Reese Grabs Bear Crotch. . See It Here.

Santa brought Reese an early gift; a huge stuffed bear.  He LOVED it!  Allie got it for a few minutes and she tried an eye-ectomy but Reese retrieved it and carried it around, sometimes by the crotch (ewww- see photo right) and it was the funniest thing to watch. 

In the health division, my stoma has been a fury from hell pain since yesterday and I have an appt next week to see the wound care people at Mayo.  I cannot believe I have to wait this long. . thank goodness for pain pills.

As an aside, I am going to start an ostomate group in Asheville next year.  I called the UOAA ( United Ostomy Associations of America) today and they were great.  They will provide me with training and support.  Not clear why Mission Hospital does not offer this.  We have been going to the group in Daytona where we learn from each other and have speakers, fellowship and the feeling you are not alone in all this.  Wonderful.  Cannot wait to get this started up there. 

Then Dr. Johnson called and left a message that I was scheduled to see a surgeon on Tuesday. This was a mystery for us initially but then we recalled that she casually mentioned I might want to see a newly hired surgeon at Mayo from MD Anderson in Houston, a premier cancer center, who could talk to me about "shake and bake."  For those of you who read my earlier posts, this is an intense procedure with 21 days in the hospital and 90 days recovery but I would get a bowel reconnect from this.  So, we will do a consult with him but he will have to convince me big time to go through this.  The reports I have heard are not good for survivability enhancements but, and this is a big but (no pun intended)  I would get my bowel back.  We'll see. 

In the shopping division all is well.  Santa bought me an Amazon Fire, their new tablet, which should be here on Friday.  Also got myself some red shoes (amazing. .never had red shoes before), and some tops and other stuff for our cruise which is the big gift from Patrick to me and vice versa.   Patrick has not gotten his things yet but I think some Saint Louis World Champion gear is in the picture? 

I am excited about a "wreath and greens" promotion CFA is doing with a wonderful farm in Washington state.  High quality products, affordable prices and CFA gets 25% of every wreath sold!  They have a rescue dog, Dillon, who is the official doorstop and has his own blog.  This connection came about through our neighbor in Asheville, who is a fund-raising expert in the school system.  She thinks highly of them.  Lynch Creek is their name and as soon as I get this 100% set up I will put a link here so everyone can order their wreaths ;-)

We are also so pleased about the story of our "First Toy and Treat Drive" being picked up in today's Asheville Citizen Times.  We have already received hundreds in donation dollars and several elves to help Tiffany & Co. deliver the Christmas/Holiday/Solstice gifts.  I think a reporter is on our email blast list and he wrote the story himself.  I did not send out a press release, so this was quite a pleasant surprise!

We are now getting 3 newspapers delivered and I am in heaven.   The New York Times, USA Today and The Daytona News-Journal.  I hope you greenies will forgive me, but I am an old journalism student and love reading the news on paper.  (PS My solution to the Super Committee is to just fire all of them and start over again.  I have never seen such incompetence.  On both sides.  It is ridiculous.  All should lose their jobs.)

Well, I guess I got on a roll tonight.  Hope all of your Thanksgivings are memorable and peaceful and fun.  Enjoy.

Love,

Peggy