HostTracy

Sue I am trying to paint my spring world with lavender, blush, cool white, shades of blue and green. Trying to paint over the gray leafless trees and dormant grass. Also, again this winter I've had terrible Seasonal Affective Disorder abd sleep issues as well as chronic pain from 2 bulging c-spine discs and a shoulder issue. PT since October and about to have another MRI. I need a bit of color in my life...soft color. Little by little I'm adding snippets of color to my physical and mental world. Nature is coming right along with me... The 🌸 blooming trees are gorgeous, the grass is waking up, 🐦 birds are flying in from their winter vacation and I have a random patch of buttercups about to bloom🌷. I am a fellow philosophical at heart. Life is a journey and that journey is a rainbow... I'm still moving towards that pot of gold! This time of year just screams rebirth, renewal and full of joyful moments. You just have to look around you and take it in. ❤️

Janelle... I have missed you my friend. 😊 Surgery updates: I did have Varicose Vein therapy. Actually, I'm still seeing changes. I have found out that it takes a while for the discolorations and knotty feelings to dissipate but 75% of my skin looks so much better! I'm not sure if my legs have more stamina lol I sorta have an all over fatigue most of the time. The weight loss surgery hasn't happened... Yet. I was actually not approved by my current hospital due to my risk assessment. I have found another Dr. in Nashville with way better ratings who does more involved surgery (or more at risk surgery) and my plan is to make an consultation appointment sometime soon! 🙂 Ha ha Heather-I think it is official! Thank you for the welcome! I always knew I was a crazy cat lady... I just needed to embrace it. 🐱

We are all still adjusting (Kitty, Bella and I). Bella is lighting a fire under us older warm bodies (myself and Kitty) lol. She is, for some reason, obsessed with my A/C vents and has learned how to get it out of its hole in the floor. 🤨 Needless to say, I keep a water "don't do that" water spray bottle nearby. It's sort of tough though, since every room has at least one vent. 🤬 Or maybe it is vents in general... She likes to play behind my washer and dryer and this past week and ripped my dryer vent in half. So... Yes, Bella is a special addition to our family. Kitty and I sometimes just look at each other like "What the heck is wrong with her!". 😕 We ❤️ her though! Oh and Kitty has a new nickname... Bubby! I found myself calling them both kitty and so they both came lol.

Hello everyone I just wanted to invite everyone to come and join in at Room #2 Stroke Survivior Chat. I will be hosting Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-4 EST! 🙂 http://www.strokechat.net/ See you soon! I am hosting tonight's chat for Asha 🙂 come join!

Janelle, Bella is now part of my family ---> me, Kitty and Bella. Kitty loves her!

My heart breaks for Steve and family. His legacy has and will continue to touch so many stroke survivors, families and friends lives. Rest peacefully Steve and all my love and prayers. ❤️🙏🏼

Hello everyone I just wanted to invite everyone to come and join in at Room #2 Stroke Survivior Chat. I will be hosting Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-4 EST! 🙂 http://www.strokechat.net/ See you soon!

This entire thread resinates with me! Before my ex did a very not nice thing (a year after my stroke) and I left him and pursued my disability and my life... I had never lived alone. Seriously never. I was always the budget maker etc. Now my budget making skills are lacking a lot due to executive function defecits from the stoke. In other words I suck at it. Once I did get my disability. I had to utilize every bit of help I could find and now I live in my own home (OK one side of a duplex but it's my home). I am responsible for 100% of my bills, needs, wants, desires, etc. With just SSDI it is not a lot. I pretty much survive by not allowing anything beyond necessary. Ya'll it freaking lonely and depressing... But I feel so happy being on my own I don't think I want to share me with anyone at least not now. I still battle over what is a need, a want, etc. I mean I really feel like my monthly visit to Dollar Tree is a need for craft supplies. OK maybe a sanity need but doesn't that count. I digress, I find my budget never fits what I perceive as my needs and I have to make constant decisions to forego my sanity fund (lol). I can only imagine Kelli and I feel I can so understand your delemna. My family is constantly telling me I have start supplementing my SSDI and I don't feel like I can get out there and do it yet and my Dr. says he does not OK me "working" in any general sense of the word. But my reality is what it is and I know things will have to change eventually for me to survive. The whole thing is a anxiety ridden struggle. I certainly have never been in my current situation before. Each new day is 100% new. My brains ability to even process it is questionable. The struggle is real. I'm here for a whine hearing if ever needed lol I probably will hope for reciprocation. In all cases all of you have my ❤️.

Hello everyone I just wanted to invite everyone to come and join in at Room #2 Stroke Survivior Chat. I will be hosting Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-4 EST! 🙂 http://www.strokechat.net/ See you soon!

So many blessings Sue! So happy for you and thank you for sharing!

Wow Allen! I am so excited to hear your continuing progress in this area. Please keep us up to date and many blessings!

Kev Happy New Year and many blessings to go with it. I hope you get a chance to make it to Paris sooner rather than later! Learning a new language has been sort of my thing this past year though I am far from good lol. Gaelic (a dying language but my Maiden Name is Gaelic) and brushing up on my Spanish (ok so really starting fresh because lol I dont remember anything). I've been using a free app called DuoLingo. Good luck with the French!!!