This will be the first holiday that Sam and I will be staying home for the holidays. It is strange to think we will be here instead of going through all the hassle of airports and airplanes. We figured it has been at least 10 years without staying home either Thanksgiving or Christmas. We spent the time going to see Tony, Abby, Gabe, and Sophia and Jon, Michelle, Elizabeth, Katelynn, and later Logan for Thanksgiving. We would then go see Jennifer, Noah, and Madilynn for Christmas.
Things took a change when Jon and family moved to Denver, Colorado. We made the change to traveling to Maryland for Thanksgiving to see Tony and family, and then Jon and family and Jennifer and family for Christmas.
2014 became our turn to stay home. We have a tree up (even though artificial) plus whatever other decorations we still had. We usually bought a dated ornament each year but for the years we traveled, this tradition did not take place; we finally did this year. Actually we bought two ornaments. One represented Hilton Head's lighthouse and the other one for 2014.
It will be a quiet few days around the neighborhood because most of our neighbors will be either driving or flying to see family. They will be back for New Year's and the celebration will begin for 2015.
We will miss being our around our adult kids and grandchildren. The grandchildren are growing up so fast, at least that is what is feels like. We never had the chance to really be around them as they grew. This is a regret that we wished was different. We hope they all know how much we love them, and are very proud of them. The parents have done a wonderful job raising them.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Monday, June 9, 2014
New chapter to our life
It is official...Retirement has arrived. There wasn't a party or anything, just some handshakes and good wishes. The time arrived after spending 3 weeks in California working on two jobs. One was undecided to bid, the other postponed. Sam saw his way to get away early and he did but not without saying goodbye.
This goodbye does not mean he will never be back to California or with Clark for that matter. He has already told them what his consulting fee would be and what items he expected them to pick up. Sam has already heard from them. The bid that was postponed originally was set to be bid the week before we were seeing Tony, Abby, Gabe, and Sophia for a visit.
We are flying to California in a couple of days for the 4th Annual Betty's Builders Golf Tournament at Pechanga Resort and Casino. Actually that is the place we will have a room, Journey is the name of their golf course. Pechanga is an Indian reservation. It really is a beautiful place in the high desert. Temecula have so many wineries that you can spend the whole day visiting and sampling and still not get to all of them.
We will be going to two of them to get wine for the raffle prizes and gifts. Who knows, maybe we will get some to send back home.
Where I was going with all this was this: we were going from June 11 (Wednesday) to returning on June14 (Saturday). Sam was asked to head back to California on Tuesday and be there until the 24th of June. Tony was arriving on the 25th. Well, we never make plans when it comes to bids. This bid has once again been moved to the first week of July. It may even move again, who knows?
The second big item we have had: the mortgage has been paid off! We have never done that - EVER! We still have all the other stuff to take care of but no house payment. We have worked very hard to get to this point. So we now have the house and car completely paid for and do not have to worry about making payments.
Now, we need to stay here! I don't want to move anymore....
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This goodbye does not mean he will never be back to California or with Clark for that matter. He has already told them what his consulting fee would be and what items he expected them to pick up. Sam has already heard from them. The bid that was postponed originally was set to be bid the week before we were seeing Tony, Abby, Gabe, and Sophia for a visit.
We are flying to California in a couple of days for the 4th Annual Betty's Builders Golf Tournament at Pechanga Resort and Casino. Actually that is the place we will have a room, Journey is the name of their golf course. Pechanga is an Indian reservation. It really is a beautiful place in the high desert. Temecula have so many wineries that you can spend the whole day visiting and sampling and still not get to all of them.
We will be going to two of them to get wine for the raffle prizes and gifts. Who knows, maybe we will get some to send back home.
Where I was going with all this was this: we were going from June 11 (Wednesday) to returning on June14 (Saturday). Sam was asked to head back to California on Tuesday and be there until the 24th of June. Tony was arriving on the 25th. Well, we never make plans when it comes to bids. This bid has once again been moved to the first week of July. It may even move again, who knows?
The second big item we have had: the mortgage has been paid off! We have never done that - EVER! We still have all the other stuff to take care of but no house payment. We have worked very hard to get to this point. So we now have the house and car completely paid for and do not have to worry about making payments.
Now, we need to stay here! I don't want to move anymore....
Monday, April 21, 2014
New doctor
We had an appointment with my neurologist several months ago, discussing the need to be on a medication for my MS. We were having a disagreement about being placed on a drug called Tysabri. Tysabri is a drug that has a possibility of causing death if you should develope a problem called PML. This is a brain disease that can cause death. I have known about this drug since it first came out about 7 years ago. It has not changed. So, this was a BIG concern on my part.
