More than a year

Wow, more than a year since I've posted.  You can tell blogger got removed from my iPad!  Well, a lot has changed and a lot has not.  Long term care is by the wayside, my hubby loves me, and I am going back to school.  I am also taking care of the hubby, our puppy Nousha- as Sabakka has passed, and studying like A mad woman!  

I promise to start updating again on a more regular basis.  Tonya- hold me accountable!!!  

Feeling blessed

I am blessed because I have great friends.  You are few, but true.  Thank you.

I am blessed because of my family.  We may argue and disagree but we love each other.

I am blessed because I have had three dogs love me.  One is in heaven, two remain on earth and I love that they love me.

I am blessed because I love my pups.

I am blessed because of Rodan and Fields.  Thank you for bringing back my spark. 

I am blesses because of Michael.  ' Nuff said. 

My fur baby

Sabakka is my first born.  My life.  My pride and joy.  

She helped me to become a responsible adult, know unconditional love, and trained me more than I did her.  This being said she can open and shut doors, search and rescue, sit, stay, lay, and speaks German. 

This Saturday will be family photo day in her honor.  She will, the rest of this week and thru Wednesday get every bad food she wants, because on Wednesday she will meet God.  She will also be healthy, playing soccer, and seeing all the pups who have gone before.  

I know where Sabakka is going, yet Michael and I need prayers for strength.  As our tears flow, we will hug her and kiss her till the end.  

Thank you to wisdom animal clinic for your amazing care and to Melanie Gloster for photos that I know will be amazing.  

R+F

I have become a rodan and fields consultant!  Eeekkkkkk!  Iam very excited about this opportunity but also very nervous.  My skin has improved 100% since I began using the products I can't wait to help change others skin and their lives.  

I have so much more confidence.  About a year ago I had a cystic acne zit that I had to relieve pressure on my chin or die.  I did the wrong thing and pierced it with a clean needle.  OMG!  It was full of infection.  To this day I have some redness, however it is nothing compared to bleeding, oozing skin. 

My R+F is even reducing the redness to this day!  

I use the unblemished line and throw in some soothe to ease the redness if needed.  

These products are all designed by the doctors who created proactive; however, this company is designed to reverse sun damage, unblemished adult acne, redine, lift and tone, as well as treat rosacheia.  

Ready to share my blessings! 

A big day

I have joined the amazing team or rodan + fields.  The doctors who created proactive have created skin care lines that help fight the signs of aging as well as adult acne.  As an adult with cystic acne I must say the unblemished line has been amazing for me.  I have not had a flare up since I started using it and no skin infections on my chin!  

I have also taken some classes in yoga therapy as well as yoga and addiction recently and can't wait to take yoga for warriors with YogaFit in July.  It will help to guide me in how to help people with PTSD with yoga practice.

Soon to initiate a good new friend into P.E.O.  Love helping women get involved in this organization.  Giving money to women to go to school is the best!  I recently called bingo,at an evening event and we are over fundraising budget for the year!  So proud.  

Xox, 

A 

Sigh

Life is so odd.  Some obstacles have been thrown in my path...and guess what, I don't know how to fix them and hubby can't help.  

They run the course of work pressure, health, and an aging pup.  I also am trying to find a place that is okay with a normal body fitness instructor for yoga and Zumba.  

Ack... Forgot to start my article for my magazine that I write for.

I schedule my life so well and when things get thrown in I sometimes feel lost.  

Prayers and kind thoughts are requested.  

Oh, and I am missing photography.  

Needing spring, compassion, and blessings.  

My wonderful spouse

What a wonderful husband I have.  I have traveled twice this week while preparing for annual survey at work.

My husband has taken care of the dogs, the house, and even made me dinner tonight; while understanding I needed a night out with a girlfriend earlier this week. 

the hubs understands that I have to do a workout almost every day to keep me sane, and that I have to have 'me' time even when he is off from his work.

I am so blessed that my man 'gets' me.  He is my best friend, companion, and lover-->  HOW did I get so blessed?  Well, I guess the answer is God, fait, and free will.

Love to my hubby and I wish all the success in marriage partner that I have had.

XOX to my hubby. 

yoga, work, and the holidays

Well, I have been doing lots of yoga.  I have perfected my tri-corner headstand and my crow.  My body just loves having my booty high in the air.  However, when it comes to headstands I am not doing so well.  Anybody know any way to not hurt my neck????

In the next month I will be starting with YogaFit to get my level one certification.  Waaaaahooooo!

