And one week. I totally missed my Blogiversary. I was thinking I started in October 2005 but nope, my first official post was on September 24, 2005. I had two visitors; one was Jen C., a former writer for Parent Dish, who insisted I start a blog and set it up for me. She hasn't been "anonymous" for some time now and she's still up there on my sidebar as a co-administrator (along with several other people who have bailed me out everytime I painted myself into a corner). Hi and hugs to Angela, Andrea, Alice, and Tim.
Thanks as well to all my other visitors who have either emailed helpful hints or have stepped up and quietly fixed some of my glitches. Too many to name but you know who you are.
And to all of you who've supported me over the last couple of years. You've hung in with me through the good times and the not so good. This blog and yours have been lifelines for me.
I think my counter said 1,097 posts. Certainly not one a day but not too bad. I'm not obsessed with my stat counter but I checked just now and it's a little over 66,000. Wow!! I do look at it once in a while because I'm interested in the number of countries and a few other things. Of course many of those hits are from folks who are looking for something else. Still, I have many friends out there. I've met a few of you, I've spoken to others, and the rest? I feel as if I know every one.
Merle had a photo on her blog the other day. She and 3 of her blogging buddies had gotten together in Australia. I recognized all of them and, except for living in a different hemisphere, I would have fit right in.
Two months ago, I was thinking about calling it a day on the blog. So much of my writing was about the girls. What could I find to say now that they're living elsewhere? I changed my mind, at least for the time being. I probably won't be posting as often but I'll be here and I'll still be checking up on my friends who live in my computer.
Take care everyone.
P. S.
To Mary K. in Arkansas. Thanks for signing my guestbook. If you feel like it, drop me a comment or an email. I lived in Jonesboro for 8 years and I always perk up when I see a former neighbor and I'm a little curious about you.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Diabetes - Another Update
If you haven't read the post below this, you should. Otherwise you'll be wondering about this one.
As I said to a few of you who've already left comments or emailed, when the going gets tough, the not so tough (that would be me at the moment) heads out to Barnes & Noble for a hot caramel macchiato and a chocolate chip scone with whipped cream. And, of course, some TLC from son Timothy. He took his break while I was there and quickly demonstrated how to do the shots (without the needle of course). It looks much easier than I had envisioned and from what some of you have said it's not too bad.
By the time I came back home, I was feeling much better.
Ray called right before I left. He was relieved the hospital had already phoned so he wouldn't have to try to explain all of it. I was relieved too and was able to tell him about the Monday discharge (if all goes according to plan), the visiting nurse, etc. He hadn't heard that part of it. It was good to hear his voice. He was reassuring me while I was reassuring him.
Anyhow, while I was at B&N, I picked up a couple of mystery novels from the sale table to get me through the weekend. I've done about as much with the house as I can except for minor daily maintenance (how dirty can it get with one person and a very polite cat?). The pictures are hung, the closets (all 2 of them), cupboards, Ray's dresser, and shelves are organized, and I've found places for almost everything.
I even sorted out his tools which I swore I would never do again. How can anyone possibly use 5 or 6 identical claw hammers, one ball peen, and a tack hammer? The only one we'll ever need is the tack hammer. I won't even discuss the screwdrivers, pliers, Allen wrenches, regular wrenches, crescent wrenches, and miscellaneous tools I can't identify but which must serve some purpose, but I can tell from looking at the assortment that we'll have every size except the one Phillips or wrench we need at the moment. It never fails. Too long, too short, too wide, too skinny. We then pick up another cheap set and eventually end up with 40 of them.
And while I'm ranting, why do we need both slot and Phillips? Plus another I don't know the name of but it's funny looking. And of course, in the USA, we have to have both linear and metric. Why can't we join the rest of humanity with our temperatures and measurements?
When he's home and rested, we'll go back through them together. Right now his tools are taking up 4 small toolboxes in the back of the closet; one just for the hammers.
It's feeling much more like home now and will feel even more so when he's back to share it with me.
DIL Melissa (Jim's wife) was working her last day at B&N until after the baby arrives. She's due November 10th and she's been experiencing a little discomfort. Not surprising; she's on her feet all day. I hope she will get some rest while chasing her toddler all over the house.
