Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Let's Hear It For Modern Medicine!!!

A comment on the blessings of modern medicine.  Hmm, or rather I believe I'd like to say the up and coming modern medicine.  I had a stay in the ER yesterday in the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.  I was traveling in to Provo to meet with a very lovely woman when to my surprise while I was driving down the road, Redwood Road, to be exact, my heart began to POUND in my chest, my vision went wierd, and my throat felt like it was tightening up -- ah yes, some dadgum anxiety attack.  Well, what in the world?  I wasn't taking off in a shuttle, I could not figure out where this darned thing came from.  There was very little traffic, the sun was shining, the car was running well enough, (*%^%*^$(*&^.  I could not shake that thing, well, it would ebb and flow all the way to Provo. Very unnerving if you ask me.  Not to mention scary, embarrassing and I hope never to do that again~

I finally reached my destination and I still couldn't shake it.  About a half hour later, that "lovely" woman suggested a trip to the ER and I took her up on it.  They did a barrage of testing, blood work, ekg, and so on.  GGGGGGeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzz, very frustrating!  I didn't stop tremoring until 1:00 p.m.  They finally let me go home at around 2:00, telling me I look pretty darn good on paper, so go see your regular doctor.

So today, I did!  I've been seeing a "nurse practitioner" for about two years now.  I LOVE her!  She's gotten my out of more hot water than I care to think about.  She deals mostly with women's health and this woman is grateful!  My husband and I went in together, we explained what had happened yesterday.  She asked me a few questions, looked at my chart, turned and looked at me and said, "This is not your fault AND you are not going crazy!"  She explained that hormonal imbalances can cause the seritonin to go haywire and cause these anxiety episodes!  Wahoo, I can not tell you what a relief this was to me, I thought I'd never drive again, I'd pictured myself as some recluse in my own home. 

Well, it won't be adjusted overnight, but at the very least, I feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel.  She also said I'll probably sleep better, my memory will improve, my thought process will improve, I won't feel so many aches and pains geez, the relief goes on and on just from one inadequate hormone, who knew. 

Don't ask me for the detailed medical explanations, I'll leave that to the professionals.  I found this practitioner from the local compound pharmacy.  As for the "up and coming modern medicine", it has been my experience that not all physicians will or can do the indepth testing that these newer practitioners will do, they will run generic/general tests, but not the indepth ones that can give us better answers for better solutions.  Growing older as they say "ain't for sissys" but we can arm ourselves to grow feeling better and healther.

So, my gratitude to the up and coming with the new fangled whatevers!

She even gives me hugs!

See ya soon!

B

Saturday, November 12, 2011

I feel I should start this all over again.  My last entry was October 16th, nearly a lifetime ago.  For a quick recap on all the happenings, I've been looking for work as an office worker, receptionist, secretary ... and that has taken the lion's share of my time.  I took a workshop on writing a new resume.  I feel I've been on another planet for the past 33 years, try writing a resume from raising kids, car pooling, and graduating from High School 5 times.  Regardless, I've worked up a new resume.   Hope it helps.  I look on line most every day at the multiple sites for jobs, which takes forever!  I've been "networking", or speaking to anyone who'll listen telling them I'm looking for work and to please keep an eye out.  Something will turn up.
 
My hubby and I celebrated our 33rd anniversary!  Yikes, how can this be when I know I'm still in my 30's??
;')  Huh. 

We've planned a trip to see my 90 year old (young) mother in Tucson for Thanksgiving.  Her stamina is amazing.

I've been working like a bee making items for sale for a web-site called Etsy.  Baby shoes, bracelet cuffs, hair adornments, some jewelry...

So I have been keeping myself busy.

Oh, I started a new group or gathering.  Once a month, anyone who wants, comes and we discuss gardening, food storage, emergency preparedness, economizing and whatever else fits under that umbrella.  The first gathering we talked about a food storage plan called the 19 x 19 Plan.  You choose 19 meals, multiply them by 19 times and you'll have 361 days of meals say dinner.  You can use other variables.  Pretty simple and user friendly.  You store what you eat, and eat what you store.  In case there are extenuating circumstances and can't get to a grocery store.  I'll put the plan on the blog site.  This is not an uncommon interest in my neck of the woods.  And with all of the floods, snow storms, and other natural phenomenoms, that we've seen on the tele, I don't mind taking steps to be better prepared for the off chance of ??? 

On a very sad note, we lost our sweet pet dog, Bailey, yesterday.  She was a 12 year old beautiful black lab mutT and had some illnesses that couldn't be cured.  Still heartbroken, and I imagine we will be for a time.  Those darn critters get right under your skin and you just love 'em so much!  We can still hear her dog collar jingling when we come in the door, she'd be right there to greet us.  Or I could have sworn I could hear her licking her paw at the end of my bed, but it turned out to be the clock ticking.  She had this funny, spinning around dance she'd do to tell us she needed to go outside.  Or when she'd lie down, she'd cross her feet in the front, one on top of the other.  Oh, my goodness, we'd blow bubbles outside in the back yard and you'd think she'd grown springs on her feet jumping up to catch every last one of them.  That was always hilarious and entertaining.  And talk about springs on her feet, she could jump up say from one level to another with a 3-4 foot distance and it was like she sprouted wings.  There was no effort, well, none that we could see.  She had the darndest knack for knowing when someone was upset, there she'd be at your feet or by your chair nudging you with her nose as if to say, what's wrong or don't be sad or don't cry or I love you, you know.  She'd also come find me wherever I was and lay down beside me, whether I was inside or out.  She was sweet and loveable and the dearest, loyal companion.