Work; I have been off for almost two months.  I start back to work at my new job on the 30th.  Very excited about it.  Looking forward to working in a new state and with a whole new group of people. 

Holidays are here and I am battling my own wish of eating everything in site, maintaining my yoga strength, and peace of mind.  Also, not getting sick, again, from my nephew at Christmas. 

To my friend that wanted me to update my blog- here ya go for now .  Love ya!

Little Handbag Memories

Every lady owns a small handbag, or two, or twenty!  I recently reviewed mine while cleaning out my closet with my mother.  She had a wonderful idea that I wish to share.

You will need:
Your clutch
An index card
Pen
An event to attend! 

Using your pen write the date and event you are attending.
Store it inside your clutch.
Each time you use this clutch update the card.

You could even write who gave it to you, why they gave it to you, or if you bought it for yourself for a special occasion and then start writing each time you carried it.

Think of all of the great memories you will recount whenever you use your clutch.

Life is funny

As always, life is funny.  It keeps our days interesting.

Since this time last year I am a blessed wife.  Mike is still with us thanks to God, modern medicine, and pure will.

I am also looking for a new job.  It is a great opportunity to change directions after ten years.  I can't believe it's been ten years.  Looking for my second career with a huge smile on my face.

My parents have been so generous. They got me a new jacket, dress, hosiery, and an all expense paid makeover.  I feel like I have no hair!  It's still long for most but short for me.  I had facial procedures like crazy.  I call them names by want the hand held gizmo looks like.  I.e. The putty knife, cotton ball, magic toothbrush, clear magic wand.  lol!

I am loving yoga and wishing there was more Zumba.  Wish I could teach it full time.  Barre classes are starting in town and I can't wait!  

Life keeps changing and keeps me laughing at all the fun stuff. 

Living our life

We decided , after the hubby was feeling better to celebrate our ten year wedding anniversary.  We went to scotland.  We chose to celebrate ours years together and his life.  

Hiking into Ben Nevis was long and hard, and we survived.  

Living in and out with each other; no work, friend, gym, or volunteer obligations shows you just whom you married.  Gosh, I am glad I love my choice.

Where to next?  I don't really care, as long as he holds my hand.  

Four admission for valentines

Just before Valentines day, the hubby had his fourth hospital admission.  His entire bowel was unhappy, again.  Two days in the hospital did the trick.  He liked all of his nurses, but hopes to run into them at Wal-Mart instead of a hospital bed.  They agreed :-)

Thank goodness we are in the beginning of June and so far, so good.  He still has lots of pain in his lungs and such, but we are looking forward to some discontinuation of medication at the end of the month.

Yeah!

However, on Valentines day we attended his PaPa's funeral.  What a wonderful Christian man.  Directly after that his grandmother has surgery.  she is recovering well, but is missing PaPa beyond belief.  As I love my husband like she loved hers', I totally understand and pray for her strength.

Continuing on, my company changed hands through all of this and so, I have new owners.  We are learning each other.  How we like to work, how we like to enjoy seniors, and more. 

I seem to be traveling a lot to do education; for myself and to train others.  Very busy.  Lot's of gas and miles. 

I did P90X for a month and really liked it.  Ran into some foot problems.  Back to Zumba in the past two weeks so that I can get back into shape, hopefully to teach again, and then get back into P90X.  Love the strength I got from it.

Looking forward to vacation in the next few months.

Working on eating healthy.  Be on the look out for my notes on intermittent fasting.  Please encourage me on!

I had put some of my volunteer work on hold while the hubs has been ill.  slowly working on getting back to what I was doing.  A few things I think will stay off my list so I can continue to focus on him and myself.  I think it is best.  I was so busy, I could hardly think sometimes.

Love to everyone.

A

Five ER visits and three hospitalizations

The hubby just couldn't stay well.  He got sick over New years again and we decided to keep him home and try to treat him here.  It basically worked.   Then after that he got sick again.  His chest hurt him something terrible.

Back into the hospital for a few more days.  22 now in total.

Came home and back to the hospitl again with more c-diff.  This time they sent him home from the ER instead of an admission.  The doctor said something to the effect of, "you already built the newest wing and we have no plans for more construction at this time."  Funny, and thank goodness we came home.

Since then we have been batteling C-diff at home.  Not very effectively.  Trying vancomycin now.  Waiting on silly pharmacy rules stinks though.

As this had progressed, work is undergoing a change of ownership, the plumbing sent water up and through the floor of the house, and hubby's wonderful Papaw is on a ventillator and dialysis in the hospital.

Please pray for Papaw and my wonderful hubs.  They both need health, peace, and no stress.