I'll try to get around to most of you over the weekend. My eyes have been bothering me a little when I stay online too long. Nothing painful but they start closing, even when I don't think I'm sleepy.
Once again, have a good weekend.
As I said to a few of you who've already left comments or emailed, when the going gets tough, the not so tough (that would be me at the moment) heads out to Barnes & Noble for a hot caramel macchiato and a chocolate chip scone with whipped cream. And, of course, some TLC from son Timothy. He took his break while I was there and quickly demonstrated how to do the shots (without the needle of course). It looks much easier than I had envisioned and from what some of you have said it's not too bad.
By the time I came back home, I was feeling much better.
Ray called right before I left. He was relieved the hospital had already phoned so he wouldn't have to try to explain all of it. I was relieved too and was able to tell him about the Monday discharge (if all goes according to plan), the visiting nurse, etc. He hadn't heard that part of it. It was good to hear his voice. He was reassuring me while I was reassuring him.
Anyhow, while I was at B&N, I picked up a couple of mystery novels from the sale table to get me through the weekend. I've done about as much with the house as I can except for minor daily maintenance (how dirty can it get with one person and a very polite cat?). The pictures are hung, the closets (all 2 of them), cupboards, Ray's dresser, and shelves are organized, and I've found places for almost everything.
I even sorted out his tools which I swore I would never do again. How can anyone possibly use 5 or 6 identical claw hammers, one ball peen, and a tack hammer? The only one we'll ever need is the tack hammer. I won't even discuss the screwdrivers, pliers, Allen wrenches, regular wrenches, crescent wrenches, and miscellaneous tools I can't identify but which must serve some purpose, but I can tell from looking at the assortment that we'll have every size except the one Phillips or wrench we need at the moment. It never fails. Too long, too short, too wide, too skinny. We then pick up another cheap set and eventually end up with 40 of them.
And while I'm ranting, why do we need both slot and Phillips? Plus another I don't know the name of but it's funny looking. And of course, in the USA, we have to have both linear and metric. Why can't we join the rest of humanity with our temperatures and measurements?
When he's home and rested, we'll go back through them together. Right now his tools are taking up 4 small toolboxes in the back of the closet; one just for the hammers.
It's feeling much more like home now and will feel even more so when he's back to share it with me.
DIL Melissa (Jim's wife) was working her last day at B&N until after the baby arrives. She's due November 10th and she's been experiencing a little discomfort. Not surprising; she's on her feet all day. I hope she will get some rest while chasing her toddler all over the house.
I'll try to get around to most of you over the weekend. My eyes have been bothering me a little when I stay online too long. Nothing painful but they start closing, even when I don't think I'm sleepy.
Once again, have a good weekend.
Diabetes? Update
To any of you who clicked on and read only the title, I accidentally hit publish instead of save when the phone rang. - again.
The diabetes expert from the hospital just called to tell me that Ray has diabetes and will be on insulin "for a while". How long, I wonder, is for a while? She didn't say. She did say that before they release him, a responsible person has to learn how to do everything involved with his care.
That means giving shots which I've never done in my life but it's never too late to learn. My friend Reno will drive me and Dawn up there on Monday morning and we'll both (at least Dawn and I) learn how to do it. She's been a professional caregiver but has never done it before either.
I think Tim already knows how. I don't even know where the shot goes so I guess my next stop will be online to find out. I do know it will be 4 times a day unless they're talking about the testing.
I also know that many diabetics live alone and do their own maintenance. I went to school with a girl who learned how to do her own shots when she was very young. I'm not sure if they think he can't or what's going on. Not that I can't do it but I think if I had to be stuck several times a day, I'd rather be the one doing the sticking. I also wonder about oral insulin. Oh well, what do I know? I'm sure I'll find out.
The diet shouldn't be a problem. I hope. He'll probably have to give up his occasional Snickers Bar but we don't use much sugar and now that I'm cooking for only two, I can avoid it almost completely.
They have tested for diabetes on every hospital admission here just as they presumably ran all the heart tests each time. How do these things suddenly appear?
