Wednesday—All Day

It's one of those days that I feel like I was busy all day, but looking back on the day I'm wondering just exactly what I did! It was a day off aka no dialysis. Oh, I just remember why the day seems a bit confused...I did a morning errand that I didn't know that I was going to have to do till close to midnight last night. I found a fraudulant charge on my online Credit Union statement. So I immediately called their 24-hour number and put a stop on my card. This morning I had to go to our Credit Union...file a fraud claim and get a new card. After that I stopped at the church and took something into the office for Woody. By the time that I got both those errands done, it was almost time for lunch. Once lunch was over, it was time to head off to get my hair cut. After my hair cut, I headed to fill up the car with gas. It was getting low and we have two out of town jaunts over the next few days...so taht wasa taken care of. I have managed to stitch a little in between errands. I also believe that I took a short unplanned nap this afternoon. I watered the plants that I planted yesterday and pulled an armful of weeds a little before supper time. Woody has had a day that he likes...not HAVING to go anywhere. He continues to feel pretty good and is a bit stronger than he had been. He is transferring easier than he had been...all good things! I have changed the bandage on his leg and he has transferred over to his couch/bed. I have finished downstairs and have come upstairs hoping to get some more stitching done. I met last night's goal and have set another for tonight before my eyes close...moving down this piece...getting closer to the bottom of it...when I get there it will be finished! But still a ways to go. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

It’s Tuesday…I Think…

I didn't work in the library today so I am confused that it is Tuesday! Look what bloomed. I planted the bulb from the amaryllis that our niece gave us several years back. Up to this year, it had only given us leaves...but this year!!!! Today there are two blooms open...but I didn't think to take a picture till it was too late. Very pretty and very stately! I'm late coming in to blog. I ended up getting busy toward the end of the day. I had a very lazy day because I didn't sleep well last night...didn't sleep much at all...so I napped several times today. I guess I finally got enough naps in that I had energy to do a few things before it got dark. It is the night to take the garbage can to the curb and when I did that along with the recycled stuff (I knocked down a lot of boxes). I realized that I hadn't planted the hostas that Melany brought on Sunday and dug holes for...the weather has warmed up and hopefully no more freezes! So I planted those. Kathy, Isaac and Joseph drove up just as I was going to fill the watering can to water the newly planted plants. Since they were here, I had the boys help me get the hose hooked up...I needed more than my strength to make sure that the hose was tight enough. They were able to do that for me. We stook outside and talked while I watered...talked about weddings, ball games, graduates, etc. Along with a bride, their family also have two graduates: Graham from Motlow and Joy from high school and cosmetology school. Along with three boys playing baseball! Busy times in their household! Woody had a good dialysis as far as we know, at least. He did have some new news from dialysis...a new schedule...he has been assigned to start a half an hour EARLIER!!!!!! Oh, my...but I guess we can adjust?!? I guess time will tell. That schedule starts the second week in May. Along with napping I have interspersed stitching and a few household chores into my afternoon and evening. Woody had a late supper because I socialized in the front yard...he is about ready to call it a day. He has already moved over to his bed/couch. I plan to keep on stitching after I get the kitchen closed down for the night. What I'm stitching isn't for Abigail's shower this coming Sunday, but for the following Sunday...but there is quite a bit to go on it even though I have been stitching diligently for some time now. It just doesn't go very fast...but it is coming along. I did go to Kroger just before picking Woody up today. They had red, orange, and yellow bell peppers on sale so I wanted to get some before they change their sale items tomorrow. I will need to chop, slice and dice them and get them in the freezer for future recipes. I'm trying to decide if I need to roast any of these...I think that I still have some roasted ones in the freezer...I'll check and decide. But pepper prep is on my list of to-dos probably for tomorrow. Stitching will be high on the to-do list, too. Woody has a day off...always good for him...we both like those days that we can stay home. I do have a hair appointment tomorrow...but that is an appointment I always look forward to! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Just What Am I Saying to Abigail?!?

