San Antonio and Corpus Christi

Rick and I went to the beach 5 times, usually with kids, in North Carolina, and to the Blue Ridge mountains once. We wanted to go back, especially to the mountains but didn't before we left. In Philly there was a whole bunch more stuff we wanted to do before we left.

We decided we had better do the stuff we want to do right away and not wait for the perfect time. On Fri we left for San Ann and Corpus (as the local yokels there called them) and came home on Sunday. In San Antonio we went to the Alamo, and stayed on the Riverwalk. We walked up and down it - it was quite fun. Since we had a hotel right on the Riverwalk, we walked late at night and early the next morning.

On Sat we drove to Corpus Christi, went to Padres and Mustang Island (which is actually one long barrier island). We stayed on Mustang Island, which is where our neighbor recommended. These beaches are used in ways we haven't seen before - people could and did drive right onto the beach. You're also allowed to set up tents and camp, and have bonfires. Lots of people had their poles stuck into the sand and were fishing. We also saw lots of kayaks and fishing boats. The water is not pretty like Florida's water.

In NC, people go to the beach or the mountains. In New Jersey, people go to the shore and play in the water and walk along the boardwalks (we never got there). In Maine, people went to the beach but even in the hottest part of Aug the water is Cold, with a capital C. We were there in Oct on Halloween weekend and only dipped our toes in. The last morning we also woke up to a couple of inches on snow on our car and the ground (that was unusual).

It's interesting seeing what everyone calls the beach/shore, and how they use it. I wasn't surprised to see that Texas allows the most liberal use of their beaches.

If we go again, we will rent kayaks and kayak around in the shallow bays.

Living Large

Paige came across this man's story and his book, by the above name, while I was in Utah and we ordered the book and both have read it. Quite an interesting account of one man's struggles with his weight. He is 5'9'' and yo-yoed with his weight between 219 and 380 (or something like that). He was ALWAYS either losing or gaining. He recounts a time when he was losing and got down to a svelte 219 or so and customed ordered 3 suits, which were quite expensive for the time, $2,000. Unfortunately, by the time he got the suits he was on an upswing of gaining and they no longer fit. He kept them for 20 years (I think) but never got to wear them and eventually gave them away.


The point of this whole story is Jason and I were talking about Thanksgiving activities. This is what he wants to do:
Wed           Arrive in Austin and go eat at Torchy's
Thurs          Eat Thanksgiving meal
Fri               Eat at Rudy's
Sat              Eat at Torchy's and go back to Indy

He should be living large also....

Reminds me of when just before we moved from Philly and he really wanted to come, go to New York City and also (and perhaps most important) eat at Reading Terminal Market one last time. Actually, maybe not too unusual, I think Paige and Kincade would have appreciated a last visit to Yum Yum's.

Occlusion specialist

On Mon I went to see the specialist. We talked a little bit more, he answered more of my questions, then they took impressions, will make the splint, and I return in 2 weeks to begin. It's quite expensive, $4,000, of which my insurance won't pay. I still might have to have the jaw surgery or orthodontic work at the end of it. But something needs to be done about my messed up bite, and hopefully it will help the tinnitus.

Blown glass

When Chris last went to Seattle to visit Alonya, he had a Groupon coupon to go to a glass place and make this themselves. Very pretty. I would actually enjoy learning how to do make these myself. I'm not artistic at all, but Chris thinks a place like this in SLC or Provo area would do very well.

Good News!!

I think my horrible reaction yesterday was because of the pressurized plane ride. Today, no dizziness, no headache, ringing is low to medium. Also because I didn't take the muscle relaxants yesterday like I usually do, due to traveling 1/2 of the day. Realizing this makes me so happy. I was so afraid yesterday that the bad stuff was starting all over again.

Last one about not feeling well...

I'm back in Austin, only been home for 3 hrs - dizziness, echoing is back, jaw is hurting, but then I didn't take a muscle relaxant until later. No headache so far. Ears ringing like crazy. I'm so disappointed. I wasn't dizzy AT ALL in Utah. When I'm feeling this bad, so hard to try and stay positive and do everything that the book said. Maybe tomorrow, after a good night's sleep...I did get up at 5am and the plane flights always have affected the ringing.

More about mouth, jaw...

Dr Peppard gave me a phone number for a woman who also had all the problems I have had, plus a few. She is an OR nurse for Dr Gallagher. I called and left a message a few days ago, I had meant to call again in the evening but would always get busy and forget. She called me back today and we had a nice chat. She had migraine headaches, jaw pain, vertigo so severe she had to lie down, tinnitus, etc. She did the splint therapy, but also had to have oral surgery on the disc and cartilage of the TMJ. Thankfully, the MRI showed that my disc is still working fine. She also had to pay for all of it, her insurance wouldn't pay for any - same as mine, altho I will call and argue with them about it. It actually helped me to talk with someone, just so I could feel validated. It's so hard to explain just how debilitating it is.

On a happy note she said she was 100% happy that she had all of this, her symptons have decreased, making life enjoyable again, also made it possible for her to return to work. If I have to have everything done she did, it will be about $20,000. An incredible amount of money to put into it, but as Bruce (my dentist) said, do you want to spend the next 30 years dealing with this, or fix it? I want to fix it. I have no guarantees, but she said everyone who has done the splint therapy and surgery have had decrease of symptons, if not completely abated.

Sandra (woman I talked with) was helpful and said to call her anytime if I have questions to ask. She has complete confidence in the 2 docs, said they really know what they are doing. She is going to get me the names of some good internists, since I think the one in Cedar Park I went to is a doofus.

Forgot, she also has gone to a chiro, found one she really likes, trusts, and he has a plan for her. I can attest to how important it is to find someone who has a plan. So I will get his name, and perhaps Rick and I can go there.

Tinnitus

I leave on Sat. I contacted Dr Peppard's office (occlusion specialist) to find out the time line for beginning the splint therapy. The 4 weeks I'm home will be enough time to make the impressions, have another consultation, and begin.

I quit taking the muscle relaxants because he said to take them for 2 weeks. Almost immediately, I feel my jaws tighten up, hurt, a little dizziness return, but not the headaches. It is all related to my bite that is screwed up and my jaws not being able to find a comfortable home.

So as Bruce said (next door neighbor and dentist), unless I want to spend the next 30 years of my life dealing with this I need to fix it now. And so I shall. At least I trust the expertise of these docs. I hope my trust is not misplaced.

Something...

My goal is to post something at least once a week (since I'm using this as my journal, not exactly ideal but better than nothing) and I can see I'm falling behind.

I leave on Sat and I'm starting to feel sad. I'm really enjoying my time with my 3 little ggrrls, Paige and Kincade, and my 2 sons (haven't really seen much of them, I did pick Chris up from the airport last night, back from Seattle and a visit with Alonya.

Stella loves school - here is Macy and Stella with Paige, ready to walk to the bus stop. Baby Hattie was asleep in her crib. She is such a good little baby!! Eats great, sleeps great, hardly ever fussy until she is tired or hungry. Paige has decided it is a trick from HF because she has decided Hattie is the last, so He sends a perfect little one as if to say, See how easy she is, you can do another!

 

 

Rick's first time of seeing Hattie G

I'm sure I have a pic of this, but the ggrrls are playing kid games on my iPad. I'll have to post it later. Rick came in late on Fri, stayed with Chris overnight, and drove to Paige's early on Sat. It was so nice to see him, I missed him so much. We do love and appreciate it other - our marriage keeps getting better and better.

Stella's first day of Kindergarten

Stella's first day of school was a week ago today. She was and is excited to go. She loves riding the bus, her teacher, learning, and all the new friends to make.