Girl Time 8-11

I went to Kalamazoo yesterday to spend yesterday and today with Kathy.  It was a well needed break as this summer has not been so good.  It hasn't been the worst, but it certainly hasn't been the best either.  I had made these plans on the fly this week.  I called Kathy and asked her what her schedule for the weekend looked like.  She said it was pretty open so we put the plans together just like that.  I left yesterday about 9:30 ish so I would get there around noon.  I picked up Kathy and the fun began.  We went to lunch and discussed what our plans were.  I had decided that we really needed to have pedicures as neither of us have ever had one.  Boy, was it awesome.  I didn't have the lady paint my toenails though as I usually don't.  Kathy picked a really pretty bright pink.  It looked really good.  After that, Kathy's kids and husband, Tony came to the hotel and they all went swimming while Kathy and I chatted.  I amused Kathy with many stories about Maisy and how much I love that little dog.  I will freely admit that Maisy has me wrapped around her little paw and she KNOWS it!  Trust, she knows.  Maisy just gave me that look and I was hooked forever.  That is all there is to it.  So while the kids and Tony swam, Kathy and I chatted up a storm.  We caught up on everything, although I will have to admit, there wasn't too much to catch completely on because we text each other quite frequently, like almost everyday.  But we talked about so many different things.  After the kids and Tony went home, Kathy and I headed to Panera (yes!  Thankfully they have them there too!!!) for dinner.  We each got a salad with shrimp.  Oh, the shrimp are huge and wonderful!  We brought the salads back to the hotel so we could eat and watch the DVDs I had brought with me.  Kathy's son, Matthew (the oldest), had brought his PS3 for us to use so we could watch the DVDs.  I had brought discs 2 through 5 of Game of Thrones Season 1.  I did already see the 3rd episode that Kathy hasn't seen but that was okay to see it again.  We watched episodes 3, 4, 5, and 6.  Oh my.  I DID need to turn my head a couple of times because it was either about to be gross or was gross but I expected that that would happen as Bill did warn me about the graphicness of the show.  I love the story line though. I just wish it wasn't so explicate with both violence and nudity but it is an HBO show and the do this because they can.

Oh my, I must digress from the weekend.  Maisy is a ninja dog as we call her.  She just did the most ninja thing yet after the candy incident.  Well, I was sitting here in the dining room writing this post when the little dog came into the room with something in her mouth.  Apparently, there was a blue bag with 3 ziplock bags full of dog food on top of the dog food container.  (It is a rolling container and fits a huge bag of dog food in it).  Well, she managed to get that bag down from the top of the container and then get into the bag to get a bag of food out of it.  Needless to say, I threw cold water on her plans.  Maisy did NOT look sorry for that one bit.  Not one little bit was she sorry about her ninja skills getting the dog food.  The bags were not even for Maisy, they were for Q who eats about 5 times the amount that Maisy does since he is about 5 times the size of Maisy.  of course, after she was caught, she wanted a tummy rub, two of them in fact.  Yes, I caved and gave them to her after I hung up the food bag.

Back to the weekend.  I drove Kathy back to her house and then went back to the hotel to go to sleep.  As usual, I did not sleep very well, but that is normal for me.  We then had lunch at IHOP today before I drove home and took a nap.  I did have to turn around about 10 minutes into my drive home because Kathy forgot her wallet in my car.  Silly Kathy, she would need that for driving and grocery shopping and all those good things.

Anyways, it was a nice overnight away.  I have 4 more episodes left for Game of Thrones season 1.  I am rather tired tonight so I think I will just read for a few and then go to bed.  I have 2 lessons tomorrow so I can sleep in if I want, which I probably will want to.

We are having a celebration of Maia's life on September 1.  On one hand, I am so glad she is no longer suffering and isn't in pain anymore, on the other, I can't believe she is gone.  I just can't at times.  I know it is selfish of me to want her here when she was suffering so much and no, I don't want her here suffering, I want her here like she was before she got cancer.  I want her healthy and here.  I miss her a lot.  I know her kids and the rest of the family misses her too.

Maia 8-9

My lovely cousin and friend, Maia, passed away about 10 am yesterday morning.  Our hearts and broken.  She was put in a coma on Wednesday because she was in so much pain and just suffering too much.  We had someone with her at all times.  She was never alone.  Her son was with her when she died so she did not die alone.  Maia is no longer in pain and is not suffering anymore.  I can't really write anymore tonight.  Maybe more tomorrow or on the weekend.

8-5

Maia's pain medicine has been raised again this morning.  Other than that, she is hanging on.  I have such a hard time with the fact that they have not been able to control her pain.  I don't understand why.  I hope it is better now.  As of right now, I am not heading to Windsor today.  I don't know about the rest of the week.  It all depends on Maia.

