Mood:
brightNow Playing: Day 2764-Next GP Chapter... Turning Lemons Into Lemonade :)
Why...HELLO
My Lovelies!
We have been continuing to stay crazy busy with our house-flip! But sometimes too much, can be a bit too much for me, physically.
Most recently, I have been dealt another unfortunate blow, medically. With each new challenge. I have learned that stepping back for some personal solitude time in order to evaluate the matter at hand is first and upmost important. Not jumping into things, head first, so-to-speak. Having an amazing therapist and new life coach has made all the difference in the world in how I react and respond to progressing issues with my health. It may not be easy. But moving forward, diligently, yet still realistically has proven to work best for me.
I am not asking for prayers. I believe that others whom are in far worse situations than myself could really use our prayers. Instead I ask to cheer my success with upcoming testing and surgery with a coffee, glass of wine or yours for the choosing! That's how I view all the obstacles in life. A means to celebrate an adventure that is as successful as the good Lord allows it to be or become. If you know me. I also don't do pity parties. For myself, I see it as a sign of weakness. Lord knows that is the last thing this gal is...Weak.
So I thank YOU for cheering me on during the upcoming weeks!
As far as prayers of support and means of providing hope. I am asking everyone to please consider helping Clark to find a kidney. I am also asking for your prayers today with great healing powers for Clark who is in need of a kidney.
When you come to a crossroads. Remember that someone else may have it far worse. When you come to a crossroads, remember that this too shall pass. There is always something bigger and yet, far scarier. But through it all. We ALL could not get through the crossroads in life without the compassion from one another. LOVE from one another. Helping one another. Let's all help Clark find a kidney!
If you would like to be considered as a possible donor match for Clark. If you know someone who is willing to see if they are a possible kidney donor match for Clark. Please contact:
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI HOSPITAL
TRANSPLANT DEPARTMENT
1-513-584-7001
1-855-GO-KIDNE
Thank...YOU!
"If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up first."
on fire
We had about enough of the bathroom repairing and repainting project. That is until we find out in the next 24-hours if my latest and greatest pipe connecting idea works...Or not. Heeheeheeheehee! 
In the meantime. It's time to continue on this great house flipping project! Time to move onto the second bedroom! The last closet to be repaired and repainted. YAYYYYY! Let's be honest. I am beyond thankful to finally have the bathroom complete! Even if the sink pipes don't connect and are a work-in-progress. Either by myself, Eric or the plumber in a week. We did send off the work estimate to our home warranty company. Who knows what they will or will not cover since they asked us to seek an outside contractor after they failed to find one that is willing to have an I-O-U. For now it's off to begin a new project! Have to keep going forward! The plumbing can wait for now as I am crossing all my fingers and toes. Betting everything on good ole Flex-Seal! More of that later... Hahahahaha! 
While in between patching, repairing and waiting for drywall to literally dry. I decided to whip up another new recipe. Created by little ole me. I never tend to like using recipes. I would much rather create something on my own. Healthy by all means. Eric, he can forget Little Debbie. Her not-so-healthy snack cakes are a thing of the past. A diet of the past. He did admit to feeling a whole lot better, more wide awake and lots more energy since continuing on the new diet of eating clean and organic. I have 
to stick to my protein shakes today. Liquid for me! Eric got to try my new and latest fish dish. Thai-fish casserole! It sure smelled really GOOD! After Eric inhaled half of the large casserole dish within a few hours. I guess we can safely assume that it tasted, A-OK! Heeheeheeheehee! Steamed veggies, coconut oil, filleted tilapia and a few secret Thai herbs and seasoning. Before and after cooking. For most, it should last a few days. For Eric. It may only last one. Unless Mittens kitty finds her way up to the kitchen counter, again. Lesson learned last week! Never leave left overs on top of the stove after cooling. Then assume that one year old Mittens is all good for staying on the kitty honor system. I honor not to jump up on the stove, remove the Reynolds wrap and eat daddy's left over rice dish. Hahahahaha! 
COMPLETE!
d'oh
they literally pour at our house!
Thank goodness the umpteen new drain system actually worked during a few downpours here in the country. The Speedy~Gonzales goal is to make sure that all of the water is being directed 'away' from our house. Not directly over and under our house as prior lack-of proper drains that were installed by the prior owners. I should really highlight the word, "improper." There has yet to be any sort of easy fix with this entire house. Just when we think there will be something that will actually go fairly smoothly...It tends to usually turn out to be a huge undertaking! 
The bathroom repairing and repainting project is finally complete. That is...if you don't count another plumber having to make a visit to our house of hidden lemon gems. Pffffff... Seems the prior owners literally joined two different types of pipes, along with two totally different sizes of pipes to hook up the bathroom sink. HOW they meshed the two together can only be described as something out of the stone-age. Literally!
