Doing my Remicade.

I can't believe it has been 8 wks already since my last treatment. That went by so fast. 

Well here I sit at Portsmouth Hospital, getting my transfusion of Remicade. My gastro doc says since I am having no symptoms, we will continue to do the infusions. But there really isn't any way of knowing if it is helping or not, because crohn's can be symptom free on its own. Oh well I don't really care whether it is the meds or not, I am just so happy to have not been admitted to the hospital in the last 7 months- since my surgery on Christmas Eve. 

I really need  to think about and remember daily how happy I am to be well. It really sucked being in the hospital so many times last year. Tubes down into my stomach, NO FOOD for days, ( i think that was the worst!) lying in a hospital bed for days, was NOT FUN. So here I sit feeling just great, I will say I am so grateful. I may have to sit here with an iv for several hours but at least I am feeling fine. 

And did you know how much this damn medicine costs? Well, it is expensive. Very expensive. Thank god, and Gary, for us having insurance. I come to the hospital and get an iv, which takes about 3 hrs to slowly drip into me, and that's it. That little bag of medicine costs , are you ready? The bill for each time I come is $19,400. yes that is nineteen thousand dollars. Are you f!@%#* kidding me?? That's what I said when I found out. What is this stuff? Liquid gold? 

I never knew there was a medicine that costs so much. But the nurses here say there are plenty of meds that cost as much and more! Doesn't seem right. Oh well. My medical costs this past year have been - out of control. 

I didn't have time to eat dinner before coming today, so I had to order a sandwich. Last time I ate here it was not very good. But today the turkey sandwich was really pretty good. 

Well, tomorrow I head up to meet Gary at Range Pond Campground, up by Gray, Maine.  Gary went up today with Ashley and Zach. Everyone else will be going up tomorrow. It is Christmas in July. Last year we went there with Sharon, Gene and Jessica. And Bailey. The activities for the kids were awesome. Santa came on a sleigh, with really nice toys for all and the kids make a craft and also decorated Christmas cookies. 

I love camping. It is so calming. I need calming. 

I love my husband. He is also very calming. 

I love my son. Sometimes not so calming. But I read somewhere that the reason god turns our children into teenagers is because if they stay the way the are we would never want them to leave home and be out on their own. It makes sense. I would never want that sweet little boy of mine to ever leave home if he hadn't turned into a teenager. 

 He has a wonderful heart. I will miss him so much when he goes to California. He is so handsome.

 How did I get these wonderful men in my life? I never ever imagined my life would be blessed with such wonderful loving men. I never new men like this existed. Kind, loving and 

Oh beep beep beep. the IV is done. Got to sign off now.

Another BAT!!!

Gary got home after midnight last night. Did his usual "wind down" watching tv, snacking and playing on the computer. But last night he had a little visitor! Just like me- he was sitting on the couch and the litter bugger flew by. Gary grabbed the broom to "bat" him with, and then opened the front door, same front door I let last's night little guy go out of, and the little guy flew out!  

Wonder if it was the same bat. We checked the fireplace- no sign of any daylight up there. Checked windows and in the basement for anywhere they may have access to the inside. Oh I hope I don't get any visitors tonight. I may have to lock myself in the bedroom so if one does get in, he won't get me. I probably won't be able to sleep if the bedroom door is left open. 

I don't like bats flying around the living room. 

Clouds all day. Rain most of the day. Muggy around 66 degrees. 

My boy leaves for school in Calif. in 23 days. 

Freakin' Bat

Freakin' Bat!

Just sitting here on the couch surfing the web, minding my own business, and WHAT was that?! A Freaking Bat goes flying by. Broad daylight! I thought those little suckers only came out at night! 

Oh course I know, they don't land in your hair, but my first instinct is to scream, cover my head with a pillow and run. I called my husband and he laughed a little and said he would head home to rescue me.

I didn't ask him to come home- he just offered! I hung up the phone and stood watching the little guy fly around the living room. But he wasn't as little as I would think he was pretty big. And not too cute either. He flew by the ceiling fan with ease a few times.

I noticed my cat Niki staring up at the top of a floor lamp . Then I thought, that is kind of silly, to have Gary leave work, drive home and rescue me - especially since I didn't even try to get the little bugger out on my own. So.........................I decided I would give it a try. 

First I put all the shades in the room up. I had left the windows and shades closed today because it was so humid. Maybe that's why he came out during the day- it was pretty dark even though it was only about 4:30pm. He thought it was nighttime! Actually I am glad- can you imagine if it happened in the "dark of night?" oh I think I would have freaked out a little more.

Anyway, then I quietly walked over to the door, opened it slowly and propped the screen door open. Next I slowly went to the lamp, only about 3 feet away from the door, and carefully started tilting the lamp top in the direction of the opened door. All I could think was "if he comes out at me I am going to freak". 

Slowly, carefully, and YIPPy! He was free! He flew out the door and around the front yard for a few seconds then off to a nearby tree.

After I had decided to try to get the bat out by myself, he was out within 2 minutes!!! Yay!

