Magic words

Happy Halloween!

I've been told, it is not proper to dress for Church in your Halloween costume . . . especially when you are "The Reader."



PS
as Sue Sylvester, in case you were wondering, since all I have to do is put on a track suit.  I may have to work on the witchiness, (might help if I actually watched Glee), but I already have everything else going!

I beg your pardon,

Pepper and Jack . . .cheesy . . . yeah, I know.

Mom, has communication issues after a rather devastating stroke 6 years ago.  With us, she becomes frustrated when trying to communicate, and with others, she rarely tries.

Then came Pepper and Jack

Pepper NEEDS attention . . . her method of drawing peoples attention to this need is to bat their arm or leg with a paw.  (It's a long story, but she thinks she's a cat.)  Not a good method, since she leaves bruises and scratches.

Jack on the other hand, can communicate paragraphs with a look or stare.  (He is very patient and none of this "Lassie" stuff for him.)  My family always found this weird that I KNOW what he is saying.

Then it happened, the day my Mom came to me and excitedly said, "Jack talks!"

She understood, completely, one of his looks.  Then she realized she understood ALL of his looks.

-Hmmm, the dog is able to communicate his wants and needs without speaking or writing, and you completely understand him?

-Yes, . . . Oh!

-Hmmm . . . he can't talk, can't write and you understand what he is saying . . . hmmm . . . imagine that, maybe a little patience . . . hmmm?

Lately, she has, she does, and she seems happier.

Thanks Jack.

 

in the middle of one

They may never leave me to watch their cats . . .  ever again!

the kidnappers had harsh demands

the kidnappers were relentless and cruel

Hmmmm, what do you think?

P.S.
There was a daring attempt to rescue them from "the terrierists," which was successful.  They are currently being debriefed, counselled and will soon be returned to their loving family.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Men have chests too

My older brother was diagnosed in October 1999.

lump/nipple inversion

Kudos to his Primary who immediately sent him for a mammogram and a consult with an Oncologist who also immediately acted.

Biopsy-positive

Radical Mastectomy

Stage IV

3 months to a year--with chemotherapy.  He did it, but he swore he never would again,ever.

Knee

Spine

They begged him to try chemo again, NO, radiation only . . . which weakened his bones.

Lungs

They promised the chemo was better and not as awful . . . he tried it again, but in January 2004 we realized the poisons were killing him rather then the cancer.

He just wanted to see his 50th birthday.

He continued on oral drugs.

November 2006 he turned 50, I called to wish him a Happy Birthday and tell him I was coming out for Christmas, but because of my job and the holiday it would be December 2007.

February 2008

I talked to him Monday, and he told me what I needed to do with my car to get it fixed, (he was still doing chores about the house).

Tuesday the Doctor told him no more travelling . . . he'd wanted to take his wife to Hawaii, (he'd asked if I would come along and help).

Wednesday evening his wife called to tell me he was failing, (the Hospice Nurse was upset, because she was going on vacation the next week and she wouldn't be there for them).  I told my SIL that I HAD to get the car fixed the next morning, but as soon as it was I would let her know what I had found for flights.

Thursday I called to say I would be flying out the next morning and would relieve her at night so she could sleep.  She told him, (comatose), that I was coming.

She called me back to say he was gone.  She believes he left so fast because I was the one person he would have stayed for.  I would never have asked that.

He still looked like a bouncer for a Biker Bar.

6 foot 2 - 300 lbs

He rode a Harley

He had Breast Cancer 

He LIVED 9 years past a diagnosis of Stage IV

When I go for my Mammogram, I always list brother under close relatives diagnosed.  The Tech. questioned it once saying:  We meant BREAST cancer!

Yep

It happens more often then most Doctor's even think. 

It can be passed on to their Children, just like with women.

Male Breast Cancer



should be raving mad

about how I feel

It has been a very busy month . . . appointments, (often two in one day, not to mention the need to sleep sometime in that day), broken toe, (me, same toe twice in one week), and to top it off . . . Dad falling 3 times in one week . . . twice in consecutive nights, (my poor brother was probably lying awake the third night waiting for the phone to ring again at midnight!).  Of course the falls prompted more appointments and x-rays, and finally an answer to WHY he's had these periods of sudden unsteadiness.  An enlarged heart was noted and compared to previous chest x-rays by his Primary Doctor, (yes the same one that made the house calls after Dads last appalling hospital visit).  So, more medications, and more appointments.

I tried to find new local Doctors to go with the new insurance.  Dentist- great, found one!  Eye Doctor- terrific, found one!  Primary Physician- I am going to rip my hair out.  The insurance list of approved, accepting, and qualified Doctors is VERY OUT OF DATE!  They may still be "A A and Q" in state of Michigan, but they are no longer at the local listed address.  Arrrgghh!

Now I have to make the run home to winterize my house.  I went through the calendar through November, and this coming week is pretty much it.  Fortunately the date also passed muster with Mom and Dad, Brother, and Work.  After all the chaos I'm still working through, I hope I can take off early Monday morning.  12 hour drive.  I will need to be back Saturday night.  Did I mention I was up for 24 hours yesterday?  Oh yeah, and no internet, it's off at my house.