Sooooooooooo tired!

The truck Heather refurbished

I have had a hard time staying awake today. I had to pry myself out of bed to get ready for a woman coming here to pick up the fax/printer/copier. After she left, I went back to sleep. When she got to my apartment door, she said “I recognize that!”. She was the person who gave me the couch! I never met her….just got the couch off her porch while she was gone.

Beth and Luc knocked on my door this afternoon. I could not wake up. By 6 PM or so, Zeke managed to wake me up to let him out. A few minutes later, Beth and Luc showed up with dishes of ice cream for us!!!!!! They had been to the ice cream store PERFECT! I have had a couple of asthma attacks from my new drug and my throat was raw from coughing. Ahhhhhhhh…..cold ice cream…..

Beth and Luc have been through a lot of sickness and bad stuff in their lives. That made them extremely compassionate. I have never met anyone as thoughtful as they are. I hardly knew them when I had my stroke in January, yet they came to visit me every day. They even snuck in some McDonald’s food to cheer me up from hospital grub All along, whenever I feel icky, they bring me food or presents to boost my morale….things like an Easter basket with fluffy bunny, and a monkey pillow when I was in the hospital. I am very grateful to have them as friends No one cares about my well-being like they do!

The stupid bleeding has come back somewhat. Between that and the asthma, I am wiped out….

Talked to Heather tonight. It’s amusing and gratifying now that she is so into gardening on her own. After years of growing things, I made it look too easy. The kid has LOTS of questions. I do my best, but am no expert on Texas! I spent one summer there between 9th and 10th grade, and that was enough for me! Waaaaaay too hot. They are supposed to have 99 degrees in Austin tomorrow.

Some day I am hoping to be able to spend more time around Austin when it’s cold here and reasonable there. Hmmm…I ought to be able to pick up a cheap old van in Texas! I LOVE Heather’s turquoise truck. I keep imagining it with a gypsy camper on the back

Friends and acquaintances

Opportunities in Differences

“God will help us see a difference in someone else not as a source of irritation but as a contribution. The Lord can help you see and value what another person brings which you lack. More than once the Lord has helped me see His kindness in giving me association with someone whose difference from me was just the help I needed. That has been the Lord’s way of adding something I lacked to serve Him better.”

Henry B. Eyring, “Our Hearts Knit as One,” Ensign, Nov. 2008, 70–71

Weak, but better :-)

After losing all that blood, of course I am weak and dizzy. Sometimes my head makes that waaaoooowww-waaaoooowww-waaaoooowww noise….the kind you hear just before fainting.

For being a slouch and relaxing as much as possible, I still got a lot done. I did 3 loads of laundry. Hung out the sheets and towels to dry in today’s wonderful breeze, did the rest in the dryer. I pay 50 cents to wash and 50 cents to dry. Good deal I deadheaded flowers, gathered broccoli, parsley, basil, celery, scallions and ate my first 3 pea pods! Made VERY green potato salad

In the evening, Beth cooked me 2 thin pieces of pork on the grill. I slapped them between two pieces of bread, put on lots of pepper and smeared them with sweet and sour sauce. Not bad!

And, speaking of pee, I changed the litter box. Aleka has a new and annoying habit. She pees while perching on the side of the box. Pee gets underneath the litter box and suddenly WHEW…the smell of ammonia lets me know what happened. Well, at least it’s incentive to wash the floor often!

I gave my neighbor, Mary, a 4 leaf clover. She then won $50 in the lottery. I found her another 4 leaf clover this week and she won $43 at the races in Saratoga yesterday. She is convinced I am bringing her luck.

The new meds have worked amazingly well to stop the blood flow. But of course I now am all itchy. Must be a side effect of the drugs. Sigh….

Zeke and I spent a pleasant evening outside, talking to Doug up on his balcony. I mentioned I want to buy a dresser and bookcase. He gave me a hot tip about a very cheap thrift store that I did not know existed. He got a book shelf there for $8! Ooooohhhh….when I feel better, we know where I am going….

Happy to be drugged…sort of

Wow! That stuff really works The bleeding STOPPED! I am taking…

NORETHINDRONE – ORAL

BRAND NAME(S): Aygestin

This medication is a female hormone. It is used to treat amenorrhea (lack of menstrual flow), abnormal bleeding from the uterus, or endometriosis (a painful condition where the lining of the uterus is abnormal). It is also used to treat certain types of cancer.

After having an asthma attack last night, I read the precautions. Sigh…

Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: high blood pressure, seizures, migraine headaches, diabetes, asthma, heart problems, liver problems, kidney problems, strokes, blood clots, heart attacks, cancer of the breast or genitals, high blood level of cholesterol or fats, depression, excessive weight gain or fluid retention during menstrual cycle, jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes). Before having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor that you take this medicine. Do not smoke cigarettes. This medication may increase your risk of strokes, blood clots, high blood pressure, heart attacks, gallbladder disease, vision problems, and liver tumors. Cigarette smoking further increases the risk of strokes, blood clots, high blood pressure, and heart attacks.

My lungs are better today. the stroke and blood clot thing is scary, though!

