Good News!

I have good news!  I have had such a good week since Elizabeth gave me the treatment for vertigo.  I am feeling really good.  I had my therapy appointment yesterday and Elizabeth checked me for vertigo and I am fine.  I am no longer going for therapy.  I am not to do the home exercises.  She said I still have the VOR and I will probably have problems the rest of my life.  There is no cure.  Also, I will probably have spells with the vertigo.  When I do I am to call her and she will give treatments as necessary.  I feel so much better.

After we left the therapy office we, of course, went to Barnes and Nobel.  I had a book that came out yesterday and since we were over there we stopped and picked it up.  Next we went to Petsmart since Jana had a few things to buy. We also bought a tray to put under Mattie’s food dishes because of Penny splashing water all over the floor.   FYI – I used my garmin to get there since I had not been to there from B & N.  Traffic was awful!  However, we made it just fine.  I recognized where we were so I knew how to get back.  I just hadn’t been there for a long time.  Next we headed up Hwy 280 so we could go to Tigertown.  We usually have to get on the interstate for a short time, but it was backed up on the entrance ramp and now moving.  So…..I took a guess at how to get to where we were going.  I recognized the Ford dealership and again knew where I was.  No problem getting to Tigertown.

Since it was lunchtime, our first stop was McDonald’s.  We considered that our “big” meal of the day even though we only had a fish sandwich and French fries.  Our next stop was Best Buy where Jana bought a Kindle.  We went to Hobby Lobby so Jana could buy a picture frame and we both bought several other items – of course J  Our last stop was Kroger.  By the time we got home we were exhausted.  We left at 8:30 in the morning and didn’t arrive home until 3:45 p.m.  I put away the cold items and left everything else sit while I took a break. 

We had a light supper. After supper it was DWTS time.  This was the final show of the season.  Even though we wanted James to win I told Jana it would probably be Laurie.  I went to bed after the first hour.  I was tired.  Jana stayed up and watched the whole show.  Sure enough, Laurie won.  I found out in the morning. 

Penny and Mattie are still doing fine.  Of course, I have another Penny Mattie story.  On Monday when we were getting ready to leave for our all-day errands Jana filled Mattie’s “kong” with her treats.  For those of you who don’t know, the kong is a hollow rubber like toy that you fill with treats for dogs and they play with it to get the treats out.  Jana always gives Mattie one when we leave the house to keep her occupied.  Anyway, after Jana filled the kong she put it on the countertop while she went to the bathroom.  Penny then jumped up on the countertop, Mattie was sitting on the floor waiting for her kong, and Penny obliged by knocking it on the floor for her.  Mattie was happy eating her treats, and Penny was sitting on the countertop looking all innocent. 

WHAT A WEEK!

Brian left for Cincinnati during the night Friday/Saturday.  He had to be at work at 6:00 Saturday evening.  He arrived home safe and sound.

Saturday Jana and I went to Mass at St. Patrick’s and I had an extremely bad dizzy spell.  I ended up sitting through the Mass.  It happened while I was standing and reading the prayers.  Not real sure at this point what happened.  Jana drove home.  We stopped at Papa John’s and picked up a pizza and chocolate cookie.  Sure did taste good.  I hadn’t had that since last year when Jana was here.  Sunday was not the best of days.  I did my therapy.  We watched the race (started here at the house and finished at Kevin’s).  We went to Kevin’s for supper.  Renea fixed an awesome meal. 

Monday was therapy day.  The first thing on the agenda was telling Elizabeth what happened in church on Saturday night.  She said it sounded more like vertigo than the VOR problem.  She did a test of my ears and eyes and said, yes, the crystals were all over the place.  It was vertigo.  She gave me a treatment to settle the crystals.  I did not do any therapy at all.  I was told to stay upright and not move my head any more than necessary for 24 hours.  I was also to sleep sitting up.  I was not to use the computer or read.  I am so glad Jana was here.  She was an enormous help.  I was miserable.  Elizabeth also told me not to do any of my home therapy until she saw me again on Thursday.  We did watch DWTS.  I was not surprised at who was eliminated.

Tuesday I woke up and had the best day I had in a long time.  Tuesday afternoon I went to the eye doctor for my annual checkup.  Jana went with me so she could drive me home.  The cataracts had not changed so no surgery. Next stop was Barnes and Nobels since they are just down the road from the eye doctor’s office.  We had a late lunch at TGIF.  From there we headed home.   No lunch since neither of us was hungry because we had such a late lunch.

