03/24/2009 11:24
The next step
So we went to the dermatologist and he cut a deeper chunk out of my back, to sent to pathology to determine how deep it actually goes, plus shaved another suspect looking mole off my temple area. In about 2 weeks I'll see an onocology surgeon for a test where they inject some sort of blue radio active stuff and it will show up in any affected lymph nodes, which will then need to be biopsied and /or excised and that needs to be done under general anesthesia and requires a hospital stay.
This weekend I'm flying to LA,CA for Tiffany's first baby shower....so I'm excited about that.....to see her. And we now visit with Joey on Skype a couple of times a week....but should be seeing him for real ....soon.
Posted By: kimquilts55
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03/21/2009 21:26
News.....some good; some not so much.
Ok...the good stuff first, we found out the other twin was also a boy...had my heart set on getting a grandaughter this go around...but for now it looks like three grandsons for me.....Tiffany is doing great, the Dr said she was an incubating machine. Then the other good news is we just got back from our spring break trip, SanTa Fe and Taos.....just lovely, and the get away was much needed......
now for the bad news.....I don't remember if I shared about getting a mole cut off my back....but I did the week before we left....then on Tuesday when we were enroute from Santa Fe to Taos....I get a call from the Dr's office....we got your biopsy back and Dr Hamilton wants to see you and your husband right away....I said we are in New Mexico and won't be back til Thursday night.....so she says can you come in Friday at 10:30...I say OK...and that put a bit a a damper on the rest of the trip because...I knew if it was good news she would have just told me.......so we go and I have Malignant Melanoma....I'm going to a dermatologist Monday and they are going to cut the rest of it out....should have a pretty deep hole in my back....then I think the next step will be some sort of scan to see if the cancer got into the lymphatic system...and any other organs.......the hardest thing was telling my kids.
Posted By: kimquilts55
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03/03/2009 04:06
I have not fallen off the face of the earth
I've just been super busy...especially at work, where I used to do most of my EPing....don't you just hate it when you actually have to work at work....geez...what is this world coming to???
Well I guess I probably have a lot to catch up on.....health wise...the physical therapy is doing wonders...I've been going twice a week plus doing exercises on my own...hip and back are feeling great...but @$35co-pay per session...I'm eating up my FSA...so I think this will be my last week. OK...the dry hacking cough I had....he changed my b/p meds and after about 7-10 days...cough is gone.....but....however.....I decide to see how the new b/p is doing on my b/p.....it's been running about 154/110 +/- 5.....not good....so I call my Dr's office...the clerk was going to take a message for the nurse...but when I told her what my b/p was she put me straight thru...so I tell the nurse the story and i say just ask the Dr if I can take 2 norvasc (go from 5mg to 10 mg)...then we will see what it is on my scheduled appt on Mar 10....she calls back and says he wants to see you today.....so I go...and guess what...he put me on 10 mg Norvasc...I could have saved that co pay too....and I have to take and recorde my b/p twice a day and bring that into him on the 10th. I told him that it was cuz my mil is driving me nuts....and if she wasn't going to take her xanax I would...he thought that was the funniest thing he heard...he says so when she takes her xanax...it calms you down....I wasn't trying to be funny...I was trying to describe the stress....oh well.....less than two week til spring break and a much needed break from here. My research class finished yesterday...and so far I have a 100% average but there still 2 more grades out...I thought the course was pretty easy...but some of the more involved assignments the class average was 88....so that means she wasn't giving 100's out like candy.....but we have a week until the next class starts.
Tiffany is at 16 weeks and is really showing ...but has not gained weight here is her latest blog enteries if you want to see.
Blog The latest news there....it looks like Ray may get promoted in that region.....which means they won't move....Tiffany is not happy.....but we won't know for sure until mid May.
Let's see...the latest on the Blake, Molly, Joey side of the family....Blake passed the PT test for Rangers.....and goes for 2 weeks in something intense in April....if he makes it through that...he will have something like a year of officicial Ranger Training....where they go all over and train for all kinds of climates, terains and situations....he is excited...he has always wanted to do some sort of special forces.....and I don't know what kind of BS they told Molly but after the family briefing she was excited too.....me on the other hand not so much...it scares the heck out of me.
