As we were coming out of the north side of the Springs Friday night, I looked out the window to see a gorgeous, colorful moon! It was a good sign! We got home a little after 8:00. We parked the motor home and actually slept in our own bed! It felt great!

Saturday morning Kirk and his family came down to unload the coach. When they came through the door, I hugged those girls to pieces. It was so awesome to see them. Graycee kept hugging my legs. So that rejuvenated us more than anything--the problems from the trip were fading memories.

Then to make things even better, there was a Bronco game on that night. Dwight was in football heaven. I don't know if I mentioned this, but we didn't watch TV all summer! I think I watched a couple of shows on my iPad mini, and that was it. I realized when there was a news report during the game, that I didn't miss the depressing news during the summer at all!

We found a generator repair guy this morning, so things are looking great!

Have a happy day! Give someone a hug!

We got outta Dodge (Phx) yesterday around 7:30. I rode on the bed for about an hour, then it started to get hot and stuffy in the bedroom. I called Dwight to have him turn on the generator so the roof ac for the bedroom would come on. No generator. So he pulled into the next rest stop and got out to try to start the gen from the outside. After trying for 20 minutes, still no gen. So we went on into Flagstaff in case we needed some starter fluid for it. Dwight and I studied the gen book, codes, etc. he tried a couple more things but no gen. So I had to relocate to the couch which is narrow for side to side movement on the road. At least I was able to get some ac. So it took us twice as long as ng to drive 1.5 hours than normal. When Dwight pulled out of the truck stop parking space, the refrigerator door swung open spewing my two meals of spaghetti, applesauce, and juice all over the place! So Dwight had to repark and clean all that up-about 30 minutes. We decided to at stop at 7:00 for the night in Grants-about an hour west of Albuquerque. After I ate something, I went to bed.

This morning we woke up at 5:30 and I said let's get on the road. We pulled out at 6:00. About 45 minutes toward Albuquerque, someone flagged Dwight to stop. He slowed and pulled over on the side of the road, only I thought we were pulling into a rest area for breakfast. He thought I was asleep so he just got out. After a bit I got up from the bed (cool in there this morning) to see waht he was doing. I looked out the side windows and mirrors but didn't see him. Finally I looked at the back-up camera screen. He was out there changing a tire on the tow car (Forrester)!! I really thought today had to be better! When he was finished, he said the rim was ruined! We hobbled 20 minutes into Albuquerque.

We pulled into the first Walmart-they don't have a rim for our car. We both searched maps for a Subaru dealer-called-they don't have the rim either! We checked a couple auto repair shops and a few tire stores. As it turns out, Big O Tires had a very friendly and knowledgeable guy who said to bring it over I think I have something that will work. So while I'm still in the coach by the tire center at Walmart, Dwight took the car to Big O. After a bit, Dwight let me know the rim would work. Whew! They had to run to another auto part store to get a brake. The Subaru now has 4 new tires!!!

Dwight brought back McDonald's, which wasn't my first choice, but my spaghetti was in the trash. He opened the burger box with "no bun" and it had a bun. We left Albuquerque at 12:30-6.5 hrs later than our 6:00 departure.

We may spend another night on the road so we don't get too tired. I hate to waste a precious night from my 2 weeks off on the road but...
I just want to be home! I tried clicking my heels 3 times, saying, "there's no place like home," but when I opened my eyes, I was still in the coach.

Please support Big O Tires in Monument by Safeway!

From my point of view in the car

Click here for 3 photos

FINALLY!!!! We get to come home for two weeks!!!! The THING IS NECROTIC AND DYING DUE TO LACK OF BLOOD FLOWING/OXYGEN GETTING TO THAT AREA!!!!! It will be a tapering off process to let my body gradually take over. So we'll come back in 2 weeks and then again in 2 weeks. Then it will probably be a month, then 3 months, etc. Neither one of us could sleep last night trying to figure out the logistics of packing up here and then prioritizing things to do at home. We've been here since Memorial weekend, so we're ready to come home. 14 weeks! I'm not doing vitamin C tomorrow, but I'm doing a second IPT. That should get us on the road early Thursday morning & home Friday. WOOHOO!!! Love & hugs to all!!

