Breathe in, breathe out.  sip some more iced coffee.  Yes I am doing okay.  Boy everyone on my FB is so worried.  I love you guys!  .    Yes I really am okay,.  Not in the best of shape and I was scared earlier.  I really do appreciate all of your concern and yes I am okay.  I now appreciate those with MS a bit more, I understand that lack of vision and I think that is the scariest part.  If my vision were better I wouldn't be so afraid to drive but with it as bad as it is I don't dare get behind the wheel of a car right now.especially with it getting dark.

I'm feeling kind of "asthmatic" right now.  glad I was able to find my in haler because I ran out of the nebulizer medication and can't get it until I get the blood work done, can't get my thyroid medication until the blood work comes back.  Again I'm not going all the way to Wilkes Barre for the Endo, there is one up here in Scranton that is taking new patients so I'm going to see if I can get in there.  But I was able to "fuel" up enough today to feel okay.  and yes mom if I felt worse I would have called the ambulance to take me to the ER but I started feeling better.  I'm drinking iced coffee right now so I should be okay for the most part.  To keep track I'm setting my clock for tow hour naps.

I also want to get some fresh veggies would be nice, cucumber and tuna fish sandwiches would be nice.  Some pasta with dressing and green veggies, yeah that sounds good.   Maybe later, I'm going to kick up my feet right now and doze a bit with my Sophie, She has a full tummy for sure, was very pleased with her dinner tonight with the "drizzle" of bacon juice over her food this evening.

All of that will come in time, after my thyroid gets back to normal.  or what my normal is.  for now, a snooze.  This pretty much says it all...Waning moon phase moon is getting smaller
. 

---Had a fairly decent nap.  Just woke up.  Needed that nap before I killed Sophie.  She's been getting her little self into a lot of trouble lately and getting on my last nerve.  She almost made it today with her little tricks;  I have been on and off flaring lately and my health hasn't been all that great because of it.  I am in need of blood wok on top o f it so I'm not in all that great of shape but I'm moving on as they say. 

Sophie has been a bit of a trouble maker getting into things and had gotten herself into minor scrapes like getting stuck outside under the car where I've had to go out and get her and it all culminated into me having to pull the dryer out fro the wall today so I could get her out from behind! 

Last week she got on my desk and knocked down the bowl of treats I have up here for when she does her business outside and comes in.  She enjoys them so they are "special" for when she does it all outside (Occasionally I will find poop on the bathroom floor, can't really say to much because it is the Bathroom floor only you know).  Not only did she knock this bowl down but she managed to get the lid off and eat all of the treats therefore emptying the dish before it's time and having to wait until I make another  dog food run next week. 

So she has been in search of anything that may have fallen on the floor while I have been fixing my meals and has chased some to under the stove fridge and of course washer and dryer.  Until today where she ran up and chased possibly a moue with a morsel behind the the dryer and got her little bootee stuck.  I was in there fixing myself a big "gulp" of water and heard her little whine had to go in and grab a tank pf O2 and boost it way up and set with it getting as much as I could so I could go in there and move the damn machine! 

And the doctor's office won't send someone out to help me with my car when I need to get bloodworm done.  Can you figure out why I would want to change primary providers?  Well I'm hungry right now, Sophie is too so I'm going to go get us some food and turn on some Judge Judy, want to join us?

Sophie Stay stay the hell out of trouble!!!

About To curl Up

With my faithful dog.  It has been a horribly long day.  It was a horribly long day yesterday.  I've been flaring worse than usual the past few days.  I slept most of yesterday, finally got up around three had a bagel and some chicken broth.  I sat up for a bit and played a few games but then went back and sat down with Roku and slept. I couldn't even crochet. 

Dummy me I forgot about cauliflower and broccoli not being all that good for Lupus sufferers and oh it was so good in my veggie tray.  I went back to sleep early and was asleep all night.  Woke up but didn't want to be awake, I wanted to sleep but had to get up, go to the bank and then to the store.  But I did manage to hit Starbucks and that Vent i gingerbread latte was sooooooooo good (yes I know a lot ooooooos there)I felt so bad coming out of the store I thought I was going to pass out so I sat down for a bit and watched people walking by.  I was so glad I had a very close parking spot, because it took a bit for me to get going in at the car. 

Once home I was so tired.  On the way home Shannon tried calling, I had to wait until I was home and had everything in the kitchen.  My body is so exhausted that after awhile I just couldn't get up from my desk char I played some games, searched for and finally found someone on face book I hope she remembers me and accepts the friend request I sent her.  I also called Shannon back.  Oh I can not wait to be there where there is warm right now...they have over 60 degrees and here it is cold and damp and I hurt everywhere. 

