Scott's handprint

This is Scott's handprint that was made when he was in the Star class in Primary. His teachers were Cindy Redd and Jeanette Butherus. This has been displayed in my garden window since 2000 and I'm not sure where before that. It has watermarks from the sink splashes. The little foil butterfly was also part of this Mother's Day gift, I'm pretty sure. Do you remember this Cindy?

Anyway, it is time to get rid of it. I love it, but don't see myself putting it on display at the new house.

In check

My blood pressure is finally in the normal range consistently now. I have noticed my production of the hormone cortisol is decreasing. You know, that hormone that creates fat around your middle... .... because I can bend over easier and don't feel as much fat when I sit. (You're supposed to laugh now).

Fred and I have been working TOGETHER on a few house projects. I know you better sit down for all this news. I painted Scott's room with very minimal help from Fred. 

I helped in the family room to prep the room for carpet that was installed on Monday morning. It's not the greatest photo because of all the new white switch plates and tools on the floor, but it does look nice. Especially the funny stairway we have up to the little bathroom. It was always this really ugly rust colored industrial indoor/outdoor looking stuff.

I rented a storage unit for us to store our extras so we can take photos to post while we try to sell the house. Fred finished the new deck and we painted the repaired fence lattice work together.

Yep fine work and progress going on around here!

Happy Valentine's Day

To each child, grandchild, son & daughter inlaw and most of all my Fred!

You are my joy and my sunshine!

The woes of getting older

The weekend of December 8 & 9, I had a dull headache that just wouldn't go away. On Monday at work, I asked the school nurse to check my blood pressure. It was 180/110. She told me to go to the doctor. I was able to see the Doctor that afternoon. He said I was hypertensive so prescribed a high blood pressure medicine for me.

I was surprised at this because I have never had trouble with my blood pressure before. My Mom had high blood pressure and suffered a couple major strokes and a few mini ones.....thankfully she only experienced less stamina after them. So anyway....it still didn't sit well with me. One of the side affects of some meds is coughing. Well that was frightening in itself. I'm a cougher anyway.

Now I get to monitor my blood pressure morning and night. It's almost as bad as weighing myself. I don't like the numbers and it is another measuring tool in life which I HATE!

Next comes the treaded Winter cold that so many people got. Mine became full blown while we were in St. George for Christmas. I coughed all night and each day my blood pressure continued to rise. Finally one night my BP was 190/110. So off to the emergency room. He doubled my dose and sent me home with narcotic cough suppresant and pain pills for my headache. I slept like a baby the rest of the trip.

I'm still coughing. Went to the doctor that started me on the meds and he referred me to a cardiologist because I had irregularities in my heart. Come to find out I have a very slow heartbeat (like my Dad). That was the irregularity. The new doctor prescribed a different med that doesn't make you cough. My numbers are still not great, but today and yesterday I am finally experiencing a slight improvement on the power and intensity of my coughing attacks. I HATE TO COUGH. This doctor did say I have a Happy Heart because a slow resting heart beat is good. That was nice.

So I'm ackowledging that my weight probably doesn't help my blood pressure, but I'm 99.9% sure that the stresses of home repair, house selling and moving are the biggest contributors to life's stresses. I don't feel stressed because I have taken a back sit and wait until I see it attitude.....but maybe it has been stressful. I have within the last few weeks come to the realization and commitment to stop complaining about how long things are taking and not coming to pass as quickly as I wish. I can hear myself complaining to my Doctor and someone else fairly new in my life and I thought - What an idiot I am. Shut the heck up. You have a wonderful life and an amazingly wonderful husband. Needlesstosay, since that moment I have been feeling tons better.

So everyone quit complaining and be grateful for the wonders of each day. Your health (eyes, ears, nose, touch) children, spouse, friends, employment.... the list is endless. Let's be grateful and be good to your heart in health and attitude.