Good Cooks!

Woody went to dialysis this morning...late morning. On the way home from taking him, I stopped at a grocery store to pick up some ice cream for Woody's protein shakes...I had planned to grocery shop today after I dropped him off, but friends had let me know the other day that they were bringing some food for us today. Thus I put off my grocery shopping until another day! And, bring food they did...wow! We have choices of what we will have. Woody ate the better this evening than he has for a while. Many thanks to my "barn crew," Carolyn and Marie! Good cooks! Woody went off with a list of our appointments for next week, when he went to dialysis today. They said that they would take care of changing the day next Tuesday when they make out their next schedule. They plan to move him from Thursday to Friday, the only day next week that he had free of appointments. So that takes care of one conflicting appointment next Thursday on the day he he now has surgery scheduled. And, we still don't know what time on Thursday he is to report for surgery. Hopefully we will hear that information from the hospital next week. They are supposed to call to get info from Woody since he doesn't have to go to the hospital to have labwork done. He is having his labs done when he goes to Oncology on Wednesday. The Oncology office is right next to the surgeon's office so it will be easy to get the info from one to the other. The surgeon's scheduler said that they get lab work from them often so that kept another appointment off the calendar next week! I feel better since we have gotten one of the appointments next week shifted...and dialysis is one of the harder ones to shift as they don't have a lot of extra slots/chairs to shift appointments around. Hopefully this planned surgery will free up one of their chairs once Woody can start back on peritoneal dialysis at home. If this surgery is successful, I don't know how long till he can start back on PD. I'm sure that we will be told. I'm guessing that he will go back to the home dialysis side of Fresenius Kidney Center and they will test it like they did after his tear repair surgery. Then they will tell us when to start back. I will need to refresh my memory of all the steps to take to set up and connect and disconnect him! I really don't think that I have forgotten...after doing it every day for 8 months. Woody is coming up on his 1 year anniversary of starting on peritoneal dialysis in August. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

How Many Appointments can Happen in One Week?!?

I think that next week may be a test for how many appointments can be fit into one week! He has a CAT scan in Murfreesboro scheduled, 3 hemodialysis appointments, appointment with his oncologist, labs at oncology, and Keytruda treatment, appointment with his urologist about his biopsy, and today he got surgery to try to get his peritoneal catheter working again. My head is spinning. A couple of the above will have to be changed to another day. Oncology labs are going to be used for the labs he needs for surgery...so at least he doesn't have to go to the hospital to preregister...that is supposed to happen over the phone. I guess it can all happen...only time will tell! Woody will start the ball rolling when he goes to dialysis tomorrow and at least tell them that he is having surgery on Thursday (his usual dialysis day). The surgeon wanted him to have dialysis the day before surgery...whether that can happen or not will depend on dialysis and their very tight schedule...they are at capacity so it is hard to move folk around...of course, if we can get this surgery to make Woody's catheter to work again, then they will be able to drop Woody as a hemo patient and we can start doing his dialysis at home again. All to complicated to even think about at the moment. The changes will have to be dealt with next week. Today I found that I can watch a season of Project Runway with the Peacock App that I downloaded to be able to view the Olympics...I hadn't seen Project Runway in so long that it trumped the Olympics and I have enjoyed a cross stitching/Project Runway day when I took breaks in my recliner...and I took many breaks! I am coming along on my sampler...worked on a line of grass that runs across the whole sampler and also started on the third house. So it has been a quiet day once we got back from the visit with the surgeon. It was sort of funny that he didn't address the last surgery that he performed four weeks ago...just the next one that he would perform! Of course, the whole purpose of the surgery performed four weeks ago was to repair the tears in his peritonium so peritoneal dialysis could resume...so this coming up surgery is a continuation of trying to get Woody back on peritoneal dialysis. This surgery will be like the original surgery that he performed last year to place the catheter...but won't be placing the catheter this time...just trying to reposition it and find out what is causing it to only fill very slowly and then to not drain. It will be done laparoscopically as was the placing of the catheter. So another surgery for Woody in the very near future...less than a week away. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Thursday Doings

