INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

Anniekay80

Shepkitty

What do you do with the lavender oil? My dog hides in the basement with just a hint of rain. He shakes all over ......literally shaking during thunderstorms and gun shots and July 4th fireworks. I've tried benadryl but it doesn't help him. I'm afraid he is going to have a heart attack or something cause he is so scared. I'll try anything for my poor baby Logan.......he also has a strange fear of garbagemen and garbage trucks too. (got him from the pound as a stray at about 4 months old.....I think a really mean garbagemen owned him before us..LOL ) No amount of cuddles or petting calms him down.....he just visibly shakes from head to foot. Our vet doesn't believe in sedatives for these situations, so we just let him hide until he feels safe again. Ironically, he is a fierce protector for me when my DH isn't home....think Cujo...LOL.

Anyway, if some lavender oil will help him I will give it a try. How do I use it?

My Logan would thank you.....

Jazzygirl

Good evening friends- a blast of winter is moving through NM again on this May 1st. No surprising though, seen this happen before when we don't get enough snow throughout the winter, which we did not this year. April into May can be waves of winter moisture moving through. The mountains here are getting snow and there is a cold wind today. I could not make myself go out today. This back and forth from highs up to 80 some days, and being in the 40s today just wears my body out!

I remember celebrating May Day back in grammar school days in the 1960s. I remember my school having a May Pole.

Lookforward

Junie thank you for the information, I could of googled it myself. Mayday sounds like a nice tradition , too bad it is not being celebratied as much. No I don't have a lymphedema compression sleeve, mine is very mild. It just took me by surprise , I always think I'm immune to health issues.

Annie nice looking dog, it is interesting what frightens them. I wonder what triggers it, or is it sensitive hearing ?

Jazzy there is nothing worse than a cold wind, I don't blame you for staying in. We had a few cold windy days last week, but today was mid 70's and calm. I did a lot of planting outside today.

Lookforward

FF I had a good surprise today as well, two of my long stemmed roses survived the winter, usually it is too cold and you have to replace them every year. Bonus , money saved.

Jazzygirl

susan3

we have weird weather here...like everyone else. Suppose to be 70 tomorrow. I hope. We are all so behind in gardening here. Yuck

Wren44

When I was little, we made cones out of paper doilies and put ribbon on them to hang them. Then we put flowers in the cone, hung it on someone's door handle, knocked and ran. It was fun.

I think the Scandinavians do a May Pole here. I'm not sure it's on May 1st. It might be on solstice.

Loveroflife

JunieB, September will come before you know it. I like all of the names, especially Kirby because it sounds mischievous.

Forward, I have not had lymphedema, but had cording (risk factor for lymphedema) twice since MX. I kept forgetting not to carry heavy items with my left arm. I have learned from my physical therapist how to massage the cording before the swelling gets worse. Has it been two weeks yet since they ordered the countertop?

MammaR, good to see you! Like ShepK mentioned, quiet time is good unless the creepy crawlies invade your thoughts.

Jazzy, Brrrrrr. You can send the cold air this way to balance the high 80's we will soon get here.

Feline, I love pleasant surprise from memory lapse.

Ms. Wren, good idea about leaving the money in the coat pocket so that you will continue to find it again and again. It would not be a good idea for me though. Knowing me, I would forget the money in the pocket and try to sell the coat at a garage sale. Did something similar in college. At the end of the year I usually tried to sell my textbooks to the school bookstore . One time I hid a $20 bill in one of the books and forgot....yup, whoever bought my book got a $20 discount from me.

Annie, I can't see the Cujo in Logan....such a sweet face.

ShepK, that was my DH1 in the picture running with Mitzy. She is going away for college this fall Here is a pic of her with Mitzy posing for the camera.

And this is one of the photo she got:

My goofy girl!

Interesting celebration for May Day. I remember celebrating Teacher's Day growing up in VN. Students would come to school with lovely bouquet of flowers for teachers, who are highly regarded. I remember collecting flowers from different neighbors' gardens on my walk to school. No worries, I only picked flowers from the gardens that had plenty. I was sure they didn't mind as it was for a good cause.

Loveroflife

Oh forgot to share these pics of Nepal. One year after the earthquake,people are still living in tents or corrugated temporary shelters. It does get quite cold in the winter up on the mountains.

People waiting in line to be seen by doctors or dentists. Sadly, they were not able to see everyone.

DH will be going to Ecuador this July. He is not sure what to expect.

Loveroflife

Good night. And good morning to Feline.

feelingfeline

I think the Maypole is an old English custom.

