January Recap

Jan 3         Marvin died peacefully at 8:30AM.  Sandy, Lizzie and I to Black Angus.
Jan 4         Deliver chocolates to Fresenius. In'n'Out. Clean fridge.
Jan 5         Drink Veuve Cliquodt champagne. And Margaritas.
Jan 6         El Cholo
Jan 7         Sandy left to SLC.  12/60 Pub
Jan 8         T to rehab
Jan 9         Rain. Lizzie and I to Cerritos Mortuary.  Lizzie left to SD
Jan 12       With Jennifer to Olive Garden
Jan 13       Sandy & Marty to Mazatlan. N all day helping take out Xmas lights.
Jan 16       Hair Salon.
Jan 17       Rose Hills called. Cremation. Lunch with Jennifer.
Jan 20       Lizzie over. To Auntie's
Jan 22       With Lizzie to Rose Hills. Ashes and flag.  Señor Campos. Lizzie to SD
Jan 23        Dinner to Cuban Restaurant Moro's with Amy.
Jan 28       N all day. Clean Jacuzzi etc. In'n'Out. Have a cold.
Jan 31       Full blood blue moon eclipse. Got up at 5:00AM

I also cleaned and packed and gave away M's clothes. Clean bathroom etc. Also talked to Dewey and Bettie and Sonia. It's lonely but Lulu is good company.

BOOKS I READ IN JANUARY

MOVIES I WATCHED IN JANUARY

Life goes on...

It's been over 3 weeks since Marv died. Sandy wrote a very meaningful post explaining how his last days were. So I won't write anything else about it, just happy that he got to spend his last days with the people he loved and loved him. Thank you Sandy and Lizzie for all you did.

I've kept busy.  I  cleaned his closet and dresser, I packed and gave away his clothes to Goodwill. I got rid of most of his medical supplies, boxes and boxes of them.  I cleaned the bathroom, emptied all the drawers, super cleaned the toilet and the floors and the tub, I sanitized everything, it looks sparkling!

With time, I would like to make up the guest room into a regular bedroom, and keep his room as an office. That will take time.

On January 22, Lizzie and I went to the Rose Hills Mortuary  and were given a box with Marvin's ashes, and a US flag, since he was an Army Veteran

                                                          The box is a heavy gold tin,

                                                      I haven't taken the plastic cover yet. 

                                       It has his name, date of death and date of cremation. 

                         Right now the box and the flag are on top of his dresser, in his bedroom.

Lizzie has been helping me with a lot of the paperwork. It's unbelievable how much there is to do! Like changing everything to my name, deleting most of his credit cards, of course paying the bills, and a lot more.  I will also try to make a budget for myself since I will not receive anything from his SS, or his pension (that's how we set it up).

I think I'm doing OK. I do have some lonely moments just me and Lulu at home, no one to talk to. Even though Marvin was a man of few words, it was nice to discuss the days happenings with him. I miss that. I do have some crying moments, sometimes is the small things that get to me...
I have lost some weight because I find it hard to cook just for me, but I've been eating out quite a bit. Today I weigh 175 lbs, which is the lowest I've been for a long time.

For the last 6 years, my main purpose was taking care of Marvin, taking him to dialysis and to the doctors, making him comfortable at home, of course taking care of his colostomy (I don't miss that!)
We didn't do very much other than the usual routine, but we tried to go out to eat a couple of times a month. And of course enjoying the girl's visits.

 Right now I feel a little lost. But there's a lot to do, and life goes on.

Recap of 2017

JANUARY

Lizzie and Sonia and Nicole to LM from SD

Sonia and Nicole back to Barcelona

Lizzie to SD.  Rain

To LN with N. French Bistro

M Podiatry. Rain

Sandy’s knee surgery. All well.

 Dr Chapra podiatry

Lizzie to Austin, then to SLC to be with Sandy

Dodge to dealer. M feels weak

Trump’s Inauguration. Lots of rain

FEBRUARY

52nd Wedding Anniversary. We had a cold

Oscars and SuperBowl

DNA results

MARCH

Marv had a procedure done on the 10^th

I had a Mammogram on the 6^th. Needs to be retaken

 Marv dermatology visit the 27^th. Lip biopsy.

