still need before we leave, and of course, anything worth anything. You never know what will happen in our neighborhood.
Bill is doing pretty well, he's been more self-sufficient and even helping a little around the house. He still can't do much, but clearing up after eating and emptying smaller trash cans into the larger one is a big help.
We're leaving in the morning and will be back Friday sometime. We have a free day on Tuesday before any appointments start so I don't know what we'll do. We may just rest, although I do want to go to the pet store, not that we're getting a new pet. Heaven forbid, 2 indoor cats and however many feral cats show up to eat are enough. But, I want to look for a couple of things for the indoor cats.
I forgot to include last week, that I finally applied for my Social Security. It will start arriving in June. I had to take a copy of our marriage license to the local office and then got a form in the mail wanting information on Bill's ex-wife. So we sent that back in. Once that is processed, the amount I get may change since right now it's based on my earnings and I think the spousal benefit is larger. But, I'll take whatever they send. And then of course Medicare will start in August.
I've been battling internet problems for most of the week...and this just after getting a letter from AT&T saying they were upgrading our internet at no cost since we also had DirecTv. It is worse since getting the letter so maybe the upgrade is what is causing the problems. But, it it's still doing what it's doing when we get back, I'm switching to the only other provider in town. There slowest speed, for the same amount of money, is the fastest offered by AT&T.
I will update this, probably Thursday evening. We have all the tests on Wednesday and then see Stephanie and Dr. Patel on Thursday morning to get the results, so we won't know anything until then. Unless, of course, something major happens before then. So, until then, I'd better get this posted before the internet goes down...again.
Saturday, April 27, 2019
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Good Morning! It's still dark out, but the cats don't know that 4:30 is not the time to get up on a Saturday morning, or any morning for that matter. But, here we are. They (the inside ones) have been fed and Kitty is back asleep. Mouse has been wandering around chirping like he's really unsettled about something. And since he is dark gray with black stripes and I'm sitting here with only a lamp on across the room, looking at a computer screen, I can't see where he is. He was at my feet with a catnip pillow, but he's gone off somewhere. He can't get in the bedroom, the door is shut, so he's probably either in the dining room on top of the stereo or in the computer room in my chair.
We've had a decent week and reached another milestone. Bill has now been discharged from Home Health nursing! So we are not tied down as much as we were since we don't have to wait to know when they are coming. Ricky said his lungs sound good so the coughing he's doing must all be from sinus drainage and is coming from up high. I'm anxious now to see just what his labs will show when we go to Mayo next week-end.
We did have a mixup this week with his insulin. I requested refills from the dr. last Sunday night and I know they got the request. Emily checked on Monday afternoon with the nurse and she said she had seen it. So, since they don't call when it is sent, I waited to check with the pharmacy and when I went by Wednesday, there was nothing. So, I called them and Emily said she reminded Amy again and said they had to be done by Thursday because their office and the pharmacy were going to be closed yesterday for Good Friday. When I went to the pharmacy, it was a different insulin and only 1 of the 2 he takes. So I called them back and asked and they said to bring it back, that even though it was the same as the one he was taking, they would exchange it for the other one so that it was consistent. I also took all of the vials for all of them and we went over how long to keep them. No one had ever told us what the shelf life was and some of the information with them contradicts itself. Then, another phone call to Amy for the other one and then back to the pharmacy. She actually wasn't aware he was on regular insulin since Connie called it in on a week-end from home but didn't enter it into his record when she got to the office. So, the order that Amy sent was to fill ALL insulins. But that also included the Lantus that he was taken off of since it was taking his sugar too low. I think we finally have it all straightened out and I should be able to switch them to home delivery and save a little money in a few days when it all gets through the system to ExpressScripts. So, now having to keep track of when the vials are opened and figuring the end date...just another thing to keep track of.
Bill has been a little more self-sufficient this week, getting his own coffee and breakfast and taking the trash from the smaller trash cans to the kitchen to put in the larger can. He still can't take the trash out (tubing won't go that far and he doesn't need to take the O2 off to do it) but that little bit helps. He's a little more winded the last couple of days, but I think that's just all from the sinus drainage. So, I've been giving him some extra sinus medicine to help with that. We are both ready to go to Florida to breathe some of that good sea air.
