Winter Showers--->Spring Wildflowers

We are basking in the spring sunshine and there's more and better weather to come. After 6 weeks of one California storm after another, which brought us over 2 inches of rain, the weather pattern has altered slightly. The inclement weather will pass thru northern AZ, and those of us who are a stone's throw from the border with Mexico will see sunny and dry. Here's a taste of what's in store this week:

Sat(Today) Sunny High: 72° Low: 43°
Sunday Sunny High: 75° Low: 43°
Monday Sunny High: 74° Low: 44°
Tuesday Sunny High: 75° Low: 47°
Wednesday Sunny High: 75° Low: 47°
Thursday Sunny High: 75° Low: 48°

The extended forecast is for more of the same.

With all the rain we've had (I know if you live back East, it seems like a drop in the bucket, but it is a lot of rain for the desert!), we expect a full bloom of wildflowers next Month. I just love these El Nino winters, cuz the reward is fields of abundant color.



Mid-week we had guests over at supper time....a herd of javelina pranced across the open space in front of our patio, stopping to sniff at the seeds and such scattered by the wild birds at my two feeders. There were mamas, papas, and babies...the latter of which are one the cutest damn critters on the planet (see pic above). V spotted them from his recliner in our living room. It was just before dusk. They meandered around the backyard for about 5 minutes, then moved on in a group.

Both V and I are doing fine with the post-surgery weight loss and restriction of our diets. After 4 months, I am now able to eat most anything, but have to be very careful not to stuff myself or eat too fast....that causes significant stomach pain and sometimes regurgitation, though that hasn't happened in a month. V is down 30 from his post-surgery weight. We both have followup calls with our surgeon the week after next. We have to call in or visit him in La Jolla (our choice) for one year,then annually after that.

Vern's prison is doing what they call a "rotation", where officers and supervisors are moved around the various units of the complex to keep things "fresh" for them. He has been with the "minors" unit for 5 years. This is where youths tried as adults are housed. Next week, he begins a new adventure as supervisor of the yard, mail, personal property and miscellaneous other housekeeping duties. I think he will also be able to continue doing his Firearms Instructor duties twice monthly. He wasn't too happy to be moved....change does not suit him as well as it does me...but i am tickled to death, because now he'll be working 8 am to 4 pm instead of 6 am til 2 pm and his days off will be Saturday and Sunday, same as mine! He also will receive paid holidays off, which in the past, he's not had. Instead, he was compensated for working holidays with pay + 8 hr holiday leave accrued to his annual leave. It's always sucked for me, since I have been a widow and/or orphan on most holidays.

I have enrolled in a environmental training class in San Francisco at the end of April. Should be a good time to travel there. I've been many times before, and we went as a family with Steven about 15 years ago, at which time we did just about every touristy thing that one can. V will join me if he can get permission to take some of his 4 weeks annual leave. I'll be glad to get away for a bit, as I haven't travelled on business in about 3 years.

We'd like to visit TN as a family later this spring. I am working on convincing Steven to make the trip with us. Again, it's contingent on V's getting the time off from work. I generally don't have a problem with it. Because of the credit crunch, we're likely to use frequent flier miles. Driving there may not be an option since it's more than 2000 miles away.

We talked to State Farm about the damage to my greenhouse. They'll cover about $400 for the damaged roof panels. We have a $500 deductible....suxxx.

Pool water temp hasn't gone above 70 degrees with all the rain we've had. Those drops sure are cold falling from as high as they do in the atmosphere. I am quite anxious to begin lap swimming again. While I enjoy walking too, it's more time consuming than swimming laps and hazardous on our rutted dirt roads in the subdivision. We usually walk from 60 to 90 minutes now each outing.

Imitating the frequent content of Tia Gwammeeee's blog, i wanna report that i plan to make split pea soup for our dinner today. I use ham hocks for flavoring, not much meat on them, but the bones and fat give the soup a delightful texture and heartiness. Other ingredients are finely chopped celery, onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, and seasonings, including tarragon. We'll have it for a couple of days since we can't gorge like in the past.

