Category: My Life

I started my life sixty-one years ago on a cold and blustery day. I weighed 9 lbs and one ounce and my (not even 5 feet tall), mother swears I nearly killed her.

Cute, huh?

Of course, being born at noon meant that she was back in her room in time for lunch. Lunch that day was a turkey sandwich! So I didn’t wreck her day completely.

I was the youngest of three children and you know what they say, the youngest is the most spoiled.

I didn’t feel that way, of course, as there seemed to be an expectation to excel. I did try for a while and then when I hit my teens I went in the opposite direction and rebelled!

I may not always have made the best choices in my life, but somehow I made my way and I was blessed with two daughters

and now Savannah and Quinn.

Hmmm! Sixty-one! Imagine that? I remember as a kid when my grandmother and then my mother were this age. Somehow they seemed like old ladies! I certainly don’t feel like that. There is so much left that I want to do!

So, Happy Birthday to me!

I really do feel quite blessed in this life.

Every summer, I go to get a new swimsuit. In the last 30 years, I can recall only a handful where I felt good at the image staring back at me.

Today was one of those days. Not that I was shopping for a swimsuit, but I was shopping for pants and cute tops.

Clearly, with the weight I gained this year, I no longer fit into the “cute top” category. In fact, I sat in the dressing room and cried. Not giant heaping sobs, just a little silent crying.

Friday was my yearly birthday shopping trip to Talbots. My favorite store. Jack always comes and helps me select some things, his gift to me for my birthday.

I did not show him the things that did not fit, and I almost left the place with two small things, when I spotted a cardigan sweater and two blouson type tops that will hide a multitude of sins until I get control of myself.

There is nothing that will slap you silly quite like a failed trip clothing shopping. I hate mirrors!

I did get two things that fit perfectly. Two pins A Poinsettia and a golden Christmas Tree.

The new WW Program comes out this week. Guess who will be paying close attention?

My test results came back. And mostly it is all good news. My Gallbladder is healthy, my Pancreas is in fine form, my Kidneys, and Speen is outstanding. Sadly, my Liver is not.

The problem with my Liver is called Hepatic Steatosis. More commonly called “Fatty Liver”. It’s caused swelling of the Liver and my poor dear Liver has fatty deposits.

I also have been diagnosed with an Acid Stomach. The joy never ends! Ugh!

So, I have started Prilosec in hopes this will work to reduce the acid stomach, and started a slightly more restrictive WW Diet.

No, acidic foods, like tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, and onions. And for the Liver Disease, Low to No Fat foods. So goodbye French Fries, Fried Clams and well, you get the picture.

Because I refuse to feel sorry for myself (well sort of anyway) I am trying to figure out what I can eat, and balance it all out so I can lose the weight that I need to.

Meanwhile, my dishwasher is leaking again, and after the repairman was here and couldn’t fix it, I fear a new machine will need to be purchased. Double Ugh!

 

I had my last Physical Therapy on Tuesday. I knew even before I sat down with the therapist what he would say.

I think we all hope to live in a pain-free body, like the ones we had as a teenager, but this is not to be the case.

On Tuesday the doctor told me that this is it. This is the best we can hope for after all the surgeries, infections, and weakness. When I went to him my pain level was extremely high. I could hardly lift my arms and my left shoulder and neck ached all the time.

Since seeing Dr. EK and doing the exercises and needle therapy, I have gotten so much relief. But the pain (down to about a 2-3) is there all the time.

Today I faced the fact that this is as good as it gets.

At first, I was pretty sad about this. Then I began to think that it could be worse. Instead of having the pain I do, I might be paralyzed. Feeling nothing. Being able to lead my life and play with Savannah and Quinn and my doggies, well, that is just really good news.

Everyone gets old and everyone has their aches and pains. I simply refuse to let the pain define who I am and what I do in my life.

I think sometimes you need to find peace with what you have in your life, understanding that there is no perfection, simply understanding, and acceptance.

I think one of the hardest things to do when you feel no desire to eat is to cook good food for other people.

I do not feel like cooking or eating or anything. I go through the motions. Last nights casserole was dry and almost inedible.

So, today I decided to make Jack a good meatloaf. I took my time, followed my recipe and it will go in the oven soon.

I have thought about my cooking and I believe that if it were just me here, I would be making decaffeinated tea and toast. As it is, I am just baking a plain potato for dinner for myself.

Tomorrow is my ultrasound and we shall go from there.

Oh, yes, today the phone rang and it was the Technician that will do my test. She went over the pre-test instructions.

Nothing by mouth after midnight, not even a sip of water!

Now, this confused me. I’d gotten written instructions telling me I could eat breakfast, take my pills, etc. Add to this that I had to drink a quart of water 1-hour before the test!

The Technician looked up my orders and said I had been sent the wrong instructions! I was so glad she called. Had I followed the other instructions I would have been sent home with no test. It’s a 100-mile round trip drive! So this is a very big deal! I’m glad it was caught.

 

 

I went down to watch my grandchildren on Sunday, and that was wonderful. We played a few interesting games. Twenty questions, Savi is so good at that. I told her she could ask me anything and I would answer her. This was interesting because she was interested in what I was like as a child.

She asked what I was most proud of having done when I was her age? Hmmm. Well, I was in the Community Theater’s production of “The Sound of Music”. I played Gretl.

I had a speaking part and lots of singing and dancing and well, just being your average 7 years old.

Yes, that really little girl is me!

Yep, that’s me with my mouth open again, singing!

And the local newspaper wrote a review where they praised my performance.

And when I showed her this article from 1966, she was so surprised and said: “Oma you are marvelous!”

It was a fun way to spend about an hour before Mandy came to tuck Savannah in.

Earlier in the day, I was showing Quinn a picture of me taken when I was his age. He looked at it and said: “Is that me?”

Maribeth age 3.

Quinn age 3.

Yeah, I think we at least look related.

I just love spending time with my grandchildren! I learn something new every time! And I hope they can think the same thing.