Tee time...

Transportation...

Wed, 04 May 2005 16:46:26 GMT

Seems that when it rains it pours when it comes to my truck.

We left here on Saturday to go to breakfast then on to Sam's to do some shopping. Got to Shoney's and noticed that steam was rolling out from under the hood of my truck. Tom looked at it and said we would go eat and give the truck time to cool down and he could check it and then add water if necessary.

Lucky for us, our good friend, John, and his wife and daughter were also eating at Shoney's. When we got ready to leave, we noticed a puddle of anti-freeze on the ground under my truck and when started (to move it to the parking lot behind Shoney's) it made the most horrible noise.

John and Laura were just going up the block to their daughters house and John said he would drop Laura and Allie off and then come back and take Tom home to get another truck and a trailer to haul my truck home.

I opted to wait since we had both our dogs with us. So Tom and Tyler went with John and I sat and waited.

Tom got back in about an hour, driving our other truck but no trailer. He'd loaned it out and the person he loaned it to had it loaded but would have it empty later in the day. So I got in the truck with Tom and Tyler and we went on to Sam's.

When I got up that morning (Saturday), my lower back was a bit sore, but nothing major. That changed over the course of the day. By the time we left Sam's I could barely lift my legs to take a step. Tom had to help me into the truck (big work truck, so I couldn't step up into it). By the time we got home I couldn't walk at all. My electric wheelchair was in the house so Tyler brought it to the back door and Tom got me up the steps into the back door and I've been in the w/c ever since.

Tom did get my truck home later that day and he and John worked on it the next day. New water pump and various other things that had to be replaced and my Jimmy is purring like a kitten again.

I had Steroids yesterday and have Chemo coming up next week. Hopefully, between the two of them, I'll get back on my feet and get rid of *this* mode of transportation I'm using and get back to my Jimmy!

Hope everyone is having a great day! :)

What a ride...

Sat, 23 Apr 2005 16:16:53 GMT

*yawn, stretch* Well, I made it to my doctors appt. on Monday.. they changed me from 9:00 am to 12:15 pm then to 2:00 pm... seems the doctor got tied up in surgery and they had to cancel all his morning appointments and I swear they must have set *everyone* for 2:00!

I got there at about 1:50 and there was one other patient and her husband, at 2:00 it was like they opened the flood gates, there were literally people sitting on the floor waiting to see the doctor.

I was the second one called back at about 2:30. Got all stretched out and comfy on the hard wooden bench they called an exam table for my pump refill. Doc comes in and starts pushing and twisting trying to find the pump. Sticks the needle in and is a bit concerned about the fluid he is getting back cause he doesn't think he is inside the pump yet.

This fluid return could be from the catheter coming off of the pump or the pump has flipped and the catheter is off.. or any number of things that could be wrong.

Okay.. at this point I know I looked like a cornered cat in a room full of wolves.

They move me to another room so they can view the pump under the x-ray. Pretty cool since I'd never seen the pump before!

Everything looked to be in order with the pump, and he was able to use the needle under x-ray to extract the rest of the meds and inject the new refill. Turns out he *was* in the pump in the other room, but the center of it is rather "mushy" no resistance to the needle. Should be like pushing it through a stopper. But not me.. oh.. you *know* I'd have to be difficult!

So, since I'd been having so much pain he decides to roll the x-ray thingy around and just make sure the catheter is still secure in the spine. I told him that the dr. in Nashville used a "double somethingorother" to hold it in place when he repaired it last year. So I'm laying there watching this and I see these metal things, I see 2 "sets" of them and think to myself, "oh, there is the 'holders'" and I say *out loud* "they look like hook and eyes"... and as soon as it's out of my mouth, I wanted to grab the words back....

They *were* hook and eyes... of my bra. DUH! Of course I couldn't let my stupidity alone so I said "Oh, that is my bra"... at which time the whole room burst into laughter. Hey, anything for a little tension relief.. right?