My sinuses are stuffy, I'm thirsty, my back hurts, my right arm...oh yeah the tank fell on it in the cars so it's bruised, my elbow hurts.  Okay, to the kitchen, for some water, then turn the lights down,m going to my chair, pulling my comforter around me and putting my feet up, turning down the volume on the television and who knows, maybe sleep until tomorrow.  I just want to be over this flare, I just want to be out of the damp and the cold...

Awake at 5:99pm

Yes it's true I slept until almost 5:00pm.   Such is a Lupus flare.  I woke up on and off to take Sophie out but couldn't get my body to do much more.   It all started Saturday morning when a phone call woke me and I had a headache all day after the sun hit my left eye when I opened up my eyes.  It wasn't all that bad but I was quite tired and everything was hurting.  I gathered up the strength and made it to the store only to have my shopping trip  cut short because my back was beginning to kill me.  Monday I  woke up and was a bit energized and went to the store to pick up the rest of my purchases and again my back felt like knives were stabbing my spine and I was wishing someone would smack me in the back with a 2x4 just to take away the pain of the knives.  But I finally got everything, got it all home and put away. 

Sunday, some time  after I got home from the store diarrhea set in, which happens sometimes during flares and that made my backache even worse.  I swear there was a span of a bout three hours where I was sitting on the toilet and it felt like anything I had had to eat over the course of a month landed in my toilet.  I ate lightly, chicken broth and dry toast.  To add to it all the weather has been crappy.  Foggy, drizzly and today it rained rained, rained and rained some more!  So yes, I slept today away.  getting up only to let Sophie outside.  It felt so nice under that comforter, with Sophie right there next to me. 

With all the doing nothing that I was doing I did finish the crochet project that I was working on, now I'm making some winter scarves with the left overs from my many projects.  There is enough for another afghan but I want to get rid of some of the "scrap" so that they are out of the way.  Besides I have to get the last two I've made washed.  Right now, my big dinner of chicken broth and a peanut butter bagel.  gourmet all the way huh...

Iced Tea and Backaches

When I woke up this morning it was cold and I couldn't get warm all day.  To top it off I had to go to the grocery store.  At first I was only going to stop at the Convenient store down the road but decided to head to the local grocery and if I could find a decent parking spot I'd go ahead on in. 

Fist I had to get Sophie outside which I did, it was foggy and cold and I couldn't get my fingers and toes warm.  I got everything ready to leave.  On my way to the convenient was when I changed m mind to check the grocery store.  Found a great spot right up front so I grabbed the extra tank and plopped it into the backpack just in case and headed in. 

Got a good basket, tossed the backpack in and entered the produce department,  They had some great looking bananas so I grabbed a bunch and the cucumbers although having gone up in price, looked very nice so I got three.  Grabbed a veggie tray and some bagged salad before heading for the dressing. 

I wasn't planning on getting those things but once there everything looked so good.  Went on down and got some black olives and then around to the dog food, then to the eggs and back for bacon when my back just above my right hip began hurting.  It felt as if the bone spurs  were poking into the nerves back there and it was all I could do to get through the checkout line to where I could sit fora few before getting the groceries into the car and home. 

Got home, Sophie was very interested in the "bounty" I had returned with and she wanted to go out again.  She noted that it was still foggy out and shuddered did her business then came back in.  I grabbed the mail, nothing, just junk (I was hoping some rich relative died and left me everything ...LOL)

Groceries put away, Sophie fed, I grabbed a banana noting that my fingers and toes are still cold, they say that it comes with Lupus, I used to get gloves because of my fingers but even with gloves and socks they have always been cold.  I think that over the years I've just gotten used to it enough that I don't realize it.  I fixed a large glass of instant iced tea and grabbed another banana.  Sophie decided she wanted some, yes bananas are okay for dogs, A good sweet treat for the both of us.

I was so tired after shopping that I took a break in the chair watching some television and fell asleep for about an hour.  So, here it is cold, and foggy and I'm drinking iced tea...makes sense?  Actually the cold tea makes my body go up a bit causing me to warm up.  but, yeah my fingers and toes are still cold. 

Because of my back/hip I had to cut the shopping short, didn't get the margarine or the bread or bagels but those can wait.   I can run to the Convenient to grab those things tomorrow.  Then on Monday I'll have to rest because my back and legs will be "toast" .  I could also use a massage in my neck/right shoulder, my clavicle/collarbone is in constant pain and it got worse when I was doing Physical Therapy.  My shoulder and upper back got better buy my neck/collarbone and upper thorax kept getting worse and they did nothing to help.   They even cause me headaches.  , yeah a good massage. 

Want A Little Coffee Ina Your Creamer?

