My blog is 4 years old

 

When I started this blog four years ago, on May 2, 2004, I never could have imagined what lay ahead for me.  I have experienced so many blessings, so many benefits.

 

I suppose the first blessing was that writing began to draw me out of myself.  You see, I used to be very, very shy.  That's right, me!  I almost never shared anything of myself with anybody, not even my family.  I was so closed up.  My Dad still asks me how I blog the way I do, and I tell him I don't know!

 

I guess the next benefit I obtained was that I received a little confidence from learning a few computer skills.  Imagine, I had never used a PC up until that point in my life!  When I saw I could do it, it felt good! 

 

Next came meeting other bloggers online.  Some giving, some funny, some fabulous, some intelligent.  Some all of the above.  Wow.  I became fast friends with a lot of new people.  Really special people.

 

I wanted to stop for a minute and mention a pet peeve of mine.  I hate it when people say, "I have my real friends, and then I have my online friends.  I love my online friends as much as I love my real friends."

 

Well, that's nonsense!  Online friends ARE real.  What do these people think online friends are?  Fake?  Not real people?  They are people!  Just because you can't see them everyday, doesn't make them any less real!  They are flesh and blood people, LOL.

 

These are bloggers I spend my time with.  We read each other's blogs and leave comments.  We email.  Sometimes we IM.  Some I have even talked with on the phone or exchanged snail mail with.  But that doesn't matter, whether I have talked with you on the phone, or not.  Each of you are very real, and you know you are!  And each of you is SO precious!  Okay, enough of the rant!

 

Okay, I need to rap it up soon, but I want to say that the most special thing about you all is what I have received from you.  I have received friendship, comfort, and support. 

 

I won't ever forget about the two or so years when John was going through the bone marrow transplant, and the complications afterwards.  I won't forget about the cards and letters that came in for him and me.  EVER.  For those of you who sent, you know who you are.  John and I will NEVER forget.  He will never forget the presents you sent him, so that he could have a good stay in the hospital and make it through his bone marrow transplant.  Items poured in.  He was so humbled.  He had what he needed.  He took it all with him.  Some of the things were practical, some were sentimental.  Each thing, and each card meant more to him than you will ever know. 

 

And still, even after the bone marrow transplant was over the cards came for a couple of years, from all over the world, while John was recuperating in the hospital.  All I can say is, you all are the best.  

 

There is so much more I can say, so much I left out.  But for now I'll just end with this ~~~

 

Thank you all for being part of my blogging experience.  And that includes you also, my dear new readers.

 

Love you all,

 

Krissy :)

Tags: blog, blogging, anniversary, online friends, friendship, comfort, support, cards, letters, bone marrow transplant, thank you, blogplugs

dedicated to those who have gone on before us

Overcoming Survivor's Guilt

 

I found this beautiful message in an email newsletter I receive, called The Cancer Crusade.  It encourages us, who are trapped in Survivor's Guilt, to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on in a very special way:  

 

I encourage you to celebrate the ones you have lost and to keep the flames of their lives burning brightly by giving something good and beautiful to the world with your own life. It doesn't have to be big, but it has to come from a big place in your heart. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it must be generous of spirit.  

I won't even begin to list the possibilities here because they would be my ideas and not yours. You start. You think. You dream. You imagine.  You leave a legacy.

Do it in memory of the loved ones you have lost.

 

And do it so that, when you are gone, the world will be twice blessed for your having been a part of it.

Dear God, please help me remember that we are all in this together. Not one of us is immortal, and eventually we will all come into Your presence. Remind me often, Lord, to celebrate and give thanks in every moment I am alive on this earth and with every breath I take. Help me find ways to celebrate, too, the lives of those I love who make their way to You before I do. And while we're here together, help me to be the kind of friend
others can be sure of.
Amen

 

***This entry is dedicated to, well in your heart, each of you knows who you want to dedicate it to... ***

 

Krissy  

Tags: Survivor's Guilt, Survivors Guilt, cancer, in memory of, giving, legacy, blogplugs

Remembering our First Anniversary

 

Today I want to share with you John's and my  first wedding anniversary.    

 

I hope you'll enjoy this love story!