He did notice one thing that was a cause for some concern. When they repaired the catheter last year, the part that had fractured off was still floating in my spinal fluid. They didn't take it out! I knew this, but didn't think much about it. New doc is rather concerned about this thing floating around in there. Oh well, I guess if it travels up and shoots through my brain, Tom and Tyler will be set for life after they sue the Nashville doctor. *snicker*

So, in the refill, there was an increase in the morphine ratio with the Baclofen. Then once both were injected, the amount I receive of the mixture was increased. I still have some pain, but nothing like I *was* having. The increase has made me super sleepy, that's normal until I get used to it. I go back next month for another tune-up. They will increase the daily dosage again (not a refill just an increase).

So the rest of this week, including today has just been a blur for me!

Lets see, what else. Oh, my Aunt was suppose to have her kidney removed on Tuesday, but her blood count was too low, so they had to cancel it, will try again next week. I feel sorry for her, she was all psyched up for it and then had to stop. She's been really positive throughout the whole thing, but this has *got* to be torture.

Phone was out for 2 days this week. Not sure what happened there, but at first it just rang busy to anyone trying to call in, then it just rang and rang to anyone calling in. Finally got that fixed.

Well, guess that's all the news that's fit to tell. Now it's time for a nap.. HEY! I've been up for
45 minutes, what do you expect!! :o)

Houston.. we have a problem...

Fri, 15 Apr 2005 17:29:50 GMT

Crash! Crash! Crash!.........

That is what I'm doing today. Happens about a week or so after the steroids almost every time.

I fell asleep early last night, slept like a rock (for a change), hit the snooze button twice on the alarm clock this morning, but finally *did* get up in time to feed my child before sending him off into the big bad world of school. Laid back down at about 8:45 and got up at about 11... and only then cause I heard Tom outside on the golf cart....

The golf cart that he just went and bought. It's handy to get around the farm on, but couldn't he have gotten a quieter one? We've had them here before, but both are dead in the fence rows somewhere after years and years of use (and some abuse I'm sure). At least now I can use it to check the mail or go over to the shop.. not stranded in the house all day. So I guess it's a good thing... if only it hadn't woke me up! :)

But for now, I'm gonna go and pour *more* coffee down my throat and see if I can come out of this haze I'm in... I really wouldn't mind the steroids so much if it weren't for these crash landings...

New Doctor...

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 13:53:42 GMT

Well, I actually remembered to go to my dr. appt. yesterday! LOL

I got there and there were about 15 people all waiting.. I thought "great, I'll be here *forever* since I'm a work-in". My appt. was at 1:15 (along with about 4 others that were there waiting for the same doctor). I got there at 12:50 and settled in my chair for the long wait I just *knew* was ahead of me.

Some were talking among themselves and I heard some say their appt. was at 12:45, 1:00 and the dreaded 1:15.

I filled out all the "New Patient" paperwork.. I thought they were going to ask for my first born... there was a TON of papers to fill out!

After I got that done, it was about 1:20 and I settled in with a magazine and only got about half way through it when they called my name! Ohhh, I could feel the daggers shooting through me from the others that were waiting! I slunk through the door to where the nurse was taking me back to the exam room and asked her if she was trying to get me killed! LOL

I had a short wait before the PA came in. He was very nice, did all the checks and got more information... since I had to fill out about 10 pages of stuff when I got there (being a new patient).. I was a bit annoyed when he started asking me many of the same questions that I'd answered already! But, such is life in a doctors office I guess.

Shortly after that the new doctor came in. He was very nice, a little hard to understand (He is from India). But, he looked at the (minimal) records my last doctor sent to him and did some checks on my legs.

He decided that with the refill (on Monday) that he will increase the Baclofen and Morphine and increase the amount that I'll receive daily since I have a *lot* of spacticity in my legs. I told him that I knew I needed an adjustment but the 300 mile round trip to Nashville had just become too much for me to handle. So I go back to see him on Monday and he will refill the pump and increase the dosage. I'm looking forward to some relief!

I got home at about 3:20, just after Tyler got home from school. Tom was here so he didn't have to come in to an empty house. I was exhausted from my "day out", so we all went to the local BBQ place for supper.

I watched the new show "Revelations" on TV at 8:00 and after that.. well I have no idea.. I woke up in my chair at 11:30!

So all in all, I'm happy with the new doctor, the appt. went well. These are both very good things! :)

Hope everyone is having a great day!

