VERY EXPENSIVE CURE!!

I TOOK PRESLEY TO THE VET AGAIN YESTERDAY, AND THEY HAD TO GIVE HIM SOME FLUIDS, GIVE HIM ANESTHESIA, AND FLUSH OUT HIS COLON.  HE WAS A MESS!!  HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GO A LITTLE BIT SINCE THAT.  I AM STILL PRETTY WORRIED ABOUT THE LITTLE GUY.  AS FOR ME, I GOT SOME PRETTY GOOD NEWS YESTERDAY.  THEY GOT THE APPROVAL, AND WILL BE DOING THE EPIDURAL ON ME TODAY-THIS MORNING.  MY SISTER VICKIE WILL TAKE ME AND BRING ME HOME, AS I AM NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE (EVEN THOUGH IT IS JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM HOME).  I AM HAPPY ABOUT THAT, AND I JUST HOPE AND PRAY I GET THE SAME RESULTS I GOT LAST TIME.  IT LASTED ME NEARLY TWO YEARS!!  WHEN I GET BACK FROM C.A. THE DR. WILL DO MY NECK, AS IT IS ALSO A MESS, AND PAINFUL.  I CAN'T GET THEM BOTH DONE AT THE SAME TIME, AS IT WOULD BE TOO MUCH MEDICINE IN MY SYSTEM AT ONE TIME.  I ONLY HAVE SIX MORE DAYS BEFORE MY TRIP, AND I AM SUPER EXCITED.  I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MY SON AND HIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.  THEN WHEN I GET BACK HOME, MY SISTER VICKIE AND I WILL GET BUSY WORKING ON THE ALZHEIMER'S WALK.  WE HAVE LOTS OF PLANS IN THAT DEPARTMENT!!  IT WAS A HARD DAY YESTERDAY, AND THE DAY BEFORE WITH PRESLEY.  I JUST HOPE HE IS TRULY OK NOW.  HE STILL DOES NOT WANT TO EAT OR DRINK, AND THE DRINKING BOTHERS ME MORE THAN HIS NOT EATING.  I HAVE EVEN TRIED ICE CHIPS, BUT HE WON'T GO FOR THAT EITHER.  WELL, I KNOW THIS IS SHORT, BUT I HAVE TO GET READY AS MY SISTER WILL BE HERE TO PICK ME UP SHORTLY.  I SURE HOPE ALL GOES WELL WITH THE DR., IF YOU WILL, PLEASE SAY A LITTLE  PRAYER FOR ME, AND I WILL MUCH APPRECIATE IT.  THANKS-TILL TOMORROW-JUST ME

NO SOLUTION YET FOR PRESLEY OR ME!!

