Doctor's report

I saw Dr. Alberstone Friday as a follow up. I really appreciated
his accepting me as an emergency patient and I was thoroughly satisfied
with his work. However, I am having lots of joint pain and wanted to
know my next step. He really didn't have much to tell me except that
perhaps a visit to a rheumatologist would help. He recommended Dr.
Allen Peter whom I had already seen prior to my three surgeries. He
was the one who said he was 95% sure it was fybromyalgia at that point.
Two of my other doctors said that was what doctors said when they
wouldn't find anything else. WELL, they haven't found anything else.
I've tried pain management, acupuncture, physical therapy, surgery,
but to no avail. I am on pain medication and may be for quite a long
time unless some miracle turns up. I am determined to live my life
to the fullest that I can manage. Thank everyone for your prayers and
will you continue to do so.

What's up?

iT'S been a while since I blogged, but I just have forgotten to do it. We've had
a busy summer. My emergency surgery for yet another herneated disc was not a good
thing. I did have a new doctor, Cary Alberstone and he was great. I was also at
St. John's Hospital in Oxnard and they were just wonderful. I stayed another 5 days
for rehab and I'm glad I did that.
Buddy continues to have some trouble with his back and hip, but he usually keeps
pretty busy. Uvaldo, who works or us, has been a life-saver. He works well with
Buddy and is excellent at what he does.
We have Charlie and Day Douglas for a week and we enjoyed doing things with
them. Day and Ihave become very close over the last few years. We love having them
out here and this time they flew.
I've enjoyed working with the plants on my patio and I must say they are looking
beautiful. My roses that I got for my birthday are beginning to bloom and are
beautiful too. This warm weather has made it necessary to give them more water.
This ground is pretty rocky.
Buddy says we're going to have air-conditioning put in pretty soon. This house
stays cool (if you keep things closed) but heats up in the late afternoon. Thank
goodness for ceiling fans.
I saw the doctor yesterday and he said I could drive and that Ididn't have
to wear the corset all the time. I haven't minded, but it's nice without it.
We hope things are going well with all of you. Remember, God is large and He's
in charge.

Last update

I saw the Dr. today and thought I'd share the latest. The bottom line
is that I have a bad back. He said that this is just something I will have to
learn to live with and not to blame fibromyalgia but just accept it and learn to
adjust my life to a much slower lifestyle. No lifting more than 10 pounds, no
twisting, turning, bending, etc. Buddy has taken over quite a lot of my every
day chores and Pam does my cleaning for me. Quite the life, huh? I can't
drive until I'm off drugs and that should be in a month or so. I'm to see how
an antiimflamitory like Aleve will do. I also need to wear the corset when I'm
out and away from home. It's not terribly comfortable, but it does its job.
We can't say enough good about Dr. Alberstone and St. John's Hospital.
I'm so thankful that my problem was taken care of so quickly. I was referred
to Dr. Alberstone because my neurosurgeon, Dr. Herman was going on vacation and
my primary care Dr. Gary Wikholm was also going on vacation but recommended Dr.
Alberstone. God just had a hand in it!!! I see the doctor again in six weeks
and I hope to be off the drugs by that time. Remember me in your prayers.

Here I am again

Boy, what happened to our cool June weather? I'm sort of trapped in
the house and no air conditioning. I'm not griping. We have ceiling fans
that do a great job.
I'm getting better each day,but the fibromyalgia(I guess that's what
it is) keeps me thankful for pain pills. Don't worry, I've learned something
from Michael Jackson- get off the pills as soon as possible. I take the pain
pill every four hours and someone said "what do you do for an alarm clock?" and
I said "Pain!!!!!"
Thanks everyone for your prayers and thoughts and gifts. I hope I got
a thank you card to everyone. If not, let this be it.
Buddy has done a good job of helping me get through this. He is not pain
free himself. I guess like all the "old people", we are making up for all the
things we shouldn't have done to our bodies when we were young.
Keep remembering us in your prayers as we do you.

