My dear friend Shirley over at Ma Ma's Place gave me this lovely award a few days ago. I apologize for taking so long to post it. Shirley and I are almost neighbors and would have never met without blogging. She's a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She just received a new great grandbaby a couple weeks ago. You can see we have a lot in common. I hope one day this summer we will finally meet. It is such an honor to receive this award..... thank you Shirley.

Here is what is said about the recipients of this award.“These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.lease give more attention to these writers." Deliver this award to a few bloggers who must choose a few more bloggers and include the message.


It is so hard to select only a few bloggers for this award because I feel all the blogs I read are so deserving. I will select only three, but I want all my regular readers to feel free to take this award. Just let me know and I'll stop by.

First is Marsha at Just Some Thoughts. Marsha and I have so much in common. I wish we didn't live so far apart. She lives in Louisiana and I'm here is West Virginia. I believe we met doing a weekly meme. After reading her posts I found we have so much in common. Children and grandchildren and photography. I have learned so much from her.

Next is Renie at Renie Burghardts World. Renie lives in "The Woods" and shares many pictures of the beautiful wild life that lives out her back door. She is a freelance writer who shares many of her entertaining short stories on her blog.

And the third award goes to Renee at Three Peas In A Pod. When Renee and I met through blogging there was an instant friendship. Renee homeschools her two boys and works as a hospice nurse parttime. Renee is a child of God has a tremendous love of home and family and is a great friend.



Thought I would let you all know what's been happening in my world. Two weeks ago I had an appointment with my dermatologist to have, what I thought were moles, removed from my right shoulder blade. These things came on fast. I first noticed one in mid January and the second one in February. They continued to grow so I thought I better have them removed. As I said I thought they was moles. My doc shaved them and the biopsy came back squamous cell. They had an opening last Thursday to have them surgically removed. I was told my insurance would only pay for one, but if I came back the next week to have the other one surgically removed my insurance would pay the 80%. I had the first surgery on Thursday and I'll have the next one tomorrow. When I called my insurance to check on this I was tempted to ask if I needed triple by-pass would I need to have them done with three separate surgeries.

I'm hoping my dermatologist has the results from Thursday's surgery. If the cancer has not gone into my lymph nodes I'll be fine.



It was beautiful here over the weekend. This past week I bought I swing with a canopy for my back deck. Hubby and I put it together on Sunday and enjoyed the early evening enjoying the swing. My dog was very curious about the "thing" on the deck. I encouraged her to jump up with me. She was unsure of the motion, but then laid down very close to me and enjoyed the ride. Last night a cold spell moved in and we may get snow flurries tonight and tomorrow. I guess this will be our Easter storm.

ps: I has taken me over an hour to get this post accepted with Blogger. Don't know what I've been doing. Let's hope when I hit publish this time it will goooooo.

What Is This Darn Rash?

My dermatologist called this morning. Did you read that correctly? Yes, my dermatologist called, not her office assistant or the Physician Assistant, she actually made the call. I can't ever remembering a doctor actually making a call to me.

Well, there's good news and not so good news. I have a type of psoriasis that is most likely caused from a reaction to my heart medications. I asked why I was having a reaction now, since I've been on the meds for three years. She said that is not uncommon. She wants me to continue the drugs she gave me and she will do another evaluation when I go back next Tuesday to have the stitches removed. The spots are looking better, but new ones keep coming. She also told me this can be a recurring problem I may have to deal with. She also told me she may consult with my family practitioner about changing some of my heart medications.

The really good news is I am not contagious and the medications I'm using for this will not be harmful to a new born!!! She told me she would write a note to my daughter's OB stating I am safe.




Nicole sent me pictures yesterday of a baby shower her girlfriends gave her. I think Nicole looks beautiful here. She said she felt like a big pink marshmallow! Nicole is in the middle.



Saved

The Great American Smokeout

One thing I think we can all agree is smoking is bad for your health. Ask anyone, smoker or non-smoker and they will tell you they realize smoking can cause severe health risks. Many non-smokers cannot understand the addiction nicotine has on one. I have smoked for 30 years, and yes I know the health risks. I've quite a hundred times. It's the easiest thing to do! How long did it last? I think 3 days was the longest I've ever gone without a cigarette. I've tried the gum, the patch, other prescribed drugs and nothing has worked for me. Year before last when my brother was diagnosed with lung cancer I quite yet again. This time I believe it was about a week. Since that time I have cut down to about 4 a day and for that I am very proud. That late morning cigarette with a cup of coffee or one right after dinner are the best.

