A Part of Getting Older

A part of getting older is being faced with health issues. During the last few years, since covid, we have had some setbacks, but have trusted that the Lord knows our bodies and His hand has been on us. I had a very bad case of Covid in 2020 and then was diagnosed with Long Covid. For years I have had issues with pain in my body and it wound up being diagnosed as RA. The medicine they wanted me to take gave me terrible nightmares and I figured I'd rather have pain that nightmares. Then, a little growth developed on my inner lip. I went to the Dr and he said it was nothing. For 4 years I let him know and that it was getting bigger and it hurt. He didn't take it seriously. THEN CAME MEDICARE.... they take EVERYTHING seriously! SERIOUSLY! I fell out of a tree putting up Christmas lights! Then, I fell and ran a bolt through my hand. I fell and broke my arm! I let the Dr know I had that thing in my mouth! It turned out to be a slow growing cancer. I had the first surgery and they didn't get it all. Then they sent me to an oncologist and he sent me for a pet scan. That pet scan revealed a hidden tumor that was deep in my throat in the perotid gland. So, with a broken arm in a cast, I went into surgery last July. Praise the LORD that I had that mouth tumor, or they wouldn't have found the perotid tumor. So, I've been recoverying since last July. Part of my mouth was removed and folks say they can't really tell, but I can tell. My smile is crooked. :) I have what is called "First Bite Syndrome" which causes pain when I take my first few bites of food, but I'm so thankful that I CAN take bites of food! Mostly, I'm so thankful that it was all found out and I have recovered. All the pet scans have been clear. I have one more coming up and I won't have to see the oncologist again. He was a very good Doctor! Here are a few pictures of recovery: (the first picture is about 9 months after) I am at 13 months now.

I have been very careful since those falls to walk with intent. At 68, I don't need to break anything else! I also found an herbal concoction to take for the RA from INDIA. It is called RELAXI and it is doing wonders for my body. I don't even need to take an aspirin at this point. I've been on it for 2 months. I noticed the difference after 2 weeks. I'm so thankful that things have improved. Last year was a HARD year!

Shot Day!

Today was errand running day including going to the Health Department to get shots.
Alli had to get 4, Sarah 2 and Anna 1.  Erika is done until college...
Now, they are ALL done until college! Yea!

We drove down the street and dropped off the new records at the Dr's. office and payed for our after hours phone call from Alli's medical incident last month.  (He charges 15 dollars for an after hours consultation)

Then we headed to the high school to drop off Anna's shot record update and to make sure she was placed in Pre AP biology.

It has been one of those paper work days, and it isn't over! I just payed the deductible for Alli's hospital visit, and had to call and request an itemized bill, and now I'm filling out paperwork for the Medical Share program we are a part of, and the accident incident program we are a part of.

If I finish all this, I might be able to get ready for our upcoming School day on Thursday!!!!

For now.... I'm exhausted!

A Scary Night

It was a very scary 7 hours! When there is nothing you can do but wait, waiting takes forever, and prayers come easy.

Yesterday in the late afternoon,  Mike was putting a water proof repellant on our boat cover. This was done outdoors with plenty of ventilation.
Alli was outside watching.  She  came in and got ready for our special time. I took some of the girls to "retro" movie night to see Jaws on the big screen. :) Mike took Erika for a daddy daughter date.
Half  way through the movie, , Alli said she was nauseated. I figured it was the popcorn and coke, so I told her not to eat any more.
She didn't say anything else. When the movie ended at around 9:45, we were leaving and she started to cough and said it hurt to breathe. By the time we got home, she was breathing rather shallow, and labored. I called Mike  who immediately came home with Erika.
He said he was having the same symptoms, but much milder.
We called our doctor (who does answer his phone after hours) and he said to take her to the ER.

Alli had HIGH ANXIETY about going to the ER and begged us to please not take her. We reassured her that she would be ok, and we'd go to one of those small places where you don't stay over night.
We decided to take her to the smaller, local ER that would be less stressful for her.  Thankfully nobody was there and we walked right in.

When they checked her vitals,  her heart beat was 198, and breathing was painful, yet was getting enough oxygen. (not blue at the mouth) just pain. Her respiration was rapid and shallow.
The docs immediately brought her heart down with medication, a sedative and IV fluids. She was a trooper! 

