My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer

@cookie54 I am glad that MIL was able to have family around her when she passed away, sounds very peaceful indeed. My condolences to you, her family and friends as well and in your pocket sending energy for your busy week as well.

I slept OK, planning chores, some exercises on treadmill, may spray on some sunscreen and take a walk using the walker, not a long walk by any means, just practicing the whole, walk a bit, sit a bit business. Still have the indoor really fast walk on the spot, that just involves pumping my arms really fast so that feet stay in line with arms. Already started lifting my body from laying down to sitting up. Can do myself but this increases arm strength.

Need to finally clear the sink, clean it up and then after clean the sink itself and run some hot water down the sink. Keep the little black bastards from making their way up the drain. They could be coming from another apartment but does not matter. Have a couple of apple cider vinegar traps with a drop of dish soap set up, one in the kitchen and one in living room, does not fully stop them but could be helpful. I am pretty sure that although the litter genie is supposed to be good, I have seen some in the bag in there, might just get a small regular garbage can and small bags done up and stored that way would be better.

I am unsure what I want to have, I have misplaced my tortillas believe it or not, I ordered some recently, going through stuff I set aside. Not really a big bother currently. Planning a possible egg, chili, lentil dish with some actual rice. Planning to open the white rice and stick in a container on my dresser, would be nice to have some real white rice as well. I do notice how many noodle type dishes I have, need to include some meat in those dishes for more protein beyond just the beans. I will clear the sink, fry up a frozen hamburger and mash it up, put in a separate container.

Edit on the meal, decided I want pizza so went back to Walmart, order thin crust pizza with pepperoni which sounded good to me, I ordered the stuff to come in next two hours. I also ordered a storage container which said it will come today. It is airtight and would give another place to store stuff but be a bit smaller. If it does not come today, no skin off my nose. Got more meat pies as well as beans and chips as they were on sale, chili and sour cream ones which are good. This order is essentially free on the Walmart card because I paid for yesterday BUT used another card by accident. Already paid for the card accidentally used. I am also craving butter tarts but decided against purchasing those.

Walmart order on the way with a blue container instead, got queso, meat pies, pizza and such with 2 hour delivery which is nice. It is already on the way here.

I do hope all have a good day and in pockets for anyone who needs me.

@tanya_djamila Now both cats are hanging out in the bathroom, washing machine noise not a bother for either of them. One is either on the toilet, in the window or on washers hence why I cannot leave lids open for airing out. Oh well, I let them have the peace and quiet and supervision. It is now known as Tigger and Ava's laundry, they offer good rates, just their own clean bathroom and food given time to time.

@irishlove So sorry for that ordeal. It almost sounds deliberate on the part of the palliative nurse. Think she is in the wrong profession! Glad your MO straightened it all out and you had the medication you need. Could you request a change in nurses? There is no excuse for her "taking you to the woodshed."

@irishlove I feel very angry at that terrible nurse, I would like to take her out to the woodshed. Last thing you need when in pain is someone to make you feel stressed and hurt. I am glad MO took care of you but I do hope that nurse is reported. I don't care if she has 750 patients, she should keep her frustrations to herself when dealing with sick people, people with pain or whatever. She should get on a treadmill with some music and work out frustrations that way. In your pocket sending support. I can empathize with the nurse but she needs to keep it away from her patients.

I had a very light sleep overnight but that is fine with me. Cloudy and rainy right now, temps coming down which is good. Building has a boiler type heat so when it is on, it felt pretty warm. They have to keep it on between certain months but the living room was 88 one morning. I have fans on the go. AC still coming from the bedroom. I at least have ways to keep cooler, got a window fan in the window of living room so that is good, returned to the 77 that I enjoy.

