Thankful Thursday #341

 

Grateful for:

Work from home
While Hubby had COVID, I was able to work from home again to see if I was going to test positive... which (knocking on wood) hasn't happened - ANOTHER thing to be thankful for. But the ability to keep working now when I am not in the office is such a useful tool.  It's funny, we were talking about how life has changed in the work field so much over the past 2 years, post COVID.  

Hair at home
I didnt want to be around anyone in case I was positive, & I had a hair appointment scheduled. My fantastic hair stylist ended up making a kit for me so I could cover these grays at home & I wouldnt have to reschedule my future appointments.  I have to say, I think I did pretty good at it.  Nothing like she can do - but enough to last me till my next appointment.

I tried a hack I saw on Instagram wrapping your hair around paper towels
it worked out really well actually

SURVIVED nearly 3 hours in my car
I did a click list order to pick up my groceries & ran down one evening to zip fast & get the food & get home.  Well, the joke was on me.  I was stuck in my car for nearly 3 hours!  First, Click list, it took over 30 minutes to get the food. I think everyone is back to doing this with covid positive cases soaring.... & then I picked up dinner & sat in a drive thru for 30 minutes.  Chick Fil-A mac & cheese is worth it though.  & then the traffic jam of all traffic jams. There must have been some God awful wreck going up the hill that you have to go to get to my town... & you couldnt do it.  Traffic was at a stand still for hourssssssss.  If you know me, you know traffic is my own personal hell. I honestly thought I was going to have another mini-stroke because I was so stressed out - & so dang car sick. If I didnt have Chick-Fil-A tea, I dont know what I would have done.  When I got home, I threw all the groceries on the counter, the food on the table & I went to bed.  What a night.

Negative
Hubby finally tested negative over the weekend.  I made him keep his mask on in the house for an extra 5 days after the 5 that he was to quarantine for. I wore mine too - but I'm glad he came out of this.  This was a rougher go than his first round of COVID, but he is back to his ole snarky self.

Walk in the Cold
I think last time I walked about a walk in the rain... this week, I went walking in the cold. It was 32 degrees but I wanted to get some fresh air after wearing a mask for a week. It was so chilly but you warm up fast moving.  I really enjoyed the cold wind on my face.

Day Off
I really appreciated a day off work on Monday.  I honestly relaxed & did basically NOTHING all day (still got in my daily moving for minimum 20 minutes).... I love relaxing mornings though.  The doggies do too.

Tell me something good about your week!

Linking up with Jennifer & Leslie

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Friday Favorites

CLICK PIC FOR LINK

Favorite Letter Board

I think this is just cute for Valentine's Day
It would work for Easter too with the pastel colors

Favorite Chair Cushion

When you need your coworkers to know the Princess you are

Favorite Push Pins

Favorite Pens

I like these because the dogs have an attitude on their face!

Favorite  Secret Keeper

SO SMART! This is made from recycled books & you use it to cover things to hide on a table or shelf.
Like your router, a mess, wires, plugs, outlets... pretty clever

Favorite Eye Mask

Because I've always wanted to try these & they're gold
... it'll make me feel very "Real Housewife-y"

Favorite Coin Organizer

You put this in your cup holder in your car & its spring loaded to put the coins in & you can just slide out what you need. I HATE having coins just thrown into the tray of my car so I may need to get this - if anything - put this in the glove compartment.

Favorite Condiment Fork

I love people that come up with genius ideas!
So you can put this on your jar of pickles or olives & you can grab what you need & not have to always waste a fork out of your drawer.

Favorite Funnies

Happy Weekend Y'all!!!

Thankful Thursday #340

 

Trying to get back into the swing of things... 
Life has just been a doozy lately... trying to feel "normal" after the TIA episode..
& then Hubby has COVID & I'm doing everything I can to avoid getting it.

2022 is kicking off with a bang.

Anyways - let me get into the attitude of gratitude here...

Thankful for:

New Computer
Hubby got me a new one for my birthday & I am loving it. It's fast & so lightweight. Trying to get everything loaded back up on it & all the favorites saved... but glad to have a fresh new computer.

