Tuesday It Is.......
Good Morning Ladies.
Hopefully my computer will function long enough so I can type this post and get it to actually appear. Yesterday, I made three attempts, without success.
Received tragic news yesterday. My dear Uncle Jack, 85 years old, was killed in a car accident over the weekend. His daughter, 45, was seriously injured, but will survive. Tara faces a very difficult road, as she has special needs. She is an only child, and her mother passed several years ago. At one point, her parents spoke of having her and another cousin her age, Eileen, also with special needs, move together into an assisted living facility or group home so they would be able to live together independently. However, they never moved forward with those plans. Tara will wake up in the hospital facing a whole new life. Luckily, the Executor of her father's estate is a wonderful man who will take care of making arrangements and will see that Tara is taken care of.
Jim had another Tap yesterday, and since then has been suffering with severe cramps. He has been up all night. He had the same reaction last week, but not as bad. I told him he must call his doctor today -- there must be something they can prescribe to relieve his pain. They took eleven liters of fluids out of his abdomen. Every time he meets a new doctor, nurse, radiologist, technician, etc. the first question they ask is "Are you on the transplant list?" He is beginning to realize he must follow the doctors' instructions instructions -- that is stick with a low sodium diet, restrict his fluid intake, and take his medications.
He is stirring now, so I have to close. Wanted to respond to your posts - maybe later I can get back on and post more. I missing getting here to post every day but my thoughts are with each of you. Prayers and good wishes to all.
Mary
HW: 380 SW: 324 GW: 175
Good morning Mary and sistas,
Mary, I feel your frustration. I also wrote a long post yesterday and it disappeared into cyber space. Grrr. Didn't have the heart to try it again.
This week continues to be an emotional roller coaster. I have an almost frantic need to keep busy. Don't need a shrink to explain that one to me. My problem is that I've fallen back on every bad pre-WLS habit I had: I bake, I cook, I drink Cokes, and I eat!!! Got on the scale yesterday and I'm back up to 195 lbs. Argh!
I am forcing myself to deal with a little bit of the paperwork every day. I don't want to, but I have to. Yesterday I called about that tax lien on the house. Turns out it's not on THIS house, but on Christie's house. (Y'all remember that we bought a house last year and Christie is renting it from us.) Somehow when I paid property taxes last January, I just missed paying that one. Not my usual style of bookkeeping, but understandable given the cir****tances, I guess. Anyway, it certainly was an expensive mistake! By the time they added on penalties and interest and attorney's fees, the bill was over $4000! Ugh.
I also called about the ambulance bill, but turns out there's a medical information form that I needed to fill out with Butch's medicare and insurance info. Hopefully they will pay some or all of the bill and I won't owe $1400 for that one.
I am existing in a slight fog, I think. Most of the time I can just ignore the fact that I am alone. I mean, I did this for years and years. Butch was always 12,000 miles away and I got used to being alone in the house. But then something will happen and I'll have to tell someone that he passed, and when that happens, I crash. It's not easy. I do try to spend some "normal" times with Chris and the boys, and that helps. And Carrie and I talk about the new baby daily. She took some silly test about what you should name your baby, and it generated the name "Pita"! Is that silly or what? So we immediately expanded it to Pita Piper and that's what we're calling the baby until we know if it's a boy or a girl. Pita Piper Poe. Sounds like a nursery rhyme!
Well, I'm going to close now. Today's project is another batch of jam. I made fig preserves two days ago. Yesterday I made peach melba jam. Today I have some raspberries, blueberries and cherries, so I'm going to make a batch of Jamberry. Oh, and damn, but I made the best chocolate cake ever! I tried a new mix and I highly recommend it the next time you need to bake a cake. It's Pillsbury "Purely Simple" cake mix. You make it with butter and milk, instead of oil and water. It's delicious.
Only other thing on my agenda today is crochet and listening to my audio book. Y'all know how crazy I am about those miniature horses? (I post all the time on FB.) Just so happens that this audio book is about a horse trainer who decides to buy and train one of those little horses! I'm loving it! Makes me a little sad that we didn't buy that farm in Seguin last year after all. I surely would have loved working with those baby horses.
Well, that's about all. I love you all!
Vickie
Hello sweet Vickie....I just lost my post again!!! It has to be this site. They need to fix this issue soon. I am so frustrated!!
