Urgent care tests for the flu

Both Momma and Daddy have been sick for over a week now. Daddy of course refuses to go to the doctor. But Momma went Friday and Dr. P said if she was still sick this week to go to urgent care. We were worried because we had heard everyone had to go to the health department to be tested. Well, we have not had to go to the health department in our area but it is always packed out the door.

So Momma went today after 8 days of being sick. They did a little nose culture and in a few minutes said she did not have the flu but it is possible that she had had it. She got a round of antibiotics so maybe in a day or so she will get to feeling better.

I have not shown any signs of what they got but I have had a hugh head ache now going on 6 days. Maybe I have a touch of what they got I don't know.

But the main reason for my post is you can go to Urgent Care to be tested for the flu and they are open on weekends. So don't sit and suffer because you think you can tough it out.

Ingle's

http://www.southernsavers.com/
Just started doing Ingle's coupon match ups. Also
http://www.couponmommie.com
does Ingle's match ups and sales.

It has been a challenge finding blogs that do matches on Ingle's.

Harris Teeter "Super Doubles"...did not happen

I had hugh plans to hit Harris Teeter for super doubles this week. But the flu decided it was much more important to visit my parents this week.

We hit the doubles one day this week but I was going to wait til all my weekly totals were in to brag about my stock pile.

I have been hinting to the managers at Ingles that Harris Teeter keeps having coupon events hoping for one to let go of some inside information. Come on Ingles we need a big triple coupon event. Can anyone hear me? Hello?

I'm on the look out for someone blogging with Ingles Secrets. So keep an ear out for me.

Is it ok if I just blog about where I am in my life...

I have thought about this for a while now. Even with my illness I still am really happy. I am so blessed. I pulled away from my friends while I was really sick going against my doctors advice because honestly it was all stressful and I hatted to make my friends worry. I did though have my online friends through my hydrocephalus groups. I always dealt with a crazy thought too. When my non hydro friends ask if I am OK...do they really want to know that I am having a fetal position headache today or that I can't eat because of the nausea. It was easier to just not burden their heart with my issues.

In the past few months as I have felt more secure in my health I have broken out of my shell. My mom had made friends at the YWCA way before me. For the years or more that I have been going my energy went to pushing myself to swim. And with that I have started getting my energy back and it I guess boosted my mood and I have opened up to several ladies that have their own personal battles with illness going on. With opening up I have found that I can relate to different illnesses other than just my own. My dear friend L has multiple sclerosis and a new friend AJ. Which one is much more progresses than the other. But both are pushing to help others that have illness. I have recently met 2 different friends with neuropathy. I have been doing some hard core research on this to understand it better. I have countless friends suffering from breast cancer. Several with fibromalgia and others with diabetes and other conditions. Each one of these people I do consider a friend because they miss me when I am gone and talk over many issues with me and do understand like my hydro friends.

Then there are the friends that stood back while I dealt with my illness assuring me they were only a phone call away. Sk is one of those people. We have been friends since we worked together. Then there is Supermom. Not everyone knows our story. We were both best friends and sometimes I was a girlfriend with Brian. Brian wanted us to be friends but we never tried because we were comfortable with being his friend and it was just not something that happened then. We knew about each others daily lives through Brian. After he died in 1996 we became pretty close and with general family stuff and I did pull away a bit because I hurt over Brian. In the past few years we found each other on Myspace and it was like we never lost touch and had known each other forever. We are different in many ways but have the same heart and minds in a manor of speaking.

Then in just the past few days I found a very dear friend, Crawford... He was the reason I met Brian and I considered him a best friend. We stayed connected for years after school then I guess I got sick and he was well doing what Crawford does... kidding...I recently found out about his wife to be and she sounds a lot like me and I am super eager to meet her. I am hoping we become friend like I was with Crawford... Well I am. He is C4 I posted about a few days ago. I think our friendship will just pick up where it left off. He has turned out to be a very caring person and a very supportive dad and spouse to be. I am proud of him.

BB him and I have been friends since 10Th grade. I knew him in the 9Th grade but he gave me so much crap I really disliked him. I think we came to a mutual agreement and found a good friendship. He was there when I could not get the stalker football player to take no for an answer.

Then there is MM I reconnected with online just recently. We went all through school together. We were BFFs all through school and she was a super support while I was sick in 1983. Her family was also a great support to me. I know she would have been here for me through all my other stuff that has happened. But it was probably best that she was not because she really took it hard when I first got sick. But we were little and she recently told me that they kept a lot from her. But it was hard for me to understand then and I know people did not want her to worry anymore than she was already. I was told though when she was told in the 2ND grade that she got physically sick and ran from the room. We have that connection that no one else can understand I'm sure.

I don't tell my friends enough how much they mean to me and today I got to thinking today about how each person has touched my life.

Many people come into our lives for just a short moment please love those moments that are few and far between.

Harris Teeter "Super Doubles" starts today!!!

This morning kicks off Harris Teeter's "Super Doubles" event. Be sure if you are not familiar with their coupon policy to go to their home page and read up on it. They are doubling coupons up to $1.98. How can you loose? I have been collecting coupons the past few days and ordered some from The Coupon Clippers, they should be here today or tomorrow.

I mentioned to the manager at Ingles that we were getting really great coupon sales at Harris Teeter hoping for a tip for when they were going to have a coupon event.

Today we are going to hit Harris Teeter and get some of the non refrigerated things. We are going to leave early and go before swimming.