BEAUTY-iful spoons
My sweet friend Meranda surprised me this week with this delivery.  I literally have never seen anything like these. They are even more beautiful in person.  She said since I'm cooking more using Hello Fresh, she thought I would appreciate them. But I'm like, How am I ever supposed to use these??/ They're just too beautiful!!!!

Walks in the Rain
After my TIA, the doctors said it helps prevent a future stroke if you move at least 20 minutes every day.  I took that news to heart. I have literally worked out, moved, walked, did something for 20 minutes every single day since I got home from the hospital.  One day, I even went walking in the rain to get fresh air.. & the hubby went with me.  What's so funny is there was someone else walking with an umbrella. 

Flowers still going
Work sent me flowers for my birthday since I wasn't in the office. They were so beautiful... & over 2 weeks later, I was able to grab some of the ones still thriving & put in a vase I had that made them even more beautiful.  I forget how much I love fresh flowers in my home.

Dilating Ride
I had to go to the ophthalmologist to have my eyes checked.  I knew they were going to dilate my eyes, which I didnt want to drive afterwards.  I'm thankful my brother ended up driving Hubby down to the doctor so Hubby could drive me home.  It worked out perfectly... & my eyes werent horribly miserable.  Just  slightly blurry - nothing I couldnt deal with.

Messages
I have to say, through all this, all the texts & calls from everyone checking on me, asking how I'm doing... it really has been the encouragement I've needed.  Going through scary things can make you feel very alone & the messages that are just giving a hug, they are what gets me through some days.

Snow Day
I'm so thankful we got to leave work early when snow hit us last week. We didnt get a lot of snow, but it was so slippery & icy.  We left just in time to avoid the rush hour traffic.  Working from home was great because the next day, with roads still being icy, we just stayed tucked in safe houses.  

Tell  me something good in your week!!!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Show Us Your Books - December Reads

 

I sort of lost  my reading mojo at the end of the year.  So much happening in December - even if its really not DOING anything - its the stress of December & I cant get my brain to settle in reading.

But - 3 books - I'm not complaining... here's how I ended the year.

The House in the Cerulean Sea

*** / Liked It

Quick Summary:  As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, Linus goes to check an Orphanage that homes 6 unique children that could potentially bring the end of days & gets caught up in the relationships he makes along the way with them & the caretaker that watches over them

I really wanted to like this more - like I wanted to LOVE it.  I kept seeing it pop up everywhere.  & I actually did this one on audio because I heard that on a podcast that the narrator was wonderful... & he was. He does so many voices & gives so much life to each one.  

I did laugh at the characters - one of the kids name is Lucy - short for Lucifer & he's the Antichrist... so there's that in a magical book.  But his comments in the book, his character,  actually made me chuckle.  A lot of the comments throughout the book actually made me chuckle truth be told.

I wanted this to be the next Harry Potter - but doesnt give me the same sort of vibe.

It was very on the line of acceptance of others & hatred & prejudice & that part of the book, I could understand the love of the book & appreciated the love of this story.  

I didnt hate it... didnt love it... it was OK enough to pass the time.  I know there's a lot of people that have fallen in love with it & have really taken to the story & all the characters - which I get.  It's just not something I was gaga over - maybe it was expectations that let me down... It's funny because I listened to another podcast reviewing it & they said the same thing. They read it & didnt enjoy it & then re-read it later & really enjoyed it but they felt like the expectations was too much the first time & when they read it again, it took on a new life. Maybe that's what I need to do.

“Hate is loud, but I think you'll learn it's because it's only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as your remember you're not alone, you will overcome.”

The Matzah Ball

**** / Really Liked It

Quick Summary:  The daughter of a Rabbi is hiding a secret - she's a famous publisher of Christmas stories & she loves all things Christmas.  So when she's asked to write a new novel for Hanukkah, she has to find a story & ends up crossing paths with her summer camp archenemy - Jacob Greenberg who is going to host a Matzah Ball - the perfect environment for Rachel to get her new story idea.

You know how Holiday stories go - super Hallmark feeling - & this one was just like that.  Funny enough, I watched a movie on Hallmark just the weekend before where the character went to a party actually called The Matzah Ball - I was like, WAIT - it that this book? It wasn't... it was called Eight Gifts of Hanukkah - which also was very cute btw.  

