Christmas Lights

I know it's been quite awhile. I seem to be addicted to Facebook games such as Farmville, Fish World and Cafe World.

I'm hoping this little video I took with my cell phone tonight works. We put lights on the front awning of the travel trailer.

Samsung Impression

Oh my .. it really has been along time since I've been here. The only excuse I have is that I have had nothing to say.

Something exciting happened today. I got a Samsung Impression. Our carrier is AT&T. Either my eyes are going bad or I need new glasses. It is getting harder to see the numbers on the flip phone I was using.

The Impression is an awesome phone. Has a large touch screen with a QWERTY keyboard as well as a very large slider keyboard. I can see them both.

I was able to purchase the phone from Best Buy, getting the same price AT&T offered on their web site but I didn't have to deal with rebates.

Not Much Longer

Next month, September will be the last payment made on our truck. After I get down from that excitement the very next month our health insurance goes up ..

I'm very thankful the truck will be paid off to offset the higher insurance premium.

It's A BOY

Many of you know I'm a Grandmother to 2 girls, Nana to a boy and girl .. all 4 belong to my daughter .. I wasn't ready to be called Grandma when she had the first 2 (the oldest is 17). But I'm Nana now ...

My baby who is my son (35) will be having his first child and today they found out it will be a boy .. we are so happy and I'm actually surprised. Think my son is too .. I could have sworn she was going to have a girl ..

This is wonderful .. my other Grandson won't be the only boy.

Started another Yahoo Group

I must be nuts .. but I love the RV community and want to be sure that anyone who wants information will be able to find it how ever they can.

I was moderating a group for Travel Trailers all by myself. I tried over and over to get in touch with the owner for over a year .. Someone suggested I start a new group so I did. A group for RV Towables. I even have help with this one .. it's growing slowly but as people find out they will come over ..

Just click on RV Towables you can visit our home page. Maybe I will see you there.

Be Safe

It's been days

I hadn't realized it's been days since I was here last .. time sure does fly, but I can't tell you where to.

Our City Commission returned today from summer vacation, which means I'm back there listening and learning. Not that I'm retaining much. I realize most citizens work but I'm always disappointed at the low turn out. By the end of the day I was the only audience member.

The meeting is televised on the local Comcast station so I'm hoping many are sitting home watching and yelling at their televisions. Can't yell when your in the audience.

My leg is slowly, and I do mean slowly healing, but yes it is getting better. However I may have a new problem just hope it's not my hip. I do have an appointment with the Orthopedic next week, which I hope to learn more.

I'm fining out getting older sucks. I suggest you don't get older.

Road Trip

Tuesday we took a drive to the Florida Keys .. it's been a year since we've been anywhere, so we picked a place we could do in a day. It rained once we hit Key Largo and rained all the way down US 1 .. until just before Key West .. the skies became blue.

There were many vehicles, and people too. The best mode of transportation on the island is foot, Conch Train, bike, motorcycle (actually a scooter would be even better) or an electric car.

Remember to click on photos to enlarge them.

BING

Microsoft has a new search engine called Bing. I don't use it, I prefer Google. BUT what I do like is the virtual maps. I searched various places and I actually found us .. When we were at Callville Bay Resort and Marina and we were parked at Trailer Village. Our truck is parked out in the road. We were in our 04 Coleman Caravan and in front of it is our golf cart .. Neat huh? Then I got a picture of Government Wash .. also located at Lake Mead, NRA outside of Las Vegas .. We boondocked our first winter there for 5 months.

We met allot of people there, and are still in contact with many of them.

If you click on the photos below you will see a larger view.

Just a leg update

Last week I went to the Orthopedic and he told me to start walking. He wants me to use a walker so that I keep my weight off of it.

He also increased 2 of the medications I was taking. Lyrica and an anti-inflammatory. I am doing much better but find I must wear shoes all the time.

I don't go outside barefooted ever, but I do prefer to walk in the RV barefooted. I can't, if I do I continue to hurt. So, I'm wearing shoes.

We've had an all day rain, which has been nice. Great for the grass and my tomato plant, even lowers the hot temps outside. Probably very humid, I wouldn't know, haven't stuck my nose outside.

