I know I missed all of you – each and everyone. All of your emails, phone calls, cards – that meant so much to us here at the Hotel Thompson – thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts! ❤
It’s been a little psycho crazy here at the crib. We had a sickness here in the family and mom got pulled into different directions. She needed to be a triplett to get everything done in the days it needed. With being pulled into different directions and trying to take care of the Hotel Thompson and working, mom got sick. Her rheumatoid arthritis flared really bad where it got hard for her to move. Then my friends something else happened to mom. She got the big D. Dad explained the big D to us anipals. It was frightening.
The big D takes everything from you. It makes you lonely. Afraid. It makes you cry. And there’s nothing anyone can say to make all the hurt go away. It’s debilitating. There were days that all us anipals and dad could do was just sit close to mom and hold her. Those days seemed to work. Mom knew what was going on so she didn’t wait. She reached out to her doctor and got some help. We applaud mom for that. Always know when to reach out and ask for help.
You ask what the big D was? Depression. Depression sucks. But we all get it from time to time. Some of us know how to handle it better than others while others just keep bottling things up until that bottle just explodes and tears start flowing. Mom is much, MUCH better now. Thank goodness for that!
So we are back. And we have some news to bring in about two weeks. You will absolutely LOVE it. And of course, I had to be back for the start of my Spooktober – right? So again, we love you my friends ❤
As some of you know, my sister Tina Marie Mote will be running in the 2018 Chicago Marathon. She is doing this to raise money for a worthy cause – the Arthritis Foundation. Recently Tina posted about this and I want to share with you a story straight from her. If you can spare a donation – even if it is a couple of dollars – everything will be greatly appreciated 🙂
“This is going to be a long post and describes the main reason I am running the Chicago Marathon in October to raise money and awareness for the Arthritis Foundation. Donations are welcome of any size to help the Arthritis; donations can be made anonymously, if you prefer, and they are made directly to the Arthritis Foundation through the link provided in this posting.
Next week, a close friend of mine, who I will refer to as J, who is only in her early 30s and has rheumatoid arthritis (along with lupus and fibromyalgia), is undergoing another Rituxin treatment, which is a chemotherapy treatment that—fingers crossed—may alleviate the autoimmune response this disease has on one’s body. For those not familiar with RA, I’ve enclosed the following information:
“Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body’s tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system. The immune system contains a complex organization of cells and antibodies designed normally to “seek and destroy” invaders of the body, particularly infections. Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies and immune cells in their blood that target their own body tissues, where they can be associated with inflammation. While inflammation of the tissue around the joints and inflammatory arthritis are characteristic features of rheumatoid arthritis, the disease can also cause inflammation and injury in other organs in the body. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is a classic rheumatic disease.”
The reason J is undergoing a chemo treatment for RA is because all other medicines (biologics/DMARDS) for RA no longer appear to be working for her. As the description of RA above states, it may not only affect the joints of the body but also other bodily organs. Because of RA, J’s lungs have been attacked and she is symptomatic of COPD though she has never smoked. RA has also damaged her heart and lungs . In addition, because RA is an autoimmune disease, her body thinks the immune system needs to attack the joints. The way the medicine works to alleviate this response is to slow the immune system. Doing so lessens her resilience to bacteria and viruses and what may be a common cold to us could become to her a prolonged illness. The flu would be devastating for her. Because of lower immunity, she’s had sepsis twice (November 2016 and November 2017)! Thank God the hospital both times immediately followed sepsis protocol at the first sign that sepsis was a possibility and didn’t wait for further evidence!
So next week she has another Rituxin treatment (info found on the links below), which has become her only option. However, the side effects are potentially devastating and potentially fatal because it severely compromises the immune system PLUS not to mention it’s a chemo treatment that has its own nasty side effects. I wish beyond all wishes I could be down in Texas with her this week but there is no way I can juggle my commitments and be with her, too.
I cannot stand to see anyone have to endure this, particularly someone who is a beautiful and life-giving soul as J is! Because I cannot help her directly and heal her, I want to do my small part to contribute to the Arthritis Foundation, who finds research for cures to terrible ailments such as RA.
Me completing a marathon pales in comparison what J has to endure on a daily basis and because the disease isn’t visible to others, sometimes those around her don’t realize just how hard it is for her. I’ve learned so much these last few years from her and have been inspired time and time again. She is the most optimistic and determined and brave and courageous individual I know and I want her to be around for many years to come!!!”
Welcome my friends to our weekly issue of Journey with Friends. This is a time that we come together for support, for encouragement, for fellowship – all with one single goal in mind – to live better. Welcome to our journey to share our goals and our accomplishments and our disappointments and frustrations.
