So far this winter we have been blown, drowned, frozen and buried with snow. Out here we haven’t had it as fiercely as many of you have had and I am sorry for that. As for me, I feel more vulnerable each year as winter blows around. I know it’s only natural to feel more tentative as we age and that is especially true when we are battling one or more chronic illness or injury. Winter is lovely from the front windows but walking, driving, running chores, all becomes more and more of a challenge. I often wonder what I would be doing without my trusty computer for shopping, communicating and reading.
I guess the point I’m searching to find is that I agree with all of you who have expressed the desire for winter to melt, fade, dry-up and drop dead but in all actuality, winter is just part of this cycle we’re in, called life. It may fade but it will not die. The water on the ground will spill into a nearby stream. The hail will melt into a tiny crevice where a weed or a flower will grow. The fierce winds have done their job by blowing old leaves up the block and dormant looking flowers that look dead are actually sleeping. Much like Sleeping Beauty, they are awaiting the kiss of spring. Each season prepares us for the next with its planning for growth and the future. All of life is a slow run, a walk on a treadmill or a saunter in a glorious garden. None of life stands still. Even now, as the hail falls from the Northwestern sky, a huge camellia bush outside our third story window is budding with thousands of red crimson buds. That bush never doubts it will bloom. It stands up bravely to the strong winds we experience and never drowns in the rain. I’ve never even heard it gulp…not once. That majestic bush has a plan that was implanted in it many years ago.
I have primroses on the brain. I am profoundly grateful to them for bringing the promise of spring to us here in the Northwest in the midst of this gray weather. Those tiny, colorful flowers are almost giggling with pleasure as they burst forth. Too bad all of life is not a cartoon, although it often appears to be. It works for me; I can’t look at these flowers without smiling. A mixture of spring colors is always there to greet me like a litter of puppies and kittens, although their colors are of different hues in oranges, yellows, reds, blues, purples and multiple shades of pink.
I must admit that it struck me today that all of us, with our varying lives, conditions and every variety of health problem, remind me of this flower. Don’t give up on me yet; all of you who read this regularly know I’m heading somewhere, albeit around a twisting garden path or two. Oh, now there’s an idea. Isn’t it a wonderful idea to think of going for a leisurely, pleasant walk in the sunshine?
All of us, who come together on this site to share, empathize and just enjoy each other, come in many shapes, colors and forms. We also represent a variety of ages, locations and depths of degree of suffering, whatever the cause. I believe it’s fair to compare all of us as a community to those lovely flowers.
There are many varieties of Primulas, the most popular varieties appear to be the English varieties and the Japanese ones as well. There are even a few that are not really primroses at all but are called so, such as the Evening Primrose which is really a variety of Oenotheras and not Primulas. Many of the Oenotheras also bring beauty and usefulness in the form of the oils used from those in Evening Primrose Oil which I have taken for years for skin and circulatory problems. However, I digress and today just want to have a garden chat about the beauty of these tiny harbingers of spring, the Primulas or true primroses. Think of them as tiny chicks, a baby on the door step, a fawn teetering up to the forest from your local neighborhood on new legs or any image which brings you hope of change.
These tiny bright flowers have a leaf in a lettuce frond form, and many bright flowers bursting forth. They are, as I have mentioned, lovely but my favorite part of them is their positive energy that causes them to continually make new “baby buds” underneath the protective covering of the roughly hewn leaves. Each of the tiny buds which are deeply hidden beneath the larger leaves is hidden in safety while growing and planning. Nature is fond of showing off and none more beautifully than when each tiny reproduction is a perfect match for the mother plant and each like the other. You can count on nature as long as the rules are followed and it gets nourishment, water and light. Never do you find a sunnily bright yellow variegated primrose giving birth to a purple version beneath its leaves. Deep within their DNA is all the information needed to follow the plan for life. They know what to do and are consistent, each and every time, unless…some aberrant force has messed with their plan.
Many of us feel totally “messed with,” don’t we? I know I do. The plan for my body got off track, went south, and got ugly all in a very short time. As I struggle with the aberrant me, the one that went south, it helps me to share the images of life, nature and animal behavior. I’m laughing quietly to myself as I remember the way small children hide Easter eggs. The small ones hide them out in plain sight. Lovely shades of spring clumsily died but beautifully wonderful to see. A bright purple died Easter egg perched on a rock in the middle of a garden, is adorable to see. The small child believes it is hidden. It reminds me of our tiny puppy, George, who hides his many rawhide knots in the corner of a room, under our pillows or in the corner of a stair in clear sight. I have to congratulate Mother Nature; she hides her tiny buds quite cleverly and well. New life always wants to break through and renew itself over and over again. Have faith to believe in the cycle of life.
There are so many ways to send a message and spring is shouting all around us…just listen. It will come.
Weekly Dose of Sue 
Thank you for that, Sue. I think we could all use a little glimpse of spring about now. We’ll have to wait a bit longer around here for those first flowers. I’ll be watching for the daffodils to push through the earth. They are first up around our house. Love those sunny little faces. I’m resting right now with heat on my back and watching a it of the Dr. Phil show. He is interviewing the twin Doris Duke heirs who were horribly abused and neglected. My heart is just breaking for them and hoping that they can finally see their own dawning of spring as they seek to bring their abusers to justice.
Lyn, that does sound like a pathetic situation. mankind has such a mixture of good and evil one often has to wonder and weep.
We have a great many daffodils that pop up all over as well. The ground around here is so old, some of them come up in our yard which is on a hillside and is mostly composed of dandelions. They are such a cheery little flower it somehow makes one want to stand taller…somehow. Take care of your sore back and hope it is a fleeting problem. Love that heat. Love you, too, Sue
Hi Sue, I guess you and everyone else think I have fallen off the earth. I have been so down and depressed. I know you all remember last June that my daughter, Kim, tried to end her life and almost succeeded. All of your prayers I know is why she is alive today and doing so well. So thank you all very much. I am happy to say that she is on the right meds now for her Bipolar problem. She is no longer addicted to pain meds. She has her own little place about 75 miles from me. She is surrounded by my sister and a cousin who is like my sister and they both have a close relationship with her. I however suddenly became so depressed and was hurting all the time. I stayed in bed most of the day and only went out when I had to. I think my best friend ‘s death had finally caught up with me. She died from breast cancer and she was so much more than a friend to me. In October of last year, my youngest daughter, Racheal, also tried to end her life. She also survived. Praise God! Then on October 30, my next to the oldest granddaughter, lost the baby she was 20 weeks pregnant with. He was perfectly formed and beautiful. It was hard for everyone. My oldest granddaughter was having her wedding the next day and did not know what to do. Her sister told her to go ahead with the wedding. She did not want Madelaine to stop her wedding because she had lost her baby. Jorden even went to the wedding. What devotion and love one sister to the other. These two girls are my daughter Kim’s girls. I was very proud of how Kim handled it especially after what she had just gone through in June. Now back to Rachal, I decided to get up out of my bed and start doing the things I could do and start moving my hurting body. I started spending a lot of time with Racheal and my middle daughter, Christy and their children. I spent Christmas with them and had a great time. Rachael is so much better. She had held a grudge against me for a lot of years and wouldn’t let me see her kids. She has apologized to me and said she hurt her children by holding the grudge for so long. I have spent almost every weekend with all of them. Two weeks ago Rachael and I went to Kim’s house and spent a week together We came home on Thursday of last week and on Sunday I went back over to Racheal’ s house and stayed until Tuesday. I got back home right before the snow started. I am going back this weekend. I am having a good time for once in my life. Yes, I am still hurting but being with my kids is such good medicine. I have been dealing with a severe UTI and had to take nitrofuritoin or Macrobend (spelling is wrong), anyway, what a horrible antibiotic. I will never take it again. I have Had bad headaches and my legs have been swollen and red like a sunburn. I am going to have blood work tomorrow to make sure it did not cause any toxins in my liver. Ok, so now you know what I have been dealing with all these months. I will try and post more often now that things have settled down. I have been reading all the blogs and replys. Today’s was wonderful as always. You are a God sent special person in all our lives Sue. We all love you. I love all of you, Tonie, Jennie, Chris, Brenda, Lynn, Laura and all the rest of you. You are all such a blessing. Thank You very much! I am so sorry I wrote such a long blog. I just wanted to bring you up to speed. Please continue to keep me in your prayers and I will keep all of you in mine. Until next time, Donna Lou.