Bill has been asking about getting the PEG tube removed since we aren't using it, just flushing it. He said it doesn't bother him or get in the way, it's just something else to deal with, especially getting dressed or using the bathroom. I told him that if it's removed and he needs another one, they will put it in his nose (which they will do initially) and he wasn't too keen on that idea. I kind of like having the backup there in case he needs the extra nutrition. His weight has stabilized at 140 which is still low, so Mayo may want him to have some supplements. So, he agreed...for now...that the PEG will stay.
I got my shoes ordered and they've come in. And while they aren't super comfortable because of the arch supports, they are tolerable (at 2 of the 3 pair). They are all Skechers with Memory Foam insoles. They are a little tight and I'm hoping they will stretch some.
I actually have to keep the ones I wanted to return, since the return address they gave me is India and it would cost more to send them back than what I paid for them. But, I put the insoles in from the dr. and tried wearing them. They weren't bad that way, but my legs went to sleep, both of them, from my toes to mid-thigh. So that won't do. But, after wearing the Skechers for the past 2 days, and switching between the different styles, my heel does feel better. So, they are doing some good, now if they will just stretch some.
I have all of our reservations made for Florida and we leave a week from tomorrow. We'll get there Monday afternoon and have all day Tuesday free. Bill decided that he didn't want to go on to his sister's house this time, so after his visit with Dr. Patel on Thursday morning, we're going to go ahead and head home and should be home Friday afternoon. I know that sounds like pushing it, and it is, but I think with where I've planned our stops we'll be OK. I think we have enough oxygen to get us through, if not I'll arrange for some replacements.
I think that's it for this Easter week-end. The big egg hunt at Emily's church is today and it's cold right now and wet but supposed to warm up. Maybe when the sun gets up it will warm up fast. The church is near us and it will be difficult to get out of the neighborhood during that time with all the cars. But, there are other ways to go, even if it's a little out of the way. And I can always time any errands for before or after.
Happy Easter!
We've had a decent week and reached another milestone. Bill has now been discharged from Home Health nursing! So we are not tied down as much as we were since we don't have to wait to know when they are coming. Ricky said his lungs sound good so the coughing he's doing must all be from sinus drainage and is coming from up high. I'm anxious now to see just what his labs will show when we go to Mayo next week-end.
We did have a mixup this week with his insulin. I requested refills from the dr. last Sunday night and I know they got the request. Emily checked on Monday afternoon with the nurse and she said she had seen it. So, since they don't call when it is sent, I waited to check with the pharmacy and when I went by Wednesday, there was nothing. So, I called them and Emily said she reminded Amy again and said they had to be done by Thursday because their office and the pharmacy were going to be closed yesterday for Good Friday. When I went to the pharmacy, it was a different insulin and only 1 of the 2 he takes. So I called them back and asked and they said to bring it back, that even though it was the same as the one he was taking, they would exchange it for the other one so that it was consistent. I also took all of the vials for all of them and we went over how long to keep them. No one had ever told us what the shelf life was and some of the information with them contradicts itself. Then, another phone call to Amy for the other one and then back to the pharmacy. She actually wasn't aware he was on regular insulin since Connie called it in on a week-end from home but didn't enter it into his record when she got to the office. So, the order that Amy sent was to fill ALL insulins. But that also included the Lantus that he was taken off of since it was taking his sugar too low. I think we finally have it all straightened out and I should be able to switch them to home delivery and save a little money in a few days when it all gets through the system to ExpressScripts. So, now having to keep track of when the vials are opened and figuring the end date...just another thing to keep track of.
Bill has been a little more self-sufficient this week, getting his own coffee and breakfast and taking the trash from the smaller trash cans to the kitchen to put in the larger can. He still can't take the trash out (tubing won't go that far and he doesn't need to take the O2 off to do it) but that little bit helps. He's a little more winded the last couple of days, but I think that's just all from the sinus drainage. So, I've been giving him some extra sinus medicine to help with that. We are both ready to go to Florida to breathe some of that good sea air.
Bill has been asking about getting the PEG tube removed since we aren't using it, just flushing it. He said it doesn't bother him or get in the way, it's just something else to deal with, especially getting dressed or using the bathroom. I told him that if it's removed and he needs another one, they will put it in his nose (which they will do initially) and he wasn't too keen on that idea. I kind of like having the backup there in case he needs the extra nutrition. His weight has stabilized at 140 which is still low, so Mayo may want him to have some supplements. So, he agreed...for now...that the PEG will stay.
