Ok, I am back.
My computer is totally fixed.
Blog problems and all.
The ramifications, may be longer standing.
Benjamin had let a neighbor into the house to use a photoshop program we have. In doing so, she also visited a few of the favorites
Using the program, was messing with the virtual memory of the computer. So, we had told the boys we couldn't use it until it got properly installed. She'd come over and use it, the virtual memory would be all screwed up, then my blogs would be inacessible to me ... at times, or only partially accessible at other times.
Quite a frustrating week on the computer.
I have on my computer, as well as had told her about. I don't have them saved in a 'secure' space, we share a home address with the family. She accessed one of the blogs I read, got mad at the post, and trolled it anonymously.
She lamblasted the poor girl to bits. What's worse (and somewhat sick) is she took part of my story, and twisted it beyond measure!
Enough of it was there, that I could recognise it. Some I know she's never been told by me (sons? read my blog? husband?) others I know I've told her. Some is stuff I know has happened to her. It is an angry diatribe at this poor girl who was venting on her blog. I still don't know if it came from my IP address or not, but it did come from my area.
The thing that made me first suspect her was the ' surgery to cut my chest wide open' with no reference as to why. The implication being heart surgery like most would have for a transternal operation. (Without the use of the word transternal) Only, mine, was a thymectomy, my heart is fine. It is quite scary realizing I've got a fruitcake living across the street to me. Again. (just realize I had a weird neighbor before, that was almost this bad.
Guess I need to put those skills into place again. She wormed her way into the house while we were gone as well. )
So, my sincerest apologies to EE at BackboardsandBandaids.Blogspot.com
She is a young EMT with plenty of fire, pregnant, and working. She said this didn't bother her, it was 'blog fodder'. It bothered me greatly.
In part, because I feel like I have been violated. It did take me most of the night to realize that was part of the equation. But also, because I don't just read her blog, I talk to her on IM and I play scrabulous with her on facebook. She's not 'just another blogger' to me. I admire what this young girl has done with her life.
For someone to have taken, what is supposed to be 'me' and do what is so out of character for me (as all my blog friends, as well as personal friends could attest to) feels so, what is the word? Foreign? Violated?
I don't have any recourse because my son let her in to use my computer. I did not have access to the pages private (besides, I'd given her a list of my favorite medical blogs! She supposedly has an interest in 'doing something medical' when she gets on her feet.)
EE did a great job of standing up for herself. Her blog friends did a wonderful job of defending her. I admire her greatly for the minute she saw me on IM asking me. (without, mind you, accusing!) We got to the bottom of it rather quickly.
I am left reeling, with flashbacks of the "Tomato" fiasco of a couple years back. If you weren't a part of that, please, just let that one go. If you know, then you'll understand.
Edit: I have a protected, prepaid credit card on Paypal that is used for children's ministry. I decided to check that. It, also is on the favorites page that my blogs are kept on. Sure enough, purchases that I did not make have been made. Walmart. Clothing for a boy and a girl. In young children's sizes. About the sizes her kids would wear. Less than $25 taken off. (which, there is only $50 on the card, to get more than $25, needs the children's pastor's ID as well because it's the church's money). Now I guess I have a real decision to make. This goes beyond a stealing of a reputation.
Dr. Suess
"And will you succeed? Yes indeed! Yes indeed! Ninety Eight and Three Quarters guarenteed!"
Saturday, May 24, 2008
ஹாய் Vijay
இ அல்வய்ஸ் வாண்டேது டு சதி இன் தி உநிடேது ச்டடேஸ். உண்டில் ஏ பெவ் எஅர்ஸ் அகோ வென் மி பச்டோர் விசிடேது இந்தியா. வென் ஹி திட், இ பெகமே பாசினடேது வித் தி குன்றி அபிடேர் இ இண்டேர்விஎவேது ஹிம் போர் ஒஉர் தேநோமினடிஒன்ஸ் நேஷனல் மகஜினே.
நொவ், இ ரேஅல்லி வான்ட் டு விசிட் இந்தியா, ஈஸ்பெசியால்லி டு விசிட் விஜய் அண்ட் ஹிஸ் பாமிலி. தி எலேப்தன்த்ஸ் வௌல்ட்ன்'த ஹுர்ட்!
நொவ், இ ரேஅல்லி வான்ட் டு விசிட் இந்தியா, ஈஸ்பெசியால்லி டு விசிட் விஜய் அண்ட் ஹிஸ் பாமிலி. தி எலேப்தன்த்ஸ் வௌல்ட்ன்'த ஹுர்ட்!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Under Construction
I'm trying to re arrange my blog. Got rid of a couple of things ... and moving others. The count down clock has been removed from the HTML code, but hasn't quite disappeared from the scene yet.
I tried to move it to the bottom, but it wouldn't move, so I tried to remove it. It won't go. I guess it likes my blog.
So, please excuse me and bear with me as things change around a bit. Hopefully it will lead to a little less cluttered feel.
I tried to move it to the bottom, but it wouldn't move, so I tried to remove it. It won't go. I guess it likes my blog.
So, please excuse me and bear with me as things change around a bit. Hopefully it will lead to a little less cluttered feel.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Frustration Station
This year I have been started on several new medications. (As if I wasn't on enough before). They did not replace old medications, they were added to my regimine.
A few years ago, I was sent to a rheumatologist by my PCP with her hoping to get me started on Plaquenil for the lupus. She felt that the drug required more expertise to manage with my complicated medical history than she wanted to manage.
I went to rheumy ... he felt the drug was too risky ... put me on steroids and steroid creams. (Plaquenil is commonly first line drug for Lupus ...add Myasthenia Gravis into the mix, and you've got a different colored horse)
My PCP was frustrated, but she went along with him. I ...the ever faithful patient, listened to the docs and went along.
Fast forward ...rheumy leaves town ... I'm left with no rheumy ..my Dermatologist ALSO leaves town to go teach in Texas ...and I go to a new dermatologist. (after almost 3 years. Not wise, I know, lupus, history of skin cancer. But my former Dermy had been my dermy since SAMUEL was 6 months old. He was 15 when Dermy moved to Texas. I pouted and didn't want to find a new one)
New dermy is not only good with skin cancer, but QUITE experienced with autoimmune diseases that effect the skin. I'm in there with a red butterflied face (which was only kind of pink and only sometimes there when Rheumy was here, thus the willingness to use steroid creams).
New Dermy doesn't like the high steroids and the constant steroid cream to the face. Hind sight, I realize that my skin issues had significantly worsened over time. Rheumy may not have intended for that much steroid cream to be used either. Ooops.
So, anyway ...she starts me on Plaquenil. I'm fine with that. I know that my PCP had wanted that several years ago anyway. Besides, it may lessen the amount of steroid dose packs etc ...
So here I am ... less than 2 months on it and my eyes are driving me nuts. Blurry vision, double vision, tired (eyes) all the time ... my eye glasses have gone from a 1.00 to a 2.00 (drug store version) just to be able to read. I've gone from using the glasses at night when I'm tired, to not being able to read anything without them.
It's a side effect of ... Plaquenil AND Requip (which I started in January at 2 mg)
BUT ... it is also a MAJOR symptom (a primary symptom) of Myasthenia Gravis.
The reading glasses ... I'm 43. At some point, I was going to need reading glasses ... it happens to the best of us. It evidently is a fact of life.
I've also been started on metformin ... the eyes could be an issue related to metformin ... or any of the issues related to why I need metformin.