Donna Lou :
I am SO happy and pleased you have reconnected with your children and grandchildren ! THey are a joy ! Such a good medicine for all that ails you aren’t they ? I am so glad your daughters are doing well. Praise the Lord that He watches over us and listens to our prayers; Please don’t be a stranger , we miss you as well.
Love
Tonie
Donna, oh my goodness! You and your family have been through so much! I am so, so sorry! What a blessing you are finding your way back to one another. How healing. Prayers continue for you and yours.
LOVE YOU TOO DONNA…..JENNIEXXXXX
Really love this one Sue. So full of hope, a real pleasure to read. Love, Janet
Sue:
Thank you for the walk around the garden path in the sunshine ! I really am ready for that. Fran left me a red amaryliss to have, it is just getting ready to open so I am looking forward to that bloom. My poinsettia is still in bloom but it reminds me of winter. North Carolina was warmer than up here on the mtn. Felt good to get away. I thought we were going to Charlotte, but on the way down realized she was going to Greensboro airport ! No IKEA today Jennie poo ! :(. But I did stop and see my brother in the hospital. He is getting a colonoscopy in the am , then more xrays, then he can eat, then more xrays and MAYBE after that he can go home. Poor guy ! He looks okay, not sickly like last time. They found something on the upper intestine and are looking into it tomorrow as well. Keep him in your prayers.
I changed my bedding yesterday which is an event. I can’t walk around my bed so I have to climb on it and tuck everything in. Well, today the roof leaked again all over the clean stuff, had to strip it and put it in the dryer and now have to remake it ! I hate that old devil, just pushes stuff at you all the time. I am tired but had a good time talking and laughing with my friend ! Tomorrow going to try to get to h20 aerobics, go by and finish things up at Fran’s, hopefully I will get home and rest a bit 🙂
Hope all is well with everyone. So happy it is warming up here. Praying that this is the last of our winter and it will just be rain from now on !
Love to you all
Tonie
ps Sue, Millie got her installment of your blog. She said to tell you how blessed she is to read all your heartfelt words and how blessed we are to have you. SHe sends her love to each of you as well. SHe says you are a God sent talent to the world !
How’s your brother doing now Tonie? Is he still in the hospital?
Hope you had a good day. Sending prayers your way sweetpea.
XXX
This is a test to see it will go through. Last blog wrote a long reply to let all know what has been going on with me. Then, it did not post. I tried many ways and times so I don’t want to do that again this week until I can figure out how to post it so, this is a test.
Donna;
You are here. So fire away dear !!
Sue~~
The beauty of Spring Flowers brightens up the darkest days~~we have so many “Texas Native Plants” all around our home, patio, our Bed/Breakfast—and the desire to see them BLOOM grows by the day. A few years ago I was able to help my husband plant many of these—now,well NOW is different and yes the adjustment has been frustrating–that puts it mildly!
You are very correct with the Winter weather seems to take a bigger Hit on our ailing bodies each year. My recliner is like a “Morning Oasis” as I drag my aching body toward it, flip on my heating pad and warm blanket–geez, it hits me I am like a very old car that needs plenty of time to “warm up” before I can get going!
So–as I wait for Spring to start slowly showing its color–I have picked up a long ago habit of SEWING–did it since I was very young and now am slowly working my way toward Quilting. While surfing the Web for a pattern to grab my attention–I found it~~~ a DRESDEN PLATE PATTERN!!! They remind me of Spring Flowers and are so easy to make! I will take a photo and get it on my Facebook asap—the joy of all this is pushing past the Pain and reaching out for something New……… Guess you could say I am having an “Early Spring” —-just not the plants yet.
Yes Pain will leave its mark on us–but there is Life out there–and all we can do is take it one day, sometimes One Moment at a time. I pray for HIS help and keep going.
Thank you for the “early” view of Spring Flowers Sue!!!!!
Martha:
I am getting ready to embark on a quilt myself. I am going to do it “lap” style. Quilt in sections, and going to do it by hand. I have a small frame I have used to do baby quilts on, so we will see how it goes. Pattern will be in my head. Never was much at following a written one. 🙂 Good luck with it and keep me posted how it goes
Tonie
Hey everyone, I wrote a post right under Sue’ s reply to Lyn. If you get a moment, please read it so you will know what has been going on with me. LOVE, Donna Lou.
Pingback: Cowslip | Find Me A Cure
Donna, so happy that things are looking up and you are spending so much time with your children. When my son was small, I hated his grandmother on his Dad’s side, and wouldn’t let her see him. She called one day and asked to visit. I looked at him and my heart melted as I realized that children deserve all the love they can get. It hurts when you have an aha moment about yourself and realize you have been selfish. So, I salute your daughter for coming to this realization.
Sue, this blog is so heartwarming. I needed this today. We’re having severe cold, snow, black ice, the works. My body has been so aware of it. I too am waiting for the daffodils to push up through the ground , giving me the promise of one more spring.
Ed and I had a long talk about the letter I sent him. He did promise to try. He kept going back to breaking his shoulder on his bike, I wonder if he can get past that. He has spent much more time talking to me and that’s such a huge thing for me. He also wanted to talk about the changes in me since I had a stroke. I know there are changes, most mental, but that’s the consequences of having a stroke in the frontal lobe (actually from temporal lobe spanning to frontal). I have lost interest in many of the things I used to do. I don’t think as quick and I have problems following instructions at times. I don’t drive now, I’m terrified of hurting somebody else. He said he misses the parts of me that are gone, the pride I took in things I made, the joy I felt with cooking, and the independent soul that I was. But they are all things I can’t get back. I Have tried, believe me. Aging is not all thrills. I never have minded getting older, but I do mind the changes it brings. Spring always lifts my spirits. Now I wish I had a primrose!
Linda
Linda:’
Hang in there mama, spring is on it’s way. I am so looking forward to these higher tems this weekend. Praying that the winter will be broken and all will be mild here on. Send someone out to Homedepot to get you a primrose ! 🙂
SO glad you and Ed are talking now. Shows such great progress and promise. My prayers are with you .
Love
Tonie
Linda, good to hear from you again, as usual. You and Ed keep talking. Of course you’ve both changed. That was inevitable. What’s important is where you go from here. Talking is the key. And understanding. Blessings to you both.
Donna
Hi.good to hear from you.what a lot you’ve been tru.you and your family have come up trumps ..hope you come back more now
Linda
Great you are talking more with DH.more things are possible when you understand each other more.even if you feel sad about whats gone ,its shared.
Sue
Great springy bright blog.even carefree !!
Lifts the spirit
Jennie
Did you watch escape to the country yesterday .it went to Suffolk I was hoping you were watching it ?
Tonie
Sounds like you are getting enough aerobics at home! Hope the roof stays ok now,is it a different leak to before
Well as for me .I dunno.waiting test results fed up of being continually on antibiotics all this month
Be ack Chris
YES CHRIS, I DID WATCH IT, ALL THE VILLAGES WITH CHURCHES, BARRY HAD WORKED ON, ANYTHING IN EAST ANGLIA REGARDING CHURCHES HE HAS BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. GLAD YOU SAW IT AS WELL………………CATCH YOU LATER…………LOVE JEN X
Gppd early am all !
