Fiercely Independent Pam

Category: Updates

  • Plant Mom: A Little of All Kinds!

    I am a self-proclaimed “Plant Mom” I started last year with a few cuttings from someone on Etsy. Then I ordered some succulents and larger plants. My cuttings have grown into full size plants and I really enjoy them.

    After sometime, it was warm enough to start finding plants for my outside patio. I also ordered a raised flower bed so I could be interactive with my plants. I got some hanging plants, as well as a few potted plants. Everything with a few exceptions did very well over last summer. I then brought inside everything that I could and left the rest to fend for themselves.

    I am happy to report that a lot of my plants that I left dormant outside came back. The plants I brought into my apartment did fairly well, with the exception of my lemon tree which might be a goner,

    I bought a few new plants to freshen up some planters and offer new colors and life to my existing plants, I am so appreciative of Instacart- I was able to get plants and potting soil from Home Depot without even leaving the house.

    So now I water and watch to make sure all my plants are happy and will grow. I enjoy spending time outside cleaning up dead ends and such. I look forward to some strawberries hopefully and that my lemon tree comes back to life!

  • Trials and Tribulations of My Bladder- The Latest Chapter!

    My bladder is quite obnoxious! After my hysterectomy last April, I struggled to urinate. I was told that it was a “Floppy Bladder” and would not be able to fully empty without the assistance of a catheter.

    So, I learned how to self- cath and actually got quite good at it. Fast forward to January when I was hospitalized for numerous things including a very large kidney stone, a UTI, and a picc line infection. When I got home I required the use of a bedpan and slowly relied less on self- cathing. I thought my bladder was finally waking up and I would be cured.

    The fun only lasted a few weeks because I began retaining urine again and having to cath to be able to fully empty my bladder. In the last 24 hours, I am completing a voiding diary where I chart all this liquid I take in, and everything I am able to get out via urinating or self- cathing. I will then send the voiding diary to my doctor and we will meet to talk about it.

    The biggest challenge right now is that I require a riser on my toilet so that I am able to stand up from the toilet. This riser greatly diminishes the room I would have to self- cath and isn’t really possible over the toilet. I tried to get up from the toilet without the riser and it wasn’t possible, yet!

    I am curious about what the next steps are for my obnoxious bladder that gave me false hope. Until I meet with the doctor, I will continue to brainstorm solutions and rise to meet these challenges!

  • Achieving Goals: Its About Time!

    I have always been a goal oriented person. I like to set goals and work to achieve them. This worked for getting into college, completing a half-marathon, and achieving career goals. I am stubborn almost to a fault and that stubbornness is what makes me persevere through trials when attempting to reach a goal.

    Last fall I wrote a document I called “Why Not Me?” that outlined my 5-10 year goals. I am chipping away at those goals by making smart decisions and working hard. I am determined to make it happen.

    One of the big goals is to befriend/acquire a mobility service dog. This is requiring more patience than I ever imagined, but I know deep in my heart it’s going to work out the way it should. Somehow, someway, I will be sharing a bed with a big lab that loves to work and play.

    Smaller goals keep me going too. Right now I challenged myself to complete the 1/4 mile loop around my building with the Zeen by Easter. I have already completed half of it so I believe I’m in good shape to achieve the larger goal. I really love the Zeen and all that I am accomplishing using it.

    Next steps include getting back on the Nustep (bike) and getting in an out of a car. Both will be a challenge but put me on the positive side of normal activities. At sometime soon I would like to remove the toilet riser as well so that I can get used to a normal height toilet and not be surprised when I am out of the house.

    Behind the scenes, I am also working on financial goals, I have recently finished my Medicaid application. I am also using an AI tool to help me manage my money and try to create an emergency fund as well.

    All of this requires a lot of time and attention, but lucky for me, right now that is something I have a lot of. It’s very unlike me to put myself first, but I recognize that is needed to achieve my goals, both short term and long term.