Life in the Dust Bowl

This is actually a picture I found online and is from the Dallas area a couple of years ago, but this is what our sky looks like today.  All around Tulsa.  In the more western parts of the state, highways have been closed due to zero visibility and there has been at least one 30+ car pileup with injuries.

It's not a day to be outside, especially if you have any type of allergy at all.  Which we, of course, have lots of!

It wasn't too bad this morning, but the wind picked up early this afternoon.  It hasn't let up much, and it's still gritty & grey outside.  I really didn't want to get out after getting home, but I'm at my wit's end with Frasier and his licking/chewing of the surgical spot and that meant a trip to buy a spray the vet told me about.  Normally, I'd have stopped on the way home and got it but Frasier hasn't gotten as much exercise as normal lately, so he's been up at night a lot.  Noisily!  So, we tossed the dogs in the car and took them with us.  They enjoyed their outing, once they realized that we'd driven past the vet's office!  We were originally going to take the dogs for a walk this evening, but the dusty wind changed our plans.  Besides, some of the wind gusts could possibly make Frasier go airborn!

Otter and I are working on something.  We're going to open at Etsy shop.  Details later on, but it's on the way.  Among other things, it will give me another outlet in my destashing efforts.  Etsy is like eBay, it's an online store but it's for crafts and vintage items.  Vintage is over 20 years old in Etsy's dictionary.  So, along with sewn, crafted, crocheted, knitted, etc., items to infinity and beyond, there are also listings for things like Fenton glass and other collectibles.  Craft accessories such as craft supplies are available on Etsy.  And so are pachinko machines!  I fully expect that Pachinko Restorations (Bill's company) will probably want to list one on our store.  I think I'm going to make him grovel! :)

I haven't mentioned much about it, but Bill and I are working on losing some weight.  We are using a diet plan that we've used before, and had good results.  It's mostly a portion control adjustment, it's a healthy and sensible diet plan and we've been on it for about 3 weeks.  We're getting results, my jeans are outgrowing me!  He needs a new jacket, but he doesn't want me to get him one yet since he wants to be a smaller size.  We don't own a scale, so we don't really know how much we weigh although we have a general idea.  But we're 50 (me) and 51 (Bill), with a family history of heart and diabetes issues on both sides so it's time to get serious.  Also, my knee issues are affected by my weight.  It's an ongoing process, the diet plan is designed to ensure weight loss at a good rate.  It's not a crash diet and it's not a miracle diet.  It's just common sense and is pretty healthy.  Although I do have to jiggle it around a bit - it's not a low-carb diet (low carb is a stupid idea, anyway), but it doesn't have quite enough carbs for me.  Most people that have their gall bladders removed are able to adjust and not all need higher carbs.  But then most people don't have nearly fatal pancreatitis that has more or less permanent effects after it clears up!  We realized pretty quickly that I was going to have to eat more carbs than the diet calls for, it took me several days to find a good level without being so nauseated I could hardly move, but still eat less calories.  I think I'm there, but I still have moments when I realized I haven't had enough carbs.  Saturday is our "free day" but free doesn't mean we go hog wild.  It just means that we can have whatever we want - within reason.  It's working for both of us.

Movie Review:  Otter rented the new Dark Shadows movie last weekend.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The previews and advertisements when it originally came out made it look like a parody movie.  It wasn't.  It had some laughs, but not an excessive amount.  I was not a huge fan of the tv show when it was on, as I recall it was one that Mom did not want me to watch!  But I did see some of the episodes later on and I read all the books that were written in the series so I pretty much know all the characters, story lines, etc.  It did deviate some from the original story but not too much.  It wasn't exactly Academy Award caliber, but it was ok.  I do think that we would have been disappointed if we'd paid theater prices though.  It didn't do too well in the theaters, and part of that might have been because the fans of the original series are nearly as rabid as Star Trek fans!  (I do know what I'm talking about with ST fans).

Because, as we all know, Star Trek rules!  The rest of it (with the exception of the terrific Dr. Who) is just entertainment and some of it's pretty bad.

Monday's Weather, Tulips & Doggies

The pictures are in no particular order today.

