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The Road Before & After Surgery
July 24, 2017
Just Another MANIC Monday ;)
Mood:  cheeky
Now Playing: Day 2758-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)

 

Talking about needing some rain!

It never rains like a normal kind of rain here in the country. This is our very first summer since moving here back in late fall, 2016. So far, when it rains, it LITERALLY POURS!

Of course, that means testing out various measures of making sure that our foundation does not take on further water that is most definitely NOT needed. I have lost track of just how many contractors that have visited our home of many hidden lemon gems and lots of dire repairs. When it rains...I believe it rains $$$. Out of our pocket, anyways... HA!

I can't believe that we are starting another week. When you stay busy, time literally does fly by~ The week, days and hours all seem to just mesh together as one. It's been one heck of an adventure tackling on the biggest feat yet! A major repair, repainting and one huge project after another with our house here in the country. They say, "It's not over till the fat lady sings!" In our case, she is still on a diet, because one could easily burn some serious calories working in and out of this house of major repairs! No pun, or more like, BUN intended. Heeheeheehee!

Our latest little lemon of a gem literally needs a few tetanus shots to go along with it after what we found among the bathroom pipes. It's always of course, by accident. Just doing a double check before officially finishing up the last little bathroom project touch-ups. When we noticed water under the pipes behind the sink. This should had been just a mere tightening of the joints, but OH NO! Eric had to literally unscrew the joint and then found the most nastiest of the nasty lemon gems yet. UGGGGGG! We are lucky that a mere drip of water wasn't the only issue going on, because clearly things were one second away from getting worse. Thanks prior owners for allowing your long, black, thick hair to literally consume itself into one huge knotted mess within the bathroom sink pipes. Also mind you, tampons should be disposed in the garbage can. Not in the sink. Tetanus shot anyone?. Not that a tampon string at this point was such a bad thing. It did allow Eric to pull out far too much old, nasty, decayed hair with too many other nasty descriptions for this blog to mention. If we didn't further investigate that mere, few minor drips of water. Things could had been far worse, only in a matter of short time.

And who says house flipping isn't for the faint-at-heart. LITERALLY! Hahahahahaha!

I guess one should end this blog on a far different, much more light-hearted note... When thinking of water. Let's just say that Eric's rendition of the 'Whiskey Regatta' literally came to life when we paid a visit to the huge race. Speed boat race. Regatta, Eric. No...Not a festival where boats from all around the great USA bring different types of whiskey to share with the festive folks out in the crowd. Heeheeheeheehee! If that were the case. I guess they weren't bringing but a few mere bottles of whiskey on these racing boats! Hahahahahaha!

Ahhhhh...Life...Tis one HUGE adventure...


Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: July 27, 2017 1:54 AM EDT
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July 23, 2017
Energy~As THICK As MOLASSES!
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Day 2757-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)

 

I SPY...

A tiny little black kitty waiting for us to bring out this mornings breakfast! Heeheeheehee...TOO darn CUTE!

It seems we have welcomed this little kitty as part of our wildlife family a little over 3 months ago. Nothing wrong with making sure he stays as happy and healthy as the rest of his wildlife friends. Just call me, as Eric calls me, Mother Wild. Hahahahaha! My heart belongs to the animals. All animals. Even this cute little kitty!

This morning while attempting to catch up, backtracking this blog. I was surprisingly interrupted by a little girl humming a tune. Behind the couch where I sit, typing away, as if she was pacing the floor and humming away. If that wasn't strange. Once Eric got home from work, he asked if I had turned on the cats toy that circles around a large platform. Hmmmmm... I hadn't gotten up, since finally sitting down after painting in order to attempt catching up on this blog. It seems we have a little visitor that likes to play with the cats and hum a few tunes, as if desperately seeking attention. Yep, this is usually how it happens. Spirit knows who they can comfortably connect with as far as this world. I have always believed. Because...I know.

I firmly believe there are those who are believers. There are those who are skeptics, but want very desperately to believe. Then...there are those whom no matter what happens. Even in front of their very own eyes. They still absolutely refuse to believe. So close minded that no one could ever change their mind nor attempt to pry it open. We actually ran into someone like that over the past month while picking up a moving truck so we could retrieve our dining room set and a few other totes. Ironically, the place where we were scheduled to pick up our rental truck was an actual place that I had been wanting to check out. An old, historic farm and feed mill within our little, lazy, river town.