Wednesday we were up before the sun came up.  I was scheduled for an 8:00 a.m. echo of my heart.  Jana and I decided to not eat breakfast, but to go to Ihop after the echo.  We stopped at Walgreen’s and picked up my prescription.  Then went to Ihop for breakfast.  After breakfast we went to Phenix City Walmart for several items.  Then it was up Hwy 280 to Opelika Tigerstown.  First stop was Petco for dog food.  Next stop was Kroger.  Last stop was for gas at Kroger.  We finally headed home. After lunch it was nap time.  A well deserved nap.  We were tired. 

Thursday it was back to therapy.  I was still feeling better than I had in a long time.  Elizabeth checked my ears and said the crystals were still moving around a little so she gave me another treatment.  Again there was no therapy, and she told me not to do any home therapy until she sees me next Monday.  When we arrived home I put a couple pieces of chicken in the crockpot and we had that with applesauce for supper.  It tasted good.

Friday we didn’t have to go anywhere!  Yea!  It felt good not to get up and rush around to leave.  So, I put a chuck roast in the crockpot.  Later I added potatoes and carrots. The meal was delicious and we have enough left over for another meal.  I did a few odds and ends during the day, but it was basically a lazy kind of day.

UPDATE ON PENNY AND MATTIE!  They are getting along fine.  Every morning after they greet each other they chase each other around the house.  The Penny gets up on the bookcase and Mattie looks up at her and barks.  Penny just looks at her like what’s wrong with you J  At times they lay next to each other in the sun.  We have to watch Mattie because she will eat Penny’s food.  However, Penny plays in Mattie’s water.  She sticks her paw in the water, splashes it around and then licks her paw.  She has made several messes.  She has even offered Mattie her wet paw to lick.  The other night I was sitting in the recliner and Penny came over to get on my lap.  However she wasn’t fast enough and Mattie jumped on my lap and looked at Penny like Ha Ha I beat you.  They are so funny.  We do put up a gate to keep Mattie in the living room when we leave, but we are sure Penny joins her.  It has been a fun and interesting week.  We are just glad the girls get along.

So Much To Do And So Little Time

The bathroom is finished!  It looks really good.  I took a couple of pictures, but since the bathroom is small they do not do it justice.  I had the bathtub removed and a shower stall installed.  Gerry also installed some shelves for me for storage.  I did not have a door installed just pulled the shower curtain across.  Gerry came back Thursday morning to finish up a few odds and ends.  He left about noon.

Jana and I have been very busy. She spent the morning unpacking and settling in.  We went through the books that she brought and the ones I had for her.  Thursday afternoon she went with me to my therapy session.  Elizabeth had her sit in with us so she would know what I had to do at home.  She was shocked at how “bad” I am.  We joined Brian, Kevin and Renea for supper then came home and relaxed.  We were tired and so were all of them. 
 

Brian and Kevin spent the day working in the back running wire for the electric and digging a trench and running pipe for water.  Renea’s parents are moving here in January.  They will be living in a camper on the back of Kevin and Renea’s property.  A septic system has been installed, the water has been run and is ready, the wiring has been run and now it has to be inspected. 

 

Friday Kevin and Brian finished a few things in the back yard then Brian joined Jana and me for lunch and an afternoon visit.  After he left I did my therapy.  Jana and I joined the three of them for supper.  Ryan visited for a short time to say hi to Brian.  Stephanie wasn’t able to visit since she was working.   We left early because Brian was going to sleep for a while.  He wanted to leave for Cincinnati around midnight.  Not sure what time he left (we were sleeping) but we do know he arrived home safe and sound.

 

Saturday Jana and I did a few things here at the house.  I did my therapy.  We watched some football.  We went to Mass at St. Patrick’s in Phenix City.  We stopped and picked up a pizza and chocolate chip cookie at Papa John’s on the way home.  It sure tasted great.  We watched the NASCAR Xfinity race and then went to bed.

 

Jana downloaded a game on her phone and we have been having the best time playing it.  It is called WordBrain.  It is very challenging.  A lot more fun than cards.  I have it on my Kindle. 

 

Now for Penny and Mattie.  They have been extremely entertaining.  We had to put up a gate to keep Mattie confined to the living room and dining room because she eats Penny’s food.  However, Penny plays with the water in her water dish.  The first time she did this I was doing my therapy and did not see what was happening.  She puts her paw in the water, splashes around then licks the water off her paw.  At one point she put both paws and her head in the dish.  She also got her paw wet and offered it to Mattie to lick.  I have taken a couple of movies of this. I didn’t post them because they take so long to load.