I woke up about an hour ago (4) to the baying of hounds ! I couldn’t figure out what it was at first. They are either up on top of the hill at one of my neighbors or it was a pack of wild dogs out in the woods. They have been terribly excited for an hour now. I am awake and they have shut up ! 🙂 Well that is how it goes huh ?
I pray you all have a wonderful day. Stay warm and cozy, and keep the picture of the “primrose path” in your minds eye
Love
Tonie
Wish I’d known you were up, Tonie. I was awake at 4:20 until sometime after 6. 😦 Cymbalta has been playing havoc with my sleep. But at least I don’t suffer as bad side effects as I did with the Effexor. Did you have trouble with side effects from the Cymbalta?
Lyn:
I did have probs sleeping with Cymbalta yes. Dr had me on low dose Klonopin then. And I took Melatonin. I hope you get to sleep good tonight. I HATE when my mind is wide awake like that !
Well they found another bug in specimen. Pseudomonas ..last time it was e.coli. But left with this one now? More antibiotics ciprofloxin or something like that…
Hope it goes fed up with it
Hope others as good as! Hope some warmth getting over there. I expect its still cold with Suzanne tho
Well gonna turn in for the nite….don’t like the look of these tabs side effects..try and forget it!
Chris
Chris:
Psuedomonas is a common one. You should be cleared up soon with that one. Sounds silly, but out Microbiology teacher always told us girls to make sure our panties were lined in uncolored cotton. It does make a difference and can cause you to get a bug like this. That would account for the itching as well. Take your meds, drink a LOT of water and get better my friend.
Afternoon all:
Well I am about ready to take a rest !!! The H20 aerobics this am was WONDERFUL !! I had forgotten how marvelous I feel when working out in the h20 that way ! THe instructor was great, good music and fast, hard workout. Then I sat in the hot tub to loosen up, a little bit in the dry sauna, then out. Had to go by Fran’s to check on things and the bank, etc. Finally home and in the wonderful sunshine, got a few things done outside. Now I am ready to be a couch potato for a while. Probably a NAP !! I pray you are all well and happy today.
God bless and PLEASE remember Judy’s BF Mary in prayer. Her niece passed away today, she was in her late 50’s I believe. Hard on her family.
Love
Tonie
TONIE…SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT JUDY’S BF, YES THAT WOLD BE A TOUGH THING FOR HER FAMILY AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM….CERTAINLY PRAYS WILL BE SAID IN MY HOUSE……ALL LOVE JEN X
What a fabulous picture you painted for all of us Sue. Primrose was my father’s middle name, JOHN PRIMROSE ADAMS. Made me smile. Love those flowers, but they are far away from coming up here. Can’t wait for Spring. In March I will start my seeds in the house as I have grow lights. I usually do it with my granddaughter but she has not been coming around as often lately. We are celebrating her birthday tomorrow (14). So happy I will be with all my children and grandchildren, cause that is what life is all about. They bring me such joy and also sadness cause I can’t pick up my little one. At least I still get to see them all.
Could not get out today as it is snowing and blowing once again. Decided to bake instead. I always feel very calm and happy when I bake. I will probably bring some of the baking to Kelly’s (DD) house tomorrow, way too much for George and me.
Also put together ring of bird seed peanut butter and lard for the birds, they are in the freezer now and will be put out tomorrow. They have brought me so much joy also. Molly has been watching them and funny but when they seem be fighting she runs up to where the food is. When they take turns and are calm she just sits there and watches them, so funny to see.
Chris hope the antibiotics are working and not making you feel like crap. Will this ever stop? I totally understand being FED UP.
Jennie poo, how are you doing with your face pain?
Tonie hope the meds are working for you. Hope those dogs sleep all night tonight.
Lyn happy the Cymbalta seems to be working for you. Did nothing for me.
Donna, so happy to hear you are back with your family and everything is working out well for you. Wow what a heart wrenching story I read about all you have been through. You are a strong person. Keep it up. 🙂
Martha, you my dear are such an inspiration to me. Here’s a gentle hug for you. Stay warm.
Janet, hope you are slowly feeling some relief.
Well I’m off to rest now. Take good care everyone.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. Let’s all try to stay positive with God’s help.
love ya
XXX
Suzanne, you sound very chipper! Enjoy your time with family – nothing like it! Glad you could have a relaxing day baking. I have always liked to bake also. Great snowy day activity. It’s too early to know if the Cymbalta will help me at all or not. We shall see… Enjoy your weekend!
LYN….HOPE THE CYMBALTA WORKS FOR YOU LOVE, ARE YOU BAKING THIS WEEKEND, BET YOU’VE HAD SOME GOOD RECIPES TO PASS ON FOR TONIE’S RECIPE BOOK HUH??…….LOVE YOU…..JENNIE XX
Oh my Lyn, can’t bake like I use to either. When I think of what I use to be able to do I get depressed so now I try and say today I’ll try and do something. Usually it is just a little something because then I’m in too much pain. I have to always think about what I’m doing. Because I baked yesterday I was not able to do any cleaning in the house and last night I could barely move my right hand and had trouble walking around.
Let’s hope then that the Cymbalta will work out for you.
Going to start getting dressed to go to my GD birthday party.
love to all
XXX
SUZANNE…HI, THE FACIAL PAIN COMES AND GOES LOVE, JUST PUTTING UP WITH IT, MEANS I DARE NOT GO OUT IN THE COLD, SO CONFINED TO BARRACKS….NOT MUCH FUN, MAKES ME A BIT STIR CRAZY. WE TOO PUT STUFF OUT FOR THE BIRDS, FAT BALLS AND SEEDS, ALSO THEY SEEM TO LOVE MY MUESLI…..WE PUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS OUT ON THE BIRD TRAY, THE DOG STANDS UNDERNEATH IT SOMETIMES, HOPING SOMETHING WILL FALL OFF…..HA HA!! HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND….LOVE JENNIE X
Jennie and Suzanne:
I do my part for the birds indirectly. The little ones get into the chicken pen and eat the little seeds out of their scratch feed that they leave. Also throw out bits and pieces of fruit n veggie scraps in my mulch pile and they eat thru that.
Well I have Muesli also, maybe I should put some out for them too. I thought of putting apples but didn’t know if that would be good. Guess I’d have to cut them up into small pieces. Good for your dog. Molly was certainly standing under the round feed I made yesterday. Mixed it all together and put it in a bundt pan and froze it that way, then put triple cord around the hole and hung it on my tree. The birds did seem to enjoy the round of food, the little time I was here to watch.
Back home now from the B-day party, what fun we all had. Next one is mine. I asked to have it outside at my son’s place but would like a daytime fire ( to stay warm) and have not decided the menu yet. Just have to figure out when we can all get together. That will be the hardest part.
Jennie I don’t blame you for not wanting to go out and I certainly understand feeling confined. I’ve felt that way for the past two weeks. I needed to kick myself in the pants to get going yesterday. Felt good for me to be with people today and then we went and saw Justyn (GS) play hockey at our outdoor rink here in Valcartier. It was called the winter Classic. He was so happy to see me watching him. Made my heart melt. Now frozen to the core and having a coffee.
You do what you have to do my sweetpea.
Love you big.
XXX
Well guess what
….had a bad reaction to the cipro stuff,shaking and my peripheral neuropathy was on fire.looked it up and it causes PN so rang dr and back on what I was before, the co amoxiclav.. not my dr have to wait till Monday .and see him.as I was on that all last week .bladder no good
Ho hum
Chris
CHRIS….HOPE YOU SOON FEEL BETTER, I’LL CALL YOU IN THE WEEK…….LOVE JENNIE X
Oh Chris, sorry to hear it didn’t work out. Hope Monday brings better results for you. Sending prayers your way sweets.
