Fall Colors

Yesterday, with two friends, I rode the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad to enjoy the fall colors.  I took a lot of pictures.  Here are some that I took.

Labor Day Visit to the Akron Zoo

Monday, was Labor Day and my third visit to the Akron Zoo.

                                                            Penguins

                                                          lemur

                                                Condor with the wings spread out.

                                                     Jellyfish

                                                      Seahorse

                                                         octopus

                                                There are now two komodo dragons

                                                Lions

                                                 Mama with one of her baby snow leopard

                                             Flamingos

Boise Zoo

On Saturday, August 2, I went to the Boise Zoo with one of my cousins.  This was my third new zoo of the year.  Because of my membership with the Akron Zoo, I got in free.

My Birthday

This year, I celebrated my birthday with my friends in TX.  Went to a friend's house in the afternoon to go swimming, had four kids and four adults.  Then we had a girls night out for my birthday.  The next day, we also celebrated my birthday, so the boys could help me celebrate.

There is no pictures from girls night out.  I did have a cake on Friday afternoon.

Missing Timmy

Been thinking a lot about Timmy lately.  Sometimes it is hard to believe that he is no longer around here on Earth.  I miss him a lot!  During the past week, while trying to fall sleep at night or trying to take a nap, I think about sitting next to Timmy and we both are worshiping God. 

I will also ask God, what is Timmy doing?  I talk to Timmy, too.  I wonder when I get to Heaven if I will be able to get a Timmy Hug.  I miss  his hugs. 

This was taken on Christmas 2010.  Even though he is in Heaven, he will always be a part of my heart.

Fireworks

Yesterday was the Fourth of July.  The United States of America is 238 years old.   I went to three different fireworks this week.  Sunday night, mom and I went to see fireworks in Fairlawn.  They were really good, last about 30 minutes, really cool designs.  Thursday night, mom and I went to Wadsworth to watch fireworks.  They started late, and were okay.  Wadsworth has done better in the past.  Fairlawn's were way better this year.  Last night with a few friends, went to the Rubber Ducks game and watch fireworks afterwards.  This was my forth Rubber Ducks game this year. These pictures of fireworks are from Fairlawn's.

Member Night at the Akron Zoo

Last evening from 5-8 pm, was member's night at the zoo.  I bought a single membership back in April to the Akron Zoo.  The zoo has two baby snow leopards, but they are not on display yet.  The komodo dragon died earlier this year, and they have replaced it with a new one.  There is now a red panda at the zoo.  Here are a few pics that I took last night.

                                              Penguins

                                                  Sting ray

                                                  Lion

                                                   Coyote

New Lung Doctor

  Last month, I chose to change lung doctors.  I asked my kidney doctor if he knew anyone.  He gave me three names, then I called my doctor to ask her for a referral for the new doctor.  I got it and called to make an appointment.  My new lung doctor is half Hungarian.  I am  one quarter Hungarian, that was neat for me.  I will see him again  before school starts. Before then, I will be getting my fourth ultrasound of my right leg in the past year.  In early August, I will have a lung function test.

   He did show me on the computer, a comparison of my PET/CT scans from last August to the one I had at the beginning of March.  He said there was a mass in August and now it is gone.  He also said that Sarcoid is an inflammation of the lymph  nodes. 

    Yesterday morning, I wore my tennis shoes for a few hours.  That was great.  I have to build up time in my tennis shoes.  The swelling in my right leg is going down!  By end of summer, I should be back at Curves working out.  My other goal is to be able to wear my slip-ons by the middle of next month. 

   The OT is working on both of my wrists and my lower arms are very tight.  I have a few exercises to do through out the day.  I am looking for a brace to wear, which will also help. 

Toledo Zoo

Yesterday, I left Heather's house and stopped in Toledo to walk around the Toledo Zoo before heading for home.

                                                  Tiger

                                                  Mama and baby elephant

                                                  White Rhino

                                                African Penguins

                                                  Monkey butt

                                                Giraffe

Detroit Zoo

Saturday afternoon, Heather and I went to the Detroit Zoo after eating at B.D. Mongolian Barbecue.  We got to the zoo and was told they closed in an  hour.  (We got there around 4 pm.) Heather saw on the Internet that the zoo closed at 8 pm, well, that was wrong.  Here are a few pics from our two hours at the zoo.

                                                Butterfly from the butterfly house.

                                                  Penguins

                                                  Seal sunning itself.

                                              Rhino butts.

                                            Flamingos

                                                 Buzzards

Met the OT Today

I've been going to Edwin Shaw for two months now.  I was continuously wrapped from last Friday night till yesterday morning.  The swelling in my right leg has gone down a lot!  I can almost fit into my slip on shoes.  I am able to put on my black tennis shoes, but they were a little snug, though.  When I move, the foam on my upper leg moves down over my knee, and if I pull it up, it seems to get worse.

The OT only works at this Edwin Shaw on Wednesday and Friday mornings.  I had my first appointment with her this morning.  I will be seeing her twice a week.  My fingers have been numb all day on my right hand.  I have had carpel tunnel syndrome for almost twenty years now. I was given a few exercises to do.  Rehab does work.

Monday Meet Me

I follow some different teacher blogs and they are having blog link up where you share some information about yourself, so I decided to join up with them.