 

May 7, 2006, started out like any other day.  Well, a regular day for my husband John and me, anyway.  John was in the hospital being treated for complications from his bone marrow transplant.  Healing from a bone marrow transplant takes a long time.  So this was a regular day for us.  John in his hospital bed, me by his side.

 

Today was different though.  It was our first wedding anniversary!  I was feeling slightly down, but was determined to make this a special day.  I slipped down to the hospital gift shop to pick up a card for John.  Then I chose one for him to give to me.

 

I sat down in my chair.  John was getting prepped to get blood.  His blood was administered through an IV pump.  He had named the pump Baxter.  Baxter had become one of his closest friends.  John says Baxter went with him everywhere, even to the bathroom, LOL.

 

We sat back and relaxed because it was a Sunday afternoon.  John got in the frame of mind to receive his two blood transfusions.  We waited for the blood to arrive. 

 

Suddenly a group of medical personnel busted through the door.  First, in came Marie, John's nurse for the day.  She bore a fake red rose.  She was followed by lots of nurses and doctors.

 

They sang "Happy Anniversary" to John and me!  They were determined to make our day special even if we were trapped in the hospital!  

 

Marie, John's nurse, gave him a plastic red rose.  "Well give it to Krissy," she said.  "It's for her anniversary."  The reason why the rose was plastic is because bone marrow transplant recipients often can't be around live plants, especially when their immunities are low.  John gave me the rose.

 

Next came a beautiful, shiny red heart balloon weighted down by a bag of Hershey's Kisses. 

 

But the most thoughtful thing of all was when we were presented with a cake top. 

 

I was stunned.  Cake tops are not just made in a few minutes.  And nobody had known that it was our anniversary since a few hours before.  That meant that this was not a newly made cake top.  It meant that somebody had gone home, taken out their own cake top from their freezer and brought it to us, so we could have an anniversary.

 

Who would do such a thing?  Who sacrificed their cake top?  

 

We will never know, but later on, Marie asked us if it was special.  I replied, "It was excellent and very special."

 

After singing Happy Anniversary the group decided we should have privacy and closed the door.  They made a big deal about us having privacy! 

 

We ate the cake top, pretending it was ours.  Then John and I exchanged cards.  "You have good taste!"  I told him.  "How did you know what I'd like?"  "Oh I just knew," he laughed.  

 

John and I had a few more precious moments celebrating together quietly, but soon the door was opened and in walked Marie to take John's vitals (temperature, blood pressure, etc.) and give him blood.

 

What a precious gift the staff had given John and me.  We had a really nice anniversary despite the fact that John was in the hospital.  I lovethat staff. 

 

But most of all I love John.  

 

To read the original account:  John and my first Anniversary! 

 

             
                   Anniversary card John bought me

 

            
                     John receiving a blood transfusion

Tags: Wedding Anniversary, anniversary, surprise, celebration, cake top, rose, blood transfusion, bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant, blogplugs

John and my 3rd Wedding Anniversary

 

            John and I had our third anniversary on May 7th.              

 

We celebrated it a couple of weeks late.  Between coming back from John's oncology appointment in Hershey, John falling in the shower and spraining his neck, and all our numerous appointments, we didn't have time to celebrate until this past weekend. 

 

But when we had the chance, celebrate we did.  We grilled some steaks at the park.  And just spent time doing nothing.    

 

We also talked about our three years of marriage.  Yes, we like to reflect!

 

          John speaking on our three years of marriage              

 

"Married life has been a little bit different for Krissy and me than most couples.

 

We haven't had the average first three years of it.

 

In some ways it seems like we have been married a year because we have had one year, more or less, of normal married life.  The first two years were hospitalization, and outpatient treatment, and trips to Hershey.  And me being too sick to do anything.  So it was like we had one kind of marriage the first two years, and a different kind of marriage this last year.

 

How does it feel being married?  Even though it hasn't been a typical marriage, I am very glad Krissy is my wife .  Being married to her seems natural.  I wouldn't want any other lifestyle than I have right now being married to her. 