I got my shoes ordered and they've come in. And while they aren't super comfortable because of the arch supports, they are tolerable (at 2 of the 3 pair). They are all Skechers with Memory Foam insoles. They are a little tight and I'm hoping they will stretch some.
I actually have to keep the ones I wanted to return, since the return address they gave me is India and it would cost more to send them back than what I paid for them. But, I put the insoles in from the dr. and tried wearing them. They weren't bad that way, but my legs went to sleep, both of them, from my toes to mid-thigh. So that won't do. But, after wearing the Skechers for the past 2 days, and switching between the different styles, my heel does feel better. So, they are doing some good, now if they will just stretch some.
I have all of our reservations made for Florida and we leave a week from tomorrow. We'll get there Monday afternoon and have all day Tuesday free. Bill decided that he didn't want to go on to his sister's house this time, so after his visit with Dr. Patel on Thursday morning, we're going to go ahead and head home and should be home Friday afternoon. I know that sounds like pushing it, and it is, but I think with where I've planned our stops we'll be OK. I think we have enough oxygen to get us through, if not I'll arrange for some replacements.
I think that's it for this Easter week-end. The big egg hunt at Emily's church is today and it's cold right now and wet but supposed to warm up. Maybe when the sun gets up it will warm up fast. The church is near us and it will be difficult to get out of the neighborhood during that time with all the cars. But, there are other ways to go, even if it's a little out of the way. And I can always time any errands for before or after.
Happy Easter!
Saturday, April 13, 2019
This has been a milestone week, at least to us! It's also been a nice boring week. Sometimes boring is good!
Bill graduated from physical therapy! When Corey was here Wednesday he said he thought he could be discharged and not extended. Bill's gotten much stronger as far as walking goes and his endurance has increased to his little exercise machine. His last time with that was pedaling for 8 minutes. Corey did tell him that if I said it was time to do his exercises, to do them and not tell me later. He stressed that he has to keep moving to help his lungs. I asked when he could start using his treadmill again and he said he thought that as long as I was with him he could go ahead and use it, keeping it at the lowest setting. Bill was ready to start back walking for his hour but I told him he would be lucky to make it 10 minutes the first time. But, that will be a start!
He's still been a little snotty, but the weather has been awful. Cool, rainy, air full of pollen, hot, air full of pollen, windy blowing pollen all over...well, you get the picture. But, an additional sinus pill usually helps. And he's usually only really snotty and coughing with nasal drainage in the mornings.
Another milestone that was reached isn't really a milestone. If you remember back to when he was still in ICU, we were told that our Medicare Part A benefits were running out. We had to use most, if not all, of the lifetime reserve days while he was in restorative care and skilled nursing. The only way for the Part A benefits to kick in again is to stay out of the hospital for 60 days. Well, as of today, he is halfway there. Today is 1 month since he was discharged from the nursing home! Now to just keep him out for another month and we'll be all set should he have to be hospitalized again.
He also went to Walmart with me yesterday. He stayed in the car while I rushed through (hobbled through is more like it), but he wanted to get out of the house. We had thought about doing some shopping in either Jonesboro or Memphis, but I changed my mind on that. And more about that in a bit. And he's doing a little more around the house, not that he's doing any cleaning or anything, but he's getting his own "stuff" from the kitchen and he did carry our small trash can to the kitchen to be put in the larger can. So, he's not just sitting and watching TV, although he does his share of that too.
His weight has stabilized at 140 for the time being. He should be about 155 so he has a bit to go, but 11 pounds in 30 days isn't too bad. There are some days he eats constantly and other days he doesn't eat as much, but as long as I feel like he's eating enough he's good.We haven't had to use the feeding tube at all, just keeping it flushed.
I finally went to the foot doctor this week for my heel pain. I don't have Plantar Fascaitis or however it's spelled. The Facsia nerve is inflamed, as is the tendon in the foot that connects to the Achilles tendon. She said that I had probably injured the Achilles at some point and didn't realize it. But, that's not the worst of it. She had me stand barefoot to check my arches and the left arch totally disappears when I stand. And because of that my foot and entire leg falls to the inside. She said if it's not corrected it will start to affect my leg and lower back. And sometimes it does already. I don't remember injuring it, like stepping on something or stepping oddly, but who knows with all the walking at the hospitals and all the driving, it could just be the way I was holding it in the car or sitting or whatever. So, I came home with some orthopedic insoles and was told not to buy shoes at Walmart anymore, the shoes need to be higher and more rigid in the heel, not bend in the middle, but bend easily at the toes.I can wear the left insert, but the right one feels like I'm walking on a can or bottle of pills or something, very uncomfortable, so took them out. Right now the cheap shoes I bought from Walmart are the most comfortable. That's why we were going shopping, to get me some good shoes.