 

Last night Penny tried to play with Jana’s phone case, and when Jana took it away from her she used her paw to open the book Jana had sitting on the end table and started actually turning pages.  Don’t know where that came from since she has never done anything like that before.  They also chase each other around the house.  When Penny gets on top of the bookcases Mattie sits looking up at her and barks.  They are getting along just fine.  At times Penny shows Mattie that she is in charge; and at other times Mattie shows Penny she is in charge.  Just think, we have three months of this.  I can’t wait until we put up the Christmas trees and decorations. 

Continuing On

Sunday was a really early morning.  Penny’s schedule is so mixed up because of the time change.  I didn’t get my extra hour of sleep because she woke me up earlier than usual.  We are going to have to work on that.

I did go to the grocery today.  I bought the items I need for when Jana arrives plus the food I need for me.  I went to Kevin and Renea’s for supper.  Stephanie, Ryan and Ryan’s friend (Karoline) were there.  We had homemade Larosa’s pizza for supper and brownies for dessert. (hate that word because I always get confused if it should be one “s” or two)  If I have it wrong – tough!  After supper I came home and watched a little football (the Packer’s who lost) and then part of the NASCAR race.  I found out Monday morning that Carl Edwards won.  Glad to hear because he is one of my favorites.  I hope either him or Jimmie Johnson win the Sprint Cup.

Monday morning was physical therapy.  Elizabeth is really working me hard.  She had me do several new exercises and told me to add them to my list of home exercises.  I now have so many, and such a variety, that I do half for three days and half the other four.  I may have to do that second half for three days and rest on Sunday.  They just do me in!  She also added a second day of therapy with her.  I will now be going on Thursday also. 

The birdfeeders have been up for a couple of days now.  I haven’t seen very many birds, but they are starting to come back. 

Did a few odds and ends this afternoon.  Gerry delivered my new shower insert.  He will be installing it on Wednesday.  He said he plans to come early and stay until it is finished.

Good Morning!  It’s a really nice day today.  The first thing I did after breakfast was VOTE!  I hope you all did the same.  Morning chores are finished.  House is ready for my out-of-town company coming tomorrow.  Laundry is done.  Bathroom is ready for shower install.  Also did my home therapy this afternoon.  A lot has been accomplished today.

I didn’t watch much of the election results because I just get so aggravated with how the media “calls” the election before any of the votes are counted.  I believe that they should not be allowed to even go on the air until all voting precincts are closed across the country.  But we know that isn’t going to happen.  Ratings is the name of the game!  Anyway, I didn’t know until I got up this morning who won.

I actually got my morning chores done.  Jana and Brian are on their way.  Should probably arrive around 10:00 tonight.  Gerry is here and taking apart my bathroom.  Hopefully, by tonight I will have my new shower.

Gerry worked all day, but will have to come back tomorrow to finish.  He is about 90 percent done.  Brian and Jana arrived about 7:00 p.m.  We had supper at Kevin and Renea’s.  Kevin grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.  Sure did taste good.  So far Penny and Mattie are doing pretty good.  Penny only hissed at her once.  They do okay until Mattie runs up to Penny.  As long as she approaches Penny slowly, or allows Penny to approach her they do okay.  Right now they are both taking a nap with one eye on each other. 

It was a very early night!

A Couple of Busy Days

Yesterday Renea had to go to Birmingham for an appointment with her neurologist.  She goes to the University of Birmingham Alabama.  She also has a neurologist in Columbus, GA.  She asked me if I would go with her and drive.  Of course, I said yes.  Kevin suggested that we go straight up Hwy 280 because the neurology clinic is just a couple of blocks off that highway.  We left here bright and early because we knew it would be at least a two hour trip.  Traffic wasn’t bad until we got to Birmingham.  Then it was stop and go. The parking garage was also crowded and we had to park on the fifth floor.  However, we were on time.  She has some problems, and they will be keeping an eye on her.  She has found out that she doesn’t have MS  like they thought at first.

After seeing her doctor we headed for home.  Traffic was even worse on the way home.  A couple of times police were blocking lanes but we never did find out why.  Didn’t see any reason either.  We stopped at Steak N Shake for a late lunch.  When we got to Opelika the police had the expressway blocked off heading toward Atlanta.  Thankfully, we didn’t have to get on the expressway, just cross over it.  We did have to put up with a lot of trucks though.  We were both really tired when we arrived home.  I laid down for a while, but could not sleep.  Did get some rest.  After eating a light supper I did my therapy, watched a little television and went to bed early.