Well at least it is before noon!  I kind of overdid it on the coffee creamer though.  Talk about your latte' .  Oh well I won't have to use any creamer on my next cup.   With my sleeping patterns back to what can be, I guess defined as "normal" I've been getting to sleep before 1:00am and depending on if I had "help" getting to sleep I'm usually up and about by 9:00
Today was the exception because yesterday evening I was doing some crocheting and fell asleep for almost three hours so I was up until just after 2:00 this morning.  I thought about taking one of my sleeping aids but didn't because it would have me sleeping  until almost late afternoon and I want to see at least some daylight.

Today's moon is in the final waning phase and is in Leo, tomorrow it will be in it's last quarter phase and in Virgo.  I have found that during these waning days I am more energetic and if it wasn't for previous injuries to my back I'd be able to get more done around here.  But that's okay a little at a time "slow and steady" as they say.
This weekend should prove to be a decent one as the moon will be in Libra Friday and Saturday and in the Lunar Phase, waning crescent.   Yeah I know some of you are rolling your eyes but I have noticed subtle things going on within me due to the moon's phases .

Admit it, aren't there certain times of the month when you crave a certain food, this goes for the guys as well as the girls, it has nothing to do with female menses.  I don't have those parts any longer and I find I crave certain foods at certain parts of the month even more now than I ever did when I had my cycles.  Study yourself keep an eye on your own sleeping patters, are there times when you are up late, just can't unwind and other times when you fall asleep watching the five o'clock news?  I do know this, next flare I have I'm going to check the moon phase and what sign it is in so I can maybe be better prepared the next time.

Looking back I see where my last major flare that landed me in hospital the moon was waning crescent in the Lunar phase in the house of Capricorn.   Tomorrow starts the Lunar phase but waning crescent and in the house of Virgo.  So I shall see how I feel at that time.

Like I said earlier right now my back aches and my sinuses have been giving me trouble.  I've also woken up coughing a couple of times during the night.  My hands and feet are "puffy".  But this all comes with the disease.  Right now if I had the strength I'd be yanking my big toe on my right foot off of that foot right now.  It hurts from the tip all the way into the joint..

Now my 2nd cup of "joe" since "Johan" isn't here rubbing my feet as the commercial claims.  This cup looks like coffee, I also grabbed a couple pieces of toast as I was feeling a bit "peckish" .  Every time I spread something on toast or a bagel I am reminded of that scene in The Bird Cage where Armand is attempting to teach Albert how to be a "man"  and shows Albert how to "smear" the spread onto the toast; good movie I should watch it again.

So, I changed the background to my page...do you like it?  I wanted to capture the "festive" feel but not get too far into Christmas.   To those who say "Tis the reason for the season" I say, check your history children, the season was here long before Christianity landed and that in fact Christianity is based upon the teachings of a Hebrew man...I wonder if anyone has told that Redneck KKK group about that?  They claim to be a Christian based organization dedicated to white/Christian supremacy ..Do they know their religion was begun by a Hebrew man?

Kind of a gloomy day out there actually.  I don't know if we had rain or the fog was just super thick earlier or we had snow and it melted, maybe ice and it melted but  the porch was damp and the step was wet when I let Sophie out this morning,   She came in and her belly was wet and so was her fur so it wasn't just the dew.   It is also chillier today.  I have figured out the thermostat and keep it at just about 65 degrees.  That keeps it warm enough inside and if it gets too warm I open up the kitchen window for awhile.  The cold makes me wanna pee...

Attack of the "Snow People" Has Begun

Well my sleep patterns are finally back to semi-normal.  I was able to fall asleep naturally last night after sitting and crocheting quietly.  Woke up @ 9:00 this morning.    I've been doing some research and have learned that the moon's phases do have more of an effect on me that I thought.   During the Waning phase I am usually more sedate with a fairly "normal" sleep pattern.  I am less energetic and I tend to need to bump up the flow rate of the oxygen every now and then.

During the waxing phase I become more energetic, my mind is going almost 24/7 and I have trouble sleeping.  This Sunday/Monday was the first time in years I had stayed up all night though and I had trouble getting to sleep the following night as well.  Finally had to use something that would put me to sleep.  A step I didn't want to take.

I felt so bad for Sophie because she was getting frustrated with me not coming to sleep and when I did get there my constant movement made her get down and go to her basket.  To top it off I found that the days I was awake the most the moon was in Aries which is opposite on the Zodiac from Libra...I found interesting the fact that , my ex husband's Astrological sign is Aries...Tonight a full moon.  What is that song?  "I see the moon and the moon sees me..."

We caught some snow Monday night/Tuesday morning.  I wasn't a happy camper about it.  Had to drag out the spent O2 tanks, so that the delivery guy could get them when he brought fresh tanks.  I ordered a couple more of each size because depending upon what I'm doing I've been running out.  As long as the ground isn't too wet and there is no rain (especially if it is a sunny day) I've been walking Sophie.