Instead of replacing the entire pipe that runs from the sink, through the wall and down into the main drain in the basement. They only replaced one section of the pipe. With what we assumed and today's plumber quickly confirmed. A completely different size pipe, held together by condensation. Water dripping over a long period of time. Most likely in some sort of drip pan or bowl placed behind the sink that actually formed a really thick limestone barrier around the joint that doesn't even fit. How we personally found out was after unscrewing the thick, scaly mess that literally held together two different size pipes. PFFFFF! 
Thankfully, our home warranty company will be covering a good majority of this latest gem of a find! That is...after we pay the plumber first and then have to wait 7-10 days or longer to be compensated by the home warranty company. Seems they can't find anyone that is contracted on their end. We even personally gave them 10 plumbing company names and phone numbers. But sorry home warranty company. This isn't the wild-wild-west where we, "I-OWE-U." No company in their right frame of mind is willing to be paid almost 2 weeks later. BAH! This is how it works in this day and age. A company does the work. A company gets paid after their job is complete. Not 7 to 10 days later. Or longer. Tis why we have to pick and choose right now on what is mandatory. Seems using anything, but the bathroom sink is last on the priority list. That is until I put my Wonder Woman skills, tools and ideas to work! GIRL POWER!
WINK*
happy
I was totin' my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road
Been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow
Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana, Washington
Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika, Shefferville
Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravellburg, Colorado, Ellensburg, Rexburg
celebratory
Information will be available starting next month on the Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign website under the 'United GP Walk 2017' tab. This is YOUR chance to organize and create your very own 'Walk-Run-Ride' event for Gastroparesis Awareness! 
chillin'
Again and again and again.
It appears that someone is in awe of Eric's outstanding job of installing our brand new garage door. OK. So...maybe it's still a work-in-progress with a few final touches with regards of securing the garage door braces. But it still looks a million times better than the old garage door that literally snapped in-half on us. Hahahahaha! The prior owners didn't use any type of garage door opener brace upon installation. On top of using a very cheap fiberglass type of garage door which made it literally super easy to just rip right on-in-half! Lessons learned...For us. The new owners. And of course...the hard way. 
I have been doing my best to continue to slowly introduce new healthy solid foods into my daily diet. I will admit that some days it's back to all liquids. While other days, I find it pretty darn exciting to try out a few healthy bites of steamed veggies, whole wheat rice and sliced tofu. Organic of course! We can no longer afford the relistor injections and the pill form unfortunately did not work for my unique GP which effects my entire GI motility. Pills just literally remain still in solid pill form on their way through my entire GI tract by via gravity. Pills never could break down or absorb property which is the majority of the reason why liquid form of anything works best for my GP. Every patient is truly different! What might work for one patient, might not work for another patient. Vice-versa. It's always going to be a learning experience because things always change living with gastroparesis. I have however realized that over time. There will always be something far bigger and far more scarier that can happen, medically speaking. I have just learned with time and experience that you must roll with the punches. Pretty much that also applies to life in general. 
Again and again and again.
I received my answer from SSD regarding a final attempt, from my end, on a possible temporary work permit. It would be very helpful, especially financially for us if I could at least try working part-time. Even if it means working from home. Instead of having my SSD attorney attempt another game of chance for possibly achieving a temporary SSD workers permit for me. I decided to contact SSD on my own with a short, but to the point letter. As of today. I got my final answer. Clearly, there is far more to going back to work when you are on medical SSD than most will ever understand. It's not a case where you just say, "OK, I have decided today when I woke up, that I am going back to work!" Hahahahaha! Yea..R-I-G-H-T... There is so much more to it. Legally. Liability reasons is a huge factor on 'if' and 'when' you may ever have the opportunity to work again. There are far too many factors involved which include the opinions of not just one doctor. But your entire medical team. Every opportunity to present your SSD case, your side of where you stand medically now, than when you were first granted SSD. A patient must prove, showing medical documented proof and letters from all attending physicians. That your medical situation has improved or completely resolved since the first day you were granted SSD. My problem, is that although I have my good days. I also have my bad days. Physically, I can pull the greatest known outer appearance illusion of all! Not appearing sick or as if nothing is going on internally, medically. The problem isn't with my continued success in doing such. The problem is that internally things continue getting worse and medical reports, doctors notes and other factors clearly played a hand in me losing my case. Me this time. Not my attorney. I failed to present medical factors that were either better or completely resolved. I still hold onto hope. But as my life coach also insists, "You must be realistic with your own, very high expectations." 
Now that most definitely sounds promising! 
cheeky
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! 
Hahahahahaha! 
adventure...
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. 
vegas lucky
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!!
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!!! 
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! 
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. 
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! 
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! 