Uneventful Week

I didn't do much this weekend. The elevator kept me home for the most part. Same goes for this week. The big to-do was getting my tube taken out. It's great to sleep on my tum like I like to.

I had blood drawn for my labs. And I saw my doctor to get results from my ultrasound. Everything looks good. He is referring me to a urologist. I've been having plumbing problems. He also gave me a new med for my problems. I just hope they work.

Jean-Luc is back to normal. He knew there was something amiss last week. He's able to jump on my lap with no tube in the way. I missed him.

Chiflaco out.

Back In Order

He took the tube out! Yay! I'm pleased. He said I probably got the hernia from the weight loss. Guess fat's the way to be healthy. He also said I should take it easy for the next two weeks.

Also great news. The elevator is working again! No more stairs for this sick bitch. When I came home it was a great relief that it was working again. First thing I did was take out recyclables. I do my part for the environment.

Now I get to sleep comfortably again. And I'm able to tolerate Jean-Luc on my tum again. He's happy too.

Chiflaco out.

Latest Update

The elevator is still out of order. I actually went down today. I went to the library. It was an ordeal but I had to do it. It was murder. I was also available to receive a delivery from my pharmacy.

I came home and passed out. I then went out again to the doctor to have this tube taken out. He was unavailable and I had to reschedule. I also had a late lunch at the Mexican Manhattan.

I also talked to Mike and he might be released tomorrow. Yay. That means I should have my old friend soon. Mary's still coming down tomorrow and help with the transition. I hope he's released and I can have my Mike back. I know Tony's also looking forward to it.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Chiflaco out.

Mike's Going Home Again

Heard from Mike today. We text because he still can't talk. He is going home either today or tomorrow. Either way, we're excited.

His sister will be coming over from Austin to help in the transition. Yay Mary. Yes her name is Mary, although Mike can be called Mary also, among other names.

He said I could go and be a nurse. I replied I would make a good Nurse Ratchet. I'm glad he's going home. I just wish I could talk to him. I miss him.

Chiflaco out.

Elevator Out Of Order---AGAIN!

Yes, the elevator is out of order again. It was out of order last Monday when I had my surgery. I had to schlep eight floors. It was not fun. I got up here out of breath and ready for a nap.

It's out of order again this week and it's still as strenuous as ever. I have a bad left knee and callouses on both feet. It hurts to use the stairs.

I have a doctor's appointment today hopefully to remove my drainage tube. I'm not draining as much and I don't think I need it anymore. Not to mention sleep will be easier for me.

Keep your fingers crossed.

Chiflaco out.

Recuperating

I'm recuperating fine. The best thing is that I'm sleeping well. The pain has subsided but I'm still a bit tender. The bad thing is that Jean-Luc feels out of sorts. He can't jump on my lap as before because he likes to rub against my belly and that's where I'm tender the most.

It hurts to feed him. I have to bend down to fill his dish and it's a pain to do so. We actually had a fight this morning he was so needy. But I let him jump in my lap for some quality time. He'll survive.

Chiflaco out.

Ouch!

I had my surgery today. It went well. I was there about four hours. I just didn't know it was gonna be so painful. My abdomen feels like a ton of bricks. Every movement is painful.

Kinda difficult to find a good position. Don't know how I will sleep tonight. I just know I'm exhausted and in dire need of sleep.

My wonderful nieces picked me up at the hospital. They are so loving and special. I'm blessed to have them in my life. Of course it was love at first sight when I saw them in the nursery.

We share a lot of memories and are still making some new ones. We just went to lunch Saturday and it was a nice visit. I wish I could see them more often but they live on the South side and we don't have as much time together as I'd like. We make due with our quality time.

Chiflaco out.

Bad Boy

I had a grapefruit for breakfast. It was delish!

Chiflaco out.

Latest On Mike

I went to the dental school yesterday. I need to see a periodontist but have to go through the dental school first. They did an examination but were not able to do anything for me because my t-cell count is under 200. Their protocol.

They did refer me to the periodontal school but don't know what their protocol is regarding HIV.

Since I was in the medical center I decided to visit Mike. He's still in ICU and I got to see him. He's doing better but cannot speak for now. He communicates with facial gestures and written notes.

His sister was there with him. She's been an angel. She's been with him all week and guards him like a dog. She's almost ready to go back to work but she worries that he'll be alone.

I only stayed about 15 minutes. He couldn't speak and I got a little uneasy. So long as he knows that I'm still there for him.

Chiflaco out.

Grapefruit

One of the drawbacks of having AIDS is that you can't have grapefruit products. I love grapefruit. Nothing like peeling a grapefruit and enjoying the meat inside.