I had 2 lessons this afternoon.  Isabella and Bob.  Both are doing well.  Bob has started a new piece called "Toccata in D Minor" by J. S. Bach.  It is a famous piece that was featured in the original Fantasia movie.  I simply adore that song and I was surprised to realize that I NEVER gave the song to Bob to play!  Talk about an oversight!  Well, it is completely fixed now.  He has it and is doing rather well with it.  I am quite happy with how he is playing.  He plays very well and I have had him for a student for many years now.  I think at least about 6 or so, maybe even 7.  I am just not sure.  Bob really enjoys playing.  Isabella has been playing for a few years but I have had her for 2 weeks.  She also plays very well.  I think she will fit right in with the rest of the students.  We discussed competition today.  Isabella will need to be to speak with her parents about whether or not she wishes to participate in competition.  I am hoping that she will since she plays so well.  I know that Natalie, Aubrey, Jillian, Brooke, and possibly Rebecca are going but that is about it so far.  I don't know about Isaac or any of the other students.  I will know in the next few weeks or so.

On one hand, I am anxious to get into fall so that the fall planning can start and on the other hand, I don't want fall to arrive because that means cold and winter!!!!!!  Winter is not my favorite season.  I am a spring and fall girl not a summer and winter girl.

Bill brought home the rest of season one for the Game of Thrones for me.  I am so geeked to watch some more of this.  I think because I knew what was in it, that I can handle it (so far anyway).  We shall see how long I last though.  I am hoping through the first season because I really do like the story and the characters.  I like this kind of fantasy story.  I don't read a whole lot of them, but I do like them.  I don't watch a whole lot of movies in general anymore so I am not even sure what is out there.  I know the newest Percy Jackson movie is coming out.  I do wish to see that.  I have to re-read the entire series because I cannot remember enough of it at this point.  I do know some of the differences between the movie and the first book, only because Isaac told me about them, not because I remembered the book.  I read the books after we lost the store and really, I was in a dark spot at that point so I don't remember too much about what went on at that point.  For about 4 years of my life (1/2 of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 1/2 of 2012) I can't remember too much except we lost the store, Momma died, and Richard stopped speaking to me.  I was also so sick at that point.  From November of 2007 to February of 2009, I was in the hospital about 15 times (including ER visits).  Some of them were just ER visits, some were overnight ER visits and some were extended stays.  It just seemed it was one thing after another.  now, I feel like I am getting somewhat better or as better as I can get.  I am eating healthier and cleaner, I am resting when I need to, and I have eliminated as much stress as possible in my life.  I am working on alternatives for some of the health issues and making sure that I am as healthy as I can be so that I don't get sicker and sicker again.  That was just not fun.  It really sucked and I do not want to be there again.

Maisy is sleeping right near me.  She is snoring!  It is so adorable!  Of course, outside of doggie business inside and barking too much, everything she does is adorable!  I simply adore that little dog!  She is lying on her side and it is so sweet.  We didn't really snuggle today because she was up with Heather B-T most of the day.  Heather B-T wasn't feeling too well.  She has had a migraine for 4 days now.  I am hopeful that it is much better now.

I couldn't really sleep last night.  I kept thinking I heard the phone ring.  I think I finally fell asleep around 5 am.  I think I have to be up for a noon lesson tomorrow.  Oh yeah, I do.  Not a problem.  I hope to go to bed earlier tonight and sleep better tonight than I did last night.  I kept thinking and dreaming about Maia.  I hope she is in less pain tonight.  Kayla is staying with her tonight.  We have someone with her at all times especially at night so that she isn't alone.  I just want her out of pain that is all I want now.  No more pain.  She is suffering and I don't want her to suffer anymore.  No more pain and no more suffering.  I know Maia is strong, but really, how much can one woman take?

Maia 8-4

I received a text message from my cousin, Maia's daughter, Danielle at about 1.  She sent it earlier but I didn't get it as I was sleeping.  She said to come right away so I did.  I got dressed and went to Windsor.  Maia nearly died last night and the hospice staff feel that she will pass away tonight.  Maia is still hanging on though so I don't know if she will or not.  I remember when the doctor told me that Momma would pass away and she lasted another 5 days so it is hard to say.  Our family is stubborn and strong at the same time.  I hope for Maia's sake that she isn't in as much pain and her passing is quiet and fast.  She has suffered enough.