Had to Fix our heater

Lunch with N at HB El Ranchito

Lizzie came over bur got sickly at lunch L

Tristan turned 19 years old.

APRIL

To wound nurse

Radiology for me

Podiatry for both of us

Lulu vaccine and salon

Dermatology for me – Lip surgery for M

Marvin’s 77^th birthday. Lizzie over.

Sick with flu April 22, whole week.

New family member : Eddie Thegel

MAY

M’s Computer meltdown

Mother’s Day yumminess and love from my girls J

M. pain on his hip for two days. On our way to ER getting in the car we heard his hip crack.  Broken hip. May 15

Stressed. Had my hair done.

M to rehab  May 18

Girls to Savannah, GA

Lizzie came over May 28-29

Post Op visit. Doing OK. Using walker.     
  

JUNE

M recovering. Get bath bench. Physical Therapist

Pain on my saide, stress&indigestion

Pick lots of tomatoes

Sandy turned 51 J

Lizzie over for Father’s Day, to Black Angus los 3.

JULY

Lizzie to Michigan

Seal Beach with N

Appointment with my new Dr Tran

Nuri’s 76^th BD talk to her and Monica and Sonia later

Sandy and Lizzie over. All of us to El Cholo –July 16

M leg pain. To ER July 22. Cellulitis. Released July 24

AUGUST

Eye infection and anxiety meltdown.

Urgent care and ER. Hip wound infection August 3

Lizzie over. M released August 9

Spider/bug bites on my legs.

Nurses and physical therapists

Terrorism attack in Las Ramblas. August 17

Total eclipse of the sun  August 21

Huge floods in Texas  August 25

SEPTEMBER

M felt sick

Talk to Nuri and Monica.. Lizzie over. M haircut.

Very bad day September 12

Mia’s 63^rd birthday

Girls to Outer Banks NC vacation

Seal Beach. La crema. Harbor House

M didn’t feel well, got transfusions. Leg red and swollen L

Pain on the side of my right knee.

OCTOBER

Catalan referendum for Independence from Spain

Massacre in Las Vegas 58 dead.

Lunch at Ruby’s with N

Wound nurse. To orthopedics. M’s hip has healed.

Edison worked on electric poles

Bought 2018 Honda with M.

Brought car home.

NOVEMBER

To my doctor and radiology, all well. Hair done

Financial advisor over.

M sick at night. Disoriented. Called 911

To ER. Pneumonia. Nov.9 – Released Nov 12

Lizzie over.  Bettie and Lee over

Get mustang panels

Lizzie’s 46^th BD

Thanksgiving with Lizzie, Norbert and Marv

Talk to Sandy about T

DECEMBER

December 5, M was not feeling well. He was very cold.

Went to dialysis and his BP was very low. They called the paramedics. To ER

Everything  was closing down, his breathing, BP etc. Inserted breathing tube and to ICU

Lizzie came over.

To ICU Hard times, bleeding colostomy, Strep Pneumonia, heart, breathing tube, blood pressure…

My 74^th BD. Sandy over. To Marshall’s shopping spree. El Cholo.

Next day to Sunset and Pacific City

M transferred to post ICU. Bad room 2321. His brother and sisters over.

December 21 – Marv made the decision to stop dialysis and come home for the holidays.

Great sad family Christmas. Saying goodbye.

Home hospice. 

December 31. Very weak but the girls and me drank a toast with him to 2018.

Saying goodbye

My husband died peacefully yesterday at home 

with his daughters and me by his side.

May he rest in peace. 

He will be missed.

I love you

1940-2018

ICU

This month didn't start well, and it kept getting progressively worst.

