A Day In My Life

Well, I'm not exactly sure where to start, but I know I have to start somewhere, and I told myself that this was something I was going to do, in case there was someone else out there that was reading this, going through the same thing. I went to the doctor last Thursday, a week ago today, and everytime I have gone for bloodwork, it seems as though my potassium has been "Extremely High", well with talking to my doctor, I asked him what was causing this, because when your potassium is very high, it can make you go into Cardiac Arrest, low potassium can be treated with medication or drinking a glass of gingerale, orange juice or eating a banana. But not with High Potassium, you have to watch everything that you put into your mouth. The first time I was told I had extremely High Potassium was back in 1999 right before my first spinal surgery, they almost postponed the surgery because of it, but then after the next blood test, it came down, we chalked it up to drinking too much orange juice prior to the first blood test, and every blood test there after. Well now that has all changed…

My doctor now says it seems as though my kidneys aren't filtering the way they should be, so now I have to watch very closely everything I eat, and he put me on a water pill to cleanse my kidneys, until my next blood work in 3 months. If my potassium is still high at that point, then he is going to send me for a series of kidney function tests, to see what's going on.

But now I have a lot of questions going on in my head…If anyone read my first blog, it was about my granddaughter Allie who has FSGS, a non-curable kidney disease. After doing a little research, I'm not wondering if it's a gene that is hereditary. Now the only reason I'm wondering all this, is because I'm now remembering all the kidney (not urinary tract infections) infections that I had growing up. And during my first pregnancy with my daughter I was hospitalized for a major kidney infection, that talk of dialysis was going on with the Urologist and my Ob doctor, but they did get the infection under control, and the Urologist who originally had come from Columbian Presbyterian Hospital in New York, said I have a CKI, (Chronic Kidney Infection) which meant it will always be there, and will always show up in a Urine test, and believe me it has.

So now I am going to try to keep up with this blog of any changes that is going on with me, and also with hopes of anyone going through or has gone through the same thing will share their experiences with me, if even through a personal email to me at: JerseyShoreBeachBum@gmail.com I would so love to hear from you, and please let me know if it's ok to publish your email, as it might help someone else going through the same thing. Please make sure you check back often for any updates, and for anyone sharing their story with us.

~A Little Bit of Heaven~

Well, I don't know what Heaven is really like, but I have 4 grown children and 9 beautiful grandchildren, so I'm guessing it's a little like my family..who you haven't met yet, so today I am going to introduce you to them all..They are my ~Little Bit of Heaven~ for sure..
I am married to Steven..my best friend. He is a kind gentle man with a heart as big as the world. We have both been married before, but Steven and I have known each other for many years. We were both Volunteer First Aiders here in town. After 18 years of being Volunteer First Aiders we both retired from it, but Steven is also a Volunteer Firefighter, with 35 years of active service as of date. Being a Firefighter is what is true to his heart, even though he's not as active as he once was.. He is also a great stepdad to my grown children, and a wonderful "PopPop" to our beautiful Grandchildren.. He is an avid fisherman, and that is his other true love.. I think if he had his way, we would live on a big boat on the water year round.. which as long as the kids could visit would be fine with me..why not right?
I have 4 beautiful children.. Barbara my first born and only daughter, is 34 years old, married to a wonderful man Bob, and they have 6 beautiful children... Matt, their only son is going to be 10 at the end of August, Angelina who just turned 9 at the end of May, Anna who just turned 8 in the beginning of June, Allie (who has FSGS, the non curable kidney disease) just turned 7 in the beginning of June, Alaina who will be 6 in October, and will be starting kindergarten in September, and Krista who will be 3 in November.. They are amazing children..very active in school and in Church..so very proud of them all..
My oldest son is Charlie...he is 32, married to Donna and they have 3 beautiful children.. Ashley is our 1st Grandchild..and she will be 13 years old tomorrow (July 29th) good gosh, where has the time gone?? Then their is Craigie..so cute..!! And Charlieboy who will be 9 in November..
My middle son is Bobby a/k/a lil Bobby, and all his nieces and nephews call him Uncle Boo..Bobby will be 29 on August 8th..I can't believe all this time is passing me by..!! Bobby was 8 weeks premature at birth, but turned out to be a true survivor..he is over 6' tall!! I don't know where that came from, because everyone on both sides are short..well not real short, but not that tall either. He is currently single, still trying to decide the direction of travel in his life.
My youngest son is Frankie, he just turned 27 in June, he also is single, deciding his direction of travel..Frankie was always drawn to the ocean as well..he was always into surfing, body boarding and the like, if it had to do with the ocean, he was and still is there.. All through his high school years, he was in every imaginable competition there was to do with body boarding, and was even a rep for some of the name brand companies..but time passes, and he is on to other ventures.
So that is a little about my family..you can follow my daughter's blog at:
www.theknitterwithin.blogspot.com
and the other is:
www.bipolarventures.blogspot.com
I hope you will stop and visit her blogs, and let her know her Mom sent you..!!

