Howdy, everyone!!!
I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for sticking by me through this lowest time in my life.  I don't know if it's a side effect of the bariatric surgery, my fibro going out of proportion or just the plain "seasonal blues", but I've had it in epic proportions.  Thank you, especially to my family, for being there for me.

A month back, I had a spell where I couldn't remember anything and was so tired I could barely keep my head up.  My body ached so badly I could scream and I was certainly ready for the good Lord above to escort me to the other side of the sky.  I just didn't have any zest for life anymore.  Food, books, my Kindle, you name it.  I just laid in bad with severe pain that nothing would touch.  To make a long story short, I was having a reaction to SAVELLA, the drug I took over a year now for fibromyalgia. I went to my rheumatologist and he immediately switched it to Cymbalta.  Of course, I lived off samples to start with, but my insurance finally approved of it.  So I've been taking that for nine weeks now and feel so much better.  It raises my BP a little (okay, a LOT) but taking my blood pressure meds keeps it in control.  Cymbalta is my dream drug so far.  I feel so much better and can help around the house now.  The beginning of the year, I am going out and pounding the pavement for a job.  Please pray that someone will hire an out of practice nurse who took a three year hiatus.  I pray I won't have too hard a time.

A week ago, I had a little heartbreak.  My husband and I decided to adopt a kitty named "Batman" from the humane society.  He was sooo adorable, almost looked like Jackie, even.  But we get Batman home and he and Jack do not get along.  Further more, he kept jumping the fence separating our sleeping/living area and kept wandering about the house.  The dogs got upset by it, too.  I knew in my heart what we had to do, but that didn't make it even easier.  So the next day, my husband drove Batman back to the Humane Society.   God, I felt like someone kicked me in the heart and I cried much of the day.  So if you LOVE cats, please go down to the Phoenix Humane society and adopt "Batman."  He is such a sweet, loving kitty who desperately needs a nice home.  I wish I could save them all.  So now, Jack remains KING of his domain.  What a cat!!!

Too much time has passed since Tora's demise that Jack is used to being the only kitty and he isn't giving it up!!!

My sister-in-law Barbara has kept us quite busy baby sitting her foster doggies named "Bridget" and "Bruno."  They are soooo cute and go straight to your heart.  The first pic is of Bridget.  She came from a puppy mill that the shelter bought her from.  Way to go, "Sun Valley Animal Shelter'!!!!

The next photo is of "Bruno."  This lil' guy was a stray that someone found and brought him to the shelter.  He is a POWERHOUSE!  PLAY, PLAY, PLAY!!  He yips and barks and is interested in what everyone is doing.  We had him in a fenced in area in our living room where he could play and keep on eye on things.  Jingles and Tuffy would swirl around the fence over and over and drive poor Bruno to the breaking point and he would just bark and bark!  Bruno has truly stolen my heart....which says a alot as I'm more a cat person.  Here is Bruno:

Isn't he the cutest?  I've taken several videos of him.  Here is one:

My weight loss is coming along pretty good.  I've lost another 15 pounds in one month.  When I weighed at the doctor this past week, it said 244 LBS.  So I'm getting there.  I can now see why they make you go to a shrink before the surgery to make sure you can handle all the changes afterword.  And believe you me, there are so many changes I can't keep track of them!!!  At least my appetite is coming back a little.  And When I go to restaurants, I order food that I know I will be splitting up and taking the rest home in a container.  Two meals for the price of one!!  How do you like that?  I can definitely tell a difference in my stomach that something is different down there.  The food almost feels foreign in my stomach!!   At least I got over the nausea and heaving that cursed me the first 5 months of my recovery.  If you would have asked me then if I'd gotten the surgery, I'd say, "No way!  Are you nuts?"  But now, as I climb into smaller clothes, and look in the mirror, it's all worth it.  And I've got the perfect walking partner....Tuffy!  He LOVES to walk and we just go trotting down the street most days of the week.  So, NOW, I am definitely glad I got the surgery.  Those first six months after are peer HELL, but I think things are starting to change for me.  God, I hope so.
Here's a picture of me at the beginning of the month:

At least I don't cringe anymore when I look at myself.  That says ALOT!!!
Well, hate to cut this short, but my neuropathy is acting up and the top of my foot is burning.

God bless you all for a very blessed Thanksgiving.
May it be everything you wish for and much more.
Hugs,

Literati VS. Kindle....NO CONTEST!!

Howdy, folks!

Hope you all had a good day today.  It got to a STEAMY 114 degrees here in Phoenix, so I did the smart thing and stayed inside!!  :0)

The other day, I was reading through my comments and saw one that had referred to my post when I got the e-reader called "Literati" by Sharper Image for Christmas.  I now have a BLESSED Kindle, so I thought I'd do a little post reviewing the two in case anyone is looking for a good e-reader.  I have had the pleasure (with the Kindle) and the horror (with the Literati) of using both.  Let me tell you, in short, DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE LITERATI!!!!!

Yep, I feel THAT strongly about it.  I purchased it with my Christmas money because it was on sale for $79.99 at a department store online.  I thought, "Wow!  That's a great deal!"  If you are like me and pinching whatever pennies you have, you are looking for sales wherever you can find them.   So I ordered it (despite the reviews that dissed it from other people.  I figured everyone has their own experiences, both good and bad, with things) and when it came, the problems began.  At first, just minor ones that I thought I could live with.  The first problem was it wouldn't hook up to the wireless in the house, so I couldn't buy books from Kobo (the store it uses) from the device.  I could get the books with the computer and use the USB cord to sync them over to the Literati.   OK, no problem.  So I tried the device outside the house at a cafe that had free WI-FI.  The damn thing STILL wouldn't hook up.  I figured, well, as long as I can get the books on the device with the computer, it would work out OK.  And I really liked with how it had a back light, so I could read at night and not disturb my husband.  You can read my earlier posts on it (pictures included) by going to "Story Topics" to the right of my blog and clicking on "Literati" if you'd like.

