Today's prompt is " What are your favorite shoes?" My favorite shoes are my diabetic shoes with my custom insoles and lift. It's what I wear everyday.
Yesterday was a pretty good day. I woke up around 7 something. I took my meds, and ate a small breakfast of leftovers of my meal prep foods. I gave Caleb his meds. I did my Reiki practice. I started to clear a path in my bedroom since the floor is cluttered with stuff. I was trying to get Caleb to clean up his room too, but he ended up helping me with my room. I had a small lunch of ham and cheese. I roasted potatoes for Caleb. Raven came earlier and finished the paint job on the outside of the house. I washed a few dishes and cleaned off the stove top and counter. I prepped some veggies to roast later.
I had an appointment with VA VR&E for independent living track. It required a virtual home tour, which is why I was trying to clean my room and bathroom in the morning. We are putting in a packet for changes to make to the house to help me do things on my own. One of the things will be an accessible shower. Another thing will be an ADA toilet. Hopefully they get approved.
Caleb had therapy in the afternoon. I ended up filling out some paperwork needed to get him into Timber Ridge.
I started making a salad and realized that some of my veggies went bad before I could use them. I went to Food Lion to replace the veggies, and while leaving was stopped and was asked if I left my bags in the cart a few days ago. I couldn't remember the last time I went to Food Lion, so I did not know. I went to see the bags, and Yes! They were mine! I came home and finished making a huge leafy green salad. It was awesome!
Romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, cucumbers, red onions, feta stuffed olives, roasted red peppers, shredded cheddar cheese, pepperocini peppers, tri-color bell peppers. sliced white mushrooms, and a new sugar-free balsamic vinaigrette! Yummy!
I finally got a call from Monarch Roofing. We scheduled an appointment for them to come out.
Today is Saturday and it is now 0455. I am going to visit my dad today, and pick up the Volvo. I don't know why I am up so early. It was about 0415 when I got out of bed. I just couldn't sleep anymore. I could stay in bed all day though.
I am looking forward to being able to schedule the VA appraisal next week and get this refinancing business back on track and over with.
I am having a bidet delivered from the VA on Monday and the appointment with Monarch Roofing. On Tuesday I go to the VA clinic for speech therapy to examine my memory problems. Later on I have a video call with Michal for Ignite Your Light program. On Wednesday I have a VA therapy video call, and later in the day is Christinia's dental appointment. Thursday Caleb begins his psychological evaluation appointments. Friday is clear so far. Caleb's therapy appointments get scheduled during the day on Monday, and those are 3 times a week. Caleb has also been referred to a podiatrist about his toe nail fungus, so I have to make that appointment. That's alot of stuff going on during next week!
I recently bought some meditations from TealSwan that I would like to incorporate into my days. I have also purchased a 30 day program for empaths that I want to start. I signed up for my first virtual challenge. The challenge is to walk, run, swim, canoe, kayak, skate, or anything else... for 100 miles. I am going to walk of course. I will get a medal for completing the challenge. I have not started yet, but I will soon.
I fought myself about buying more crystals, and in the end I choose to buy them. I have crystals everywhere in my house. I like how I feel around them, and could not resist the sale that was going on for limited quantity items. At the same time, I am trying to not spend money, and get out of debt as quickly as possible. It's a hard road to travel. Right now my expenses are greater than my income. I am looking for ways to change that. As the temperatures get warmer, the electric bill will get higher and so I am trying to prepare for that too.
I had trouble with Caleb last week. I could not get him to do his school work. He just was not willing to cooperate and wanted to argue and get mad. Knowing that the VA appraiser is going to be taking pictures of the house, I wanted him to then clean his room in preparation for that. He went to his room, but it's nowhere near clean. I don't know what to do with this kid some days. It feels impossible to get him to see that education is important and you have to do it... that cleaning your room and keeping it clean is important too. I don't know what it is about teenage boys, but I know this is a common problem I am facing. I try to tell him that we are on the same team and need to work together. He agrees and says he understands, but when it comes to things he does not want to do, well... that's a different story. I am getting less arguments when it comes to taking the trash and recycling out, and when it comes to unloading the dishwasher and/or dish strainer, so that's a good thing. He wants to go the neighbor's house, Jerry's, all the time, but doesn't understand that we have to get our work done before we can play. Sometimes I just have to give up because I have my own work to get done that the household relies on. My dad says I am too soft and I should "put the fear of God in him." I can't follow his advice, because I haven't forgotten that he choked a 10 year old Caleb on 2 separate occasions leading him to be forcibly removed from my house due to social services being contacted and getting involved. I'm not going to be violent in my approach. I'm better than that, and it doesn't take violence to be a good parent. Going to Timber Ridge will help Caleb with his O.D.D. and ADHD.
I have been back on the Virta Keto Diet since Feb 21, 2022. I am standing strong in my convictions and motivation to make this a lifestyle in the most economic and stress-free way possible. I have been doing meal prep at the beginning of the week, where I spend several hours cooking my meals for the weel ahead. It is worth it to have my foods readily available, and not have to cook a meal every time I need to eat, which is 3 times a day. Not only is that alot of dirty dishes, and cleaning up, but it's not efficient. Meal prepping has been the answer to keeping on track so far. I am not seeing weight loss yet, but I am about to start my period and think I am likely retaining water. I have been in nutritional ketosis every day this week so far. I am feeling better about my choices every time I follow through with the plan I set for myself. I have not cheated once since starting, by eating non-Virta-friendly foods.
I have been trying to ground myself in Reiki every morning, and before I fall asleep. I am a Level 2 practitioner now, and will be starting the Master program in May, and graduate in August. I am scheduled to take a Reiki refresher course coming up on a Sunday soon. I like working with the women from Michal's organization, Beacons of Change. Recently on one of my one-on-one video calls with Michal, she suggested that I try Qi-Gong with my Reiki practice, since I mentioned to her that I was looking for a gentle yoga practice to increase my mobility and flexibility. I have not tried it yet, but need to schedule some time to do that.