Nothing much to report

I signed up for Facebook. Thanks to my daughter, she said I needed to get with it. Ok, I'm with it.

I made an appointment with the orthopedic for Wednesday. I have gotten better when you think about how much pain I was in when it happened. I'm really just tired of having to deal with the pain. More so at night when I'm trying to sleep.

I have been walking as the Dr. recommended I do. I haven't gone back to Curves or walked the length I once did, just regular walking.

It's he(( getting old as things hurt that didn't before and take longer to stop hurting.

Had a Great Birthday

I had a great birthday .. it's over now.

Went out to lunch, went with my son's girlfriend to an appointment she had. It was over a 2 hour wait, but together it wasn't that bad. We talked the entire time, about everything.

My daughter had us over for dinner (wonderful homemade soup), family and friends .. was a GREAT day .. I just love my birthday.

Our rig

Thought I would put a photo of our trailer and truck up here.

Facebook

I'm not sure I want to be there but I'm setting up Facebook. May need my daughters help. Never thought I'd be asking her for help. I remember when she wanted nothing to do with computers.

Leg update

I just came home from the Orthopedic. I have to go and get an x-ray tomorrow and bring the results back to him. He will review, I go back in 2 weeks unless he sees something in the x-ray.

His diagnosis possible stress fracture. When I walk I should use a cane on the left side or walker.

Continue with what I've been doing. Stay off it, elevated and hot compresses.

Gave me a script for anti-inflammatory medication.

Some Improvement, but not much

I'm still on the couch with my leg up. I have made an appointment for July 6 with the Orthopedic. I want to make sure nothing is seriously wrong.

Yesterday I went to BJ's (like Costco). Didn't linger, and went to the meat market. I didn't feel pain while walking but I did notice I walked funny. DH said I was favoring it.

Within an hour after getting home my leg starting hurting and swelling. I started the Ice/Heat thing. Finally this afternoon the swelling went away. Still a bit painful.

I also ate one of the tomato's from the plant that started this whole thing .. Yummy. Meaty and very tasty.

Twitter

I have no idea what Twitter is .. but I hear about it all the time every where. I setup a Twitter account. That is all I know about it. This will be a learning experience.

I'm in an unknown enviroment.

Ants, Ants, Ants

And a lot more than 3 .. Hundreds, yes many. I found ants on the kitchen counter. I've not been near that area since hurting myself. I've left all the cleaning to my dearest husband.

Maybe leaving crumbs is a good thing. As to how they are getting in is still unknown. This morning DH went outside found them walking up the side of the trailer and onto the roof. He checked around all the lights and seams and couldn't see where they were entering.

This is could actually be a good thing .. NOW maybe he will put the Eternabond on the roof and chalk the lights.

Home Depot here we come. I want the outside sprayed as well as the ground and around everything that touches the ground and the trailer.

I'm doing better

I went to the primary for my monthly blood sugar test. This being the first time on my feet since June 1. I did really well, and having shoes on was a big help.

My leg did remind me that I was walking to fast and standing in one place to long, even told me I was twisting my leg.

I can't run a marathon (not that I ever did) but I will start moving around more but will also keep alternating ice and heat.

After laying around for almost a month I was so afraid I'd gained back the weight I lost, only the blood test will reveal how my sugar is doing.

I did take a peak at my weight and I did not gain weight. YES!!!

Update on Leg

Just wanted to let you all know I'm still off my leg. I am able to walk as long as I have good supportive shoes on, but I can not put weight on it, by standing in one spot.

I've seemed to have gained back most of the weight I lost as I'm not cooking. DH has been buying TV dinners.

I understand the Drs. reasoning for not giving me pain medication as it would mask the pain and I would probably do things I shouldn't.... BUT I sure would love something that would mask the pain so I can sleep at night.

I go to the primary I think the 25th of this month.

Sprained Ligament

A week ago today I experienced severe pain in my right leg, below the knee .. Yesterday (Monday) I couldn't take the pain anymore.

I went to Urgent Care (wow, much better than the ER and less expensive) and was diagnosed with a sprained ligament. That's what I get for moving a 5 gallon bucket with very wet soil and a tomato plant.

