NOT SO HUNGRY

I called my regular doctor today because I still have this horrible taste in my mouth after taking the antibiotics.  The antibiotics gave me a metallic taste and it was supposed to go away once I stopped taking it.  So far it has not stopped.  I thought I had thrush again because I had some white on my throat.

The doctor said I have some disease I can't remember what he called it.  It makes you have a bad taste in your mouth for weeks (sometimes months) after the antibiotics have stopped.  Food tastes horrible, you aren't really hungry because food tastes horrible.  Hopefully this will end soon.

Until tomorrow...

CLEAN AS A WHISTLE

The colonoscopy showed that my colon is healthy!  Clean as a whistle. Yippee!  My question is how many colonoscopies should a person have in their lifetime?  I think I am entering my max.

Now they want to do other tests on me that you do not want to know about.  Checking me for this and that.  We will see what those tests tell me.

Until tomorrow...

TIME TO DECORATE

Today I started decorating for Christmas.  I had my assistant come and help.  If I don't decorate before I leave for Florida, I will not have enough time to do it when I get back.  My holiday party is four days after I get back from Florida.

I have four big tubs of Christmas stuff: everything from ornaments to lights to framed pictures to wreaths to shiny things that get strung by the fire.  I have rugs and stockings and blankets and cookie jars and shower curtains.  I have so much Christmas stuff.  I just love Christmas.  I like to be festive.

Until tomorrow...

ROGUE ONE TICKETS

We got Rogue One tickets!!  I will be seeing Rogue One twice.  I am so excited.

I also went shopping to get ready for the trip to Florida for my cousin's daughter's Bat Mitzvah. It is a big event that is New York City in Florida.  I need three outfits for the three day event.

I got silver slacks and shoes for the Friday night event, a black and silver outfit for Saturday night and I am wearing an outfit I already have for the Sunday brunch.  I am all set.

Until tomorrow...

BORING DAY

Just running errands all day.  Boring.  It is a rainy day.  Ugh.

Until tomorrow...

DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING

Most people are shopping.  I would not set a foot in a store today.  I did laundry, made mashed potatoes, walked the dogs, watched a Lifetime Christmas movie and my annual Thanksgiving movie "Freebirds", and some other things.  I puttered around.

It was a icky day out.  Overcast and a little rainy.  Cold.

The hardest part of the day was getting Happi to put her brace on her leg so she could go on a walk.  She just dislikes that brace.  She just sees it and she goes and hides.  Treats don't work,   After some finagling I got it on her by lifting up her front end and putting it on her leg.

Until tomorrow...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

This Thanksgiving is not going to go as planned.  I was going to make mashed potatoes and stuffing on Wednesday and on Thursday I was going to relax, walk the dogs and go see a movie.  I did almost all of it.

I slept in a bit.  I lounged around a bit.  I made stuffing around 11 am.  I went to see Moana in the afternoon.  As soon as I got home my phone began ringing and spoke to family until 8:30 pm.

Moana was a really good movie.  It has a really good story and just the right amount of singing/music.  It was picturesque.  The kids in the theatre seemed entertained.  My only question is why do people bring infants to theatres and if they do, why do they let them cry for 20 minutes in the theatre?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Until tomorrow...

COLONOSCOPY

Well, that was fun!  I had to get up at 7:30 in the morning and take my second batch of Prep.  I only got through 1/2 of it.  I just could not do it.  I was already nauseous so drinking more of that stuff was not going to happen.

After 9:30 am I was not allowed to drink anything.  I got ready since my neighbor was going to drive me to the test.  The test went well.  I was told they found nothing.  When I was coming out of the anesthesia I had a dream that I missed the test because my alarm clock didn't go off.  A reoccurring dream since college.  I almost missed a final when I woke up, turned off my alarm clock and fell back asleep.  I probably woke up  30 seconds later but I had that dream that I missed the final because I overslept.  I woke up in a panic.

My neighbor came and got me and brought me home.  I got into bed and slept for a few hours.  I watched some more TV and slept again.

Until tomorrow...

URGENT PROCEDURE NEEDED

Today my doctor called and decided that I needed an urgent colonoscopy.  There just happened to be an opening tomorrow (the day before Thanksgiving).  Imagine, there isn't a rush of people desiring a colonoscopy the day before Thanksgiving.  I can't imagine!

I didn't get the phone call until about 1 pm so I had already eaten a little bit but the doctor said it didn't matter.  I had to rush down to the pharmacy to get the prep before 5pm, when I had to start taking it.  I also needed to stop by the supermarket and get some apple juice since you have drink only clear liquids.  One can only drink so much water for 18 hours.