I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK YET FROM MY PAIN DR. AS TO WHEN HE CAN GIVE ME THE EPIDURAL.  I DID CALL MY P.C.P. YESTERDAY, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TRY AND SPEED UP THE PROCESS.  AS FOR PRESLEY, HE HAS STILL NOT GONE POOP.  I TOOK HIM TO ONE VET YESTERDAY, AND CALLED ANOTHER.  THEY BOTH HAD DIFFERENT ADVICE, EXCEPT FOR THE X-RAY PART.  THEY BOTH WANTED TO DO BLOOD WORK AND X-RAYS TO THE TUNE OF $400.!!  I HAVE GIVEN HIM EVERY THING I CAN THINK OF TO HELP HIM GO-EVEN BOUGHT SOME MINERAL OIL AND SQUIRTED TWO SYRINGES FULL DOWN HIS THROAT.  I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ELSE TO TRY.  I DID GET HIM TO EAT A LITTLE PUMPKIN FOR ME THIS A.M. SO I THINK THAT MAY BE A GOOD SIGN-NOT EVEN SURE ABOUT THAT.  MY SISTER VICKIE HAD A BAD DAY YESTERDAY-SHE WENT DOWN TO THE FUNEREAL HOME TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY FINGER PRINTS OF GEORGE (HER LATE HUSBAND).  HER DAUGHTER DEBBIE WANTS A NECKLACE LIKE THE ONE THAT FONDA GOT ME WITH MIKE'S FINGERPRINT ON THE BACK AND "MY LOVE" ON THE FRONT WITH HIS D.O.B. & D.O.D. .  IT IS VERY SWEET, AND I WEAR IT ALL THE TIME NOW.  I GOT A LITTLE CREATIVE A FEW DAYS AGO, AND ADDED MIKE AND I TO THE LARGE PICTURE OF A BEACH SCENE IN OUR BED ROOM.  IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS MADE THAT WAY, AND I LOVE LOOKING AT IT, AS IT REMINDS ME OF ALL THE TIMES WE WALKED ALONG THE BEACH AND PICKED UP SHELLS.  I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MY SISTER VICKIE ON FINDING WAYS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE "WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S" IN OCT.., AND WE GOT PUBLIX TO ALLOW US TO SIT OUT IN FRONT OF THEIR STORE (LIKE THE GIRL SCOUTS DO), TWO TIMES BEFORE THE WALK.  ALSO WE GOT THE AUTHOR OF THE  NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS LETTER TO WRITE A NICE ARTICLE IN THERE ABOUT MIKE AND GEORGE WITH A PICTURE OF THEM IN THE WALK FROM A COUPLE YEARS BACK.  VICKIE AND I WILL WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THAT ARTICLE AND TRY AND COLLECT MORE FUNDS.  WE HAVE LOTS OF IDEAS THAT WE WILL BE WORKING ON WHEN WE GET BACK FROM C.A. TO VISIT MY DEAR SON AND HIS TERRIFIC WIFE AND TWO ADORABLE TALENTED GIRLS.  I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!  BTW THAT REMINDS ME, YOU MAY NOT HEAR FROM ME FROM 7/31 TO 8/9 WHEN I GET BACK.  I WILL NOT BE TAKING MY COMPUTER WITH ME ON THIS TRIP.  WELL, TIME FOR ME TO GET SOME CLOTHES ON , AND MAYBE DO A LITTLE PACKING TODAY, SO TILL TOMORROW-BE WELL-JUST ME

CONSTIPATION PROBLEM-NOT ME-PRESLEY!!

FOR TWO DAYS NOW HE HAS BEEN STRAINING HIMSELF TO GO EVERY FEW MINUTES, BUT NOTHING IS COMING OUT.  I GAVE HIM SOME PUMPKIN AS I READ THAT WOULD HELP, BUT SO FAR NADA.  I'VE ALSO HAVE GIVEN HIM 3 OR 4 SUPPOSITORIES, BUT ALSO WITH ZERO EFFECT.  I PLAN TO CALL THE VET THIS A.M. AND SEE IF I CAN GIVE HIM A FLEET ENEMA.  IF NOT, IT IS OFF TO THE VETS WE GO.  I CAN NOT STAND TO SEE HIM STRAINING AND PUSHING SO HARD ALMOST ON A CONSTANT BASIS WITH ZERO RESULTS.  HE MUST BE IN PAIN TOO. POOR LITTLE GUY.  IF HE KEEPS THIS UP HE COULD EASILY WIND UP WITH A HERNIA!!  I'M DOING OK, STILL HAVING MY BACK ISSUES WHICH I HOPE TO SOMEHOW GET RESOLVED THIS WEEK.  NOTHING IS EVER EASY.  LIKE MY WISE OLE PAPA USE TO SAY "EVERYTHING IS WORKING AGAINST ME".  SOME DAYS I FEEL THAT WAY TOO. THEN I COME BACK TO MY SENSES AND REALIZE THAT WE ARE ALL HAVING ONE PROBLEM OR ANOTHER.  IT LOOKS LIKE A NICE DAY SO FAR TODAY, SO I HOPE I WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE PRESLEY TO THE VET WITH OUT RUNNING INTO A THUNDER STORM.  WE SEEM TO STILL BE GETTING THEM ALMOST DAILY.  WELL, I TRULY HATE TO CUT THIS SHORT, BUT IT IS TIME FOR ME TO GET DRESSED AND SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR PRESLEY.  I WILL FILL YOU IN TOMORROW ABOUT MY EPIDURAL (WHEN I CAN GET IT) AND WHAT THE VET HAD TO SAY/DO FOR PRESLEY.  TILL THEN, HOPE YOUR WEEK END WAS JUST PERFECT, AND IT WILL CONTINUE ON THROUGH THIS DAY!!  TILL TOMORROW-JUST ME

