Things we don't need

The appendix is a narrow tubular pouch attached to the intestines. When the appendix is blocked, it becomes inflamed and results in the condition known as appendicitis. If the blockage continues, the inflamed tissue becomes infected with bacteria and begins to die from a lack of blood supply, which finally results in the appendix bursting (perforated or ruptured appendix).

There is no way of predicting when appendicitis will occur or prevent it from occurring.
There are no proven risk factors for appendicitis. It has been suggested that potential risk factors may include a diet low in fiber and high in sugar, family history, and infection.

Well our Friend SJ is in the hopsital recovering tonight from removeal of something she didn't need. Her tiny incisions look great and she will probably be home tomorow night. Hh was distraught but did well visiting her BFF tonight in the hospital. We are looking forward to many more overnights for SJ with us.

Wishing her a speedy recovery and that she will be dancing again soon - love you little girl.

a little pampering

Today I went to get a hair cut and a pedicure and I also had my eyebrows waxed. I often only get one service at a time ( read this as cheap- giggle at myself) but today I splurged. the hair cut was good though she cut a little too much from my bangs and the Pedicure was devine. I did the deluxe version with a little girl named Jane she was great she took her time and my legs feel wonderful - have not had a pedi since before my hospital stay in November. I lost a toe nail after that and am not sure why, it has re-grown most of the way and I am happy to say looks alright.
pink for the summer and wonderfully smooth and soothed - yes it is nice to take a little time out for me once in a while.

Happy Dog

This is the activity and greeting we get everyday! not much tail wagging but we get the jumping and the roll over and pet the belly

Meet Harley

Harley is about 3 1/2 years old and mostly a smooth coat Dachshund in red coloration with black accents lol - he has black eyeliner and a little black spot about mid way up his tail that looks as if some one took a sharpie to him. He is settling in, we took him in from a friend who will have too many dogs to be able to move soon. She needed a good spot for him and well I think we will do.

He is a little shadow to S and follows him, wants to be with him, wants to lay on him. He even was spoiled too- we had weened all dogs from the bed about 7 years ago- just about the time we got Sampson. But now we have a new addition to the bed - so far he is a good night sleeper and seems to be easy going for the most part. He is a little bit of a drama King and " squeals" if you touch him wrong or scare him in anyway !

This is Sampson, he seems gigantic compared to Harley, sampson is right at about 14 pounds these days and Harley is under ten so there is quite a size difference, he was never around any cats, but with how mellow rasputin is he seems interested in checking him out.

He is contented to find a lap to sit in and love on. he is happy to see us come home and to be with us. we have to learn new habits and find new ways to take two dogs where we were getting used to one. But we are happy to have a new addition to our household.

UDI's

Udi's power salad - for lunch
Charred Kale with Tandoori Sauce topped with Udi’s Hazelnut Cranberry Quinoa. Add in Julienned Beets, Carrots and Edamame Beans. Finished with Sliced Fresh Strawberries and served with Carrot Sesame Dressing.

treated myself to this at lunch today - Have a little allergies going on and feel a little rough around my edges. sneezing, stuffy nose , cough and gunk, our spring has been incredibly dry and the trees are blooming like crazy ( we usually have snow knock all the blooms off) I have to say it is quite beautiful but hell on the poor sinuses and eyes.

Open Enrollment time of year

the busiest phone time of the year for us. https://www.cusys.edu/pbs/openenrollment/

we had a good 1st day and call volume was moderate- some years it has been higher. Looking forward to this time as it makes the days go by quickly when you are focused on calls. - so nothing much more right at the moment. tired and need to rest.

Spring has sprung

the trees have sprung multitudes of flowers and the grass is springing under foot and my nose - has sprung a leak.

Hh is off to a start on softball

The Rockies are winning.