Shep,

That picture you posted of the animals dancing is by an English illustrator called Molly Brett - my Dad bought me a postcard of it when I was a child and I still have it! I was so surprised to see it on here this morning

feelingfeline

Just looked up the wikipedia and apparently maypole found in various European countries but believed to have been of Germanic origin and thrived in England. Wiki notes that the tradition is still observed among some European communities in N America so Wren's memory sounds spot on.

Smaarty

Evie, out with her folks. She'll be 4 mos on Thursday

Holeinone

Smaarty,

Wow, time flies... She is precious...

Wren44

Eatonville is South of Seattle towards Mt Rainier. A lot of airline pilots live there.

susan3

Evie!!! Such a cute picture

Anniekay80

What a cute baby! My youngest Gkid is 10, oldest is 12. Love them to pieces, but I'm greedy and want some babies to cuddle. My younger daughter and her husband aren't trying yet and I bite my tongue to not say hurry up and give me more Gkids! So.....I usually adore from afar other people's Gkids......and steal them for a cuddle or two whenever I get a chance.

Okay, wore myself out on these boards and surfing the internet. It's only post op day 4 since exchange, so time to go rest.

Cyber hugs to all.....

Smaarty

thanks Annie. So, how you doing? Being good?

Jazzygirl

Smarty- little Evie is stylin' in those sunglasses!

JunieB

Loverly - Yes, I tend to lean more towards Kirby too. We''ll see when the time comes.

Holy Moley it must be so hard for the people who go to countries suffering from crisis and the missionary groups aren't able to address/help everyone. Not to mention the individuals waiting for the help.

Lookie - Glad your lymph edema is mild. After having that infection in my arm last year, I try to be careful and I always wear gloves when I do any weeding, dishes, etc., but sometimes I forget when it comes to remembering to not lift heavier stuff with that arm.

Annie - Logan is a very handsome boy! Have your ever tried the "Thunder Shirt"? I have 2 friends who's dogs both get really freaked out from loud noise and they both say that it has worked well for their dogs. Plus, there is a holistic veterinarian by the name of Dr. Karen Becker who offers a product called "Zen Pet" for dogs who suffer from anxiety from different triggers. The product is all organic. Just Google "Dr. Karen Becker + Zen Pet" and it will take you to her site. She is associated with Dr. Joseph Mercola and they are based in Chicago. I personally use several of Dr. Mercola's supplements because they are soy free, and non-GMO.

I went to see the movie "The Jungle Book" today and it was really good. I still have my original copy of the story book with the 78 record that came with it fro the 1960's.

Loveroflife

Awww 😍 Evie

Lookforward

Junie glad you enjoyed the movie, I saw the trailer at the theatre when we went to see Zootopia, which was also very good.

My dog was beside himself last night. He was panting and pacing for a few hours, we gave him some medacan and that finally settled him down. I don't know if it was a bowel issue, thought I would be heading to the vets today.

Have you heard anything yet about a puppy? We had an opportunity to get a Cairn a few years ago. We knew someone who breed and showed them. She wanted us to take one of her puppies, but we already had two and I was working all the time

feelingfeline

Smaarty are those cupholders on Evies's stroller? (One for Mom, one for Dad?)

Smaarty

yep, I'm sure there's more by the Handle for when she's older and not going to share!

Anniekay80

Annie being good??? Well.....I guess that depends on who you ask. My DH is on top of me constantly saying "don't reach for that" when I'm perfectly capable of reaching for that. HE just keeps remembering how it was after the BMX......he had to give me a small mug half filled with coffee cause that's all I could lift back then. This exchange is so much easier than the BMX was.

Yes I have drains.....pain in the butt! But it doesn't help that I seem to be intolerant to adhesives.....so the sticky circle where the tubing exits my side along with the small pieces of paper tape holding that circle in place, itches something fierce! My incisions are inframammary, so I'm constantly pulling the compression bra down so the band doesn't irritate the incisions. I absolutely CAN NOT sleep on my back, so it takes time and effort to get comfortable to sleep on my side (drains again). So deep sleep....refreshing sleep...is a gift from God.

Other than those minor complaints (I say minor because I constantly compare everything to the BMX which was pure hell for me)....I'm controlling pain with NSAIDs mostly...maybe 1-2 Norco in a day if any.....usually at night for better sleep. So that's a major improvement from the BMX. I've been battling the post op/anesthesia constipation I get with every surgery, narcotic pain meds or not, but one night of Taco Bell for dinner and that cleared up. LOL. That's MY version of homeopathic treatments.

