Mood:
not sureNow Playing: Day 805-The Final Road To Survival
There is something way, way wrong when you find receipts from your last vacation you ever took in your life. Mine was June 2005.
BAH HUMBUG!
This day sure was one full of reminders of what "used" to be. More like what it used to feel like living a "normal" life with a "normal" body. AMEN TIMES 10!
What would the wildlife gang do without me? OK. Maybe not have an endless supply of food or their new treat Cheerios. Hahahaha! Eric got the squirrelie (new word) scared out of him this afternoon when he went outside to get something from the garage and the squirrel gang greeted him on the front porch. Hahahaha! What can I say? It was past their feeding time and since darn GP kept me up with pain until 8am I didn't get up until 3pm. It was way past their feeding time so they were pretty upset. Sooner or later they might learn how to ring the doorbell. Hahahahaha!
We finally got the dining room chairs finished today. They all turned out perfect and it only took us around 40 minutes. We bought a nice ivory striped table cloth and new placemats. It was our first project together and I must say we did a great job! Next on the list won't be until fall when the upstairs bedroom will get repainted. Same with the front porch and side awning that both need restained. Its just been already way too hot this year to do much outdoors and I don't think with all this heat its a good idea to stain anything wood outside. At least not until it cools down.
My friends sent me lots of photos this evening catching me up on their weekend adventures. Kevin had a huge family gathering out in Indiana at a vacation house-more like farm that his family owns. He has such a HUGE tight-knit family that gatherings are more like huge projects getting everyone under the same roof. I remember going to this same gathering years ago and I lost count of how many family members were there but all of them were super sweet and nice!
I sure do miss a "normal" life but what can you do sometimes?.. John of course had to really round off my evening by sending me super jealous photos of the beautiful ocean that I love and truly miss. Sure...I have lakes here in the area but its not the same as the ocean and coastline. He had dinner with friends at a huge marina diner with an amazing view! SO JEALOUS! Of course he said, "Once you all get moved out west I promise to come pick you up and take you to all the big hangouts and the best beaches."
It couldn't come sooner!!
Eric is even starting to get antsy. Life is short and time waits for no one. I have already let over 8 years pass me by due to my Idiopathic Gastroparesis and connected problems. I miss all the vacations down south in Florida but time took over and some lost their true meaning of family. Now I only keep in touch with 2 family members-not by choice but because I have realized fighting with others over petty things just isn't worth it and in the process of all the bickering I wasted valuable time and progressed my already fragile health in the process. Hey, at least I have all the seashells I collected over the years around the front yard landscaping, photos of the ocean and past vacations but as well the long lost receipts of when life used to be carefree, fun and we all had our sense of heart.
This is going to be a busy upcoming week with new chapters opening in my GP life. At this point there is nothing left that is shocking to me except if they made Drano aka Hell-In-A-Jug chocolate flavored! Hahahaha!!
happy
*From 1969 to 1974, Davis played housekeeper Alice Nelson in The Brady Bunch television series. Since then, she has returned to take part in various Brady Bunch TV movies, including The Brady Girls Get Married (1981) and A Very Brady Christmas (1988). She also reprised her role as Alice Nelson in two Brady Bunch spin-off television series: The Brady Brides (1981) and The Bradys (1990). Davis has appeared in a number of Brady Bunch reunion projects, most recently TV Land's The Brady Bunch 35th Anniversary Reunion Special: Still Brady After All These Years. The Brady Bunch was awarded the TV Land Pop Culture Award on the 5th annual TV Land Awards. Davis and other cast members accepted the award, and she received a standing ovation. 
down
Wow! Do I have a super Drano aka Hell-In-A-Jug hangover from hell!! I think Oreo is even having a sympathy day for me but at least one of us gets to rest. Forget about sleeping all day for this gal because I need to keep moving. It was a S-L-O -W day but heck! at least I did it and even with a smile on my face. Half-smile that is. Hahahahaha! The worst part of the darn weekly treatments is now I have to follow them up with the rest of the injections. Its like getting hit in the AS* twice! OUCH.
Someone even wrote to GP Rocky last week saying, "Your diary reminds me of Anne Frank because you both are to the point and brutally honest." I certainly agree because you can't get more honest when the bathroom becomes your second best friend. 
Hee,hee,hee,hee...