All Fixed... I hope...

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 03:18:59 GMT

Well, I was able to get another appointment with the doctor since missing the one yesterday. I have one for tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1:15.. only drawback is that I have to go to the Evansville office.. an extra 20 or so miles, but I goofed so I'll have to deal with it! I'm just glad that I was able to get in!

I had an email from my Aunt Sue telling me that my Aunt Jane's surgery is actually the 19th... I wrote her back and said that Aunt Jane told me last night that it was the 28th. I decided to double check on *my* memory and called my Aunt Jane, who informed me that her surgery is on the 29th.. huh? I said "The 29th? Not the 28th?" she replied in the affirmative.. so I get an email off to Aunt Sue.. again.. and tell her that I just got off the phone with Aunt Jane and her surgery is actually the 29th.. not the 28th like I said nor is it the 19th like she thought.. a few minutes later we sit down to supper and the phone rings.. it's Aunt Jane letting me know that she told me wrong and her surgery is indeed on the 19th. *thud*

I was going to get everyone together on the 24th for a family get together before her... or what I *thought* was her surgery. But now, I just don't think I can get it together in time.

Oh well, I was planning on having it in May anyway.. guess I'll stick to that plan... if I remember! *snort*

I think I'll go rest my brain... it's been rather taxed today! :)

Swiss Cheese...

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 12:50:18 GMT

Swiss Cheese... it's what my brain is made of. I don't think I have lesions.. I think I have HOLES!

I got up early this morning for an appointment with a new doctor that will be taking care of my pump. For the last 2 weeks, I *knew* it was for today....

MS Strikes again.

My appointment wasn't for TUESDAY, April 11th at 9:30.. it was for MONDAY, April 11th at 9:30. ARRRGGHH!

Now I have to wait until 8:00 so I can call the office and tell them how sorry I am, and *BEG* for another appointment this week for the consultation. My pump alarm date is the 18th.. which is next MONDAY. Hmmm, maybe I should get my paper out and double check *that* little bit of info! (Note: I just checked and yes, it *is* indeed the 18th!) :)

I really *hate* when I do things like this. But life goes on and I'll get it fixed.

On another note, I talked to my Aunt Jane last night and she sounds so weak. She is 75 (or 77.. not for sure which), and has cancer in one of her kidneys. They are taking it out on the 28th. I'm trying to get a family get together going for the 23rd here at my house. (Aunt Sue, if you are reading this... email me) :) My Uncle (her husband) has lung cancer so it's been a really hard year for the 2 of them.. and for everyone that loves them.

So I thought it would perk her up a bit to have all her sisters and her brother together at once for a pot luck dinner "down here on the farm"... she loves to come out here and it's been a LONG time since I've had all the family in here to my house.

Well, gotta go finish getting Tyler's breakfast ready, he should be out of the shower any minute now, and get him off to school.

Hopefully, I'll get another appointment this week with the new doctor! Wish me luck! :)

Spring has Sprung!!

Sun, 10 Apr 2005 22:25:58 GMT

GLORIOUS! That is all I can think of to describe these last couple of days! The weather has been just beautiful! It's 80� right now! But the wind has been just right to keep cool in the house with the windows open or out under a shade tree watching the dogs, cat and family milling around.

We got the 4-wheeler out yesterday and went 4-wheeling here on the farm and around this area, it was just so nice out. We got Tyler's gas powered plane out to fly.. it took off, did a nose dive and is now in about a million pieces... it was fun while it lasted.. but I'm afraid my wallet is gonna be hurting soon though. He was terribly upset about the whole thing, but Tom told him that "stuff happens", can't predict a wind gust. It was calm out until the plane took off.. figures.. then the night was topped off by pizza, a couple movies and lots of laughs.

We watched "Quigley Down Under".. old movie, but really funny. And Tyler and I started watching "The Incredibles" but he got sleepy, so we'll finish it tonight.

