My Dad's Dream

My 89 year old father wants to take a road trip. He would like to purchase a small trailer and head west with my brother. He would visit the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, the four corners and California. He has never seen these sights before. The trip would take 3-4 weeks. My brother would have to find someone to take care of his dogs. We would have to arange care for my mother. My dad is tired of his day to day existence and needs some zest in his life. Now to see if we can make this happen!

Lab results are good

I received the results of the bloodwork and it is all normal. AC1, LDL, HDL and vitamin D. Merry Christmas to me! I am extremely pleased. Still have to get a mammo in January and barring any problem, should be set for another year. I have to exercise for 30 minutes five times a week. I am short a couple sessions. I bundled up myself and the dogs and we walked through the woods and around the field in the sleet. I ran into an old friend at the store and we had a heart to heart. So happy to catch up with her life! It was a sad day at the store. Two families came in to buy special flowers for a 19 year old who took her own life. A man sent flowers to his wife who is here to be near her disabled son who has pneumonia and is in intensive care. Another man is hoping 2016 is happier than the past two years when he lost his brother and his daughter. My friend said that there are a lot of deaths around Christmastime.

Problem Solving

So amidst the orders for Christmas centerpieces and decorative poinsettias, folks come into the store seeking help for a project. A customer purchased a pot of decorative greens for her front porch and wanted to cover it with foil. So we had to visualize the pot and the amount of foil needed. After cutting 6 feet, I showed her how to tape it together so that it would cover the sides of the pot. A young college student came into the store looking for a box large enough to hold silk poinsettias and other flowers. Not understanding at first, I went upstairs and came down with a rose box. It was way too small; she needed a box that our roses come in from the vendor. I told her how to cut the box and cover down. Today two young men came in to get a small bouquet. One was making a gift bear. He had put earrings on the bear and was planning to add a bouquet of roses, babies breath and greens. These projects keep me on my toes!

Alive and kicking

So you'll be glad to know that I made it through my doctor's appointment! Of course, my blood pressure was through the roof (168/104), but when I took it this morning 138/86. The nurse told me that I need to be under 150/90. The doctor is concerned because she can't know how much it rises during normal activity, how prone I am to a stroke. Well, I don't want to have a stroke, so I will monitor my pressure for 4 weeks and call the nurse with the readings. We will then assess whether or not I need bp meds, but not atenolol because it is a beta blocker and makes me tired. There are other options available. I also begin the pre diabetic support group on Sunday, and perhaps if I lose some weight, my blood pressure will be better. On the positive side, I have never experienced headaches and double vision. I surmise I have the worse case of white coat syndrome possible. I had a small spot removed from my leg and it is rather painful today. The wound did not want to stop bleeding, so the doctor told me no running or hopping in hapkido. I did low impact martial arts last night, but I'm hoping to participate in kickfit tonight. I had a talk with my dad. The nurse is coming on Monday to evaluate him for home health care. He wants to cut back on his driving and I told him that I could help on my day off. He wants to stay at his home and not go to assisted living.

Sales bonus at work

You probably heard about Hilcorp Corporation employees getting a $100,000 bonus. Amazing! The president of our company is offering us a sales bonus. If we sell a gift or arrangement at $80, we receive $1. We get $2 for a gift or arrangement at $100. To date, I've made $5. The bonus ends Christmas Eve so I have several more days to accrue a fortune. On December 21, our daughter arrives. I will get up early and drive about an hour away to the train station to pick her up. We ae looking forward to baking her Grandma's gumdrop cookies and sugar cookies. I really enjoy a yummy sugar cookie slathered in colorful confectioner's sugar. Of course this cookie loaded with sugar will wreak havoc with my clean eating. I did get accepted into the pre diabetic program and probably will begin the program in the next few weeks. It was my son in law's birthday and I baked him a cake and had to test it! On the positive side, I have not been eating chips or chocolate, so about 90% of the food I eat is healthy. Off for a physical on Wednesday. I always feel anxious when I head to the clinic. And the anxiety makes my blood pressure high. I have the worse case of white coat syndrome. And just like the auto repair shop, one takes their car in for an oil change and comes out several hundred dollars later with new calipers. One goes to the clinic for a check up and comes out needing a heart valve replacement.

Such a Little Thing, Really

Yesterday afternoon, as I always do, I drove to my parents' home to help serve and clean up dinner. My mother who has dementia, wanted to know why it took me so long to get there. My dad was frustrated with her and said, "I want to go away and never come back." My mother had been begging him to eat dinner since 1pm. She did have a snack, but she wanted dinner. Perhaps she could smell the roast and potatoes and became confused. I served dinner, roast, cauliflower, potatoes and gravy, tea and we all enjoyed our dinner. My dad, who was bothered with stomach pain (we think because he took pain reliever for a headache) felt some relief after eating. My mother enjoyed looking at the neighbor's Christmas lights and commented on the colors. Then my dad mentioned that he wanted to send those neighbors a Christmas card, They moved in recently, a mother, father and baby girl. Pretty soon, my dad brought out Christmas cards, return address labels, stickers, stamps and the address book that my Mother made back when, her words, "I was smart." I addressed the cards, put on the return address labels and the stamps and my dad signed the cards and sealed the envelopes with stickers. My mother hopes that by sending out these Christmas cards, they will receive cards in the mail. I addressed a dozen envelopes to their brothers and sisters, neighbors and a couple cousins. It took perhaps a half hour. And yet, by their gratefulness and joy, you would have thought I'd given them the world. It really is the small things that make a difference.

Pre diabetic support group

Last year, my blood work up showed that my glucose level was 109. The number raised a flag with my doctor as my mother has type 2 diabetes. I received some information on carb counting and the "great plate" and for about three months did very well. But a year ago, I fell off the band wagon and haven't been able to climb back on. A couple days ago I received a letter from my insurance company. Insurance will cover the cost of a pre diabetic support program. I have applied for an online program. It involves three months of weekly meetings and several monthly meetings. I will have a support group and health coach. The program will help me stay accountable. I am grateful for this support. On the positive side, I am informed about clean eating, I have my sugar addiction under control at the present, I am counting carbs. I am motivated My husband eats the healthy food I prepare along with other not-so-healthy treats. His sweet tooth tempts me to indulge in foods loaded with carbs. I really would prefer to not have cookies, chips and the like in the pantry. It's hard for me to stay strong. I hope I stay motivated as I feel so much better with more energy.

They will live on

Another senseless slaughter in San Bernadino, California. Innocent lives lost and many injured. There is speculation as to motive as if a reason would make this horrible killing more understandable. It will never make sense to me. The bombing of a plane and its crash into the desert, the rampage in Paris, shooting fellow workers at a party... what is going on in the twisted minds of the perpetrators? Many lost and the lives of family and friends changed forever as they grieve and go on, putting one foot in front of the other to get through the day. So much sadness. And there, but for the grace of God, go I because it would be so easy to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. These senseless killings encourage me to celebrate Advent, the four weeks before Christmas and Christmas and the New Year with even more fervor. I celebrate for those who can no longer enjoy the special moments in life. Evil stole these lives but these men, women and children will live on in memories and celebrations of their lives.