[bizi]

Thank you split for reading and for your support.

bizi

[bizi]

Yesterday was a good day.
Worked out of town and then came back in time to go for gumbo with Jeff.
I ate a bowl of cabbage with a remulaude dressing to make a slaw.
The gumbo was fantastic and I told them so.
They are so friendly and we have been going there for years.
They built a new location free standing building right across from the gas station where they used to be. It has been fun seeing them get all of the finishing touches in place. They have been at the new location 3 weeks. It was warm outside high of 78 so not many people eating gumbo so it had cooked down to make it thicker.
It was delicious!!!!

I raked up some leaves in the after noon and put barrels in the front yard to be picked up on tuesday morning. They recycle yard waste, I think they mulch it.
Any way I am glad it doesn't just go to a land fill like they do in Indiana.

175.4 this morning...so happy to see the numbers go down, I have been yo yoing around 177-175 now for a week.

I went to the nail shop to get a nail fixed. They are so nice there. I always tip them really well because they are very hard working folks, husband and wife. It is a little shop.
Jeff had a gig with his big band group called the sky liners. He was gone for over 5 hours, and that is how long I was on the computer. But this time I did productive things.

I did some research for my friend karen about electrocuted and with the help of a forum friend was able to find a support group for survivors of electrical shock. So am anxious to give her some of the printouts of what I found out about after care. I think I will see her tomorrow.

After that I worked on my policy and procedure manual.
I had put together one from 15 years ago. so pulled that out of the filing cabinet. And redid the contents. I made it much more simple to read and follow what it is that I do.
It is about 20 pages long. I had to re word and type up 4 new pages of text combining several redundant pages making it easier to read. It took me forever to do this as there was not a spell check and my typing is some what slow and I make errors in spelling. So I had to constantly reread the pages to make sure they were all correct.
Printing them up took many tries getting them each to fit on a single page.With some rewording, I was able to do it, just finished up when jeff came home at midnight.

The reason I put this together was in fear.
Last week I saw a client for the first time and was horrified what I found. She had an ingrown toe nail that had been going on for quite some time. It was the worst one That I have ever seen. They did not prepare me for what their mothers big toe looked like. They told me that this had been going on for a month and hospice/nurse practioner sawit ans just said yep it is ingrown.
I just did what I always do, they had been soaking her feet in epson salts as I had instructed them to do before my visit.
They medicated her with some morphin and I went about cleaning her toe and getting rid of all of the dead debri, and cut the nail back as best as I could to discover it was all the way down to the bone.
I was horrified.
I would have sent her to the emergency room had she not been on hospice.
I was irritated that the hospice people did not do anything and called me into take care of the ingrown nail. I gave the family member instructions for wound care and applied a dressing.
That was all out of my scope of practice.

Later the hospice nurse called me and started questioning me about why I did not call them with my findings. I told them the family members had said that this had been going on a month, I was a bit defensive. She said that she had my phone number if they had any other questions. This made me very nervous. I hope they don't report me.
They were negligent.
Looking back at it I should not have done it but I always do what has to be done.
So in doing the procedure manual I feel confident that I have covered my tracks and wrote it in such a way that I followed my guide lines.
This was the only thing that I could do to cover my tracks and to deal with my anxiety.

Got up this morning and am onto my 3rd cup of coffee. The sun is shining and I don't think we have rain today so that is good. Cooler weather is coming again...it is now december!
Perhaps we can take the tree down out of the attic and decorate it. I have not done any shopping or planning for christmas presents for anyone yet.
Although the 3 daughters have come together to combine gifts for them.
Dad wanted a new pair of shoes, Jill bought them, They needed a new tv, gretchen bought that, we are paying for the cat boarding for February's annual trip to florida. They will be gone 3 weeks.

I told mom that I would be coming home to celebrate her 80th birthday, feb 3rd.
This is the coldest and snowyist month for them I will stay about 3-4 days and allow time after that in case I get snowed in from a snow storm.

