November 3 was the 36th anniversary of my pituitary surgery at NIH. As one can imagine, it hasn’t been all happiness and light. Most of my journey has been documented here and on the …
I am thankful, believe it or not, that I had Cushing’s. Mind you, I wouldn’t want to have it now, although diagnoses and surgeries seem “easier” now. Having Cushing’s taught me a lot, including …
I actually posted this one in 2017~ Today I am thankful that the skunk already passed by when I took Mimi out for a walk a couple days ago! It’s so not fair! I …
Today, since it’s a “teaching day”, I’m thankful for my piano studio, my students, and my piano 🙂 When I was growing up, my dad was a minister, meaning we lived in whatever …
Adapted from https://cushieblog.com/2010/11/22/40-days-of-thankfulness-days-thirty-one-to-thirty-five/ Today is the fifteenth anniversary of my one and only zipline experience. I had been thinking about doing this since my kidney cancer surgery 3 years earlier. I figured I had “extra …
This is going to sound really stupid but today I am thankful for my dropbox.
I have files all over the place and I work on them on different computers (PC and Mac), at home or at work, on my iPhone, iPad and other places. If I’m away from home without any files (rarely happens!) I can still access my stuff online and do with it whatever I want.
I am really lazy and it’s so nice to have my files synced everywhere. I don’t have to try to find a cable, zip drive or SD card. Sometimes I’ll find an image or a program I want to install on a different computer and I just stash it in my dropbox. When I’m done, I delete it or move it to its permanent home to save space on the dropbox.
I had the free version for many years and was always monitoring how much space is available. I finally upgraded to a paid version when I had a lot of files for work – and a friend’s entire website backed up.
This really makes my life a little easier and, for that, I’m very thankful today!
Yes, I know I may have skipped a couple days…I’ve been in a lot of (physical) pain and it’s been hard to come up with things to be thankful for, other than meds.
Today, however, I am so thankful for knowing my dear friend Alice. Today would have been her 79th birthday.
Another birthday is here and I’ve definitely passed you age-wise. 🙁 I had always taken such delight being able to say that I was the younger one. Not any more 🙁
Each year, the non-birthday-girl would be planning and plotting online, as well as real-life, surprises. We had hand-made wrapping paper and all sorts of exotic and non-exotic gifts. Right now, I’m wearing a cozy robe from a zillion years ago.
Way back in 1998, when I was learning web design, I posted a whole mini-site for that birthday. Unfortunately, html code no longer allows for the music to play, but I had carefully thought out tunes for each day. The page titles aren’t showing, either.
The main page title was “Happy Millennium Birthday, Alice!” and played a simple Happy Birthday
The theme to Perry Mason aka “Peri MasonPause” on the “Flora” page
the “Born” page had the theme to Alice’s Restaurant with no special title
the “Robert Redford” page had The Way We Were. The title was “To Alice, from Bob (with lust)”
the “musician and his music” page was Bach’s Toccata and Fugue and the title was “Happy Bachday, Alice!”
the “flowers” page was The Rose with no special title
The last page of that site was particularly important. I’d emailed all of Alice’s past guest speakers and other PS members and compiled this list of great wishes: http://www.oconnormusic.org/aliceBD/guests.htm
We’d be up at 12:01 am, posting wishes, decorating message boards and doing the final touches for websites.
In 2003, I’d apparently posted a picture of Flora Dora (again!) and Alice responded:
MaryO, what can I say other than that it was a wonderful and beautiful surprise to see my guest announcement area turned into a beautiful, sparkling birthday greeting — and Flora Dora, Power Surge’s mascot and RR — but especially your beautiful wishes.
I responded:
After all these years, it’s getting harder and harder to come up with new ideas for how to do an online surprise. There have been a variety of different things for different birthdays, but I have to keep you guessing I hope that you don’t mind that I’m holding the announcement area hostage for a little longer.
I’m sure that many of the newer people don’t know who Flora Dora is, but she’s an essential part of Power Surge so she have to be included somehow – kinda like inviting your maiden aunt to Thanksgiving 🙂 Of course, RR is welcome – anytime! I’m so glad that I could make an online surprise for you again this year – maybe I should start planning for NEXT year already.
I hope we share many more birthdays together as the close friends we’ve become over the years.
On a more serious side, you’re very welcome for the “beautiful wishes”. Sometimes, words fail me and I don’t do things justice, but you and Power Surge have changed my life in so many ways that go beyond “simple” menopause issues. When I first came to Power Surge on AOL, I was a confirmed lurker, reading only, never posting.
The first chat I tried to hide out until you asked me a question, encouraging me to talk. This was all so scary for me, communicating with others – online or off. I can say with confidence, that I’m no longer a lurker on the boards and in the chats like I was, and that was all your doing. Thanks so much for that!
Now I just have to work on my real life lurkership! The knowlege I got here in Power Surge, even when I was lurking, helped me so much with my menopause, my symptoms, my everyday life. Like most everyone else, I learned about the way to help my meno symptoms and I’m so thankful of that, that I could be feeling better.
When my husband was very sick, close to death, my first December in PS, I wouldn’t post, but I would come home from the hospital and read everything that other people were posting. It seemed so great to me, and it was such a comfort to me to know that everyone was out there. I recognized people’s names and enjoyed “listening” to the banter and chatter, and that gave me something other than the hospital and my own worries to think about. No matter what the time of day was, I could always read and see that things were ok with the world, and know that we were going to survive this. What a wonderful community Power Surge is!
