Tuesday, June 1, 2021

The First of June - Already!

  

My blogging has fizzled out to almost nothing since January and in fact I only posted once last month.  Sure, I have a lot of excuses but really, either you blog or you don’t.  I will never be one that posts every day like many excellent bloggers I know, but I do like to post once a week.  Hopefully I will be able to improve and get back to that routine.

So, what’s been going on this month?  Like so many others living in many different areas, we have had almost daily rain and much cooler weather than usual for us.  All that rain has meant I am playing the game of trying to catch a dry day to mow the lawn weekly since it is growing like a well-watered jungle.  The plus side is the cooler weather is much more comfortable for mowing than the usual hot and sunny weather.

A positive thing has happened recently.  Tom finally decided to get hearing aids!  You may recall I had previously mentioned that he has lost all hearing in one ear and quite a bit in the other ear.  He was evaluated by an ENT earlier in the year and given the specifications for what type of hearing aids he needed.  Tom was a little unsure about taking this step so he didn’t get them right away, but after some time he finally decided to take the leap.  Accepting your aging is not an easy thing for many people.  Thankfully, we received our stimulus checks just in time to pay for the earing aids, as those that have them know – they are rather expensive!  So now he is getting used to them and trying to remember to wear them.  He can hear much better with them but just needs to get comfortable wearing them.

It’s not been the best month for me as I’ve had some minor health problems which have required a series of medical test.  A couple of weeks ago I had a CT – Calcium Score Test which is essentially a CT scan of your heart to check for blockages.  I passed it – Yay!  I have spent the rest of this month dreading some other tests that I have to have this Friday.  I will admit up front I’m a big chicken!  Due to some health issues I have to have Upper & Lower GI tests.  Yep, the lower GI test is the dreaded colonoscopy requiring the miserable one-day prep before.   I had one over ten years ago but it’s that time again.  The Upper GI is the scope test which I’ve never had done, although I should have had one a long time ago since I do have a hiatal hernia and reflux.  I didn’t have the scope earlier because, yes, I’m a chicken!  They are going to do both tests on the same hospital visit.  So, chicken me has spent much of this month worrying about this coming Friday.  I realize that may sound silly but well, that’s just the way I am.  Friday morning Tom will drop me off at the hospital.  He is not allowed to go in with me due to the hospital still observing strict covid rules.  I wish he could go with me to help with my courage, but that’s the way it has to be.  I will be put to sleep for the tests (they better do a good job with that!)  and when it is all over the nurse will call Tom to pick me up.  I’ll let you know more when I know, however if I have a biopsy from either test, I probably won’t know those results until next week.

Sorry for a post full of TMI but I am just an honest and straightforward person about things like that.  I have felt bad about not posting more often this month but honestly, my head has not been in a good place for posting and I’ve just not been feeling well.  Hopefully I will be better after this week!

I haven’t taken many pictures recently but I do have one.  There are many squirrels in our neighborhood and suddenly one of them has decided he wants to move in with us.  We have to watch the door when we go out or in because he has tried to run into the house.  Can you imagine the havoc with two cats if a squirrel came in the house!  I think he sees how spoiled the cats are and wants to join them! 


Take care everyone!


48 comments:

  1. Nice to hear from you again. Hope the tests turn out well.

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    1. Thank you Pat. I always love to see you here. I'm going to try and be better about posting.

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  2. Bonnie, nice to see a new blog from you... and that is good news about your Tom's hearing aids (and yes, why ARE they so expensive?) I see nothing to be embarrassed about, when the time comes I need them I will let EVERYONE know :) I also don't think reading about your tests were TMI, I need a couple myself but keep putting them off--I just hope everything comes back negative for you. I hope you share good news about that asap. :^)

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    1. Thanks Doug, I appreciate your good thoughts. Yep, I understand putting off some of these medical tests as that is just what I had been doing until finally the doctor said I need them now. Thanks for stopping by Doug!

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  3. Hi Bonnie, Thank you for sharing with us about your upcoming tests. I certainly will be praying for you. Just remember you have many of your friends here who will be remembering you! I am thankful Tom received the hearing aids and I pray he will get used to them. That is crazy about the squirrel trying to become a member of your family!!! Lol. God bless you. Thank you for your sweet visits to my blog.

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    1. Thank you Mildred, I truly appreciate your good thoughts and prayers. I feel kind of silly getting worked up over these tests, but as I said that's just how I am I guess. I still haven't got Tom to wear his hearing aids all the time but we are working on it.

