I am back on the monthly steroids (solumedrol, 1000 mgs) again but I am hoping it is just for a short course this time. I have been having some walking issues again. My legs just didn't want to work well for me after walking just a short time. The main problem was with my right foot and leg. When it fatigues, it causes what is called a "dropped foot". What this means is that it becomes more difficult for me to pick up my foot so that I clear things. This is why I can trip over the weirdest things like a piece of carpet or the floor. I really have to watch and concentrate to make sure my foot is lifted when I walk. I also start to walk slower and slower as my legs fatigue more and more. I tell you, MS is a real pain! (not literally for me)
I have an "AFO" (Artificial Foot Orthotic) or a brace for my foot. It keeps my foot in the upright position so I can walk fairly normal without the fatigue factor. The only problem I have with it is with driving. I can't use it when I do. So even with the steroid series, I will still need to use the brace. I am just hoping it won't be as often as I having to use it now.
The other side effect of this steroid (solumedrol)- it can cause one to have a lot of energy and not be able to sleep. So I could be in for a long night tonight.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Trips are starting up again
The trips are starting again. We have a new location this time and it is to Salt Lake City Utah! There is a large data center needing to be built there and so the process begins. A trip to Washington, DC. next week. A trip to Utah the beginning of April. There will be a trip to St. Augustine, Florida the week after Utah in April and then a trip to Monterey California for an AGC function in May. There are other trips ahead for Utah and Washington DC as this major job gets underway. It will be about an $800-900 million dollar job. Clark will be working with another company in order to get it done.
I am going to try and go on some of these trips but I have to juggle my time around too. Sometimes it isn't worth the effort as it is only a day or two. I do not like being by myself but I have done it so many times over the years that I have been able to handle it.
We are trying to make changes to the front of the house by getting rid of some shrubs that have been in this one flower bed for ever and replace them with something new and fresh. Once everything is removed, it will be a large wall. Ideas are not forthcoming to us. We need to get someone to give us ideas so we don't put the wrong things into the ground. We also need to make sure the plants are drought and fire tolerate too. Either someone needs to come out or we need to go to a plant nursery. It is one of those to-do things as we have had rain every weekend. One of these days - look out - what a mess we will have. LOL
We also need to change our bedspread and window treatments. Michelle, I could use your talents. We talk about doing this but it is pretty much dumped in my lap with the phrase "but you are better at picking out this stuff than I am". Other words, just take care of it and I will enjoy the results.
Oh, I also have to tell you that we want to replace the carpet in the two bedrooms so we have to look for that too. I should say I need to track people down to do it. So, lets see, that makes three big projects for me - the carpet, the window treatments, and the plants. I really don't have anything else to do so why not... I love my husband and your father. Its a good thing we aren't on a timeline.
I am going to try and go on some of these trips but I have to juggle my time around too. Sometimes it isn't worth the effort as it is only a day or two. I do not like being by myself but I have done it so many times over the years that I have been able to handle it.
We are trying to make changes to the front of the house by getting rid of some shrubs that have been in this one flower bed for ever and replace them with something new and fresh. Once everything is removed, it will be a large wall. Ideas are not forthcoming to us. We need to get someone to give us ideas so we don't put the wrong things into the ground. We also need to make sure the plants are drought and fire tolerate too. Either someone needs to come out or we need to go to a plant nursery. It is one of those to-do things as we have had rain every weekend. One of these days - look out - what a mess we will have. LOL
We also need to change our bedspread and window treatments. Michelle, I could use your talents. We talk about doing this but it is pretty much dumped in my lap with the phrase "but you are better at picking out this stuff than I am". Other words, just take care of it and I will enjoy the results.
Oh, I also have to tell you that we want to replace the carpet in the two bedrooms so we have to look for that too. I should say I need to track people down to do it. So, lets see, that makes three big projects for me - the carpet, the window treatments, and the plants. I really don't have anything else to do so why not... I love my husband and your father. Its a good thing we aren't on a timeline.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Update on Job and other stuff
Well the presentation is over. Dad is on his way back to California. By the news reports, it sounds like he is getting out of Washington DC at the right time as a snow storm will be hitting on Friday. Dad thought their presentation was good but only time will tell if they succeeded. Clark should know something by April or May.
The whole time Dad was there, he was also dealing with a cold. A cold he started having before he left. Of course he didn't think he was and didn't take anything for it or anything with him. Surprise! He had to go buy some stuff to take to help with congestion and throat lozenges. He seemed to be sounding better the last I talked with him.
