Finally!

Good Morning!

We have sun this morning and the birds are singing!

Rory and I are headed for the VA doctor this morning.  We got the results back from the other test that was done and it indicated Rory has achilles tendonosis.  What I read of achilles tendonitis, I believe Rory had that for a couple of days.  I am hoping I get to do something other than doctors today, that would be nice.

Got my computer routine done this morning and worked on some laundry.  We left about 10:45 this morning and headed for the VA.  The nurse wanted me to say why we were there, short and to the point and I just said, I was going to finish what I was saying, but in a polite manner.  When we saw the doctor, she listened to me and examined his leg and Rory got a referral to orthopedics.  I know I will have to go with him as he forgets half of what gets said.  Today was a much better day than the last two.  I really feel like we made some progress.  Got a sandwich from Subway and headed home.  I took a nap and then Mari and I headed for Dana Point to take a walk.

After we took our walk, we headed for a smoothie place and then we headed back to Target and got stuff for dinner.  Made dinner, watched the rest of my John and Abigail Adams movie and now I am working on computer stuff.

Going to read and go to bed.  I will be glad to have almost nothing tomorrow.  Rory is a difficult person to be with as much as we have been together for the last three days.  I am thankful we are finally moving forward with this.  I need to take care of some financial issues tomorrow and we did put Rory on disability with both jobs.  I feel like I learned some things about Rory that I sort of knew, but have not really noticed.  I feel like I am more and more the caregiver and I am thankful for the relationship I have with my daughters.

Good night.  Trudi

This is what my living room looked like a year ago, when we had a plumbing issue in the master bath, which is directly above the living room.

What is it?

Good Morning!

Much better night sleep than the night before!  YEA!  The sun is out this morning and the birds are singing!

Today we go back to get an MRI for Rory and hopefully find out what is going on.  I did some research last night and I have a feeling we are dealing with VDT(Very Deep Thrombosis).  I am probably making more of an issue than he is.  He is more interested in picking up our taxes.  The rest of the day will be getting grocery shopping done.  Tomorrow Rory has a doctor appointment.  Depending on what happens, I am going to get out Friday and take pictures and just relax.

I got my morning computer routine done and took a nap and then Rory and I headed to get an MRI of his foot/leg.  Found out that was not the correct test, so we had to go to another place to have the right test done.  It was the place we had gone last night.  Fortunately, it is not a blood clot and now we have to find out exactly what it is.  While Rory was in getting the MRI, I went to get lunch for both of us.  Then we came home and then went to the other place and got the correct test.  After the test was done and while we had to wait for the CD to take to the doctor tomorrow, I walked down to Starbucks.  Rory had the CD by the time I got back and we came home.  The cleaning people were here and Mari and I went over to Target and got some things we needed.  Came home.  It was nice to be out with Mari and have an enjoyable conversation, that is natural and free flowing.  Conversation with Rory is usually about the news and money.  The last two days he has been wearing swim trunks and a T-shirt and Croc sandals.  I asked him why he did not wear sandals with what he usually wears.  He does not like sandals and with long pants he wears socks and walking shoes.  He does not understand why women do not wear socks with sandals.  We have been having an issue with him forgetting things, but I am learning that this has been going on his entire life and his dad would beat him with a belt.   Better get dinner.  Had a nice low calorie dinner with a glass of wine and 2 pieces of cinnamon graham crackers.  Mari and I watched part of a movie about John and Abigail Adams.  I love early American history and find it interesting to learn more about the people.  Mari and I were talking about a project she is doing at school.  In many ways, Mari is having a hard time accepting herself.  At 9, Mari and I are going to watch "Haunted Collector", which I enjoy.

Good night.  Trudi

Nice to have support

Good Morning!  Overcast and dreary and I did not have the best sleep!

Marissa has counseling today and that is the only thing planned.  I am going to walk Balboa Island while Marissa is in counseling.