Mind you. Myself and Eric had never been even as close as parking outside of the old building. But there is always the exception while picking up the moving truck one lazy afternoon. It's always when I least expect, does the energy then whirl itself in front of me like a violent tornado. I can't explain it. But the energy that afternoon was as thick-as-molasses! We weren't sure where to park, since there really wasn't any type of parking lot. So we parked directly across the old farm and seed building. As we got out the car and proceeded to walk toward the building. I felt a burst of energy like never before! Strangely, it was even before we approached the steps going up to the old front porch of the historic building. I actually felt a few things, all at once. I looked at Eric, before walking up the steps, and said, "There is a lot of energy right here in this spot. I don't know why, but I feel someone very strongly holding their neck." We both looked up at the old buildings original windows. It seemed as if time literally stood still, as if those who worked here back in the day were still present. Waiting to greet the next visitor.

The craziest part of all of this, was when we walked through the old front doors and one of the new owners family members greeted us. We didn't see them watching nor listening to us as we approached the front porch steps to the building. But boy, OH BOY! did they looked spooked! As I walked through the door, there was a huge draft of air that quickly surrounded us. There was no breeze outside, which made it that much more strange. Especially to the owners family member who peered as if to check us out before approaching the front desk register. Clearly, they knew that we were there to pick up the rental truck. Right on time! But they initially had other questions in mind...first.

"I overheard you outside. Are you from around here?" We both looked at each other and said, "Actually we are from Ohio, moved here last fall." Oh...OK. Then the gentleman got quiet and said, "I overheard what you said outside. Did you feel something?" At this point. I wasn't sure what to say or how to respond. The family member was literally getting spooked out! But not by what I was saying before walking into their building. But because of my accuracy in what I was saying due to what I was feeling as we were walking up the old wooden front porch steps. "So you don't know about what happened outside of this building many years ago, do you?." I looked at Eric and he even looked shocked after they asked me the question. "No, I have no idea. This is the first time we have been here, but I have always wanted to stop by since moving into the area." As strange as it may sound to skeptics, or those whom have their minds so closed off to the afterlife. That no one could pry it open, even if they tried. The gentleman then looked directly at me and said, "There was a guy who committed suicide using his vehicle by coming down the street as fast as he could and hitting the building with his car. Right where you stopped in front of the steps. It was right there where he died." Eric was shocked! As for myself, the feeling of needing to hold my neck while walking up the old wooden steps was because it was literally the exact spot where the gentleman died. We have heard due to being decapitated from the car hitting the building with such great force.

That wasn't the only person I was picking up on inside the old, historic building. As the gentleman began talking further about the suicide that happened outside of their building. I could feel the presence of workers, many, many workers from back in the day. Their energy was still present, as if they were still working, waiting to leave in order to get back home to their loved ones. It was a very playful kind of energy! I couldn't help, but to smile after the gentleman finished his story and began talking to me about the old farm and seed building. "It used to be an old flour mill back in the day." I looked at him and said, "I bet a lot of workers kept this place busy, day in and day out!" He didn't know what to say, because at that very moment the strong playful energy began coming to life. The front door flew wide open, the bell on the old wooded counter fell over and rang. The gentleman was so spooked out that even the register stopped working, which he swore up and down had never, EVER stopped working for no good reason. I felt that this gentleman had felt these same, exact playful spirits before and he wasn't happy with them. I walked around as we waited for the register to reboot so we could get our receipt for the rental truck. If I could paint a picture, clearly what I felt and saw were young men in dusty overalls, khaki pants, tall boots and huge smiles. As if having a BLAST once again, messing with the owners son.