Anyhoo... this book was cute, funny & has its sweet moments. 

I really appreciated it though because Rachel has an autoimmune disease & its treated with compassion & honesty & not some shoved off, "cant see it, it doesnt exist" issue.  

I'm glad I came upon this... a quick, feel good Holiday read.  

“these candles are a metaphor. They remind us that we always have a choice. We can be someone who snuffs out another person’s candle and, in the process, makes the world a darker place. Or we can be the type of person who spreads light. Better to be the shamash—one candle that lights all the others and brightens an otherwise dark world.”

A Season for Second Changes

*** / Liked It

Quick Summary:  Annie takes a position as "winter guardian" to a home near a beach after she finds her husband cheating on her & she's ready to start a new life.

This was the book club pick of the month  - it was nice enough.  A very sweet tale about finding your own happiness & new beginnings.  It's very G-rated, very Hallmark, very predictable - but that's OK - it was a nice cozy enough read.

You learn to meet most of the town in this book - so lots of characters - & you'll end up hating Annie's soon to be Ex - Max.. what a disgusting person.  But everyone else is charming & has their own personality & made me want to move to a quaint little town to have a whole village as a family.

“Today is not a day to mope, she said to herself. Today is to find somewhere to live.”

& to close  out 2021 - here's what I did for the year

Not bad... I'll take it

& my favorite book of 2021

This book totally made me gasp & I was here for the twists & turns in the story.

Click Pic to join Jana & Steph & all the other book loving bloggers

2022 has me singing Stroke me, Stroke me!

 This thing on..... (Tap tap tap)....

Hey all!

Look whose back!  I've missed everyone so much!
Year end is just so much for me & I sort of just disappeared into the mist... & then I had a health scare that has left me shaking in my boots... but we're starting a new year & I'm on a mission to get my health in check & make this year the best one yet.  

Let me do some little updates in the past few weeks

Holidays
Our holiday was simple enough really.  I enjoyed it was 70+ degrees... I know a lot of people werent too happy about that, actually wanting a White Christmas.  I enjoyed sitting on my back porch reading in short sleeves & no shoes.  

It was actually a really low key, no hub-bub kinda day.  Hubby & I decided not to buy for each other because we are wanting to put money on furniture - our gift to one another - so with no gifts on Christmas, it just sort of felt like any other day.

We did work a Christmas puzzle though... that was fun. & I went & saw my mom for awhile.

I'm happy we made it through the year with Ozzie not bothering our tree. I was questioning that if it was going to be an issue.  Our baby boy was a trooper.  Didnt even look twice at it.

Birthdays
Hubby celebrated turning 60 & 6 days later, I turned 50.  Big milestones birthday - both of us feeling old.  But grateful. Another year around the sun is always a blessing.

We didnt buy Christmas for one another, but we did for our birthdays & Hubby got me a new laptop! WHOO HOOO!!! Maybe this will help with my blogging now.  I'm excited to to start looking at photo software & uploaded on it.  I dont have plans to get back into photography for a business - but I do enjoy taking pictures & editing & taking some pics of loved ones. I have always been a Photoshop girl but thinking of looking into Lightroom.  If you've had experience in both - tell me what you like.

Boosted
I ended up getting my Booster the day before Christmas Eve.  Remember when I got my J&J shot & had a fever for 21 days? I was a nervous wreck of getting this one - but want to be protected because I honestly think COVID has done a number on me & I dont want to go through it again.  I ended up getting the Moderna for a booster & did much better with it.  Granted - it was still rough.  After about 12 hours, the symptoms hit me.  & got worse through the day on Christmas Eve.  

I slept most of the day - poor Hubby - on his birthday! ... & my fever was hanging around 101.5... at one point, my temperature got up to 103!!!! & my heart was just beating out of my chest the whole day.  I have an alarm on my Garmin watch that lets me know if my HR is too high when resting. That sucker went off ALL DAY Christmas Eve. I would be dozing off & BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ - while sleeping, my HR was like 110-125 beats per minute.  