XXX
Chris any news? How did it go at the doctor’s? Thinking of you dear girl.
love ya XXX
Hey guys (I would say ladies, but I am sure there are some men who read this as well)
I have a challenge for you ! I know we are ALL sick of winter and have the blahs wanting to see those colors of spring , right ? I read something in the Guideposts magazine this month that has really gotten me thinking. Do you have old budvases around your house ? I know I usually have a plethora of them. Get a bunch of fresh flowers next time you are at the market. Separate a few of the flowers into a few bud vases, coffee cups, or unusual jars. Then take them to the nearest rest home, assisted living or sanatorium. Whatever you call them and give them to a nurse to give to the ones needing a boost badly ! I so feel for these people having to live somewhere other than their own homes, sometimes with no loved ones to see either. If we can spend $5 on a burger, we can do this.
Love to you all
Tonie
TONIE…WHAT A LOVELY IDEA…..YOU ARE A SWEETIE….WISH I COULD DO THAT BUT THERE AREN’T ANY ROUND HERE, BUT I DO GIVE MY ELDERLY NEIGHBOUR A GIFT LIKE THAT FROM TIME TO TIME..WILL THAT DO???……………….LOVE YA …..JENNIE POO XX
That’s be great Ms Jennie ! I am sure it would brighten her day as well !
SUE…WHAT A LOVELY BLOG, I LOVE THOSE FLOWERS, BUT ALSO PANSIES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL, DO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THEM ALL YEAR ROUND……….THEY JUST SPROUT UP ANYWHERE IN OUR GARDEN, I THINK ITS WHEN THE SEEDS GET BLOWN AROUND AND THEY SEED THEMSELVES IN ODD PLACES, WE HAVE THEM IN THE PATH, THE PATIO, DOWN THE SIDES OF THE FISHPOND, BETWEEN THE GRAVEL…..LOVE IT, THEY REFUSE TO GIVE UP, AS DO WE, WHICH IS WHY I HAVE POSTED THIS…………WRITTEN TO YOU ON F/B, AND I HOPE THE WEEKEND IS KIND TO YOU….LOVE YOU…..JENNIE XX
Oh Jennie poo, I love pansies too. I plant them every year and some come back but most don’t, think it’s cause it gets so cold around here. So blessed to have them all year round. Man oh man I feel like we have 6 months of winter. It started this year end of October beginning of November and still going strong. We now have the Winter Carnival (2 weeks of winter fun) – with Bonhomme. Not sure you have heard of it over there but here it is big potatoes. Bonhomme is the same age as I am. He turned 60 this year. I have always told people them made that parade with Bonhomme because I was born on the 11th That year. HA HA.. Would love to go to the parade this year but not sure I would be able to make it. They close the roads at 4 o’clock and the parade only starts around 7:30. You see when I was younger we lived in town (Quebec) so once I had kids I would go to my mom and dad’s house and then just walk up the street to where the parade went by. As the kids got older and left, George and I would rent a room at the Concorde and spend the weekend there also celebrating our Anniversary at the same time. Wish we could do that this year but money would be an issue. Farm is not going well and will be shut down in Sept. so sad. Then we will both be at home, not sure how all that will play out. Anyways that is totally off the subject. But one I will need help with in the future.
I also hope this weekend is kind to you my dear friend.
God Bless
XXX
SUZANNE…I LOVED READING YOUR POST, IT REMINDED ME OF HOLLAND, IN THE WINTER WHEN ALL THE DYKES FREEZE OVER, EVERYONE GETS THEIR ICE SKATES ON, AND THEY SKATE THROUGH ALL THE DYKES LIKE THE WINTER OLYMPICS, PEOPLE STAND ON THE BANKS HANDING OUT HOT DRINKS, MY DAD USED TO LOVE IT, BUT MY MOM COULDN’T SKATE………A GREAT TIME IS HAD BY ALL, ITS STILL DONE, I MISS ALL THAT………BONNE WEEKEND MY FRIEND…………JENNIE XX
Jennie:
Reminds me of the book and the Disney movie “Hans and THe SIlver Skates” (I think it was the name) It showed them skating thru the dykes in a race for the silver skates. I SO love those movies, they bring back such a good feeling of home !
Happy to hear that Tonie. Hope you had a good day and took some time to rest my dear angel. XXX
CHRIS LOVE…….SORRY TO HEAR YOU ARE STILL STUCK WITH THAT PROBLEM, I WILL CAL YOU AND WE CAN TALK IT THROUGH OK? LOVE YOU …….JEN X
SUE……MY FRIEND, ARE YOU OK??? HAVEN’T SEEN YOU ON HERE FOR A DAY OR TWO, AND YOU KNOW WHAT A WORRY WART I AM………………………LOVE YOU, HOPE YOU ARE RESTING………..JENNIE XX
Jennie, I too am a little worried. She has posted some things on Facebook, but nothing here since the blog. Maybe still having difficulty reading. We will just all have to keep her in our prayers, as I do you and so many others. This has seemed to me to be a very bad time for so many of us. Love you Yorkshire Tyke. Janet
Jennie, Janet:
She has been reading all our posts and then another day replying . She says 20 min is the max she can stay online and read. Just keep praying !
Love ya’all
Tonie
Thank you Tonie. I am continually amazed at how close this group has become. In some ways even closer than family. I am close to my family, but I feel that my friends on this blog are more aware of the challenges I face than any family member. I actually try to keep most of my problems away from family. i think about the tremendous change in climate that you have gone thru. Of course you did know what you were getting into in moving from Arizona to West Virginia. i’m afraid I was a little more ignorant about the difference between Southern California and North Central Texas and the effect on arthritis. you take care driving on those hills and know you are always in my prayers. Janet
AH JANET……HAVEN’T SPOKEN TO YOU FOR AGES, YES YOU ARE SPOT ON, WE DO, WISH WE COULD HELP HER, PRAYERS GO A LONG WAY, SO ITS ALL WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW ISN’T IT?? LOVE YOU TOO PET…..JENNIE XX
Dearest Friends, I am so saddened by the fact I’ve had to watch my computer time. If I’m on here too long things begin to blur, I make mistakes and end up with a throbbing headache and burning eyes. Now isn’t that just a kettle of fish? All the troubles I’ve shared with you over the years and now this. Heap it on, heap it on!! This problem makes me the most grim because writing and chatting with all of you is such an important part of my life. I can’t read books, so have been watching TV, doing chores, etc. Our TV is a 57 inch one about twenty feet from the bed and sometimes I can’t even see the faces of the actors. The problem with my eyes is from Sjogren’s Syndrome and is also making some trouble swallowing. I’m instilling drops every hour…four types.
On top of this aggravation we had to change our medication insurance the first of the year to a medicare part D and that has been most unfun. Jim is still working but because our secondary is Medicare, we’re stuck. New rules no one seems to understand. We still have the old Blue Cross but they now cover less and stuck us with a $3000 deductible. Each medication company doesn’t know what the other is doing…We have to meet our deductible and that’s getting expensive. As far as the new med, Forteo that I got approved in Dec. and planned on starting, it has gone from $50 a month to $1450 per month and even after we meet the deductible, that is of course, prohibitive. If they pay 20% of it, that’s still $300 dollars a month plus all the other meds I’m on.I’ll be calling several numbers on Monday to see about assistance for Forteo, including Eli Lilly, the manufacturer. I knew it would be expensive because it’s fairly new and involves an injection EVERY DAY FOR TWO YEARS.