Here is the prep I had to drink.  I am part way through.  It is some rough stuff.  It is SO salty.  I can't stand how salty it is.  I basically go myself all settled in downstairs with movies, drinks, my pajamas, and the dogs.  I set up my iPad and TV to sync the same movie so no matter what room I am in I could watch the same movie with no interruption.  It was nice to have something to keep my mind off what was happening.  Just in case you were interested, I watched Money Monster.  It was good with enough action to keep my attention.

Until tomorrow...

FINALLY GOT TO THE SUPERMARKET

I finally went food shopping.  I had so little food in the house it was shameful.  I have been not feeling well for so long, I ate all the "sick" food.  All the soup, bread, etc. is gone.  I needed to go to the supermarket badly.  Today I stocked up.  I got a bunch of soup, potatoes, bread, rice.  All the staples for when I don't feel well. 

I got some ingredients for Thanksgiving that I will cook on Wednesday.  Mashed potatoes and stuffing.  I am not having a regular Thanksgiving.  I plan on going to the movies.  I will heat up the stuffing and mashed potatoes and make some broccoli if I am feeling well. 

Until tomorrow...

FOOD SHOPPING FAILURE

I attempted to go food shopping today.  I drove to the supermarket and could not find a parking spot after repeated circling.  I finally gave up and came home.  I really wanted soup so I decided to make a batch.

I took some veggie broth, crushed tomatoes, garbanzo beans, celery, carrots, frozen peas, frozen green beans, onion powder, salt, and pepper.  It turned out delicious.  It was such a rainy day, all I wanted to eat was nice hot soup.

Plus my stomach is still giving me problems and soup and toast is the best thing to eat.  I it while watching the movie Just Go With It starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston.  Pretty good laugh.

Until tomorrow...

DO HAPPI AND I HAVE THE SAME THING?

Went to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  Awesome movie!  I really recommend you see it if you liked the Harry Potter series (and who didn't like the Harry Potter series?)   We saw it with our free tickets.  That made the movie even better!  I won't say anything about the movie because I don't want to ruin anything but go see it.

During the day I assisted my friend and neighbor K with the hook up of her older DVD player and her new TV.  We thought it was the DVD player but it turned out it was the TV.  Once we figured that out I left thinking she was going to have to return the TV.  She googled the situation and found out she needed to reset everything and, Voila!, the TV and DVD player worked.  She is really happy.  Another satisfied customer.  Maybe I should start a side job of setting up older DVD/VCR players with new TVs.  I seem to be pretty good at it.

Health update:  Happi seems to be okay, no worse no better.

I am still not much better but not worse.  I still think we have the same thing.  Is that weird?

Until tomorrow...

SICK AND TRASH UPDATES

The doctor says she thinks I have some sort of virus.  I am on two antibiotics and we will see if this makes me feel better.  Last night I got quite ill again.  I had been feeling so much better and then last night. Ugh.  The fact that Happi has E.Coli didn't help either.  Hopefully this will do the trick.

I also went to see my breast cancer doctor and tomorrow I go to have my mammogram.  I hear women all over are rushing to get their mammograms before January 20th.  I thought I would have a long wait but I would say a less than 24 hour wait is not a long wait.  I have to get out my tiara!

That was basically the whole day.

Oh, the trash is all gone from yesterday.  Half of it was taken by some guy who drove by and the rest was picked up by the garbage company this morning.  Whatever, it is gone from my garage! 

Maybe this weekend I can do a run to Goodwill and get rid of another stack of stuff that is taking up room in the garage.

Until tomorrow...

DINNER WAS A BUST

Just when I think I am feeling better, I'm not.  I have some medicine from the doctor I think I am going to take and see what happens.  I can't feel worse...

Today I arranged to have some big items taken out of the garage and put on the sidewalk.  They are ready for an early morning pick-up by the garbage company.  There was some leftover insulation, a TV stand and a bookshelf.  We lugged the stuff out and labeled it for pickup.  One hour later a guy drove by and picked up the insulation and loaded it in his truck.  I guess I will see what is left by tomorrow morning.  I am just so happy to get it out of the garage.  Now that I have been clearing out, I am addicted to more clearing out and making more space.  I have a load to go to charity, a batch to shred and a batch to go to e-waste.  Once that is gone, I will have a bunch more real estate in the garage.  Makes me so happy.  When we were clearing out things today we found a box of more paint cans.  I need to dispose of them too.