BREAKING NEWS!!! GPS gets woman arrested

Had my appointment with my doctor in Greenville,SC today. We discussed my progress and the fact that I am 7 months out from surgery now. Dr. S mentions another doctor that in the future I may be referred to. So in all my eagerness (is that a word,anyway) My techno savy self got the doctors name looked him up in the "Yellow pages" and did a real quick reverse look up and got the address.

When we entered the address in Mr. GPS it was not far away. So we decided to drive by the office just to locate and know where we would be going.

So pulling out of Dr. S parking lot we traveled down a 4 way made a turn onto another 4 lane and was looking around as Mr GPS gave directions. As we were traveling I was admiring different places I knew I had coupons for and new places I could get coupons for. We traveled for about 15 minutes then Mr. GPS told us to turn right. I saw a line of houses but thought maybe we circle to a back parking lot or something. Then drove 20 feet and told to take another right. We drove right into his drive way. When I say drive way I mean his home. Yes, we drove right to his house.

As we quickly backed up trying to escape for fear of this doctor thinking we were stalking him. I still can not believe a doctor has his home phone number in the yellow pages. So now we are wondering if he does surgery out of his basement.

I can tell you for sure that he has a really nice home. He can walk to Fatz cafe. Take his dog to the vet and get coffee all in his back yard. I would have thought a doctor would live in a gated community though to keep patients from just driving up to his home when he does not return our third page from his answering system.

I can see going by his house to ask him to replace the stitch I popped while scoping out his pool in the back. Maybe I should not have told that I was checking out the pool. It's not like I was naked in his hot tube. Well, OK I am sorry it was all unexpected and I did not have a suit. I guess I could have walked over to the Sears next to Fatz. But hey I'm not perfect.

We were going to stop and eat on the way back. But out of fear of the neighbor that kept waving like she knew us we decided to head straight home. GPS must have been punishing us for pulling such a blond move and driving to a doctors house so it took us most of the way home through back roads.

As long as we have been going to Greenville for sales and doctors and just general different things since I was 4 or 5 I thought I knew most of Greenville. Let me tell you there is an underground world and our GPS wanted us to hang for a while.

I did not take this adventure all alone. Just so you know I did reverse look up and suggest looking for the office but my mom was driving and listening to the GPS. So I am not all to blame. Just incase I am arrested later. Supermom has already agreed to come bail us out if need be.

Do you think the police would believe I was looking for my lost dog? Or that I went to school with his wife? No...No... Really!!! I knew them in a past life we are related!!! He is my Daddy!!! I live here...

This story is based on a totally true story. Some of the names and places have been changed to protect the identity of the accused. Remember in a court of law you are presumed Innocent until you confess...OOPs!!!

Recently reconnected

I have recently reconnected with a close friend I had in high school and we continued to be friends several years after school. I'll call him C4. He was the reason I met my dear friend and boyfriend depending on what day of the week it was, Brian.

Several summers I would hang out with C4 at his pool. We all had a great time together. We also would watch movies at Brian's. I was able to experience some of the teen age stuff that others did because my parents were over protective but did trust C4 and his family. I was not always allowed to go to big parties but I was able to have a great time.

C4 and me always could talk and joke around but with just general life issues we lost touch.

We found each other through facebook a week or so ago. And we were both eager to hear what each had been up to. He told me about his son "D". Who is now 7 years old and wife to be "A" ... He also told me about his 14 years old who I remember just being a little bit. She is a totally smart girl with everything in the world coming to her. She is super smart already taking collage classes and been approved to go into the early college program.

Then I was debating whether or not to lay out what I had been doing the past 7 years. Well, it's totally like this my illness is part of who I am. And I feel like I have this condition to help others. We all have a mission for our lives. I think part of my mission is to help others that have illness. So instead of trying to explain it all I sent him my post on my blog "I have hydro,hydro doesn't have me."

I totally did not expect the reaction I got from him. He ask me" Do you mean as long as we have known each other and as close as we were I never knew you had been sick?" "Why did you not tell me?" I told C4 it was not because I did not trust him it was totally because I had the fear of kids in school finding out and using it against me. Because kids looked for anything to use to pick at other kids.

He said he thought kids would have been understanding but I differed from his opinion because very recently one of those kids from high school threw it in my face.So I totally stand behind my decision but I feel terrible I hurt a friend. C4 assured me if he had known he would have been there and supported me and he would not loose touch again.

The next question he ask was do you have someone you can talk to if you get to feeling down. And I got to tell him about how Supermom and I connected after Brian's death.

He also told me of a dear friend going through similar issues. I am hoping to connect with this friend and hopefully we can also be friends.

C4 I am totally sorry I kept things from you. I promise I wont again.

I have to tell a little bit about my dad. I don't think he could ever be compared to another dad. He has done thing for me unlike I think any other dad would do and do it and be proud. He has always been very protective and a caring dad.

But some examples of the things my dad has done for me. I can remember when I was 2 or 3 I had really long hair and he would braid it or put it up in pig tails.

Recently in the past few years as many of you know I have been sick. He slept in a chair leaning on my bed with his head on my shoulder in fear I would stop breathing.

Everyday while in the hospital my mom would help me to shower and wash my hair but my dad was always there to dry and style my hair because he knew how I fussed with it. Daddy always makes special efforts to do little things to make me feel cared for and loved. Like remembering my favorite flowers when shopping at a local nursery. I just want to say thank you Daddy for being the best Daddy you can be.

IMPORTANT!!! Message from: The coupon clippers

Attention all Wonderful Money-Saving Couponers (Or those interested in becoming one)…..:

Harris Teeter is doing SUPER DOUBLES June 24-30.