A Rupture to a New year

The hubby came home a few days after Christmas.  He was high as a kite.  When he was coming down from it, he was "as giddy as a school boy".  We opened gifts because he wanted to, however, he was soooo high from the after effects of 8 days on pain meds he only remembers part of it. 

The hubby is having lots of follow-ups for his medication.  He has a lab test at least once a week to monitor the coagulation of his blood. 

As we rounded the corner into the year 2013 he could have gone back into the hospital for the third time as a flare up of the C-Diff appeared.  While waiting on test results the hubs took Flagyl prophylacticly. 

Slowly, he went back to work at the home depot.  He was told they needed help in garden and that he would run his department and garden.  So much for slow. 

He had a nose bleed.  Just the thing to have on an anti-coagulant for a PE while having C-Diff.  No bleeding allowed, yet, um....he does. 

The hubs feels stronger every day, yet he still hurts, feet feel bruised, and is still waiting on  his body to function like normal and feel normal.  At least this weekend he has been able to come home to yummy lunches made by the Wif.

Love my honey, love taking care of him, and ready for God to make him well and whole again. So, 2013, welcome to the McDaniel household that is only focused on the hubby's wellness and strength. 

~A~

The Ruptured Christmas

Christmas has come and gone and the hubby was still not home.  He spent Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Christmas night in the hospital. 

My beautiful family voted to wait to open presents till the next night as the MD told him he could leave on the 25th or the 26th and he said he wanted to stay till the 26th because he wanted to be "sure" he would not be back.

All is well with this decision until the new hospitalist decided he would round at 5pm on the 26th.  He then told my husband he will have to be on coumadin the rest of his life...probably...and needs genetic testing!  What?????  You should have seen the hubby's text to me on this one!

Text?  huh?  don't you live at the hospital?

Well, when I can, I still have to work, eat, and sleep (thank goodness for Unisom this go round).  So, I was at home enjoying the snow and prepping for Christmas presents without my husband for my fabulously adorable Nephew E. 

So we had a partial Christmas opening without my beloved.  No worries...I emailed him multiple photos of E opening and such. He loved them.

So, the night of the 26th he had an abdominal ultrasound and a should x-ray series.  I arrive the morning of the 27th prior to work and both are clear and his INR is within therapeutic range.

While at work I receive the text I have been praying for.  "Going home, doctor released me."  I fly from DeKalb to Texarkana.  Which is about thirty minutes instead of 45 to an hour!  I was careful, I promise! 

We then park it for about an hour and a half. 

After getting him settled a friend stops by with his favorite soda and treats.  What a great man he is.  Another friend left a bottle of bubbly on our front stoop! 

My parents came as the hubs was coming down from his hospital drug high.  The hubby wanted to open gifts!  Though he was exhausted and we all did this slowly I think he enjoyed himself during that hour.  After, he collapsed in a deep sleep and is still in it.  Exactly where he should be; the dream land in his own chair, with his fireplace roaring, and his two dogs laying by his side protecting him.

Thank God for good family, friends, and sisterhoods.

A

my honey

Today I walk into my honey's hospital room and there are more concerns.  His lung has partially collapsed. 

After all of this I recognize how much I love my husband.  I always have loved him and he knew it.  I handed him my heart in high school.  We never did the on again/ off again dating like other high school kids.  We were always solid.  Still are.

The missing of things is hard. 

I miss his silly sore, his warmth in bed beside me, the dirty socks all around the floor, and the way the dogs run through the house to greet him.

I miss his ice cold feet on my leg when lying in bed, the scent of his hair, the silly back and forth of when we are both trying to cook, and the way he scrolls through Netflix for 'hours' when it is really only minutes.

I miss hearing him call my silly woman, the feel of his hand holding mine with strength, the joy in his laugh, the groan when he hears Christmas music, and the all of the everyday little things that make our marriage what it is.

Right now I am honoring my vow of through sickness and health, through better or for worse.  I don't mind it.  I like being there for him.  I HATE that he is sick and hurting.  I just want to make it better and I can't.

He will be home and well soon.  Soon is in God's time.  That I must remember.  This is all in God's hands.  This does not negate that I should advocate for him, help the honey up and down, walk him through the hospital, leave him to the quite of a room for a time, etc.

Right now, I have learned, that I am all he wants.  He likes it when I am with him and he always wants my hugs. Apparently, I am the best thing since sliced bread.  i can handle that happily.

However, he also wants me to come home and rest.  He is right, but it is so hard.