This blog has been giving me fits. I am having trouble changing the font and the color. It's really not that complicated, so I don't know why it isn't working right....

Over the weekend, all I wanted to do was sleep. So yesterday I asked if I could bump up another med (thyroid) to make me normal again. So now I'm taking almost the dose I was taking when I got here. So yesterday was awesome IPT day and after I ate, the rest of the day was back to normal. Today I even made it to Target! I'm telling you that one of my goals is to get off the meds!! I think I mentioned that I was able to drop the blood pressure patch med after the first month. Now I have cut back to 1/2 a dose (with dr approval) of the oral blood pressure med and the sphygmomanometer is holding steady! So I'm making progress with one med!

Next week is the blood marker, doctor team meeting, etc. the THING is still shrinking and I hope it will just disappear one day soon! I'm afraid we're going to have altitude sickness when we go home! Not to mention the fact that we may have to break out a jacket too!

Still a splash of color in
the desert landscape. 

Today went well for vitamin C day. I believe that my gastro issues have been caused by a medication I take. I have stopped it and started it for a week or so two times. I got the same issues the second time too. So I'm adjusting that back to what it was before, with the dr. OK. Whew! I hope that's the end of that business !

Many people are asking when they think we'll be home. There us no way to predict when everything will be straightened up and back to normal. I still can't quite sit up yet. It causes some pain/bleeding, so I'm still lying on my side. I don't want to set things back, as far as healing, so I don't want to push it. 

I spoke with a nephew in CO and had a visit from a great nephew here. The nephew from here has just returned home (stationed in Tucson) from being stationed in Germany. We had a visit a couple weeks ago from another great nephew who is stationed in CA. I also spoke with a soldier/friend we met through Soldiers' Angels who recently returned to Ft. Carson from being deployed. Thanks to all who serve! 

Thanks for your continued support through cards, email (esp. if you can't comment on here), positive energy and prayers. Every bit of it helps!
Love & hugs

Ok, you have a 50/50 chance to choose which of these is my granddaughter!

Which one is my granddaughter?  Click the previous sentence to get a photo. More at the end of the post.

Today's IPT went well. My appetite is good. I feel a little tired but otherwise fine.  The bowel issues have continued to be much better. Now, if I could sit, I'd be in business. The THING is still shrinking-photos (no, they won't be posted) & measurements will be taken next week. Dr team on Wednesday.

Sending you some heat to dry up some of the heavy rain up there!

Answer to photo:
If you chose the young lady holding the computer, you're correct!! I don't know if you noticed, she's computing while holding a broccoli tree!

Click here for wildlife video.

Somehow this juvenile's video got recorded upside down. He/she was actually coming toward me as I was taking steps backwards and trying to be on the lookout for siblings and other creatures!

Today i only did 25,000 mg vitamin c. I was feeling a little puny, so I didn't want to push it. I haven't eaten a lot today but snacked a bit. Dwight made a meatloaf in the crock pot that smells really tasty, so I'm looking forward to that!

The 2 air conditioners have been working overtime the last couple of days!

Love & hugs to all!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood-not a cloud in the deep blue sky! IPT started at 7:00, and we saw 4 hot air balloons right over the road on the way to the clinic.

I started this entry this morning but got sidetracked....

I felt better today than I have for the last several days. The bowel issues seem to have subsided, and I am more hungry again. Went to the Vitamin Shoppe today for an outing. I miss Vitamin Cottage where all of the produce is organic. Has anyone ventured to the new store?

I was trying to load another wildlife video, but it was not cooperating. I'll try next time.

Thanks to all of you rainbows!