Together we can do this!
Hello friends – how did you do last week? I walked 17,906 steps which is equivalent to 8.48 miles. Not bad. I am up from last week. I’m still trying to shoot for 5,000 steps a day which is still not happening…yet 🙂 I have faith that I will get there soon. It’s such a balance of walking for health but yet not walking to hurt with my rheumatoid arthritis. But it’s getting there. I didn’t lose any more weight last week but I’m okay with that since I lost so much right off. So – the goal for the next week is to walk more and eat better. I can do that – you can do that!
I also had some blood work done last week and got my results back. My cholesterol is right on key – no problems. My A1C went from a 10 to an 8 so I’m on key with that going down. I get blood work done again in 3 months. I’m hoping to have that A1C down to at least a 7 or below by then. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
So how did you do my sweet friends? How was your journey to a better life?
Yep, I said that out loud. Mom needs training wheels while she is walking! The other day her and daddy went out to dinner – who would have thought that I know – snorts. When leaving the restaurant, mom was so concerned about guiding daddy so he wouldn’t trip that she didn’t see this boulder on the ground. Now that is her word – boulder. I’m sure it wasn’t actually that big. She hit the ‘boulder’ with her shoe. Did I mention that she had on these really cute sandals that had openings to show her toes with their cute little pedicure colors? She tripped, stumbled and thank goodness daddy was holding her hand so she didn’t fall down. So there she is stumbling while daddy is singing, “I’ll tumble for you” by Boy George – shakes piggy head. That’s the good part. The bad part you ask? Well, her big toe found the ‘boulder’. She broke her toe nail, messed up her cute little pedicure and jerked her body from almost falling. So as she tells daddy, she now has a catch in her giddy up. Shakes head. Only my mother huh?
So now mom has a catch in her giddy up, a messed up pedicure and guess who else wants to come out and play? Mean old Mr. Arthritis. She is also having a bad flare up with pain due to this weather that belongs in hell. Yes I said it. Hell. It pushes the high 90’s every day. When we get rain, it just makes things more steamy afterwards. And it feels like we can never get the Hotel Thompson cool enough. Daddy says he feels the power company lowers the power around 5pm every day. Maybe it’s that or too many people turn their thermostats down during that time? hhhmm – it makes you wonder doesn’t it? Either way, even with fans you just can’t cool down and the heat is messing with mom’s arthritis.
So there you go. You have my mom who is the stumbling toe cruncher catch in her giddy up hurting from the heat from arthritis gal at this moment. Does that paint a picture for you? Please send her some healing vibes and prayers this way if you don’t mind. She’s having a hard time getting up and moving and standing and sitting. Snorts – pretty much she has the trifecta of pain these past couple of days. I’m hoping that this weekend she can get plenty of rest and some extra tender loving care from daddy and all of us anipals.
And tomorrow – oh joybells – we so can’t wait here. We can’t be late for a very important date. Mommy is expecting a phone call from someone here on blogville that is almost like a sister to her… someone that we have spoke to via blogville a LOT but never by phone They are calling tomorrow at 2:30 pm our time. We are ALL excited to talk to these peeps.
Can you guess who it will be? We will post about it next week. YAY!
Some of you have asked what my favorite snacks are so I thought I would share a few. Mommy has that mean old Mr. Arthur that chases her, especially in the winter time. She always keeps cherries in the house and snacks on them herself because they are suppose to be good for arthritis sufferers. Sometimes if I’m really lucky, she will take the pit out and give me the cherry. Isn’t that nice of her? They are delicious. I like it when she snacks on these.
Around the holidays, we had some friends over to the Hotel Thompson. Mommy fixed this bowl of Fish N Chips… creative huh? Of course, since she used some of *my* gold fish, I got my very own little plate of Fish N Chips – mom style. It was delicious! I highly recommend them. 🙂
So, which are you? Cherries or Fish n Chips? Love ya! XOXO – Bacon
So I told you that mom/dad were tossing around ideas about how to decorate for the holidays this year. They didn’t want to put up a tree because of the fiasco last year. I know – I know. The tree got tired! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it – snorts.
So you all know what a crazy person how my mom loves Mickey Mouse. Well, they found a Mickey Mouse lamp post – isn’t it adorable?! And it’s very sturdy… you know in case it gets tired. They said Santa will come down the chimney and put presents around the base of the pole. Isn’t that excited and neat? I was wondering how he was going to find us without a tree. But this is like super best, right?