I am sorry, but I need to vent some frustration I have been dealing with, with Rory.  Rory has been going to a class called "Move" at the VA on Monday mornings.  Long Beach VA is the main campus for VA and there are lots of people there and they do have valet parking.  Rory will not use the valet, as he is afraid someone will steal something out of his car, so he has to park a ways away from where he needs to go.  He really cannot walk very far, so, when he gets home, he complains to no end and when he walked in yesterday, he said he heard something pop and I thought he was talking about his foot, as he was really having problems walking, more than usual.   He went upstairs and laid down the rest of the day.  He came down last night and he wanted me to look at his left foot and it was very swollen.  He had also called our local VA office and they would not X-ray his foot for about 2 weeks.  I told him I would call his telephone advice nurse this morning, which I did.  She his going to get in touch with his doctor and get an order for an X-ray of his foot to be done in Long Beach.  Last night we tried to call the VA and I just sat on hold.  I finally got to the point of saying, why I was holding on to the phone, when Rory should be doing this, but he wasn't interested, so why should I.  Once the order is gotten for the X-ray, then Rory will have to go back to Long Beach, which he does not want to do and he said I have to go with him, as he will not park at the valet.  I told him, I would not go.  He is going to park his car someplace and get a cab to take him to the VA.  Overall, Rory does not want to take care of himself.  He is planning to go to work tomorrow at the docks, where he has to stand for 8 hours, then it will take him 2-3 days to recover.

I am really thankful to have Maggie(telephone advice nurse) for support.  I am also thankful for my daughters, who I know get fed up with what is going on around here.  I am also thankful for friends who "get it" with what I live with.

Here is to a more positive day!

One more question?  For those who watch "Biggest Loser", did anyone have a problem with what Danni looked like?  I was proud of how much weight she lost, but I did not like how she looked like.

Rory did go to Urgent Care and they are concerned that he may either have a blood clot or a torn Achilles tendon.  We are going at 5 p.m. to have a CT scan.  Earlier this afternoon, I had to battle the VA to get reimbursed and to get an appointment with his primary care provider.  Such a fun afternoon! NOT!

After we left Urgent care, we stopped to get Rory some lunch and then to Starbucks.  I drove my car over to Urgent Care and then drove Rory's car home and then I had a neighbor drive me back to get my car.  Luckily, he was taking his son to Tai Kwon Do(sp?), which was right near where my car was.  We left about 4:15 to go down to have the CT Scan and found out that they had ordered it has two ultra-sounds and the doctor had ordered a CT Scan.  Rory never had either one done and we go back tomorrow for an MRI.  Came home and the girls had made dinner.  Ate dinner and have spent the rest of the evening doing computer stuff.  Had a Kahlua and cream as well.  I have not had one of those in a long, long time.

Going to do reading at 9 and to bed at 10.  My photo of the day was taken from my iPhone and is on FB and is of the Urgent Care office.

Good night!  Trudi

A break from the usual week

Good Morning!

It is a gloomy morning, but I am in a good and positive mood!  It helps to get away and spend time with a friend and have some fun!

Mari is on spring break this week, which is nice.  I know I have some house stuff to do today and tonight the girls and I are having dinner with Rory's nephew and his wife.

I have decided that for my 365 photo project, I am going to stick with taking pictures of churches, doors and windows and roads.

 The above picture is from Old Town Orange.

Yesterday, I found out how hard it was to get snacks that are healthy.  I could find no yogurt parfait or healthy snack bar.  Loads of ice cream, popcorn, churros, etc.  Things I like, but I wanted something healthy.  My friend's grandson got a kid bag that contained a hot dog, cut up apples and animal crackers.  That looked healthy, with the exception of the hot dog.  I wish the zoo and amusement parks had a way of getting healthy snacks.  There were some bags of trail mix, but not where we stopped.  I guess I need to learn to take things with me.

Something else I am dealing with is control or being selfish.  I need to learn to compromise and not always try to get my own way.  When I live with someone, who is very selfish, this is very difficult.  I feel like I don't know where I am being controlling or selfish and when it is acceptable.  The other day, I was reading "What in the World am I here for?" and Rick Warren was talking about our driving force and I realize, I just want to be accepted, so I have a tendency, which I am trying to work on not doing all the time, is to just give into what others want.  Mari has also brought up that I have a tendency to do a lot of planning and I need to learn to go with the flow.