You see...That gentleman who is part of a much larger family that now owns the old historic building doesn't believe. He is a non-believer. In fact, he actually voiced his opinion after I asked him point blank. "Have you ever had anything odd happen here since your family bought the building and turned it into a farm and seed store?" The owners son was shocked! He not only got extremely quiet, but made a comment aimed towards things that I believe have happened since their family had taken over the business. "Darn demons! They are messing with me again! This register has never done this before!" At this point, I felt his frustration. Yet, those playful spirits whom still reside, yet still come to work each and every day would have nothing to do with his comments. They would only continue on as the door swung open again, the old front desk bell ringing as if to mock the owners son on more than a few occasions. He even shocked the heck out of myself and Eric after I decided to step outside while the gentleman got his composure together due to the register literally freezing up on him, again. Even the old farm and seed building cat named, Conway felt some sort of playful presence while keeping us company. Heeheeheehee! The same gentleman, once again, swore up and down that Conway isn't a social kind of cat and was even a bit taken back that he came directly up to me upon initially walking into the old front doors. If things weren't crazy enough, the owners son shocked us both after I walked back into the building after catching some fresh air. "Did you have anything to do with the register not working!?" If only he could see and feel what I was, because those young workers from back in the day were laughing to their hearts content! I could only look at him, smile and nod my head...No.

I guess you can say, that sometimes even non-believers have their moments of belief. You just can't make this stuff up. You can't make up what I also felt before even walking up those old wooden stairs. Knowing that the owners son was watching and listening to us the entire time. THAT is something that even non-believers, like this gentleman. Just have to believe. So maybe...The playfully joking around spirits might not be on this gentleman's best side. But I have a feeling that what myself and Eric witnessed first hand that day. Isn't the first nor will it be the last time he will fall victim to the jokingly playful spirits of the young workers from back in the day. A flour mill that is still very much alive today as it was many, many decades ago.

As for Conway kitty...He keeps what he knows to himself! Heeheeheeheehee...


Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: July 25, 2017 7:40 AM EDT
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July 22, 2017
DESTINED. DETERMINED!
Mood:  vegas lucky
Now Playing: Day 2756-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)

 

It's back to the daily grind with ongoing house projects!

One day to rest. Now back to business!

What I have not gotten used to living on a wooded hillside is the scary abundance of spiders. Not little spiders. OH NO! Big, huge, scary-as-heck kind of spiders! The kind that you don't see until your face ends up as one with their quite creative ways of making GINORMOUS spider webs! EEEE~YIKES!!

I have lost track on how many times we have literally walked right into one of these perfectly spiraled webs of EEEE~YIKES!!! Eric went face-first, walking right into one while feeding the deer last night. Hahahahaha! I have had my fair share, even as much as getting my leg tangled into quite a few. There aren't enough visits from Terminix to rid these bigger than the country spiders! All you can really do...Is just be alert. Both eyes straight ahead! Hahahahaha!

This evening it was about revisiting the bathroom project of doing our best to somehow undo a really bad tile job. I began working on the bathroom remodel late last year. A month after we closed. But over the past week we decided to make it our #1 priority. More so myself, since Eric had overtime scheduled this week. It's been quite an adventure, but it now appears that I should be officially done with the bathroom and onto the second bedroom by the end of this weekend. YAYYYYY~FOR ME!!!

There is nothing quite like a very neat, clean, sealed from top-to-bottom country coastal theme bathroom. No more crazy colors, crazy stripes and all sorts of crazy kind of caulk that the prior owners used to seal various areas of the bathroom. No wonder we could never figure out where drops of water found in the basement were coming from directly below the bathroom. It's because the prior owners used drywall caulking to seal around the tub and shower tile. Let's not go there on the time it took to literally 'UN-DO' the huge mess. One heck of a project! One tile at-a-time! By this weekend the shower should be nice, neat, properly sealed, tiles replaced, repaired and white as a sheet of paper! WOO~HOO!

What we really need is another Celebration Sunday this coming weekend. But with rain predicted for the entire weekend here in the country. Looks like we will most likely have to take another rain check. No PUN intended! BAH! At least we have plenty to do in order to stay super busy this weekend. I have also been staying in close touch with my second cousin and his fiancé out in Kirwin. Even with our language barriers, we still find time to continue connecting on a weekly basis. It's been quite fascinating learning about a completely different side of family...DNA. They are planning on visiting us for the upcoming holidays and we couldn't be more super excited! So many great reasons to get the remainder of this house flipped, INSIDE-OUT, ASAP!

Of course...There is our ultimate goal that is slowly inching it's way within our reach...

All good things to those who wait! 


Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: July 24, 2017 7:00 AM EDT
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July 21, 2017
Take Your Time Woman! Relax...
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: Day 2755-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)

 

Not only are we both on a mission!