Erika came with us, as Alli responds very well to Erika's touch.
Alli knows that Erika has had a lot of medical procedures, so watching IV's started and seeing blood was not a stressor for her. She didn't leave her side, at all.  
The doctor and nurses told Erika that she did an awesome job keeping Alli calm. :)  We are so thankful for her doing that, while we were filling out paperwork.

After an hour trying to get her stable, and the x ray coming back for chemically induced pneumonia, the doctor told us he wanted to transfer her to Children's hospital by ambulance. He told us to expect her to possibly wind up in ICU.

That was a chilling statement.

Auto Pilot set in, and we reassured her once again that nobody would leave her side. I went in the ambulance and Mike and Erika went home with the other girls.
And then, miraculously, everything started to settle down at about 4: a.m.
The meds started to finally work and the sedative with pain killer helped her be able to breathe without panic.

To our surprise, at 5:00 a.m. the doctor came in and said, I think the worst is over and it has run it's course. You can stay the night tonight, or we can send you home with meds and bedrest.

We chose home!
Alli doesn't even remember coming home or how she got back into her bed. LOL  Meds at work. :)

They let her keep her gown and bracelet. :) And she has been wearing it all day and resting.
Sweet clingyness has ruled the day, and though very exhausted..... I am so thankful.

She is resting well today.... Pain meds and plenty of fluids.

VERY BIG LESSON LEARNED.... just because a label doesn't mention a particular hazard, it doesn't mean it is safe.
The Toxicologist said she sees this all the time even with household chemicals for cleaning.
The pneumonia will go away, the memory will be there, and the bonding that happened because of some fluke accident will secure her even further as a Minich.

An Update on Sarah

Sarah had surgery on Tuesday and went home on Wednesday.  She is doing AMAZING!
I gave her pain meds as a precaution on Wednesday night.  She hasn't asked for any since!
I am amazed at how quickly she has bounced back.
I am the one who needed to recover from being at the hospital! LOL
She is determined to be in her leg by Christmas.  By Golly, I think she will do it!

PECAN CRACKING SEASON/ sick :/

I don't know what it is about me and taxes, but my blood pressure goes CRAZY when I work on them.  My SON does this for a living EVERY SINGLE DAY, and it doesn't bother him.....But me, I just get dizzy and panicked..and then ZING...

So, I am supposed to rest for the weekend.  And then, I started getting chills. And now, I am starting another UT infection.   What in the WORLD??

The doctor thinks it is because my body is detoxing. I sure hope he is correct.  But he did tell me to stop doing any tax stuff, and our Accountant Bill did too. :)

So, I sat this a.m and cracked pecans!  That is sort of relaxing. :)

We have 5 large bags of pecans to crack!

It was also cozy and cool enough to make this awesome fire in the wood stove. :)

A No Nightshade Update

I have been nightshade free for over 3 weeks.  I am experiencing a miracle in my body.  I am nearly pain free.  When I wake up in the morning I can move freely and my feet don't feel like they are broken.  My shoulder is doing really well, my hands and thumbs which usually cause me a lot of pain are pain free.  My hips which were keeping me from walking well are pain free.  I am THRILLED!

Thank you Lord for leading me to a solution!  And at the same time, guiding me to discipline myself in my eating habits.  

So while this diet "liveit" is not easy, it is SO worth it; just like being gluten free is worth it!
Today I walked over 3 miles on my treadmill while I listened to a documentary on Sabina Wurmbrand.
I lift my arms in praise to the Lord!

The Nightshade Issue

Well, I have done REALLY well not having night shades.  I didn't have salsa at the restaurant the other day which was very hard.

I think I am such a FOODIE.  I like flavor and spice and HOT..... So I am having to really think about what sorts of spices to use that are safe.

The truth is that so far.... my pain has really diminished in the last 7 days.  I will KNOW if it is coincidence, IF, when the rain comes, my pain doesn't increase!
I am a true weather vane.

If it is true that I am actually allergic to night shades, I will not weep the loss of egg plant.  But the loss of peppers and tomatoes and potatoes will be a different story. :(  You know, it is one thing to give up coke.  It is quite another to not have staples..... like tomatoes, which are in everything!

