Update
I have just returned from Alberta for medical reasons. It was time. I have let things slide. I had three major issues and have gotten some answers and help.
The best part of the six week visit was staying with ShirRae, Quinn and Paisley and getting to meet my older sister
Sandy.
Paisley taught me something new every day. She taught me how quickly a year old can pick up on things. Being prejudiced, I think she is one of the smartest most beautiful babies ever.
Meeting Sandy was a dream come true. She is tiny, dainty, and frail. We laughed, cried, and made beautiful first connections. Bobby and I had a great few days together. What a treasure family is.
I learned another important lesson: Listen to that still small voice with. Jordan and Mei came to pick me up to take me down to Lethbridge. I was meaning to spend the day and evening with Kay and them. But, as we neared Lethbridge, I had a strong sense to just go to Bryce’s. I had not been there an hour before he went into shock and began having troubles breathing after the home nurse started penicillin through a PIC to his heart. It was frightening and I know, and I think he does too, that, had he been alone, I might have lost my brother. He is struggling to save his leg from infection in his foot and calf. He has learned he has to have a phone within reach.
I was getting homesick and tired of tests. In the end, I was able to get some medicines that cure my vanity at being 61 and taking no regular meds. I need to be able to walk and am willing to do what it takes to do so.
I have spent the day resting and sleeping. The three days on the train wear me out and I have been curled up under a blanket with the fireplace going.
I have to face the fact that I have to take better care of myself.
I am diabetic and have neuropathy issues in my feet, bowels and hands. As well, I have arthritis in my neck that affects my right hand. As for the esophageal hernia…they cannot do the surgery because of my age. It would mean shortening the esophageal tube and this causes problems as I would age, so I am just left to deal with it.
I have diabetic information by the reams and am going on the GI diet as of tomorrow. Richard tested a little high in glucose a couple of months ago, as well, and it will be good for him to go on this as well. I am not sure what he will do about his love for bread and desserts and how he can get himself to eat all the veggies and fruit needed. We can’t do everything overnight, but we can begin to make changes. I will find some good diabetic dessert recipes for him…diabetic peanut butter cookies recipe anyone?
I came home to 494 emails and will get through them asap. The Lyrica has not made me too dopy and am hoping that it will work for the nerve pain.
It is cold here, in Maine. We are going down into the teens and the fireplace is wonderful and keeps the house almost too warm. Richard and puppy and the plants survived without me but I hope not to go that long without them again.
I have some competitions to enter, a book to finish, poetry chapbooks to publish and Christmas to prepare for. Stay tuned!
I am thinking to get to some flea markets and art sales through Christmas to add to my pension.
We are planning a trip to Florida around Christmas and to go to Yuma in February. A trip to Canada has to come after that so I can visit Mother and my brothers and sisters and to go back and complete some medical issues.
Trying to figure out sugar sampling and how to work the diabetic diet will be a main issue for me as I try to get healthier.
Watch for “Hopi Dreams” and poetry collections through until spring. I am going to enter “Beautiful Be” collection of poetry in the Canadian Women’s poetry competition about Canadian women and life. Also, I am preparing “Riverside Louis” collection to enter in some chapbook competition as well. Riverside Louis is one of my favorite collections and I have to get it going and published.
I am so blessed. I hope to make better, more significant connections with my grandchildren, children and family through this next year. I am not good at resolutions but I need to stretch my ability to love and show that love.
Peace and love,
Carol.
good to hear the update…g has hernia op. on dec2 and then off to mexico untill dec17
How good it is to read your post and receive your e-mails. I can’t imagine how much you must have missed home! It must be wonderful to be back in Maine, and what changes there must be - when you left everything would have been green and leafy, and today, at least here, we had our dusting of snow, just a trace, but winter is definitely in the offing.
I understand the vanity of being our age and not being on medications, as I have always felt that way as well. In the end, we do what we have to do in order to keep on enjoying life. To be able to walk is so important. You will find a way with the sugar thing.
Be well my friend. Feel the warmth of the fire and hear its crackle. See the huge cones on the silver pines…
Carol Knepper