I met my friend for dinner tonight at 6pm.  We arrived at the restaurant and it said open and the lights were on but the door was locked and no one was inside.  We banged on the door but no one answered.  After a few minutes we went to another restaurant.  We were really disappointed because we had planned this three course dinner (mine being vegan) for almost a week.  We ended going somewhere else and I had a cup of soup that has upset my stomach.  I can not eat onions and it had onions in it.  So much for a fantastic dinner out.

Until tomorrow...

HAPPI AND E. COLI

I got the test results for Happi.  She has E. Coli in her urinary tract/kidneys.  I guess this is more common than you think.  That is why the urinary tract infection has not gone away.  Now she is on another type of antibiotic for another month.  I am also supposed to get her cranberry pills for her to take.

She has been a bit clingy and lethargic so I hope these antibiotics work soon.

Until tomorrow...

LOTS OF UPDATES

I went to a specialist today for my stomach issues.  The doctors are split on what is wrong with me.  Some think it is a cyst/woman thing and some think it is my Crohn's issue.  I decided to see the gastrointestinal doctor and see what she thinks. 

She is very clear that I have a gastrointestinal issue.  She ran some blood tests to see if I have an infection.  The results have already come back that I am blood healthy.  There are other tests that I am waiting to hear about and will take a few days.  Depending on those results, I may have a CT scan to see what my belly holds.  The doctor said it was very sensitive and loud.  So I wait and see.

Update on Happi: The doctor called and her urinary tract infection (UTI) culture has not grown enough so we have to wait until tomorrow.  Then they will be able to tell us more information.

Once I am feeling better I want to start walking her with her new brace.  I just have not felt like walking anywhere.

Enterprise Rental Car: I finally have a resolution to the Enterprise Rental Car credit car charge.  To recap: I rented a car for one day back in September.  I returned the car.  I got my credit card bill last week and I had a $600 charge.  I was shocked.  I thought it was fraud.  Turns out that it was Enterprise's fault.  When I returned the car someone entered the same car number on the next rental so the computer charged it to my credit card.  All $600.  I finally spoke to the right person today after speaking to many people at Enterprise.  He felt horrible and immediately credited me back the entire amount (including the amount of my rental).  Since my rental was paid for through my car dealer, I got free money!  I call it pain and suffering money.

Enough for today.

Until tomorrow...

A RAINBOW OF ROSES

My friend R sent me a wonderful present.  She and her baby daughter sent me flowers to celebrate getting certified.  It was such an exciting surprise.

I heard from my home study worker and she was quite impressed that I finished the screens so quickly.  She said she is already working on my report.  Once it is done and I sign it I can move forward. 

I am still feeling quite ill.  It all started about 10/8 and I have been feeling ill on and off since then.  I have an ultra sound scheduled for next week but I called my gastroenterologist today and I am going to see her colleague tomorrow.  I can't wait to get some answers.  I am tired of feeling horrible.

Until tomorrow...

MORE SHOPPING

I went to do the rest of the shopping for the Bat Mitzvah today.  I bought a pair of black pants that I could wear with flat shoes.  I also bought two pairs of shoes.  I bought the one pair I saw yesterday.  A pair of black flats with rhinestones on the toes.

I also got another pair for some whimsy.  They are silver sparkly flats.  They were on the clearance rack and they just happen to be in my size.  For $25 they seemed like fun.  I plan on wearing them at the Bat Mitzvah.  Sparkly shoes, doesn't that sound fun!

I can wear the black shoes on Saturday with the black slacks and the black and silver tank top and sweater.

I can wear the silver sparkle shoes with the secret pants on Friday night.

I also have a black sparkly bag to use.  I think I am set.

Until tomorrow...

SHOPPING AND TROLLS

Today I went shopping for clothes for my cousin's daughter's bat mitzvah.  It is a New York theme so I need to have fancy clothes in black and silver.   I had an idea of what I wanted to get so I just needed to find it.  I wanted to have the clothes now so I was not rushing before I had to go. Not to mention the clothes in the stores are about to change to heavy clothes and I didn't want to get stuck with wool pants.

I got some great stuff that made me happy.  There are three events: Friday dinner, Saturday Bat Mitzvah, and Sunday brunch.  I need three ensembles.  I got a black and silver tank top and a black sweater with rhinestones for Saturday.  I got some fun slacks for Friday night that are a surprise that I will wear with a purple top that I already own.  For Sunday I am going to wear an outfit that I already own that is blue patterned pants and a white top and red shoes.