So, I thank the Lord that we have FOOD!  I am thankful that I am finding answers to health issues that I have been plagued with.  And, I am thankful that I have the internet to find recipes for foods I CAN have, and to find alternative sources to SPICE! :)

The "Live It" Plan

I wrote here about my latest Dr. appt. and what I need to do to make changes that are lasting.
I actually started my "Live it",  4 days before my appt.  
After doing a little research on arthritis, I have found that eating "night shades" is a no-no. 
I had heard this before, but wasn't aware of how many foods were actual night shades.

So now, besides being gluten and dairy free, I am also going to need to be night shade free, which means, no more tomatoes, potatoes or peppers.  I need to check if that means all peppers or just a few different types.  I thought this would be really hard because I adore peppers and onions sauteed and put over rice.

Last week I had tomato sauce, and juiced bell peppers, but non this week.  I thought it would be hard, but so far, it isn't.
Juicing is fun. I just don't like the cleanup part, however the chickens LOVE it. :) 
Does anybody use the pulp from juicing to make into something else? 

I wonder if it can be made into pesto?

Last night I was experimenting because Spaghetti was on the menu.  I have never tried pesto before.
But I figured I have nothing to lose and need to try some new things!
To my delight, it was delicious!!!!  Even Mike liked it and he is cautious about trying new things.
I was scouring recipes over the internet and many call for cheese.  I just left the cheese out.

I came up with a really good pesto by using
1/2 bunch fresh basil, 1/4 cup walnuts, 1 TLB of freshly minced garlic, 1/4 small zucchini shredded, kelp granules, 1-2 TLB olive oil and a little water to thin it out.
I put it in the blender and it came out wonderful!  I used it over my rice noodles for my spaghetti and everybody else tasted it and liked it. :)

AND, it is GOOD for you. :)

The next thing to eliminate or GREATLY reduce is corn.   I don't believe there is any corn available that has not been Genetically Modified.

After just a few days of no night shades, and a week and a couple of weeks of juicing, my arthritis is starting to calm down.  Now that COULD be coincidence, but I am wondering if it is.  I was in so much pain I could barely do the treadmill.  Today, I walked over a mile in 16 minutes and I didn't have pain. 

I feel better and am hoping that when I go back to the Dr. my cholesterol levels will be back in the normal range and I will have better and continued range of motion.

Can Anybody Say High Cholesterol??

UGH.... something new to worry about.
Doc wants me on a vegetarian diet.  Let's just say that I used to be and my cholesterol was fine.  I have been eating meat and eggs and now.... after 5 years not being a vegetarian, it is HIGH..... The ratio is within norm, but frankly, heart issues plagued my father until he died at MY AGE!  YIKES!

Soooo, here is to my new Gluten Free AND Vegetarian lifestyle.  Yippee.

I actually started making some changes about 2 weeks ago and have been juicing vegetables and drinking them for breakfast.  I guess I'll be doing MORE of that.
Started back with exercising again too.  Because of arthritis I just haven't felt like it for awhile, but honestly, once I got going and putting it into a routine, I feel better.

Hopefully, I can get this cholesterol level down to an acceptable level soon.

Camp

Tomorrow, Erika, Sarah and I leave for "Out on a Limb camp". You have to be out of a couple of limbs or have multiple limb difference, or more to go to this camp. 
Over the years we have met some wonderful people. Some have become some very sweet friends, and our reunions each year get sweeter.  The rest of the family gets to go to the Winter Camp Retreat, in February.
 I explained to Alli last year, that this is the only place where Erika and Sarah ever see anybody else just like them.  And they are very fortunate to have each other. Some children don't have a sibling with missing limbs to identify with, and it can be very lonely.

There is much to do to get ready!  I will miss Daddy, Anna and Alli, but we always talk on the phone at night.  Daddy, I'm sure will have some fun things planned for the three of them. :)

I am so thankful that we are going. I became very ill last night trying to battle an infection and had to go to one of those Emergency Room places.  I have to say, they were VERY good and got me in quickly.  After getting a shot of antibiotic, advil,  and staying in bed and not cleaning  carpets, I am already 50% better than I was last night.  I still have that one left to do that I wanted to finish before we left, but it is not to be. My body says, REST.  Unfortunately, I had to stay behind from services today. :(    But I'm glad I got some obviously much needed sleep, as I just woke up at 12:30!