Sorry this is blurry, the old camera has good moments and then it has not-so-good moments. Guess which kind it was having today! Anyway, these are the daffys I planted a couple of years ago. I had forgotten that I had planted any daffodils, I was thinking that they were all the ones that Sweetie planted but those are the standard yellow and I planted a different kind for variety. I just forgot about it. There are a few of the yellow ones in the tulip bed, but so far the only ones blooming are these.

Heavy Duty Grooming Session In Progress. Disturb at your peril.

Spooky dog!

Begging is so much more effective when your ear is folded! This is her attempt at sad puppy eyes. And it's much more effective when that fat belly isn't visible! I was surprised she sat still for so long, she was in this pose while I took Frasier's picture and then she stayed sitting like that until I was finished taking hers.

This one is a little blurry as well, but mostly because I was just too close as is indicated by the sharp focus behind the blossom!

The majority of the tulips that are already blooming are this type. But there are still several yet to bloom, lots of buds just forming.

Standing in front of the tulip bed.

Standing at the side, facing the gate to the back yard. The daffodils are all clumped in the middle this year, which was not deliberate.

For years, probably ever since we moved here 4 years ago, the violets have refused to bloom and I usually get disgusted with not having any blossoms, which results in all of them being ripped out of the bed. But this year, they have decided to cooperate. I guess they got smart this year, otherwise it would be curtains for them! There are actually a lot of them blooming. I love violets, I always have. Mom and Aunt Jessie had them planted, either in the flower bed outside of Aunt Jessie's apartment or beside the garage outside the gate to Aunt Jessie's apartment.

OK, that's dogs & tulips taken care of. Now I guess it's time to discuss weather. We might get the noisy kind tonight, probably after midnight. The bullseye of the firing line is well north of us (Froggy, think north of Hominy), but we could still get thunderstorms. Have I mentioned how much I don't like spring weather? Just in case you haven't figured that out yet, I DON'T LIKE SPRING STORMS. I like thunderstorms. I like rain. I just don't like what are referred to as spring storms in this part of the country!

Regarding that spectacular news I mentioned a couple of days ago, it's probably going to be about 2 weeks before I'm able to discuss it. But it's really good. Froggy, you already know about it.

Otter went back to school today, after a week off for spring break. She seems to have survived.

The other thing I realized today is tomorrow is 2 years to the day since I got sick - the time that put me in the hospital. I'm just happy that it is behind me now, it was not a fun experience and it was scary at times.

Still nearly 3 weeks until Easter. I've been resisting chocolate, except on Sundays and then I've tried to show restraint. But it's been hard at times, especially while I had Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies calling my name from the freezer! They are gone now, they were my chocolate indulgence yesterday. But the end of Lent is in sight. Lent is meant to be a time of self-denial, a chance to let go of some of the things that weigh us down and keep our focus off of where it really should be, which is on God. By letting go of whatever it is, a habit - good or bad, a particular food, whatever it is, we can grow closer to God and learn a lot about ourselves in the process. It is only as difficult as we chose to make it. I think that we bring a lot of our problems on ourselves sometimes. Observing Lent is not "just" for one particular brand of Christianity, it is for all of us and so are the lessons we can learn as we experience self-denial by letting go of our own selfish desires. It can be an amazing experience. And one I look forward to every year, as strange as that sounds to look forward to a time of denial. Because waiting at the end of the long, dark days of Lent is the most special Reward we could ever hope for, the One that makes it all worth it.

Hot & Sticky Monday! Also, I'm On My Soapbox!

It's really not that hot, it's been around 98 today which is warm but not as bad as it sounds for any non-Texans reading this! It's just that it's humid, which is the problem. It's just humid enough that my lungs don't like it. So I'm forced to have the a/c on high in the car, which then makes me cold but that's the only way I can breathe! So I just put up with it. I really prefer drier heat. But I live in a humid area. Sigh.