Today I slept in until all of eight o’clock.  I was surprised Penny left me alone that lone.  However, by eight she was becoming rather insistent that I get up.  She was hungry, of course.  After eating breakfast, finishing my morning chores and take a shower it was time for lunch.  Afterward I headed out to run some errands.  I stopped at Walgreen’s and picked up three prescriptions that I had renewed, then went to Barnes and Noble land bought four books (I had three coupons and my gift certificates and some birthday money), next was WalMart.  After leaving there I took the car through the carwash – it really needed it.  Between the pollen and dust it was dirty!  Next stop was the gas station for a fill up.  Then it was home.  After unloading the car I took a short rest, and had a light supper.  It’s probably going to be an early night again tonight.

I still have to do some grocery shopping before Jana arrives.  That will be either tomorrow or Sunday.  I have therapy on Monday, we vote on Tuesday and Jana arrives on Wednesday.  I will need a nap by Thursday.

Today is get caught up around the house day.  I have been gone for three days (more or less) and haven’t gotten much else accomplished.  So far I have washed a load of towels and they are in the dryer.  I changed my bed clothes (Penny helped) and they are in the washer.  I took down the old birdfeeders, filled the new ones and hung them.  It will probably be a while before the birds come around since it has been so long since I had put feed out.  This has been in addition to my normal morning chores.  Oh yea, I put my supper in the crockpot.  I still have a few things to do, but they will be done after lunch. 

I am ashamed to say I didn’t do my home therapy yesterday.  I was just too tired.  However, I did my therapy this afternoon!

Making Progress Re: The Shower

 Gerry, my maintenance guy, was here this morning and took the final measurements for installing my new shower.  I am getting rid of the bathtub and just going to have a shower.  It has gotten to be too much for me to step over the side of the tub, and since I never take a bath, only a shower, I thought it was time to do this.  He will be doing the install either late next week or the beginning of the following week.  Yea!

It took me a little longer to get my morning chores finished, but that’s okay.  I also updated Kevin’s blog.  I had taken pictures this weekend of the work he has been doing in the woods.  He is making such great progress.

Kevin and Renea are going to put a travel trailer back at the edge of the woods for her mom and dad.  They will be moving here in January, and this is where they wanted the trailer.  They have a beautiful spot.  The septic tank has been installed.  Now it’s water and electric. 

I didn’t do my physical therapy today because I was having a bad day.  Just did some easy chores.  I also watched DWTS.  Wasn’t surprised who was cut.  Will be interesting to see who wins.  I am not going to say who I am rooting for because I don’t want to jinx that person J  Then it was off to bed.

I am feeling somewhat better today.  Finished my morning chores.  Cleaned off a shelf in the bathroom for Jana to put her things when she arrives.  I don’t think Gerry will get to the shower until after Jana gets here.  That’s okay.  We will manage.  I also brought in the crate for Mattie from the shed.  I need to clean it out.  Hopefully, Penny and Mattie will get along and we won’t have to crate them.  Thought we should be prepared just in case.

I went out back and took some more pictures of the work that was accomplished on Sunday.  Bruce and Nicholas came early to help Kevin.  Then Ryan and his friend Steve came and also helped.  They accomplished a lot.  The “trash” pile and “burn” pile has both grown considerably.  Not sure when the dumpster will arrive, but it will fill up quickly.  If we ever get rain we will have a fire. 

I have uploaded the pictures.  I did my physical therapy.  I ate my supper. Walked up and got my mail.  And now I am finished for the day.  Back at ya tomorrow. 

It’s tomorrow!  How about that.  I spent the morning with the physical therapist.  Renea went with me so she could drive me home.  I have a new p/t.  I really like her.  She did a very in-depth review/evaluation.  She informed me that she would like to start seeing me twice a week instead of once.  Her name is Elizabeth.  Elizabeth informed me that I would never be 100% but I would be better than I am now.  She went over the home exercises with me, and said I should continue with them.  Elizabeth also said I should add back in the exercises Ashton had given me to do (four of them).  She also added four new ones.  One of the goals is for me not to have to rest after finishing these exercises.  There are several exercises I cannot do that she had me try.  They all have me closing my eyes to do them.  We shall see how things go.

I have completed most of my morning chores.