Tonight's photo is to remind me to go out and water after I finish writing this. I didn't get to water this morning and feel like they need a drink before bedtime as it has been very hot today...low 90s...too hot! This morning three from the ramp work crew came back to do one more finishing touch to the ramp. At the base of the ramp it didn't meet the driveway evenly so they added some asphalt under it to even up the way the ramp meets the driveway. With that their part of the ramp is finished. And, I will say once again...the ramp is very helpful...so much easier for Woody to get to the car now. Woody seems to have done very well with his procedure of yesterday...still no pain and he is going on per usual! Now, me, on the other hand...well, I have felt like a truck has run over me and have had no energy today. I did get up and make another batch of breakfast sausage for Woody's breakfasts...had planned to make it last night or at least put it together, but last night was just too tired. I went to bed much earlier than usual...and managed to sleep most of the night...being able to go back to sleep the few times that I did wake up. I took Woody to dialysis and came home, ate lunch and then decided that I was going to pretty much do nothing but do some stitching and watch a little of the Olympics. Well, I did very little stitching as I kept falling asleep and dropping my needle! So I moved downstairs and watched the Olympics...the chair down there is less comfortable so I managed to stay awake and watch some swimming, volleyball, and water polo. Woody was very zapped after his dialysis today...don't know if being extra tired had anything to do with having just had the biopsy yesterday or if it is just totally due to the dialysis. He was very happy to flop into his recliner and attempt to recoup. Tomorrow he has an appointment with the surgeon who repaired his Peritoneal tears...it has been a month since that surgery. He will also discuss what he plans to do to attempt to get the peritoneal catheter working again. Well, I guess I will head out to do some watering as my plants must be very thirsty after all the sun beating down on them. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

It's Over!

We left the house around 5:30 this morning and got back home around 10:00...not bad for having a procedure in a hospital. We were told that he was the first surgery scheduled. I'm sure being early on the schedule helped in moving things along. We walked into the same-day surgery area and were immediately told which room to go to as soon as he told them his name. The nurse did change out the IV fluid type due to him being a renal patient. She easily got his IV going and from there we sat around till time with a visit now and then from a someone on his surgical team...the anesthesiologist and one of his surgical nurses, etc. They took him back to the surgical waiting area before 7:45...and, they told us that his surgery was scheduled for 8am. I stayed in the cubicle where we started out. I will say that the same-day surgery area was very noisy. I had trouble concentrating on my book, but did manage to read some whle I waited. When the nurse rolled him back in, she said that the doctor would come in and talk to us in a few minutes. He did just that. Of course, he really knows nothing until the biopsy results are back which will be in a week. Woody is scheduled to go to his office next Thursday...of course, during his hemodialysis time...looks like we will be rescheduling. The main concern right now is infection. He told us several things to watch for and that if they happen then to call his office right away. Woody didn't feel like he had anesthesia at all. He was wide awake and told us that he remembers everything about the procedure. He said that maybe he slept a little, but that he woke up while they were still doing the biopsies. The anesthesia is very much like they give for a colonoscopy...quick to sleep and quick to wake up...perhaps he woke up a little too soon? I estimated to Melany that we would be home around 10am and I was right on the money. He had no problem negotiating his way into the house using the walker on the ramp...no wheelchair after this surgery. He says that he feels fine and isn't in any pain. He has been good and rested today as they suggested. We had a nice visit with Melany after we got home. We sat in the family room and talked and watched some of the Olympic events on TV. I had decided last night that I was in the mood for a hamburger from Sonic...mad that suggestion to Melany and then asked Woody if he was interested. He said not a hamburger but said that Arbys sounded good to him. We rarely have fast food so this was a special treat. Melany and I went to Arbys and got Classic Roast Beef sandwiches and I, simce I gave up my hamburger, got fries to share with Melany. We all enjoyed lunch and it was easy for me to fix!!!!! I woke up way too early this morning and by the time that I thought that I could go back to sleep, it was too close to actual wake up time that I didn't dare doze as I might get into too deep a sleep. I'll bet I will sleep well tonight...my eyes are already heavy, but I want to wait to go to sleep till bedtime and not take a late nap! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Surprises in the Compost Pile