I have taught from fourth-seventh grades. I have taught in both TX and here in OH.  I was only self-contained twice (where I taught all of the core subjects).  I have taught mostly science and social studies.  Those are my two favorite subjects.

I do not have a husband or children, but I do have my parents, sister, niece, grandma and a lot of friends.

My all time favorite TV show is Emergency! (a show from the seventies.) I also watch Law & Order: SVU, Chicago Fire and Chicago PD, Major Crimes.

I listen mostly to Christian music. but I also do enjoy listening to Country music.

I love to read.  I mostly read Christian fiction, of which most of those books are about the Amish.  I will also read biographies.  My favorite magazine is People Weekly.

My hobby is scrap booking.  I scrapbook the school year, trips and other events.  I do both digital scrap booking and by hand.

Clevland Zoo

Real Life went to the Cleveland Zoo on Saturday.  I did miss seeing a few animals.  I do wish that the Cleveland Zoo came people the chance to feed the giraffes.  You can pay to ride a camel there, though.  We did see  a wedding party take their wedding pictures at the zoo, and the bridal couple did ride the camel.

                                                The group that went to the Cleveland Zoo.  There were almost 20 of us who went.

                                                 There are two elephants here.

                                                          lemur

                                                      giraffe

                                                      rhino

                   I made the mistake of telling Brett on the way to the zoo that you could ride a camel.  That is all he talked about doing all day.  This is the last thing we did before leaving the zoo.  This is Brett riding the camel.

First Day of Being Wrapped

I was back at the rehab clinic this morning. I had dad drop me off and mom to pick me up.  I wasn't sure how well I would be able to walk, let alone, drive.

Only my lower leg is wrapped today.  This is so, I can get used to wrapping it myself, before i have to do my whole leg.  First things are first....both of my legs were measured.  The biggest difference between my two legs, is the calf area...14 centimeters.  The other areas, no more than 3-5 centimeters, of where my my right leg is bigger than my left leg. 

I have two videos of my therapist wrapping my leg, first my toes then the rest.  That is so I can watch it first. 

First a protective sleeve is put onto my leg.  Then folded gauze is wrapped around my toes.  Then two layers of gauze is wrapped around my lower leg.  Then three different size of bandages is wrapped around my leg, starting with my foot to ending just below my knee/at the top of my calf.

When I am not wearing my compression stocking, then I will have my leg wrapped.  I can not wear a sock on my right foot.  There is an added piece of Velcro to the strap on my shoe, so that I can strap my shoe.  I can not have my leg wrapped at school, because of the type of material my pants need to be.  I am to sleep with my leg wrapped.  This wrapping is to get the swelling down in my leg. 

First Visit to the Lymphodemic Clinic

      Sometime last month, I called my doctor and complained about my lymphodema.  They called and got me an appointment someplace.  The appointment was scheduled for April 21 and I was put onto the cancellation call list.  I got the call for a 2:30 appointment today.  I had to do so rearranging at school, so I could leave extra early.  This clinic is at a rehab place and I am going to get some help to get my swelling down.  I want to wear my tennis shoes again, then I can start working out again.  My next appointment is next week.

The PET Scan That Didn't Happen

On Monday, I stood at the desk, I was scheduled for a PET scan for today. My lung doctor scheduled this scan, not my oncologist.  They had to call the Infusion Center to schedule an appointment for me to be accessed.  I had an 11 am appointment this morning to be accessed.I had to be downstairs by noon fora 12:30 appointment.  I am downstairs early and precede to check in.  I wasn't on their schedule.  The code for the diagnosis that my lung doctor used was for a scan that they don't do where I was.  Phone callas were made, and I found out that my test would be rescheduled.  I had to go back upstairs and be deaccessed.  I wasn't too happy. 

This was the third day in a row that I wasn't at school.  Wednesday I saw my kidney doctor and my personal doctor.  My blood work came back good, except  for my magnesium which is low. 

Yesterday, I had a light case of the stomach flu.  It started Wednesday night.

Saw my Lung Doctor Today

I saw my lung doctor after school today.  Turns out, I was not supposed to stop taking steroids last month.  I was supposed to continue taking them until I saw him today.  I told him that i never want to be on steroids again.  There are other drugs that I could take if needed to.  He checked my blood work that was done on Valentine's Day.  My calcium is 8.8, my creantin is in the normal range.  My kidney function is normal.

   This Wednesday afternoon, I will be getting an ultrasound on my left leg.  My left leg has been swollen, along with the foot.  When my feet swell, they hurt.  I do not know why my left foot and leg is swollen.

 This Friday, I am going to get a PET/CT scan to check on my lymph nodes.

George Strait Concert

Saturday, I drove down to Columbus for the George Strait concert.  This is year two of the two year "Cowboy Rides Away" tour.  After June 7, George will retire from touring.  I had never seen him in concert before.  Last year, Martina McBride was his only opening act.  This year, he has a variety of opening acts.  Saturday, was Little Big Town.  They are okay, but I really wanted to see Martina besides George.
   Took me little over an hour to go three miles from my hotel to the parking garage on Saturday,  George came out around 9 pm, and started off the show with "Fireman".  The stage is a square, with a microphone at all four corners.  He sings a couple of songs at each corner.  With a five song encore, the concert lasted over two hours.  He sang"All of my Exes Live in Texas" during the encore. 

I used my zoom lens to take some pictures.