But today my body finally fell out of mission. BAH! I believe that my body literally screamed this morning, "Take your time woman! Relax..."

We all had such an amazing time last night. I however, did end up trying a few new things when it comes to solid food. Sometimes a GP'ers worse enemy. In general...Any solid food. I have been doing my best to slowly introduce a few new things through out the day. Slowly building on a very limited diet that consists of mainly liquids. I assume that maybe there is a reason why. I guess one also figured out why fried green tomatoes might not had been such a wise choice. 1 tomato could had possibly been A-OK. But not 2 fried green tomatoes. LORDIE! I also decided to be really bold by ordering a small side of the restaurants famous, peanut slaw. Sure, no red meat, no fish nor any other type of meat or seafood. I figured staying with greens, vegetables and a safe decaf iced tea, lemon on the side would be safe enough.

Maybe then. But not later.

I had plans today to finish up the very last little bit still left with the bathroom repairing and repainting project. Today. Not tomorrow. But what doesn't stay down, must come back up. No more crazy peanut slaw or fried green tomatoes for this gal. And I had a lot of leftovers to bring home. Eric ate those today. I am back on liquids for at least a few days. Hahahahaha! There is still no reason why we can't take a road off the same ole course with GP. I honestly must say, that so far it has been more successful than initially anticipated with reintroducing solid foods back into my diet. One small step and one 'small' spoonful at a time. Lesson learned!

At least we had lots of wildlife visitors through out the sunny, cloudy, rainy and then sunny again kind of day here in the country. We sure needed the rain and so did the deer and their super cute babies! The creeks that run along our property and through out the wooded hillside were running dry. Even the deer need to eat and have plenty of water in order to survive. Eric was on a 24-hour water mission over the past week. As fast as he filled the birdbath, the faster the water was consumed. Our pride and joy deer, we named Dots, is so spoiled that she literally just sleeps outside in eyes view of our living room window. Talking about spoiled! But very much well worth it!

Boy is Santa going to happy with us this year! His deer will not only be super healthy and ready for another trip around the world, delivering gifts to all the good little boys and girls! But I overheard by a few elves that we are so far on the TOP of the NICE list! Heeheeheeheehee!

And as far as Santa's deer...They are looking very much happy, healthy and ready as ever! Even the babies...


Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: July 22, 2017 4:47 AM EDT
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July 20, 2017
A Most B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L Day! :)
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Day 2754-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)

 

Time to take a break from all of the ongoing projects!

Time to take a break....To get out and enjoy~LIFE

It seems that not only are we on a painting mission! But so are Dr. T and Jo! What a most beautiful gift! The start of a most B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L kind of day!

We don't get out very often with dear and close friends. Those whom are just like family to us. Always lending a kind ear or helpful hand through out our life. There are no words to describe how happy we were to meet Dr. T and Jo out for dinner. Time to take a break from the monotony! Time to take a break in order to get and enjoy this adventure called~Life.

It's been quite awhile since going out to dinner. It's also been a little over 5 years since we had been to the same exact restaurant where we ate dinner on the day we got married. I figured, why not share a really super nice and quite historic place on our side of town. A hop, skip and jump from their hometown back in Ohio. Who doesn't love really good food, a beautiful artsy atmosphere and of course...Great company! I forgot what it was like to enjoy dinner out together as a group. In a group setting. I assume sometimes my gastroparesis and anxiety get the best of me. I will always be a work-in-progress. But today was a major break-through for this gal!

HAPPY~HAPPY~HAPPY

We all had such a great time! I also forgot how it feels when you smile and laugh so much that your mouth hurts. Hahahahaha! It was honestly just what any doctor would order. Even Dr. T! A most beautiful evening out with dear and close friends. So many stories to share about life in general. What a wonderful time! What wonderfully kind hearted and amazing friends! We all couldn't have had a better time. Spending an evening out, enjoying life...Together.

Isn't that what life is truly all about? Sharing and caring. Plenty of laughter and a whole LOT of smiles!