I ordered some shoes that came this week that are supposed to alleviate heel and leg pain and I had them on my feet 5 minutes and took them off. There is absolutely no support to them at all. I've already requested return information and they don't want them returned. They said if it was a sizing issue to tell them a new size and they would get them sent right out and I could keep the others to give to someone. When I declined that and told them the product was not as advertised, they offered to send, free of charge, insoles for them. I have also declined that and told them if they didn't want the shoes returned that was fine, but I did want a refund and if they continued to refuse I would have my credit card company reverse payment for them. I haven't had a response from that email yet, but I'll keep you posted. I've done well with Skechers or New Balance shoes so will probably order some of those. I've got to get it done so that I will have them before we go to Mayo, or we will both be in wheelchairs!
Two, and possibly all 3 of the pregnant feral cats have had their litters and I'm afraid they may not have survived. We heard a terrible commotion under the house the other night and the 2 cats inside went ballistic. Kitty was trying to get through the air vent in the dining room where the noise was the loudest and Mouse was trying to climb to the top of a window in the computer room to get out. Some dogs had gotten under the house. There's been a pack of wandering ones in the neighborhood. The last time they were in the yard there were 4 of them. I chase them off with the broom and usually that works. I got some of them gone.and I saw 2 of the mama cats run out from under the house. I hadn't seen the other pregnant one for a few days and all of the male cats were gone (I think they were banished when the house became a maternity ward), but I'm afraid the dogs may have killed the kits. One of the dogs either got stuck under the house or just couldn't find his way out, and of course he was right under our bedroom. I tried to coax him out when he started whimpering by shining the flashlight through the opening hoping it would show him the way..."Come to the light". The others came back and tried to get him out, we could tell that the barking would get farther away and then closer but finally about 3 it all got quiet for good. I waiting until daylight to go out and Mama and Floozy were back so the dog must have been gone. I still haven't seen Lizzie so she may have gone off to have her kittens and the only other one I've seen is Unsub. But all the males are still gone. I don't know what sex Unsub is, hence the name for Unknown Subject. And we won't know if the kittens survived until they are old enough for Mama to bring them out. I also didn't see Floozy yesterday, but if there are any kits, she may have been with them. They may be taking turns staying with them some now.
Our weather got hot enough to turn the air on this week, but we ended up going back to heat yesterday for a bit. Today is supposed to be rainy and then stormy this evening. The worst of it is supposed to be between 7 and midnight. They are also telling churches to have someone monitoring the weather during services tomorrow morning in some areas as there could be tornadoes. But I think it's all supposed to be gone from here by then. So, a cool rainy day today. I'm glad I've got some chili in the freezer, it will be a good day for it.
A cousin passed away this week from liver failure. I hadn't seen him in years. The oldest of his younger sisters was flower girl at my first wedding. So, that's the 2nd death in the family in as many weeks. My sister and I were talking this week and while both of the men who died were younger than us, we are now at the age when our peers will start to die. That time seemed so far away when we were younger, but I would think about it since it was my parents generation that was losing people. Now it's our turn.
OK, enough of that. I've rambled enough and Mouse is wanting some attention. I need to take my blood pressure and feed the outside cats and get some more coffee and check facebook and make some hotel reservations and order shoes. Looks like I've got a but morning planned, without planning on anything! Have a good week-end and stay safe wherever you are!
Bill graduated from physical therapy! When Corey was here Wednesday he said he thought he could be discharged and not extended. Bill's gotten much stronger as far as walking goes and his endurance has increased to his little exercise machine. His last time with that was pedaling for 8 minutes. Corey did tell him that if I said it was time to do his exercises, to do them and not tell me later. He stressed that he has to keep moving to help his lungs. I asked when he could start using his treadmill again and he said he thought that as long as I was with him he could go ahead and use it, keeping it at the lowest setting. Bill was ready to start back walking for his hour but I told him he would be lucky to make it 10 minutes the first time. But, that will be a start!
He's still been a little snotty, but the weather has been awful. Cool, rainy, air full of pollen, hot, air full of pollen, windy blowing pollen all over...well, you get the picture. But, an additional sinus pill usually helps. And he's usually only really snotty and coughing with nasal drainage in the mornings.
