Beefy Or Peachy

Well our friend who has recently undergone two surgeries and ended up in ICU both times has finally gone home today. On the way home she stopped by to visit a little bit and pick up her cell phone. It is wonderful that she is now well enough to get on with her life again. She has undergone a lap band surgery where they also fixed her hiatal hernia and then she went home for a day and a half only to half to go back into the hospital and undergo a gallbladder surgery! She must be like new now. She is doing very well on the lap band program and has lost quite a bit of weight already. This is a life changing journey she is on and a true inspiration for the rest of us.

Have a good night everyone,
Aly

Well after many changes back and forth with Darleen the dr told her this morning he is removing her gallbladder tomorrow evening. She is getting antsy being in the hospital and wishes she could just go home but even after the surgery I am sure he won't want her going home alone which means she will have to stay with family for a few days. I pray it all goes well.

I found her the cutest teddy bear at the gift shop yesterday that sing 'that's what friends are for' and its head moves and its mouth while the song plays.. it is just so darling and so perfect for a close friend. I know she gets lonely as she isn't gettting a lot of visits from her family, sigh. I won't get into that now.

So tomorrow hubby and I go to my surgeon at 2:30 and then I guess we will be turning around and heading for her hospital. I hope I am not in tears as I am dreading this visit to talk about replacing my knee so much. No choice it seems.

Life is hard, isn't it?

Hugs,

Aly

Well I just spoke to Dar and she's back in her room after an early morning stress test to see is her heart is ok to perform gallbladder surgery tomorrow. She is so scared as her mom died on the operating table during a gallbladder surgery but that was many years ago and they didn't know she had a heart murmur.

I asked her when she wants me there, either before or after the surgery as I can't sit too long with my knee so she is going to think about what she wants.

Well we are about to get on the road so I can see my doctor and determine what to do about my gallbladder as well.

Gotta go,
Aly

Well I guess Dar won't know until tomorrow what the doctors will decide to do for her until tomorrow. She can't even drink water. She said earlier they were thinking of going in and taking the gallstone out through her mouth and then 6 months from now taking out her gallbladder. She has really gone thru alot these last several days. She looks tired from it all and just wants out of the hosptial!

We didn't stay too long tonight as she had company starting at 10 am today. I am glad her family went to visit her and let her know she is special.

I see my PCP doctor in the morning and I guess with all my digestion problems, pressure and pain that i may finally have to have my gallbladder out. This is just bad timing with my knee being so bad.

Life is hard these days, so I hope God is watching out for all of us.

Live in Harmony,
Aly

We heard early this morning that our friend was feeling pain in her chest and nauseous late last night so her brother and his wife took her back to the hospital. They ran all kinds of tests and couldn't find anything wrong. Her sister in law Nancy called me early this morning to fill me in on everything. They told her they were going to run an upper GI series and found that it is her gallbladder and now they are going to plan on taking out her gallbladder. This is so much for her to deal with. I am so worried about her and now my stomach is acting up. Some days are just so hard to deal with everything.

I hate to complain as I am blessed in so many other ways but lately things have been piling up. Our friends mom died on the operating table during gallbladder surgery and besides worrying us I am sure it is worrying her. Please say a prayer for Darleen.

Off to the hospital,
Aly

Our dearest friend is being released from the hospital today and we are so thankful for that! She has to be with someone for 2 days so I guess it will have to be with her brother since I have difficulty even taking care of myself. The walk to the front door is a long one for me and by then my knee is throbbing in pain. God give me patience and strength.

On a lighter note our cat Jordan has two floral arrangements he is constantly trying to get at and eat! It is usually during the night that we will suddenly hear the 'crunching' sounds of him at the greens on the roses. Hubby finally removed the leaves but he was still going after it early this morning. Not a half hour later I was in bed having my cheerios and reading the news on Yahoo when that little scamp slithered by me and started at the spring bouquet on the nightstand next to my bed! He has a lot of nerve that boy!!!!

Live in Harmony,
Aly

Wow, I am so relieved as Dar just called me herself from her private room. They are keeping her another night just to make sure she is going to stay ok. I am so thrilled I can't tell you. I have been so anxious myself my chest has felt tight so I am now trying to calm myself down.

Thank you Lord for answering our prayers.
Aly

I just heard from Dar's sister-in-law that they are removing the ventilator and she is breathing on her own now. They are admitting her for awhile to monitor her but thinking of sending her home tomorrowl She's been thru a very tough ordeal and now another week with only liquids. She will have lost around 50 lbs in a very short time!!!