I'm trying not to rant but it's hard. He's been chronically ill for years now. They have never been able to pin anything down except the COPD and possibly congestive heart failure.
So now, on top of COPD (lung problems), the bypass, epilepsy (dormant but he takes Dilantin just in case), and whatever else is going on, we now have to deal with diabetes.
And we will. Somehow.
On a brighter note, he called me yesterday afternoon and sounded good. Healthier than he has in some time. He thought they'd release him over the weekend but now he can't come home until we've done the "training". I'll take his clothes in case they're releasing him the same day - I think he has everything except a clean shirt and he may even have that. I'll ask him - I'm sure he'll call me at some point. The clothes he wore to the hospital were clean, I do remember that. When he was admitted, he ate dinner and cleaned up and changed his clothes before we took him in.
I am grateful it's not worse and I know many families have it much harder. I'm trying to be positive but right now I just want to bang my head against the wall or possibly curl up in a ball. It will pass; it always does.
Thanks to all of you who commented on the domestic violence post. It's a little different than what usually shows up here but it's an important issue and one I know quite a bit about.
Have a good weekend and take care everyone.
Update - right after I hit post again.
Five minutes later. The hospital called back. They're arranging for the visiting nurse from Merced as well as a physical therapist when he's released. I feel much better already. They will discharge him, if all goes well, the same day as our training and they'll send him home with a collapsible walker. It may even have a seat.
The wheels are turning quickly and I'm no longer as panicked.
The diabetes expert from the hospital just called to tell me that Ray has diabetes and will be on insulin "for a while". How long, I wonder, is for a while? She didn't say. She did say that before they release him, a responsible person has to learn how to do everything involved with his care.
That means giving shots which I've never done in my life but it's never too late to learn. My friend Reno will drive me and Dawn up there on Monday morning and we'll both (at least Dawn and I) learn how to do it. She's been a professional caregiver but has never done it before either.
I think Tim already knows how. I don't even know where the shot goes so I guess my next stop will be online to find out. I do know it will be 4 times a day unless they're talking about the testing.
I also know that many diabetics live alone and do their own maintenance. I went to school with a girl who learned how to do her own shots when she was very young. I'm not sure if they think he can't or what's going on. Not that I can't do it but I think if I had to be stuck several times a day, I'd rather be the one doing the sticking. I also wonder about oral insulin. Oh well, what do I know? I'm sure I'll find out.
The diet shouldn't be a problem. I hope. He'll probably have to give up his occasional Snickers Bar but we don't use much sugar and now that I'm cooking for only two, I can avoid it almost completely.
They have tested for diabetes on every hospital admission here just as they presumably ran all the heart tests each time. How do these things suddenly appear?
I'm trying not to rant but it's hard. He's been chronically ill for years now. They have never been able to pin anything down except the COPD and possibly congestive heart failure.
So now, on top of COPD (lung problems), the bypass, epilepsy (dormant but he takes Dilantin just in case), and whatever else is going on, we now have to deal with diabetes.
And we will. Somehow.
On a brighter note, he called me yesterday afternoon and sounded good. Healthier than he has in some time. He thought they'd release him over the weekend but now he can't come home until we've done the "training". I'll take his clothes in case they're releasing him the same day - I think he has everything except a clean shirt and he may even have that. I'll ask him - I'm sure he'll call me at some point. The clothes he wore to the hospital were clean, I do remember that. When he was admitted, he ate dinner and cleaned up and changed his clothes before we took him in.
I am grateful it's not worse and I know many families have it much harder. I'm trying to be positive but right now I just want to bang my head against the wall or possibly curl up in a ball. It will pass; it always does.
Thanks to all of you who commented on the domestic violence post. It's a little different than what usually shows up here but it's an important issue and one I know quite a bit about.
Have a good weekend and take care everyone.
Update - right after I hit post again.
Five minutes later. The hospital called back. They're arranging for the visiting nurse from Merced as well as a physical therapist when he's released. I feel much better already. They will discharge him, if all goes well, the same day as our training and they'll send him home with a collapsible walker. It may even have a seat.
The wheels are turning quickly and I'm no longer as panicked.
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