I feel like I'm one of those hamsters on the wheel. I jump on and just keep going and going and get absolutely nothing done and nothing to show for it. Dan is still sick. He hasn't worked since last Tuesday. While he is getting better his brain is like mush and he has a horrible cough. He is getting tired easily and his taste buds have left the building.

I'm struggling with just my usual day-to-day things. Yesterday my blood pressure was only 87/56. My heart rate was 98. Don't ask me why. I fought terrible stomach cramps yesterday morning and slept hard on the couch in the fetal position for about 2 hours. When I woke up I felt much better.

I've really been struggling with being anxious. I think I played with the silly putty for 3 hours one night. I'm back to my old sleeping herbal remedy thanks to a very generous package from Santa Nancy. While I am still requiring a whole one (I always do during a flare-up) I anticipate cutting down to a 1/2 soon.

I'm having difficulty with sorting out what I need to do and how to go about getting it done. Like I said at the beginning, I am spending a lot of time spinning my wheels (pacing around the house) but not doing anything. I may pick a task that I want to work on, but at this time I am lacking the ability to concentrate enough to complete the task. You can always tell when I am having difficulty with this as there are several piles of little projects laying every around the house. I have piles on the table of a project that needs finished, 4-5 different piles in the living room and just as many in the family room, office and spare bedroom. I hope this phase goes away soon. Seeing all the piles just makes my concentration all the worse as then I start beating myself up for the messes that I keep making. I make it so far in the project and then I just lack the mental capacity to finish it so I put it down...

Well, tomorrow is already next year and Sunday again. I can't believe it's been a week since Christmas. With Dan being sick I feel like our schedules are just totally out of wack!
Hey, I went to Sam's Club all by myself the other day to by Dan some Alka Seltzer Cold. It was very exciting, wish I could have browsed a little, but no extra energy for that.

Well, time to go. I am doing laundry, pray I remember to put it in the dryer!!!!

Very very windy today. I did pretty well this morning, then crashed this afternoon. Dan home sick yesterday about 3pm from work. He probably shouldn't have went in. He was in bed all day today and has a fever. So, neither one of us made it to church tonight.

I hope I feel better tomorrow -Dan too!

Dan was sick on Christmas, he didn't even go to church. I went by myself... I felt really really awesome in the morning, but by three I was really dragging. I started feeling really horrible and wasn't able to stand up much. My heart rate at 6pm was 110 and all I'd been doing was laying on the couch.

Needless to say neither one of us felt much like cooking or eating Christmas dinner. So, we voted to have it today.

This morning my color was quite white and pasty. My bp was okay but my heart rate was still up. I rested a little before fixing breakfast. (I know, I get up, make the bed, brush my teeth, walk out to the living room and I've got to rest up-silly isn't it) With the help of my kitchen stool I made buckwheat pancakes from the buckwheat pancake mix fresh from Indiana. Thanks to Santa Mom!

Then I rested on the couch. Then at about 2pm we started working on our belated Christmas dinner. It was wonderful!!! Of course, then we were both exhausted. I headed for the couch and Dan took the bed, him and and all of his fur friends :)

My heart rate is still up tonight, not sure why. I haven't changed anything. Just the nature of the beast I guess.

Merry Christmas Eve!

I'm feeling better. Just a residual cough. No nap today, so far. While all of our snow has melted down here, the mountain is still snow covered so that is pretty. Of course the wind is blowing...
Tomorrow we have church at 1030am, so we will probably open gifts after church. We will see if I can wait or not:) Then we are having a wonderful smoked turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Oh wow! Carla just dropped by with a homemade pecan pie of Mrs. Adams'. Dan absolutely loves her pies. She made it just for him! I called him at work and told him, he is sooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday the neighbors across the street brought us a little tin of goodies and a rawhide roll wrapped with a bow. (our dogs are best friends and have little impromptu play dates!!)
It looks like Dan and I have a date for tonight when he gets home. We are going to go look at Christmas lights.

Merry Christmas to all!

Doing better today. My appetite is still poor. But I'm trying my best to stay hydrated. The good news is that while my heart rate is up my blood pressure is staying up as well. I'm staying home today, still not 100%. I'm hoping by Christmas I will feel better.

