Personal Update

Well it's been a good two weeks since I posted anything.  And longer than that since I've written anything about my personal life.  So here's a long awaited update:

As you may or may not know, Mom and Dad moved in with Richard and I about a year ago.  Mom's health has just been so bad since moving back to NJ and it has deteriorated a lot in the past two years. 

I'm a full time caretaker now.  It's amazing how much you learn about yourself when you are in a situation like this.  I mean at forty-something a person usually knows themselves pretty well and has a sort of groove going in their life right?   NOT!  LOL!

I've always thought to myself that I would love to be a kept woman.  You know what I mean, having a decent home and not having the pressure of "needing" to work.  When you've worked full time for 20 years, cleaning, cooking, doing laundry and having time to be an artistic homemaker sounds really good...in theory.

I always thought I'd love to make creative dinners, sew my own curtains, do lunch and have hours to spend on my computer blogging and scrap booking.

Guess what?  I hate it!  Food?  "You mean I have to cook everyday?  You mean food DOESN'T come in white foam containers?  I have to shop for it, prepare it and THEN cook it?" ...."What?  Do at least one load of laundry everyday?"...  "Excuse me, (I say to the other person on the other end of the telephone) but I can't sit at home and wait for the repairman to show up between the hours of 10am and 3pm!"  "Richard, what time are you going to be home tonight so I can have dinner ready?"  "Dad, what time are YOU going to be home tonight so I can have dinner ready?"  Getting the picture yet?

Now being a full time caretaker for Mom has been challenging.  After all, I've never had to take care of another human being before.  I never wanted to be one of those childless people who was so selfish that it was obvious I'd never had to think of anyone but myself.  But guess what I found out?  I'm NOT one of those people.  But I was headed that way! 

I've decided that my life is a sitcom that none in Hollywood has written about yet.  I've grown up with the most colorful of characters in my immediate family an time has only made them more neon and technicolor. 

The one thing I refuse to do is give up and say I can't do this!  You know what?  I CAN!  It's been a challenge but I think I'm finding my groove.  I'm getting more "Monkish" as I get older but it's helped me to be really organized.  I'm also learning to curb my sarcastic sense of humor.  I find it funny, but aging senior citizens don't.  OK, time to grow up and deal with it like an adult.  I get it!

But a sense of humor is the way of life around here.  It's how we get through our day.  I've learned to make fun of myself instead of my loved ones around me and hopefully I've learned how to teach them to do the same. 

As a reminder, we have a sign on the refrigerator that says, "Good Morning, let the stress begin!"  I think that's the only sarcastic thing we let into our lives now.

So, back to the update.  Mom has Cirrhosis of the live along with an uncontrollable case of Type II Diabetes.  She has developed internal Varicose Veins called "varicies" caused by high portal pressures in her arteries.  This is very dangerous because they can leak or rupture and cause massive internal bleeding.  The treatment is beta blockers but mom is allergic.  The Hematologist gives her iron infusions so the iron will be "banked" in her bone marrow and the body can produce blood quicker.  It's only a matter of time...within the next year as the doc expects...where we could be facing a major "event" dealing with these varicies.  Prognosis: possible liver transplant and complications from blood loss.  The newest problem is her lungs.  We don't know exactly what it is yet but there is wheezing and shortness of breath.  Will know more on August 18th when we go to the Pulmonary Specialist.  She's taking breathing treatments and Oxygen at home and we have home healthcare aides, nurses, Occupational and Physical Therapists coming to the house.  "This is when the fun begins!"  I'll keep you posted and try not to sound tragic about it.  Live, laugh, love...what's what I'm trying to do in this stage of my life.  Mostly laugh!

Dad is doing good for a 79 year old man who still works full time and thinks he's Superman!  About a month ago he fell off of a chair while changing a lightbulb.  He thought his back was sprained.  We found out on Monday that it's a compression fracture in his lower lumbar.  (Superman indeed...)

Richard is doing well in his job.  Finally getting a decent paycheck.  He outshines everyone at work.  He's always been a good worker.  And hardly ever appreciated until now.  In February he had to have his gall bladder removed and it has helped with his health.  However we did find out during that process that he is a diabetic.  So he has joined the club.  A few months ago, he fell down the stairs and broke his tailbone.  He's still hurting from that.  He is loving NJ and thoroughly enjoying having a yard and pool.  This year he planted sunflowers, watermelons, green beans, Cubanelle peppers and tomatoes.  He comes from a long line of farmers so living in the Garden State is agreeing with him!

The update on me will have to come in stages.  Long story short, I'm doing great.  It's been a rough transition from FL to NJ but I think I've found my groove.  Work is going good but I'm not really active right now due to mom's health.  That's my full time job right now.  I'll post more about work soon, lots of cool stuff in that department.

About two years ago I also was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes.  I'm sure I've been a diabetic much longer than that but at least I know what I'm dealing with.  I've had a weight problem all of the my life but in the past 10 years it's gotten out of control.  Last August I decided that I'd have enough!  I wen to the Doctor and asked for help.  She put me on a 1300 calorie diet.  I lost 13 pounds in 3 weeks.  Things were going well.  Then the weight starting coming back.  I continued for a other 5 months but I actually gained it back.  So in April of this year my Endocrinologist recommended lap band surgery.  I made an appointment to see the surgeon and gather information.  I found out that there are new studies showing that gastric by pass surgery has now being done on patients like me who are Type II diabetics.  To make a long story short, this is how it goes:

A person has the genetic make up for diabetes.  They go through their young life being slightly hypoglycemic.  Many times they do not have a weight problem but sometimes they have to work hard at keeping trim. (Like me).   At some point they start to gain weight and they feel tired all the time etc.  At this point they are developing diabetes.  The weight inhibits the body from absorbing the insulin the body produces.  The insulin causes weight gain.  The more weight you put on, the more insulin resistant your body becomes.  It makes it almost impossible to lose weight.  It's a vicious cycle.   

This is the stage I am at.  And although I am NOT terribly obese, it will only get worse for me.  So, I have been gong through the preliminary testing and prepping for Gastric By Pass Surgery.  As soon as I have the approval from the insurance company, I'll be scheduled.  I feel fantastic about this!  It's been a long hard road to get here and I feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I'll be in touch with more info soon!  Thanks for checking in and reading this very long post!