I always knew...

that the extra padding I have on my body would come in handy. Actually, it has come in handy many times.

Today --

Well, let me begin at the beginning. I was feeling really good again this morning, so I went to the Post Office and took care of some mailings I had to do, then I went to Busken's and got some really good Philadelphia Cinnamon buns. Yummmmm.

Then after finishing a bun and some coffee, I decided to finish decorating. I was going to put something on the landing shelf that was Christmas-y, and take away what I have there now.

Well, I got the lights, the angel hair, and the bubble wrap down to the landing, but I forgot there was an extra step, that turns the stairs around. It's been a long time since I've gone down the steps. My exercises were taking me up the steps.

Anyway, I missed the step and fell down the rest of the steps, all 8 of them. Bang, bump, boom. I hit my head, hurt my wrist, but nothing else. In fact, my legs and knees are fine and except for maybe a stiff neck tomorrow, I'm fine. No concussion (I was worried about that because I saw stars when I hit my head), and no broken bones. At least if I have any they don't hurt, so I'll just leave them alone.

It was difficult, however, getting myself back up. Poor Alan. I scared him to death. He thought I was a goner. After a struggle of about five minutes, I wedged myself between the wall and the floor and pushed myself into a sitting position on the bottom step, then Alan was able to give me the leverage I needed to stand up.

Then I walked up the steps and Alan forbade me to touch the Christmas things on the steps. I am to leave them for Tamara or Rachel to work on. Okay. I'll try to stay away from them, but I hear them calling me. And I don't think I'll take a tumble again. Once burnt, you know.

So, I'm okay. Like you needed to know anyway.

10 DTC

I did it!

I cannot believe how well I feel today. I started feeling really good last night (after dinner) and have improved so much since then.

Now what is it that makes this happen? One day I can barely move, the next, I could almost kick my heels together (not quite, but almost). Today was such a day. I think it's because I slept clear through for 7 straight hours and I didn't toss in the bed as I usually do, which means the legs don't move where they're not supposed to and that causes those joint bones to rub the wrong way.

Anyway, I decided I would take advantage of the well-being. I love Chinese. Alan hates for me to just go to the Chinese restaurant and get food -- according to him it's a waste of gas. But today, I decided to hit two places and see how I stood up to it.

First, I went to the Hallmark store, which is practically next door to the Chinese restaurant. I overspent, but I had to get individual Christmas cards to put in the mail for each of the grandchildren. Do you know how much cards cost? I won't go there! Anyway, I qualified for several of those snowmen things that you can get for $14.95 instead of $25. I bought two! One for me, and one for someone else.

Then because I parked halfway between the Hallmark store and the Chinese place, I walked to the car, dropped off the Hallmark purchases and went into the Chinese place. It smells so good in there. And I ordered up -- stuff to freeze, and things for lunch for me for a week, as well as dinner for tonight!

And, here's the best part. I'm still walking. Still sitting. Still laying down and no pain. It's just amazing. Somebody out there has been and is praying for me, and to them, I say THANKS!!!!!

DTC-11

What a nice break!

Well, I did it. I actually made dinner for more than Alan and myself. Yes, my son, Phil and his wife, my dear daughter-in-law came over for dinner -- at my invitation -- and I cooked. I made a veal roast with mashed potatoes and corn and some cranberry relish. I didn't do a salad because I'm the only one who really enjoys a salad. I don't think Amy really likes salad, but she eats it to be polite, so I just didn't make one.

We had water and Summer Wine with the meal, and lots of good conversation.

We were able to do this because tonight was "free" night at Phil's and Amy's church. They were able to have free baby-sitting for three hours, just enough time for dinner and some chatting. And I'm so glad we were able to have them over. I really am. It was a nice break.

I felt like my bones were broken by the time we sat down to dinner, but by the time dinner was over and I was able to relax for a while, I felt pretty good.

Amy is obviously not over pneumonia. Phil has bronchitis. And my dear Amy was so tired, just walking up our steps exhausted her. I should have sent the elevator down to the foyer for her. Well, we all took the elevator down when they left, and I went out to their car with them and passed several bags of goodies from my car to theirs -- things I've been carrying in my trunk from Becky and Cyndi (for Amy) for over a month. I also had a bag of sheets that don't fit on any of our beds, which will fit hers.

All in all I was very, very pleased with the evening. Oh, I said that, didn't I?

DTC - 12

I'm back for a short while

Well, I was away from the computer for five days. I didn't miss it much, either.

Well, yes, I did. I am getting caught up on the 10 BLOGs I read every day -- if they are updated. And then I'm off to bed.

It's been a very painful five days, but in that time, the house was cleaned again, and it smells so nice and fresh. A young lady put up my outdoor lights and decorated the inside as well. It looks rather nice. She was selective, and told me frankly she thought some of my stuff was, well, dated. So we got rid of the "dated" stuff. Pitched it. That should make my children happy -- getting rid of junk.

I still have a box of Christmas tree ornaments that will either go to one of my children, or one of my grandchildren, or be pitched. I want to get it out of the minuscule attic I have.