I've been doing a bit of rearranging things so I can pack up some stuff for moving.  things I won't be using until warmer weather because it looks like the cold is moving in.  I have my sweats, my jeans and I can always double up on the tees to keep me warm and this O2 machine puts out a lot of heat which I am not going to complain about right now...but during the summer.  I'm hoping I can maybe get a system with a battery pack for daytime use once I get moved.

So, Thanksgiving is over, no on to the next holidays, Solstice/Chanuka/Christmas/Kwanzaa/whatever else.  I'm not going to be going into Wal Mart for a while, too much craziness this time of year for me.  Besides they start the "Christmas" buying season way too early.  It began Right after School began.  Halloween was just a couple of aisles while Christmas has taken over the entire store.  Last time I picked up a prescription I was in line and the music playing was "Silent Night" I groaned and made a comment about the music, the man behind me chuckled so I turned around and asked "Did I miss Thanksgiving?"  He full out laughed.  It was barely two weeks after Halloween for crying out loud and they were playing Silent Night!   So I'll be buying Schwan's and smaller stores for my needs, my drugs I'll have mailed to me.  After the first of the year I'll venture back to Wally World.

In The Wee Hours

I have come to see just how "attached" my life is to the moon.   When I was younger I just thought I was what they call a "Night Owl"  I could stay up and party all night long and sleep through sun rise.  Get up in the late morning/early afternoon and stay up and party all night long again.

But then there were times when I'd be so totally exhausted day in and day out that coffee in gallons wouldn't have kept me away.

I was once told by a self proclaimed astrologist/psychic/reader that I was a "Child of the Moon", she said my choice of animals proved a part of it.  I have always been drawn to wolves and can't imagine my life without a Canine companion.  But really is that proof?

Could it be that my staying up through the night is that my inner spirit is governed by the moon?  But what about my need for sunlight?  For bright vibrant colors?  Ahhh but I also like the darker deeper hues as well.

When it comes to colors I am all over that rainbow.  I love the soft pastels of spring, minty greens but then I also love the deep rain forest colors and the moss greets.  but then baby pink is comfy too.  When it comes to reds though I like the deep bluer ones, the pomegranates, the cranberries.  I'm not an orangey or yellow person, and eww pea green?

But then, look at the moon isn't it sort of a soft pale, pastel yellow?  Yes I can handle that tint of yellow, cream color..  And the stars, silvery like glitter, oh good lord next thing you know I'm going to e talking about Unicorns...

Then, I do have a "dark side"  I have always enjoyed Disney's villains more than I have the Princesses, even though the villains never win there is something about their dark nature that draws me to them.  Something about how they always seem to come out at night...

So, what got me to thinking all of this lunacy (another reference to the moon). Was a few months ago I started keeping sort of keeping track of my sleepless nights and the moons phases, and sure enough, it seems as if my sleepless nights fall during the waxing phase of a full moon.  Waning...is when I am more tired than usual.

And there you have it, why they call it Lupus...another reference to the moon...

Weather is getting colder, hands are hurting more often.  If I were strong enough I'd probably we missing my lower right arm because just below the elbow where it was broken is in constant pain and there is a nice "lump" just barely viable there.  My fingers get so cold.

Oh, I didn't tell you about my "Help I've fallen" moment the other morning.  After my expierence with the flea spray (Dummy me) I switched chairs and everything was fine for awhile.  I remembered that the other chair had a problem with the back and that if I moved in a certain way I could wind up with my feet in the air and my head on the ground and having to do a backward somersault to fix the problem.  So I was just waking up the other morning, stretched my body fhead to toes with my arms above my head and yeppers it happened...t

So I had to do the back somersault then ease myself up with the aid of the stairs/newel post.  I was dizzy at first but once my head cleared I got the chair back to "normal", I continued to use it for a couple more nights but decided to switch back to the other chair just because knowing me I'd be doing it again and I'm in enough pain as it is.  Yes the accident hurt, my neck has been paying the price and my lower back hasn't been happy either.

Election day has come and gone.  It's another four years of Obama, I'm not happy about it but at least I dont' have to worry about my Medicare for four years.  After finally getting health insurance that doesn't cost $500 a month it would really upset me to wind up losing it.  What is there for folks like me to do?  Because of pre existings regular insurance would be out of hand, even the state issued insurance is over $300 a month.  But I guess those of us in need are supposed to slide under a rock somewhere ad die.

So, what's up with this, lately I've been craving chicken broth/soup.  I even woke up at 3:00 this morning craving it in my dream!  I'm sitting her finishing off a mug at this moment in fact.  Well chicken and rice/stars is sort of a "comfort food" for me so I guess that has something to do with it.

