My Year in Review – 2017

Each year, some of my family write a letter telling what all has happened to them all year.  My Sis liked mine this year and Mom saw no problem putting it out here.  I don’t either, so, for those of you who haven’t followed me, or don’t know much about my family, or even those who do, here is my year:

The Year in Review – 2017

by Scott L Vannatter

Well, it has been a rather long and productive/nonproductive year. We have had joys and sorrows, successes and setbacks; however, we are here and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

This Christmas will be the second one w/o Dad, who passed July 25, 2016 – just a few short weeks from his birthday. Sis is dealing with it in her way. Mom is having difficulties as she tells me from time to time. Her biggest problem, I think is having to do so much alone that Dad used to do. Sis and I help, but it’s not like she had with Dad.

Darci, Sis, went through chemo and several surgeries for colo-rectal cancer in early 2017. She had to take that year off school, but is back now with her many kindergarteners and their relieved parents. It means a lot to her to be back and I am very glad she got to do so. It does take a toll on her, but she is happy to do it.

I have had a difficult year, myself. After Dad passed, I tended to eat more than normal and then lie to myself and everyone saying my blood surgar was fine. It wasn’t. By October I was having severe bouts of D and V (figure it out – both ends) for anywhere from 2-6 hours 1-2 x month. This continued all through the New Year of 2017 until July when I finally figured out (and got the Dr to agree that I had developed Gastro Paresis, a condition brought on a lot by high sugar over a prolonged period. In it, the Vegas (or Vagas, can’t remmeber) nerve which runs the stomach movements stops for a while allowing food in your stomach to remain and to spoil.

I stopped this w/o medical treatment (usually surgery) by eating 4-6 times a day and much smaller portions, along with increased liquids to help the food get out of the stomach. As of today 12/20, it has a bit over 4 months since my last episode.

My memory (more short-term, but some long-term) was affected by my stroke in 2010. Short-term still gives me fits. I have the most problems putting names to faces and remember things I just did if I don’t provide a good reason to remember them. An example: when I leave the house and lock the door, I turn the handle and hit the door with my elbow. If I can’t remember as I go to leave, I can usually still feel the elbow or, at least, remember doing that. It’s not the greatest, but not the worst thing in the world. I accept my problems and hit them head-on now.

Finally, I have attempted twice since June of 2016 to have my right hip replaced. Dad’s passing was on the day I was scheduled for surgery. Then I tried to reschedule in July after figuring out my stomach problems, but sugar (A1C was 9.2) was too high. It should be 7.0 or lower and they won’t do surgery unless it is under 8.0. It is supposed to be measured every 3 months, as it is an average of 90 days. I had them retake it in early November and it was 6.8. My surgery has been postponed by them once, so far, and my next appointment is in late Jan, so I expect the surgery for the end of January to the middle of February 2018. After 4 weeks I can drive and a couple more weeks to really be back to normal and I can put my cane away and walk, for the 1^st time in 8 years painfree.

I continue posting in my blog ( https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com ) and have done over 1,000 posts now in about 8 years. I have several hundred followers and I follow over 100 blogs myself, though I can’t read them all every time they post. I have some writing I have done for www.fiverr.com, an individual job site where you list what you will do for $5 as well as extras. I have had the privledge to write numerous times for an escape room located in Portland, Oregon. I have written a lot of dating profiles as well as a couple of stories for people. I still sell books and DVDs on Amazon for both myself and the MPL (Middletown Library).

Aaron has a new and wonderful young lady named Katy (Katie?)(Katee?) and they live in either Portland or Beaverton, can’t remember which is the now place! Aaron works in Portland with computers and communications and other items I am glad to have left behind. My computing now consists of general items (email, FB, blog,…), playing a few online games (Winning Putt) and several on Steam – Fallout 3/4, and a few more. Katy works several places and I just can’t recall them.

Aarika and her husband, Josh, live in the Carmel/Fishers area. Aarika works in Carmel as a Psychologist and Josh works in computer security. They have a new addition to their family as Rue joins Winnie. I am very proud of my two grand dogs.

Adrienne, Darci’s daughter, and her husband Lance live with their two daughters, Karlee and Kloee, in the Mooreland rural area. Adrienne teaches special education and Lance is a linesman.

It will be a fun Christmas this year. We will get to see Aaron at some point.

Thanks for reading and I hope your holidays are fantastic.

Namaste,

Scott L Vannatter