Monday was a really great day. Karen came in and we did some personal care and after I got up I took my sunglasses down to get my prescription put in them, I can't believe how blind I am now. When I left my house I had a thermal and a shirt on and I thought it was going to be to hot but when I got closer to the wharf the wind kicked up and it was a lot cooler. There was a bunch of seals in the cluster, they always have one of their little fins up and it looks like they're waving at us. We started to cruise over to the boardwalk but they were painting the outside of the arcade and they had the sidewalk blocked off so we just turned around and came home. It felt good just to sit in the sun in the driveway for a while. Rosa came in and put me to bed, I am really tired and I hope I sleep.
Tuesday was a great day, I have been looking forward to this day for a while. I get to talk to my dietitian. I decided to take Robby on a cruise before we go over there so he will be worn out and just sleep the whole time. As I was leaving I could see Omar working in the front yard. I told him I wanted to put a dry creek bed in and she just started doing it, I swear that guy can do anything. He's so creative and has so many great ideas, he gets little pieces of driftwood and his other job… She works for Parks and Recreation and cruises along the beaches to pick up drug needles and I think he does just about everything else for them also. It was really warm when I left here but cold down by the beach. While cruising down to the beach I looked down and my drinking hose was emptying out on my pants and probably into my boots, the insulation around the hose slipped down and the mouthpiece fell off. Of course I was out in the middle of nowhere with nobody to help so I just tried to push the hose off the side of my chair so at least it ran onto the ground. We cruised around for a while and then I came back to rest and Teresa showed up to take me to see the dietitian, we both had a bunch of questions. She found another mouthpiece and I finally got to drink water, I was so thirsty. We checked my boots and at least they were not filled with water. We got to the appointment and the lady came out and I realized that I had seen her before. Back when I went to see the gastroenterologist and he put me on the gas elimination diet and that didn't work I went to talk to her, she was very helpful but I still half gas and bloating problems… I think I have tried everything. I went on so many "don't eat this" diets that is just ridiculous. She was very helpful again this time to and answered a lot of my questions. I was thrilled when I found out that she was going to be teaching the rest of my diabetes class so I can pretty much ask her anything after the classes. I've been struggling with getting a second opinion about the diabetes. My blood sugar levels are really low and my family keeps telling me that they don't think I really have it, it just seems to have come on so fast. I think I'm really just in denial but it would be nice to have a second opinion, I looked up endocrinologist and found one with five stars on yelp. I asked Rosa to come in at five because my appointment was supposed to end at four and I didn't want her to wait around, I probably shouldn't have said anything because she doesn't usually get there until 4:30 PM 5:30 PM anyway. She has another job and she doesn't get out until 3:30 PM. She called me at 5:30 PM and said that she was having her taxes done and she wouldn't be here until 6 PM, she showed up at 7 PM and wasn't able to get her taxes done because you didn't make an appointment and the wait was too long. By this time I had a headache and I was very cranky, I just wanted to put me to bed and leave me alone.
Wednesday was a really great day. I got up and took Robby for cruise. I wanted to go to the farmers market or at least to Trader Joe's to get some salads and some other stuff that I needed but it didn't happen. I'm pretty sure that if I went in the store they would have somebody to help me out and I need to really start asking but I'm so afraid that they will say no, we don't have that service. I can believe is Wednesday and it seems like everybody came to Santa Cruz, I guess it's still spring break for some people. There were crowds everywhere, down Westcliff Drive, on the wharf and on the boardwalk. I think it's really good to cruise Robby through the crowds, have him stay calm and ignore people. I came back home to rest for a bit and I heard somebody rang the doorbell, I could see a person standing at the door but I couldn't tell who was. I got closer to the monitor and realized it was Phil, I think the only reason I recognized him is because I saw his post on Facebook the night before saying that he was in Santa Cruz. I went around to the front door and said hello and talk to him for a while and then I texted Tom and Kelly to come across the street and say hello, Phil is a friend of theirs. Otis came by and I got to talk to him for a little bit, I don't really get to talk to him anymore since he comes on Monday and that's when I get my massage so usually by the time I get up at 1 PM is gone. He said he was moving and it sounds like it's going to be really great, it sounds kind of like a farm with tons of animals. She is so good with animals, he reminds me of the dog whisperer. I came in and rested for a bit and then rose and came to put me to bed so we could play cards. My mom is in Arizona so was just my uncle, my aunt, Lee and Claudia and I so no partners and I lost five dollars.
