Sarah on her Mission in Chile

Linda forwards an email from Sarah each week and I captured these pictures.  Not sure of all the details but I know one thing, Sarah is having a very happy time on her mission.

Baptism Day!

She even rescued a cat!

Her companion had a toothache and Sarah got her to the dentist.

Happy Birthday to Joe!!!

I love the hats!!!  And speaking of hats, here is a picture Linda took of Charli in a hat, does she not like her hat???  Soooo cute.

Kelsi and New Beginnings

Tonight I actually got dressed up and went with Camber to the New Beginnings for Kelsi.

The girls and young women leaders did an excellent  job of presenting the program and it really is very impressive for them to have in their life.

One of the girls had actually planned the whole event and carried it off as part of her personal progress.  She did very well.

Long straight hair is certainly the style, isn't it.

An Evening With Maria

Maria invited me to go to a Book Review with Robert Dallek at Warwicks in La Jolla.  I told her I had a gift card to Urban Kitchen and we could eat first.  I had no idea where Urban Kitchen was, I first thought it was in the Del Mar Heights Mall and then in the mall near Gelsons on Via de la Valle but Maria took a closer look at the card and said it was where we used to go to Chevys across the street and it was called Cucina Enoteca (you had to look at the small print on the card to find this name!)!!

Anyway we used to like to go to Chevy's during the Happy Hour and have their Flautas...so sorry to see them go.  But this was completely refurbished with large windows and looked very classy.  Maria ordered a pizza with dates and I ordered the salmon with interesting things like small tomatoes, beans, greens etc.  I thought it would be too much to eat in one sitting...I was wrong, I ate it all and it was delicious.  Maria had plenty to take home.

I always loved Warwick's bookstore when I lived in La Jolla, which I loved, living in La Jolla, for almost 20 years.  Warwick's is even larger now and even more interesting, I must get over there in the daylight someday.  I was amazed how many people were there for the Review.  The first section of chairs was for the people who had ordered to buy the book.

I would very much like to audio it and will look for it at my "Library to Go".

It was most interesting.  Roosevelt became president in 1932 and was elected for a fourth term.  I was born in 1933 and most remember my hearing  from my childhood friend Shirley (my neighbor) as we walked home from school about how wonderful Roosevelt was.  Her parents must have discussed this a lot and she was very bright.  I was in 3rd grade on December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor happened and I do remember listening to Roosevelt on the radio.  He had Fireside Chats and had a very impressive voice that mesmerized you to listen, even as a child.  Since we had no television then it was not very important that he was in a wheelchair because of the polio he had in his 30s.

Dallek was asked to write this book to alert the young people of today what a good president is all about (because of Trump).  Roosevelt is remembered in Glendive where I grew up for the WPA and all the work it brought to the area in the depression...for Social Security...and many other successes.  He also had his failures like the incarceration of the American Japanese in WWII.

Dallek believes firmly an American President needs political experience and much more which Trump does not have.  I hope to listen to his whole book!

I can't believe I am actually going out at night and doing things!!!!  Wow, good for me for feeling so energetic!!!

Shopping at Macys

So why do I love shopping at Macys, mostly because of the great deals.  You put your charge card in the slot and there is always a deal...25% off or $15 off or something.   I can't believe the wonderful deals.  Monday I discovered a whole section of dresses I did not know about.  I don't think I have had a dress since I do not remember when so someday I am just going to go and try on some dresses.  With all my weight loss I might actually be able to fit into one!!

Fire, Fire, Fire!!

That was a close one!!

When I came home from Linda's James was home alone and said they were having people over for ice cream for an open house for a girl going on a mission.  I told him I had seen all the ice cream from Handels in the fridge and had seen so many people in line  outside the doors of Handels as I passed it coming home.  Is is really that good?  James said it was.

I was throwing away some things that were on the counter and he got up and just before I went upstairs I noticed he was pushing the toaster back under the counter with the bread on top of the toaster and pulling the door down.

I was doing whatever in my room when I smelled something burning, since no one else was home but James I wondered what he was doing that was burning so much.  When I came out of my room and entered the hallway I could see smoke pouring out of the kitchen.  I was calling for James but he was no where in sight and the kitchen was full of smoke but I could not see where the fire was...not on the stove!!!