Monday is a Federal holiday, so I am off and now, with his new job, Vern is off too. YAYYYY! We can do our ritualistic excursions to Lowe's, Home Depot, supermarket etc. and not have to wear ourselves out doing them after work.

Next weekend, my sister Jo Anne (we call her "J"), is flying to Los Angeles with her 24-year old son Peter for a visit with another son, Mike Jr. Peter has been living at home since he graduated college in 2007. He's had various service jobs while there, but hasn't landed him a position in his field of Industrial Design. Kinda like our son, who's not landed himself a job in Urban Design, but who does have a job and does NOT live at home.

My sis is going to be depressed when he leaves, because she's used to "playing" with Peter (e.g., lunch, shopping, house chores) for quite some time now. Three of her four kids did a post-college gig at home, then found jobs and moved away. Natalie, the oldest at 33, has lived in Boston since 2002 and works as the Director of Graphic Design at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science. She lived with us in Yuma for about 2 years prior to going to Boston.

Mike Jr, who is 29, moved to LA to pursue employment in the movie industry. He's worked steadily as a film editor on such prestigious programming as The Flavor of Love (Flavor Flav) and For the Love of Ray J. On the side, he and some co-graduates of UAZ media arts program made a short film that's been screened around the world (4 continents!) and well-received. His room mate just moved out, and Peter is going to be filling the void in the flesh, and fingers crossed, employed.

J's remaining child, Nick, 27, is married and lives 90 miles from J with his wife, Alison, in Rochester, NY. He is computer nerd.

There's a possibility that V and I will drive over to LA to surprise J during her brief visit. If Steven does not have a soccer playoff game, he may join us, since we have to pass thru Phoenix on our way to LA. He has been playing goalkeeper in two leagues.

Okay, 'nuff said for now. I'm multi-tasking as I type this...laundry washing, drying, being folded, soup on the stove simmering, barking orders at Vern to keep him focused on what needs to be done. In about 1/2 hour, I'll leave that all behind to bake myself on the patio in the sun for an hour or so. Gotta get my Vitamin D to keep these bones healthy!

Our warmest regards to family, friends and anyone who was bored enuff to read this post.
Abrazos,
a

Home....Home On The Range

yeah, that's where we be...arrived back in the Ol' Pueblo at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon via Southwest, which still allows FREE checked bags, folks...consider SW next time u need to fly. We live in a rural area that is designated "Open Range", hence the title of this posting. For those of you NOT in the know about such a designation, it means that the area you are driving through is not fenced and that very large mammals (cows, horses, etc.) are free to cross your path when they choose. Be wary!

It was warm (mid 60s) w/ some high clouds on the drive to Diamond Bell. Found that our super-duper mail service had not restored delivery, as requested, so we had no bills and junk mail to peruse afterward. Vern settled in just fine. He's doing remarkably well....no pain, NO GAIN (lost about 20 lb in 10 days!), and even walked 45 minutes with me Friday evening when i returned from office/town. We're planning on walking a bigger one today since it's quite sunny and will be around 70.

We'd been gone 10 days. Our 5 li'l darlin's were frantically missing us, despite the reputation of catzzz as being aloof. Panda desperately needed us to LET ME-OWWWWWWWWTTT...he is the only one among them who ventures out into Wile E. World. The 10 litter boxes we left were in various stages of dissarray. Some were almost pristine; others were loaded to overflow. I spent a half hour sweeping and vacuuming, depending on the degree of sullying. Due to the stench of cat pee in our 2nd bathroom, which is used by V, guests, and the catz, V spent an afternoon this week taking up the linoleum floor and baseboard. Afterward, he had to use Lysol on it at least three times to get rid of the pee smell. We're going to replace the floor with ceramic tile.