Then later that night I went to the movies to see Trolls.  It was cute.  I just don't like movies that have singing for no reason.  I understand movies that have singing and I don't have any problem with them.  I just don't like movies where they throw in a song for no reason.  The main character picks up a rock and starts to sing about finding a rock. It just drives me crazy.  Trolls has about 1-2 songs too many and for no reason.  Other than that it is a cute story and very vibrant.  Up beat.  Fun.

Until tomorrow...

SCREENS ON ALL THE WINDOWS

I installed the screens on my windows today. This was the final item on the list for me to get my foster/adopt certification.  It required borrowing a ladder, hiring an assistant, buying the clasps and the two of us figuring out how to get the screens up into the windows in places where we could not always reach the clasps.  It required some strategy since all the windows were on the second floor and in awkward places.

We got it done with the help of items such as a tree branch, baton, and me hanging out of windows from the inside.

Until tomorrow...

HAPPI TEST RESULTS

Happi's UTI is not gone.  There are a few reasons why this can happen.  Most common is that the antibiotic was the not the right one.  They are now running a test to make sure the right antibiotic is being used. 

She has no symptoms.  You would never know she still had a UTI. 

Until tomorrow...

HAPPI RE-CHECK

I had to take Happi for her check up from when she had her UTI.  It feels like I took her to the emergency room about 6 months ago.  It was only about 9 weeks ago.  The doctor wanted to test her to make sure the UTI went away.  I guess with dogs it can sometimes be very difficult to get rid of a UTI.  Who knew?

I get the results tomorrow.

As we were leaving the doctor's office Happi got very woozy and laid down on the sidewalk.  I rushed her back inside and they ran a blood sugar test.  She probably worked herself up so much that she dehydrated herself.  I was very worried.

Until tomorrow...

VOTE

I think we are all in shock.  It doesn't matter who you voted for, it was still a shock whether your candidate won or lost.

Until tomorrow...

HOME STUDY #3 - THE FINAL CHAPTER

Today was my final home study visit.  If you have been reading my blog, you know I have been working really hard to get ready for this visit. 

It was a two hour visit. The first hour was questions about how I would parent, parenting techniques, etc.  I was asked a bunch of questions from a list about my house.  Did I put the locks on my cabinets, do I have one room per child, does the room have a closet, etc.

Then we walked around and checked that I have locks, a fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, etc.  She made sure the pond was filled in with sand.  Everything checked out but she forgot to tell me about the screens.  I didn't install the screens on my windows.  I have them but the lock things that hold the screens on the window broke off and I have to replace them.  I have a few weeks to put the screens on and send her a photo and she will accept it.  Meanwhile I have passed the inspection.  Yay!

It will take a few weeks (meaning the end of December) to write the home study report and then I move forward to the next step.  It will be a number of weeks of relaxation before things get going again.  So I can plan for the holidays. 

This is a happy day!  Thanks to everyone who helped me.

Don't forget to vote!!

Until tomorrow...

PAINT CABINET

I am ready for my last home study tomorrow.  The house is clean.  Everything is locked up.  My friend E came over today and put together my cabinet to hold and lock up the paint.  He was a champ.  The directions showed drawings but not too much in directions.  He got it together.  It looks good.

I am ready for the final interview.  I will give you an update tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

CLEARING OUT WASTE AND DR STRANGE

I woke up feeling slightly better.  I took it really slow in the morning.  I ate some toast and tea.  I watched some TV.  Then around 11 am I started to get things done.  The usual rounds of post office, bank, etc.  I went to the hardware store to buy a small lockbox for the refrigerator to lock up Happi's medicine that needs to stay cold. 

Then after a short rest, I loaded up my hazardous waste and took it to the dump.  I filled my car up with paint, hot tub chemicals, sealant, rose fertilizer, etc.  I drove very carefully to the dump.  They took it all and I asked if I could come back with the remaining cans of paint if I could make it back by closing time.  The guy said fine.  I think they only allow one trip per day but I explained I have a small car and could not safely fit the rest in.  He said if I could make it back by 4pm. 

I drove home and tossed the 5 remaining paint cans in the car.  I drove back and made it back at 3:59 I kid you not!  The guy was closing the gate.  I pleaded with him to open it up. It was another guy and he said no you can't come back again.  But I said the other guy said I could.  I looked for him and he said Let her in.   So they took my cans of paint. 

All my hazardous waste is gone.  Yay!! 

My carbon monoxide detector is hung.  Check.