Still under the weather. Cancelled my appointments for today. Sure wish I felt better.

Hmm, I guess it's been since Saturday when I last posted. Just busy I guess.

Sunday-Nothing unusual today, napped in-between services. Dan tired as well. It's been crazy down at the store, he hasn't been getting lunch times or break times. Then a customer called today at the house begging him to go down to the store so he could pick something up. Dan said no and then it kept bothering him so he gave up his nap and headed down to the store.

Monday-Dan off to work. No days off this week for him. I snuck off to town to try and find a couple of things for Dan that he really needed. I went to three stores and was exhausted. Dropped by the library to donate some canned foods (I had a twenty cent fine and dropping off canned goods wiped out your fine :) ) I checked out some more books while I was there. And then I headed home. I wrapped all of Dan's presents, put up the Christmas tree, decorated it and put all the gifts we had received under the tree. It was ready for Dan to see when he came home. At the same time I also washed the sheets and some misc. clothes. I ran the dishwasher and managed to get it emptied out. Boy, was I ever tired! But it was worth it to have that much done. Dan was exhausted when he got home, we all went to bed early.

Tuesday - I had to be at Interim today at 9am for a meeting. Not feeling well, very sore throat. I stayed until 1pm and then headed home for a nap. Pretty miserable sore throat, I was so tired, but it's hard to sleep when your throat feels like raw hamburger. At least I did get to rest. I headed back into town at 3:30 for Ellie's lesson and our Power Class. Dan and I were both dragging last night. He never got to eat his lunch and only had an apple with some peanut butter. His legs are really sore from being on his feet all day. He did a little Christmas shopping after work and then brought home supper :) MY HERO!! He went to bed right after eating and I took a bath then went to bed.

Wednesday - Wow, I don't feel good. I think I some how caught a cold. I'm so relieved that I have all Christmas related things done and I don't have to try and do them feeling sick. I fixed Dan breakfast this morning, but I just wasn't hungry. We are getting a new hot water heater today. The guys came at 8:30am and they are still here (it's 10am). I just want to take some alka seltzer and go lay down. I have skating tomorrow, but nothing today that I have to do. I sure hope I get over this fast!!

Well, I think that gets me caught up for a little while.

Saturday- No skating today and I'm so relieved to have a totally off day to catch up with rest and household chores. My house is so dirty, I hope I can vacuum and mop today. We have no Christmas decorations up inside the house. So, frustrating. This is the one time of the year, that Dan just doesn't have the time to help me out much. He is not having very many days off and they promised that next week he wouldn't have any. And they usually work late on Christmas Eve...

It is 11 now and I'm pretty tired. Such a bummer, I have so much to do!!! I just don't have time to be dragging.

Well, I'll just plod along the best that I can.

Friday-Well, I made it shopping. I went from 9-1130. I did pretty well and didn't have to puts around people as it was early enough that it wasn't crowded. I was very woozy in the head today and my neck hurt causing a headache later in the day. As soon as I got back home I fed all of the kids and then I napped hard.

Max talk an unauthorized romp through the snow today. I didn't know that he had snuck out for about 15 minutes. I looked out the back door for him and he was running through the snow towards me. It's good thing he was hungry when he snuck out and it was pretty cold and snowy. Silly old cat! He does these things just to keep my blood pressure up!!!

Thursday-Skated at Noon today they had a little buffet set up on the rec center side, so I was able to have some free lunch. The new ice arena manager pointed out that my name was in the city newsletter. I've been a skating instructor for TEN years!!!! I can't believe it has been that long!

After skating I went to Interim to try and get a couple of reports done. The new CEO and his wife were there and Interim was having it's Christmas party starting at 4. I hadn't planned on staying that long as I was getting fatigued and still needed to drive home. But, I did stay for a little while and enjoyed another great buffet of food. So, in one day I wound up with two Christmas party buffet's! Not bad for someone who doesn't get out much.

I was very tired when I got home. I didn't fix dinner and am heading to bed early (before 9).
Tomorrow a friend from church is coming to pick me up to take me Christmas shopping for Dan. It will be the first time I have went. So, I won't be able to lay down tomorrow morning after Dan goes to work like I usually do as she is picking me up at 9am.

