Category: Friday Five

Another week has come and gone, and here I sit waiting for the warmth of Spring. It seems we are stuck in eternally gray skies, 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and rain. Not my idea of Spring weather, where flowers bloom and my fruit trees blossom. Ah well, here are the five things going on in my life.

1. I’ve been trying to get my Infectious Disease files moved to a new doctor here in New Hampshire. I’ve been waiting for an appointment. I called on Tuesday and discovered I needed to have the doctor in Boston refer me and send her notes. Fine, sent her an email, and waited.
2. Wednesday I learned that my Primary Care doctor had to also refer me to this doctor as the Insurance Company requires this.
3. After paying $1360.00 per month for my Insurance, all I can say about Insurance Companies is that they are not there to help you, but they are there to put so many hurtles in your path that at the end of the day, you cry in frustration!
4. Although in Round One, paying for my antibiotics, found them covering those, now they do not want to cover the special supplies needed when you receive antibiotics through a PICC line. I am appealing their decision. Wish me luck!
5. The weekend looks like a quiet one for us. Maybe I will take out a small Prime Rib to have on Mother’s Day.

The first week of May has flown by. My lawn is getting greener and the first blossoms are out in our orchard.

Truly my time of the year. I just wish that the temperatures would be a tad warmer. In any case, here are the five things that I was thinking about this week.

1. I’ve been trying to walk each day to regain strength. I started out in my driveway just walking a few steps. This week I did a half mile! I know that does not sound like much, but after being so ill, a half a mile is a long way. And I will keep working on it until I can do several miles!
2. We went out for Chinese food at the beginning of the week. A few hours later, I was so sick. So no more Chinese for a while. Today Hubby wanted Mexican. I tried to eat blander things, but within an hour, I felt pretty yucky. So no more Mexican for a while either.
3. I had my first appointment with my Primary Care doctor since this whole thing began, and I had written down everything I wanted to discuss with him. The appointment went well and we got everything covered in 35 minutes.
4. Yesterday was Hubby’s birthday. First I thought I would cook Lobsters for his dinner, but no one had them! Weird. Next I thought we would go to Canoe for lunch, and when we arrived, they were closed. It turns out they are now only open for lunch, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Woops! That’s when Hubby decided on Mexican.
5. Our old station wagon did not pass inspection. Junker city here it comes. Hubby was upset, but what are you gonna do? He would like to find a used pick-up truck, so we are now on the lookout!

Another week has flown by. As I sit here, with a smile on my face, I realize that I am getting stronger, I am feeling better, and my body is healing. I am grateful for so much, most of all my loving family. They were the ones that got me through all of this.

Okay, so here are the five things I’m working on this week.

1. Laundry. Yesterday I actually washed, dried and put away 5 loads of laundry. I did the stairs with ease, and actually got the clothes folded and put away while they were still warm.
2. I vacuumed the family room, and my bedroom. Now I know this doesn’t sound like a big deal, but after three months, it felt good to clean. (Did I just write that?)
3. I am cooking again. Again, many of you will not understand my happiness. However, I simply love to cook. But I learned something. When you aren’t cooking everyday you kind of lose it. I’ve been cooking again this week and so far one meal, that I could have made in my sleep, was a disaster, and the other lacked the usual mmmmmmm that I have with Beef Stew. So, I think I will have to work on getting back into my cooking groove.
4. Today I would like to clean the windows in the kitchen and the family room. When you have four dogs, their nose prints seem to be everywhere, especially when one has not cleaned in a while. I would also like to get into the shower and get that cleaned too.
5. I wasn’t going to write about this, but I have decided that since this will consume my life for the foreseeable future I will share this with you all. I also need to begin my fight with my insurance company. They do not want to cover the antibiotics I had to take to get the super infection under control. This is no small fee. They want me to cough up $12,000.00 for the medications. Now I am covered in my policy, but for whatever reason they have rejected the claim. So, the battle begins.

I am so happy and grateful I am getting better each day. Life is good and Spring is just around the corner!