This will mean that they will be doubling coupons up to $1.98. This means that a $1.50 coupon will be worth $3.00 off the price.

Some kind souls at: a Hot Coupon World have done a lot of “scouting” to figure out what deals you might encounter there.

Here’s the link to find all the news:

http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/harris-teeter/251428-ht-super-doubles-june-24-30-confirmed-master-list.html

Just click on that and you’ll find all kinds of goodies that will be free after your coupons. This deal begins on WEDNESDAY, June 24, so you have plenty of time to get your coupons ordered.

Don’t forget, you can order all the coupons you want from us here at The Coupon Clippers.

http://www.thecouponclippers.com/coupons/home.php


See ya at the site!


--Rachael Woodard
Tired CEO of TCC, but too addicted to good deals to quit….(also mom of 4 with two graduated from hs already, so I’m getting old!)

p.s. Shipping deadline for Friday is Friday at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

p.p.s. If you want to be removed from this list, just email me back and say UNSUB in the subject tline. Then you’ll miss out on these VERY infrequent notices about the Harris Teeter triples.

Purpose of my blog and how to use it to your advantage

Yesterday while swimming with my friends a few of them were asking questions about how it worked and I got to thinking that maybe my non blogging friends would have the same issues. I started my blog for myself to have a place to journal what I was doing and kind of keep a diary of things I was into. I was putting my gardening pictures up on facebook,my hydrocephalus links and support groups on myspace and my couponing well it was spread everywhere. So when I would give a friend a heads up where they could find one of my links. It seemed like so many did not use one application or another or did not understand how to find it on my profile or in a post in a myspace blog. So my dear friend Supermom advised I start a blog to make things more simple and to give me a place to show off my gardening. With her help this is what I did. But I learning myself have looked over the fact that with full access to my blog I still have some people that don't know what all my links and things are for.

I'm going to explain what section is for what and how to find the information you may be looking for. One of my first sections to the right are Hydrocephalus sites and support boards. I think I have it titled Hydrocephalus. It is important for myself to keep in contact with these boards because they were very important in my education of my own condition of acquired hydrocephalus. These support boards also have groups to help multiple sclerosis,fibromalgia and other neurological issues. I had many friends that suffer from many of these and other issues.

Right under the hydrocephalus links I have some of the more common shunt types listed under shunts. Each title you see that you think you may want more information on all you have to do is click on the word or words and the site will open up in a separate window.

My coupons I think I have just a few links that take you directly to coupon pages and you can register and enter your zip code to receive coupon in your area that can be printed and used at local stores in your area.

Under blogs I follow I have tons of blogs that can be super useful for everyone. I have some friends blogs I follow but the most of the blogs I follow are couponing blogs and deals and saving blogs. A lot of the time these blogs will tell of great sales coming up and what coupons will be coming out in the next Sunday paper. These blogs make it super easy to save because they do the leg work for you. They will tell you what sale matches up with the best coupons and where to find them. I can't see how anyone can loose using these blogs.

I have thought of listing sales much like these blogs do but there are so many and I find more everyday. It is so hard for me to just suggest following one blog. It is also a good idea to check the blogs daily.

Something I have not listed and really can't is a great way to find coupon codes for online buying. I hardly shop out anymore especially when I can get 20% to 30% to shop on line at home. While swimming we were talking about one lady's new bathing suit. I offered up how to find discounts online. Take what ever retail place you are shopping at and just google that place like Sears then add a + coupon code. Add Sears+coupon code and search. You will find tons of sites offering retail coupon codes and often also have grocery coupons.

With most of the coupons you do have to download their coupon printer and before starting your coupon shopping go to your grocery store main site and read over their coupon policy. I usually print it off and keep a copy handy just encase a manager or a new cashier want to try and be rude.

Using coupons is money a lot of us are needing to hang on to as much as possible. And I try to tell as many people as possible to help them out. I had a lady comment in line the other day she wished she had the time and patients to do coupons. I replied We can't afford not to coupon shop.

Just recently gas was up to $5. and more a gallon and this made grocery prices go up. Now gas is back down but the grocery prices did not go back down. The same for many retail stores. I wont even get my hair cut without a coupon anymore. I need that 5 dollars I can save.

I am wanting to learn how to save on monthly bills also. I looked into the Internet phone but it does not give your address when you call 911. And with medical issues this may not be good. We have one we are trying out for my dad's business but have not transferred the calls to it mostly trying it for faxing right now.

If I have left anything out or if there are still questions how to use my page please let me know. I'm mostly giving you the links to help you find answers to different things we have in common.

I about for got I also have a "YWCA" button at the top of my page I just added and my swimming and gym friends can link to and find new schedules and the entire site for the YWCA.

How depressing

Went and did double coupon shopping at Ingles. As you know they only double up to $0.50. Unlike Harris Teeter doubles up to 0.99. But they have higher prices and Harris Teeter is out of the way. But total for today was $451.36 before coupons $341.44 after coupons. A savings of $109.92.

It just is not as exciting as triple coupon. But I stocked up on several things and so did my parents. Ginger is going to be in kitty treat heaven for a long time. Pepper being diabetic can't have treats except for carrot chips. Well, I'm kinda telling a story. He can have denta bones. I stocked up on them during triple coupon at Harris Teeter. I had several coupons for $2.50 making them around a dollar. Can't wait for that again.