Thursday turned out to be a really good day. I want thermal and a shirt and was a little cold at times but mostly warm, the sun kept coming in and out. Robby and I cruised through the lagoon, through the wharf and over to the boardwalk where we watched the battle of the bands, they were all pretty good. After that we cruised back downtown and met Teresa at Trader Joe's to do some shopping, they had some pretty cool stuff there. We cruised home and Teresa put me to bed and we did my Chi energizer machine. It's a machine that cradles your ankles while the rocks your homebody. It's supposed to be good for circulation, relaxation… And a whole bunch of other stuff. After your done it makes your whole body kind of tingling and relaxed, even makes you breathe better. I also use it for my left arm, because my left arm never really gets any use it cramps up and hurts all my long. I wanted to really know how it felt so I asked Karen and Teresa to both try it out and they said it does relax you and it does help you to breathe better. I saw previewed on the show the doctors and they all followed was a great idea and felt relaxed after they did it.
Friday was a pretty great day, the weather was perfect. I went to get some blood drawn to do another A1 C test, just to make sure. Since my new diet I really have been feeling a lot better, my stomach isn't so loaded all the time and this chronic itch behind my ear is gone… I think it was yeast. I just wish I could sleep at night. I'm supposed to one of these days get a CPAP machine which I know I'm going to hate but if it helps me sleep I will do it. I looked up all of the symptoms of diabetes and I have every single one, crankiness, stress, hungry all the time and craving foods that I never craved before, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, weight loss even though I've been eating more… I feel better than I have been a long time. Kelly drove me down there and then we decided to go to Felton just because it's such a beautiful drive in the redwoods. We ended up at this place because I was looking for Driftwood but we found so much more. The guy that lived there was so amazing and interesting we just sat there listening to story after story. I found a couple of pieces of driftwood and a really cool turtle with shells all over its back. His wife was just as amazing and sweet, it started getting really hot so we had to go but it was just such a great visit. They were hungry so we did decide to stop at Oak Tree Ristorante, I had a coupon for it I was going to take my mom and my brother one time but it was closed. My group and had expired but it was still worth $20, the menu looked really good and I decided on the seafood salad with prawns, shrimp and squid, it was really good. When Kelly went to squeeze one of the lemons on my salad it dropped on the ground and we forgot about it. I decided to go around and take some pictures because it was such a beautiful place and when I got back I saw that I had run over the lemon and I thought it was a banana slug, I freaked out and Kelly didn't know what I was freaking out about… All she could see on the ground was a squished lemon and no reason for alarm. He finally stopped laughing long enough to tell me that it was a lemon just as I realized it was. Kelly how this really cool looking Panini, all I saw was avocado and bacon and it looked awesome. I was already overheated a little from sitting out in front of the Redwood Burrell place, I didn't have enough sense to go sit in the shade so it was my own fault. We came home just in time to meet Shauna here and Shawna put me to bed. My uncle and aunt and Kelly and I played cribbage, my uncle was my partner and we lost a dollar.
Saturday was another great day. I got up and Tom, Kelly and I went over to San Lorenzo Park for Earth Day. I just love cruising around and watching all the people interact, everybody's just so open and honest and not afraid to be themselves. I could've sat there all day and just watch the people dance and enjoy the band. I ran into a lady who says that she met me at one of Aki's Halloween parties, Otis… The guy who helps me out with my yard, Mark… The neighbor behind me and foster… The guy who founded shared adventures. I came back and Omar was busy working in my front yard, he has it looking so nice and I just love it. What an awesome day.
