Wednesday Check in...

My friend Carrie was doing a daily check in... I need to check on her because she hasn't posted in a while, but I thought I'd pick up the ball and start the check in again.

As many of you know, I'm in CA for a while as we navigate some significant family emergencies. My FIL died unexpectedly in Feb, leaving my MIL who had a stroke without her 24/7/365 caregiver, so I'm pinch hitting. Also my mother is here and is dying of pulmonary fibrosis (slowly suffocating to death) and had recently entered hospice. I've lost about 8 to 10 lbs since I arrived, but my weight loss has stopped and my weight has stabilized. 

I am working on getting my supplements more regularly. That reminds me. I need to take 'em again. :-) 

I'm working on eating a little better, but noticed that I didn't eat enough today. My kids all have weight issues of their own and while I lost weight, my son found it and is working to get it off. I stopped at the store today and picked up a rotisserie chicken, some turkey breast, fresh vegis, etc... I'm hoping that having that stuff around will entice me to eat more of what I should be eating and will help my son trim off the extra pounds he found. 

I'm working on taking better care of me. I've found a counselor to work with through Jewish Family Services and am also checking to see if they can help me with respite. I also contacted Catholic Charities to see if they can also help me with respite. Each program can only provide 1 2 hour respite per week and I use that time to go for counseling or to see my mother. 

What are you doing to take care of yourself?

 

 

Good Morning Barbara and Everyone!

Sorry I have been MIA but life just happens to take over sometimes.  I have been really busy at work and then my mother came to visit.  It had been 2 years since I had seen my mother and it was nice to get to spend some time with her and her new husband.  It was an experience to be in the presence of newlyweds that are in their 60's & 70's.  All that "mature" love was very heady.  They are so very happy and I am so happy that they have each other.  Life is so short and everyone deserves to be happy. 

My mother and I did not have a very good relationship until after I was 30 yrs old.  I am grateful that we have a very loving relationship now.  I don't think you are ever too old to feel your mother's love and the comfort it can bring.

On a sad note, my grandmother was sent home from the hospital to die.  She has severe blockages but her heart is too weak for the needed surgery.  She has decided to take each day as the gift it is and has requested that we do not change our routines.  I am praying that when her time comes it is sudden and painless.
 
I went to the surgeon's office for my 3 year checkup yesterday.  I really can not believe it has been 3 years already.  I am so very grateful for the quality my surgery has added to my life. 

I have a great deal of added responsibility at work with all the changes being made so I have been trying to find my way through it all.  I am in the process of getting myself into a new schedule and still make sure I have some "me" time on a daily basis.  

Hope all is well with each one of you, I have missed you all.

Have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

 

So good to see you Carrie and I absolutely do understand about life just taking over sometimes. I also find that, like you, I doubt that I will ever be too old to enjoy and appreciate the comfort of my mother's love. I'm so very sorry to hear of your grandmother's trails and like you I hope that her passing will be gentle when it comes. 

Congratulations for coming so far in 3 yrs... You are an inspiration to me and others. Thank you. 

Wishing you all the best as you traverse the challenging waters you find yourself in these days. 

Hugs,

Things for me are doing good.
My new job is working out well for me in fact I am scheduled  for the rest of April to do demo's except on the Meetup Saturday.
My Avon is growing like I never imagined and I do love it and all the products.
It seems to me that I am making a name for myself in my area as The Avon lady LOL I was at HT yesterday and I am always makeing it a point to  take catalogs to the checkout girls and to the girls at Starbucks.
Also just picked some new customers at the local convinent store.

Took a wonderful morning walk with the dogs this morning.

My husband continues to have some health concerns that being said he somehow cut his heal the other night taking trash out.
He is on blood thinners so as you can imagne it was a mess.
Then while eatting dinner last night he gets a nose bleed and tells me he has had 3 in the past few days.
We both have talked about going to another pcp for him.
I asked him if he decided to do that is he prepared to listen to any ideas they may tell him.
His current pcp is very aware of Lee's bad habits but does not lecture him on what he needs to do.
In my opinion I feel his doctor knows that it is pointless.
There is not much I can do to change him but I can keep taking care of me.
I feel very good health wise and have a peacefulness within.
                                                                             Annie

Annie,

I'm so glad to hear that you are doing so well and I hope that your dear Lee will find the will to do those things he needs to do to have as full a life as possible. I'm glad that you are doing the things that you need to do so that you are enjoying such a full and fulfilling life. 

Hugs,

Barb, keep doing your best to take care of you in the midst of taking care of everyone else [[[[[[[[[[hugs]]]]]]]]]] Love ya and I pray for you daily.

Glad to see you back Carrie. I remember you posting that your mom was coming. Glad you are enjoying her!

Annie, glad to hear the job is continuing to go well. Take good care of that hubby!

I have backed out of my plans on 4/17 as I need to do something for Valerie! I miss ya'll and need to be reminded of a few things.

I have finally learned to work smarter as my workload has increased. Trying to manage all of my priorities and continue to provide the quality work I expect from myself.

Just getting over what I thought was a cold. A coworker yesterday said it could be allergies. No sure but I know I have been feeling blah all week.

Of course the cold comes on just as I started to work out again. There is a little 'fat' devil lurking somewhere in my house that misses the 'fatter' me. He keeps thwarting my plans to take better care of me. That's my excuse for this week.

I bought a wrist blood pressure monitor. I have been having dizzy spells. Not often enough to worry but rather when they are occurring. It has happened twice while I was driving. The other couple of times it happened at various times through out the day. No rhyme or reason or pattern yet. Thought monitoring my blood pressure daily would at least indicate if that is dropping when it occurs.

Scale is creeping up, yet folks are still telling me how good I look and telling me I look like I am maintaining my weight. Mixed signals messing with my head. I am still pinning up some of my skirts (just will not let go, but that pin is moving over some so gotta get that little devil out of my house)!

Talked enough for now. Can't wait to see ya'll!

Valerie,

It's good to hear from you. I'm so sorry that you are struggling and I hope it gets easier. Be sure to be gentle while you are trying to make sure to corral the 'fat girl' mentality. 

Thanks so much for the hugs, friendship and prayers. 

Love,

((((((((((((((((((Valerie))))))))))))))))))
I was hoping to have seen you last Saturday.
I know what you mean when people say Oh You Look Great what in the hell does that mean LOL I know I feel great and because of my leg problem I wont weigh the fluid comes and goes and that is the way it is.
I do wear my compression every day and most nights.Night time compression are like a padded boot.
Lee is always so good about offering to help me get on my boots at night.
He will say ok lets get your boots on LOL

Today I had to order some shirts for work and yeap I orderd 3x why I still do this Im not sure.
If they are to big I have to wear a chefs jacket over them.

I am glad to read you got a BP monitor this is a great step forward.
                                                    Annie