Charli

 Grandma Linda snuggles Charli at the hospital.  8th great grandchild...Mommy is Amy and Daddy is Joe born in May.

 Hmm, how did they take this pix...Snapchat?????  Amy has started Traveling Nurse again and comes from Nevada to San Diego and brings Charli with her so this weekend four are taking care of Charli and having fun taking pictures!!!  OK, this one does look like Joe.

 Neat way to take a shower Charli.  I can surely see Amy in this picture of Charli.

Auntie Kelly snuggles Charli in a fun holder.

 Now I know this is a Snapchar pix, but she looks cute with all those additions.

 Snuggled Charli again...looks like baby pictures of Joe

Grandma Linda and Charli (looking like Amy) in another Snapchat pix.  I have not seen Charli in person but she looks so mellow and contented....

Root Canal Failure and Then Finally Success!!!

On Tuesday August 29th Dr Struve saw me and they took x-rays.  I have to have a root canal and it is a crown, not a bridge.  So I have an appointment on September 5th to go to Reno to Sierra Endonontics and Mary Anne has said she would drive me!!!  Dr. Struve does not do root canals anymore.  It will cost over $1000 at Reno and then another $275 or more I think for Dr. Struve to fill the hole made by the other Dr.!!!  Evidently they drill a hole through the crown to clean out all the bad stuff!!  I think I have been feeling bad for a long time because of this bad tooth!!!  It is a good thing I have some money saved up for my property taxes, I guess I will have to use that.

September 5^th visit to Sierra Endonontics

All appeared to be going well but I was already there for over an hour when the assistant put latex over my mouth and the doctor was coming in to do the job.    It seemed to take her a long time to hook it on my teethe in my mouth and then fix it outside.  I think now that she was having a problem doing it.  And then I could not breathe!  I sat up and she told me not to pull at it, she would remove it.  They both talked to me and said this happens quite often.  They said my brain was telling me I could not breathe but I really could.  They were sure if they medicated me the next time I came back I would not have a problem.  It was really scary.  I have had a lot of medical procedures but I have never felt so threatened by what was happening to me.  Oh, yes and after they had taken pictures and poked and probed he told me what he found but I was evidently not understanding exactly why I would now have to sign another sheet of paper saying that the procedure might not be successful and I might have to have the tooth pulled anyway.  Also my blood pressure was up when I was there and that concerned me, too.  They charged me $297 for the no success but for other things done that day!!!

By the time I got home and the next day I felt I could not go through that again and I should just have the tooth pulled and not waste all that money.  I called the pharmacist and told them to put a hold on the pills that were ordered for me.

Joe and Monica came over and hung my blind back up that had fallen down and they listened to my sob story and were very understanding.  

The next day I talked to Dr. Struve and he said he would call them and find out what the problem was with the tooth and when he called me back he was convincing me that it was a slight peridontal (gum loose I guess) issue and would probably not be a problem at all and I really needed to keep that crown, it would give me years of service and I needed it and he really urged me to go through with it.  I called the pharmacist and said I would come and pick up the medicine.

In the meantime I had read a lot about the procedure and realized that I had been forced to breathe through my nose and it was all stuffed up because I had not blown it that morning.  I also had phlegm in the throat and so I felt that is really why I panicked, I could not breathe.  Gary also convinced me though that I can actually breathe through my mouth as it is open on both sides.  Linda told me to practice breathing with something over my mouth before I go back again.

I decided I would prepare for this appointment and it was not until the following Thursday so I had a week to prepare.  I took claritin every day.  I did not eat any processed food, dairy, sugar, etc. in other words not foods that might cause me to have phlegm.  I was going to have a clear channel.  Maria told me to wear sun glasses and take my music and earphones, she also takes a blanket.  They told me to wear short sleeves but I took my long sleeved shirt, too.  On the Sunday before I had a nightmare that I was still in my pajamas when Mary Anne came to pick me up and I had forgotten to take the pill the night before!!!  

September 14th

Joe and Monica came over on Wednesday night and Joe gave me a blessing.  I felt great after eating so well all week and not having any phlegm or stuffy nose so on Thursday, the 14th, I felt comfortable going in.  I wrote them the check of $1053 and a new assistant was there this time.  She told me I could wear my sun glasses, listen to my music and keep my long sleeve shirt on.  The dentist immediately numbed my gums.  She put two pills under my tongue and I was off to lala land.  She also put the dental dam on without a hitch, I was hardly aware she did it.  The doctor was back again and soon I was out and done!!!  It was amazing how easy it all was.

They gave me a paper to read the next day.  I later learned it said not to use any straws.  But I wanted a strawberry shake and Mary Anne went to Steak and Shake and then in Susanville I wanted another one and we went to Jack in the Box.  When she left me at home I lay down on the couch and slept for 3 hours until Marilyn woke me on the phone.  Then I got ready for bed and Sadie did not get her walk that night but she had run around alot on her own.