Got laundry, more organizing, might open last two boxes I purchased before, the huge ones and see where I am at. Debated putting walker out back and locking with bike lock but I do not want it to get rusty nor do I wish to cover it. Going to check out my closet in the living room and possibly move it into closet OR move the box in front of closet into the closet instead. I will see. Need to keep stuff together. I saw another cool thing called a wheelator, converts from walker to motorized wheelchair but think I need to think about something before considering. I also came upon floor to chair lifts, not the one going up and down the stairs but for lifting from floor to chair height, that seems a decent idea but need to think about it. It would be a good thing to have so that if on the off chance I fell but was uninjured, I could easily get myself up, no ambo. Oh well. Still working on treadmill, might set a certain time to use it as I am not energetic enough to commit. I need to kick my butt and get about business. Also have some exercises for seniors that give more ideas on strengthening muscles and joints. I do the rapid walk on the spot all the time. Oh well, need to give myself a break and just set more of a schedule through the day. I do wear my pull on sneakers, the running shoes felt too rigid for me. I am used to a skecher type so I use those, work just fine.

I am also looking into other cleats for my boots when it comes to winter, would like to be able to shovel the walk and end of driveway in case I need to get on paratransit. Not sure how that would work. I plan to be rolling in ice salt anyway I slice it.

I am stumped at food so decided to take my frozen burger and fry up in the pan, no trivet to go with my found instant pot so will heat up burger in the pan first, mash it down and add some taco seasoning, that has been done. Smells really good. Going to let meat heat through on no heat with a lid, open my chili and add that as well and some lentils, reheat same pan in same grease for the taste. Once done, tearing up a tortilla and adding to the mix, not sure if will.

EDIT, little bit different on the meal. I did fry up the burger and add taco seasoning to it, smelled good and mashed it down with a meat masher. Did not drain off the grease, kept it for the chili beans and beef ravioli, chef boyardee. Added queso and sour cream and because there was sufficient liquid, put some broken up ramen in there as well. I also added queso and sour cream and stirred it all together. I left the pan of stuff on low with a lid hoping some of the liquid cooked away, spoiler it did. When time to serve, just took a few spoonful, put rest in the fridge. Main difference, no soft tortilla put in as I was already having noodles. It was super creamy, liked the broken noodles as I do not really like them long. I would have added cheese but the cheese in fridge smelled funny so tossed it. Good meal in all.

Nothing else to say, did up bills and paid. My rent credit card that I use to pay and gets paid in full every month has 73.00 worth of redemption to use so I will do that and use as main card for grocery orders. Basically free groceries although by the time I use up all of the stuff I have, I might be able to go without a shop for a longer time. It could be cheaper to book Paratransit to the mall, get a couple of things at a time and take the ride home. Roundtrip, Paratransit would cost me 5.30 which is cheap, just need to book 3 days in advance of the trip. It makes it cheaper when I really do not need a 35 dollar delivery. Just have to make sure it is not too heavy. I did a trip before and the knapsack was overfilled. I will ponder this, come winter, grocery is solely delivery. I spend approx 35 to 40 dollars on grocery delivery, once or twice a month. I do prefer Walmart as I think it is the least expensive. Our dollar stores do not have a real grocery section either which would be nice to have. I will see.

Anyway, hope all have a good day, in pockets for all and myself to get stuff done and to bed earlier.

@chicagoan In your pocket on Thursday and hoping for you to be able to walk pain free.

Irish - how awful that your nurse said what she did to you! Sounds like your MO has your back. We need someone like that on our side.

Chicagoan - so glad to hear your surgery got moved up. Here for pocket duty for you. First joint replacement was my hip, 3.5 yrs ago. It was a fairly easy recovery - listen to your docs, take your meds and do your PT at home!

Here for pocket duty for all in need.

@chicagoan Still giving pocket duty for Thursday. @irishlove In pocket for a better week for you as well.