In the early 1980's I served on the board of directors for the American Cancer Society. I was nominated publicity chairman my second year. I was charged with orchestrating the first Great American Smokeout for West Virginia. This required our Governor (now Senator) Rockefeller signing the proclamation declaring the Thursday before Thanksgiving as the Great American Smokeout for West Virginia.

This is a picture of the signing of the proclamation. The people in the photo from the left are Joe and Bob, who worked for Health Education, That's Me, Vivian who was chairman of the West Virginia Cancer Society and Dr. H. who was the Director of the Department of Health. Of course, Governor Rockefeller sitting at the desk.

The headlines in the newspaper read "Pack and a half a day smoker heads the Great American Smokeout". Wish I knew where I could put my hands on that article right now. In addition to being involved with the Cancer Society, I worked for the State Health Department for 23 years. In the early years, anyone who smoked and that was more than 50% of the people, could smoke at their desk. There was no such thing as a non-smoking area.

Seemed like everyone smoked. Lucy and Desi smoked, (they didn't sleep in the same bed, but they smoked), Gomez, Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, they all smoked. It was as natural as having dinner. Cigarette commercials and ads were spread all over the television and magazineads displaying a quality lifestyle with a cigarette.


When I was a little girl my parents bought candy cigarettes for me. Do you remember those? Some had bubble gum in the middle while others had a hard candy. Only Daddy smoked while I was growing up. I can remember Daddy having men's church meetings at the house and everyone smoked.

One thing I don't understand about the Surgeon General. If there is an epidemic he calls for a quarantine, if a water well is found to be contaminated he would close the well. Since cigarette smoking has been determined to cause health risks, why has he not banned cigarette? (I think we all know that answer). Instead of spending millions of tax payers dollars on publicizing the dangers of smoking, why can't those dollars directly to the smoker in the form of stop smoking aids?

Today I am going to participate in the Great American Smokeout. If you smoke, will you join me?

The Results Are In!!!

My doctor just called and told me those suspicious spots on my kidney are benign cysts. Yippee!!!! Yippee!!!! He said he did want to keep a watch on them to make sure they don't grow.
Now I have to schedule the Cystoscopy. This is going to be a little tricky since I won't be able to drive after the procedure. I'm sure I'll be able to figure something out.

The CAT Scan

Last Thursday I stopped by the imaging center to pick up 2 "favorable drinks" that I needed to drink before my CAT scan on Friday. I put them in the refrigerator hoping they would go down better cold. Actually, they tasted better than I anticipated. On Friday, I arrived precisely on time. I certainly didn't want to sit around the waiting room speculating what they would be doing to me. Only after a few minutes my name was called. A receptionist took back into another room asked me to undress and put on the wonderful hospital gown and pants and to have a seat in another waiting room. There I had to fill out more paperwork. This was to authorize the center to inject me with dye. WHAT????? A NEEDLE??? I thought a CAT scan was just x-rays. My particular orders called for the dye to be injected so there would be better contrast. It was only a few minutes until my name was called again. This time a nurse took me into a room with the CAT scan machine. After asking me to lay down she approached me with a NEEDLE. At least I didn't have to sit in the waiting room agonizing over the stick.

The nurse began looking for a good vein. Well, I don't have any!! They all go into hiding when they know one will be stuck with a needle. The nurse first tried to get one in my hand. Not only did she stick me, but then began to dig around trying to hit the vein. I finally said STOP!!!!! She pulled the needle out and held pressure on my hand for about 5 minutes. I was bleeding all over the bed. She then cleaned my hand and put a bandage over the puncture.

Since she did enough damage to my right hand, she moved around to my left side and began looking for veins in my arm. I sat up and asked her if there was someone else that could possibly do this. By this time I was feeling nauseous. She said she thought she could hit this vein in my arm. I politely told her if she didn't get it on the first try, just stop and we would find someone else. She said she only stuck me once, but boy did it feel like it was more. It took more time to get the IV into my arm than it did to take the series of pictures. After the scan the nurse hugged me and said she was sorry she hurt me and that she is the same way when she is stuck.

Half of my right hand has a bruise and my left arm is also bruised from the stick and IV. I look like someone has been beating on me.

I am suppose to hear the results tomorrow. I'm hoping nothing was found and the internal exam of my bladder will not be necessary.

Stress Test and My Daughter

In order for me to be at my cardiologist at 8:30 a.m. I had to get up at 6:00 a.m. so I could try to wake up. I'm not a morning person and not having my coffee it made it worse trying to wake up and get moving. I was told I could not have anything to drink or eat after midnight. I managed to leave the house about 7:30 a.m. Shortly after getting on the Interstate my daughter called to see how I was doing and to let me know she was on her way to her OB appointment. We talked all the way to both of our appointments.