So, camp here we come! :)  Stay tuned! :)

While I am gone, please enjoy some of the "Posts of Note" on my side bar.  :)

Tim's Surgery Done

Well, phase one of Tim's surgery is done.  The first thing was to remove plates and pins from his surgery when he was  little boy, to ensure that they are not the real problem. They then injected his hip with cortisone.  Hopefully, HOPEFULLY this will help.  Dr. Sucato was very helpful in explaining why the hip is hurting today.  (Em's I'll tell you what he said later when we talk)  It made perfect sense, and is certainly related to Tim's Cerebral Palsy.

If the procedure this time does not work,  the next surgery will be a much longer recuperation time and much more involved. 
The doctor was very good, but the hospital was NOT Scottish Rite. I was not impressed.   I think we are spoiled at Texas Scottish Rite OR in reality, we aren't and THEY SHOULD be the standard. 
I have to say, if I were to get sick, I would not want to wind up at the hospital that handled Tim's post op. That said, we had a nice visit and Ilse even got to stay with us for the afternoon! :)

 

 She smiled and laughed all day long!
 Marcus came last night and we all had a really good time visiting.




Tim was feeling pretty good this a.m.  and ready to have breakfast.  The doctor came in right after this and said he could go home.  Walking will be a little difficult, but he'll be fine.

Post Surgery Update

Erika and I went to see the Surgeon this a.m.  We have a better plan to manage pain, and then in 3 more weeks we will start prosthesis.  She has too much swelling right now.  But the good news is, she has 3 sisters to keep her distracted, and they are taking VERY good care of her. :)

She is looking forward to walking again, but it will be a couple of months.  Alli LOVES to steer her around in her wheel chair, so does Sarah.  Anna, has been very helpful in every way.

I have been touched watching the girls love on their big sister.  It is not easy being down....and Erika VERY MUCH is not inactive, even with arthrogryposis. 

We will all get through this TOGETHER!

A Pocket Full of Blessings!

Erika has been having more pain today and struggling to keep it under control.  It is amazing the timing of this Pocket Full of Blessings that arrived! 

She said, "Wow, I am feeling better!" :)

Thank you so VERY MUCH all of you over at Blessed By A Child!  What a wonderful group of artists! The Lord used each of you today to cheer up  my girl! :)

Blessings to you!

We Are HOME!

We arrived last night, just in time for Friday Night Pizza night.  The ride home was a little stressful, as stopping suddenly was not at ALL comfortable. Unfortunately, the Texas drivers that pulled in front of us, continuously, didn't know Erika needed them to be more courteous.

We opted to take the long way home and get off of the crazy Friday Night Freeway.  By the time we got home, we needed to give her pain meds and FAST.  But everything settled, and this a.m. she was up and ready to get into her wheel chair.

I think we made the right decision to come home.  We BOTH feel better.  My back is really not good, and one more day on the parent bed would have deemed it necessary for me to have my own morphine pump. LOL

Here are a few pictures of our stay:  Erika has her own set of pictures too. :)

 Arrival at our room.

 School days never get a break.

 The amazing menu!  This is just 2 pages of menu items. There were more!  The hospital now has room service. When you are hungry, you order, any time of day until 6:00. 

 A room with a view:

 Erika's bracelet said, falls, so we wrote "Forgets" on mama's. :)

 Getting ready to go.

 The Elevator Ride

 The X rays

 The Man! (Dr. Herring)

 Erika and Robert  (he makes legs)

 Erika and Pastor Justin

 Dr. Herring again

 The other Dr.... (learning with Dr. Herring.  He likes "hips and spines". :)

 Visiting with sisters and daddy

 The nicest nurse in the world!

 Mama and Anna

 Miss Wanda.... (she also makes legs)

 Kiley... a friend from Camp.

 This is the intake area.

 And there she goes with the anesthesiologist.

 Back in our room after surgery.

 The morphine pump is doing it's job. LOL

 Visits from some very special people. :)

 Anna came in and fell into my feather bed. She misses me. :)

 Alli trying out Erika's new transportation.

 Erika received a Raggedy Ann and Andy Doll, handmade by some very special volunteers.

 Anna still misses me. :)

 Good byes from Daddy.

 Mommy and Erika did our best at Art Work. These will be fired next week and we can pick them up when we go back in two weeks. :)

 Piano lessons in the child life room.

This is Stewart, Erika's new prosthetist.

He is a really nice man.

And here is where the doc said, we can go! :)

Erika has pictures from inside the operating room believe it or not. LOL