Things have come along way since then. My husband made it, thanks to a skilled surgeon and a LOT of prayer. And I gradually changed, too. I’m obviously not afraid to post anymore, or go to chats, and I really have you to thank for that. Over the years there have been many changes, the boards have moved, been started again from scratch, updated, all kinds of things, as have the chats, but one thing remains clear and unchanged – and that Power Surge isn’t just another “website”. It is a true community for women in midlife, something we can gain daily strength from. (sorry about the preposition!)
And it’s all because of you, Dearest Alice Stamm. Thank you so much, and I hope it was a wonderful birthday – you deserve the very best!
Hugs and thanks from the bottom of my heart! Mary
From the message boards in 2004:
From 2005:
We have decided to let you accept the responsibilities of a 6 year old again.
If you want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make ripples with rocks, that’s great.
If you want to think M&Ms are better than money, because you can eat them, they are calorie-free (today only!).
If you want to lie under a big Oak tree next summer and run a lemonade stand with your friends (and fellow Surgettes) on a hot summers day, we’ll give you a voucher.
That summer-time voucher is also good for walking on the beach and thinking of the sand between your toes and the prettiest seashell you can find. Or you can spend the afternoon climbing trees and riding your bike.
We are returning you to a time when life was simple. When all you knew were colors, addition tables and simple nursery rhymes. But that didn’t bother you, because you didn’t know what you didn’t know and you didn’t care. When all you knew was to be happy because you didn’t know all the things that should make you worried and upset.
You’re going to go to school and have snack time, recess, gym and field trips.
You’ll be so happy, nothing will make you upset.
We’re going to let you think that the world is fair. That everyone in it is honest and good…that anything is possible.
For today, you’re going to be oblivious to the complexity of life and be overly excited by little things once again, returned to the days when reading was fun.
No worries about time, bills, websites that crash, guest chats where the guest can’t get in, excess email, time….No more worry about computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, aches, pains, doctor visits or illness.
We’re going to help you believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, health, dreams, the imagination, mankind and making angels in the snow.
You’re going to be 6 again, for today (and probably some of us will want to join you!). From all of us…
QUOTE (Dearest @ Nov 10 2005, 09:23 AM)
Thank you all for your warm and wonderful birthday wishes.
A very special thank you to my friend, MaryO, for the beautiful greeting, for including Power Surge’s mascot, Flora Dora at the top of the screen — and especially for allowing me to be six again even if only for a day 🙂
And I said:
You know, you can always apply for an extension of the day being 6. Click here to apply.
Glad you had a great birthday and much-needed vacation. If you want to extend either of those, please let me know and I’ll see if I can locate an extension for either of those.
Happy Post-Birthday!
In 2006, Alice said:
Thank you ALL for your wonderful birthday wishes and beautiful sentiments about how much Power Surge means to and has done for you. That makes all the years of work that’s gone into this “community” worthwhile (with, perhaps, the exception of dealing with HACKERSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!) 🙂
I don’t know some of you very well. Others I know well and have established lovely friendships with. You know who you are. Thank you, too, for your beautiful flowers, birthday cards, online greetings, etc.
And thank you, my dear friend, MaryO, for starting this topic and for being the sister I never had 🙂 I’m so glad I impulsively decided to give myself a birthday present last month and called saying, “C’mon, let’s go to see Streisand!!” That was the highlight of my/our year. To be sitting so close to her, and SO close to and watching people mingle like: Bill and Hillary Clinton, Lauren Bacall, James Brolin, Katie Couric, Stephen Sondheim, Rosie O’Donnell, Sting, Hugh Jackman, Steven Spielberg, Regis and Joy Philbin, Sara Jessica Parker — and many, many others.
It was like the first time we met a few years ago and stopped into a restaurant only to find a few minutes later that Gena Rowlands, Ben Gazzara, Peter Bogdonovich, Carol Kane and others, whose names elude me at the moment, came in and sat at the table next to us. Knowing me, I had to go over and talk to them, especially Gena Rowlands, who’s still beautiful and elegant and was so gracious.
The past few years, starting with my emergency surgery and all the ensuing complications, my mom’s fall down the stairs and subsequent need for constant care, my dad passing away only four months later and my own ongoing and confusing health issues — too much stress.
The past few months have been better — we’ve both been through a LOT this year especially!
Special thanks to those of you who’ve generously given donations (some of you even more than once) to the site to help defray some of the expenses of running it.
I’m grateful to be alive and very proud of Power Surge and all the women (and men) it’s helped over the years plus all the wonderful women who participate in it 🙂
Alice
And I responded:
To be sitting so close to her…
You mean me…or Barbra? LOL
It was so amazing how that trip worked out. It was the most spontaneous thing I had ever done.
My son was home from grad school for “fall break” formerly known as Columbus Day weekend. He was flying back on Wednesday, through JFK.
After Alice got the tickets for Barbra on Monday (amazing in itself), I was able to get on Michael’s flight to JFK – only one trip to the airport! The flight number was the same as Alice’s street address. Do I hear Twilight Zone music?
What a great birthday gift you got for yourself – thank you so much for sharing it with me 🙂
Happy post-birthday!
From 2007
The top header on the boards:
Followed by
And Alice said…
Firstly, {{{{{MaryO}}}}, my old and dear friend, thank you for starting this topic and for the beautifully creative graphic and sentiments you made for my birthday. I don’t have to tell you what your friendship has meant to me all these years (you already know). Hugs!
Thank you all for your good wishes. Someone wrote to me, “I hope you had a peaceful birthday.” That’s exactly what it was . . . peaceful.
Thank you also for your kind words about Power Surge. It’s been a labor of love for 14 years . . . about to start its 15th year Feb. 3rd, 2008. I have a pretty good idea how many women’s lives have been impacted by this “community.” In all these years, including the start-up years on America Online, I’ve probably posted in the area of 100,000 messages on the numerous PS message boards. I can’t post as much as I used to any longer for many reasons, but I’m always working in the background to maintain this site that’s become a tremendous source of information and haven of support for all the visitors who come to it every day.