Oh yeah, my crestor went from 5 mg to 20 mg since November. I have no idea if the eyes can be effected by Crestor or not.
I'm thinking my stomach issues are probably more in reaction to the significant changes in my drug regimine than an ulcer or endometriosis ... as I've thought about it ... Adding all those meds and changing doses in such a short time ...whose stomach would WANT to handle it?
Metformin and Requip are both very hard on tummy.
At some point ...someone has to cry UNCLE and say enough. I think, my body is doing just that. It may be sick and have it's issues, but there are only so many chemical fixes that can be done without causing more issues!
A few years ago, I was sent to a rheumatologist by my PCP with her hoping to get me started on Plaquenil for the lupus. She felt that the drug required more expertise to manage with my complicated medical history than she wanted to manage.
I went to rheumy ... he felt the drug was too risky ... put me on steroids and steroid creams. (Plaquenil is commonly first line drug for Lupus ...add Myasthenia Gravis into the mix, and you've got a different colored horse)
My PCP was frustrated, but she went along with him. I ...the ever faithful patient, listened to the docs and went along.
Fast forward ...rheumy leaves town ... I'm left with no rheumy ..my Dermatologist ALSO leaves town to go teach in Texas ...and I go to a new dermatologist. (after almost 3 years. Not wise, I know, lupus, history of skin cancer. But my former Dermy had been my dermy since SAMUEL was 6 months old. He was 15 when Dermy moved to Texas. I pouted and didn't want to find a new one)
New dermy is not only good with skin cancer, but QUITE experienced with autoimmune diseases that effect the skin. I'm in there with a red butterflied face (which was only kind of pink and only sometimes there when Rheumy was here, thus the willingness to use steroid creams).
New Dermy doesn't like the high steroids and the constant steroid cream to the face. Hind sight, I realize that my skin issues had significantly worsened over time. Rheumy may not have intended for that much steroid cream to be used either. Ooops.
So, anyway ...she starts me on Plaquenil. I'm fine with that. I know that my PCP had wanted that several years ago anyway. Besides, it may lessen the amount of steroid dose packs etc ...
So here I am ... less than 2 months on it and my eyes are driving me nuts. Blurry vision, double vision, tired (eyes) all the time ... my eye glasses have gone from a 1.00 to a 2.00 (drug store version) just to be able to read. I've gone from using the glasses at night when I'm tired, to not being able to read anything without them.
It's a side effect of ... Plaquenil AND Requip (which I started in January at 2 mg)
BUT ... it is also a MAJOR symptom (a primary symptom) of Myasthenia Gravis.
The reading glasses ... I'm 43. At some point, I was going to need reading glasses ... it happens to the best of us. It evidently is a fact of life.
I've also been started on metformin ... the eyes could be an issue related to metformin ... or any of the issues related to why I need metformin.
Oh yeah, my crestor went from 5 mg to 20 mg since November. I have no idea if the eyes can be effected by Crestor or not.
I'm thinking my stomach issues are probably more in reaction to the significant changes in my drug regimine than an ulcer or endometriosis ... as I've thought about it ... Adding all those meds and changing doses in such a short time ...whose stomach would WANT to handle it?
Metformin and Requip are both very hard on tummy.
At some point ...someone has to cry UNCLE and say enough. I think, my body is doing just that. It may be sick and have it's issues, but there are only so many chemical fixes that can be done without causing more issues!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
oops
I've been told I need to check in. Sorry!!!
I've seriously planned on blogging. Really ... I need to. My son graduated from high school. That is worthy of a blog post. It begs of a blog post.
I freak out everytime I go to blog about it!!
Between that ..and the fact that it's been 25 years since I graduated ... I'm feeling just a bit ... um er ..uh ..er ...middle aged!! Ok, so I am, but that *IS* beside the point.
I have an email list of friends that I've had since I joined the WWW in 1998. It is nicknamed TSBS (tourette's syndrome and yes, the BS is exactly that) It is a small group and we are very tight nit. When our children were little, we clung to each other like a spider web. We were each other's life line, sanity, and survival ... we've seen each other through marriage, divorce, affairs, illnesses, deaths of parents, the near deaths of a spouse (mine) and serious illnesses of parents and spouses. We have held each other's hands through IEP's, fights with neighbors, bosses, job losses and life changes ... through it all ... we've been there. For several years, we did a christmas ornament exchange, those, are treasures beyond belief!
We, for several years, just the 15 of us, kept a volume of emails in our group of about 250 emails a day.
As our children have grown and life has settled for most of us (2 of the children still have SIGNIFICANT Tourette's, the rest, as the medical community promised, have either outgrown it, or symptoms significantly subsided) we still keep in touch. There are about 8 of our core group left ... and our volume of mail have dropped to about 25 emails a month. Between all 8 of us.
However ...nothing in life seems *real* until I have told them. And or blogged about it.
So ...since I have not told TSBS about Samuel's graduation ...and I have not blogged about it ... it's not real ... right?
*grin*
I've seriously planned on blogging. Really ... I need to. My son graduated from high school. That is worthy of a blog post. It begs of a blog post.
I freak out everytime I go to blog about it!!
Between that ..and the fact that it's been 25 years since I graduated ... I'm feeling just a bit ... um er ..uh ..er ...middle aged!! Ok, so I am, but that *IS* beside the point.
I have an email list of friends that I've had since I joined the WWW in 1998. It is nicknamed TSBS (tourette's syndrome and yes, the BS is exactly that) It is a small group and we are very tight nit. When our children were little, we clung to each other like a spider web. We were each other's life line, sanity, and survival ... we've seen each other through marriage, divorce, affairs, illnesses, deaths of parents, the near deaths of a spouse (mine) and serious illnesses of parents and spouses. We have held each other's hands through IEP's, fights with neighbors, bosses, job losses and life changes ... through it all ... we've been there. For several years, we did a christmas ornament exchange, those, are treasures beyond belief!
We, for several years, just the 15 of us, kept a volume of emails in our group of about 250 emails a day.
As our children have grown and life has settled for most of us (2 of the children still have SIGNIFICANT Tourette's, the rest, as the medical community promised, have either outgrown it, or symptoms significantly subsided) we still keep in touch. There are about 8 of our core group left ... and our volume of mail have dropped to about 25 emails a month. Between all 8 of us.
However ...nothing in life seems *real* until I have told them. And or blogged about it.
So ...since I have not told TSBS about Samuel's graduation ...and I have not blogged about it ... it's not real ... right?
*grin*
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Query Opinions ... weighy issues.. ..confusion
I was scanning my email box and weeding out the spam ... I do that a few times a day. I almost deleted the email without reading it.
I didn't recognise the return address.
The subject line didn't catch my attention.
I just about hit the delete ..but something made me decide to look at it.
A stranger. No one in particular. Approaching me, because they'd been given my email address, but they didn't say who gave it to them. They wanted my opinion, advice even ... and I'm sitting here wondering what to tell them.
A few years ago ...I was rather firm on my response.
They were diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis .... and they want to know if they should have a thymectomy.
What bothers me ...is they didn't say in their email if their doctor's are recommending it. They haven't said if the CT scan or MRI has said it's enlarged or if there is a thymoma (if thymoma is there, the it is a given, get the sucker out).
The enlargement may not even be obvious until it's out ...and even if it is enlarged, does that really *MEAN* anything?
They didn't say if they found me through the blog ...through the MG foundation ...our local MG chapter, my doctor (who has my permission to refer patients who are worried)
They just want to know ... I have Myasthenia Gravis and should I have my thymus gland removed ...and what technique should I 'insist' the doctor's use?