Outside, we found a good percentage of the roof of my greenhouse scattered into the next county. (I should explain that the California storm we experienced in SD moved to AZ shortly thereafter. It brought 75 mph wind gusts and lotsa rain to the Tucson area. Since we live at an elevation of about 3500 ft, we receive more wind than those down in the desert floor.) Our neighbor to the north's son, Gary Jr., fetched a bunch of the polycarbonate panels and stockpiled them for safekeeping. Most were broken and are now unusable. Vern emailed the vendor, who will get back with us with a quote. And the damn greenhouse, which was yet to be functional BEFORE we left cuz of V's procrastination and weather, is sooooo not functional now. If the replacement costs are more than our homeowner's deductible, we will seek relief from State Farm.

V has one more week of computer mahh jong and solitaire at home, then it's back to guarding the prison. He drove the truck back from the dump yesterday and did okay. We both believe that the restriction on driving that the doc recommends is related to pain med use rather than physical capability to maneuver a vehicle. Still, i drove only in short spurts locally after my surgery to be sure that the internal wounds would heal without stress, and he is doing the same. I had to lug our aptly-named luggage all over San Diego and back becuz of his "lifting" restriction. What a pain...i had a sprained hand for a few days from it.

While in SD, we stayed at a Travelodge in La Mesa, CA, which is 10 miles from downtown SD and 19 miles from Scripps Memorial Hospital, where surgery was performed. If it hadn't been for the torrential rain and high winds, I would have had an easy commute back and forth to the hospital. As it was, I prayed most of the time I was en route cuz visibility was ZERO. Fortunately, the rain ended on Friday. We went to Mission Beach on Saturday, where Vern spooked around a homegrown motorcycle show on the cul de sac, and i did a brisk 2-mile trek on the beach walk. i would have done more, but the walkway was PACKED, becuz the outdoorsy natives and tourists had been confined to their digs for 4 days during the stormy weather, and everyone needed a sunshine fix.

On Sunday, we lounged at the hotel pool for several afternoon hours. We were the only folks there, probably since checkout is at 11 a.m. and checkin is not until 4 p.m. Most of those who were in SD for the weekend were gone. The sun shone all day long, uninterrupted by any clouds. V got a sunburn on his rotund belly. I don't usually burn, just brown like a holiday turkey. Mid-week, I wrote a review of the hotel, which is now posted online. You can read it by cutting and pasting the following URL and clicking on the review by MamaToucan, Wilkes-Barre, PA (my pseudonym, to protect me from identification by hotel mgt):
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32579-d83269-r54546480-Travelodge_La_Mesa-La_Mesa_California.html

We were up early on Monday to prepare for my visit to the endocrinologist (Dr. Dailey), who has managed my diabetes medication since 2003. He was elated at my successful loss of weight and the general decline in blood sugars. I had a bunch of bloodwork at Scripps Clinic afterward. I rec'd the results yesterday, which showed all things in order. My long-term blood sugars were slightly higher than a diabetes-free person, but were within the low bounds of a controlled diabetic. That is good news, since I am using no meds to control it! Rec'd a note from Dr. D w/ a printout of lab results that advised me to keep an eye on blood glucose (random tests) until i see him again in June.

I learned this week from the Forest Supervisor that she covets my parking space adjacent to the Fed'l bldg, which I was graciously provided about 5 years ago because of difficulties presented by my right foot post-surgery in 03. The handicapped slot is no longer available, and I am going to have to make alternative parking arrangements. It was not a surprise to me that this happened, given my weight loss and ability to walk long distances without pain. Plus, the Forest had to pay about $600/yr to GSA for the spot.

This posting appears to be winding down, as it has deteriorated into reporting the mundane....so i leave readers with a wish for peace and love in their lives.
a

High Noon

He's baaaaaaaaackkkkkkkk!

Vern got sprung from Scripps Memorial Hospital at high noon today. Radiology ran a GI test this morning to ensure that his re-plumbed innards were not leaking fluids. He said he almost barfed after ingesting 3 gulps of the nasty stuff that glows in the dark.