I did learn I can not take Ibuprofen. I thought I was doing something good by doing so, only to find out it raises your blood pressure. Anyone who has high blood pressure please check with your Doctor.

I'm stuck on the couch, with my leg some what elevated and using Icy / Hot patches. I'm looking at a lengthy recovery period.

This also means this place is a mess. DH does a good job caring for me and cooking. The floor has not been vacuumed or washed. All company needs to stay away as the animal hair is piling up.

Molly went to the Vet

Took Molly and Kendra to the vet to get their toe nails cut .. he gave her a high five. He had heard about Ester-C but never spoke to anyone that actually did it .. he said he will remember should another Doxie come in with the same problem.

Regis and Kelly LIVE

My daughter and I saw Regis and Kelly yesterday in Miami .. You can see them too through my pictures .. here are the links to my 2 albums

This album were pictures I took before the show. http://picasaweb.google.com/forty4san/RegisAndKellyArrive?authkey=Gv1sRgCLvH0eaCpMjRkQE#

This album was taken during the show. http://picasaweb.google.com/forty4san/RegisAndKellyDuringTheShow?authkey=Gv1sRgCMj_j-i5q7aKag#

Quick Update

It's been awhile so I thought I better give you all a real quick update.

Molly is doing well, running and walking. Still on Ester-C and always will be at a reduced amount.

We are now the on-site managers at the park where we are staying. Why not, we are always here.

Here, SE Florida.

No More Carpet

My son removed the carpet in our travel trailer today. Visit my web album to see the photos.

http://picasaweb.google.com/forty4san/NoMoreCarpet?authkey=Gv1sRgCPXOg6ih3snPxgE#

Amazon Purchases

Thank you very much to those of you that have made purchases from Amazon by linking to Amazon via my blog.

Molly is doing GREAT

I would say Molly is 80%. Even caught her jumping up on the couch.

I've reduced her Ester-C from 1000 mg to 500 mg a day. I will keep her at this amount for a month. If I don't see her go backwards in her recovery, I will reduce her to 250 mg a day for the rest of her life.

I highly recommend Ester-C to anyone that has a dog (I understand it doesn't work on a cat) with muscular problems, arthritis, Hip dysplasia.

My son is COMING HOME

My son called today and said he will be home next week. As many of you know he has been working in Greece for what seems like forever. I think it's been about 5 weeks. It will be good to have him home and all my family together again.

Once Happy Camper

DH took the sliding exit window from our travel trailer and swapped it with the solid exit window in our bedroom. Now we have a great breeze in our bedroom.

To be an RV you need to be mechanically inclined. He's great to have around for so many things.

Molly Continues To Improve

Thank you all for the kind and positve thoughts as Molly improves. Thank you all for sending me the coupons for Ester-C .. as you know I put them to good use.

Molly improves every day .. she's not ready to run a marathon any time soon.

She is now squating as she piddles and even is holding her body pretty good when she goes poopie .. I always felt she would improve (after all I trust or Vet) but never did I think it would be this fast.

Today I took her potty on a leash. I carried her to and from her potty spot. People who have watched me walking her with the towel actually stopped their cars. They've been watching her from before the accident to today.

They cheer for her.

A new month

As March begins the winds are blowing .. we started out today with our AC on and within hours the temperatures dropped so low the AC went off and if I wasn't dressed with long sleeve shirt on I'd have the heat on.

I've added a new area to my blog. In the upper right corner you will see grey letters that say Buy from Amazon. If at any time you are going to buy from Amazon please come here to my blog and enter Amazon through here. You will pay the same price as if you started off at Amazon's site .. the benefit of coming here (yes this is a plug) I will make some money. Just pennies but all pennies help.

Now Molly .. every day she's improving .. she's even running around inside the house. At times we have to tell her to settle down cause she gets over excited. When she goes out to go potty we still use a towel to support her.

Please remember to let anyone and everyone know about Ester-C if their dog has problems .. similar to Molly.

Adding Amazon

As you can see on the right .. the words Amazon, Buy Here .. I'm trying to figure out how to add Amazon to my web sight so that you can go shopping at Amazon directly from my web site.