Thank God she is doing better!
Aly

I was in such shock last night I didn't think to notice if they had her knees elevated or on pillows and since she needs a double knee replacement after she's lost enough weight I know she never sleeps with her legs flat. So in the middle of the night this came to me so I've called there this morning to ask them to please put pillows under her knees so she won't be in pain from that also. She told me she would do it so I will have to trust that they will.

I pray her family rallies round her today and doesn't just leave her there alone to be afraid. I can't get there again until hubby takes me and wheels me in in a wheelchair.

Saying prayers for Darleen today that they can remove the ventilator and she can breathe on her own.

May health, love, and courage grace your day,
Aly

Well my gf made it through the surgery ok and was in the recovery room and when they tried to remove the ventilator she did not start breathing on her own. They tried a second time and it also didn't work so they have her in ICU tonight and will not even try again until tomorrow. They are just going to let her rest and try to recover from the trauma of the surgery. We did get in to see her for a few minutes and it is hard to see her hooked up to all that and I can see her disappointment and fear in her eyes. The dr did go in while the family was there and was reassuring to them all that he thinks she will be doing much better tomorrow. We are all praying for her to be able to breathe on her own. The dr did say he was having a lung specialist come in just to make sure nothing else was wrong.

So we are all worn out tonight from this news and from seeing her like this. She is our dearest friend. She and I went to grade school and high school together and have been friends for all our lives.

Peace, courage, love and good health
Aly

Well I am trying to do as the doctor said and not bend my knee hardly at all. I am keeping it straight as often  as possible. It appears to be healing together abit better this evening but I am sure tired of laying on my tushie for so many days.

The antibiotics are wiping me out as I was talking to my aunt one minute this afternoon and then fell asleep for a few hours just like that. So rude of me but I could not hold my eyes open. She went to the casino for a little while this afternoon and had some fun :).

Hubby and I are going to watch a Ron White comedy DVD tonight and try to share some laffs together as he's back to work tomorrow morning bright and early.

Peace and Courage,
Aly

Meaty Munchies

Here are two quick-fix favorites that will satisfy the hardcore carnivores in your group:

Zippy Meatballs
This one calls for three whole ingredients. I'd advise making a double recipe, because they'll go FAST.In a crock pot, combine one bag of frozen Italian-style meatballs, 12 ounces of grape jelly (cheap is fine) and a 10-ounce bottle of chili sauce (found with the ketchup in most grocery stores). Turn the crock pot on low and stir occasionally until jelly is melted and combined with the chili sauce. The sweet-spicy flavor is addictive. Feel free to make the recipe sound much more complex than it is when you tell your guests about it.

Pigs In Sugar
If three ingredients is too complex, try this mixture of two.In the aforementioned crock pot, mix two 1-lb. packages of all-beef cocktail franks with ¾ c. of light brown sugar. Turn heat to low and stir occasionally until sugar melts and forms a glaze on the franks. Serve with toothpicks, bamboo skewers or those groovy little cocktail swords usually found in tropical drinks.

Mood: concerned

Just a quick post to inquire if anyone else has heard from Seqkat in awhile?? I haven't and I don't see any posts on her board since December nor did I see any new entries at her other blog site. She is such a caring person to so many people, and I for one, am missing her being here.

Please let me know if you know she is ok. Thanks!

Hugs and Peace to Your Hearts,
Aly

This was sent to me by a dear friend I met online a few years ago, Tee. I am so glad we have stayed friends over the years and through all the changes in our lives. Hugs to you, Tee. 

My Greatest Prize

It seems as each year ends, I look back and think of my friends... What I did right what I did wrong... who came into my life and who is gone.

But every year there are those who remain, looking only for friendship nothing else to gain. They have stayed by me through good and bad... smiled when I am happy and held me when I've been sad. 

After so many years you begin to realize, that a friend is life's greatest prize... not the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, that we seem to seek where ever we go.

So as I grow older and begin another New Year's Day, I will thank God for those friends He sent my way and my New Years resolution will always be to thank Him again for every breath of life He's given me.

Then I will pray He will show me the way, give me wisdom and guide me through each day. And most of all at the end of each year, keep by me those friends I will always hold so dear. And as I make new friends I'll treasure the old, for the first are silver the latter gold.

