Memory Walk '08

I am SO HAPPY to say that, as a team, we raised about $3,700.00. I will not have a grand total until all the checks have been deposited at the Alzheimer's Association, but just from what I handed in yesterday, this is the figure I have.

I was SO BLESSED this year to have so many friends support us. I had a group from work come, Courtney had even more friends than last year and of course, we had our good friends from Westbury. Without all of their hard work and support, we could never had surpassed our goal.

I was also so pleased to see that this year, even more people attended overall (they estimated about 1,600, a far cry from the 100 or so back in 2001 when Mike and I walked together), AND, the Walk was featured on our local Long Island news station. In the four years that I have done this walk, this was the first year that I can honestly say that it got some of the attention it deserved. We're not there yet, but we are so very close.

This year, the Alzheimer's Association also handed out medals to all their "Team Leaders" for their hard work in getting their teams together and raising so much money. I felt honored hearing my name called and wearing the medal around my neck. I pray that one day I will not have to wear that medal, or walk the walk, because Alzheimer's will be a disease of the past.

Thank you again to everyone who walked with us, donated to our team and helped make this year a HUGE success.

We were "Flocked"

This is the sight we woke up to this morning.

Our church has as a fundraiser, a group of people that place pink flamingos on other's lawns at the request of their friends. Our good friends Mary and Chris Carroll had us "flocked". Needless to say, it put a HUGE smile on our faces.

I had gotten up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom (as a result of my old age) when I looked outside. This is normal for me as I like to make sure that everything is as it should be. What wasn't as it should be last night, were the pink flamingos on our front lawn. I thought I was dreaming, but then I remembered the fundraiser at St. Brigid's. Without even thinking for a second, I KNEW it has to be Chris and Mary - they're crazy like that. What sealed the deal was the paper left in our door indicating that we were the "victims" and they were the "suspects".

Job well done. Thank you.

MRSA

Mike seems to be starting the same thing he did before he was hospitalized in May. He's burping more which sometimes leads to him coughing. He also tends to "tighten up" his body, almost like he's in pain. I'm concerned that Mary is giving him dinner too fast. You see, she ALSO started school (at night) and she has to leave every day at 5pm. Since Mike doesn't eat well for me, she tries to get him to finish dinner before she leaves, leaving me to give him his yogurt with medicine each night. I admit, it sometimes takes me about an hour just to give him 1/4 cup of yogurt, but I would rather take my time than rush him and have him choke. If she starts rushing Mike, than he will be back where he was. I've told her a few times already to take her time and I just hope she does.

Mike also has this infection on his toe that will NOT go away. He's had it on and off now for about a year. This podiatrist finally biopsied it and she said it was MRSA (drug resistant staph). The antibiotic he had been on for some time, was not doing anything for it, since the infection was resistant to the antiobiotic. She changed the medicine, but it it still hasn't improved as much as she has liked. She spoke with Mike's primary doctor and he prescribed a strong antibiotic, used to treat the resistant strains of infections, but after looking it up on line, I noticed that it cautions use for those with seizure disorder. I have not had it filled yet. Tomorrow, I will speak to the hospice nurse to see what she thinks and maybe even call Mike's neuroligist to see what he thinks.

Ironically, during Mike's last hospitalization, they swabbed his nose for MRSA, which they told me is standard for all patients admitted to the hospital. It came back positive and he was considered in "isolation". All workers entering his room had to wear gowns, masks and of course gloves. At the time we were concerned about it spreading, especially since Mike had a wicked fungal infection in his armpits with some open areas. The Resident checked with the "infectious disease department" and they said, not to worry. Well, now Mike has it on his toe, and for how long he has had it we don't know.

Just one more thing to worry about.

Successful Sale

I am SO happy to report that our Lemonade Sale raised $508.92 for the Alzheimer Association's

Memory Walk.

It was ALOT of hard work by ALOT of people, but from 11-4 on Sunday (9/7/08) we stood on our corner and yelled, "Lemonade for Alzheimer's". Most people just gave money and didn't take any of the drinks or snacks we were selling. In fact, we had to BEG people to at least take something for their generosity. Raising the money was great, but it was also just as much fun getting to know our neighbors. Many we knew, but others I had not known. It's a blessing to know that there are so many people that care - not just for us, but for the millions of other families coping with this hideous disease. There are SO MANY good people out there and today proved it. Our first cutomer was a young boy around 6-7. We had teenagers riding in their cars with friends, we had people my age and older people. It was amazing to see the age span of people that would literally go out of their way. In fact, about an hour after we had packed up, and I was BBQ-ing in the backyard for Courtney's friends, my mom said the doorbell rang. It was a young girl wh said that she heard we were collecting money for Alzheimer's....she left $10.00. She could have just kept walking when she saw that our stand was no longer out, but instead she took the next step and rang our bell to give to this cause.