Another milestone that was reached isn't really a milestone. If you remember back to when he was still in ICU, we were told that our Medicare Part A benefits were running out. We had to use most, if not all, of the lifetime reserve days while he was in restorative care and skilled nursing. The only way for the Part A benefits to kick in again is to stay out of the hospital for 60 days. Well, as of today, he is halfway there. Today is 1 month since he was discharged from the nursing home! Now to just keep him out for another month and we'll be all set should he have to be hospitalized again.
He also went to Walmart with me yesterday. He stayed in the car while I rushed through (hobbled through is more like it), but he wanted to get out of the house. We had thought about doing some shopping in either Jonesboro or Memphis, but I changed my mind on that. And more about that in a bit. And he's doing a little more around the house, not that he's doing any cleaning or anything, but he's getting his own "stuff" from the kitchen and he did carry our small trash can to the kitchen to be put in the larger can. So, he's not just sitting and watching TV, although he does his share of that too.
His weight has stabilized at 140 for the time being. He should be about 155 so he has a bit to go, but 11 pounds in 30 days isn't too bad. There are some days he eats constantly and other days he doesn't eat as much, but as long as I feel like he's eating enough he's good.We haven't had to use the feeding tube at all, just keeping it flushed.
I finally went to the foot doctor this week for my heel pain. I don't have Plantar Fascaitis or however it's spelled. The Facsia nerve is inflamed, as is the tendon in the foot that connects to the Achilles tendon. She said that I had probably injured the Achilles at some point and didn't realize it. But, that's not the worst of it. She had me stand barefoot to check my arches and the left arch totally disappears when I stand. And because of that my foot and entire leg falls to the inside. She said if it's not corrected it will start to affect my leg and lower back. And sometimes it does already. I don't remember injuring it, like stepping on something or stepping oddly, but who knows with all the walking at the hospitals and all the driving, it could just be the way I was holding it in the car or sitting or whatever. So, I came home with some orthopedic insoles and was told not to buy shoes at Walmart anymore, the shoes need to be higher and more rigid in the heel, not bend in the middle, but bend easily at the toes.I can wear the left insert, but the right one feels like I'm walking on a can or bottle of pills or something, very uncomfortable, so took them out. Right now the cheap shoes I bought from Walmart are the most comfortable. That's why we were going shopping, to get me some good shoes.
I ordered some shoes that came this week that are supposed to alleviate heel and leg pain and I had them on my feet 5 minutes and took them off. There is absolutely no support to them at all. I've already requested return information and they don't want them returned. They said if it was a sizing issue to tell them a new size and they would get them sent right out and I could keep the others to give to someone. When I declined that and told them the product was not as advertised, they offered to send, free of charge, insoles for them. I have also declined that and told them if they didn't want the shoes returned that was fine, but I did want a refund and if they continued to refuse I would have my credit card company reverse payment for them. I haven't had a response from that email yet, but I'll keep you posted. I've done well with Skechers or New Balance shoes so will probably order some of those. I've got to get it done so that I will have them before we go to Mayo, or we will both be in wheelchairs!
Two, and possibly all 3 of the pregnant feral cats have had their litters and I'm afraid they may not have survived. We heard a terrible commotion under the house the other night and the 2 cats inside went ballistic. Kitty was trying to get through the air vent in the dining room where the noise was the loudest and Mouse was trying to climb to the top of a window in the computer room to get out. Some dogs had gotten under the house. There's been a pack of wandering ones in the neighborhood. The last time they were in the yard there were 4 of them. I chase them off with the broom and usually that works. I got some of them gone.and I saw 2 of the mama cats run out from under the house. I hadn't seen the other pregnant one for a few days and all of the male cats were gone (I think they were banished when the house became a maternity ward), but I'm afraid the dogs may have killed the kits. One of the dogs either got stuck under the house or just couldn't find his way out, and of course he was right under our bedroom. I tried to coax him out when he started whimpering by shining the flashlight through the opening hoping it would show him the way..."Come to the light". The others came back and tried to get him out, we could tell that the barking would get farther away and then closer but finally about 3 it all got quiet for good. I waiting until daylight to go out and Mama and Floozy were back so the dog must have been gone. I still haven't seen Lizzie so she may have gone off to have her kittens and the only other one I've seen is Unsub. But all the males are still gone. I don't know what sex Unsub is, hence the name for Unknown Subject. And we won't know if the kittens survived until they are old enough for Mama to bring them out. I also didn't see Floozy yesterday, but if there are any kits, she may have been with them. They may be taking turns staying with them some now.