My story with a bit more detail -part 2

I have had lots of scary things happen to me. I try to be thankful they happened to me and not someone else. I'm going to kinda tell this like my story on my blog so you can see where I was in my medical issues and the time it kinda happened. ( http://pepperknowsbest.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-have-hydro-hydro-doesnt-have- me.html )


When I was 8 I had the flu and still having trouble getting over it and I was having dizzy spells and my vision would black out. I was taken to my doctor for the third time during week 3 of my flu. When my doctor came in he ask if an intern could join us. We were fine with that. The intern looked in my eyes and brought it to the attention to my doctor then he looked. Told my momma to take me straight to the hospital. She was scared but ask if she could take me home to get clothes. His reply was "No" I had not been able to eat because I had been sick. My mom said can I at least get her something to eat? She has not eat today. He told her no to that to. I realize now he had no idea what was happened I just had pressure build up. I was rushed to have a CT when we arrived. I can remember momma and I crying the whole way to the hospital. The CT showed a mass. I was admitted and had surgery to remove the tumor.
The following days I don't remember a lot after the surgery. I remember hurting and being in ICU. I think the craziest thing was my vision was messing up plus I had lost bladder control and could not walk. Nurse know it all the next day after brain surgery made my sit up in a chair when I could not even hold my head up. My mom had to pitch a hugh fit on her to get me out of the chair. The next day a physical therapist came in. I did not have much luck there either. She thought I was ignoring her by not doing things she ask and got pretty irritated with me. For 9 long days my world was looking stranger and stranger. My parents would turn on cartoons and I would ask to just turn it off because the TV was bad. What I did not know was my eyes were crossing from pressure building up in my brain. This was causing my bladder issues and the ability to not move.


My neurosurgeon had flown to Washing DC to research the type of tumor I had. It was the first to be seen at mission hospital. On the 9Th day he returned and was very discouraged with my progress since he had been gone. But he recognized it was pressure causing my problems and I was rushed into surgery to have a shunt placed. I came out of surgery alert and talking. Which was a very big change from where I had been. I still could not walk and my eyes were still seeing crazy. I regained my bladder control after the shunt.
The surgeon was talking to my parents telling them he was not sure what caused the extra swelling because I was on medicine to keep the swelling down. My mom corrected him quickly with no she has only had pain medicine. Dr. W rushed out of the room I'm sure to check with the doctors that was suppose to be watching me and chewed out several nurses. But if a nurse does not have the orders she can not give me the medicine.
My parents were assured that the shunt would fix things. As weeks went by still in the hospital My eyes did not return to their correct place and walking,well, I had to learn how to walk all over again. My therapist felt terrible she had been so hard on me and met me in my room right after the shunt surgery.


On day 30 I was finally released from the hospital. I would have to return daily for the next 6 week for radiation treatments (some of the tumor was left around my brain stem and was unable to be removed) and physical therapy.

I was referred by my pediatrician to an eye specialist because my eyes were not straighting up like had been told. Dr. P saw that there was muscle damage and it would require surgery. I totally understood the word surgery now and was way to scared. I was still having to walk with help. All I could think of is how my world would be messed up this time once again. I had to wear a patch over my left eye because it was crossed into my nose and I was totally unable top move it at all.

And I remembered the pain even though it had been months since my last surgery and I had gone back to the 3rd grade half days. I tried going a full day to school at first but fatigue had me in tears by 10 or 11 in the morning and I was cared for by many students. A lot were not comfortable with the major changes that had happened. Then there were the kids that did not understand illness at all and were super ticked that I was getting special attention from teachers and many children that did not really understand but knew I was sick and wanted to mother me. I wonder today if they remember how they made me feel. I totally felt like a freak. I did not show my left eye much because of the gasp and teasing. Nothing was ever said to my face. But I remember a dear friend Denise getting into arguments over me. She told my mom years later when they met up and worked together things she tried to protect me from. I was able to walk by the start of the 3rd grade by myself. I had been at the top of my class the year before but missed the last 3 months of the 2ND grade but since I was so ahead I was passed on to the 3rd grade. I had already finished most of my books and teachers were having to find me extra things to do while the other kids finished up their text books.

But back to the eye surgery. I can easily get my feeling hurt all over again but kids don't understand things unless they are taught. I know they told parents at home and they should have talked to their kids to help them understand. The summer of graduating the third grade going into the 4Th. I had my first eye surgery. I stayed over night in the hospital. This was the summer of 1984.

Wow the 4Th grade was a real difference. My eyes were still crossed a bit but not so bad that my left eye was seeing directly to my right and my right was pretty much straight. The right eye had been turned up after the pressure build up but I was able to build the muscles to bring it back down a bit to see straight. So 4Th grade I still had glasses but not the over a quarter inch thick prisms I had been wearing. They were so heavy they left intentions on my nose I think I can still see.

My eye doctor had hopes that the muscles would strengthen more after this first eye surgery to straighten on their own. Having the eye surgeries he had prepared us that he was really not sure if my eyes could ever be fixed but he was going to try.

The right eye strength and I was able to control it better. My left eye I was able to move with the right but when looking to the left my left eye would twitch a bit. After several months from the first eye surgery I was scheduled for another this one would be on the left one only this time. Trying to equal it up to the right so I could hopefully see straight and not double. The surgery was a great success but not perfect. I still saw double but it was more like a shadow. New glasses with a new prism helped to pull my eye and strengthen the eye muscles more. No one has ever been able to tell the left eye is still off a hair except for one eye doctor shopping in Sears. Over time the pupils in my eyes trained their selves to see together. So no double vision at all.