After I fetched him, we stopped at CVS in Pacific Beach to get him mas drogas and liquid nutrition (chicken broth)and to show him the massive waves that came in with the latest El Nino storm. He's uncomfortable, but not ill, and is managing to move around fairly well. Already took a dump and ruined the air quality in the hotel room.

My role is to watch that he doesn't overdo it and to change the dressing on a tube he has inserted in his large bowel as a pressure relief valve. I didn't have the pleasure of wearing that little jewel becuz I do not have sleep apnea. Apparently, those who do sukkk a lotta wind into their belly and it can back up in the bowel and blow out the nice needlework that the doctors added at the new plumbing connections. So he gets to wear the tube til Tuesday, when, if all is well, the doc will remove it.

The next few days here should be quiet and hopefully, less rainy and windy. By Saturday, I hope to be walking 4 miles again on the Beach Walk in the SUN, while V lounges on a park bench and watches the waves and the sparsely-clad females who jog by.

More updates as they happen. Familia en Tennessee, stay high and dry!
a

Vern Is On Drogas (Druggzz)

Amigos y Familia,

We flew to San Diego on Sunday morning, arriving at 10:30 a.m. Rented a car and drove to the Travelodge to see if we could check in early. No dice. Desk clerk took our phone number and promised to call when our room was ready. Sooooo we drove to Pacific Beach, parked on the next street over from our favorite digs, the Pacific Terrace Hotel (now pricewise in the stratosphere), and walked 4 miles along the paved Beach Walk.

It was a brisk wind off the Pacific that chilled the flesh despite that fact that some locals breezed by nekkid from the waist up as they skateboarded, roller-bladed, or biked alongside us pitiful walkers. After we did the 2 miles up to the Life Guard Station at Belmont Park, we walked the return trip thru an alley that runs between houses on Mission Blvd and houses on the Beach Walk. It cut down on the icy wind except where the paths to the beach intersected the alley.

Afterward, we headed up to Jasmine Chinese Restaurant for dim sum (Chinese brunch), my first attempt at ingesting such since my surgery. It was quite enjoyable....I was careful to choose shrimp filled delites instead of pork or any other meat, and I peeled off the noodles in which the delites are wrapped. Well, all except some of the pot stickers, which indeed have ground pork in them and yummy fried dough. I also popped a 1-inch-diameter egg custard into the trough. Everything went down well and I was real pleased to have been able to join Vern for the treat.

As we finished our dim sum, the hotel called, and we journeyed back over to La Mesa, the San Diego 'burb in which it is located. Our first room faced the street, and when the front desk clerk phoned about 5 minutes into our unpacking, she asked how we found the accommodations. I expressed my concern about the street noise (trucks, sirens etc.) in light of Vern's impending slaughter. A few minutes later, she phoned and had switched rooms for us for a second floor berth on the back side of the building. We slept like babes in fuzzy blankets.

What a nice gesture. The place is owned by a family of Asian Indians, who are very cordial and maintain an immaculate lodging. Our room rate is 37.99 on week nights and 47.99 for the weekend. For 9 nights, we are paying 371 total. And, Expedia took $50 off that (down to 320) because i put it on their MasterCard. Great deal. We paid 125 per night for a room at the Hilton Garden Inn during my surgery. Granted, we were a stone's throw from the hospital, but the place did not have a free breakfast (Vern paid 12 + tip each morning) and the rooms were comparable in size. Not the newest interior at the Travelodge, but not Dogpatch either.

On Monday, V had to see the doctor for a mini-physical and visit the hospital for pre-admission tests. He had an EKG, blood work, ultrasound and X-ray. It was a lonnnng day becuz the doc was late to arrive to the office, and there were 2 other surgery candidates awaiting the same tests. He passed with flying colors and we left the hospital complex around 4 pm. A raging storm was underway as we departed. V got soaked fetching the car. Becuz of the weather, we opted not to venture downtown to Vincenzo's for Italian. Instead, V's druthers was Barbarella's, a quaint funky bistro in La Jolla Shores that was empty due to the weather. I had French onion soup with extra cheese, and for his last meal, Vern chose the Barbarella-burger and fries. We were outta there by 5:15, and it was a hellacious ride to the hotel in the wind and rain.

