Mood:
specialNow Playing: Day 2632-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)
Another day... 
Another treatment...
No complaints though, only that they tend to be scheduled way too bright and early! I already have one heck of a time trying to stay on some sort of sleep schedule. HA! What's that?
Unfortunately, we got hit with another huge storm system that brought with it WAY too much rain. Rain that our sinking house did not need which made the scary sounds from a leaning and pulling stone chimney top that much scarier! EEEEE~YIKES!! No worries, because our urgent vacating game plan is already in the works! We were hopeful that this time would never come, but soon enough it will be back on the road with our fur children in tow. Did I just pull another rhyme or what?. Hahahahaha!
I remember as a kid my Dad stopping on the middle of the road out of no where! He would do a quick illegal U-turn, look in the backseat at us kids and say, "All be darn! Hold on for a minute. I see a turtle out on the road!" Those were the good ole days. One just never knew what we were stopping for or what would be rescued next, but by golly! My Dad made sure it was rescued! Same with a raccoon that once got stuck in our bird feeder. Talking about a tricky rescue with a thick glass enclosure and one very scared raccoon stuck inside after gorging himself a few extra pounds. Heeheeheehee! I guess you can say, that the turtle rescue has continued onto the next generation. Me.
On our way up to the hospital. In the middle of the road. Sure enough! There was a poor little box turtle. How in the world did he get there, out in the middle of a busy road? Who knows, but OFF to turtle RESCUE! Heeheeheehee! As I quickly did a huge U-turn, illegal as heck in the country, I looked at Eric and said, "Hold on! Be back in a second! Gotta rescue the turtle!" Eric didn't even have a chance to react. He was still shocked that I pulled an illegal U-turn and then parked on the side of the shoulder. Another illegal stunt, but who cares when a turtle is in need of being rescued! Heeheeheehee!
Of course, since we were on our way to the hospital for my next round of treatments, we had to do a make-shift temporary bed for the little box turtle. While I was in treatment, Mr. Turtle was snoozing the morning hours away, tucked nice and snug in Snoreo and Littleblue's back seat blanket. NO way! I wasn't going to put him anywhere, but where I know he would be safe and happy. A place where he could eat lots of bugs, leaves, twigs and with a small creek so he could have lots of water to drink.
Sounds like a familiar place... Hmmmm....
18-acres that surrounds the wooded hillside. Right behind our fence on far more safer and stable ground, we welcomed our first rescued box turtle. Eric built a nice make-shift hide out, just until Mr. Turtle got comfortable enough to explore his new 18-acre wooded home.
What a great way to start the beginning of spring! Another one of God's creatures rescued! Now safe and sound.
Isn't it crazy how life repeats itself? One turtle rescue generation after another and without one single U-turn violation, illegal shoulder parking ticket!
*WINK
WINK*
d'oh
No need to heed the warning... HEAR the 
WARNING!
What myself and Eric really need to be concerned with right now is the sound below the ground. Or... As of this morning. The sounds coming from the other side of the couch. Where of course, I sleep. 
Eric had to get on top of the roof this morning, which I wouldn't trust even a leaf to land on, in order to place a large tarp around the chimney that is now cracking, seperating and pulling. With rain in the forecast for tomorrow afternoon, we can't risk a thing. Not even one single raindrop. The contractor dash will be on come 8am, Monday morning as we attempt to quickly find someone to come out and evaluate some very seriously scary issues with the stone fireplace and stone chimney that is now sitting unstable on top of our roof. Below it? The air conditioner. We also have a garage door that would had only taken Eric a mere few hours to replace due to our other garage door suffering damage from the unstable house. That IS... If the prior owners did not do such a half you-know-what job with the original garage door and even laid live wires for the garage door opener against the sensors. BRAVO! BRAVO! Said, no one, ever. 
full steam down upon us, a-head! Our heads. 
lucky
Today, March 18th, 2017 marks 13 years since my initial Idiopathic Gastroparesis diagnosis. 
SAN PADRIQ!"
There is so much to be thankful for on this very lucky St. Patrick's Day! Instead of becoming one with overly intoxicated crowds, thanks but no thanks, we celebrated in our own unique way. At home and far away from the large festive crowds due to various reasons, not just those intoxicated. We were all once part of those crazy beer drinking crowds back in the day. 
Heeheeheehee! Talking about the look on Eric's face as festive Irish music was playing on our Comcast music channel as I reached for his hands to dance a few Irish steps! Even Snoreo got into the festive music or more so because we both were laughing so loudly that he also got excited! Heeheeheehee! It was too funny watching Snoreo attempt jumping up while we danced a little Irish Jig and everything else crazy in between! Celebrating all that is good, green and LUCKY! 
Of course, we can't forget wearing of the green and cooking a little something special for St. Patrick's Day which consisted of homemade turkey chili and stuffed peppers. As for myself... A Cocofusion, Molokai Coconut drink and pureed vegetable soup. TASTY! Eric's homemade chili... SUPER SPICY! We like to not only feel lucky, but eat mighty brave on St. Patrick's Day! HA! I miss all the cooking that I used to do back in Ohio, so why not carry on the cooking tradition today? St. Paddy's Day! 
