Topic Posted by: valleygirl
Date Posted: Fri Feb 3 21:31:01 2012
Additional Comments:
Can you believe we've already disposed of the first month of 2012?
Here in Toronto, Canada we've experienced a very unusual January as we've had little snowfall and mild temperatures with a cold blast or two to remind us that it truly is winter. We've had a number of days of rain which wash away any snow that does manage to fall.
As many of you know, we had a sudden death in the family in January, causing valleyguy and I to visit your great nation. The service for my second cousin was beautiful and the strength his loved ones displayed was touching. My prayers continue for them as they learn to adjust to life without their husband/father/son/brother.
I have returned to work! I was certified as a PSW (personal support worker), known as a HCA (health care aide) in the USA, in 2005. I worked for 18 months in a nursing home following my certification. As much as I loved the work, it proved too heavy for me and my health failed me. After much soul searching, with a heavy heart I gave my job up, though I continued in the nursing home as a volunteer. A couple of years later it was discovered that I had kidney cancer, and now, three years later with my post-cancer screening promotion from bi-annual to annual, I began playing with the idea of returning to part-time work doing home care, which is less strenuous, and affords more time for client care. With that thought half in mind I came across an ad for a job fair a couple of weeks ago. I filled out an application and lo and behold, a week later I had a job! I've been in the field for a week now and have received some very kind and encouraging feedback from my clients. I love that what I am doing enables the elderly to stay in their own homes, though I do have a few clients in a retirement facility. I'm very happy with my decision, to say the least. The only drawback is that I have far less time to visit MD. :-( Well that and the fact that I haven't had time to put in any volunteer hours in the nursing home. I'm hoping I can still fit that into my schedule.
How was your January?
Posted by: Annie Date posted: Mon Feb 6 12:38:07 2012
Message:
Well, January has sucked and this better not be an indication of the rest of the year.
On January 1st I woke up with Strep Throat which I haven't had since I was a teenager, many years ago. I can't believe how it kicked my butt. I was just on the upswing from it and this past week came down with pink eye (gross), a massive sinus infection, and a parasite from something I ate at work. Seriously, I feel awful and miss my healthy lifestyle. I'm not used to being sick.
Back in December I found a lump in my breast, went right away for a mammogram and ultrasound and was told that it was fine, no problem. Fast forward to two days after Christmas and my OB/GYN calls to say he saw the films and wants me to see a surgeon since the films don't show much at all. I went to a surgeon and had a biopsy which, after a week of fretting, turned out benign. So in that case my January was great.
I found out my poor son has severe allergies and is now on a regimen of medication and nasal spray to take down the swelling and mess. He just keep on keeping on though. I'm dealing with hormonal hysteria from my tween aged daughter that doesn't make life easier. I'm managing a huge project at work that has me working between 50-60 hours a week so downtime isn't in the cards.
Finally, my property taxes went up a lot this year so our first quarter tax bill had us scrambling for money. That was an added stress I didn't need.
Sorry, I'm ususally not a complainer but you asked. Glad it's turned out good for some of you. On the plus side, I didn't have to deal with going out in the snow while all this was going and I'm super thankful for that!
Posted by: Suds Date posted: Sun Feb 5 21:17:55 2012
Message:
Keeping the elderly in their home is very " wonderful ''. There is nothing like home because continuity, as we get older, is sooooo important. Dealing with changes in all senior locations is kinda traumatic with it demands of new faces, activities, life styles etc.
Hey, we in Minnesota had a very blissful ''Mild'' winter. Very little snow, warmer temps, no Alberta Clippers...loved it loved lit. Also big savings on snow removal. January has always been my most unfavorite month. Yet at least it was much kinder this year.
However, most of it was a preoccupation of my Sister's hip fractured. She was in Assisted Living and had graduated to Independent. While measing her new unit she stood up quickly, lost her balance and down she went. Clear break on her left hip. Surgery went well, yet at the rehab facility she developed Bronchitis, UTI, and low hemoglobin. The UTI really made her wacky and confused (which was scary and sad for me). She's doing better, but not there yet.
Posted by: krisa225 Date posted: Sun Feb 5 16:23:47 2012
Message:
Congrats Valley Girl, what great news to have gone back to work that you love... and of course great news you are cancer free...
January flew by for me... As you've heard from others on the east coast, we've had a very mild winter... I'm still only wearinga fleece coat (I am determined to make it thru this winter w/out having put on my winter coat once). I haven't worn socks in over 2 weeks (and makes for so much less laundry, LOL).
We watched the Giants go from 'out of it' to Superbowl bound... never knew how supersitious Bob was and what he started doing by random one Sunday he's had to continue for the last 3 games! LOL I asked him today if I could wear one of his Giants shirts and he said that we hadn't done that yet so NO...