OK my big news...I got my Wii Fit.....I've just had it 3 days but it is awesome...I love doing the yoga...but wow it is so much harder keeping your center of gravity balanced.....in class you just sort of do whatever....it is mostly motivating...but I was a little hurt when I did my intial stuff....and my Mii (Wii avatar) got fat....I was like whatever.....but I started thinking this weekend...with the hip pain and back pain gone...and the Wii exercising....I'm thinking the old bod is ready to hit the dusty trail again and start the C25K again...but I'll ask the PT and Ortho Dr.....then start when we get back from our New Mexico road trip.
Posted By: kimquilts55
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02/17/2009 16:25
Something New
I just noticed EP has a new feature called EPinions....where you can review various weight loss and fittness products....it must be brand new because I did not see any reviews yet....but that is pretty cool....because that is information we all share all the time anyway and now it will be in one handy location.
OK...where to start on me and my life issues.......
I saw my regular Dr yesterday.....he said the report on my stress test was good....he said we are still going to keep an eye on my cholesterol...this time I remembered to ask what it was....it was 239....and my bad was 146.....so he drew it again....I think if I'm bringing it down on my own....he won't throw another pill at me....but I remember my Dad had a dickens of a time with his....so I may have some heriditary stuff too.....then I asked...what about this cough?...He said we are going to change your B/P med....I was on Lisopril...which is a Ace Inhibitor...which it is pretty common to cause a dry hacky cough...so now I'm on Norvasc....I didn't tell him that I had the cough before I was on the lisopril...cuz I think I was also smoking then....so now I guess we are eleiminating possible cough causes...and seeing....he asked how the no smoking was going...I said great...he said good maybe we can get you off the welbrutin soon...I said I don't want to be off that...because I feel really good now that I'm on it.....so I go back in 3 weeks...to see how my cough and cholestrol are doing. Today is my first physical therapy...for my back and hip....I'm anxious to get those body parts healthy so I can start exercising again.
My MIL is driving Bill and I absolutely nuts.....she thinks she is having problems with her ears....but 4 doctors have told her there is nohing wrong with her ears....it is long and complicated...sometimes she says her ears are closing up and sometimes she says they hurt....but they even did and MRI and there is nothing wrong....but she won't listen to reason and Bill and I are just beside our selves......it is to the point I don't even want to be in the same room alone because she will corner me and start saying crazy things....like yesterday she said she hs it figured out ...that at this rate her ears will be completely closed by Mar 14.....I think I'm going to call her octor before her next appointment and see if this fixation on her ears is part of the alzhiemers...or something.
We made our B&B reservations yesterday for Santa Fe and Taos....we didn't get into the one I wanted in Taos....they are pretty busy due to Spring Break skiers....but still found a nice one....I didn't realize there would be snow....I'm not a cold weather person.....we were going for the art....and to get away....alone.....no crazy talk of ears.
Just got a call from my doctor's office as I'm writing this...my cholesteral yesterday was 323.....so he said I could continue with my diet....I'm doing good.....yay...me...!!!!
Posted By: kimquilts55
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02/15/2009 19:46
Nothing says love like a new vacum cleaner!
We got a new vacum cleaner yesterday and I told Bill that I was going to tell everyone he got me a new vacum cleaner for Valentines day!!!!!....Which I would actually be OK with ....because this is the one we got......I really didn't want to spend that much on a vacum cleaner.....but once I realized it has a 5 year warranty....and we have needed a new vacum about every year...year and a half.....it really made more financial sense.
Really I got these gorgeous blue topaz, saphire and diamond earings for VD....you got to hand it to Bill...the man knows how to buy jewelry! They are similar to these.
And roses and we went out to eat.....nice low key day......
What I really need to be doing right now is school work....but I'm procrastinating everyway I can!.......What I also need to do is buy a baby gift for a shower next week....buy a wedding gift for a wedding Mar 14.......make reservations at the B&B's we want to stay at in Santa Fe and Taos NM.......and we need to get busy on the stuff we need to get done around here....for when Tiff and Ray arrive....then the Twins too.....
Oh....I decided to start a
Grandma Blog. So far Tiffany is my only follower.....I would love some more.....if that doesn't sound to much like begging.