Sunday was Easter and it was a beautiful day. I decided to stay in bed because it has been so crowded around here that there's really not anywhere to go. I slept on and off most of the day and watched a couple of movies, I watched a movie called ride along and it was pretty funny also a movie called not job that was awesome. I started watching perfect sisters but I kept falling asleep so I had to stop. My article came over and brought me half of a spinach bagel with egg salad, that was really good. Teresa came by and got me something to eat, to some personal care and I got a nice long hot bath. I know I will sleep good tonight.
Monday was just a day. Susan came to give me my Monday morning massage but about halfway through she had to leave to go pick up her son because he was throwing up at school. Karen came in and we did some personal care, I slept through most of that. The day went by really fast and before I knew it Rosa was here to give me a nice long hot bath. I will be ready for tomorrow.
Tuesday was a great day. Terri, Angie, Parker, Phoebe and Pieper came to visit. They are all getting so big and they're so adorable and so well behaved, the perfect kids. We cruised over to the lagoon, they have never been there and they wanted to see it. We ran into about three school field trips and they all have to scrunch up against the side of the dock so that we can all get by but it was beautiful, the weather was perfect. They invited me to go with them to have sushi that Mobos, everybody's favorite, but my van was buried in the driveway and I have eaten just before they got there so I told them to go ahead and go without me. Angie posted some pictures and I was jealous. Omar came by and started my dry River rock bed in the front yard, he is so creative and he does such a good job and I can't wait to see the end result. I rested for a while and decided to take Robby for another cruise through the lagoon, down West Cliff where we ran into Seth and then down to the wharf and back. On our way back we were cutting through Depot Park and the wharf security stopped us and said not to go to depot Park because there was a guy waving a gun around, thank God we ran into him. We cut down by the police department and came down Laurel and there were cops all over the place looking for someone, probably the gun waver. We came back and rested for a while and then Rosa came to put me to bed. My uncle, my aunt, my mom and I played cribbage and I only have a dollar left to my name… In my cribbage fund.
Wednesday was another really nice day. Daniel came back from numotion to look at my batteries again, this is my third set of batteries and I'm still down to four or 5 miles a day per charge, it's getting very frustrating. He said that they ordered some brand-new batteries from the manufacturer and they will try those and if that doesn't work then they will figure out what is wrong with my chair, that means taking it to the shop and not having it for a couple of days. Robby and I went for a nice long cruise and the weather was just perfect. I cruised around until my battery was getting low and I couldn't cruise around anymore, I think I already said it but I'm really tired of this. I came back home and rested for a bit hung out in my backyard, I just love my yard. Rosa came in and put me to bed and the whole gang came over to play cribbage, I love Wednesdays. The only thing I didn't get to do was go to the farmers market but maybe next week.
Thursday the weather was great. I got up and Teresa came to take me for my abdominal ultrasound, it was pretty cool seeing all of my organs inside. I can only tell what they were because it set underneath, I had no idea if they were good or bad. I guess I'll find out in the next couple of days. I came home and didn't really feel very good so I decided to just go back to bed. Therese also went this morning to pick up my CPAP machine test, they've already established that I have it this is just trying on the actual machine overnight. It looks really scary and I have claustrophobia but I'm going to do it. It has a chip in it so they can see how I'm breathing or not breathing while I'm sleeping. I came back home and went to bed and pretty much rested for the rest of the evening. Kelly came over and visited for a while and we showed her how to test my blood so she can help me out while my mom is gone. I haven't seen Kelly for a while because she's been really busy working. It's time to put the machine on so I will say good night and wish me luck.