When I went out to empty te compost bucket, I was met with with a surprise...literally a surprise as these are known as "Surprise Lilies." Another name for them is "Naked Ladies." I started to title tonight's blog "Naked Ladies in the Compost Pile...but decide that perhaps it was best not to! Earlier in the Spring, leaves come up like a normal lily...but then the leaves die off and these stems of pretty pink lilies pop up as a surprise looking very naked without their leaves! We got a call at 6am asking if Woody could come in between 7:45 and 8 am. They were ready for him when we got there. While he was at dialysis, I attempted to clean up "his" room. I did manage to vacuum in there along with a couple of other rooms. I thought that he might like a clean room to come home to tomorrow after his biopsy. I have done some sitting today enjoying stitching on my Town Square sampler. I am working on the second house. It is almost finished...just needs a roof. It has been a very warm day...low 90s with a feels-like temperature of around 96...pretty warm and humid...typical summer day. We really can't complain since the heat has held off this long this summer. I did call the Winchester hospital this morning to find out the actual time that we are to be there in the morning. The lady I talked to said that the automated calls shouldn't happen...or some such as the times they say aren't correct. The 7:45 time is when they hope to take him for his procedure. He is to be there by 6:30am to get all the preliminary things out of the way...like an IV, etc. So we will be up and off pretty early in the morning. I attempted to move Woody from the car into the house with the wheelchair when he got home from dialysis and was only partially successful. I could not get the wheelchair with Woody in it up and over a bump in our driveway that we have to pass over to get to the ramp if he is in the passenger side of the front seat. Going up the ramp and getting him into the house wasn't a problem. After he had been in a while, he said that he thought that I could get over the bump if I turned the wheelchair around and approached the bump with the big wheels. Well, that sounds good...but not knowing if I could manage it since he wasn't feeling like going back and trying again, I decided to take Melany up on her offer to be here when we get home so she can help if necessary. I never know how awake he will be either...so might need extra manpower to get him situated from the car into the wheelchair and then from the wheelchair into his chair. Melany said that she wanted to come visit another time before school gets underway so tomorrow will be that day...a visit and help! I texted with Nathan today and asked how he, Joy and the rest of the crew were. He replied, "All good!" So I hope that is right! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Monday Arrived…Again!

This has been a little of this and a little of that. Woody had an appointment over the phone...much easier than having to go! Later papers from that appointment appeared on our front porch for Woody to go over and make some decisions. He was happy to do business from his recliner! Tonight he has gone to the Monday Night Furnace Prayer Meeting. I decided that it was time to cook a little...so I made a chicken pot pie. I was very pleased with the way it came out...very tasty in my opinon and the pie crust on top was nice and flaky. Woody said that it was "okay." He sort of got burned out on chicken when he was on his strict diet to keep him off dialysis so he would prefer not to have chicken...but once in a while it shows up and at least he did eat it! Nathan seems to be no sicker than if he had bad allergies. Today their family had a scare with Joy. Kathy ended up taking her to the ER here in town because they thought that she might be having an appendicitis attack. It was finally determined that it was a UTI...so they gave her IV antibiotic and sent her home. Graham decided that he wanted to stay at his house and try to avoid Nathan by staying in his room most of the time when he is at home. I tried...but no house guest for us. Just a few minutes ago I received a reminder call about Woody's biopsy on Wednesday...telling us to be there to check in at 7:45am...which is not what they told us when he did the preop registration on Friday...they said 6:30am. Guess I will be making a call tomorrow to find which time really! The 7:45 goes with the time he was told on the original paperwork which was 8am...the 7:45 would be the 15 min. early that doctor appointments usually request. And, the 7:45 sounds a lot better than 6:30 since we have to go to a hospital out of town. I will check tomorrow! Nothing can be simple, I have decided! The bird in tonight's photo is begging his mama or daddy to feed him...he is almost bigger than his parents. He was very loud...making it very clear that he wanted to be fed! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Saturday

