History Lesson 1

Now, I still can’t decide if Aiyana is amazed Grandpa Gil is talking so much, or thoroughly enraptured with the tales!

Isaiah's first day

Now, I’m asking ya….does it get any sweeter than that?

So earlier this month my sis had a double mastectomy and I came to Durango, CO to help her through that rehabilitation.  A few days after arriving I became ill, but frankly we thought it was allergies since I’m allergic to pine and well, it’s everywhere here, and blooming!  After a few days of getting sicker, I was very concerned that I was getting a bronchial infection and thus might cause her to get it…so I called my doc.  He was out of town but the on-call prescribed Biaxin for me.  Through a bunch of missteps I did not research the med, nor did the local pharmacy here have any idea I took colchicine.

The very next day I was very weak, and with the next few days I became weaker as well as becoming nauseated.  Since most antibiotics cause nausea we really didn’t think much of it.  I couldn’t wait to get the script done so I could feel better.  After a couple days went by and I wasn’t better once ceasing the antibiotic, I called my doctor’s office back.  My doctor immediately suspected an interaction as well as altitude sickness.  I immediately ceased taking any colchicine, increased water intake, rested and over the course of the past week I’m better…but not completely back to my normal yet.  I will see my physician when I return home next week, but continue to be in close contact.

I know this seems lengthy, but once I researched the interaction issues I soon found that I could have died from this combination.  It is not funny at that point.  If only one person reads this, is cautioned and never experiences this type of problem it will be worth it to me.

RESEARCH all meds you take for any illness it may be prescribed….include other-the-counter medications with that caution.  I have found three important articles for the particular interaction of biaxin and colchicine and they are here, here and here.  If you regularly take colchicine for any reason be sure to read them.  If you don’t know the signs of toxicity for colchicine, have a look here.

Please do not ever be lax…one time almost cost me more than I wanted to pay!

Now, although I have been down a while, you can’t keep me bottled up too much.  I went out to grab the mail one day and spotted this awesome site at my next door neighbors’ front yard.

Next Door

Is that just a hoot?  I laughed at the proportion of the flower, which is bigger than the entire plant almost.  Like many of the cacti it bloomed and the next day was dying off.  Don’t know which type of cactus it is and my neighbor is a snowbird…so have to wait until October to find out.  I’m not good at waiting, but suppose I have to learn, huh?

I took my camera with the intent on taking many photos of the surroundings and the ladies, however, I forgot to use it (which I have found makes it hard to take shots – and how to remember was not covered in photo class)!  As we were coming home down the hill, I saw Minnie playing with Dannika (the baby), making her giggle with delight.  It reminded me of the age span so I took this shot.

Going home from retreat

Please forgive how fuzzy it appears.  Since there was a gal sleeping next to me I just did the “over-the-head-and-pray-something-comes-out” shot, just couldn’t pass it up and happy I have the memory recorded.

Before

and then once I did the lesson, this is what resulted:

After Lesson

This lesson was teaching a watercolor technique and you can tell I need to practice lots more, but it surely was fun enough to do just that;O)

That’s the case today.  I must share with you the link to Dwayne Vance’s artwork, as it’s phenomenal even if I could care less about cars, futuristic drawings or any genre he works in.  What I saw was a super artist.  It gives me joy to see other artists’ work, and this is no exception.  So while I’m out piddling….oops not supposed to do that…painting my assignments, I’m hoping you’ll get the same type of joy I did.

I am working on getting tutorials completed to put online as well as other articles, but for now that is on a molasses schedule.  I haven’t given up, but wanted to let you know I’m still around.