~My Twitter Life~

It's funny how things happen and why isn't it?
I joined Twitter back in March, because it was another one of things, people were talking about, and I just had to see for myself what it was all about.. Of course not having a clue what I was doing, chimed right in..acting as though I knew what I was doing..NOT..
For the first couple times of signing into twitter, I had a couple followers and they were friends of mine, who I knew outside of the internet. And I was following a few people other than my friends.
I thought wow, this is interesting, it's just like texting, except instead of using my phone, I am using my computer..!! Well time after time after signing in, I had more followers, and I started following more people, and it was great!! I thought to myself, wow, I am twittering!! Of course I would comment to some of the celebs that I was following, but they never commented back, but that's ok, because as of date, the people I have met on Twitter, well they are my celeb's..!! They are such wonderful caring people.
I look forward to Monday's the most on Twitter, being #MilitaryMonday... the day where everyone Honors the Military, past and present..!! The great thing is I do have some people who are in the Military that are following me, and I them, and to see the Gratitude they have is so totally awesome!! All my #MilitaryMonday friends are totally the best people in the world..!!
That's my little story on Twitter..I've only just begun, so I'm sure I will post more on it in the future, but for now, I will keep looking forward to #MilitaryMonday, and tweeting and retweeting all my friends on each and every Monday..
And I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way, but our Military should be Honored every day of the week.. and as the old saying goes..If you don't want to stand behind our Military..Please Feel Free To Stand in Front of Them..!!
God Bless Our Military, 24-7, 365 Days a Year..!!