Wednesday- I didn't sleep well last night. Tossed and turned, but was so tired. My mind just seemed so busy all night long. I tried to rest this morning, but couldn't get settled in to nap.
Held my florinef today, eyes and face puffy. I was being a real klutz today. Couldn't get my under wear on, couldn't get my pants on, Dan finally came in from the other room and asked what was going. I said nothing, just having some difficulty lining my foot up with the right holes. He laughed and offered some oh so helpful suggestions. :)

Then I thought fixing oatmeal for breakfast would be a safe option, that didn't work out so well. I always add craisins to to the oatmeal, so I'm in mid poor and wouldn't you know it, 1/2 the bag fell out into the pan. I took out what I could and tried my best to stir the rest in. Once again Dan came in from the other room and asked what happened now. I said I hope you like extra cranberrys...

I have skating and church tonight. I sure wish I wasn't so tired. It's hard to look forward to things when I'm so very tired.

Tuesday - kept busy today. Messed up my nap time. I layed down looked at the clock and realized it was time to get ready to go to town... So, I pushed on through.
Talk about poor planning!

Lots of snow today. Which meant the wind stopped!

Tired all day, I wanted to give up and just lay down, but I kept going. I really hate days like this!

Monday - Stayed home all day. Busy this am with booking flights, wrapping presents, doing laundry. Buy 3pm I was totally exhausted. I layed down and slept very hard for two hours.
I cooked supper and am now baking a cake. Then I will rest the rest of the evening. (Well, I'll set still while I work on Christmas cards.)

I've found if I'm tired and keep doing things I start to get chest pain, I have no idea why! But, I just try to pace myself in general.

Sunday-Made it to Sunday School, AM church, PM Church and a meeting/supper after church.
But, very, very tired. I took a long nap in-between services.

Saturday-much better day today. I taught my two classes. I felt a little shaky, but I made it. People thought I looked pretty good.

I rested when I got home!

Friday--meet my buddy the couch day, again.

Today was one of those days where I felt good if I was laying down. When I'm laying down, I feel great. So, I get up to do something, and it's all I can do to get back to the couch.

It least I felt good laying down!

Well, I went to town today. BAD idea. I was 1/2 way in to town and I started feeling bad. By the time I got to the rink I was a little foggy and it showed. My balance was also extremely bad. Some days I can't stand up straight let alone skate. It was horrible.
At least I tried.
It was cold today too. I stayed home the rest of the day. The church ladies were having a Christmas party tonight, I had a ride but still did not feel well enough to sit up for very long.

WOW is it ever windy!!!! Started in the middle of the night sometime. And while it has warmed up the temperature to the single digits, it has bottomed out our wind shield factor. Our winds are 30 mph with41 mph wind gusts, no wonder it is so raw and cold outside. Right now our windshield is minus 14. Lucky us:) But the sun is shining!

Dan doesn't really want me to go out, but the lesson I couldn't go to on Tuesday because of my low blood pressure I rescheduled for today at noon. So, I'm going to do my best to make it. Then I will head right back home.

I do feel pretty good for now. Will take easy this afternoon to recuperate from being outside:)

Oh, I slept much better last night! (I took 1/2 a benadryl)

We broke a record last night, 23 below zero! I'm glad I was in bed asleep. I went out for a couple of hours today. I had my darth vader mask on. It was still pretty cold, too cold for me to stay out in it. So, I went home and didn't go to Awanas.

I didn't sleep well last night. I was so tired but kept tossing and turning. I'd fall asleep for a while and then wake up to find a new spot to turn. Not sure why. I did stay in the bed all night though.

Tomorrow the wind is supposed to come back. Which should warm our temperatures up but at the same time will bottom out our windshield factors...

Other than the cold I had a pretty good day.

Today was an interesting day. I felt pretty good. But, at my 9am vital sign check with the electronic nurse my heart rate was 92 and my blood pressure was only 75/45!!!!! Dan and I just shook our heads.

I was to have a Noon skating lesson, but had to cancel. I don't drive when my blood pressure is that low... I drank more fluids and I had already taken my florinef this morning. By 3pm my blood pressure was up to 113/? (I can't remember the bottom number). So, I went on into town for my 4:15 lesson and 5pm class.

