Update on Matt

I sent Matt a text Merry Christmas and he called me back and we talked for quite a long time and then he also sent me these pictures on Christmas.  He really appreciated my reaching out and we plan to stay in touch.  

Marnie, the sister of his Dad Mark (behind Matt in pix) reached out to Matt and asked him to come and help  them in Wixom, Michigan where she lives with her husband, son Austin (in lower picture) and now she is also caring for Matt's grandfather.  The grandmother died this past year and they are readying his house to sell and he will be living at her home.  Thus she needs Matt's help.

Also Matt and then Mark came also to get the house all ready for selling and now Matt will also be selling the furniture etc.

It is a good place for Matt to be as he furthers himself from the drug scene and all the toxic involvements.  He feels secure and has work to do and he is also trying to straighten out some things so he can get licensed as a "line man".  These are the guys who do the electrical etc work on the overhead wires and such.  Matt has amazing skills and a great work ethic and he is determined to get his life under control.  I think it is a miracle he is still alive and feel he has something special to share with the world.

Matt is the grandchild who worked on my lot so much to make the individual rock gardens, keep it cleaned up, prepared the area for the river rock patio, etc.  So we spent a lot of time together and I always appreciated his caring so much to help me.

Mark and his wife have five acres in Arkansas and have a life away from California also.  They like it.

Interesting they all have the beards but the dog.

Marnie trains or raises dogs for something (forgot what) and has several other businesses going.  Very busy lady

 Austen is taking his tests to become a CPA!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2022

We had Christmas Eve dinner at James' house and Meagan and Matt's family were there which made us all happy.

James did the turkey and between us we somehow got the stuffing and mashed

potatoes done and James had gotten some frozen rolls which were very good.

Meagan brought a huge pumpkin and apple pie and whipped cream.

I had made the Romney version of pistachio salad and Christmas Cookies and frosting.

Unfortunately I get too tired as is evidenced by this picture but everyone else looks good!!!

We had fun with white elephant gifts and James read us a little story and the children dressed up in the costumes that Camber has collected.  So Christmas 2002 was with family, yea, not alone!!!

Jacob was back from Hawaii and Lea was back from Bali and Kelsi was here but Jimmy had to work at the restaurant Jake's.

 I was late getting up but went over at 1:20 Christmas Day and had leftovers and we opened the presents under the tree.  I was too exhausted to go to Church even but I enjoyed the Tabernacle Choir and Treeo Christmas Ward Meeting on You Tube.

The Hardys were invited to a Christmas party at one of Camber's and Kelsi's friends home in Rancho Santa Fe so I went home to nap and they had more.

 Christmas.  I can only do so much partying!!!   

Christmas Sunday with the Hardys at Poinsettia Ward

Christmas Sunday with all the Pulsiphers in Las Vegas

The Three Boys of 2022 from the Pulsipher Clan

 Cohen, born in January (Tanner and Marissa's), Calvin, born in August (Amy and Joe's) and Rowan, born in May (Kelly and Collin's)

Linda said it took them all day to get this one shot because of different baby schedules, moods and etc!!!

Kelsi and I

Kelsi sent over this picture taken earlier this month.  Wow, do I look old or what--90 next month and it shows...need that lipstick!

 

Calvin

Calvin Travis born on August 8 to Amy and Joe and he loves to stand up!!  They are all currently in Las Vegas for Christmas and it is Kristi's birthday so celebrating at her house.

 

Easter 1937 and Christmas 1937 and 1940 in Glendive, Montana

Pictures from David's Book of Remembrance 

1--These are pictures I do not remember seeing before in my books but the first picture is Easter

on the South Side at the white house on the corner.  This was the third house we lived in in Glendive

and I was probably 4 in spring 1937.

 

Those are huge buttons on our coats.  I assume they came from the Karl Johnson store Dad was 

managing.  But I know I wore a lot of hand me downs.  I wonder if Mom got things from rummage

sales, too.  We all look very nice though you can see scuffed shoes and David's pants are not new.