Home at last

Whew, I don't want to go through this again!!!!! I got to go home on Tuesday,
and I was ready.I can't say enough good things about St. John's Hospital. The
staff, the facility-everything was just wonderful. If I've talked to you, you
know my "FIRSTS". 1.First time with Socrates for a nurse (everyone called him
Soc. 2. First time to wear a paper diaper, and 3. First time with a male nurse
at clean-up time.
One nurse (bless her heart) felt compelled to help me extend my time between
medications. There was a notation in my room white board that said "My personal
goal was to get the pain under control. After a couple of these incidents, the
floor doctor said he'd let the head nurse know that if I really needed medication
I could have it shorter than the prescribed 4 hours.
I'm glad I chose and was accepted into rehab. I didn't feel ready to come
home after a week and the additional 5 days really was a help. Buddy was not too
good at taking care of himself, let alone me.
I won't be having physical therapy for a few weeks. Dr. Amberstone said
they could sometime be a little too physical. I learned some simple exercises I
can to to get me more mobile.
If I had any doubts about having Fibromyalgia before, they have been laid
to rest. My pain is seldom concentrated in my surgery site. Good ole Fibro, goes
from head to foot and I plan to be on meds for several weeks.
We had a surprise visit from Buddy's cousins from Arkansas. Sedalia has been
a big help and we are so close. They left earlier than we wanted, but when Charlie
gets ready to go home, they go home. I felt the poor host. It was Kentucky Fried
chicken, Jack-in-the-box and the like. The bad part was that they gave us good
"ole southern cooking when we were back there last.
Nancy has made herself sick taking care of things. I knew she was doing too
much, but you usually don't argue with her. Pam and Steve were right in there too.
Pam did my hair twice. The "helicopter" look wasn't too good, and she does a
greatjob.
You will notice there are no pictures with this blog. I didn't even like to
look at myself, let alone let others see me.
Lastly, thanks for all the thoughts and prayers that went up on my behalf.
I'm pretty much confined to home except for short jaunts.

Home at last

 

Birthday Bash

Whew!!!! /what a day. I talked with the kids and the grandkids and we all
think everything went off perfectly. It was not a surprise, but WAS IT A
SURPRISE.
The church was a perfect place for the party. The sound system was already
in place, the tables and chairs were available, Most everyone knew where it was.
I didn't get the count, but it was a good house full.
The food was delicious and suited most everyone. There were leftovers, but
not much and Buddy and I took home a lot for today. It was good the second
time around.
I was so pleased that all family members had a part. Of course I loved the
music, especially the quartet. I could see feet patting all around. Nancy, Joe,
Steve and Pam have sung before and they said they had some time to practice. I
think there was a joint effort in the "For my Nana" presentation, though I
think I heard a little "Cassie" in it.
It was so nice to see some Old, old, friends. Not so much in age as in
time known. I could see a lot of visiting going on and people meeting new
people.
I just wanted you to know that there is a young 30 year old inside this
old 75 year old body. It's just that the 75 year old can't keep up with the
30 year old, but that gives me time to do some slower fun things.
I've outlived my dad but not my mother. They would have really enjoyed
yesterday.

Texas-Arkansas trip

Well, we're back home safe and sound. I tried to add a picture
to my blog and it didn't come out right so I did it this way.
That is a picture of Buddy's cousin's wife' dog drinking out
of her iced tea glass. Not with her approval, of course, but
I thought it just s aid the right thing for our trip. We had
a wonderful trip, but were glad to get home. The weather and
the countryside are beautiful and GREEN!!! The Fosters in Texas
are wonderful hosts and fed us like royalty. The same in
Arkansas. Such good food!!! I'm going to try and take some of
those pounds off now that I'm home.
We both had wheelchairs this time. That had to be a funny
sight-two hop-a-longs on a trip. Believe me, though, that is
the way to go. Fake it sometime and see how nice they all
treat you. They take you exactly where you want to go and
quickly too.
Now that we're home, I still need to go through the "stuff"
we brought back to town from the ranch. There shouldn't be
any needy homeless now. I've given away a ton of things-and
still need to go through things again. Buddy and I both made
the trip well. Buddy had very little vertigo and I made it
on several shopping trips. Again---it's good to be home.