Today was another beautiful day spent mostly outside. Had to do some yard work where we worked on the septic tank during the winter. The area needed to be tilled and new grass seed put down. Then the horse lots had to be readied to move the horses around before the Spring planting season. Yard got mowed. I mostly just sat around in the shade watching all of these tasks take place! LOL I'm good at pointing and directing! :)

So it's an early supper, then Tyler and I will relax with a movie and he'll unwind before going back to school tomorrow after being off for Spring Break.

Spring Fever is in the air for sure! :)

Changed man... er.. cat..

Tue, 05 Apr 2005 14:18:25 GMT

Well, Sammy J., the kitten that adopted us, has been stripped of his impending manhood.... okay.. not quite that drastic I guess, but he was neutered yesterday.

The vet took care of the nasty deed and Tyler and I picked Sammy J up yesterday at about 3:00. Let me tell you, that was one pitiful cat!

He couldn't hold his head up, he couldn't stay awake, he couldn't walk without falling over. It was like watching a newborn kitten struggling to get his legs under him!

At one point, he had been all wrapped up in a towel and was laying in the chair sleeping.. and sleeping... and sleeping. I got up to check on him and he was COLD! Tyler was outside and I went to Tom saying "I think he's dead!!" Moving him around got no response. Finally, we got real still and watched him.. there it was.. the slight rise and fall of his tummy. RELIEF!!!

I took him back to the living room with me, and he went back to sleep. He was wrapped up in the towel again and was laying in my arms just like one would hold a newborn baby! LOL He was comfortable and content.

He did, at about 10:00, get up and "TRY" to walk. Two steps forward, fall over to the right, two steps sideways, fall over to the left, stand up... fall down.. it was so pitiful! He finally gave up and fell into a deep slumber in the middle of the living room floor! I covered him up and let him lay there until I went to bed. I picked him up, put him in bed with Tyler (where he usually sleeps), covered him up and I went to bed.

At 4:45, I was ~~startled shitless~~... awakened by Tyler, who is in a slight panic, "MOM! I think Sammy J is blind!!!"

"What?" I say. Seems Sammy J is still loopy and walking funny and can't seem to find his way around. "He is fine", I tell Tyler, "it'll just take him some time to come out of the anesthesia."

*I* ended up getting up to get something to drink and answer the beating of my bladder and checking email. It was after 5:00 a.m. before I laid back down and went to sleep.

7:15 and Tom comes in.. makes a beeline for Tyler's room to check on the boy and his cat. Sammy J's eyes are open.. albeit glassy.. and he is looking at Tom like.."what in the *hell* happened to me, anyway??!"

Tom took him out and put him in his litter box (which is outside), and he was able to scratch around and do his business.

Tom then decided it was at this particular time that he should drag the rain gutter that came off the house when we had the big snow and ice (decorative metal roof does not hold ice well.. takes gutters down with it when the ice slides off!)... so he's dragging it out of the yard and down the side gravel driveway to the shop.. sounded like a herd of sick tanks rolling through my head.

So I got up. Ya think!!

Made coffee, watched Sammy J get something to eat. Fall asleep. Get something to drink. Fall asleep. Like watching paint dry.

Now he and Tyler are curled up in the chair in the living room watching TV. I have to get up and get dressed cause my friend is coming by to cut my hair this morning. I need to dust mop my floor and get it ready to mop. Tyler has a dentist appointment at 1:00... so my day is just action packed... *yawn*

Hopefully Sammy J will be back to bouncing off the walls in no time!

Tazzy (my Pomeranian) doesn't know it, but he is next! *evil cackle*

Have a wonderful day! Suppose to be close to 80� again today.. with a slight breeze just like yesterday. 80� is usually too warm for me, but it's not humid out (yet) so it's pleasant!

Have a great day!

Speedy Gonzales

Sun, 03 Apr 2005 16:14:45 GMT

What a beautiful Sunday! The temp is almost 60� and it looks promising for it to get even warmer!

Today is the day I'm gonna clean out this crap hole of an office. I have 3 *huge* monitors and the guts of 4 computers littering the floor along with boxes and assorted other crap.

Tom and Tyler just left for breakfast, but they are in for a surprise when they get home. I took a Provigil a few minutes ago, which is akin to speed for me. I can get TONS done when I take one of those! I'm sure they will be thrilled to know that *they* will be helping me clear this room!