My dears, I am trying to read your remarks each day and pray for each of you. What a wonderful bunch of human beings you are. I do share some things I receive on FB..that’s easy, I just click. I’m writing the blog by taking it in short spurts. I hate this not being able to comment to each of you but trust each of you to watch over the other. I ask for your love and understand as well as your prayers. Love to each of you, Sue
Sue, Will keep this short. Prayers, positive thoughts, lots of love. Janet
Janet:
Yes ma’am quite a climate change for me. but taking it better this year than last. I live in Virginia, not West Va. Close ot it though 🙂 I am so looking forward to spring and the green returning. Do you live in Middle Texas or where ? I have traveled all over the state except the gulf coast part of it. Temp there varies all over don’t it ?
Yes I tend to share more of my ills on here as well, You family just kinda goes “uh-huh” and on to the next subject. Here you know people understand and commiserate with you. You can get advise that you can actually use 🙂
take care
Love
Tonie
Hi Sue…I am so sorry you are going through these horrible new problems. I feel very sad you have this to deal with too. You will be in my prayers, of course. Please, God… hear all our prayers for Sue and restore her vision back to where it was. Thinking of you with much love…
Jo ♥♥♥♥♥♥
SUE SWEETHEART….DON’T FRET, WE ARE ALL BIG GIRLS AND WE WILL COPE. WE MISS YOU SO MUCH BUT I AM SURE I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US WHEN I SAY WE WILL PRAY FOR YOUR SITUATION TO BE RESOLVED, THE POWER OF PRAYER IS AMAZING…….MEANWHILE WE WILL KEEP EACH OTHER AFLOAT NEVER FEAR……………LOVE YOU SO MUCH……JENNIE XXXXXXXXXXXX
Sue, I’m so sorry you have to go through this. Don’t worry, you know we will all carry on and support one another and you until you can check in again. 🙂
Sue, love you and am praying for your eyes and your insurance and medication issues. Sorry you are having such a hard time. Oodles of hugs, Annie ❤
Annie
Hey stranger ! Good to see you pop in ! I saw your dress on FB you made . It is beautiful. You have a talent and a lot of patience. When I sew it has to be something quick and easy ! I have started a quilt though, but I am going to sew it by hand and it will take me a bit. I am anxious to see how it turns out 🙂
Come back and chat with us more
Love
Tonie
Sue
I am so sorry for this you have now Sue
How come this blimmin sjogrens suddenly got so bad.it really is all so uncontrollable .
One thing I do is wipe my eyes with a cold solution I keep in the fridge and make up every week
One pint of Boiled water mixed with one flat teaspoon sodium bicarbonate ,from chemist not the confectionary kind,
I keep it in a bottle and use it on cotton pads to wipe my eyes twice a day . It is refreashing al least, but you have to do it all the time ,it keeps the blephritis away. i also put drops in every hour but they are sterile artificial tear drops in a sealed individual dropper
I remember you had to change tablets for your eye problem last year
Well my bladder still ongoing seeing dr this morning again!
The antibiotics recommended all make my peripheral neuropathy worse. Last dr said I mite have to go in hosp on a drip!
Jen
Yea,try and catch me ,have to go with my dad to Parkinson’s clinic,also meeting some people for dinner unless I have to go into hosp . Bl..dy h.ll! Don’t we all have it good! Perhaps it mite be better if I let you know I’m still here as DD can’t answer phone with his hearing .i will email you
Well be back later…I hope!
Chris
Jen
Meant DH can’t answer phone!!
Sue
I forgot to say…for swallowing ..but mine is for dryness,but it effects swallowing
I do a steam inlilation 3x a day,,nothing in it just steam
Also the sjogrens seems to make the vocal cords play up can’t use my voice to much!
Which is tiresome as I have to throw my voice for DH deafness!
Thinking of you chris
Oh my we are quite the group here. Seems like we are all having more problems this year than last. Oh dear Chris i have Blephritis too. Had no idea you also had that. Miserable thing isn’t it. Hope all goes well with your doc today. Please keep us in the loop or we will all be worrying about you too. Even though we worry anyways hoping that all is going to be okay.
Sue you don’t worry about us. We know what you are going through and realize you can’t answer ever comment that someone puts up here. You keep putting in those drops dear friend and take care of you. Hope you get some good answers tomorrow about your insurance. This is all ridiculous.
We are all praying for everyone on this blog cause we all need help in one way or another. Love you big Sue.
Tonie is right, Sue reads all but can not comment cause of her eyes. 20 mins max. Let’s all pray together so her vision can improve a bit. But she has bigger problems than that with the darn insurance.
I also will be getting in touch with insurance here tomorrow or I guess today for some of you.
Janet, at least you are not here up North where we have snow up to our eyeballs. Very cold and damp and it will be at least end of April before the snow is all gone. So count your blessings dear girl. Wish I could move down south, seems like Arizona is the place to live if you have Arthiritis. Am I right on that? That’s what I’ve always heard. I think of Bobsled Laura and wonder how she is doing right now. Hope all is right with you my dear.
Martha how are you doing these days. Must be cold there also.
Lyn, happy to hear you and DH are talking, my husband and I are having problems because of my RA. Meds doing a number on my brain also. He can’t bring himself to believe that I can be in so much pain all the time and totally forget things and of course can’t do things I use to do at all. Very hard on a relationship. And of course intimacy is another kettle of fish. Not sure about you but I can say cause of the meds I have no interest whatsoever, well not that I have no interest but feel frozen in that area. I try but it just doesn’t seem to work for me. How about you? Any suggestions on that issue. I need help here.
Happy Monday to all cause it is now 1:24 a.m. Need to get some sleep but it don’t come easy!!!!
As Janet said we are closer than family, so true. So let’s all keep each other in our hearts and pray that our prayers will be answered.
But as Sue said, the answer is YES, NO OR WAIT…. Let’s also keep that in mind.
LOVE TO ALL, GOD BLESS
XXX
Suzanne, dear, I believe you have me confused with Linda. 🙂 No worries, it happens.
Sorry about that Lyn, Yes I do get people confused. Brain fog and the fact that I have not been part of this group for as long as most.
Hope you are having a good day. The sun is shining here. Feels good looking through the window.
love ya
XXX
LYN…I CAN RELATE TO WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT PERSONAL RELATIONS WITH YOUR OTHER HALF. WE WERE OK UNTIL ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, I TREASURED THE WARMTH OF THAT PART OF MARRIAGE, AND NOW ITS ALL GONE BECAUSE OF BLOODY O/A, I COULD AND DO CRY ABOUT IT, I HATE GOING TO A SEPERATE ROOM IN A SEPERATE BED EACH NIGHT. I MISS NOT JUST “THAT” BUT WAKING FROM TROUBLED SLEEP KNOWING YOU CAN REACH OUT TO YOUR LOVED ONE, FOR A CUDDLE WHICH MAKES IT ALL BEARABLE……SO YES! I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. LOVE YOU PET, ……JENNIE XX
Well Jennie, now I don’t feel so alone knowing that you also have separate rooms. It is very hard to deal with. I feel like that part of my life is gone also and feel miserable about it. So many changes no wonder people have trouble understanding all the pain we live through. Thanks Jennie Poo.
Enjoy the day! Sun is shining again today, so feels like a happy day.
love ya,
XXX
Jennie my mistake here, I was talking to Linda not Lyn. Sorry about that. I wrote Lyn by mistake. Then you took up the conversation with Lyn but it should have been Linda. Darn, can’t believe I did that. Need to get my brain working well before I write answers or questions here, do not want to hurt or embarrass anyone.
Love you big. And thanks again for your info about separate bedrooms.
God bless.
XXX
Suzanne, I’ve been here a while and still get folks confused. Don’t worry about it. We figure it all out in the end.
