Following Doctor's Orders

It's Wednesday and mid-week of the last week in February. On Monday Gloria and I drove to Provo for another visit with my respiratory specialist, Dr. Douglas Ross. I informed him of my rescent head and chest cold and that I had resorted to using the antibiotic he had prescribed for me last fall as a precautionary measure to ward off any danger of contracting pneumonea. I hadn't left the house for two weeks and I was beginning to go stir crazy before I finally went out last Friday, the 16th, to get a few things at a lumber store and Wal Mart. Man was it windy and cold! I had bundled up well, but it was "colder than a monther-in-law's kiss" out there. Actually, the cold mother-in-law kiss isn't really true in my personal case. My mother-in-law, now deceased, had a wonderful, loving kiss.

Anyway, I got over the coughing and runny nose and began to feel half way human again over the weekend. I was able to go to church again. I had missed two Sunday meetings in a row. Dr. Ross examined me and after reading and interpreting my arterial blood gas test that I had just been subject to (those needle pricks can be somewhat challenging, especially if the technician has to poke it in two or three times to find the artery). My CO2 level had not gone up since my last appointment in January; and my potassium, HP, blood pressure, etc. were all at satisfactory levels as well. My water retention was down some so I was advised that I could stop taking two different medications that I have been taking for over a year. One in particular had as two of its side-effects a swelling of the breasts with some tenderness as well as unusual muscle weakness. The other one was simply a reductioon from four tablets a day to only three. But at least thats two pills I no longer will take every day. At least we are going to try it for a month and then next month I will have another blood test here in Price and see if everything is okay. If they are, I can continue the reduction in medication. I won't go to see Dr. Ross again until May 30th.

The whole state was supposed to get snow the last two days, but Price didn't get any. There was a skiff on Monday as we were headed for Provo, and then there was some accumulation off the side of the road going up the canyon with patchy spots of slush and broken up snowpack on the roads going through Soldier Summit and down the other side. But, the rest of the day was clear and warm, into the 40's in fact. The next day, however, most of the Wasatch Front and higher elevations got pelted with a significant snow fall. There may have been some snow fall in the mountains around Price, but none around us here in town. Nada.

We'll be heading for Kaysville for Bradley James' blessing on Sunday. We hope to have most of the family there with us, except for Macy and Nate, unfortunately, but we know they will be thinking about us. We miss them a lot. But, we had them relatively close to us for several years and now it's time for the Perrone family to have their turn. We do love them. John and Sara's baby, Audrie, is pictured above wearing her blessing dress worn for her blessing Sunday, February 4, 2007. Isn't she a little doll? We think so.

I better sign off for now, I need to go take my afternoon siesta. I hate to take the time to do it, but I know it helps me breath better in the long run. I send our best regards to all who read our posts. Give us a response if you have the urge. Bye for now. Roger (and Gloria, in spirit)