 

We have a strong commitment to each other and our marriage.  We must have had a strong commitment, because we survived.  Some other couples would have split up, or wouldn't have gotten married in the first place.  I mean, I was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma a few months after we started dating, ten years ago, and Krissy stayed with me.  Also, we knew there was something wrong with my health again when we got married, and we still got married anyway.  And she stayed with me through the bone marrow cancer also.

 

Being a lot more healthy this past year has been a challenge to me because I have almost had to redefine our relationship.  For a year and a half I was mostly laying in a hospital bed and  Krissy spent fourteen hours a day with  me in the hospital.  For that year and a half she was my wife and my caregiver.  Now that my health has improved considerably she's still my wife, but she's no longer my caregiver.  And I am trying to be a more normal husband.

 

Even though I had two cancers, and a bone marrow transplant, and spent most of a year and a half in the hospital, the ten years I have been with her have been the best ten years of my life. "   

 

              Now it is my turn to speak (Krissy)                  

 

John is the love of my life.  He helps me get through everyday life.  I can't imagine being without him. I'm not saying things are never tough, but that is true in any relationship, I would think.  John is a very, very special guy.  I am more in love with him now than I ever was.  Hey, what more is there to say?    

 

Krissy :)

Tags: Wedding Anniversary, Anniversary, celebration, reflections, marriage, cancer, bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant, love, blogplugs

Christmas in May

Coming home last night, I looked up at the beautiful blue Christmas lights stringing the trees, lining the sidewalks in the neighborhood where I live.  "Beautiful lights," I shot to John.  Then we both busted out laughing.  We get so used to the lights being there that we forget that they are still up, even at the end of May.  But they are.  Usually the last of the Christmas lights in central PA are taken down by June or July, so we'll see if these break a record and make it till August, LOL. 

 

What I was so upset about a month ago was watching the Christmas lights strangle the apple and cherry blossoms.  That's right!  As these beautiful trees that lined the road blossomed, the blooms were actually being strangled and choked to death by Christmas lights!  I wish I had my camera at the time, so you could have seen cherry blossoms entangled in blue glowing lights, trying to stay alive!  Actually, I am glad I didn't have my camera...

 

Krissy :)

Tags: Christmas, Christmas lights, Spring, blossoms, blogplugs

monday morning question

        
Where did you first find out about AOL blogs/journals, and what made you want to start one?

My answer:  I found out about AOL blogs because my sister Valerie of There is a Season started one, and encouraged me to do the same. 

As to why I truly started my blog, I can't imagine.  I was an extremely private person at the time, LOL.  I was so private I wouldn't even tell my own family most things.  Why or how I became able to express myself online is beyond me.  I guess I began enjoying blogging as time went on, as I felt it was helping me, as well as helping others. :)  

Love you all, Krissy :)

Tags: Monday Morning Question, AOL blogs, AOL journals, blogs, journals, blogging, journaling, blogplugs

JLand Photo Shoot #134 - Say it with Color!

             

Yes, this week's JLand Photo Shoot is arriving very late!  I should've given you all a subject on Monday.  But better late than never, they say.  So I am offering a subject today.  You will have extra time to complete it!  Let's have it done by Saturday, May 31st, at 11 PM EDT.  That's Saturday, almost midnight, an hour before Sunday, for those of you who are getting confused. :)  

 

Our Subject for this photo Shoot is:

 

Say it with Color!

Just capture anything colorful!

 

After you've posted your entry in your journal/blog, please come back here and put the address of your entry in my Comment Section below.  If you need an explanation on how to do this, or need to know any other instructions concerning this photo shoot, please click on the link below.

Instructions for JLand Photo Shoot

Thank you.  We can't wait to see your pictures!

Love you all, Krissy :)

Tags: JLand Photo Shoot, photo shoots, photo shoot, photography, photos, colorful, blogplugs

John doesn't need blood transfusions right now!

I forgot to tell you all how John was doing.  

He got his lab results back yesterday. 

First let me say that a couple of weeks ago, he got a shot of Aranesp to help raise his red blood cell count (his hemoglobin and hematocrit).  The shot was to make sure he wouldn't need any blood transfusions any time soon.  

