((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))) feel better soon Barb!

Not much to report here as of yet either other than back spasms kept me up all night!

Hi all. Feel like I got hit by a mac truck this morning. :Wheel: LOL, I blame hubby. He suggested I take a Tylenol PM last night to see if that might help me sleep better. It did, but makes me want to sleep longer too.

Hoping that coffee ritual thing I have helps. :D

~~~~~

Barb, :hug: Hope you feel better soon.

Renee, sorry about the spasms, hun. Wish I had some suggestions to help you out. :hug:

Kay, I'm honored you took my suggestion for the goslings name. Thanks. :)

Vonn, Glad you are keeping busy. Sounds great. :)

Sandy, Your mom sounds like my MIL. I too generally keep my mouth shut because I love her. It's hard. Especially when stuff like this is going on. :hug:

Hang in there, and if you still need more to clean - You are more than welcome to come down here to Ohio. :D

Barb - You've really had a hard time this cold season. I am so sorry. Hopefully, with spring on it's way you will start feeling better soon.:hug:

Renee - I hate, hate, hate the back spasms during the night. Well, actually anytime. Legs and arms are more tolerable. I am sorry you had a rough night. Do you take anything for the spasms?

Fin - DBF takes Tylenol PM and wakes up the same way. Groggy. I'm sorry this is happening to you and I hope the coffee kicks in soon.

Hope you all have a great day!

Nothing much to report here either except I have to go out to get Bergie more antibiotics. She will now take antibitics for four months. I am currently waiting for the on call doctor (Jim's) to call since he too needs another round. I am beginning to think they are passing this crap back and forth somehow...haha

I hope all my board buds feel better soon. It's almost spring! Oh wait, some of you already know that don't ya? lol

*neener*

:p

Cayo, thanks for the wonderful pics....as I said the kids love them...

thanks all...I dont know what was going on, but would get terribly dizzy as in past, but then vomitting too...missed half day of classes...but made it thru the rest...saved the owner some spending money as I was eating too many meals out few of the days....

anyhow..back into family swing of things, busy as always, work and kids...still at times getting dizzy, and feeling nausea with it...if continues will have to get checked out to make sure nothing other than my mysterious sxs....
hugss all, sarah

Thanks everyone for your well wishes. :Thank you: My sore throat seems to be going away. Now if I just did not have to blow my nose every 5 minutes...

I think I have been feeling kind of introspective the past week or so. I have been thinking about how much my life has changed in the past year. I began my series of MRI's and numerous doctor's visits about a year ago and was diagnosed in early April. I was so out of it, depressed, and scared last Spring/Summer. My biggest challenge is that I am a planner, and I do not like the feeling that I can not control or know what my future holds.:Sigh:

I also think all of the strong opinions about tysabri scare me at time. :eek: Part of me thinks I need to quit reading them. But then I feel the need to be informed and current.

On a more positive note, I did not use my cane when I went to the grocery store today. I have been using it less and less even though my left leg is still stiff. So I do think it is improving.

Does anyone else watch Top Chef? It is set in Chicago this year.

yeah, barb... I remember the time around my dx, even though it was so long ago.

it was an exhausting time for me... so many things changed, my plans, and dreams, and abilities, and emotions were a real rollercoaster.

hang in there, honey!

read all the stuff about Ty, and carefully form your own opinion, based on your personal risk analysis... that's the only way.

don't let anyone sway ya, pro OR con.

glad you're feelin' a bit better... but remember to slather your nose with something.

all that drippin' you may end up rubbing your poor nostrils raw.

:hug:

Sarah, it makes me feel good that my photos bring some amusement to children out there.

feelin' the coggles of my heart go all warm 'n' fuzzy, lol!

ain't it amazing, that I'm half a world away, but we can still share our lives?

hugs to your kiddie-poos for me!

:grouphug::hug::grouphug:

I know *exactly* what ya MEAN !!

today I woke up with a severe case of the MS mornin' hobble.

no way to disguise it, could only do my little hula-dance warm-up thing-a-ma-jigger, and try to shake it off, and get wit' da program!

and it's kinda scary for my houseguest to see... she has MS, but a (relatively) mild case, plus, I've had it for 20 years...

so, she sees ME all stiff and bent over, and it makes her fret a wee bit.

plus, I look kinda *scary* in the mornin' anywayze... :eek::D:eek:

my update:

good news kiddies!

my ankle is now all better, and I'm walking well, if a bit slow.

and the goslings are growing FAST, already nearly a FOOT TALL !!

and we've hatched a dozen ducklings, and 19 chickens this week, and more guinea-babies on the way...

spring is springin' out all over Chez Kay.

but we desperately need some RAIN here...

our cistern is down to 16 inches, and the ground by the pond, well, the CRACKS in the mud are so DEEP that when I toss corn to my duckies, it falls IN, and they can't REACH it!

I usually do the morning corn feeding right nearby the house, but I've got FOUR ducky mommas on nests way out there, so I'm now doing "home delivery" for their brekkie, so they don't have to go so far, and leave their eggs... it makes 'em GRUMPY... :mad::(:mad:

and my pond is so LOW... it's only two feet deep in the middle... GACK !!

so, any of ya Pagans, or hippies out there, getcher yayas up, and go do a freakin' RAIN DANCE for me, okay?

we have NO water service here in da jungle, we collect rainfall from the roof, so we're on STRICT "Navy Shower" water rules and rationing right now.

:rolleyes:

hey San? do I stink?

:p

Barb I love Top Chef, Iron Chef, Food network challenges etc, I am a self proclaimed foodie! Glad you are feeling better.

Day 3 of preschool and Olivia is sick :( we were up all night.
As a result I am dragging this morning!

I take Zanaflex for the spasms...baclofen did nothing, the zanaflex makes me sleepy and wears off too fast then leaves me with insomnia!

Good morning all :) Despite the small amount of unexpected snow last night to be here on the ground for the first day of spring, I'm doing pretty good this morning.

My kitties woke me up this morning needing food. LOL, I swear they make plans to tag team me. The first one tries to wake me up. If she fails, she sends the other one in to try. :D