I've been doing some research on nutrition. When I had my physical in January 2007, my triglicerides were "a little high" according to the doctor's office. I was very casually told to watch my carb intake, but mostly they wanted me to start watching fat and cholesterol. So I did that, then made a drastic reduction in fat and cholesterol after the gall bladder surgery. I never really worried all that much about carbs, since a higher carb/low fat diet is recommended for people without a gall bladder. However, I've been reading up on it lately and I'm kind of ticked off at the girl in the doctor's office. She wouldn't really give me any info on why I should watch the carbs or even a suggestion of what would be a good level. I have lost quite a bit of weight, 50 pounds that I know of but actually more than that since I didn't weigh until well after I'd started losing. But I have been stuck for too long now for it to be a plateau, so I started doing some reading.

And I found out just why carbs are so bad, it has to do with the way our bodies process sugar which is basically what they convert to. That's the very simplified version, anyway. Among other things, I discovered that the way carbs convert leads to a specific reaction THAT CAN CAUSE PANCREATITIS WHICH IS FREQUENTLY FATAL!

So I'm going to start watching carbs. I have already taken some steps, and will continue to work on it. I am not going to cut them out, I'm not going to follow the Atkins diet because I think it is a bunch of bunk in a lot of ways. But I am going to start making a few more adjustments. The Atkins diet actually does work at first, although it's not a permanent change. It works because the carb conversion process doesn't really happen much when you restrict carbs. Which makes sense, although that is not really how the Atkins program is put out. (The Atkins program does have a lot more fat intake, which has it own set of problems and not anything I could do or would even want to.)

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is the sugar version of trans-fat. It's not really a natural substance, and the human body can't really process it well. It's also a possible factor in pancreatitis, because of the carb connection. And it's in nearly everything that is sweetened, read a few labels and you will be very surprised.

This sounded surprising at first, but non-fat salad dressings are actually not as good as low-fat versions. It's because they are generally all sweetened with HFCS. So I'm switching my salad dressings to low-fat or oil & vinegar made with olive oil. And I'm going to start checking other non-fat product labels, for example we use non-fat mayo. I am willing to bet that when I read the label, it will say HFCS as one of the first ingredients. I won't get rid of what we have now, since I don't really eat that much of it but when I run out I will get a low-fat version.

Ingredients are listed in order of quantity, starting with the largest amount and working down. I've been reading labels for fat and trans-fat amounts for quite a while now, I'm going to start reading a little closer.

I don't think that the same person still works at the doctor's office, the doctor was in her own practice but she has joined a group practice and I don't think that all of her employees went with her. Otherwise, my Inner Texan would probably get to come out and play. Which might be fun for me...

Ok, off of that particular soapbox. But there will be another one soon! There always is.

I finished registering Otter for driving lessons today. I had already set her up with a phone call, but I had to go sign the paperwork today and pay for the class. She's officially registered now, she has two days of classroom on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. The actual driving will be scheduled sometime after that. Time to be determined later on, we won't wait too long after that but it might be after school starts.

Well, I guess I'd better go make dinner for Bill before he wastes away to nothing! :)

A Better March 24

Today is March 24. Last year, it was a Saturday. But then this year is a Leap Year, so instead of it falling on Sunday it is on a Monday. Probably just another day to most people. But not to me.

March 24 is the day that I got very sick that night and spent literally all night throwing up every few minutes. Which may seem strange to commemorate. Except for the fact that I was very sick.

Actually, I was way, way beyond very sick.

I have mentioned before that the pancreatitis could have been fatal if I hadn't gotten it treated. But I kind of soft-pedaled it at bit. It was a whole lot worse than I let on. Like much worse.

The truth is, I nearly died.

And that's why it took me around 6 weeks after the surgery to get to even feeling close to normal.

So when I tell people not to ignore the symptoms, I know what I'm talking about and it is not something to ignore or put off. It's not one of those things that will just go away. I can now look back with the eyes of experience, and see that I have had it before. There were times when it was probably "just" gallstones moving, but I know of at least two specific incidents when I'm pretty sure that I had pancreatitis that resolved itself. It's not always as bad as I had it last year - it can be but usually isn't that bad, and sometimes it does resolve on it's own but it generally always comes back until the cause of the problem is fixed. Which is usually gallstones, but not always. So please, if you even think that you might have it call the doctor.

