SweetMom

Stroke Survivor - female
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Everything posted by SweetMom

  1. Along with the different hats we wear as a wife, mother and extrordinaire, the hats for caregiver are vast compared. I was that caregiver for 10 years to my late husband who had stage 4 lymphoma. Not the same, but not different either. Now that I am on the other side, I can see the hardships on both sides. I'm so sorry. But you may want to put that fishing hat on of your dads, throw a line out (no bait, you don't really want to catch anything) and sit back and enjoy the moment. Maybe make some turtle soup, but beware of the hare in it. Love ya girl
  2. Sue I was a caregiver for my late husband for 10 years when he had cancer. Everyday was a new day. Just get thru it. Wake up and start another new day. I gladly did it.
  3. I'm sorry honey. Hang in there. We're here for you.
  4. Stroke wife, I was a caregiver for my late husband (stage 4 Lymphoma) for 10 years. I know caregiving a stroke survivor is different. I are one. I wasn't then. The end goal is never quite the same, however the process is alike in many ways. Just getting thru each day can be a struggle with everything that has to be done on top of the everyday stuff. Its Overwhelming. I was happy to just get thru each day. Fall into bed, sleep, get up, do it again. You know turtle soup with a little hare in it is better than elephant. LOL
  5. The summer where I live is very hot so I only had trouble in the winter, but after my strokes, its all the time. I must wear the softest socks. I cannot wear terry cloth on my feet, unless I turn them inside out. I wear rubber rain/garden boots year round. Those things are cold. I just started using this cream called CeraVu on my heals and the cracking seemed to start clearing up immediately. Its expensive, but cheaper than a dr. visit. Kelli, thank you Tracy, I also do research on Raynaud's and try to find out what different things to try alleviate the symptoms. And on top of that I have the neuropathy in my left foot and calf. Its a crap shoot if ya ask me. What works one day seems like it doesn't work the next time. I hope we all find some relief soon.
  6. ​Like y'all winter is no friend of mine. Starting about sept my left foot and toes start going to sleep, turns blue/black and then the cracked skin. Oooooohhhhh the pain. Its always in the same spot too. I refuse to go to the wound center again. My insurance doesn't pay much on that and I get billed for the rest. I cannot keep paying out of pocket for dr. visits like that.
  7. Tracy, I know what you mean. I live in the county. On 1.25 acres. Our street is dead end on both ends and I and 3 neighbors live on one end. We keep our gate locked as our house is at least 200 ft from the gate. When I first moved here the police usually came to the other end of the street every weekend. Meth dealers. Finally they cleaned up that end of the street. It's usually peaceful now.
  8. I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this but if not, someone can move it. Anyway I saw where someone else has Raynauds Syndrome. I have it too. I have a lot of trouble with my left foot and toes and my fingertips on both hands. The doctors in the emergency room found it before I had my strokes. ​I have a lot of trouble with it in the winter. My whole left foot will go to sleep and won't wake up. It also turns black or blue and I get sores where my heal will crack and gets infected. Its not as bad since I am not waitressing anymore, but was really bad then. The cold weather is the worst. I have a real bad sore on my heal now which makes it hard to walk. And I need to do more christmas shopping.
  9. Thank You my friend. As I feel the same for you and about this site.
  10. Do You Believe in Angels? I do, and this is why: When I was 12 years old, we had just moved half way across the country from California to Texas. It was my 3 biological siblings and my stepbrother, my mom and my stepfather. My stepsister still lived in California. We were a Military family. Disciplined. My little brother and I had just began to walk back and forth to school. (Remember, its the 1960's) One day while I was walking home for lunch, I accidentally went out the wrong gate. I couldn't find my brother and thought he had went ahead of me, so I continued on............the wrong way. I found myself in a not-so-nice section of town. I was crying and wondering why I couldn't find my way home. Then out of the blue an elderly gentleman appeared and asked me if I was lost and told me that I should not be on that side of town. I just knew I could trust this man. He did not grab me or try to take my hand. He asked me where I lived and I couldn't remember the address, but I did remember the street and the church across the street from our house. This elderly gentleman walked me home and watched while I crossed a busy street. When I told my mom about why I was late she looked out and could not find the elderly gentleman anywhere. I do believe this elderly gentleman was an angel sent to keep me safe. There have been other miracles in my life where I believe angels were watching over me. Thank Goodness. Sincerely, SweetMom (Donna)
  11. I'm going cabin camping and am so excited. I can't wait to out fish my husband. LOL
  12. Well now its august. Picking everyday or trimming. I've been having medical problems, gall bladder, kidney stones. The surgeon won't take out gall bladder until I go to a neurologist to see why I had the strokes. Now thats a problem, because the only neurologist in this town is booked to the gills. 1 yr or more out. the next neurologist is in another town 70 miles away is about 3-5 months out.
  13. SweetMom

    Zipline

    Thats on my bucket list
  14. SweetMom

    Broken Hearts

    I, along with the rest lift you and your family up in prayer. You will eventually find peace in your many memories. Sincerely, SweetMom (Donna)
  15. I've been planting all this week. However, I guess I pulled a stomach muscle and the last 2 days have been agony. I have more tomato plants to plant but I hurt so much, I can't get out there. It seems the straw bales are working. My peppers are doing great (crossed fingers). I will add pictures when I get everything planted.
  16. I started 19 tomato plants, I ended up with 6 to plant. I planted 4 so far, the wind broke 1 off. So now waiting for the wind to die down. I have to go out and buy more plants now. But the straw bales seem to be working well. crossing my fingers with a little prayer.
  17. Happy Anniversary SweetMom!

  18. We do however have to add fertilizer and nutrients when planted in the straw bales
  19. This year we are growing a garden in straw bales. The weeds have literally taken over so it was either raised beds or straw bales. First we treated the straw bales with high nitrogen fertilizer and steer manure and water to break down the straw bales. We used black plastic to speed up the process. Next we will plant tomatoes, peppers, herbs, lettuce, veggies, veggies, veggies, etc...... in the rotted bales. The veggies like that. Using the straw bales will help with the weed problem and I cannot bend over very good, so planting in the ground is a problem. We also have a mini orchard next to the straw bale garden so I may plant watermelon seeds in the tree wells. When we plant trees here in the desert, we must first dig a small well to fill with water to keep the trees alive during the summer. Its very rewarding to have fresh veggies to eat. We sometimes go to the farmers market and either trade or sell our veggies. One year, we had a very good crop of tomatoes. I picked 50 lbs in 1 day. I went to the farmers market that day and since I was the only one with tomatoes, I sold 50 lbs in 8 minutes. That was rewarding. Other years we got wiped out by the leaf jumpers. Everyone did. Those little pests wiped us out 2X. This year I am so excited about the straw bale garden. I hope the picture shows up. I will try to give updates as the summer progresses. Be Humble and Kind SweetMom