New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year Bloggers!! Sure hope it's a good one. Today, I'm writing about resolutions. Everyone still sticking to the ones you made for 2012??

Usually, I make the same resolutions every year and that is to not make any. So far I've been able to keep that one for a whole year. I know the most popular wish people have is to lose weight by dieting. I've tried that with dismal results; just like most of the planet. Every January we are bombarded with weight loss advertisements. Are you sick of them already?? I know I am. There must be a million dieting plans out there! Everyone wants a quick fix for something that has to be a lifestyle change in order to successfully drop pounds and get in shape.

I had a really difficult time deciding what I wanted to resolve about for the brand new year. In the past, I have resolved to buy more interesting jewelry (I was highly successful with that one!); or have planned to do a service project (I decided to start a library for my local battered moms shelter); or work with my health issues. I actually did the library for one and one-half years, and still working on maintaining a healthier life style. Not easy from a wheelchair!!

This New Year's Eve I mulled my choices over while watching the various celebrations on television. I wanted to be sure my resolution (I only do one per year) would be something that was attainable. I know better by now not to try a resolution that's destined to fail - My ego and self-esteem can't handle that. Well, maybe it can - but why tempt fate??!!

After a brief review of events in my life the last year, I concluded that I wanted to expand my social circle. Most of the friends I had become very close to over my years here have passed away in the past year, thus diminishing my friendships fast. I've started on my way to success by waving to everyone that passes by my room. That's my first step. I also decided to use my wheelchair and get out of bed and my room. I haven't been able to do that since my chair is in the shop. They finally brought me a loner to use till mine gets repaired. After that step, it'll get harder to make friends since I am unable to speak at all sometimes, or else above a bare whisper. Communication will be a challenge. Best handled on a case-by-case basis. Wish me luck!!

Anyway, Happy New Year everybody. I wish all of my followers have a happy and healthy 2012. Please remember to stop by next Thursday. 'Til then- -

Love Always, Darci

Christmas prep

Dear Reader:

I don't know about you, but I have been very busy getting ready for Christmas. My side of the room looks very festive. My friend helped me dress up the bears. I've got my stocking hung up, presents are ready to go. It's pretty lean this year since I'm saving up my money so that I can get new eyeglasses. My insurance has a co-pay, so I have to cough up part of the cost for the eye exam and the glasses.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow because it's our resident Christmas party. We'll have live entertainment and food (of course), and then Santa will arrive and pass out all of the gifts under the tree. The Activities Department always does a great job pulling it all together, and I look forward to the party every year. I'm planning on wearing my Christmas cardigan sweater -- I've had it awhile but it looks so nice still.

My roommate has the holiday station on her radio. They started playing Christmas tunes right after Halloween, and she runs it 24/7. When I was growing up we had two holiday albums that my Dad played every year. One was Brenda Lee, and the other was the Chipmunks (Alvin!!) I would hop on my Dad's feet, and we would dance around the living room.

We'd also all sit in our little rocking chairs and watch the holiday specials on our black & white console television. There were more shows than there are now, but I'm happy to see they have started to bring back some of the classics in recent years.

This year I have asked Santa Claus to bring me a Kindle - the e-reader from Amazon. Yeah!! good luck on that one!!! But in my defense, I rarely ask for anything too costly, and I have been a very good girl this year. We'll see. Wish me luck.

My family will come to see me on Christmas afternoon, except for my brother Roger and his family. They are the ones hosting Christmas for my family. They will probably come on Monday. My mom will bring me leftovers from the family's get-together. This year Mim is serving ham, as it is Roger's favorite. It's actually my favorite as well. I love pork - I try not to think about where it comes from.

Hopefully we will get a holiday dinner here too. For Thanksgiving I got both turkey and ham, but sometimes they get it wrong. One year, we got spaghetti for our special dinner!!

Well, I think I'll stop rambling now. I'll be back next Thursday with a new edition to my blog. See you then!!!

Love always,
Darci

Roommates

Hello Fellow Bloggers!! Today's topic is roommates. Over the years I've shared space with a number of men and women. It's not easy to adapt to others habits and quirks. Everyone has various lifestyles. I've lived in both houses and apartments, as well as dorms in college.

