Long time no post

I have been without a computer for quite some time.  A naughty doggie got a hold of my power cord and chewed it up.  Momma was NOT happy.  Neither was Daddy.

I have a few health updates to share:

I am getting my hip checked again.  I have been falling and it is causing injuries to other parts of my body.  The last time I fell I hurt my back and my foot.  Time to get this fixed!!

Next week I am going to a hernia surgeon.  I have a large abdominal hernia.  Years of coughing and a c-section have finally made me cry "uncle".

I will update here when we get a surgery date and found out what the orthopedic surgeon says about my hip.  The general doc also thinks I might have a compression fracture of the vertebrae.  It is quite painful so hoping to get that taken care of soon.

I hit 40 and started to fall apart.  Yuck!!

I have started to write another blog.  It is a frugal/thrifty blog.  We live on a super tight budget  so I thought I would share a few secrets.  My mom just recently helped me do some redecorating.  I am currently sharing some of the new stuff we did.  I will be sharing recipes and tips on how to live well but on the cheap. The blog as has a vintage spin (I love vintage things-- 30's, 40's and 50's).

The Vintage Frugal Mom

Come over and say "HI".

New Pup

We have a new pup at our house.

Let me introduce you to Penny Lou.

She is a beagle mix.  Yes, we have a thing for rescuing beagles.  She is very calm and sweet.

Drug Holiday

I am officially on a drug holiday.  Sunday, I hit my breaking point with the migraines.  I had one regular migraine in the morning... treated it with Advil and then.... by late afternoon I had an ice pick migraine.  Enough to make a person go crazy.  I had bloated beyond feeling human.  My joints were no long working... almost frozen.

Fast forward almost  a week and no MAC drugs... I am a new person.  My headaches are so much better.  I had a dull headache on Friday and I had a large glass of water and it was gone in a short while.. no pain pills or dark room.  The swelling in my joints and limbs is almost gone. Hubby says I look like my old self again.

It just dawned on me.... my scalp doesn't itch as bad as it has for the past 6 months.  Those icky medications!!!

My joints are so much better.  I can get in and out of my chair without help.  I can climb stairs without having to grip the railing.  To that I say "SWEET!!"

We will see what the docs decide in another week....

Long Time No Update

Sorry I have been so quiet.  Life has gotten out of my control lately.

We had another snowstorm this weekend.  We are not venturing out as we had rain before the snow... slick!!!!  None of us care to fall or be in a car accident so we are sticking close to the fireplace and eating lots of soup.

I went to a new doctor last week.  Mycobacteria Avium Complex is her speciality.  She was awesome!!!  The doc is hard to get to see but my CF docs made the initial referral so that made things a touch easier.  I cannot lay flat anymore.  We found out I have a sloppy, lack of muscle esophagus.  I guess food goes down by gravity and not much else.  The hole in my lung is likely due to stomach acid coming back up and heading down the wrong tube.  The recliner is my new bed.

This week I go back to the doc and go a med level blood test.  They will stick me two times to get certain med levels to make sure the dosage of TB drugs are right.  Human pin-cushion here I come. Kiddo has to stay in the waiting room as  I will be going to a restricted part of the hospital.

I have been doing a touch of sewing.... doing all these lung treatments is time consuming.

I am making mini hand warmers and drawstring bags to hold them.

Here are the beginnings of the drawstring bags:

Here is what the hand warmers look like (fancy bean bag like things):

I also started some new quilt blocks.  I have only done three of them...

Yep, more log cabin blocks

Hopefully I will have more pictures to share soon.  I am fighting seasonal affect disorder and one of the ways to treat it is to do more things that a person enjoys... to get them out of the sad funk.... sewing is my de-funker.  

My quilting and sewing boards on pinterest are full so it is time to get sewing and creating.  Toodles!!!

Weekend Snowstorm

January Health Update

I don't know how many family/ friends are still reading my blog.....

I am free of my PICC.  My arm went from looking like this:

To looking like this....

I have lots of nerve damage and my skin is still healing. 

To celebrate, we made a quick trip to Olive Garden on our way home from clinic.  I am sure I looked goofy in my mask but.... oh, well!!!  

I had my 3 month CT scan and the cavity is starting to heal but not fast enough.  Just wish it wasn't so big!!!  I have to be seen by an infection disease doctor.  I guess they have more drug choices  in their "doctor bag" than my CF docs.  

I have lots of energy but when I get tired.... I get zonked.  I am sleeping better with the PICC out.  

Doing vest treatments, my inhaled med  and the "magic three" drug cocktail.  We shall see what they add next.