So the house is decorated. Cookies will be made and put out for the jolly ole guy. I guess it’s time to make out my Christmas list. I’ve put a lot of thought into this. Here I go:
Bacon’s Christmas List 2013
I wish all of my friends here in blogville a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year. May all of their wishes come true. May all of their aches and pains go away. May they have all of the items they wish and want.
I wish for my dads vision to be touched so that he can see mom’s blue eyes once again.
I wish for mom’s mean old Rheumatoid Arthritis to go somewhere else and live for a change so that mom’s snap, crackle and pop subsides.
I wish for the purr things here at the Hotel Thompson to get extra kibbles and treats.
And Santa if there is anything left in your bag of tricks after these other requests are granted, I wish for my stocking to be filled with wonderful fruits and veggies. And one more thing. I know this is asking for a lot but I heard daddy singing about wanting this in the shower and now I kind of want one too. And you just need to bring one. I promise to share. Please. I really want a hippopotamus for Christmas.
God bless you Santa! And thank you for all of my friends and family!
This is my friend Ernie. He is trying to get better from surgery that he had. He went outside into nature (shivers) and chased a squirrel that taunted him.
There was some mud involved and poor Ernie pulled something hurting his ACL.
Ernie ended up having some major surgery and will even have to go through doggy therapy for rehabilitation. His mom and dad are really taking good care of him and trying to nurse him back to his old self. He’s still having a really rough time at the Hotel Rountree though because dogs will be dogs and stitches will be stitches.
Ernie, I hope you start feeling better my fellow four legged friend. I have a couple of thoughts for you though before I go. Just thoughts from my little piggy perspective – take them in stride with a smile on my snout face.
(1) Quit chasing the women – make them come to you, you handsome fellow!
(2) Quit chasing those squirrels – they’re nuts!
(3) You’re in the Cone Head Club for a reason little fellow. Take it easy and let mom and dad take care of you.
(4) I know stitches itch, just ignore that. Go to your happy place and think of catching that squirrel. Just don’t pull on those things that trying to fix you up.
PIGGY HUGS TO A SPEEDY RECOVERY MY FRIENDS ** GET BETTER SOON ** LOVE TO YOU ALL!
This is another one of my friends called Hero who went to the vet and also became a member of the Cone Head Club. Poor fellow. They gotta have something a little bit better than that wrapped around your head my friend. I know if something itches, it’s doggy nature to want to scratch but you can’t. As my friend Ernie, you have to find a happy spot too. Imagine yourself laying next to the pool sunning yourself. Imagine yourself chasing balls. Imagine yourself hanging out in the Hotel Parker. Anything but scratching that itch.
You can do this my friend!
Hero’s sister Molly also had a doctors appointment. Bless her little heart. She’s 12 now and I understand that’s pretty old in doggy years. Sweets, hang in there. Mommy has really bad arthritis too and I feel you. There’s some days she can’t get up and moving either. I hope they find something for you that makes it so much better soon.
Hogs and Kisses my sweet friends in need. I hope you all get better so soon. I really need to speak to you on the webcam maybe about doing a special issue of my Dear Bacon column. If you’re up for the challenge, let me know. Love yous!
Miniature pot bellied pig and friends - Bacon, Houdini, Hemi and all of the Rock Clan with Journalist Rocky the Squirrel all out looking for adventures from the Hotel Thompson.
out to dinner – who would have thought that I know – snorts. When leaving the restaurant, mom was so concerned about guiding daddy so he wouldn’t trip that she didn’t see this boulder on the ground. Now that is her word – boulder. I’m sure it wasn’t actually that big. She hit the ‘boulder’ with her shoe. Did I mention that she had on these really cute sandals that had openings to show her toes with their cute little pedicure colors? She tripped, stumbled and thank goodness daddy was holding her hand so she didn’t fall down. So there she is stumbling while daddy is singing, “I’ll tumble for you” by Boy George – shakes piggy head. That’s the good part. The bad part you ask? Well, her big toe found the ‘boulder’. She broke her toe nail, messed up her cute little pedicure and jerked her body from almost falling. So as she tells daddy, she now has a catch in her giddy up. Shakes head. Only my mother huh?
Mr. Arthritis. She is also having a bad flare up with pain due to this weather that belongs in hell. Yes I said it. Hell. It pushes the high 90’s every day. When we get rain, it just makes things more steamy afterwards. And it feels like we can never get the Hotel Thompson cool enough. Daddy says he feels the power company lowers the power around 5pm every day. Maybe it’s that or too many people turn their thermostats down during that time? hhhmm – it makes you wonder doesn’t it? Either way, even with fans you just can’t cool down and the heat is messing with mom’s arthritis.
Piglove 