Going into middle school and high school. I feared that there were going to be so many more kids and I figured they could see through me and see I was different since I had been sick and it would be used against me. So I made the decision to not tell anyone and I do mean anyone. I even had every ones favorite PE teacher single me out and was very rude and cruel to me even after my parents brought doctors notes that I could not play contact sports. I was punished by having to write the entire class straight out of the health book while other kids were playing. But I was missing part of my skull in the back of my head near my neck area. I could not take the chance to be hit in the back of my head. Plus I had coordination issues that I still have. You can't tell until someone makes me try to do something like dribble a ball or do repetition exercises. She gave me a D one 6 weeks and mom went to her thinking things would change and she gave me an F the next. I looked normal so she took it on her self to judge me. I was taken out of the class finally and given a free period to work on the computer in another teachers class. So this made me fear people knowing even more. I mean if a teacher(an adult) can be compassionate I knew a bunch of rude kids would not be.

About a year ago I saw her on the news sending notes and well wishes to a student that had been in the hospital for a brain injury. I wonder if she really has changed her views or trying to save face for being so hard on me. Each 6 weeks she would lecture us about if we did not play we had to copy from the health book. I look back now and wonder why she did not give me options of walking or something I could do. I was a kid I only thought play basket ball or write out of the book. Anyway back to the scary stories from surgeries.

Around 2 years after my tumor surgery I went for a recheck with my neurosurgeon. He read my file and said to my mom I am so glad her eyes straightened up. My mom told him they did not I had had to have surgeries to fix them. I don't remember him having much or a response to that. He told that the last cat scan showed the tumor left around the brain stem was gone the radiation had gotten the rest of it. He really had no reason to see me for anymore rechecks. I seemed to be doing good. My mom told him I had headaches and he said they would go away in time it was just part of still recovering from the surgeries.

My moms other concern with releasing me was the shunt. He said I most likely did not need it any longer and probably did not even work. So my mom ask if it could be removed. Dr. said to leave it it had served it's purpose and relieved the pressure. It would be another surgery to remove it and it was not causing any problems to just leave it. So that is what we did.

I daily had light headaches and of the mornings I was nauseated. It was told to my parents I had a nervous stomach or that my nervous system had been damaged from the tumor,surgery and or radiation.

In the 8Th grade,I'm not sure of my age maybe 12 or 13. I had a headache I had to be hospitalized with. It was the worst pain I had ever had to that point. I had a shunt series done. Which we really did not understand why since the shunt was not suppose to work. And I had a spinal tap to check for infection. When putting me on the table I apparently passed out and got sick at my stomach. I only remember the techs cleaning me up asking it this had ever happened before. I was super confused because I had no idea what had happened or why my mom was crying and my mamaw was upset out in the hall. After taking the fluid was taken I actually started having less of a headache and it started responding to the pain medicine. It was told it was most likely a viral meningitis. And at this time we also were never told anything about the hydrocephalus or the shunt still working.

In 1995 I starting having pain in my right side and trouble eating or at least that was my impression of what was happening. I went to a gastrointestinal doctor that told us I had too much acid in my stomach and several other things. I still over time kept having problems. I don't remember how I heard about this other doctor,he was a general surgeon. I got an appointment with him and he examined me and told me I had a bad gallbladder most likely but was going to do one more test to confirm. After the test he scheduled my surgery. It could not happen soon enough. I was living on rice and soup. Because I could hardly keep that down and still hurt like crazy.

Dr. D video taped my surgery and it was a bit of a surprise. The gallbladder did need to come out but apparently what was causing a big percentage of my pain was scar tissue. I have never been able to watch the tape but he had to remove a lot of adhesions. I had ask him to remove my appendix also but because of so much scar tissue he would have had to make another incision to remove it because it was hide with scar tissue.

I will continue this story later in 2002 my complications then also started with scar tissue

Note to self

Self: Don't wake up at 3:30 in the morning. I promise you will feel like snot.

Stacey came yesterday

With school out she brought one of her kids with her. Stacey is the wife of a preacher and they have very strict rules for living and protecting their kids. I admire them for their morals but it's really something too hang out with a 13 year old boy that is not into the latest things happening around. They don't have TV,they do have a computer but no Internet.

They do have computer lab at school and I ask Stacey if it was OK for her son to play games on my computer. She was stunned when son was giving me web sites for games to play. I was afraid that I was going to get him in trouble when Stacey ask son how do you know how to find these games. He told her he learned at school. I have talked over how I feel it is important for them to know how to do searches online and as they continue in school they will need the experience for writing papers and doing homework. I do respect their beliefs. They are trying to protect their kids from the outside world.

I could tell a bit of a difference though with just general things. I have a treadmill in my living room and some exercise equipment. Son is 13 and very grown up and more polite than most kids his age. But the entire day he was constantly asking questions about things I generally take for granted.

A big issue son and his sister have is knowing how to train their pets. I have trained animals, my dogs,cats and horses ever since I had my first pet at 5 years old. I probably made a lot of mistakes along the way but I was always eager to teach tricks. Son was constantly asking how Pepper knew to go out when I said to go out to use the bathroom. Pepper knows 90 different commands and responds to too many words to explain. So was asking things I had not even thought of as being training,but he ask me how I taught him to play ball and bring the ball back to me. Such simple things I never realized did not just happen with animals.

A big stunner for me when I was talking to my mom about all this. She said training was something that just came natural to me and my dad. She said she never knew how to train her pets growing up.

As a child if I was not sure about how to do something I explored different ways to get my pets to do different things. I had to learn different systems for every animal because each animal was always different to respond to different things. Some would do things for treats others for a toy.