~~~~~~

Kay, so glad to hear the ankle's doing better. Hope you get some rain down your way soon.

Barb, Glad to hear about the improvements, even with the sniffles.

I know what you mean about being introspective. It's 2 years this month since I started my path to DX. The changes in my life and in myself seem to be amazing for such a short period of time.

Sandy, Antibiotics, yuck. Sorry to hear both Bergie and Jim need to keep these rounds going. :hug: Can't blame you for thinking their giving this to each other. My hubby and I joke about similar things, LOL :D

Renee, :hug: Sorry to hear Olivia was sick last night.

Finny?

did you do a DANCE for me last night?

well, SOMEBODY did, and they did a DARN good job of importuning the heavens for me...

:D

it started RAINING around midnight, and rained ALL night!!!!

and... it's STILL raining!

YAY !! I get a SHOWER now!

and the goosie and duckie baths are all full, and the POND is filling back up!!!

:hug:

PS: San, I don't *stink* no more, lol.

Cayo, nope I can't smell ya yet so you must smell good! lol

Fin, I was wrong. Bergie will stay on the antibiotic for 4 weeks, not months. haha

Renee, give Olivia smooches for me. Poor thang.

MY UPDATE:
Jim will not go on antibiotics. We are to keep flushing the bladder three times a day now. Since he's not symptomatic they don't want to give him meds. We see the doc on April 1st anyway so it's all good. Jim gets to have his yearly kidney US, Creatinine Clearance test and yearly blood work. Yippie!

Today I plan to fill out the pet insurance forms since Bergie is starting to get very expensive and also get my digital camera ready to ship for repairs. The cable guy is coming to exchange our wireless router so I wont be on most of the day. That's about it.

Have a good day everyone!

Kay, glad my dance worked for ya, LOL. :Dancing-Chilli:

Sandy, glad to hear Jim doesn't have to take the meds thus far. Hope his appointment goes well. :hug:

at least it's only for 4 weeks for Bergie. Was a little worried there.

to cheer up little Olivia, since she's feeling under the weather, I started a thread just for her, with Wok-Wok pix.

Fin, you must dance pretty good, girl!

'cause it sure *worked*

:hug:

San, I smell GREAT now!

all squeaky-clean.

