Thanksgiving - Day 1982 (Year 6, Day 156)

Zephyrhills, FL

First, an update on my health: the asthma seems to be in control now.  Still having a few bouts of difficulty breathing  here and there but it is mostly improved.  The chest x-ray and pulmonary function tests were within normal limits.  I have a follow up appt. with the pulmonologist on Tuesday, 12/2.

Lately, however, I've been having a severe flare-up with the arthritis in my knee, which has made it extremely difficult and painful to make any bending motions on it (which includes sitting and steps) or when I initially put weight on it (getting up), and I have needed to use a cane to get around.  It's a little bit better today.  No idea what sets it off, but the NSAIDs don't help.

In any event, I am extremely thankful that despite these medical woes, it is nothing life threatening; it could always be such much worse.

Now, in the spirit of the holiday, more things I am thankful for:  my health, my husband and best friend who takes such great care of me, my children.  Despite financial difficulties (Mitch out of work almost a year now), like my health, it could still be so much worse.  G-d indeed takes care of all our needs and I am thankful to have a roof over my head and food on the table.  I am grateful for new friends:  although we weren't able to make the trip up north to spend the holiday with the kids, we invited our new next door neighbors (Kelly & Michael) to join us for a Thanksgiving feast.  They brought their own turkey (and plates and utensils) and I made a Tofurkey.  That was the only non-vegetarian item; Kelly went out of her way to cook a lot of yummy side dishes (as did I).  Another neighbor was walking by to visit with Michael, so we invited him to join us as well (he recently returned from a tour in Afganistan).  It was a very lovely evening.  So much to be thankful for.

A strange sight - Day 1966 (Year 6, Day 140)

Zephyrhills, FL

When I look out my "dining room/office" window, my view is of my neighbors "farm" (veggies and chicken coop).  Most of the time I will see a chicken or 2 walking around, and sometimes a rogue rooster chasing them.  Today I saw about 50 of these.  I believe they are either snowy or cattle egrets or possibly ibises.  I do see them, in groups of 2 or 3, every here and there, but never in such a large group.  I do recall seeing a family of about 8 or 9 back in February (https://mitcheryl-rv-journey.blogspot.com/2019/02/birds-day-1684-year-5-day-215.html).  Maybe this is the same family who migrated back south (with all the human snowbirds!) and either grew their family or brought along all the aunts, uncles and cousins!!!


  

Update on health - Day 1966 (Year 6, Day 140)

Zephyrhills, FL

I'm still experiencing what the dr. alleges to be asthma attacks (can't get enough air into my lungs).  The inhaler does work, but it makes me feel very lightheaded and dizzy.  I don't feel that the steroids or antibiotics worked at all.

Went to the dr for a follow-up yesterday.  He put me on another type of inhaler (Symbicort) and anti-histamine, and scheduled me for a chest x-ray (today) and pulmonary function test (11/22) with follow up with the pulmonologist (12/3).  Dr. is now leaning towards a diagnosis of COPD, but I don't know where I would get that from as I'm not a smoker (quit in 1992) and am not around other smokers, although dr. explained it could be dormant from years ago.  I guess the tests will tell.  This is all very new to me.  I'm thinking it may be more of an allergy.  When I suggested this, dr. said he wanted to explore lung problems first and if everything is negative, then he'll recommend seeing an allergist.

Anniversary, and finally, a fun day! - Day 1965 (Year 6, Day 139)

Zephyrhills, FL

First, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my beloved husband - now 41 years.  This time last year we were in Jamaica renewing our vows.  I find it hard to believe that I didn't post any pictures last year; in fact, it doesn't look like I made more than a slight mention of the trip other than promising to post about it (guess I broke that promise).  It was a fantastic and very memorable trip.  Our daughter and her husband, as well as my sister and her husband joined us.  Here are a few photos:

  


As for the fun day yesterday, our friend & neighbor (Ellie, who has joined us for Shabbat a few times), is a singer/songwriter and member of a band (name of band is RED. As she points out, "it's not a political statement or the color of my hair (which is bright red), but very simply: Rick, Ellie, Dennis." 

The band was scheduled to perform in Tampa at a place called Sweetwater Organic Farm, which was also holding a farmer's market.  Normally, we wouldn't have made the 1 hr schlep just for the concert, but we love farmers markets, which are very hard to find on Sundays, so that was the deciding factor to go.  Unfortunately, they didn't have any vegetables there (either from their farm or other local farms).  There were only a handful of vendors: 4 food places-mostly juice bars & 1 tamale place, a clothing place, honey, and soaps.  Oh well. 

The music, however, was really fun.  I've never heard Ellie play before and I was very impressed by her talent.  Here is a very brief video clip and a photo of the band. Mostly they play folk songs, blues and bluegrass; lots of toe tapping, foot stomping and clapping songs.

 

Update - Day 1960 (Year 6, Day 134)

Zephyrhills, FL

Not much to report on yet, except for my health status.  For the past few weeks, I've been experiencing shortness of breath and coughing -- the signs of my annual bought of bronchitis.  Two weeks ago, I discovered very odd bruises on my body for absolutely no apparent reason, and I sent a message to my doctor whether it was something to be concerned about.  The response was that they made an appointment for me yesterday(a week later).

Turned out that all the bruises faded and no other ones appeared, so it's still a total mystery.  However, in the interim, I've been coughing and grasping for air, thinking it's the annual bronchitis that happens when the weather changes (had this for the last 20 years).

Doctor examined me and said definitely NOT bronchitis as none of the symptoms for that were present.  His diagnosis was an asthmatic allergy, which is also common with weather changes.  He prescribed steroids for 6 days and an inhaler.  It's only been 1 day and I feel about a 5% improvement with my breathing, although I feel a 30% improvement in the pain and mobility in my hip!  (Steriods weren't prescribed for that and it's not at all healthy to be on them long term, which is sad because it's the first time I've actually had any positive results in that regard).

Hopefully I'll be reporting again within the week, as a good friend of ours in the campground (Ellie), who is also a member of a band, is performing at a farmers market in Tampa on Sunday.  We really hope to be able to attend (not to mention our excitement to find a farmers market open on a day other than Saturday).  Also running low on our 72% Trader Joes dark chocolate, so need to make a run there as well.