Anyway, time goes on and I purchased about 10 books and had no problems with reading them on the Literati.  Then, came the second problem, which was a little harder to deal with.  The battery life on the thing is only about SIX hours.  So right when you get to the good part of your book, you have to stop and charge up!  You can still read while charging, but the power cord wasn't long enough to reach my outlet to the bed, where I do my reading.  Bummer!  I read a lot, so this problem was NOT good!  But what could I do?  I had already passed the return period, and they would just return another unit that would probably do the same thing.  So I put up with this until about a month ago when the third and final problem surfaced.  One I could NOT live with!   I went to turn the unit on and it was dead.  This was after I had fully charged it, too!  So I tried to turn the machine on by hooking it up to the power cord and the thing still wouldn't turn on.  I finally found out the power cord had a short in it and I had to practically jam the cord into the machine and hold it really, really tight in order for it to turn on.  JUNK!!!!!!  I was so mad, I threw the thing against the bed (I wanted to throw it against the wall, but didn't want to damage the wall!) and saved up for a Kindle.  I was lucky enough that Amazon had it on sale and I got free shipping, too.  I am in hog heaven with my Kindle.  It's lightweight, easy to read, the wireless works (imagine that!) and the books are even cheaper than what I was paying on the Literati.  The battery life for the Kindle is wonderful.  I've had it for over a month now and have had to charge it just once.  And that's with the reading that I do!!!  I can even play music on it and have it read to me!!   So I learned a BIG lesson......don't fall for cheap stuff.  Save for what you really want.....and I wanted a Kindle all along and should have gotten it a long time ago.  I did have a little difficulty getting the Literati books that I bought off the Literati, as it is incompatible with the Kindle format, but I downloaded a free program that helped me convert the files over so I didn't lose any money on the books I bought with the Literati.   Yeah!!!!  And my hubby is sooooo sweet....he got me a beautiful burgandy case with a light (that runs off the Kindle, so no batteries needed!) for my Kindle.  I took some pics.  You will notice that Mr. Jack had to be in one of them, too!!!  He is such a vain kitty!!!!

 Here is the Kindle screen, without the light

 

Mr. Jack watching over my precious Kindle!!

Here is a pic with the light wand extended.  Cool, huh?  Even Jack thought so!!  And he's hard to please...ha!

Hope this little review helps those that are e-reader shopping.  I love my Kindle!  I take it everywhere and imagine having your whole bookshelf in one little unit?  Whoever invented this gem I'm sure is pretty rich!!!  Wish it were me!  Ha!

Have a great night (or day) everyone!!!
Stay cool!
Hugs,

2 Months Post-Op

Good day, friends!

Well, it's been almost two months since my bariatric surgery and some of you have asked for pictures.  I have lost over 60 pounds since surgery, a lot of it water,  I'm quite sure!  But nonetheless, I'm fitting into some clothes that I had in my "I Have A Dream Collection."  So here is the before surgery picture and the second & third pictures are my almost two month post op picture.  The fourth picture I threw in of my baby, Jackie with his little "yarn hat."  I swear, that cat would probably let me dress him!  He didn't care in the least that he had yarn strung on his ears!!  Here they are:

YIKES!!!!!

Here I am now.  Still a ways to go....but the long journey always starts with the first step!

Here's my side view.

Gotta love a kitty with yarn on his ears!  :0)

 Well, that's all for now.  I'm gonna go get my feet up and rest for awhile.  I have a rheumatologist appointment at 2pm as my knees are killing me.  I was taking Levaquin for awhile and with its risk of tendon damage, I'm worried that is what is happening with my knees.  They changed my antibiotic and they are slowly improving.

Have a wonderful day!!!
Hugs,

No Taco For Missy!

Howdy, folks....
This will be another short post.  I'm so sorry, my legs and feet have been soooooo bad that I can't have them down on the floor for too long then that nasty neuropathy starts up.  I don't know if my surgery started that up or flared up my fibro.....it certainly is possible.  Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know my hubby and I are going to the gym now to work out.  We are starting to go three times a week and I just love the stationary bike.  It is so easy on my back and I don't get that horrible back pain and have to stop while walking forty times!

If the gym allows, I'll take some pics the next time we go, which will be tomorrow.  I know now how many times I've got to pedal to get ready to get rid of the calories of a taco, so forget the taco!!!!  I'll take something low calorie!  Ha!  But I'm following the diet regulations and the exercises.  I take my pills all mashed up in applesauce.    I see the bariatric surgeon again June 4th, so we'll see how much weight I've lost then.  Hopefully lots more!  For those that are new to my blog, I had a "gastric sleeve" (which is where they take out 85% of your stomach and staple together what is left to your intestine) on April 18th.  I just passed the month mark and boy, has it had its ups and downs.

Nausea, heaving in the beginning, eating only pureed and liquid foods, all the protein supplements and vitamins....but I don't regret it.  I know it needed to be done as I have NO self control over food and it was ruling my life and would have eventually killed me.  I'm glad the surgery is over!!!

I woke up this morning with Jackie laying on my belly.  I didn't even feel it, so must be I'm healing up good inside.  Silly kitty!!

Well, my leg is telling me its time to put it up.  Please pray my neuropathy gets better.  Please!  Thank you!

Hugs,

Thanks, Gina!  :0)

I WANT A TACO!

Howdy, everyone!
Like my dramatic title?  It is so very, very true.  I can just taste it now.  But I can't have it now.  It would more than likely get stuck in my "pouch" (the new name for my new stomach) and I'd have to go to the ER like an idiot and confess I had a taco and have it surgically removed!  Big sigh.  I don't know if I am glad I had this surgery or not.  Too late to go back, but I'm so tired of pureed food.  I feel like a baby!  My stomach won't even tolerate an egg, let alone the beloved taco!  I tried eggs twice and got a monster stomach ache.  I can have eggs, pureed, clear liquids and bariatric full liquids.  I've had so much protein I feel like Popeye!

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not complaining and am so glad I am losing weight.  It's just getting used to the new life style.  In one more week I can have soft food....like meat loaf, mashed potatoes, stuff like that.  It just seems it's been forever on this "diet"!!!!  And I still don't feel like myself before surgery.  I'm tired, cranky, sore, my arthritis and fibro is in flare which makes exercise impossible....and then I realize it hasn't even been a month since I had the surgery.  So I'll be patient and rely on God.  You think HE will give me a taco?  Ha!

Sorry to make this short.  My back and feet are killing me.  My neuropathy is acting up, too, and I mean BAD.  The neurontin I take tastes sooooo bad in applesauce (which is how I take ALL my pills is crunched in applesauce!), I make sure to have a "chaser" behind it like something good to drink or a popcicle.  I'm hooked on those!  I do things in stints.  Later on or tomorrow I'll check my email.  I can sit up for about 15 minutes and that is it.  Life just has to get better as I lose weight, doesn't it?  Pretty please?  Hope you all are well and I wish the love of God upon all of you.
Thank you for all the support.  Speaking of which...I'm going to a support group next week.  Maybe that will help, too, to bolster my spirits a bit.

Since everyone loves Jack, I'll post another pic of him:

Jackie with my husband.