Back to the pain. I had another fibro attack and am leaving most of the pain behind. Again, I over did, and the doctor told me I need to really learn to pace myself. But who can pace themselves at this time of year. It's rush, rush, rush, and then when you think you've got it under control, someone throws in another party or two and you're obligated to make something to take with you, which puts pressure on someone for whom cooking is the most painful task of all the tasks that have to be done. And then anxiety sets in and the circle starts all over again.

I MUST learn to pace myself. I MUST learn to pace myself. I MUST learn to pace myself.

ttfn

Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ

I was laying in bed thinking about Mary and what it must have been like for her in last month of pregnancy, carrying the Son of God, and then delivering the baby.

I know with my first child, every little movement my son made, every tightening of my belly, every cramp was a little frightening. Was this twinge the beginning of labor. How long would my labor be? Would it hurt a lot? (Yes, it did.) Would it be a long labor? (No, it wasn't.)

Did Mary have any fears or was she so aware of God presence with her during that time of her life that she had perfect peace knowing that soon she would deliver God's only begotten son?

When it was time for delivery, was it a quick labor? Did she even have to go through labor? Or, was God merciful to her and she delivered her baby with some Braxton-Hix (not yet invented) contractions and then with just a few cramps? Did she even have any cramping before she delivered our Lord, Jesus Christ?

Was she embarassed to deliver her baby with her husband's assistance -- a husband who did not "know" her?

After she birthed our Lord, was he a "good" baby? Did he cry a lot? Did he sleep through the night, or did Mary endured what all new mother's endure -- sleepless nights and sleepless days?

We know so little about Mary and her birth of Jesus, but we know it happened, because it is recorded in God's Word.

These were just a some of things I was wondering about a few days ago.

mtf

The days pass swiftly

The older I get, the faster the days speed by. Today was another one of those fast days. I mean some days -- rarely, though -- are slow days, most are speeding by at warp speed. It is just me, or is that something that happens as one gets older and older and older? Life goes faster and faster and faster.

I went to the doctor today. All is well. My BP was down and so I'm on a new lower dose BP medicine -- yes! And I didn't go up on any of the other meds. I told her (my doctor), and I'll tell my "diary" that I think I've found a good mix -- at least it seems to be working pretty well.

I still hurt when I walk too much, but I did walk a bit today and, while I've been suffering leg cramps when I walk a lot, I am not having any today, so maybe I just needed to walk more and get some strength back. You see, I forget, and I should remember, because Alan has the same problem -- when you don't walk much you lose the ability to walk well and need to get those muscles working again. Even if it hurts, I have to make myself walk even if it's only 10 times around the house.

I did quite a bit today -- after I went to the doctor, I spent an hour at Dollar Tree. I love that store. I got more stuff for our Christmas bash -- more costume stuff. I mean if the children are going to act out the Christmas account as told by Luke, I needed some angel wings because there were angels in that account. And shepherds -- I got a couple of beards! I figure shepherds have beards. I hope the kids enjoy this "play" they're going to put on for me.

Then Alan had made an appointment for ME to take the Hyundai into the service center to get a part replaced. That was real special -- NOT! I had just gotten situated in the waiting room, and they told me it was fixed already. I was glad it went fast, though. I don't find those waiting room chairs very comfortable.

And, I made a superb dinner tonight. At least I thought so. And, Alan finished his whole plate and would have had more if I had made enough for more than two people.

It has taken me a long time to learn to cook for two. When I was growing up I cooked for six, then it was the two of us, and I really never learned to cook down as we almost always had someone (a hungry student or two) drop in for dinner. Then we started having babies, and before I knew it I was cooking for five, and now it's two, and has been two for many years, and I think I finally got it right. Oh, sometimes, I make too much, but then we just eat the left overs the next day.

Now, how did I get off on that tangent? Well, it's late at night. I'm tired. I've been up and moving since 7 a.m. I think it's time I turned in.

ttfn

Eye okay

Well, today was Alan's second post-surgery visit to the doctor. He's clear for another month. The eye is healing nicely, but still not well enough to get examined for glasses, if necessary. So, we still do the drops-in-the-eye thing four times a day and the patch at night. Last night, Alan forgot the patch and promptly poked himself in the eye. Duh!

I was up again at 5:30 a.m. Don't know why my body is getting me up so early. I haven't gotten up that early since I had to when I was working. Of course, I hit the hay at around 11:00 p.m. and am out like a light, so it's okay to be up so early.

Am I getting more things accomplished? No, of course, not. I did get out some snowmen today, though and got them set up. So, I'm starting to get my home decorated for the season. My season lasts until mid-February, because while everyone else decorates for Christmas, I decorate for the season -- WINTER. I put snowmen all over the place, and I put up trees with lights on them -- small trees, four-foot-high trees. No large tree for us.

First of all, it takes up too much storage space. Second, it is too hard for us to put together anymore. The last time we did the large tree thing, Alan was so exhausted it took him a week -- no joke -- a whole week to recover. And that was with my help. I couldn't do it alone, nor do I want to do it alone. So, while I don't have a large tree, I have mini-trees, and I think they look nice.

So, I'm slowly getting boxes out of the attic. Very slowly. If I hurt, I don't move any boxes. If I don't hurt, I move one box. And, I'm limiting myself to two boxes per day. That way, I figure I won't injure anything.

I guess I did accomplish something in the wee hours this morning. I did two loads of laundry. That's something, right?

ttfn