Before Rosh Hashanah

Well, Mom is in Israel. She left last Monday. My cousin is getting married there next Monday. This is the first time I'm going to be missing one of my cousins weddings but I'm not allowed to fly yet. So, I'm sad because I really, REALLY miss my mother and because I'm missing my cousin Ayala's wedding. I'm grateful, though, that she was feeling well enough to go and that the doctor gave her the "green light."

I saw Dr. Schuster yesterday. Thank God my counts were good. He reduced my Prednisone to 5 mg./day and discontinued the Hydralazine. I had been taking the Hydralazine 4x a day, so it really makes a difference in my life. Now I'm only taking pills at breakfast and dinner (and bedtime if I need something to sleep). I'm still taking the Vasotec for my BP. I had called his office last week because my chest felt somewhat congested and I was starting to cough stuff up. To be on the safe side, they put me on antibiotics for 5 days. I finished the course on Monday and I've been feeling better, Thank God.

Oh, AND I fainted again when they drew my blood. I can't believe it. After all I've been through, blood tests make me faint?? It's a little embarassing, but there's nothing I can do about it, however hard I try to stop it from happening. It's very frustrating.

My next appointment is not until October 5 -- almost 3 weeks.

I've started doing yarnwork again. I finished a few projects that were already in progress. I finished a knitted baby blanket, a crocheted afghan and I'm almost done with a knitted sweater. I'd like to get these done before I start something new -- I know, out of character for me. I can only work for a short while before my eyes start to bother me, but I put drops in and then I can work for another short while.

Tomorrow I will start preparing for the holiday. I think that David and I and the kids will be having dinner here alone on Friday night. We'll probably all be at Illana and Keith's on Saturday and then everyone will come here on Sunday. I'm not looking forward to celebrating Rosh Hashanah without my Mom here. It's going to be difficult. She's not planning on coming home until after Yom Kippur but I don't think that I'm going to let her stay away that long. I just miss her so much! I'm going to call her tomorrow and ask her if she'd cut her trip a bit short. I mean, really!!

I think that you're pretty much up to day now. I want to wish you all a very happy and very healthy new year. Take notice of and appreciate the wonder all around you. Believe in Miracles!!