TWO SICK DOGIES THIS MORNING

IT IS TOTALLY MY FAULT TOO.  I GAVE THEM THE HAM BONES I USED IN MY RED BEANS YESTERDAY, AND THEY BOTH GOT SICK DURING THE NIGHT.  I THINK THEY ACTUALLY ATE THE BONES, AND I DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY COULD OR WOULD.  I JUST GAVE IT TO THEM TO CLEAN AND SHARPEN THEIR TEETH, SINCE I DON'T GIVE THEM RAW HIDE BONES TO CHEW ON. OF COURSE NOTHING WILL STOP PRISKA FROM EATING HER BREAKFAST, BUT PRESLEY HAS JUST BEEN LOOKING AT HIS.  I REALLY DO FEEL PRETTY BAD ABOUT IT-LESSON LEARNED.  WELL, THIS MORNING LIKE IT OR NOT I HAVE A DENTIST APPOINTMENT.  THIS TIME IT IS MY FRONT TOOTH THAT THEY SAY HAS TO GO.  HE DID PROMISE ME THAT I WILL NOT LEAVE HIS OFFICE WITH A HOLE IN MY FACE-HE WILL GIVE ME A TEMPORARY TOOTH TILL THEY CAN MAKE ME A PERMANENT BRIDGE IN THE FRONT.  I STILL THINK I SHOULD HAVE THE WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM PULLED OUT AND JUST GET FALSE ONES, BUT MY KIDS ARE TOTALLY AGAINST THAT IDEA-SO IS THE DENTIST.  SO I GUESS FOR NOW I WILL HOPE THIS IS THE LAST FIX I WILL NEED DONE AT LEAST UNTIL ARMAGEDDON!!  WELL, I DID SLEEP PRETTY GOOD AGAIN LAST NIGHT.  I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR PILLS.  I DON'T TAKE AS MANY AS THE DOCTORS TELL ME TO, BUT JUST ENOUGH SO THAT THEY WILL WORK WHEN I NEED THEM.  I WILL TRY MY PAIN DR. AGAIN TODAY TO SEE IF THEY GOT THE APPROVAL FOR MY EPIDURAL.  THAT IS DEPENDING ON HOW I FEEL AFTER THE TRIP TO THE DENTIST.  I MAY JUST WANT TO LAY IN BED THE REST OF THE DAY-WHO KNOWS??  OH, SOME EXCITING NEWS-I THINK.  I ORDERED AN IPAD YESTERDAY.  IT WAS ON SALE AT 78 PERCENT OFF!!  I ONLY PAID $69. FOR IT!!  I THINK IT WILL BE A BIG HELP FOR MY BACK, AS SOON AS I GET OUR BIBLE AND SONG BOOK LOADED INTO IT.  THAT WILL BE TWO BOOKS I WON'T HAVE TO CARRY TO THE MEETINGS, AND BELIEVE ME MY BOOKS CAN GET PRETTY HEAVY.  I AM THINKING ABOUT MY BACK-I HAVE ALREADY SWITCHED TO A TINY LITTLE PURSE WITH ONLY THE BARE ESSENTIALS.  I PLAN ON DOING THE SAME THING WITH MY MEETING BAG.  WELL, THAT IS IT FOR ME TODAY, I SURE HOPE YOUR DAY YESTERDAY WAS A HAPPY ONE-TILL TOMORROW-JUST ME

GOOD NEWS FROM MY ONCOLOGIST!!