I finished another afghan and after I get it washed up I'm going to take photos of all of them then put them on Celtic Wych's site for sale.  I figure a flat rate of $25 each would be good...even offer "specials" from time to time a reduced rate when two or more are purchased.  I have all of this yarn (and of course I'll be getting more LOL) and I love doing these things but what do I do with them after I complete a project?  I'm one person and I've given so many of them away over the years.  Time to make a little money on them.

I do not like the time change.  I don't like having to turn the lights on so early in the day.  It starts getting dusky around 4:00.  It is actually kind of depressing since it is already the gray time of year and with the gray of dusk...gotta have color.  Besides I start getting sleepy as it gets dark and gloomy.  I am already looking forward to Spring and we haven't even been hit with winter yet...

First, Some Hot cocoa

It is damp and it's cold and I spent most of the overly gray morning curled up with Sophie in the chair snoozing getting up long enough to go to the bathroom then back under the afghan.  Now up and about I need to figure out a place to put the O2 machine where I can actually hear if it goes off and it won't be in the way.

Dozing in the chair last night it went off and I didn't hear it too well at first.  Sophie came running in from the kitchen whining and frantic.  When I felt no oxygen I realized there was a problem and heard the beep.  I first assessed that the power wasn't out and grabbed my phone in case I had to make an emergency call to the company I rent from.

I went in to check on the machine and hit the reset button, still the beep.  I turned it off  waited 20 seconds then back on, still beep.  Running out of energy and getting light headed I took a deep breath (well as deep as I could), and I leaned over to check the plug...machine was unplugged.   Sophie sometimes gets a little "wild" in her play and I can only deduce that she was "break dancing" and hit the cord and the plug slipped.  She was all apologetic and shaky thinking she was in trouble.  I moved the machine to another outlet temporarily and let Sophie know she wasn't in trouble.

Now I just have to gather the motivation to clear out the area I want to put the machine in plus that will give me a space to put the tanks as well so they are out of the way.....I think it is pretty much a given that when we have multiple days of gray, damp, cold weather I tend to suffer mild bouts of depression.  Not bad enough to medicate but enough to slow me down.  Once the sun is out and there is light and a bit of color I begin to perk up.

One might think that as a night owl I would enjoy the gloom of the damp gray weather.  But even night has a certain amount of brightness to it where the clouds are gone.  You can see the bright stars, the moon in all of her phases,   Even street lights seem brighter.  It doesn't feel so "closed in" as it does with the clouds, overcast, gray and damp.

So, over there is where I want to put my machine, and next too it on the left side the full tanks, and on the right the spent tanks.  Yes this I will do today.  But first...

Hot cocoa.

COPD flares are not fun.   It is hard to breathe, you cough, you suck on inhalers and nebulizers..  You grab your pulse/oximeter to make sure you are getting oxygen.  You cough some more.  Tour chest hurts, no it's not a heart attack, that's different.  Your collarbone/clavicle hurt.  Your lungs hurt.  Your back hurts where you lungs are.

You feel like an elephant is on your chest and you are helpless to get it off.  You gasp, you yawn and you wheeze getting air in and out.  Sometimes after a coughing spell you have to grab a rescue in haler just to get air back into your lungs....but first you have to expel what is in there out...if you can.

Sometimes putting vapor rub on your chest helps, and if you have someone willing to do so having them put it on your back in your lung area helps as well.  Not that it will help much, yes it can open up airways but mostly it is just a comfort.  So you can curl up and go to sleep because by the time you do everything else you so exhausted all you want to do is sleep...

I do not like using my nebulizer.  I get the shakes and the medication burns my eyes.  However I will be facing a change starting November so I'm going to be using the nebulizer here at home from now on.

November 1 Medicare kicks in and the pharmacy plan I will be getting doesn't cover my rescue inhaler but it will only cost me $3.00 for a 90 box of nebulizer medication.  That is opposed to the $30.00 I pay for the inhaler and I would much rather have that $27.00 in my pocket.

The burning eyes only lasts for a couple of minutes so I can deal with it.  It is worth it since the Medicare plan I got is a "complete/Advantage" plan and I don't have any premiums to pay.  I get hospital and medical for $99 a month which comes out of my disability check.  I also get a prescription drug plan and vision and dental benefits as well as a plan for my DME.

There are also some freebies, colo-rectal screenings, mammograms, and paps.  They pay 80% of my medical needs and I can handle the 20%.  I also have the option of finding coverage for the 20% copay.  I will look into that later on, I want to compare prices and plans first.

So I'm starting on using my nebulizer here at home and saving my inhalers for away from home.  I'm also going to be changing pharmacies because the one at Wal Mart has just frustrated me for the last time.  I have had to change my address and phone number three times with them, both online and in the store.  For some reason it doesn't "stay" in the computer.  And when there is a problem with my prescriptions they call the old number and leave a message.