(The picture is in front of our house with all our supporters. It shows the chart on the left that indicates we surpassed our goal of $300.00. Not pictured is my brother who was running an erand for me and was an intergral part of the sale this year).

Courtney's 17th Birthday

Today is a better day...so far.

Sorry for my rambling yesterday, it's just that sometimes things get to me and I need a place to vent.

Today Courtney is 17 years old. That old cliche - "where does time go?" is so true. It seems like yesterday when she was born. I reminisced about Courtney's birth with Mike last night - I just never know what he hears. She was supposed to have a friend sleep over tonight, but her friend canceled because she had to babysit - which is OK anyway because the Lemonade Sale we are having for the walk is being out off until Sunday. Apparently the lasting affects of one of the hurricanes will be passing here tomorrow and we are expected to have heavy wind and rain.

As for our goal for the Memory Walk, thanks to all our friends, we are well on our way to our $2,000 goal. As of today we are at $1,620.00. THANK YOU to all who donated.

Strength

I am pleased to say that Mike was approved and started on Hospice on Tuesday Sept. 1st. I have yet to meet with the nurse that will coming once a week, but I hope to hear from her today. The social worker already called and will be coming by next week sometime. I pray that the services provided by Hospice will help lighten my load.

Today is a bad day for me. We all have good and bad days, right? Everything just seems to be piling up and I feel the pressure building. Financially, we can't be worse off. I don't remember a time when things are as bad as they are now. Each month I have to decide which bills I can pay, and I put the rest off. Topping my list of priorities are our health insurance, utilities, mortgage. Credit cards are at the bottom and there are a few I have not paid since January. Yes, that's right. We also pray everyday for sunny weather because I still have not been able to afford a new dryer since our current one broke when Mike was hospitalized in June (but that's the LEAST of our problems). This disease took Mike out of the work force way too soon and has burdened us with one salary - which was recently cut. This is our reality and I KNOW it's the reality of other families going through difficult illnesses.

Emotionally, I am also at a low point. Courtney turning 17 and starting her senior year is just the tip of the iceberg. Knowing that I will have to bear the burden ALONE, on all that's involved with college and facing the fact that Courtney will no longer be living at home next September has me in a tailspin. My brother who moved in with us in May, has NUMEROUS physical and emotional issues and unfortunately they are beginning to affect me and the kids. I just can't tell him he can't live here anymore. He also took a pay cut and can't afford an apartment on his own. His divorce is still not finalized after 3 years and he has bad back and shoulder injuries. My mom is here everyday, as she has been the last 16 years, but she's getting older and more difficult to deal with. She's also very depressed, and she and her husband walk in the door to our home everyday arguing. She is obsessed with my brother's problems and talks about them constantly. We can't seem to escape it. Courtney was actually GLAD to go back to school so she wouldn't have to deal with the craziness all day. When I try to talk to my mom, SHE gets offended and tells me she just won't come by anymore.

There are days when I just want to scream to my brother and Mom, "DON'T YOU GUYS GET IT????"..... We are dealing with issues far bigger, yet they continue to talk about and dwell on THEIR issues. I know everyone's problems are relative, but can't they see the additional stress they are putting on us?

Not everyday is like this, but today I am feeling it more than usual.

No, today is not a good day for me, but I know with strength from God, I will get through it and I KNOW that tomorrow will be better.

Labor Day

Well, today is the "official" end to summer. Where did it go?

Our summer started off on a bad note. Mike was hospitalized in May/June and so our summer began. After some very nerve wracking weeks, Mike came home and started to gain strength back. We had MAJOR changes with regard to letting Nathan go, but so far, things seem to have worked themselves out. The hospice rep will be here tomorrow so that I can re-sign documents and Mike will be enrolled as of then. I pray that it works out. I believe that just knowing that a nurse will be here once a week (and more if necessary), gives me a sense of comfort. Over time, we hope she will get to know what's "normal" for Mike and what to be concerned about. Our goal is to basically keep Mike out of the hospital as mush as necessary.

Nathan came by yesterday and visited us. We couldn't "read" Mike, but I hope he knew that Nathan was there. We gave Nathan his custome made T-shirt for the Memory Walk and he loved it. We made shirts for everyone with a picture of themselves and Mike on the front. Unfortunately, Nathan has to work the day of the walk and cannot walk with us, but he will be with us in spirit. He looked well and we were all happy to see each other.

I took the kids school supply shopping yesterday. My kids love getting their notebooks etc. Courtney is looking forward to school, Brandon doesn't say much. Courtney has SO MUCH going on this year, it's making MY head spin.

Today I HOPE to relax. LOL. We had a busy weekend trying to get things together for next weekend's BBQ/Lemonade sale to kick off the Memory Walk. Courtney's 17th birthday is Friday (where di those 17 years go?????).
With all that I do each day, why do I always feel guilty when I want to take a few hours to just relax?
Goodbye summer, hello school year.