Slept a short amount but that is fine, in process of clearing sink, I get tired during the process and stop, really need to continue so no budget boosting or possible walk until both laundry and dishes are done. Co opted a smaller washer as a sink to soak silverware in as well, that is a decent use of equipment. Never soaking in regular washers, either, stay with smaller stuff. I also realized that when instant pot is not in use, can soak dishes in the steel drum of the instant pot, removing the steel drum and endeavour to not let stuff get so out of control. That way, more than one soaking location, shorter soak then clean and clear out sink for thorough clean. Might work better. I just hate scrubbing dishes. Dishwasher is a no go as even if I got a portable one to hook up to sink, I have nowhere to store it. I definitely need better organization skills. Big boxes are helpful, need to strategize where to keep them. Not too worried about floor space because the boxes are large. May also get more of the rubbermaid stackable totes as well, store litter that is scooped in something with a tight lid. I do not really want to store stuff out back may be an option as well. I prefer stuff to be in house. Waffling on the walker and where to store, once I clear the front of the closet, will check inside to check if there is room. All other closets are full.

I have got the sink almost empty, really need to give it a really nice scrub, silverware soaked in wee washer, now drained and waiting to be dried in the bathroom sink, kitchen sink will receive a couple doses of very hot water to clear out anything that might be in there, given the state of the sink once it was cleared. Taking some breaks as I chip away at what I need to do. Need to wash dishes right after eating less scrubbing, less work work as well. I also notice these wee black bugs, thinking they are coming through the drain so once sink is cleaned up, just keep it plugged in to block escape, do regular hot water down the drain. I have been told could be related to neighbours. Other option I am mulling is the litter genie, I scoop into a bag inside the pail but those little buggers are small enough to get out, better served to scoop into garbage bag and put a tighter seal to avoid the situation. I also do make traps with apple cider vinegar too so that is good.

Meals for today, not too sure, still got the stuff I made yesterday leftover, was the burger, chili beans and crushed up ramen noodles. Also seasoned with taco seasoning and put queso and sour cream at end. The noodles and beans heated in the frypan, added a bit of water and had let them soak. Thinking for a first meal, get a meat pie and start the microwave, once down to 30 or 40 seconds of the timer, add some of the leftovers with a bit of cheese. Option two meal for dinner sees an egg cooked in a mini griddle with some shred cheese and put in a tortilla.

I will still be working to finish everything so in own pocket for that, it is garbage day so need to put stuff in bags, triple as I do toss them down them down the four stairs. Easier for me that way.

I hope everyone has a good day and in pockets for everyone.

@chicagoan

Squeezing into your pocket with everyone else. Fingers crossed for a successful surgery and a biopsy that calls for an easy treatment.

I used an ice machine for the first 2-3 weeks after surgery and it was really helpful.

Please let us know how you're doing.

@chicagoan

Yay you! Hope it's onward and upward from here.

Chicagoan- Glad to hear you are doing good. I PM'd you with questions about your hip replacement.

Update on today's first meal, took a frozen stir fry, opened container and heated it in the microwave, while that was happening, pulled out an egg and when I put the precooked stir fry which is noodles, peppers and broccoli, added garlic, a ground up bit of those BBQ chips, added the egg to the already heated pan and added some shredded cheese. Put dollops of garlic spread and the butter, stirred in the cheese and covered with a lid, no heat. Will serve myself in a large dish, eat as much as I am able, put rest into another container. Can still make a separate chili meal later today. Am looking forward to the first meal.

Also discovered that with walmart delivery, was paying the minimum order of 35 which turns into 40 to 50 by the time tip comes on board. I would be better served to order under 35 if only need a couple of items and pay the 7.97 since before signing up for the year long plan of free delivery, I paid 12.97. I will consider the costs and what I can get, no order needed as of now but just a thought percolating. I also need to consider Paratransic roundtrip is 5.60 so really not paying much more than 2 bucks more to get delivery.

@cookie54 The Phillies sure fought hard. Disappointing end to the season but they can hold their heads high.

@candy-678

Fingers crossed for a benign lesion with no progression. Curious as to your MO's rationale for no more mammograms. Do you have any imaging, and if so, how often. My MO said the same thing about eliminating mammos, as I'm scanned with contrast every 6 months.