Well, first, it sounds to me like they've already decided to have it, they just don't know if they want transternal (the method I had) or cervical.
I've also read of a new method, that I wouldn't dare blog about because I only read about it once ... something about going in the side of the ribs. It sounded like a dream to me. Oh if only that had been an option for me 16 years ago!
WOW!! I just realized, June 2 will be 16 years since my Thymectomy. Medical science has changed dramatically since then. I went into the hospital with them telling me I had a 60% chance of remission ... by the time I came out of the hospital 10 days later, the study that was expected was released ... 60% was still on the page ... 60% of patients who have a thymectomy with in the first year of onset in the disease can expect to see 'some improvement in symptoms' ... a far cry from 60% chance of remission.
Those who'd been sick for over 2 years at the time of diagnosis (like me) really didn't have much expectation for help. In other words, had the study been released just 3 weeks earlier ... the surgery would not have been recommended for me.
My thymus was enlarged ... significantly so. What that meant for me, I never have learned. I figured, it was just as well that I got it out anyway.
I then, spent the next 10 to 13 years saying that I would do WHATEVER it took to put me into remission ... EVEN IF IT FAILED.
I would recommend the thymectomy ...and DID to many who asked my opinion when their doctor's flat out insisted and they were terrified.
I would tell them that all I could think about was the 'what if it was the one thing I could have done, and didn't do .... it was worth it'
But now ... 16 years later ... research isn't holding fast the recommendation. There really needs to be hard fast proof for a call for that thymectomy. That "what if I'm the small % that gets lucky" isn't quite enough for such a drastic surgery (especially a transternal surgery! They cut your chest wide open for crying out loud!!)
Am I just getting older and understanding risks more?
Am I just getting more pain and because of the surgery ... I've got a significant case of chostochondritis ... where the wires are, and the scar tissue ... it HURTS when the rain comes. When the lupus flares ... the chest wall is a significant sourse of pain for me. Breathing often causes pain when breathing should come as natural as ...well ... breathing!
Is my questioning the 'go for it just in case!' ability to fight this monster (MG) because I've realized that the thymus gland isn't part of the MG monster ... or is it that the risk comes with a monster of it's own down the road?
What do I tell this person who wants my opinion with not enough info for me to form an opinion!
If it were me ...today ... and I didn't know what I know now ..what would I do (assuming I still had my thymus and they wanted to take it)
I also ... was told, and I have *NO IDEA IF IT IS TRUE* that those with no thymus ..cannot have bone marrow transplants ... yet ...in recent months and years ... you read the national research ...bone marrow transplants for autoimmune diseases for lupus and myasthenia gravis .... will I be excluded because I had a treatment that didn't work.
If, that is true ..the patient has no enlarged thymus, and no thymoma ... I'm afraid my answer would be a resounding no. If bone marrow transplants are ever in our futre, do not ruin your choices for future treatments that may act as a cure or life saving tactic.
I guess, I should go do some research to back up my contemplation. After my son graduates.
Between now and then ...this is purely from memory and off the top of my head!!!
I didn't recognise the return address.
The subject line didn't catch my attention.
I just about hit the delete ..but something made me decide to look at it.
A stranger. No one in particular. Approaching me, because they'd been given my email address, but they didn't say who gave it to them. They wanted my opinion, advice even ... and I'm sitting here wondering what to tell them.
A few years ago ...I was rather firm on my response.
They were diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis .... and they want to know if they should have a thymectomy.
What bothers me ...is they didn't say in their email if their doctor's are recommending it. They haven't said if the CT scan or MRI has said it's enlarged or if there is a thymoma (if thymoma is there, the it is a given, get the sucker out).
The enlargement may not even be obvious until it's out ...and even if it is enlarged, does that really *MEAN* anything?
They didn't say if they found me through the blog ...through the MG foundation ...our local MG chapter, my doctor (who has my permission to refer patients who are worried)
They just want to know ... I have Myasthenia Gravis and should I have my thymus gland removed ...and what technique should I 'insist' the doctor's use?
Well, first, it sounds to me like they've already decided to have it, they just don't know if they want transternal (the method I had) or cervical.
I've also read of a new method, that I wouldn't dare blog about because I only read about it once ... something about going in the side of the ribs. It sounded like a dream to me. Oh if only that had been an option for me 16 years ago!
WOW!! I just realized, June 2 will be 16 years since my Thymectomy. Medical science has changed dramatically since then. I went into the hospital with them telling me I had a 60% chance of remission ... by the time I came out of the hospital 10 days later, the study that was expected was released ... 60% was still on the page ... 60% of patients who have a thymectomy with in the first year of onset in the disease can expect to see 'some improvement in symptoms' ... a far cry from 60% chance of remission.
Those who'd been sick for over 2 years at the time of diagnosis (like me) really didn't have much expectation for help. In other words, had the study been released just 3 weeks earlier ... the surgery would not have been recommended for me.
My thymus was enlarged ... significantly so. What that meant for me, I never have learned. I figured, it was just as well that I got it out anyway.
I then, spent the next 10 to 13 years saying that I would do WHATEVER it took to put me into remission ... EVEN IF IT FAILED.
I would recommend the thymectomy ...and DID to many who asked my opinion when their doctor's flat out insisted and they were terrified.
I would tell them that all I could think about was the 'what if it was the one thing I could have done, and didn't do .... it was worth it'
But now ... 16 years later ... research isn't holding fast the recommendation. There really needs to be hard fast proof for a call for that thymectomy. That "what if I'm the small % that gets lucky" isn't quite enough for such a drastic surgery (especially a transternal surgery! They cut your chest wide open for crying out loud!!)
Am I just getting older and understanding risks more?
Am I just getting more pain and because of the surgery ... I've got a significant case of chostochondritis ... where the wires are, and the scar tissue ... it HURTS when the rain comes. When the lupus flares ... the chest wall is a significant sourse of pain for me. Breathing often causes pain when breathing should come as natural as ...well ... breathing!
Is my questioning the 'go for it just in case!' ability to fight this monster (MG) because I've realized that the thymus gland isn't part of the MG monster ... or is it that the risk comes with a monster of it's own down the road?
What do I tell this person who wants my opinion with not enough info for me to form an opinion!
If it were me ...today ... and I didn't know what I know now ..what would I do (assuming I still had my thymus and they wanted to take it)
I also ... was told, and I have *NO IDEA IF IT IS TRUE* that those with no thymus ..cannot have bone marrow transplants ... yet ...in recent months and years ... you read the national research ...bone marrow transplants for autoimmune diseases for lupus and myasthenia gravis .... will I be excluded because I had a treatment that didn't work.
If, that is true ..the patient has no enlarged thymus, and no thymoma ... I'm afraid my answer would be a resounding no. If bone marrow transplants are ever in our futre, do not ruin your choices for future treatments that may act as a cure or life saving tactic.
I guess, I should go do some research to back up my contemplation. After my son graduates.
Between now and then ...this is purely from memory and off the top of my head!!!
Monday, May 05, 2008
I am WOMAN ... Come walk with me!
I posted about this, and will post again ... On May 11 many women across the nation are going to be making steps ... one step at a time ... or many steps together to get themselves healthier ...
In the Woman Challenge to walk virtually across the country to a better health.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/woman/mypage.cfm
It isn't about being skinny, or some crazy weight loss phase ... but about living longer ... having healthier joints ... and about living to see our grandchildren graduate from high school and seeing their children being born and graduate from high school!
