Mood:
celebratoryNow Playing: Day 639-The Final Road To Survival
I'm feeling a bit Jersitaly this week!
While taking a peaceful scenic drive the other day we came upon a house that surely represents true Italy at its best! How neat is that?!! I just had to stop and take a photo!
My other run in with Jersitaly this week came in the form of a DVD I purchased online. I have ordered from Amazon.com quite a few times even during the holidays purchasing a few gifts. I have never had any problems and always received my orders within a week. Of course the one time I am REALLY looking forward to getting something in the mail is the first time I run into a defective order. GEES! I have only heard of one other person who told me about a DVD they got as a birthday gift and the disc ended up being blank. It does happen, although I am sure its very rare. Just call me the second person to win the defective DVD lottery. WHOAHOA! I love the show 'Mob Wives' and once my friend heard the first season was available on disc we both decided to go in on a copy. Amazon as well VH1.com had them for sale but I figured since I have already ordered from Amazon and never had any problems why not save myself a few dollars.
What I ended up doing instead is going back and forth with the seller on how to return the defective product. I even suggested they contact the company where it was purchased from seeing that is information that any company would want to know. If there is one surely at least a few other defects are also roaming around the great USA. I even tried the discs on three different video players but they came up blank and wouldn't even read. After four days I am still waiting on information to send back the return to the seller but so far no luck. I might just end up eating this purchase. Go figure! Although sellers just like Ebay have buyer feedback I am hoping to hear back from the seller on my return by early next week so I can buy a replacement. Maybe I need to just contact the 'Mob Wives' so I get this quickly resolved instead of Amazon. Hahahahaha! OK. That was FUNNY!
I vowed after dealing with a tremendous amount of stress going on in my life that I do whatever it takes to put an end to it. So far I am working on the first day of feeling like I can breathe again. It felt great! I set my cell phone alarm for 12:30pm. I didn't sleep too well in between Oreo having a seizure and me getting sick. I can't predict the vomiting any more than Oreo can predict his seizures. With my back not giving me much of a break either I still was determined as ever to get out and visit a bit of Jersey.
I tried to make contact with this individuals management company a few months ago but no luck. With seven years of experience under my belt I have found the best way to approach someone in the spotlight is to meet them one on one or when the opportunity arises. I have yet to meet anyone who didn't want to take the time learning about the Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign mission. When others just hear the word, 'Gastroparesis' they always have the same concerned and confused facial expressions. The Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign was never about money. Our hard working tax dollars is where the government gets the funds for research not from incorporated organizations. The majority of organizations out there now work the same as any other company. Non-profit sadly doesn't exist anymore. People are more willing to help and work with someone if you just be yourself without asking them to open their wallets.
People respect people who are true, sincere and genuine. At the end of the day I always treated everyone I have met over the years the same as I would treat any other well respected person. If you take the title away a person is the same as you and me. I am blessed for the overwhelming support from many celebrities and others in the spotlight. Those who are willing to help the Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign team in raising Gastroparesis Awareness and helping the public by educating others on this debilitating GI dysmotility condition.
I didn't forget about my back fractures today. I didn't forget about vomiting. I didn't forget about what little energy my body has nor additional weight loss. The most important thing I didn't forget was millions of other Gastroparesis patients around the world who too suffer on a daily basis and the power of awareness! It didn't matter if I had to crawl to my destination today. My passion is still alive and I will continue fighting hard in what I believe in. A Gastroparesis cure and saving lives. Yes, it was indeed a very successful Jersitaly day! 
CHEERS!
First it was Jingles puppy who I found out was born one sick little guy so I made sure he got the care he needed in order to get better. Next Oreo and then Littleblue ended up catching the same viruses from Jingles puppy so they had to be checked by my veterinarian and then placed on medication. Now it seems the poor kittygang all caught the exact same respiratory/head virus. GEES! It started first with Precious kitty then it went to Pumpkin and now Cuddles. Bear kitty seems so far to only have the head part with his eyes watering so I have to clean them with warm water twice a day. I figured it might be a very good idea to have one of them checked out by my veterinarian because the virus can be passed around the fur kids over and over again.