It has been said your chance of developing this problem is very small, especially if you are JC Virus negative. This virus can be the trigger to having PML if you are positive. I was checked for this virus and was negative. I still didn't want to take that chance. I really was not offered too many other new drugs that did not have some side effects but I felt Tysabri was not for me. I had read and researched this drug and what I had read, this drug was given to those who were having big problems with their MS. This wasn't me! So, we asked for a second opinion.
The office referred us to a doctor at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). MUSC is located in Mt. Pleasant, SC, which is about a 2 1/2 hour drive for us. It is just a little past Charleston. It really isn't a bad drive. We have done this drive for other appointments and Charleston was were I had surgery for my thyroid. The doctor I saw, Dr. Aljoeson Walker, was fantastic and confirmed our thoughts about being on Tysabri. He said I didn't need it as it was the most powerful of the MS drugs and he usually gave it to his patients that were having a lot of problems. He told us that he had a patient in a wheelchair, who was able to walk after taking this drug. (This did not happen immediately). Dr. Walker did suggest another drug called Rebif.
Rebif has been on the market for at least 8-9 years. It is taken three times a week. The shot is taken under the skin, with a small needle, compared to the large needle I had with Avonex. Dr. Walker said, to me also, that Avonex will be coming out in the fall with a little stronger version of the drug that is only taken every two weeks instead and very similar to Rebif.
For now I will start Rebif. I am just waiting for the drug to be sent to me, arrange for the nurse to show me how to take it, and start the routine.
We were so impressed by Dr. Walker and the professionalism of his demeanor and knowledge. He is at a teaching hospital so he needs to stay very current and have that quality of dealing with so many different people. We both said WOW after we left the appointment. He took a full hour with us discussing everything. It wasn't a quick in and out as some doctors handle their time. Dr. Walker was funny and put you very much at ease. What a change from what we had been dealing with my other doctor! We made the decision to change doctors on the ride back home.
The call to my original doctor was not an easy one and when I did it was not meet with a positive attitude. I am sure they were unprepared to hear I would be changing doctors as this second opinion was supposed to be just that - a second opinion. I just had to do what was best for me.
One more other thing I learned. When you have secondary progressive MS, there are no drugs for this. The doctors will label you with Relapsing Remitting so the insurance companies will pay for your drug.
It has been said your chance of developing this problem is very small, especially if you are JC Virus negative. This virus can be the trigger to having PML if you are positive. I was checked for this virus and was negative. I still didn't want to take that chance. I really was not offered too many other new drugs that did not have some side effects but I felt Tysabri was not for me. I had read and researched this drug and what I had read, this drug was given to those who were having big problems with their MS. This wasn't me! So, we asked for a second opinion.
The office referred us to a doctor at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). MUSC is located in Mt. Pleasant, SC, which is about a 2 1/2 hour drive for us. It is just a little past Charleston. It really isn't a bad drive. We have done this drive for other appointments and Charleston was were I had surgery for my thyroid. The doctor I saw, Dr. Aljoeson Walker, was fantastic and confirmed our thoughts about being on Tysabri. He said I didn't need it as it was the most powerful of the MS drugs and he usually gave it to his patients that were having a lot of problems. He told us that he had a patient in a wheelchair, who was able to walk after taking this drug. (This did not happen immediately). Dr. Walker did suggest another drug called Rebif.
Rebif has been on the market for at least 8-9 years. It is taken three times a week. The shot is taken under the skin, with a small needle, compared to the large needle I had with Avonex. Dr. Walker said, to me also, that Avonex will be coming out in the fall with a little stronger version of the drug that is only taken every two weeks instead and very similar to Rebif.
For now I will start Rebif. I am just waiting for the drug to be sent to me, arrange for the nurse to show me how to take it, and start the routine.
We were so impressed by Dr. Walker and the professionalism of his demeanor and knowledge. He is at a teaching hospital so he needs to stay very current and have that quality of dealing with so many different people. We both said WOW after we left the appointment. He took a full hour with us discussing everything. It wasn't a quick in and out as some doctors handle their time. Dr. Walker was funny and put you very much at ease. What a change from what we had been dealing with my other doctor! We made the decision to change doctors on the ride back home.