They make is sound so easy but I'm getting nowhere .. maybe cause I'm tired. After all it is 2 am .. tomorrow is another day.

The Bunny Hop

Today I put Molly on the ground to show someone how she has improved .. the little twerp took off running .. She doesn't move her back legs independent from one another. She moves them together at the same time.

I will do my best to get a video and upload it.

Every day she improves more and more.

I carried her to the location where she goes potty. Instead of a towel to support her I had her on a leash .. I still don't allow her to walk and do have better control with the leash .. and then carry her home ..

I'm impressed at how well she is doing and think you will be too ..

A better video

I took a video this morning so you should be able to see Molly better .. Every day she's walking better .. remember it's her left leg that was paralyzed first. After all the running around I gave her a valium to calm her down.

Molly Walking

Is it possible?

As I was taking Molly for her walk this morning, that rear right leg was going a mile a minute (but her knuckle still bends over, for lack of knowing the correct name) .. I swear I saw her trying to walk with her left leg. That's how the right leg started.

I watch her scratch her ear with her right leg, not powerful, so I help her. She does try to scratch her left ear but of course can't. I've now become her ear scratcher.

Before this injury Molly didn't like to be held and didn't like being in the bed. She's getting lots of both.

She's had this injury for about 6 weeks (or so) and I think she's come a long way. I still believe it's the Ester-C

New AZZ Cardfile is OUT

Do you have a bunch of yellow sticky notes laying around? Do you carry a hard copy calendar? Do you have favorite recipes that you want to keep on hand?

RVers the uses are endless. You can keep track of your favorite campgrounds, restaurants you've been to, sites you've been to or even want to go. Think of all the information you keep, now you can keep it in one location and very organized. You won't have to have a file with all the torn out magazine articles.

These are just a few questions you may ask yourself. If you answer yes to these or any other situation that you keep notes about, you really need to check out AZZ card file. It's a data base that you can make it anything you want. I have been using it for years. Version 4 is the best version ever.

It's free to try, and once you try it you will wonder how you ever survived without it.

Please check out and download AZZ at this website .

I get nothing for telling you about this program. I just want you to know about it and try it.

No Real Change

Molly hasn't really changed much in the way of motor function, but she hasn't gone backwards either. Her little right paw tries to keep up with her front legs. But both paws will stay bent over if you put them that way.

I feel she's doing quite well, since the vet said a minimum of 2 months crate rest. I don't even know how long it's been, I'd actually have to go back through the blog and get a date.

Her spirit hasn't faltered. She just gets frustrated cause she can't run after lizards or the cats.

Happy Update

I just took Molly out and I SAW motor function with the left leg. I wasn't sure, so I had Ken watch as she walked and YES, he too saw her using her left leg.

Slight Improvement

I noticed today that Molly has some motor function in her right leg. Her left leg still just hangs there.

Here left leg was paralyzed from the beginning .. but seeing the improved motor function puts a smile on my face .. I will keep her on the 1000 mg of Ester-C

Ester-C

I upped Molly's Ester-C to 1000 mg a day on Monday ... we tried water therapy with her but didn't have a tote large enough for her to swim in. The RV has a garden shower so can't do it in here.

I do put her on her back and make motions like she is riding a bike. Hoping that will keep her muscles happy.

She still goes potty on her old schedule, thank goodness there is nothing wrong in that area.

I will continue to monitor her and see if she starts using her rear legs.

Possible Difference

I noticed today that Molly was using her right rear leg. Granted from day one her left is the one that gave out .. but as she scoots across the couch (something she shouldn't be doing) that's when I see her using the right leg. Other wise there are no changes and she's not worse.

I'm still giving her the Ester-C, which I will be increasing to 1000 mg a day.

Ester-C

Ester-C is a non acidic vitamin C .. my reason for purchasing it, is to try it on Molly. I've been trying to find anything I can to help her out since we can't even consider surgery.

I've been reading positive things regarding Ester-C and dogs with arthritis, hip dysplasia, and joing injuries. All with very positive (well a whole bunch) out comes.