YESTERDAY I WENT TO SEE MY ONCOLOGIST, AND TRUTHFULLY WAS NOT EXPECTING A VERY GOOD REPORT.  I DID NOT TAKE CARE OF MY SELF FOR A LONG TIME WHILE I WAS TAKING CARE OF MIKE.  BUT THE PAST FEW WEEKS I HAVE GOTTEN BACK ON TRACK WITH MY MEDS, AND MY NUMBERS HAD ONLY RISEN A LITTLE.  THE DOCTOR SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO BE ALARMED ABOUT, SO NOW THAT I AM BACK ON ALL MY HERBS AND SPECIAL VITAMINS, I EXPECT IT WILL GO BACK DOWN BY MY NEXT VISIT.  TODAY WE (VICKIE AND I) WILL GO SEE OUR NEIGHBOR MARTHA AGAIN.  SHE IS DOING GREAT, BUT GETS A LITTLE LONELY FOR COMPANY.  I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE TOO LONG BEFORE WE CAN ALL BE BACK AT THE GYM DOING OUR WATER EXERCISES.  TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DENTIST APPOINTMENT AND ANOTHER TOOTH MUST BE PULLED.  I AM PRAYING IT WILL BE MY LAST!!!  THIS WILL MAKE NUMBER FOUR IN LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH!!!  EVERY ONE KEEPS SAYING YOU ARE BETTER OFF KEEPING AS MANY TEETH OF YOUR OWN AS YOU CAN, BUT I AM STARTING TO HAVE SERIOUS DOUBTS!!  WELL, I SLEPT PRETTY GOOD LAST NIGHT FOR A CHANGE.  I HAVE BEEN SUPER TIRED LATELY AND IT IS MOST LIKELY FROM THE MEDS I HAVE TO TAKE FOR MY BACK PAIN.  I WILL CALL THE PAIN DOCTOR AS SOON AS I GET OFF THE COMPUTER, AND SEE IF THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE REFERRAL YET FOR MY EPIDURAL.  I HAVE TO SAY I AM VERY EXCITED THAT MY SISTER VICKIE AND I HAVE ALREADY RAISED NEARLY $2,000. FOR ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH.  I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY DISEASES OUT THERE BUT THIS ONE IS ONE OF THE CRUELEST.  ALSO IT AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE,  ALL THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE ONE WHO HAS IT, PLUS THE PAIN AND CONFUSION IT CAUSES THE ONE WHO IS DEALING WITH IT.  IT IS VERY SAD.. I'M NOT SURE WHAT ALL I WILL BE DOING TODAY BEFORE MY MEETING, BUT I AM SURE I WILL BE KEPT BUSY.  THAT SEEMS TO BE THE SECRET TO NOT THINKING TOO MUCH ABOUT YOUR SELF, YOUR LOSS, AND EVEN YOUR ACHES AND PAINS.  IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR ME.  WHEN I HIT THE SACK I AM PRETTY TIRED-I CAN HARDLY STAY AWAKE LONG ENOUGH TO SAY MY NIGHT TIME PRAYERS!!  THANKS FOR LISTENING, AND LETTING ME VENT.  HOPE YOU WILL HAVE THE BEST DAY YET-TILL TOMORROW-JUST ME

UP BEFORE 6 A.M. BUT NOT AWAKE!!

I AM STILL SO SLEEPY THAT I STARTED TAKING MY P.M. PILLS INSTEAD OF MY MORNING ONES.  THEN WHEN I TRIED TO REPLACE THE P.M. ONES THAT I HAD ALREADY TAKEN-I COULD NOT FIND MY BOTTLE OF PROMETHAZINE WHICH I KNOW I HAD BEFORE.  I GUESS THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS THAT I SHOULD NEITHER TAKE STUFF OR LOOK FOR STUFF WHEN I AM ONLY SEMI AWAKE!!  AND YES, OF COURSE I BLAME IT ALL ON MY DOGIES!!  I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY ARE AT FAULT JUST YET, BUT I WILL FIGURE THAT OUT LATER.  I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY BIG PLANS FOR TODAY, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE MY SISTER VICKIE WILL.  SHE TRIES TO KEEP ME BUSY MOST DAYS, AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE HER SO CLOSE BY.  SHE AND I WENT TO PUBLIX YESTERDAY, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET ON THEIR CALENDAR FOR AUG. 11TH AND OCT. 20TH TO PUT A TABLE OUT IN FRONT OF THEIR STORE AND TRY AND RAISE FUNDS FOR ALZHEIMER'S.  WE PLAN TO TAKE PRESLEY IN AN ALZHEIMER'S SHIRT TO DRAW PEOPLE'S ATTENTION OVER TO OUR TABLE.  I SURE HOPE IT WORKS, AND WE CAN GET SOME DONATIONS, AND MAYBE A FEW MORE PEOPLE WHO WILL SIGN UP TO WALK WITH US.  ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, I TRIED TO SEE IF MY PAIN DR. HAD GOTTEN THE REFERRAL HE NEEDS TO GIVE ME MY EPIDURAL SHOT, BUT HE HAD NOT GOTTEN IT YET.  I SURE HOPE IT WON'T BE MUCH LONGER, AS MY TRIP TO C.A. IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER NOW.  NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY THESE DAYS-AT LEAST IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.  I WILL START PACKING UP THINGS TODAY FOR MY TRIP.  I HAVE MOST OF WHAT I WILL BE TAKING LAYING ON THE SPARE BED, BUT I HAVE NOT ACTUALLY PACKED ANY THING YET.  I AM TRYING TO GIVE MY BACK A REST TO SEE IF IT WILL GET A LITTLE BETTER ON IT'S OWN.  NO MATTER WHAT I SEEM TO DO OR NOT DO IT IS STILL GIVING ME A FIT.  THE PAIN EVEN GOES DOWN BOTH LEGS NOW, AND I DO NOT WANT TO SHOW UP IN C.A. HALF ASLEEP WITH PAIN PILLS.  I KNOW I WILL BE OK IF I CAN JUST GET THE EPIDURAL SOON.  NOT MUCH ELSE GOING ON HERE TODAY, JUST MORE RAIN IN THE WEATHER FORECAST.  THAT IS PROBABLY NOT GOOD FOR MY BACK EITHER-NOT SURE.  WELL, ENOUGH COMPLAINING OR VENTING AS SOME CALL IT. IT WILL BE A GOOD DAY BECAUSE I WILL CHOOSE IT TO BE.  I HOPE YOU WILL MAKE THE SAME CHOICE-TILL TOMORROW-JUST ME