Friday was another day in bed, I'm so glad it was kind of cold outside. That CPAP machine last night was a nightmare. It started blowing a bunch of air in my mouth and in my nose, I couldn't even breathe out of my nose. Of course I had an itch under the mask and I'm not able to drink any water at all. After the first half-hour it stopped and displayed a message that said "settling 35 minutes" I thought maybe it stopped because it already got the rhythm of my breathing or something but my mom came down after about an hour and checked it and it said the same thing. If I'm been aware of this darn thing at least it could be doing what it's supposed to be doing and not just annoying me. It also started pushing in the middle of my forehead and gave me a really bad headache so I had my mom come down and losing a little bit it helps but I still had a headache. At about 4:30 AM it still wasn't doing anything so I had my mom shut it off, then it started blowing out air but the power light was off so I just decided to take it off and it was such a relief. You know sometimes you have to do something that's really really uncomfortable or annoying and then when you finally take it off or get rid of it you realize how wonderful your life is without? I have a feeling I'm going to have to try it again and if it helps I will wear it but it sucks. Karen came in and did some personal care. Shauna came in and gave me a bath, that was nice and relaxing.
Friday was a really good day. The weather was a little cold but it was nice to hang out with family and cruise around. My cousin Rich and his family were camping at KOA campgrounds in Watsonville so Tom, Kelly and I cruised out to spend the day. I said this before but I can't believe how different camping is now from when I was younger. The campgrounds are pretty incredible. I have this bounce platform, like they have in the bounce house but it's flat and there's sand all around the bottom. They have miniature golf course, swimming pool, doggie play yards and you can rent any kind of strolling around vehicles. We cruised around a couple times, had dinner and dessert and then came home. It was a really great day.
Sunday I decided to stay in bed, I was really tired and it was supposed be a little bit cold outside. Also to get everything done so I could just get up and go tomorrow but it didn't work out that way. Teresa came in but she was feeling sick so she just checked around and went home. I had to cancel Susan again so that we could get the personal care done in the morning and I'd still have time to get up, that I can do the bath at night. My brother Stanley came down from Modesto to stay for a couple of days and then take my mom to the airport on Tuesday where she flies out to see her brother. She comes back on the 28th at noon which is about the same time that David's going to fly in and stay for three or four days. It's going to be busy here but I love it.
Monday was not supposed to rain but it did. I had to get out because José from Hill-Rom was coming to do the same general maintenance on my bed. The rails are getting harder to put up and the wheels weren't moving as smoothly as they used to. Of course the rails this just from use and he just squirted some oil on them and he took the wheels off and guess what was all in the wheels?? Dog hair Of course. He also ordered me a new cover for my mattress because it's getting loose and calibrated my scale, she is such a sweet guy and always so pleasant and cheerful. Bringing me a cleaning solution that may have for the mattress because we're using Clorox wipes and there seems to be a gritty film developing. Of course after he left it started raining and didn't stop for the rest of the evening so we didn't get to go out and go for a cruise. Rosa came and put me to bed and I think I was asleep before she left. I have a Jacuzzi tub and was supposed to put powdered dishwashing soap and bleach in it once a month and run it with hot water but of course we always forget so little fragments of pond scum were shooting out for the Jets, Teresa said that's probably why I got sick. Rosa took a little brush and was in there scrubbing all the jets out, I'm glad she loves to have everything so clean.
Tuesday was supposed to rain so I decided to stay in bed, and not only didn't rain but the sun is out and it was nice. Karen came in and we got a couple of things clean and organized, that always feels good. We also did some personal care so that all I have to do tonight is relax and take a nice long hot bath when Rosa gets here. When Rosa came in I was so ready for a nice long hot bath, it felt so good and now I am so relaxed.