Anyway, so far so good.  On Wednesday next I see Struve again and hope all goes well there with the refill.  I have no pain but still have swelling around the tooth as I have had for two weeks now and am taking ibuprofen to hopefully bring it down.  Also, my tax money will soon be gone and I will have to start on the HOA money and then I need to worry about buying new tires before the ice comes.  Always something...but for now I really feel better than I have in months!!!!  On Antibiotics for 20 days, Sue says next week I will have a UTI and she is probably right.  But yea, success!!!  I did it!!!!

 

Septic Solution for Another Seven Years!!!

This picture of Matt and Maria on Instagram reminded me that I never wrote down the Septic Solution!!  Greg L. never did come and put the covers on the Septic tanks, even though I talked to him, etc. etc.  He never sent me a bill for the digging his guys did either!!

So when Matt and Maria came in the spring the septic tanks were still unfilled holes just covered by the boards that the handyman put down.  Matt was looking for work and I was happy he was there to do it.

I decided since Westwood Sanitation said it would be 7 years before the septic would need to be cleaned again that we should just cover them with dirt the way they have been since the house was built.  It would save money in the long run and Matt understands the grading that would have to be done.

So Matt did an excellent job, took a long time, but he uncovered the tanks, covered them with dirt and then graded the dirt so there would not be any problem with drainage.  It is hard to find a handyman that can do that kind of work and do it well but as I say Matt understands all things outdoors.

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Bad Week, Dental Woes

I was so sad Saturday the 19th and now another sad Saturday August 26th.  But what a painful week.  But first a tribute to Richard.

Yesterday was the anniversary 21 years since the last birthday before his death. Not that I remember what we were doing, if anything.  We were good about having our weekly date, for years, and that was on a Friday mostly, so I am sure we had a date.  Our office was in Rancho Bernardo at that time so we would not have driven down to Seaport Village as we did during the years our office was in Clairemont.  We were having money woes, probably just went to the Soup and Salad which was in RB at that time.  I weighed almost 50 lbs more than I do now, but Richard was always sweet, he never complained about that and always told me I was beautiful and he loved me, a caring man.  We had so much stress in our lives and then he was able to go to a better place and leave it all with me. What a difficult time for me and here I am, still alone after 21 years and as I told Michael, more a nuisance to the family than anything else.  He says, "Nuisance it forward. Grandma, Nuisance it forward."  I miss Michael, he was always enjoyable to talk to and nice to have around.  I hope he finds someone to share his life with who is as kind as he is.

This is not a great picture but it was a happier time in our life and I had on my favorite dress.  It was from India and I bought it in La Jolla.  Why didn't I keep it.  

I like this picture of Richard, he was always thinking, thinking, figuring out what to do. We had taken the girls to Hawaii, a client of Richards let us use the house.  He was having business problems and was always thinking about them but I like the picture.

Martin called yesterday, he always calls on Richard's birthday and is very nice to chat with.  At least I wasn't crying this time.  When I told him about my dental woes, he shared his experience with using hydrogen peroxide and it sounds like what I need to to, he followed it with a email copy.

I really liked this picture, too, he always looked good in a V necked sweater.  It looks like we were celebrating someones birthday at Ferrells.

It is always a sad week in August with both birthdays of John and Richard but then this terrible toothache came on suddenly and it was so painful.  What was strange is that is was under a bridge.  I thought I would see Dr Struve on Monday and resolve the issue but they were on vacation in Alaska!!!  Still he returned my call and ordered strong antibiotics but didn't talk about what to do for the pain so I called Linda and Gary told me.  Still I didn't use anything stronger than ibuprofen and the first three days were very painful.  I was using ice packs on the swelling and then I used warm compression and that felt better but on Thursday morning the swelling was bigger than ever.  After reading all the horrible things on the internet I called Gary again and then Dr Struve returned my call and he said that was ok, not to use the warm compression, just the ice and that the body was surrounding the bacteria with liquid to prevent to from going elsewhere.  Sometimes it has to be lanced but usually not.  He said I should come in Monday and they would check it out, I found a website of Columbia Med School and it said the same thing and was not nearly so frightening as the sites that want you to call a Dr. etc.  

Anyway  the week is almost over, I am so alone, and a nuisance, as usual.  Hope you are having a great time up there, Richard,  not so great here alone.  But I am so fortunate to live in such a quiet, peaceful place where I feel safe, even if I am alone.  Safe is an important thing nowadays.

Sister Thurgood brought me a wonderful organic soup yesterday by Harrys...will have to have more of those on hand...so kind of her.  Made me feel less alone.