Oh Yeah I almost forgot - Open enrollment has begun - I got a take action card in the mail. Yes the Benefits gruop will be busy from now through the end of May and then a bit beyond that too.

https://www.cusys.edu/pbs/openenrollment/

30 years Plus

So gearing up at the end of the summer for 30th High School reunion - Wow where has the time gone. I don't feel that old - giggles.

There are days when I see this girl in the mirror and acknowledge that for the next few years after HS and college this is my mental image of who I am. I was shaped and made and given an independant streak. ( already was pretty head strong) Durring these formative times. I will re-visit a few things here with you all and I am happy to report that the young women and men I knew then are just as wonderful today and even some are better and I want to get to know them too.

The missing blogger (TMB)

That might be me.
It is time to fire up my life again as I know it.
I have decided to continue to blog.
I took a hiatus for a while as I recovered.... it has been one long hard year.

my long and varied illnesses have pursued me from the end of July a year ago up till now. I don't want to really go into them further- suffice it to say at this point I want to be moving ahead and I think I may just be right at the edge of that fork in the road!

I want to continue to document my everyday existence , the things I find inspiration in, the trials and tribulations of an ordinary life, raising children. pursuing art- working for a living.

I am looking forward to capturing images ( I already have with my camera on my new windows phone) with my trusty Kodak and with my mind.
I look forward to finding new friends and seeing and finding the old ones too. In the last few days Facebook has allowed me to re-connect to two friends from my days as an independent girl.
I am looking ahead to days of wine and roses with my S, amazingly we have celebrated our 12th anniversary this month.
I am looking ahead to a spring and summer of softball with Hh and then into the fall.
I am looking ahead to adventures long ago put aside.
I am looking forward to finding my voice again. - cards - letters-blogs and scrapping too

Thank you to anyone who has patiently waited for the return of this missing blogger. Kisses and big hugs for waiting to see about the rumors of my demise.

My Pleasure

"A tavola non si invecchia – 'At the table, you don't get old,' which means the time spent at the table does not count. So you can engage in a long dinner – two hours, three hours – talking and exchanging ideas because the clock stops."

This is from an article in the CU system newsletter. I had the pleasure of meeting this delightful woman and thought her quote was great .

Friends

Friends are like windows through which you see out into the world and back into yourself ~~Merle Shain

Friends - Coworkers and Family

Grant me still a friend in my retreat, Whom I may whisper, Solitude is sweet - william cowper

How is it that I am the luckiest of women? I am so blessed and the universe sends me the tings and puts me in the places I need to be. Even in the confinement I have had to endure ( and endure some more) my Co-workers sent me the most lovley of bouquets - My family has been at my beck and call and My friends Have come from all over to lend support in everyway that is possible...... I am ever so grateful for all that I have and hold dear.

I am back at work for partial days probably until the holidays are done. the cellulitus is still not resolved fully and according to doctors may take months before I am well Enough!!

the good, the bad and the ugly

Yesterday I went to see the Infectious disease doc and the to follow up with a work comp doc. The news was mixed.

The good- The PICC line comes out tomorrow morning after a 10 day run on the Vancomycyn yes I am very happy about that this leads to the ugly truth but hang on a moment for that I will get there too. So that is a good thing in my book.

The bad- More antibiotics - What you say? yes I need to continue treatment another mixed bag of drugs for another 10 days this time a combination of two good antibiotics - but I can take them orally. but I need to remain off the leg still so feet elevated as much as I can and try to fight this off and get well. So I am going to try visualizing fighting white knight in my leg ( white good cells) and they will win and next week I hope to be fit for work !! it still a wait and see as of yesterday.

The ugly- the truth is I can't wait for the PICC line to come out so I can shower on a daily basis LOL with the way it is stuck in my arm a shower was less than desirable or manageable more than a couple of times. my routine was highly disturbed. Yes I will be resuming my daily ( or most daily) habit commencing tomorrow afternoon.

Bed head, hat hair, hospital hair .. yikes

the picc line is in the photo above and the bruise is better but the cellulitus still comes and goes bummer

I am alive and still being fiesty as much as I can from bed and chair.