I was at the store today and they looked gorgeous. They called out to me and medication be damned, I bought two. I love the aroma as I peeled into my fruit. And it was so delicious.

Chiflaco out.

Prayers For Mike

I got home from the doctor to a phone call from Tony. Mike's not doing well. He took a turn for the worst last night and started bleeding again. He was rushed into surgery this morning and he's now in ICU with no visitors allowed. Poor baby.

He's got a long road ahead but he's a fighter and he will pull through. We have so much to look forward too. We just got the Majestic Broadway series and we're looking forward to some musicals coming up.

Please keep Mike in your prayers. It's all appreciated.

Chiflaco out.

Surgery

It's official, it's a hernia. Doctor said it was probably due to my gall bladder surgery. I have surgery Monday morning. It will be out patient so I should be home that afternoon.

What a relief! I was really fearing the worst. I'll take this instead.

Chiflaco out.

Mike Update

Mike went home Friday. He was doing okay but was still uncomfortable. Saturday night he started bleeding. Yesterday, Tony took him to the ER in Boerne.

He was later admitted back to the Methodist in San Antonio. He's still bleeding and still has trouble swallowing. He's still being fed via a feeding tube.

Please pray for him. He needs all the angels around him.

Chiflaco out.

Thanks For The Memories

I just did something painful for me. I said good-bye to cherished memories. I have a MOI folder filled with memories.

I went through the folder and threw away memories that will one day be trash to throw out after I die. I did keep some like cards from my father and wedding invitations and such.

It was poignant going through my memories, but it was something I needed to do. They're only memories that mean something to me.

Chiflaco out.

Exhausted

It's so HOT out there! I'm worn out. Went to get my sonogram today. What a chore. The place is a good five minute drive away, but about thirty minutes by bus.

I got there and did my test and they also too an x-ray which was the first I heard. I went on my merry way and stopped to have breakfast tacos. I got home only to get a phone call to go back for some more testing. That sounds scary.

I just got home again and I'm absolutely fatigued. It's very difficult to walk with my callouses flaring up. And then I have my bad left knee to worry about. I'm walking with a knee brace.

I'm out of breath and ready for a nap. Guess my traveling days are over as well. Won't be able to make it back to Paris and I was planning on Barcelona. Madrid was another place on my bucket list but that's out the door now. I wanted to go to Arevalo Spain, a town just north of Madrid. See where my ancestors came from.

I'm ready for that nap.

Chiflaco out.

Mike Update

I saw Mike yesterday. He's doing great and looks great as well. I was expecting the worst. He's very tired though. He has a lot of recuperating to do.

Tony is looking out after him. Bless his heart. Mike's sister will be coming this weekend to look out after him. I also volunteered to help out. Jean-Luc can do without me for a while.

Just talked to Tony. Hopefully Mike will be released tomorrow. Tony had to learn how to give him his medication and food. Mike's still having trouble swallowing and is using a food tube.

I wish there were more for him but I'm not well either. He means the world to me. He's the brother I always wanted.

Chiflaco out.

Anxious

Went to lunch with Mike and Tony today. The day before Mike's surgery. He looks okay but I'm to one that is anxious. I think that's why I'm feeling nauseous. I've been drinking Maalox all afternoon and had bouts of diarrhea.

I guess that's why I'm not feeling well. Mike has an optimistic look on the whole thing as well he should. We joke constantly about it. It's only cancer we say and chortle. I won't be able to go to the hospital tomorrow but I made Tony promise periodically with updates.

One would think I'd be anxious over my travails. I still have a tumor/hernia to worry about. It's one or the other and only leads to surgery.

Then there's my dental visit. The hygienist said everything looked okay from my x-rays. Then she opened my mouth and started prodding. It hurt like hell. She said OMG several times and I bled a lot. Dr. Riley checked me over and said that it's URGENT I go to a periodontist. Ouch! I now have that chore to look forward to.

But for now, please think positive things for Mike. I don't pray but I've got my family praying for him. I worry, that's what mothers do and I've been a mother for a long time. I just want him to come through this hiccup okay.

Chiflaco out.

April Fools

I heard from Mike today. They're moving his surgery up by a week. He said the doctor wanted to go in there as soon as possible. I kept waiting for him to say April Fools.

Mike is the bestest friend ever. We've been through a lot together. He was there when I was in the hospital and I was there for him. Now he lives out of town and I don't think I can care for him like I'd like to.

He sounds great. He's seeing the bright side of things which is great. He sounds like he's looking forward to the surgery and getting himself back to normal. Normal is not an adjective used by AIDS patients. He sounds like he will survive and I can only pray for that.

I love him.

Chiflaco out.