Son was curious about so so many things. I had a new litter box for Ginger because the old one died. Yes, I have a litter box that cleans itself. As I was taking it out of the box I set aside the packing foam and was ask where it went into the unit. He enjoyed helping me put it together which was very easy. But he was amazed to see how it worked.

Stacey's kids are super happy and living a really good religious life that I admire. But I wondered after 4 hours of multiple questions about things I take for granted. Do they not have these general experiences because they are limited to no TV and no Internet? Son knew general things about the computer but still every little bit was unsure about an add that came up or general terms of use agreements for gaming sites.

I have to say I have never met a more polite young man. No words coming out of his mouth I had to search the urban dictionary to know what he was saying to me.

I enjoyed answering all his questions. Most teens and preteens think they know everything so you hardly ever hear them ask how something is done and how to things work.

My dear sweet friend L

L and I met while we both were taking horse back riding (therapeutic horse back riding) classes together. I'm just going to say L for now until I hear about her big news.

L has multiple sclerosis. I think I knew someone was telling us we were suppose to be friends. I was coming out of one locker room in the breeze way and she was entering the other. We did not recognize each other at first because we had not been riding together very long.

I got a phone call from L tonight I am going to her house this weekend to find out about the goings on in her mind. She has a plan,a plan to help people like us with disabilities. I can't say much more about things until I find out the details but I have been ask to be on the board. I am excited and a bit intimidated. I hope I am able to help her with her dream.

I know things happen for a reason. Maybe the reason my health is somewhat stable is to help L. For several months even befor my last surgery L told me about the things she was going to do. As we have got to know each other she has told me bits and pieces here and there.

We will see what happens.<3

Obama address the American Medical Association

I'm kind of nervous today with Obama addressing the AMA. I know when he was campaigning he said he wanted universal health care for all citizens. Now that he is president what does he want? I worry about universal health care for us having medical issues. Medicare already barely covers cost and reduces it's payout to doctors and hospitals. We have to realize one reason people train to go into the medical field is the money and I am sure that they also want to help people but they are encouraged to become specialist because they do make more money. The money to back universal health care would come from the tax payers. In Canada they are taxed 20 to 30 percent to cover the cost of universal health care. I know my Canadian friends could explain it a bit better. We can't wait in line to get an MRI or for surgery. Waiting can compromise our quality of life and/or cause damage that can not be reversed.


I am hoping he has changed his stand and will propose more affordable medical insurance. I have a lot of friends without insurance that do need it but I worry that taking money out of doctors pockets will compromise our health and our option to see doctors that may not be the one in your area.


I have to travel 3 hours to see a neurosurgeon. Not because there is not one in my area. It is because doctors in my area don't have the knowledge or experience to help me. If they did I would have been aware I had hydrocephalus in 1983.
The way I understand things universal health care you don't have the option to choose your doctor. If you have read my story you know I have had to travel to different states to try to get help for my complications.


Another thing that will be an issue. Many people have access to health care and have the attitude that they don't want to pay $100 a month for coverage or "I'll be OK." With universal health care you will be paying that money plus what others can't afford because they don't work or just work enough to get by.

Many Canadian doctors are comming to the United States because they can make more and it is an advantage for them to be specailists. What wiil we do when we can't choose to see a doctor that is known to have expierence instead of the doctor just of of school.

I am worried. With so many people that have lost their jobs and can't afford coverage this might help them. But it may not if you have stage 4 cancer and have to wait in line for 3 to 4 months for a CT or MRI to confirm the cancer. You will die waiting in line. I recently heard this story on 20/20 that happened to a man in Canada. He sold his home to come to the states to get treatment for his cancer. The cancer was put into remission but where do we go to find that kind of help?

I myself have had to pay $300 a month for Cobra and when I was a part time student I had a independent policy which was around $200. This was before I even had complications from my hydrocephalus. I was a ticking time bomb if I had had a shunt failure without insurance I would have to roll the dice and hope a doctor at the hospital would help me. Even with insurance I have not had much luck with hospital neurosurgeons. Many don't and can't see hydrocephalus.

Obama wants a public plan but I fear many of us would not survive a public plan or would end up homeless trying to pay out of pocket to get help. I have confronted many doctors that told me over and over that nothing was wrong. Much like many other hydrocephalus patients.

If I had not been able to find other doctors and get other opinions I may not be here. Before my last surgery it was confirmed that the shunt system I had was working and I was not having problems with the hydrocephalus. But my pain and coronation was very very compromised. I had the wrong type shunt for my body to conform to. I could have lived with the other shunt because it did control the CSF build up but my quality of life was compromised. I was walking with a cane and was near to needing a walker. I constantly hurt and often had to enter the ER for help to manage my pain. I could go on and on about how universal health care could compromise so many peoples health not just mine.

Check out my new hair!!! I love it!!!

Playing around

After my last post I thought I might do something to block the image of my late night snack. Plus I have been wondering if I could figure out how to post comment pictures in my blog. I miss my Myspace page because I feel like with the comments you can see my personality and how I think rather than saying some line that sounds like a singles ad. Like: I'm such an easy going type person. Truth: I am as long as you do everything my way.

Got milk?

Wow!!! Who knew the expiration date on milk really meant it expired? I always tried to think that maybe it was more of a suggestion. Actually I figured it was a ploy to make people rush to buy milk sooner than possibly needed.

Being the single type person that I am a gallon could last a long time. And it just totally makes me ill to buy a half gallon that does not cost half the price closer to 3/4 the price.