I am not going to florida this year and don't plan on going ever again.That trip last year is not my idea of vacation. Even though it is a family thing, I believe I have the right to bow out of going. The first time that I joined them for that trip was a disaster. When we first got there I cried because I did not now what to do. and made a scene. It was awful. And then for the entire week I drank like a sailor...it was not pretty. I told my sisters that I did not want any thing to do with that time share, that they could have it.
Any way,
I am sorry this is so long.
Thank you for reading.
I better get going. Jeff is ready to go to brunch.
No bloody marys for me! Being Alcohol free suits me well.
bizi

[bizi]

Another great weekend!
Had brunch at the diner:
3 eggs scrambled with fresh spinach and a side of spinach and mustard greens and smoked sausage. It was delicious!
Jeff got the christmas trees down from the attic and set them up.
One is on the floor in the living room it is about 6 feet tall.
The other one is 3 ft tall and it is on our dining room table.
I put the other decorations up around the living room, including a one feet tall mini tree with IU decorations from indiana and red and white colors and ornaments. It is cute.
WE were invited to dinner at jeffs best friends house.
So we went there at 5;30 and we ate at 6.
He prepared a chicken dish with a red sauce with tomatoes and peppers and asparagus. It was very good. I did not eat the rice. He also fixed a cucumber salad and his daughter was there and she brought some now safe to eat romaine lettuce and some dressing that was very good.
They ate ice cream treats for dessert and I had a mini resses peanut butter cup. Drank sweetened tea and water while they drank gin and tonics.

Did not miss the alcohol at all, I knew that if I had one I would want more and more. sigh
Came home and ate 2 squares of dark chocolate which was very satisfying.
chewed gum to keep my mouth busy.
I ate just the right amount of food as to not be too full.
I need to watch portion sizes at sandras for lunches they always give me so much food. Tomorrow I will bring a little cooler with me.
I look forward to karens stories at lunch. Will bring the info that I printed off for her. Don't know how she will take it. Alot of it talks about needing therapy to work thru issues and about ptsd. I believe she suffers from this as well. Well I had better sign off as my back is starting to bother me.
bizi

edited to add that it was 80 degrees as I listened to christmas music and then the ice cream man drove by. lol gotta love the south!

[splitimage]

Bizi,

Sorry about the client with the ingrown toenail - that's totally not fair to you.

I'd say it's a good call to not go on the FL vacation, I'd find it very triggering.

Glad you got your Christmas decorations up. I want to put my tree up today, it's just a little 3 foot tree, but it's really pretty when it's lit up.

Well done on staying AF, diet is a great motivator.

splitimage

[bizi]

Thank you split....
have a good day!
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

[bizi]

I don't think I told you that our cat hattie had surgery today.
She had a tumor on the side of her back about the size of an egg. It got infected and we treated her for that the past week. Jeff is great at giving her meds. He got this thunder coat that wraps around her protects the incision and comforts her but she is having a hard time getting up and walking around freely. It is supposed to help with anxiety and we thought it would be easier on her instead of that cone collar they put on her. Jeff said she went crazy with it on her...so we opted for this.

I just hope the incision is ok.
bizi

[bizi]

jeff said he saw her eat and drink but she still is not waking quite right. so he loosened the coat and she promptly went under our bed.
sigh
bizi

[splitimage]

Aww, I hope your poor kitty is ok. It's never nice when are fur babies are sick.

[bizi]

last night she wiggled out of her coat....
This is going to be an ongoing struggle, put it back on her.
we both work so we will see how she is doing after we get home tonight.
bizi

[bizi]

I met with my psych doctor today. She was thrilled that I was doing so well being alcohol free, and losing weight.
I felt very strongly about my being AF. I told her that I have this trip coming up and they are triggers for me.
She prescribed Inderall for my anxiety 3 x day.
I am supposed to try it first on sunday when I am not working to see how I respond to it.

I am feeling like my motor is running.
I purchased/picked what goes inside these baskets at fresh pickens open air market. I bought 10 of them and will give them to the woman in my family.
yesterday I bought 10 big bags on sale at hobby lobby, and some name tags and tissue paper and dove chocolates from the dollar tree.
I picked them up this evening...it took half of the space in my car.When I put the basket in the gift bag it seems huge. They will take up a lot of room in the car.

I hope my rosacea stops doing its thing. Am hoping the BBL treatments help.
It is supposed to help with spider lines in my face and red nose etc.
Am excited/nervous about that.
Having it done next tuesday before we leave.
I just went to home depot and ordered new business cards and bound the manual. And bought some books used for my billing. Abigail is coming on saturday to help with some paper work. I get my hair colored that afternoon. WE vote that day!
Feel drugged. antsy, yet tired so that I may go to bed early tonight.
I hope I am not becoming hypo.
bizi

[splitimage]

Wow, sounds like you had a busy day. And the gift idea sounds great, but you're right - they'll take up space.