Texas-

 

here in Texas

Hey y'all,
We have had a wonderful time with the Fosters. Good food, good weather and
good company. We have gone shopping several times and hit the jacjpot every time.
We went to Fort Worth on Monday in the rain, but it stopped by the time we got
there. We saw the cattle drive again and marveled that the LONGHORNS could
even hold their heads up. Buddy found another hat that is different than all
his others. We mailed it and it is supposed to come to Say Road nextTuesday,
the day we get home.
Bev and I re going to a tea tomorrow with some friends,and Buddy and Jim will
probably go Taco Bell. We leave later on at 4:55 for Fort Smith. The weather has
been good, but there have been gusty winds. I hope that will not make a bumpy
plane ride. Buddy has had no Vertigo !!!!! Hip-hip-hoorah.
We are quite the pair in our twin wheelchairs. That is a really great way
to go and the Skycaps are fast and know exactly where we need to go. There is no
more meals served on American Airlines. It says on the ticket "food for purchase"
We are looking forward to being with Charley and Day. I hope the weather is as nice as it has been in Texas. Remember though, it's all marvelous to get home
again !!!!!

Sunday at home

We woke up this morning with both of us a little under the weather with a cold. We just
didn't feel like getting out, so we've just all day in and out of bed. Just
getting some R & R. It's a beautiful day though a little cool.
We've been getting good news from Ashley and her new job with Apple. I don't
know who's more excited, Ashley or us. I really miss her since we have been working
on the ranch. The other grandkids were a big help with the heavier things that
need moving. Also, a lot of things we brought to town need going through again.
Surely I didn't have that much stuff!!!
I think this coming week only has one or two appointments. Last week was filled
with various appointments. It's almost May and our trip to Texas and Arkansas. We
both need to get over our colds. We will definitely have Buddy use the motion
sickness patch behind his ear and the meclizine pill. Vertigo would ruin the trip
in no time.

Finally trying to finish at the ranch

Can you believe we're nearing finishing at the ranch. The girls plus Steve came out
to help get rid of more stuff. Twenty years of gathering is not a good thing. Don't the
people in the know say that if you haven't used something in 6 month, get rid of it? Well
how about10 years or more? We found things I didn't even remember having.
Cassie, Ashley, Jenny, Nancy, Pam, and Steve came out to help and Buddy came out for
a while too. We had already taken tons of stuff to the Foursquare Church for the homeless.
this time, we took several bags to our renters and let them pick out what they wanted with
the understanding they would take what they didn't want to the Goodwill.
We moved our big bedroom set from the big bedroom into the little Bedroom and mostly
it fit, with a few changes. Cassie and Jeff are going to be staying there for a couple of
months at least. That way, Jenny won't be by herself when Jake is being a fireman.
We found a little dead mouse in the bathroom, and superhero Cassie got rid of it for
us. That's what living in the country is all about - varments! It's really bad when it
crawls under something and dies!!!
Jake and Jenny and probably CAssie and Jeff are going to be doing more cleaning, pre-
pping for painting and painting. It hasn't had a paint job in several years. They're
keeping part of our furniture and Ashley took the kitchen table and 2 chairs in her little
car. Nick wants a couple of pieces, and Maybe Nancy. My house is full, that's for sure!
Amy asked Papa today if he wasn't pleased that his grandchildren love each other so
much that they don't mind living together. They should have a ball.

Easter Sunday

We enjoyed a beautiful Easter Sunday. Last night we watched
Rick Warren on Fox Channel- yes, on TV and it was a great lesson.
We went to the second service at CBC and Bob did a great job too.
After Church, we stopped by go get our goodies for Steve and
Pam's luncheon at one o'clock. It was such a beautiful, sunny
day, about 70 degrees. We talked to Nick on the computer. Yes,
I said "talked". We have on our laptop a devise that allows \
us to see and talk to anyone "free". He had just gotten to
Morea the day before and he was showing us the surroundings.
Can you imagine what our ancestors would think of such a thing?

This next week will be busy as well. Ashley and I are just
about finished with the house and are touching the trailer
behind. I am overwhelmed!!!!!! We are donating lots of stuff
to the Nazarene Church which has a connection with helping
the homeless.