        
Hugs,

PS...Hi, Gina and Dad!  Hope you are both doing well.  Love you!

My Surgery Date!!!!

Howdy, folks!!!

The most incredible thing happened to me today, made almost all my pain go away for a minute or two.  And boy, did I wake up with an incredible headache.  I thought I might be seeing a trip to the hospital in the future, it was that bad.  And then the phone rang and guess who it was?  Banner Health System calling me to SCHEDULE MY SURGERY DATE!!!  YIPEEE!!  I crossed all the hurdles and finally came out on top.  My surgery will be April 18th, little under a month.  The lady said that the bariatric clinic will be calling me soon with the pre-op instructions and I'm on my way.  I've already got the protein drinks and vitamins and am all set to go.  I'm so excited to be on my way to a new life.  Where I can hopefully get back to work again!!!  Yipppee!!!!

Big thanks to Lorie and Shawn for constantly writing in my comments with your thoughts and prayers.  I greatly appreciate it.  I'm so sorry I haven't been writing much lately, I've just had the monster flare-up from hell and couldn't even sit in the computer chair for more than a minute or two.  But I've been thinking about all my blog buddies.  Oh, speaking of which, when I switched my blog theme over, I mistakingly lost half of my blog buddy list.  So if you don't see your blog on my list and would like to be added on to it, please add your name and URL in my comments and I'll get that up.  Promise!!!

Tomorrow I am going to go a giveaway for some pain drops that work pretty well.  I feel OK enough to do that and can sit for a longer time in the chair.  So be looking forward to that!  Another news tidbit:  I can no longer get my mail in the new mail server I signed up with at in.com.  So please send your email to me by viewing my blog profile.  I'm going back to google mail.

That'll be it today.  Just wanted to let you know about my exciting news.  And here's a pic of my back to normal Jack.  He's really enjoying his gourmet cat food served on a dish!  He's too cute!!  And I'm glad he's back to normal.  He's done with the antibiotic right now. Yay!!!

Does this cat look a little TOO cozy to you?  What a life.  Where do you sign up??

Y'all have a great day and talk with you tomorrow.  And don't forget about my giveaway!
Hugs,

Hello, Again!

Hi, My friends!

Let me start out by saying how sorry I am about not posting until now.  I have had such a rough time of it that I cannot even begin to know where to start.  My feet were burning so badly I could hardly sit for ten minutes and my back was the same way.  I took so much neurontin I felt like I was flying high.  That is so NOT good!  And it didn't even help the burning, I must say.  I will no longer do that.  I went outside for awhile and sat on what little grass we had here and that did help for awhile.  I soooo need a laptop!!  It would make my life so much easier!!  Unfortunately, laptops don't grow on trees.  Sigh!

I believe all this was brought on by stress from not knowing if I will have the bariatric surgery or not.  It is just positively crazy that I still haven't found out if I can have it yet or not.  I've went three times over to Gilbert,AZ and they still don't know.  The surgeon was out of town last week but he is back in town now.  I spoke with the nurse and she said she would present my case first.

Jacke is doing well, he is sprinting all over the house and getting into everything.  We have him on soft food and treats so he can get more moisture to prevent further infections.  That and I think he has some kind of sore jaw.  I saw him gnaw on some of his crunchies the other day and then he went a whole week where he ate nothing.  Not good!!  He loves the soft food and he gets a whole variety of food.  Almost like a variety for him.  I'll upload some pictures of him for you tomorrow.

Well, almost time for Frankie's doctor's appointment.  Thank you for praying me us, we greatly appreciate it.  We pray for you all, too.

Have a great day!!
God bless ya,

 

Quickie Update

Howdy, friends!  I just wanted to do a quick update on everything, just so you know I'm still alive and kicking.  I AM alive, but the kicking is a little shaky.  I'm having EXTREME problems with getting my regular medical doctor to write one little sentence on her prescription note pad:  "Patient is cleared for surgery."  That's it!  Nothing else. No histories, plans or potions required.  Just that ONE sentence.  She did write a vague paragraph with the effect of "the surgeon will have to make up his own determination if I am ready for surgery."  ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    It's almost like she is sabotaging me!  And I need her clearance for the surgery!  So I've done those tests for nothing!!

I've got a very bad headache and my legs are killing me.  I am in full fibro flare-up, with a migraine to add to it.  God, I love my life!  So I'm going back to bed.  I hope you all are OK.  I will write more when I feel better, if there IS such a state.

Jack is doing well with his antibiotic and is happily sleeping on my massager slippers like he always does.  He's such a good boy!

God bless you all.
Love n' hugs,

Thanks, Gina, for the new spring siggy!

Missy

Where Do I Begin?

Howdy, friends!

My, oh my.  We've had so much happen in the past two days, it's enough to make my head spin!  First, to my dad and Gina, I'm so sorry I missed your call last night.  We had to take our baby Jack to the Emergency Animal Hospital last night - I'll get more into that later in the post.  I look forward to talking to you the beginning of next week.  Hope Dad's internet is back up!

OK....I think my last post left off with me going for the diagnostic tests for my bariatric surgery.  I had to do six million labs (did I say million?  I meant six TUBES of blood! Ha!), an Upper GI with small bowel follow-through, an arterial blood gas and EKG.  Geez...this surgeon will know me inside and out!

Anyway, we get to the hospital in Gilbert and I get all checked in at the radiology desk.  I even had to wear one of them lovely ID bracelets.  I had the Upper GI first.  Let me tell you, that is one test that a person should have only ONCE in their lives!  And here the radiologist said I'd have to have it AFTER my surgery, too, but not as intense.  Anyway, they explain the test.  I drink this lovely barium that tastes like melted chalk while they take a bunch of pictures of my abdomen to track its progress through to my small intestine.  This checks for any obstructions or "leaks."  First I had to drink this fizzy like substance and they told me to not burp, if at all possible.  I tell you, that was ALL I wanted to do!  Ever drink a warm soda and then get that satisfying burp at the end? Ha!  That's what this felt like.  I managed to restrain myself, though, and I didn't burp.  Or puke.  Which after three glasses of barium, puking didn't sound like a bad idea!  The test took three hours!  My poor hubby was out in the waiting room the whole time.