I called Gary immediately and told him I was SAFE NOW and he didn't need to come home. He laughed.

I did it. whew. Gary is going to have to try and figure out how he got in. Maybe the fireplace.

The Tat

Well, He went and did it! He's been talking about getting a tattoo since he was about sixteen,  and I'm so excited he waited a full year after he turned eighteen to do it.

 I met Tim at Short Sands yesterday  evening at about 5pm. As I drove thru the parking lot looking for his car, I noticed a very good looking young man sitting up on what I thought was the side of a dumpster, but as I got closer I  saw he was actually sitting on his car. It was my boy. 

Oh the summer girls must love him, and I don't even want to think about him out and about cruising the beach. 

Anyway, I pulled into a spot a few spaces away from him, and as he walked towards me, with his shirtless body, I didn't even spot it! Not until I got out of the car and started talking to him did I see it. Not bad. Not bad at all.  The location of the tattoo is exactly where I wanted it, ( if it had to go somewhere on my boys  body) his left upper chest. Concealed to most unless he is in very casual situations.  

 It is a hand about the size of mine, maybe a bit smaller, and is grayish green I think, and it is the hand jester that surfers use, meaning "hang loose".

Now, I really am not into tattoos at all, but if someone wants one, I really think they should go where not everyone can see it everyday. Kind of along the same thinking of a bikini bathing suit, it's just not appropriate for everyday life. But if your out with your friends having a good time at the beach- go ahead show off your nice body and that tattoo you just had to get. JUST MY OPINION FOLKS.  To each his own. 

But I am sooo happy the first tattoo my son got is in a place he can "put away" for job interviews and important first impressions. 

I would actually like to take a survey of people over 40 and find out if, a) they regret getting the particular one they got and or b) they regret the location of the tattoo they got. Anyone one out there (any age) got a tattoo and want to tell me if you regret it or not?? 

Well I have a bad headache right now and my eyes are bothering me so I will sign off. 

Sun is out, very humid and going to hit 80's for the first time this month! Global warming my @#!% 

 

Really Trying

I am really trying to blog about my summer. I can now understand why it was so difficult for Sharon and Gene to get going and keep it up. I think the secret is to just do it. So here I sit. My head is killing me - I have had this same headache for about a week. Seems to come each evening. I take some aleve and go to bed. Wake up  and it is gone. Then returns sometime during the late afternoon. Hope it stops returning. It feels like a vise is squeezing my temples. 

Anyway. My baby boy just turned 19 years old. July 12Th. I haven't seen him yet.  He told me he got his first tattoo. Surprising it took this long- though I am very happy it did. Says it is on his chest. One of the better places to put one- in my opinion. I am anxious to see how it looks. That body of his that I took such gentle care of for so long- is no longer under my jurisdiction. Oh I hope he doesn't turn his body into a place to put whatever artwork he is "into" at a particular moment.  Just being a mom. 

I can't believe he will be leaving for school in California in about 27 days. I am going to miss him so much. But at the same time I am so happy and proud that he is doing this. I am sure he will learn much- just from being so far away from family and friends. 

 The things that bring me happiness. My son. My husband. and time spent camping. 

Next camping trip is the weekend after this.  We are heading to Christmas in July at Range Pond in Poland, Maine. We did that weekend last year with Sharon & Gene and Jessica and we brought Bailey and the guys went fishing and the kids had an absolute blast with all the Christmas activities.  They have an awesome weekend for the kids. So this year- we are all going, Tammy & Tom, and Jason & Dawn and all the kids. Hope the weather is nice. I hope the weather is at least NOT RAINING. Please. I would like to have some summer this year.

 It seems I live to be at a campground. It is just so peaceful and relaxing. It is especially nice that we camp with lots  of family too. I can't wait for Sharon and Gene get back. Sometimes it is really nice to have some of "my side" of the family with us. Ok, it is really nice when "my side" is there. 

WELL... that's it for today. I am going to try and post something each day or two. 

Weather today, sunny 75-80 and just BEAUTIFUL! 

Day 7 of July 4th Vacation 2009

Cloudy all day. Some rain. The sun tried to peak out at about 7pm tonight. Then just as quick as it appeared..... it was gone! Oh I hope tomorrow is sunny and we can lounge around the heated pool. We made french fries in the turkey fryer. Yummy. Took a ride on the golf cart and it was so cold! This is freakin' ridiculous- it is July and we are freezing! So much for global warming!

Photo try #1

Trying to learn how to upload photos on my new blog.

July 2009 Danforth Bay Camping Resort 3rd Year in a row for the 4th.

This is the first year we have had to deal with so much rain. June  was HORRIBLE. We arrived at Danforth Bay on Thursday around 2pm The rain stopped long enough to set up then started back up again. Tom & Tammy up at the same time. We all decided to go into North Conway and have dinner there. We stopped at Applebee's . Then to Walmart, Shaw's and Hannaford for a few things. We are going to try something new in the turkey fryer this year- fried dough! Can't wait!