Amen!

We are enjoying a lazy Sunday morning. I looked up and saw both my boys reading the paper. I just had to snap a picture. They are two of a kind!

Most of the power has been restored in our area.  The clean-up has begun.  Things are slowly starting to return to normal.  Gas, liquid gold a few days ago, is now readily available.  Grocery stores are beginning to restock their frozen foods and fresh fruits and vegetables.  Piles of tree debris line the streets waiting for pick-up.  The huge pine tree that was leaning against a neighbors home was removed by a crane.  The tree that fell across our street has been reduced to a pile of fire place size logs.  They got the water working in my husband’s office yesterday.  So, they were able to make coffee and everyone was much happier.  School starts again on Monday.

I know a lot of folks still do not have power or water.  Galveston and the Bolivar pennisula are a mess.  Some of the high rise buildings downtown took major hits.  One tower had most of the windows on one side blown out.  Houston and Galveston have a long road ahead to recovery.  But, we are Texans and we’ll get through this.  Please pray for those who have lost their homes.  Considering being a volunteer or donating to a relief organization like the Red Cross.    Please pray for healing and comfort for every one effected by this tragedy.  Thank you.

Here are some of the pics that I had tried to post earlier. There are lots of trees down and lots of debris. Some parts near Galveston were almost totally washed away. We were very lucky. The power came back on last night.

The storm roared through early Saturday morning from about midnight until about 9am or so.  We lost power at about 6am Saturday morning.  Luckily, we have gas hot water heaters and a gas cooktop.  So we had hot showers and some hot food.  There was a huge pine tree that fell across the street out of our neighborhood.  But luckily, some well-prepared neighbors used a chain saw to cut the tree in half and move it out of the way.  I tried to go into work, but the area around the hospital was totally flooded. 

The first day was hot and humid.  But then a wonderful, cool front swept in and saved us!  Thank you Lord!  We’ve enjoyed wonderfully cool, dry weather for the past few days.  What a blessing!  So we threw open the windows and enjoyed the pleasant breezes. 

The first day after the storm, we learned that 99% of the customers of our power company were without power.  They said it could be October before power was restored to 100%.  Oh my gosh!  I didn’t last 2 nights without my BiPap!  So, the 3rd night, I decided to sleep at the hospital, as they were on generators.  But I didn’t have to as a coworker offered to let me come home with her.  She had a generator.  So, I got a good nights sleep and made a new friend.  The next night, we were graciously loaned a generator by one of Mark’s work colleagues who had their power restored.  By the next evening, our power returned!  Yeah!!  The line men for the power companies are rock stars around here!!

There still is a lot of work to do around here.  It was a huge storm and I think it was stronger than they predicted.  We live 90 miles from the coast and it looks like a war zone here!  But Houston is a strong community and we’ll rebuild and we’ll be even better!!

our poor little silver fir tree was blown over – one by the pool was blown over, too

note the downed tree in the center of the picture – compare to the before pic below in a previous post

Here are some more pics from just after the storm.

Well Ike is almost gone. Lots of wind and rain. Gusts probably to about 90 or so. Lost power at 0600. Trees down in our neighborhood. Houses look ok.
Limited cell phone service. Here are some pics – well, I’ll try to get those pics up soon.

Well, we are sheltering in place for Hurricane Ike. Or “hunkerin’ down” as they say in TX! All our patio furniture has been moved inside. Most of the plants are in, too. We have more food and water than we probably need. And l got some of the last batteries at Wal-Mart. Mom and Dad are here. We are hoping that it won’t be too bad. I worked last night. I am part of the recovery team at work so I am off until the storm passes. I just hope that I remain calm and not exacerbate my MG. I think they are forecasting a category 2 storm. Here are some before pics.

I’m writing this from my iPhone right now. This is the coolest! I’m typing with my thumbs for the first time. You can download a free application from wordpress that will let you blog on the go! I think I can even upload pictures from phone right to the blog! Isn’t technology the greatest! Let me see of I can get those pics in here. They were taken with the iPhone.

Earlier this year, I posted about the use of a possible new therapy for myasthenia gravis.  The drug, eculizumab, showed an ability to reduce the symptoms of MG in mice.  Well, now they are getting ready to do a study in humans with MG.  I found the information on the NIH clinicals trials website.  Although they are not recruiting yet, its looks to be getting underway soon.  Here is a link were you can read more:  http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00727194?term=myasthenia+gravis&rank=5

I’m hopeful this drug will also so promise in humans!  There is also another study ongoing using a stem cell transplant.  This sounds a little more drastic, but may also show promise.  Here is that link:  http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00424489?term=myasthenia+gravis&rank=1

Thankfully, I did great at Disney even with my plantar fasciitis.  I wore my Z-coils to the Parks.  They were AWESOME!!  I was able to walk all over the place and stand in line without debilitating foot pain!  The only time I had trouble with them was when we were caught in a thunder storm and my feet got soaked.  Because the shoes are so padded, it was like walking on a sponge.  I was able to dry them out by removing the insoles and stuffing them with towels overnight.

I wore my Dansko clogs when we would go out to dinner in the evening.  They are dressier than my athletic Z-coils.  But I would still love to be able to wear some really fashionable shoes.  I wore my Crocs around the hotel room.  I just have regular, mass-market Crocs.  They also make “prescription” Crocs, which supposedly are different.  (CrocsRx).  The arch support in Crocs is not as good as my Danskos or Z-coils.  They are good for wearing around the house, but not for lots of walking. 

My sister Jane, who is a nurse, said that MBTs are good for plantar fasciitis.  She has several nurse friends who rave about them.  I’m going to save my $$ and give them a try.  They cost more than Z-coils!  A neighbor with PF also has raved about MBTs.

In my opinion, don’t expect a miracle for any shoes touted as a “cure” for plantar fasciitis.  It takes time for the inflammation to go down and for the fascia to heal.  Do your exercises/stretchs, wear comfortable shoes, and REST!