My symptoms would come and go, over a period of a few weeks. I would have pain just below my rib cage on my right side, usually about 30 minutes after eating. I thought it was sore muscles at one point, then I thought about gas that was trapped, I had indigestion symptoms, I thought maybe food poisoning one time - a whole lot of little things that I didn't realize were not what they seemed. I tried changing my position, and when I would bend over I noticed that it felt better. Which is a symptom of pancreatitis. About a week or so before the bad night, I was fine one second and then I had a sudden pain and threw up twice in one night. And I had what I thought was muscle soreness in my side and back that went into my shoulders. I thought it was just from throwing up, but now I know that the pain in the areas I had it was also a symptom. Then the upper right quadrant pain became daily and eventually more than once a day until March 24, when I got really bad. Those are all the main symptoms, but not the only ones. When Dad had gallbladder trouble, the doctor thought he was actually having heart trouble. Gallbladders can cause all sorts of problems when they act up. Gallbladder trouble can be hereditary to an extent. The important thing is that it needs to be treated as soon as possible, so if you even suspect that you might have gallbladder or pancreatis symptoms, call the doctor immediately.

Today's Mid-Week Ramblings

Finally figured out how to reposition the counter! Froggy, now that you can see the entire graphic you have to agree that it's appropriate since I couldn't find a frog.

Today is the 5th anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. I keep hearing news reports about protesters, but they never seem to mention that NOT EVERYONE IS AGAINST THE WAR! I'm certainly not, I think that it was a necessary action and that to pull our troops out at this point would be disasterous. Like what happened with Afghanistan after the Russians left and there was a sudden vacuum in place of their government - that is when Al Quaida stepped in and took over. I think that the same thing would happen with Iraq, but possibly it would be worse. Like Bill says, they will follow us home and then we'll have to deal with them over here. And it would make September 11th look like a minor accident.

Alright, off the soapbox. But not necessarily for long!

We had thunderstorms off and on from Monday evening until late yesterday. It was a nice day today, sunny but a little cool. Tomorrow is the first day of Spring, which is nice but I think it's actually been Spring for several weeks. Sometimes we get cold weather in early Spring, so we still could have more winter weather but I just don't feel like we will this year. I guess we'll just see. I'm not looking forward to the Spring storms we sometimes get, but I am glad that Winter is officially over. I hope that we don't have constant rain like we did last year.

I have jury duty next month. Monday, April 7th which is the last day of Nana's visit. I was going to work anyway that day, Bill is off to spend the day with his mom but I would have been home by 3:00 because I get off at 2:30 anyway but I have no idea how late the jury duty will go. It seems like when I had it before, many years ago, we got out later than 2:30 but possibly before 5:00. I hope so, it's downtown and I am not looking forward to dealing with the traffic. Also, Otter really would like Nana to go observe karate class which is at 6:00 but if I'm not home by 5:30 at the absolute latest, we won't be able to go to karate because Bill's van only has two seats. (He took the other seats out when he bought it, since he bought it for eBay cargo.) I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be released early that day, and actually I'd like to be released entirely but that probably won't happen that quickly. The last time I had it, I was called for one panel and that turned out to be a car accident case involving a back injury - since I have a back injury from a car accident the attorney for the insurance company didn't want me on that jury. Other than that, I spent 3 days in the jury room either reading or watching the television. Except for lunch hours, which mostly were spent at the library which is next door to the courthouse. (And probably what I'll do this time as well). It was a total waste of time, but it could have been worse. Frankly, I hope I don't get picked for a jury but I'll do what I have to.

Otter is enjoying Spring Break. She went to work with me on Monday and had planned on spending yesterday at home being lazy but since the phone was out from the storm, she wound up going to work with me instead. She stayed home today, she did have a few chores but they weren't anything big and she got a lot of goof-off time. Which she enjoyed, and I think the dogs did as well. She will be home tomorrow and then go to work with me on Friday, since her physical is Friday afternoon at 1:30.

I keep thinking that this time last year, I was sick. I think I was already in the most serious stage of the pancreatitis, although I had been sick for weeks but didn't realize it. My thoughts are that this year is so different, I feel so much better than I did last year at this time. I'm just really glad that it is 2008 and not 2007!

Sunday again!