Darrin and Luana, Maia's brother and sister, were also there with their children.  Pretty much the entire side of Maia's family and me were there.  Lia, Maia's oldest daughter, and Alex, Maia's oldest son, came in from out of town.  They are here indefinitely since the end is quite near.  This happened much faster than what they told us originally.  The doctor said she would have about 6 months, then she went into the hospital and now it is only weeks from when we were told months.  It is so fast.  I don't think you can really predict this type of timetable at times.  With Maia having so many types of cancer and it spreading so fast, I don't know how they could predict really anything with her.  The skin cancer is spreading and the other cancers inside her are also spreading.

It was somewhat nice to see other cousins but only somewhat because of the reason.  If it wasn't for the reason why, it would have been really nice.  I met Alex's fiance, Laila.  She was really nice and Lia's husband, Rick and daughter, Esther were there too.  Esther is almost 3 and Elizabeth, Danielle's almost 5 year old were playing together.  They really didn't understand what was going on at that age.  I wouldn't have expected them too.  They are just too young.  I was with them by myself for a while.  It was nice to focus and watch them for a while.  I did learn that both girls' favorite color is pink and Elizabeth's 2nd favorite color is purple.  Mine are reversed, I like purple first and then pink.  Esther didn't really have a 2nd favorite color.  They were playing pretty nicely together for the most part.  Both girls have so much energy it is amazing to me.  If only they could pass some to me.  That would be beautiful but they can't so I just watch them.  Lia was planning on spending the night.

When we all left at 5, Maia's boyfriend, Mark had arrived.  He requested everyone leave and let him be with Maia alone.  He has been so solid through this whole thing.  I am so glad that he is able to spend some time with her.  Tilley went to pick him up from work and then she will take him back.  I am also glad he requested that we all leave because otherwise I think most of us, including me, wouldn't have thought to give them some time alone.  I think most of us would have stayed in the waiting room.  I am not sure though since he did ask all of us to leave.  Danielle didn't want to but I think she did leave too.  I came home.  I didn't want to go anywhere else.  I needed to come home and rest.  I am not sure what the week will bring so I have to rest when I can.

I don't know what is going to happen when Maia dies outside of there will be no funeral.  She doesn't want one so there won't be one.  It is her choice, instead she would like a celebration BBQ at her mom, Tilley's house.  It will be a potluck, like we usually do, but all Maia's kids have to be there, which makes perfect sense to me.  I am not sure who all will be there, but I do know I will be.  It is for Maia and she is my closest cousin.  Maia was there when Momma died and she helped me as much as she could with Momma.  She was there for me after Momma died.  We visited with each other quite frequently.  We talked online a lot too.  It will be so strange not to have her here.  Just like it was so strange and still is strange without Momma.  So much of this reminds me in small ways of watching my mother die.  I was all alone when I was at the hospital.  I went everyday.  I had to.  How could I not when each day could be the last day my mother would be alive?  I still miss her terribly.  I probably always will.  Maia is only 50 and her kids are 19, 22, 27, 28 or something like that.  They are so young to lose their mother.  They really are.

What will tomorrow bring?  Will Maia survive the night?  I only pray that she isn't in so much pain and that she passes quickly and effortlessly.  I love her so much, we all do.  She is very much loved and important to all of us.

8-3

I saw Maia for a while this afternoon.  It was only about an hour or so before she had dinner.  The skin cancer has spread even farther down her arm and her back.  It is black and it is so painful for her.  The nurses have sort of bandaged it for her but it is not easy to bandage and they can't use tape because she is allergic to the adhesive.  I was glad that she was a bit more with it today, not as much as she was a couple of days ago, but still better than when I saw her in the hospital 2 weeks ago.  The hospice place seems to have better pain control for her.  She has a pump now but she can't overdo it because it does have a limit to it.  Danielle wasn't there when we were.  Apparently, she is upset with Tilley and some of her family again.  Whatever, this is bringing out the worst in some of my family.  I don't get it, but then, I am not getting in the middle of whatever it is because it isn't my business.

I am watching Legally Blond.  It is such a good movie.  I have it and I have seen it several times but it makes me smile every time.  It is over now and now there is nothing good one.  I have finished the first disc of Game of thrones.  Only 2 episodes were on it.  I was disappointed that there were only 2.  I now need the rest of season 1 or at least the next disc.  Tonight would have been perfect to watch it because the kids are out for the evening visiting a friend.  Oh well, it isn't like I can't see it any other time.  I mean, it has been out for a couple of years now and I could have watched it then.  So far, I like the story and I can tolerate the graphicness.  It hasn't been super violent yet, I shall see how I survive when that comes around.

Tomorrow is an empty day that I need to get a few things done in the music room since I haven't done them yet.  I am not sure what is up for the rest of the house but I need to do a few things and then I can read for a bit tomorrow without feeling that I am not doing what I need to do.  i also have the paper to wrap the Easter stuff in so it can go away.  I know I have said before I need to do it.  The problem is that I totally forget that it needs to be done.