Well, his scores came back great yesterday!  The Aranesp shot raised his red blood cell count!  What this means is, that for now, he won't be needing blood transfusions!  Not right now anyway!  Yayyyyyy!  I hope this trend continues!  I just wanted to let you all know!  Those transfusions that he used to have to get (over 100 of them) used to  take a big toll on him.     

Everything else is going pretty well with John also.  He's not in the normal range of things yet, but for him, he is doing very well! 

I won't bore you with a full medical report, but we are very pleased, that John is doing as well as he is, for being a person who has some health issues.  He does most everything a "normal healthy" person does, LOL.  Except he has to sleep more.

Oh, one more thing, I don't know if I mentioned he goes to Physical Therapy three times a week for his neck.  At a different therapy place than me.  Now why did he choose to go somewhere different?  I haven't the foggyist.  Now working out a schedule will be much harder, LOL!

Okay, I just wanted you all to know he is okay and doesn't need blood.  And this he is trying to get through the injury on his neck by working in physical therapy three times a week.  Probably for two or three months.  He will make it though!  Thanks for the emails asking about him. :)

*****By the way, if you are a new reader, and don't understand this entry too much, John got a bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplant) a little over two years ago.  He needed the bone marrow transplant because he had twocancers:  Non Hodgkins Lympyoma, and MDS ( bone marrow cancer).  MDS can turn into AML (leukemia) in a few short months if left untreated, so if John hadn't chosen to do the bone marrow transplant he would have, well, passed away by now, must likely.  So all things considered, he is doing quite well.  

Well, getting back to John needing frequent blood transfusions at different times since the transplant, he had/has a disease called Hemolytic Anemia.  Hemolytic Anemia is when your blood cells can destruct in as fast as a day.  That is why the person who has an advanced case of Hemolytic Anemia needs constant blood transfusions. 

Now if you are wondering how John got the Hemolytic Anemia (that has caused him to get over 100 transfusions so far in 2 years), his oncologists don't even know.

But the oncologists do have two theories.  The first is John could be having an adverse reaction to a medication he took after the bone marrow transplant.  This medication was one that causes John's body from rejecting his donor - and was quite necessary perhaps!

The other thing that could have caused the Hemalytic Anemia, therefore causing John to need so many transfusions, was a mismatched bag of blood.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  Sometimes if the recipient of the blood is not matched correctly with the right type of blood this can happen.  I don't know who messed up, the blood bank or the nurse or who.  Tell you what.  We are not even going to think about it.  We thought all along it was the meds and now we find out it might be mis matched blood.  What a nightmare, Ughhhh.

We are still VERY much into receiving and giving blood of course.  Without those hundreds of bags of blood that John received, he was saved from death.  And for all of you who donated blood, many were saved from death also.  Thank you so much!!!! :)       

Okay, so I am going to go to Chinese with John now!    

Love you all, and take care of yourself,

Krissy :)

Tags: Aranesp, blood transfusion, red blood cell pack, hemoglobin, hematocrit, physical therapy, blogplugs

a senior moment

   I was weeding yesterday and a truck went by and honked.  Wow!  That hadn't happened in a long time!  But the honk could never make up for the humiliation of what happened two weeks prior.  Let's just call it my "Senior Moment".

Let me tell you about my Senior Moment.  John and I were coming home from Hershey Medical Center where he had gotten his oncology appointment.  We stopped at a McDonald's along the way home for a quick bite to eat. 

When it was time to pay the clerk she asked me "Are you a senior citizen?"  My heart dropped.  I thought it was going to drop to the floor.  I guess this will be the first of my Senior Citizen askings.  First of all, though, I am 45.  To make it worse, she wasn't a teenager.  She looked 35 or something.  How could she think I was a senior citizen?

She must have saw my jaw drop in disbelief, because she tried to help me.  "Ma'am, she said with a big smile, "I was only trying to help you, because if you really were a senior citizen you would be getting the senior citizen discount!"  

So I am like, standing there, thinking, please lady, do not try to redeem yourself.  Just give me my food and let me get out of here!

That was my first time ever being asked if I was a senior citizen.  I hope it doesn't happen again real soon.  I think seniors are beautiful and full of wisdom, but I don't want to be called one until I am!