I don't know who is getting the messages but they're not calling  Wal Mart back LOL   There was a "glitch" this last time I placed my refill order online, it should have been ready by the next day but I didn't get there until three days later.  Plenty of time for them to notify me of a problem either by phone or via email.  I didn't find there was a problem until I got there.  So I gave them my phone number again and I gave them my email address again.

So here I am all nebulized and ready to roll...Time for lunch.

You know there are days when I feel so totally unmotivated.  Usually they are my "high pain" days when my back hurts from the neck down and I've got a headache  My shoulders and arms ache as well

I look around at the mess I'm making and want to cry  because I just don't have it in me to clean it up  and I wind up setting myself back a few days on my cleaning because of it

I feel bad for Sophie having to put up with it, because I can barely move without pain in my joints and pain medications help but they don't do the job completely.   Then of course there is the fact that I have to go through the hassle of getting an O2 tank ready  and the minute she sees what I'm doing she gets excited and impatient and difficult to deal with, practically pulling me through the screen door.

The weather is nice, I just have to slip into a sweatshirt and shoes to go outside to enjoy it  But even that takes a bit of work, take out my cannula, put one arm through, hold the cannula in that arm while I put the other arm through and then put the cannula back in until I get to the portable tank and get it turned on then switch the cannula's then turn off the machine, then put my shoes on, then put the back pack on then hitch Sophie up..."Dammit Sophie slow down!"

Okay enough "Poor, Pitiful Me" I am going to at least take Sophie for a walk.  Going to grab my camera as well because it is a good day to get some good shots of the fall colors before everything goes gray again.  Now those are really days I am unmotivated...not looking forward to them either.

Okay I am hurting.... and I'm hoping I didn't break something because I don't know how I'll make it to the doctor if I did...

For the most part the day went pretty well.  Quite windy and chilly but at least no rain and there was lots of sun.  I managed to get the AC out of the window yesterday and had to turn the heat on because the mornings are getting way cold.  Even had to slide into my new sweat pants and I ordered another two pair as well.

Still flaring but feeling a bit better than yesterday so I decided to take Sophie for a short walk.  I got my sneakers on, got my tank ready then had to go to the bathroom.

That's when my accident happened.  My shoelace had come untied I stepped on it and tripped myself while going into the bathroom and I wound up smacking my left hip and knee on the outside of the tub and the top half of my body landed in the tub smacking my right arm om the inside "wall" of the tub.

I felt okay right after, got myself back up.  did what I needed to do, tied my shoe again pulled up my pants, came out of the bathroom turned off my O2 machine, cleaned the filter, grabbed the backpack with the tank opened the tank up wide, hitched Sophie up and away we went.

I was fine walking, a bit shaken but we made it to the curb and then I turned around.  I let Sophie explore a bit before she got down to business then we came in, I gave her a treat, sat down with the crocheting  for awhile.  Got up to feed Sophie, made myself some dinner then played a couple of games.

I took Sophie back out but when I sat in my chair outside I felt pain in my left thigh, kind of a "hot" cramp .  Once inside and Sophie's treat I sat to watch "The Big Bang Theory" and when I sat I felt the pain again.  Then the pain started going down in my knee...I imagine there is going to be one hell of a bruise back there, I don't have a hand mirror so I can see what is going on back there.

My back hurts as well...Tomorrow is not going to be a good day.

I am flaring today.  I was awake all night and early morning Tuesday/Wednesday coughing and hacking up my lungs.  On the right of my chest front and back it hurts.  I've done the warm shower thing to break up the mucus which is of course clear, no infection thank goodness.  I'm going through liquids like crazy.  Lots of chicken broth, green tea and water, water, water

This morning the coughing was under control but because of the irritation to the airways it is hard to breathe.  I've been using the heating pad to make my back feel better and I keep vicksing my chest which is soothing.  I could use some on my back as well but no one here to do the honors...NO I'm not going to ask Sophie to do it.

I've been cruled up with Sophie in my chair most of the day along with my inhaler.  I'm noping this is a short lived flare and due to the over exertion of the past week where I've been getting the kitchen taken apart and put back together.  It is actually looking pretty good in there.  I've moved the fridge and the microwave..  I'm going back to my chair now...

Well Sophie has adjusted to being "Only dog" she will spend part of the night in her basket sleeping and then after I've done my late night bathroom break she will curl up with me..   I don't mind, it's nice to have her snuggle in with me.


She loves the walks we go on and we have gotten to the stop sign up on the corner and back when I crank the O2 saturation way up.  If we go out around 3:00pm she does all of her "business"  and gets a nice treat for it.

There are things I need to get done around here but am taking one more lazy weekend to recoup from the flare this time around.  It was a bit worse than usual because the weed pollen has been very high and that along with the humidity hasn't helped.