The call to my original doctor was not an easy one and when I did it was not meet with a positive attitude. I am sure they were unprepared to hear I would be changing doctors as this second opinion was supposed to be just that - a second opinion. I just had to do what was best for me.
One more other thing I learned. When you have secondary progressive MS, there are no drugs for this. The doctors will label you with Relapsing Remitting so the insurance companies will pay for your drug.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
It looks like it will be a go for Disney
I will be having the stitches out on Tuesday. My ankle is not doing too bad. It just depends on what type of day it is, whether it is cool or rainy.
I had physical therapy last week and it looks like I will only need a couple of sessions. I have been doing many of the exercises at home remembering what I had to go through when I had to start from new. She also didn't think I would have a problem going to Florida but I should still use either a wheelchair or scooter to get around. I was going to do this anyway regardless.
It had warmed up the last couple of days into the upper 70's to low 80's but we just had a cold front come through again so now the temperature is in the 60's during the day. I know, some of you Northern people see this as a heat wave, but it can be chilly enough for a sweater when you aren't used to it on a daily basis.
I had physical therapy last week and it looks like I will only need a couple of sessions. I have been doing many of the exercises at home remembering what I had to go through when I had to start from new. She also didn't think I would have a problem going to Florida but I should still use either a wheelchair or scooter to get around. I was going to do this anyway regardless.
It had warmed up the last couple of days into the upper 70's to low 80's but we just had a cold front come through again so now the temperature is in the 60's during the day. I know, some of you Northern people see this as a heat wave, but it can be chilly enough for a sweater when you aren't used to it on a daily basis.
Monday, February 17, 2014
My blog is finally working!
I haven't been able to post anything for the whole year of 2013. I can't give you a reason why but now that it is up and running, I hope to post more.
As most of you know, last year was not a great one to start off with because I had fallen and broke my ankle in 3-4 places. Spent a week in the hospital and another 3 weeks in rehab. I tried to have a new puppy but she didn't work out. I can't say that she was the thing that caused my accident but I was being stubborn as I was told Molly was my dog and I would be the only one taking care of her.
I was exhausted that evening but I was so angry at that statement, I pushed myself to stay up with the puppy. I did have some light on but I still got walking too fast to sit down, could not stop myself, tripped, fell, and heard the crack. Molly was given away. It was very hard to but I was not in a position to now take care of a puppy.
As the year went, discussions about my upcoming birthday were talked about and I wanted to go back to Disney World as it had been at least 20 years. I had gone to Disneyland while in California but DW is so much bigger with so much to do.
2014 came to be and again I had hopes that this would be the year of being free to do things. We had planned our trip for Disney, arranged for the hotel, had Frankie taken care of for a few days, and we were ready!
It has not gone according to plan. I had just seen my orthopedic doctor and he decided to keep in my hardware for at least another 6-12 months. Well...a week later I started to get a lot of redness and swelling. I had a spot open up and was bleeding a small amount. Back to the doctor and he said it might be an infection. Antibiotics given and the decision to remove all the hardware. Disney is in question once more because I am not able to walk too long as it is sore and hurts. Ahhhh! A decision will be made on Wednesday about whether to go now or delay again.
As most of you know, last year was not a great one to start off with because I had fallen and broke my ankle in 3-4 places. Spent a week in the hospital and another 3 weeks in rehab. I tried to have a new puppy but she didn't work out. I can't say that she was the thing that caused my accident but I was being stubborn as I was told Molly was my dog and I would be the only one taking care of her.
I was exhausted that evening but I was so angry at that statement, I pushed myself to stay up with the puppy. I did have some light on but I still got walking too fast to sit down, could not stop myself, tripped, fell, and heard the crack. Molly was given away. It was very hard to but I was not in a position to now take care of a puppy.
As the year went, discussions about my upcoming birthday were talked about and I wanted to go back to Disney World as it had been at least 20 years. I had gone to Disneyland while in California but DW is so much bigger with so much to do.
2014 came to be and again I had hopes that this would be the year of being free to do things. We had planned our trip for Disney, arranged for the hotel, had Frankie taken care of for a few days, and we were ready!
It has not gone according to plan. I had just seen my orthopedic doctor and he decided to keep in my hardware for at least another 6-12 months. Well...a week later I started to get a lot of redness and swelling. I had a spot open up and was bleeding a small amount. Back to the doctor and he said it might be an infection. Antibiotics given and the decision to remove all the hardware. Disney is in question once more because I am not able to walk too long as it is sore and hurts. Ahhhh! A decision will be made on Wednesday about whether to go now or delay again.
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