This week ... My mother has a birthday ...and my son graduates from high school and I celebrate 25 years from my high school graduation ... but my body is incredibly unhealthy.
I've spent the day feeling like firecrackers have been set off in every joint and every muscle group.
While it has little to do with being out of shape and everything to do with an immune system gone haywire ... . being IN shape is my only real recourse to survive those fireworks.
I do know that I worked out 3 times this last week ...and if I had not ... I'd have been bedridden with those fireworks ... instead of just in pain.
Tomorrows work out, if the fireworks continue, will be limited, but it will take place .... and it will keep the flare that is happening from getting worse than it could. OR at least, that's my theaory.
I have many many blogbuddy's ... and many many real buddy's who read my blog ...
So, I challenge you women ...and you, who love women ... Join with me ... starting MAY 11 ...
Let us Blog Buddies ... make a group to Virtually track across the country ... and Bust those bodies that often fail us ... if you have a healthy body ... keep it that way and make it even healthier ...
If it's not healthy and like mine ... it's fighting lupus, myasthenia gravis ... or you have to fight some other chronic monster like Multiple Sclerosis or Rheumatoid Arhtritis, Fibromyalgia, Asthma, Cancer, recovering from Cancer, Elnors-Danlos Syndrome, Multiple Connective Tissue Syndrome, Any number of cancer, Alzheimers ... or you've lost a loved one to any of those diseases ... Join me on May 11 to get fit ...and get healthy ... get up and moving ... Join me ... and register to my Group Blog Buddy Body Busters at
http://www.womenshealth.gov/woman/myTeam.cfm#progress
Here is the route we'll be taking :
http://www.womenshealth.gov/woman/myTeam.cfm
Join in and then email me at Pearlsofaneagle@aol.com and let me know you've joined!! Keep your progress logged in ...and let's keep each other encouraged!!!
Personally, I'm dedicating my trip to my dear friend's dauther who passed away from Brain Cancer ... Kylie Bug, this is for you!
I know you're not supposed to put your number on the web, but ... I'm going to do it anyway ... if you have any questions
My number is 918 833 1552
In the Woman Challenge to walk virtually across the country to a better health.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/woman/mypage.cfm
It isn't about being skinny, or some crazy weight loss phase ... but about living longer ... having healthier joints ... and about living to see our grandchildren graduate from high school and seeing their children being born and graduate from high school!
This week ... My mother has a birthday ...and my son graduates from high school and I celebrate 25 years from my high school graduation ... but my body is incredibly unhealthy.
I've spent the day feeling like firecrackers have been set off in every joint and every muscle group.
While it has little to do with being out of shape and everything to do with an immune system gone haywire ... . being IN shape is my only real recourse to survive those fireworks.
I do know that I worked out 3 times this last week ...and if I had not ... I'd have been bedridden with those fireworks ... instead of just in pain.
Tomorrows work out, if the fireworks continue, will be limited, but it will take place .... and it will keep the flare that is happening from getting worse than it could. OR at least, that's my theaory.
I have many many blogbuddy's ... and many many real buddy's who read my blog ...
So, I challenge you women ...and you, who love women ... Join with me ... starting MAY 11 ...
Let us Blog Buddies ... make a group to Virtually track across the country ... and Bust those bodies that often fail us ... if you have a healthy body ... keep it that way and make it even healthier ...
If it's not healthy and like mine ... it's fighting lupus, myasthenia gravis ... or you have to fight some other chronic monster like Multiple Sclerosis or Rheumatoid Arhtritis, Fibromyalgia, Asthma, Cancer, recovering from Cancer, Elnors-Danlos Syndrome, Multiple Connective Tissue Syndrome, Any number of cancer, Alzheimers ... or you've lost a loved one to any of those diseases ... Join me on May 11 to get fit ...and get healthy ... get up and moving ... Join me ... and register to my Group Blog Buddy Body Busters at
http://www.womenshealth.gov/woman/myTeam.cfm#progress
Here is the route we'll be taking :
http://www.womenshealth.gov/woman/myTeam.cfm
Join in and then email me at Pearlsofaneagle@aol.com and let me know you've joined!! Keep your progress logged in ...and let's keep each other encouraged!!!
Personally, I'm dedicating my trip to my dear friend's dauther who passed away from Brain Cancer ... Kylie Bug, this is for you!
I know you're not supposed to put your number on the web, but ... I'm going to do it anyway ... if you have any questions
My number is 918 833 1552
Sunday, May 04, 2008
facial recognition
Insomnia setting in here ...
I came across this interesting test ... Being one who has trouble even being able to give a description of my loved ones ... a sister, brother, my own CHILDREN ... I found this test facinating ...
Results
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Out of 72 faces, you correctly identified 39.
In other words, you got 54% correct.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On our previous version of this test, the average person with normal face recognition was able to recognize about 80% of the faces. If you correctly identified less than 65% of the faces, this may indicate face recognition difficulties.
For more information about face blindness and other face recognition difficulties, please go to http://www.faceblind.org/.
ok, so they think I might have difficulties ...heh? yeah, I knew that. Always have had. From childhood. I have no clue what causes it.
It will be interesting as I go through school in psychology to see if I can improve on it, or find better ways to cope with it ... I will definitely need to find ways to cope with it. 0.O
Hat tip to Menapausal Moments for the confirmation of my facial recognition issues ;)
At least I know they're real!!
on the famous persons test I got :
Results
Out of 30 faces, you correctly identified 14.You were familiar with 29 of the people in this test.If we exclude the ones you were unfamiliar with, you got 48% correct.
On our previous version of this test, the average person with normal face recognition was able to recognize about 85% of the faces they were familiar with. If you missed more than half of the faces you were familiar with, this may indicate face recognition difficulties. For more information about face blindness and other face recognition difficulties, please go to www.faceblind.org.
I came across this interesting test ... Being one who has trouble even being able to give a description of my loved ones ... a sister, brother, my own CHILDREN ... I found this test facinating ...
Results
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Out of 72 faces, you correctly identified 39.
In other words, you got 54% correct.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On our previous version of this test, the average person with normal face recognition was able to recognize about 80% of the faces. If you correctly identified less than 65% of the faces, this may indicate face recognition difficulties.
For more information about face blindness and other face recognition difficulties, please go to http://www.faceblind.org/.
ok, so they think I might have difficulties ...heh? yeah, I knew that. Always have had. From childhood. I have no clue what causes it.
It will be interesting as I go through school in psychology to see if I can improve on it, or find better ways to cope with it ... I will definitely need to find ways to cope with it. 0.O
Hat tip to Menapausal Moments for the confirmation of my facial recognition issues ;)
At least I know they're real!!
on the famous persons test I got :
Results
Out of 30 faces, you correctly identified 14.You were familiar with 29 of the people in this test.If we exclude the ones you were unfamiliar with, you got 48% correct.
On our previous version of this test, the average person with normal face recognition was able to recognize about 85% of the faces they were familiar with. If you missed more than half of the faces you were familiar with, this may indicate face recognition difficulties. For more information about face blindness and other face recognition difficulties, please go to www.faceblind.org.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
:/
I think ... I have an ulcer.
or ... I think it might be endometriosis ...
or worse ...both.
I'm stalling something awful on going and finding out.
I don't want to know for sure.
My ability to be upbeat and be a 'good patient' is wearing very thin.
Very very thin.
or ... I think it might be endometriosis ...
or worse ...both.
I'm stalling something awful on going and finding out.
I don't want to know for sure.
My ability to be upbeat and be a 'good patient' is wearing very thin.
Very very thin.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Challenge!
