Monday Madness

 

Today I had an appointment with my doctor who has given me my life back.  You see I have been in terrible pain (the past two years) and walking was very difficult for me...I had been to numerous doctors - "lose weight" "your veins are the problem" "rest your feet" "do more walking" - as you can see, everyone had a different remedy.  None of which worked.

And then one day I was surfing the internet...and found alot of the symptoms I had could be followed by a neurologist ..- asking around, one was recommended by a good friend and I went to see her last month.
 
She diagnosed me as having "peripheral neuropathy" and gave me some pills to take twice a day.....and gave me my life back.  I now can walk without pain and burning sensation in my legs.  I wake up without pain and look forward to the day.  I no longer take pain killers, therefore no longer have stomach pains and upsets from them.....which goes to show you when you have the right doctor and right diagnosis.....things can be so much better. 



She monitors me very well giving me complete blood tests.  She even believes in vitamins.  I currently have hand tremors.....she recommended Vitamin B2 and to cut down (not out) on the coffee.....both of which helped tremendously.  I have even learned to drink decaf if I really wanted another cup in the evening.  She also suggested a glass of wine to calm my nerves....a doctor after my own heart.

Feeling so much better...I have decided to try to walk more, in order to remove the remaining weight i must get rid of......here's to good health......

Take time to relax.....

It seems the older I get the more I find that around me there are others of the same mind.  I just read the most wonderful and long blog by someone i follow - Malika Bourne - who said it all in her blog -- http://www.nonon-centsnanna.com/2012/07/too-pooped-to-pop.html

Basically No Non-Cents Nanna goes on to talk about those of us who are the caregivers...those of us who are always helping others....are we happy about that, how far do we go before we resent it....having always been one of those too....and really not expecting more than a thank you back - I have also come to the point in my life to just STOP....

Caring is good - caring to the point of exhaustion is not good.  Ask my doctor.  She says I am slowly deteriorating...must slow down, start saying no to all that I do and relax because my nerves are killing me.  Yes, she has given me medicine - which helps calm me, takes away the pain I am always in - but unless I change my mindset and attitude.....it eventually will stop helping me.....

So if you are a doer for everyone....and need to connect with others who are always doing, please stop by Malika's blog - tell her Beader Bubbe sent you and let her know that she is not alone.....maybe we can help each other knowing there are others like us who care....

Another - what else can go wrong - Week

Yes, it was hectic and the doctor keeps telling me my medical problems stem from my nerves...I think they are shot....relax she says....ha ha

 


The week started off with the contractor showing up - and finally getting the tiles started....but then Tuesday my wonderful grandson decided to come out, so Wednesday we were off to a 2 hour ride to see him - which mapquest insisted was only an hour and 15 minutes....ha ha

Stopped to go through the tolls and was told my ez-pass was invalid.  They took it away and we continued to pay cash for all the tolls there and back.  (apparently my credit card expired and they didnt notify me to update it!)  Wait - they said they did - yeah, right.

Seeing my son, his wife and new baby was delicious - it was a cool day, had lunch and then took a 3 hour trip home.....accident on parkway helped that.....

The next day was hot and humid but since it was hubby's birthday, we went out to dinner and got caught in the worst downpour I have ever seen.....so we stayed in the restaurant and had another glass of wine  ----  that helped.

We returned home and on the way to bed that night - checked the renovated bathroom to find the rain had leaked in and therefore, we need a new roof.....ha ha

So today I left my son with the contractors, and went for a manicure to relax per doctors orders....and might even attack the bottle of wine in my cooler.....must relax.....I have a doctors appointment on Monday - and ask her what exactly she means by relaxing?  because it is not happening.......

He's Here

Our long awaited grandson (well, only two days late) has arrived.....big and beautiful....7 lbs  9 ounces.....gorgeous, dark head of hair....and so very alert.

We told the bathroom contractors we could not have any work done yesterday and quickly ran up to meet Baby P.  You see he doesnt live in our neighborhood, but Mapquest said it would take one hour and 15 minutes ---- yeah, right -- it took two hours.  But that is not the worst, somehow our EZ pass was invalid, taken away and we had to pay cash for tolls.  (I later found out the credit card on file had expired....a call would have been nice.)