Now take a long look at the photo above (I am 45) and please be honest, do I look like a senior citizen (over 55?)

Love you all, no matter what your answer is, LOL,

Krissy :)

Tags: senior moment, senior citizens, senior citizen, senior citizen discount, blogplugs

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a little light bulb humor!

because sometimes we need to be a little lighter! ~~>     

Q:  How many cowboys does it take to change a light bulb?
A:  two - one to change it and another to sing about how they'll miss the old one

 

Q:  How many Generation Xers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A:  Two, one to go and shoplift the bulb so the boomers have something to screw in and the other to screw it in for minimum wage.

 

Q:  How many atheists does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A:  None. Atheists question whether it's really light anyway.

 

Q:  How many doctors does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A:  Only one, but he has to have a nurse to tell him which end to screw in

 

Q:  How many nurses does it take to change a light bulb?
A:  Will somebody please call house-keeping?

 

Q:  How many mathematicians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
A:  None.  It's left to the reader as an exercise.

 

Q:  How many pre-med students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A:  One hundred; one to change the lightbulb, the other ninety-nine to stand around wondering why they weren't chosen

 

Q:  How many Dylan fans does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A:  The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind. The answer is blowin' in the wind.

 

Q:  How many shipping dept. personnel does it take to change a lightbulb?
A:  We can change the bulb in 7-10 working days; if you call before 2pm and pay an extra $15 we can get the bulb changed overnight.

 

Q:  How many chiropractors does it take to change a light bulb?
A:  Only one but it will take him 7 visits to do it.

 

Q:  How many rednecks does it take to change a light bulb?

A:  Never mind, we'll just drink in the dark!

 

Q:  How many jugglers does it take to change a light bulb?
A:  One, but it takes at least three light bulbs.

 

Q:  How many flies does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A:  Only two, but how did they got in there?  

 

Q:  How many Vietnam veterans does it take to change a light bulb?
A:  You wouldn't know, man; you weren't there!

 

Q:  How many union factory workers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A:  Fifty-seven, you got a problem with that?

**note: the above jokes weren't meant to offend anyone, they were just done in fun!

            

Tags: light bulbs, joke, jokes, Dylan fans, blogplugs

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i don't have to have surgery (probably)

Ohh, exciting news!  I forgot to mention it with all that has been going on!  I made it past the first phase of convincing my orthopedic specialist not to give me surgery.   I have made tremendous progress!  My shoulder is still frozen quite a bit, but, I am tearing through the scar tissue in hopes to make my shoulder to work once again.  

I can lift my right arm above my head holding it out to the side.  If I try to raise my left arm (the one with the frozen shoulder and scar tissue), I can't even raise it half way up.  But I used to only be able to lift the left arm about two inches, so I am making progress!  The Occupational Therapists say not to be discouraged.  However, they told me it would probably take four more months (a total of six months) to return to normal.  Ugghhhh.  

I don't see at this point how it is possible to bust through the scar tissue and adhesions completely, but I am just going to have to trust that I can do this and not have to have the medical procedure at the hospital that I don't want.  That's what the Occupational Therapists say I can do, so I am certainly going to try.

Krissy :)

Tags: surgery, frozen shoulder, scar tissue, adhesions, shoulder, blogplugs

Update on John

What a long time since I've updated.  It has been one crazy week.  In the beginning of the week John said his neck hurt more than it ever had, so we went to a physician to check it out.  To make a long story short, John is suffering from sprained ligaments in his neck.  I think that is what the spinal surgeon said.  John will have to go to Physical Therapy for about three months is what I think he was told by the surgeon.

The reason I am so unclear on what John  has wrong with him, and what his treatment is, is because first the radiologist, then John's physician told us that John's neck was broken.  We were terrified, to say the least.  John was given a collar to wear, and sent home.  He was told to lay around until the neurosurgeon called.  The next morning (Tuesday) a spinal surgeon called John.  He went in and additional x-rays were taken.  That is when it was determined that the injury that the other doctors had seen was an old neck break, and was not dangerous, and would not migrate and hurt the spine.

At any rate, we are so grateful that John's neck is not broken.  He is still in tremendous, horrific pain, but that's okay - it's better than having a broken neck.  John is wearing his collar, going to PT for about three months, then to massage therapy.  It will be a long ride up.  But it is okay.

