Well, winter finally found Nebraska!

We have been spoiled with great weather this fall-winter season. Today we were reminded that it is December and that we do live in Nebraska. The temperature has been hovering in the mid 20's all day with the wind chills in the teens. I've discovered (as have many other phriends) that cold weather and PH do not make for a happy pair of lungs. I personally do OK until the temps and/or wind chills get in the 30-32 degree area. I wasn't really prepared for this since it has been in the 50's for the last week or so!
But, when you're a lazy bum, it's not difficult filling up your daily schedule when you're stuck inside.
8:30 a.m. Get up
11:30 a.m. take a nap
12:00 p.m. Watch "All My Children"
1:00 p.m. Watch "One Life to Live"
2:00 p.m. Eat lunch or cereal or whatever's sitting around.
3:00 p.m. Take a nap....
WOW!! No wonder I have to go to bed early! What A grueling schedule!!!!

Actually, I did some Christmas decorating today. We are having our Pulmonary Hypertension Support Group Christmas Party!" here on Saturday. We'll only have about 30 or so phriends and phamily members, so it will be a nice gathering. My phriend Colleen showed us how she jazzed up her place for Christmas one year. So, maybe I'll show you a few pictures.

This is the Nativity set that my family had when I was a little girl.



I read about this little Christmas decorating trick a few years ago:


In all of the framed family photos, put a Christmas family photo in the frame behind the one you look at year round. Then, at Christmas time, you just switch the Christmas photo with the "normal photo." I LOVE it!



I love "discovering" my treasured memories every year!


Yesterday I went to our local yarn shop and said, "Please show me the error of my ways!" I have been trying to knit a hat using "needles in the round." Everyone that I know who knows how to knit says it's so easy. But, my brain was screaming at me "You can't teach an old dog new tricks!" After 90 minutes of one-on-one instruction, I left with what I came with...a bunch of yarn and some needles. Actually, I did come home with a new pair of circular needles and a $4.00 hat pattern. Well, determined knot (get it????KNOT?!?!?) to be outdone by a ball of yarn, I sat down with a new ball of yarn and tried again. I think I might have finally figured it out! If I ever finish it, I'll be sure to take a picture and show it to you. I'd really like to be able to knit hats for little babies and kids who need them. But, we'll see. I might be better off going out and just buying some knit hats!!



In other news of the weird...
Last week I experienced 3 nose bleed in 4 days. Now, I know that many people get nose bleeds. People on oxygen are at a much higher risk for nose bleeds. I've never, ever had nose bleeds. But, a few months ago I had one, took myself to the lab, had them draw blood for my INR (which is a test to determine the clotting factor in your blood. People with PH are at a higher risk of developing blood clots, so most of "us" are on blood thinners). Well, no surprise, my INR was higher than it was suppose to be. So, we adjusted the meds and all was well with the world.

So, when I ended up having three fairly disgusting nose bleeds, I took myself to the lab and expected the numbers to be elevated again. But, my numbers were actually low. So, I'm going to an ENT doctor tomorrow. I'm sure it's no big deal, but, I just wanted to share how excited I am to spend a chunk of my day seeing yet another doctor!! (There was some serious sarcasm there if you didn't notice)I haven't had any nose bleeds since I made the appointment...of course...more sarcasm....

Other news of the weird...
Some faithful readers might remember that about six months ago I started fighting a rash on my face. I've been to various specialists, each one coming up with a different "guess" as to what was the problem. The rash would come and go, get worse and get better. I woke up last week and SHAZAM!! There was no rash blotching my face! It was gone for three days and then I woke up on the 4th day and SHAAAA-CRAP!!! The rash was back and it was gross! Now the experts (including my beloved husband) think they have a really, really good "guess." They think I've developed an allergy to one of the three thousands medicines I take each day. The three days when I didn't have the face of a teenager, I wasn't taking one of my meds because I ran out and it was too soon for the insurance company to OK a refill. The rash returned the morning after I took the refilled med the night before. So, now we are doing an experiment for a few days. Wish me luck because I'm really tired of looking like the before picture in an ad for acne or other disgusting rashes.

One more story from the "news of thew weird..."
I think I pulled a muscle in my left buttock....that's all I have to say...it really hurts...anyone have any sympathy for me? Anyone??? I didn't think so. Oh well.

Thanks for checking in.
Thanks for reading.

Annette