:D:cool::D

LOL Kayo maybe it was the Wok Wok dance Olivia does whenever she sees your pics!

Fin you didn't dance naked did you?

Sandy, your description of your day always makes me want a nap! Glad Jim doesn't have to go back on the antibiotics.....poor Bergie, I think she needs a Happy Meal!

The sun is shining today. Yeah!!! Kay, You can have all of our rain. This seems like the first day that we have seen the sun for ages. And it is supposed to rain for the next several days! My yard was flooded yesterday.

Renee, sorry to hear about your little one. My niece who is 2 years and 4 months goes to day care and seems to be constantly picking up some type of germ. I don't really cook that much, but love to watch Top Chef, Iron Chef, and I use to watch $40.00 a day all of the time. I have gotten a little tired of Rachel Ray.

Fin, thanks for your reply. I guess I am still at times trying to figure out how to be myself. I was use to being very independent and traveling alot on my own. I guess I am lucky that I got to visit several other countries prior to this "crap."

Sandy -- Pet health insurance? Does that really exist?

Hope everyone is having a good day. I ran errands this morning, wrote a few letters of recommendation this afternoon, and now it is time for a little nap.

Made it through work. :) Glad I did some stuff before I went because now I'm just a blob.

LOL, it's all that dancing I did last night. ;)

really, really, really GOOD job!

thanks to my dancers out there in NeuroTalkLand...

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2170/648xv9.jpg

it's STILL raining here!

YAY !!!!!!!

:D:p:D

Hey all, still battling Olivia's illness we were up all night and then at 4 am she starts puking all over the bed! So we all moved down to the family room where she resumed puking! Poor thing trying now to get her into the doctor.....so frustrating! If they didn't deploy them all people might get to see a doctor!

Renee, I hope you can get Olivia into see the doc. I hate hearing little ones sick like this. Prayers being sent. :hug:

amen.

and "Yessir!"

hope lil Olivia's back on track, pronto!

:hug:

Kay - That picture is so cute. I love it.

Renee - I hope that Olivia is feeling better today. Poor thing. We kind of do need our doctors home don't we.

~~~~
Painting again today. I'm trying out some new techniques and mediums. I'm so excited.

I also have Mt. St. Laundry to tackle. UGH!!! With teens it is never ending. Why do they have to wear something for a couple of hours, change to something else for a few hours, then change . . . . LOL. The good news is that they are on spring break and they will be helping with the laundry.:D

Hvae been homeschooling Dayton in the subjects I can teach on the couch with Olivia in my lap! Could not get into a doctor...go figure..they said well, you can go to the ER, ummm for 6 hours with more sick kids??? No thanks! Gonna try and hang in there!

Painting...haven't done that in ages LOL Wait I haven't done anything in ages!

I need a vacation anyone want to take me in????LOL

lol, you're welcome anytime, dear!

mi casa es su casa.

but it's a wee bit rough right now... Navy showers, and a composting toilet in the guesthouse, until "Rainy Season" arrives in May.

the *main house* is where the tiled accessible bathroom is, but it has no kitchen cabinets yet... and the solar water heater's STILL not hooked up (trouble finding proper plumbing parts, lol!)

I put up some more WonderPets pix for little Olivia, to help her feel better.

sort of a virtual Get Well card.

:hug::grouphug::hug:

Renee-
It's a trip, but little creek has a off-hours clinic. I use it when appts aren't available and it's not ER worthy.

Hi all. I'm a little cog foggy tonight. LOL, not sure how I made it through work. Today's been just a blur.

I felt like a blob this morning, felt like one going to work, and still feel like one. LOL, gotta love fatigue. :D

Hi! Well it is 2:30 in the morning here and I am wide awake. Went to bed at 10:00 and finally fell asleep around 11:00. I use ambien but obviously it is not working well. I can't sleep during the daytime either/ I may lay down for awhile, but I just rest.

Went to my office yesterday and did a bit of work. My sabbatical will be over in 7 weeks and I teach a course in American Government during our first intersession. (May 12 through June 6) . I then attended Good Friday mass at the Newman Center. I have not been to a Good Friday service since attending Catholic school from first through eighth grade. They certainly have changed alot.

Hope Olivia is feeling better and that she has not shared her illness. They are teaching her about sharing at pre school, aren't they?

Fin, I hope you get the weekend off from work.

Happy Easter Everyone!:trampoline:

I am going to try to go back to bed.:Zzzz:

Thanks Greta didn't know that! Olivia was up all night or rather I was while she alternated between coughing and crying..she wanted to lay on top of me all night! And hubby had second sleep study last night so it was just me!

For those of you who know I have things spontaneously move in my house without a person moving them...think things flying across the room...I have had lots more stuff happening this week, told hubby it better not follow us to SC!

Kayo I posted on Olivia's wok wok thread, of course she was tickled!

Renee, really hope Olivia starts feeling better. :hug: Glad she loves her wok wok page