Thank you to all my friends and family who keep up with me here I am ok and getting better everyday thanks to the power prayers who support and bouy my spirits !! I hope i can return to work next week sometime. ( read it is boring at home) lots of good thoughts and prayers still welcome and needed for contiued healling and improvement -

all my love to you QT

home again home again

Yay - after 6 days at Avista I am home. I spent my first day today " homebound" I am not to drive or do anything to strenuous.



I arrived home in the afternoon yesterday and then I received supplies and a visit from a home health care agency. I will be giving myself Iv anti biotics until I am released to return to duty ( that could be 7-10 days) . I have a "power PICC " and it has seals that have vacuum to them. So I had to learn how to administer my drug and clean up and flush my own lines. All good I am a quick learner and fast study though there were a few moments when I had a pain pill an was not 100% certain I was following the procedure.



We ended up going to purchase a recliner - we bought a Lane, and moved our love seat in the downstairs office to the bedroom. so the recliner is there near the TV. it is awesome and allows me to rest with my feet up. S hooked me up to the 52 inch screen with my computer !! so I can read e-mail surf the net and generally have a great time home alone.



I will see an infectious disease person tomorrow afternoon., and a home health nurse will be here tomorrow for the Blood draw to measure the amount of my antibiotic call a trough? she changed my dressing too.

I didn't post this on tueday when I wrote it - posting today

still here- alive and kicking

so still kicking- and trying to get this cellulitis under control.... after much agonizing about this the doc installed a PICC line see above. it is in my upper arm and it goes to the breast bone. and i will be getting vencomyicin iv for at least another 10 days. one more night in hospital and hopefully home tomorrow with drugs.

more Avista

what a nice facility to have to be at if you need care! all the nurse staff have been so nice to me here even the hard job of being here overnight. two nights now. Carole,Crystal, Catelyn, Maria,Jodi,Jackie,Emilly, Tiffany and Dr.Fanestil his aide Donna and I am sure i have missed someone-Deb in the ER and Trish too. I am on dose number 7 of iv antibiotics, i am getting motrin 600's for pain as needed... it does seem to help for a while but today the pain is more intense than it had been yesterday. i have elevated my legs even more with pillows but still i am a bit perplexed by the intensity of this thing in my legs

Avista with a view

the day did not turn out as ecpected yesterday- my work comp doctor visit turned into a trip to the ER at Avista hospital in Superior. My ER visit turned into a stay ( one night so far-with one more at least coming up)



What you say?- well this is what at the moment a cell infection called cellulitis- this is what web md says about it. It can be very serious and cause complications so the best thing is what is being done for me now anyway!! Iv antiboitics and off my feet rest for a few days while my body tries to heal and get well.

And to think all this from falling down on a rug!

Well I was so looking forward to thanksgiving - I have lots of food and we invited our friends K and A and their family to join us for a meal and fun- so now i am stuck in a hospital bed I know i will at least be here one more night - life gives you things you make the best with them.

I am super thankful this year for a wonderful Husband in S. I love my children Hh and J so much... finnally settling with J into a more adult conversation. thankful for the fun we have as a family. my Setep sons D1 and D2.I am thankful for my in laws,outlaws and exteneded family it has been a wonderful year with visits with our family. I am thankful for my friends,K8 , her mom and daughter..My friend Karen ( who is making dinner at my house) her famliy, grateful they were able to oull through a major crisiswith health and life work. My newest friend Jean wonderful sence of humor and likes me for me. I am happy to say I love my job at the university and thankful to still have it and benefits.

jiggity Jog

well I am not Joggin anywhere and instead need to go back to see a doc, in the photo below you can see where I have some redness toward the shin and ankles - well it is way worse this morning and so off again to see workers comp doc. maybe there will be some explaination or help I can get..... keep you all posted.

Knees and toes