I have absolutely no immune system.  Still doing at home isolation but have added going for small  walks and sitting in the sun. With the flu being so crazy I am happy to stay home.

Pampered Pooch

Our Daisy Dog loves blanket and pillows.  She knows that her head belongs on pillows.

She is such a girl... she had to fall in love with my childhood pink blanket.  I finally gave in and gave her two throw pillow so that she wouldn't steal my good ones off the couch.

The other night  I carried her to her bed and posed her.  This is what she looked like.... just like a little person. She loved it and didn't move an inch while I took pics of her.

Such a silly dog!!!  Most nights she will whine until one of us tucks her in for the night.  She is so spoiled.

Mycobacteria Avium

I just got back from clinic.... yesterday.  My mycobacteria (MAC) has finally taken its toll.

I have a cavity (hole) in my right lung that is quite large.  It is time to treat the mycobacteria.  In a few weeks I will be admitted to have a PICC put in and start IV drugs.

Some of the drug side effects don't sound very fun.... having orange spit and tears does sound quite interesting.

Will be keeping everyone (friends and family) updated here rather than sending out emails.

It seems kinda weird to have a cavity (hole)  in my lung.

The mycobacteria is making my cough (all the time), low grade fever, horrible night sweats and mind blowing fatigue.  Hoping that the IV and oral drugs will kick the mycobacteria's butt and close the cavity in my lung.

Now it is time to get my house in order and start packing my bags

Robots invading my breakfast

Kiddo received robot bugs for his birthday.  We have had fun fighting them.  One even joined me for breakfast....

Out of Order

I have been "out of order" for over a week.  I had a tooth with a cavity that became infected and irritated.  I decided to have it extracted... rather than an expensive root canal.  I am still on a sightly soft diet.  

Can you see the black spot in the back of my mouth on the right side??  That is where they yanked my tooth.

(Oh, and on top of the tooth issues, I had a lovely sinus infection).... Yuck!

A week later my mouth is finally "un-swollen" and the hole is much smaller. 

I have finally gotten back to quilting and I have 4 projects that I am working on at once. Talk about crazy!!!

Since the pain is gone from my tooth, it is time to getting back to decluttering and minimalizing.  I have 4 LARGE boxes for charity ready for pickup.  Can't believe all that stuff was hiding in my house!!!

Will post pics of some of my current projects soon. Hopefully.  

I have to go back to the dentist and get 3-4 more teeth drilled and filled.  Yuck!

Long Time No Hear From

Sorry I have been MIA.

Cardiac/pulmonary rehab is keeping me very busy.  I have hurt my knee so that has added a complication to exercising. I had to call in sick this week because my knee completely gave out and I ended up on the floor.  I am still limping around due to pain in that knee.

I am unable to go outside.  We have horrible air quality where we live.  I did go outside the other day to water the garden and ended up coughing for the rest of the day.  My health is more important than the garden.  If it dies... it dies.

I am staying busying cutting out quilt blocks and sewing a few together.  I have two projects that I am working on right now.  I will post pictures later this week.

Homeschool lessons are winding down and we will be doing our yearly testing and then enjoy a quick break before starting our next school year.

Never a dull moment... oh, for a dull moment to come along.

Back but tired...

I am back online again.  I will spare you the details but I had some tummy issues. I had to do a colon cleanse yesterday and it was miserable.  I am a few pounds lighter.  Not a fun way to loose weight all of a sudden.  The colon cleanse medication messed with my blood sugars. I felt like I was shaking all day.  I am  exhausted today from it all.

I have most of my housework done and I need a huge nap.  I haven't made it into my sewing room since Saturday.  I am afraid it will be Saturday again before I get in there again AND sew.  I look longingly at my quilt blocks and patterns from the doorway but there is no time to play.

A sink full of dishes is calling my name and then I need to start supper.

See ya later...

Snow.... Snow and More Snow

A few trees in our neighborhood have been broken... the ones in our backyard were close to breaking.

See hubby in the tree... we had to shake out all the trees to reduce damage to the trees in our yard since it is STILL snowing.

First Snow

We have been terribly dry here... as you can see we have no more lawn.

I started to hear rain early this morning and then it turned to snow this afternoon for about 30 minutes.
It was just starting to stick to the ground and the snow stopped falling.  Fall/winter is here!!

Daisy Dog wanted to see what all the commotion was about..... she looked out briefly and then got comfy on the chair. 

Even the house is a touch chilly.. the heat came on this afternoon.  

I am wearing thick winter socks.... need to locate my slippers at some point today. BRRRRR!!!