Now Dad was to fly back to Washington next week but the bid he had on Wednesday was to take place so he wasn't going. That has now changed once more. This bid has been moved. The question he has now is - should he fly to Washington to attend this meeting and then stay to see his sons or stay home a whole week? He has been wanting to see family but it just hasn't worked out on his trips. I think it will depend on how he is feeling when he returns. If he is not feeling well, I am voting for him to take that week to get better. Why run yourself down when you have an opportunity to regain some energy back. Dad has a long process on this next big job in Utah. There will be further opportunities to see family. This is my opinion and not Dad's.
We are getting rain storms Friday and Saturday. It won't be a tremendous amount, up to 3". Every little bit helps.
Our housing area is having a problem with two large coyotes. I haven't seen them but some people have. One neighbor has said that his dog has been stalked by them. They appear at dusk but have also been seen at night. Very scary when I think about taking Frankie out to do his business at night and wonder if they are out there watching. They would love to get their mouth around him as he is the right size. So I watch and try not to spend to much time outside at night. There are times when I have to convince Frankie to get his act together as he wants to sniff around. I guess he would know if something isn't right. He does scare me when he stops and just stares into the darkness. I am also looking but I don't see a thing. It just gives you the creeps.
The whole time Dad was there, he was also dealing with a cold. A cold he started having before he left. Of course he didn't think he was and didn't take anything for it or anything with him. Surprise! He had to go buy some stuff to take to help with congestion and throat lozenges. He seemed to be sounding better the last I talked with him.
Now Dad was to fly back to Washington next week but the bid he had on Wednesday was to take place so he wasn't going. That has now changed once more. This bid has been moved. The question he has now is - should he fly to Washington to attend this meeting and then stay to see his sons or stay home a whole week? He has been wanting to see family but it just hasn't worked out on his trips. I think it will depend on how he is feeling when he returns. If he is not feeling well, I am voting for him to take that week to get better. Why run yourself down when you have an opportunity to regain some energy back. Dad has a long process on this next big job in Utah. There will be further opportunities to see family. This is my opinion and not Dad's.
We are getting rain storms Friday and Saturday. It won't be a tremendous amount, up to 3". Every little bit helps.
Our housing area is having a problem with two large coyotes. I haven't seen them but some people have. One neighbor has said that his dog has been stalked by them. They appear at dusk but have also been seen at night. Very scary when I think about taking Frankie out to do his business at night and wonder if they are out there watching. They would love to get their mouth around him as he is the right size. So I watch and try not to spend to much time outside at night. There are times when I have to convince Frankie to get his act together as he wants to sniff around. I guess he would know if something isn't right. He does scare me when he stops and just stares into the darkness. I am also looking but I don't see a thing. It just gives you the creeps.
Monday, February 1, 2010
By myself again
Dad has left again for a trip to Washington DC. This is for the final phase of the Denver VA Hospital bid. His team will be presenting on Thursday before the VA Committee. The five contractors that have bid this job, have to do this same process. From the five, one will be selected based on their price and their presentation. A lot of pressure. Dad went early because they will practice and practice their presentation. They will fine tune it and make sure everyone has their part just so.
I could have gone with him but I didn't think it would have been very much fun for me. I would have sat in the hotel room and waited for him. I can do that here in California. I know it isn't the same as being with him but his head will be with that presentation so our conversations would have been limited. Afterwards, he will be exhausted. It takes a lot out of him. The stress is overwhelming.
He was to fly back to Washington next week, Feb. 8, 9, 10, but he also has a bid here in California on the the 10th. Unless it moves, Dad will be staying here that week. The meeting in Washington will be passed up. There will be others as this is on the large job in Utah (1 billion dollars).
I will be glad when Dad can stay home longer than 3 days. This has been going on since the first of the year. At least I was with him for the first couple of weeks. This has been the most he has flown in such a long time. He is good at what he does and the company knows it. I think he also has a few other people pulling for him to get the job too! :-)
I could have gone with him but I didn't think it would have been very much fun for me. I would have sat in the hotel room and waited for him. I can do that here in California. I know it isn't the same as being with him but his head will be with that presentation so our conversations would have been limited. Afterwards, he will be exhausted. It takes a lot out of him. The stress is overwhelming.
He was to fly back to Washington next week, Feb. 8, 9, 10, but he also has a bid here in California on the the 10th. Unless it moves, Dad will be staying here that week. The meeting in Washington will be passed up. There will be others as this is on the large job in Utah (1 billion dollars).