Thank you so much Dr. T for the most beautiful artwork. We still insist that his new hidden talent should be showcased in some type of art gallery! Jo is also a very skilled and exceptionally talented artist! She was so kind to bring me a gift of her many paintings, printed on note cards. It was very thoughtful of them both! The artwork of course is very appropriately themed for our continued repairs and remodeling projects through out our home. The notecards also make a very nice addition to our soon-to-be new home office! All around it was a most B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L day with the most beautiful friends! Life is good. God is good. Life can truly be amazing when you learn how to quit worrying so much. Quit trying to control. Just let it...Be.

Of course, we couldn't end this beautiful day without an evening walk along the river trails. It will always be by far...The smaller things in life that bring the most joy to our little family. The most laughter...The most smiles. A most B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L day!

 


Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: July 22, 2017 4:07 AM EDT
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July 19, 2017
Going OUTSIDE Your Comfort Zone! :)
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Day 2753-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)

 

Lately...It's not just myself raising the bar... Eric has officially joined the ranks!

WOO~HOO!!

We both have been finding ways to raise the bar. A far better me, you, today than yesterday, last week, last month and last year. Good changes! POSITIVE changes! We don't do any negative Nancy moments anymore! And we sure don't welcome any terrible tantrums either! Heeheeheehee...

Eric has been on a roll! He continues to even amaze himself when it comes to home repairs! Let's not forget how far I have come with tools and other quite tricky hidden lemon gem repairs left behind by the prior owners. If it needs fixed and not in any normal manner by any means. We have been on a ROLL! We have set the bar higher than ever before! We aren't just embracing change within our lives and within our little family. We are literally WELCOMING and EMBRACING it with open arms!

Here are just a few of our going above and beyond our comfort zone. Moments in the making

 

Manners must be first hand. Not second hand. "Sir, Mam, Please and Thank You." Watching how we speak. As well to each other.

You won't die if it doesn't include sugar and salt within your daily diet. Among other things that are most definitely not healthy. Ask Eric. There is such a thing as, "MEN'oPause." Hahahahaha!

Trying something new such a power tool that comes with bare minimum, if any type of instructions.

Leave the cursing for Andrew Dice Clay. Life is not Comedy Central. HAHAHAHA! A sailor mouth gets you...No Where. NO WHERE...FAST!

You don't need social media apps to make you happy. If anything, limiting your time on social media, to bare minimum time. Means extra time for you to enjoy life.

Don't worry about the grass on the other side of the fence. Worry about your grass ONLY. Sorry to bust your mower. But the grass is most definitely not greener on the other side. This leads us to the next...

Mind YOUR P's & Q's. Not everyone else's. Don't worry about everyone else and what everyone is doing. Worry about yourself. Then you will find the key to true happiness!

We don't do certified mail. We have also learned that if someone or anyone calls and does not leave a voicemail or a detailed voicemail message. Then don't worry about it. It's not that important.

Daily greens need not have to be chewed. Eric has learned that even if your stomach doesn't agree the first time with pro-power organic greens. Try, try and try again. Eventually your body will agree! Same holds true with getting our of your GP diet comfort zone!

And...Most importantly... Shower those with kindness! Never judge a book by it's cover. Everyone has their own battles. Be kind. A simple smile will do!

 

 


Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: July 20, 2017 4:32 AM EDT
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July 18, 2017
Being In the Moment...
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: Day 2752-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)

 

Being in the moment...Living in the moment. There are days, like today, where we need to be both.

Being & Living

We have been keeping extremely busy with our huge house FLIP! The days and hours seem to just fly on by~ We have a lot to keep us busy. Yet days like today...Keeping busy, on top of being productive is a good thing! Actually...A blessing in disguise! Days like today. If we didn't have so much to keep us busy. One could really let their brain take over with far scarier stuff. I am thankful to have such amazing support and encouragement from Eric. Especially when new news isn't what anyone was anticipating. With the help of my therapist and LC, life coach. Some medical information should be shared in hopes of possibly helping someone else whom might be in my shoes. Symptoms that to most, would make no sense. But symptoms that could possibly help you stay one step ahead! Medically.