After the Upper GI test, they took me for the EKG.  The technician was very nice....and very handsome! Ha!  He had a way of putting on the EKG stickers without me having to take off my shirt and bear all!  He just reached into my shirt and applied them like that.  I thought I'd had a bad EKG with my heart pounding, but luckily it came out normal!!  After that, I had the arterial blood gas.  It was right around this time when I felt that barium hit my colon.  If this test didn't go fast, they'd have a big mess to clean up!!  The respiratory guy comes in and explains the test.  Now, let me tell you, I've been worried about this test for WEEKS!  My mom had it once and said it hurt like the dickens!  First the tech says, "Have you ever had this test?"  I said no.  And then he says, "I've never done this test."  Oh, boy!   I said, "Great!" Then he gets the biggest smile on his face and says, "Just kidding you.  I've done this for 22 years!"  He was soooooo good, I didn't even feel the needle go in.  After that test, I ran to the bathroom to expel the barium.

By this time, I had a headache the size of Toledo, my leg was practically immobile, my feet were burning, I had a terrible taste in my mouth and I couldn't take my morning pills yet until after the labs.  So I was about 6 hours late on my morphine and boy, could I feel it in every bone and joint in my body!  Forget the walker, the tech wheeled me to everywhere I needed to go.  He was so nice!  The whole hospital is a wonderful place.  I loved the teamwork they showed and how they treated each other and the patients.

So I go to the lab and while we are there, Frankie says, "I have to puke, honey!"  His face was blood red, he was sweaty and all I could see in there was a wastebasket by the door.  He ran to that and puked for all he was worth.  I felt so bad for the guy.  And he didn't even have the barium! Ha!  The lab girl opened the door and said, "sir, you can use the bathroom in here."  So he went in there and freshened up.  The lab gal changed the trash bag in the basket.  Good for her! :0)  I had my lab drawn, but I couldn't do the urine test because the barium was still running through me at an alarming rate.  So that test would have to wait until tomorrow (Friday).

I could barely make it out to the car.  By this time, it was well past noon and it felt like the top of my head would come off.  I took my pills at the drinking fountain and limped out to the car with my walker.  It was about 88 degrees at this point and sweat was building up.  I finally made it to the car and we got in and went for lunch.  Hooray!!!  One more easy test and I would be done with the testing!!!  Next stop, surgery date!  At one time, it seemed that list of things to do would be impossible to accomplish and now here I am, one test away from completing!  Thank you, God, for getting me through!

The next day, I did the urine test with NO problems.  And I made a doc appointment for Frankie with his primary doctor for a referral to a gastro-intestinal doctor.  He needs one for evaluation of this vomiting.  It's gone on long enough.  He goes to that on Monday.

OK, now for Jack.  It was about 7:30 last night and he starts to meowing.  I mean, really meowing at the top of his lungs.  It was a meow I never heard of, either.  And he kept going back and forth to the litter box.  He finally peed and pooped, but he was still meowing.  And doing the litter box trot.  Poor kitty.  So we bundled him up in his carrier and took him to the 24 hour emergency clinic in town.  The place was a zoo in there - no pun intended!  They wisked Jack away into the back area and we filled out paper work.  I was so worried about him.  He had never been sick and I wanted him well, NOW!  The waiting room was full of people with the same sick looks on their faces.  The "I am worried about my pet and will I have to re-mortgage the house to pay for this" look.  Just walking in the door is $105.00.

We waited and waited.  We saw this lady walk in with her dog, crying, the dog a bloody mess.  He was attacked by another dog, a pit bull.  I felt really bad for her.  And then another dog with difficult labor, and then some guy brought in a stray cat that had just been run over by two cars.  The staff was going back and forth like chickens with their heads cut off!!

The vet finally calls us back and said that since Jack had used the litter box tonight and pooped, he probably wasn't obstructed.  He was going with since Jack is a male cat with a short urethra, that puts him at risk for a urinary infection.  He said those can be really dangerous because if the cat can't pee, the toxins build up and the kidneys fail and we could lose our kitty.  So he suggested a urinalysis.  We said that sounded good and he went off to do it and we went back to our favorite waiting room with the torture chamber chairs to wait.  The vet comes back after an hour and said that Jack had a pretty good infection in his urine.  So we went home with Jack, an antibiotic that he gets twice a day and little kitty pain pills.  The total visit cost us $250.00 so our savings is officially kaput! Jack is worth it.  I'd sell everything I own for him!

When we got home, I gave him the antiobiotic (which is two dropper-fuls of liquid) which he did NOT like.  I gave him his kitty pain pill and all three of us went to bed on our bed.  Jack slept a little, but I think the kitty pain pill makes him loopy.  He lays by his water dish and stares at all four walls over and over, like watching a movie or something!  His appetite is good and he peed this morning.  After I write this post, I'm gonna do a complete cleaning of his litter and vacuum the floor around his box.  I don't know where he picked this up at, but I'm taking NO chances.

Whew!!!!  I'm tired thinking about the last two days!!!  And then that awful earthquake in Japan.  I feel so badly for them and am praying for their plight.  I wish I could help, but all I can do is pray at this point.

OK.  Gotta run.  A litter box needs my attention.  And maybe I can get Jack interested in something than staring at the walls!  Here's a cute pic I took about a week ago when I picked up a vaporizer at Wal Mart.  May I present Jack's NEW home!

 

He looks comfy cozy in there, huh? Ha!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

My next post will be in a few days and I will be reviewing some all natural pain drops and will be having another giveaway!!

God bless each and every one of you.  AND GOD BLESS JAPAN!

Moving Right Along

Howdy, my friends!!!  Hope you all are doing well.  I've been having problems with typing lately, let's just say that the backspace and delete key have been in heavy use.  I don't know what the problem is!!!

I've also had a doosey of a flare -up this past week.  And then that left and now I have a sinus infections with plugged ears that won't stop!!! To stay the least, I'm just miserable.

I have been moving ahead on the bariatric clinic and got the Chest X-ray and the ultrasound of the abdomen and the legs.  They couldn't do the UGI test until the end of March!  I called the clinic the other day and told them of my predicament and they called me back on Friday to apologize for not calling me on Wednesday.  Thank goodness it wasn't an emergency!!!

Tomorrow my husband and I go to a baraitric class that will explain what will happen after the surgery and my new life.  I'm very excited to get going and yet I am very nervous at the same time.  What if it doesn't work?  Am I a failure then?  Will I always be fat?  And on the other side of the story, it is DOES work will it all go to my head?  Yikes!  All these fears I have of the unknown!!!!  Please continue to pray for me that things go okay.

I've been playing around with my web cam since it seems nobody online does skype anymore?!!!!  Here is a really cute picture I took with the timer function!!  It is of Jack and me.  I can't wait until I am thin enough to use lots of pics with myself and other people.  Jack, my husband, my friends, ect.  I'm so excited to get things started again that I called this morning.  You think they can tell I'm excited?  I have taken so many water pills to keep the swilling out of my body, it isn't funny!  And I can't believe the insurance actually authorized it......YEAH!