So, in summary, I love him, he loves me, we miss each other, and all in God's time.

xox

The Rupture Saga Continues

As Christmas time is upon us my honey decided he needed to be back at the hospital to spread some good cheer.

We were up and down Wednesday night as Michael was having pain.  About every 20-30 minutes.  As I was up, I got out of the house at 6am and drove into work.  It was windy, gusts up to 60mph, so another employee and I followed each other in.  As I left the hosue he said, "don't worry about me.  I will call you later."

Normal dealio right? 

Worked and got tons done in the quite of the morning.  In the middle of a meeting he calls me.  I never take calls during meetings, but as he has been in the hospital everyone understood.  It was 10:30am.  He told me he had blood in the toilet.  I told him I would be home soon.  I leapt out of my chair and flew out of my office.

When I arrived at the house he was looking like his appendix had ruptured again.  He refused, of course, my offer to take him to the hospital.  So...I began prepping the house, dogs, and his bag.  Well, I was right again.  He then started shaking and off we went along with his temperature of 99.9%.

We got to the ER and nurse at the desk did not believe me that he had a temp as it was lower.  He started to throw up and it tasted like lemon.  Weird, huh?  Once he was actually admitted, four hours later, the nursing staff though so too.

After an awful exam he received dilauded.  Yeah!

Then a dx of C-Diff.  Ugh!

We finally got upstairs after eight hours in the hospital already.  Now fully admitted and with a dx treatment began. 

Another night of no sleep for either of us.  In just two days it will be exactly a month since his emergency surgery.

So many lessons learned about how strong our marriage is, how funny my hubby can be, how much we love each other, how much we balance each other out.  He is calm, I am not.  I am high keyed, he is a pen cap pusher.  We both like to hug and pet and pamper.  As i take care of him he is always insisting that I sit, rest, nap, sleep...etc.  Which I never do any of.

He is my world. 

The Rupture Follow-Up

As we got home we were so happy.  Many days and nights of sleep later he was feeling much better. 

On the other hand, my sleep has been awful.  Up and down with him every few hours, then is was about every four, and still about every six.  Sleep is eleuding me now due to nightmares.  Not about his illness, just in general.

Then he got a fever.  We wound up back at the ER for a few hours.  As soon as I went up to ask how much longer we would be there he was called.  Of course, he just had us pack up our crosswords and word searches because his fever had broken.

He has had his first day back to work.  It went okay.  However, the first night home; not so hot.  He has now rested all day and will have day two tomorrow at his work. 

I have learned many wife lessons through this ordeal and will probobly write them down.  Right now, my goal is to continue to be the best I can be for him. 

Rupture for Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving day we were going to volunteer at the  homeless shelter to serve Thanksgiving lunch.  I did this as a child and it was time to share it with the hubs.

Well, the hubs began to feel ill Thursday morning so we decided to stay home.  We changed back into our PJ's and watched some TV.  He took a long nap.  He had some tummy pain and such; no fever, no massive amounts of pain.  I asked him if he thought it was appendicitis or a kidney stone.  Nope, not that kind of pain.

Then I began to feel puny.  I was up and down all Thursday night with an upset tummy.  Some wonderful friends brought over Thanksgiving dinner for us to eat.  BTW, it was awesome.  We thought we had the flu.  I even posted in my blog about staying home so not to share germs. 

The hubs felt well enough to go to work for Black Friday at the big orange HD.  They sent him home after four hours due to a fever and not being 'himself'.  i.e. snapping, upset, and overly verbal. wink wink.

So he came home and slept.  I had called in because I did not want to get anyone else sick.  My nursing home residents and staff would not have wanted what I had. 

Well, he took some naps after coming home from work.  Then his fever sky rocketed, he got the shakes.  The shakes were like convulsions they were so strong.  He wouldn't listen to be about a doc.  I called a wonderful redheaded lady that is an RN that lives just a few blocks from me.  She brought her thermometer and brought the manual cuff.  I had an electric one, but gosh, she would never use that.  Oh, and BTW if you are an adult without kids, own a thermometer for goodness sake.  I sure didn't.  In fact, my RN friend left hers with me for the future!

Anyway, she told him (just like I had) ER or a clinic.  He chose the clinic.  There were 30, count them, T-H-I-R-T-Y people in front of him.  I filled his paperwork out sitting on the outside side walk next to a Mom with her sick teenager because we couldn't sit inside as all the seats were taken.  We left our phone number with the clerk and picked up dog food, Poweraid, juice, and "get well people food".  He stayed wrapped up in a quilt from Great Aunt.