Pumpkin is the easiest and most laid back when it comes to car rides and doctor visits. He doesn't enjoy them but tolerates them! Hahahaha! Sure, he talks to you while your driving until you reach the clinic door. Once the veterinarian places a hand near him he turns into a SCARY Halloween kitty! YIKES! He was actually pretty good today but did give a few warning meows and hisses to the veterinarian. Seems the same viruses are still lurking around the house. Now the kittygang are passing things around so instead of bringing them all up my veterinarian are treating them all at once with two rounds of medication. No need she said to have them checked because the virus is airborne. Its inevitable and they will all sooner or later catch it. So after we drove back home and dropped Pumpkin off we headed to Walmart to get their prescriptions filled. At the same time Walgreen's called to give a heads up that my insurance and the company who makes my Drano treatments are flagging their concerns with me drinking the jug on a weekly basis due to unforeseen side effects as well long term. I can't tell you how many times this has happened and my GI doctor has sent them numerous letters and reports on the necessity of the medication but once again we have problems. Now instead of my medication being a $20.00 copay it is now $100.00!
amorous
What a week! What a day, but another productive one at that! Unfortunately all good things must come to an end as I am closing in on another Drano treatment weekend. UGGG!
My daughter Brittney is 12 years old and suffers from Gastroparesis. Brittney has been through a great deal in the past 15 months. She has suffered greatly with this illness. At first, we thought she was making it up or was just a worrier suffering from anxiety. But after losing 17lbs and not being able to eat anything at all, we started to get very concerned. She was looking very ill and seemed to be getting depressed. Then when she completely stopped gaining weight, she also stopped growing. She was suffering daily with nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and insomnia. She was eating very few foods because there are so many foods that upset her system.
Nothing quite like the magical feeling waking up to see SNOW! B E A U T I F U L SNOW! GLORIOUS SNOW! Wonderful S N O W! I just knew it was going to be an amazing day!
This evening I had a not so wonderful migraine come on with the darn tremors and vertigo. With the weather doing such a rapid change I am sure its not helping as my immune system struggles to adapt. Luckily I still have my horse blinder glasses so I put them on and grabbed my ice pack then took a short one hour nap. I try my best not to take medication unless I am screaming mercy! So far so good and I will just have to take things one step at a time. I have yet to find any permanent relief for my intestinal ulcers. Seems the darn Drano just makes the burning ten times worse so for now I am breaking up my treatments through out the week to see if that might help a bit. If not I won't have a choice but to chug the jug straight up! YIKES! I see my Gastroenterologist next week so not too far away. I am also due to have my dentist check my teeth seeing between Idiopathic Gastroparesis and the darn Hell-In-A-Jug treatments I am lucky to still have teeth. Same with the hair today, gone tomorrow but such as life and I will be just fine. Although somewhere later on down the road I might just have to gum my way through Slimfast. Hahahaha!
With all the non-stop stress I am happy to say sorry folks who like to bring me down but guess what? I'm still ALIVE! WHOAHOA! 
It's called the act of "Self Defense."
I like to call my little friends M O P. I won't tell you what the initials stand for, I rather you guess but certain you can figure it out. When you are sick and in no position to be lunged at nor threatened with violence you have to get some type of support and back up. Have a game plan. Sure wish I had both prior to last weekends ridiculous act of someone being way out of control and NUTS! Being told by the law and the court system that regardless the scenario and you are sick as well injured you need to do what you need to do to protect yourself. Period. I couldn't agree with them more and honestly I have had just about enough, no wait! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH of walking on egg shells. No one should have to live a life of fear due to some nut job extended family member nor an addict who mind you will never be clean or sober. They just lead everyone to believe they are for the sake of once again manipulating. Those who fall for the stories are just as if not more foolish looking than the addict.
Now I have my own personal stash of M O P S because one can never be too prepared to protect themselves. Amen. Miss pink M O P stays by my side indoors while her cousin blue M O P stays in another location and their cousin dark blue M O P in a special secret hiding spot. A dear friend of mine was very, very proud of me today for taking action and finally saying NO to being a door mat for violent and aggressive behavior. They have recently taught their own son about sticking up for themselves after being picked on by a bully at school. He said, "You can just never be too certain with people in this world. There are a lot of nuts out there and you always have the right to protect yourself when you are being threatened. This also goes for children because as parents we can't always be there for them." As a very concerned Father he has no problems confronting the school nor the bully's parents but at the same time let's just say his son finally stuck up for himself and justice was served!
