I know another family whose mother had a rapid physical decline that turned out to be a UTI -- now she's walking fine again.

Go, sumi, go!

Pretty trench, ita. I have seen Consuela's red coat (unless she has multiple red coats and this is a different one) and it's great.

I have been chipping away at my overdue dishes and laundry and TV today - pretty good progress on all fronts!

I understand that UTIs are usually pretty curable, so it would be great if that was the issue.

Still, she's pushing me to the $35,000 machine guy who flattens frequencies and kills all your bacteria.

But . . . but . . . I'm pretty sure you need a lot of your bacteria. (Leaving aside the issue of the $35,000 machine guy actually doing anything that did anything.)

Oh, but also, isn't everything going to change in a couple of months? Just wait that shit out!

Dag, I am exhausted. Getting up at 7 on a Sunday is no good for me.

Okay but drop it approach might be something like this:

"I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your being able to administer what I need because it makes my life possible. I also have to tell you I will not be following the rest of your advice but it's not because I don't value you. It's because what is working right now is saving me and I need to focus all of my energies there and not chasing other solutions that may not work as well."

Now if I could get our nurse to stop "cleaning" and to stop overusing Grace's supplies. I have started hiding medical supplies in my clothing drawers to get her to stop. Because even when I say stop, she won't listen and she has started storing her shirt (like file work and papers) in the linen closet. Which I reclaimed today.

I had no idea that UTIs could have that sort of general impact. I hope this is information I never need to use.

Sumi, isn't it amazing? I was considering what I was doing just sketching, but that's flat out fine art out there...damn. I have a great deal of respect for its potential.

I'm pretty sure you need a lot of your bacteria

She's a nurse. Clearly anything she says is entirely reliable.

isn't everything going to change in a couple of months? Just wait that shit out!

My concern is that power will shift from big pharma to all those Cash 4 Gold guys, and us little people will be no better off.

Finally decided to watch House of Cards (some strange sort of pre-req for Arrested Development), and it's pretty good. Not sure why I delayed.

I need to focus all of my energies there

This bit is sort of a glowing beacon. All I need to do is find both the gumption and the energy at the same time, but...yeah. You're right.

Then leave energies out and say, "I need to focus there." You can also call the home health care folks and let them know what is wrong and why and begin to ask if there is another person they might be able to find in the long term.

K's mom sent the twins a valentine's box this week, in time for their birthday. It included two heart shaped pillows from Target. The twins know they are not allowed to play ball in the house, but they are throwing, kicking, passing and tossing the pillow with the caveat that it's not a ball. My children will lawyer you to death. It's keeping them occupied so I'm not fighting it.

I had no idea that UTIs could have that sort of general impact. I hope this is information I never need to use.

My guess (and I realize that I have absolutely no backup for this) is that it's pain/discomfort + lack of ability to communicate it.

My concern is that power will shift from big pharma to all those Cash 4 Gold guys, and us little people will be no better off.

You can cross that bridge when you get there! Hand in hand with the nurse, if she wants?

Then leave energies out and say, "I need to focus there."

No, I think energies is good, actually. She's all about energy and frequency, and I think it might be good language to use. I'll ask her to tone it down and give her some time, and then not feel guilty about speaking to the agency once she's been given a shot.

The twins know they are not allowed to play ball in the house, but they are throwing, kicking, passing and tossing the pillow with the caveat that it's not a ball

I remember quite clearly playing, uh, toss with Noah in the living room with one of his stuffed toys (a fox?) and getting busted by Mom, which is precisely why I never get tapped for babysitting duties.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN I LOSE THE CAP TO MY PENS IF I AM SITTING IN JUST THE ONE PLACE? And I swear the clicky pens don't work the same, so caps it is. Grr.