No, I have no interest, either. Fortunately, with a long history of alcohol abuse, diabetes, and high blood pressure meds and antidepressants, neither does DH. Before I got my bi-pap, I snored horribly and would keep him awake. He’s restless in bed, and his movements would make me hurt. And he’s one, if I turned over and touched him, he’d jump, and that would sit me straight up crying. Finally, I asked him to sleep in the other room. Now and then, when one of us wants a cuddle, we’ll get into the same bed. But, comfort wise, it’s best for both of us to have separate bedrooms. I, like you, miss the comfort of him near, but I had to weight that against the comfort of my body. Lots of medications affect the libido, antidepressants are notorious in men and women, blood pressure meds more so in men, I think. And, we’re 65 and 67 now, and I think that has a lot to do with it, too.
ED did go to the doctor this week, and he made an appointment with his psych doc, and a podiatrist. He has cut his hair and trimmed his beard, so things are looking up. This all lifts my spirits a great deal, too.
Sue, I am praying so hard for you. We miss you, but we do understand. I mean, gee, look who you’re talking to here! We’re already “converted”, and we love you and don’t want you to make your condition worse. Just a note now and then so we know you’re still kicking. Wish I knew something to suggest to help, but I’m clueless about your disease, my education on it has come from you and the others here with it.
I had to go ahead and take a dose of Humira. I know my infection isn’t completely gone, but the Crohn’s was acting up too much to let it go any further. Sometimes I feel as if I trade demons around. I feel the respiratory infection starting back up. I’ve decided if it does get bad, I’m going to insist they hospitalize me, or send home health around to give me IV antibiotics. The oral ones just take too long. I don’t want to come off the Humira, for it has done me more good than anything I’ve taken in the last 5 years. I didn’t realize how poorly the other meds controlled my disease until I took the Humira. With it, I have no diarrhea, no cramping, no pain during or after eating. I kept all of this to some degree with the other medications.
Annie, I was so tickled to see you back. You always bring a smile. I hope you’re doing well. Bobsled, I read your posts on facebook and you seem to be in a better place than I’ve seen you in a while. You actually sound very happy, and that pleases me to no end.
Tonie, our weather has been fairly good down my way, but I think we’re to have more snow this week-end. But not that bitter cold. Thank goodness. About 5 more weeks now, and winter should start breaking up. I remember when we were kids, Rosa and I would be so anxious about what the ground hog would see on ground hog day. One year we were very upset because they said we’d have 6 more weeks of winter, and it must have been bad that year for kids to be upset over more winter weather! My Grandma laughed and told us, that no matter what he saw, ground hog day was set up so that it was about 6 weeks until the end of winter, so use that for a count down date! Hope your quilt is coming along good. My mom and granny made all theirs completely by hand. I’m far too lazy for that, mine are sewing machine made! Even the quilting if they’re not too big.
I need to head back to bed. I love you all, and I apologize if I didn’t speak…you’re still in my prayers and thoughts.
Linda
Hey Linda:
Yes no more BITTER cold, Feb is SOOO long cause we are anxious for spring. Today is my 57th bday and I am off to aerobics in a bit (h20). Makes me feel so good, so no better way to celebrate huh ? My quilt is coming along fine. I have a big beautiful piece of vintage material I am using for the center. It is a blue Batik from the 70’s or more. And the round is going to be squares of denim pieces with a center of cloth. I am making it squares and quilting them as I go. It is slow, but my machine is broken so ….but I have to do something while watching tv or resting huh ? I am excited as it is my first full size one and first ever by hand. You take care dear and SO glad that Ed is coming around. God is so good !
Love
TOnie
Dear Linda, thank you for being so understanding. You have helped me enormously in this post you just wrote. THANK YOU for that. I take BP meds and also antidepressants plus the meds for RA. Just a whole bunch of meds. My husband takes no pills whatsoever, he is in good health. That I think is where the problem lies. But he does snore like a trooper. Separate rooms are better for my body also. Have a special covering over the mattress to make it more comfortable and I also have to put a peekay (sp) in case of bladder problems I also have.
Nice to hear you DH got a hair cut and trimmed his beard, you must be happy with that.
Love chatting with you. I asked to be your friend on FB, not sure if you got the request. I sure do hope so. We seem to have lots in common.
You take good care of yourself dear heart.
God Bless you and keep you well.
love ya
XXX
PRAYING FOR EVERYONE EXTRA HARD TODAY….SOUNDS LIKE WE ALL NEED IT, LOVE YOU GIRLIES, EVERYONE OF YOU….SO THERE!!!!…………………….JENNIE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hey there BIRTHDAY GIRL, you enjoy every moment! Will you be eating a piece or two of birthday cake? Have fun in the pool. God Bless you on your special day.
love you big.
XXX
Okay, I just made a batch of these , will tell you how they came out ! They are in the oven, I put frozen blackberries in some of them. Used, fresh eggs, my applesauce I put up and my berries. I must say it felt good.
Baked Oatmeal To Go
— Instead of granola bars! Cheaper and you know exactly what goes in them! I have to make these! Ingredients 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups applesauce, unsweetened 1 banana, mashed 6 packets of Sweetleaf Stevia or 1½ teaspoons stevia powder or use ½ cup honey 5 cups, Old Fashioned rolled oats {Bob’s Red Mill} ¼ cup flaxseed meal 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 3 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2¾ cups milk Optional toppings: raisins, walnuts, chocolate chips Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix eggs, vanilla, applesauce, banana and Stevia together in a bowl. Add in oats, flax, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and mix well with wet ingredients. Finally pour in milk and combine. Spray a 12 and 6 capacity muffin tin with cooking spray or use cupcake liners. Pour mixture evenly into muffin tin cups. If using toppings add them onto the tops of muffins now. If using fresh or frozen fruit, drop it right into the batter. Bake 30 minutes until a toothpick in center comes out clean. Cool and enjoy or freeze them in gallon freezer bags. Nutrition Info (without toppings) Servings: 18* Calories for one: 143* Fat: 4g* Cholesterol: 25mg* Sodium: 161mg* Fiber: 4g* Sugars: 4g* Carbs: 23g* Protein: 6g* **Gluten Free & Diabetic Friendly** Recipe Source: SugarFreeMom.com
If you have recipes, please send them to :
toniedalton@gmail.com Send them one at a time if you want, no worries
Sounds good Tonie. Today not a good day for me. Just washing my hands hurts. Did too much shoveling on the weekend. Nice that finally the sun is shining. Hope all is going well there.
love ya
XXX
They are good, but if you want them sweet, increase the amount of sweetner. Not very sweet.
Don’t like very sweet, which is good cause I’m diabetic. They sound perfect the way they are for me at least.
love you girl
XXX
Well
Dr sent another sample to lab.will have to wait till it comes back.bt if I can’t take these tabs it’s hosp for a drip…..sh.t
He said the lab rang him as its a hosp, aquired bug from the hystoscopy I suppose… Skin still burning from the one tab I took before
Ok gonna try and sleep
Chris
Sleep tight Chris, sending prayers and angels your way.
later
God be with you.
XXX
Chris, how’s it going today. Is your skin still burning?
Thinking of you sweetpea.
XXX
A FUNNY…..A MAN WAS TELLING HIS NEIGHBOUR “I JUST BOUGHT A NEW HEARING AID, IT COST ME FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS, BUT ITS STATE OF THE ART” ITS PERFECT . “REALLY” ANSWERED HIS NEIGHBOUR, “WHAT KIND IS IT?” “TWELVE THIRTY”………….HOPE YOU ARE ALL OK, AND SUE…GODD TALKING WITH YOU, FEEL BETTER NOW……….LOVE TO YOU ALL AND LOTS OF HUGS………….JENNIE XXXXXXXXXX
Good one Jennie 🙂 made me smile.
