Serial Starters

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  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    Good evening,

    Over on calories by a little. Bypassed the tins of cookies/ mini cheesecakes and cookies today. I need to remind myself I handle the holidays much better than I used to instead of beating myself up for having what treats I did......

    Frozen Lasagna heating up. Ran out of energy at work today - like so many of my coworkers.

    Found a pattern to knit a hot water bottle cozy - I have the yarn and needles, so why not save $$ (if the cozy keeps the water hotter longer, I dont have to refill my hot water bottle - and water is priceless here in CA ) and I am lazy if I dont have to get out of my comfortable spot as often......

    Dog to Vet for her glands and I need some of her spray for allergies - send good dog thoughts that all goes well.

    Will hang out with Lana and torture her with my lyrically challenged holiday carols, as if she isnt feeling sick enough!! Cboys special today is facial and hand/foot massage - stop by.
  • LanaCabana537
    LanaCabana537 Posts: 4,014 Member

    Ladies - don't believe what Sara said--she sings like an angel. All the Cabana Boys love her for it!
    The foot massage on the beach was excellent~~

    Sending good dog vibes for Tillie, although her appointment was today or is tomorrow?

    Annie welcome back - glad to hear all went well on your trip.

    Waves to anyone else who stops by.

    Lana, who is taking a Lunesta soon and hitting the hay, hoping for more than the 4 hours sleep last night (no Lunesta and too much steroids in system - glad they are getting flushed out....)
  • arniedog74
    arniedog74 Posts: 2,086 Member
    Annie- welcome back. Glad you had a good visit.

    Lana - good sleep vibes sent your way...

    Sara - good dog thoughts for Miss Tillie

    Still not making best food choices... nor drink... keep telling myself, New Year New Start... we'll see if I stick to that... or even begin for that matter...

    So, once again, more upsetting news came my way... this time, even more heartbreaking than the last.. Gpa had an appointment with Neurologist a couple days ago... frequent, unexplained falling, dizziness they could find no explanation for, memory loss... he was misdiagnosed with Parkinson's and Dementia...the reason I say misdiagnosed, is he now correctly diagnosed with Progressive Supraneuclear Palsy... which, is commonly misdiagnosed as the prior diseases.. it is an incredibly rare, dibilitating disease. Similar to Parkinson's, which is why it's misdiagnosed as such, but no tremors. Reading up on this disease, I can only hope he doesn't get to the point of suffering... they have, thankfully, decided to bring in home health care... which, in a way makes me nervous, trusting him in someone else's care...Gma will be there...I know it's going to be hard for her to allow some stranger to come into her home and care for her husband. This disease is not going to be easy on anyone, and they will have no choice but to let someone help, like it or not. This was so unexpected, such a hard hit...I don't want to lose him, but I truly hope he does not suffer... truly

    Sorry for another sob story... seems it always happens all at once...
  • LanaCabana537
    LanaCabana537 Posts: 4,014 Member
    edited December 2016
    Dawn

    So sorry to hear about your grandfather

    As for us here, never apologize for posting about it. It is much bigger than a sob story, and we will want to know how things are going.

    I will likely pipe up with some questions and suggestions for you to be doing and asking to help your grandparents cope with this, especially if none of their children are able to do so for whatever reason.

    PSP seems to me to be a disease that may need death with dignity, and I don't know whether your grandparents would want to move to one of the states that has that humane law on the books.

    It is never too early to meet with the hospice organization in your area to talk about preparing for palliative care and end-of-life. Hospice care isn't just for the last six months of someone's life. People can go onto and off of hospice for years.

    You take care of yourself as best you can during all of this. Keep your kitchen filled with good things, and when you want the bad things have one serving of them out of the house! I often toot this horn, but understand it is coming from the woman who picked up an entire package of sliced banana nut bread and took it back to her lair this evening!

    Hugs
    Lana
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    SATURDAY

    Good morning,

    Tillie can go to Vet either day - I have to call first. Lana it is not the quality of my singing that is the issue it is hearing the same 3 lines 20 times that can be annoying.

    Dawn - I second Lana's post - I used to work with the dying. There is a huge amount of emotional change - the staff of hospice and home healthcare are employees of the medical group you are using. If your Gma was to take this on alone - it would just be too much - a number of people come by - see about having a "guest book" for all people to sign in as they visit - medical staff and family - to help keep things straight. When someone dies they ask about elder abuse (it is their job to do so) and a document of who has been there might help.