Last night cereal bowl in hand with Golden Grams I pored the milk but it did not come out at first it kinda lingered like it had something better to do. Then all of the sudden "GLOP!!!" is the sight and sound I heard. The nauseated feeling to my stomach reassured my thoughts that this milk is not right. Apparently when there is an expiration date it really means it expires.

The single life

The other morning at the "Y" I walked up behind my mom giving one of the trainer marriage advice. I butted in " Momma it's time to take your pills. " and told the young woman not to listen to her. I did and that is why I have been single for 35 years.

Ok so really not totally single. But it's like I like tyo think the od numbers cancel out the even and well they were all odd if you ask me. Sorry, I just don't see why I should give up my perfectly happy life to be miserable with some guy that is going to make me have to make his life really suck. ( I hate that word but it is the truth) Don't push me I will make you cry like a little girl.

But anyway, I'm happy to say I got out on my own and bought my own house. Paid it off in 7 years. I have to rely on no one. I would really have it rough if I was having to struggle with my health and figure out how to get some moron to pay the rent and not buy a new fender for his old truck he is/was building. By the way I'm still waiting for my half of the $20,000.00 you was going to send me.

Sometimes I think I may still have some anger issues. I'm angery it's really not an issue. Now I'm mad and don't remember my great brain storm I had. (wondering ...could that check really be lost in the mail for the past 4 years?)

I'm ticked but another great reason I'm happy I am single. I could be in prison for shoot both his knee caps. I mean really I would not want him to die or anything. That is just wrong. I just want him down to my level so it could be a fair fight.

A post for my non blogging friends

I have many friends that come to my blog and read my page. Some are coupon peeps and others are my hydrocephalus friends. I welcome everyone and anyone that wants to stop by for links and information and some that are just wondering what I am doing. I just want to let you know you are welcome to follow my blog but you don't have to follow my blog to comment. When you comment it will post as anonymous so just add your name at the end so I know who I'm talking to. I'm new to blogging but I have a great mentor that is helping me so much to learn the ropes.

For a long time I have posted my hydrocephalus links on Myspace and would not use Facebook for a long time because I could not make it simple for my hydro peeps to link to support pages. I think this blog is the best solution. I have many older friends that don't understand the social groups and think they just get virus', spam and don't understand that people can't steal account information and break into their credit card and checking accounts through these sites. So I am happy for this site.

I talked with several that have visited my site and with their concerns is the reason I am writing this post. I do understand many not understanding the other sites. My dad still has not figured out how to even find my blog. (I have the link on his desk top)

I hope this will help a bit more for my non blogger friends

Blogger fairy,Blogger fairy...Please fix my blog up right...lol

I can play all day and make all kind of mistakes and make my blog look like a third grader did it. I go to bed at night or sometimes just turn around twice and my mistakes are fixed.


I am super lucky to have my blogger fairy. I know she would not let me go out without my shirt on right just the same she tweaks my blog. Even after having 2 toddlers on her heels and typing her own posts on all 3 of her own blogs.

Hopefully one day all these tricks will come to me as they do to you...Thank you Supermom.

The Adventures of Supermom

Is it really possible to live to 100?

I remember as a child talking to my Mamaw say I hope you live to 100 years old. As a child not realizing that she grieved for my Papaw that had died when I was 2 years old. She said "Oh no" I don't want to live that long. As a child I did not understand that. I did not have to face death until I was 20. I had heard of different people dieing. But never faced someone close to me dieing. Then in 1996 I lost my best friend and sometimes boyfriend depending on what week it was. I also that year lost my dog, Cricket. This may not sound like a big deal to most but. Cricket was my play mate growing up because I was an only child. He was my support while I was having surgery from my brain tumor and the other surgeries for the complications from the tumor. He loved me unconditionally much like Brian did. I guess it was that year I under stood what Mamaw meant. Because I had a really hard time realizing to see Brian and my beloved poo-dog I would also have to die.

I have to say I still want to live to see 100. Even with all my medical issues I want to live forever. And with my health not better but more stable than I have been in 7 years. I have my mind set to get back to my exercising and eating right. I have always been addicted to exercise and being healthy. Until I got sick and let a lot of things slide like gaining weight. It really did not matter because I was more worried about if this condition was going to kill me. I used all my energy to fight hydrocephalus not worry if I walked today or got in my daily exercise. It was a workout just to get a drink of water.

While swimming yesterday. I had already gone to the gym. My mom was talking a breather with the doctor she swims with. He was telling her he had been gone taking his mother to the beach for her birthday. Her 100th birthday. She had a sister just recently pass away at the age of 99 but has another sister that is 107.

Besides his mother being 100 years old she still lives on her own and does for herself. I think this is the most amazing thing ever. I heard a doctor recently on a medical show say we have the ability to live to 125 but I had no idea it was happening to people now and not later.

Asheville Humane Society

Press Release
Contact:
Brandi Hand
Director of Communications
Asheville Humane Society
Phone: 828.236.3885 x311
Cell: 828.606.8428
publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org
________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release

Feline Frenzy: June is Adopt-a-Cat Month at AHS
Adoption fees waived in June for cats 9 months and older

May 28, 2009 ---- It’s that time again; spring and summer, when Asheville Humane Society (AHS) becomes inundated with kittens. Kittens are usually born in the warmer months of the year. When owners neglect to spay or neuter their cats, the resulting litters are often surrendered to the AHS shelter.