Happy Birthday to John! His Grandchildren Visit!!!

http://johnhardymemoir.blogspot.com/

We called him Johnny during his baby years and such an interesting child he was.  It was such a struggle to get him into the world and he left so easily, so young at 43.  He would be 57 today.  How quickly time passes, but he would not be wasting his time away the way I am.  He always had such a passion for life, he lived a full life in his short years I am glad for that but he never got to meet his grandchildren.

Meagan and Matt brought their three children, Keira, Eden and Nico, to visit this week and I enjoyed having them so much.  So much noise and activity compared to my quiet life.

The first day their Mommy help them build teepees out of the wood pile that is never ending here!!!!! In the afternoon they went to the beach for building sand castles and took fifth place in the contest I think Keira said and then in the evening back down to the beach around the new fire pit for smores!!!

 On Monday evening when we ate at the picnic table I put a cloth on the table and I thought it was cute that Eden came running up and said, "Beautiful!!!"  She then found the potted flower I had had on the table and brought it over to finish "the look".

 On Tuesday they were able to take advantage of the swimming lessons and since there were few participating this week Keira only had two in her class, which was fun,  and Nico and Eden had private lessons with Mommy and Daddy participating.

They also took their bicycles to the west side of the lake to see what that was like...and at night they watched a movie while Mom and  Dad had a rare night out.

On Wednesday they took out a boat and left Nico home where he slept a long time in the quiet house but was a little bewildered when he woke up and found only Great Grandma and Sadie with him.

 Keira and Eden get to drive!!!  Reminds me of when Richard used to love to take everyone out on the big boat at Big Bear in the afternoons when we were there.  That lake was cold and windy in the summer though not like the "Mediterranean like" Lake Almanor is.  No swimmer's itch this summer and lots of water, so good summer to visit.

 Also on Wednesday they made handprints except Nico made a footprint and the next morning they took a lot of time painting them.  I was amazed how patiently they sat and painted so carefully.  Thanks to their Mommy of course for all the prep work!!!

They seemed to have lots of fun playing in the big back yard with all its dirt paths and such and I am sure the neighbors have never heard so much noise coming from my house.  No complaints though and they even kept their dogs inside most of the time.

 Just before the Masseys left on Thursday morning we took pictures...

And here I am alone again working on the puzzle they brought me...

I found a better place to put their creations, they really look cute on the deck wall.

Maria, Mitch and Bahia Surfing at Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach is the first beach I became acquainted with in San Diego.  We stayed at the Ocean Beach Motel while we investigated San Diego for teaching.  I loved the white sand.  Later when we came to the beach every Saturday this and Mission Beach were the beaches we came to.  This is when I was single.  When Richard and I married we lived at Pacific Beach the first year or so and that was our preferred beach.

This was Bahia's first time.

Love the colors in this pix, very nice.

Precancerous Treatment on the Face

Last year I was zapped by the dry ice and this year it is the Flourouracil Cream.  This is put on Monday through Friday night for four weeks.  Not sure I have pictures from before but I had gone to the spa with Maria and Linda and the heat I think made them blister.  Yuck! We will see if the cream does a better job...good grief as if old age isn't humiliating enough...it just never ends.  What is the purpose .....?????  Think of a baby's skin, ahhhh so jealous.

Geraniums with Over18 Blooms Each Ready to Blossom

 These two pots each have two geranium plants and I experimented last winter by bringing them indoors and letting them sit on the sunny window sill (like I had seen in Norway) all winter.  Not only did they live but they are blooming like my geraniums have never bloomed before.  I put them outside in late June when our long winter finally warmed up.

Recent Sightings of the Masseys

Nico celebrated his Mom's 37th Birthday!

Keira loves maps and this is a huge floor one.

Good picture of Meagan's family at her step sister Malini's graduation.  Jennifer has five very beautiful daughters.

Matt's new ride!

Keira's Class and she is front and center.

Happy clean children.

Keira and those .......fish on the beach at night.

Happy dancer.

Keira is old enough to sell girl scout cookies!

Happy Nico!

At the desert with cousins.

Her auntie's dog I think.

Guess Who.

Keeping Up With the Stewart Children

I actually have not been very good at getting all the pix I should but here a few recent ones.  In the summer the grandchildren with Momma Kristi come to visit their Grandma Linda and Grandpa Gary often.  Molly has a fascination with the railroad that runs nearby.  

Brynn and Molly

Wonder what place this is.

Tanner and Marissa Update

Tanner and Marissa are with her family in the Tahoe area this week so there have been lots of cute pictures of them and time to catch up on others I have.

Tanner has passed his premed test and is looking for a Medical school to attend.  What a power couple as these two have been at BYU Idaho for the past three or four? years.

Such a darling couple, they could be models instead of Medicals...

Marissa's family and extended family have been vacationing in Tahoe for around 50 years.  They really love it.

Marissa will get her Nursing Degree in December from BYU Idaho.

Tanner was on a mission to the Philippines, seems so long ago.