My dear friend Chris who has two lovely daughters of adult age just informed me(actually his spouse Brigid) just informed me that his daughter Nora is very sick on life support and dialysis with acute pancreatic and high fevers. Unknown cause. Please hold her and her loved ones in your prayers and heart. Her cousin recently died as well and they lived together in DC area? I am speechless.
As for my health I am feeling quite blessed in this moment. Tired and fatigued beyond belief but pain level dropped, inflammation mostly gone and flare seems to be leaving as my labs looked good. I can begin reducing meds now. Kidneys are doing great and that is wonderful. I just got too much sun and resting is all I can do to feel better. Which is good because the fall Lupus education program I am co-teaching at the UM Hospital starts Thursday.
Doug is well. Garden full. I am making Christmas present from the harvest. No more buying gifts.
Nora, hang in there darling you are a strong and powerful woman with an incredible heart and soul. We need you here! Your family needs you.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Quite the week
Last Monday my friend Mary W. came for a one night visit which was great to see her if only for a few hours. She is a very wonderful friend. It was a most muggy and hot day with light rain and 84% humidity! So we had the air on and decided to go out to the Zingeram's Roadhouse for a late lunch because I am in a flare and too pooped to cook. I was craving their meatloaf but they did not have it so I indulged in BBQ with collards and mashed potatoes. Comfort food. While there my Dr. called to see if I could come into the hospital to address the flare. I told him I could come on Wed. and so I did. Yes I am in a flare darn it and now back on 2,000 mg Cell Cept and 60 mg Hydro cortisone, tapering slowly until this passes as it always does! Too much sun it appears. Most patients do tend to flare at the end of the summer so I am prepared. I think it happened at the walk. I was out in the sun too much no matter how much protection I had or sitting under tent. The reflective rays and 94 degree heat was too much for three of us who now are "sick". This week was also a busy one with lots of appointments, paperwork piling up, book keeping, helping Douglas on his project and planning the Lupus education-Support Program to begin September 3rd. The flyer-mailers are late getting out. I wanted so badly to get them out last week but UM had other deadlines and I made many changes to the proof. Lesson learned and now for future ones we have a template. Yesterday I only ran out briefly to the store and worked on the computer till 3:00, rested and worked in garden until dad came by to check me. We sat on the patio and it was a beautiful evening with a light breeze and slight overcast. I gave him a sample of all the pickles I made( carrot-ginger-garlic, cukes and green beans). Sent him home with some salad makings. I love to share from the garden.
Popa's "memorial" was Tuesday in Holly, Michigan at the National Cemetery. It is all military cemetery and was quite filled. I guess there are many WW2 vets passing plus they take veterans from every overseas war. The Honor Guard had a committal service with the gun salute and flag ceremony. I could not help but cry. I cried because I knew Popa would be so happy to know we followed his wishes. The setting was amazing. A lovely pavilion with a podium back dropped by a lovely lake, seagulls and a wooded area. Very short and sweet. I got home around 4 pm and crashed.
Wednesday I spent all day on the computer with projects and at 4:30 I had an appointment at the hospital and lab. I got home around 6:30. I gardened for a bit and prepared a wonderful meal from the garden. Pesto my niece made with chicken, onions, greens and garlic all from garden. Yumo. In a week I will have more food than I can handle so I guess it's time to can-freeze and make herb pestos.
Thursday was spent doing office work and more lupus education planning. It rained like crazy. Then at 2:00 I had my teeth cleaned and two fillings repaired which were wearing down, cracked and had some sharp edges. I took my pre-dental antibiotic like a good girl and had no allergic reaction. I know those of us with joint replacements dread going to the dentist due to the fact we have to take antibiotic. Believe me you do not want to have a bacterial infection go from your mouth into a joint prosthetic. It means big trouble. I was concerned after so many allergies to antibiotics that I would have issues but Zythromycin did the trick and that is good for me to know in the future. If I could not take that there would be one other option and that is it. Bummer. So that is good news.
Today I am doing nothing ! I am not even going to work in the garden. I can do that tomorrow. I will walk around and pick a few things for my friend Mary Mandeville because I am going to her house for brunch tomorrow for heuvos rancheros, my favorite breakfast !!! She just moved back into her house after living in Chicago for a couple years. Her renters lease was up and she moved in two weeks ago the week her father passed away and she started a new job for the U in Flint. What a week she had. I look forward to seeing my gal pal. She was my biggest support after the last surgery and she stayed with me for a couple months on and off while Doug had to work. A true friend !!! I wish I could do more to help her. I did bail the water out of her floating garden out at the lake two weeks ago. The boat was about to sink with four planters of squash, tomatoes, greens and herbs. Great idea though !!! We just had so much rain it flooded the boat. That was the last time I went out to the lake. I have only swam 2-3 times this year. Maybe next year will be better and I will be able to enjoy it more. I did kayak about 5 times which was fabulous. I miss the cottage !!! Today it is 65 degrees and I have a shawl on. Good to be inside and rest. So on that note............Good day.