Then I had a vision of James pushing the toaster under the counter and pulling down the door.  I glanced over there and could see that is where the smoke was coming from.  Without thinking more I pulled up the door, pulled out the plug and carried the toaster outside on to the table.  There was black muck pouring from the bottom and the bread and plastic covering was stuck to the toaster.  I pulled it all out.

Just then Camber came in from the garage and carried the toaster out into the yard further away and began opening windows.  I checked under the counter and the fire was no where else but the wood was all black!!!  Yes, that was a close one and I am glad I did not get electrocuted as I pulled the burning toaster out......

Eating at Linda's

So the last two Sundays I have eaten at Linda's house.  Last week Amy and Joe were there with Charli as well as Tanner and Marissa.  Amy comes to San Diego to work as a nurse and so Joe sometimes comes to visit, too.  Tanner and Marissa are living here and working until they go to Iowa where Tanner will be in the Air Force and getting a Medical degree!!!


Linda and Gary are the best cooks so it is always fun to eat there and I especially wanted to see Charli.  Here she is with Tanner and Marissa who love tending her so I hear.


Last week we had yummy steak and this week we had roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans and mushrooms.  For the first time in months I actually ate the mashed potatoes and gravy and loved every minute of it.


I started out on the freeway to Linda's house because I came from Church but the freeway was so slow I got off and took the 101.  There was plenty of traffic on it, too but I still got there just in time to eat the appetizer of guacamole and chips before it was all gone!!!


This is a picture of Marissa being happy that she passed her Nursing Test...here in California!

Camber at the Temple

There is a "Persian" Branch that meets in our ward building in Del Mar.  These are two of the members who are good friends with Camber.  Beautiful picture.

Mariia and Matt at Torrey Pines Hiking

Saturday at UTC Mall

I continue to be amazed at the transition of the UTC Mall in the years I have been away.  There was a sign that said there will be 90 more shops there as well!

Linda, Maria and I went to the "5:17 to Paris" movie and then had lunch at a marvelous restaurant.  Linda and Maria had huge beef and chicken salads and I had the country chicken soup that tasted just like Mom's except no noodles.  Very good.  

I thought this modern art was quite beautiful.  It seems the whole world is about "things" and  buying"things"...

  

We stopped in Nordstrom's on the way out to see if I could spend a gift card I had.  I wanted a pair of black flats---they cost $99...I thought that was a ridiculous price.

Makoshika State Park and Dinosaur Dave

    These are some of the views of Makoshika, which is just outside Glendive, Mt where I grew up.

We hiked and played in the area, never realizing it was rich with dinosaur bones and impressions in the sandstone. 

My nephew Dave is Dinosaur Dave there and shows this T-Rex rib in the sandstone.

This is a Triceratops jawbone which is at the Museum of the Rockies.  Dave found it several years ago and submitted it to the museum.

Valentines 2014

Tuesday night Maria picked me up and went to dinner at Hennessey's in  La Jolla with Maria, Johnny, Mitch, Bahia and Matt.  Did not take any pictures.  I had the 

local burger.  It was half price night.  Johnny gave Maria and I red roses.

 And when I came home there was a beautiful bouquet on my bedside that Camber had brought.

Wednesday I ran all kinds of errands like cleaning, getting hair appointments for Sadie and me, and the Walmart run.  I am off the pain pills now and get more fatigues it seemed.  I wish I had used the sitz bath when I had Linda, that works really well for a sore bottom.  Healing well.

Health Summary to Save

Surgery History       Janet E Hardy  1/22/33

Surgery in Glendive, MT tonsil removal in grade school

Sharp Hospital in San Diego I had three caesareans and one natural birth from 1960 through 1966.  At my last cesarean, they also tied my tubes and removed my appendix.   Stripped Varicose Veins six weeks after birth.

Hysterectomy and tied up my bladder in 1967 at Scripps La Jolla. 

Scripps La Jolla I was in traction for my back for 1 week in 1977 and the resection of my finger in 1979 (chopped off in blender), 

Scripps Mercy I had the carotid surgery in 2010 by Dr. James Hemp,

Green Hospital the lumbar laminectomy in 2011 by Dr. Roger Thorne,

Colonoscopy in 2011 in Escondido by Dr. Feldman,

Cataract Surgery for the right eye in 2013 by Dr. Christopher Hsu at El Cajon Hospital,

Endoscopy and Colonoscopy with polypectomy on 1/30/2018 by Dr. Gauree Konijeti (woman), 

Transanal excision of the ulcerated pedunculated rectal mass (prolapsed polyp)  by Dr. Lynn Weston in 2/72018.  No Cancer.

