Good Health Report...Countdown to Vacation

It's been a few days with more than enough to keep me busy before vacation begins on August 6. You might say that I'm counting down to a 10 day escape to cooler temperatures. All is not lost in Oklahoma as the crape myrtles love the warm temperatures and show their splendor along the canal in Oklahoma City. The temperatures have crept into the triple-digit range and there's little respite in sight for the next week or so.

On the health news front, I received my first 3-month report from my physician this week regarding the management of diabetes. The good news could not have come at a better time. My average glucose dropped from 267 to 123 (his goal was to eventually get me near 150); my hemoglobin dropped from 10.8 (very high) to 6.1 (right on target); and, total cholesterol dropped from 184 (not bad to start with) to 156. I was not anticipating results to be this dramatic and the nurse and physician were delighted and very pleased. It's so nice to see your diligence pay off in a positive manner. I was congratulated for skipping a couple of target ranges on the way to bringing numbers down. My physician is also quite good in monitoring and choosing an effective plan of therapy. The only down-side is that I am iron deficient anemic and very low on B12, but we begin therapy on these issues this coming Monday for the next few months.

Did I mention vacation? My plans are for a trip to the West coast in part to celebrate the first birthday of my great nephew, Joshua. How can I resist that smile who can say my name?! I'll be visiting my sister, Elizabeth along with her family and their spouses in the San Francisco Bay area for 10 days. I can't wait to get away and find cooler temperatures.

My dad has recovered very well from his knee replacement surgery and has begun to adjust and make friends at the VA Center. It has been a long road to get to this point, but I'm very grateful that he is embracing the changes.

One of my other passions is scrapbooking photos taken from travels with friends. My current project is volume 2 of 4 for my trip to Spain last summer. I enjoy the research before and after the trips as well as retelling the story through my scrapbooks and reliving the moments captured in the photographs. I'll close this post with a photo from an area north of Barcelona, the second holiest pilgrimage in Spain, Montserrat. We performed a short concert after the Sunday morning mass. This is an overall photo taken just behind the last row in the sanctuary. Hope everyone is doing well and staying cool. Wishing you good health and happy days. Peace until next time...

Quick Update for Monday

Kitties have stomach ulcers too and take the same medicines! If they take their medicine regularly they respond to the therapy as well; a little smoked turkey helps too! All of this to thoroughly confuse and explain that Foster is responding well to therapy for an ulcer caused from the antibiotic taken after his canine teeth were removed. He had lost one pound in two weeks and weighed a mere 8.2 lbs. Thankfully, Dr. Miller was right on with her diagnosis and he has responded with only one protest to taking his medication. Smoked turkey cured that hiccup. He trains quickly and is eager for medication followed by turkey.

On the other side of the care scale, my dad is doing very well and his knee has finally turned around (not literally) and is healing beautifully. My focus for him is to limit my visits to twice weekly and push him to be more independent and eat in the main dining hall. I'm working toward recovering some semblance of a life for myself though my digestive system has let itself be "heard" that the past few weeks were not acceptable and fatigue is not preferred.

I'm looking forward to a trip to California Aug. 6-15 to visit family and celebrate Joshua's first birthday. Hope all of you had a joyous Fourth of July!

Things are settling down a bit

It's been a week or so since the last posting. My Dad is beginning to settle in a bit at the VA Center and his knee is responding to IV antibiotic therapy. The cellulitis is still there but is much improved. As for me, it's been a week of weaning him away from constant contact with me and working to have him rely on the staff of the VA to take care of him rather than expecting me to run out there every time he calls. It has been difficult to tell him "No!" and refuse to come and bail him out or simply to run out just because, but it seems to be working. His physician, nurses and I are in agreement that this is best for him and me in the long run.

Thankfully, Elizabeth arrives later in the day on Wednesday afternoon for a visit until Saturday evening. Her visit is a welcome respite for me and we plan to enjoy each other's company and share in that with our Dad, especially on Friday. While my father has been anxious for me to come take him out or bring him over to my house, the doctors agree that it is too soon. He is still receiving IV antibiotics daily and his knee is just not strong enough to navigate without assistance on a flat surface, much less steps and any uneven surfaces.

We are hoping to share a picnic lunch with him on Friday at spend time visiting before we take in a baseball game in Oklahoma City and enjoy a fireworks display after the game.

Here's wishing each of you a happy and safe Fourth of July. Thanks to our veterans for the sacrifices that make this holiday possible.