When we returned we still had nine people in front of him.  He decided to get out of the car for a call of nature.  He could barely stand, almost screamed, and had to 'hobble' into the restroom inside the building. 

At this point he had told me multiple times not to be the "health care, forceful provider".  Hah!  I went up to the window and waited.  When the young brunette opened the window I stated:  "You are going to see my husband, you are going to see him now.  I know there are other sicker people in front of him, but he can barely stand he is in so much pain.  You ARE going to see him now."  I almost choked on the words as I began to cry.  My husband never hurts.

They saw him within 2 minutes. 

He was coming off the table he was in so much pain.  They told him they were going to direct admit him to the hospital of our choice because he probably had a ruptured appendix and needed a CT within the hour.  He refused; well duh; of course he did.

I had to explain that he would only be a direct admit to the ER if he did what the PA-C said.  Notice, I explained it, not the clinical professional.  He still refused.  I told the guy I would drive him to Christus.  He said he would call over so it would be a direct admit.  We saw them for 60 seconds, maybe.

When  got him to CSM the guy had NOT called.  I argued to the clerk in blue scrub:  "The XXX clinic said he needed in one hour as he had a ruptured appendix."  They said they would call the clinic. They hadn't.  I repeated myself and was and Advocate (xitch) for the love of my life.  The clerk rolled his eyes and handed the admission sheet to an RN that I danced with when were children.  She took this seriously and did everything should could.  Awesome.

We were in the ER for a number of hours waiting on the CT, lab work, etc.  The pain meds didn't work.  They only brought him to a 9 when had been a 10+ pain.  Then the doc came.

Surgery for a ruptured appendix with peritonitis at 9:10pm.  While he was under I picked the Hubby's toothbrush, deodorant, etc. up.  I was back within 20 minutes (that's stretching it).  I then pounded on off buttons of annoying channels in the surgery waiting room.  Why can't we have no TV in this space?  Hello!?

He was out within 45 minutes and the surgeon told me he did well, yet the abdomen was very infected and we had to keep watch for sepsis.

Hubby was in the hospital for 9 midnights, 10 days.  10 bags of Zocin, 10 bags of Flagyl.  Wow.

During these 10 days my good friends provided me with wonderful BBQ, Julie's Deli, Home Depot Christmas hats, and more prayer than I could imagine.  Hubby and I love all of you!

We are 17 days out of surgery and there is still pain.  Please continue to pray for the Hubs. 

Love to all.

Why must we share?

I have been sharing since I was in utero.  I am a twin.  I had to share my mom's belly.  9 months of sharing 1 square foot.  Sharing was not our speciality and we kicked at mom's belly want my brother still didn't turn.  I refused to give up the little bit of space I had so he could turn.

Growing up we shared onesies, pets, toys, cars, plastic dinosaurs, rooms, TV time, Grandparents, animal cups, bubble bath, birthday parties, food, and more. 

In school we were taught to share all of our experiences in show & tell, we wore Ms. X's awesome white 1960's boots (yes, all girls had to share) in kindergarten, books, crayons, and every little thing that we said "mine" to when we were 2-3 years old.

We shared teachers.  One even called me by my brothers name.  We had to share that too???  That one kind of upset me as my parents raised us as individuals.  They never referred to us as "the twins" in any sentence.  We each had a name and they used it and encouraged us to be individuals; while sharing our TI-83. 

When boys & girls no longer had cooties, we shared friends.  Seeing each other dating our friends was kinda weird. Yet, we were so use to sharing so it never crossed our minds to tell each other no.

Next, we shared long distance cell phone minutes when we lived across the country from each other.  We both were okay with that one because we loved talking to each other.  Guess what?  We were "sharing" our experiences!  Ah, lesson learned, right? 

Then we got older and had to share our twin with a spouse.  Thank goodness we both love each other picks.  Now, I also share my brother with his son.  Great little guy to take time away from me.  I don't mind sharing at all. 

All of those wonderful sharing lessons learned and adapted to sooooo.....

Does my spouse HAVE to share his sick germs???  I do not mind sharing the household and garden chores.  I do not mind sharing a car when one has to go into the shop.  I do not mind sharing my ice cream, for Pete's sake.  I actually like sharing kisses (wink). 

I am saying MINE and going to try to keep them to myself, just like my small space in your belly...sorry Mom lesson being ignored. 

So that I do not accidentally share- as it is ingrained in my being:  Do not get within 1 foot of me, do not share my clothes, don't drive my car, and stay away all family and friends.  I love you, therefore, I am not going to share!