I guess we will just have to wait and see... With no mold issues anymore from the monsoon rain we had in May and foundation repairs coming close to an end its enough to make us both JUMP FOR JOY! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! Eric said today, "'After everything is finally finished next month we might start getting bored because we are so used to having things to do." He might want to stop while he is ahead because when you live in a house there are "always" things to do. Hahahahaha!
I know my dear friend John would be super excited because that means we would only be a 2 hour drive away from where he lives in California. Life is always changing and life is also short so if you feel the winds of change its important sometimes to see where the winds might take you in the process.
quizzical
"Most" people get to clear their minds and set them free by taking trips. Then there are those people like myself who can't travel and must unravel life's great mysteries without catching a break.
I always said I would cut my own hair when it came time but maybe I should put that trust into my hairstylist since she totally understands my unique situation and the inevitable.
So with it being treatment day I can only say there wasn't much of anything else planned once the first glass was consumed. At least John has been having a blast getting used to his new life out west. He even got to meet one of his favorite legendary singers yesterday. I am so happy for him! He's planning a trip back to his old stomping grounds in September to come visit me. I can't wait!!
d'oh
After getting home around 4:15am we were greeted by Littleblue and Oreo followed by some very bad kitties. Rule #1-NEVER fill both food bowls all the way to the top no matter how long you are going to be gone. Pumpkin the "Alpha" kitty decided to gorge himself so the other kitties couldn't get any food then ended up with a MASSIVE angry stomach and intestines. There was trails of puke and poo through out the house greeting us which turned into an hour clean up. GEES! Once we both sat down it was almost 5:30am and I was getting delirious from being so exhausted. We both literally laughed ourselves to sleep. Hahahaha!
Forget treatment this afternoon and forget treatment this evening. I don't want to end up back at the hospital so this time I listened to my gut and put the Hell-In-A-Jug to the side for the next 24 hours. Hopefully I will be able to do it tomorrow but only time will tell. More like my body will tell me when its OK. This is typical of the hellish treatment because you never know when it is or isn't safe.
After taking our day trip Eric now wants to save up for a bigger trip. WHO IS HE FOOLING?! I said, "Where? a larger mansion?" Hahahaha! I can't drive more than 1.5 hours. I can't sleep in a normal bad. I can't eat. I can't be in the heat for too long. Call me a "Gremlin" since we both have similar qualities and can only come out at night. Hahahaha! Eric said, "It was a good idea although I don't know how we would get there so even I have my GP denial moments." DITTO! Sadly he isn't alone because I know of some people who have known me for decades and they still sometimes don't "get it." Hahahahaha! Instead of heading to the beach we decided to once again bring the beach to us. Now not only do I have an adult sandbox on the back porch (darn neighbors recently cut all my shade but lets not go there again...) full of sand but we put all the seashells I have collected over the years from various parts of the coast around the flower beds and landscaping. 
PRICELESS! 
chillin'
We have both been not only mentally but physically exhausted lately and since winding down from list after list of things to do it was the perfect time to get away for a day. "Day" meaning since I can't sleep on a mattress because it causes me severe intestinal pain there is no spending the night. I haven't been able to take a "normal" trip in over 8 years but instead have learned to compromise for day trips. I did get to sleep a bit early last night so I was more than ready around 12pm to get up, get dressed and hit the road! The mansion is only a little over an hour away so just enough time not to aggraviate my spine too much. Anything over 1.5 hours and the pain game begins. It was another hot and humid day but a good one for driving with the a/c on. We arrived a hour and 10 minutes later so plenty of time to check out our room and hit the local casino to see if Lady Luck was on our side. Let's just say, "She was!" 2 hours and almost $400.00 later we said, "Thank you Belterra resort and casino" then headed back to the mansion. Hahahaha!
The bed was huge and super comfy although instead of sitting on I wish I could had laid on it. This time we stayed in the only large suite on the main floor compared to our last stay upstairs in the three room suite. "Haunted suite" more like. I don't get too spooked or scared anymore. Gastroparesis can do that to a person over time because there is nothing scarier than a GP flair up or serious complications. AMEN. We brought our EVP recorder, video camera and a regular flash camera. 