After I dropped Woody off for his dialysis, I made a quick stop at WalMart to pick a couple of things that we needed. I came home and had lunch and then got to work on finalizing the Sunday School lesson for tomorrow. Tomorrow's lesson is sort of a two-for-one...we are starting on a new book of the Bible so I have background information about the book and then the lesson over the verses that go with this week's lesson. While I was working on that, the phone rang. It was Nathan. He was calling to say that they were starting to head TN way. They have been in Texas and Oklahoma the last couple of weeks doing church camps. On the way home, but coming home with something that he didn't have when he left. He wasn't feeling the greatest so called to check with the first camp they had been to and found out that there had been some cases of Covid. He decided that he should get tested and did and did test positive for Covid...he didn't listen to his daddy...Woody has been urging him for months to get the vaccine...and he must not have listened to me as I told him to be really careful as the cases were on the rise again and he must not read the blog as he didn't heed my warning of "Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!" At this point no one else in the family has any symptoms...but they have been and will be in close quarters in their camper till they get home! Nathan was calling to see if Graham can come stay here while the rest of his family quarantine. Graham did not go on the trip so is the only one not exposed to his daddy. Of course, I said that he can come. I figure that if he wants to continue with his job that he will need to come our direction and stay away from his family. I told him that he could have half of the upstairs as his apartment! So we may be having another guest stay in the guest room this summer! This was not news that I expected to share this evening! But it the kind of news that makes me continue to warn each evening to "Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!"

Checked Off the To-Do List

Today we have managed to check of several things that had to be done...Woody did his registration/preop at the Winchester hospital. It didnt amount to much...just paperwork...now done on a computer. We were close to finished before it was time for his appointment. Before we left town, we stopped to get gas as the white car was beginning to run on fumes (not quite...but it was time to get gas). The novelty of today's getting gas was that I pumped it...one of those tasks that I avoid at just about all costs! I do not like to do it...but guess I need to add that to a task thwt I can do since it is really difficult for Woody to do it these days. Once we got back home, I began to contact folk at Panasonic to find out if I could mail my camera back to them sans battery. The first person that I had contact with today said that I needed to ship with either UPS or Fed Ex...that didnt seem like a good idea to me...so much easier to go to the Post Office. I did find out how to ship Fed Ex here in Tullahoma...perhaps of use to me sometime in the future! This contact person did give me the email and phone number of the servicr center. I ended up calling them and talked to a very nice lady. She told me that they don't want the battery or any accessories sent with the camera. Not what Panasonic told me...but, oh, well! So glad that I could open up the package and remove the battery and the other accessories (instructions say to include everything that was in the original box with the camera). I retaped it and made a new label and headed back to the Post Office. This time I was successful in getting it accepted, insured and on its way. I checked the tracking # just a few minutes ago and it has already gotten to Chattanooga...so it is on its way to Florida...supposed to arrive Monday. I have had to send a camera to them for service one time before and it doesn't seem like it took all that long to get it back to me. We will see! I am hoping for a totally different experience when I get it or a replacement back! Fingers crossed! It's good to have that off my to-do list. I had been dreading doing it...just for the very reason that I expected it to be a pain to accomplish...and it was definitely a headache...but it is done and now the waiting game is on. I spent the afternoon working on Sunday's Sunday School lesson. I haven't taught in a while. I have got a rough outline of what I want to share...a little more work tomorrow should finalize it. But for the rest of this evening I am going to read or stitch. Woody is reading and perhaps has the TV on, though I can't hear it so am not sure. But we are both settling in for a quiet Friday evening. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Afternoon Spent for Naught!

