Hi everybody.

Mima, Kate and Joanne - wishing you warmer days. It is warming up. We went from -30F to +30F overnight. Felt like SPRING. Today it is 46F out there, so, although hard to move around, as the snow has become slush type stuff, it sure is nice. So the Arctic blast, sent to you, compliments of Canada, is OVER!!!! It is so nice and sunny here, but when it is -30 it has a high ceiling and lots of sun as well. Only a couple of months till Spring comes, for real.

Joanne - I sure hope that the shot helps and that you can be mobile again. You have had MORE than your share of the plate recently.

Tammy - hope you will have a safe trip back home. Glad you got away.

Son is doing well, after surgery. Will probably start back to work next week, on light duty. Hubby has been busy helping out with his house, so it can move forward, since he can't do much. They should be moving into it in just a couple of months. It isn't that easy to help, as we live 2 hours away, each way, so the only time is the weekend. Poor hubby is getting tired. He finally has come to the realization that he is no longer 21!

Everybody have a good day, and remember the north is warming up and so will you!

Hello Everybody.. Say another orthopedic Dr. today and it wasn't really good news. He will clear me with insurance and give me the injections that may not be effective,(his words). He said the damage to my knee is about as bad as it can get.Not news to me. He also will order a special brace that will hold my knee in place. My arthritis is pretty bad and lately getting the best of me..
It is not as cold as the past few days just not as warm as I like. My skin and nails are wrecked. Constant lotion and still need more.
I need to get my emotional eating under control.. Not good for my weight ,diabetes,or stinking thinking..
Joanne

Oh, Joanne, so sorry.Maybe the brace will keep it in place so it doesn't rub.
Skin doc at 1-hope she doesn't find anything new.
Daughter having to glucose testing-sure hope she's ok/
Thanks for the warmer air, Anne. Love it.
Be good all. Mima

Hi.

Joanne - sorry nothing much can be done. Pray that the shot will help relieve, at least some of the pain. The brace can help as well. One day at a time.

Mima - The GD is common in pregnant women. Does she go for the 2 hr tolerance today? The stuff they drink has sure improved over the years as well. It's just that you have to be there for the 2 hours.

I have been BLOWING really hard, so that some of this nice warm air can make it down your way. I am almost out of breath lol

How about 4 hours and she said the stuff to drink is awful.No news yet.
The election in MA is very interesting-esp with so much national attention.Go Scott Brown!!
I had a skin biopsy on my belly=a tiny mole. Really hope that's ok-not a bikini wearer.
Prayed for Haiti last night at church. And collected money.
And started a new picture at Art-Hydrangeas.
Hope your knee is better Joanne-I really think the brace will help.
Mima

Hello from Ohio! I arrived home yesterday afternoon safe and sound. Had no problems at all, and I am confident now that I can do this on my own! That makes me feel good. Makes me sad knowing that this is what Bob and I wanted to do together, but I know he would be happy that I am doing it.

Joanne, sorry that things aren't the best for you right now. I wish there was something I or someone could do for your knee. I'm with you on the skin, nails, and emotional eating.

Mima, I had the gestational diabetes also when I was pregnant with Tim. A few days before he was born, my level was over 200. The day I went to the hospital, it was close to 200 when I got there. 3 hours later after he was born, it had dropped to 80. Even the nurse and doctor were amazed that it dropped that fast. I told Tim he needs to watch it because apparently he was the sweet one, not me!

Anne, thanks for blowing that warm air down here. It was in the 30's when I got home yesterday, and it's in the 30's again today. The sun is shining too. I'm sure your hubby has been getting worn out helping with your son's house. Tell him to take it easy!!

Several people from one of the local churches were in Haiti when the earthquake hit. They are all ok, but they have lost many friends that they have made while there.

I still have things to unload from the van! I don't have to do anything until tomorrow morning when I start back to the Y at 9, so I figure no rush, right?