Unfortunately my mother has been very tired and weak so my siblings and I have been running her to drs. (She gave up driving in the fall when she couldn't lift her foot to put on the brakes fast enough). I've been going over and doing laundry, shopping for her. The cancer has been in her brain for a couple years now. Last week the neurosurgeon said to come back in 4 months and to cut back on medication which could be making her tired and weak. so its one day at a time.
Don't think I mentioned before, but Bob and I are getting married in April and since the holidays are behind us now its full steam ahead w/ the wedding plans. The save the date cards were all out, hall is booked, decorations bought, caterer and menu done, dress and shoes done, got my wedding band last weekend. The bakery said to come back in March to order the cake. Yesterday the flowers were ordered. The invitations are ready to go out later this week. I've been burning appropriate music to a flash drive for a few months now. We will either load it to an i-pod or I will make cds for a cd player at the hall. I want to make a cd as a favor to give everyone and have to narrow that down to about 20 songs. So time is going very fast for me... we need to get a suit for Bob. Honeymoon plans changed in January but I'm too busy to focus on that so told Bob to handle that... maybe as we get closer I can get into that. Today we got our taxes done and happy to report that everything will be paid for in cash which is a great relief to me. No more added debt!
We booked a camping weekend for the end of April... yup, all good. Here's to more mild days in February... and ...
Posted by: Wendi Date posted: Sat Feb 4 21:21:32 2012
Message: vg, all the best in your return to work, your clients are blessed to have you!
The highlight of my January was Cody getting his license. It's been about a month now and I'm actually getting used to him driving off by himself - at least I don't stand at the window every time he leaves and watch until his car disappears around the corner anymore! He's doing a great job, he's been very responsible, always tells us where he's going and is always home at or before the time we tell him to be. Cross your fingers that it continues!
I've also had an interesting month at work. My boss, with whom I've worked for 15 years (but only as my boss for the past two) retired yesterday. Last month I found out that the person they hired to replace him and the other guy in my department are moving to a different department, and I'm also moving to a different, different department. So I'll be working for a new boss and new people (although I've worked pretty closely with them for a long time). I'll be doing most of what I was already doing, but I'll be getting some new things to do as well. I'm not really nervous, and I don't even have to move from my current cubicle, which is nice. It will be a change, but I'm thinking it will be a good change. It officially starts on Monday, so I'll let you know how it goes!
Oh, one other thing happened in January - I made the appointment for my foot surgery - it will be March 8. Yikes. (Turns out I don't have a bunion, but Hallux Rigidus, otherwise known as turf toe.) Something to look forward to lol!
Posted by: Anita Lyfe Date posted: Sat Feb 4 19:24:14 2012
Message:
Thank gooodness for you, valleygirl. It is a wonderful comfort for people to be able to stay in their own homes as they get older. Thank you!
January~
My sweet Aunt Kay passed away January 18th in Connecticut. She was like a mother to me as my own mother has been gone 19 years (January 25). Aunt Kay was able to stay in her own home with health care professionals coming to visit her during the week. She would have turned 93 in February. I was crushed that tickets to fly home were $800.00 and a snowstorm came that weekend and I was unable to attend her funeral.
With the loss of my mother-in-law in November and Aunt Kay in January I feel the void of two pivotal women in my life.
When I was reassigned to a different position after 20 years September, I struggled with the change. I still work with children but the staff I work with are less structured than I am... it is a constant battle to maintain order and there are days I have to pray to get through another day. As I left work Friday I looked down and saw tulip bulbs peeking through the ground. It made me smile~
I hold my family near. Without them I would have nothing. Mr. Lyfe and I are celebrating 30 years together this year. Will and Sarah have 2 beautiful children and Jessie and Jeremy are newlyweds still. Our family brings me comfort.
The wonderful side of January was that Emma turned 4! She and Henry present blessings to me each day.
Posted by: MamaMia Date posted: Sat Feb 4 16:54:57 2012
Message:
Valleygirl - Good news about your going back to work. I know this will be a turning point for you with good health continuing in the future.
Unfortunately, January for me was horrible and now we're into February. My husband, Eli (some may know) went into the hospital on December 26th. Five weeks later he was still in the hospital due to continuing complications, one of which was a second infection which he got while in the hospital. They gave him high antibiotics which caused Colitis (very painful) and then he got a huge flare-up of Gout (more pain). They discharged him about a week ago and he was very weak. The other day, around 4:30 a.m. he woke me up and told me he saw blood....so I rushed him to the hospital. They are going to do a colonoscopy on Monday and they say that when they see the ''problem'' it should be ''easy'' to fix (sigh). Eli's niece is still helping me (driving back and forth 4 hours from where she lives). On a good note, they are giving him medication now which is helping the Gout situation. I'm s t r e s s e d..... Sorry for being a downer but that's my January story.
Posted by: leolover Date posted: Sat Feb 4 15:33:49 2012
Message: Congratulation Valleygirl, that's great!