We did not have a lot of money, that I know.  When I eventually get to go to school, I remember

wearing clothes more than one day in a row and changing after school and hanging up my dress or

blouse and skirt with straps.  Actually those are the only school clothes I remember in first grade. 

 Luckily the store clothes will become a great blessing in our life, especially in high school and college.

These look like small Easter baskets by today's standards.  We would have had our hair rolled up in

rags the night before to make it curl on the end.  We would have been going to the Congregational

Sunday School where Dad sang in the choir.

2-It is winter and we are wearing anklets which is interesting.  I have on a different coat and David just 

has on a sweater.  This is also on the South Side and was probably 1937 because Carole has 

evidently not been born yet and we have our Christmas dolls.  This was the Christmas where Mom 

had us follow strings to find our dolls and David got the Kayo doll.  

I am not sure if it is the same Christmas Marilyn got a tricycle and it seemed the whole living room floor

was full of things.  That Christmas must have been a very good year at the store!  So the bountiful year

with an electric mixing bowl for Mom  and a tricycle may have been 1938 or 39.

We moved to a this house on the North Side Heights the summer of 1940 and we have our Christmas 

dolls so Carole would be 2 and I would be in second grade.   She was born in November of 1938 and I 

turned 6 in January 1939 and went to first grade on the south side at Lincoln School in September.

Dad was able to purchase this house and we had lived in 4 other houses since moving there in 1934.

This house was about a hundred years old I think.   It was remodeled when I was at college.  The man

looks familiar but can't think who he is, salesman or?  We often had missionaries eat with us but why a 

single man?  I usually wore pigtails.

Update on Health Care

I was having all these thigh muscle aches and so Dr. Pham suggested an x-ray of the lower back and then physical therapy.

So I went to the first appointment at Coastal Pain and he ordered an MRI.

However, in the meantime my prescription for rosuvastatin was refilled and Dr Pham said to take it at night.  So I started doing that and lo and behold I have not had the pain so on Dec 19 I called into my Doctor's office and told them to cancel it all!! 

I was talking to Jean from Clear Creek Ward and she said they have had her doing physical therapy for pains in her legs and it has not helped at all.  And Stephanie said she was thinking of giving up her physical therapy.

In February 2011 they did the lumbar laminectomy at Scripps because arthritic calcium was pressing on the nerves and causing the thigh aches.  It took a long recovery but really worked but I do not want anymore surgery.+

I think I will just keep walking and start using the jacuzzi and see if it continues not to hurt!!!

I need to up my Calcium, do some weight bearing exercises (have not started yet) and keep walking!  

At Home and at Park City this Week

Linda invited Kelsi and James to dinner the night before they went to Utah and thought it was cute that they were both doing the same thing.

A Few Days Later at Park City, Snowboarding

Sarah and Ethan are with the Pulsiphers at Sweetwater in Park City for the day.

Tanner snowboards and Marissa and Cohen enjoy the snow.

 

Lunch with Johnny and Maria, Christmas 2022

Linda and Gary are in Park City and Maria and Johnny will be at Johnny's work location near Walnut Creek, Ca.  Johnny added these poinsettias to the front porch and Maria put some presents under the tree.  They had invited James and I to lunch and we went to Miguel's by McDonalds and had excellent food and talk.  I had made her and Johnny some raisin bars and cookies.

Had not seen them since I went to Utah in 2021!!!!

  

On Christmas Day we opened the presents Maria had left and I received this lovely cup that Maria sells on a site.  She does the art, etc herself as therapy and is now making a business of her art.  Very nice!

Masseys have a New Christmas Puppy, 2022

Meagan and family are going to join us for Christmas Eve!!!  Us is James' family and Me at the Hardy house in Carlsbad.

They named the new pup Bandit!!!

 Keira and Bandit

Carole and tne St Lucia tradition

Carole taught her grandchildren about the Swedish tradition and then dressed them with all the perfect outfits.  Very nice.