What started out as a blank page in an HTML editor has grown to exactly what I’d planned. I’m very proud of every facet of Power Surge including this message board.
Finally, thank you to all those who have made donations to Power Surge. I have thanked each and every one of you individually. Your donations have been helpful in defraying some of the ever-increasing costs involved with running Power Surge.
Again, thank you.
Best,
Dearest
Then, 2008
And that’s enough for this year. I have to save some out 🙂
~~~
So, it’s 17 years since I made that first silly website. I’m still scrambling to get something to post by 12:01 am for your birthday.
I still can’t believe that you won’t be reading this later, calling me when UPS / amazon / FEDex arrives with gifts so we can open them “together”.
We’ve said it once, we’ve said it dozens of times. Even when we’re apart we’re
Today I am hugely thankful that the last major issue we had here was in 2013 when Tom had his heart attack. That event caused me to start a whole new blog to post about our experiences.
It all started on our 40th wedding anniversary, when I fell on my knee on the way to visit DH in the hospital – he’d had a lot of nerve to have a heart attack on our anniversary.
The very first of the Bee’s Knees series was February 28, 2016. I had no idea it would go on so very long., until my knee replacement surgery on March 9, 2023.
From the last post…12/4/2022 And, there was good news and some surprising news. I got to the doctors office and right away they took x-rays. The results were “Evidence of end stage bilateral knee OA, L>R. Evidence of complete joint space narrowing. Evidence of osteophyte formation. Evidence of cyst formation“
I had no idea that my right knee was as bad. I guess I’ve been so focused on my left that it never occurred to me that I might have other issues.
The term “end stage” was a bit freaky. That sounds to me like I should be bedridden or something.
~~~
12/17/2022
So, I’ve scheduled the surgery but i don’t have a specific time yet – I do have a date and a date for follow up and dates for physical therapy.
My dental clearance didn’t go well yesterday.
The new dentist never got my multi-page form and asked me for it in several emails and texts. I had filled it out as soon as I made the appointment and emailed a copy which they never got. Fortunately, I printed it out.
The parking situation was bad, I hadn’t considered that it was a mall-type place and just before Christmas. After circling the buildings a few times, I had to park in a parking garage and walk. Remember, I’m doing this because of knee surgery.
I got to the building and…I was stuck in the elevator. I tried pushing any and all buttons but I never moved. Finally, I called the office and told them I was in the elevator and they sent someone out who pushed the button on the second floor and I started moving up.
The receptionist didn’t know who I was or why I was there but I had that 8-page printout of their form. I was surprised to see a bowl of candy canes on the main desk – really?
I finally went back and was (very slightly) calmed by the fact that the background music was Mannheim Steamroller.
I told the dental assistant what she would have known had they seen/read my form: I have been terrified of dentists since I was thrown out of one when I was a child (I’ll share more about this later), I have a very small mouth and a bad gag reflex.
She did the preliminary xrays and finally, the real dentist came in. She never looked at me but told my back that she wouldn’t approve me for surgery because there was a “lot of work she wanted to do first.”
I escaped to the front desk and the printer was broken. No receipt for my payment and no copy of a treatment plan. The person assured me that she would email them to me.
I was very leery of that elevator, so I took the stairs and walked back to my car.
Friday and Saturday and neither the treatment plan or the receipt for payment ever arrived.
I tried to log into their system to see if I could get the info that way and I’m not listed as a patient. It did ask me to fill out the forms…again.
Along about now, I decided that this wasn’t the dental practice for me so I found a new dentist, located way closer, on the first floor, in my old bank. I see him Monday. For a person terrified of the dentist seeing 2 in 2.5 days is amazing. I must really want to get my knee fixed!
On Saturday night, reject-dentist asked for a review. I’m waiting for new-dentist to be sure I’m not going back before I fill it out but I don’t think they’ll want to see what I have to say!
When getting dressed on Sunday morning, I found a small cut on my lip, possibly from Friday’s visit and then a filling fell out. Hmmm. Was she creating some of the work she wanted to do?
Monday, new dentist. I got to the new, closer dentist and they also had candy out in the waiting room. Also, they didn’t get my new patient forms and this is starting to look like a rerun.
They took me back and the receptionist was very kind and gentle and she listened to my bad dentist stories from long ago and last Friday.
More x-rays, the dentist came in and he talked to me, too. After the review and in-mouth checkup, he also wants to do a lot of work BUT he is working around my upcoming cruise and he thinks he can get this done so I can keep my surgery schedule. What a change from reject-dentist.
Unfortunately, that means I get a root canal and crown later today. But still. More after he actually does some work!
My TKR (total knee replacement) surgery is scheduled for 2/2, which is Groundhog Day. I’ve been telling people I hope it doesn’t mean I have to keep repeating my surgery! Now, it seems I keep repeating dental visits, too.
Later Monday, December 19, 2022 – the afternoon wasn’t as bad as I remembered partly because somehow, my root canal had closed up. The dentist said that was “good news and bad news” because I had saved myself from the full treatment today AND saved a bit of money – like $1,000. I guess the bad news is if i ever get decay under my new crown, I won’t have any pain to let me know. Sounds like good news to me.
Interestingly, the beginning of the crown the muted tv was showing the same program as the tv at reject-dentist. Maybe there’s a Dental TV station?
My next dentist thing is “just” a cleaning on December 28 and a tentative permanent crown on January 3.
Hopefully, no more knee related issues until then.
Meanwhile, it’s Wednesday night and Reject-Dentist still hasn’t sent a treatment plan or called to discuss it yet.