Lots done

This has been a busy day for me. I got a lot done-mostly arranging things
better here at Say Road. I now have more plastic drawers than K-Mart. They
really are handy. I have been trying to have a second go at deciding what
has to go. I have definitely walked my miles today. Everything is always
on the other side of the house.
Buddy is getting better. He still has Vertigo attacks, but they are
not nearly as hard or as long lasting. Thanks to everyone for your prayers.
It looks like our Texas-Arkansas trip is on. We're looking forward to
seeing our loved ones.
Buddy is watching a basketball game -his second in a row.

What's new?

hi everyone

It's been a while since I've blogged. Plenty has been going on. Buddy is
getting better but his Vertigo keeps popping up it's ugly head. He is on Meclizine
and has a patch behind his ear. It is working,but as I said it keeps coming back.
Ashley and I are still moving things from Wheeler Canyon
back to Say Road. Even I didn't know I had so much STUFF. It is gradually coming
about. Are we going to have a gigantic yard sale!!! Then if that doesn't work, we
will have a gigantic "give away". Even after we move this stuff to town, I need
to go through it again to really, really, decide if I want to keep it.
Many prayers were answered today when Ashley got a call from Apple who offered
her a job. She starts training in April.Thank all of you who have been praying
for her. Please continue to pray for her.
We are planning a trip to Texas and Arkansas in May. We have our tickets
and will leave Burbank on May the tenth and come back on the nineteenth. We just
decided we needed to travel a little while we still can.Remember us in your
prayers and we will do the same.

blogging

 

this is a test

It's been a while

Almost the 12th and it has seemed both fast and slow. We've been really
bush (Ashley and I) moving things to Say Road. Jake and Jenny are planning to
move there in a month or two, or maybe more. There is no rush and I cannot
believe the STUFF I've accumulated over the twenty years we've been at the ranch.
Not only that, there were some things I left at Say Road from 20 years ago that
I don't even remember having. I don't know what I would do without Ashley. We
think much the same way and we make a good team. Once I get everything into town
I still need to go through things again to get rid of things I haven't used in years.
As the old saying goes,"It's not the work but the decisions that are really hard."
The poor little house looks so lonesome with most of the pictures gone from the
walls and some of the furniture. Jake is used to the ranch and the life that goes
with it, but Jennie will have to make some adjustments. I lived there 20 years and
it was really home. Of course Buddy likes it, but it is just getting to be more
than he wants and is able to do.
The stinging nettles were waist high and the guys have been weed-wacking them
in preparation for some good ole Round-up. The rain has really sent the weeds
into a growing spree.

We've don a lot, but there is so much more to do. We're just taking our
time and work about a couple of hours at the ranch and then come home and try
to find a place for more and more things. Thank goodness this is a big house.
We should have known we wouldn't be at the ranch like we had planned anymore
than we had planned to live at both places twenty years.
Buddy is doing much better, but in my opinion is overdoing it a bit. Time
will tell. Love to everybody Genelle

Already Feb. 16?????

We're really getting the rain we wanted. We've gotten 1.3 inches of rain for this last
storm and it doesn't look like it's about to stop.
Buddy is feeling much better today. He says it's the bacon (with eggs and toast) that
settles his stomach-doesn't it do that for everybody? Sunday was a hard day for him. He
said he didn't hurt anywhere, but he was SICK! The vertigo keep bothering him, but a
little less each day, I think. He ses the Physical Therapist today and hopefully that will
bring a little life into him. He's had this one before and likes him.
The Diehls are watching the ranch for us, Taggart in particular and we can't thank
them enough. We usually get out there a couple of days a week, at least since Buddy has
been better. I'm sure it's MUDVILLE with all this rain. The weeds were bad before and
I hate to think they're growing at this very moment. We need to get a guy that some-
times works for us out there with a bunch of Roundup. My flowers love the rain, but
I've brought a lot of them into town. I haven't looked on TV yet, but I hope people aren't
having mudslides. The horses will be covered with mud. They always are when it
rains. I guess the dummies just roll in it.
Boy this turned out longer than I thought. Have a wonderful rainy day. Genelle