At the hotel, Vern then proceeded to gag down a bottle of cherry magnesium citrate, which of course, by its name, infers the effects of magnesium on one's large intestines. He spent the evening shooting flames from his posterior and continued well into the morn. We arose at 4:30 and headed to the cutting room.

I said adios to him at 7:45, by which time he was heading to dreamland and the OR. I waited til 10:15, when the doc and his assistant doc came in and told me he did just fine. Said it was routine and he would be in Recovery for at least 3 hours becuz he has sleep apnea and they need to monitor his oxygen level to be sure he'll heal well.

I headed back to the hotel to do some office work, and when I called Recovery at 1 pm they said he'd be ready to head to the room in 30 minutes. I departed the hotel in yet another hurricanelike storm. There was a tornado watch thru 3:15 pm for the area, and man, the wind was fierce. I hate driving behind SUVs and of course, semis. Could not see a damn thing. Just prayed for safekeeping.

When V was wheeled out of the elevator around 3 pm, he was alert and chatting with his attendants. But after we got him settled in the room, the meds took hold again and he was snoring for the duration of my 1.5 hr visit. Given the crappy weather, I begged his indulgence, saying that I wanted to leave before it got dark (about 5:30 this time of year).

No problem-o. All he feels like doing right now is ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. So here i am sat in the hotel and writing a summary of the surgery for y'all. I'll be heading back manana a.m. and will update u later in the day. If all is well, he will be discharged on Thurs. We'll spend the remainder of the week and weekend here in La Mesa and he will see the doctor next Tuesday to be released to fly home in the afternoon. He's had his last Barbarella-burger for awhile.....sigh.

I didn't mention that our visit included my seeing the doctor as well for my 3 month appointment. I've dropped 60 lb and feel just wonderful. A very good report indeed, even with dim sum in my belly.

Peace to all.
a

Is Vern Ready for the Slaughter?

It's been a coupla months...wanted to let friends and family know that Vern is going under the knife on Tuesday, January 19th, having roux-en-y bypass surgery. He's the first one on the chopping block that day. oh goodie, i get to arise at 5 a.m. and accompany him to the hospital.

the reality of what's pending is beginning to affect his demeanor. i know the feeling quite well...he is anxious and excited and afraid and happy and optimistic and pessimistic, all at the same time. Makes for an interesting marital relationship.

despite my trials and troubles post-surgery, especially those dark, chilling moments as I lay on the cold slab marble floor in the john of my hospital room, awaiting SOMEONE to discover that "I'd fallen and can't get up!", I am 100% delighted with the outcome of my surgery. No more diabetes shots and medicines, substantial weight loss without much sacrifice, more energy than I've had since my pre-pregnancy years. Lots to which V can look forward.

i'll be back next week posting the outcome of his surgery.
blessings and peace to all.
a

My Blood IS Red (Yellow and Green, Too)

Hot off the wire!

Blood testing was completed on November 13.
Hemoglobin is back to superstar levels.
Nothing was amiss in all parameters measured.
Lab did note that there were tiny red, yellow, and green chile peppers afloat in my blood, a legacy of the transfusion I had.

I am down 36 lbs and off my diabetes meds...praise the Lord and pass the potatoes! I have my first post-op phone consultation with Dr. Wittgrove (surgeon) on Thursday morning.

I've been walking with Vern 30 minutes daily since the temp of the pool dropped to 78 degrees. We walk 30 minutes twice on weekends, and I walk twice on days that I work at home (like today). Warmer weather over the next few days may elevate the pool temp to above 80, in which case we'll be back doing laps.