Information on General Health

Often had stomach aches—1956 found nothing but a wrinkled stomach lining which suggested I would be irritated by acidity, etc.

UTI’s---Sinus Problems—Sore Throats—Uterus pushing on Bladder prompted Hysterectomy

Gained over 50 lbs after going into the mortgage business in the ’80s-’90s

High Cholesterol

Checked for Ulcers in late 70’s, stomach aches, nausea from apple peelings, etc

Occasionally vomiting and diarrhea

2007 sudden diarrhea prompted checking for celiac—negative, diagnosed as IBS…had been working in disaster service and taking Pepto Bismol, Metamucil, antacids—lots of fast food etc.

Discovered direct relationship to gluten and diarrhea—went gluten-free

Still digestive problems, frequent UTIs, fungus (yeast infections) discovered Specific Carbohydrate Diet in 2014—went sugar-free in 2015 and felt really good but not always consistent, lost some weight, weak immune system

2016 cardiologist sees me regularly…need oxygen at night, no diabetes, no answers on UTIs and Yeast infections

Summer 2017 lots of phlegm in throat got worse…went dairy-free except for some hard cheese, little butter,  Eating less sugar

Fall 2017, more diarrhea after 2 months of antibiotic, went really strict on SCD diet, lost more weight but felt healthiest ever but determined to find the cause of sudden watery diarrhea in late November, no UTI, no yeast infections, feeling good not eating any sugar except honey

Colonoscopy and Endoscopy, Surgery January and February 2018—no cancer or disease, going to dietician and also get Breath Test in search for digestive problems—Went from 196 lbs in 1996 to 129 lbs in 2018---Feeling healthy and energetic—Cardiologist happy about weight loss—sugar-free

Need to have Primary Doctor at Scripps to use when in San Diego and when I move back.

Winter Formal--Jimmy and Friends

 Lots of girls, less boys...interesting.

The Surgery and Result

I hardly slept at all on Tuesday night, February 6, 2018.  The removal of the fiery mass was to be today.  James drove me over to Scripps and I was urging him to hurry from outside his bedroom door but it only took 10 minutes even with the fog and darkness on the roads we took.  We were still there at 5:22 am...early.

James parked right in front and walked in with me and although it said to check in downstairs the receptionist said I should check in there and she accepted my Directive to be put in the file.  Seems I always end up at Scripps for my procedures, they should have it.

Maria arrived and we went downstairs to Surgery reception and James left when a nurse came for us and we spent the next hour and a half preparing for surgery.  She told us about My Scripps as an app where we could view all my medical information but she thought we needed a code.  Maria was able to figure it out and we read that all my blood work was normal.  Ekg looked good.  The CT Scan was not in there yet. More information needs to be added for a complete record...I could supply some.  I gave the nurse the release to send pertinent information to my D.O. in Chester Dr. Nilhoufar Salhiji from both Dr. Konijeti and Dr. Weston.

Dr. Kim the anesthesiologist came and asked questions, the stress test from Dr. Fletcher was not in the file.  Then Dr. Weston came and she had received the stress test late yesterday and said it was a medium in June 1917 (not as good as I had implied--or as recent).  I told her I was in much better shape now as I was about 25 pounds heavier in June.  She asked me how I did with stair climbing and I told her I am running up and down them all day and no problem.  I weighed in at 128.9 and 5 ft 3 1/2 inches today.  As I said before, she seemed more worried about a heart attack on the table than what she was going to do.

Next thing I knew I was in surgery and Dr. Kim explained I would be in the typical wman gyno exam with my feed in stirrups  (I had asked...always curious)1for the surgery but they would not be doing that until I was asleep.  It will be a general anesthesia and not a spinal.  I assured him I had never vomited.  The only problem I had was having a stuffed nose and difficulty in breathing but since I gave up dairy last summer the phlegm was no longer a problem.  Interesting he said.

I woke up but was cold, the nurse seemed to be in a hurry to get me out but I know she has others coming in.  The next nurse I was taken to was very cheerful and I was soon dressed and ready to go home.  Maria was there and we head back on 101 and to the pharmacist.

