It is now 10:58 p.m. here on Tuesday. Today was a busy day. I slept through most of the night because I used the eye ointment and the mouth spray that have been prescribed. The mouth spray is moisturizing so my mouth does not dry out because of the CPAP. My throat does not itch then, and I do not cough. I woke up around 6:00 a.m. this morning and started to fold the clean laundry in the baskets in my room. I folded 3.5 baskets of clean laundry this morning. I moved the laundry between the laundry machines and got the laundry started. I woke Caleb up around 8:00 a.m. this morning because we had to take Bella to the vet at 9:00 a.m. We took Bell to the vet, and the bill was $40 more than quoted. I was not prepared for that, and so I had to use 2 credit cards to pay the bill for her heartworm shot and heartworm exam.
After that, we drove to Walmart. I needed to buy some vegetables to make dinners with. I also needed supplies to ship Christmas presents with. We went home after that. I made myself some leftover vegetables from last night's dinner for lunch. Caleb ate all the chuck roast that was left in the crockpot last night because "it was good." LOL I know it was good! LOL We did not have alot of time before we had to leave for Caleb's 2 appointments. He had to see his therapist and his psychiatrist. I told them both a summary of how well Caleb was doing since school started. I let them know all the things he has learned, and how his behavior has changed. I also let them know that Caleb will be graduating from occupational therapy in January.
We left from there and went to the post office to mail out some Christmas and/or Yule presents. Then we came home, and I began to prep and cook dinner. I made broccoli and Greek sausages. Simply and yummy.
I was tired by then, and wanted to go lay down. It was not even 5:00 p.m. yet, and the sun was still shining through the windows.
It was cold this morning. It was about 38 degrees outside! I was sweating from moving around doing the laundry and it was 54 degrees inside the house. I had to wear a hoodie to take Bella to her appointment. I felt so bad for Bella because I have not gotten her a hoodie, and she was cold.
Yesterday, Monday, it was dark and raining outside. I took a shower after "sleeping in" until about 9:00 a.m. My appointment was at 3:00 p.m. for the hematologist, but I was supposed to arrive 30 minutes early.
On the way out, I stopped by the post office to mail some Christmas cards out. I also stopped at the gas station to fill up the tank on the Mazda. I made it to the appointment 10 minutes early, and not 30 minutes early. Oops. I did not have to wait long to have my blood drawn, see the nurse and update my medical records with the NHRMC system, and see the doctor. I spoke with the doctor for what seemed like a good amount of time. He was very detail oriented and seemed to actually be listening to me speak! I left feeling pretty good about the whole appointment. I found out that my iron levels are rising slowly, and I am not longer technically deficient. I am "within normal range." The plan of action right now is to keep taking my iron pills as I have been taking them. It is working, and I do not have an absorption problem. His office will call me with the other lab results. Some labs take 24 hours or more.
From there, we went to help Billy in Wilmington. My appointment was in Leland, not far away. Billy needed a ride to go grocery shopping. It was getting darker and raining. The traffic into the city was backed up, so we took an alternate route to get to his house. Caleb told me he was cold and hungry. I put the heat on for him, and stopped at McDonald's to get him something to eat. He had been waiting in the Mazda for my whole appointment because no one other than patients and personnel are allowed in the building.
We finally got to Billy's house around 5:00 pm or so and picked him up to take him to Food Lion. I told him to call an Uber to take him to pick up his check and cash it, and he didn't for whatever reason. I felt like I wasted my time to take him a few miles down the road, and not even do that much shopping because he did not have his money ready. I was expecting him to do like a week's worth of shopping for him and his girlfriend. He did one night's worth of shopping. He told me he would send me money for gas. I have not gotten it yet and I wonder if he even got a ride to go get his money today.
By the time we were done there, it was way after 6:00 pm and very dark, and raining harder. I hated the drive home. I hate to drive in the dark. I hate to drive in the rain. I hate it even more to do both at the same time! I feel like I can't see in front of me. I'm also scared of having a seizure caused by all the lights.
When we got home, it was after 7:00 pm, and dinner was ready. I started cooking in the crockpot at 1:30 p.m. before we left for my appointment. I made chuck roast with potatoes, onions, celery, and carrots, along with my preferred seasonings. It turned out delicious! I was so glad to be home and have a hot meal waiting for me. It was cold , dark, and rainy outside all day. I just wanted to stay in bed, but had so much to do that I couldn't.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, we are getting up around 6:00 a.m. to prepare to go to Brunswick Family Assistance for the food distribution for the month. That will last all morning long. When I get home, I plan on cooking a dinner in the crockpot. Depending on how exhausted I feel, I might just relax the rest of the day and move the laundry through the laundry machines, or I might actually be able to get a project completed in the house. I don't know yet. I am hoping to fully recover tonight from Monday and Tuesday.
I have put almost all the Christmas presents I am sending in the mail. I only have 2 boxes left to send, and they will have to wait until I get paid because the post office does not accept credit cards here. They only accept cash or check. Anyway, I am not done preparing them for shipping. So, I am feeling pretty good about my accomplishments this week.
On Thursday, Caleb has his occupational therapy appointment, and that is all the appointments we have for this week.
On Wednesday, we receive our EBT deposit, and so I am happy about that. I need to buy bread, almond milk, and maybe orange juice. There are a few other things too, but I did not want to spend my remaining cash, because that's all I have until I get paid this coming up Tuesday.