With a few tests that came back far worse than just a few months ago. The remaining lab work also came back over the past few days. It isn't about...Why. It's about...HOW can we help you to proceed forward. When your body starts throwing out some very strange symptoms. Those new symptoms should be shared with your oncologist and other treating physicians. Never try to play, 'Doctor.' Listen to your body! Leave playing doctor to your treating physicians. For reasons that really wouldn't matter nor change anything. I only have one functioning kidney. The drastic changes within labs are due to changes within my body. The kidney that is working isn't filtering properly. We could assume lots of things that have contributed to the cause of losing function of one kidney and damaging the other. Tumors continuing to block organs, bad cells continuing to scramble upward. But would knowing really change anything? Would it change the outcome? No. I am leaving decisions within the hands of my medical team. Life will go on. Life does go on. Same as it always has for this gal on a mission to continue defying the odds.

Being in the moment means finding ways to enjoy life. In the here and now. Finding hope, happiness and ways to create new memories. My dear and close friend Kev and his son are doing just that while taking a cross country trip visiting national monuments through out the great USA. New memories and moments shared between Father and Son. Living in the moment means embracing the good times and the bad times. Finding that silver lining! We will always face obstacles through out our lifetime. Some worse than others. But if we take those obstacles and find a way to power through them by being and living in the moment. We will then realize just how blessed we truly are! There is always something to find in life that brings about a HUGE SMILE! You just have to know where to look and allow your heart to lead the way~


Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 12:01 AM EDT
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July 17, 2017
First...A Tennis Ball. Now...Weather Stripping??
Mood:  surprised
Now Playing: Day 2751-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)

 

OH...The JOYS of finding all sorts of wonderful hidden lemon gems left by the prior owners...

You know. The kind that hits you out of nowhere! We thought that the ole tennis ball taped on the wall with painters tape was a classic gem find! Oh no...Not as of yesterday evening. This is what I found while repairing the ceilings in the addition part of our kitchen.

I wasn't honestly sure what the heck was going on with this part of the ceiling??. Once I got the ladder out of the garage, and brought it into the house so I could take a much closer looksee. Did I then realize that the prior owners not only 'didn't' properly seal a huge gap that went from one section of the ceiling into the attic. But they used a long piece of black weather stripping. OH...Boy... Hmmmmm... I assume that maybe they ran out of painters tape to just literally tape the open gap from the ceiling into the attic. Of course, just being facetious if you know what I mean. It took awhile in order to figure out how to tackle this self-repair nightmare. But I am a gal on a serious mission! There is no stopping me or my huge tool bench of various home improvement supplies!

While the kitty gang played to their hearts content. At least staying out of the way from a gal on a mission! It took me a little over 3 hours before successfully tearing down and repairing another big ole mess! I am still chuckling at our big painters taped tennis ball find. Now I guess you can say that anything is possible with a house of hidden lemon gems! Heeheeheehee! Give them a round of applause though..."A" for effort! At least they did attempt to find something around the house to use, instead of just heading to a local hardware store and doing repairs the correct way. The first time. Nah! They must had known that we like a challenge and rightfully so, accepted this huge challenge of flipping a house literally inside out. UPSIDE down!

There isn't enough oriental tea to help keep me alert. I really don't need the tea, because we know that come next room to repair and repaint. There will always be a good laugh and enough to keep us alert and super busy! What a great theme to our soon-to-be fresh new home~County Coastal. By the time we are finished with the house. And the various contractors are finished on their end. We will be more than ready to relax our cares away this upcoming winter season!

Appropriately themed and now successfully finished...The right way.

R-E-L-A-X

 


Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: July 18, 2017 6:55 AM EDT
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July 16, 2017
Setting The Bar...HIGHER!
Mood:  on fire
Now Playing: Day 2750-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)

 

Here we go!

Time to set that personal bar even higher than before!

I am proud to say that it has been officially one week since completely cutting sugar out of my life. I am also happy to say that I have slowly been successful at introducing all sorts of fresh cut, steamed-no salt, mixed vegetables into my diet. Let's just say that I have fought back the ole sweet tooth with every bit of will power in my body! My LC-life coach, challenged me a week ago to cut all sugar out of my diet. At first, I laughed and looked at her as if she had just asked me to cut off my arm. Hahahahaha! The reason for such a drastic change in my diet, as well completely stopping all pain medication. Is quite obvious. Add the results of one very important lab report changing within a mere 6 weeks from a not-so-normal low of 6.9. As of this weeks report...A scary low 1.9.

Time to set that personal bar~WAY HIGHER!!