I was given Provigil a while back to help with fatigue due to my MS. It's like a magic pill. The only thing is that taking it once a day, every day, the "good" effects decrease. Kinda like you get used to the drug. So you lay off for a couple weeks and go back on them and it's like a whole new drug again. I only take them when I have to have the energy to do something major... I usually pay dearly for the next week, but I get done what I need to get done.

So it's Provigil and coffee this morning.. I'll be bouncing off the ceiling inside of an hour!

I was watching FOX news this morning about the Pope. So sad and so many people flowing through for the viewing. Not only the Catholics have lost a great leader, but the world has. One man said it best this morning.. "he wasn't like a President to one country, he was like the President of the world." He touched so many and made so many changes (some I agreed with, and some I didn't. But that is the way with anyone and any topic.)

Well, time to check my mail, change into my work clothes... HA!!... like I have other clothes that are so special that I couldn't wear them to work in.. and then get busy around here!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday! :)

Noah? Hold that Ark...

Tue, 29 Mar 2005 20:23:40 GMT

What a *beautiful* day! The sun was shining first thing this morning and has continued to do so all day! Temp outside right now is 72� and I'm in SHORTS!

Okay, so the weatherman says the rain will return tomorrow night, but for right now, I'm just enjoying the sunshine!

I've been busying cleaning around here. I have the doors open, yeah, there are storm doors that are still closed, but I can at least see outside! The cat and the dog are laying in front of the front storm doors watching the world go by.

I have a major job ahead of me in clearing out this office. Seems that everything gets piled in here and I don't know why! Tyler is on Spring Break next week, so guess what he'll be helping me do! *evil mommy cackle*

Well, I'm off to straighten up the kitchen and put on some spaghetti sauce for supper tonight. But wanted to let Noah know that he could hold up on sending the Ark... for right now anyway! :)

Hello? Noah?

Mon, 28 Mar 2005 16:08:49 GMT

I swear, if it doesn't quit raining, we are going to have to build an Ark! My yard looks like a swamp, the fields are mud, the horses are looking for scuba gear, and it's damn cold to boot! I think Mother Nature fell asleep on the rain button! :)

I've been busy this morning working on the medical site that I'm contracted to do. I think, for now, it's just about completed. It's the biggest project I've ever done, and I've learned so much! I've been doing web design for almost 8 years now and I learned more on this project than I did in all the years previous! I'm quite proud of myself.. okay, I'm even prouder of my gray matter being able to actually *absorb* and *retain* all this new knowledge! LOL No easy task with those neon lesions on my brain! :)

I'm also looking at a new business endeavor! I'm really excited about it. It's (still) in the area of web design business so it's something I love! No details yet, but I'll let you know when the wraps come off! Just know that it's *BIG*!

Well, time for me to remove myself from this computer for now and move to straightening up the house.... oh and a nap.. yes, a nap is top on the list!

Have a great day!

Happy Easter!

Sun, 27 Mar 2005 19:42:32 GMT

Happy Easter, everyone!

I know, I know.. I've been absent from my blog for a good while now, but life has been so busy and so many things happening here, there and yonder, that I just haven't been able to find the time to sit down and do it.

But, hopefully, things have calmed down enough now that I can get back to it!

Thank you to everyone that has left messages and/or emailed me to find out if I was doing okay. I am now.. my MS got me down for a bit, but I'm back up for now!

I'm off to finish cooking Easter dinner. Ham, baked sweet potatoes, corn, baked beans, macaroni salad, rolls, and an apple pie with a froggie cut out! Ya'll come eat!

Have a wonderful day!

Multiple Sclerosis Drug Suspended

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 20:56:38 GMT

Multiple Sclerosis Drug Suspended After Death

New MS Drug Tysabri Pulled From Market

Feb. 28, 2005 - The recently approved multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Tysabri has been voluntarily pulled from the market following reports of one death and one serious side effect in patients treated with the drug.

In cooperation with the FDA, the drug's makers, Biogen Idec and Elan Pharmaceuticals, today voluntarily suspended the drug. The companies have also suspended all studies involving Tysabri, which was approved by the FDA for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in November 2004.

