On the month-a-versery of my lack of blogging I thought it only cursory to check in. I have been fighting a nasty infection and doing some major Gramma and Lilly time. Add in some a few savage Lupus/RSD flare ups - I had nothing left for blogging.
As for Lilly: Her mom had finals and then straight into a summer school. Lilly and I are getting in some quality time in. I called it Camp Gramma.
First lesson is how to steer a trike. The thing is learn when to stop. Then learn to pedal for distance. I taught these carefully in this order because of a tragic accident resulting in 3 stitches in my lip when I was a toddler. I still recall it. I was headed toward the basement steps and was panicked because I didn't know how to steer. My mom is still amazed that it never crossed my mind to stop.
I've learned the most important thing about a trike ride is how many quality dandelions can you pick. Our grassy areas are beautifully maintained. The dandelions are few and far between. Lilly will be riding along on her trike curls bouncing along and suddenly slams to a stop. She has spotted a cluster of dandelions. Lilly squats down and studies the four or five flowers. She is not greedy, she will only pick one flower from each little set of flowers. I ONCE tried to help her and pick and additional flower and Lilly screamed at me, "No! Not that one! That's not THE ONE!
Mind you Gramma's walking limit is less than two blocks, but we pack a lot of nature in those two blocks.
Our new favorite movie to watch every day, thanks to neighbor Chris, is The Water Horse.
I love watching it everyday - it's that good people. Now go buy it!!
The Water Horse is also Lilly's favorite new hairstyle.
I would love to throw something into her hair, to help keep it out of her eyes, every day.
Lilly would prefer her hair never be combed again.
But with her love of the water horse, she wanted horns. I turned it into a hair style for her. Positioning small pig tails on the front top of her head. Lilly's natural curls complied perfectly and she had her 'horns'. 
Lilly requests the water horse look often.
Lilly and I went shopping for her patio garden. I told her she was going to help me pick out flowers. It took about 15 minutes of me telling her to "stop that" before I realized what she heard was we were going to pick flowers.
I have a bazillion more Lilly stories and quotes. Every moment of every day - she is amazing.
The infection: Just to reiterate from the previous post like a month ago....It started on my left shoulder/chest wall with what I thought was a boil, and then a cyst, and one weekend, it got way out of control. I was running fevers and the red of the infection had spread into my shoulder to my neck and down into breast tissue. With Lilly in tow I went as soon as the clinic opened on a Monday morning fully expecting I was going to lanced and that was the doc's decision.
When they laid me down on the exam table I used my jacket over the foot pad to build Lilly a tent. She was so busy playing peek-a-boo with the nurse she had no idea Gramma was under the knife.
There were two surprises in store for us.
- There was zero drainage - nothing wanted come out. I did have some really good bleeding.
- When the decision was made to remove a small mass. It couldn't be done. It was too deep and they didn't want be too invasive until the infection was cleared up some.
In two weeks time the infection was cleared and the original incision healed. time to reopen.
This time I left Great Grandma home with Lilly.
I was opened up again and a biopsy was taken. This little procedure qualified me for two internal stitches and six outer stitches, and an appointment to get them removed in ten days.
Exactly one week later I am back - with infected stitches. The decision was made to to take my stitches out early - Lilly got to watch. (She loved it!)
This time a culture was taken to identify the infection.
I was put on two oral antibiotics and one topical antibiotic.
The biopsy showed that all of this started with an infected hair follicle.
The culture showed I have MRSA.
I have had two more skin eruptions this week and I am out of antibiotics. I called my doc and I get to stay on antibiotics.
It is possible I was infected by Lilly with her outbreak. It was just laying low for awhile and/or I was was ignoring some serious symptoms and only my OCD qualities kept me going.
As far as flares, I have come to accept that I need a walker and a scooter if I am to have any life at all. I seem to lose a little bit with each flare.
I have also learned that our giant sucking (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois) health insurance will not qualify you for a scooter if you can walk at all using a walker. So I must choose the one that will give me the most life back. The scooter, and then hope I will be qualified to have one.
A walker may help me in the parking lot, but it will not get me through the mall. Or through the zoo, a museum, the walking tour of Living History Farms (something I love dearly), or just trying to go on a nature walk with my granddaughter.
I would like to have a walker and even "test drove" one I loved. But at over $150, it will have to wait a time. Just co-pays the past couple of months are hitting harder let alone all the new drugs.
I did splurge a bit on myself while at the medical supply and purchased a new cane. It's a beautiful hot pink!
After further testing, I don't have diabetes.
Rand and I really splurged with our government rebate. We both had eye exams. Rand had a mild prescription change. Mine was a more of a change. He opted for new lenses for his beloved frames. I got new glasses and for the first time, sunglasses. I can now read while sunning at the pool this summer!
And just for Kara and Dianna - I'm sorry I couldn't be there for your special days, but you will be receiving a little something special as soon as I can get out!