When I am craving sugar. My LC has me stop and then ask out loud one very important awareness question. "Am I really craving sugar? Or...Am I just craving sugar out of boredom, anxiety or for energy?" It's been a really good way to stop all sugar, cold-turkey! The results in just a mere week have been absolutely CRAZY! I can't wait to see how I feel in a month! Sure, I have my weak moments. But stopping before I give in and asking myself why am I really craving sugar has been the key so far with my success. When it comes to introducing fish back into my diet. After a long absence...No dice! It tore me up! Tilapia used to be my go-to fish friend. But not anymore. So my LC has created a diet plan tailored to not just my Gastroparesis, but for other medical reasons. I never could handle the caffeine in coffee or soda. So at least I don't have to worry about going cold-turkey a 'la three different cray-cray ways! Hahahaha!

They say, "You are what you eat." Then sure enough I should be sprouting roots! BAH~HAHAHAHA!

Off to hit the trails this evening for a nice, brisk walk. Exercise of course...Just as important for the human body. Dr. T said that with already such a limited diet, no red meats. I should live till I am 100 years young! We will see as soon as I try out Jo's, Tia Chi Chih class this coming week


Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: July 18, 2017 6:08 AM EDT
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July 15, 2017
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MITTENS! :)
Mood:  lucky
Now Playing: Day 2749-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)

 

Look who's celebrating their very 1st birthday!

Mittens kitty is officially a year old

TOO CUTE!!

We came across Mitten's a year ago while feeding the birds one morning back in Ohio. Mittens was just a tiny stray kitty that we believe may have gotten lost from her mama and siblings. There was a lot of wooded land behind the house, along with a community park. We didn't expect to see this cute little kitten ever again, but she kept coming back. That's the way it usually goes in our household of fur children. Heeheeheehee!

Lucky kitty used to sit on her cat tree next to the back door. Looking through out the day to see if her little friend would come back so she could talk to her through the window. We always knew when the kitten would be outside because Lucky would go absolutely crazy on her cat tree. Of course...I don't really believe that 'WE' found Mittens that we named after seeing her pretty white paws. Instead we believe that Mittens found us. Her new human family and lots of fur siblings. The month prior to closing and moving into our new home in Indiana. Mittens kitty was adamant as ever to continue paying us visits through out the day. When it was cold, rainy and snowing. Mittens would take shelter under our front porch. Myself and Eric both agreed that NO WAY could we leave the little cute kitten behind to find food on her own and some sort of shelter. So one day we decided to start feeding Mittens in a feral cat carrier that had a door which closed whenever the cat steps towards the back of the cage. Yes, of course! It is a very safe and humane cage! A great way to rescue lost kitties and those who might be injured.

Eric said that NO WAY will this little kitten walk into the cage, go all the way to the back, step on the hinge door release and begin eating the small bowl of food. Of course, I didn't get my hopes up very high. Especially on the very first try, but we still had two weeks before our big move. It wasn't but a mere few minutes before Mittens walked across the yard, up to the open cage and walked right on inside. Right towards the back of the cage, stepping on the hinge door release and began eating the small bowl of food. Hahahaha! Talking about completely astonished!! The very first try we successfully were able to rescue and officially welcome home Mittens to our little family. Lucky was super excited to finally have new friend indoors when we brought Mittens home after having her checked out by our veterinarian! Lucky never left Mittens side and Mittens never left Lucky's side. It was Mittens kitty who sat by Lucky's side when her heart condition took a tragic turn for the worse. We never pushed Mittens away, but instead allowed her to continue comforting her best friend, Lucky.

Lucky was assisted by us that very sad morning at the veterinarian hospital. We brought Lucky back home before the private crematory service in Ohio so her siblings could understand and begin their own grieving process. Lucky's cremains are now here at home with her family in a beautiful blue marble urn. It was that very day. That somehow...I believe that Mittens didn't actually find us. It was Lucky who found Mittens.

Rescued and adopted animals bring so much love and happiness into the lives of those who welcome them as family. A safe place that fur children can finally call...Home.

We wouldn't have it any other way. Mittens and the rest of our fur children are meant to be.

Happy Birthday  Mittens Kitty!

#Adopt#Rescue#Love


Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: July 17, 2017 9:10 AM EDT
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