I was taking Tylenol & then switching to Advil ever 3 hours... I felt AWFUL.   

Christmas Day - I did feel SO MUCH Better - my heart alarm only went off twice - LOL... & my temp was around 99.5 - but definitely better than the day before...

TIA
OK... the scary part of the last week. Honestly - the scariest thing I've ever experienced.
So the Monday after the Holiday - I was so super busy all day at work, had to go take care of the horses, came home & was taking care of the dogs.. .. & all of a sudden, I lost vision in my eye.  It got blurry at first & then all of a sudden, I saw I didnt have any peripheral vision.  Nothing.

I started looking at the TV & the news was on. I was trying to read the bottom tracker & I could only see one letter.  Nothing but one letter.  If I moved my head, I could see the next letter - but only that letter.  OK - trying not to freak out.....

I laid down thinking it could be a migraine or something & about 10 minutes later, my vision was coming back... so I went to go look at my phone to see if this is something that can happen with a migraine.  (Remember I lost vision in my other eye a few weeks back when my blood vessel broke)

I got my phone & tried to read... & I couldnt.  I was reading & could see the words, but it was like my brain was going 100mph & I couldnt actually read.  I would see a word, but I couldnt SAY that word.  Like, if the sentence said, "The symptoms for this are the following" ... I was saying out loud, "The sunshine blue dog jsut tree falling"... like nothing made sense.  & I KNEW I wasnt saying the right words but I couldnt make myself actually read. It was the craziest thing I've ever been through.

Instant panic - instant freak out.

I scream to Hubby who was downstairs, "I NEED TO GO TO THE ER"- he comes running & he's asking whats wrong & I yell - I CANT READ!!!!! - which he is like HUH? LOL - thinking about it now, what a strange thing to say - but it was true.

Hubby got me to the hospital fast. The whole way down, I kept reading things on my phone - almost trying to force my brain to work.  Wake up. Slow down. Something... Hubby said everything I was saying wasn't making sense.

We got to the ER & people were EVERYWHERE.  I told Hubby not to go in because COVID rates are soaring & I didnt want him going into COVIDVILLE.  I walked in & went to the counter & tried explaining what was going on but stumbling upon my words & they rushed me right back.  Honestly - there was a man which blood dripping from a towel on his foot & he was even waiting.  They rushed me back, got my BP & all of a sudden, everyone around me is screaming CODE STROKE.

Is this my life????

They were literally running with me to the CT room. They had me on the table & people were all around me, doing all sorts of tests, making me touch fingers, noses, repeat things.  I could do everything except read.  They had sentences on a chart & words & like, there was one that said TIP TOP... & all I could say was TOT. I knew it wasn't right - but I literally couldnt get my brain/mouth to say the actual words.

I ended up shaking so much, they threw blankets on me & tried to hold me calm. I dont know if it was nerves or what.  My BP ended up being 201/92 there.  

They got me to a room in the ER, which I was glad for because people were LINING the walls - gurneys everywhere - people sitting in chairs sick.  They put me in a room & said DONT COME OUT! They put a little bucket thing for me to use the bathroom & told me with COVID everywhere - not to go to the restroom except right there.  Geez.  I laid in that room for 4.5 hours & never saw another person.  So strange.  I know they were busy & had so much on their hands - but honestly, I could have died in that room & no one would have known. I didnt have any monitors on me or anything because they came off when I got up to use my "bucket".  I didnt even have a nurses button & I couldnt find it either.  I was given no water either in there for over 6 hours. I honestly felt like my mouth was cotton & my head was killing me - I'm like, could be a stroke, could be dehydration - who knows! My goodness!

The doctor ended up coming in at 3am & telling me they were admitting me, though they had no rooms. They wanted to do an MRI & some cardiology tests the next day & that it looked like I had a TIA - which is basically like a mini-stroke.  

I laid there all night long trying to get my brain going... & eventually, I could start reading SOME things.  

& I couldnt remember anything. I always say scripture in my sleep or when I am afraid or anxiety creeps up - I couldnt remember ANYTHING.  Not my favorite verses, not the ones I always say ... nothing. That was terrifying.  I ended up getting bits & pieces of scripture but it was like mental marathons trying to get thoughts to come back.