Hope your kitty is ok.

splitimage

[bizi]

Thank you split!!!!

Jeff is doing a great job medicating her, 2 syringes full this morning, some pain meds and the antibiotic. I hope the pain meds work and don't make her zonk out. We will be gone most of the day so won't know how she does. She kept the coat on all night so that is good so much better than the cone that she was frantic about when she came home from the vets. The coat has worked out beautifully.
173.8 this morning....happy about that! Lowest I have been in 6 months!

I splurged last night for dinner we went to jasons deli and I had a small egg/ham, mayo sandwich...it is called a "Sammy", and one hard boiled egg.

I love breakfast for dinner. Then came home and ate some left over smothered swiss chard from sandras. I had split in half what they gave me for lunch (2 huge meat balls with sauce over tabouli and bok choy and chard.) It was delicious! So I have left overs, maybe I will come home and eat them for lunch????
At 6:15 I will pick Karen up to go the the musical gathering tonight.
There will be 3 female sings/song writers there. They sing cajun french songs. There will also be some sharing of stories and personal info about themselves. It is an intimate room so that will be nice we will try to go early to get a good seat.
Even though I turned the heat up our house feels cold.
Need to get going...on to my 3rd cup of coffee.
hope yall have a nice day!
bizi
Karen just canceled...guess I will go by myself....I told her I was disappointed.

[bizi]

Treated myself to a medium size chocolate bar after a healthy dinner.
Gotta make this diet plan work. Occasionally I will eat what I want and it wont ruin my diet!!
bizi

then I ate a protein bar just because I wanted to try it...it was ok I guess.
blueberry macadamia nut....I had high hopes.

[bizi]

We woke up this morning to rain, flash flood watches insu.
Also woke up to hattie not having her coat on...so who knows how long she had it off. The incision site still looks good, maybe she left the incision/stitches a lone. It looks like she did. Jeff continues to medicate her 2 times a day. When we put her coat back on she is pretty good about it, doesn't struggle. Forgot to tell you, we found the coat in the kitty litter box! LOL
At least we know she is using the box!

I am seeing a client this morning then come home for our usual Chris's po boys for some chicken and sausage gumbo!
The jeffs best friend daughter is coming over at 1pm To help me with some busy work that is tedious and that I don't like doing.

Then I have a hair appointment at 1:30pm hubby will be home while abigail works. It should only take a couple of hours, not sure.
My hair appointment is for a retouch color and hair cut.

Thursday was guest appreciation day.
I was able to purchase goods at 20% off and prebook my services for 3 months in advance at a 20% discount and buy gift cards of $100 and receive $20. So I figured out approximately how much I spend in the year and bought 8 gift cards and got $160 dollars. Where else can you get a 20% return???? So all of that really helps out and makes the services affordable.

After my hair day I will see another client who has been suffering with corns and callus that she has been trying to doctor up herself. She has been calling me getting info...with out having me come to see her(think free advice) finally when she called back yesterday...I told her that I can't just give her advice I needed to see her and there would be the charge for that visit.
She agreed to the visit today.

Tonight is the 2nd saturday of the month Art walk. Galleries are open late and it is something that we enjoy doing. Am hoping the rain stops by then.

We have salmon to eat tonight got it from Sandras health food store pre marinated so it should be good. I bought a pound of it yesterday. Wondering if our friend Paul would like to come for dinner???

I need to get going.
Have a great day Yall!
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[bizi]

Bad news.
Heard from the vet this morning that hattie's tumor that he removed last tuesday came back as cancerous.
He recommended more surgery with a trip out of town to the vet school for an oncology assesment. The surgey would remove more tissue and muscle tissue.
He told me that he took even more tissue than normal for this type of tumor because he sensed it was cancerous.
He said that there is an 80% chance that it will not come back. 20% chance it will.
She has an appointment on tuesday, so jeff wants to talk about it more with him.
I don't want to put her through that...but it is jefffs cat and his decision.
I will honor that.
bizi

[splitimage]

Bizi,

I'm so sorry about your cat. I hope she's part of the 80% group. And glad the coat is working.

Nice score on your discounts. I love it when I'm able to get things like that.

splitimage

[bizi]

Thanks split.

bizi

[bizi]

Last night we watched the movie, the Holiday with jack black and kate winslet and cameron...I think it is mary and jude law. what a great movie!!!!