M has not been feeling too well, on the 5th, after dialysis, he came home shivering and cold and went to bed. He wanted more blankets and still was cold. The next day he was feeling a little better but had nausea and didn't eat much. On Thursday I took him to dialysis and he needed the wheelchair, when I went to pick him up, his blood pressure was very low and they called the ambulance to take him to ER. I followed.  He stayed in the ER for quite a while with doctors working over him, he couldn't breathe, his blood pressure was  extremely low. He didn't look good :(   After doing some more tests, they took him to ICU. Lizzie came that night to keep me company and to see what was happening. The next day they inserted a breathing tube, he was somewhat responsive but was very sedated. We stayed there for a while, then went to lunch and went back to talk to the doctor.  The doctor was very straight with us and said there were quite a few things  going on in his body that they were trying to stabilize.  He couldn't breathe on his own, had a mild heart attack, and had strep pneumonia. His blood pressure was still very low. The doctor was not very positive as to the outlook.
The next 2 days were about the same, sedation, on life support, But he was breathing on his own for a little while at a time. Saturday he had dialysis by the bedside.
On Sunday still at ICU, the doctor decided to pull the breathing tube off since he had the breathing tube turned off and he did well breathing on his own. He was able to talk a little with Lizzie and me and they will keep him in ICU tonight and if  all goes well he will be transferred to a regular hospital room.
Tomorrow Monday we'll go back to the hospital to see if he's still in ICU or they transfered him. After that Lizzie will go back to SD.  Sandy is coming Friday and will spend a couple of days in San Diego with Lizzie and then they will come here for my birthday and of course to see what's going on with their father.
With all this happening, plus the added stress of some problems with my grandson, I haven't had any time or felt like doing any Christmas shopping or decorate the house etc. ::sigh::  I feel tired and sleepy all the time. It's been really nice having Lizzie here. driving me around and keeping me company.  I'm looking forward to having my two girls here  :)

Let's hope things keep improving.

I want to mention the the ICU doctor and nurses were very professional and efficient and they answered every question and were patient and treated M really well. Thank you!

'Tis the season...

22 days till Christmas and I have not got into the Christmas spirit at all. I haven't done any shopping online or at the stores. I haven't even attempted to decorate the house inside or outside (N may come put on some lights).   Anxiety is rearing its ugly head!

Today was not my best day. It must be the full moon. The main problem is I ran out of the bags I need for M to change. Unbelievable! I've prided myself all these years to have supplies ready, actually quite a bit more than we need and yet, today, I was totally out. And it's Sunday. Tomorrow I will call as soon as they open and see if they can send me some urgent supplies, if not I will have to drive around until I find a place that sells them (hard to find). I'm super glad is Monday and no dialysis!

Then I was outside  watering the plants and just doing some yard work. I decided to put some bird food out. I tried to hang the bird feeder and I took my little step stool and couldn't reach the spot, I should have given up and try to choose another spot more reachable but since I am a badass I tried again. No I didn't fall. But came close. Whew!

I was going to cook boneless spareribs for dinner. I checked for some easy recipes, the one I chose said to boil the ribs with some water and spices until tender and then put them in the oven with some barbecue sauce until done. So I did the first part, then I forgot about it. When I went to check on them, they had all but disintegrated. Oh well.

November Recap

As all months, November had its ups and downs...

Nov. 3   Went to my new doctor and new building. Happy with both
Nov. 6    Our financial advisor came to our home to recap. It's all good.
Nov. 7    Went to Radiology for a follow up breast scan. All good.
Nov. 8    Hair cut and color with Jessica, very nice. Marvin felt sick at night.
Nov. 9    M woke up disoriented . Called 911. They helped me get him in the car and drove to ER
Nov 10   M was admitted at the hospital with pneumonia. Lizzie came over.
               Lulu had a visit to salon, plus had a shot and a check up, and her flea pills.  $350.
Nov 11   With Lizzie to see M at hospital. Lunch at Noodles and Co.
Nov 12   M released from Hospital, feeling better. Lizzie back to SD
Nov 13   I cancel my appointment to get new glasses.  Bettie and Lee came over to see M
Nov 16   N came over to take my Mustang to have the panels reglued. Lunch at the Filipino Xpress
Nov 17   Post hospital stay check up. I went to get my Mustang all fixed.
Nov 19   Lizzie's 46th Birthday
Nov 21   Lizzie came over and will stay until Sunday.
Nov 23   Thanksgiving with Lizzie and N. Grilled steaks and allioli and pies. Face time with                               Sandy, Marty and T
Nov 24   Talk to Sonia. Lunch at Capriottis
Nov 25    Lunch at Toast with Lizzie. Pizza for dinner.
Nov 26    M haircut
Nov 28    Talk with Sandy about T

BOOKS I READ THIS MONTH

MOVIES I WATCHED THIS MONTH

HELLO