XXX
SUZANNE……ITS ROUGH THE SEPERATE ROOMS BIT, BUT MY OLD MAN KNOWS I LOVE HIM, AND I KNOW HE LOVES ME, JUST GOT TO SHOW IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS SOMETIMES…LOTS OF HUGS AND REASSURANCE PET, GOT TO MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT WE CAN DO……..LOVE YOU, DON’T LET IT UPSET YOU…..JENNIE POO XX
This is jst a short note ,
Yep skin still playing up Suzzane and also bladder and feels like the uterus as well.just waiting for lab result
Gonna be busy for a while as DD has split with her partner and GS and DD will Come here dont know how it will all happen but take it as it comes.as long as she and GS are safe
Ok off to do washing.i will have to go to drs tomorrow if like this then
All best Chrisx
CHRIS…….WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? DO YOU WANT ME TO CALL YOU TOMORROW….EMAIL ME IF YOU DO……………..I PRAY YOU WILL SOON GET SOME RELIEF FROM THIS AWFUL PROBLEM, THINKING OF YOU MATE……..WITH LOVE…..JEN X
Oh Chris you are going through so much these days. Hope it all works out well for you. Yes I agree with you as long as DD and GS are safe that is what is important. Hope the lab results come back with a solution and you do not have to go into the hosp.
Payers and angels being sent your way. Thinking of you lots.
love,
XXX
Dear Friends, Just a quick note about being more careful to know who you are talking about on here. One mistake in a name can cause so much confusion. For instance, Linda chose to talk about her sex life. That’s her choice. Someone got her confused with someone else and then others entered the conversation. We are each so different. Let’s be more careful, please because it can cause confusion and embarrassment. I also have to be careful and I do understand it takes a bit more effort and time. We who suffer daily pain also have to watch our foggy headed thinking. I screw up something constantly in my own life. We talk about literally everything on here but let’s try to keep it in good taste. I know, this coming from the woman who wrote a poem called ODE TO MY ASS. It can be done gut we need to be careful.
My eyes still hurt too much to stay on here for long. I do think of each of you with affection and prayers for a better health life. Love to each…Sue
That was me Sue, made the mistake of saying Lyn when I should have said Linda. I did tell Lyn I was sorry and I certainly will be more careful. I certainly do not want to cause anyone more pain that is for sure and certain. I didn’t think it was out of line, it was a question that was really hard for me to deal with and Jennie helped me out with her answers. Thank you Jennie. Sorry again if I hurt someone feelings. Really that was not the intention.
Keep putting in those drops Sue. Hope they are giving you some relief. Any news on the insurance problem. Would be nice if you could start the other treatment. Thinking of you and sending prayers your way and angels.
God bless
XXX
Susanne, I know and it’s okay. Frankly, each one of us have made that mistake with names; I just don’t anyone embarrassed. I finally got around to commenting to you on the pics Tonie forwarded, kindly, to me. What a lovely place you live in and so much snow..oh my. I love your pup..so cute with snow on the nose. Love you my friend, Sue
HEY SUZANNE…ALL HAS BEEN EXPLAINED, SO DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP ABOUT IT LOVE, WE ARE NOT PERFECT AND SOMETIMES PAIN GETS IN THE WAY AND WE MUDDLE UP…HELL, I’M ALWAYS DOING IT…DUH!!
I AM GLAD I COULD OFFER SOME HELP IN SOME WAY……ITS A SENSITIVE SUBJECT, AND MUST BE TREATED WITH RESPECT, BUT I AM SURE ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL………NOT FEELING GREAT TODAY AND WASN’T GOING TO POST, BUT I SAW YOURS AND SUE’S AND THOUGHT I HAD BETTER. ………LOTS OF LOVE AND HUGS TO YOU AND EVERYONE……….JENNIE XX
Hi, all, I haven’t checked in here in a while and apparently missed all the action! No worries with the name mix up. I knew Suzanne meant Linda, and dear Jennie caught up with me on Facebook before I even saw her post. Honest mistake when you are tagging on. Thanks, Sue, for the reminder that we all need to be careful lest we embarrass someone or worse. We all get foggy headed and confused. Hate that. Side effects from the new med have faded; although some remain, it is more manageable. I suppose we will see if it helps at all or not. It’s been a different kind of fogginess with it and fatigue.
Hang in there, everyone!
Sue, Suzanne asked me a specific question about it. I don’t mind being honest, but I thought I did keep it in good taste. Sorry if I offended anyone with my reply.
Tonie
Haven’t done any giving of flowers yet…nowt here locally to do so and not allowed in hosps here now
BUT. I have smiled a lot at little old ladies…does that count. And I’ve said hallo to older men folk..and I usually chat if I’ve got time…..got time the most important thing ..so many people bustling about and seeing nowt! Chris
Chris, I have to agree with you. We can spread sunshine, however little the amount, wherever we go.It can act like a boomerang and come back at you. I find that every time I go out. Yesterday I went to the supermarket that is being enlarged…oh my, too much walking because everything is in a different location and you have to walk around construction. I saw the flower idea also in GUIDEPOSTS and agree it’s a good one. So many lonely folks in the world.
Chris dear, don’t you think it’s time to demand some answers. You’ve been having trouble for a couple of years now and more antibiotics don’t seem like they’re helping much. You asked me recently why my Sjogren’s Syndrome has become such a problem lately. I don’t know. I think the mass amount of stress we had last summer around here didn’t help but with that disease and the Relapsing Polychondritis I have, it can just flare for no reason. I just had my eyes examined in May and they were dry but not fried. That’s one of the reasons they call one of my diseases, the one that destroys cartilage, relapsing.
I miss all of you so much. With love, Sue
Chris:
Oh yes, you do what you feel lead to do ! I just think we really need to pay more attention to our elders. My first bunch of flowers is not going to the homes, but to an elder lady at church. A widow who has had and still has a rough life. Do take care of you, and know that I am praying for you and your family.
Love
Tonie
TONIE..YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HEART XXXXXXXXXXXJENNIE POOXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Oh sue
I do hope this blimmin thing relapses back where it came from
I know stress plays such a big part in this and you had that in buckets last year
Yep gona say all this to dr tomorrow my tum hurts to bend on it it throbs at the front and hurts to walk
Lay on my side it gets worse
Be back Chris
Chris, please do what the doctor suggests and if you need to go into the hospital. You must get well…be thinking of you with love, Sue
I agree with Sue, Chris. If you need to go into the hospital then you must go. You need to get better here dear girl. And you won’t be any help to DD & GS if you are feeling the way you do. TIME FOR SOME ME TIME CHRIS.
love you big.
God Bless.
XXX
Hi Suzzane
Don’t worry I’m alWays getting things wrong
When I joined here I used to not be able to get all the names and posts to match
And as for the other…well! I think a few of us can identify with it and ol Jen had said it all really . A cuddle is good tho.innit
Went to dr. Luckily I managed to drink away the bug from the urine along with the cranberry tabs.so that was great dont have to go to hosp……but all the pain I’m getting is from the divertic she said when you just had an op,it’s swollen as I did and had bladder probs so she said it would make the diver seem worse…..so hey guess what ,on amoxillin 500 now!!
More yogurts to buy tonight
So expecting Jen to ring soon ,so back later
Chris
Hi Chris, thanks for the update on what is happening with your body. Happy to hear you do not have to go to the hospital. Yes you better get out there and buy that yogurt, I know it works. Wow, amoxillin 500! Sue suggested it to me when I was on the antibiotics and it worked well.
Thanks about not worrying but I will be careful not to mix names up. Yes Jennie was quite good about the info. Helped me out big time. Thanks again Jennie poo .
Hope you all have a good day or as much as you can.
love to all, God bless.