Meanwhile, my facebook friend, Violet, has been having bad debilitating major seizures. I wish they could figure out why she is having them and medicate her appropriately. I can't imagine the suffering she is going through. Sometimes she comes to and can't remember who she is. I want to support her in any way I can. I know how it s to have a minor seizure. I am glad I have not had any seizures this year. My medication must be working. I am afraid to change my medication, but have been discussing it with my neurologist. Seeing her in her condition, maybe I should try harder to lose weight and stay on the current medication.
I have been trying to make Rachel smile and feel loved. I know she is having a hard time because her mother in law and father are both ill. She is probably feeling pulled from every which way with 2 kids (who are older now) , a husband, pets, and sick family members who do not live with her. She must feel like she has to be in a million places at one time. I know the feeling. I felt that way about my dad, when he had heart surgery, but he was living with me at the time. He was hospitalized in Wilmington, an hour's drive away. Caleb was younger. Sharon was not able to co-parent effectively without abusing him. I couldn't bring Caleb with me to visit my dad while he was in the ICU. There were very strict hours of visitation after the surgery. It was hard to maintain communication and stay updated on my dad's recovery. I couldn't be at home and at the hospital at the same time. It was exhausting to say the least, so I get it.
I just remembered that I had a conversation with the hematologist about having my cortisol levels checked. I am wondering if that has anything to do with my inability to lose weight, and continuing to gain weight. He said that I would be better off being referred to an endocrinologist for that. I told him I would ask my PCP to refer me.
I just applied for a Christmas wishlist program being offered to Minority Veterans of America members. I hope we are chosen!
A "Christmas Star" will be showing in the night sky around December 21 this year. It will be the planets Jupiter and Saturn coming closer together than they have in the last 800 years. I hope to be able to see it and maybe get some photos. I have read that the star the 3 wise men followed to Jesus may have been the conjunction of 3 planets. This is a conjunction of 2 planets.
Covid-19 cases are rising everyday, now above 6,000 new cases confirmed a day, in North Carolina. The vaccine was projected to be available around December 15th. I am waiting for Congress to pass another bill to support Americans who are hurting financially right now. I am mostly ok now that I have food assistance. Others who have lost jobs, had hours cut back etc., are facing evictions and homelessness.
My friend, Shannon, was forced to close down her fitness studio recently. I wonder how she is doing. She doesn't really communicate with me unless I text or call her first. It was just safer to close her studio. With Covid-19 restrictions being in place, she couldn't have very many people there at the same time, and it was becoming harder and harder to hold classes.
I just realized that I did not divulge all the ingredient information to Alisa when I gave her the chili. Her husband, Clayton, says he has an allergy to pepper. That chili is filled with peppers! I hope she did not feed him any.
I forgot to water the plants on Monday. I will have to do that today.
I wonder what my dad is doing on a regular day. I wonder if he thinks about us at all. I wonder if he grieved the loss of his father.
Aunt Lisa continues to organize and distribute grandpa's belongings he had in the storage units. I wish I could help somehow. She is working so hard all week long. She has a full time job, and a family to care for. At least my cousins are adults now, but they need support being in their first semester of college, and doing everything virtually. The whole family is working from home. Grandpa had 3 of the largest storage units available. It's alot of work to go through all the boxes of his stuff. It is emotionally taxing and physically hard labor. Max has been able to help alot. She has friends who have been offering assistance too. Aunt Lisa has a close friend who has Covid-19, and so trying to make sure she is cared for has been added to her list of duties.
I have asked for a few sentimental things from his collections. He has family photos of my parents and Mathew and me when we were babies. He has family photos that of family members I was never able to meet in Brazil. He has a unique taste of Brazilian art work that I am interested in.
I was unable to attend grandma's memorial physically, but I was there virtually. I have not received the things she left for me. I do not know what she left for me. I know there was alot of stuff from her to go through too.
Grandpa apparently filled his house with stuff since I last lost saw him in 2013. In 2013, he was already giving me some of his stuff... you know, in preparation for his passing. I think he lived longer than he expected. I wish grandma would have been able to see Caleb before she passed away. She would not have recognized him as she had Alzheimer's disease.
I like to honor my family by hanging photos of them on the walls of my house. I have multiple walls dedicated to Caleb's birth and infancy, as well as the photo shoot we did in 2013. I have not yet been able to frame the photos from our most recent photo shoot this year.
Caleb and I have both done a DNA test on Ancestry.com. I would like to be able to find out more about my family history and its roots.
It is now 12:42 a.m. here. Caleb is sleeping on the couch with Bella close by. I have the bed to myself tonight, which means I will not be sliding off the edge. LOL
Caleb just woke up again. He woke up earlier to get a drink and went back to bed. He is up now. I hope he goes back to sleep because he is a cranky grinch when he does not get enough sleep.
On Monday I text my mom to call me the next day. So I was expecting a call today around her lunchtime. She forgot to call or something and didn't call. So I text her that she forgot to call me. I fell asleep early in the evening because I was just so tired. She must have called me while I was asleep. I just wanted to explain to her why I was getting bloodwork done because she asked why I was getting it done on facebook when I posted my photo of my hand where they drew blood from. Well, I guess I will have to either catch her another time, or just forget about it. It wasn't that important anyway.
Bell was weighed in at the vet and is 65.8 lbs. I think she is a healthy weight. They did not mention anything to me about her needing to lose weight this time, so... I don't want to feed her less. I know my girl is hungry.
I think Caleb went back to sleep. Good, because I am about to go to bed too. I have to wake up in a few hours. I am going to go ahead and take my iron pill now so I can take the rest of my medications in the morning when I wake up, before I go to pick up our food. I can't take them at the same time. The iron won't absorb as well, or maybe not at all.
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