So, now I just have to battle the fatigue. I really don't do anything at all on a daily basis.....our 26 yo son who lives with us does the menus, grocery shopping, cooking, dishes, cleaning and my DH ruins the laundry....oops I mean does the laundry LOL.....so nothing I have to do except watch trash TV, surf the internet, read books, play computer games, and work hard at trying to get some quality sleep! Oh, and I'm working hard to remember to eat, and when I do, eat something that isn't empty calories....PS wants me to go for the protein. I'm trying to get up the motivation to crochet or sew......anything that might be productive. Maybe once the drains are gone I'll be more motivated.

I still have to deal with going for an Oncology consult since I am triple negative, which was never done because I was never told to see one, but I will pursue that later in June after my 6 month follow up appt with my breast surgeon.

So.....big picture....I'm doing pretty darn good. I'm being a lazy slug and not pushing my prescribed limits, though I do gentle ROM exercises cause there will be no frozen shoulders for me! I'm also making the effort to reach out on these boards so I can stop isolating myself. You all are the only people beyond my family that I socialize with.....just another thing for me to work on once I've recovered enough to get out of the house for more than just doctor appts.

Okay back to happy happy joy joy....I'm making a conscious choice to be happy....Its what works for me to keep me out of that black hole of depression. Love to read/"listen" in on everyone's lives and thoughts here....y'all are great. See....I'm socializing!

Cyber hugs....

Anniekay80

Wow....my post was so long and took me forever to write that there were like 5 new posts when I finished!

I've tried the Thunder Shirt.....no go. Didn't work for my Logan. Don't know if anything will work for him or not. But I'm gonna try that lavender oil aromatherapy stuff I read about on these boards somewhere.....claiming anesthesia brain here!

Smaarty

Annie, have you tried using little pillows, about 7x12 or so? Under the armpits and it will help you sleep a little on your sides. Hope you're feeling better soon

susan3

Annie, I wish I could remember. I had my BMX, 15 years ago. But I did tummy fat transplant for boobs. Got smaller ones now, but got a tummy tuck from the fat removal....that was a plus. I remember sleeping in a recliner, but that was more from the tummy surgery. Couldn't get up from a laying down position...beach whale I was if I layed down. I do remember I didn't like the drains...but don't know if I did anything to make that better. Well....I said a lot but nothing helpful...sorry. Hang in there

Anonymous

JunieB ~ Thank you for starting the stream of memories for all of us by reminding us it was May Day Sunday. So much fun to read each other's stories and see the posted pics! My mom was telling me about what May Day was like when she was little in the late 40's and early 50's. There was the May Pole and the little baskets of flowers left on the doorknobs. Best of all was a parade with all the children dressed in their Sunday best. The boys would ride their bicycles and the girls pushed their doll carriages - all of them decorated with streamers and flowers. It was a really big event in her small town. Glad to hear you are feeling better. How long have you been on Ibrance? Not fair that the stuff we have to take to keep us going knocks so much out of us. Very hard to explain to the "healthy people". May your counts and your comfort soon be perfect......and may you also be surprised by that crib blanket soon! And I vote for Kirby too!

Wren ~ Love your "magic" raincoat

FeelingFeline ~ How cool about the Molly Brett picture! The image was just something I stumbled across on the interwebs - I do adore critters in clothes. I googled the artist name after reading your post. She has done so many cute pictures; there were some really sweet ones with fairies too. Do you have your postcard framed? Your dad must be an animal lover too

Loverly ~ Your daughter is quite the photographer! I like how she did the close-up of Mitzy with the background in soft focus. Will college be very far away? I was heartbroken when my baby moved away for college. He went to school at the local college and moved a 10 minute walk away........but he was "gone". (sniff, sniff) How sweet of your neighbors to "contribute" to Teacher's Day! The pictures of Nepal.....so hard to imagine the people having to survive with so little. The little boy wearing the "I love Nepal" sweatshirt makes my heart sad; maybe for him it's a message of hope? Ecuador is still having some big aftershocks. Make DH stay home!

Smaarty ~ Evie is the epitome of "chill" Gosh, that little cutie is growing fast!

Lookie ~ Slow down! Hope your arm is doing better. And that there is no more painting to do

Jazzy ~ SC has been bouncing up and down temperature wise too - heat at night and AC during the day. No snow though, yikes! The past week we have evened out a bit more with the days being in the low 80's and the nights about 60. So jealous your school had a May Pole!

Lookforward

Shep the arm is fine thank you, I finished restaining the kitchen table today and it looks pretty good. Painting is all done! I was outside gardening and talking about projects in the yard with my husband . some would entail a huge amount of work. I came to my senses a few hours later and decided I'm crazy and I am going to enjoy my summer. NO more projects.

You are right , it is a shame that your treatments take so much out of you. hope you are having a good night.

It is a little smokey here, we have a forest fire burning a few hours north of us, 50,000 people have been evacuated