LEG CRAMPS LEG CRAMPS GO AWAY!!

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY LEGS AND THOSE DARN LEG CRAMPS AT NIGHT.  THEY WAKE ME UP FROM A SOUND SLEEP, AND I HAVE TO TAKE SOME PAIN OR MUSCLE PILLS, AND GRAB MY BED BUDDY.  IT IS NOT A FUN WAY TO SPEND THE NIGHT, BUT MAYBE AFTER I GET MY EPIDURAL SHOT IT WILL ALL STOP.  I SURE HOPE SO-THE LAST ONE LASTED ME NEARLY TWO YEARS.  WELL ENOUGH ABOUT THAT, YESTERDAY WAS A GOOD DAY.  I THINK MIKE WOULD BE PROUD THAT I AM NO LONGER CURLED UP IN A BALL HOLDING HIS JACKET IN BED.  IT IS STILL HARD TO GET BY EACH DAY, BUT I TRY AND BE WHAT MIKE WOULD HAVE WANTED-HAPPY OR AT LEAST TRYING HARD TO GET THERE.  MY SISTER VICKIE AND I HAVE BEEN BUSY TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO RAISE FUNDS AND SUPPORTERS FOR THE ALZHEIMER'S WALK IN OCT.  WE WERE ABLE TO GET PUBLIX TO LET US PUT UP A TABLE OUTSIDE THEIR STORE, AND SELL THE ALZHEIMER'S PINS, AND BRACELETS TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS.  OUR HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION HAS ALSO AGREED TO PUT A NICE ARTICLE AND PICTURE ( OF OUR LAST YEARS WALK)  IN THE NEXT NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS LETTER THAT COMES OUT THIS MONTH.  WE HAVE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TOO, SO I SURE HOPE OUR  TIME AS CO. CAPTAINS OF THE WALK WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.  IF NOT-IT WILL NOT BE FOR LACK OF TRYING!!!  TODAY I HAVE MY VISIT WITH MY ONCOLOGIST.  I AM HOPING THAT MY BLOOD LEVELS HAVE NOT CHANGED TOO MUCH.  I NORMALLY TAKE QUITE A FEW HERBS AND VITAMINS FOR MY LEUKEMIA, BUT DURING THE TIME WHEN MIKE WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN, I KINDA FORGOT TO TAKE CARE OF ME AND DID NOT TAKE ALL MY PILLS AS I SHOULD HAVE.  I HAVE BEEN DOING MUCH BETTER LATELY, SO I HOPE I WILL GET A GOOD REPORT.  TODAY I WILL BE GOING TO COSTCO WITH MY SISTER VICKIE.  I WANT TO GET SOME TREATS FOR MY DOGIES, AND SOME GREEK YOGURT FOR ME.  THAT'S ABOUT THE BEST PLACE TO DO BOTH.  WELL, I NEED TO HEAT UP MY CAFE' CON LECHE' AS I HATE COOL OR WORSE YET COLD COFFEE!! SO TILL TOMORROW-BE HAPPY-IT'S A CHOICE!!  JUST ME