So for now I told the judge's office I will hold onto the paperwork but at the same time I will do what needs to be done in the name of self defense. They agreed as well the local and county Sheriff's department. 'If' and that's a huge 'if' this happens again the individual or individuals will be arrested on the spot. It will be the last and final incident report that will be taken. Guess we all run out of the 'Get Out Of Jail Free' passes sooner or later. Back fractures or not I refuse to ever again live in fear. 
chillin'
This Oprah couch session went wayyyyyy past the one hour time limit...Heck! Where were the commercials? Time to give Oreo his medication and call it a night. OOPS! I mean a morning. There are other chess pieces just waiting to be moved this week and remember time waits for no one. Amen.
d'oh
There wasn't much sleep for this gal last night seeing poor Oreo still isn't feel well with seizures. He had one at 10:30am that woke me up then he was disoriented stumbling to stand up so once he come to I had him sleep next to me on the couch bed. This way I could keep a close eye on him. The seizures are very scary for him as well what follows which is extreme disorientation. His blood work is still out pending and until that comes back its touch and go. Jingles isn't helping matters but he can't help it since hes still a puppy. Littleblue is still nursing her hedgehogs playing Mom to the gang. So much for a two week ordeal. We are now going on three weeks.
The veterinarian was very concerned with the other fur kids at home seeing they can rebound the same infection and virus then pass it around again. YIKES! With Oreo also being 13 years old the stress of the puppy isn't helping his seizures because over the past three days they have gotten worse. Oreo is having different type of seizures so it makes it twice as hard for the veterinarians to get things under control. "IF they can get them under control." When the blood work comes back then they will have a better understanding of Oreo's medical condition. 
This all makes me wonder the other night when that nut was over the house outside in a psychotic rage while Oreo was also outside if that made his medical situation worse...Seems to me if stress makes my GP worse and others who have chronic or terminal medical conditions it can certainly do the same to fur kids. It really makes me infuriated! My back is still not 100% and I had to cancel my GI appointment for Thursday since things had to be all rearranged this week and I still have to fit in the second half of my treatment. GEES! My Gastroenterologist is very understanding and worked me into next week, same day and same time. Tomorrow I have a court appointment to put a quick stop to that nut trying to assault me for no reason then I will be taking a further step in another direction right after that so I won't be tolerating something like that from ever happening again.
don't ask
My friend apologized to me today in regards to not sticking up for me while having someone attempt to assault me. Honestly he said, "I don't know what I was thinking but I sure the heck wasn't thinking." It got to him all night and around 5am he confronted my ex about the entire incident that happened all because his puppy 'accidentally' got out of the house when he was walking Littleblue. Remember anyone who comes off drugs is bound to snap for no reason same goes for the sibling and whatever they were taking or under the influence of. Detoxing should be done under a controlled environment and never on your own cold turkey. Its a step down process. Not all at once. Lord only knows but it was CRAZY! My friend asked for my ex to apologize for coming after me and screaming when it wasn't my fault that his puppy 'accidentally' got out but I would never and don't hold my breath. 
On top of the chain of events this is Drano treatment day and I still have a swollen back. Its important for me to walk around still due to my Idiopathic Gastroparesis but it doesn't come without the heavy price of constant pain. I have been through worse and I will just have to continue sucking up and dealing with it. I didn't sleep hardly at all last night into the morning and early afternoon. I got a few hours here and there in between the constant text messages and calls from very concerned out of state friends. At least they did talk me into some rational sense and helped me decide the next of many moves which will allow some peace back into my life. Its true! Unless you have lived it yourself or walked in someones shoes you will never know first hand what its like. They all know because they either have been through the same things or live it now. Consider it being a back bone for each other. 