They measured me for the brace today. Now I hope the insurance will cover it.The brace is not very attractive. I will have to adjust the way I dress. Real lose pants to go over the brace ,peddle pushers or skirts. I could wear it on the outside of my jeans but guess how that will look?
On top of everything I have had IBS for two days. I just feel sick. Probably my nerves are getting the best of me.I am not getting much sleep at night. I just can't seem to get in a position that my knee doesn't hurt. I cry a lot..
Enough of me!!!
It got a little warmer..
I am glad you had a good trip Tammy.. 30 degrees is too cold for me..
Yes ,Happy, one day at a time.. I will keep that in mind..
We enlarged the fenced area so that all we will have to do is open the door and let Christie go out. Well, The stinker doesn't want to use it.. And doesn't want to go out alone! It takes a lot of patience and time to get her to go there. It is real dark out there at night. Tonight I will take her out front where I have a light. I may be ruining all my work in trying to get her to go where I want. Can't help it tonight. I don't feel up to sitting out there for 30-45 minuted while she walks around with her nose up in the air.She is so spoiled! Any advice?
Those poor people in Haiti..
Mima- Hope everything went well with the skin Dr.
Hello Meme..Where are you. Come on over from face book..
Joanne

Joanne-I have seen people wear their brace outside their pants.Tell people it;s a war wound. LOL
Hey tammy-Great for you!!!!! Glad you had a safe trip.
Suzanne's glucose test as fine. She is very happy about that.
Eye doc called and I am getting my cataracts removed, I an SO happy about that.
Mile and Jill are going to be selling things at the flea market for 3 weekends. We are going to see them this morning, And then go to BJ's and get my packet from the eye doc.
I have been working on the taxes a little each day. Got the business done.I need all my paper work from banks etc
Pray for Haiti-just read a story about a local girl back home that is still missing,
Mima

Good morning everyone. I am sitting here waiting for the refridgerator service guy yet again. This is the 4th service call I have had on my icemaker in the freezer. Thank God I have an extended warranty! This company has been really good about getting it done too so I like using them for eveything.
Hubby had his first appointment with the cardiologist yesterday. he goes in for a nuclear stress test next week. They do it in 2 appointments....1st one is "resting" and second one is fasting and the stress test. They inject some sort of stuff into you and scan the heart. Sounds like a long procedure....kind of like an MRI. I hope hubby can lay still for that long! His doctor wants to give him something to help with his appetite but wants to make sure his heart is okay first. He's actually talking about having both his knees done next Dec/Jan! We'll see.
Tammy, so glad you made it hope safely. It's great to know you are capable of doing stuff on your own, isn't it? I used to take mini weekend getaways by myself just to get away. Of course, that was when I had the business and worked long hours and was always stressed out. Now I don't feel the need to go anywhere. I am happy just being around my house doing my house-wifey things. Never had the chance to do that until I sold the shop. I'm liking it, too!
I'm still trying to get back to phase 1 of SB....not having very good luck at all! I just can't seem to drop these carbs out of my diet again. I'm going to have to work harder at it....have a doctor's appointment next Monday and I think I have gained a few pounds. I don't want to dwell on this though because it won't help me focus on what I need to do, right?
Joanne, I hopoe this all works out for you with your knees. Keep us posted, okay? Anne, you must be blowing that warm air pretty hard because it has finally warmed up enough way down here to open up the house again. We are having cloudy weather though and rain is due all weekend but a at least it is in the 70's!
Hope everyone is staying warm! Enjoy the rest of the day ladies!

Gopd morning.

Joanne - sending you big soft hugs. You are going through a terrible time. I hope that the brace will help. I just read in the paper where somebody here, in Red Deer, has designed a new brace, that is ultra light, for knees. It's the only one of it's kind. Some orothopedic fella made it. Maybe it is time to change them. My understanding is that they are not so comfortable. Hope the IBS is under control. Probably caused from all the stress.

Mima - glad that there was no GD. It happens so often and then it goes back. Diabetes runs like a river throughout our family. Hope my kids don't inherit it, but it often misses a generation.