CHEERS~
I was scheduled in hopes of once again, realizing my smile yesterday evening. I am always the last appointment of the evening with regards to needing to stay as far away from the public as possible with continued immunotherapy treatment. What was suppose to be a long-time-coming, a year coming in hopes of smiling again, didn't turn out as planned. Yesterday's appointment had to be cancelled due to my body making the decision of not realizing a dream. Not just yet. Dental appointment... Cancelled. 
Did I make it to my dental teams office? You bet I did! I smiled all the way through the front doors, into the famous dental chair, room 2 and through even more unexpected dental work. I smiled because I made it! I had come to realize a dream and I be damn if it was going to be taken away from me. Not this time. No way! If anyone has any type of prosthesis, then you will easily understand what I mean by saying, that you can only hope that your body will accept the prosthesis. The other part is that no one knows, not even the treating doctor or dentist, if your body will accept the foreign object. The prosthesis. As I was given an introduction, education on the newest material in prosthetic teeth and prosthetic gums to replace what tumors have taken away from me. I was also told that sometimes, the body will not accept the prosthesis. It is a learning process for not just the patient, but as well the doctors and dentists. Still... I remain hopeful. 
It might not be the smile I was born with and there is still another part of the prosthesis that needs to be finished by the lab, but it's my smile. I have decided to share part of my smile with everyone. I am no longer ashamed nor embarrassed. I have learned by a great lesson of pain and suffering that we are only as happy and comfortable with ourselves as WE allow. Not the person next to me, not the neighbors, not Tommy, his wife or his kids at the local store nor anyone else. Who are we to judge a story that we may not understand, whether alone, may not even know. It's my smile and I am darn proud of it! I am beyond PROUD OF ME! I made it through a very long, years worth, extremely expensive and more painful than words can describe, dental journey. I made it and that within itself is nothing but, POWERFUL!
SMILE~
We had absolutely no luck on finding a temporary rental property so this home can go through the proper legal channels. Litigation. Yes, it would had been 'ideal' to get out of dodge in order to allow for the bank, insurance company and other parties to proceed full steam ahead on a property that should had never been sold or listed on the open market in the first place. Just when we think we have seen it all in this new era, day and age way of renting homes via private sellers or rental companies. TRUMPED again! This time it was after a little slip up by another private owner with regards to charging potential tenants, those interested in their rental properties a $40.00 per applicant in each household fee for supposedly doing a background check, etc, etc, etc. The problem was that the private owner wasn't collecting fees for background checks, but instead was pocketing as much money as possible by those whom were interested in their rental properties. We accidently got wind of just how sneaky the individual was being with literally taking application money, yet was never renting the properties, only pocketing the $40.00 fee per applicant, per each individual in the potential tenants household. One call to the wrong phone with a voicemail letting the correct individual know who they should had called in the first place, that the money for the down payment wouldn't be received until they cashed a few other applicant checks. Down payment for a new vehicle which had nothing to do with the rentals. It was for his wife. 
Last weeks unforeseen storms, large hail and 70-80 mph winds took a toll on quite a few homes in our neighborhood. Since we live up on a country hillside, with open areas between houses, it made for a great disaster that was bound to happen! We experienced flooding in our basement, both upstairs and downstairs garage, fireplace, roof, windows and other areas of a home that was already dealing with pre-existing issues. Thanks to the prior home owners! I need not get into continuing to cry over spilt milk, but the nasty storms took their toll on our home and quite a few other homes through out the neighborhood. At least we didn't experience windows blowing out from the wind and large hail like some of those down the street from us. Some experienced a complete loss with roofs that peeled back from 70+mph high winds. We contacted our insurance company a few days after the storms once we realized that sections of our roof were laying in the backyard. The wind was so strong that it knocked over part of our chimney top on the roof and the 5 inches of rain in less than a few hours caused water to pour into our basement, garage and left quite a mess in our crawl space, ducts and around the foundation. 
After we contacted our insurance company, within 24 hours they had sent out their disaster team. These guys do nothing, but evaluate claims due to anything from earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, floods, you name it! This was actually a blessing in disguise because these type of experienced teams can determine the difference between pre-existing damage and damage that is caused by other factors such as last weeks winter storms. More like, spring and summer storms that appeared during the winter months. Our house actually suffered more damage from the hail, high winds and flooding than what we could only see with a naked eye. There was other damage found in the crawl space, duct work, foundation around the garage, gutters, all corners of the roof and the actual garage door. We already had problems with the house due to a fictitious disclosure. Sure... the sellers didn't know anything about major foundation issues. That's why they abandoned the house once placing it with a local realtor, took some belongings and moved in with the agents friend. A few cities over and a P.O. box later. We found this out after concerned neighbors let us know once they saw far too many contractors within the first week of moving into our new home. 
