tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post4554792319841499795..comments2024-03-05T06:52:06.523-05:00Comments on Mainely Write: BalanceDonna Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-58270880570041478442023-06-03T21:03:58.535-04:002023-06-03T21:03:58.535-04:00I was just going through updating my blog and foun...I was just going through updating my blog and found your comment in the moderation list. Not sure why! But know I appreciate it. Still muddling through. I keep to keep my focus on the good in each day. My balance is improving. Still don't walk far. Goal is to be able to ride my motorcycle some this summer, though that is not an option for my husband. Will need someone to watch him if I do get to the riding. Not an impossibility anymore though!Donnahttps://mainelywrite.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-43113905228028642462022-01-26T13:58:54.261-05:002022-01-26T13:58:54.261-05:00Hi Donna, sorry to hear of your husband. My wife a...Hi Donna, sorry to hear of your husband. My wife and I cared for my mother in law for two years when she had dementia and it is very difficult, I wrote very little during that time. Almost everyone i know that had the vax got sick, some with lingering problems. My Dad is ok so far but I worry about him, he is getting up there in years. I will pray for you and hope you continue to achieve some sort of balance in this off kilter world, take care my friend.<br /><br />Bobrchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10390033530066470195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-79796613213109781562022-01-10T08:40:11.849-05:002022-01-10T08:40:11.849-05:00I am not sure I knew about your sister, but maybe....I am not sure I knew about your sister, but maybe. This list is truly unbelievable, even though I knew about much of it as it happened when you shared some on fb. But you kept up writing and doing your little darling doodles on your (I think) iPad. Such a list. I think I may have mentioned our friend had FTD and his wife, a writer and poet but no on PF, writes about it. In the end they did have full time aides for him. Also our son's friend is one of the heads of the FTD group out of Philly. I am sure you know there are resources but during your awful times I am sure it was hard to simply put one foot in front of the other. If I can help with anything, please call on me. Today is a new day. May the Lord bless you with healing and hope, I am sure you have had both of these even in the depths of your situation. I am glad the TINS machine is letting you sleep. Back pain is horrendous. I am grateful I have only suffered a minute amount compared to what has happened to you. I hope more answers come forth. Our dr. friend with the bad reaction was on Prednisone for a long time and that is not a great answer either. You are right. You need a whole new set of dinner plates. Know that prayers are being sent for you and Adam and everything you are facing. I am glad the plumbers (finally) got it together and that you are so resourceful you were able to fix the drain. To see the humor, the good, the future, and teach your grandchildren, well despite it all that is to the good. Hugs to you, but gentle ones. God has a purpose in all this we know. Janet F.skanny17https://www.blogger.com/profile/07488350213473016250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-428305448702427742022-01-09T21:36:45.736-05:002022-01-09T21:36:45.736-05:00There's so much more that I haven't writte...There's so much more that I haven't written on my blog. Some of it is on FB beginning in 2020 when I fell headfirst down my full flight of concrete steps of my apartment. I broke my ankle and wrist and damaged the other wrist - so I was in three casts...rehab, then back home with wheelchair, scooter, walker and cane. I was able to make it back up those stairs again in time for covid isolations. Then my younger sister died in June of 2020, we Zoomed the funeral. My 5 year old yellow lab had to be put down on Christmas Day 2020. 2021 started out with my spasms and pain; and son's blood poisoning, congestive heart failure/valve replacements, and stroke. Then there's my husband's diagnosis of FTD and his devastating decline. I don't cry when I list these anymore. I just list them and think, wow. How did we do this? How did we cram this series of unfortunate events into such a short span of time? Huh. Before this our lives were pretty pleasant and calm. Suddenly, it's hard to list and not forget something. I'm sure I've forgotten something terrible. But that's okay. It's time to start forgetting these and start remembering our blessings. Cuz there are a bunch of those, too! I get to homeschool my grandchildren.Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-15703818914561249612022-01-09T20:54:21.113-05:002022-01-09T20:54:21.113-05:00My goodness. I am so very sorry about every piece ...My goodness. I am so very sorry about every piece of this. I have missed your writing but simply had no idea of all that you have been going through. Honestly, some of this makes me mad at how people are being treated (or NOT treated), but that anger won't do you any good. So I will keep you in my prayers, daily, and I will look forward to more of your writing in the future. Take care, my writing friend. God bless you and your family.fireflytrailshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05906494857286134756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-72791628866198387472022-01-09T19:10:55.757-05:002022-01-09T19:10:55.757-05:00I have never been in such pain. And it would hove...I have never been in such pain. And it would hover over me waiting for me to move, and strike when I least expected it sometimes. I've gone into PT in tears at a loss as to what we could do. They got Medicare to get me my own TENS UNIT stim machine and that seemed to get me through to the next PT session. I am able to do strengthening exercises and am sleeping through the night 50% of the time now - GIANT steps! <br />Adam has lost some hearing and has tinnitus from the antibiotics, lost a quadrant (upper right corner) of his vision from the mini-stroke, and gets headaches from working on the computer for more than 30 min. But he is doing cardio therapy and is back to lifting weights at the gym, slowly gaining his strength back. No more vaccines for him, either.<br />There have been tough times, but there's been good in it all; God is in it all.Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-22793795254476522922022-01-09T18:55:33.114-05:002022-01-09T18:55:33.114-05:00It certainly has been a couple years of testing. ...It certainly has been a couple years of testing. Some days I fail at being the best me. That's probably the hardest part.<br />It was a surprise to have the three drain technicians, each on separate trips out here, say how nice we were, and thank us. They were expecting angry customers by now, after all the trips here to correct their work. Maybe with the pain level lower now, and the other serious weirdness we've survived - it didn't bother me, and I could just laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. That's how I always to be.Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-86845794412329969392022-01-09T18:38:13.428-05:002022-01-09T18:38:13.428-05:00Thanks for the hug! I am doing some "balanci...Thanks for the hug! I am doing some "balancing" exercises this evening. We had to move the motorcycles out of the garage today to get to the floor space to be jackhammered. Got me itching to be well enough to go riding! Tim won't be able to ride anymore, but I'd like to ride again anyway, and he won't mind now.Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-41529060790609194482022-01-09T18:31:48.614-05:002022-01-09T18:31:48.614-05:00I am banking on Anthologies 101, et al, to help me...I am banking on Anthologies 101, et al, to help me re-energize my brain and take my focus off the weirdness of my current life! Lol!Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-33887558272999774232022-01-09T18:29:53.062-05:002022-01-09T18:29:53.062-05:00On a very positive note...I could bend down and do...On a very positive note...I could bend down and do that!!! Yay!<br />Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-12126487718871443882022-01-09T18:28:54.751-05:002022-01-09T18:28:54.751-05:00I am in awe of how strange my life has become. Ea...I am in awe of how strange my life has become. Each incident could be a sitcom or drama episode...or whole season. Even today, after getting the sewer lines fixed again, the guy who was out on Friday neglected to tighten the sink drain after he snaked it. Consequently, yes, I had a lot of water on my floor. I cleaned it up and tightened the drain down. I think we're pretty set. I may pick up some sealer to go around it after I research what I should do. I'll be a plumber yet.<br />Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-17736412591915455302022-01-09T16:04:27.989-05:002022-01-09T16:04:27.989-05:00Oh Donna. I did know some of this, but not that th...Oh Donna. I did know some of this, but not that the pain had not subsided and got worse and worse. You are totally handling full plates X 1000. My friends' bf, a retired a somewhat well-known NYC area surgeon, had major reactions to shot 1. I don't think he has taken the next two. I hope they will figure out why eventually. I can't believe how it has touched Adam and to a lesser degree your daughter. And still you create such lovely poems on fb. You are a wonder and God must be smiling down sending you his healing strength. I pray for it to continue. And balance. skanny17https://www.blogger.com/profile/07488350213473016250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-29763376601181363612022-01-09T10:36:15.682-05:002022-01-09T10:36:15.682-05:00I am so happy to see you here, Donna. And while I ...I am so happy to see you here, Donna. And while I know some of what you shared, am so sorry about the terrible vaccine effects you've experienced, hope it continues to improve. As for the drain probs, my neighbor (I'm in a duplex) has had some problems & I thought I would have some but it turns out, it was all on their side. I had some expenses to check the pipes thoroughly but less than I imagined. Best wishes for that, too. I am always thinking of your challenges & wishing you better days for sure. Thanks for sharing so much and I hope all of us surrounding you will help!Linda Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14983144542632353870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-29707015325878585172022-01-09T09:23:15.677-05:002022-01-09T09:23:15.677-05:00I like "unheld hand," "watching you...I like "unheld hand," "watching you step off the trail/for golden comfort's/wing," and your thoughts like leaves. I hope BALANCE helps you add more good, Donna. *hug*Tabathahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14367572663591077922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-23897920383850931212022-01-09T08:54:46.104-05:002022-01-09T08:54:46.104-05:00Donna, oh Donna! Good heavens, the hardships you&...Donna, oh Donna! Good heavens, the hardships you've been enduring. I recently read an investigation of the brain-foggy/digestive issues that some folks with long COVID have, but I hadn't heard of this particular pain reaction. I'm so sorry and so glad that you're mending. This makes the beauty of your BALANCE acrostic even more striking, the way it *looks* balanced on the page, the way in such a short space you have failed and succeeded in capturing the delicate balance. Glad to know that I'll see you in Anthologies 101!Heidi Mordhorsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16496427007514895950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-73265633853246711712022-01-09T07:58:02.771-05:002022-01-09T07:58:02.771-05:00Donna, you have been on quite a journey over the p...Donna, you have been on quite a journey over the past few years. I think of you often and admire how you continue to find balance amidst the turmoil and how you continue to create. You are a positive force in this world. Wishing you love, light, and balance as your journey continues.mbhmainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368641525885104669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-71414996507264103092022-01-08T17:43:41.469-05:002022-01-08T17:43:41.469-05:00I am able to concentrate so much better since the ...I am able to concentrate so much better since the pain has eased. I also have been playing healing, sleeping, meditation music all night while I sleep, and it's helped me sleep quite a bit. I did have extensive xrays and MRIs to rule out breaks. There is some damage to my spine, but not enough to cause the extent of the pain. That is why I opted to continue PT and not do the epidural. With things as they have been lately, I prefer to go the less intrusive route. Don't need more problems from treatments! I am going to try to keep up with my writing better, and it seems more likely now, though juggling caregiving takes a lot of energy. I just need to start thinking smarter to find the balance in all this!Donna Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13738281869266957726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6604430404780110710.post-50929051903176761782022-01-08T15:14:16.774-05:002022-01-08T15:14:16.774-05:00Donna, I have been thinking of you these past mont...Donna, I have been thinking of you these past months and try to keep up with your FB poetry (That I love). I am sorry that you have intolerable and undeniable pain. My husband has this also but now that found out he has a fracture in his hip and the doctors will not operate until he loses 40 lbs. He is on a very strict medical diet and has lost 18 lbs. so far. He does say that losing weight has made his leg feel better. We did not know that he had a old injury-the fractured him. I am telling you this to rule out others issues that may come up for you. Balance is a great word for you. I am glad that you are going to PT. I swear by it. Please keep in contact with PF and SJT because our communities would be a great place for support. What is your new address now? Stay well and optimistic.Carol Varsalonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02589714711155938528noreply@blogger.com