Reject-Dentist still hasn’t sent the receipt, a treatment plan or called to discuss it yet. They did send me an email today asking me to set up an appointment.
Also on 1/18, I went to Reston Hospital for pre-op clearance. This was the third appointment this week, all because of my knee.
1/23/2023
New, Approved-Dentist finished up everything he needed so I got Dental Clearance. This is the final piece of the clearance puzzles
When I got home yesterday I had a new insurance card in the mail. I read all the information and it said I had dental insurance. Reject-Dentist had said that I didn’t so I assumed that I didn’t. Now I get to collect my papers from Approved-Dentist and submit those.
I was supposed to attend a class on knee replacement but the next one isn’t until next month so I got to watch a video instead. I also found this one very helpful:
This post is officially done…for now. Next stop, Total Knee Replacement.
“New, Approved-Dentist finished up everything he needed so I got Dental Clearance. This is the final piece of the clearance puzzles”
At the end of that appointment, Approved-Dentist gave me a prescription for an antibiotic, just in case.
Stupid me. I asked the intake nurse about that. She reported it to the surgeon who moved my surgery from 2/2/2023 to 3/9/2023. If someone else is rescheduled, I might be able to move mine back. Maybe.
Then, other test results came back – staph infection in my nose, maybe UTI.
Wednesday, 1/25/2023
So, I am still limping around, changing all the physical therapy appointments I’d set up for the 2/2 surgery. One of the positives is that I get more time in water aerobics building up my leg muscles.
A very positive:
1/27/23 was our 50-year anniversary. Amazing! We celebrated early with a cruise on the Wonder of the Seas. I’m still assembling those photos/posts but we went a little earlier in the month because it was cheaper 🙂 I chose this cruise because I thought it would be cool to be on the current world’s largest cruise ship. I have been on larger ships but DH has not.
We have another cruise scheduled for the Arctic Circle in July but I may not make it because of the new surgery date and recovery. I am very excited about that cruise because we tried to do something very similar and Covid changed those plans.
Someone pointed out that, since the new surgery is more than 30 days away, I may have to do all the clearances again.
Thursday, February 15, my heart sank when I got a call from the hospital. After being on hold forever, I talked to a person who wanted to schedule my medical clearance, again. I told her I’d done it before in February for the rescheduled surgery. She said she’d check with my surgeon to see what he wanted.
Friday, I heard nothing until 4:58 pm. He wants to do a medical clearance “revision” whatever that means. So I go back to the hospital next Thursday (March 2) for more testing. If they find some other obscure infection, that won’t be enough time to fix it before the current surgery date Thursday May 9.
March 2, 2023
So, I had the Medical Clearance Revision today and it was exactly like the Medical Clearance I did just over 30 days ago. It looks like surgery is a go. Thursday, March 9 at 12:15.
There’s extra stuff for me to do to prepare, thanks to Cushing’s, the GH deficiency, the Adrenal Insufficiency, the one kidney, etc but I can do it!
After going through the Medical Clearances again, 5 days of antiseptic showers (plus another one this morning), drinking what seems like gallons of Gatorade (I couldn’t have the hospital-offered strawberry Ensure), my surgery is scheduled for 12:30 pm today. There will be a Covid test at 10:30.
We have been watching tons of youtube videos on knee replacement, physical therapy I think that this was one of the most helpful:
From the hospital…
As your surgery date gets closer, you might feel uneasy. But the more you know about what to expect, the less nervous you’ll be. Take a few minutes to learn how the day will unfold.
What happens when I get to the hospital?
You’ll usually be asked to arrive about 2 hours before your operation starts. A registered nurse will greet you and help you prep. You’ll discuss with them your medical history and the medicines you take. You’ll also get a chance to talk to people on your surgical team about the operation.
Before you go to the operating room, you’ll first change into a gown. The nurse will remind you to remove things like your jewelry, glasses or contact lenses, hearing aids, or a wig if you have them.
A nurse checks your heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, and pulse. The surgeon may mark the spot on your body where the procedure will be done. A nurse places an IV line in your arm so the doctor can give you fluid and medicine during your operation.
When it’s time for your surgery, you’re wheeled into the operating room on a stretcher.
Who will be on my surgical team?
A group of doctors and nurses work together to make sure everything goes smoothly. The specific people depend on the type of procedure you’re going to have. But in general, your team will have these pros:
Surgeon. This doctor leads the team and does the operation.
Surgeons have to complete 4 years of medical school, plus at least 5 years of special training. They also have to pass a national surgical board exam. The one you choose should be experienced in the type of procedure you’re having.
Anesthesiologist. This health care professional gives you medicine that makes you pain-free during surgery.
Certified registered nurse anesthetist. They assist your anesthesiologist and monitor you before, during, and after your operation to make sure you get the right amount of pain medicine.
Surgical tech. They set up the tools your surgeon will use and make sure they’re sterile.
Operating room nurse. They help the surgeon during your procedure. For instance, they may pass instruments and supplies during the operation.
Will I be in any pain during the operation?
You’ll get medicine, called anesthesia, so that you won’t feel anything during surgery. The type you get depends on your health and the procedure you’re having.
Local anesthesia. It blocks pain in the part of your body where you have surgery. You’ll still be awake and alert.
Regional anesthesia. You‘re injected with medicine that numbs the whole area of your body where the surgery takes place.
General anesthesia. It puts you to sleep during your operation. You get this type of medicine through an IV in your vein or by breathing into a mask.
What will happen during my surgery?
Once you’re in the operating room, you breathe oxygen through a mask. Your anesthesiologist gives you medicine to prevent pain.
Your surgical team will track your health during the whole procedure. They’ll probably use:
A clip on your finger to measure your oxygen levels
A cuff on your arm to check blood pressure
Pads on your chest to keep tabs on your heart rate
How will my surgical team keep me from getting an infection?