I'm trying to find out the doasage for a 12 pound dog, but Vitamin C is water soluble so if she can't use it it will wash out. I bought 500 mg pills and cut 1 into 4's but now I'm thinking from what I read I can give her 1000 mg a day ... I will continue to read.

I have found a group on yahoo for dachshunds so I may present the question to them to see if anyone has heard or tried this therapy.

I'll let you all know.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is upon us, as well as our youngest grand daughters birthday .. I got this idea to use my Christmas tree year round .. Click on the photo and it will get bigger.

She retracted her foot

I took Molly to the vet this morning to get her nails trimmed .. when the vet tech did Molly's rear left foot she retracted it .. so feeling is coming back .. I know this is going to be slow .. I'm still trying to get a video of here putting her legs out, getting ready to go potty.

There seems to be improvement

I can't explain it .. but it's funny .. when we take Molly out to go potty (she lets's us know) we support her back legs so that she can walk in a small area. When she's ready to go potty .. she puts her legs out, so we lower her back end so she can contact with the ground and sure enough she goes potty. If she's not finished she continues on and out go the legs again, she lowered and she goes again .. now if she finished she goes to the edge of the road which tells us she finished and ready to go back inside.

Molly came off the couch

Just like a child. I turned my back on her for no less than 2 minutes .. she came off the couch (I didn't see how she did it) and dragged her self to the water bowl. Now I had given her water moments before.

She looks ok, but have no idea if she did more damage to herself .. of course she still can't walk and drags her legs .. but she's feisty .. the front half of her is the Molly we all know and love ..

We just hope that she didn't do more damage.

Hopeful Thinking

My husband and I strongly believe that we say Molly wag her tail. We weren't together at the time.

I also belive that I saw Molly stretch out her left leg as I was lowering her to go to the bathroom. It's been a little over a week. I'm not expecting an overnight miracle.

I've been reading all that I can find online and now I'm reading to add Ester C to her daily diet .. I've bookmarked all the places that sound promising .. but will have to wait until next month, which is only a week away.

Today is her last day of Prednisone but will keep her on the Valium.

Saw our Vet

We saw Dr. H today (unable to see him on Friday when Molly stopped walking) .. he's reduced her Prednisone and will be off of it in 5 days, but said to keep her on the Valium.

He did a deep something pain test (the vet on Friday did not to this test). He used hemostats and pinched her rear paws. It took pressure but he got a reaction. That is REALLY good news .. He says she will recover, no time limit on when.

We continue to confine her and only let her out to go potty. We did discuss water therapy but we don't have a bathtub in our RV .. but my children had a bathtub, so in a week we will see how she tolerates it.

I'm just so pleased that there is positive news.

Thank you all for your prayers, positive thoughts and encouragement .. so many tell me it's happened to them and the outcome was good .. I'm looking forward to when I can post and let you all know she's walking again.

Our Little Molly

Our little Molly (who is a 9 year old miniature dachshund has paralysis on her left side. We can't afford to have x-rays and other tests done .. so our vet is going with a possible herniated disc.

She is being treated with Valium and prednisone .. and she must be crated for no less than 2 months .. it's very important that we follow through with the crate .. we don't want her to re injure herself.

We brought her to the Dr. today and will return with her the following Wednesday ..

Tomatoes are looking good

Remember to run your mouse over each picture, you should get a hand, click on that picture and it should open to a larger image. They taste so good .. Guess you can call them organic since I've not put anything on them. They are very healthy

Hollywood Beach, FL

I'm trying to blog this from Picasa 3 .. I have no idea if this will work. Also try putting your mouse over the pictures and click, hopefully it will make the pictures larger.
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Boxing Match

A movie with Toby and Alex. This was taken with my Canon G7 and the movie mode set at the best 1024 X 768

Another Creation

For me this is exciting .. I learned how to put a picture into what is known as a Quick Page. My goal is to learn how to do Digital Scrapbooking. This is the first step.

Learning New Software

I'm taking online classes to learn a photo editing program, Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 .. only it does so much more than edit photos.

I've learned wrapping text. I know it doesn't seem like much .. but to me it's something .. Before tonight I didn't know how to do anything with this program.