The nurse ended up coming in around 4:30 & finding me holed up on the gurney in a little blanket trying to sleep & she said, OK - I'm finding you a bed.  Bless her heart - she went around the hospital & found an empty bed & brought it down to the ER for me.

The next day, still no room in the hospital - so they took me for my MRI & did all my heart tests in that ER room.  I could hear people lining the walls again by the afternoon.

They finally got me to a room around 4:30pm the  next day & when they wheeled me out - people were everywhere.  It was horrible.  If you dont think COVID isnt running down the hospital & staff - let me tell you, I witnessed it first hand.

Finally got to a room & yes, slept in my jeans for 3 days - which I've since burned

To make a very long story a little shorter.... the good thing, they didnt see a stroke in my tests/scans.  My heart tests came back OK too - thought they have sent me home with a monitor I have to wear for 30 days! 30 DAYS!!!!! Isnt that nuts? I have to carry a cell phone that monitors & relays the information.  

The bad news... if you look up TIA, it had my anxiety at a level 11 on a scale of 1-10. Mainly because they say the odds of having another one, or a major stroke in the next year are really high.  & it mentioned statistics of death in the first year.  Yeah - let me be alone reading this all day long. 

Needless to say, my BP was up the entire time I was in there.

I ended  up getting out of the hospital Wednesday evening - with a slew of prescriptions. Me, the person who doesnt want to take anything.

Blood pressure medicine - cholesterol medicine (though my cholesterol isn't even high) - an aspirin a day - even Vit D.  The doctor literally YELLED at me about my Vitamin D level. he said its basically non-existent, which I knew - but he said it effects your cardiovascular system. Huh - who knew.  Plus, I found out people with really low Vit D in their body has a really bad reaction to COVID too.  Double Huh.

I have a ton of doctor's appointments ahead of me too. They really dont know what caused this.  Could it be spikes in high blood pressure?  I really dont have high BP unless my anxiety kicks in - which let's be honest, this past year, its been bad.  Add in the effects of going into menopause & yeah, I just dont feel like myself.  The neurologist in the hospital said I need an anti-anxiety med - which honestly, at this rate, I'm all for - but I want to talk to my family doctor that knows me the best to find which one I should try.

So, I'm taking the meds... I'm willing to do anything to fight this.  & I'm on a mission to move everyday for 20 minutes MINIMUM.  When I got home from the hospital, I even went on the treadmill & walked - SLOWLLYYYYY - for 20 minute. I truly feel like I'm in a fight for my life right now..

Walking on New Years Eve for 25 minutes

I've gotten a ton of questions asking me if I think the booster did this to me.  & granted, I ended up in the ER when I got my J&J shot too!!! BUTTTT - I think COVID has something to do with this more than the vaccine.

When I had COVID, at one of my sickest days, my vision got all scrambled & I just thought it was due to fever, or panic... but that was the first time my vision changed so strangely where I couldnt see anything but a little center point.  That has happened 2 other times... & does the vaccine sort of make my body react like its having COVID again?  I dont know how it all works - but I did read a lot where COVID was causing young, healthy people to have strokes or TIA's ... so I wonder if I was having TIA's before & they are just getting worse, with the reading/comprehension thing this time? Who knows!!!  It really could be any number of reasons.

All I know is I NEVER want to go through this again.

This week, I have an appointment with an Ophthalmologist, & another appointment with my family doctor - & they want me to schedule a sleep study.. & I still need to get with my cardiologist.  

Tell me 50 isn't starting off with a bang.

Now, I'm trying to adjust to the meds. I just dont like medicine & my body doesnt tolerate them well - so I got a 50 year old gift to myself - a pill organizer - HAHA.  Getting used to blood pressure meds that are giving me a headache & making me feel dizzy & off.... but I am doing better each day with it. 

On the top of the paper the hospital gave me regarding TIA's - this is what it says....

Preventable, Treatable, BEATABLE!

I think this is going to be my motto for 2022.

Show Us Your Books - November Reads

 

Another month down... & more books. 