Before the surgery starts, a nurse cleans your skin with an antiseptic to help prevent infections. They may remove hair from the area and place a sterile drape over your body. It will have an opening in the place where the surgeon will work.
It’s rare to get an infection during surgery. Your team does everything it can to protect you. Your doctors and nurses will:
Clean their hands and arms up to their elbows with a germ-killing cleaner before the operation.
Wear masks, gowns, and gloves.
Clean the part of your body where the surgery is being done with a germ-killing soap.
Clean and cover the cut afterward.
They may also give you antibiotics before your procedure to help prevent an infection.
Where will I go after my surgery?
You’ll wake up in a recovery room. A nurse checks your heart rate, breathing, and the bandaged area where your procedure was done. They might also ask you to take deep breaths and cough to clear your lungs.
You’ll stay in the recovery room until you’re fully awake and all your medical signs, like blood pressure and heart rate, are stable. How much time you spend there depends on what kind of surgery you had.
After that, depending on the type of operation you had, you’ll get sent to a hospital room or back home. Either way, you’ll be ready to be greeted by your loved ones and begin the road to recovery.
This post is officially done…for now. Next stop, Total Knee Replacement.
So, the surgery happened, I survived physical therapy and we made it back to Scotland in August, 2023 although I had to wear compression tights on the airplane and take aspirin 3 days before and after each flight.
I’m very tentatively considering getting my other knee done – eventually – and we have the Arctic Circle cruise rescheduled for July 2024.
We’ve been fortunate to be able to travel to several interesting places.
Some, like Iceland, we just lucked in to. We’d wanted to go to Ireland but the travel agent couldn’t get us in at any time over that summer. She did get us a deal where, if we flew Iceland Air, they’d give us a free week in a hotel in Iceland before flying us to London. Duh! Wonderful trip.
A couple years ago we were in Costa Rica and took a day trip to Nicaragua where we stood at the rim of Masaya, a live volcano.
Our bus driver was a very good driver who told us all about the history of Skagway and the surrounding areas. Our first stop was Liarsville (http://www.klondiketours.com/goldcampshow.html), a tent village for gold miners. It was called Liarsville because many newspaper reporters were there publishing tales of how “easy” it was to find gold and become rich. No Way! The locals did a show for us and let us pan for gold. Of course, most everyone found some little gold flakes. A very hard way to make a living!
We made our way up the White Pass on the Klondike Highway to a 3,000 ft waterfall, Dead Horse Gulch (a lot of pack horses couldn’t make it the whole way), the Moore Bridge, Yukon Suspension Bridge at Tutshi Canyon and up over the West White Pass into Fraser British Columbia Canda, the same way that the miners had to walk or go with pack animal and 2,000 pounds of supplies. Much easier by heated bus! It was very scenic and we took lots of pictures.
At the summit of that, in Fraser, British Columbia, we got on the White Pass & Yukon Route (WP&YR) Railroad train.
The WP&YR was originally built to help those miners who were hauling the ton of supplies up the pass but they finished building the railroad a year after the gold rush had ended. There’s more info about this railroad at www.wpyr.com We went over trestle bridges, through tunnels, over glaciers. Definitely a worthwhile trip.
As it turns out, I didn’t give thanks yesterday when the Roto-Rooter guy left yesterday as he did absolutely nothing. 🙁
Our troubles weren’t going down the drain at all.
Today, I give thanks and shed a more than a few tears for a wonderful friend, co-worker, choir buddy, special person to everyone he met.
I’m so thankful I got to sing in the choir honoring Tim – and I’m very thankful that this Celebration of Life was live-streamed on Facebook so I can watch and listen again.
At the cemetery, another of our fine tenors led us in singing Amazing Grace. When we got to the verse “When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun…” the sun came out in full force – an amazing God Moment, welcoming Tim home.
Collection of crying water drops with various gestures.
At some point, we acquired a second POD
We must have brought bad luck to the Residence Inn. At least, this was in a different part of our building:
We couldn’t help but notice that their flood remediation was much faster than our home was.
The following are adapted from updates I shared with my piano studio:
On Tuesday January 2, 2018, they finally finished the demolition of our bedrooms, Tom’s office, the bathrooms and the halls. There have been many delays – 2 weeks at Thanksgiving(!), Christmas, New Years…
The inspections have all been passed and the areas are certified mold and mildew-free.
We have chosen flooring which still needs to be approved by the insurance company. After they accept it, it could be 7-10 days before that is delivered and can be installed.
In addition to flooring, we need the baseboards rebuilt and painted, bathrooms reinstalled. After all that, the furniture will be returned from the PODS in the driveway.
All that being said, I would like to start teaching students in the studio again starting this afternoon. If I hear from any of the construction folks that I can’t do this, I will post here and let you know by email, phone call and/or text message.
Please excuse the mess! There are still boxes everywhere and no available bathrooms but the piano is fine and all my books are available as needed. Please let me know if you prefer to meet elsewhere.
Thanks for your patience during this whole ordeal!
~~~
And here we are, January 24, 2018.
We just signed a contract for reconstruction work to begin. When it starts, it will be 7-21 days before it’s finished and we can move back home.
Hopefully, it starts soon and their estimate is closer to 7 days…
Meanwhile, we’re back to the past schedule: Some lessons are at student’s homes, some are at Pender, some are at the studio, depending on who is doing what work on that day.
Students coming to the studio will notice an array of cases of flooring, vanities and other non-musical items.
As always, thank you for your patience!
~~~
It’s hard to believe but workers actually began work in our house on January 29 around noon. My husband, Tom, said that they’ve finished the drywall in the rooms and started work on the bathrooms.