The latest

Buddy is doing so well-hip-replacement wise, and the vertigo is still there, but much
less severe. We both are getting a good night's rest and that is worth a lot.
I see the CPA tomorrow and I'm already shaking in my boots. Do they know what
nightmares they cause! I'm going to ask him a DUMB question." Am I entitled to SOMETHING
for all the hours I've toiled getting this monster ready?" Most likely not.
What a beautiful day and it will be even more beautiful tomorrow if we get some rain.
Things look so beautiful after the rain and the plants can almost be seen growing.
Have a great rest of the week and an early "Happy Valentines Day". Genelle

What's next

Well, just when you think things are going to straighten out, something else happens, but
we still count ourselves blessed. Thank God for doctors and nurses and hospitals and medicine.
Buddy is doing better every day, but the vertigo is still there hiding. Because of the
medication, he now is on medication for Thrush(spelling). We see the doctor tomorrow and
are hoping he can be off the blood-thinner. His hip is getting better and better. He'll begin
Physical Therapy next week. They really put him through it.
Steve was in CMH Emergency Monday night with what seems to be a herneated disc.
It has his sciatic nerve going crazy. He had to have morphine to deaden the pain he was in
such agony. He is on heavy medication and under "house arrest" till tomorrow when he
sees his doctor again.
THank everyone for all the cards and thoughts and prayers. What do people do who don't
have Christian friends?
We are enjoying the lovely rain and even snow on the moutaintops. That's the way we
like snow. Genelle

Rain

Thank you Lord for the beautiful rain. I feel I can hear the orchard sucking up the
moisture. On the other hand, the ranch is also sucking up the moisture and the stinging
nettles are taking over.-Round-up, where are you?
I think I will be able to go to church tomorrow. Buddy said today he felt all the medication
was finally out of his system and he didn't have any dizziness. I don't want to say "I told
you so, but I told you so." Check my first blog on Christmas day (Ashley gave us a blog
for Christmas). I said I hoped he could leave the hospital free of the medication. He didn't
and as a result he had a seizure this past week (not disputed by the doctors) and most
likely caused by his medication. He has been off the medication for about a week now and
I hope it ends his Vertigo. Genelle

pardon me

Pardon me everyone for not checking replies on my blog- I didn't know how. This is
something very new for me and something can be right in front of my eyes and I'll not
see it.
We had an outing to the ranch today because some horses got out. Uvaldo works for
us and he went out with us to do the work and Buddy gave the orders. Anyway, when he
got home he was exhausted. He is so anxious to get back to normal that he sometime
does a little more than he should.
Thanks for all your interest and prayers. Genelle

Well, it's Tuesday and another day and another ache and pain. No, really we are doing quite
well. Get this, I got the bright idea of tying a rope around the hope chest at the end of the
bed, attaching a belt to it so Buddy could come to a sitting position a little easier. He laughed
at it, but it did work. Should I get a patent on it? s
We hadn't seen our more agressive cat for a couple of days and since she wasn't ours and
just wandered in for the food, we hoped she had taken up with someone else. But, here she
came today to get the free food. She is very friendly and tends to wind herself around my
legs and I'm afraid she might make me fall.
Pray for Ashley as she has interviewed for a new job. It looks promising, but we covet your
prayers. I feel sorry for these newly graduated kids who are finding it hard to get a job. In
the "good old days" I had my pick of grade levels. the Lord is good and He is looking out for
us.
I've had my shower, my hot drink (chai tea) and am about ready for bed. Have a good
nights sleep everyone. Genelle

Stitches removed

Whew, the day we've been waiting for. Buddy saw both his doctors and got a good report. He
will remain on the motion-sickness patch for about 10 more days and hopefully that will see
the last of his vertigo. Dr. Golden's nurse removed 22 staples and doctor was pleased with
the surgery. He is not to drive until he is off medication and no longer needs the walker.
this has been a prolonged situation and we are both tired of it and anxious to get on with
our life. genelle

Well, another day and much the same. Buddy is still plagued with virtigo. He is on a generic
meclizine and that seems to help some. I think he is afraid to sit up now for fear of another
episode. We posponed our appointment yesterday with his surgeon and are now scheduled
for Thursday. I just hope he can make that and have his stitches taken out.