Because of the pain in my neck and upper back I've had to stop using the computer so much.  It's nice though because now Sophie sits with me and we watch television while I work on the afghan I'm crocheting.  It has gotten to where I have to switch out though, go from one to the other when I start hurting.  Pain management...

The weather is turning and soon I'm going to have to drag the AC out of the window again.  I dread having to turn the heat on.  That's one good thing about the O2 machine, it puts out enough heat that I don't need to use the head as much.  Bad thing is you don't want to see my electric bill!  I don't want to see my electric bill!

Shannon has been working on her driving which means we are on the road to getting me to Texas hopefully not to far away.  My lungs will thank me for getting them out of the humidity, my joints will thank me for getting them out of the dampness and my bones will thank me for getting them out of the icy winds.  I won't miss the warping floors, I'm not going to go through any real strict cleaning measure.  I know he is just waiting for me to leave so he can gut this place.  

He won't evict me or ask me to leave because he doesn't want to feel guilty so  I'm sure he will be relieved when I'm gone LOL.  He can get in here and  really fix this place up,  I've heard him talking to his cousin that he wants to put in a bathroom upstairs off the bedroom and that would be a good thing,   I also know he wants to change the heating system to electric, it's gas now.  I'm going to leave the Washer and dryer here, or give them to charity and let Shannon take them off her taxes.

Right now the pain is coming up in my neck/upper back/shoulder area so I'm going to run off and crochet for awhile.  I am so looking forward to being where it is dryer and warmer and I can spend more time walking Sophie even in the winter.

I want to wish my Sophie a happy"birthday" Well it has been about a year since she and Phoebe came to me.  Now that her and I have gotten past the trauma of losing Phoebe who will forever be in our hearts, we can move on.

The weather has been pretty good here so we've been going on our walks.  I made it to the stop sign today.  Something I had yet to do before today.  It will be so nice when we reach Texas and we can walk longer distances.

Anyway today we are "celebrating" Sophie being here a year.  Shannon sent gifts.  Two new bowls for food and water, a new harness that I had to bribe Sophie into.  Dentasticks that I used to bribe Sophie with.  She also got a fold able cloth bowl for water when on the road and some moist wipes for when she is dirty but can't take a bath, usually due to my back health.

The harness doesn't bother her and she seemed to enjoy the wipes when I sued them on her belly.  I will be taking photos after while (I have to scare up batteries for my camera), but she will be having dinner in her new bowls.  And yes she will be getting something "special" with dinner tonight.

My health is getting better.  I decided to do a detox yesterday only taking in liquids and I pretty much purged my bod of the junk that it was harboring.  Lots of tea, lots of broth , the puffiness in my hands and feet is gone and yes I do feel better although tired from the diarrhea I had for two days

My neck and upper back hurt from the coughing and sneezing I've been doing due to the pollen floating around.  Weed pollen is high grass was moderate so of course the yard guy had to come and mow making the grass pollen even worse for me.  My eyes are still watering.  We have high winds warning now although it isn't bad outside, wasn't bad when we had our walk.

There is a very nice breeze coming in and that feels good. We are in for rain tomorrow, not something I"m looking forward to because that means humidity.

Right now, I gotta go get Sophie's dinner started...hmmm maybe some cheese tonight...By the way...Sophie wants to thank Shannon and Sadie for the great gifts and she can't wait to see them in Texas!

Sophie just took me on a wonderful walk a little while ago.  We had one earlier this morning but I've been flaring and earlier I wasn't really up to taking a walk.  But nonetheless we made it out to the curb and back with me stopping every few feet to catch my breath.

I came in and  got myself motivated enough to clean the bathroom.  Then I took a long break.  I even started some hot water going for tea which I never did have.

After having enough of television I gathered up the garbage bags and was thinking of driving them to the cub.  But that seemed so counterproductive.  Instead I grabbed an O2 tank, got hooked up, cranked it way up, used my inhaler and with that my lungs opened up and with the oxygen flowing I hooked Sophie up with her leash grabbed the bags and off to the curb we marched again.

Sophie did all of her "business" while out and we about "bounced" on the way back in.  My hips did start to ache but we did good, and I will be on my way to feeding Sophie in just a few minutes.  Still trying to figure about what I want for my dinner...

Every stupid person in Scranton had to have been at Dickson City Wal Mart this afternoon.  Yes I got there a bit later than usual.  I'm flaring and earlier just wasn't up to hauling my O2 tank in and out of the car.  In fact I stayed curled up in my chair until after 12 noon and when I got up my back sp0oke to me.  Not very nice things either.

I got to the bathroom and while I was sitting there I did some stretches to try and get my back to stop cussing at me.  It was letting me know that there was no way it was going to let me walk the smaller supermarket close to home, that if it had to go it was going to where they have the scooters and my head said "affordable" so off to Wally world the three of us went.