They didnt call Woody to come in early today...all the back and forths on time trnd to throw me off...hard to plan! But today he used the ramp for the first time with his walker. Much easier not having to go down the front steps! I forgot that I snapped a picture, but here it is:

I decided that after I dropped Woody off at dialysis that I would come and work on getting the problem worked out that I am having with my camera that I got for my birthday back in March. I have never gotten around the focus problems so decided that it was time to address them with Panasonic, maker of my cameras. There is a place on the Panasonic site that you can chat via typing with people who can help with problems. After typing several thins back and forth, he decided that my camera needed to be sent to either be repaired or replaced. So he emailed me the paperwork that needed to be filled out. I decided that I would follow through and get it all taken care of while Woody was at dialysis and planned to mail the package on my way to pick him up. I followed the instructions to the letter...including taking the battery out of the camera and wrapping it in bubble wrap (specifically told to take it out of camera and then wrap the battery individually). I also had to put on the label that the battery was in the package. Again, did just as I was told. Got the size box that they recommended, found all the items that came with the camera including the box it came in. Got it all packaged up, filled out the paper work, copied original sales slip...got all that into the cardboard box and then stuffed it well with bubble wrap, sealed the box with packaging tape...attached the address label...covered the label with mailing tape and it was ready to mail. Headed off to the Post Office and got in line...no one in front of me except someone who was being waited on. I got up there and the clerk saw the battery info on the label and called over another worker. They questioned how the battery was in the package...I told them and also told them that those were the instructions of the company. Well, they said that under no circumstances could the battery be sent not in the camera...Panasonic said not to send it in the camera. So I left with my package in my hands and not mailed! My plan at the moment is to contact Panasonic again tomorrow...it was too late to contact them today by the time I got back from picking Woody up so will try again tomorrow. And, I am going to tell them that I am just not going to send the battery back (I figure that another postal worker will tell me that it can't go in the camera either!) so I am just not going to send it back and tell them to not send one to me when they either send me my camera back fixed or send back a replacement. I don't want to undo the package another time! I guess I will attempt to get it mailed tomorrow after we get back from the Winchester hospital where Woody has to register and do whatever preop stuff he has to do prior to his biopsy next week. Woody felt like he might need a wheelchair tomorrow especially since we don't know where we are going! I managed to get the wheelchair into the trunk...how I'm not sure! If we were going to Harton here in town we know that we could use one of theirs, but have no idea where or if one would be available at this hospital. The reason that we are having to go out of town is that a lot of Tullahoma doctors got fed up with the last company/corperation that took over our local hospital so a lot of them are no longer affiliated with our hospital so that means we have to go to Winchester...a small town down the road from us. Our local hospital has since been bought out by Vanderbilt...don't know if any of the doctors who have left will try to come back or not...they may still not want their practices run by a corperation! I'm not too happy nor is Woody to have to go to a hospital that we aren't familiar with to have a procedure done that could so easily be done here in familiar territory. Oh, well...better than going to Murfreesboro or Nashville. One of Woody's peritoneal nurses came in to talk with his this afternoon. He told him that the surgeon would address the catheter problem when we go to see him a week from tomorrow. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A New Start

Seemed like I needed a new start in something in my life...so easiest new start ended up being a new needlework piece. I don't know how to explain it...but new starts in needlework give me just the best feeling...almost better than a finish! I always like to start a new needlework or sewing project, oh, and, a new book...it's like a blank slate to be filled in with details as I go along whether it be stitching, sewing, or reading! Today has been very laid-back...no appointments...so Woody stayed home all day. I'm sure that made for a better day for him. I did meet Donna at the church library and we did maintenance and checked on status of the computers and printer...no change...still just the one main computer which means that we have no way to print labels for processing...may have to revert to a typewriter (we do still have one in the library) or handwriting things. We can enter the book information...can only put info in and can't get anything out! Sad! After we finished in the library, I made a quick WalMart run to pick up a couple of things that I had forgotten the other day. Later in the day I returned books that Woody was finished with to the public library and picked up a couple of Woody's prescriptions. So I did a little running around, but not a lot. When I came back from my last errand I pulled the car up close to the ramp so Woody can come down the ramp and not have to walk very far to the car. Tomorrow will be the test day to see how the ramp works for him with his walker. Will let you know tomorrow night how he likes it. It should be such a relief for him not to have to face the dread front steps! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

What a Crew!