Come and join me in this challenge!
Let's get fit together. My groups is a cross country track .. "Blog Buddy Body Busters"
Go join my group and starting May 11th, log in the amount of getting fit that you do and we'll track our results together and see ourselves 'walk' across the country together as blog buddies!
If your goal is to get fit, loose weight, become more mobile because of chronic illness (arthritis is a bugger, but movement makes it less so! trust me on this one!) Get up and move, start with where you are, at your fitness level ...and lets get fit together!!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Held
"Natalie Grant - Held"
Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling
Who told us we’d be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We’re asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It’s unfair
Chorus:
This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we’d be held
This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it, let the hatred NUMB our sorrow
The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow
(Chorus) ...
This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we’d be held
Bridge:
If hope is born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?
(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we’d be held
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kylie Jade Kesterson
You'll never be forgotten KylieBug
Never Forget
It's been a year since my friends daughter went to be with Jesus ...
Her mother wrote a beautiful tribute to her at this memorial site.
I don't know how she has managed. But, she has, and beautifully so. Kylie would be so proud of her mother.
http://kyliekesterson.memory-of.com/About.aspx
Her mother wrote a beautiful tribute to her at this memorial site.
I don't know how she has managed. But, she has, and beautifully so. Kylie would be so proud of her mother.
http://kyliekesterson.memory-of.com/About.aspx
Monday, April 21, 2008
Time Marches On
I was looking through some old paperwork to find some information in regards for going back to school. I came across a "Personal Profile" that I'd written for my youngest son when he was in the third grade. (By the way, for any parent who has a special needs child, I highly recommend doing this, if you need more information, email me at Pearlsofaneagle@aol.com)
The year, 2001-2002 school year. It contained personal information ...who he lived with, pets and interests (Pokemon, animal planet etc) and what his personal strengths were. (Good moral values, respect for authority, being cute and funny).
It also included his weaknesses (poor social skills, inability to follow other's body language to get social cues such as personal body space, in ability to sit still, impulsivity etc, high frustration level.)
There was a section in the profile where I listed his Symptoms and Difficulties:
Easily distracted and frustrated
sitting still
blurting out what he is thinking
difficulty learning new concepts
short term memory problems
inability to express things that he knows.
distractablity
needs constant re direction
OCD germ phobia
OCD handwashing
disorganized
inability to adjust to transitions without assistance
I also listed a list of his tics from caused by the Tourette's Syndrome:
Motor:
eye blinking; eye squinching; lip licking; lip twitches; kicking (hopefully no one is in his way when this happens) leg stretching; touching things;snapping; shoulder shrugging;neck rolling; and hand flapping are the most frequent.
Vocal (also known as phonic tics)
throat clearing; humming; coughing; cheek sucking;gulping; short burst sentences (usually making no sense whatsoever) such as "I am not a whale" or "my yeast is rising" They are usually short, and have an odd vocal sound to them. One from several years past was "Purple cows eat these on the moon"
I also had listed his medical and developmental Issues:
Bifrontal Lobe Atrophy
Arnold Chiari Malformation type 1 (both are mild brain malformations)
Astigmatism
asthma
allergies
migraines
Hypogammagobulinemia (IgG immune deficiency)
they all interfere with his school attendence.
During the 2000 -2001 school year, Benjamin missed over 40 days of school, 10 of those in the hospital.
While bifrontal lobe atrophy is not a common issue, there are things that it is known to effect. The most common things it is likely to effect in the classroom setting are as follows:
attention
behavior
abstract thought
reflection
problem solving
creative thought
emotion
judgement
intellect
Initiative
Inibition
coordinitated movement
generalized and mass movements
some eye movements
muscle movements
skilled movements
sense of smell
supplementary motor skills
physical reactions
I also included his food allergy to ALL dairy. the fact that it was a true allergy not a lactose intolerance.
The rest of the document consisted of ways the teacher could help him in the classroom, modifications that could help him to better adapt to both learning and social environments.
So here we are 6 years later, in the 9th grade and it hardly seem like I'm writing about the same child! Whose child was that? While there are area's that I can see that this is my child, there are many areas that I had forgotten just how difficult it could get with him.
(this, is a very good thing. My memory is how delightful he was)
His social skills are now his strength! He's going to be on a leardership team for the church youth group. He'll be in a leadership program at the school, and be the first child in special education to be included in this program.
His germ phobia is definitely manageable. It's there, hovering beneath the surface, but he keeps it in check with his own version of behavior modification. The handwashing he managed to deal with as well. He does have a few OCD issues that make life difficult, but when you let him know that they are interfering with others functioning, he catches it, and figures out a way to adapt.
In 3rd grade, adaptation was an impossibility ...in 9th grade, adaptation is his strength.
He can sit still for hours. Is one of the quietest in his classroom settings. The neurologist gave him thetest and he tested no where near ADHD. T.O.V.A. The culprit of his inattention and impulsivity is either the bifrontal lobe atrophy or OCD/TS and Sensory Integration Dysfunction or ...all of the above.
The progress he has made is nothing short of remarkable. We were blessed with a fantastic pediatric neurologist who Benjamin started seeing at the tender age of 2 months old when he had his first seizure. That summer brought terms into our lives such as "Craniosystosis" "Arnold Chiari Malformation Type 1" "Developmental Delay" and other words a mother never wants to hear uttered regarding her child.
Diagnosist proceedures such as MRI's, CT scans, nuclear medicine of all types, for both digestive and brain studies began in what seemed like weekly progression. Hospital stays were frequent and overwhelming.
Nine months old, my son was sent to a Physical therapist because he could not roll over, an OT because he had no fine motor skills to speak of, and a speech therapist because he could not eat solid food.
What mother actually thinks they'll have to teach their child how to eat?
The amazing thing in all of this ... the smile never left this child's face. The laughter never left his vocal chords. The determination never left him. He shuffled through diagnosis' consisting of mental retardation, autism and protein intolerance.
It is incredible to realize what this child of mine has gone through. This, this young man ..this gentle soul ..who stood by his girlfriends side to help her through the death of her father this past 2 weeks.
The baby in my arms ... with the crooked skull .. who'd have thought? I guess I did, even before I wrote the personal profile. The profile was written in 2001, this poem .. in January 2000
A Mother's Heart
Every mother had Dreams,
Of a Child perfect and whole.
Every mother has Hopes,
For perfection, body and soul.
They told me you’re not perfect,
Sweet loving child of mine.
They told me that your learning,
Is taking too much time.
They tell me that your tests came back,
Showing problems and low scores.
They tell me that you have to struggle,
This hurts me to the core.
Every mother has dreams,
They tell me you don’t fit.
Every mother has hopes,
They say perfection you won’t hit.
But they don’t see what I see,
The smile that lights your face.
But they don’t hear what I hear,
Your laughter reveals God’s grace.
They don’t see what I see,
My child loving and whole.
I have hopes and dreams,
Because my child you are a gift from God
And you have a PERFECT SOUL.
© Peggikaye Eagler
The year, 2001-2002 school year. It contained personal information ...who he lived with, pets and interests (Pokemon, animal planet etc) and what his personal strengths were. (Good moral values, respect for authority, being cute and funny).
It also included his weaknesses (poor social skills, inability to follow other's body language to get social cues such as personal body space, in ability to sit still, impulsivity etc, high frustration level.)
