The summer of 1989, Hubby and I lived in West Berlin, Germany. This was before the Wall came down, and it was really my first experience overseas, and my introduction to the Cold War. Little did I know that in a few short months, the Wall would come down and all our lives would change. For the better!
So, here I am with Hubby standing at Check Point Charlie while it was still fully operational. What an interesting time in our lives that was!
My appointment yesterday with Dr. G. went very well. He is a kind man, who I believe is very brilliant. He did my exam, took a full medical history and then went through my MRI’s and x-rays, frame by frame, showing Hubby and I where the problems were.
I knew that the disc from C5-C6 was bulging, but the other doctor told me it was not pressing on anything. Dr. G. showed me that in fact, that disc is pressing against the spinal cord and is causing much of my pain.
He also looked at the C6-C7 area, where the other doctor had operated twice, and said it will all need to be redone and I will need a major repair done, as that screw is pressing on nerve endings in my spine.
He wanted me to get a CAT Scan before I left and today he will call and give me the results. But he expects to operate very soon, probably in February.
He was very agreeable and arranged for me to have the CAT Scan right after I saw him. I was given the scan on one of their newest machines a 128 bit CAT Scan machine and the test took just 6 minutes.
Anyway, the weather yesterday was terrible. Heavy rain, dense fog, and also heavy traffic. Poor Hubby was exhausted when we got home at 7:45 PM!
So, that is the news from New Hampshire. Although I need more surgery, I also feel postive about things. Dr. G. is the top Neurosurgeon in Boston. I believe he can help me get well once again.
So today I am off to see the Neurosurgeon/Spinal Specialist down at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. I admit to being a little nervous, but I am also filled with hope that this doctor, at one of the finest hospitals in the country, will be able to figure out what is happening and help to relieve my pain.
On Tuesday I got all my records, discs with my MRI’s and x-rays and put them in a brief case, along with the GPS, cell phone, and charging cords. Hubby is driving me and once again, we are presented with inclement weather. Oh well, nothing can be done about that, but to soldier on!
Our house/dog sitter is coming to be with the pooches, and I told her to pack a bag and stay the night if it looks dicey.
But I have hope, and this is so important.
I rung in the New Year on December 31/January 1st watching a marathon showing of “Homeland”. It was a good reminder of how we got to Season 6, which starts on January 15th on Showtime. You can watch it streaming on several different pay per view places, like Hulu, or Amazon Prime. Worth the time. If you already subscribe to Showtime, you can watch on Amazon Prime for free.
At ten o’clock on New Years, I climbed into bed with the dackels and that, my friends, is how I rang in the New Year! Asleep on a three dog night!
Our Sunday was quiet. It was the last day of “Homeland” episodes (season 5), and we enjoyed watching these, as most of the episodes were shot in our much loved Berlin, Germany. Hubby lived there for 11 years and I was lucky enough to live there for 5 months. And of course, my best friend, Uschi, is a Berliner, and when I visit with her, we go all over the place. In any case, it was great to visit Berlin, through the TV show.
Yesterday I also took down all the Christmas decorations. That wasn’t too bad, as we had put up very little, but it had to be done. Until next year, fairy lights….
I also sat down at the computer and put all my healthcare files on a thumb drive. I have my x-rays, and MRI’s on a disc, and a few other things in a file.
Tomorrow I go to Boston to see the spine specialist. Basically, I made it the three weeks, and managed to use meditation, ice and heat to manage the pain. I know tomorrow will not bring instant relief, but at least we will begin to unravel this mess! One step at a time!
Since today is technically a holiday, I think Hubby and I will watch a few episodes of “Parenthood” and get everything ready for the trip tomorrow. After all, Boston is 2+ hours from here.
I sure hope 2017 is a good year!
Happy New Year
Frohes Neues Jahr!
This picture was taken during a vacation in 1997. Twenty years ago. We were visiting New Hampshire (At the time we were living in Florida), and we drove up to Weirs Beach, in Laconia. Here I am holding my first wire-haired dackel, Shubi! It’s hard to believe it has been 20 years!
We stopped so Shubi could take a run down by the water. The beach was deserted, and it was a perfect time. Or it was until a man with a large dog came to the beach and his dog was off leash too! Poor little Shubi was so scared, she ran to the end of the jetty and jumped into the lake! His dog just stood there looking confused!
The man ran quickly and he jumped in and rescued Shubi, while Hubby went to see if we had a blanket in our car. I can still see this rather comical event in my mind. Shubi was fine, just wet and in the end we had a good laugh. The man’s dog was a nice one, although there was no convincing Shubi. I’m glad I have this picture to remind me of that funny day!
Here we are at the end of another year. I remember at the start of 2016 being so full of hope, and yet, it seems like in this big world of ours, so many things went very wrong.