I didnt do as good as last month - but I am well over my yearly goal I set on Goodreads - so that makes me happy

Little Darlings

** / It was OK

Quick Summary: A woman has twins & while in the hospital, a woman shows up in her room & tells her a story of how she will exchange her babies for creatures & no one will ever know.  After her babies disappear & are found, Lauren is convinced the woman did as she said she would.  Are the twins her babies or the Changlings?

OK - I read this the week of Halloween into November because I wanted something spooky.... & spooky it was. But it also was a little confusing to me.  

The idea of the book was interesting & creepy.  Parts of it left me a little lost but other parts held my attention & then the next little bit, I was confused.  In the end, are the twins really Changlings or has Lauren's past issues confused her.  It really did hold my attention to the end with the mystery of it all.

In the end, it was OK. I made it through the whole book so it held my attention enough - but is it something I'm gasping over - nah. & I DEFINITELY wouldn't recommend to any new mother to read - OHHHH NOOO WAYYYY.

“She had to play the game, even before she knew what the rules were.”

Oona Out of Order

**** / Really Liked It

Quick Summary:  Oona's birthday is New Years Day & when she is is waiting on NYE for the strike of midnight for her 19th birthday, everything changes. From there, every midnight on NYE, Oona jumps on her time line - falling into her life at various ages - going forward & back - piecing the parts of her life together.

I really am a fan of Time Traveler's Wife - love the book and the movie. This book gave me those same sort of vibes.  

I had a lot of questions reading it - any time you bring time travel in, I think you open a HUGE door of questions that have no answer - but you just have to remember time travel isnt real, so just go with it.

I just loved Oona - & the whole story was interesting how she goes from 19 to her 50's back to her 20's ... her finding out what's going on in her life.  The fun references in some of the ages were fun too - very Forrest Gump, crossing paths of famous people down the road.

The book has some fun twists & turns & I think I gasped a few times.  It also is heartwarming & moving... & really a great reminder to love the day you are in.

Totally recommend!

“Time heals all. But what if time itself is the disease?”

Five Total Strangers

** / It was OK

Quick Summary:  A blizzard hits when Mira lands on a connecting flight.  She wont get home in time for the holidays when someone she met on the plane suggests she ride in a car that they rented together to get home. Soon, in the ride, Mira realizes that these people dont know one another & one of them is determined to not let Mira leave.

OK... this book was just so MEH to me. I had such high expectations on it but it just got on my nerves. I didnt like the characters... I didnt enjoy the ending & the big reveal, which really gave no details on the WHY of anything.  

Throughout the story, we hear Mira say "I gotta get away from this car" - & she never did... or her saying "I have to trust my instincts" - which her instincts were THE WORST.  

I only stuck it out because I wanted to see who in the car was "the bad guy" - but even that was just a disappointment.

I wouldnt recommend this.  It would be a good Netflix made movie - with an updated script.

I Know Who You Are

** / It was OK

Quick Summary:  A famous actress is hiding a secret & one person knows who she really is. When her husband goes missing & she's accused of his death, will all her secrets come to light?

OK - I wanted to read this author's books after I read Rock, Paper, Scissors & enjoyed it so much.  This one had the very much same creepy, mystery vibe & I was anxious to see how this was going to turn out.

Little did I know that this was going to be one of the most difficult books for me to get through. Honestly - this needs some BIG TIME TRIGGER WARINGS on it.  There's disgusting animal abuse, there's child abuse, & the end of the story - I wont give it away but I honestly got nauseated.  If I didnt have only 30 pages left, I would have just put it down ... or thrown it if it wasn't on my Kindle. 

GROSS, DISTURBING, MESSED UP... how I would describe it.

I gave it 2 stars because up to the end, I was held captive at the mystery - even through all the horrors of the book... but the ending - took it down for me. 

UGH... where's the bleach for my brain.... nope nope nope.

I personally wouldnt recommend this book - but if you like disturbing, mental trauma, then go for it.

We shake the facts of what happened in our minds, then watch and wait while the pieces settle into fiction. If we don’t like the way the pieces fall, we just shake the story again, until it looks how we want it to.

Joining with Steph & Jana

Click the button below to join in yourself!