Wednesday was a very frustrating day. Daniel came to see if he could figure out why my batteries were charging and fixed the lateral on my leg. He said that he called the manufacturer and they said that a battery charge will only let me go about 10 miles and that's on a flat surface, and have this chair for two years and I know until recently I've been able to go at least 14 miles today. He said since Santa Cruz is not flat 7 miles is all I should be able to go. He changed out my batteries anyway but told me that I couldn't go anywhere until they charged for about 12 hours, I was already dressed and ready to get in my chair. Safeway came to deliver my groceries and they didn't have any yogurt, I already made out my menu for the week so now I have to change it. Generally that wouldn't be a big deal but I'm still trying to get the hang of what I can eat and what I can't and how much. I did find out that I can eat pickles and olives for a snack, I love those. I buy them a lot but always forget that they're in the refrigerator, it's kind of nice to make a meal plan every day. My blood sugar has been really low and I hope my abdominal scan next week so we'll see how severe my diabetes really is. Rosa came in and got Robby and I something to eat and cleaned up my room a little bit so the gang can come over and play cards tonight, Claudia was my partner and we lost three dollars.
Thursday the weather was beautiful and I couldn't wait to get out of here and cruise around with Robby. Kay came over to die and cut my hair, every time she comes over I love my hair even more. She brought her two little dogs, they are so cute but the little one is afraid that Robby is going to step on him because Robby was a little rambunctious. After Kay left I talked to Otis, the guy that takes care of my yard, for a while. I hadn't seen him for a long time and I always just love talking to him, I could talk to him forever but I don't want to get in his way. He reminds me of the dog whisperer, he always has fostered dogs and they are always so well behaved. I took Robby for cruise through the lagoon and Seth texted me and said he was on his way to an interview over by the Boardwalk so I cruised over there with him. I wasn't sure how long the interview was ever take and I had to get back home because I have an appointment with the sleep disorder Center so I said goodbye and wished him luck and came on back home. He texted me as soon as I got home and said he was finished. The interview went well, they remembered his sister and Rebecca and Heather. He goes back for another interview and I'm pretty sure that they will hire him, he is very charming and polite. When they got back home I noticed that my brand-new batteries fully recharged yesterday were almost dead after 4 miles, I am getting so tired of this. I called and left another message so I guess we'll see what happens. Teresa took me over to the sleep disorders Center and I met with the specialists and he asked me the same exact questions that he asked me last time I was there. Then he said we had to come back for another CPAP test, I don't know why they just didn't have it ready right there so we didn't have to come back. He said I have pretty severe sleep apnea and hopefully the CPAP machine is going to help me out a lot. I'm excited to try it. Teresa came by to put me to bed and noticed that I have an open wound on my butt, I really don't want to start with this again. I've been losing some weight so I'm afraid that something got pinched or the skin is getting baggy and got folded but I guess I could to look forward to staying off of it for a couple of days to see what happens.
Friday was another day spent in bed. I just have a blister that broke on my butt but I can't take the chance of it getting any worse so I need to turn and stay on my side as much as possible. Karen came in Friday morning and we did some personal care and I stayed on my side for about six hours and then I sat up and watched TV the rest of the day. I've been wanting to watch frozen because everybody keeps saying that it's so good but every time I try to watch it I fall asleep. Shawna came in Friday night and put me on my side for another three hours.
Saturday I was getting ready to get up and there was a knock on the door, Omar is back. I thought he was supposed to be gone for three months but he said no only a month and a half, it was great to see him back. He cleaned up the back porch and moved the furniture out so it's not all bunched up, and looks great out there. He brought me back some driftwood logs for my friend yard. Got me up and I took Robby for cruise through the lagoon, to the end of the wharf and back and down by the Boardwalk where I saw another driftwood log that I wanted for my front yard. I told Omar I would take a picture of it so he could grab it for me tomorrow while he's at work. I came back and visited with Tom and Kelly for a while and then Shauna called and said that she didn't feel very good and wanted to come in early to put me to bed. I had her put me to bed and called my mom down to finish feeding me. My uncle and aunt came over to play a couple games of cribbage, my aunt was my partner and I think I lost a couple of dollars but we always have fun.