Finally, I want to say, in the midst of all these appointments, I didn't get time to do any entries.  I've missed the Monday Morning Question, and haven't been able to do a JLand Photo Shoot in a couple of weeks.  This really disturbs me, as I like to stay consistent.  I hope you all understand.  

Love you all, and I will be back to writing regularly,

Krissy :)         

Tags: neck, ligaments, physical therapy, radiologist, strain, x-rays, blogplugs

Could John need blood transfusions again?

Yes, John and I are home from Hershey Medical Center, where we went to visit his oncologist.

 

So let me tell you what's up with John.  

 

Two things.  On Sunday night, the night before we went to Hershey, John slipped in the shower.  He banged his head on the edge of the tub.  I had to take him to the Emergency Room.  They gave him a CAT scan to see if he had internal bleeding, and said he did not.  Then the physician took the gash in his scalp and glued it back together.  I didn't know they could glue instead of doing stitches nowadays!

 

At any rate, right now, after a week, John is still in very severe pain (his head and neck).  So this afternoon he called the local doctor on call.  The doctor said there is a chance that John could now be bleeding internally, and told us to call his primary care doctor tomorrow (Monday) and see if he wants to do an MRI.  

 

Perhaps all John has is whiplash, but if it is, it is of a most severe case.  He has trouble every day, has to lay around a lot, and can never stay up after 4 pm.  He has to lay down and go to sleep.  He says his neck feels wrenched.

 

Okay, here's the second thing that is going on with John. 

 

First let me say that his cancers are NOT back.  He still remains cancerfree.    

 

But there is something wrong.  His hemoglobin count is dropping dramatically.  This means his Hemolytic Anemia may be coming back.  I wanted to explain these terms to my new readers, but I am just too exhausted.  I will just put it this way, my dear readers.  After my husband John had two cancers, then the bone marrow transplant that put the cancers in remission, he developed a disease called Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA).  His oncologist doesn't know what caused it, but thinks it was perhaps a medication that was given after the bone marrow transplant.

 

Okay, I'll explain quickly what Hemolytic Anemia is.  It's anemia caused by excessive destruction of red blood cells.  That's a fancy way of saying that your red blood cells are destroyed in your body at a very fast pace.  If I remember correctly, a red blood cell is made and then lives 120 days.  John's were made and then dying in 1 day instead of 120.  That is why John had to have over 100 transfusions (bags of blood - red blood cells really) in a few short months.  His blood cells were dying and they had to be replaced immediately or he wouldn't have enough and he would die.

 

After several months John got much better and needed fewer and fewer units (bags) of blood.  He appeared to be cured of the Hemolytic Anemia.  That was after lots of chemo treatments to attempt to cure it.  When John first had the AIHA he needed 7 units of blood a day at first (this took all day and most of the night), and then ended up needing less and less blood, until he appeared cured.  He had his last two bags this past November.

 

Okay, here is the part I wanted to tell you all.  His hemoglobin won't come up at this time.  As a matter of fact, it has been pretty low since the last transfusion.  It has only artificially been raised by Aranesp shots (shots to raise your red blood cell count).  What I am getting at here is, there is the possibility that the Hemolytic Anemia never left, or it is back.  Which means blood transfusions in John's future.  John's Hemolytic Anemia is not real bad at this time.  Because John's bilirubin count is okay.  But it could get really bad.  Right now he is taking these shots to stave the transfusions off.  Which may or may not work.

 

All of this is to say that he may need to start getting blood again.  For a little while or for months or years.  Who knows?

 

How is he taking this?  In stride.  How am I?  In stride too.  Oh well, life happens.  How will I feel if it becomes more of a reality?  I don't even want to think about it...  But we always manage.  We have each other and we have the Lord. 

 

Love you all,

 

Krissy

Tags: fall, bump, scalp, emergency room, hemoglobin, Hemolytic Anemia, cancer, bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant, blood transfusion, blogplugs

a message from Krissy...

