I'm trying to type in the dark on an ergonomic keyboard. The overhead light glares on the computer screen (thus no lights), and my carpal tunnel issues are sending me back to the old ergonomic keyboard. It took me a few minutes to get back used to the split keyboard, but I'd forgotten how much more comfortable it was, especially compared to the laptop keyboards. My Sony Vaio has a somewhat larger keyboard than many laptops, but the school-issued Dell has a teensy keyboard that I can endure for only short bursts.

I have an appointment (another one) with Dr. DeHaan, an orthopedic hand specialist. At my regular checkup with my primary care doctor, he told me that I probably had carpal tunnel, and he agreed that my Reynaud's had flared up again. Dr. DeHaan seems to think that the carpal tunnel issues are causing the Reynaud's. Dr. Heyboer examined the nodules in my right palm and gave it some long name and said maybe "trigger finger," but DeHaan disagreed. He called it some other long name. Either way, I don't care what it's called. I just want them to go away. It started with one lump, and now it's three lumps, and they are in the crease of my palm, affecting driving and anything else I do with my hands.

I've been having major dental work done lately. In fact, today was supposed to have been my last appointment for the summer (one more wisdom tooth to be refilled), but the appointment was postponed until Thursday. So it's the hand doctor at 9:10 a.m. and the dentist at noon. So far, this summer has been doctors, doctors, doctors.

My younger son has been in extreme pain with his teeth and finally went to see someone. They sent him to an oral surgeon, and in late July, he's got to have five teeth pulled (four wisdom teeth and one molar). We're going to drive down to be with him. They'll put him under for the procedure. As long as he doesn't have any bleeding issues afterwards, he should be okay.

The biggest and best news of the week is that my older son and his wife are buying a house. I am so happy for them. They have needed a bigger place (one easier to cool and heat) for a long time, and the new house will have a stupendous kitchen. They love to cook and own practically every kitchen gadget in the world, so I'm sure they'll enjoy it a lot. It also has a huge fenced-in back yard, so that will be nice, as will the covered patio. (I wish I had a covered patio!)

Today is the hubby's last class for the summer session. Of course, that just means he'll play more golf than ever before. He's been having knee trouble lately. I've been having hip pain. I told him that this would never do. One of us at all times must be healthy enough to push the other one in a wheelchair.

It's a hot humid day today. We've been getting a lot of work done in our backyard landscaping, despite our many ailments (okay, I admit--he's doing the work, and I'm just a cheerleader). The biggest addition is the new weeping mulberry that we planted between our house and the neighbor's. Now, if only their mutt Murphy doesn't pee the tree to death. The second they let him out of the house, he runs straight for our yard to pee. I teasingly told the neighbor that I was going to dump used cat litter on his driveway. He's a sweet guy, though. He helped hubby dig the huge hole needed for the tree.

The other addition is an arbor that we've planted with clematis. We also have new forsythia and lilac bushes surrounding the rocky area that used to be under the old deck.

Older son had made plans to fly up and spend a few days with us in early July, but I don't know if he'll need to change those plans because of the house purchase. His wife may also have to have wrist surgery. She keeps re-injuring her wrist, and in her work as a librarian, that's not an easy injury to live with.

I'm going to try to save and post this blog entry. They keep changing the way things are done, so I don't know exactly what might happen.