Oh, Douglas is doing well and working, as usual, like crazy on the Old mill project. His foreman got sick so Doug did not plan on working hands on and is a week behind schedule. May have to hire another to push through. He was hoping to spend the weekend at his sisters but now he can't. Very sad about that. his cousin passed last week so he really wants to be with family. I miss them so much too. I feel our nieces and nephews are growing up with out us having the pleasure to watch them grow. Now we have a grand nephew and niece too. Mathew had a son and has a step daughter, both adorable. Maybe holiday time?
Make it a wonderful day !!!!
Popa's "memorial" was Tuesday in Holly, Michigan at the National Cemetery. It is all military cemetery and was quite filled. I guess there are many WW2 vets passing plus they take veterans from every overseas war. The Honor Guard had a committal service with the gun salute and flag ceremony. I could not help but cry. I cried because I knew Popa would be so happy to know we followed his wishes. The setting was amazing. A lovely pavilion with a podium back dropped by a lovely lake, seagulls and a wooded area. Very short and sweet. I got home around 4 pm and crashed.
Wednesday I spent all day on the computer with projects and at 4:30 I had an appointment at the hospital and lab. I got home around 6:30. I gardened for a bit and prepared a wonderful meal from the garden. Pesto my niece made with chicken, onions, greens and garlic all from garden. Yumo. In a week I will have more food than I can handle so I guess it's time to can-freeze and make herb pestos.
Thursday was spent doing office work and more lupus education planning. It rained like crazy. Then at 2:00 I had my teeth cleaned and two fillings repaired which were wearing down, cracked and had some sharp edges. I took my pre-dental antibiotic like a good girl and had no allergic reaction. I know those of us with joint replacements dread going to the dentist due to the fact we have to take antibiotic. Believe me you do not want to have a bacterial infection go from your mouth into a joint prosthetic. It means big trouble. I was concerned after so many allergies to antibiotics that I would have issues but Zythromycin did the trick and that is good for me to know in the future. If I could not take that there would be one other option and that is it. Bummer. So that is good news.
Today I am doing nothing ! I am not even going to work in the garden. I can do that tomorrow. I will walk around and pick a few things for my friend Mary Mandeville because I am going to her house for brunch tomorrow for heuvos rancheros, my favorite breakfast !!! She just moved back into her house after living in Chicago for a couple years. Her renters lease was up and she moved in two weeks ago the week her father passed away and she started a new job for the U in Flint. What a week she had. I look forward to seeing my gal pal. She was my biggest support after the last surgery and she stayed with me for a couple months on and off while Doug had to work. A true friend !!! I wish I could do more to help her. I did bail the water out of her floating garden out at the lake two weeks ago. The boat was about to sink with four planters of squash, tomatoes, greens and herbs. Great idea though !!! We just had so much rain it flooded the boat. That was the last time I went out to the lake. I have only swam 2-3 times this year. Maybe next year will be better and I will be able to enjoy it more. I did kayak about 5 times which was fabulous. I miss the cottage !!! Today it is 65 degrees and I have a shawl on. Good to be inside and rest. So on that note............Good day.
Oh, Douglas is doing well and working, as usual, like crazy on the Old mill project. His foreman got sick so Doug did not plan on working hands on and is a week behind schedule. May have to hire another to push through. He was hoping to spend the weekend at his sisters but now he can't. Very sad about that. his cousin passed last week so he really wants to be with family. I miss them so much too. I feel our nieces and nephews are growing up with out us having the pleasure to watch them grow. Now we have a grand nephew and niece too. Mathew had a son and has a step daughter, both adorable. Maybe holiday time?
Make it a wonderful day !!!!
Monday, August 17, 2009
I know I have been missing in action. That's good !!