Party Day for Otter! She's been on the phone for a while, I've lost count of how many times the phone rang but they've all been for her. Typical teenage girl! Bill is still amazed at how much teenage girls can talk and they never seem to stop to take a breath. What's really fun is when she has sleepovers, Bill kind of loses his mind.

I'm feeling much better today, yesterday was better than I have been in the recent past but still not as good a day as I've been having. But I am getting there, I just realized that I have been sick for weeks and frankly I'm tired of it! I didn't realize that I'd been unwell for some time, until I started to feel better the last few days. I would like to encourage anyone with symptoms similar to the ones I had to please not wait - call the doctor immediately! Pancreatits can be fatal if left untreated. And it takes forever to get over. My back is not bothering me nearly as much as it was, it was mostly muscles reacting and the surgeon's office said that I can take Advil which does seem to work. But it is very hard for me not to be able to do things.

We think that Maggie Beagle is literally insane. She is just crazy. No other word for it, the dog is nutso! And she hardly ever runs out of speed. She's so much fun and she drives Frasier nuts, too.

Froggy, I'm not sure how you are going to manage it but you'd better find room in your suitcase for the rocks when you come see me this summer. You know which rocks I mean.

Still waiting on jokes! I might have to come up with some of my own at this rate. And one of these days I'm going to learn how to post pictures here, too. When I get around to it, it's not hard to add things on here.

Exhausting Week! And it's only Tuesday...

I managed to go to work yesterday, Monday. I made it until 10:00 before giving up and going home. After I got home, I took a nice long 2+ hour nap and felt much better.

Today I made it to 11:30 before I ran out of steam. I was also in a little pain, so I decided I'd better head home. I didn't nap today, but I did rest until it was time to get Otter from school. There was an auction tonight that I met Bill at because it had furniture and we are looking for a bigger bed for Otter. The furniture was not what we are looking for, but I stayed at the auction because of a specific item I wanted - which we didn't get because it went for way more than I wanted to pay - and so I wound up staying way, way too long. I sat down as much as I could, but it was pretty cold and I probably should have left at least an hour before I did. I got home ok, but I will probably take a pain pill tonight. Before you all start yelling at me, I already know that I overdid it today! And I will probably pay for it tomorrow. But I really am doing a lot better, and I'm much better than I was at this time last week. But I promise to take it easy as much as I can for the next few days!

I have stayed away from the Anna Nicole Smith story, but I'd like to put my 2 cents worth in. The woman was "plain ole white trash" and nothing but. Nobody murdered her, it was an accidental overdose, and the paternity question has now been answered. So can "we" (the media) all go on to the next story now? My 90 year old boss was very good friends with the rich old man she married, he met her several times and he said that it was extremely obvious to everyone except her husband that she was a gold-digger and nothing else. She didn't even try to hide it, and she used her physical attributes to blind Mr. Marshall to what she was really after. So I am kind of tired of all the stories about her! Just my opinion, folks.

Ok, I'm off my soapbox. For now at least!

In case you can't tell, I'm tired and a little grouchy tonight. I guess I'd better work on that!

I'm thinking I need to have a contest. Not for a prize, just for fun. Anybody got any jokes that they'd like me to post? Email them to me, please - family friendly only. And nothing disrespectful to our President. French jokes are fine, however! Even Texan jokes will be considered. However, I will try to restrain myself from posting Aggie jokes even though I am a loyal Longhorn fan - I'm actually very proud of my nephew Paul who's off at A & M. As long as he didn't pick OU and the Sooners as a school, I am happy! Although my father would probably disagree with me about OU, we always just agreed to disagree one particular weekend in October.

Good Friday

I forgot about it being Good Friday until just a little while ago. Last Good Friday, we went to church but this year we are staying home. I'm feeling much better but I still get tired easily. I did manage to get some laundry done, so I wasn't totally lazy today.

However, I did get out all by myself today! I went to the post office to check the box and I stopped at Wallyworld to get the dvd that Otter wanted for her birthday. She knew about it, I just was unable to get it before her birthday since I was in the hospital that week. She saw it when he got home from school just now, she was happy about it. Of course, I've got her doing chores at the moment so she's probably not so happy anymore!

