WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR SEPTEMBER 2024

Remember that pinched nerve issue I was telling you about? Hasn’t hurt since we’ve been here camping, funny. Still walking and running tho.

614614

Updates:
Talked to mom today, my two sisters fought and got a doctor to look at her. She has been having nausea and diarrhea (uncontrollable) every day for the last week and is not eating well and very weak. (She is 88 yo). The facility she is at is under-staffed and over-filled with patients so limited attention to the patients. Not a good situation. I’m happy my two sisters are there to fight for her. One of them is very opinionated and will ‘insist’ on better care for my mom. This got them a good doctor to look at her who is now doing tests and trying to figure out what is wrong.

DH’s doctor appointment went ok yesterday. Nothing extreme to do. Bloodwork about the same as last time. Doc told him he was dehydrated and the alcohol he drinks are both doing a number on his liver. I will be very surprised if he makes an effort to drink more water and less Rum. We will see. He too follows Dr. Google who usually confirms what I’ve told him. 🤦‍♀️

Brownie is going downhill. She still is able to control her bowels, so I’m glad of that. She is just coughing and loosing her balance a lot more. When she has a coughing fit, she looks at me with these eyes that ask me to help her make it stop. It breaks my heat….

Finances: I have to admit that I have had issues with credit cards. I want to please DH and others so spend way too much on credit. I have now employed a financial assistance program and cut up all the credit cards. The hard part is convincing DH that we don’t have the money to buy everything he wants. He does buy things I don’t think are necessary, and buys way too much food that we don’t need. Changing my focus is doable, but I can’t change his. So working on this at any rate. In the past, and even now, I have been the one to make the most money of both my husband’s. I have always controlled the bill paying, etc but have never been able to save because I wanted a higher standard of living than I really could afford. I’ve been in financial trouble more than once. This has to be the FINAL time I over-use or even use credit! I needed to write this someone to be more accountable to get back on track.

Speaking of back on track, I went for a 2.5 mile hike this morning before breakfast. That makes me tired, but feels great! My head is in a better place today. No doctors today, but two tomorrow morning so may not have time to post. I will catch up though!

Sorry for the book,

RVRita in Roswell

Hello, my lovely friends;
It has been a few days since I posted. I tried to post but was so tired that I forgot to save my draft, which disappeared. I was too exhausted to retype, so I went to bed. So, here is my update. I heard my blue-eyed cherub was in PICU, but after a few days, they told us to save a room for her. Her mother was supposed to come in and get a new trach for her but didn't, so she almost died. I was sad cause I didn't get to see her. I was so busy with my two babies and a four-year-old who kept taking off his oxygen. So I told him that I would call his dad and tell him not to come cause he wouldn't wear his oxygen. He wore it the rest of the night, and then we could wean him off it. I told him his dad could now take him and his mom home. He was thrilled. I fell in love with a new baby; she is so cute, and her dimples show when she smiles and laughs. I saw my therapist after work Monday and told him about you all. He was pleased that I was doing well.
Today, I threw away some things in the kitchen and am donating some thermal cups to the parent lounge at work. I threw away the lids that had no bottoms. Someone said that I am doing great on decluttering. I am so behind. Loaded the dishwasher and wiped down the stove and countertops. I did step aerobics last night, but the dog laid on my yoga mat the moment I laid it down to do my setups. She wouldn't move, so I drove down to do it with the video. I continued with push-ups, and she was unfazed. Today, she is in day camp. I am going to the pool today and tomorrow. I must push myself before seeing the weight management doctor and the nutritionist.

I have been checking on you all and praying for you all. Allie, you are a wonderful grandma to all of your grand. When I lost Alexandra, I hadn't been working, so we couldn't afford a burial or cremation(I wish we had looked into it first.). As a result, Alex was buried in a mass grave at the hospital. That depressed me. You, as a grandma, were able to anticipate your daughter's and your needs to arrange and pay for her to be put to rest. I wish I knew that you can divide ashes and put them into works of art and jewelry. Miles is a happy kid because his village well loves him. You are the grandma I wanted for my kids. I hope I will be as great as you are when I finally become one. I am in no hurry cause my kids are not yet mature enough to be parents.

Beth, my mom, slept a lot when we put her in memory care. She hid in her room, so they had to make her get out and participate in the activities. Food helped her get out of the room. Now, when I visit, she is a social butterfly, and I feel like I interrupt her fun, but then I join in, too. I see videos where she is dancing and singing.

Lisa, You are so talented. You remind me of my aunt Katie. I love that purse! You could start an Etsy account and sell your work. Yay for you for sleeping in sometimes.