Our weather got hot enough to turn the air on this week, but we ended up going back to heat yesterday for a bit. Today is supposed to be rainy and then stormy this evening. The worst of it is supposed to be between 7 and midnight. They are also telling churches to have someone monitoring the weather during services tomorrow morning in some areas as there could be tornadoes. But I think it's all supposed to be gone from here by then. So, a cool rainy day today. I'm glad I've got some chili in the freezer, it will be a good day for it.
A cousin passed away this week from liver failure. I hadn't seen him in years. The oldest of his younger sisters was flower girl at my first wedding. So, that's the 2nd death in the family in as many weeks. My sister and I were talking this week and while both of the men who died were younger than us, we are now at the age when our peers will start to die. That time seemed so far away when we were younger, but I would think about it since it was my parents generation that was losing people. Now it's our turn.
OK, enough of that. I've rambled enough and Mouse is wanting some attention. I need to take my blood pressure and feed the outside cats and get some more coffee and check facebook and make some hotel reservations and order shoes. Looks like I've got a but morning planned, without planning on anything! Have a good week-end and stay safe wherever you are!
Saturday, April 6, 2019
This week finally went at a normal speed, whatever that is. But, I didn't feel like it was dragging too much.
We have our itinerary for Mayo. All of the testing, and it is minimal, is being done on May 1 and then he sees Stephanie and Dr. Patel on the 2nd and then we're done. I started making reservations for us last night and may need to change my thinking some. We are going on Sunday and then we'll have all day Tuesday to do nothing but rest. Bill, I think, has decided that he just wants to come on home when he's done, but we haven't decided if we're going to leave after his appointment with Dr. Patel (we'll be finished by 10), or wait and leave the next morning. Part of me wants to wait and leave the next morning, but another part wants to go ahead and leave on Thursday. And part of the reasoning is the cost of hotels. All of the hotels have raised their rates and to get a good rate it is non-refundable and I don't like doing that. So, maybe we'll leave after his appointment and stay in between where we alternate staying. I'll just have to work on that today.
Bill has had a good week for the most part. He's done well in therapy and is moving around a little more, doing more for himself. It's hard for me to stop waiting on him as much as I have. The other night as I was just sitting down from doing something he looked in his coffee cup and said that it was almost empty. I told him to go fill it himself!. Corey has also told him to move more to get his own drink/snack. It's a hard habit to break after so long, but I'm working on it.
He did start coughing some Thursday night and yesterday when Ruby was here he had a slight temperature. But, he said he felt well and he ate well. She didn't hear anything so we think it is more just the weather. The pollen is high, like it is most places, and it rained Thursday and was still damp and cool yesterday. I've also been stuffy/sniffly so I'm concerned, but not overly concerned, just a little more vigilant.
I finally made an appointment with a podiatrist about my heel. And wouln't you know it, it is not hurting as much since I made the call. I'm still going to go to the appointment, although I should cancel it, but not for that reason. They don't take my insurance (Tricare, the military insurance). Now, it's not a problem to pay it all out of pocket, we have the money, it's the principle of it. They are located in a town with a lot of military retirees, that had an active base for many years, and they don't take the military insurance that Bill earned over his 27 year career. OK, off my high horse. I can file the claim myself and should get reimbursed for all but what the co-pay should have been. I've also been told that someone else went to that Dr. and they wouldn't let her use her debit card, cash only and the receptionist would meet her back in the parking lot after she went to the bank so she wouldn't have to come back in to the office. Sounds a little suspicious to me. So, we'll see. They will accept a credit card or they can bill me and I'll send them a check, but I'm not going to hand over cash in the parking lot!
We got some sad news this week. My youngest step-brother had a massive heart attack and passed away at age 60. His family of course is devastated. He had 3 girls and 5 grandkids. We weren't close as we were adults when our parents married, but he took care of Mom's needs after his dad passed away and before she remarried. But, we're still all saddened by this. He was a man who would do anything for anyone and he will be missed by everyone who knew him. Emily sent the girls a message about what helped her get through losing her dad last year. I hope it helped them.