There was a section in the profile where I listed his Symptoms and Difficulties:
Easily distracted and frustrated
sitting still
blurting out what he is thinking
difficulty learning new concepts
short term memory problems
inability to express things that he knows.
distractablity
needs constant re direction
OCD germ phobia
OCD handwashing
disorganized
inability to adjust to transitions without assistance
I also listed a list of his tics from caused by the Tourette's Syndrome:
Motor:
eye blinking; eye squinching; lip licking; lip twitches; kicking (hopefully no one is in his way when this happens) leg stretching; touching things;snapping; shoulder shrugging;neck rolling; and hand flapping are the most frequent.
Vocal (also known as phonic tics)
throat clearing; humming; coughing; cheek sucking;gulping; short burst sentences (usually making no sense whatsoever) such as "I am not a whale" or "my yeast is rising" They are usually short, and have an odd vocal sound to them. One from several years past was "Purple cows eat these on the moon"
I also had listed his medical and developmental Issues:
Bifrontal Lobe Atrophy
Arnold Chiari Malformation type 1 (both are mild brain malformations)
Astigmatism
asthma
allergies
migraines
Hypogammagobulinemia (IgG immune deficiency)
they all interfere with his school attendence.
During the 2000 -2001 school year, Benjamin missed over 40 days of school, 10 of those in the hospital.
While bifrontal lobe atrophy is not a common issue, there are things that it is known to effect. The most common things it is likely to effect in the classroom setting are as follows:
attention
behavior
abstract thought
reflection
problem solving
creative thought
emotion
judgement
intellect
Initiative
Inibition
coordinitated movement
generalized and mass movements
some eye movements
muscle movements
skilled movements
sense of smell
supplementary motor skills
physical reactions
I also included his food allergy to ALL dairy. the fact that it was a true allergy not a lactose intolerance.
The rest of the document consisted of ways the teacher could help him in the classroom, modifications that could help him to better adapt to both learning and social environments.
So here we are 6 years later, in the 9th grade and it hardly seem like I'm writing about the same child! Whose child was that? While there are area's that I can see that this is my child, there are many areas that I had forgotten just how difficult it could get with him.
(this, is a very good thing. My memory is how delightful he was)
His social skills are now his strength! He's going to be on a leardership team for the church youth group. He'll be in a leadership program at the school, and be the first child in special education to be included in this program.
His germ phobia is definitely manageable. It's there, hovering beneath the surface, but he keeps it in check with his own version of behavior modification. The handwashing he managed to deal with as well. He does have a few OCD issues that make life difficult, but when you let him know that they are interfering with others functioning, he catches it, and figures out a way to adapt.
In 3rd grade, adaptation was an impossibility ...in 9th grade, adaptation is his strength.
He can sit still for hours. Is one of the quietest in his classroom settings. The neurologist gave him thetest and he tested no where near ADHD. T.O.V.A. The culprit of his inattention and impulsivity is either the bifrontal lobe atrophy or OCD/TS and Sensory Integration Dysfunction or ...all of the above.
The progress he has made is nothing short of remarkable. We were blessed with a fantastic pediatric neurologist who Benjamin started seeing at the tender age of 2 months old when he had his first seizure. That summer brought terms into our lives such as "Craniosystosis" "Arnold Chiari Malformation Type 1" "Developmental Delay" and other words a mother never wants to hear uttered regarding her child.
Diagnosist proceedures such as MRI's, CT scans, nuclear medicine of all types, for both digestive and brain studies began in what seemed like weekly progression. Hospital stays were frequent and overwhelming.
Nine months old, my son was sent to a Physical therapist because he could not roll over, an OT because he had no fine motor skills to speak of, and a speech therapist because he could not eat solid food.
What mother actually thinks they'll have to teach their child how to eat?
The amazing thing in all of this ... the smile never left this child's face. The laughter never left his vocal chords. The determination never left him. He shuffled through diagnosis' consisting of mental retardation, autism and protein intolerance.
It is incredible to realize what this child of mine has gone through. This, this young man ..this gentle soul ..who stood by his girlfriends side to help her through the death of her father this past 2 weeks.
The baby in my arms ... with the crooked skull .. who'd have thought? I guess I did, even before I wrote the personal profile. The profile was written in 2001, this poem .. in January 2000
A Mother's Heart
Every mother had Dreams,
Of a Child perfect and whole.
Every mother has Hopes,
For perfection, body and soul.
They told me you’re not perfect,
Sweet loving child of mine.
They told me that your learning,
Is taking too much time.
They tell me that your tests came back,
Showing problems and low scores.
They tell me that you have to struggle,
This hurts me to the core.
Every mother has dreams,
They tell me you don’t fit.
Every mother has hopes,
They say perfection you won’t hit.
But they don’t see what I see,
The smile that lights your face.
But they don’t hear what I hear,
Your laughter reveals God’s grace.
They don’t see what I see,
My child loving and whole.
I have hopes and dreams,
Because my child you are a gift from God
And you have a PERFECT SOUL.
© Peggikaye Eagler
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Tail of the Cat
Last May, we had a bit of a flea issue. We had an exterminator come and take care of said flea issue. (only, it didn't take care of said flea issue. Some Raid and a flea bomb, flea collars did)
It was May 22 that the exterminator came out. We came home, opened the windows ...and later that night, I felt like I was walking through jello. Extermination services are a well known trigger for Myasthenic reactions. We know this, we thought we had stayed away from the house for long enough to keep me safe. We hadn't quite planned well enough. I sat up that night afraid to go to sleep. I took extra Mestinon and concentrated on trying to breathe and see through the double vision. Finally, around 4 in the morning, the effects of the poison seemed to be leaving my system, or the extra mestinon was compensating. Either way, I felt safe enough to go to bed.
I got up in the morning, my husband was already up. He was coughing some, but joking around with the boys. At 8 am I drove the youngest to school and came home. He seemed a bit worse. We waited for the doctor's office to open for him to call. By the time they opened, he was significantly worse. They said they couldnt' see him, but another clinic associated with them could see him at 10:45.
Within 15 minutes, he couldn't stand up. I called 911. They rushed him to the hospital ... he was in respiratory failure due to post polio syndrome. Our lives, got turned upside down, backwards and forewards, inside out and everywhere you can imagine. They did not think it was the pest control measures. They still don't. They think that was pure coincidence. (My issues, they think were. His, not so much)
However, the timing, haunts me to this day. The idea of a flea torments me.
So, flashforeward to the other day ... I'm laying on my bed, following orders to actually rest and I'm petting my dear kitty Twitch. As I'm petting I feel a pittering on my arm (what other word would you use to describe that?). I brush it off and again, I feel it in another spot. That catches my attention. I look ...
GASP! IT's a little black enemy!!!
Not only is there one flea ..but TWO!!!
Oh no ..no no no no no no no no ...we are NOT going there again!
So, I take this little (big) kitty to the tub ..and get out the flea shampoo ..and you've never heard such caterwallering. He hollared and he yelled and he moaned and groaned.
You'd have thought I'd taken away his favorite ... I don't know ... what do cats love?
But, he's not fighting me. He's standing in the tub, perfectly still. Not moving an inch, just crying to beat the band.
The family is standing outside the door yelling at me
"What are you doing?"
"I'm giving him a flea bath! LEave me alone! He's fine, he's just being a baby!!"
So then, I do the terrible thing!
This cat has a tail ...not just any tail ... but a TAIL.
Now this tail is almost as big as he is. This cat, is very proud of his tail and he walks around with this tail in the air.
This tail is so big that we decided it was it's own entity and deserved it's own name. (one friend said it's so big it deserves it's own zip code).
So, the cats name is Twitch, but the tails name is Boone.
