Mood:
celebratoryNow Playing: Day 575-The Final Road To Survival
After a long drive back home at 2am from a very HAUNTED B&B we were both BEAT! When we walked in the door we were greeted by a very happy fur gang! Littleblue dedicated as she is was waiting for Mommy to come home and sleeping on the same spot she usually does before we go to sleep. Same with Oreo on his couchbed.
AHHHH! WHAT GREAT KIDS!
It felt great to be home! It was quite an interesting drive between everything we saw at the mansion and keeping both eyes on the road due to it being deer season which made for two exhausted people. WHEW! Its nice tag teaming seeing with both of us we were able to put everything away and clean up around the house. By the time we went to sleep it was 4am. This is around normal bedtime for me but not for my friend who passed out within the first few minutes his head hit the recliner. I was also tired from the long drive so needless to say I got a solid night of sleep.
This is the last birthday celebration day and my friend decided we need to see if Lady Luck is on our side. What did we plan on doing for this evenings activity? CASINO! WHOAHOA! We were both feeling a bit more rested from yesterdays mansion trip so why not take a short drive back to Indiana and hit Indiana Live casino and horse track? DEAL! We would had taken my friends new car, the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze however since it is deer season I don't feel the need to gamble with driving in a small vehicle and dodging at the same time wildlife on the open road. Looks like the Hummer is finally getting some use and not having to sit in the garage for another weekend.
My back is starting to bother me and its no wonder since I am sitting on two fractures, no lumbar discs as each bump puts bone to bone pressure on my tail end. Life is too short and if I want to do something by golly I am going to do it! I would had crawled this weekend to my destinations if need be with or without the GP monsters and connected problems. Birthdays only come around once a year and each new decade only comes around once so I better live it up now walking before I am wheeling it in the ole wheelchair. My Neurosurgeon appointment to get fitted for my back brace is next week and so is another check up with current spinal examine. If I want to be scolded for not resting and taking it easy I might as well go all out!
My friend helped around the house while I took a shower and got ready which makes things so much easier! Its so much nicer having two people do things around the house than one. By the time I got out of the shower and got ready I was able to finish up some last minute things then he got dressed and out the door we went!
TALKING ABOUT LIVING LIFE ON THE EDGE THIS WEEKEND!
We made it on the road by 5pm and to the casino by 6pm. The hour drive just flew by seeing interstate 74 doesn't have all the construction like we do in Ohio as well its open road with not too many exits. It makes for a very smooth and relaxing drive but one does have to watch out for the deer. With it still being early the casino wasn't too crowded and we were able to hit the buffet so my friend could get a bite to eat then we headed to gamble. It was a low key kind of fun which is perfectly fine for this gal! Majority of people hit 40 and go through a mid-life crisis but not me. I hit 40 and I want a mid-life NO CRISIS. Hahahahaha! The biggest crisis I will be facing is the ole Hell-In-A-Jug tomorrow. I have no need to get cosmetic surgery or buy a sports car trying to relive my youth. I like to keep my past in the past and honestly I am more comfortable in my own skin now than I ever have been in my life. I am happy with me!
So it was a great evening at the casino and we even brought back some spending money. I didn't hit anything on the open road and the hour drive back just seemed to fly by with great conversation and plenty of laughter. Once we got home it was midnight. We got my couchbed together for a well needed night of rest and my friend slept on the haunted recliner-so he says it is haunted, heeheeheehee! I decided to get the video out from the mansion or should I say the hour video before we darted the heck out of there! HAHAHAHA! Once we put the video in it was only a matter of time before explanations started to surface on video with the eerie feelings I had in the mansion as well the suite. On more than a few occasions you can actually see dark shadow images walk in front of the camera lens. You can also hear unexplained footsteps followed by dark shadows standing in front of and behind my friend. YIKES! It was quite fascinating and just to make sure we both weren't just seeing things we re-winded the tape more than a few times to freeze the frame then replay only to see the same shadows over and over again. Some of them were not that tall then a few seemed to be almost the same height as an adult. If we didn't believe our gut then we surely do believe it now.
WOWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
Since the video is in VHS format I am hoping to have it transferred to DVD in order to have it sent to the owner showing exactly what we 'felt' in the room. Indeed we weren't alone but I guess the friendly and playful spirits won last night and hopefully at least some of us got a good nights sleep, hahahaha! Would I stay there again? Hmmmm...Good question! Most likely yes but I doubt I would spend the night. It would be neat to stay in the only suite on the first floor of the mansion so you just never know...
CHEERS! TO AN AMAZING BIRTHDAY WEEKEND AND CHEERS TO A GREAT START OF A NEW DECADE CELEBRATING LIFE!
At 2:30pm we headed down the road. I called my parents to see if they could come over later in the evening to let the dogs outside and make sure the animal gang had plenty of food and water. My friend Kevin was nice enough to call around ten minutes after being on the road to let us know about a wreck that had two interstates shut down so NOT a good way to start a trip so lucky I was able to take a different way around the backed up traffic to Indiana. We thought everything was going fine and we were making good timing until of course we hit highway construction and a traffic mess for honestly no good reason. Why in the world when they are only working on one section of the road must they shut down one lane when there clearly isn't any work being done? GEES! Call it, "my pet peeve" and quite annoying. Since we took my Hummer it was tempting to just make my own lane but since I am now in my 40's I vow to be a bit softer now and not panic or be bitter. Road bitter included! Hahahaha!
We arrived at the mansion around 5:30pm. My back was locked up and my intestines were angry from a 1.5 hour trip that turned into a 3 hour drive from you know where. It was already a testing time for my new birthday resolutions but the old me would had turned around on the expressway already and headed home but the new me said, "NOWAY! If I have to crawl to the mansion I am going!" So after taking around ten minutes to peel my back off the car seat we headed up to the mansion front entrance. It was HUGE! Once you walked inside it felt as if you stepped back into the late 1800's. It was decorated with old antique furniture, restored doors, woodwork, windows and photos of the Schneck family who built the mansion over one hundred and thirty seven years ago. 
Talking about a bit EERIE!
Once we got back to the suite we quickly placed our belongings down and headed out to do some sight seeing and visit the other rooms in the mansion. Another group of people were also doing the same thing as they told us about the old underground tunnels in the basement. We had a story of our own about the attic known as the "Widow's Window." There wasn't anything more bone chilling though than the basement tunnels. Not only did four of us go down there around midnight but one of us had a camera which caught images of orbs then two distinct faces of a little boy and girl smiling with laughter. I don't get too spooked very often but looking at the very clear images surely we weren't alone in the basement. In one section of a tunnel was a box of very old report cards dated back to 1920 along with a very old vase and a few toy balls. I gently kicked one ball into a corner of another tunnel only to come back and find it right back in the same place before kicking it. This wasn't the only proof of spirits playing with us because another person took a small red ball and was followed by orbs on a camera taken five seconds within each frame showing someone or something following him with the ball as if to say, "Let's play!" The upstairs area in the attic which was next to our suite was where the owners wife back in the day would look outside the small circular windows to see if she could see the smoke stakes from her husbands steamboat coming down the river. The presence of someone was very apparent as well footsteps that could not be explained that continued later in the evening in our suite. I was doing good until I got an overwhelming feeling once everyone said goodnight and headed back into their rooms. I didn't want to say anything to anyone but I did tell my friend it felt as if someone or a few others were in the room with us. It felt like a presence of children.
We didn't laugh on the way out nor as I took my time packing things up but I couldn't help but chuckle because there was enough friendly spirit things going on that freaked my friend OUT! It wasn't a bad feeling but fun and playful. I assume it was the same children as the faces we seen in the basement and who knows? They might had followed us up the steps back into the suite since this was after all their parents bedroom. What I do know is we were all not alone in actually witnessing the supernatural and being blessed by feeling the energy of spirits. Those who have passed on but still want to be remembered and never forgotten. I was always a believer but there were many tonight who weren't but are now convinced.