Her ultrasound showed she is at 9 weeks and there is only one baby {thank you God}and the baby's heartbeat is strong. As we suspected, she was extremely dehydrated so the doctor admitted her to the hospital so she could get fluids into her body intravenously. All beds on the OB floor were taken, so she was put on another floor. She sat in her room for five hours before a nurse came in and finally brought her some water. That's when we hung up. I'm hoping by now they have started the IV. She was told she could go home tomorrow after receiving fluids. She is so afraid they will want her to take the IV with her. This makes it even more difficult on her. I told her God never gives us more than we can handle. Her father is going down for the weekend to help out with the kids. I plan to go week after next.

My stress went well (that is after they inserted the needle...ouch) and it didn't show any blockage Yippee. My blood pressure was 140/100 when I got on the treadmill. My doctor said I must have been scared. I was able to walk for 5 minutes at a pretty fast rate. Boy I'm out of shape. He told me to work on reducing my stress and he wanted to see me again in four weeks. I thought, reduce my stress ...sure!!! It was after 3:00 p.m. before I got out of this office. I am pooped!!! I sent hubby out to pick up some dinner from Applebee's. I'm sure after I eat I will probably crash. I'll visit everyone tomorrow.

Anxious

It was 4:00 a.m. before I was able to turn the TV off and try to get to sleep this morning. My insomnia was a combination of drinking caffeine last night and the anticipation of my appointment this afternoon with an urologist. I was out of my caffeine free diet coke, so I fixed a pitcher of Crystal Light Green Raspberry tea. By the way, this is very good. Being green tea, I thought it was free of caffeine. Not. This morning I've been pacing and worrying about this office visit.

On Friday, the urologist's office called to confirm my appointment today along with instructions for my visit. They told me I would be catheterized. Ouch!! You would think at the ripe old age of almost 60 I would have been catheterized by now, but I haven't. The thought makes me nauseous. So, what does one do when they are stressed to the max with the anticipation of someone sticking a who know what into a delicate area of ones body....you blog.

The reason for this exam is a result of a moderate amount of blood that was found through the urinalysis I had a couple weeks ago. If my doctor thought this was just an infection, he would have given me an antibiotic. But since he has referred me to one of those ologists, he must feel something else is wrong. I don't handle pain, the unknowing, or discomfort well at all. Honestly, if I had a Valium I would take it.

I have a little over an hour to shower and get to the ologists office. If I don't stroke out on the table, I'll post the results later this afternoon. Keep a candle burning.

I'm Better Now

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. (psalm 118:24)

I promise I will say this verse every morning and give thanks for the day. The tears are over (for now) and I'm grabbing a hold of this life of mine and plan to embrace every day. I've been putting too much thought into "what if's" and not enjoying "now". What a waste. I want to thank fellow bloggers who have provided so much comfort. That has meant more than you will every know.

Today I'm continuing my tests. I'm off to the hospital for a chest x-ray. Afterwards, I may go shopping. Now that is great therapy.

Feeling Blue

A couple weeks ago I went in for my annual check-up with my family physician. Of course he ordered blood work, told me I needed a colonoscopy since it has been 12 years since my last one, and told me to be sure and have my GYN send him the results of my visit with him. This past Thursday I went in for the blood work. Let me tell you right here, I have a horrible fear of needles. It doesn't hurt, I know that, but I'm still afraid. You would think after all these years it wouldn't bother me. That is not the purpose of this post. My results came back showing my cholesterol is still high and I have a "moderate" amount of blood in my urine. I have been scheduled to see an urologist on July 2nd.

The Internet is a blessing and a curse. I immediately went to webmd to see what could cause blood in the urine. The BIG C came up. Now I'm freaked out!!! I'm not experiencing any discomfort so I'm hoping it is just a bladder infection that can be cured with an antibiotic; however, I can't dismiss the fact that it could be something more serious. I've written in other posts how turning 60 has been bothering me. Right now I am embracing turning 60. Life is such a wonderful gift but getting old isn't fun.

Yesterday I kept reflecting back on losing Mom, Daddy, my sister and just a year ago the 6th of this month my brother. The tears were flowing non-stop. To make things worse, I have been going through old negatives that I found about a month ago from the 60's and early 70's. (This is a whole different story I will write about next week). Looking at those negatives made the tears flow more. Where has my life gone? What do I have to show? I know, I'm going through a big pity trip right now and I must snap out of this. It's just my nature to think of the worse.

Now I just need to get through the next couple of weeks until my appointment with the urologist. It seems like everything in my body is screaming at me......boy what stress can do.