So, I go to put shampoo on Boone. OH MY GOODNESS ..then the caterwallering was just ... horrible. The family outside the door started to caterwall with him.
I take him out of the tub to rub the shampoo in and he stops crying. So the family goes away.
Well, you can't leave the cat with shampoo on him, so I place him back in the tub.
I rinse him off and as before, he's screaming bloody murder but not moving a muscle. My husband comes back ...only this time decides he's going to rescue him.
Just as I go to rinse off the beloved Boone ... Don reaches for the door.
That's too much for Twitch.
He looses his composure of holding still and just screaming and turns and bites me on the arm ... bolts for the door ...
and my husband stands there and says
LOOK AT THE MESS YOU'VE MADE ...THERE IS WATER FROM THE TUB TO THE KITCHEN!!!
(EXCUSE ME???? WHO OPENED THE DOOR???)
So, the bite marks go a bit deep and bleed pretty bad. I wash with antibiotic soap and post on twitter.
I get advice to go to doc ...NOW.
I call doctor.
My exact message was "I got bit by my cat and there are 3 puncture wounds, one of them won't stop bleeding."
The doctor calls me in keflex and says she'll see me the next morning.
I wake up in the morning with an infected arm.
RLBates at Suture for a Living does a great job of explaining cat bites.
They try to move my appt back and I tell them they can't, it's infected and getting worse.
I get there and they have reason for visit as
"patient bit by her car, area red and swollen"
well good.
The reason the doctor didn't respond the day of the bite ...the message she got from the nurse ...
"Patient thinks she "might" have gotten scratched by her cat"
complete with quotation marks around the word might.
Can we say snarky?
Yes, this is a nurse we've had issues with in the past (think I've even blogged about her on here).
Don and I have agreed that a talk with the office manager is in order when we go in on Monday. There are times when we feel this nurse is purposefully sabotaging my healthcare ...and this one ... could have gotten dangerous.
Not calling in a medication to a pharmacy is annoying.
Not giving my correct insurance information in a referral is irritating.
Not DOING a referral to a specialist or PT as ordered is downright frustrating.
Not passing a message to a doctor so the doctor doesn't know I'm in the hospital is aggrivating. (her reasoning .. "I didn't think you should have been there to begin with, why should I bother the doctor with such things. My job is to protect the doctor)
Thumper (not her real name) you gotta get real.
It was May 22 that the exterminator came out. We came home, opened the windows ...and later that night, I felt like I was walking through jello. Extermination services are a well known trigger for Myasthenic reactions. We know this, we thought we had stayed away from the house for long enough to keep me safe. We hadn't quite planned well enough. I sat up that night afraid to go to sleep. I took extra Mestinon and concentrated on trying to breathe and see through the double vision. Finally, around 4 in the morning, the effects of the poison seemed to be leaving my system, or the extra mestinon was compensating. Either way, I felt safe enough to go to bed.
I got up in the morning, my husband was already up. He was coughing some, but joking around with the boys. At 8 am I drove the youngest to school and came home. He seemed a bit worse. We waited for the doctor's office to open for him to call. By the time they opened, he was significantly worse. They said they couldnt' see him, but another clinic associated with them could see him at 10:45.
Within 15 minutes, he couldn't stand up. I called 911. They rushed him to the hospital ... he was in respiratory failure due to post polio syndrome. Our lives, got turned upside down, backwards and forewards, inside out and everywhere you can imagine. They did not think it was the pest control measures. They still don't. They think that was pure coincidence. (My issues, they think were. His, not so much)
However, the timing, haunts me to this day. The idea of a flea torments me.
So, flashforeward to the other day ... I'm laying on my bed, following orders to actually rest and I'm petting my dear kitty Twitch. As I'm petting I feel a pittering on my arm (what other word would you use to describe that?). I brush it off and again, I feel it in another spot. That catches my attention. I look ...
GASP! IT's a little black enemy!!!
Not only is there one flea ..but TWO!!!
Oh no ..no no no no no no no no ...we are NOT going there again!
So, I take this little (big) kitty to the tub ..and get out the flea shampoo ..and you've never heard such caterwallering. He hollared and he yelled and he moaned and groaned.
You'd have thought I'd taken away his favorite ... I don't know ... what do cats love?
But, he's not fighting me. He's standing in the tub, perfectly still. Not moving an inch, just crying to beat the band.
The family is standing outside the door yelling at me
"What are you doing?"
"I'm giving him a flea bath! LEave me alone! He's fine, he's just being a baby!!"
So then, I do the terrible thing!
This cat has a tail ...not just any tail ... but a TAIL.
Now this tail is almost as big as he is. This cat, is very proud of his tail and he walks around with this tail in the air.
This tail is so big that we decided it was it's own entity and deserved it's own name. (one friend said it's so big it deserves it's own zip code).
So, the cats name is Twitch, but the tails name is Boone.
So, I go to put shampoo on Boone. OH MY GOODNESS ..then the caterwallering was just ... horrible. The family outside the door started to caterwall with him.
I take him out of the tub to rub the shampoo in and he stops crying. So the family goes away.
Well, you can't leave the cat with shampoo on him, so I place him back in the tub.
I rinse him off and as before, he's screaming bloody murder but not moving a muscle. My husband comes back ...only this time decides he's going to rescue him.
Just as I go to rinse off the beloved Boone ... Don reaches for the door.
That's too much for Twitch.
He looses his composure of holding still and just screaming and turns and bites me on the arm ... bolts for the door ...
and my husband stands there and says
LOOK AT THE MESS YOU'VE MADE ...THERE IS WATER FROM THE TUB TO THE KITCHEN!!!
(EXCUSE ME???? WHO OPENED THE DOOR???)
So, the bite marks go a bit deep and bleed pretty bad. I wash with antibiotic soap and post on twitter.
I get advice to go to doc ...NOW.
I call doctor.
My exact message was "I got bit by my cat and there are 3 puncture wounds, one of them won't stop bleeding."
The doctor calls me in keflex and says she'll see me the next morning.
I wake up in the morning with an infected arm.
RLBates at Suture for a Living does a great job of explaining cat bites.
They try to move my appt back and I tell them they can't, it's infected and getting worse.
I get there and they have reason for visit as
"patient bit by her car, area red and swollen"
well good.
The reason the doctor didn't respond the day of the bite ...the message she got from the nurse ...
"Patient thinks she "might" have gotten scratched by her cat"
complete with quotation marks around the word might.
Can we say snarky?
Yes, this is a nurse we've had issues with in the past (think I've even blogged about her on here).
Don and I have agreed that a talk with the office manager is in order when we go in on Monday. There are times when we feel this nurse is purposefully sabotaging my healthcare ...and this one ... could have gotten dangerous.
Not calling in a medication to a pharmacy is annoying.
Not giving my correct insurance information in a referral is irritating.
Not DOING a referral to a specialist or PT as ordered is downright frustrating.
Not passing a message to a doctor so the doctor doesn't know I'm in the hospital is aggrivating. (her reasoning .. "I didn't think you should have been there to begin with, why should I bother the doctor with such things. My job is to protect the doctor)
Thumper (not her real name) you gotta get real.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Site Meter
My site meter hit 30,000
Ok, I realize some site meters hit that in a day. But not my blog. This is a big deal for my blog.
Ok, I realize some site meters hit that in a day. But not my blog. This is a big deal for my blog.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Blue Willow Collection
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| Blue Willow |
http://picasaweb.google.com/Peggikaye/BlueWillow/photo#s5189256244452967426
My collection of Blue Willow is growing.
