A Better Day

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Today, I noticed that my roses near the road were blooming.  I meant to go right back out to take some pictures, but just remembered that I wanted to take some when I realized it was time to blog.  So here is one of the buds and some others blooming in the background.

I was determined that I would do a little more than I did yesterday, trying to build my strength back up. I have done just that, but I will admit that whatever I do takes longer at this time…hopefully I will get back some stamina as I do a little more each day.  Today, I did some of my accomplishments on my phone/iPad.  I needed to get in touch with several individuals so I spent time sitting texting, emailing, and talking on the phone. First I texted Donna to say that I still wanted to put working in the library on hold for another week.  She agreed.  After that I emailed my doctor to see what she wanted to do about my 6-month-check-in with her that was scheduled for next week.  I remember one time when my blood work was all messed up due to me having been on antibiotics.  Her nurse called me back and we rescheduled for another week out to let the antibiotic clear my system.  Then I emailed the church administrator about the church library computer.  I gave him the link for the computer that Nathan and I chose online.  He emailed back and has the process underway for it to be ordered.  So we may be back in business shortly in the library.  It has been difficult with no computer…can't process books, can't check out books, can't check to see if we have certain books or where they are located.  Our hands are pretty much tied without that piece of technology that we depended on so much…since getting rid of the card catalog.  Now to wait patiently for its arrival! 

I have done some stitching…getting close to finished with the field of stars on my stylized flag cross stitch piece…then there are just two more red stripes and it will be ready to be made into a small pillow.  There is still a lot of stitching to make those stripes so probably a finish is still days down the road.  But I can say I have less left to stitch than I have stitched.

I also worked some more on getting ready for Cheryl and Rachel's visits and for my cruise.  I’m closing in on decisions of things I need to take with me and making sure that I don't "need" to order anything.  I am sitting here waiting for an order that is supposed to come today…a new case for my iPad.  The case I have has a keyboard with it.  And, now that I have the app for the blog, I can type on the screen.  It will be easier to take my iPad on the trip if I have a less bulky case.  Mentioning taking it on the trip…I don't think I will be able to blog while I am away.  We will be pretty much off the grid while in Alaska.  I’ll just have to take plenty of photos to share once I get back and share about some of our adventures after the fact, too.

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Monday, Monday

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I was determined today that I would do "something" just to try to start to get back to feeling "normal." I managed to do a small amount of vacuuming, some dusting and just straightening things up.  I felt a little more "normal" but also tired out a lot faster than I wanted to! But did accomplish a little something.  I am feeling better, but my energy just is slow on the return!  

I have just gotten home from prayer meeting, so am settling in for the evening.  After I blog, I am going to eat a light supper and straighten up the kitchen and then going to settle in for the evening and watch some TV and stitch.  I am coming along on my patriotic piece that I am currently concentrating on with my stitching.  I would like to get it done and then finish into small pillows the four or five things that I have completed the stitching on recently.  I want to get them fully finished so I can use them when I put away my Spring decorations and put out patriotic decorations.  I am stitching a stylized U.S. flag right now.  

As I looked at the day and the date today, I realize that it is only six weeks till the Alaska cruise. I can't believe that six weeks from now I will be on a cruise ship on the Pacific Ocean heading Alaska way!  Also I can’t believe that my sister will be sitting here with me 4 weeks from now and that my niece will be here five weeks from now. Back-to-back-to-back excitement!  We have it so well planned that Cheryl and Rachel will take me to Melany and Wade's on their way to the airport…they leave the day before we leave on the cruise.  I need to spend the night at Melany and Wade's because our flight leaves very early Monday morning.  

Now to have ailments leave us so we can have pleasant visits/travels.  Melany texted me this morning that she was at the doctor, as she has a gout flair! I've got mouth/sinus problems. 🙄 Hopefully those will be behind us so we can enjoy Alaska!  Well, I say behind us…but the doctor said that the healing of this hole in my sinus wall will take months and there is no way it will be healed by the time of our trip…but hopefully I will be used to it and know how to cope with it better by then.  Melany needs for her joints and feet to be well enough to walk around easily!  Hopefully her meds will kick in.  As she said today, "Aren't we a mess!?!" Wade is probably shaking his head wondering how he will be able to put up with the two of us for the ten days on the cruise!! 

To keep my mind off my mouth, etc. I am concentrating on getting ready for company and the cruise! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

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Saturday Rolls Around, Again!

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Days seem to follow one after the other!  I will say that this week it has been hard to know which day it is…lack of routine, I believe is the cause! I continue to see improvement in how I feel…but still can't say that I feel great.  Improvement seems to just bring on another problem.  Today I am having trouble with sinus drainage…a bit of a problem, since I am not to blow my nose and it is even hard to clear my throat.  I have pretty much had a Kleenex in my hand most of the day…not that I can do a lot with it. 

