Got several pairs of pants and 8 shirts.  Paid $9 each for the pants and no
more than $15.00 for shirts (that was a Liz Clairborne that is wonderful!)
Most were brand names 50% off already discounted price.  2 new pj's and lots
of new socks.  Blanket for the bed which was a great price.  Drank a bit of
wine but it still doesn't agree with my meds even though I was off mtx so
really only had a small glass a couple of days.  Bought way too much
cheese - US prices on cheese are so good.  Good thing thought that I don't
eat that much of it.  We cooked dinner each night (well my sister did the
tough part) and ate salads with each meal - huge ones with the leftovers of
fish and meat on alternate days.  Had tiny oysters and salad for mom's
birthday dinner.  Was great.

Oh and Kyle was good too but we ended up with a snow day and school was
cancelled the main day we intended to go shopping without him.  I did go to
123 bounce which is a huge blow up ball, bouncing place for a class birthday
party.  Too many kids, parents, babies etc.  What a day.  I finally
retreated to a soft chair and read my book.  It was a birthday party for
twins who are in his kindergarten class.

He was a brat this time - well not all the time but a bit of the time.  That
cheeky kindergarten stuff combined with overtired one day and a huge 2 hour
temper tantrum - screaming, lots of time out in the bedroom- mean aunt
Kelly.  Of course in between he would come out and give all of us hugs and
tell us he was sorry.  15 minutes later - meltdown.  Way too tired.  He goes
to kindergarten 9 - 4 which includes chinese school in there somewhere.  It
is more like grade 2 work - including about 20 minutes of homework a night.
(We sort of did it - really the parents work hard at it.  Don't agree with
it but i am not his parent.).  Anyhow there were great times with him.

The best part though was the shoe shopping.  Took me 15 minutes and I had
2 - yup 2 pairs and the guy actually understood my foot problem!  Wow!!!!
The entire store was wide shoes - over a DD.  It is the only store of its
kind in Washington State and you can believe Canada doesn't have one!  I got
two pairs of New Balance (one for the garden) for $85.00 and 109.00 both 7
1/2 4E.  They fit like a dream and with a temporary store bought orthotic
for $35.00 that he measured specially for me with a metatarsal pad in my
feet are almost painfree - well 50% anyhow.  Lots of dress shoes etc too.
Going to eventually go back down but these are a great help. Shoes have been
a major issue lately.

It was great talking to you Rose - you have helped me so many times over the
years.  Always nice to talk to someone who understands and believe me I can
sympathize with where you are at right now.  Med changes and disease changes
are always so scary.  And 50 mg of prednisone is just not fair - it is
cruel.

Take care,
Kelly

Hi Carole,
I regularly check the thrift stores but we just don't have as many large
sizes as they do down in the states.  Also must admit the prices of the
items I got there were better than thrift store - Ross's, TJMaxx, Nordstrom
Rack, Marshalls.  Did well at all of them.  Bought a velour sweat suit for
$15.00 to wear to and from the gym (I have a membership as of tomorrow and a
personal trainer to book for next week.  You are my inspiration.

Hope that trainer works out for you.  It is so impressive - have you been to
your cardiologist yet?

Kelly

Thanks Jo.  I pushed the fluids and think I have avoided the darn thing.
These infusions just wipe me out.  Thank goodness might not need them for
another 10 months to a year (this is my projection anyhow).

Off to bed early - feeling dragged out today.  The 6 days away was really
too much even though I took it easy.

Kelly