An Apology – Numbers – Lunch with DOC friend – And History Being Made…

I feel like I’ve been apologizing to dBlogville as of late and I’m doing it again.

Life’s gotten in the way and I’ve been feeling it. My mom’s surgery is on February 17th and I’m scared. I’ve been going to a crazy amount of Docs appointments with her to get pre surgery clearance. The Vascular surgeons, her cardiac Dr’s, even her Dentist, plus a multiple appointments with her Orthopedic surgeon.

My mom is having a complete Knee replacement – a difficult surgery on the body to say the least, but compound it with her being extremely high risk with her defibulator, pacemaker, and family history of strokes - and I’m kept up at night with the dreaded what-ifs. I smile and stay positive in public - telling my mom (and anyone else) “failure is not an option, and that I wouldn’t make a very good orphan so she has no choice but to come through the operation with flying colors.” But I cry in private, fearing her surgery every day as it draws near. She’s in pain with every step and her quality of life is not what it was. She needs the surgery- but the High Risk term keeps ringing in my brain.

After losing my father 8 years ago, I realized just how fragile parents are. The past 6 months I’ve been reminded of that lesson again and again.

I’ve also been in the road a lot for work – I’m in Sales and have been on the road at least 3 days a week visiting clients. I’m in my car so much that I’ve contemplated (VERY BRIEFLY) buying a Winnebago. I feel as if I live in my car and have a cell phone perpetually growing out of my ear.

As far as my Diabetes work – that’s still going strong – there was a lull during the holidays, but the phone has started ringing again and talks are in the works to getting more gigs on the books.
So with all that is life as of late, by the time I get home, my energy is drained and I just want to sleep.
My blog has suffered – postings have been scant this month and I’m trying to rectify that – I’M SO SORRY. I WILL DO BETTER.

As far as my Diabetes, I had my own Endo appt last week. My numbers were good. I’ve lost 9 lbs since the spring, my A1C was 6.9 (Dr. J thought it would have been lower – closer to 6.6, had I not had the $424 sinus infection) and my blood pressure was textbook.

BUT (and there always seems to be a but,) he wants me to go on Cholesterol medication.
My bad Cholesterol was 120. Not terribly high, but since it’s been fluctuating the past year between 96 and 120 and my family history being what it is, (heart attacks, angioplasty, quadruple bypass surgery) he wants to prevent any and all plac from forming.

I was bummed – I’ve worked really hard to these past two quarters to get my health grooving and I didn’t like hearing that I had to go on another medication.

“I barely eat meat, & I practically drink Olive oil, I don’t know what else to do.” I said somewhat bitch like.

But Doctor J said something that really stuck: “Kelly, don’t stop eating another thing. You’re doing everything right! This is your genetics speaking and you need to listen. Your doing great – you just need some help in the Cholesterol. Let’s just try a low dose and see how your numbers are for the next year.”

I felt better and agreed I grabbed my RX (I’d say the name of the medication, but I have a call into his office because I can’t read his RX to tell you the name) and said I’d do it.

Before I said goodbye, Dr. J said snagged 8 bottles of insulin for me and said: “I’m so happy with your numbers and I’m going to tell Cheryl (my CDE) when I see her today –she’ll be so excited!” So I made my Diabetes Entourage happy - I got that going for me!

Afterwards, I met LeeAnn from The Butter Compartment for lunch at one of my favorite restaurants in South Philly’s Italian Market. We’d been trying to get together for months and we managed to finally get together - be it last minute on my end. I was so happy to have someone who got the whole diabetes rollercoaster with me that I promptly gave her 2 bottles of my insulin booty when she walked in!

"The Mad Hatter Sisters!"
Lee Ann & I with our lunch leftovers
Photo by Lee Ann Thill - The Butter Compartment

We had a great time! We laughed and talked about anything and everything. The food was fantastic – the conversation even better.

After lunch we went to my favorite Italian bakery, and in my eyes, the Holy Grail of all things delicious and sweet – Isgro’s. The place is a like a Disneyland of baked goods – and yes we indulged! Can you say "BOLUS!"


As for this very moment – I’m doing paperwork (the thorn in every Sales Reps side,) putting the finishing touches on this blog post, I’ve just finished listening to “Air and Simple Gifts” being played with such gusto at the Presidential Inauguration.
Like the today’s events, the music inspires me.

John G. Roberts has just given the oath of office to Barrack H. Obama, and President Obama is now the leader of our county. I’m so happy and proud of the people of the U.S. on so many levels.

President Obama’s speech ignites me to meet the challenges in front of me. “To be a risk taker and a doer,” to work even harder, and “to pick myself up, and dust myself off,” and to be positive in the face of what scares me – which has been so difficult as of late.