My hazardous waste is gone.  Check.

My profile is done.  Check.

Tomorrow my friend is coming to put together my cabinet for the paint.  This is the last thing to do.

I went to see Doctor Strange tonight.  I thought it was good.  I went with my friend H and some of his friends who are becoming my friends.  It was a mixed bag on how much folks liked it.  I think I am easier to please sometimes.  I just like to be entertained.   Tonight was one of those nights.  I thought the special effects were cool.

Until tomorrow...

OH MY TUMMY!

I spent the night with a sore tummy.  Then I woke up and I was so ill.  My stomach was bloated and sore to the touch.  I could barely get off the couch all day.  At noon I called the doctor.  When he called back he thinks it is a Crohns attack.

Now there has been a lot of back and forth about whether I have Crohns or not.  First for years they told me I had Crohns and then one year they told me I didn't have Crohns.  Then last year they went back to telling me I had Crohns again.  I have decided to stop with the labels and just go with the way I feel.  I get these horrible pains in my lower abdomen that make me want to go to the hospital.  Just when I think I can't take it another minute it goes away.  I don't know what it is called but it is unpleasant.  The pain is so intense that I get chills, sweat, I get light headed, can't sleep, and can't put anything of weight on my stomach area.

The doctor says to rest and if it gets worse I am to go to the hospital.  I had to ask him what constitutes worse.  He said if I didn't get better by Saturday evening or got significantly worse feeling I should head to the hospital. 

On a happy note I went to my neighbors and he helped me put the photos on my profile for the foster/adoption.  The profile is my advertisement of ME!  It is the paper that everyone is going to see that "sells" me.  I also got to binge watch Transparent season 3 with all the time on my hands laying around.

Until tomorrow...

LIST TO DO BEFORE MONDAY

My list of things to complete before my final interview on Monday for my foster/adoption is short.  Hang a carbon monoxide detector, put together a cabinet to put paint in, take hazardous waste to the dump, put alcohol up high and finish my profile.

Tonight I hung the carbon monoxide detector.  Check!

Tomorrow my neighbor is going to help me finish my profile and I am taking the hazardous waste.

Saturday I am putting together the cabinet for the paint and hiding the alcohol.

Done! 

Then I can vote.  Ugh!  Not sure which is less fun.

Until tomorrow...

THE CUBS DID IT

It is ten minutes to 10 pm and I thought the World Series was never going to end.  I really didn't care who won.  Both teams deserved to win since neither had won in a long time and neither was my team.  But I started watching tonight since it was game 7 and boy, did they fight.  It was a good game but I really didn't think it would ever end between the hard hitting teams and the rain delays.  Congrats to the Cubs.  You broke your 108 year drought.  The goat is dead or gone or the curse is dead.

Update on Enterprise Rental car: My car husband at the car dealers volunteered to call over to Enterprise and speak to the manager and figure it out since my one day rental was a dealer rental.  The additional 20 days that I was charged was also a dealer rental from the same dealer by some other people.  When he spoke to Enterprise they found my rental in the computer.  Funny, when I called they could not find it!  Tomorrow the manager will come in and fix the problem.  I will be credited back $600. 

I put Happi's brace on her leg today and had her walk around for 10 minutes.  She hated it!  Hated it!  She walked around a bit and then laid down.

She is not happy about this brace.  It is too difficult to walk.  She also slid all over the floor because she could not get a grip on the floor.

Until tomorrow...

POND FILLED IN

Today was Fill the Pond day.  This is what it looked like this morning.  Empty.

The sand was delivered at 9 am.  3.5 cubic yards of sand.  The helpers showed up at 12 noon.  Three guys that worked out in the gym.  The first hour went fast and it seemed like they were going to finish early.  Then the fatigue kicked in and they slowed down.  They filled the pond and we put the plastic sheet on and then they put more sand over it.

Then we had more sand.  We had to put the excess sand in buckets, bins, anything we could find.  I am going to try to give it away.

The pond is filled and now I can move forward in the foster/adopt process.

On another note, I got my credit card bill and it had a $600 rental car bill.  Funny thing, I didn't rent a car long enough for $600.  I rented a car for 1 day at a special rate from my car dealership.  After a few phone calls to the credit card company and the rental car company, I found out that the charge is from the one day.  I returned the car and some idiot continued the charge on my charge card for the next person.  I paid for the next person's rental car.  How nice of me!!!  Since it is under my name, I am not sure how I can get this straightened out,  But I will!

Until tomorrow...