I believe that late afternoon lessons, beginning around 4:00 or so, can take place at the Studio.
We hope to be living in our home again in a couple weeks.
~~~
February 8, 2018
In an update of a different nature…
My Mom (Mary Kelly) fell Tuesday afternoon and broke her pelvis in 2 places.
Early Wednesday morning, they found bleeding in her abdomen and took her from Fair Oaks to Fairfax Hospital for possible emergency surgery. They did a new scan at Fairfax and found that the bleeding had stopped or slowed considerably so they decided to hold off on surgery until the morning.
Later Wednesday morning, it was confirmed that the bleeding was stopped so no surgery would be required at this time.
There will be extensive rehab, possibly at Mount Vernon Hospital.
Her condition keeps changing and I’m not sure how that will affect my teaching on any given day. I will try to give as much notice as possible when I need to cancel.
Thank you for all the prayers and good wishes.
On the home front, it looks like our house will be finished today, with painting to come – possibly tomorrow.
Then, will be the reassembly of the rooms, taking stuff out of the PODs and figuring what to take and what to toss.
Depending on my mom, most future teaching should be at home.
What a year this has been!
~~~
February 9, 2018
As of last night, my mom is doing really well.
They had her sitting in a chair and walking a bit with a walker and a strap at her waist for the therapist to hold onto.
They’re talking moving her Saturday (tomorrow) to a short-term nursing facility (I’m rooting for Manor Care across from Pender) for rehab.
The bleeding has stopped or slowed considerably. She had another blood transfusion Wednesday night.
Of course, everything is subject to change but there’s so much improvement since Tuesday.
Today’s lessons will be at the house unless something has drastically changed when I get to the hospital about 9 today.
~~~
February 19, 2018
First off – My Mom is doing really well, considering.
She’s at Manor Care, doing daily rehab and napping a bit. She’s eating a bit more, so this is all good news!
She’s had several visitors, thoughtful Valentine’s cards and gifts, a FaceTime with her grandson, a prayer blanket from her Pender knitting group and really nice flowers from a Studio Family.
All the prayers and good wishes are really helping.
THANK YOU!
Meanwhile, we got our stuff moved out of the Residence Inn Saturday but some of it is still in my car (due to the snow/sleet yesterday). That, along with ringing bells at the early church service Sunday – I’m really tired.
We don’t start getting stuff out of the PODS until Thursday (if they’re on time!) and there is still so much to move and buy. We have to buy a new bed for our son’s room and a new mattress set for ours – and we don’t know where the frame even is.
They will be installing flooring in the kitchen and laundry room sometime this week but that shouldn’t affect students in any way.
At some point, we may need to install handrails or other help for my mom but time will tell on that.
Of course, there’s still stuff around the piano that needs to be elsewhere.
But, it’s getting done, slowly but surely.
~~~
February 26, 2018
My mom had a bit of a setback last week. She was due to come home from rehab on Saturday, February 24.
On Thursday, she’d told me she was still having abdominal pain and some other symptoms, so I requested more medical care. Friday, an outside doctor who works at the nursing home referred her back to Fair Oaks Emergency Room to be readmitted there.
We got to the ER and had the same room as we did when this all started, February 6. Hopefully, it won’t be another Groundhog Day!
She was admitted about 9:00 pm.
Since then, she has had a variety of tests, IVs, poking and prodding.
They’ve found a large bleeding ulcer on her small intestine.
The current plan is to let her come home tomorrow (2/27/18).
Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, understanding, flowers and patience.
Meanwhile, the house/studio goes on.
We have been living at home since 2/24/18, although we don’t have any beds yet. New ones are due to be delivered today.
Furniture has been unloaded from the PODS but nothing else has.
Stuff is being cleared out of the studio and returned to where it belongs.
I am teaching at the studio unless there’s something at the hospital I need to be there for. I will call or text you if that happens.
My mom’s room isn’t ready if she really comes home tomorrow.
February 28, 2018
My mom actually came home from the hospital on Monday night (2/26/18), even though her room – and the rest of the house – isn’t ready yet.
She has a bunch of outside doctor appointments but those are spread over several days.
She’s very strong and is getting around the house pretty well using a walker.
Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, understanding, flowers and patience.
Meanwhile, the house/studio goes on.
Furniture has been unloaded from the PODS but nothing else has.
Stuff is being cleared out of the studio and returned to where it belongs.
I am teaching at the studio unless something new and unusual happens. I will call or text you if that becomes necessary.
~~~
May 22, 2018
…
Meanwhile, the house/studio/life goes on.
Stuff is being cleared out of the studio (and living room) and returned to where it belongs. This is taking way longer than I thought it would. Most of the boxes left in the studio are books that have to go in Tom’s office. They have to be sorted and put in the correct places.
~~~
And, today – Stuff is being cleared out of the studio (and living room) and returned to where it belongs. This is taking way longer than I thought it would.
Most of the boxes left in the studio are books that have to go in Tom’s office. They have to be sorted and put in the correct places, so those are nothing that I can do.
Clothing is still in boxes, some blocking the closet doors so I can’t put them away.
Who knew that water would affect our life for so long.
I hope I’m not jinxing myself but today I am thankful that I haven’t had any migraines for a while.
It’s not “just” not having migraines, but the fact that, should I get one, there’s nothing I can do about them anymore.
I used to get migraines quite often, a hormone thing probably. I spent lots of hours in a completely dark room, blocking out sound, trying to keep my head from pounding.
There was a long period of time that I had a migraine 6 days out of the week for several weeks. By accident, a friend asked me on a Monday if I had one that day and that started me thinking – why do I have them every day except Mondays? I figured out that it wasn’t a migraine at all but an allergy headache – I was allergic to the bath oil I was using Monday-Saturday. I gave that to my Mom and those headaches went away.