Hi, this is Val, Krissy's sister.  Krissy wanted you all to know that she left for Hershey Medical Center early this morning with John and was so busy getting ready she didn't have time to let  you all know.  John has a check-up with his oncologist.  He is doing well, so don't worry!!  It is just a check-up.  For those of you who are new readers, Krissy's husband, John, is a  bone marrow transplant recipient.  Krissy promises she will post a new Photo Shoot subject when she returns in two or three days, too!  Have a good Monday!!  Val from There is a Season =)

 

Tags: just a note, Krissy says hi!!

monday morning question

       

                        

So, was this, like, a great moment in American television, or what?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyooALwfxO8

 

I say yes.

 

What say you?

 

Krissy  :)

Tags: Monday Morning Question, The Brady Bunch, Brady Bunch, blogplugs

Happy 80th birthday Dad!

                                 

Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

 

My Dad turned 80 today. 

 

Gee, when I think of 80, I think of, like, old people.  But he doesn't seem old to me.  Not 80 anyway. 

 

He is very young at heart.  He's lots of fun.  Loves to banter.  He's where Val and I got our love of words from.  He studies the dictionary.  Sometimes we will sit around and discuss root words and meanings of words from the dictionary in my family as our fun!

 

Okay, instead of me telling you more about him, I thought I'd bring to you this little interview I did with him this afternoon.

 

Krissy:  What is your secret to making it to 80?

Dad:     Be a practicing alcoholic till around 50.  That means you are not one after that.

 

Krissy:  What's important in life?

Dad:     a heartbeat and the 12 steps

 

Krissy:   How does it feel to be 80?

Dad:      A year older than 79.

 

Krissy:   What was your favorite job?

Dad:     The last day of the last one.

 

Krissy:   How tall are you?

Dad:      Now 5' 6", used to be 5' 9"

 

Krissy:   How many children do you have?

Dad:      six

 

Krissy:  Who is your favorite child?

Dad:     Whichever one asks me the question.

 

Krissy:   How many languages do you speak?

Dad:      I can say "One ham sandwich with mustard and a beer, if you please" in french, and I can count to three in Arabic.  I also know American English.

 

Krissy:   How old are you? 

Dad:      It is my 80th birthday, but I am already starting 81 years - excluding any gestation period.  If we counted the gestation period, I would almost be starting 82 years.  The Chinese have a better system than we do for marking age.  They say a baby is one - starting it's first year - when it is born.  We say we are one when we are PAST our first year.   

 

Okay, you all, I hope you enjoyed this interview with my father!  I hope you wish him a happy birthday, albeit a little bit late, as I am late with this entry.  At any rate, he does read my blog and the comments, so if you wish him a happy birthday, he will see your comment.  He goes by Dad or Don!  

 

Love you all,  Krissy :)

Tags: happy birthday, birthday, octegenarian, dad, blogplugs

give me more Occupational Therapy, not surgery!

I've been asked by some why I wouldn't rather just have surgery instead of working through the severe pain of Occupational Therapy right now.  I've even pondered it myself, for a few seconds!  I thought I'd answer that question. 

 

Actually, I found out what I would be having wouldn't be surgery, per say.  It would be more of a "procedure".  What it would be is the surgeon would put me under, and when I was out, he would rip the adhesions and scar tissue loose in my shoulder, by just plain forcing it (ripping it I guess).  Then he would unfreeze my shoulder by forcing it to move all around.  Something I can't do yet (move my shoulder completely around - too much scar tissue that I haven't broken through yet) .

 

Okay, there are a few reasons I don't want this procedure done if I can at all help it.  One problem with this procedure is the possibility of further tears in the muscle in my rotator cuff if he did this.  Also, I was told by my Occupational Therapist, Tracy, that I would be in a lot of pain following the procedure.  Not only would there be a lot of pain, but I would have to begin moving the shoulder/arm immediately, and I would have to go back to Occupational Therapy anyway!

I am not adverse to operations, but why not try to make it work in OT first?  That is my goal!  If I need the procedure I will DEFINITELY have it, but I am shooting for trying to make it without the procedure first!

Hope that makes sense.  Love you all,

 

Krissy :)

 

                                                   

Tags: Occupational Therapy, rotator cuff injury, frozen shoulder, blogplugs