                            Here's the picture of Jack and me.  I hope you like it.

Would you believe this was the FIRST time EVER I got him to look right at the camera?   And don't worry, I'm not choking him...LOL!!!!!

God bless you all,
Until next post,

Starting Fresh

Howdy, folks!  Yeesh....it only took me about an hour to get Blogger to cooperate with me and finally let me post on my own blog!!  It kept giving me some bogus error page with a code a mile long.  Like I know what they are talking about!!!  The internet is acting very funky lately.  I don't know if it is our computer, the DSL modem, QWest, Phoenix, or just plain ole me!  I've ran the mal-ware and anti-virus programs and everything checks out clean.  So I'll blame it all on Qwest.  It has always worked well for me in the past! Ha!  My motto is: if you can blame it on someone else, do it!!  Hehehe....

OK, now down to brass tacks.  I hope nobody minds that I decorated for the luck of the Irish.  I could use ANY kind of luck and this template is so cute.  LeeLou blogs has so many cute templates, you should check them out.  Just click on the link at the very top of my page or the very bottom and it should take you over to her site.  And if it doesn't, again, blame Qwest....LOL!

Right now, as we speak, our baby (the car) is over at Thunderbird Automotive having its little thermometer replaced and a coolant flush.  Come to find out, the last time we had the car serviced (this past summer), the place put in the wrong type.  It's green instead of red, how it should be for a Toyota.  I have absolutely NO idea what I'm talking about, I'm just repeating what I heard the mechanic telling Frankie.  This visit will be costing us about $250 dollars.  Thank God we had a little in savings.  Man, I sure do love our car, but keeping it on the road is sure expensive!!  The people there were awfully nice, though, and gave us a ride home in our own car!  It was soooo bizarre seeing someone else drive our car away!!!  They will come and pick us up when it is ready and then Frankie and I have lots of little errands to do.

I titled this post "Starting Fresh" as a way to get my mind into focus.  I've been doing a lot of panic mode and not enough of productive mode!!!  I've been letting the Devil get to me with worry and anxiety over everything....the car, Frankie's vomiting (which has improved since coming home from his latest hospital visit), our money flow and lack thereof and my bariatric surgery.  I haven't given any of these problems to the person that can help me.  The ONLY person.....GOD.  I've bumbled my way through January and half of February just worrying over EVERYTHING and letting petty little things get in my way.  Like if I leave a post and nobody comments on it and I look at other people's blogs and they get TONS of comments.  I always think I'm doing something wrong.  I'm not writing this blog for anyone BUT ME.  It's not an advertisement for anyone or anything else.  It's just a place where I can put my thoughts down and have a journal of events of what is happening in our lives.  So dear God, please forgive me and help me live my life.  I cannot do it without you.  And I promise to not "borrow" these worries back from you!  Ha!

I called Banner Bariatrics and had to leave a message with the insurance and authorization department.  It's been almost three or four weeks since they submitted the stuff and I haven't heard a word.  I'm waiting for a call back on that.  It would be so nice to know one way or another so I can start on Plan B, if need be.  Which is ask my doctor for either Medifast, the medical liquid diet program or Phentermine, a medicine that helps morbidly obese people lose weight.  I took it in 2000 and it worked like a charm, but when I came off of it, I regained all the weight, plus some.  I use food for a comfort source and this is sooo BAD.  So I'm trying very hard to curb my appetite!!  Not an easy feat, I tell you.  And I had to bump my Prednisone back up to 15mg because I was just absolutely miserable on 10mg.  I was so stiff I could barely move.  When I know for sure about the surgery, I'll down the Prednisone again and live with it until after the surgery.  But I thought no point being miserable when I still don't know if I can even have the surgery!

Well, that pretty much is all my news.  I'll end this post with one of my all time favorite Michael W. Smith songs, "Above All."  And a picture of my baby.....my furry, spoiled baby, that is.  Jackie LOVES my new tote bag.  I carry so much stuff around now that I have to carry a small tote bag.  Jack was pawing through it the other day, then got tired and fell asleep on top of it.  He is just tooooo cute.  Anyway, hope you all have a great day!!!

My poor, tired baby!  Couldn't even raise his sleep filled eyes to the camera!!

Today's A Better Day - I Think!

Hello, my dear friends!

Sorry about my tirade yesterday about the e-reader.  Oh, how I wanted to throw it out the window!!  I still do, but not as badly.  At least I managed to get some help via chat support with Adobe Digital Editions.  Part of the problem was I had over-activated the device, so it wouldn't accept anything onto the reader because the books are naturally copy-right material.  And Adobe has to accept each piece of equipment that will be taking these books.  Once my tech support guy re-activated my account, I could put books back onto the reader.  Yay for that.  A lot of the books have either NO covers or generic, so picking out a book is like going to a book shelf with a blind fold on.  What you grab is what you get!!  But a least I think I can make it now until I save up a hundred years for the Nook I want so badly. (This being a hint to my dad, Gina, my hubby, and anyone who will take pity on me!!  A nook would help me recover very nicely from the big scary surgery I might be having soon.....).

I did have a chuckle in all my distress yesterday.  My assistant, who shall remain nameless, was helping me to no end:

Helping me do WHAT, I have NO idea!!  I guess he thought he would fit in there for a nice, cozy nap.  He's in the box that I was going to package that hunk of junk Literati in and he beat me to it.  That's a cat for ya!!  :0)

 

I don't think I have a single box or purse that this cat HASN'T been in.  He doesn't care if he fits really well into it at all, either!  That's my boy!!

No other news to report, except that I changed Frankie's pain patch down to 125mcg yesterday and he has vomited twice since.  I guess it takes time to leave the body, if this is indeed the cause of the vomiting.  I don't think we'll ever know.  He sees his doctor (primary care) on Monday, who will probably refer him out to a gastro-intestinal doctor.

I still haven't heard about my surgery yet.  My legs are slightly better, now that I am back on to the 15mg of Prednisone.  As soon as I hear, I'll drop it back down to 10mg.  It's such a hard drug to live without!!!

Hope you all are having a great day.  I got the special page up for my dad & Gina.  I don't know if they have seen it yet, but I hope they like it.  Everyone else please go take a peak at it.  Let me know what you think.  :0)

Have a good night and I'll see how I'm doing tomorrow.  I may participate in Java's "Meet Me On Monday" blog hop.  That is so fun!!  But we shall see how the ole' back and legs are doing.