    I am back to bed - so I may think of more things later.
  • LanaCabana537
    LanaCabana537 Posts: 4,014 Member

    Sara and Dawn - "Guest book" is brilliant idea.

    Lana
  • LanaCabana537
    LanaCabana537 Posts: 4,014 Member

    Saturday......New Year's Eve in midtown Manhattan. OMG.

    Yesterday evening it was already getting awful out there. Tons of people in town for this silly tradition.
    The police are trying to set up all the barriers. A mess it was.

    ....I was coming home from yesterday's MSK follow up appointment, stopped at the store, and got home and promptly cancelled the special New Year's Eve meditation thing I was going to go to tonight down in Chelsea.
    No way will I have the strength to handle the crowding on my street, let alone get south and then back north 30 blocks safely so late at night.

    I'm heading out for milk and orange juice soon, and then coming home to hide here until noon January 1.

    BBL - Have to think of a new tune to hum near Sara while she's snoozing.....

    Hat and beach bag on favorite lounge chair for later......

    Cabana Boys will be serving champagne and cocktails and zero calorie decadent snacks along with healthy things. Of course there will be foot massages and special pillow fluffing. Fireworks on the beach at midnight!

    Lana

    Today's weight: 233.0 (not weigh in day)
    245.6 Highest ever
    208.6 Serial Starters lowest weight
    175.0 Goal
  • arniedog74
    arniedog74 Posts: 2,086 Member
    Lana and Sara- Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtfulness. This is something very new to me. I have dealt with illness a lot, as my Dad was in and out of the hospital often when I was young... kidney disease.. there was never a need for home health or hospice as his parents cared for him, while mom worked and cared for me...I welcome all questions, thoughts and suggestions. I am going to be at a loss on this...

    I believe we are going to do family photos, soon. As much as I hate it, we need to do it. I am also going to try to go home as much as possible. It will be difficult, financially and physically... but, I believe it is going to get to the point of him not knowing who anyone is, so I want to be there while he still does...

    Lana- Banana bread sounds mighty yummy..I am getting ready to eat a not so yummy Sonic burger... for lack of anything better to choose from..

    Tomorrow is a new Year... gonna start it off better...

    BBL
    - Dawn
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    edited December 2016
    Back from errands- Dog to Vet at 12:00 - chicken chili in crockpot.

    Dawn - I was not thinking in full gear - add this to hospice. Police get involved when an elderly person passes and they do have to rule out elder abuse .... guest book also helps keeps Gma keep her world together.

    Hospice is usually a 30 to 60 to 90 day span, I do medical billing and come across medicare patients with hospice, it can be used as "comfort in their last days" but it is also used for intense medical intervention done at home and the patient may/may not pass away. I saw you just posted....

    oops be careful, states may allow humane end of life, but not all medical groups do for religious reasons - so worth it to find out if there are any limitations now with Gpas health insurance...... for example the company I work for acknowledges the law but employees would get fired for obeying the law but breaking company policy......

    Get in the picture - you might regret not doing so later.
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    Lana - no apologies - New Year's nuts are not worth it. I stay inside because neighbors start shooting their guns. It is just safer to stay inside. Get your comfort foods and stuff and hunker down - watch a good dvd.

    Dog gets to see one of her favorite vet techs today-- which makes my day good as well.

    Will stop by before complete craziness sets in in NYC. Just not the same without Dick Clark, but then our parents/ grandparents said the same about Guy Lombardo .....
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    edited December 2016
    Vet visit was a success and even if it is $30 every 2 weeks - better than $200.00 plus if she has to have surgery.....and a lot more hassle for her.

    Dawn - Elizabeth Kubler Ross writes well on dealing with the levels of grief. Think Library save yourself some money...

    Hot water boiling for water bottle and tea. Nap in near future.

    70's disco at Cboys for New Years?? I am also hearing a lot of George Michael on radio......

    In sun under Lana's Palm Tree knitting little baby hats to donate......

  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    Good evening,

    Later than usual dinner - waiting for crock pot. Hot chocolate afterwards.

    Missy - great job!!

    Find me with Lana and the Cboys bringing in the New Year.
  • LanaCabana537
    LanaCabana537 Posts: 4,014 Member

    Missy - Nice big happy post there! Good for you on getting that exercise in!