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  4. Bonnie nice to see a post from you. Good luck with all your tests. As I have been told lately the waiting is the worst.

    I am glad that Tom got his hearing aids, they will open a whole new world to him.

    God bless.

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    1. Thank you Jackie and I'm sure you are right, the waiting is the worst. I wouldn't have to wait as long as I have for these tests but because of the pandemic they are just now trying to get everyone caught up on them. I am grateful Tom finally got the hearing aids but now he just needs to learn to wear them every day!

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  5. I had that upper GI test a couple of years ago and was so scared. Then it turned out to be really undramatic and soon done. Slight sore throat. So I wished I hadn't spent time worrying.

    I hope you have a similar easy experience and good results.

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    1. Thank you for your encouraging words. I think I am a little more nervous since I am having both tests and have that awful prep the day before. But I sure will be glad when they are over with!

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  6. That squirrel is a little monkey.
    Good luck with test results. Upper GI is no big deal. Lower GI, will, we all know and hate that one.

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    1. I sure agree about the lower GI. Thursday is my prep day and I dread that! That squirrel is a little monkey! I can't believe he tried to come in the house!

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  7. I hope all goes well for those two unpleasant tests. I've had them more than once. The preparation is the worst part. Once I was on the table all ready to go and the doctor had gone home to let his dog out. To say the least I was a little ticked at that one.

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    1. The doctor left to put his dog out? I would be ticked about that too! I agree with you, I don't look forward to the prep!

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  8. Oh, Bonnie - I'm so happy for you that you decided to go ahead with the upper GI. Your courage has give me courage as well. It's not silly at all to worry about them, but I hope you can look back afterward with relief and be able to say it wasn't so bad after all. (I'm sure you'll be relieved; it's the other half that we worry over, isn't it?) I'll be thinking about you on Friday. Please do let us know how it went. xx

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    1. Your very wise and encouraging post is part of the reason I finally agreed to have the scope test. Thank you. I just didn't think I would let the doctor talk me into having both tests at the same time! But I guess it's easier to just go through it all once instead of twice. And yes, these tests can be worrying but it will be all over by Saturday! xx

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  9. P. S. That squirrel! What a minx :)

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    1. I still can't believe the squirrel tried to come in the house! Can you imagine what the cats would have done!

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  10. I cluck like a hen also, but we got to do what we have to do. Good luck on Friday and I am sure everything will go well. The anxiety before is much worse than the procedures.

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    1. You are right, the anxiety before is the worst. Because of the pandemic many of these tests were not done for a while so now there is a backlog causing a longer wait and more worrying! Thank you so much for your encouragement!

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  11. Don't beat yourself up about not posting more often. This is your blog, and should be something you enjoy, not a burden. So, when you do not feel like posting, you do not post - and when you do feel like posting, you post. It's as simple as that :-D

    As for the tests, I would be very much like you, worrying and being somewhat scared. I've never had these done but I know from others that they are not pleasant, but necessary. Good job you'll be under full anaesthesy!

    Funny that the squirrel wants to come in in spite of your cats. He/she must know they are not exactly his friends!

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    1. Thank you for your understanding about posting. I enjoy blogging but I don't want to let it become "something I have to do" for that would take the joy out of it.

      Thanks also for your understanding about my silly nerves. Yes, that squirrel was a surprise considering both cats were right at the door!

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  12. Congrats for Tom getting hearing aids--for him and for you. And yes, they are ridiculously expensive.

    Will be thinking of you on Friday (and Thursday...though I have heard the newer prep stuff isn't as bad as the older one--from my lips to God's ear, eh? Let's hope you get the new stuff.). Having the tests together is actually better since it means only one time to go to the hospital, be medicated and wait for results. A bit less stressful than contemplating two separate events, yes? All the best.

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    1. Thanks for all your understanding and good thoughts Mary. I know it is better to go ahead and have both tests and get them done with although that has added to my nerves a bit. It will be great to have them both in the past! Thanks again Mary!

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  13. Glad Tom got his hearing aids. I know I need them, too, but too expensive. Been putting off medical stuff myself and can totally relate. I hope all goes well. :)

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  14. Thanks Rita, these things are easy to put off aren't they! I've been having some health issues that make it important I get them done. I'll just be glad when it's over! I'm such a chicken! Take care Rita!

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    1. The time for procradtinating is over for me, too.
      Sincerely,
      A fellow chicken. :(

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    2. We chickens will just support one another!