Living in a facility you share a room where there is very little space or privacy. I've split a room with women who are here for rehabilitation and are here for a brief stay; the rest were long term residents. Many of my roommates were very ill and ended up passing away, which is difficult if you are attached to them. Most of the women have been much older than I am and not as easily relatable.

I've had some crazy roommates over the years but sharing such a small room with staff in and out day and night seems to really intensify people's behavior. In other words, it brings out the worst in people. I got a new roommate last month who is a perfect example of that. For a change, though, she is closer to my age. She is nice enough to me, but not talkative at all. I've not had one real conversation with the woman since she moved in last month. And she treats the staff like they are her personal servants. She has a hair-trigger temper, no patience and her only interests seem to be food, soda and smoking. In a few weeks we will become a smoke-free building. I'm sure that no smoking will just increase her volatile behavior.

She never watches T.V., but has her radio on 24/7 to a station that started playing non-stop Christmas music in early November. She's the biggest character I've ever had as a roommate!! She's long term like me so she won't be one who rotates through the program quickly. She scares the crap out of me when she's terriorizing the staff. She'll bellow at the top of her lungs and has the foulest mouth I've ever heard. I'm a fairly easy-going person, but it does get to me sometimes. I've always managed to get along with people, and so far have had few problems with a roommate.

I hope this has brought back memories of people you've shared living quarters with, and that this brings a smile to your face. Take care, and be sure to come back here in seven for my next installment.

Love Always, Darci and Skippy

Thanksgiving 2011

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I'd like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday. I'd also like to share the things I have to be thankful for this year.

First of all, I'd like to thank all of my doctors and the staff of North Mountain. My journey started with the doctors at County Hospital who operated on me, saving my life. They put me in a coma for two months as I struggled to save my life. Since then I have been through many doctors and hospital staff and numerous health issues. I've lost track of all the times I have come back from the brink. I've been at North Mountain since 2007 after cycling through several other facilities. This is a wonderful place!! I'm getting excellent care here. My doctors have really been there for me, and I love the staff. They all are inspirations to me, and are full of God's love and light.

Next I'd like to thank my family. My Mom and brothers take such good care of me, and make sure that I lack for nothing. They do all of my laundry each week, and no matter how busy they are they make sure to come see me several times each week - whether I'm at the facility or in the hospital. This isn't any easy task for them, as my mother (who's in her 70s) still works two jobs. They always go out of the way to make me still feel like a vital member of the family. I love Mom and my three brothers very much.

I'd also like to give thanks to all of my family of friends who regularly visit me. They radiate love to me every time I see them. I couldn't have a better circle of friends.

Lastly, I'd like to thank my life partner, Steve. We met way back in college - thirty years ago, and he's had my back ever since. We live apart, which is very hard on both of us - but I'm crazy about him. He flew out from Illinois in September and we had a commitment ceremony. It was beautiful, and I felt totally surrounded with love. We keep in contact as much as we can, which is difficult because of the trach I have now. The trach bypasses my vocal chords, making it impossible for me to speak much of the time. So on those times I'm able to speak the first chance I get I call Steve on my cell phone. Our relationship isn't easy, and I can't tell you how much I love that he's stuck it out with me.

As you can see, I have much to be thankful for. It may seem odd to some that a person with all of my challenges has so much to be grateful for, but I feel very lucky to still be alive. Anything after that is gravy.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I wish all of you the best life has to offer. Enjoy your day, and be sure to check in with me next week.

Love always, Darci

Family Dinner NIght

Last night was family dinner night here at North Mountain. My Mom, Paul and Bruce came and joined me in the dining room. It was decorated up with a Western theme. They had straw cowboy hats and bandanas for everyone. One of the RTs here put one of the straw hats on top of my own cowboy hat with a red bandana on it. So I wore it like that all night long. There was a man playing a guitar and singing songs from the 30's to the 60's - kind of cowboy western songs. He did a couple of Mills Brothers songs; he did "Lazy River". Everything was in the Western theme, they even had bandanas for us to use as napkins and plastic glasses in the shape of a boot. We had barbecued chicken or beef and corn on the cob and a very good salad, cornbread and cowboy beans. I had the chicken and everyone else at my table had the beef. Dessert was cobbler and ice cream. I could have used a bigger piece of cobbler!!! They do these dinners every few months and the residents can invite family or friends to come. They always have a theme and they always have 'freebies' for us to keep. They always have some form of entertainment. The last song he sang at the end of the evening was "Happy Trails". I had to be pushed to and from the dining room because for some reason my chair didn't charge up in spite of being plugged in all day. It wouldn't budge and they had to push me into the dining room and back.