I got a fairly decent night of rest. I now have a daily routine down with my Zofran. Usually it makes me a bit tired but after taking it so often its starting to lose the side affect along with zapping most of the nausea. Last thing I need is to become immune to the only medication I can take so sadly I have to cut back a bit starting tomorrow and maybe just bring more Peppermint drops with me in my purse when I go out anywhere. My family is getting together at a local fondue restaurant this evening which happens to be one of my favorites so sorry Mr. GP if you don't settle down then I guess you are coming along for the birthday festivities. 
This morning at 10:30am my friend said he woke up to the sound of the doorbell and what appeared to be a forest in a huge vase, heeheehee! No silly, instead it was a beautiful arrangement of flowers sent to me for my birthday then thirty minutes later another knock at the door brought a dozen of gourmet cookies-more like 'NONO' cookies but a few bites here and there won't hurt but this time I do need to be careful. Family and friends still try their hardest to remember what I can or can't have but its hard for them seeing most people can eat without ending up in the local ER but with this gal I have to really be careful. With all the nausea and vomiting I don't need any reminders since I now get them on a daily basis. I also got many nice cards and lots of birthday greetings sent via text, email and voice mail messages through out the day.
By 4:30pm me and my friend headed out to meet up with family. So I had to bring Mr. GP but no worries seeing no matter what each day brings you still have to get out there and live life. I refuse to waste more precious time that I already lost over the past eight years so if I want to do something or go somewhere I am going! Crawl there? OK. Wheelchair? Sure. Cane it all the way? Why not because I won't stop living and life doesn't stop evolving.
Thank you to family, friends and loved ones for all your thoughtful gifts, cards and messages. You truly made my day a memorable one! Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart XOXOXOXOX... 
Its one more day before I make that final turn. That final exit out of my 30's and into my 40's. EEK!
OK. To be exact my boots!
I have this one pair that I just refuse to let go of due to #1 they are comfortable and #2 I just was always too sick to take the time to find a new pair to replace them. 
Today was the day my friend vowed if need be take a Port O'Potty with us and head to the mall to find me some souls. NEW SOULS! Hahahaha!
My friend also chuckled and lets just say there isn't strong enough superglue to hold them together for another decade. Hahahaha!
Tomorrow is a day to celebrate. Celebrate life. I am fortunate and beyond blessed to be a living, breathing, walking miracle. My doctors always tell me, "Kimberly, you have been through hell and back but your strength has allowed you to survive. You are a survivor and its your determination that makes us fight harder for you to continue living the best life we can give you." After over 8 years of fighting today I can look back and say, "It was worth it. Life is always worth it and YOU are worth fighting for!" Amen. 
hug me
By the time I finally got up it was 1pm. I let the fur kids outside and started with the normal house chores getting blankets put away, feeding the kitty gang, etc. Once I was able to finally look outside the wheelchair ramp was quickly coming along. It looks surreal seeing the ramp slowly come to life. Maybe its because for years I tried playing the 'Superwoman' role wearing my cape as if I wasn't aware of my limitations due to being sick. Maybe it also was because of people who surrounded me who acted like I wasn't sick or avoided me due to changes in my life from being sick. Now a new side of me is being embraced and now I fully accept me with all my limitations. This will never mean I am giving up or giving in because no matter how many hits or punches come my way I will always do my best to fight back and continue defying the odds.
Later this evening once I got my Hell-In-A-Jug together, chaser glass of Hawaiian punch and a few pieces of hard candy I paused for a moment to look outside at those working hard to complete the wheelchair ramp. I was touched. I was touched that although they know about my medical condition they are not fully aware of all the limitations that it places in my life. What they do know is that they 'care.' They care about my well being. They care about making life a bit easier for me. They care about me and caring shows support. I have come to realize its OK embracing support from others and its OK for me to take it. I guess after years of giving support because it helps me with my own journey I never realized that at the end of the day you also need your own form of support. Your own support team.
It's the start of a new week and the first day of new changes in my life! First one I woke up to at 11:30am as the sounds of hammers brought new hope as the ground work begins on the new wheelchair ramp. 