January was good for me. The weather was a little colder than usual and there were several major snowfall warnings that never materialized, so we were all a little disappointed - the kids like to at least get on big dump a year so they can go sledding. My oldest daughter is graduating this year, so there are lots of parties going on and shoes and dresses to buy. She is also leaving for Botswana next month for a school humanitarian trip on March 7. I'm a little stressed about that. We just spent $600 on vaccines and prescriptions for the trip and all the dire warnings from the doctor about mosquitoes etc. was a bit scary....Other than that we're just chugging along waiting for Spring and softball season, which both of my daughters play.
Posted by: goldie Date posted: Sat Feb 4 13:28:44 2012
Message: My January has been very nice, Texas is having spring weather most of the month, love it. January also ends the spending spree I have been on since November, it seems most my family have birthdays, then Christmas and through the end of January more birthdays. And then of course property tax was due by the 31st, now I can relax and so can my bank account. But in all January has been a very good month.
Posted by: SheilaT Date posted: Sat Feb 4 9:48:49 2012
Message:
Hi vg . . . congrats on getting back to work! Home care seems much more challenging than working in a facility, but if you prefer the home setting that's great. I hope your health is good but have faith in you!
My January has been basically getting back to normal after the surgeries I and Mr. T had in November and the excitement of the holidays with family in town. The only real drama involved my brother from NY, who had a horrible respiratory infection when he arrived in town (in fact, he was so sick I didn't see him the whole time he was here). Turns out he had pneumonia. After returning to NY, in fact, he had to be hospitalized and had a chest tube inserted, then needed a "procedure" to stop the bleeding caused by the first one. He was in the hospital for a total of ten days, which for a normally healthy 45 year old male is almost unheard of these days. He went home on IV antibiotics for two weeks (last dose yesterday). He says he still feels like crap, getting out every day for a long walk but otherwise just languishing at home. I feel so bad for him.
We're hoping February will turn out to be a wonderful month for him and the whole darn T family. And I'm wishing the same for all of the MD family here!
Posted by: Miss.Bear Date posted: Sat Feb 4 2:00:51 2012
Message: Sorry to hear about your loss. Congratulations on your new job. Sounds great. Try to check in here sometimes :)
My January, it has been a very mild winter here in Chicagoland. We have only had two snowstorms all year and temps have maintained above normal. We had a couple of real cold days but that's it. Snow is all melted. Last year at this time we had two feet of snow on the ground from that blizzard. This year has got to be the mildest winter I ever remember.
I signed up for two classes, history and visual arts. I love the history class, it is fun but not wild about the art class surprisingly. I love the subject of course and I love studying art but the teacher is not so good:( She just seems to recite everything in the text book and shows no enthusiasm at all.
So, that's my January.
Posted by: Patem111 Date posted: Fri Feb 3 22:57:01 2012
Message:
Busy. Stressful. Blissfully almost totally snow free!!
It didn't end too great though. I spent the last day of the month in the ER. I was getting ready for work and sneezed 3 times quite hard and next thing I knew I was tasting blood. Within a few seconds I looked like a vampire on a drinking binge. I could feel something funny in my throat and kept gagging. Long story short, the sneeze dislodged a nasal polyp that ruptured. Everything is fine now, but I did aquire a new wonderful ENT doctor and I am scheduled for sinus surgery on February 20th. Turns out I am full of sinus polyps and have a major sinus infection as well as a yeast infection. My doctor is confident that after the surgery, my chronic sinus infections should be cured. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I have suffered with horrible sinus infections several times a year for the last 30 years. The thought of being able to breathe freely through my nose is exciting!
Posted by: Angela Date posted: Fri Feb 3 21:59:54 2012
Message: Hi valleygirl! My prayers continue with your family. xo I am sure it is not easy to have to go through. Thinking of you.
I think what you do is great. In my opinion.. You need to be a special person to do that and that you are. As you know what my mom went through, she received great care. I learned so much from that experience. One thing I've learned is how wonderful people ( like yourself) can be so kind to the patients and their families when facing such sadness. xoxo
Oh.. How was my January.. Lol
I thought it was great! I can't complain about the weather. We have been truly blessed with this weather. One month ( gone) closer to spring.. Lol
Well the only thing I have had to face is my dads arthritis ( sp) in his knees. He's in a lot of pain and wants to have knee surgery but doctors are saying he can survive surgery but recovery is very difficult. His other knees is not really capable of handling it and he is also 80 years old. They recommend just to continue therapy but friends and brothers are saying to have it. Ugh! I want the best for my dad and I agree with the doctors. He also has bad arthritics ( sp) in his left shoulder. I also went online to research and they ( 3 websites) agreed with not getting surgery with the issues I listed. decisions decisions!! .. Sorry to go on and one!' xo