The reports involved one confirmed and one suspected case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare but often fatal disease that affects the nervous system. In both cases, the patients had been taking Tysabri for more than two years in combination with another MS drug, Avonex.

PML is a progressive disease of the brain and spinal cord that primarily affects people with weakened immune systems. The condition is caused by a virus that destroys the sheath that covers the nerves. Symptoms include mental deterioration, vision loss, speech disturbances, and movement abnormities or paralysis.

In a letter sent to health care professionals, Biogen and Elan state they are suspending the supply of Tysabri from commercial distribution and advise doctors to stop prescribing or using the drug until further notice.

The companies state they are convening with experts to better understand the possible risk of PML in people taking Tysabri.

About 3,000 people have been treated with Tysabri in studies of the drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The two cases of PML that prompted the suspension occurred only in MS patients treated with both Tysabri and Avonex.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner...

Mon, 21 Feb 2005 13:59:23 GMT

....Naked?

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The diners arrived at a nice Manhattan restaurant on a cold February night and stripped off coats, hats, gloves and scarves. They didn't stop there.

Skirts, shirts, pants, underwear and stockings all ended up stashed in plastic bags by the bar as the patrons got naked for the monthly "Clothing Optional Dinner."

"It's exciting to be in a restaurant nude," said George Keyes, 65, a retired junior high school English teacher.

Nude yes, but not unadorned.

Keyes, a lifelong nudist, wore a necklace, earrings and a black leather "genital bracelet" with red studs. And white sneakers.

The dinner was started by a group of New York nudists who wanted something a bit more elegant than the wilderness getaways and beach resorts they generally frequent.

"When you go away on holiday it's more you're roughing it in the woods, whereas this is a really nice restaurant," said Keyes, a member of gay nudist group Males Au Naturel, or MAN.

John Ordover set up the dining club about a year ago, recruiting members through word of mouth and the Internet.

"Next month is our Easter bonnet event, where everybody has to come wearing an Easter bonnet," said Ordover, a heavyset man with a jovial smile and glasses.

SOMETHING TO SIT ON ...

Around 30 people arrived for the buffet dinner -- organizers specified no hot soup on the menu -- most of them middle-aged, several married couples, some singles, the youngest perhaps in their 30s. More...

New Shoes Anyone?

Mon, 21 Feb 2005 13:48:52 GMT

'Flatulent' footwear...

SANFORD, Fla. -- The customer complaints were unrelenting: With every step they took, their shoe insoles made a very offensive sound.

The sound of someone passing gas.

"It very nearly put us out of business," said Bryan Thomas, an officer with Goosebumps Products Inc. of Longwood.

The company on Wednesday sued a former supplier, accusing it of delivering the wrong chemical -- a mistake, it said, that transformed the insoles into something they were never intended to be.

"They were whoopee cushions for the feet," Thomas said.

What a ride!!

Mon, 21 Feb 2005 02:04:14 GMT

Gordon grabs wild 500 win at Daytona

"A series of late-race cautions set up a green-white-checkered finish to determine the winner of the Great American Race. In the end, Jeff Gordon held off the hard-charging cars of Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to wheel the No. 24 Hendrick Chevrolet to victory for the 70th time in his career."

My family, needless to say, was *very* happy! What a wild ride at the end! :)

I'm Alive.. I'M ALIVE!

Sun, 20 Feb 2005 17:44:22 GMT

I took my meds last night (I think this is what happened anyway) and right after I took them I thought.. "hmm, did I already do this tonight??" Not the best thing to think right after the pills have hit the digestive tract!

It was Neurontin (300 mg each) and Atarax (50 mg each). Two of each is what I normally take at about 9:00.. by 10:00 I was seeing 2 televisions and falling asleep in my chair woke up at 12:30 and was really dizzy (more than usual!) and sick to my stomach. I went to bed and finally woke up at 10:30 this morning.

Either I doubled the dose, or they just really hit me last night. Either way, I slept good and most importantly, didn't wake up dead. :)

Tom and Tyler got back from Louisville yesterday. They had a great time. Tyler likes anything that goes fast and/or makes noise, like the tractor pulls.