    Lana
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    NYC ball has not dropped, but time for me to snuggle up with Miss Tillie.

    Sending hugs out tonight - it has been a hard year - hoping comfort and clarity find us in the New Year.

    Wishing all a good night.
  • arniedog74
    arniedog74 Posts: 2,086 Member
    Thank you so much for good thoughts and kind words.

    I do not know much about Grandparents insurance. I believe they have Medicare... Gpa is retired from Post Office...25 yrs or so.. don't know exactly what that entitles him to. I love the idea of a guest book. I believe that would be a great thing for both Gma and Gpa...

    Nothing set yet, but hoping to make trip in Feb for his 87th birthday... spoke with Aunt about possibly doing family photos, then... gives me a short term goal to work on, if I can get focused...

    Lana - NYC has always looked so fun on TV...I know, without a doubt, I'd panic...I'm just as happy at home...

    Sara - curled up with pups, myself...I am A OK with that...

    Not sure if I will make it back... Happy New Year to all! Be safe and have a great night!

    Hugs
    - Dawn
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    New Year's "noise" woke me up. Dog is my shadow.

    Dawn - Post office employees tend to have good insurance benefits from what I have seen.... Whatever insurance he has, there is a member services phone # on the back of the insurance card(s) and they can answer hospice/end of life question benefits/coverage questions.

    NYC in that crowd would make me claustrophobic, but it looks fun on the TV which I guess is the point.....

    Will go back and curl up with dog and see about sleep.

    BBL in a couple of hours !! :o
  • LanaCabana537
    LanaCabana537 Posts: 4,014 Member
    edited January 2017
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    Looking forward to all of us getting better at taking good care of ourselves.

    Hugs
    Lana
  • LanaCabana537
    LanaCabana537 Posts: 4,014 Member
    edited January 2017
    Well today IS weigh in day.

    I gained roughly 25 pounds in 2016. It was half DH-stress and half BC.
    Without this group, this gain would have been worse - I know so.

    This year I will get my strength back, get exercise, and be back on track.


    Today's weight: 234.4 :open_mouth:
    245.6 Highest ever
    208.6 Serial Starters lowest weight Jan. 1, 2016 :open_mouth:
    175.0 Goal
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    Good morning,

    Noise did not stop until 2 - but dog needs her out and meds/food so back to sleep soon.

    Another Christmas present - dog at Vet is 9 pounds!! so she has lost a pound -

    Lost 9 pounds this year and gained a lot of it back during the holiday - weigh in is tomorrow.

    Lana = why are you up so early?? Did you ever get to sleep?

    Groceries this morning and then more knitting/ snuggle up with dog.

    Will stop by later.
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    edited January 2017
    Cell phone is gone. Store opens at 11 - glad I dont buy an expensive one. Tis the season sadly. I will just get another one and let the bad karma stick on the person who took it. They could have taken my wallet as well, so I am considering myself lucky.

    Dawn - I know people whose whole lives are on their phones..... I just use mine for emergencies, so I am very lucky I have very little info on it. I considered not replacing it, but the reason is still the same, just in case for emergencies.
  • arniedog74
    arniedog74 Posts: 2,086 Member
    Lana - that looks like an amazing place to be in the New Year... sign me up :)

    Sara - sorry about your phone... you are lucky your wallet was left.. phones are much easier to replace... yay for dog weight loss... good luck on your weigh in...

    I'm leaving all the the insurance/ hospice up to Mom and siblings... just hope they can agree on things.. they don't always get along

    Just hangin with the pups and watching movies, today.... trying to get motivated to start putting things away from Christmas... always bring home lotsa goodies from Mom and Gma...

    Have a good day everyone... check in later
  • ASalner
    ASalner Posts: 496 Member
    Happy New Year! I lost 10 lbs this year and gained it all back (mostly right at the end of the year during the holidays.) Goal is to lose 15 lbs this year and keep it off! Working on making better choices today although there are way too many leftovers and temptations in my house right now. I did have my regular fried egg for breakfast rather than a cinnamon streusal muffin and I have avoided pop so far today.

    I decided to make an activity goal to go along with my weight loss goal. My goal is to walk at least 10 miles per week or 520 miles this year.