~~~

Trying to get myself going this morning. :) The blob needs to move today, LOL. Have some stuff that needs done since we're going to go visit hubby's parents tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a great day, today :)

Nothing planned here guys. I have to clean my bathroom but decided that wasn't a plan, it's a necessity...lol The boys are coming home today. I was planning on having Easter dinner today but changed my mind. I'll get up and cook in the morning before they go home.

Happy Easter weekend everyone.

Hi all ...

Renee - hope little Olivia feels better ...

Jenn - have fun at the inlaws ... what are you bringing??

Sandy - there's barely room in my bathroom to turn around - still have the 2x4 holding up the ceiling (just in case) ... but all the snow is off of my roof - and WE didn't get any snow yesterday ... well, I didn't! whew!

Barb - I should of jumped on this morning! I went to bed around 10ish ... and UP at 2-230 ... so today is a bit dragging ...

OH Kay - I'm thinking about figuring out how to 'inexpensively' set up some kind of solar power to bring electricity in ... ideas welcome! ;)

UPDATE::

have a tough time with walking (hips HURT) ... and then sitting is good, but I need to get stuff done! it's quite a struggle ... the pain brings a tear to my eye ... and then I sit, but want to keep busy ... more ideas, welcome!

it's been 2 weeks ... and no call - guess he feels he's done his duty 'caring for a sick person' ... so, it's okay - would of been nice ... I have to work out things on my own (summer projects) ...

figured out how to build a shell for a 'lighthouse' building ... and have the tools to do it ... where's SPRING!!

everybody!! :hug:

Renee- Maybe the beings could pack and move everything for you?:D Sorry Olivia still is under the weather. Poor baby. You could come down here anytime. The dry weather might just dry up that cough.

Barb - I am feeling so guilty for not attending services last night. Easter is so early this year I'm having a hard time preparing for it. We didn't even watch Jesus of Nazareth like we do every Holy Week. UGH! I am glad you got to go and enjoyed it.

Sandy - That sounds like a good plan. Glad your boys are home. Hope you are all having a great visit.

(((Vonn))) - Sorry about both your pains (the hip and the boy). Although, I hate to admit this but I think I would take the hip pain over the boy pain. The hip pain you can take something to help relieve it. The boy pain you just have to deal with. It s*cks.

~~~~
Quick vent here, which I don't normally do but - DBF's mom is here for a visit. I spent today scrubbing out his refrigerator and kitchen. As I was doing it DBF kept teasing me that I missed a spot. So, I gave him a reality check. I told him that I am doing all this work for a woman who can't stand me. (or anyone else for that matter). Let me tell you he quickly shut up.

The point is this woman rips everyone apart including her own kids. She talks bad about them behind their backs. She starts fights all the time. It is so tense when she comes to town. I feel for her as she is a very unhappy person. She must be for behaving this way.

However, she is SO mean that no one will stand up to her. When she starts her carp, I get up and leave the room. I'm a happy, compassionate person. I don't want to be around that! I also don't go to DBF's sisters where she stays and more than likely I won't go to DBF's when she stays with him next weekend.

DBF's step dad is awesome. The man is so kind and loving. He has ALS and is scooter bound. To be honest, I don't think she's too nice to him either. She pretends to be the martyr but I have heard some mean undertones. I have talked to DBF about this and he made a deal with his step dad - that if anything goes wrong or she mistreats him DBF will come pick him up.

OK vent over.

Happy Easter everyone!

TK, :hug: no one deserves to go through that. Sorry to hear you have such a rough time with her. That's a wonderful offer your DBF gave.

Vonn, I'm bringing chocolate, LOL. I guess I'm the easter bunny this year.

