In Remembance of Those who Served

Memorial Day Weekend

With my new insurance I have coverage for some doctors I did not have before, which makes me in network for the local headache specialty clinic.  I have an appointment there mid June to see a new headache specialist.  I love my Kansas City doctor, Doc Optimist, but with The Legs bothering me it is getting very difficult to drive that far.  Doc Optimist did her specialty residency at this clinic, so I hope the new headache specialist will have the same positive attitude.  

I am now taking Flexeril (a muscle relaxer) instead of soma for The Legs, per Dr. SassyPants' suggestion.  I have taken it in the past, not the best drug for me as it makes me a bit sick to the stomach.  Last night and tonight I am breaking out in big patches of hives.  It could be the Fexeril, or it could just be I'm in the mood for hives, sometimes it is hard for me to discern the cause.  The pelvic pain, which was at the bearable stage, is not doing too well this evening.  Don't think the Flexeril will be much help, never worked very well in the past for this so don't expect it to now, but I'm willing to give anything a try!

My medical appointments are starting to stack up, since I am trying to fit them in between this install and the next install.  So far in June I have physical therapy scheduled three times a week for about three weeks, a new immunologist appointment, a new headache specialist appointment, a visit to the pain management clinic for evaluation of possible treatments (which could include yet another assessment for a nerve stimulator), a regular PCP visit, and a followup appointment in Cleveland for the stimulator study.  I'm gonna have to get a daily planner to keep track of all of them...Whew!

The Belly is starting to give me fits again, all because in a moment of weakness I ordered some home made crinkle cut french fries at a restaurant last week while on the road.  They were deeeelicious but I have been paying for that mistake for days.

It's Memorial Day weekend, so in addition to having a good time with friends and family, please take a moment to remember our fallen soldiers and loved ones who are no longer with us.  I am praying especially hard this weekend for protection of all of our men and women active in the service of this country, putting themselves in harm's way so we don't have to.  Buy a poppy from a veteran if you can!

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

Passing on the Torch

I have wonderful Nieces and Nephews

This Memorial Day weekend is the third year in a row I have not been able to make the trip north to decorate graves. My mother and I made the trip every year, and go the rounds to clean up around headstones and put out flowers. This year two of my nieces stepped up and did some decoration for us. I ordered flowers for my father's grave and had them delivered to the cemetary, so my Mom felt that we showed that we remembered him.

One niece who lives nearby the cemetary called to say she was going to decorate Grandpa Jay's grave, and another niece and her husband decided to make a side trip on their weekend jaunt and visit and decorate most of the graves my mother and I generally did. I feel very relieved and grateful these kids (they are all around 30 years old so I guess they aren't kids any longer) would do this for their grandmother. Mom just doesn't have the energy she did since she had surgery for colon cancer, and I am just plain down and out this weekend, unable to do much at all.

My mother came from an extremely large family, and there are only three of them left now. This weekend is always a time to relflect on those no longer with us and value those who are still here. The gift of comfort my nieces gave their grandmother this weekend is priceless.