WHAT A PAST FEW MONTHS:  Life Improving Events

The following story is part one about my health.  Improving my eyesight with cataract surgery, improvements breathing when I sleep by controlling sleep apnea, improving my teeth and gums and about improvements in my kidneys.  The past few months have included several life-improving events.
       Iowa weather can change overnight. This last week in December I went to Iowa to see my sister Sandy and my brothers Steve and Jerry.  The trip was during Christmas break at school.  I promised my brothers and sister I would bring some Florida weather home with me.  I arrived on December 23^rd.  It was a pleasant, nonstop, 3-hour flight on Allegiant.
     The temperature in Florida was 73 degrees when I flew out of Sarasota Florida.  The temperature was 50 degrees when I landed in Omaha at 3 pm.  It was not quite the Florida temperature; however, it was over 50 degrees two days before Christmas and Christmas day it was 47 degrees. I wore cutoff jeans getting on the plane.  My plan was to change when I reached Omaha.  When they said it was 50 degrees in Omaha, I left the cutoffs on while riding home in my brother-in-law, Terry’s, pick-up.   The next morning, I went shopping, in Denison, in cut-offs.  I was walking in cutoffs, in Iowa, on December 24^th…Christmas Eve. 
     It was great being back in Iowa for Christmas.  We had a light lunch and watched three games of NFL football.  The plan was to celebrate Christmas, a few days later, with my cousins. The temperature hit 47 degrees on Christmas day and on the 26th.
      On December 27^th light snow began to fall.  The temperature had reached 45 degrees, however; fell into the mid-20s by late afternoon.  There was very light snow at that time.  We celebrated Christmas with some of my nephews and nieces who brought their kids from Des Moines.  The Christmas atmosphere and food were great.   Lots of presents for the kids and a few for the adults.       
     My relatives had to leave early, by 4 pm, to drive home.  We had one inch of snow and winds had started to rise.  The weather changed overnight.  A winter clipper came out of Canada.  This was light snow that became a blizzard by the next day.  There were 8 hours of 30 to 40 mile per hour winds and a few inches of snow.  The temperature fell to 15 degrees overnight.  An inch of snow, with 30 mile per hour winds, is scary.  It is a “white-out.”  Temperatures dropped.   Wind chill dropped to minus 25 degrees.   As the temperature hit “10 degrees” I went outside and took pictures of myself to prove I experienced the cold. 
     We watched several NCAA football games during the blizzard.   We were lucky and did not lose electricity as had happened in the past during such blizzards.  I was also lucky and got to watch squirrels deal with the wind and snow, while climbing in the trees outside the house.  The temperature hit 5 degrees.
       12 hours later the temperature had risen to 9 degrees.  My Terry drove me 45 miles to the Omaha airport.  That 2 inches of snow made the drive through the country a cold, yet beautiful white.     
      My weight had hit a 1 year low of 213 pounds before coming to Iowa.  I had lost 95 pounds since starting to lose weight back in January 2025.  Even with great food, I was able to maintain this new weight.  I also completed setting up our new web site, “touchyourdreams.com”, while in Iowa.  It went online for the first time on Christmas Day 2025.  I was working with John and Marshal in Texas.  The phone and internet made this possible.  I returned to Florida on December 29^th.    
     The first week in January I was back in Florida’ s 70-degree weather again.  I started calling lawyers, on January 4^th, to get help with our web site.  After two weeks I selected a lawyer to help with a trademark search and registering nationally for a trademark.   I was told to do this after we had the sight online.  I had completed a search by myself, however, wanted a professional’s help.  My lawyer is Howard. 
     Howard works in Sarasota sometimes; however, his home is in Ohio.  At that time there were no problems with our company name, so we registered.  Howard has been very patient with me.  I was told it could take several months to get an official response.  It is amazing how I can work with people in Texas and Ohio, never meet them in person, and set up our company.  I plan on meeting each of them, in person, during the next year.      
     It’s January 19^th.   I have submitted one story for our web site.  This has been very rewarding to me to create and submit a story for the site. This story is about going to the moon. 
     This afternoon I got to meet my new heart Dr.  He is a friendly person. I liked talking with him.  Dr. B. suggested a blood test to see if I could stop taking a baby aspirin. The baby aspirin is to help avoid blood clots and I have been taking it for 5 years.  It may be causing the blood that shows up under my skin on my fore arms as I am taking another blood thinner also.  This was a great first meeting. I took the blood test a few days later.  My next appointment is April 2^nd with Dr. B.