Now, getting into town was the next issue. Actually it was the dressing to go out that was the challenge. You see, it is cold here. No, I'm not being wimpy. It is cold here, right now it is -4 degrees. (yes that is a minus sign in front of that 4!) They are saying the wind shield factor is about neg 15-20 degrees. But, thank goodness, the wind is not really blowing much, just a slight
breeze.

Now, the cold weather itself is really not that big of deal. We don't have humidity, so it doesn't get down into your bones and make you feel like you are freezing to death. But, my health situation makes the cold a little different story. Since they believe that a coronary spasm possibly caused my heart attack I try to avoid "triggers" that the doc's say could cause another spasm. "Extreme cold" is a trigger. I purchased my own version of a darth vader mask a little over one year ago. It has a special rebreather mask thingy on the front of it with neoprene type cloth that holds it in place and goes around the back of my head and velcros. It also covers my neck and ears. Basically it covers my face from just below my eyes down to my neck. The special rebreather device actually helps to warm the air before I inhale it.
I look quite interesting, but hey, I get to go outside!

Tonight at 6:15 my heart rate is in the 90's and my blood pressure is going back down. It is 100/50.

I did take an hour and 15 minute nap this afternoon before skating.

I do want everyone to know that we have not had a really cold or snowy winter in Casper for about 15 years. So, we really can't complain about it. Life goes on, I just have to plan my outtings a little better!

The only thing I regret is not getting gas before this cold snap.........

Did pretty well today. I stayed home but was able to get a lot accomplished. I watered the plants. Moved the Pepper and tomato plants around so we had a spot to put up the Christmas tree. Yes, we are still eating fresh tomatoes and peppers! I washed sheets and towels and a load of colored clothes. Dan made the bed for me.

I went pretty strong until about noon and then all of the sudden I was so tired. We ate lunch then I went and took a shower and then I layed down and rested and slept for most of the afternoon.

I fixed a nice supper with roasted vegetables, broiled Mahi Mahi, a small dinner salad (with fresh tomatoes and green, red and yellow peppers) and had a simple dessert of butterscotch pudding.

Not bad for diet food if you ask me.

Well, it is late and I am tired. I think I will join Dan and Ozzie in bed!

Felt really off today. A lot of brain fog. Very difficult at some parts of the day to keep my thoughts on track. I just felt better lying down.

I didn't make it to church today at all.

Some chest pain tonight. I did not take my florinef today. Just way to puffy. My blood pressure stayed at 100. My heart rate seems to be under better control since increasing the atenolol.

I will get to rest tomorrow and then have things scheduled for Tues and Wed. With optional things planned for Thursday and Friday. Then of course, skating on Saturday and Church on Sunday.

Skating today. Able to be done 45 minutes early. I headed home, started supper (homemade soup) and layed down.

Having some chest pain so I took an extra propranolol.

I did too much yesterday. Was in town for 5 hours. Just dragging last night and this morning. Inspite of sleeping well. I survived skating today. But very tired on the inside.

Looks like we will only need to be in Nashville for a week. Not sure what we will be doing with the kids. Sure would be nice to find a housesitter who really spent time at the house, but that hasn't worked out in the past.

I'm making some tomato soup and then I am going to lay down, warm up and rest up as best I can for tomorrow.

Fatigue is trying to creep up but I'm still plugging along. Went to Interim for one hour yesterday and then to the ice rink for one hour. Boy was I tired when I got home. I slept really well last night.

The wind is really blowing. It snowed Wednesday for most of the day. Snow is a good thing in Wyoming because the Wind usually stops when it snows. It is so peaceful and quiet when it snows. But, when it stops snowing, then the wind starts. We have about 1 foot of snow. Now, with the wind blowing we have a large bald spot in the front yard that has created large drifts in various places.

Yesterday it was very chilly. Like 14 degrees when I was out and about. Today, with the Wind blowing so hard it is much warmer out, except when the blowing snow hits you!

I'm resting a little this morning before I head out for a lunch meeting at 11am.

Tomorrow is skating. I'm so tired it's hard to look forward to it sometimes...