Another Blast

 Hey, if you leave your window down and its snowing, this is what you can expect to find.  And believe me, it's not easy to get that stuff out of your car either.

Some years ago, a mate and I left the window down just a crack at some Winter Conference in Oswego County, when we saw the snow inside the car the next morning, we just stood there and laughed, what else could you do. Then we brushed it out, started the car and ran the heater, hoping like hell to not only dry the seats but warm up the car too.  It was colder the Hades that morning.

Now for my story, ready?  Back in November, my back began hurting me and I knew the kidney stone that had been laying about for nearly 5 years had decided it was time to come out.  It was pretty big and probably should have been removed much earlier but with all my other medical issues and this not bothering me, we left it alone. But now it was impossible to leave alone, it had to be blasted (lithotripsy) and the urologist would put in a stent to assist in the stone removal process.  Of course you do realize, once this procedure was over, I would have to not just collect my urine but strain it to collect stone particles, right?  Collection was tossed, stones were placed in a jar (that alone is an entirely other story).  

Went back to see the urologist on Jan 3rd and thinking today the stent comes out and my life goes back to normal. WRONG!  Seem this stone was showing parts still there and another blast was needed, so on Jan 6th, back to the hospital and more blasting, more collecting and more fun.  Then, this week on Jan 29th, went back in for a check up, you do understand, each check also involves an x-ray (KUB), right?  Once again, it seems not all the stones are gone - what the hell, it's like I got this goddamn gravel pit in there or something.

So Monday, Feb 3rd I go back again for the third blast treatment, but this go around, he'll use either or both a cystoscope/uretroscope and remove any remaining particles and also that damn stent, all while I am out cold, thank you very much.  

Earlier on Jan 29th I was at the dentist office.  Oh this gets fun too.  I needed the dentist to sign off on the medical release for the oncologist to give me this infusion number for osteoporosis,helps maintain healthy bones or some such shit.  But I also wanted him to check my jaw, because after my last blast treatment, that sucker was sore and I couldn't open it as wide as I would like.  Well, shit I have a minor case of lock jaw.  No disease or infection, thank goodness, and I can (1) massage my jaw with my hand, (2) use warm, moist compresses to the jaw area a couple times a day, and (3) just kinda open and close your mouth, stretching your jaw as much as you can.  In other words, nothing to worry about, but it is painful and it will go away (in my life time hope).

Now my Grand son is all for this.  The other day he informed me he wanted to play outside and I informed him, no way, its minus 17 degrees and way too cold. "But Meme," he says, " we need to plant a snow garden!"  Ya gotta love this kid.

A few weeks ago,he and I were kinda of wrestling on the floor, he is four years old and not a light weight, he is tall and solid, well, he jumped on my and I heard this pop and sure as shit, my rib popped.  Talk about hurt, ye gads.  I tape it at night and thinking, I should wear a tape during the day too.  Oh sure, if I go to see a doctor, they'll say wrap it up, take these pain meds and its just gonna take time. Screw that, I detest pain meds and due to this lovely procedure on Monday, I can't even have a bloody aspirin.

Oh you wanna know the real kick in the ass.  The day before the procedure, which is Super Bowl Sunday, I can only have liquid meals and I don't mean booze.  There goes my chicken wings -- screw it, I'll have them Saturday just to be sure I get'em.  Superbowl without chicken wings ain't gonna be the same.

In the meantime, I continue to workout with the Shaun T-25 focus DVDs, I completed both Alpha and Beta workouts, a couple of times and this week moved on the Gamma round.  Lots of weights involved which I find damn entertaining and I can see my arms getting toned, etc. Hell, I was even able to do a couple burpees this week and that is quite a feat in my book.

So along with friggin horrible weather, this polar vortez can go to hell, everything is fine here.  Hubby is doing good too.  Have a lovely weekend and cheer on your team, well a team at least.

ENUFF

I cannot add anything to this post, the graphics say it all...so sick of this cold shit.

Minus 27 degrees

Hello everyone, can ya believe it's 2014 and January is nearly over, well, come on, it's January 21st, that is more than half way in my book! 

Now you can call this weather the polar vortex or what ever, but let me just say,today if just friggin ass cold!

Lately we have seen it all: rain, sleet,thaws, floods, snow,green grass, mud and slick roads and sometimes bare roads.  But today we woke up to -degrees. Not that my friends is friggin cold.
I had hope to get out and do some snow shoeing but with a wind chill advisory and half the damn schools on two hour delays, I think it best to stay inside (preferably under an electric blanket).

On the health front, let me get the good news posted first.  My December mammogram was normal (hurrah) and my oncology appointment Jan 14th declared me cancer free!  I have another mammo in June and follow up oncology in July but hey, this was great news and I'm doing the happy dance.

On the bottom half, the news ain't so good, but not bad either.  Back in November,after nearly five or six years, my back began bothering me and it was time to blast this damn kidney stone, which was done and a stent was put in to help remove the blasted pieces.  Then on my Jan 3rd follow up, it seemed the stones hadn't completely passed and I needed another blast treatment and that was done Jan 6th  but the stent remain,damn.  So now I have a follow up (along with a KUB) on Jan 29th and hoping like hell, the stones have gone and the damn stent can be removed (this is done in his office).  

This is what the ice storm brought us a few weeks ago and yes, we had power outages and some damn slick roads.

However, the sheet of thin ice on top of the backyard, which slopes slightlty, made for a great place to slide and my grandson loved it.  Put him in a plastic sled, little push and away he went. Even Meme (that would be me) did it once but getting back up that icy slope was anything but fun.

Poor birds were having to bust thru ice to get to food and when I could I was insure the bird feeders were full too.  Love to watch them but haven't see a cardinal yet, oh well, they'll be back in due time.

Here's me taken last month or perhaps earlier this month.  I'm losing weight, and inches as I do this Shaun T-25 workout program.  It's only 25 minutes each day and I sweat like crazy but it works.  Also learning to make healthier food choices too.  Sorry, but I still want my sweets but learning to cut down on them,too much sugar is not good.

 I do hope your year is going smoothly and things are happening in a manner you can accept or at the very least deal with?  I know life tosses challenges at us but screw it,we just do what we can and tell ourselves, this side of the dirt is a lot more fun than the other side.  So, if you are sitting around and moaning, get off your ass and move.

Have a lovely day, keep smiling.  Oh, if all goes as planned I will be headed to Florida in April...oh man, that is one road trip I can't wait to start and it'll be so much fun to see my sister and my Nam buddy.