Kate - I have had that stress test, but Red Deer is the only place in the UNIVERSE that does it in one day. I was at the hospital for 7.5 hours. They give you an IV with a radioactive substance in it, and then you get to sit quietly for 2 hours. They give you lots of water to drink. At the end of the 2 hours, you go into the xray room. It is painless, but after all that water ...... need I say more???? It all seems to hit the minute you get on the table. It doesn't take that long for the x-rays. They bring the machine down over you. After that I went back out for the second part of the stress test. Again you sit for 2 hours, then they take you to a treadmill and have you walk or run on that until they are satisfied - then it's back to the x-ray room again, for more of the same. Just took a long time. Half of it was just sitting around and some of it was just waiting to get stuff done.

Everything was fine as far as my heart was concerned. Just the Atrial Fibrillation acting up. Also was sent for an Echocardiogram and that was not such fun. I am a very deep breather, but when I did that, my lungs filled up and blacked out the heart, so I had to lay there gasping, while taking all these little tiny breathes. As it turned out everything was fine. At least i know was heart WAS ok. Hopefully, it still is lol

Tammy - glad you made it home safely. It is surprising what we can do but really never had to. You are strong and will be able to get along just fine. This trip must have been hard in some ways for you. "Firsts" are so rough.

Meme - where have you gotten to? Candice, come out and play.

Hello to you two new people. Come on and join in.

I cleaned out my kitchen cupboards today. Wow, how does stuff get so cluttered??? Anyway, they are now nice and clean, and I have a big garbage bag ready to haul out. Next is the fridge and then that will be done.

Everybody enjoy the day.

Joanne, I have seen many people with those braces on the outside of their pants. Might be easier than finding loose fitting pants, I don't know. I'm sure your nerves are about shot by now. Know how much we all care about you, and we all want the best for you. Take care.

Mima, when will you have the cataracts removed?

Kate, keep us updated on how things go with hubby. It really is a good feeling knowing that I'm capable of doing more than I thought I could. With your beautiful home, I can understand why you would never want to leave!

Anne, I have definitely found out that I'm stronger than I thought I was.

Today was my first day back at the Y. Oh my. I am worn out. That is the first I have done anything except walking since before Christmas. And guess what? It was weigh in day. I debated on it, but I decided that I might as well see what damage I did on the trip. Drumroll please! I gained .4!! That's it! I was shocked and quite pleased. That will be my starting weight on the tracker that I have set for 20 pounds. Hopefully I'll lose those sometime, and I can set it for another number.

Great for .4 , Tammy, and for driving back. I probably wouldn't do that but I can go on a plane alone, though I haven't done it in a long time. But I will at the end of feb.
Suzanne is coming for the wedding but on a flight that's early. I am mostly done with the baby quilt which has crooked squares but the colors are pretty.
Yeah for Payless carrying a size 5-should have gone there first.
When do you get your brace, Joanne/ Cataracts in Feb if all goes well.
That must be a grueling day, Anne, when you had those tests.
Pam had a bachelorette party last night and Bob's is next week-they are playing paintball .Dinner and ???
Watching the MA election and hoping and praying Brown wins. Mima

I will call the company that came and measured my leg. I haven't heard from them. I will wait through today.. I get the first of three injections tomorrow. I am just hoping for pain relief. I know this won't fix the leg. walking and weight bearing will not help it. So I will just have to go on with my daily chores and hope for the best.
I like flying. I am not afraid at all.
Joanne

Mima, I flew for the 2nd time alone in October. Both times I had gone to airports that I had been to before with others, so it wasn't bad. Not sure about going to a new one. The driving was much better that I thought it would be. I just drove and sang along with the radio. lol What colors did you use in the quilt?

Joanne, hope all goes well with the injections. Did you ever hear from the brace place?

Busy day. Class at the Y, lunch with the retired crew, gave blood, hung out with some friends tonight. Just watched tv and gabbed.

The quilt has brown, pink and rose. I see those colors a lot for girls. I will finish it this morning.
I gained .6 yesterday at WW but I had gone out to eat 2x and I didn't overeat. Now I am down another pound, Go figure-I think it's the sodium/
I sure hope you get relief, Joanne-i see lots of people with braces on their knees.
Watchig the election in MA and praying for Scott Brown. Mima