Obviously I didn't take tonight's photo (it's Kathy's photo)...and I look like I'm lecturing sweet Abigail...but she seems too happy for it to be too serious. Really what I am telling her is about the Christmas ornaments that I gave her...one represented their engagement, one their wedding, one their first Christmas and one reminding them to "let their lights shine"...meaning for them not to hide ther lights under a bushel...but before I finished that orament, I realized that Payton had asked her to marry him amidst the Christmas light display at his house...so I was telling her that that ornament could have a double meaning. We had a very nice time at her shower yesterday. I went with Melany (Abigail's Aunt Melany) and Brooke (Abigail's cousin-in-law). This shower was given by her co-workers at the church preschool where Abigail teaches. Three of Abigail's students were there and they helped her open her presents. It was sweet. One of the little girls is their flower girl and the little boy is their ring bearer. Abigail was filled with joy as she always is. She is just so happy, which makes us all happy! Her wedding day is getting closer. Today Woody stayed at home and recouped from all of last week's activities! This week will be a little calmer. We did pick up one appointment today...it is to go to get his brace adjusted...that won't be until Friday. I made a pot of soup...good day for it as it was a bit frosty outside this morning. There is a chance of frost tomorrow morning, too...surely these cold early morning temps will soon be behind us! I went to Monday night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting this evening. Woody was asleep by the time that I got home. He indicated that he was ready for sleep prior to me leaving. I checked his leg bandage before I left and it was still in good shape so I will either change it before dialysis in the mornng or after dialysis. I poked around in the yard for a little while this afternoon and pulled a few weeds and cut off some dead growth on a couple of things and also trimmed a couple of stalks of asparagus that grow next to our mailbox...why...I don't know! They had gotten to the point that I think that they were going to interfere with the mail carrier putting mail in our mail box...so they are snipped off...but they will be back. For years, Woody attempted to grow asparagus...his famiy grew it when he was a boy. We never had any luck with growing it. But somehow out near the road we have a couple of stalks that come back year after year. Once in a while I manage to cut it when it is young and then add it to a salad. Two stalks doesn't exactly make a serving...but ok to add into something for flavor! Well, I'll head back down and finish in the kitchen, I left a couple of dishes soaking in the sink. I'll take care of those and wipe off the counters and stove and call it quits for tonight. Hopefully I will get some more stitching done on another gift that I am in the middle of doing...hopefully I am a bit farther than midway! But it is slow-go. Nathan and Isaac and Joseph stopped by this afternoon and did a couple of things in the yard that Woody asked them to do. The boys laughed when they saw the picture that I am posting tonight...Joseph especially! So I guess I hope that it brings a smile to you, too! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Busy Saturday

Busy day, but we can say that now that we are at the conclusion of the day that we have made it through all the appointments and obligations that this week brought us. I came home from dropping Woody off and got busy on completing what I have been making for Abigail's gift for tomorrow's shower. I found a box, tissue paper, the card, etc., showed the items for the shower gift to Woody after he got home and proceded to wrap it. Just as I finished wrapping it, I realized that I had failed to take pictures of what I had made (one the things I do after I finish stitching anything...a photographic record of things that I have made). Well, at least I am gifting these to my granddaughter so I can still have a chance to take their picture after giving them. Woody got out of dialysis a bit later than usual...of course...sinc today was my Cottey book club...most days he is waiting on me when I get there. Today I got there at about the same time as usual and I had to wait about ten minutes. I still got to be in on the book discussion. I didn't care for this book as much as I have for some others. The book we discussed today was A Gentleman in Moscow. I understand that it is streaming on some network...but I from what was said that a lot had been changed about it. I don't stream so won't know! Next month we will discuss the book that I suggested for the club for this new book club year. It is The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek...I highly recommend this book...guess so since I recommended it to the group! I have been picking up things to do with the needlework projects that I have been stitching on and doing just some general picking up of things...especially here in the bedroom as it has become a craft room during all this needlework finishing over the last couple of weeks. I am about ready to get back to work on another stitching gift that I have been working on, but set aside so I could work on last week's shower gift and tomorrow's shower gift. The washer and dryer have been running in the background while I did all this other stuff...which means that after they do their work, I have some putting away of the clothes...which I have done...but there are more to come. Melany, our daughter, and Brooke, our granddaughter-in-law, will be coming here prior to the shower and then the three of us will go to the shower together. When I saw the date today, I had an instant reminder of a day 21 years ago...don't think of it often but once in a while the date will bring it back. This is the day that I was "struck" with Transverse Myelitis...so thankful that most of the symptoms that rapidly occured have mostly gone away...the outcome could have been so much worse...at least I am up and walking today...and, it was a bit questionable 21 years ago, as we had no idea what was going on. It was the night before Easter Sunday...and it was months...really years before most of the symptoms were gone. Today...pretty much I am only left with a tingly right hand...where the odd sensations began during the attack. There is a blog early on that explains TM...it is not a rare, but not very common disease where something attacks the spinal cord...they are not sure if it is an autoimmune disease or if a virus causes it. It often causes paralysis below the waist. It literally gave me all the symptoms of MS and then some within 24 hours. The neruologist explained to me that if it is going to go away it will do it within the first year. He said that the reason that symptoms go away is that the swelling in the spinal cord goes down and eventually the nerves settle down. I believe that Celebrex is what keeps the swelling down in the spinal cord for me as when I have to stop taking Celebrex for any length of time, the symptoms come back...so I continue to take it...just less than I once did. Anyway, so thankful to be at this end of that event in my life and be able to say that I was left with no more than a tingling hand! To God be the glory. We are settling in for the evening. I still need to go down and put the last few dishes in the dishwasher for today. I'm not sure that I am up to folding/putting away any more clothes for the day...think they can stay in their respective machines till tomorrow! Woody's leg has been bandaged and he is ready to head to bed when he wants. Tomorrow starts another week...but not quite as busy as this week has been...or at least it isn't...yet! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Maybe He Needed Some Fresh Air???