Another week has passed and here are the five things happening in my life.

1. My week started with an Easter celebration at my daughter’s home. It was so much fun to see my grandchildren, Amanda and Matt and Matt’s parents and my cousin’s Janet and Dave. Life is so good and I felt blessed!
2. I got my hair rejuvenated. I went in and saw my hair stylist, Melissa, and she colored, shaped and styled my hair. Now I will work to grow it out. I have a 4-5 inch scar down the back on my neck that I want to hide. Maybe by Christmas, or in a year. My hair is pretty short.
3. I returned to Weight Watchers. It’s not so much that I can follow the plan, but I need to get back and hear the leader talk about eating healthfully. I also need to see my friends, who help to give me support and love.
4. I went shopping! The house was almost empty of things like Dog Cookies (I found a new variety that is actually grain free!) and foods, drinks, and boxed items. By the time Hubby and I got done we’d spent close to $300.00. Now I know we bought a lot, but I also think that prices have increased since I last shopped at the start of February!
5. Hubby and I sat and talked about our garden. We’ve had a big vegetable garden for 10 years and enjoyed the harvest. However, this year I simply cannot do it. I cannot bend over or keep my neck bent either.  And Hubby is too tired to do the fruit trees and the garden. We will miss it, but so it must be. Perhaps one or two patio pots.

Have a happy and healthy weekend!

Time is starting to slip by. This is very good, because it means I am starting to feel good and I am starting to become more active.

So here we go, this week’s Friday Five. The first in a month.

1. I am actually starting to feel good. My eating is still a bit weird, in that I do not have much of an appetite, but I am eating 3 meals a day, plus snacks, and I am not having much in the way of upset stomachs.
2. Physical Therapy. Not so bad really. I can do the exercises without getting too wiped out, but I think it will take a while until my stamina builds back up.
3. I am so happy. No, really! Every day I wake up and I feel such happiness in my mind, in my heart and my soul.
   After all I went through in February and March I am just so happy to be where I am now!
4. We’re going to Mandy’s house for Easter, which is great. I’ll see the kids again and Mandy will be doing the cooking! I love celebrating at her home. She is such a good hostess.
5. Soon I will be able to drive! That will be nice. As much as I am grateful to Hubby for carting me around, it will be nice to be independent once again.

After almost 4 weeks away from doing the Friday Five, I have so much that has happened that I am not sure where to start. Maybe with the highlights.

1. I’ve had two surgeries. One of February 16th and one on February 24th. I am hopeful that he spine surgery on the 16th was successful, at least it seems like it was, But the surgery on February 24th turns out to be the most important, as it was the one to remove the infection and save my life.
2. Sort of a funny thing. No one really considers that you go in for one surgery, and then you need another surgery that becomes more important in the grand scheme of things, it may be one that will save your life..
3. I’d made plans for after surgery one. I’ve learned you can make all the plans in the world, and then life steps in.
4. Several IV’s, a PICC line and more  antibiotics than you can shake a stick at, and lots of naps. The road to recovery is not an easy one.
5. I also think, this recovery will be a long one!

Another week has come and gone, and by this time next week I will be through my surgery and on the road to recovery! I’m a little nervous, but also feeling very confident. I will be so happy to get this over with.

Aside from that, here are five things I am observing and thinking about as the week closes.

Monday the skies were crazy.

1

 

I stepped outside and took pictures of the winter sky. You can see the lake so well from the front of our house.   I enjoyed the view and hoped that it would remain like this for the rest of the week.

 

2

After all, I could see the “Bob” houses on the lake, and the roads were nice and clear.  Life seemed to be good or so I thought.

On Thursday we wound up with a heck of a snow storm! Nine inches of the fluffy white stuff!

3

 

It was beautiful, but poor Hubby was stuck clearing the drive

4

 

The pine trees were lovely and all in all, I enjoyed it.

 

5

 

Until the bitter cold wind came along and drove our temperatures down close to zero F!