I will be glad when Dad can stay home longer than 3 days. This has been going on since the first of the year. At least I was with him for the first couple of weeks. This has been the most he has flown in such a long time. He is good at what he does and the company knows it. I think he also has a few other people pulling for him to get the job too! :-)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
A Sad Day
It is a sad day today. We had to put Chester down. It was very hard to make this decision. We talked and talked but we felt it was the right thing to do. He was 15 years old or 74 years in human years. Chester was having problems with his kidneys but that was not the main problem at this time. He lost weight and was dehydrated. The vet was not sure what was going on and wanted to do all kinds of tests and x-rays to see if she could figure it out. One proposal of cost was near $600 just to find out what might be wrong. There was no guarantee they would know for sure. We were being told it could be cancer, or a digestive disease, or who knows what else. He was supposed to have ulcers in his stomach area and dental disease. He was sleeping most of the day and not active.
Dad took him to the vet, this afternoon, for the appointment. I stayed at home. I just couldn't do it again after Cali. It was hard for Dad too.
Chester lead a good life and was a good cat, ornery at times, but a good cat. He was also a big cat weighing as much as 17 pounds. We will miss him but we know he won't have to go through any pain now.
Dad took him to the vet, this afternoon, for the appointment. I stayed at home. I just couldn't do it again after Cali. It was hard for Dad too.
Chester lead a good life and was a good cat, ornery at times, but a good cat. He was also a big cat weighing as much as 17 pounds. We will miss him but we know he won't have to go through any pain now.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Change in Plans
You didn't think that our plans were going to be cut and dry did you? Of course not! The bid that Dad was going to Denver to work on, has been postponed a week. It is still happening but just causes us to change flight arrangements. The problem that now exists is whether to continue to go to Denver a week ahead of time or cancel that first week and start the trip all over again. Have I confused everyone?
We originally were flying to Denver, December 28-January 6. Dad would then fly again on January 9 to be in Washington DC until January 13. OK, now he doesn't really need to be in Denver until January 4 with the bid going in on January 13. He then flies into Washington DC on January 16 with his presentation on the 21st.
We could continue with our original flight to Denver but it would mean for us to stay there for 2 1/2 weeks. We would be able to visit with Jenn and the kids, plus Uncle Alan and Aunt Bonnie but once Dad goes to work on the bid on January 4, what do I do? Especially for the next week and a half? I could fly back home early by myself. I could just stay there. I also could not go altogether and Dad changes his flight to January 4-13 and then to Washington DC from January 16-21.
So many options. Nothing is ever easy. We will keep you posted.
We originally were flying to Denver, December 28-January 6. Dad would then fly again on January 9 to be in Washington DC until January 13. OK, now he doesn't really need to be in Denver until January 4 with the bid going in on January 13. He then flies into Washington DC on January 16 with his presentation on the 21st.
We could continue with our original flight to Denver but it would mean for us to stay there for 2 1/2 weeks. We would be able to visit with Jenn and the kids, plus Uncle Alan and Aunt Bonnie but once Dad goes to work on the bid on January 4, what do I do? Especially for the next week and a half? I could fly back home early by myself. I could just stay there. I also could not go altogether and Dad changes his flight to January 4-13 and then to Washington DC from January 16-21.
So many options. Nothing is ever easy. We will keep you posted.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Did we say we didn't want to travel?
We had every intention to stay around here for quite awhile with out doing any traveling. Well, that has gone by the way side. Dad and I will be flying to Denver on December 28 and be there until January 6. Dad is there for the VA Hospital bid. Most of those days he will be holed up with other estimators working on this bid and try to out due 4 other contractors.
The bid goes in on January 6 but there is also an interview process that Clark will have to go through too. This takes place in Washington DC. So, Dad will be flying to Washington on January 9 and have rehearsal with the team before they present themselves on the 12th. Dad will then leave on the 13th.
He wants to see Jon and Tony plus families on Sunday, January 10, as this will be the only day available to him to visit. He is concerned that this second trip may be too much for me as we would have just returned from Denver. Who know how I would feel? Do I go and visit one day and then spend 3 days in the hotel or stay at home and come and go as I want but miss Dad? I just wish we had more visiting time. Undecided because I want to see everybody. I also understand about not being able to do anything except watch TV or read magazines. It is OK for a while but could get real boring.
What to do, what to do!
The bid goes in on January 6 but there is also an interview process that Clark will have to go through too. This takes place in Washington DC. So, Dad will be flying to Washington on January 9 and have rehearsal with the team before they present themselves on the 12th. Dad will then leave on the 13th.
He wants to see Jon and Tony plus families on Sunday, January 10, as this will be the only day available to him to visit. He is concerned that this second trip may be too much for me as we would have just returned from Denver. Who know how I would feel? Do I go and visit one day and then spend 3 days in the hotel or stay at home and come and go as I want but miss Dad? I just wish we had more visiting time. Undecided because I want to see everybody. I also understand about not being able to do anything except watch TV or read magazines. It is OK for a while but could get real boring.
What to do, what to do!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)