I guess it is better to keep frantically busy then doing nothing at all. As for the eating, just do the best you can do. I have been awful with my eating for about three weeks now. I do great all day and then about 7 at night I start eating anything that isn't nailed down! Night eating has always been my problem. We will both get back to being healthier eaters...it just isn't going to be now!!
I hope you ambulance bill is now paid by your insurance. Sorry about the lien on the other house...not like you haven't had other things on your mind!!!
Living in a fog...that explains it very well. I am sure you just move around like a little robot. I am glad Christie and the boys can be there to entertain you. They sure look like they were having fun in the pool!! Those boys are so much fun!
It was nice that you had a little party for Christie. I love the pics especially the one of Benny decorating the cake...that cute little duckie face!!! Everyone sure loves the pool. Those boys were having fun!!! That cake looked so delicious...that must be the new mix you were posting about. YUMMO!!!!
Carrie and the baby names...I had to laugh out load..Pita Piper!!! That is just so cute....have fun with it!! It does sound like a nursery rhyme!
That book you are listening too sounds wonderful. I am addicted to those little ponies!! They are just so darn cute!!
Enjoy your crocheting and the audio book!!!
Love you much...always lots of hugs...prayers too...connie d
Connie, the book is Here to Stay by Catherine Anderson. You can probably get it on your nook or from the library. I'm enjoying the part about the little horse very much. He trains her to be a guide horse for the blind. The rest of it is kinda hard to read, since it explores some abuse (not sexual) one of the characters suffered. So it might not be the best choice for you.
Just finished my Jamberry and it is SO GOOD! If any of you would like some of my jam recipes, I'll be glad to share. I know not everyone likes to can, but some of you do. I've been doing it for 30 years now. I think it's fun to make jelly and jam. The jars just look like jewels glistening in my cupboard!
Vickie
Vickie....I wish I could make that jam. My hands couldn't do it anymore. Enjoy it for me!!! If you send the recipes I may pass them on to my daughter, Jamie. She likes to do things like that!
That book sounds so good!! I would love it...but...I think I should hold off until my issues can handle it. You are right about that!! 
Have a good evening. I hope you had a bit of time for yourself. I picture you out on your porch crocheting or coloring. I wish I was sitting there coloring with you!! 
Have a good evening...I hope things are better with your mom.
Loads of love and many hugs...connie d
Good morning Mary and everyone.....
Mary...I am glad you got a post to us today!! I think it is this site because the same thing has happened to me many times!! It is so frustrating!!
I am so sorry about the loss of your Uncle Jack. I am glad he made sure there was a executor that would take good care of his daughter. I feel so bad for her. Waking up and realizing she is alone now. That will be very hard for her. I will be keeping her in my prayers.
Jim had another tap...WOW 11 liters...that is a lot!!! I agree he should be notifying his doctor about the pain. That doesn't seem right. I hope he starts taking that diet seriously this time! You take good care of yourself sweetie!!! We don't need anything happening to you!! I say a prayer for you every day!
As for me..... I am doing okay. Same pain another day!
Today am taking a bus to Target. I just need to get out of here for a little while. I need Pure Protein Bars as I am out now. I need a few other things too. They are picking me up at 1:00.
The temp is 72 and low humidity so I left windows open last night. By noon it will be much warmer and higher humidity again. I will have to shut the windows by noon at the latest. Right now it feels good!
I will check back in later today. I love you all!! 
Special prayers for Vickie, Judy and Judy's sister Bonnie and a few others as well.
Prayers for our amazing OFF Family and their families.
Loads of love 
and bushels of hugs 
to all....connie d
Connie...its MUGGY here today and its only 81* out!!! Sitting here wanting to go to the fair...its one we have not gone to and I so want to go to it...but do I want to walk around and SWEAT???
Checked the weather for Saturday for Ludington Michigan...not good. 60% chance of Tstorms!! Sent a text to David and he said its been changing everyday...so Pray it is NICE!!! DAMIT!!!!!! He so deserves this fishing trip with the guys!!!!
No word on my sister...guess I have to call her...
HUGSSSSSSSSS
Judy...I have been watching your weather and Ludington, Michigan. It has been changing same here....I wish I had a good weather person like you have!! I will keep praying that the rain holds off until later in the evening. What time is the wedding?
I will be thinking of you all day!!!
HUGS HUGS LOVE LOVE....connie d