Wednesday is fast approaching.  I plan to take a really long and good shower Tuesday night so I am spiffy clean for the surgery.  I don't know how they do this, but I want to be spiffy clean.  I have to get up when Heather B-T and the kids do on Wednesday so she can take me to the hospital for the procedure.  I am not sure how long it will last or how long I will need to stay but I will find out on Tuesday when the hospital calls to tell me when I need to be there.  I can't have anything to eat or drink except for sips of water 8 hours before the procedure and no sips of water 2 hours before the procedure so basically after midnight on Tuesday, no more food or drink.  This won't be a problem as I don't generally eat or drink after midnight on a regular basis.  I think I am just going in and out in one day but I don't know for sure.  I will find that out on Tuesday too.  I didn't get a whole lot of instructions from the doctor on this one.  Rachel just said that the hospital would let me know.  The anesthesia department wasn't too happy about that bit of info but we dealt just fine with it.  I have to stop coumadin tomorrow and I have stopped aspirin and Motrin (which I don't take anyway) as well as my eye vitamin because it has vitamin E in it.  I stopped that one on Friday when I spoke to the nurse on the phone.  I did try to find out what the name of my blood disorder is from Doctor Gradolph, but the receptionist couldn't find the name of it on my chart so i have to speak with doctor Gradolph myself and I will.  This time though, I will write it down.  I have to have my protime checked on Thursday instead of in a month because of the surgery on Wednesday.  Dr. G wants to see where my blood is and how to get it to theraputic range since it will be 4 days of not taking it.  He is such a good doctor.  He is very helpful and explains things very well to me.  He was also Momma's doctor and he was good to her too. When we became a hospice family, Dr. G asked to stay on as Momma's primary doctor.  I agreed since he knew her and was her doctor for so long.  I called the office and told them when Momma passed away.  I miss her so much.  Tilley and I spoke about her at dinner tonight.  We also spoke about forgiveness, which when it comes to my father, I have trouble with.  Not only because he left us but because of what he did to my mom and my older brother.  I really can't remember him too well and he doesn't really deserve to be remembered all that well since he is a creep and was horrible, but I haven't forgiven him, I don't know if I ever will be able to.  The only good thing out of it was that Momma stayed with us and took care of us.  She kept us together as much as possible.  She was a good Momma.  Yes, she had her faults, we ALL do, but overall, she was a good mom.

I have won a couple of games of words with friends.  It was exciting.  I like the game although I do like winning, it isn't the goal.  Having fun and improving is my goal.  There is one game with one of my friends that we go back and forth of who has the most points.  That is an exciting one because we are so close in points.  You never know when you will get a word that has a ton of points.  That is part of the fun.  You may think it is only a small work and that you will only get a small amount and then, boom, you get tons of points!  You just never know.  I also have finished the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson.  I am reading her "Full Disclosure" book now where some of the O'Malleys show up in.  It is a good book and she has a new one coming out soon.  I just don't know when.  I should check on that again.  I know it is sometime soon.  I also had to get a book that Calli wanted me to read, "Where the Red Fern Grows".  We had the movie.  I am just not sure where it is at this point.  I think it went in the group that went to Bill's library.  If it did, then we can always have him check it out and watch it together.  It is so fun to watch movies with her because she gets so excited about them.  I like that about Calli.  Acer doesn't really like movies or TV because it doesn't excite him to hear it.  Stories from books, yes, but not movies or TV shows.  He loves being read too.   I love it when he asks me to read to him.  It is such a good feeling.  Only a couple of times I was too exhausted to read to him, generally, I will find the energy to read to him.  Calli has a new book that she and Heather B-T will be listening to together.  I am anxious to hear about the book.

I found a neat recipe for baked cauliflower on face book today.  I shared it so that I would have the recipe.  I may try my hand at baking it tomorrow.  Well see who all is home first.  I will need to get the ingredients first as I know we don't have any cauliflower in the house, not fresh anyway and that is what we need.

My back and right leg are a bit sorer than usual today.  I think from the driving to and from Windsor.  Sometimes when I am driving my right leg gets really sore.  I really don't know why, it just does.  I am also getting rather tired but it is almost bedtime so that is normal.  I am surprised that my headache is just the normal headache and not any worse since I did a lot of driving today.  I am hoping for a decent night sleep with only waking up a few times.  That is my hope anyway.