Got a load of laundry started.  One is in the dryer and one more is in the washer.  Worked on budget, one month more and I will be done with last year.  Worked on typing Pala mission and Mari and I got a walk in of 3 miles.  Getting ready to get out the door to run some errands and have dinner with my husband's nephew and wife.  We have met them once, when we were in Alexandria, VA.

This was taken on the walk, Mari and I did this afternoon.

Went to the gas station, then to the storage unit to get the wreath for Easter.  Then we went to Target and then to the dinner.  It was so nice to see Randy and Roxanne and we had a great dinner.  On the way home we went to Trader Joe's and then to McDonald's to get a burger for Rory.  Came home and put Rory's dinner together.  Now I am doing computer stuff and watching Biggest Loser.

After this I am going to bed.

Good night!  Trudi

Happy St. Patrick's Day and off to the zoo

A top of the morning to all!

Mari and I were in Shasta, CA two years ago on March 17.  Love old barns.

Mari and I are going to the San Diego Zoo with a friend and her grandkids.  They are taking the train down early and we are going to meet them.  I like taking the train, when we go up to LA, plus it is sort of chaotic to get from the train station to the zoo, so I am taking my car.   I put corned beef in the crockpot for Marissa and Rory and maybe us, as I am not sure what time we are going to get home.

Mari and I left around 11 and stopped by Starbucks to get sandwiches and something to drink.  Then headed for San Diego.  Caught up with the three of them and walked around the zoo.  I am not used to being with a 6 -year old boy with a lot of energy.  We, still had a good time.  Left the zoo about 5:15 and took them to the train station and then headed home.  We had corned beef.  Enjoying the quiet!  After I do this and my picture, I am going to read and go to bed.

Good night, Trudi

Olvera Street

Home and relaxing

Good Morning!  Did not get up until 7.  It was nice to know that I did not have to go any place this morning.

Doing computer stuff this morning!  Today is mainly going to be a day at home.  Mari wants to go to Whole Foods in Tustin to look for some things for a project for school. Laundry is all done for the week, took a nap, worked on budget and my mission project.  Had lunch and then Mari and I went to Whole Foods.  Oh my goodness, I should have never gone in there!  Went to Casey's and got cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day.  Came home and took a walk.  Need to make dinner.

This is a rose from our walk:

Good dinner and a cupcake and watched TV with the girls.  Catching up with my reading of blogs and then at 9, going to do my other reading and go to bed at 10.

Good night!  Trudi

A queen and a princess

Good Morning!  It is going to be a little cooler today.

This was taken two years ago along the Northern California coast.

Mari has a doctor's appointment this morning and the girls of us are going this afternoon to the Queen Mary in Long Beach to see the Princess Diana exhibit.  This is something Marissa wants to do.

I got my morning computer stuff done and Rory had decided he was going out for breakfast and for the day, since we were going to be gone for the afternoon.  I started to get tired and decided I was going to lay down for about 30 minutes until we had to leave for Mari's doctors appointment.  Rory called to inform me that the tax returns would not be ready until next week.  I really didn't care, as I figure they will be ready, when they are ready.  Went back to sleep for a little while and then took Mari to the doctor.  The doctor went over her lab results and put her on thyroid meds.  Now she just have to see what works.  Came home and had lunch and found out that Rory's nephew is coming out here and the girls and I are going to see them on Monday.  Then we headed for Long Beach and the Queen Mary.  Mari has been very tired lately and she slept most of the way up.  Went through the exhibit, which was interesting.  Got snack and came home.  I was really tired, so I took a nap and then made dinner.  Rory is still not home, so it is peaceful in the house.  Watched TV and had dinner.  Going to finish this and go to bed.

A friend of mine wants to take her grandkids to the San Diego Zoo on Sunday and we have been trying to figure out how to do this on the train and then get to the zoo from the train station.  I have learned when things get frustrating, they are not meant to be.  I have a solution and I called her and left a message, so I will see what she thinks.

Good night, Trudi