Lanette, you made DH's day. When I told him that you listen to his "60 seconds of Hope," I used to chime in on the commentary. I haven't for a bit. He has a few books on Amazon. McMillon was his great-grandpa's doing. I guess he disapproved of his brother and his family's lifestyle, so he broke away and changed the spelling of the last name from McMillan to McMillon.

Katiebug, I stopped posting on Facebook because families would get upset if I didn't accept them. I got in trouble when I participated in a memorial of one of my favorite patients. When he died, I cried and cried. So, I spoke to the family online about what he met and only used his first name. I almost lost my job. The family called and said that they loved me and not to fire me. My current manager fought for me as well. That is why I do not say names. Somebody hacked my Facebook account, and my friends told me someone was asking them for money. They know that isn't like me. So, my FB was closed by the administration, and I was okay with that. I may get it going again, but now I tell families I can not be their friend while working at UMMC.

Tracey that is a beautiful rainbow over your house. I wonder if it symbolizes a blessing. Your granddaughter Michaela is gorgeous and looks great in the boots. I love the colors in her bangs.
I am working on my finances. I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, so my DH forgot that he promised me I could if I moved to Mississippi. So, I didn't get a job and stayed home. The electricity was turned off, and I had to get money from my savings to pay for the utilities and ask for money from DH. I then realized that I had to go back to work. I had to get an MS license, pawn some things for less money than they were worth, and apply for a job. I always made more money than DH. Now he makes more than me. We have separate accounts and one joint account. That didn't work due to his check writing without checking with me. So we divided up the bills. I pay the mortgage, electricity, water, and our son's needs. He pays for Julia's needs, Carnotes (mine, his, and Julia's), and car insurance, and I pay for the house insurance and things my mom may need. He also bought a condo in Chicago and paid HOA, which covers utilities and taxes. He pays for my cable bill and internet as well. It works for us. We both work hard and as a pastor, he signed his check back to the church when he lived here. So, my husband was a working pastor. He gave money to the congregants if they had a need. I buy things for my patients and the PTA. We donate to many charitable organizations that we believe in.

Heather, you are walking, and I hear the joy and determination in your writing. It may help to wrap your knee with Kinesio tape. Do not wrap it too tight, just enough to support your knee. I am going to wrap my foot more often as well.

Lisa, I guess you sent me the rain from Arkansas to Mississippi. Now my head is hurting again. Now I know to expect it if you get rainy weather.

Rita, I hope your fur baby, mom, and DH get better. I am on Antidepressants. My doctor told me that it was for my hot flashes after my hysterectomy. I think he knew I was depressed. Then, they put me in integrative care, So now I have a therapist, too. He is wonderful.

Beautiful wizard, Mickey Michelle.

Deb, I like to do my own thing in the water. I may join the 10 am class and then do laps in the pool.

Annie, sorry you were sick. I hope you are now on the mend.

Congrats, Margaret, on the weight and keeping it off.

Pip that pinched nerve can be pretty painful. I have sciatica, and exercise worked better than meds. Back kicks, bending your knee as you are on all fours and kicking outward and doing it on each leg, help. Look up exercises on YouTube.

Lisa, all of my appliances died during the beginning of COVID-19. I was in the hospital cause I could not breathe. I was trying to order appliances even though I didn't have income. I had hospital indemnity insurance and short-term disability, which helped. But it was hard to get the appliances. They were on back order. We had Maytag for the washing machine, but I ordered an upright whirlpool even though the repair man said to get a Speed Queen.

See, I told you that I had a lot to say. Take care everyone. It is time for my nap before I go to the pool. Chow for now.
XO,

Monique AKA-Mo

Today’s gratitude: Rib is so much better today. Able to reach, bend over, even cough with little to no pain. What a difference! Rejoicing that the ultra sound confirmed that the mass seen in the MRI is a benign fibroadenoma. No further steps needed. Re-check in 6 months. Thankful.

Now I’m gonna celebrate by doing the Day 21 desk declutter, then reward myself with a pastry and an international coffee


Later, lighter, lovelies!
Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD

Move more than yesterday, fuel better than yesterday, live NOW.
Open heart and mind before mouth.
2024: Strengthen: body, mind, heart-connections.

I grew up in a relatively poor family and just about everything we bought had to be researched and justified. I still do that. It has taken months for me to make large purchases because of all the research involved.