August 1, 2013

I went to get my protime blood test today.  I get this every month because of the coumadin that I take.  My blood has to be checked to see if it is in what my doctor calls therapeutic level (between 2 and 3).  If my blood is above 3, then I have to lower the dosage, if it is lower than 2, then I have to raise the dosage.  Lately, it has been between 2 and 3 for the last couple of months so I am happy about that.  So many variables can change your blood thinness.  Things like the weather, food, stress, and sometimes for no reason whatsoever so it has to be monitored rather carefully.  Well, when I got my test done, I decided to get weighed.  I lost 3 more pounds so for this month, I have lost 5 pounds total, which brings my total to 27 pounds.  I have passed the dreaded 25 mark and I am now on to the 30 pound mark.

I had dinner with Wendy tonight.  It was a lot of fun.  We got their 2 dinners for $25 special and I tried something new!  Yes, me!  The girl who gets the same thing every time I go!  Not this time!  I got the spicy shrimp something.  I ate 1/2 of it (and all of the shrimp of course) and I have the rest for lunch tomorrow!  I just can't forget that I have it.  Wendy is hoping that she will be able to attend the nursing home concert to see Jennie perform and my students.  I have a few phone calls to make for my student, Shelly tomorrow.  She is auditioning for universities for music performance and I need to get some more info for her and for me so I know what to prepare for her.  She is really nice and is also going to perform at the nursing home, however, she is going to sing an eastern music song.  It will be different and I think that everyone will enjoy it.  I know the kids will so I think the residents will too.

I watched the first episode of Game of Thrones today.  Well, outside of there being so many characters to keep track of and I did need to turn my head a couple of times while there were a couple of beheadings but other than that, I did like it.  So far, I think it is something that Kathy and I can watch together (well, kind of together) and then talk about.  It is something we can do together anyway, which is what we wanted.  We wanted to find something we could do together even though we live far away from each other.  I am glad so far that we do have this at least at this point.  We shall see how long I can watch this.  If it stays the graphicness that the first episode had in it, then I can deal with it.  If it gets more, well, then, I am not sure as I don't do blood very well.  Although today was the first day I actually watched the nurse draw my blood.  I have never seen it before.  I usually turn away because I can't stand the sight of blood.  Kathy is much better at that than I am.  I could deal with it if the kids hurt themselves.  I would be grossed out but I could deal with it.  I think when you are the only one around who can deal with the issue, you do what you have to or at least that is what I am told.  So far, I love the girls long hair.  I miss my long hair.  I am growing it out again.  This time, I will not be conned into cutting it because someone doesn't like how long my hair was getting.  I thought or I bought into the idea that it would help my headaches.  Well, it made absolutely zero difference to my headaches.  I still had bad headaches with the shorter hair so I am not cutting off my hair.  I got my bangs trimmed a couple of weeks ago and they are crooked!  yes, crooked!  I am so unhappy about that.  In a few weeks when it grows out some more, I will have Heather B-T fix this issue.  I prefer my bangs to be a bit longer than they are right now.

Project Runway is on right now.  It is the unconventional challenge.  The designers had to go to Coney Island and win the materials for their outfits.  It is also a team challenge and some of the teams are doing well and others are not.  It is an interesting show, I think.  I love sewing.  I have no desire to be a professional seamstress or designer but I do like watching these type shows.  I find them interesting.  I don't like any other type of reality shows but this one.  Design Star for HGTV was okay but this is better.

Maisy is looking so adorable right now.  She is lying down with her face on her paws.  I so love that dog so much.  I had no idea that it was possible to love a dog that much.  I do know now how much a person can love a dog because that dog is one of the lights of my life.  Maisy helps my anxiety go down and she makes me smile.  Very little can make me smile faster than that little, fluffy, cutie pie of a dog.  She is such a sweet dog too.  Okay, I must confess though, she does bark a lot and well, I don't like that.  Maisy also has been known to well, do doggie business in the house.  I don't like that either but outside those two things, I love everything about her.  Maisy is a very special dog.  I am glad Heather B-T got her.  I just wish she was a bit better behaved about the excess barking and the occasional doggie business in the house.

Pain level is pretty normal today except for the morning headache and the evening headache.  I woke up in the middle of the night with a really bad headache and I had to take something for it.  I also had to take something again at 5 am.  It is really getting so upsetting that my head hurts so much at night still.  I am hoping this will improve soon.  The headaches over all have improved during the day but at night and in the morning they are still really bad especially when I go to bed.  I am tired of headaches more so than body aches although I still have body aches, they are not as overwhelming as the headaches.  The headaches overwhelm me more than anything.  I also have more issues with the fatigue that comes with the fibro more than the body aches.  I get tired so easy like so many.  I can have energy in the middle of the night for about an hour and when it is daytime, well, I can have no energy when I need it.