The recovery has been fairly smooth and new favorite treatment is the sitz bath.  Maria bought it when she picked up my prescription on the way home.  One of the medications cost $259 (for numbing the area) so the pharmacist recommended taking an over the counter which was 4% lidocaine instead of 5%.  It works fine and I noticed the one they sent home with me was only 4% also.  The pain pills are great.  I can see why people could get addicted to them.  At any rate I think she must have done a very careful cut because my pain is not that bad!!!

Sunday on my phone I finally got the final result of the pathology report!!!  (I could have had it sooner but my phone froze and I didn't figure out how to unfreeze it until this morning.)  It is clear and I am definitely A-ok with no cancer!!!  Yea!!!  I do have some high numbers on the CT Scan and am being sent to my urologist to see what that is all about and I do have gallstones but they are not blocking anything and I do not have kidney stones so what is the high numbers about?  We will see maybe tomorrow, nice my urologist is so close.

The only surgery I had in Glendive was the tonsil removal.  At Sharp Hospital in San Diego I had three caesareans and one natural birth from 1960 through 1966.  At my last ceasarean they also tied my tubes and removed my appendix.  I had a hysterectomy and tied up my bladder in 1967 at Scripps La Jolla.  At Scripps La Jolla I was in traction for my back for 1 week in 1977 and the resection of my finger in 1979 (chopped off in blender),  At Scripps Mercy I had the carotid surgery in 2010 by Dr James Hemp, At Green Hospital the lumbar laminectomy in 2011 by Dr Roger Thorne, Colonoscopy in 2011 in Escondido by Dr. Feldman, Cataract Surgery for right eye in 2013 by Dr. Christopher Hsu at El Cajon Hospital, Endoscopy and Colonscopy with polypectomy on Friday by Dr. Gauree Konijeti (woman),  and now the transanal excision of the ulcerated pedunculated rectal mass (rectal polypod)  by Dr. Lynn Weston (woman) in 2018.  Dr. Diana Kang is my Scripps Urologist in Encinitas.

Charli is Eight Months

Visitors at First Grade

Picnic Time in February?

Taking advantage of this lush weather in San Diego this winter, the great grands have a picnic with their friends.  So cute!  Look at their transportation on the top of the pix!

 

And what is this, trying to make some money?

A Model? No, It Is Linda!

Wow, Linda is in Hawaii and shows us her totally in tone body!!!  Congratulations on staying fit!!!

Fantastic!

More Procedures

Tuesday before my Wednesday surgery I planned to bring in food I can eat for the next week or two, possibly see my dermatologist about the itchy head, buy a nightgown or two but the call came before I even bathed and dressed.

Lily from Scripps was trying to set up an appointment for the CT Scan.  Really, I thought that I had been canceled.  Am I just writing my own story here instead of following the program???  She checked and she said, no, you need to get the CT Scan.  I told her I had surgery tomorrow so not sure when I would be available.

She said, how far away are you?  Can you come in today?  I live in Del Mar, 20 minutes away.  Yes, I can come in.  When did you last eat and drink?  I will call you right back.

I missed the call at 8:30 but thought I better see if she left a voice mail.  She did, can I be there by 9:30?

Wow, no makeup, no hair wash and I was in hurry up mode.  However, once I got there, things slowed waaaaay down.....and it was cold there.  I had not thought about sitting for so long.  I was brought blankets without even asking, warm out of the oven? blankets.  When I finally emerged at lunch time, I headed straight for El Loco Pollo and ordered to go my Classic Chicken Salad and then up to Rite Aid for the prescription of oxybutynin they filled yesterday.  I was tired already!!!I

So, they did the blood draw to check on my liver and kidneys yesterday, the EKG, and today the CT Scan.  What have they learned...it is midnight and surgery is at 7:30...and I have not been told to not come in so I guess I am well enough to proceed.  I can't sleep...but I slept a little early on in the evening.

I was so tired I got into bed by 6 PM and Camber, James, Kelsi and Jimmy came up and said a prayer for me with Kelsi as the voice.  Very sweet and loving.

Maria will meet us at 5:30 AM at Green Hospital at Scripps, I pray all will go well and the pathology reports continue to come out clean and they tell me my liver, kidneys and heart are all ship shape!!! And I pray the pain is not toooo bad and I recoup really fast without a lot of bleeding, pain and all that!

Oh, and I wonder if they ever got the Stress test from Dr. Fletcher and was it too old.   I guess everything is on the computer, I do not have to show any cards or ID anymore I guess even the picture is in there.  Where would we all be without the computer????