But seeing the baby made it all seem petty and we continued to have a great time.  Holding a newborn was so delightful....I never get tired of it.  Plan to go up several more times before returning to work.....

Then we left at 5 and hit all the traffic there is in NY.....so this time, returning home trip was 3 hours.....of course, there was an accident on one of the highways.....but if people werent speeding when the roads were clear, they would not jam them up for the rest of us......

And today the bathroom is getting worked on again.....still a few more days of this.....it will get done eventually.  But tonight is hubby's birthday and we are going out to dinner and I am having a glass of wine......cheers!

Trying to

post everyday - too much or too little.  I love to write and blogging affords me that.  But sometimes I just dont have the time.  Like the time for making jewelry, it is limited.  I guess that is a good thing, or not.

So here today because I am waiting....and I hate waiting....oh, doctor offices are fine, i actually get down time and manage to read....but here I am waiting for the men to finish my bathroom and more importantly, waiting for my grandchild to be born.  So I went to Answers.com and the answer to the question of how much of our lives is spent on waiting ---- "If a human lived for 65 years, they would spend about a little more than half, or a little less than half of their life just waiting."  That my friends is alot of ..............

My son is out of reach, been calling for the past hour...maybe he is actually there in the delivery room....first babies dont come fast although they went in at 7:30 this morning to start the process.

Meantime, we are babysitting two other grandchildren and hopefully sometime tomorrow we will take the trip upstate to see the youngest....and begin the process of spoiling some more.  yes, we are guilty but at our age we take pleasure in whatever we can....





So hopefully the next time I blog - it will be about the newest member of our family...or I will be too busy to blog because I will be spoiling him :)

Grandma's delights

Through hospital visits to hubby (who is well and home now), bathroom renovations, trying to keep the house clean :)

I managed to throw a small BBQ and birthday party for grandpa's birthday coming this Thursday....since some will be away, and it is a work day - we celebrated on last Sunday....this was the best pictures.......

Always take time to smell the roses.....or cake in this instance...........

I just finished reading

someone else's blog who is a photographer and put pictures of her flowers and birds that came along in the summer......While my photography has taken a back seat - except for the ones I do of the grandkids - my flowers are finally starting to bloom.

Hubby bought - through QVC - 48 bulbs of Starfire Lillies.....and we planted in April....they are just now coming up.  Dont know if the hot weather kept them closed or all the rain opened them up....but here is just one.....maybe this week I will show the other 47........

Waiting patiently or not....

Well, the family is waiting for grandbaby #8 to enter the world......and he (yes, its another boy!) is keeping us waiting.  Due to come this past Saturday 7/21....he has decided now is not the time.  Is he waiting for cooler weather?  I am just glad he will be healthy - already over 7 lbs. and we all cant wait to see him.

He will be living 1-1/2 hours away.....so we wont be able to get to see him at a moments notice.  Love those kinds of visits...when the door opens and the grandkids run in all excited...but I cant complain because some of my friends have grandkids in other countries much less other states.  But then again with this "facetime" and "skype" they can be close too.

So we will see what happens today as we wait for the visit to the doctor again........


    

Getting there......

I cant believe the tiles are going up.  Between everyone and things trapsing through my house....how can one room mess up the whole house?  Now the tiles are putting a light at the end of the tunnel.........

...
After the wall tiles, then the floor tiles.....when that is complete, the sink and toilet get hooked up and then accessories like towel holder, toilet paper holder, a little deco on the walls, a bathtub door......slow but sure......

After 5 days of....

...running back and forth to the hospital for hubby....I am happy to say he will be discharged today and returning home.  Thankfully it was nothing serious, and as with most men he must be aware of what he eats and what he cant eat.  When you get to a certain age.....well, things dont work as well any more.....

Meantime, the bathroom is slowly coming together....and I mean slowly.....today they are not working, but just as well because I have to go to the hospital to discharge hubby.....here are the latest pix....the walls are up, bathtub in....still need a ceiling.......