Posted By: kimquilts55
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02/10/2009 21:27
New attitude
A friend shared this quote on Facebook......
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass; it's about learning how to dance in the rain!"
So I've been thinking about it....I really like that....I'm going try to keep that one close to my heart....I need to be more positive....I used to be a positive person....and I know I can be a positive person again.
My back is feeling much better....cough is driving me nuts.....but I guess we will deal with one thing at a time....I have my Echo cardigram.stress thing on Thursday....I thought I might need to cancel due to my back...but I think it will be fine....as long as I don't have a coughing fit....then I'm going to corner the Doc and say...what are we going to do about this cough...like Bill said....I've been coughing for 2 years...it's time to get proactive
.....I think he was telling me enough is enough....do something....I was going to last visit...and the hip was bothering more than the cough....but anyway.
OK...Valentines day this weekend...whoo hoo.....although we can't seem to decide what we want to do....on one hand we would like to go out to dinner...but on the other hand resturants will be crazy!....I did look online at the open table site and there maybe be some good options if we make reservations....so I'll run those by Bill this evening.....see what we can come up with. I need to find the perfect card.....Bill's daughter wants us to take her to lunch on Saturday?????? talk about a third wheel!!!! I think I'm going to say no...not on V-day....is that mean? He said something about meeting her for lunch...then buying me a new outfit.....but I just spent a lot on this outfit for a wedding in March....and I don't want a new outfit (did I just say that?) 
So...new subject....Tiffany got back from Hawaii.....posted pictures on her blog and facebook....she looks radiant...she is starting to really show...at 12 weeks...so I can't imagine how it will be at the end...but anyway...check out the pictures
We must of talked for an hour last night....it was great...I missed her.
Doing great on my food....I'm already feeling healthier.....but didn't have a loss today...I know I really should weigh everyday....seems like I go from one extreme to the other...not at all to all the time....Balance...is where I need to be.
Posted By: kimquilts55
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02/09/2009 16:43
Title this!
OK....I couldn't think of a title....
Yesterday I weighed my self at 198.6.....I should have done my waist and hips measurements too....but I forgot.....anyway that is up from my little jumpstart thing a while back...but still in onederland so it is all good....Yesterday was my official healthy eating start date....so I needed to know where I was at for real...not where thought I was. I started out the day with a really yummy apple/pecan muffin....and ended the day with Turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans....and lots of good healthy food inbetween....and this morning I weighed 196.8....but....last night was weird.....
So you know I've had this dry hacking cough forever....now the cough is different...it's like I need to hack something out of my lungs...so I'm taking mucenex.....and I'm coughing....but still haven't hacked up from my lungs....last night..I'm laying on the sofa...with my trusty ice pack on my back....and I start cough...and cough....and cough....then it makes me gag....then I throw up about 3-4 times (last time was just plegm....or something)....first time was red...which freaked me out...but then I remembered I took a swig of cough medicine...and the times inbetween were my dinner.....but then I felt better...so I'm guessing it was a good thing even though I hate puking.....so yesterdays weight loss....probably was in part due to that.
My back is feeling better today than it has for several days.....still has a twinge....and I plan on taking it easy....it's a rainy day and things are quite...a lot of people out sick.....and I have some projects to work on....and I brought my ice pack.
Now this is weird.....I had a strange dream last night....I think because I hear the name Obama....60 million times a day....I deamt Obama texted me from his blackberry to my blackberry (I read a thing once about him being addicted to his blackberry...they even had a name for it...crackberry....but anyway) he texted me telling me what I could do for the enconomy.....I think I'm losing my mind!
Tiffany left for Hawaii Thursday morning...they are due back today....I haven't talked to her since the morning she left....and we talk at least once a day...so I'm looking forward to her getting back.....OK....Now I'm just rambling....I need to get to work!