I miss Easter Eggs! Otter is too old for them now, I think we quit that when she turned 12. But I always enjoyed dyeing them, and we always turned them into deviled eggs and I think that's what I miss. I might boil about 6 eggs so I can make deviled eggs for Sunday. Now that I think about it, that sounds like a good idea.

I found a depression glass vase at a thrift store, the week before I got sick. I posted it on eBay on Wednesday. Last time I checked, it was up to $30.00. I only paid $1.50 for it! I'm kind of amazed, I knew it would sell but I didn't think it would be that much of a profit margin. WOW!!

I think it's Thursday

I have lost track of the days this week, but I think it's Thursday!

I saw the surgeon today. 30 minutes after my appointment time, someone else who was there asked me what time my appointment was. We discovered that we both had the same time, and so did another person who was waiting. I don't like doctors who stack patients like that! I asked the clerk how much longer, since my appointment was closer to 45 minutes late by that point and she said that the doctor wasn't even there. She called the hospital and apparently he had decided to assist in a procedure, knowing that he had people waiting in his office. I informed her that I DO NOT WAIT (Bill was ready to walk out and I have been known to myself) and that I didn't appreciate being stacked, and that I wasn't waiting much longer. All of a sudden the doctor shows up and he spent about 30 seconds looking at my incisions, then took the bandaids off, told me everything looks good and that I don't have to come back to see him unless I have problems. He did tell me that I can start eating regular food and that I might have to watch out for a few tummy problems in the near future.

We stopped at Wallyworld to get a couple of things so that Otter will get something for Easter (she reads this so I'm not telling), and I picked up a cooked chicken from their deli. It was delicious! Finally, real food! I noticed that I got full very fast.

I am going to stay home tomorrow, I am much better and enjoyed getting out of the house today but I am pretty tired now. I will go back to work on Monday and then see how it goes. With any luck I will be able to work the entire day, but my work days are short already since I'm part-time. I'm wondering if the top of my desk is even visible, since I will have been gone for 2 weeks.

I'd also like to know what happened to Spring! It was just about freezing last night and very cool today. Tonight and the next few nights are supposed to be cold, we could get a hard freeze tomorrow and Saturday nights. All the plants are now inside, the tulips should be ok but they are nearly done with blooms anyway, and I hope that my bluebonnets survive! They are full of blooms, and I have enjoyed them but I'd like to have them a little longer!

Tuesday's Doctor Visit

I saw the doctor today, she said that everything looks good. She also said that the weakness I have is normal, because along with the surgery I also have to get over a pretty bad case of pancreatitis. And she suggested that I not even attempt to go in to work this week, which was what I was already considering. I think I am going to take her advice and not even try to go in to work. I was absolutely exhausted just from the doctor trip today. We did stop at the grocery store but only for milk and that was a run-in, run-out trip. Ok, so I shuffled-in, shuffled-out but you get the picture! Anyway, I could not get back to my couch fast enough after we got home! I see the surgeon on Thursday and I am considering taking myself, since it's just a few miles from home. I am going to see how I do tomorrow and then decide.

I've lost 7 pounds since I was admitted to the hospital, which means that I have lost a total of 22 pounds since mid-January. I'm sure that some of the original weight loss was affected by the pancreatitis, but I'm not going to complain about that. I'm trying to find a silver lining here. 7 pounds in a week is extreme, and not anything I want to continue with but I'm not really surprised given the fact that I've been living on jello and broth for several days! However, I am beginning to be able to eat normal food now and I am going to be careful but not too extreme. I branched out today, I had vegetarian vegetable soup. Yes, the alphabet kind!

The electric company left a hanger on my door. They will be out Thursday to replace the transformer box that is in my back yard. I've already called and talked to the guy, since he left his cell phone on the hanger, and he assured me that the dogs will not be let out. They will have the power off from noon until 4:00, I will be here until at least 2:00 and then the doctor appointment is at 2:30. If they haven't gotten finished, I'm going to block the dogs in the garage where they can't get out at all since it will just be about 1 1/2 hours until the Otter gets home from school and can let them back into the house. I don't trust the electric company too much right now, considering the last incident with the beagle! And since Frasier the big dog can get out of just about anything, I don't trust them to get all the blocks back in the right place either!