God bless ya all!

Until next post,

Aggravated!

Hello, friends!!

I hope I didn't spell aggravated wrong, but I really AM too aggravated to care!!  So please forgive me if I spell things wrong.  :0)

Remember me talking about in an earlier post about the Literati e-reader I got for Christmas?  Well, that rotten thing has been nothing but a big pain in my big butt!!  I have spent the good part of three days now trying to get the damn thing to work.  I did NOTHING else but work on that damn thing.  I didn't even get to my blogging. (Sorry!) Or my email or anything else I enjoy about the computer.  The problem, I think, is the wireless feature does NOT work....it's only worked ONCE since I got it and now all is says is it can't sync to the server.  I can't get it on our network, the Quest password is too long and the Literati won't accept it.  So I tried some wi-fi aound town and even then it wouldn't accept it.  So much for that.  So I tried the sync route, that has to work, right?  WRONG!  It had errors syncing with its own service!!!  And then if I was lucky enough to get a book on the Literati, it didn't have a cover.  What's a book without a cover?  Yeeeeesh!!!  So I'm sending this piece of **** back to where I bought it.  I have to send it Fed-Ex, how they sent it to me and put insurance on it.  If anyone wants to steal that thing, they are in for a treat!  LOL......so that's what I've been up to recently.  I'm going back to good ole' books.  You can't beat the smell of a brand new book, and it has a title on it!  :0)  Maybe someday I can get what I really want.....a Nook.  But they are too expensive for me.  I got the Literati for $79.99, but look what happened there!!

Enough of that!  I've had enough headache over it.  It's done with.  I still haven't heard from the bariatric clinic, so hopefully next week.  I wish it would worry up so I can get the testing done.  I'll have to have an ABG (arterial blood gas) and those hurt so bad, I've heard.  They poke you on the inner side of wrist and go deep down in to get the artery.  Sounds fun, huh?  And then I'll need an upper GI, which is the same test my husband needs.  He sees his primary doc on Monday, thank God.  I told him we could go in as a husband-wife special on upper GI's!!

Frankie is doing the same....still vomiting almost every day.  We tried everything.  We talked it over with his pain specialist and we are going to decrease the amount of Fentanyl that he gets via skin patch.  Today I change his patches.  His appetite is incredibly great and he eats all that he used to, just smaller portions.  So I don't get what is going on.  We may NEVER find out why and he'll go on puking his guts out over the toilet every day.  Very frustrating for him and for me.   We both just wish for one good day between us and so far haven't found it!!  So please pray for us.

As for me.....what's with this FREEZING COLD?  I mean, yesterday morning it was COLDER here than in Flagstaff at 21 degrees!!  My dad sure isn't doing a very good job at getting the north gate closed.... :0)  We kid him about that when the weather is rotten by saying he needs to keep that gate closed!  LOL.  Because of this cold, I've been so stiff I can't even move around.  My joints feel fused together.  To stand up and walk is torture.  So I jumped up the prednisone to 15mg until I hear from the bariatric clinic.  When I have an actual date for the surgery, then I'll wean back down.  It was crazy of me to lower it when it's so cold out.  I mean, why be more miserable than you have to?

Well, that about wraps it up.  I'm going to be doing another page on my blog...it's going to be a special surprise for two important people in my life.  So be watching for it!!!

Here's some pics of Jackie.  The first one is him with my new pink tote/purse.  I found I was carrying so many things and they were bursting out of my old one.  I tried by leaving some of them out, but whenever I went somewhere, I would need the things I left at home!!  So my idea was to carry a tote bag.  And so far I love it....so does Jack!!
The second picture is of Frankie and Jackie doing what they do best....laying on the bed!!  My two lazy bones!!!  I don't have that much energy, either, to tell you the truth!!

Isn't that a neat tote/purse?  I love the color.  I got it at Walmart on sale for $9.00.  I love Walmart...especially since they have those carts you can use in the store.  :0)

Two peas in a pod!!

Well, folks, hope you have a great weekend and I hope it is pain free for everyone!!  I'll leave you with two words that mean so much to me:  PAIN SUCKS!!

Big soft hugs,
God bless ya all!

Testing Day

Hello, everyone!

Just thought I'd give a little update on my favorite "patient."  Frankie just called me and they are taking him down for the endoscopy of his esophagus and stomach.  I bet they find some strictures there (narrowing of the esophagus or stomach) and hopefully the scope will widen the blocked areas up so food can pass into the intestines and NOT remain in his stomach!  Won't that be nice?  So I'll keep ya posted as soon as I know things.

My mother-in-law goes to this neat accupuncturist and he taught her some massaging techniques that ACTUALLY helps fibromyalgia pain!  She has started doing the techniques on me and I feel better pain-wise.  I mean, I still have pain, but a least it's not so debilitating that I can't go see Frankie and wrestle around with the walker, too.  Heck, I got the walker down pat.  I heft it up into the trunk all in one smooth motion.  It doesn't do much for my shoulder, but I'm wearing one of those lidoderm patches on my shoulder.  That helps to soothe it.

I slept like the dead last night.  Took me a long time to fall asleep, as I hate being in the bed alone.  Jackie, the little turkey that he is, slept in his OWN bed last night.  I guess because Frankie is gone, there's no need to sleep on the big bed!!!  Little turkey!  I could have used his furry company.  Cats are so funny.  And Jack has gotten used to his sleeping with Frankie every night.  Oh, well.  I put the "Weather" channel on and it droned me off to sleep after awhile.

Well, I'm gonna be off to the hospital soon, so I'll close this post.  Hope you all have a good Sunday.  And thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for my husband and me and my family.  God bless you all!  :0)

Until next post,

Here We Go AGAIN!

Hello, everyone!!

Well, as the title of the this post reads, HERE WE GO AGAIN!  Back to the hospital for Frankie.  Ever since he had his surgery in June (for all you that are newbies to my blog, you can read about all his surgery complications in the June and July posts in the archive) for the AVM in his intestines, he's had problems with severe nausea and vomiting.  At first, it just was every other week or something like that.  Nothing too serious, I thought, as he is on a lot of medications that can cause some stomach upset.  But this past week, it has been very severe and he has been vomiting after every meal.  And I don't mean a little heave....I mean a GIANT heave and I'm cleaning it off our bathroom wall and floor behind and around the toilet.  I don't know where it all comes from, since there can't be too much more down there!  He can't keep anything in!  And his blood pressure was low, lips pale and very dry, he showed all signs of classic dehydration.  Sooooo.....we called Cigna, his insurance and they sent us to their urgent care.  I brought along my camera to break up the boredom as we have been down this road so many times.....here he is in the urgent care.  As you can see, he looks just thrilled to be there!  LOL....

