In the last few weeks, three relatives have been hospitalized, I quit the job I was working at because my boss was a passive-aggressive abusive jerk, and I'm still planning the wedding.

I'm exercising more regularly now, and enjoying it, and the temp job I started yesterday is close enough that I have been walking to work and intend to keep doing so. It's .9 miles each way, and takes me 15-20 minutes to get there (uphill all the way to work) and slightly less to get home since it's downhill the whole way. I've lost about 6 pounds total, and I'll be happy if I lose about 10 more before the wedding, though no one else seems to think I need to lose any. I know I'm still about that much heavier than I was even last summer. I'll get there.

This week I've got an appointment every night to deal with something from the wedding - three floral appointments this week, and a couple other assorted ones. My future mother-in-law went with me tonight, and Anne will meet me at the florist tomorrow night. As fun as planning a wedding is, it IS stressful, especially when added to the family situation AND the job situation. I'm dealing with it as best I can, but I still have some work to do.

My dad's cousins husband (follow that?) has been having major digestive issues for the last several months, and I was talking with her about the BTD over the holidays and how it might help ease his pain and help him heal. I don't know if she ever did anything with the information, but he was admitted into the hospital 12 days ago with a toxic mega colon and his organs were shutting down. They had to remove his colon, and he'll have a colostomy bag now. He has been sedated and off and on a ventilator for all twelve of these days, and is FINALLY recovering enough to breathe on his own. It has been touch and go until the last 24 hours or so.

Then, last week, my uncle was admitted to the hospital with severe tummy pains - had an emergency appendectomy shortly after arriving at the ER. He's STILL in the hospital because he has lots of gas in his small intestine, and they said it is common for this to happen after an appendectomy, but they can't let him go home until it goes away. Sheesh.

Finally spoke with my grandmother in the assisted living place. She's so angry at my father I could hear it in every word she spoke, even though she's not mad at me. I hope she lets go of her anger and realizes that we all want her to be safe and sound. She's thrilled about the wedding, but doesn't remember that she's met Gordon until I remind her that she's the guy I brought home in August and at Christmastime. Then she does remember him, and comments how much she likes him. But then I wonder if she really DOES remember, because she'll tell me that my uncles in the hospital and she doesn't remember having told me that twice already in the same conversation. It's sad and frustrating.

I really hope that by working so hard to stay healthy (and we all know how much work it is to follow the BTD day in and day out!) that I can avoid or delay some of the issues that hit so many of us as we age. I know how I hurt even now when I get up in the morning and wonder how I'll deal with it when I REALLY hurt when I'm 80 or 90 or more. Especially since I do figure I'll live to be at least 100 given medical advances and my family history. I guess only time will tell.