“We’ve been reviewing our 2008 statistics and were astounded to see that our intake of cats and kittens more than tripled in June of last year compared to how many we received in January,” says Shelly Moore, president and CEO of AHS. “This clearly demonstrates what an impact it has on the community when you don’t spay or neuter your pets. In fact, it’s so important to adopt cats in the summer that we are waiving our adoption fees on cats nine months and older in June.”
In addition to waiving adoption fees on cats nine months and older, AHS is bringing attention to the swelling numbers of felines at the shelter, by holding an Adopt-A-Cat Month Photo Contest. The winner of the contest will serve as ‘spokescat’ for next year’s Adopt-A-Cat month. For more information on the contest such as rules and photo submission deadlines, and to learn how you can adopt a cat, visit: www.ashevillehumane.org

*Asheville Humane Society is dedicated to promoting the compassionate treatment of animals in our community through education, sheltering and adoption.*

Gettin' my fitness on

http://www.blog.ywcaofasheville.org/

In 1983 I first went to The YWCA to have swimming lessons for rehabilitation. It was suggested be my primary doctor. I had a rough recovery from the brain tumor surgery and the shunt surgery. Some of the complications I had from the pressure building up was I lost the ability to walk and had major fatigue issues. Besides my eye problems. Which were fixed with surgery. Well, 3 surgeries. But my parents had promised me swimming lessons before I got sick and turns out. The lessons were great for my physical therapy. I had started having 3 trips to physical therapy sessions a week and when I got to where I could walk mostly unassisted I was released to do the swimming. I only did it once a week but it helped me get my muscle strength back and helped with my balance and coordination.

Now I am again back at the YWCA. With the complications I have had my fitness level has really gone down hill. But honestly I was more worried about living than if I was eating right and just getting up to get something to drink winded me. About a year ago I thought I was getting better,well I thought I was as better as I was going to be. But fatigue still haunted me terribly. So I tried to do some open swims for a day or so through the week. I could not even swim the short length of the pool. Kate, our water exercise instructor, could not relax the whole time I was in the water because when I did make it to the side I was out of breath and red faced. My chest hurt. I was afraid to get in water deeper than I could stand up in because I was afraid I couldn't make it to the side.

My water exercise has not been consistent but been trying to go swim for over a years now. I am now able to do a medium level water fitness class. And I can swim several laps after the class. Recently I have been board with the laps.

May 4,2009 I decided that maybe I was board because I am ready to step up my work out again. I am happy to say I entered the gym and now I do the water exercise for my cardio then go to the gym and work on some weight machines for 45 minutes or so.

All through high school and basically until I started having complications I was a strict fitness addict. I always watched everything I ate and made a point even if I worked til 11 or 12 at night I would come home to exercise. I have built a nice fitness room but still went to the gym. It was important to keep my work out a mix so my body would not get use to just walking.

I have gained weight while I have been sick and I think my health is stable and I am feeling my fitness bug once again. I am so excited. Kate was reminding me how little I was able to do when I first returned to the YWCA.

Not only am I gaining in my strength it is a great social group I have joined. Most of the women I swim with have there own personal health battles they are facing and we can encourage one another and support each other on our way back to as close to our normal we once were.

I tried a couple of years ago to return to the gym I once went to but it was difficult because I was still so limited on the level of exercise I could do. Plus most people there could run circles around me and I felt I got in there way with my limitations. I also tried going to the YMCA and felt the pressure to try to keep up there also. The YWCA has welcomed me sickness,limitations and all. Instructors are also constantly reminding me and others to not push ourselves too much. Just do what we can and strength and endurance will come in time.

Thank you to the YWCA for your support and thanks to my YWCA friends I have made.

The rain is back...

I just checked the weather, it's going to rain for the next 4 days. I am so glad I got these pictures of my flowers. The iris garden looks pitiful. I can't decide to cut them off or let them die down on there own. I usually just plant something beside other stuff dieing down to cover the dead or dieing stems.
We have been in a drought for several years apparently this year we are going to catch up on all that water we lost.

This year our vegetable garden is really having a rough time. So much rain delayed us in setting things out. So things are a bit different this year. We have patio tomatoes and patio bell peppers,cow horn peppers and caine peppers. I think the coolest thing is we have hanging baskets of strawberries. Those I hope to reset this fall.




Finally got our beans set (greasy cut shorts) they are coming up but yesterday did some resetting. Even with the land sloped beans have soured with all the rain. I guess this year we wont have to water as much. I just hope we don't have to pick beans in the woods.

My dad attempted to start some lettuce in a raised bed. I can't even find the seeds. They are apparently dirt now.

I'm showing pictures of my iris' because they were so pretty and it is just depressing now. The only think looking good right now is the weeds.

Wow what was it like when the sun still shined and was like 80 some degrees. Wait I guess that was just yesterday but the rain is going to wash everything away.

Guess it could be worse. I could be caring that soured rain water out of the rain barrel to water everything. Talk about a workout.

Triple coupon receipts

Here is my weekend trip to Harris Teeter triple coupon event. First purchase was $80.80. Coupon savings $97.50 and VIC savings$48.91

The second receipt was not as good because I got ear pods $15.00 and Cat litter was B1G1 and I did not have coupons for that. Purchase was $97.64 with coupon savings of $90.04 and VIC savings $39.01.

I have to say Harris Teeter was happy to see coupon customers and were super curious and went out of there way to explain the terms of their coupon policy. I even gave my blog information to some nice ladies also triple couponing. All the customers in the store had handfuls of coupons. I will return more often to Harris Teeter because of the double coupon up to $.99.

Total I spent $178.44 and saved $275.46 with coupons alone...I look at that as I made $275.46 in one morning.

They do have a 20 coupon limit per purchase that is the reason for 2 receipts.

End result $453.90 was starting cost and I paid $178.44