   
6 (Bonus picture!)

Another week has come and gone. We are now down to the two weeks and counting for my surgery. I am happy and pretty well prepared and looking forward to getting this done. Not much else on my list, but here are the five things I need to do before I go to Boston on the 16th of February.

1. I need to get my hair cut and shaped. I really wish I could grow it out, but since I am having the surgery through the back of my neck, I need to have my hair cut shorter back there. As I am hoping that this will be my last surgery, I am hopeful that after this I can start the grow out process.
2. I need to get my nails done. Not like you may think. I need to have them cut and pared. You do not want long nails with sharp edges after this surgery. It’s sad really. I was a nail biter as a child, and managed to quit that. Right now, the nails are naturally long and beautiful. I hate that I have to cut them off.
3. I go to Boston early next week for my pre-operative testing and a Spine Class. The class I attend will tell me all the things to expect after surgery, and during the months following. I think this will be interesting.
4. The Dackels all need to get their shots, and Greta has had a little problem and lump. I will have my Vet check this all out. I’m really trying to keep Greta happy and comfortable.
5. I also need to do one last big shopping. Lots of dog food, paper towels, etc. All the things that we will need for the first few weeks I am home and unable to get out. Hubby can do bread and milk, and odds and end, but the other things must get done.

I’m down to three weeks until my surgery. I feel like it should be less than that, but then January is a long month. In the next three weeks I have appointments each week that I must get to, for pre-op stuff, and getting my hair done. That is very important because I need the back of my head to have slightly shorter hair so it won’t be near the incision. Anyway, here are the things I’ve been thinking about this week.

1. I’m ready for Spring. It’s been cold and icy and gray and I have simply had enough of it. We still have snow in the yard, and ice everywhere as well. I know it is only January, but really, I’m done!
2. My 5 year old love-seat/recliner had a problem. The handle you pull to lift the feet, started to break. I heard a weird noise and stopped using that side of the recliner. The only problem is I am right handed and when I sit on the left side there is no place for my right hand, no place for my right hand to hold a mouse. I also had no table for my cup and no place for my phone. I know, wah, wah, wah! But it just seemed like the one thing I didn’t want to think about right now.
3. So I got up after breakfast and announced I was going to look for a new chair. I needed something before the surgery that I can sit in comfortably.
4. Hubby got right up, flipped the chair and spent about 2 hours until he found the problem and fixed it. We ordered a new pulley, (for when the current one does break), but for now we know why it had so much pressure on it and how to keep it from happening again.
5. And lastly, a fond farewell to Mary Tyler Moore. I loved watching all her shows and thought she was an amazing Comedienne. She also seemed to be a nice person. Rest in Peace, Mary. may you find the happiness and joy that often eluded you on this earth.

I have had an amazingly good week. What this means is that I have been able to get a few things done, I was able to meditate the pain to a bearable level, and I actually went out on my own. So here are the top five things for this week.

1. I had not seen my dearest friend Carol in over two months. Carol is like a mother to me and I have known her nearly 9 years. I called her and we met for breakfast at Friendly’s and sat and talked and talked. It was wonderful!
2. Lili has been enjoying the cold, fresh snow. She loves leaping and jumping and running in circles. Oh the energy this doggy has!
3. I’ve been cooking and freezing, getting ready for the big day. I made Caribbean Banana Bread with spiced rum and it came out so well.
4. Tomorrow I am making tuna casserole and will divide it up and freeze half. Anything I can do to make things easier for Hubby after my surgery, I will do.
5. And lastly, we are saying farewell to Arnie and Anneliese’s daddy, Bernie. He was just a few weeks shy of his 13th birthday. He was a Master Earth Dog, and could track a wounded animal with the best of them. He sired several litters, but the ones I enjoyed the most were the 10 pups he sired with Greta. Rest in peace dear, furry friend. You will be remembered always by those who knew you and loved you, and by being the sire to all those amazing pups.

Bernie on the left and Greta on the right, during their first date.