Sophie had to stay home alone for the first time since I took Phoebe in.  She did very well on her own and for behaving while I was gone I rewarded her with a treat and a quick snuggle before I went to put the groceries away.

Got to Wal Mart, had a scooter brought hoisted the tank into the basket and headed out.  People were congregating just inside the door, with people they hadn't seen in a while as if at some reunion of sorts.  Finally someone woke up and got everyone to move after I had said EXCUSE ME several times until I yelled it.

I started doing my shopping and of course you have those who compare, they stand in the middle of the aisle shifting back and forth from one brand to another and possibly another they compare sizes, they compare prices , they even compare packaging, as well as ingredients and nutritional value.   In the meantime I'm trying not to run into them as I maneuver the scooter around their bobs and weaves.

Then there are the men who are oblivious to the world around them.  they stand looking at one item for eternity and thinking that it is safe to go around them I do and sure enough they back right into the pathway and almost get hit, it's not like he didn't just look at me two seconds ago and see me om this thing!

Then of course are the kids running wild all over the store.  I'm having to stop so quickly I swear I've given myself whiplash!  Then there are the barely more than toddlers who come running screaming that they want a ride so the parental unit puts them into their basket and the kid screams more because the kid wants in the basket of the scooter.  Sorry kid the basket is made for kids and I'm not your source of entertainment for the day, now get the hell away from the scooter so I can get the hell out of this store!

While doing the last of my shopping the damn scooter runs out of "juice"  I get it close enough to the carts so I can quick grab a pushcart stuff everything into it and leave.  I scanned my list quickly and what was left were things that could wait so I went to the express check out because I had fewer than the amount of items, ran my card through for payment and headed to the car, which by the way was parked very close to the door today.

On my way out the door I noticed it had started to rain a bit and there were kids shoving their cans in my face to give, to whatever sports affiliation...Sorry kids I don't carry cash and kept walking, One of the adults made some nasty remark.   I pretended not to hear it opened my drunk got the purchases in, turned around saw him looking at me and I gave him the one fingered salute and got my tank and self into the car and pulled away,

Now I'm home, groceries are put away, my back is killing me, a massage would be heaven right about now.    I'm done for the day, Sophie and I are just going to "veg out" , her in her basket covered by her blanket, me in my chair, with the heating pad on...perhaps dosing a bit.  Just gotta be sure to feed Sophie in awhile, I don't want to wake up to her nibbling on my toes LOL

                     

Well it turned out to be quite a day for Sophie and myself.  
I did a little "puttering" around here after waking up late.  I got tired and so I sat and crochet a little while watching television.

Since Domino's was having a special , on their large two topping pizzas, carry out.  So I got everything ready, the tanks to get me there and back, I ordered online and decided to let Sophie ride along.  She got so excited that even before I was ready to go she was at the door.

I grabbed my keys and made it to the door with Sophie  trying to drag me out.  Locked the door behind me, got to the car, Sophie in, back pack with tanks in and off we went. to pick up dinner.

It was quite humid so I kept the air conditioner on in the car, not hot but that humidity is horrid.  Found a good parking spot, grabbed the back pack with tanks while Sophie tired to get out, I cracked the window and went in.  Got the pizza, it was ready when I walked in and the guy recognized me and brought it over, I signed the
CC slip and back to the car. , less than 5 minutes.    

Put the pizza in the back to keep Sophie's nose out of them, slid the back pack in next to Sophie got in myself got started and as I was pulling out I reached up to adjust my glasses but they weren't there!

I almost went into panic mode, but  I parked again and started searching the back seat where I figured they had fallen off... No luck .  I checked the back pack thinking they may have fallen in when I switched tanks, again no luck.  I got out and ran back inside to see if they may have fallen in  the store, nope they weren't there.   At this point a nice lady and gentleman looked under the cars but nothing.

Yes I was starting to panic.  I resigned myself to driving home without my glasses and would have to have an early eye exam and get another pair.  I sat with the AC on just breathing trying to calm down.  I felt something on the back of my leg, reached down to pull up whatever it was and TA DA, my glasses!  I yelled to the two who helped me out that I found them and I thanked them.  Rolled up my window, breathed a sigh of relief and told Sophie I wanted no more "adventures" for today.

Before I "dipped" into the pizza I jumped into the shower for a cool down.  Ugh, it was so humid that by the time we got inside poor Sophie's tongue was dragging and I would have been winner in the wet "kneecap warmer" contest for old ladies , (figure that one out LOL)

Pizza was very good, Sophie was a bit miffed that she didn't get any but she will just have to be miffed, she gets fed very well.  Now, I'm going back to my flare...at least I'll get to sleep tonight.