Eric of course was a bit spooked out once we caught actual voices on the EVP recorder through out the mansion and an image of a robed person out near the gazebo behind the mansion. Since the mansion was built in the late 1800's its not too surprising to catch spirits still roaming the grounds, in fact the owners of the mansion are used to it. Seems others who have stayed through out the years agree after Eric read diary entrees from those who have stayed in the same suite.
Wow! we had been having some great weather and same with last night in the mid 70's "however" once I woke up this afternoon and let the dogs outside I just knew this was going to be a crazy day.
Once I let the fur kids in from the backyard five minutes later I heard Eric whisper, "Hey, come here real quietly!" As I came into the dining room I saw what appeared to be a large mountain lion or goat standing on top of the glass dining room table. What I quickly realized after taking a double look was Littleblue standing on top of the dining room table eating the rest of the cats can food. SAYYYYYYYYYY WHAT?!!!!!! Yes. It took me 10 second after picking up my jaw off the floor to ask her what the heck she was doing or more like thinking. WOW! This is a priceless photo and for those who ask, "Is she part Wolf?" I tend to think maybe "Yes" because its far from a small jump to get onto the table. I honestly didn't believe Eric the other day when he put the trash outside then came back into the house only to be greeted by Littleblue standing on top of the dining room table. 
Blame it on the extreme temperature changes or maybe even the upcoming full moon since she really might be part Wolf-Werewolf that is! Hahahahaha...
Let's just say the rest of our check out experience was sugar, spice and everything nice!
Eric got gifts from the fur kids and a new Cincinnati Reds #1 Dad shirt along with a few cards. He was happy as well to be able to sleep in today. The rain moved in early this morning so at least we won't have to do any outdoor watering to the flower beds. This is a day for the Dads to relax and take it easy. We had family over later this afternoon for a very nice visit then it was off for me to get some walking in before the sun started to set.
It also helps my stomach and intestinal pain due to my Idiopathic Gastroparesis. Its one crazy GP life that involves trying to do my best to keep moving and allowing gravity to help along the way. Some days I am so beat I have to literally push myself to walk but if I don't there is no sleeping. Hopefully I can make it two days in a row catching up on rest because my body can surely use it. 
bright
This is what happens doing two treatments in a row. One Hell-In-A-Jug is enough to make your hair fall out but doing back to back treatments was bound to cause additional hair loss. GEES! I'm not sure how I still have any hair left on my head but the hair fairy must had blessed me when I was born. AMEN!
It was crowded and that would be an understatement but at least they remodeled since my last visit so there was plenty of booths to sit. The food didn't change much however like it really mattered to me anyway being on liquids. What I did notice was the menu now has a calorie and fat content grid next to each item so parents can actually see what their children are eating. We ordered a large half cheese and half pepperoni pizza in which little Erik only had one slice due to being too excited with all the games. Hahahaha! At least Hubby has plenty of left overs for work since I won't allow any left over pizza at the house because I can't eat it and its too darn tempting for this gal. At least my GP allowed for some play time with Erik and trying a few games. Hey, adults can still be kids at heart! We all had a nice time but after two hours of kids screaming and crying I was more than ready to head back home to some peace and quiet. Little Erik had a really nice time seeing it was his first trip to Chuck E. Cheese but I have a hunch it won't be the last. 
Hee,hee,hee,hee....
WHEW! That was a mouth full all in one sentence wasn't it?) I can now say, "Shame" on anyone who uses their children as a pawn during any petty argument. "Shame" on those who use the word 'adoption' lightly because what people don't realize is the toll it takes on the individual standing on the receiving end. Looks like I have another battle on my hands. Realizing I am worthy of being a Mom after all but now having to get over the fear due to the ignorance of others.
lazy
After spending lots of time resting my insides are now screaming so its time to walk, walk and walk! I sure hope gravity is on my side over the next few days in order to work this gosh awful treatment out of my system so I don't end up back at the hospital. 
Since this is the first Father's Day weekend with little Erik we decided to do something as a family. I have a fun activity planned but of course with Gastroparesis its best not to plan too far ahead because you never know one day from the next. Hopefully this weekend will bring me a few GP-free days. 
The weather is going to be in the mid 90's starting tomorrow so looks like we might have to hold off a bit before spending the evenings relaxing on the porch. Between my Idiopathic Gastroparesis/seizures and Eric's horrible allergies it appears we will likely be spending most of the summer months indoors. We sure do have a lot in common just like two peas in a pod. Hahahahaha!