Terrorism is running rampant, people are being so unkind to each other, and then there are the terrible losses the world has faced. Actors, Actresses, and Musicians, that wrote the music and lyrics of our life, have passed from this world.
And just before Christmas, two Seniors at my Alma Mater, Falmouth High School, were killed in an automobile accident. Two 17 year old boys, lost in a split second. Understanding the loss of a child, makes these deaths all the harder to bear.
There have been other things, personally that have made 2016 difficult for me. A botched surgery, a problem with medications, and living with pain, until I can see a specialist have really gotten to me.
However, before I become lost in the world of sadness, I remind myself of all of the good.
Our darling Quinn was born. Not only is he healthy and happy, but he is quite remarkable! He is walking, which means he is also falling, but the little guy picks himself right up and away he goes again. Quinn is tough! And he is all boy. This is something wonderful and new, as I never had a son. I really like having a grandson and marvel in his fabulous personality.
My granddaughter also amazes me. At 4 and a half years old, Savannah is all girl. She is sensitive, sweet, has her eye on fashions and dolls and cooking, but most of all, she adores her brother. And Lili! It’s the funniest thing. I expected she would like the smaller dachshunds more because they are close to her size. But no. She met our Lili, big (75 pounds) white and a bit of a klutz, and she loves her.
I also see how lucky I am to have good and loving family and friends, a roof over my head, warm clothes to wear and food in my belly!
I am hoping that 2017 will be the year of goodness, not just for my spine, but for the world around me. Although I know that life is like this. Both good things and bad things happen, people are born and people leave us, it is my hope that we will see more peace and happiness and love around us all.
I guess in the end I am lucky to have my faith in God. Through him I have hope and that will make 2017 a good year. Hope.
I’ve always loved Christmas, but it is just the best now that we have grandchildren. Savannah is such a girly girl, and my love for Barbie Dolls is one I share with her. She was thrilled with her little Barbie house and dolls and she was even more thrilled with the Barbie clothing that I found for her dolls!
Savi and her dolls and doll house.
Quinn is our little man in motion. It’s hard to believe that he is only 9 months old and toddling all over the house! He is fearless, and when he falls, he gets right back up and walks on! Quinn’s likes are wheels. He loves to sit and spin them. Thus we got him a truck with little mini cars. All with wheels that move. But I must say, mostly he just wanted to walk.
Quinn is really quite the character!
He just loves to be on his feet walking everywhere!
Quinn's First Christmas 2016 from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.
We all opened gifts and my favorites are always the yearly pictures of the children, that Mandy has done for every one. I also got the complete set of “Parenthood”! I am so excited about that. I’d seen a few episodes from the first season and loved it, but it’s all Pay Per View now. So, call me happy to have my own set that I can watch when I want, and keep and enjoy!
Tis the season to be jolly!
Here we are, December 23 and Christmas is just around the corner. My shopping is done, wrapping will commence tomorrow as well as my yearly watching of It’s a Wonderful Life! But this week’s Friday Five finds me looking back over the year and being very thankful for a few very important things.
He also will eat anything put in front of him. He is happy and loving and adores his big sister and family. Yes, Quinn brought so much joy into our lives with his arrival.
2. Miss Savannah continues to grow and become more and more dear in the process. At four years old, she is smart and determined, and she loves with her whole heart.
She is such a beauty too, with long light auburn hair and hazel eyes, like her Mommy. She is a kind child and seems to watch over other kids, especially her baby brother.
3. My daughter Amanda. She is amazing! I stayed with her and the family for a few weeks after my surgery to recover, and I witnessed her working at her job, from home. I listened to her in a conference call and I was so proud of the way she spoke. Not so much what she was saying, but the sound of her voice, her ability to answer questions quickly and efficiently and her manners are impeccable.
She is also the best Mom ever. As I watched her juggle motherhood, job and a sick mother, Me, I felt honored to be the mother of such a remarkable woman.
4. My cousin, Janet. She was there for me during my recovery. Helping me with broken cell phones, shopping for clothes I could wear that didn’t hurt my incision, and bringing me to her home for Thanksgiving, where we did everything from eat, watch wonderful movies and play Cards Against Humanity!
She comforted me and made me feel so very loved.
5. My sister. Always my sister. For she loves me no matter what, warts and all. And I love her. One thing I love about my sister is that her heart is really very pure. She adores her family and all her grandchildren, and always works hard to make each one feel special.
Melodie on the left and me on the right.
Someone once said to her that ‘Not everyone will like you’, which confused my sister. She really loves people, even if she is treated unkindly in return. Her heart is big and full of love. It’s sad when people don’t understand that if you are lucky enough to be loved by my sister, you will have a devoted friend, and helper for the rest of your life!
There is, of course Hubby and there are so many other women and men alike who have been here for me this year. How lucky I am to have these wonderful people in my life. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!