~As I Proudly Sit~

Early this evening, I went to sit on the front porch with a cup of coffee in hand, to wait for my hubby to come home from work. While sitting, watching people with their beach chairs heading to the gazebo on the bayfront, I thought for a moment, hmmm, the fireworks were last week, I wonder what's going on? Well about a 1/2 hour had passed by, and the sun was beginning to set in the west, Steven had gotten home and started the grill. Well we both sat on the front porch, waved hello to our neighbors across the street, and then it started..!! The Music!! Now to us beach people listening to the sounds of the band at the gazebo, meant it was officially summer..!!
Well as the sun was starting to go down, and their first song of the concert was the "Star Spangled Banner~ and for some reason to this day, I still emotionally get choked up, over any Patriotic song as a matter of fact. It was so beautiful, sitting and enjoying the sounds of summer, hearing the songs most favored by the American people..As the concert began and only living about 5 short blocks away, you could almost hear the people singing along, and I visualized them standing, the ladies with their hands over their hearts, and the men holding their baseball caps over their hearts, and Old Glory blowing gently in the wind...
I live in a small little beach town along the Jersey Coast, only a mile long from beginning to end..And I must say I do believe we are a very Patriotic town. We have a small memorial on our bayfront recognizing our town's "HEROES". One very special man comes to mind. USAF Pilot Major George Polin. He went missing in action during the Vietnam War. His plane and partial remains were found approx. 15 or so years ago. The town even ran a bus trip to Washington D.C. for his funeral at Arlington National Cemetary. My husband had gone and this day was videotaped for the family.
My brother who is RET. USAF was also of the Vietnam era, he had gotten his orders for Nam, but at the last minute were changed, he was then stationed in Guam, before being sent to Washington DC, where he was then to serve on Air Force One, for then President Richard Nixon, and Vice President Spiro Agnew.
My niece Kimmie (my brother's daughter) is currently a USAF Sgt. stationed at Ramstein AFB in Germany. Kimmie has served 2 tours in Iraq with a tour of Korea in between. She has lived all over in her career with the USAF, one of her most favorites being Okinawa, Japan. My great nephew had come home on leave with his Mom, and he talked to us in Japanese!! He is a world traveler for sure..!! Living in Germany, they go all over, they have even taken a short flight to have lunch in France and back home for dinner.
Anyway, I guess I am getting a little off track here, getting back to our town's concerts..they are every Sunday night in the summer, and if tonight's preview is what's to come for the rest of the summer, well the residents of this tiny little town are surely in for a treat..!! The sun was completely down at the end of the concert, and the band ended with ~God Bless America~, so beautifully done I might add...I found myself singing to the music, and even a tear was slowly running down my cheek, looking into the sky and praying for my 3 adopted soldiers!!! Dear Lord, I ask nothing for myself, but for only the health and love of my family, and the safe return home of Dustin, Raymond and Michael. I ask you Lord to gently wrap your loving arms around my 3 soldiers, and the rest of our troops fighting to keep us not only free, but safe as well. Bring these men and women home safely Lord to their families who are patiently waiting. Amen.
On the 4th of July weekend, I do fly one special flag in front of my house, it's called the Flag of Heroes. It has the names of all the Police, Fire and First Aid that lost their lives on 9-11. Dear friends of ours, lost their son that day...Firefighter Dennis O'berg, only 6 months with the NYFD, he left his career as a Certified Public Accountant to follow the footsteps of his father, who was also a Firefighter with the NYFD.. After loosing their son that very sad day, Dennis and Dorothy both retired from their jobs in New York City. On that flag is Dennis's name, and a neighbor of my Mom, who was in the North Tower that day on business, her name was Julie Zipper. I fly my Flag very proudly that one and only weekend of the year, because I am so afraid of it being stolen, and I don't think that Flag could ever be replaced. We purchased it at the Annual Firemen's Convention in Wildwood, NJ in Sept. of 02.
Well now that I have rambled on and probably made no sense at all, I understand, so it's ok..if that makes any sense..The picture on this page is my "FLAG OF HEROES"... God Bless All our Heroes..Our Military, and all our Men and Women who wear a uniform!!