Well, we've survived another episode in the "get Buddy well" saga. The last two days
have been terrible for him. His vertigo started acting up on Saturday and he spent the entire
day lying flat in bed. Even his private essentials had to be lying flat. I was worried about
his lungs because Dr. Swartout had been concerned about his oxygen level and had told him he
wanted him up a good part of the day. Finally we called his service and got Dr. Chen, his
associate this morning. She said this could be as a result of a lot of things and told me to get
him a motion-sickness medicine called Bonine. He took the pill and Steve and Pam helped
him sit up and we put about 6 pillows behind his head putting him in a sitting-up position.
He is doing better. His appetite has been good and he sleeps well. He is concerned about his
appointment with his surgeon to get the staples out. Dr. Chen reminded us that his visiting
nurse can do that for him also. The physical therapist comes tomorrow and hopefully he
will be feeling better. Steve looked up "vertigo" on wikapedia and found out a lot of things
about it-far more than I realized. I, personally think (after hearing Steve read from Wiki-
pedia) it's his oxygen level. It was low in the hospital and Dr. Swartout was concerned
about that. Buddy is a very shallow breather and does not breath deeply. Boy at the things
you can find out that you never had the slightest knowledge about!!!!!
Please keep us in your prayers. He was doing so well before this vertigo attacked him. I
hope tomorrow will be much better for him. Genelle

Thursday-Things are going well. The Physical Therapist came and assigned more exercises
for Buddy. He is doing more and more things for himself. It's raining off and on-or precisely
showering. I can even leave him alone for short periods of time. Thanks for all the thoughts
and prayers. We love you all. Genelle

Well, we're home at last and glad to be here. Buddy is doing exceptionally I think. He can get
up by himself, sit down use the bathroom, walk from the bedroom to the kichen three times
a day. His spirits are good as are mine. That hospital gets old very quickly. Everyone was very
nice, but it's not home.
I enjoyed my stay at Nancy and Joe's new home. It is so pretty. I spent 6 good nights there
and slept well. The physical therapist, Phillip came today to get information and to introduce
some exercises for Buddy to do. Tomorrow a nurse will come an do some blood work. Buddy
was maybe on the road to pheumonia with the chest congestion and the low blood level, but
everything seems so much better and he did have a pheumonia shot before he left the hospital.
We see Dr. Golden and Dr. Swartout in about two weeks. Go.lden to remove the staples and
Swartout just for a checkup, and information about the blood work.
We've been watching the inauguration throughout the day and really enjoyed Obama's
speech. We are praying he is up to the task.

Monday after the first

Boy this has been a busy few days. We collected rent on Saturday- they bring it to us now. I
have also been working on Income Tax - the pain in my rear. I'm doing more on the computer
now. It's probably not much faster than I used to do it, but much more enjoyable.
Ashley came down to help and it's always great to be with her. I have all my christmas
stuff put away, or did I already say that the last time. I guess I'm glad enough to say it
twice.
Yesterday and today were set aside to pay bills and balance the check book. Now that's
a superduper thing to do. I repeat ( you may not have heard me say this before) I am as
smart as I want to be. The smarter I am, the more I have to do.
Buddy goes in the hospital next week and I am dreading it and looking forward to it
as he is. He has been in a lot of pain and therefore has taken it a little bit easier than he
usually does. I hope he doesn't come home until he is off pain medication. He reacts very
strongly to drugs and I want him to be able to get by on Aleve and Tylenol.

New :Year's Day

Well, it's here at last. I look forward to the new year, but I also know it brings Income Tax
time. I've worked a couple of days and am already tired of it. but at least I've got a head start
on it. I actually never got around to watching the Rose Parade except as I went by the TV. I
never can imagine how it's done, but what a beautiful job every year.
Papa watched the Penn State-USC game on an off too. Amy came over to pick up some things
and showed us her new apartment in Santa Monica. She starts school on Monday for an extra
class so her spring semester will be her last and she can graduate with her class. Almost time
for Jeopardy. We must start the new year out right you know.