I wanted to work on the music room this week but with what was going on with Bill, we just didn't get to it.  Maybe tomorrow I will do something by myself.  I have the office supplies boxes that I want to move into the dining room dresser sideboard so they won't be stacked in the music room next to the filing cabinets.  I still have to move the Easter stuff off of the other piano and the stuff on top of the filing cabinets need to be sorted also but overall, it is just refining the room and decluttering a few spots so it will be ready for teaching.  That is my goal.  To have the room ready for teaching by the end of August.  The CDs need to be split up into the 2 drawers.  I have the 2nd drawer ready for the CDs.  I have the music mostly put away.  The stuff that is not put away is stuff I am currently using.  I will have to start bringing out the Christmas and competition music in September.  I have the rest of August to make the finishing touches to the room.  I have some pictures I also want to put up too.  I am not sure where I want to put the ballet shoes, music sheets, and roses picture as well as the cello and roses picture.  They were once in my room but when I moved rooms, I never put them back up.  I am glad now since I think they will fit perfect in the music (living) room.  The living room has been transformed into the music room since it is the room I teach in.  It works out really well because the student walks in, takes their shoes off, and then turns immediately left into the living room where the music is.  They do not have to step farther into the house and since it is the first room in the house, the kids can play anywhere else in the house without worrying about making too much noise.  It truly is the best setup.  I am thankful for it.  I really like teaching here at home.  I have a place to rest in between the lessons and if I need some music, I have the music at my fingertips.

Well, time for words with friends and then a bit of reading before bed.  I can't believe it is Friday tomorrow already.  Wow, this week sure did fly by!

Monday 7-29

It is almost August.  Wow.  Well, I returned the capsule monitor today.  I tried on Friday but they were closed.  I have the results.  I am bleeding in 2 spots in the small bowel.  It isn't too big and I don't have to rush off to the ER (Thank God for that!) but it does need to be fixed.  I will get it fixed next Wednesday.  I have to reschedule my lessons that day.  I know 3 of my girls will be in Florida so it is only 2 girls that need to be rescheduled so that is good.

I did have a new student today.  Her name is Isabella and she is 13.  She has played piano for several years and did quite well for not playing for a long time.  I was quite pleased with her lesson.

Calli is cooking dinner tonight.  She has a cookbook that she got the chicken recipe out off and it smells heavenly, let me tell you!  Simply heavenly!!!  I am quite excited to taste her creation!  It is almost finished.

Heather B-T has a friend and her son visiting us today.  She is a very nice lady that I am in a group online with.  Her son and Acer are playing very nicely together.

The Melatonin helped me fall asleep last night but it didn't seem to help me stay asleep but hey, I slept for several hours before I woke up.  I did wake up about every hour for about 4 hours but that is usual.  I woke up at my usual time around noon.  I went and dropped off the capsule monitor before coming home for Isaac's lesson.  He auditioned for the Michigan Opera Theatre Children's Chorus this evening.  He said he did well.  I am glad.  he is a good singer and I think he would add a lot to the choir and he would enjoy it a lot.  I hope he makes it.  Acer is auditioning too.  I hope he makes it too.  Isaac has a more classical sound that Acer but both are good singers.  I would have Natalie try out but they are out of town this week so she is missing the audition date.

I am going to try the Melatonin again tonight, only one.  It helps some so that is better than nothing and it is better than the Valerian root.  The Valerian root can be deadly if you take too much of it so I will be staying clear of it and sticking to the Melatonin.

We had Calli's creation for dinner and it was wonderful.  She did a really good job with the chicken and veggies.  Calli is learning to be such a good cook.  I am so proud of her.  Then she and I cleaned the kitchen after dinner.  The kitchen is my job and Calli is my assistant.  Calli is a very good assistant.  We work well together when doing the dishes.  We each have the things we do well and that is how we divide and conquer.

Well, I am getting a bit tired and I think I will play words with friends for a bit before reading tonight.

The beginning of another week 7-28

It was a nice Sunday as far as the afternoon went.  I had a bad headache in the morning so no church for me.  I took Acer AND Calli to the store with me.  Oh my!  I was so exhausted when we got back and they were really well behaved!  They played with the toys for a few minutes before we left.  Overall, they were really good.  I did need to take a brief nap when I got home although they were good.  It was just exhausting to shop with both.  I think once we go a few more times, I will get used to it.  I love being with them.

Calli is making dinner tomorrow.  It is a recipe out of her recipe book.  I am quite excited to see what her creation will taste like.  She makes really good soup right now so I am sure the chicken will be good too.

I am trying melatonin again for sleep.  I am getting sleepy so I am hopeful I will have a good sleep or at least a better sleep than usual.  I really need some good sleep.  It is one of those annoying things that happen with fibro - no good sleep.  I do hope for a bit better sleep tonight.  It helps with so much stuff too so sleep is very important.