I read the other day that April is not only Donate Life Month, it's also Stress Awareness Month. As if I need an official month to know that I'm stressed, or have been stressed. I have noticed something this past week to 10 days. I have all the symptoms of a hives outbreak except for the actual rash. All of the itching everywhere and I've come to the conclusion that my body doesn't know what to do now that I'm not living with all the adrenaline rush. I'm not having to get up and out and then cram everything into an evening before falling into bed to do it all over again. So, it got used to that and now is having a hard time slowing down. The upside is that the cocktail for the hives is helping my heel some. I'm sure it's the Prednisone and not the Benadryl or Zantac. But, if it helps so that I can walk with less pain, it's worth it.
So, that's about our week. We've been watching the ballgames, if you can call them games. But, it's baseball and that's what matters. Now if they would just win another game or three!
All for now. Enjoy spring!
We have our itinerary for Mayo. All of the testing, and it is minimal, is being done on May 1 and then he sees Stephanie and Dr. Patel on the 2nd and then we're done. I started making reservations for us last night and may need to change my thinking some. We are going on Sunday and then we'll have all day Tuesday to do nothing but rest. Bill, I think, has decided that he just wants to come on home when he's done, but we haven't decided if we're going to leave after his appointment with Dr. Patel (we'll be finished by 10), or wait and leave the next morning. Part of me wants to wait and leave the next morning, but another part wants to go ahead and leave on Thursday. And part of the reasoning is the cost of hotels. All of the hotels have raised their rates and to get a good rate it is non-refundable and I don't like doing that. So, maybe we'll leave after his appointment and stay in between where we alternate staying. I'll just have to work on that today.
Bill has had a good week for the most part. He's done well in therapy and is moving around a little more, doing more for himself. It's hard for me to stop waiting on him as much as I have. The other night as I was just sitting down from doing something he looked in his coffee cup and said that it was almost empty. I told him to go fill it himself!. Corey has also told him to move more to get his own drink/snack. It's a hard habit to break after so long, but I'm working on it.
He did start coughing some Thursday night and yesterday when Ruby was here he had a slight temperature. But, he said he felt well and he ate well. She didn't hear anything so we think it is more just the weather. The pollen is high, like it is most places, and it rained Thursday and was still damp and cool yesterday. I've also been stuffy/sniffly so I'm concerned, but not overly concerned, just a little more vigilant.
I finally made an appointment with a podiatrist about my heel. And wouln't you know it, it is not hurting as much since I made the call. I'm still going to go to the appointment, although I should cancel it, but not for that reason. They don't take my insurance (Tricare, the military insurance). Now, it's not a problem to pay it all out of pocket, we have the money, it's the principle of it. They are located in a town with a lot of military retirees, that had an active base for many years, and they don't take the military insurance that Bill earned over his 27 year career. OK, off my high horse. I can file the claim myself and should get reimbursed for all but what the co-pay should have been. I've also been told that someone else went to that Dr. and they wouldn't let her use her debit card, cash only and the receptionist would meet her back in the parking lot after she went to the bank so she wouldn't have to come back in to the office. Sounds a little suspicious to me. So, we'll see. They will accept a credit card or they can bill me and I'll send them a check, but I'm not going to hand over cash in the parking lot!
We got some sad news this week. My youngest step-brother had a massive heart attack and passed away at age 60. His family of course is devastated. He had 3 girls and 5 grandkids. We weren't close as we were adults when our parents married, but he took care of Mom's needs after his dad passed away and before she remarried. But, we're still all saddened by this. He was a man who would do anything for anyone and he will be missed by everyone who knew him. Emily sent the girls a message about what helped her get through losing her dad last year. I hope it helped them.
I read the other day that April is not only Donate Life Month, it's also Stress Awareness Month. As if I need an official month to know that I'm stressed, or have been stressed. I have noticed something this past week to 10 days. I have all the symptoms of a hives outbreak except for the actual rash. All of the itching everywhere and I've come to the conclusion that my body doesn't know what to do now that I'm not living with all the adrenaline rush. I'm not having to get up and out and then cram everything into an evening before falling into bed to do it all over again. So, it got used to that and now is having a hard time slowing down. The upside is that the cocktail for the hives is helping my heel some. I'm sure it's the Prednisone and not the Benadryl or Zantac. But, if it helps so that I can walk with less pain, it's worth it.
So, that's about our week. We've been watching the ballgames, if you can call them games. But, it's baseball and that's what matters. Now if they would just win another game or three!
All for now. Enjoy spring!
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