I have my voice back, after not having full ability to speak for a couple of months. My Stephen Minister says it is really nice to hear me. I am feeling better. I had a fever a couple of days ago, but I have felt pretty good since then.

My brother Roger & Mim have sold all five golden retriever puppies and they will be in their homes by Thanksgiving.

That's all for now. Happy Trails....

Love always, Darci and Skippy

I'm back in the saddle again!!

Two weeks ago I went in the hospital and I woke up in the emergency room. I found out I had been in the emergency room because I had a temperature of 105. I was pretty out of it; when I woke up they put me in ICU for a couple of days and ran tests. All those darn tests!!! Always!! Always!! They found I had pneumonia and infection in the intestines called C-Dif. I also had a urinary tract infection. I was put on a midline so I could get the antibiotic shot into the midline. Also I had to take a liquid antibiotic, which tastes terrible. They had to give it to me as a liquid rather than a shot. Tasted really nasty; it went down easier with yogurt than applesauce. I was in the hospital for five days; after two days I was transferred to a regular room. After five days I was able to come back to North Mountain. My family and my Stephen Ministers had to come find me at the hospital. I would have had to stay longer at the hospital, but they advised me to come back to North Mountain because they have everything I need here. As soon as I got back from being in the hospital, I got really sick here at North Mountain. To the touch I was ice cold, but I was very sweaty. I called the doctor and he authorized medicine to fix me up. The next day after returning from the hospital, I started feeling better and then a couple of days after that I started feeling bad again. I had a very gassy tummy. I had nothing but air in my colostomy bag; then I had a lot of water coming into my bag!!! Don't have an much water in my bag this afternoon, so it must be clearing and they are giving me medicine for that. I hope I can eat pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving - I love pumpkin. What I really miss is my Grandma Spears chocolate pie with whipped cream on top. Not sure what our plans for Thanksgiving are, but they always bring me left-overs and I always get turkey. Hope I don't get anything weird for Thanksgiving like the year we got spaghetti for Easter. There was no meat just noodles and red sauce. I was hoping for ham.





I want to relate a cute story. My former roommate's father got married for the third time at age 84. The lady he married he had dated in high school but did not have a serious relationship. So he thought.... They got married the day before the new bride's 80th birthday. It was his third marriage, and it was her first!!! She waited for him for 65 years!!





Pray I continue to get better. And I will talk to you again next week.





Love Always, Darci and Skippy

Committment Ceremony

Committment Ceremony September 17, 2011
Steve Robinson and Darci Spears


The committment ceremony turned out to be a wonderful event. I couldn't wait to whizz my way down the aisle, leaving my poor maid of honor in the dust holding my vent in her hands. It was all very casual but everybody looked very nice. My colors were blue and pink, and blue and pink balloons. Steve was dressed is a light blue shirt and I had on a dress of blue and white with pink accents in my hair. I carried a lovely pink origami tulip bouquet. Reverend Diana did a lovely service committing our bodies and souls forever. We poured vials of colored water into one vase --I had a vial of pink water and Steve had a vial of blue water and together they made a lovely purple vase of water. We also released ballons into the air, symbolizing our love ongoing forever. Ted Bachelder sang a lovely version of "The Lord's Prayer". Everyone blew lots and lots of bubbles and then it was on to the reception after picture-taking. We had a cake with blue and white frosting, and punch and cookies made from Darci's own recipe. Everyone had a really good time and said how nice the ceremony was. The best compliment of all came from Steve when he kissed me and told me he was real glad I had come up with the idea. It doesn't get any better than that!!!

Love always, Darci & Steve