Daddy's and Friends

It is so funny how things happen..just by a simple phrase or past quote in a conversation with friends..
Today during the course of the morning and afternoon, I was emailing back and forth with a couple of my most dearest Online Friends. Our little group was formed quite awhile ago, and most of have met in person!! It is wonderful meeting those who you talk to every day..:)
I don't know how it all got started, but I sent an email to the girls about a saying that my Dad used to say, Oh, you would like to know the saying?? Well he used to say "He would shovel shit against the tide" to provide for his family.. My dad had some real funny sayings, and said them quite often..So I had emailed the girls a little ok, well a long email about my Dad..this past June 10th, he has been in Heaven 19 years!! I will share the email because one of the girls, whom I find to be very wise and insightful said that this would make a good Blog.. so here goes the email..
OH JANIE, YOU WOULD HAVE LOVED MY DAD..HE WAS A TRUE LOVER OF LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT.. HE WAS A SURVIVOR OF COLON CANCER..HIS FIRST THANKSGIVING WITH HIS COLOSTOMY BAG, HE WAS A HOOT...WE WERE ALL SITTING AND STUFFING OURSELVES AS WE USUALLY DID ON THANKSGIVING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, DADDY SAT THERE LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY..!! I SAID TO HIM..WHAT'S SO FUNNY DADDY?? WELL HE LAUGHED EVEN HARDER, SO WE ALL JUST STARTED LAUGHING, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE HELL WE WERE LAUGHING AT, THEN HE TURNED AROUND AND SAID, I'M THE ONLY ONE HERE THAT COULD SIT HERE AND ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL MEAL, AND TAKE A SHIT WHILE I'M EATING!!! OMG, WE ALL ALMOST FELL OFF OUR CHAIRS!!.. DADDY WAS A CARPENTER BY TRADE..OVER THE YEARS HE HAD LOST ALMOST ALL HIS FINGERS WITH A POWER SAW, AND THE LAST FINGER HE CUT OFF THE DOC SAID TO HIM, CHARLIE, I THINK IT'S TIME YOU THINK ABOUT A DESK JOB..WELL DADDY LOOKED AT HIM WITH HIS HANDS HELD UP ( HE HAD 3 FINGERS AND 2 STUMPS ON HIS RIGHT HAND, AND HIS THUMB AND 4 STUMPS ON HIS LEFT) AND SAID WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ME TO DO TYPE?? LOL..WELL HE CONTINUED IN HIS LITTLE BUSINESS HERE ON THE BEACH, WITH MANY CUSTOMERS WHO JUST LOVED HIM, AND WOULD CALL HIM EVEN IF IT WAS TO JUST CHANGE A LIGHT BULB..!! THEN 10 YEARS AFTER HIS COLON CANCER, HE HAD A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK, THEN 5 YEARS AFTER THAT, AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 70 (1991) HE PASSED AWAY OF LUNG CANCER..BUT HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE LUNG CANCER IN JAN. OF 91 AND WORKED UP UNTIL MAR. OF 91.. NOTHING AND I MEAN NOTHING KEPT DADDY DOWN..BUT THE CANCER DID GET THE BEST OF HIM TOWARDS THE END, AND HE KNEW HE WAS LOOSING HIS FIGHT TO IT, SO HE RETIRED IN MARCH, AND TRIED TO "VACATION" FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS OF HIS LIFE..THAT IS WHAT HE CALLED IT..LOL.. BUT HE FISHED AND DID SOME MINOR JOBS THAT I WENT WITH HIM TO DO, OXYGEN TANK AND ALL..UP UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF MAY, THEN IT WAS DOWN HILL FROM THERE.. BUT DADDY WAS A TRUE BELIEVER IN HARD WORK NEVER KILLED ANYONE..AND AT THE AGE OF 65, MOM WANTED HIM TO START THINKING ABOUT RETIREMENT, AND DADDY TURNED AROUND AND SAID, RETIREMENT IS FOR OLD FARTS, AND I'M NOT AN OLD FART, AND I'M NOT RETIRING!! SO HE DIDN'T..NOTHING BUT NOTHING KEPT DADDY DOWN..EVEN IN THE HOSPITAL, HE WALKED THE HALLS TRYING TO FIX THINGS..HE WAS A HOOT FOR SURE..HE WAS ALSO A VOLUNTEER FIRST AIDER FOR MANY YEARS, AND A FIREFIGHTER..WHEN HE TURNED 62 HE STOPPED FIGHTING FIRES AND DECIDED TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE FIREPOLICE..WHICH HE LOVED..HE WAS VERY VERY ACTIVE..AND MY FATHER NEVER HAD AN ENEMY..WHEN DADDY PASSED AWAY, THE FUNERAL HOME WAS PACKED BEYOND WORDS, AND HIS PROCESSION FROM THE CHURCH TO THE CEMETARY WAS ALMOST 12 MILES LONG..!! THERE WERE FIRETRUCKS, AMBULANCES, POLICE CARS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.. HE WAS A FIRE COMMISSIONER FOR THE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF HIS PASSING..WHICH IS AN ELECTED POSITION, AND HE WAS STARTING HIS 3RD TERM. OK, SO THAT'S THE STORY ABOUT DADDY.. I AM ENCLOSING A PICTURE OF DADDY AND MOMMY WITH ME ON GRADUATION DAY FROM HIGH SCHOOL.. THIS PIX IS 35 YEARS OLD..
OH, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE OF DADDY'S FAVORITE SAYINGS..LOL.. IF HE WAS WITH SOMEONE THAT WAS BEING CHEAP WITH THEIR MONEY, HE WOULD SAY THEY WERE "TIGHTER THAN A CRAB'S ASS AND THAT'S WATER TIGHT".!! HE WAS FULL OF THEM I TELL YA!! HEHEHE