I still often get allergy headaches. Since my Cushing’s transsphenoidal pituitary surgery, I can’t smell things very well and I often don’t know if there’s a scent that is going to trigger an allergic reaction. In church and elsewhere, my Mom will be my “Royal Sniffer” and if someone is wearing perfume or something scented, she’ll let me know and we’ll move to a new location.
There’s a double whammy here – since my kidney cancer surgery, my doctor won’t let me take NSAIDs, aspirin, Tylenol, any of the meds that might help a headache go away. If I absolutely MUST take something, it has to be a small amount of Tylenol only. My only hope would be that coffee from Day Thirteen. And that’s definitely not usually enough to get rid of one of these monsters.
So, I am very thankful that, for the moment, I am headache/migraine free!
I originally posted this in November 2017. All the boxes still aren’t unpacked yet. Most of the clothes aren’t unpacked/put away yet, either. But, life goes on and we’re doing the best we can.
This next series started as a Facebook post on November 12, 2017
11/5/17
Rang bells early service
Water running up the hall.
Rug doctor from Giant. Grease
Tom took out rug in our bedroom.
11/13/17
Still trying to sop up water. It was wet under Tom’s desk.
11/14/17
What a fiasco – our water damage last weekend has turned into a possible big construction project with us moving out for a couple weeks or so
🙁
I’m trying to find a place to stay – and found that our dog Mimi may cost $150 a night extra, at least the first place I looked.
Friday, they’re bringing a Pod to remove everything from 2 bedrooms+closets, Tom’s office, linen closet, one bathroom, a long hall…
That’s just for the demolition. Then comes reconstruction.
At least I don’t have to move the piano (yet).
Happy Thanksgiving! Also looking for open restaurants to eat at on Thanksgiving except for Bob Evans. LOL.
11/15
Our “plan” At the moment.
I’ve gotten 2 rooms for the hotel that Jean suggested for next week but we hope we don’t have to stay there!
I’ve ordered a blow-up mattress from amazon for the living room in case we can stay here. http://amzn.to/2zJFc9k
We’re pretty sure that the people aren’t going to be working on Thanksgiving so I’ve ordered a whole, cooked meal (except for desserts) from Wegmans. I’ll pick that up on Wednesday.
Thursday, after the Virginia Run Turkey Trot, we’ll come here, reheat the Wegmans stuff, have a “normal” Thanksgiving, then cards, piano duets, then retreat to our hotels or blow up mattress…
11/16
We have a guy from the “catastrophe team” here now taking pictures and making sketches. I sure didn’t like that term!
Water damage update November 25.
We’re going from bad to worse here
The original water was 11/12/17 Here we are nearly 2 weeks later and things have stalled.
On Wednesday of this week, our demo guys left midday (maybe wanted to start Thanksgiving early. They said we needed some sort of Industrial Hygienist to come in and test whatever is now growing in the carpet for 10 days. Then, they put plastic doors over 2 bedrooms. Like that isn’t going to make stuff grow faster.
IH 1 was on his way to Maine for Thanksgiving. IH 2 didn’t respond to voicemail until Friday (yesterday).
IH 1 recommended IH 3 who was able to come out yesterday morning and take samples to her lab – all before IH 2 got back to us.
The demo guys won’t be back until Monday. Of course, the stuff is still growing, even more behind those plastic-sealed doors.
Our Wegmans box of Thanksgiving went well, though and we’re having a great visit with son and fiance, even if the whole thing is a little weird.
This will always be a Thanksgiving to Remember.
Sometime after Thanksgiving, we moved into the Residence Inn at Fairlakes. We had 2 bedrooms, a living room with a fireplace, kitchen area. Pretty good, considering.
Mimi learned to tolerate elevators and I’d always let her choose that (further away) or close-by stairs. Being a smart dog, we usually went down on the stairs and up on the elevator.
When Christmas rolled around, we got a little tree and decorated the door.
This holiday, I got rotisserie chickens from Costco and some sides since Wegmans didn’t have anything really appealing. We heated that stuff up at our house and had a sort of Christmas there, complete with piano duets and cards before heading back to the Residence Inn.
One of the gifts we had gotten Michael and Lingyi was a gingerbread house. They decorated it and gave it back to us.
Optimistically, they put our house number on it.
Of course, I took a keyboard over to the new place…
Since I started attending Cushing’s events, I’ve always tried to rent a PT Cruiser. There’s just been something about them that I liked.
A couple years ago, after my son was out of school, I was getting tired of driving the Mom-Carpool-Van everywhere. I think my mom was getting tired of stepping up into it, too. She doesn’t drive anymore, so she relies on whatever vehicle I’m driving to get her to appointments. So, I was delighted when she offered to pay for part of it. She didn’t realize it was going to be bright blue, though. I think she was thinking of navy or something more dignified.
Anyway, I had the car picked out, and the exact color I wanted and set off to the car dealership with my specs. They told me that the Cruiser didn’t come in this shade of blue. I’m sure that they wanted to sell one of the colors they had on the lot.
I got back to them and told them that I found this car online and I could go get it myself. Suddenly the dealership was able to get it for me, too, so I won out. WooHoo.
I’m just loving this car. 🙂
From a Cushing’s get-together in Columbus, OH, 2007, the yellow version 🙂
I was so thankful for Daylight Savings time this morning. I had gotten to bed very late last night early this morning and had to be leaving the house at 8:30 am to ring handbells at church.