 

I even took a little video, too, of the experience.

I hope nobody thinks I'm goofy or anything....just a little something to break up the time.
We waited for quite awhile in the urgent care and then saw this really nice young doctor that told us there wasn't much he could do there.  Even if he got a CT scan right there, he'd have to send him to the hospital anyway if it found anything.  So off we went to the hospital.  We went to the same one where he had his surgery in June, since they had all the records there.  It was a zoo in there!!  I knew we were in for quite some wait and I was right.  I took another picture of him when we finally got a room.

Doesn't he look all nice and comfy with a heated blanket, TV remote and nurse call button planted in his right hand?  Meanwhile, poor wife is in the corner shivering and snapping pics and videos like some kind of maniac!!  LOL!  To make matters worse, my diabetes decides to act up and what do I have in my purse?  Sugarless gum!!!  So Frankie was a dear and asked for some juice and crackers for me.  The nurse wasn't real thrilled with this and I only got two packages of crackers and one very small juice.  Oh, well.  I treated it like it was a rib-eye meal!  Neither of us had eaten in quite awhile and I completely forgot to stock my purse with some sugar candy for when my sugar gets low.  I hate diabetes!!!  I hope, if I ever get the bariatric surgery, that the diabetes will go away.  It has been known to happen with a lot of people who have the surgery.

Anyway, Frankie had blood work, an IV placed and then he had to have some yummy contrast for a CT scan of his abdomen.  The contrast was berry fusion and he wasn't too excited about it, as he hates fruit.  I took another pic of him and his "cocktail."

 

Look at how thrilled he is!!!  :0)  I had to coax him every "sip" of the way!!  And he had two bottles to guzzle down.

He finally got the contrast down and then waited for a really long time for the CT scan. It was getting to be very late (around 11pm and we had started this adventure at 3pm) and it felt like my rear end was one with those comfy plastic chairs!!  My shoulder and legs were killing me.  I think what saved me was having my Literati e reader there and while Frankie watched TV, I read my book on my reader.  It was soooo nice!  And really did make the time go a little quicker.  

The ER doctor was really nice, too.  He stuck his head in at one point and said that even if the CT scan showed nothing, he was still going to be admitted because his heart enzymes were elevated.  He thought it had something to do with all the vomiting.  I'm glad he told me that plan, as Frankie was falling asleep and I was exhausted myself.  So I left him like this:

He looks so serene in this picture, don't you think?  He's in good hands.  I kissed him good-bye and left.  I actually could find my way to the front lobby without any instruction!  The ER is like a rat's maze and I usually get so lost!!   I found the car, hefted my walker into the trunk and I zoomed off.

When I got home, it hit me.  I missed Frankie already.  Do we know how to ring in 2011 or what?  I hate this so much, I could scream.  I want them to FIX MY HUSBAND NOW!!  And have it last forever!!!  I want my surgery NOW and lose 150 pounds.  I want to go back to work NOW and get money so we can move out on our own.  I want so many things, yet it seems like we keep landing in the same spot.  Nowhere!  Anyway, my sweet mother in law met me at the door with a nice bowl of soup and a grilled cheese and ham sandwich.  She is so sweet to me! :0)

Jackie was really confused to have just me in the bed.  He laid on Frankie's side for almost the whole night.  While I was gone, though, he got "mad" and bored and climbed on top of the computer and my desk and knocked over our external hard drive and left kitty litter trail on my keyboard.  I may have to close Mr. Jack out of the computer room while I'm gone!!  So then he wanted into the towel cabinet and the second I opened it for a towel, he rushed in.  I went to scold him and he looked at me with his cute, killer face and I ran for the camera instead!

The little stinker wouldn't look up when I called his name....he knew he wasn't supposed to be there!!  But he looked adorable, all the same.

Frankie called me this morning and said he didn't get into a room until 3:30am last night.  And the CT scan was normal.  So the gastro doctor came and they are going to put the camera scope down his throat and into his stomach and see what's up...or down!  He'll have that tomorrow.  They have the poor guy NPO (nothing by mouth).  I'll be going to see him soon, so I'll close this post.  Please keep us in your prayers and I will do the same for you.

Hugs to all!!

God bless you,

Siggy bar by Helena

I Would Die For That

Howdy, friends.

I had a different blog post planned for this morning, but something else just popped out that I can't hold in much longer.  I thought I was over this issue in my twenties when my husband got cancer and is on a life-long chemo drug and I thought I was over this issue when I got the fibro and arthritis and knew that I couldn't carry a baby for nine whole months with my back the way it is.  I thought so many, many things...but now the yearning is back, the hollow ache inside my soul, the bitter tears upon my face.  If I live to be a hundred and thirty nine, I still will have ONE regret.....never being pregnant.  Feeling something inside me, "kicking" and living and breathing.  Taking cute belly pictures every week (I could do that, sure, but it would be my FAT belly with no baby inside!), thinking up nursery themes and buying clothes.  Of making my dad a grandpa and my in-laws grandparents, too.

Man, I have it bad today.  I guess I've been reading too many pregnant lady blogs recently.  I can't help myself, though.  I love hearing the stories and seeing the pictures.  It amazes me what God has created.....but not for me.  Why?  Oh, I've asked myself this so many times that it's a given.  Would I be a bad mother?  Why do so many drug-addicted teenagers get to have babies and I don't?  I'm married, I'm educated and as soon as I lose my weight, I'll be back at work.  I just don't understand God's ways sometimes.  But it bums me out every time I think about it.

To all those that read this, please don't get me wrong.  I am soooo glad for every baby born to healthy, beautiful and caring parents.  You deserve it!!  I've been following "Kelly's Korner" blog (you can find her in my blog roll to the side) and she posted on her blog a beautiful song that so gets where I'm coming from.  It's called "I Would Die For That."  I cry my heart out every time I hear it, which so far has been three times. :0)  I will post it here so you can hear the beautiful song, too.

Isn't that a gorgeous song?  I'm not sure who sings it, my eyes get so teary I can't read most of the words on the video.  I just know it is my mantra of not being a mother.