    My parents are in their mid-60's and when we were there visiting, I saw how limited my mom is becoming with walking. Sightseeing was a real struggle for her. She should really see a doctor to find out if she can get some pain relief or PT to build strength? I have no doubt she would feel a bit better if she lost weight.

    DH and I both got a little scared by it and have committed to losing weight and staying more active. I have been dealing with a back/leg issue for a couple of years and I am committed to talking to my doctor about it this year in the hopes of getting to the bottom of it and possibly getting PT to help. We are too young to get decrepit if we can help it!

    Going to get on the treadmill today to start logging miles toward my goal!

    Have a great day!
    Annie

  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    edited January 2017
    Will read back in a moment - called coworker - we have tomorrow off and I had no clue.... Luckily I walk to work so it would not be such a hardship. What to do with an unplanned day off??

    ATT closed today, will call 1-800 # to see if my cell phone has any minutes on it - if it does then it is misplaced. Just got off phone with ATT - balance of $180 is still on phone - so where phone is I have no idea - but as I have tomorrow off, I can go to nearby ATT phone store and tsf info/balance to a new one - they run about $40.00 - so I am thrilled.
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    edited January 2017
    okay not one of my stellar days - car phone was in passenger side floor of car (same shade as floor mats....) I remembered a couple of minutes ago throwing purse in car and losing phone in former car and sure enough.......at least it only took 4 hours to find. hahahaha

    What really annoys me is that I was so quick to think someone stole my phone. This only gets worse with age. Oh boy.....

    Annie - sometimes seeing our parents older with similar health issues is a good motivator and I am glad to hear that DH is on board as well.

    Hearing some good plans for 2017 .....

    Will do some sweeping and walking and take a nap with dog. Need to work off some of this unneeded anxiety from non- stolen phone. Leaving the bad food alone for now.
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    Huge dinner, but most of the rest of my day was rather small. Scale - please dont let me gain another 3 pounds tomorrow.

    Knitting and will take dog out soon for her last big walk.

    Have a box for Goodwill tomorrow.
  • LanaCabana537
    LanaCabana537 Posts: 4,014 Member
    Sara-- last night I went to sleep hours before midnight, slept through the festivities, and then woke up very early today. I'm so glad you have your phone.

    Missy & Annie & Dawn ---
    Put on your thinking caps, so we all can come up with some weekly ideas, goals, and/or challenges to inspire us through the winter and get us going in this new year!

    Lana
  • arniedog74
    arniedog74 Posts: 2,086 Member
    edited January 2017
    Sara - so glad you found your phone...I lost my phone, in my purse, in a dark movie theater... talk about embarrassing, since I had them turn the lights on... thankfully, movie was over and theater was empty..Enjoy the unexpected day off... can't say that's ever happened to me... not sure what I'd do with myself...

    Missy- I just can't take decorations down just yet... so sad to see the season end...

    Lana - thinking cap is pretty dusty... gonna hafta shake it off... not sure how useful it will be...
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    MONDAY

    Good morning,

    Dog woke me at 3 - she got to go out and then she wanted food. She had to wait. She is now taken care of and I will go back to sleep again.

    Christmas box will be taken down and opened and purged. Decorations still up in window for a little while longer.

    Trip to Goodwill on tap later.

    Will weigh in later and post. BBL.
  • LanaCabana537
    LanaCabana537 Posts: 4,014 Member

    I have no (room for) decorations in apartment except a very cute little Christmas tree crocheted by one of Santa's Elfs, which hangs from the clock.

    Down at NC home, the Christmas tree (4-feet high) is up year-round, along with the Easter eggs and Valentines things and the Indian corn and gourds.

    Ages ago, my family would keep decorations up until January 6th.

    MONDAY QOTD: Are you able to plan out your food for the day? A simple sketch in your mind can help; writing it is better. Look to where you'll get your protein and get your fruits and veggies?

    Lana
  • Tilliesmommy1
    Tilliesmommy1 Posts: 5,403 Member
    Down .8 from last week. Glad the scale is moving down again.

    AOTD: I set my week up so my breakfast /lunches are automatic, snacks are greek yogurt/ banana/apple so by time I am home I usually need 1 fruit/veg with dinner. Beating boredom is my hurdle, but working on that too.....

    The "worst" year I kept Christmas in my window until Valentines day, so anytime in January is fine by me.