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  15. Hi Bonnie, I read your post yesterday but didn't comment straightaway. I think with these kind of tests it is always the thinking about it and the lead up that is worst and takes us back to the experiences we had when worrying that we would not be prepared enough for school exams and that kind of anxiety. I am sure you will be fine and I will be thinking of you. xxx

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    1. That's funny you mention school exams because I do remember doing a lot of worrying about those when I was younger even though I usually did well. Thank you Rachel for your kind words and support, I do appreciate it. xxx

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  16. Post when you want to and feel like it! As another said, it needs to be fun and not a chore and doesn't matter how often. I'll write separately about your tests and health issues.

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    1. Hi Charlie, it's always good to hear from you here. You are right, posting should be fun and usually it is for me. I've just had an off month and I'm a big chicken for these kinds of tests! It's nothing for you to worry about. You have enough to deal with right now. I'm counting down the days with you and I think you just have about five left!

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  17. Just sending you a virtual hug and good wishes for tomorrow, Bonnie :)

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    1. Oh Jenny, thank you so much! You kind thoughts really help. xx

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  18. Hi Bonnie, Well today is your big medical day...I pray you have good results from your tests. Rest and relax this weekend!

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    1. Thanks so much Connie. The tests went okay, as usual it was the day before (prep day) that was not fun! They did biopsies from both test but I won't get results for a week or two. I appreciate your prayers and good thoughts!

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  19. G'day Bonnie...I hope as I type my response you are feeling much better. There is no need for you to apologise for anything.

    It's difficult to get motivated these days...to get excited over much...or anything. A dark cloud, it seems, hovers heavily above.

    Take very good care...best thoughts and wishes go your way. :)

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    1. Hi Lee, thank you for your comment. I can tell you do understand where I'm coming from as I have had a lot of trouble with motivation recently. There does seem to be a dark cloud overhead at times. I hope you and your sweet babies are well. I loved seeing their pictures in your recent post!

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  20. Hahahaha ...... love the Squirrel Cat story !
    Just take one day at a time, I too also have nothing but tests going on and they are no fun.
    Ba Well

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    1. I understand what you say, sometimes it feels like medical tests are a full time job! That squirrel is a mess! He has tried to run in the house even with both cats waiting at the door! Thanks for stopping by - I hope you are well.

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  21. Well hello and I am glad to read your updates. Best of luck this Friday. I just had my colonoscopy recently and it wasn't as awful as I thought it was going to be but your mind does do a number on you as you worry about all of the things that you might have. And good job, Tom. It takes a little bit but the hearing aids are worth it. I have one and it has been a life changer. Take care.

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    1. I remember when you had your test - it does get your mind going doesn't it! I had both of my tests this last Friday but now I am waiting for biopsy results from both tests.

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  22. Good luck with the results from both tests.

    I've been a bad blogger too, a mixture of lockdown, eye issues and a lack of things to blog about hasn't inspired to write any new posts. I don't want to bore my followers to death.

    I hope your husband gets used to his hearing aids. My brother has them after a life of not hearing well, and he just couldn't cope with all the background noise he'd never heard in his life before.

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  23. Thanks for your good wishes, I'm still waiting for results. I'm not sure what happened to me but I've just had a hard time writing posts recently, so I sure understand what you are talking about.

    Tom is having trouble getting used to wearing the hearing aids too. I'm hoping with time he can adjust. Good luck to your brother with his hearing aids.

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  24. I'm just catching up with you here after all this time! It's so good to finally have some free time to spend reading blogs now that I'm off work for a few weeks. Don't worry about how often you blog. As others have said, you should only do it as often as you WANT to--it should be a pleasure, not a chore!

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    1. Thanks Jennifer, it is good to know that others understand. I never miss reading the list of blogs I follow but I'm not always the best at leaving comments. I'm hoping as I get to feeling a little better I'll be posting more.

      I sure hope your neck continues to improve. I was so happy to hear that you got some medication that helped you!

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  25. i too feel bad when i cannot blog regularly due to some reasons specially during traveling .
    i am glad your husband got his hearing aid at time and feeling better :) what a relief !

    i only had only big lazar surgery when my gallbladder was removed ,yes i was afraid and conditions for surgery and for tests before it seemed annoying indeed.

    wishing you all the best with all tests and tasks you dealing with!

    glad weather is cool and mowing is going to be fun :)

    more blessings to you and loved ones!

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  26. Hi Baili, thank you for stopping by and for all your kind words. I hope you and your family are doing well!

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