All is good!!! when you see no entries. It means I am too busy to enter any information so no worries. This summer has been quite full !! I have had company on and off all summer with my sister and nieces being here last week for a fabulous visit. Douglas and I enjoyed their stay so very much. We miss our family from down south immensely. It is hard to live so spread out with me being unable to travel with few exceptions. I was amazed at how grown up my girls are and how they have grown into smart,beautiful,talented,engaging and wise girls. It has been two years since they last visited. So this was a treat. They went to the annual Butterfly Walk for lupus research at UM as did cousins Polly and Sarah, my dad's wife Mary and one of his best friends Robby. Thank you all for coming and it was a treat to see you all. I am on the planning committee and have been able to attend last four years with the exception of four years ago when I arrived with a van load of water bottles and was rushed to the hospital in a truly horrendous flare and AVN episode. My bones were dying systemically and I was blacking out with pain. My Dr. told Doug to take me to the emergency room where we spent a few hours then into a room for almost a week. That was the start of a bad run of flares, treatments and surgeries which are almost over. I have the next right hip revision Monday October 19. Then the knees? I am getting around quite well with a few gimps here and there. I have had a minor flare for a few days which is common for lupus patients to get at the end of an active sunny summer. The lupus clinic is busiest now and during the holidays or early January. Proof that sun and stress are to be avoided at all costs. I am co planning a fall lupus education-support program at the university which will help patients find ways to deal with stress and other tools for a best daily life !!! I am very excited about this. It is a dream come true. This is the one element missing form UM and now I am happy to say I have driven my Dr. crazy enough to allow us to do this with the stamp of UM's approval.
It has been wild kingdom in our yard and also at the lake. The animals include: Bunnies nesting in our carrot patch, now gone, two snakes at the lake, a doe and other deer in the back yard, many chipmuncks, little tazmanian squirrels in attic),moles, geese, ground hogs, a ton of birds(including one in the fireplace) and all the other natural life in the woods. We also observed the meteorite shower which was fabulous! So I have had my nature buzz lately. Sadly some nut job killed the two swans that live in the pond down the street.There is a $5,000 reward fire information.
Douglas is working on a project on which I am assisting in a creative capacity from a far. Old clients who wanted a jewelry-accessory store renovated at The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. where we renovated a kitchen-food store. We will also be doing another renovation for their "Potters Shed" and store in January. I am hoping I can be there for the entirety. Winter time is easier for me to head south. Right now the garden is about a month behind and is exploding which keeps me very happily busy. My friend is coming to stay for a night on her way back to NC from visiting family in Holland, Michigan. I may have to load her up with food in exchange for harvesting help. I froze green beans with sister Martha while my niece made pesto and then I made pickled green beans, carrots and cukes which have all been tasty. I like the simple recipes. If anyone has a Kim Chi recipe please send it to me. I love me some kim Chi.
Tomorrow is my Popa's memorial with honor Guard in Holly, Michigan. It has taken a month to get a date and all the paperwork done. I do not think my grandparents thought they would ever pass away and so did not plan until the last minute. I went to my friend father's memorial Saturday. I will be ready for a break from people passing. If you think I have been morbid lately it is just that so many people have died this past two months. Doug's cousin just passed last week at a young age of cancer. Doug was planning a visit this weekend. So sad. So that is why. When someone dies just about every week for a period it makes you ponder the end and very natural part of life. They are in a better place I know.
I hope this finds you all well and happy enjoying the last vestiges of summer. Hugs.........
It has been wild kingdom in our yard and also at the lake. The animals include: Bunnies nesting in our carrot patch, now gone, two snakes at the lake, a doe and other deer in the back yard, many chipmuncks, little tazmanian squirrels in attic),moles, geese, ground hogs, a ton of birds(including one in the fireplace) and all the other natural life in the woods. We also observed the meteorite shower which was fabulous! So I have had my nature buzz lately. Sadly some nut job killed the two swans that live in the pond down the street.There is a $5,000 reward fire information.
Douglas is working on a project on which I am assisting in a creative capacity from a far. Old clients who wanted a jewelry-accessory store renovated at The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. where we renovated a kitchen-food store. We will also be doing another renovation for their "Potters Shed" and store in January. I am hoping I can be there for the entirety. Winter time is easier for me to head south. Right now the garden is about a month behind and is exploding which keeps me very happily busy. My friend is coming to stay for a night on her way back to NC from visiting family in Holland, Michigan. I may have to load her up with food in exchange for harvesting help. I froze green beans with sister Martha while my niece made pesto and then I made pickled green beans, carrots and cukes which have all been tasty. I like the simple recipes. If anyone has a Kim Chi recipe please send it to me. I love me some kim Chi.
Tomorrow is my Popa's memorial with honor Guard in Holly, Michigan. It has taken a month to get a date and all the paperwork done. I do not think my grandparents thought they would ever pass away and so did not plan until the last minute. I went to my friend father's memorial Saturday. I will be ready for a break from people passing. If you think I have been morbid lately it is just that so many people have died this past two months. Doug's cousin just passed last week at a young age of cancer. Doug was planning a visit this weekend. So sad. So that is why. When someone dies just about every week for a period it makes you ponder the end and very natural part of life. They are in a better place I know.
I hope this finds you all well and happy enjoying the last vestiges of summer. Hugs.........
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