I tried a few small bites of solid food today. I guess I was feeling a bit bold but hours later once it drops out of my stomach it never seems to make it past my upper right side intestines then I get the pressure feeling, severe nausea and then I either suffer for awhile or vomit. Clearly as my surgeons said, "Your intestines are a paralyzed twisted mess. Your upper right colon is fused to your liver and the part of your small intestine that drops into your large intestine is extremely narrow. That is where we also had problems during your last surgery trying to unravel the huge mess."
Wow! Are they sure rushing the holiday season already or what?! I have never seen so many commercials and they all started a few days before Halloween. We have yet to even start a new month without tons of commercials. Seems Christmas has become nothing more than a quick consumer sale. One thing I sure don't regret or miss is working during the holiday season and traveling. I can remember taking hours to get home from working with one of my reps or a client when typically it would take half that time. What I do miss is being around people. I miss socializing.
My friend still has a few other things to sell at his house. Mostly furniture. Its been a very slow process but with utilizing Craigslist and Classified ads it has now started to become a huge success as he gets down to the last of the furniture. Today we went over to his house as I braved the car ride full of the typical nausea, etc. At least I was able to venture out of my house-jail a bit. It was nice to have a change of scenery seeing I am back down again with another Hell-In-A-Jug treatment Tuesday next week so just a few days away. It was nice to see all the furniture today go to good homes. Sometimes in life we are too consumed with material things and fail to forget there are others out there who would be tickled pink to have something that one just takes for granted. Some items we just gave away including a few TVs. 
A gentleman who came with his daughter and her family to buy the kid's bedroom set told a story about last year during the holiday season when him and his wife went to look for a new tree. They were going to buy a new one for their home then donate their old tree that they took with them on the way to the store. When they arrived at the store and started looking around for a new tree they came upon a young woman and her two children who were there as well looking for a Christmas tree however had a very tight budget. He told us about how they overheard her talking to one of the children about wanting a large tree to have for Santa to leave gifts under this year so he offered the young woman the tree in their car. He said, "The woman and her two children were so happy you would think they just won the lottery. It was so nice to see them all smile and they were very touched! It felt great to give back to others."
chillin'
With me not feeling well my friend and the animal gang have been working overtime around the house. We got a new big comfy recliner for the back bedroom in case I want to feel as if I am taking a little escape but seems the only ones who are getting the escape are Precious and Bear kitty. One would think it was bought just for them! Hahaha! What a life! What a life!
My friend took a few naps today as well in between my waves of nausea and vomiting. I was going nuts being stuck in the house so we attempted a few car rides but once we hit the road waves of nausea from my intestines would hit. DANG IT!
I do my best to just deal with it but I don't like vomiting in the car. Especially with the puke pan. Today I vowed to do something about it! If I am to deal with and work around this new symptom I better find a more comforting way to get sick while out on the road. Sure it sounds gross but when you are dealing with Gastroparesis one has to get creative. AMEN!
Later this evening we attempted to get some more toiletries at the local Target store which is right by my house. I also needed a few others things I was running low on as far as fluids. I was also determined to find something other than that darn yellow puke pan. It seems to go wherever I go lately so while we were at the store I made my way to the garbage bag isle looking to see what I could find. Right in front of me were these new extra large Hefty zip lock freezer bags. Hmmmmm...THIS COULD WORK! Not only did it work but they come in handy and fit in the car glove compartment or side of the seat. It sure beats taking a large puke pan around with me! Now its not so obvious that I am dealing with vomiting and being sick. Now I can hide it a bit. BONUS! Its also a "zip lock" bag so need I say more? We placed a few in my friends car as well my own this way I always have them around me. Now I don't have to carry a huge obvious puke pan around with me ever again.
CHEERS!
don't ask
I agree.
not sure
So I am still having vomiting and problems getting things to stay down my intestines. What I do need to start today is the ole Drano because the pressure and swelling is at its worse. My Gastroenterologist can't force me to do treatment today but him and his assistant as well the doctor on call this past weekend are all very concerned and feel I need to at least 'try.' 
Looks like another Drano day "TAKE-TWO" tomorrow.