Sister of mine, you are right - we had better get busy planning our summer visit. But you are the only one who has to plan, I just have to be at the airport to pick you up and then take you back there in a few days! SO GET BUSY GIRL!

A Lot Has Happened Lately!

On Sunday, March 25, I was hospitalized for what turned out to be pancreatitis and I had surgery on Thursday, March 29. My gall bladder was removed. I'm told it was very full of gall stones.

I've been having stomach related health problems for several weeks, but we kept thinking it was either a bug or something I'd eaten. I've had several instances where I would throw up and then not really be any better and frequently I was in a lot of pain. On Saturday the 24th, shortly after I went to bed, I was up in the bathroom throwing up and stayed there most of the night. Literally every hour, sometimes 2 or 3 times per hour. About 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning, I realized that it was not "normal" and I told Bill we needed to get me to the doctor. I really had no concept of time, I didn't realize it had been so many hours until he told me what time it really was. He took me to the emergency room, I was thinking that they would give me a shot to relax my stomach muscles or something like that. Instead, they hooked me up to an IV and gave me at least 2 bags of fluids quickly - I was pretty dehydrated - and then they started blood work. The blood work showed pancreatitis, which the doctor explained is an inflammation of the pancreas usually caused by it being blocked by something. He thought it was my gall bladder, so he sent me to get a sonogram and they also gave me a pain shot which helped a lot. The sonogram showed what they suspected.

From that point until Wednesday, I had nothing at all by mouth but I was so drugged up that I really didn't care! I had the IV's, so I really did not notice it anyway. At one point on Wednesday, my blood sugar got dangerously low so the IV bags were changed to the type with glucose in them and then my blood sugar got back to where it needed to be. I am not diabetic, but one of the side effects of a blocked pancreas is that blood sugar levels go crazy. After the surgery, I had to have 2 insulin shots because that also caused it to rise. Starting on Wednesday, they started feeding me again - jello & clear broth! Which actually was like a gourmet meal since I'd had nothing for several days.

The surgery was on Thursday, I'm told it's normally performed as outpatient which is surprising. Because of the massive pancreatitis I had, outpatient was never an option but I wasn't complaining! The surgery went well, I had ice packs to keep on the 4 incision sites until Friday morning. The surgery was laparoscopic, so the incicisions are not big sliced spots but rather are small areas where the camera and instruments were inserted, and then one larger one where the gall bladder was removed. They are not that bad actually, I'll probably have some scarring but it's a price I'll gladly pay!

I came home on Friday afternoon, and I will probably not go back to work for several days. The doctor said that normal recovery from this type of surgery is 3 days to a week, but that because I also have to recover from the pancreatitis that it will probably be closer to a week. I see my doctor on Tuesday and the surgeon on Thursday. I'm unable to drive so Bill will take me on Tuesday and then I'll decide about the rest of the week. But I'm not in a hurry to go back to work, I have a well-earned reputation for doing too much too soon!

In the meantime, Otter is probably feeling like slave labor! She's done a lot for me, and I do appreciate all the work. It might sound like a fun thing, to stay in bed all day and do nothing but I suggest you try it and then you will see that it is not nearly as fun as it sounds! I can't even unload the dishwasher, I can't lift anything over 15 pounds and I am not supposed to do much of anything. I get tired from just walking down the hall so I'm not in a hurry to do anything anyway. But it does get frustrating at times!

Otter turned 15 on Saturday, Bill brought her a small cake from Wallyworld so we were able to at least acknowledge her birthday. Her presents will have to wait, we told her what we intended to get her and her party is not until the 15th anyway. Her birthday dinner has been temporarily postponed.

Also, our friend Larry passed away last week. He was a good friend and we will miss him. His death was not unexpected, it was advanced cancer but it was a lot sooner than we thought. His funeral was Wednesday.

The dogs seem glad that I'm home. Maggie was bouncy and silly, Frasier came in and immediately put his head in my lap. He stayed that way for about 30 minutes, just making sighing sounds and not moving away from me. I think maybe he was happy!