Bargains at Antique stores & Salvation Army, gifts from friends ... 
the plates on the chair are 6 inch dessert plates/saucers. (the rocker is a little toddler rocker that belonged to me when I was little. It was given to me when I was 13 months old).
="http://picasaweb.google.com/Peggikaye/BlueWillow/photo#5189249252246209490">
I found the plate easel at Hobby Lobby. It's a 2 plate easel, I think. I can't figure out if it's supposed to have 2 or 3. The bottom plate doesn't fit quite right.
The whiter does not have a traditional pattern or boarder. The border is called a Bridal Gold 2. It has a reversed pattern simplified.
It is a nice contrast to the other blue willow patterns in my collection.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Voice Of Truth - Casting Crowns
Voice of Truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand.
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says, "This is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will chose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand.
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again, "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
I will chose to listen to the voice of truth
Reminding Myself
As a teenager I tended to stop when things got a bit too tough. (thus the algebra fiasco).
I entered adulthood with the idea that I was a "quitter" (an idea re inforced to me by my parents)
This thought process keeps going through my mind as I prepare to go back to school. "I can't do this, I'm a quitter"
I'm having to fight these thoughts about every other minute.
It occured to me today that maybe I should make a list of things I've accomplished that I can refer back to. I've not written this out yet, so I'm going do it right here:
1) I have been married for over 20 years.
2) I have raised/almost raised two terrific boys.
3) I worked very hard to complete 418 of 450 sweat equity hours to build a house through Habitat For Humanity for my family. When political DRAMA got in the way, I carefully, and quietly, calmly stayed the battle to ensure what my family needed was kept in place. When the building finally took place (11 months after finishing my sweat equity) I put in an additional 80 hours alongside my family to help build my house!
4) I wrote and had a book published.
5) I entered Nanowrimo and wrote non fiction for the first time in 30 years and completed a 50,000 word novela in November of 2008.
I entered adulthood with the idea that I was a "quitter" (an idea re inforced to me by my parents)
This thought process keeps going through my mind as I prepare to go back to school. "I can't do this, I'm a quitter"
I'm having to fight these thoughts about every other minute.
It occured to me today that maybe I should make a list of things I've accomplished that I can refer back to. I've not written this out yet, so I'm going do it right here:
1) I have been married for over 20 years.
2) I have raised/almost raised two terrific boys.
3) I worked very hard to complete 418 of 450 sweat equity hours to build a house through Habitat For Humanity for my family. When political DRAMA got in the way, I carefully, and quietly, calmly stayed the battle to ensure what my family needed was kept in place. When the building finally took place (11 months after finishing my sweat equity) I put in an additional 80 hours alongside my family to help build my house!
4) I wrote and had a book published.
5) I entered Nanowrimo and wrote non fiction for the first time in 30 years and completed a 50,000 word novela in November of 2008.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Really Doing It
Well, I've got my finanicial aide papers filed, and decided to not wait for fall and am going to try to get that blasted algebra out of the way. My stubborn streak got in the way and I never took it in high school. The conversation was absolutely absurd and I cannot believe I ever got away with it. As a parent, I'd never let my children slide by with such a thing (as they have found out) but, I did ...
I had wanted to be a doctor since I was less than 4. I earned my first aide badge as a brownie and was the first girl scout to earn my first aide badge.
In my 7th grade science class, I was teacher's pet ... she lit a fire under my facination of all things biological.
My freshman year, I was enrolled in Algebra 1,
I promptly unenrolled myself and put myself in "Business math" (as my step mother kindly referred to it "bonehead math"
My sophomore year, my mother again enrolled me in algebra, I again took myself out of it.
My principal promptly called me into his office and kindly said "Peggikaye, you HAVE to take algebra!"
"Do I have to show my work?"
"well, yes, you know that!"
"well, then I'm not taking it!"
"If you don't take algebra you can't become a doctor!"
"well, then I won't become a doctor" I stared him down as he stared at me with absolute disbelief, he thought he had this stubborn blue eyed girl in a trap.
"Peggikaye, if you don't take algebra, you can't go to college." He said quietly.
"Fine, take me off the college prep list"
I got up and I walked out of his office and did not look back until I was 23.
I waited tables, worked in grocery stores, worked in day care centers ... at 23 I realized I did not want to be a 40 year old waitress ...and enrolled in college.
At 24 ...I got sick with Myasthenia Gravis.
At 25 with not such a good GPA (2.1 ...I had no idea it was that bad!!! I was a 3.9 in high school!!!!)
So, now I go back. Different major, I was an education major (what WAS I thinking, I'd have made a bad teacher!!!)
The frustrating thing is starting behind the 8 ball. My physical science class and my developmental psych class, I dropped late in the semester, both, with A's. Both professors told me they would give me the A's even though it was too late to drop.
I was so sick, I just took it for granted they would follow through. Neither did.
I have incompletes ... for both classes.
So, I get to take them again.
My humanities 2, I had a D in, so I'm going to take that again.
I'm going to try to take Beginning Algebra this summer .. then Intermediate Algebra next fall .. then college algebra in the spring (then hopefully never take math again ...oh wait, I'll have to take statistics won't I?)
I will get over this. I will enjoy taking physical science, again, I will enjoy developmental psych, and I'm sure after parenting, I will have a totally different perspective. I might even be able to tolerate humanities 2 this time.
I had wanted to be a doctor since I was less than 4. I earned my first aide badge as a brownie and was the first girl scout to earn my first aide badge.
In my 7th grade science class, I was teacher's pet ... she lit a fire under my facination of all things biological.
My freshman year, I was enrolled in Algebra 1,
I promptly unenrolled myself and put myself in "Business math" (as my step mother kindly referred to it "bonehead math"
My sophomore year, my mother again enrolled me in algebra, I again took myself out of it.
My principal promptly called me into his office and kindly said "Peggikaye, you HAVE to take algebra!"
"Do I have to show my work?"
"well, yes, you know that!"
"well, then I'm not taking it!"
"If you don't take algebra you can't become a doctor!"
"well, then I won't become a doctor" I stared him down as he stared at me with absolute disbelief, he thought he had this stubborn blue eyed girl in a trap.
"Peggikaye, if you don't take algebra, you can't go to college." He said quietly.
"Fine, take me off the college prep list"
I got up and I walked out of his office and did not look back until I was 23.
I waited tables, worked in grocery stores, worked in day care centers ... at 23 I realized I did not want to be a 40 year old waitress ...and enrolled in college.
At 24 ...I got sick with Myasthenia Gravis.
At 25 with not such a good GPA (2.1 ...I had no idea it was that bad!!! I was a 3.9 in high school!!!!)
So, now I go back. Different major, I was an education major (what WAS I thinking, I'd have made a bad teacher!!!)
The frustrating thing is starting behind the 8 ball. My physical science class and my developmental psych class, I dropped late in the semester, both, with A's. Both professors told me they would give me the A's even though it was too late to drop.
I was so sick, I just took it for granted they would follow through. Neither did.
I have incompletes ... for both classes.
So, I get to take them again.
My humanities 2, I had a D in, so I'm going to take that again.
I'm going to try to take Beginning Algebra this summer .. then Intermediate Algebra next fall .. then college algebra in the spring (then hopefully never take math again ...oh wait, I'll have to take statistics won't I?)
I will get over this. I will enjoy taking physical science, again, I will enjoy developmental psych, and I'm sure after parenting, I will have a totally different perspective. I might even be able to tolerate humanities 2 this time.
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