Going to be 100 degrees today, so just going to chill out, relax, read.....need a day off from everything.....

Patio Bliss

There comes a time when all the stress is not good for you.  Too much going on and its not healthy.  Between the renovation, health problems, new baby due.......we must take a break.  So every and I mean every morning before the day begins, this is where I go for about a half an hour....to relax, read and drink my coffee....before my day begins............

Another Day and here is the

Bathtub.....nice and new and the first part of the plan.  Going slow but sure. 

Nice and inviting....but not yet.

Of course, according the Murphy's law.......well, hubby was just admitted to the hospital and so my time is split between the bathroom reno and the hospital.  He will be there all weekend, and I will be in charge here.....hopefully all will go well so if I am not blogging for awhile....well, there is just so much I can do.....

Stay well and enjoy the weekend my fellow bloggers.....

Day 3....and counting

Well, they framed the bathroom and I must say it is looking a bit more like a bathroom.....just have to have patience....meantime, I am trying to find a vanity - bathtub and toilet have been ordered....Went online and found a nice vanity and mirror....and the delivery date is July 20....but by then things should be done, like all the tiling, etc....

OK, we ran into one problem.  The window in the bathroom was not installed correctly (before we bought the house) and apparently everytime it rained, we got water in the walls...So the studs were rotten and the insulation was soak and wet (we have been getting alot of rain).....and we have to add that into the cost of this job.....but it could have been worst.  Also, we have to move the plumbing because the vanity is huge and will be off center.....

it will be beautiful when done, it will be beautiful when done....keep reminding myself.....I think this will be the last of the renovations here..very stressful and I am on vacation.....going to go to the beach alot when this is done.....

Bathroom soon......

So I finally got into the so-called bathroom......now that it is gutted, and I have to go downstairs to my son's apartment to shower......

Worst than that (I shouldnt complain because at least there is another place to shower)......I hate getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.....there is a powder room on the main level....so actually I get some exercise in during the night.....learning not to drink too late at night....

Here is the next level......

Can someone also tell me why when renovating the bathroom, the rest of the house also gets messy.  I have items in my spare room, the living and dining room has stuff.....I feel like running away....but I know when it is all done (another two weeks?) it will be beautiful.

Hang in there.............

And so it begins......

This year we have decided to renovate our master bathroom instead of going on a cruise....the right decision?  I would rather be cruising, but this has to be done, way overdue.  So instead of dazzling you with Caribbean pictures....I will give you pictures of how the renovation is going...and next year, hubby promised a cruise.....

AND SO IT BEGINS.......THE BEFORE.....

Blue?  Really....cant wait to get rid of that color....I am more the brown/beige type and am looking forward to a vessel sink.......to be continued.

A Day at the Aquarium

Well, summer has truly begun because I am flitting around with the grandkids.  But some days change is in the air...from a planned day at the Hall of Science, we changed and went to the Aquarium....Coney Island, near the beach...think it was cooler, no way. Hot and humid, we spent the day going in and out of the several sites indoors and outdoors.  Indoors kept us cool.

I met my co-worker Pat who works at the Aquarium during the summer and introduced her to hubby and grandson.  She suggested we go "touch" the starfishes and horseshoe crabs.  No way - but we did like watching them.....Grandson also loved the sharks, sea otters, penguins, whales, walruses, and even the little fishes.  Enjoy the pictures.....

And alas this is how we all felt at the end of the tour......................

Vacation....

I am officially on vacation and hopefully will be blogging more.  Work always interferes with important things I have to do....like reading, relaxing, creating, crafting and blogging.  But i plan to change that....for the next two months anyway.

So whats new? Anxiously awaiting the birth of yet another grandchild.  Saturday we went up to Westchester to visit my son and very pregnant daughter in law....and glad to say everything is fine and in less than 20 days the little will come.....

Although we are not going on an official vacation, we plan to do some side trips along with the usual grandkids things like the park, beach and aquarium, to name a few.  Yesterday we ended up at the Cyclone baseball game where the kids had a good time.  We took J who usually doesnt stay still for these things, but he managed 5 innings.....

They were watching the girls dancing.....very intense :)