~~~~~~

Happy Easter everyone! Hope today is a good one for you all.

Yesterday was a bad one for me. Bad muscle fatigue and fell three times. Luckily it was at home and mainly ego was bruised. Ah well, I keep trucking :)

Happy Easter everyone! :grouphug: Right now we are having a mix of snow and rain --- great Easter weather:rolleyes:

I am going to a brunch at a restaurant in a few hours with a few friends. We decided to do this so no one has to cook. I seem to be developing another cold or bronchitis; have been coughing all morning:mad: Drinking lots of water seems to be helping. I do not want to go to the doctor's this week. I am so tired of that cycle!

tk-- DBF' mom sounds horrible! I definitely feel sorry for her husband. I know that taking care of someone with a disability can be stressful, tiring, and frustrating but she seems like she needs a happy pill.

renee -- I hope Olivia is feeling better and can enjoy Easter. When are you moving to SC? Will you still be near the ocean?

vonn -- hope you are feeling better today.

mornin' Von!

we only have a small solar array on the roof, of tubes and a 50 gallon water tank.

it's a "passive" system.

it was quite inexpensive (for solar) and cost me $987.

but it ONLY heats water for the shower and washing machine.

it doesn't run any of my electric stuff.

that's next, as the *new* administration that just came to power is looking at removing ALL the import duties for solar equipment.

last time I investigated, it would've cost around 19 THOUSAND dollars, to buy, ship, and pay import duties (on sufficient inverters, batteries, and tubes for my needs) to Belize.

in the States, many areas have nice REBATE programs, and grid-tie-in deals, where you get PAID by your electrical utility for power you SUPPLY back into the grid, over and above what you've used...

they're not doing that here... YET, but a girl can dream... someday, maybe...

:cool::):cool:

Fin and Barb - Thanks. I felt kind of guilty for posting my vent as I don't normally vent like that online or in person. You made me feel better about it and I really appreciate that. The longer I am with DBF (9 years) the harder she becomes to deal with as despite all of her attempts I don't go away. LOL.

Kay - That is cool. I saw a program on PBS about solar energy. I believe it is in Germany maybe - can't remember - but they use quite a bit of solar energy. It is more expensive but the people are willing to pay more to help the environment. I wish the US would do something like this. The SW is perfect for setting up solar panels, minimal rain and lots of sun. They could probably supply enough energy for the entire US by putting in various places from NM to CA.

Vonn - I saw something on TV on quilting. This lady started making quilts with scriptures in them for cancer patients in her church. It became so popular that they now make them for others. I can't remember the exact number they have made so far (800???) but they interviewed people who have received them and how much they love them. I thought of you when I saw the program. What an awesome thing you are doing for the kids. You should be very proud of yourself.

~~~~
No updates today. Church, brunch at my moms, nap, and I don't know what from there.

For those of you that celebrate Easter - have a Happy Easter! For those of you who don't - I hope you have a great day!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!


Olivias cold is still raging strong she is coughing terribly now and is very hoarse, we finally broke down and took her to the urgent care center on base last night....get this...we were the ONLY ones there! Miracle in itself,but we got there at 8:30, we didn't leave until midnight! After we got there it filled up and even though we were already in the back we had to wait several hours! After going to the drugstore as the base pharmacy was closed we got home at 1 something this morning. She doesn't have the flu or strep so they gave us some steroid nasal spray and some allergy meds for her.

On a good not Olivia LOVED Easter egg hunting! I hid 3 dozen eggs in the house and 5 dozen outside, her and Dayton both had alot of fun,then dad colored with her new sidewalk chalk on the front porch with her. Now just cooking dinner. I hope you all have great days!

Barb- moving to SC this fall, and we will be about 2-2 1/2 hours from the beach,not 5 minutes but still not too bad.

Tkrik-I think your DBF's mother and my MIL may be related, someone yanked that woman straight up outta hell by her hair!