It's been an interesting day...the start of the day was taken up with my appointment with our personal care physician--my six-month check in with her and for lab work. It was a 3-1/2 hour chunk out of the morning...7am till 10:30...for travel to and two and from and then the appointment itself. The trip over took longer than the trip back...and, it wasn't because i was speeding on the way back. The trip over took me through seven school zones...so lots of flashing lights and big slow downs. The trip home had none. It took around an hour plus a little to get there and only 45 minutes coming home. I ate breakfast when I got home and gave Woody a snack. Then it wasn't long till I needed to get Woody's lunch as he needed to head out to his appointment. This appointment happens every three weeks and it lasts between 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours...lately usually the lesser amount. We got there and there was only one person in the waiting room so it looked like he should get called in pretty quickly. I get him checked in for this appointment and then always head home for the duration of the appointment. The receptionist calls me when he is ready to be picked up. Today I settled next to the phone when it got to be close to him being gone for 1 hour and 45 minutes...but the phone didn't ring...then it got to be 2 hours and then I began to wonder what was going on. I figured that something had happened to not let him get started on time...I even wondered if there was any chance that they had sent him over to the hospital for a transfusion...though when they have done that in the past, I came and got him and took him across to the hospital so didn't think that likely...just trying to come up with reasons why it was taking so long. Finaly I decided that I would call them. The person who answered must not have been in the Tullahoma office as she had to call to get in touch with them. She was very worried as she was sure that they had closed...which made me laugh a little...but I was sure that they hadn't locked Woody into the building. My guess was that he had asked them to roll him out on the sidewalk to wait for me. Which is where he was and had been for more than 45 minutes! When the appointment maker gave him his next appointment, he asked her to call me. which she said she would. But...she ended getting busy and forgot since he was out of sight by going outside to wait. She appologized profusely. She said she realized what she had done when my name came up on her telephone screen. It was a bit chillier than Woody expected so he did get a bit cold, but other than that, he is none the worse for wear! And, he graciously accepted her apology and got a good dose of fresh air! We're both a bit worn out from today's doings...at least all the extra appointments for this week are behind us..."just" dialysis in the morning and then this week of too many appointments will be behind us. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

“Just” a Dialysis Day

So today was pretty much "just" a normal day...no appointments other than heading out to dialysis at 6am...normal for a Thursday...but normal still piles up on all that isn't part of our normal routine. I will say that I am weary and will be glad when this week passes...especially tomorrow. Tomorrow I have to be in McMinnville about an hour away...especially on a rainy day, which it may be. So I will have to be leaving when I am usually making Woody's breakfast on a non dialysis day...so up earlier than usual tomorrow, but not as early as on a dialysis day. Today I have pretty much done just little things that needed to be done. Well, I did have to run a couple of errands prior to picking up Woody. I needed a paper notorized to take to the doctor in the morning and also needed to buy some sticky back velcro. Woody's brace's straps won't stay velcroed as the part that is stuck to the strap is no longer staying stuck to the strap. We will address this when we get an appointment to see the gentelman in charge of Woody's brace, but till then I need to see if I can make the velcro I bought work. I will work on that in a little while. Woody ended up not wearing he brace to dialysis today as the straps just wouldn't stay velcroed. I will have the trip to McMinnville, see my doctor, and the return trip in the morning and then in the afternoon, Woody will have his TN Oncology appointment and get his next Keytruda infusion. Another head-spinning day! Well, I will go down and check Woody's leg bandage...hoping that it is all intact and that I don't have to change it. We usually only change the bandage every other night these days unless it has come loose or just shows that it needs to be changed. We did get the order from the medical supply place...it came really quickly...order was placed Monday or Tuesday and it is here today. It came from Texas by FedEx. Now hoping that they have the billing straightened out! These bandages are about $5 a piece...at least that is what they cost if I order them from Amazon...Amazon's boxes only have 5 in them...these come in packages of 10 and they sent us thirty...so enough to change them once a day if necessary. The wound care center moved him to a larger bandage so it will pad his leg over a larger surface to protect against pressure from the brace...so it is serving two purposes...covering a wound and being extra padding. I did get the supplies sent today all put away. They keep changing types of supplies which means we have things not being used left over...so we are quite the medical supply headquarters! I just have to keep fining places to put the items we aren't using at the moment...got to keep them where I can get to them so "if" we need to use them at another time, I can find them! Hard to keep a handle on them. I get them all straightened out and something changes and have to reorganize...or not! Then it is just by chance if you can find something that we used to use! Woody did get his monthly report of labs from dialysis today and most everything is in the good range. His hemoglobin was a bit lower than we like to see. It may be hard to get it to the goal that the cardiologist wants it. Hoping that he doesn't have a blood transfusion in his near future! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!