Another Tuesday

It was a good day. I did alot of research on Independence County, Arkansas. Took Gabby to the groomer, did laundry, and took Benson for a walk.

Watched some tv and now I'm heading to bed.

I've spent alot of time trying to figure out the business of customizing my blog, but haven't got very far with it. I'll get there.

Dialysis tomorrow.

Pepe and Me

My daughter's dog and me.

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Originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/gabben/

Saturday

Its been a good day. I managed to get alot finished. Scrubbed floors, did laundry, cleaned the bathroom, washed the sheets.

Then cratered.

I keep trying to find any record I can find on Parthena Johnson. There has got to be a connection somewhere. Four generations back.

Dialysis is going well. The dr. came in yesterday and would like me to reach a point where I can do the dialysis from home. It would be a good thing and I'm sure I can do it. Its just the idea of poking myself.

Steve has been busy this week. Working on Monty's project and a few other side jobs. He is a good man.


Church tomorrow.

Another day

Today has been a good one. The roads were iced over here and yet I made it to dialysis. Dyann came to see me at lunch. What a neat lady she is. She brought me a sandwich and yogurt parfait and just sat and visited with me. I enjoy our visits and find we have more in common each time we visit. I'm so glad she was assigned to be my visiting teaching companion because I've learned to love her as a friend through that calling.

I came home and braved the cold and walked the dogs for a while and then Stephen came over and I went to the mall with him while he bought a cd he wanted.

Tonight, I will just rest. Tomorrow morning I volunteer at the temple and then see an eye dr. in the afternoon. Of all things, I think I am developing cataracts. Just one more thing.

Such is life.

Update

Last week started out great. Steve finally had a job and things were looking up. Unfortunately, they found Steve was too slow. The contractor he does side jobs with said he was "unerringly slow" and that's what he liked about him. It does well on custom remodels just not commercial jobs.

Dialysis is going well. They have me finally stable enough where the cramping has finally stopped. I'm learning that I can't do much on dialysis days without becoming completely exhausted. So I'm trying to balance things out.

Update

Church was good today. I felt lifted by the time I got home.

Its been a quiet afternoon. I read from one of Elder Maxwell's books on Discipleship, did some indexing on two records, and played some Mah Jong.

Took the dogs for a walk before and after church.

We ate dinner and I'm getting ready to get ready for bed. Its been a good day. Its nice to be able to have time to do things to be ready. I can't remember another Sunday when I have felt better prepared for the Sabbath and not completely exhausted to get there.

I actually made it through church without falling asleep, which I have been doing for sometime.

Update

Just finished my second full week of dialysis. Dialysis for me was a whole lot less frightening than the anticipation or expectations. A little skin prick - no problem. I bring my laptop and play Mah Jong and read.

Yesterday my visiting teachers came to see me. Trina and her temporary partner, my good friend, Karen. Dyan Bennett came over at lunch and brought me a salad. It was so neat to have their company and it certainly made the four hours go by faster.

I have more energy than I can remember ever having. Made it 15 minutes this morning on the elliptical ... thats big for me.

Update

Spent Christmas evening with Stephen and Holli. Stephen's Dad joined us. We had a nice dinner and then went to the movie "Bedtime Stories." It was a cute movie.

Wow - its hard to believe but I'll be in Presbyterian Hospital on Monday starting my dialysis. Yikes . . . that's only 2 days away! I can hardly believe how quickly time passes and how much things can change and how fast they change.

I went to volunteer at the temple last night. I'll admit, I was tired and wanted nothing more than to stay home, but when I got there, I was really glad to be there. It was busy and mark is letting me do more than I expected. It was good to see everyone there.

Today I will have lots to do to be ready for Monday morning. Holli and Stephen are driving me to the hospital.

Christmas Eve

Stayed down most of today. My stomach was not doing well. Made it over to get some immodeum.

We rented "Mamma Mia" out of Red Box and enjoyed it. There was one song on it that really hit a soft spot with me "Slipping Through My Fingers". It reminded me of my daughter so strongly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se_LRtq36YA&feature=related

Quiet eveninig at home. Will go to my son's tomorrow.

Update

My lovely daughter is home for weekend . . . yea! . . . I love it when she is here and being able to spend time with her.

Its been a week of surprises and awareness of the Lord's hand in our lives.

Surprises . . . I received notice my disability had been approved and was more than I expected it to be. I received notice from social security yesterday that I had been approved.

My awesome sister sent me a quilt she had made for me. Each block was unique and in the center of each block were uplifting quotes .. . one even had a quote my Dad used to say . . . "there's always a break".

Steve has a friend who is a well known artist and had given him one of his early paintings years ago. (Before we were married). I had taken it to a studio to try and sell it about 13 years ago. We decided a couple of years ago to pick it up and bring it home because he'd not been able to sell it. When we went to the studio we found it had been closed. In spite of leaving several phone messages, we were unable to reach them. A couple of weeks ago I tried again and surprise . . . I had a phone call from him yesterday morning. Of course, I immediately went over and picked the picture up. When Kristin and I got back from the airport, I hid the picture in Kristin's closet. Steve caught me in my surprise though and found the picture.

Anyway, I was greatful the Lord watched over us with this.

A farewell

They had a farewell party for me at work today. Several attended, including the current temple presidency and President and Sister Peterson.

My co-workers had made a quilt for me. . . it is beautiful. Several signed the back of the quilt. What a keepsake.

I felt very loved and there were many tears.

Update

Saw my vascular surgeon today. My fistula is ready to be used for dialysis. I was given a dr. order to start. I will see my nephrologist next week and will be scheduling to get it started. They'll put me in the hospital for three days to get started. I was finally hit with the reality of it all on the way home.

This is my last week at work. Yesterday afternoon was the Christmas social and I felt apart from it all. Gayla is now the secretary and I am no longer. I am blessed to have been there and held that job for the past 13 years. Now a new chapter.

I'm feeling a little melancholy today.