Pain level is normal today except for the big headache earlier today.  My headache is back to the normal pain level now.

the Pillcam test 7-25

Well, I did the test today.  It took 8 hours and after I was hooked up, I was able to come home.  Maisy and I took a nap before I had Isaac's lesson.  Maisy did well with Isaac once she stopped barking at him.  He was even able to give her a treat.  She sat near me during his lesson.  She seems to like sitting near me during lessons.  Sometimes, she even moves and sits closer to the kids.  It is so cute when she does that.

Anyways, I will find out in a few days what the results are with the camera through the digestive system test.  The bleeding has been over for a couple of months so I don't think they will find any or at least I hope they don't!  I am not up for another bleeding session that is for sure.

It was a very, very quiet day as my headache was really bad.  I took 3 naps.  Maisy napped with me.  She and I were napping on and off all day.  I had to get up super easy because I had to be at the doctor's office by 8 am and I was there by 7:45.  I got hooked up and came home and went back to sleep.  Maisy and I also took a couple of drives to run a couple of errands this afternoon.  I wanted something to drink and then I wanted a salad with shrimp from Panera.  I was just so hungry and really wanted shrimp.  The rest had pizza for dinner.  I wouldn't have minded pizza except that I really wanted a salad.  Sometimes, I just want a salad.  I am weird that way.  I love salads a lot.

I had a little bit of a whoopsy moment this afternoon.  I was lying on my side on my bed when the phone rang.  I went to answer it and I knocked it off of my little table next to my bed.  Well, I was reaching and reaching when, thump! I literally fell out of bed taking the sheets with me.  Maisy was looking down at me as if she wanted to jump down and join me.  Fortunately, she didn't.  I am so glad about that.  I didn't hurt myself when I fell.  I just surprised myself.  Thankfully, I didn't have trouble getting up.  I WAS worried about that but I had no trouble.  I was glad about that.  I did put the sheets back on my bed so I won't have an issue when I go to bed.

Fashion Runway is back on for season 12!  I love this show.  It is interesting.  I like to design for myself.  I can't draw worth beans so I couldn't be a designer.  I can sew pretty well, I am not super great, but overall, I am pretty good.

Well time for words with friends and the rest of Fashion Runway!

the night before 7-24

I have the capsule scopy again tomorrow.  The first one had the capsule malfunction and basically shut off after 3 hours.  I really hope this one behaves.  I am not happy about being up at the ridicules hour of 7:15 since I have to leave at 7:30 am but I will.  Right when I get home, trust me, I will take a nap.  I have Isaac's lesson at 11 and that is the only lesson I have tomorrow.  I hate getting up early.  I am so not a morning person.  My mother was and it drove me up the wall that she was.  She would say that the morning was the best part of the day.  I disagree, the night is the best part of the day.  Anyways, I have to be so I will be.  I asked Bill to make sure I am up and he said he will.

It has finally cooled off a bit so I am glad about that.  No more 100 degree temps for this week anyway.  I am rather glad about that.  We had an annoying neighbor incident today.  I was backing up to go to the store when a neighbor down the road drove by our driveway very, very, very slowly.  I was not impressed or happy about it.  I have a feeling I know what neighbor it is and she is rather nosy.  The grass was getting really long and it should have been cut last week but it was so hot that I really didn't want Brandon to get heat stroke or heat sickness, it was just too hot plus there was a heat advisory, which means you can't mow your lawn during the day.  Well, it is done now and that is all that matters.

Maisy was such a good girl during lessons today.  She barely barked.  Apparently though, she barked during the morning.  That was not good.  I tried to teach her the story of the dog that barked wolf, but she didn't seem to understand.  We did have good snuggles today though.  She sat underneath the piano bench during all lessons today.  It was so cute.  She loves music and she seems to love the kids.  After Heather B-T left this morning, Maisy came into my room and I lifted her up to put her on my bed.  We both slept after that.  We went for a brief ride after that.  She is such a good little passenger.  Maisy stays on her seat and rarely tries to get into my lap now.  I have taught her that she needs to stay in the passenger seat.  I love that dog.

Acer has day camp this week.  Today they went to a music place and Acer was in heaven.  He loves everything music.  I barely saw the little man today.  I was so exhausted after lessons that I took a brief nap.  I am watching Castle right now.  I will be playing words with friends shortly before reading.  I am now on the 7th book of the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson.  They are so good.  I really enjoy them a lot.  Kathy has just got to read them when I am done.  I am disappointed that the Jennifer book is not a lend me book right now but the rest are.

Bill checked yesterday about the game of thrones DVDs at the library.  He is next for getting them.  Right now they are out.  I hope they come back soon.  I look forward to seeing them.  I really do.  I tried to watch it on netflix but it kept stopping and it was hard to see.  I did check the price today but I won't buy it unless I really like it.  I really hope I do.  Everyone has gone on and on about how great it is so I do hope it is something I like.  I am worried about the graphicness but I will find out, won't I?