 

Early Christmas with the Hardy Family, 2022

Since Linda and Gary will be in Las Vegas with all their family for Christmas, she had the Hardys over for dinner, gingerbread house competition and white elephant.

It was a very fun party and we played a game at the end which Lea kept saying was very good therapy, and we laughed a lot.

 

 Unfortunately Camber has been in the hospital for almost 90 days and we miss her so much!!!

                              

 Christmas 2022 with the Hardy Family and Sadie!

Christmas is Near, 2022

I have been listening to a supposed Christmas station for several days.  There is not one Christmas Carol or any reference to Christ is the music.  Evidently Jesus has been cancelled in America by the media.  So Sad.  I am glad I still have my own Christmas records.

I have just realized something else that once you are a Great Grandma you are last on the list of most family members thoughts.  Easy to understand, everyone has children or grandchildren and that is who Christmas is centered around.

I am just happy to have wonderful memories, in my mind and in my blog and books. 

I have lost quite a few pounds this week while I have been sick, back to what I was when I moved into Treeo and then I gained about 20 or more pounds.  Ate too much there.  Still recuperating and do not have much of an appetite.

Janet, 90 in January, yikes!

Thanksgiving Dinner and Tree and Rowan

 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with Kelly contributing two kinds of rolls, one with orange flavoring and frosting and one plain all in crescent shape.  They rose so well and were so good.  

Craig contributed two pies he made, one pecan and the other pumpkin with a streusel pecan top.  Linda made the traditional apple and Gary had made a wonderful pumpkin cheesecake the day before.  All were amazing delicious.

Linda and Gary cooked the turkey in a new flat way with the backbone removed.  Linda made a traditional stuffing and cranberry sauce with the berries and it was all so good.

Someone made the mashed potatoes and gravy, no sure who but so perfect and traditional fresh cooked green beans.

James and Kelsi came over, Craig from LA and Collin was back from the hospital he has been working at.

Rowan was a little feverish so Kelly and Collin took turns rocking him and eating.

Of course, I forgot to take any pictures!!!  But we did decorate the tree on Thanksgiving Eve.

First of all a picture of some of the chefs, where is Linda?

And Rowan is such a doll and smiles for me.

Doing his work, trying to reach and turn over, something!

 

Thanksgiving Today.

Yesterday I rode with James to take Camber her burrito, etc that she had requested.  James was in with her for awhile so I practiced the songs I sing to Rowan to try and remember all the words I have forgotten!!!!  I will have to request the words to some on my phone.

UCSD has refused to take Camber though a doctor there said he would treat her.  They are low on beds and need the ones they have for their Emergency Room patients.  They also don't like lateral patients (move from one hospital to another).  She is also not eating except for the burrito, etc James brings her each day she requests it.  They have to use a IV and she will not go to the bathroom or open her eyes except occasionally say something.  She has been in the hospital almost 50 days or so.  She tries to fight off the meds but is very weak.  She will not cooperate in any means to get herself well.

James told me yesterday that 2 and 1/2 years ago when they were lunching at their favorite french restaurant in the mall that she began to keep her eyes closed and not comb her hair or anything.  She had had the trauma of remembering her next door neighbor and the abuse he gave her when she was around 11 or 12 when they were in court and a pedophile was before the judge.  With all the other stresses of what is going on in their life she just went into a deep depression and got worse and worse.  She refused to leave her room or care for herself or eat or open her eyes.  Just stayed in bed all day with the TV on part of the time.

One night she became hysterical and Jacob took her to the hospital because he did not know what else to do and she has been there ever since.  It is so sad.  Linda sent me a picture or laying there but asked me not to share.  Sooo so sad and James feels so guilty for all the stress she has do to his current problems.  He also had a heart attack about 2 and a half years ago and is being treated for diabetes.

He stays sane only because he is currently working with Kent on a marketing project they have been hired for and it takes lots of planning and work but may just be the way to get income into the home again.     