We retrieved my 1980 Honda Prelude from the shop last week. It has a newly built carburetor, new brakes and a speedometer that works! I've driven it to and from work and love that little grey kitten. It just purrs when you drive it. We need to get new seats or upholster them. Thirty years has taken its toll on their integrity. (Translation: foam filling flies everywhere when you sit on 'em.)

We don't usually do much for T'giving cuz V has to work. He tried last January to score some annual leave for either T'giving or Christmas 2009 but failed. Others with seniority and use or lose leave take precedence.

I'm still enjoying Hummingbird Wars whenever I work from home.
Hope you all are healthy and smiling.
a

Belly Achin'

I'm sitting here at the kitchen table watching the crazy hummingbirds diving into the feeder and enacting Hummingbird Wars as they quibble about who has first dibs on the nectar. I wish they could all get along. The neatest thing is when the alpha male gets his tail feathers in a flurry and opens them wide like a peacock as a threat display to whomever among his h-bird peeps is trying to access the feeder. Quite amusing on a daily basis as i sit here working on my laptop while recovering.

Speaking of recovery, I am doing well just 3 weeks after being sprung from the ICU at Scripps Memorial Hospital in LaJolla, CA. Belly achin' summary follows...

Oct. 4, Sunday---fly to San Diego, eat "last meal" at Vincenzo's in Little Italy (it was outstanding)

Oct. 5, Monday---physical exam with Dr. Wittgrove (surgeon) and pre-admitting testing at Scripps, including the ever-popular transvaginal ultrasound. There are no words to adequately describe this high-tech torture machine.

Oct. 6, Tuesday---5:30 a.m., much too early for anything, nevertheless got prepped for surgery, including a large dose of Fragmin, a blood thinner
---circa 8-9 a.m., zonked out on anesthesia, ready for the scalpel
---9 a.m. til ? p.m., surgery and recovery
---2 p.m. to room, not much pain, groggy from anesthesia. what bothered me most of all were the "leg-exercisers" that they placed on my calves to prevent clots. These #@$@&# things were electrically powered to puff up every 15 seconds and ABSOLUTELY DROVE ME NUTZZZ. I hate to have anything on my feet when resting or sleeping. These things should have been used at Abu Graib.

AND, i had lots of discomfort from the abdominal drain that was placed in the southwest most incision closure on my belly. I learned afterward that the drain tubing extended in a full circumference of the belly to drain all 6 incisional areas. It pressed on the diaphragm and its nerve feeds, which gave me a huge pain in the left shoulder area, kinda what i envision is a heart attack pain. When the drain was removed on Thurs, the pain disappeared!

They had me walk on Tues evening, not even 12 hr since surgery. I did fine, but was nauseous from meds.

Oct. 7, Wednesday---had no food since surgery. Doc came in mid-morning. We talked about the nausea, and I reported to him that i had a lot of gurgling in my abdomen, like a bowel movement was imminent. Since there had been no substantive food or drink in my belly since Monday 2 p.m., it was unlikely that it was a bowel movement. Doc said it was likely clotted blood irritating the bowel and that I would pass it via the bowel.

Well, pass it I did. Just after he left, they brought me broth and sugar-free jello. Two sips of each and I lost total control of my anal sphincter. To spare readers the ooogliness of this, just let me say that losing one's clotted blood at the back door was not pretty. I soiled the bed repeatedly and the floor in a big way as Vern tried to assist me in getting to the john.

Ultimately, after Vern went down to the cafeteria, i began feeling very weak. I knew i had to go again, so i ventured forth from the bed to the john, about 10 ft away. Got on the pot, then keeled over onto the ice-cold tile floor. I was unconscious for I don't know how long. When i woke up, i scanned the area and could not find a call button. So I hollered unsuccessfully for a nurse. When someone finally came in to do my vitals and found me, all hell broke loose.