YOU’RE INVITED! Dr. Theodore Friedman (The Wiz) will be giving an updated webinar on compounded weight loss medicines. Topics to be discussed include: What is the difference between Tirzepatide and Semaglutide? Are compounded medications safe? Will they be discontinued? What are the side effects? How do they work with diet and exercise? Why is Dr. Friedman recommending compounded […]
Tips for living with Cushing’s – before, during and after treatment. Please feel free to add your own tips here! Cushing’s disease may sometimes make you feel that your life is out of your control. But there are some general things you can do to help take back control. For specific tips such as Getting […]
Things I’ve learned and wanted to share From Cushing’s Message Board members. This is a continuing list, if you want to share. I have learned so much on this Cushing’s journey, much of it from all of you and this site. I wanted to share those learnings, in the event that it helps anyone else. […]
More about Treatments|Adrenalectomy and BLA (Bilateral adrenalectomy) Pain Some pain is normal after any surgery. Different people have different levels of sensitivity to pain. In general, you should experience a little less pain every day. Pain is usually worse in the evening when you are trying to go to sleep. Do not be afraid to […]
From Personal Stories-Kate, one week post op: [http://cushings.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=19414 on the message boards] Hello, my dear friends, It is strange to be writing to you from the other side of surgery (well, at least this time somewhat coherently, as my prior post-op posts have been, let’s say, lubricated nicely by some very nice pain pills). It […]
What is the Pituitary Gland? The pituitary gland is a small gland, located below the brain and connected to the hypothalamus. The pituitary gland regulates the secretions of hormones in the body, and hormones impact metabolism, growth and development, reproduction and urine production. It is important to note that the hypothalamus and pituitary gland are […]
WHEN: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2ND 2024 WHERE: The Johns Hopkins Hospital Chevy Chase Conference Center, Zayed Tower 1800 Orleans St. Baltimore MD 21287. The annual Pituitary Patient Education Day is a free event that features presentations from Johns Hopkins pituitary experts. To RSVP, please email pituitaryday@jhmi.edu. Space is limited. Each person can bring up to one guest. If […]
Please note! This page is being moved from it’s original home so some of the links might not work. Getting a diagnosis and dealing with tests can be a very trying time. Here are some words you’ll want to know. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O […]
Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons. (may include such problems as carpal tunnel syndrome) Acne Anxiety, feeling ill at ease Anxiety, irritability Backaches, unexplained rib and spinal column fractures Below normal temperature Blurred vision Bone weakness leading to fractures Bone, joint and muscle aches, inflammation, and pains Breast tenderness Brisk reflexes Brittle fingernails, which peel […]
Giant pituitary adenomas pose particular challenges for treatment. Advances in technology and understanding of the disease have greatly improved the management of these rare tumors. But experience and expertise are key to achieving optimal results. “The treatment options for giant pituitary adenomas have expanded,” says Richard W. Byrne, M.D., chair of Neurologic Surgery at Mayo Clinic […]
YOU’RE INVITED! Dr. Theodore Friedman (The Wiz) will be giving an updated webinar on compounded weight loss medicines. Topics to be discussed include: What is the difference between Tirzepatide and Semaglutide? Are compounded medications safe? Will they be discontinued? What are the side effects? How do they work with diet and exercise? Why is Dr. Friedman recommending compounded […]
Tips for living with Cushing’s – before, during and after treatment. Please feel free to add your own tips here! Cushing’s disease may sometimes make you feel that your life is out of your control. But there are some general things you can do to help take back control. For specific tips such as Getting […]
Things I’ve learned and wanted to share From Cushing’s Message Board members. This is a continuing list, if you want to share. I have learned so much on this Cushing’s journey, much of it from all of you and this site. I wanted to share those learnings, in the event that it helps anyone else. […]
More about Treatments|Adrenalectomy and BLA (Bilateral adrenalectomy) Pain Some pain is normal after any surgery. Different people have different levels of sensitivity to pain. In general, you should experience a little less pain every day. Pain is usually worse in the evening when you are trying to go to sleep. Do not be afraid to […]
From Personal Stories-Kate, one week post op: [http://cushings.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=19414 on the message boards] Hello, my dear friends, It is strange to be writing to you from the other side of surgery (well, at least this time somewhat coherently, as my prior post-op posts have been, let’s say, lubricated nicely by some very nice pain pills). It […]
What is the Pituitary Gland? The pituitary gland is a small gland, located below the brain and connected to the hypothalamus. The pituitary gland regulates the secretions of hormones in the body, and hormones impact metabolism, growth and development, reproduction and urine production. It is important to note that the hypothalamus and pituitary gland are […]
WHEN: SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2ND 2024 WHERE: The Johns Hopkins Hospital Chevy Chase Conference Center, Zayed Tower 1800 Orleans St. Baltimore MD 21287. The annual Pituitary Patient Education Day is a free event that features presentations from Johns Hopkins pituitary experts. To RSVP, please email pituitaryday@jhmi.edu. Space is limited. Each person can bring up to one guest. If […]
Please note! This page is being moved from it’s original home so some of the links might not work. Getting a diagnosis and dealing with tests can be a very trying time. Here are some words you’ll want to know. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O […]
Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons. (may include such problems as carpal tunnel syndrome) Acne Anxiety, feeling ill at ease Anxiety, irritability Backaches, unexplained rib and spinal column fractures Below normal temperature Blurred vision Bone weakness leading to fractures Bone, joint and muscle aches, inflammation, and pains Breast tenderness Brisk reflexes Brittle fingernails, which peel […]
Giant pituitary adenomas pose particular challenges for treatment. Advances in technology and understanding of the disease have greatly improved the management of these rare tumors. But experience and expertise are key to achieving optimal results. “The treatment options for giant pituitary adenomas have expanded,” says Richard W. Byrne, M.D., chair of Neurologic Surgery at Mayo Clinic […]