Well today we got up late and then my aunt and I went to the casino for about 2 hours. It was so crowded and smokey we couldn't stay any longer. We came home and picked up hubby and went for a burger at the Red Robin. After that we went to see the movie, "The Good Shepherd". It was extremely well acted but I must say after seeing this movie I would never want anyone I know to have to be a part of either the FBI or CIA. There doesn't seem to be any glamour to it and it is extremely hard on a relationship and children.

My stomach acted up the rest of the night so I didn't get a chance to spend much time with my aunt before she went to bed. They have to get up at 5 am to get her to the airport by 630 so hubby can get to work ontime at 7. Since it is almost 1 am here now I'll be lucky to be able to get up in the morning to say goodbye. We will miss her tremendously. We thoroughly enjoyed her visit and will look forward to her returning again within the the next few months. The spare room is just hers!

Well with the New Year comes new opportunities for growth and changes and we are looking forward to being successful in our endeavors. Together, and with God's help, we will succeed.

Peace to All,
Aly

Mood: good

Well I had a rough nite with sleeping and nightmares but when I finally got calmed down and back to sleep I almost couldn't get up in time to pick up our company! If hubby and my gf hadn't called multiple times I would have slept right thru pick up time at the airport. Lordy, I was tired!

So we visited this afternoon and had a nice simple dinner at home tonight followed with chocolate cream pie. Everyone was tired so we didn't play cards tonight. Our guest was tired from traveling. Our Jordan cat LOVES her to pieces and was so thrilled to see her arrive, lol. She gives him extra treats so he always gains more weight when she is here.

We have to pick up 2 more small gifts tomorrow for the rest of the company that might be coming this weekend. My aunt called and said she has caught something, a cold or virus she's not sure. She said she hopes to be better at least by Saturday. We'll see as no one wants to be ill. It is a wait and see situation.

Well I should try to settle in as I don't want our guest up for hours alone in the morning while I sleep in.

Hugs and Peace to Your Hearts,
Aly

Well we met two friends of ours today for lunch at Black Angus and took the time to talk about our lives, our families, and the holidays. We spent a good bit of time there just enjoying the peaceful time amongst friends. It felt so good just to 'be' in the moment and take and give value to our closeness.

We also bought one more Christmas gift my aunt tonight. We picked her up a pre-paid phone card to make sure she isn't driving without a way to contact help if she has another angina attack. I was one step away from calling the police the other evening as she didn't return 3 phone calls. She was out and about the very next day and finally called me in the evening just before I called the police!

Had a wonderful phone call with my son today also. He is a constant source of joy in our lives. He has come to love my new hubby over the years and appreciates the way he takes care of me. In the beginning it was rough going as they thought he would just take off on me after he used me. He has come to know him and love him now too. They joke amongst each other and both show how much they appreciate one another. It is truly a blessing :).

Well that's all for now. I am working on getting Beefy II ready to roll as I think my pic availability is about maxed out here and I must be able to post pics, grin !

Peace to your Hearts,
Aly

You just never know when you are going to meet a 'stranger' online who is actually an 'angel' in disguise! Smiling as I feel so blessed to have 'met' this person here on this tiny little blog in the huge internet universe.

Thank you Seqkat >^..^<"

Hugs, Aly 

Well the party started at 3 pm and it just ended about 30 mins ago! We have two friends who are very dear to us but who have no idea when they need to go home, lol. I ushered the last one out the door saying I would lock the door behind her as hubby has to work tomorrow.

So we made dinner and served cake and ice cream, party poppers, and played cards and watched tv together. Then I had to clean up the house again as one of the guests was an adorable 4 year old :). It was fun and if hubby hadn't helped me I could never have done it all.

I haven't heard from my aunt and sister since last Monday. I guess they were angry because we didn't invite them to stay overnite. We were both just too tired and my arm and knees were hurting and I knew my brother wanted to wash his clothes and pack the night before. Well I guess I am being paid back for not doing what they wanted to do. Oh well I'm done living my life according to how others think it should be done. We have enough to deal with with my fibro and I'm not going to act out of guilt anymore. If they want to give me the silent treatment, then so be it.

I had an ortho appt scheduled on Nov 6th and they called Friday and cancelled saying the doctor was going to be out of the office. Damn I really need my knees and my shoulder evaluated.

Well I guess that's it for now.

Peace all,
Aly