     It’s January 28^th.  I am having my blood sampled today.    This will go to Dr. B.  I also must get blood for Dr. Ben, my personal Dr.   We have an appointment in one week.  This will be to discuss sleep apnea. 
     It’s the 4^th of February.  I got to Dr Ben’s office a bit early.  That usually does not happen.  The appointment goes well and he sets up a sleep apnea test.
     During this time, I did get a call from Dr. Buck.  I am done taking the small, 85 mg, aspirin. 
     My sleep testing equipment also arrived in the mail.    I had the test completed February 10^th.  I had to wear a small ring on my finger. It took two nights for the test.  I sent it in.    
          It is February 12^th.  I had an eye appointment with Dr. A.  I have been having trouble seeing when I drive both in the daytime and at night.    He suggested that I have cataract surgery.  That is scheduled for April 12^th.   
             It’s February 18^th.  I had a dental appointment at the dental college. The dental appointment went well.  The dental student I worked with for the past year is  moving to New York for his Senior year of schooling.  He said my teeth were fine, however my gums seemed to have a problem.  He told me about this in December.  He suggested I see a periodontist.  Calling my insurance, I found a dentist I could meet.  I am substitute teaching on a regular basis so I set the appointment for June.
       February 20^th I went to get my sleep apnea machine. I was told I quit breathing an average of 33 times an hour during my sleep.  I was told this is very high.   I was told how to use and how to clean the machine.  I have used it every day since.  It has a smiley face that shows up if I score 75 points or higher during a night.  Getting 75 points usually takes 6 hours with the mask on. Most nights I wear the mask until I get a smiley face.  I also purchased a special “Derila” pillow to help the angle of my neck when I sleep.  This is to help open my airway when I sleep.  This has helped. 
     On February 30^th, I had another appointment with Dr. Ben.  This was to discuss my use of the sleep apnea machine.  When I arrived, we talked briefly about the sleep apnea machine.  Doc had to receive more information he was to determine if the pressure for the air had to be raised.  That meant an appointment on April 1^st. 
     Our county fair started on March 13^th.  I help for 10 to 12 hours each day at the fair.    I am glad about the fair as it keeps me busy.  I have also been substitute teaching until the fair starts.  Life keeps going and I am busy.  The fair lasts 10 days.  It is from March 13th-22^nd    The fair was great.  Over 60,000 people attended. 
     It’s March 30^th   I meet with Dr. Ben again.  This is more than 30 days after starting the use of the sleep apnea machine.  I had hoped to increase the settings on my sleep apnea machine, today.  Doc wants to review the information more, so we rescheduled that discussion until we meet in June.  My settings remained the same.  My Derila pillow has been helping.  I am thinking about how to test the sleep apnea machine with and without the pillow.   I also want to test my sleep apnea with just the pillow and no machine. 
     Today is April 6^th.  I am going to Dr. A’s office for a final pre-surgery checkup before he does the cataract surgery.  Everything seems to be fine.  The surgery is Thursday.
     Today is April 12^th.  I arrived by 9:30 and I met several nice nurses.  Everyone is very helpful.  It is 11:30 and I am moving to the operating area.  There are more nice nurses and then Dr. A arrives.Within a half hour I am having the surgery.  I am awake during the surgery.  Now it is finished.  By 2 pm Adrian and Todd, my brother-in-law, are taking me home.    No pain.
     On April 13^thI met with Dr. A at his office.  All is great.
     Today is April 28^th, I have an appointment with my second Dr A.    She is my kidney Dr.   I have been at stage 3 with my kidneys for 3 years.   She is Dr. Ben’s wife. My Kidney appointment goes great.  These were my best readings in the 3 years I have been working with Dr. A.
     May is very open.  It is now May 18^th.  I am attending a post-surgery eye appointment.  My appointment with Dr. A.  goes very well.  I believe they have found a way to improve my eyesight beyond cataract surgery.  It seems a pair of glasses, with a slight adjustment, may make a difference that was not corrected in the surgery.
     School is ending this week.  Today is Memorial Day.   Yesterday we had church.  I have two ½ days of school on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Then school is out until next fall.
     I will miss school and the students and teachers.   Life has been very busy for the past five months.  These past 5 months have included several life improving events.  Thank you for reading.   Part two will include a few life-changing events.
     Note:  part 2 of my health story will be shared shortly after my next meeting with Dr. Ben.
     On June 9^th I will meet with Dr. Ben, again.