XXX
HAPPY TO HELP SUZANNE, AND SUE IS USUALLY SPOT ON WHEN IT COMES TO MEDS……….BLOOMING FROZEN, GOING TO HAVE A LONG SOAK IN THE TUB, WISH I COULD KEEP MY HEAD UNDER THE WARM WATER TO SOOTHE THE FACE PAIN,…….NEVER ENDING……………….BONNE NUIT……..JENNIE XX
Morning all !
It is a nippy 28′ this am, but I am happy it is THAT warm 🙂 If It stays in the 30’s and 40’s and the forecast calls for rain instead of snow…well happier ! Tomorrow is H20 aerobics day ! I am so looking forward to it. Only once a week. The other days they have ZOomba classes in the water. I will have to work up to that. I do want to go next week and check one out. I need to get another day in at least.
Chris, praying for you sweet. Yogurt, lots of water. I know you are way beyond tired of all this.
Jennie, you reminded me of what my brother used to say to me all the time (and I am not making fun of your pain,) He used to ask me if my face hurt , when I said NO, he would say, “well it is killing ME :. Brothers ! Praying for you as well. I do understand your pain. Seems as if everything I touch these days is painful. 😦
Sue, dear one , I know the Lord is gonna touch your eyes and make them well. I miss your words on here and know you miss writing them. Just be a good girl and use your drops and keep believing that God is gonna touch you.
Love you much
Tonie
Hi, all – I left a reply under Sue’s cautionary post. I continued reading after that and realized it might be easy to miss. 🙂
Blessings ~
Hya
Be back later busy
But HAPPY BIRTHDAY TONIE
Chris
TONIE……DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS YOUR BIRTHDAY ME OL’ CHINA, HAVE A HAPPY ONE, A BIG RAVE UP, OR KNEES UP, LET IT ALL HANG OUT…HA HA!!!!!! WISH I COULD SHARE IT WITH YOU…….LOVE YOU MASSES……JENNIE POO XX
Well, it’s me again. “Who?,” you may ask….It’s Trish, that NC girl who said she was going to join in the conversations and yet has been absent without official notice. 🙂 Sorry about that, you all, but I’ve been stressed and a bit discouraged and just plain tired. I’ve been trying to get the “necessary” things done in life, and all the fun stuff (like Internet) doesn’t seem happen….then about 2 pm I’m ready for a nap. Sigh….and then there’s always dinner to cook.
Well, the leg/hip/thigh/foot problems have gotten a bit worse with physical therapy, but on Thursday the PT guy says that I probably have Iliotibital Band Syndrome, and possible bursitis of the left hip. This is good, because at least now we have a more specific idea of what we are trying to fix. My primary doctor had only labeled it “muscle strain,” and that is so vague. The PT says I should have an MRI to rule out anything else going on, but there’s just no way to afford that. So….it’s ice and rest and stretches and therapy. That’s expensive enough! New shoes are helping, but work is really difficult on my feet. I just hope that all this will be resolved soon because it is one thing after another lately. I would like to only deal with one problem at a time! (LOL)
My hubby is doing okay, but his doctor is requesting that he have another CT scan in March, so that they can see any changes to the lymph nodes and lung tissue. His prednisone has been reduced by just one mg. for now, until the CT scan. So…that will be another very expensive test.
I’ve been researching health care/insurance options, and it seems that nothing is going to work for us. Even Obamacare is too expensive, and Medicad is not an option b/c we don’t have kids. Not that I would be happy about those two choices but when there’s no other choice, what can you do? We have to have health insurance. We’ve been without for two years, and the out-of-pocket costs are so high that it demolishes our budget. So, please pray that we have wisdom about this issue, and perhaps some other options will come to light. I plan on calling the NC dept. of insurance on Monday, as they have people to assist in working through options.
Sue, hope your eyes are improving! Blessings to everyone….may we all have some of that Primrose hope this afternoon. I can’t wait till Spring….
Trish
Trish:
PRayers for you dear in all you are going through. I too have been without insurance for 2 years and I know the gest of it as well. I can’t afford ANY of the options and as for Medicaid, I have been turned down on that as well. No kids and no disability. But I did find a hospital here in Va that helps with people like us. Do you have Corilion down there ? Also check with Baptist in Winston Salem. At least you could get some help with the costs.
Take care
Tonie
Thanks, Tonie. I haven’t heard about Corilion, but I’ll look it up. Winston-Salem might be too far, I’m not sure. We do usually receive “discounts” but when the costs start to add up and they are on-going (as in physical therapy) then even the discounted price is inflated. My analogy for Obamacare is this: It’s like someone helping you buy a flashy Mercedes, but even your slice of the cost takes all your extra income. And, then, who can afford the tires or the gas or the car insurance on such a prize?!
Well….I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, feeling angry that I am sick. I don’t know why this emotion is here this morning. I’ve been sick for 13 years, so why am I angry today? Don’t know….I will read my Bible and ask that God give me His perspective and His peace. I don’t want to be angry, but this illness has taken so much from me. Bleh! Time for coffee. Maybe I’ll read Sue’s new blog also; that should help.
You have a good day!! I hear that cold is coming our way Tuesday thru Thursday. Stay warm.
Toni, I think that’s Carillion.
Winston Salem isn’t very far from Charlotte, There may be a hospital in Charlotte that can help. When I worked in the ER, I’d keep track of all such sources in our area. So, maybe a call to a local ER might help. If not, most hospitals have social workers who will have all the info you need. Good luck to you!
Hi Trish, payers are being sent your way. Hope everything works in your favour soon. I’ll say like you said, “may we all have some of that Primrose hope this afternoon.” I can’t wait for spring either but we have at least 2 more months of this snow. It’s snowing again here today and very windy. Brrr. Trying to stay warm.
Also enjoy the Olympics. I’m gearing up to watch the opening ceremonies.
Have a FABULOUS WEEKEND EVERYONE. LOVE YOU ALL TO THE MOON AND BACK.
GOD BLESS!
XXX
Thanks, Suzanne! The Olympic ceremony was something else, wasn’t is?! Wild and imaginative. I got sleepy during the “parade of nations” and went to bed.
Hi Trish, yes they were something else! I get sleepy often but I can’t bring myself to go to bed at night or even during the day cause I hate the thought of getting up in such pain in the morning which lasts well after lunchtime. So happy that at least you can sleep. Guess I’m blessed cause I’m still on my School Board insurance. I’m on short term disability but it will end on March 27, then hopefully I will be accepted in the Long Term disability program. I will have a bunch of forms to fill out and then bring to my doc to fill out what she will write will make it a yes or a no. Then they will make their decision. Praying that works out for me. Even with the insurance I have, it costs a bundle of money for my pills every month. I don’t have the money to go to Physio and my insurance doesn’t cover that. I think once I get to see a Rheumy it will be very helpful for me. Right now I’m on RA pills (Prednisone and Plaquil (sp) but they don’t seem to be working for me. Plus meds for BP, Cholesterol, etc…
I too am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Hats off to all of you on this blog cause it seems like everyone here has been in pain for many more years than I have been and you are all such a big help to me. When I get down I think of you all and feel like I can certainly carry on. You always lift my spirits up and God knows how difficult that can be.
Hopefully you will find a place that Tonie was talking about and get help with all the costs of testing.
Prayers being sent to you and your DH.
Have a good day Trish.
love ya
XXX
Hey there…I sure hope your situation improves, and that you will be eligible for that long-term disability.
Speaking of “long-term,” that phrase really applies to the chronic health issues that last years! And, yet somehow, we do adapt to an extent, and God gives us grace to carry on. Some days we carry on from the bed, though! This Sunday I couldn’t bring myself to rise & shine for church, so I slept until 11:15 am. I am thankful for that…..Hope these next few days will be good to you, with more sleep, more smiles and more good effects from your medicines.
Take Care,
Trish