Well... the beautiful Fall weather is gone. The chill factor right now is 19 degrees. I guess I'd better get use to it... it's not going to get any better until Spring.

There hasn't been a lot new around here. Thank God, Mike is still doing well. His only real problems are still at night. It's gotten to the point where he has to get a whole Benedryl to help him sleep lately instead of a half of one. I still can't figure it out. He's fine until we go to bed. I was thinking maybe it's something in the bedroom that makes him pant like he does, but that wouldn't account for his being in pain.

Gidget is learning that it's ok to chill out now (makes my life a lot easier), but she's still dragging my underwear and socks through the house. Last night she had 7 socks sitting next to my chair, 3 on the couch, two pair of underwear on the floor and ... (this was funny)... she brought one pair into her room. When she's finished dragging everything out, I put them back in the cart.. it keeps her busy for hours. She goes through withdrawl when I do the laundry, and the basket is empty though.

As far as me... well... still blood pressure problems. I had a doctor's appointment on Friday, and when I went in.. I felt great... no symptoms that it was high at all, but when the nurse took my pressure, it was 190 over 102. Oh man... what a pain. She did an EKG, and the doctor had her do an ICG on me... but (of course) the ICG unit wasn't working. He's going to have me wear a 24 hour blood pressure monitor... going to get it on tomorrow. Also, he'll be doing an Echo.

I'm not really worried about my health.. I mean, I'll do whatever I have to do to get this taken care of, but after I left his office, the biggest concern I thought of was the dogs. I've been in the hospital so much in the past, but there's always been someone to take care of Mike when I was in there. When Charlie was alive, of course, he was there, but even after he was gone, Michelle always took Mike (she really loves him and he loves her). But... now that I have two dogs, and Michelle has Scrappy... I had to figure out what to do if I ended up in the hospital (which.. the doctor said I should have been with my last episode).

My hospital track record is horrible. I can't tell you how many times I've been in the hospital in the last twenty years.. or even in the last five years. There have been times I was in three or four times in one year.... so I decided I'd better make arrangements for these guys just in case. I talked to Karol (from church) who is going to stay with them while I'm in Missouri, and she agreed to be my on-call puppy sitter. If she has another job, and I have to go in, she said Diane will take care of them for me. I'm so relieved and at least feel the peace of knowing they'll be all right.

On October 27th, I celebrated ONE WHOLE YEAR without going to the hospital... not even the emergency room.... that was a goal I was really striving for. Now I'm going for two years. Oh well... I'm not going to worry about it, and I don't want any of you to worry about it either. I'm just telling you about it so you know what's going on around here. Trust me.. I'm doing what I'm suppose to... it's just part of getting old. LOL

I'm hoping it warms up a little bit today. I'm going to work for Dr. Blaha this afternoon, and you all know how much I love this cold weather (NOT).

Hi Alex...
Yep.. I definitely remember how hard last winter was too. It was horrible. At least this year I have the car and will be able to get out. I hate cold weather, but at least I won't be snowbound this year without transportation. How awesome it is that you'll be having such beautiful weather and scenery all winter long. I know you're going to love it there this winter.

You're right.. it's awesome having two dogs... especially when you see how much they love each other (well.. except when the young one wants more lovin' than Mike wants to give... she just wants to be with him all the time... pesky little sister. LOL )

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and that you all have a very blessed week.

Love & Blessings

Alexandra said...

Your post about how happy Gidget is to see Mikey when he gets up brought such a smile to my face. You describe it so well I can see everything taking place in my mind. Mikey reminds me a bit of Shakespeare when he gets grumpy and other dogs at the dog park come up to him. Mikey sounds a bit like that when he just wakes up and is assaulted by his little sister.

I can't believe it's fall already. I'm remembering how long and drawn out the winters were for you and it feels like it was just yesterday that you were waiting and waiting for the snow to melt so you guys could go outside. Now winter is just around the corner again, huh?

Today when I drove to the dogpark I saw this beautiful yellow-flowerd tree (not dogwood. It was much fuller than that) and then next to it a taller and thicker one with pink flowers and I was thanking God that I get to live someplace where it feels like it's spring all the time. It has gotten cooler, though. I have to wear a jacket and long pants in the early morning and evening. And I don't think I will go swimming anymore. But for the most part the temperature is probably in the mid 70s most everyday. Sometimes it can be 80 in the afternoon. I sure won't miss the long drawn-out winters with their cold dark nights. I think I only really liked winter and snow when I was a kid and there was a chance of no school. AFter that, it's pretty the first snow but then it starts getting to me.

Well, I'm glad to see Mikey is still hanging in there and that they both are bringing you so much joy. Having two dogs is the best, isn't it?

Love,
Alex, Shakespeare, and Maleah

November 9, 2008 5:43 PM