Up early today doing laundry and going to take a shower. Will wear a shower cap as I just got my hair done yesterday.
My psychiatrist prescribed Inderal 10mg 3x day for my anxiety about going on vacation, and the added stress of the trip in general, being out of my routine family stress, others drinking heavily.
I will test the inderal today to see if I have any side effects. I am supposed to call into the office tomorrow with my results. Need to go to the pharmacy to pickit up along with my ohter meds need refills too.
I did not take my supplements last night just did not feel like it. There are a lot of them and did not fill my pill box up with them either. I was getting to bed late and jsut felt like I should be in bed.
I will fill up my pill box this morning. And use my mouth wash for strong teeth, purple kind of listerine that the dentist recommended.
I am not drinking because it was not any fun anymore....and I can't seem to be serious about my weight loss goals when I drink.
173.8 this morning.
Happy about that.
I did not snack last night as hubby did. Yay!
My plan is to do Intermitant fasting as best as I can. 2 meals a day and no snacking.
The only thing I can't give up is my coffee with half and half in the mornings so it is not a true fast.

There is a christmas concert this afternoon that I would like to go to at 3pm at a big church.
The group is called BREVE, an acapella group out of baton rouge.early music ensemble. Should be good. I am going to ask Karen, my new friend, if she would like to go.
Hattie is very reserved with the thunder coat on. Did see her eat and drink some and use the litter box yesterday so that is good.
Have a great sunday yall.
bizi

[bizi]

172 this morning.
drinking a lot of water does amazing things to my scale.
bizi

[splitimage]

Congratulations on the weight loss. I'm following you, as I'm also trying to lose weight through diet. I was plateaued at around 190 for about 3 weeks which was frustrating, but the last couple of days I've been down at 186, so I'm happy.

splitimagelast couple of days I've been down at 186, so I'm happy.

splitimage

[bizi]

congratulations split am happy that the scale started moving in the right direction!!!!!
YAY!
bizi

[splitimage]

Thanks Bizi, it's really unfair how easy it is to put on weight, and how hard it is to lose it.

[bizi]

Split, I put on 50 pounds in 3 years drinkning craft beers and eating willy nilly.
It is very easy to do.
I have taken off 14 pounds so far this time.
The most I have lost in a long time, I yo yo frequently. This is a fragile time for me as we leave on vacation in one week.
Not snacking and not drinking has made all the difference in the worls to my dieting and sticking to it.

And it is working!!!!!
YAY!!!!!
bizi

[splitimage]

I hear you on the vacation. They can really throw a wrench in diet and sobriety plans. Hope you're able to manage it.

[bizi]

we leave one week from today.
I am not ready.

I forgot to tell you that , or maybe I did tell you and forget.
anyway
Karen found out that I posted about her(did not write her name)
on the buzz feed site that I wrote about her condition.
I also said some personal things like I thought she was ocd and had an eating disorder.
Well today at lunch she really questioned me. She said do you think you are a doctor. I said no just a nurse. and that these were my opinion.

She said you can't diagnose. She went on and on I kept apologizing and she said she watched judge judy all the time people suing other people for stuff posted on facebook. So I asked her if she was going to sue me. She said no.She said that she was offended. I told her that I was not easily offended. I did not tell her that I avoid confrontation at almost all cost.
so I was really getting annoyed....after repeating her self several times I asked her if we would still be friends and she said yes.
I am glad that she doesn't know that I posted here her name.
oh well. I will have to be careful what I say to her.



I had good food today.
Lunch:


spaghetti meat balls over tabouli (I took half home) no noodles.

With a bowl of veggie soup which was very good!
For dinner:

Meat loaf with pizza sauce on top and steamed cauliflower,

A satsuma, type of orange that is very sweet and easy to peel and hardly any seeds.
2 small squares of chocolate, dark 80%

I am trying to tell myself that I am full but it is not working I am going to eat a fudge pop. And drink another water.

bizi

Edited to add that I finished my christmas bags/gifts so that is good. And filled up my 2 weeks worth of meds, so that is done yay! Got my nails done yesterday so they look nice clear gel and half some tips and acylic for repairs.
I work saturday but will get billing done and laundry as well finished on sunday. I need to dig out the warm gear....boots parka, wool socks, etc....
Think I will send christmas cards with my bills for this last set of billing.
My back is bothering me, think I will go to bed earlier than normal and see if a heating pad will help my back, maybe use the CBD cream and see if that helps.
My back has been bothering me when I stand for too long.
sigh