Posted By: kimquilts55
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02/08/2009 18:10
Houston we have a diagnosis
OK.....according to the Ortho guy, I have Brusitis in my right hip....so the cortisone shot has already helped that some and I start on physical therapy....and if it is all not better in about a month....they will do the cortisone directly into the joint area where the brusa is.....my back is still giving me fits......the day I saw the ortho dr that was really giving me more grief than my hip.....so I do have some degeneration in the lumbar and sacral areas of my spine....he told me to use ice, gave me a different kind of anti inflamitory...and I will start on PT for that too....he said the pain is muscle strain...but the degenerative changes are making it worse....whatever...I need to be religious about taking my calcium....and I don't know why this guy or my GP guy won't just me some muscle relaxers...let me pass out for a few days...then I'll be good as new....I've always got muscle relaxers before....but I'm thinking it is too high risk to give those kinds of drugs to someone who is on antidepressants????? I got my hair cut and colored Friday afternoon....and almost pasted out from pain...from sitting too long....broke out into a cold sweat.....laid around with ice on my bad after that....and felt a little better....went grocery shopping yesterday with Bill....to start on the healthy eating.....that also did me in....broke out into a cold sweat....went back to bed with the ice...Bill put away the groceries....I'll never find anything....he made dinner too....but my appetite has been bleh...I'm not sure how I'm suppose to work...when I can't do simple tasks...but we will see.....I'm suppose to have an echo/stress test on Thursday....I'm thinking I may have trouble with that too.
So a friend has struggled with breast cancer for years....last year (2007)at Christmas she decided to go ahead and retire.....do somethings she wanted etc....two weeks ago we got the message that she was in the hospital...and it had spread and she wasn't doing to good...they set up a website for freinds to hlep with meals etc.....the first opening was in March....but I went ahead and signed up...then Monday, she was told it had gone to her brain, Tuesday she went home for hospice care...they increased the meals to everyday inset of everother....so I signed up for another day next week....Thursday I was visiting with a mutual friend who said she didn't think she would make it through the night......and she didn't.....but the good news is she is not suffering anymore. The service is Friday.
Well I need to get my homework done....and my sitting time has to come in small doses...so I'm off to get started on that.
Posted By: kimquilts55
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02/05/2009 17:28
update on the twins
Here is the ultrasound from yesterday, Twin A is the lower baby...posing nicely and Twin B on top with back to the camera....in fact twin A was posing so nicely he showed the world he was a boy, we don't know what twin B is yet. They are about exactly the same size and delveloping on schedule. Tiff's Blog if you want the full story and more pictures.
Yesterday I decided to sign up on Ellie Krieger's website.....I've got to quit with the gimmicks and get down to just cooking healthy for both Bill and I or we won't be healthy enough to enjoy retirement and few years down the road.....he got a call this weekend about his AIC hemoglobin (that shows your average blood sugar over a few months)...is still way too high, even though he takes medicine...he got mad when I said something about his diet...but now a few days later he and I are ready to make some changes together.....for both of us....even though our health problems are different....basic healthy eating will be good for both of us. Will officially start this weekend, we need a few groceries....for the most part there are no radical changes....so I'm hoping this will be painless.
I'm hoping for some good strategies for getting exercise back into my life that will not injure me....the appointment with the ortho doc is at 8:30 in the morning.
Blake, Molly and Joey went back home yesterday....it was a sad day at the Bacon house without that happy little fellow bringing so much joy to all to us....I've never seen my MIL so happy as when she is playing with Joey.
Posted By: kimquilts55
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Well I guess if you don't have a heart attack during your stress test ....it means you passed....that last 20 seconds was rough....I was jogging, sweating like a pig and now my face is all red. I had one of my coughing spells during it...while the Doctor was there....so he got to wittness it...he asked how long I've had cough...I said according to my husband 2 years....he asked how the quitting smoking is going....I say I haven't smoked since the visit I was started on Welbrutrin....(keep in mind all this is going on while I'm on the treadmill at a pretty good pace and incline).....he asks any fever or chills...I say no...then he says...we are almost through....we need to go a little faster and more incline....can you do it...I say sure as long as I jog....I can't walk any faster.....so the treadmill starts to stop...he says you did good....and leaves...I have to hurry and lay on the table for the after ultra sounds of my heart...and that is that.....I do have an appointment on Monday....so maybe we will talk about te cough then.......I am using the excuse of having the stress test for wearing a cute exercise outfit and my sneakers to work.
I wish I could find a picture with the outfit all together.....but just so you know just because I wore exercise attire to work....I don't look like a bumm.