I also didn't get a credit card until sometime in my 30s. I had started travelling with my cycling and discovered I needed a credit card to do things like book accommodation and flights. But I didn't use it for anything else. In fact even now, nothing (except bookings) goes on a credit card.

My only debts have been loans for education (up to $5000) and the very occasional venture into a small overdraft. Oh, and a couple car loans which have been long since paid off.

Meanwhile I still research all large purchases to death! 😀

M in Oz

Today’s dance class was the first time in weeks I was able to dance the whole ltime. Thankful the rib pain has eased and the stamina is returning after the summer cold from heck. Felt GOOD!
Carol, your decluttering and cleaning are inspiring. Is the knee still swollen, red and hot?
Lisa your under desk solution – perfect!
Rebecca sorry for the charley horse, glad you could ease it in the sauna.
Machka I’m so with you on interest. The only interest we pay is the mortgage, and Joe’s Shell credit card which he sometimes doesn’t want to pay off. It’s hard for me, but it’s his money, so I don’t buck him too hard.
Debbie, I’d be very very uncomfortable not knowing how much we as a couple had in the bank, or what the bills are. Do you suspect his spending has put you in debt?
Allie ((hugs)) for the loss of Ginger ((hugs))
Pip so glad the pinched nerve eased and didn’t mess up your camping trip.
Michele mfp is a mystery. A food I use regularly and often, doesn’t appear on the “Recent” list, but does in the “Most Frequent” list, even though it shows in my log within the past 3 days. Go figure.
Beth so sorry to hear your mom has Covid on top of everything else. Hope the case is mild and you dodged the bullet. Would she be scared to see you in full PPE?
Lanette so glad you had Zicam on hand. I don’t mind the St. Joseph’s aspirin for children flavor but the elderberry was all they had in stock last time . . . ;} In any case I far prefer the medicated fruit drops to nasal swabs :noway:
Vicki and Tracy ((hugs)) it must be so frustrating, and scary, to have the responsibility of paying the bills but not the control of DHs’ spending (or in Rodgers case deciding whether or not to work.) ((hugs)). I’d resent the $$ being burned up too. IMHO if he insists on smoking, he must work to pay for it, but I realize that might not work for you. If you do write it out, can you keep it to three bullet points? That seems to be the male maximum. For example:
Monthly outgo: $XXXX.
Monthly income with Tracey working and Rodger on EI $XXX difference =short fall
Monthly income with both working. $XXXX difference =to the good.
Good luck, I’m rooting for you both!
Kim ((hugs)) for dealing with your mom’s announcing her impending death. Hard to hear. Impossible to counter.
Annie can you put some kind of limit or hold on your Dad’s credit card? ((hugs))
Margaret yours about healthy weight, sleep, waist, gut and stress, all truly inspiring.
Rita ((hugs)) Hope the Doc helps your mom, a week of that is too long! So very sorry to hear about Brownie’s decline ((hugs)). Proud of you for the 2.5 mile hike. Self-care is crucial.
Mo our repairman said get Speed Queen washer too, but alas he didn’t know that not all Speed Queens are good. :{ Yay for you on not just decluttering but cleaning. You and Carol are inspiring!
Vicki I’m envious of your new walk in shower, how I’d love to have Bath Fitters come and do both of ours. Alas, we have neither the $$$$ nor the willingness for the disruption …
Barbie my parents were young people during the depression and tried to teach me good (not) spending habits, but I was willful and spendthrifty until my 40s. :{ Fortunately a loan from my 401K got me out of trouble and I just had them keep taking the “repayment” out of my paycheck even after the loan was paid off. Gave us a nice cushion.
Michele I’m surprised that after removing the “callous” the foot doctor didn’t urge you to stay off of it till it healed. REALLY sorry to hear the bad boss has been rehired.
@cityjaneLondon Heather, are you ok? Miss you.
Decluttering challenge Day 21/30 desk Later, lighter, lovelies!
Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD

Move more than yesterday, fuel better than yesterday, live NOW.
Open heart and mind before mouth.
2024: Strengthen: body, mind, heart-connections

Ladies.

Yesterday I was busy busy. Ran into town early caught up shopping and grabbed another gallon of strong vinegar to attack the weeds in my driveway. That stuff works. It probably doesn't kill the roots like the Round-up does but I'll deal with that next year.

Then, since it was cool and rainy, I decided it was cook day. Made a batch of lentil-mushroom stew and stuck a roast in the crock pot. I noticed the house smelled great - like garlic and onions! Sense of smell pretty much back. (However, today, it's iffy. Allergy symptoms returning.)

Need to catch up with you gals, back later.

Lanette
SW WA State