My granddaughter A turned 10 two days after Christmas but she did not eat any birthday cake nor play with her gifts. When I arrived in Dalton on December 20th I was looking forward to a long enjoyable visit with my son, family, and especially grandchildren, whom I hadn't seen in many months. Instead I walked into a tragedy unfolding when the ( Read more... )

This is kind of strange. For almost 8 months I've been eating 4 servings of vegetables and 3 servings of fruit each and every day, like you're supposed to but very few people do. So my research is pretty extensive. I discovered a new vegetable, broccolini, which is tasty and cool. I have my likes and dislikes but I try different things. I've always ( Read more... )

I've had the interesting experience of losing weight. During the past 7 months I have lost 32 lbs by a meal plan called NutriSystem which is a good fit for me and works well with my lifestyle. It has been quite easy, actually. My hardest problem is buying all new pants. I like having the structure ( Read more... )

My former boss, Saint Julia, once told me that she lost both parents when she was younger (didn't say when or how) and was devastated at the time.  But now, she says, seeing what her friends are going through with elderly parents makes her glad it was "well it were done quickly."  Oh, how I agree.  I won't go into too much detail.  Mom was demoted ( Read more... )

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.... like a convert.

Mom graduated from ICU to a stroke ward a couple of days ago.  Thursday she had a PEG tube installed for feeding, because she is still not able to pass the swallow test.  Yesterday she was transferred to the Kessler Institute's Stroke Rehabilitation Center.  This is the facility where Christopher Reeve was treated after his accident.  It is in ( Read more... )

On the one hand, heh heh, 90% of the discomfort and weirdness I feel in recovery is perfectly normal and on target, because I am having pain in my thenar and hypothenar eminence.  Duh.  On the same hand, though, and completely unrelated to the carpal tunnel thing, I have trigger thumb!  So there's that.

My doctor said he'd never had a patient hand him a flash drive with a spreadsheet of their blood pressure log before.  Well he TOLD me to take it every day and keep a record of it, how was I supposed to do it? Good news: diuretic is working and I won't need a beta blocker.  More good news: I might be old, but I'm still cool.

Oh my goodness, it's a bad winter out here.  Cold and snow in various configurations resulting in layers of ice and snow on the ground.

I'm lucky because I don't need to drive.  But I can't help comparing this winter with last winter.  It's all about walking the dog, but this time the leash is on the other hand, or something.  Last year it was ( Read more... )