The hospital's Rapid Response Team descended upon me. They asked me to sit up, with help, then try to sit in a chair. I told them repeatedly that i was faint, but they insisted. When they lifted me into a chair, my eyes rolled back and i was out for awhile. I came to in a surreal vista of a bunch of talking heads hovering over me. They plopped a huge oxygen mask on me and were billing and cooing that i'd be ok.
Some lab villain dissected my arms and hands looking for a vein to pillage. Eventually, the lab reported that my hemoglobin was 7 and hematocrit 25, which should be 13 and 35 respectively if all was okay.

A phone call to Dr. Wittgrove and i was headed to ICU. Apparently, i am one who does not benefit radically from a blood thinner. Where they stapled my intestinal relocation, there is naturally some bleeding. Because of the blood thinner, i did not clot real soon. All the bleeding that i did filled my bowel, and that was what was being emitted from my bottom. The rapid massive blood loss made me faint and very weak.

In ICU, i was transfused with 5 pints of San Diego's best red stuff. Now, i find myself fighting an overpowering urge to push a buggy along the boardwalk, hunting aluminum cans.

Oct. 8,Thursday p.m.---after 24 hr in ICU, I was sent back to the bariatric floor. I continued to improve with teh new infusion of blood. The bowel leakage lessened dramatically.

Oct. 9, Friday---feeling stronger, i washed my hair and rancid body in the bathroom sink, still tied to the IV. Doc came in as I was cleaning up. He removed the drain and i begged him to be released. He concurred. One thing that didn't get done was the removal of staples in my belly. They were soooo uncomfortable during my hotel sojourn over the weekend. I was released from hospital at 5 p.m.

When we got to the hotel, i needed to hit the bed, as i was quite worn out. I spiked a really high fever, no reason known, for a few hours. Then i slept on and off all night. It was not a restful sleep due to the staples and the fever. but it was a semblance of rest.

Oct. 10, Saturday---taking it easy, sat on a chaise longue at the pool for a couple hr while Vern had breakfast and went to the supermarket. Against the dietary rules, i asked for a couple of poached eggs to add to the protein supplements I was drinking. They slid down the hatch effortlessly, but when they hit the newly transformed mini-stomach, they were like lead pellets. I made it thru the cramping and lumpy fullness that the eggs caused and continued to lounge in the lobby in a sitting area w/ fireplace.

Vern never missed a meal, and while he had dinner at the restaurant in the hotel, i hung out in the room.

Oct. 11--Sunday....we went to CVS for diabetes test strips. Then we drove to La Jolla Shores Beach area. I laid out the towels and enjoyed a 70ish day of sunshine and nice breeze. I even got into the ocean for a short time to relieve myself. Vern wandered hither and yon exploring the shore as i rested. It was very relaxing.

Oct. 12---Monday....Vern did 2 loads of laundry at the hotel. I worked all day on my laptop on my office email. It was not easy, because i had episodes of fogginess (anesthesia legacy).

Oc. 13---Tuesday...0830 a.m. appt w/ Dr's office, followup and removal of staples. 3 hour diet and exercise lecture followed. Released to go home at noon. The night before, i had trouble sleeping, and while awake, i decided to change our existing 6:30 pm reservation to return to AZ earlier. This was successful, and we took a 5 pm flight that got us to AZ at 6 p.m.

When we landed in AZ i was overcome with relief. I slept like a baby and felt 1000% better the next morning.

And I have improved daily every since. I've obviously lost some weight from the ordeal and from the fact that i cannot eat solid foods yet. If i eat an egg, it has to be mooshy. Most of what i exist on these days are liquid protein supplement drinks, soup and broth, and sugar free desserts.

My incisions are mostly healed, a few small scabs remain.
My mini-stomach is hypersensitive to anything more than an ounce of input over a short period of time. It's very difficult to get used to SIPPING, SMALL BITES, etc. when you've been wolfing your food down for 50 years or so.

I'm optimistic and looking forward to the day when i can chow down on a rare piece of beef. Until then, i am delighted to be able to draw a breath. Next week, i have my one-month blood draw to check my chemistry. My diabetes meds have been dropped to less than half of what they were before surgery.

Until the blood results are known, I wish you peace, love, and happiness.
a