New Beginnings

Spiritual Preparation for the Day

“There may be things in our character, in our behavior, or concerning our spiritual growth about which we need to counsel with Heavenly Father in morning prayer. After expressing appropriate thanks for blessings received, we plead for understanding, direction, and help to do the things we cannot do in our own strength alone.”

David A. Bednar, “Pray Always, Ensign,” Nov. 2008, 41

Angels among us

“God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through
another person that he meets our needs.”

Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Jul 1978, 3

When baboons attack

This is the video to go along with the monkey business pic I already posted. You’ve GOT to see this! It’s hilarious!!!!!!!!

Keepers at Knowsley Safari Park in the UK are warning visitors with luggage on their roofs to avoid the baboon enclosure, due to a number of luggage box opening incidents that have occurred.

According to Knowsley Safari Park general manager David Ross, the first time it occurred, the activity was dismissed as an isolated incident, but increasing reports and complacent visitors forced them into action.

Staff at the Safari Park re-enacted a typical luggage box opening incident to drive home the seriousness of the situation to visitors who often ignored their warnings. While it was a re-enactment, it was staged only to the extent that the “visitors” were staff and the luggage involved was not anything that would be missed. The baboons actions were entirely authentic.

Ross describes the baboons’ technique:

Their technique involves the largest baboons jumping up and down on the box, flexing it until the lock bursts open, then the rest of the baboons pile in to see what they can find.

Obviously, we’re well used to them helping themselves to the odd wing mirror or wiper blade, but this has taken things to a whole new level. Let’s face it, nobody wants to see a baboon running up a tree with their underwear.

Ross, on the re-enactment:

The baboons were into the luggage box on our car within minutes and absolute mayhem ensued. We will now be able to show photographs of this incident to visitors with cargo boxes who may be thinking of playing “Russian roulette” in the monkey jungle.

I have had similar experiences…

The Visitor in the Night

“The Perry family history records [a] remarkable event:” ‘On a beautiful farm in the state of New York, Gustavus Adolphus Perry and his good wife, Eunice Wing, with their three sons, Orrin Alonzo, Lorenzo, and Henry Elisha, and their four daughters, Rosalie Alvira, Alvina, Amanda, and Lucy, were living very peacefully and happily. Close to the year of 1830 (we do not know the exact date) one evening after a light snow had fallen, the family was all in for the night. It was dark and the latchstring was drawn in so no one could enter the house. Then suddenly without warning, a stranger walked into the home and greeted them with these words: “God bless you.” He spent the night with them explaining the principles of the gospel and told them of a new book called the Book of Mormon and quoted passages from the same. He then told them on what pages they were to find the quotations and that elders would soon visit them. The messenger disappeared in the morning just as suddenly as he had appeared the night before, leaving no tracks in the freshly fallen snow. They inquired of their neighbors to see if anyone had seen him. They had not, and no trace of him could be found.’”This good family was ready for the gospel when it came to them, and they joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832.”

L. Tom Perry, “The Value of a Good Name, New Era,” Feb. 2009, 2

Emergency trip to the doc

Well, I have a new gynecologist. She is very, very nice As soon as I wrote the blog post, I called her office and explained what was happening. They had me come in ASAP. I had a biopsy and exam. I’m scheduled for an ultrasound next week. She gave me a script to stop the bleeding and I took the first pill before I even left the drug store parking lot.

Geezum crow…I am darned weak! I think I will spend the rest of the day lounging and trying to gather up what strength I have left. My belly area still feels kicked to soreness. Ouch….

I came home to discover I have a new door handle and lock. BIG improvement! It’s easy for wimpy hands to deal with. YES! A couple of days ago I got my third grab bar in the bathroom. I have been falling a lot.

What an awful night!

WARNING: More female stuff….

I should have known what was coming. I misinterpreted the abdominal pain as  a belly ache. My period had stopped for about 24 hours, my ankles have been unswelling, so I thought the misery was done with. Silly me.

The first one was a total surprise. I was sitting in my comfy chair and felt slithering blood. I quick jumped up. Good thing I had a towel on the seat! I soaked through my clothes and the towel. Ran to the bathroom and was dismayed at the giant blood clot.

The cramps were so bad that I just put a heavy towel between my legs and went to bed. At 3 AM I woke up soaked in blood. Got all cleaned up, got most of the way back to bed and out came another one. This went on repeatedly for a whole HOUR. I think my falling asleep after that felt more like passing out than pleasantly drifting to sleep!

Zeke woke me up for his insulin shot just after 8 AM. My belly feels tender to the touch and like I was kicked over and over. Oh, my gosh! I am soooo weak this morning! The doc gave me gyn names and I need to go very, very soon.

I was just thinking…if I had cut myself and lost that much blood, I would have immediately gone to the ER! It’s obvious from the copious amounts of bright red blood that I am hemorraghing like crazy. I needed 12 blood transfusions when Heather was born. 25 years later it’s feeling familiar. Sigh….

I found this explanation. Yup, that’s me.

Hemorrhage is defined differently by different texts, but three good general guidelines are these:

• If the bleeding is heavier than the heaviest menstrual period the patient has ever experienced…that is hemorrhage.

• If, when standing, blood is running down her leg and dripping into her shoes…that is hemorrhage.

• If, because of heavy vaginal bleeding, the patient cannot stand upright without feeling light-headed or dizzy…that is hemorrhage.