How could I forget . . . ??

I was so busy complaining about all my aches and pains yesterday, that I forgot to tell you some really good news! We received the results of the bone scan on Monday and the test was NEGATIVE! My family and I were so relieved. That means the only fronts we have to battle are in the lung and the slight involvement of the liver. Every good piece of news should be celebrated and I can't imagine how I could have overlooked telling you. Maybe my scare on Monday short circuited by brain temporarily!!

After weeks of watching the condition of our house deteriorate, Dave and I made the decision to hire a cleaning lady until I'm back on my feet again. She and her partner are coming today! I'm so excited! I've always taken pride in my home and it's been very depressing to see it in such need of TLC! I know I don't have the energy to keep it looking the way I want it to and, since Dave is disabled from his accident almost two years ago, it's been like "the blind leading the blind" as far as cleaning goes. Soon we'll be able to look around and see shiny, clean things again instead of an army of dust bunnies invading. You have no idea what an uplifting affect that will have on my spirits! The only bad thing is that I'm embarrassed to have the ladies see my house in such disarray! ; ) I know that's silly but . . .

So, this is a red letter day at the Offenheiser home! Tonight we plan to sit in front of the fire and watch the flames reflect on all those shiny surfaces! LOL Small things can make such a difference.

The other day I received an email that I'm going to pass on here. With cold and flu season upon us, I think this is important ~ consider it a public service announcement!

Beware of Zicam

I need to warn you about a product on the market and hopefully you will pass it on to as many people as possible. I felt like I was coming down with a cold last Friday and because I'm around sick family members so much I wanted possibly head it off. I used Zicam, which is a gel nose spray which claims to keep a cold from becoming "full blown." Immediately I had an intense, horrible burning in my nasal/sinus passages. The skin on my face hurt to touch and I had pain and burning so that it hurt to move my head. My husband was here and kept asking if I wanted to go to the ER but the thought of getting in a car was overwhelming. My face was burning hot and my nasal passages were so swollen that I couldn't breathe through my nose and I could see the swelling when I looked in the mirror. It lasted for about three hours and it was Labor Day weekend and I couldn't see a Dr. until Tuesday. I have seen two ENT specialists in the last two days because I have lost, totally lost all ability to taste or smell. They both told me the same thing and suggested an immediate course of action. This is called "chemical trauma' and most times is permanent. I'm going to have a CT scan on Monday and am on a high dose of the steroid, Prednisone for two weeks. If there is even a thread of the olfactory nerve left, it will help to rejuvenate what is left. I have been on the Internet (just put in Zicam) and there are hundreds of people who have had this happen. I am so angry and devastated and saddened right now that I don't know how to get through this. I cannot handle the thought of never tasting food again or trying a new recipe or smelling a Thanksgiving turkey. Cooking has been an absolute passion of mine for as long as I can remember and at the moment I don't see the point of even putting dressing on a salad. I keep thinking that this cannot be happening to me. I suck on a lemon, bite down on a clove of garlic, smell a bottle of ammonia, nail polish remover, anything. I'm starting by telling people I love. PLEASE don't use Zicam, tell your friends.

Some sites to check this out:
http://www.zicam-cold-eeze-lawyers.com
http://www.adrugrecall.com/zicam/zicam.html
http://www.homeowatch.org/legal/zicam.html
http://www.zicamsideeffects.com/


I'm sure not everyone suffers these horrible side effects but is it really worth taking a chance?

That's it for me, for now. It's time to take a shower and get this day rolling.

Until next time . . . Celebrate every good thing that comes your way.