Becoming A ~Soldier's Angel~

In the beginning of June 2009, I became a "Soldier's Angel" and had adopted my first soldier..!! What a thrill and Honor at the same time..Well by the beginning of July, I had Officially adopted 2 Soldiers, and 1 Unofficially !! Plus my niece Kim, is currently stationed over in Germany at Ramstein AFB, as she is a SGT in the United States Air Force. She has served 2 tours in Iraq with a tour of Korea in between. Kimmie has followed in her Dad's (my brother) footsteps, as he is RET. USAF (Vietnam Vet). Kimmie's brother is RET. USARMY, 82nd Airborned, he RET. shortly after the incident at Pope Air Force Base about 8-10 years ago, as he was in the plane on the ground. So coming from a family of Military, when I joined Soldier's Angels, I knew this was a great organization to join.
Even though I haven't yet heard from my "ADOPTED SONS", I feel in my heart they know I am thinking of them, and praying for their safety, and their safe homecoming every day...
I do try to write to my boys 3x a week, and a package every couple weeks, I've heard just the simplest of things make them smile...
When my oldest granddaughter was here in the middle of June, she suggested we make some homemade cards to send to my 1st Adopted Soldier, she said Nana, just in case you can't get a letter in the mail, then we have the cards all ready, and you just have to write a little something inside, put a stamp on it and put it out to the mailbox.. Such smart kids right? Here is a picture of the cards that we made...



I would strongly suggest if you would like to "SUPPORT OUR MILITARY" in some small way, this is for you..!! Not only are you sending these men and women a piece of home, but you are also bringing a little bit of peace to your heart..Let's face it, we certainly need them, as they are fighting for us...so we should be able to do a little something for them.. If interested please go to: www.soldiersangels.org
Believe me, you will be so glad you did..and after joining you will truly find joy and love in your heart, and appreciate our Military (past & present) God Bless..

~Angels For Allie~

This is the first time for writing a Blog, so please bear with me, through the trials of doing this.. I am doing this on behalf of my granddaughter Allie who was diagnosed with FSGS (a non curable kidney disease) back in the summer of 2007.. Allie will eventually need a kidney transplant as this disease attacks both kidneys. Allie just turned 7 this past June 4th, 2009. She is a very active and loving little girl.. She has an older brother Matthew who will be 10 in August, 2 older sisters, Angelina who is 9, Anna who is 8, then 2 younger sisters..Alaina who is 5 and Krista who is 2 1/2. Her mommy is my daughter Barbara, and she is married to a wonderful man named Bob. The picture posted to the left is of Allie this past April at the Grand Opening of West Marine in Brick NJ, where her PopPop works in the Fishing Department..
As Allie was sitting on the swing with her mommy, waiting for the yearly fireworks to start, she yelled over to me..(I was sitting on the porch) Nana, when you die, will you leave me your swing? Well we all almost fell over laughing, as I said to her, Allie do you know something I don't know?? lol..she said no Nana, you aren't going to die soon..What a relief that was to hear..
Like I said I am new to this Blog stuff, so I have no clue on what I am doing here..so please bear with me..as I try to add pictures, they all end up together and that's not what I want, so maybe I will just start a new Blog telling the story of each picture I publish..
Thank you for taking the time to read this little bit that I wrote, and be sure to check back often on the updates that I post..
Ruthi