They are waiting for the Daytona race to get going today. I'll just stay here in my office where it's a little quieter and no one is throwing things! LOL

Tyler's cold seems to be doing better. They called me from school on Thursday 'cause he was running a 103.8 temp. I got him home, filled him with cold meds, he slept, ate, slept some more and said he felt well enough to go to Louisville on Friday. (It was a 1/2 day at school anyway and we had already planned on taking him out for the Louisville trip). Monday is a holiday so he has plenty of time for recovery.

The schools here have been covered up with sick kids. Henderson County (next county over) had to close all of their schools last week due to the flu. Hospitals are at maximum capacity with all the flu victims.

Tyler said everyday at least 2 kids from his class are either absent or sent home cause they got sick in school. I just *prayed* he didn't bring it home. I just had Chemo and with all the stuff I take for my MS, my immune system is zilch. So far, so good! :)

I'm off to do some web work, laundry and some cleaning up around here. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

Alive and Kicking...

Fri, 18 Feb 2005 01:42:03 GMT

Well, it's been a few days since I've blogged, and I'm having withdrawals! I haven't much felt up to it, but I do want to get caught up.

First, thank you to everyone that sent me messages, email, etc., with well wishes and just generally checking up on me. It meant a lot to me!

Lets see.. where to begin.

Oh! On Monday, my cousin came in for a visit.. we haven't seen each other since we were little. I was 2, he was 4.. that is over 40 years ago! It was *AWESOME* to see him! I hope that we can get together again soon. Time slips by way to fast. Here is a picture of us together at dinner that night.

He is in the Air Force and stationed in SD right now. He had to come to Louisville for work and he rented a car, went down to Tennessee to see his mom and dad then back here to Western Kentucky and Southern Indiana to see the rest of the family. Did I mention it was *GREAT* to see him! :)

I had an appointment with my Neuro yesterday, I'm not real happy with how it all went. Seems they moved to a new office, which is great, they also have an MRI machine in the office, which is also great. As I was sitting there, I started noticing a pattern. When people were checking out and getting their next appointment, every single one of them were told "here is your appointment for your MRI..." I leaned over and told Tom, "seems *everyone* is getting an MRI appointment to help pay for the new machine. What do you want to bet, they try to set me up with one too?"

Sure enough, and this is how the conversation went right away: (PA - Physicians *Ass*... lets leave it right there.)

PA: "Hmm, seems you need to get an MRI."
Me: "Why? I didn't need one before now."
PA: "Well, Tina, it's been about 5 years since your last one."
Me: "Okay, but why all of the sudden is it so urgent?" (as if I didn't know)
PA: "Well, we can do it right here." ::gleeful look on her face::
Me: "No. You can't."
PA: "Yes. We can!"
Me: "I have a pump, you can't do the MRI here."
PA: "Oh, that's no problem, Haley (Drs. wife.. other PA) can turn it off, she's qualified."
Me: "No. She can't."
PA: "Yes! SHE CAN!" ::voice raising and cracking::
Me: *exasperated sigh* "Whatever."

PA: "Oh, looks like we need to do *another* MUGA test on you."
Me: "I never had one to begin with."
PA: "Yes, you did."
Me: "No, I didn't."
PA: "You *had* to have in order to start Novantrone."
Me: "Well, I didn't have one."

PA: "Yes you did!"

(Do you see a pattern here?)

Me: "Whatever."

So, my doctor finally comes in and sits down starts reading over the notes. PA starts in..

PA: "She needs an MRI."
DR: "Yes. Okay, lets get her set up."
PA: ::smug look at me::
Me: "Uh, doc, the pump, remember?"
PA: "I *told* you, Haley can take care of turning it off and on."
Me: "No, she can't.
PA: "Yes! She can!"
Me: "No, she *can't*. She isn't licensed to work with a pump that has Morphine in it."
DR: "Oh, that's right"
Me: ::very enjoyable smug look at the PA::

Few minutes pass.

PA: "She needs *another* MUGA test."
DR: "Yes."
Me: "I never had one before."
DR & PA: "Yes, you must have." (she is fairly salivating now!)
Me: "No, I didn't. Check my records."
(Dr. starts flipping through 4+ years of records)
DR: "Hmm, seems you *didn't* have one."
Me: ::another smug look at that cow of a PA::

Why is it, that someone (namely the PA) who only started there in the last year, and this is only the second time she's seen me, thinks she has all the answers? That I'm too stupid to know anything?