Pain level is just the normal pain today.  I am not taking the valerian root tonight to see if that is part of the reason my head is worse than usual at bedtime.  Well, off to play words with friends.

it's a boy and other things 7-22

Duchess Kate had a boy!!  A new prince!!!!  Oh!!!!  I wonder what they will name the little lad?  I am so excited you would think I am related to the Duchess myself!  (Trust me, I am so not - while my father's family are English - they were all pirates, the real kind, not the make believe stories - kings and queens probably only had contact with my ancestors to hang them).  My friend, Star and I are such royal watchers!  Heather B-T came into my room to tell me that Kate was in labor this morning (our time).  I was thrilled.  I watched face book as much as I could today let me tell you.  Now we are just waiting on the news on what they name it.  Star is hoping for Arthur, David, Spencer, and a few others.  Me?  I just want to know his name and see the little guys pictures.

Acer is home from camp now so the house is filled with music again.  He and I played band today and it was fun.  We had to have a review lesson yesterday because he hadn't practice in a week and forgot his songs.  Well, as soon as I played the one line in his music, he remembered his piano piece immediately.  He only forgot 1 line in his vocal piece so overall, Acer did really well.  I knew once we started going through the pieces, he would remember right away.  His memory for music is astonishing at times.  At camp, his friend wrote a piece of a song that is the chorus to a song they are writing.  We now know what chords are in it and what the structure is for the chorus.  It is actually quite good.  I am not surprised in a way because Acer's musical ability is so much higher than most children his age.  He is really an amazing musician.  I think he even thinks in music at times.  It is like a language that pours out of him.  Acer and I are working on chord structure now.  I think it is making even more sense now with the song that his friend wrote.  I hope they can continue to work on this during the school year.  I don't know how old the young man is, but he seems as gifted as Acer or close.  I think this will continue to inspire Acer to write his own music.  He writes little melodies now and we are going to be working on accompaniments for them shortly.

It seems so hard to believe that July is 2/3 over.  How fast did this month go?  Super fast or what?  It really did.  I am glad it is almost August though because there will be a couple of students coming back from vacation and a new one starting.  I had a lot stop for the summer, more than usual and with a smaller amount of students than I used to have, it makes a big difference when bill time comes.  I look forward to my school year when I have the regular amount.  I look back and wonder how I used to teach 50 to 60 students a week with no problem.  I taught 7 students one day and was totally exhausted.  It took about 2 days to get back to my, now, normal self!  It is just insane.  Anyways, I am going to be limiting how many lessons I have a day when school starts.  I just have too.  I can't have that many a day because it will be way too many and I will crash and burn.  I am so not up for another crash and burn hospital visit.  That is what happens when I crash and burn.  I end up in the hospital.  Well, not interested in having that happen again.  We have one family member in the hospital, I don't want to be the second one.  It is hard enough on my family to have Maia in the hospital and in the shape she is in.  I don't wish to be joining her.  I really don't so I am doing what I can to avoid that situation.  I know you can't always anticipate everything, but I am trying my best to anticipate that.

Ohh, I just realized, I didn't take my medicine today.  Whoops.  I didn't fill my pill container last night like I used to.  No wonder I am so light headed right now.  I forgot my anxiety medicine.  That also explains why my anxiety is rather high right now too.  Sometimes, I just forget so much.  Fibro fog needs to be gone from me!  Okay - I meant to do it earlier but I forgot when I left the counter.  I just need to take care of this in a few minutes.  Okay - I am done doing that!  I am trying to take Valerian Root at night to help with sleep.  I am now up to the recommended dosage of 3 capsules a 1/2 hour before bed so I hope it helps.  I really do.  I will find out and report on it.  One of my friends from Fibro Fighters on face book, suggested a combination of Valerian Root and Melatonin so if the Valerian Root alone doesn't work then I shall add the Melatonin.  She said about .5 mg at night.  I will try it next week if I need to.  Hmm, just learned something about Valerian root.  I think I will go back to Melatonin and increase the dosage.  Heather B-T just told me some of the side effects and precautions.  I need to research better.  I will.

It is almost dinner time!!!!  I am not sure what all we are having but it smells good.  Acer is helping.  It is so sweet that he likes to help.  He is a very helpful young man.  He really is and so is Calli.  I just got the 7 minute warning so time for me to go.

Pain level is a lot higher since I haven't had any pain medicine today so far.  My anxiety is also high for the very same reason.  I will take the evening dose of both the pain and the anxiety medicine with dinner.  I should learn not to forget this done!