Love you all!
irritated
So much for this being the start of a stress-free weekend. I should had just caned or wheel-chaired my way out of the house tonight but instead some how I made my back much worse last night. It could had been from moving a box or just bending the wrong way. Regardless I figured late last night it would just 'go away' if I just took it easy and used some ice. Instead I didn't sleep well and couldn't get comfortable. The pressure pain was horrible trying to sit up and when I went to move it only got worse. When I looked in the mirror my entire lower back was swollen. I think I bit my own tongue by not listening to my specialists and taking it easy. I had planned to go out this evening but instead got stuck once again inside my house-jail. At least the animal gang are enjoying having me home. So much for getting out once a week and with treatment tomorrow it doesn't look like I will be getting out to escape anytime soon. If I do it will only be to my local police department or county courthouse.
Let's be honest by saying anyone who has a drug or alcohol addiction problem you won't be winning any arguments nor reasoning. While I am hearing it from him I am hearing it from his sibling and things were getting NUTS! From minding my own business to once again being a punching bag I had to literally try to shut and lock the door on his sibling who was trying to grab and punch me all at the same time. YES! All this unnecessary stress and madness was going on while my friend of all people was just standing there. Call me crazy but I am not sure what he was thinking! He should had protected me by escorted the sibling off the property so they didn't cause me any further stress nor physical harm but...he didn't. My ex didn't help matters either by continuing to say they can come over and visit when they want. This was also going on while the sibling was still calling me every name under the sun while still reaching for the door and me. I am not sure what they were loaded or tanked on but I was just waiting for them to put their fists through the glass storm door. I wish they would had then maybe when they woke up the next day they would had realized how crazy they looked! I don't even talk to my ex's siblings nor family. I haven't in years so I am not sure why this sibling felt it was 'OK' to come after me like that. Its called aggravated menacing. 
chatty
The new water is called MetroElectro and after I checked the ingredients it has the same as SmartWater but the difference is the added nutrients such as zinc. I decided to buy four large bottles and give it a try. So far so good! I don't taste much of a difference with MetroElectro water compared with SmartWater but any added benefits I can get all the better! I plan on sticking with this water over the next four weeks pending if I do ok and it doesn't make me nauseated or cause any further GI problems. With Gastroparesis if something doesn't agree your body it will definitely let you know!
I had an appointment with Miss Clairol this afternoon. Although my hair is literally coming out in chunks I still have to deal with darn gray hairs! This of course will be temporary. Something I won't miss when I lose the rest of my hair is coloring it. Same goes with trying a zillion hair care products that all say one thing but I don't see a darn thing but a waste of money. I have used all the Biotin products out there on the market but nada-zip! Same goes with nutritional supplements. They never worked for me either. If all this waste of money really worked wouldn't I have a full head of hair again? EXACTLY! Instead I should had spent all that money on wigs that guarantee me hair on my head. Hahahahaha!
Jingles puppy has been off his antibiotics the past few days but this evening I could hear chest congestion starting up again. Looks like he will be going back to the vet this weekend for a second round of medication. Poor little guy! No wonder he wasn't been as energetic today. He even took a seat next to me before I laid down with the heating pad. I love puppies! They are just the cutest! Jingles is starting to develop a personality too and a darn fiesty one! Hahahaha! I tend to think he will be a very BIG BOY in a year. His feet are huge on top of having some very long legs. Littleblue and Oreo at least got to take a few walks to the park across the street today. This weather makes no sense! The temperature was around 65 degrees today and my spring flowers are starting to come up again! YIKES! If we don't start having more winter like weather I can only imagine how horrific allergies will be this coming spring and summer. Forget me stepping out of the house! I'm praying for SNOW! SNOW! and more SNOW!
My friend got his 'school photos' back. Hahahaha! OK. More like work photos. He tried to hide them from me seeing he doesn't like any of them so I had to choose a few for him. Since I already had a photo editor program same that magazines use I can tweak with backgrounds, etc. I decided to send him some chuckles while he was at work this evening and boy! were the photos FUNNY! I will have to post a few this weekend. We both laughed, laughed and laughed! So did his coworkers! Out of ten poses I liked two the best although he still insists he doesn't like either. That's men for ya! Hahaha!