Sunday was such a beautiful day. It was so great to get up and out of your for a long cruise. I got this new machine that cuts your ankles and kindness snake/shakes your whole body, it's supposed to be good for circulation, supposed to make you relax and it's supposed to be good for your back and neck… We will see. It's hard for me to tell if it's doing anything so I asked Karen to try it and she said that it was relaxing and I made you breathe deeply but we only have it on low, this week we will try it on high and see what happens. Robby and I cruised through the lagoon and up around the circle church houses, a while back I found a little park with the community garden and I really would love to find that again so I'm searching. I ended up at Westcliff so I cruised down the beach, it was so beautiful. I stopped a couple of times to lay back and just enjoy the day and watch the ocean and everybody having so much fun. We cruise down to the wharf and laid back there couple of times to enjoy the sun, I think it was about 72° out today. We came home and practiced a couple of commands and came inside to cool off. Teresa came to put me to bed but she had fallen in her bathroom and she had bruises all over. She put me to bed and cooked a couple of things and then went home, I'm afraid she's going to be really sore tomorrow.
Monday I still wasn't feeling very good at all, I can't remember the last time I have been this sick. Susan came and gave me my morning massage and then Karen came to get me up, it's been so long since I've written in my blog that I don't remember if I got up for not.
Tuesday is also kind of a blur but I know Karen came in to do some personal care and later on Rosa came in to give me a nice long hot bath.
Wednesday I made another appointment with Dr. Owens and she sent me over to get a chest x-ray to find out if I have pneumonia or just an upper respiratory infection. She gave me some more antibiotics and I took Robby for a cruise through the park, down to the end of the wharf and back and down to the end of the boardwalk and back… Resting a lot of course.
Thursday I got up because Teresa was going to take me to get a chest x-ray. Apparently I made the appointment at the wrong place by the receptionist didn't have to be so nasty about it? I just wasn't feeling good and I made mistakes. I came home and she recently to bed, got me something to eat, to the bow program and my ever loving nice long hot bath.
Friday I had to get up early because I have my third diabetes class. I texted Teresa to let her know that I was ready, my appointment was at 10:15 AM. It was too cold to cruise down there so I asked her to come and pick me up. I never got an answer so I had Karen load me up in the van so I could be ready when she got here, it got to be 10:30 AM so I decided to come and and reschedule yet another diabetes class. As soon as I rescheduled it I got a text from Teresa that that she had slept in and didn't listen to her alarm. I decided to make the diabetes class at night, some people just are morning people and I get that. Since I was out and it was a nice day I decided to just take Robby for cruise. Shauna came in to put me to bed and my aunt and uncle came over to play cards with my mom and I.
Saturday I still wasn't feeling all that great so I decided to stay in bed. Lisa came in and gave Robby a bath and he was happy, Lisa looked a little more wet than happy that she's always so sweet about doing everything. She did a couple of other things that we really never have time to do and I just pretty much slept the rest of the day.
Sunday I got up and it was beautiful. I was feeling a little bit better so Robby and I cruised through Santa Cruz and I took some pictures with my Google glass. Heather came over and cooked a bunch of food because she was going on vacation and she wanted to make sure that I was well-stocked before she left. While on our cruise through the lagoon we ran into our friend Christoph so I asked him if I could take a picture, we talked him for a while and then went on our way. I cruised over to cost plus, I LOVE that place, and I found a whole bunch of stuff that I would love to have… Luckily I was by myself so I didn't buy anything. I met Lisa over at Ross and she picked me up and we went to Costco, I had been there for a while and I was out a lot of stuff. Lisa is just so sweet and just so willing to do everything, I even had a lady at Costco tell me "I know why you're smiling all the time because this little lady is so sweet" she really is and she can do anything. My mom and Tom wanted a hot dog and of course so did I but I didn't get one. We came back and Lisa unloaded everything and then Tom, Bailey, Robby and I took a cruise over to the lagoon. Teresa came in and we did our Sunday personal-care and bath, I think I slept through just about everything.