Christmas Decorating at Hardy Home, 2022

James invited me to come help him decorate the Christmas tree that Mimi (Mary, Camber's Mom) bought for last Christmas.  James hung up the sox.  Kelsi is to finish hanging bulbs etc on the top of the tree.

James or someone had put up some Christmas from the storage and the house looks very nice.

New Doctor, Scripps in Carlsbad, Daily Current Meds

 Dr Michael Pham, DO at the Scripps Health Clinic at 2176 Salk Ave in Carlsbad is my new Primary Doctor and Internist.  I thought I wanted to switch back to United Health Care instead of Scan which I am in now because there seemed to be more benefits but after our appointment I do not want to switch.

He is very knowledgeable and caring and I want to stay with him.  He says no more surgeries for me but he wants to help me stay healthy and doing well.  He is sending me to a Physical Therapist to help me lose this pain in my thighs.  It does stem from the back and they did an xray of the lower back and it shows a lot of deterioration.

I had calcium scraped from certain discs in 2011 and it took the pain away but I do not want anymore surgery and neither does he, so see how this goes at Coastal Pain, especially for this type of thing.

I told Linda it takes me a long time in the morning because of all I have to do to my body to have a good day breathing well and not itching.  Since 2015 I have been treated for the skin itching, dermatitis, eczema, rosacea etc and have a fairly itch free life if I do it all.  So for Linda and anyone else caring for me when my mind goes, here is my morning routine.

1. Shower only with products free from certain chemicals and such.  I use Aveeno Body Wash.  (Also wash my clothes in the free and gentle detergent.

2. Use the scrub brush on arms and legs to keep dry flakiness away.  Wash the face with this prescription dandruff shampoo.

3.  If washing hair, use Aveeno or another chemical free shampoo.*  Kenra Mousse and then blow dry.

4. *15 minutes later put Metronidazole (prescription) on the face and 5 min after that you can use Aveeno moisturizer and collagen and makeup on the face (Este Lauder does not make my face itch).  The Neosporin is used on my belly button which sometimes gets red and itchy from heat from all the Ceasarean flab left around it.  And the Tri....Acetonide cream (prescription) is used on a growth on my right ab and the back of my right leg when they grow and get irritable. Can also be used on flair ups of eczema on the neck.  And Aquaphor or Cerave for the itch and healing.

5. The red jar or Cerave which is anti itch cream is used on my arms and legs to prevent itching during the day.  Use deodorant under arms.  Any non cancerous spots can be healed by aquaphor or the Tri...ace.

6. AM meds and supplements

spirits and mood

statin drug

1 each day

for allergies

fiber for regularity

 

for overactive bladder

spray in nostrils and blow nose completely so do not get stuffed nose during day.

7. V8 peach mango energy drink early

9. Later make a protein smoothie with pineapple to keep throat clear from phlegm, triple berries, SO Coconut milk yogurt, scoop of protein, large spoonful peanut butter, spinach or 1/2 banana, chia seeds, not flax, cranberry juice (no sugar) with same amount of water (dilutes juice).  I try to stay dairy free because of the eczema, etc.

10. At night, use 1 oxybutynin again, a multi vitamin, biotin, and benadryl and lastly spray nostrils with flonase or generic flonase.  Use makeup off sheet on face and then night time cream and collagen.

20 mg for blood pressure

11.  Make sure a pad is worn day and night with a bikini panty under garments and change if soiled during day etc.  A larger one can be used at night.

12. I find this eye therapy is the best for me.  My eyes do not get as dry in California  as they did in Utah so I seldom need it.

13.  Be aware that since the surgery in 2018 of the tumor on my tail and part of my sphincter was cut away so that wastes can escape and nestle in my upper bum...how gross but those are the facts.  Old age is not for sissies!!!!! 

Large plastic bin with green lid has extra meds in it and shoe box has current meds using and flonase stands by med box.  Here is to a long happy old age or a short happy one, whatever.