I helped Christinia complete her statistics class. It's finally over! Man what a headache! As much as I could use the extra money from the remainder of my GI bill, I know I can not go back to school. I just can't do it right now, or anytime soon. It requires alot of concentration and scheduling would not be fun considering everything I already have to do. Now, Christinia is on her second "semester" (8 weeks) of classes, and she does not need my help for those classes.
Harlee has an appointment soon with TEACH to evaluate her for Autism. I remember when I was having Caleb evaluated at that age or so. I had so many appointments to get him evaluated by so many professionals it was ridiculous. He ended up in speech therapy, occupational therapy, and eventually in special education, talk therapy, and psychiatry. Now Caleb is going to get another psychological evaluation because it is required by Timber Ridge, but also because we need to know if he is bipolar or what is going on in his head exactly. He doesn't like talking in therapy about the things that he needs to be talking about. He avoids conversations about the things that trigger him and bother him, and how he feels about things.
Last week I took Caleb to the emergency room because his right big toe was hurting him so much he was bawling and moaning. After a few hours of waiting, we left with a new prescription and a referral to the podiatrist. When I got home, it occurred to me to try something. I made a foot soak of hot water and apple cider vinegar for him to put his feet, but especially his toes in. Guess what? It helped! I made a second foot soak for him the following day to follow up. The color of his toe nails changed from to dark almost black looking, to more gray , almost white looking. I think we may have killed the fungus. I am still going to use the medication prescribed, and call the podiatrist for an appointment. Caleb needs helps safely cutting his toe nails as they are growing curved into his toes now. They are not piercing the skin, but if left, probably will.
I am still trying to get Christinia's medical records to the VA so they can continue her claim with them rather than without them. We found out that her doctor's office did not have release form from her to be able to give the VA a copy of her records directly when they requested them. They never contacted her about that. She had to find out what the problem was when she got a letter from the VA stating they were unable to retrieve her records from the office, twice!
I am trying to get Christinia to get seen by a doctor for her digestive issues. She hates doctors and so it is not easy to persuade her to make an appointment and go get evaluated.
It is now 0600 and the birds outside are singing.
Raven did such a good job on the paint outside the house. I am so happy that is finally done. It looks like a new house! I gave her a gift bag to show my appreciation. I collected excess items around the house that I have collected and need to purge , and were new, and gifted them to her. She really liked it, as it was alot of witchy stuff like sage, a candle, incense, rose water... that type of stuff. We are going to stay in contact with eachother. We are both single moms. She has a 15 year old and an 8 year old, if I am not mistaken. I asked her if we could get the kids together sometime. I think they would have fun together at the beach or something like that.
Travis text messaged me the other day with an update. He is still homeless and looking for a place to live that he can afford. I guess he is still living out of his truck or a motel in Whiteville. He is 100% disabled by the VA. The only reason he "can't find a place to live" is because he does not want to spend the money it takes to rent a place or buy a place. He has prioritized his bills and debts over a place to live. I think this is really stupid, and I told him so. A safe place to live is a necessity, not a want. I don't understand his decision-making and I get frustrated by him so I don't have long conversations with him. I wish I could help him, but he doesn't listen to me. He is hard-headed. All I can do is pray about it.
I reorganized the pantry the other day, and took out the foods that no one here will eat (I'm assuming since the foods have been here all this time and they have not been eaten yet). I have to check the expiration dates on the them, but I am intending to hand bags out to the homeless in Wilmington. They are everywhere in Wilmington. Alot of people with signs at the street intersections asking for help. I don't have much to give, as I am a stone's throw from being homeless myself, but I am willing to give them our excess. I usually hand them a can of soda from my stash in the car as I drive by. It's a small act of kindness. Who knows how long they have been standing there?
I went to the orthotics and prothestics appointment last week too to order my custom insoles and lift. When the person I had the appointment with checked my right shoe, there was no lift in there! I had no idea! No wonder my back pain is back everyday! When I came home, I found a new pair of my diabetic shoes, custom insoles, and lift, and exchanged them for the old, tread-less, pair I had been wearing for God only knows how long. My feet are happier, and I experience less pain throughout the day.
I had my appointment with a therapist last week too. It was my first appointment with Mr.Dillon, and was by video call. I told him all about how Ms. Miller made me feel back in January, and how I pursued a change of provider through the patient advocate. I still have not heard anything about that, and I wonder what exactly is going on. How much time and effort does it take to schedule me a new female provider? It shouldn't take but a minute. Now, I know they are going to do some investigating as to why I want to change my provider, but that shouldn't stop them for changing my provider in the meantime.
I had my diabetic medication changed on Thursday. Instead of taking 10 mg Glipizide in the morning, and 5 mg Glipizide at night, I will now be only taking 5 mg Glipizide in the morning and 5 mg Glipizide at night. It's a small but motivating start. I still have to take 2000 mg Metformin at night, and 1.8 Victoza shot in the morning too. I can't wait to be able to stop these medications. I can't wait to be able to see my toes when I stand up. I am so ready to get rid of this huge belly of mine. It's time for it to go! I will likely start my walking on Monday morning. I am going out of town today, and will be back tomorrow, so I am not ready to start just yet.
My dad likely is going to have to exchange the battery in the Volvo for a new one. I am sure he let it drain by not driving it, and it can not be recharged. I think we will go to the Mexican restaurant while we are there too.
Caleb just woke up. It's now 0637. I guess I should start getting my morning routines done. We have to leave by 1130, and I have not showered nor packed yet.
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