I had my Cottey College Alum Bookclub Zoom meeting this morning.  I mainly sat…talked very little and, at times had to hunt the mute button when I got to coughing.   But it it was interesting, as usual.  We are an eclectic group.  Today my friend since early childhood days, who I grew up with, went to church with, and, to elementary school, high school, and then to Cottey with, was able to attend our Zoom meeting again.  So it was good to see her.  

After our meeting, which always ends promptly at noon, I got my lunch ready.  I had thawed a Penne pasta bake that I had made and had ready in the freezer to pop in the oven.  While that baked, I made some homemade chocolate pudding.  I’m looking forward to that this evening, as it has had time to chill since this afternoon. 

The cooking and eating efforts tired me out so I took a little nap this afternoon.  I was awakened by an unusual sound…rain on the roof.  It hasn't rained here in a while.  It continues to lightly rain…nice to hear it.  I hope the earth and the flowers and plants and trees are enjoying a refreshing drink,  Also hoping that the rain settles some of the pollen that has been so thick in the air lately.

I guess I can say that I am improving every day, but that the improving has been a bit slow for my liking…oh, wait…that's right…I have trouble remembering that I am supposed to be a patient patient! I’ll keep trying to remember…but hopefully, while I try to remember to be patient, this feeling of not being well will end quickly!!! 😏

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Slowly But Surely…

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I'm heading toward feeling better, but I'm not there yet.  On the positive side…really no pain in my mouth and no headache…so those are good things. Today I made a very quick trip to the grocery store…pretty much in and out, but it wore me out.  That short trip made a morning and then an afternoon nap a necessity!  When I wasn't napping, I did get in some stitching.  I’ve talked to Cheryl and Melany.  Other than that it has been a quiet day…just recouping…trying to get some energy back! Both Melany and Cheryl pointed out that besides my body/mouth needing to heal, I am also dealing with taking an antibiotic and that can make you feel not the greatest either…so I will just try to be a patient patient! 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thursday: A Week After

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Well, it has been a week since my tooth was extracted. I guess I can see improvement in how I feel, but still not back to "normal." I have thought many times today that I am so thankful that I am usually in good fairly good health!  Not feeling good, I can do without!  I’m ready to feel better, and, I am feeling better, but it seems to be a slow go!  I still didn't have much energy today.  Napping is what I did best today…a nap late morning and then one late afternoon.  I have done a lot of nothing today…a little reading…a very little stitching…some TV watching… washed four or five dishes by hand…put away a few dishes…wiped off the stove…that's about it.  Oh, I have played quite a few solitaire games on my iPad.  

The pain seems pretty much under control…no Tylenol at all today…only my one daily Celebrex. That shows a big improvement.  One thing that is in my mind…but I don't know if it really happened or if I dreamed it…I may have blown my nose…or…I may have dreamed that I did…if I did, it was when I was in partial wakefulness during my morning nap.  I guess I will never know if I did or didn't!  But if I did, I haven't noticed any problems from doing it!  So strange to not be able to differentiate between dreaming or being awake! 

I guess I am sort of getting used to this extra "hole" in my mouth…still a weird feeling at times.  But I am managing eating and drinking better.  I've moved away from just soft food…but still keeping it pretty soft! One activity that I do is set reminders with Alexa so I remember to take my antibiotic twice a day.  I also have to figure in that part of why I am feeling better is the antibiotic, but also that antibiotics don't make me feel all that great while I'm taking them.  So may continue to not feel the greatest while taking something to make me eventually feel all the way better!

I have been getting notices about the weather.  Looks like a storm may be approaching.  Lately we are told that it will rain, but it doesn’t ever materialize.  We really need the rain.  We are in a drought at the moment…seems like we often are at the extremes…lots of rain or way too little rain.  This time the rain may be coming in with a storm.  Radar shows some pretty heavy weather approaching…but will it really come?!? 

I’m hoping to do some stitching this evening.  I did finish the one ornament this morning…so one more ready to make into an ornament to gift this coming Christmas. Tonight I’m going to work on a patriotic piece for me. 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Bit Better Day

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I still don't feel the greatest, but I will say that the pain is much better…and, I'll take that!  I have just taken it easy today hoping that gets me going even more in the right direction. Nathan, Kathy, Isaac and Joseph stopped by this morning to check on me and brought me a treat, a Sonic strawberry lime aid.  I will say that hit the spot…I sipped on it most of the morning.  Once again, I haven't felt even like stitching! But after my late afternoon nap, I think that I may do some stitching.  It won't take much to finish the current Christmas ornament that I'm stitching.  I chose not to go to Bible study this evening…decided that it was best to totally take the day off.  Eating seems to be a little easier, as does talking.  I don't know if that means that "things" are better or if I am just getting used to my sinus passage and mouth being connected…it is still a weird feeling…but the pain seems to be pretty much gone…for which I’m thankful.  I have been able to pull back on Tylenol…no longer counting the time till the next dose can be taken…and only took my usual one daily Celebrex…good signs of improvement.  "Things" seem to be looking up…hopefully I will feel like a real person again and then just have to wait patiently for this hole in the sinus wall to heal on its own.  I guess patience is required…the doctor said it would take months. 

To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!