I left there feeling extremely pissed off at the whole deal and told Tom that I'd had it, I'm going to go back to the neuro I had in the beginning, the one that referred me to the dr. I'm currently seeing, in Nashville. I don't see any reason to continue traveling 300 miles round trip, sit in the waiting room for 1.5 hours, argue with a cow for another 1.5 hours only to (basically) be told that, yes, I still have MS. There isn't anything more they can really do other than keep the meds coming. And while I'm at it, I'll probably change to a dr. here that can handle my pump refills and stuff too.

I'm so sick of going to Nashville every month or so, I could scream.

Other than that, all went about as well as could be expected at the Neuros. He brought up Tysabri, but thought that since I still have some time left on Novantrone that I would be better served to stick with that. He also said that there isn't enough known about the long term affects of Tysabri outside of a couple years. So, for now, I'll just stay the course.

Tom and Tyler are heading for Louisville in the morning for the Farm Machinery Show and Tractor Pulls. I'd rather be in hell with a broken back than go. Besides *someone* has to stay here and take care of the animals. Right?!
::innocent smile::

Well, that's all the news that's fit to tell for now! I hope everyone has a great weekend! :)

Busy weekend ahead..

Fri, 11 Feb 2005 21:12:18 GMT

The effects of Chemo two days ago are wearing me down. All I want to do is sleep. I have no energy at all, but this'll pass, it always does!

I *had* to vacuum and mop today, there was no way around it, even my dogs were starting to complain! Try doing *either* of those when you have the energy of a week old wet dishrag.. ::thud::

But tomorrow, I'm going to change my outlook.. I'm going to feel better... I'm getting a cut and a perm! Why oh *why* did I set this up for 3 days after chemo? ::eye roll:: But maybe it *will* help.. anything is better than looking like I do now! My hair is growing out from a really bad cut, it has no perm in it and the color is wearing off... yeah.. it's just lovely!

Tyler is going with me, he is getting his hair cut and.. ::gasp:: highlights put in. "All the kids are doing it mom!" Yeah... uh huh, I've been there, said that, kiddo.

So we are both getting "done" at the same time. I plan on sneaking my camera in and catching him after she gets the cap on his head and those little sprigs of hair pulled through!! ::evil mommy grin:: It outta be good for some heavy blackmail in the future!

Lent has begun and tonight being First Friday of Lent, our church has the first fish fry. It alternates between our church and St. Ann every Friday during Lent. So no cooking tonight, catfish and the fixin's are on the menu!

Then later tonight Tyler goes to the Middle School Lock-In with the church. He is really looking forward to it. All I know is that he'll have to be picked up at 6:30 in the morning, and I'll probably have to do it cause Tom has to go to work on day shift tomorrow. He hasn't worked the last 3 weekends... timing is everything, isn't it.

Then it's off at noon for our hair cuts, then he is Lector at church tomorrow night... his first time at our family church. He does it for school all the time, but this will be in the church he's been going to since he was exactly 1 week old! And do you think he's even *looked* at the reading for tomorrow night? Of course not. But he will be home within 30 minutes and you can bet he will be sitting down and reading it to me. He has been an altar boy and an usher at our church for several years now, but this'll be his first reading. I'm more nervous than he is! LOL

So, looks like a busy weekend around here. And the weather is suppose to be really nice tomorrow too!

I'm off to pass out on the couch for a bit.. damn chemo anyway!

Words Women Use..

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 13:11:57 GMT

I got this from my friend, David, this morning and it was too funny not to share!

FINE

This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

FIVE MINUTES

If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

NOTHING

This is the calm before the storm. This means "something," and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with "Nothing" usually end in "Fine" good advise would be not to keep asking what's wrong.

GO AHEAD

This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it.

LOUD SIGH

This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing"

THAT'S OKAY

This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

THANKS

A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say you're welcome.

WHATEVER

A woman's way of saying "**** YOU!"