Twelve years is a long time to be in a family.  My daughter was pretty upset too.  I tried to tell her that if we didn't love her so much, we wouldn't feel like this, so it's a good thing.  When the emptyness and the hurt ease, we'll see that better.  We're blessed with these pets, loyal forever.  I'm grateful and I know she's off running in a heavenly field chasing butterflies.  I miss you Bailey.

Thanks for letting me share.

Well, I'm going to try to be more consistent with this, and add pictures.  Here's hopin'.

Blessings to you!

B

Sunday, October 16, 2011

My Sister Was Born Before Me

Yes, my sister was born before me (they all were!)  I was trying to think of a nice way to say older sister without betraying the fact that she's older than I am.  Apparently I haven't found a way to do that yet.

Today is her birthday and I called her to wish her Happy Birthday, even sang a happy birthday song to her -- "Happy, Happy Birhday Sharon dear.  Happy days will come to you all year.  If I had one wish then it would be, a Happy, Happy Birthday to you from me."  She liked it!  Bad singing and all.

These days a happy birthday isn't to go to Disneyland or Las Vegas or make a big deal out of it!  A happy birthday is spent with your better half, your kids and grand kids, having someone else BBQ dinner and watch a movie on TV till your eyes betray you and they watch the movie from the inside of your eyelids.  And, having all your special "peeps" call you to wish you happy day!

We did say something about doing all of this in say, Figi or Tasmania, or the Bahamas would work too!  While cabana boy brings you your favorite smoothie at your whim.  HAPpy Birthday!!!

Sounds boring you say?  Not when you're counting your blessings.  

Until next time!

B

The "Grammie" Part

Maybe you've been asking, "So, why call it Grammie's World?  She hasn't said anything about grandkids." 

Thank you for asking, although you might regret it later!  We have four "B"-u-tiful grand children, well, we really have five, but we're waiting for one of them to be born and to see what her parents name her!  That makes:  one, "my heart is too big for this body", boy and four sweet, precious, adorable girls, all ages three to -2 1/2 months.  And if life ain't grand enough, my hubby and I have twin granddaughters!  Two of our daughters have daughters that were born on the exact same day about 7 hours apart - that is a story in and of itself! 

Oh, I can hardly contain myself just thinking about them.  I find myself constantly saying, "My spoon is NOT big enough."  I just want to gobble them up, nibble on 'em in that spot right behind the ear!  Well, when you can catch them and they let me.  But that's where "My heart is too big for my body" comes in.  Anyone else felt this feeling.  Your emotions just swell up and overwhelm you.  OOOOOooohhhhhh, they are so cute! 

And they're so smart and curious and nice and energetic and they say please and thank you and I applaud their most wonderful parents for such an amazing job at raising them.  So, I just want to know one thing, who raised you anyway?

Until next time,

B

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

72 Hour Survey

So there I was at church this last Sunday, minding my own business even and someone hands out a survey for me to fill in.  Emergency Preparedness.  Oh, I should do okay on this, I have blue water barrels, I have flashlights and batteries, food...................

Huh.

It was a very simple survey, check yes or no.  Check yes or no.  Apparently I have issues with black or white.  There were about two dozen questions, 24, 20 + 4.  Anyone have a survey on how to do laundry, or how was your last colonoscopy, or even, Is Your Home Energy Green Enough? 

Did I mention that I hate falling short.

I could only check yes to about 5 or 6 (+/-) things.  Yikes.  No, I don't have copies of important documents or select family records, or familly prescriptions or cash (does $2.98 count?) not funny.

So, I'm getting a copy of that check list and darned if we're not going to get those things done and check them off that dadgum list! 

Did I mention I'm a list checker?  I find great satisfaction in that!

B (check)!

Monday, October 10, 2011

First Day! Day One!

Where to begin?!  So much to see, so much to say.  Boring already I know, sorry.  A little background?  Okay!  I am many things, personas, characters in this play.  Let's cut to the chase, primarily, I am a grateful daughter of a loving Heavenly Father, a woman and I try to take care of myself.  I have many, let me say that again MANY interests.  I'm afraid my attention span is,   well,   short!  So I dabble.  A little here, a little there...  we'll get to that soon enough.

But, my immediate demands and focus for the last 32 years have been focused on a pretty terrific hubby and count them, four beautiful daughters.  I can say that now because only one is still a teenager (finale and encore) and lets face it folks, thems rougher waters.

The payoff --- Grandkids!! 

(One boy, and three and a half girls!  (One's on order, due sometime in late December, early January!  (I'm hoping for December myself, best birthday month -- no?)).

Well, and of course, still my beautiful daughters and their respective husbands which I like to call sons, cuz I didn't get any and they got nominated!

So, "Grammie's World".  Could have been "Gramms World" which is what I'm hopin' they call me as they get older, but for now they call me Grammie and that suits me.  I remember watching a movie years and years (and years) ago and the grandmother was called Grammie and I liked it!  We called my own grandmother "Nana", something about my brother not being able to say grandmother and it got shortened to Nana, so, Nana.  My mom is called Nana, but I went for Grammie!  So there you have it.

Grammie's World -- can't wait to see where this leads.

Until next time, be strong, hold to your beliefs and don't let the bad guys win 'er in.

B