I don't think my husband is much affected by our plight.  He never really cared one way or another.  If we did have kids, great.  If not, who cares?  He gives me support, but not being a woman, he just can't understand that "nesting" feeling that goes on in a woman's body and soul.  I get very upset at my body that it has so many things wrong with it, I can barely carry MYSELF let alone a baby, too.  I'm only 40, but feel 90....and that's a GOOD day!!  We have no money to adopt or foster parent, so that is out.  Adoption is so risky anyway.  You get a child, they take your heart away, and then the biological parents are at the doorstep wanting their baby back.  Surrogates are the same way.  Nine months of pregnancy, they see the baby's face for the first time, and she keeps it.  I don't blame her.  I would do that, too, probably.

OK, I feel slightly better talking about this.  Thank you for listening.  If anyone is like me, I'd love to hear from you.  How you deal with knowing you will never be called "mom?"  Are there any support groups out there for this?  I'll have to look.  I think my "nesting" urge is even worse than when I was in my twenties.  I believe it's because I'm running out of time and menopause will be soon.  And I had that endometrial ablation procedure last year because of my blood clot I had in my leg.  They were afraid I'd bleed too much with each period, so they stopped them all together.  Heck, I figure if I am not going to use my "baby parts", why have them?  I'd have a hysterectomy if they would let me.  I remember signing the consent form for the ablation procedure and it saying I would be rendered "sterile."  I had no choice anyway, so I signed the consent.  So now I am a mommy to my cat, "Jack."  To cheer me up, I'll post this cute picture I took of him recently.  I got one of those "pillow pets" for Christmas and Jackie had taken a liking to my lady bug.  He's such a stinker of a cat!!  But I love him so!!

He may be short and fuzzy and speak another "language", but he is my "son" nonetheless.  And I do thank God for all the other blessings I have in my life.  My family, being one.  And it's about to grow, too.  My father and his girlfriend, Gina have announced their engagement awhile back.  They promised me they would wait for the wedding until I had my surgery, since I'm unable to travel at this time.  I'm so excited for them!  They make a really sweet couple and it is so apparent how much they love each other every time I hear them on the phone.  We use our webcams sometimes, too.  I am so thankful my dad is no longer lonely and in grief.  We will never forget mom.  God, HOW COULD WE?  She was our everything.  But she is gone and life must go on.

I hope you all are well and happy and having a good 2011 so far.  I appreciate each and everyone who reads my blog....even when I'm depressed like I am today!!!

God bless you all!
Big hugs,

Oh, Better Day!

Good day, my friends!

I can happily report that we are having a better day today.  No vomiting for Frankie in two days (of course, I probably just jinxed him really badly now!), but he does complain of an occasional pain in his stomach.  I think he just is constipated!!  Luckily, I KNOW the cure for THAT!  LOL.....

As for myself, physically for me I'm a nightmare.  I think it's easier to list what I DON'T have than what I do.  But I learned well from my dear mom in Heaven about living in pain and still surviving. (My mother-in-law, too, is a phenomenal lady with living with Juvenile Arthritis for over 6o years.) And she would do it with such grace and always a smile, no matter what bad news was coming up.  And it always did....I'm so glad she's in a comfortable place, but God, do I miss her badly!  I think of a million things I want to say to her but I can't.  It's just not fair!!!  OK, better get off this subject or I'll be needing my Kleenex again.  I've been nostalgic like this all weekend.  When Grandma was here and got me the camera for Christmas, it came with a coupon for a free 8X8 photo book from Shutterfly.  I compiled up my favorite photos with mom, dad & Frankie.  It came to me in a beautiful 20 page hard cover book in which I named "Down Memory Lane."  I am a new believer in Shutterfly!  So if you are looking into a special gift for someone, photo books are always GREAT!

It's been two full years without my mom and I can't begin to tell you the ways my life (and my husband, father, Grandma and in-laws) has changed.  It's just amazing how the absence of ONE person just completely threw us all off track.  For my whole life she has been there, protecting me, shielding me from trouble (as much as what a mom can do, anyway!) She took complete care of my dad and made sure that all our needs were met before her own.  I could never lie to her and tell her I was OK when she knew I wasn't.  Boy, she REALLY should have consulted with us before just taking off into the while blue yonder!! I will be talking to Mom about that when I see her in Heaven!!!  Anyway, I was looking through some photos and found a little video of Mom playing with Jack in her favorite recliner chair.  It has no sound, as I didn't have a fancy camera back in 2003, when we very first got Jack.  My mom so loved Jack, and he loved her (and all the attention.)  I've never seen such a sociable cat!  He could be the greeter at WalMart....nah.  Make that Petco..."where the pets GO..."  OK, I'm being weird now so I'll see if I can upload that video clip into my blog.  Sometimes the 'net is my friend and others it is my worse enemy.  So here goes:

I titled this clip "No Biting" because here she was trying in vain to stop Jack from biting her hands.  He has good teeth and he knows how to use them!!  Below is a precious picture of my mom and Jack.  Gee, I'm so glad I decided to change the subject!!  Hehehehe.....

Jackie came to live with us after our beloved Toby died at the age of 12 due to kidney failure.  He was a BIG cat and the vet told us they tend to have more kidney problems.  But they can't lose weight too fast, or it will hurt their liver!  What can ya do????  Anyway, the day Toby died we were bawling like babies over the phone when I called the vet to see how he was doing.  They gave him IV's overnight, but when they came in the next morning, he had died.  My dad said, "well, if we are gonna get another cat, let's get one now."  I was determined to name whatever cat we got "Jack."  I just liked it.  A nice strong, boy's name.   We trooped down to the Humane Society and they have only five cats, and Jack was up on his first day of adoption on the day we came to get a cat!  Because he was found on the streets, they always hold them for 30 days to make sure he isn't previously owned and just lost.  But nobody came in, so he was ours!!  The vet attendant picked him up out of his cage and said, "You will LOVE Jack.  He is AWESOME!"  We just could NOT believe it!!  The odds of a stray having the same name that I was going to name him are probably a million to one!!  Since my husband and I cannot have children, we adopt our "furry" kitty sons...we always got male cats for some reason.  I'd love a female kitty one of these years....

Well, gotta close and get ready for a busy afternoon.  Hubby has a psychiatrist appoint he has to go to and then we are going to return the webcam.  I was using it the other night and the damn base broke off of the camera.  So now it's just sitting on top of the monitor.  One little movement and its off the monitor!!!  It has a receipt. so we'll just exchange it.  Should be no problem.  I LOVED talking with my dad and Gina over the webcam the other nice.  It was like they were right in the room with me.  To bad I couldn't reach over the web lines and give my dad a big hug!!  I haven't seen him in almost two years now.
Gee, does that make me an orphan?  :0)

Hope you all are well and happy.
God bless ya!
Until next post,

Thanks, Gina, for my new siggy logo!