HOPE. 
hungry
Good GRIEF!
This time change is for the birds! With another early wake up call at 7am for this mornings next scheduled treatment. Even the birds aren't yet awake on this still dark outside and quite chilly Tuesday morning. Ha! 
MOUTH WATERING~DELICIOUS~
Talking about enjoying food... I received some wonderful messages from dear Dr. T through out the day. Thank goodness for a smooth road to recovery after Dr. T's recent surgery! I am so happy to see him so happy! Dr. T is also getting ready to reap the rewards of a lifetime of hard work. Surgical work. Retirement life looks good on him and his new friends who have a few hidden talents of their very own. Painting. I have a hunch that with such a long successful life helping to save lives. His new found passion and love for painting will as well be a huge success! Myself and Eric can't wait to receive his first of many new painting masterpieces that he promised to mail to us later this week. What a great looking group of very talented young women and gentlemen. Life should be nothing, but filled with happiness. CHEERS to Dr. T and his friends! 
happy
St. Patrick's Day, but today most certainly still felt like one very lucky day! Inside and outside!
The tumors may have done their fair share of damage over the past few years. Especially with new tumors found over the past 12 months, even a lower jaw tumor that took 2 separate surgical procedures to remove and unfortunately most of my lower teeth with it. I have once again not only survived, but I will finally be able to have a normal, happy, glowing SMILE! It's been a long time coming, but good things really do come to those who wait! My news might not seem like much to some folks and maybe that is because I don't take anything in life for granted. Not even my smile. I have far more respect for life by the challenges and struggles I have endured. In the end... I have not only become stronger, but I have become more appreciative for the little things in life. 
AMEN!
I couldn't agree more! I know it will be a long shot, because let's face it... Anything and I mean, a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g can happen while on the road for 3 hours driving to the concert, 3 hours driving back home from the concert and even possibly, during the concert. That's life. I have to take risks from time to time in order to continue living, not just mere existing. No, not all the time, but this is a HUGE exception to the concert rule for this gal! Eric left the decision up to my doctors. Now that I have my doctors blessings, he is leaving the decision up to me. More so... My body. Now we must wait a little bit longer, actually the day before the concert in order to see how I am feeling. Internally. Mentally? You know this gal will be READY! I just hope my body will follow my mindset, onto the road and OFF we GO! 
We still have some planning ahead of us. Even a same-day road trip to the concert will take some careful pre-planning. We already have some great fur Angels taking care of Littleblue and Snoreo until we get back from the concert. Since we only expect to be gone a maximum of 9 hours, things should be fine with our fur children under watchful eyes, good hands and those with gentle hearts. I can no longer take long drives in either of our vehicles due to needing room to lay down when the nausea and pain get to be a bit too much. Thanks to Kyle at our local rental car company, the same super comfy SUV will be ours to drive for the concert. YAYYYY! Extra room, big comfy heated seats and other 'must-haves' should help make our same-day road trip a lot more comfortable! A lot more safe too! 
WOO~HOO!!! 
hug me
Time to take Littleblue for her tumor recheck. Of course, we didn't expect to have much, if any positive news. That is because Littleblue is now starting to show signs of pain. Her tumor has grown a lot since just her last recheck. Not good. It's heart breaking when our fur children become ill. Worse when it is a condition that has no cure. Cancer.
Poor Snoreo. It's like the roles have now reversed for Littleblue. She was the great big Sis for Oreo when he was very sick and reaching the end of his courageous battle. Littleblue had no one to play with for a few years while Oreo's health continued to quickly decline. Now it's Snoreo playing little Brother to his playmate, Littleblue that can no longer play. We do our best to run Snoreo's energy out at the local dog park, walks along the river trails and lots of toys that fill a huge plastic tote at home. No matter what we do, Snoreo can sense Littleblue is sick and that makes all of us very sad. 
Animals have a sense about them to know when something isn't quite right. Same goes for when one of their fur siblings become sick just as when Littleblue was there for Oreo. 
care of themselves or even others. I have yet to ever be let down by one of my beloved fur children. I receive nothing, but unconditional love from all of them. They have been here for me, more than most humans have been here for me. Sorry, but it's a fact. I know people who treat animals like a new pair of shoes. A few years go by... Then they find something new or cuter or bigger or whatever the reason to just rid a pet like a pair of shoes. These are the same folks and TRUST ME... I KNOW! The same kind of folks that treat animals the same way as they treat people in their own lives. At their discretion. At their disposal. It's no wonder that my passion for all of God's creatures, both big and small, is something that will never stop while I am here on the face of this earth. I believe my love for all animals, especially my fur children, will even go on in the after life. Until then... I will continue loving, spoiling and even caring for my beloved fur children when they become sick and start the end of their own journey. Back home to Heaven. Crossing the Rainbow Bridge. Love should never waiver, regardless if human, animal or any other living, breathing form of life. 
IS LOVE. 