Our ramp crew was johnny on the spot this morning. Woody got a call that he could go in early for dialysis and one of the crew was already here when we headed out the door. How nice it is to have such good friends and also a group of men in our church who do things like this when the need arises. We appreciate their friendship and their efforts! In total there were eight here working at one time...one left mid morning but the rest stuck it out for the duration. I know that they must be tired tonight. We are very pleased with the end results. It is very sturdy. The slope on the ramp is gentle. It will be easier for Woody to come and go whether using his walker or taking a ride in the wheelchair. And, it was all done in a day! Like the title of tonight's blog says: "What a Crew!" We will never be able to thank them enough! After dialysis, Woody went into the Peritoneal Dialysis side of the kidney center. They attempted to flush his line once more, but to no avail. The nurse is going to contact the surgeon and then I guess we will find out what is next. I left Woody in the peritoneal dialysis chair today as I had a hair cut appointment and couldn't get him home and me back across town in time to get to my appointmet in time. After they were finished with the attempt to get the line unblocked (or whatever the problem is), Woody went back to the hemodialysis side of the center to wait for me to come back for him. He had a book and I figured that it was better than sitting in the car. He was waiting outside on a bench when I got there to pick him up...probably enjoying the warmer temperature after being in the cold dialysis rooms. Today had lots happening between ramp builders building, two dialysis appointments, and my hair appointment but we managed to survive the day! The rest of the week should be easy peasy...just two more dialysis appointments and a preop appointment for Woody's biopsy next week in the way of medical appointments...unless his surgeon decides that he needs to come in sooner than his next appointment which is next week. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

4201

Tonight when I was getting in here to post, the page that I see first is the one that has a list of the blog posts and towards the top it shows how many posts there have been. After my last post it said that I had made 4200 posts...so tonight is 4201...that's quite a few words and photos! Today has been a day with no appointments...we almost don't know what to do without two, three, or even four appointments on one day! Woody did choose to go out this afternoon and get his hair cut...so that was an appointment of sorts! Tonight he is at the Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer meeting, which he left for about a half hour ago. So he has been on "the go" more than I today! I have stayed home the whole day...enjoying not having to run hither and yon at a certain time. I have been catching up on wash and also did a few things around the house...the kitchen has a clean floor and I made a start on cleaning bathrooms. I have talked to several friends on the phone. It has been a nice slow-paced day. I have done a little reading when I stopped for a break every now and then. This book is a bit surreal...it is the first book that I have read that takes place during the pandemic. I had been wondering how long till I found a book that dealt with the pandemic. Well, Woody has just pulled up in front of the house...and it has decided to pour. I guess he will get to sit in the car for a bit till it stops or at least lessens in amount coming down! I'll close and be ready to help him gets in when it lets up. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Another Week Coming to a Close

Saying good bye to another week...seems like I just did that a few days ago. Time is going by so quickly. Woody left for dialysis at 7am this morning and was home at noon on the dot. He drove himself to dialysis today...a first since his surgery. I spent most of the morning in the kitchen. I made a recipe of my mother's...one that I had at ready if we had needed it while Cheryl and Rachel were here. The three of us really like...Woody not so much...that's the reason that I had wanted to make it when there more than me to eat it. But we didn't need it so now I am going to enjoy it. It is Tuna Garden Salad. The first time we had it was when we were visiting in AZ many years ago. It is a gelatin salad...but not a sweet type of gelatin salad. It uses unflavored gelatin. It also calls for Cream of Celery Soup. Since I don't use canned soups anymore, it means that I have to make my own...takes a bit of time. I had all the veggies that go in it all chopped...which helped on the time. The major eater of time is that you have to dissolve the gelatin in the hot soup and then add several other ingredients and then put it in the fridge and wait for it to start to gel so you can fold in the rest of the veggies and the tuna. I'm always afraid that I will wait too long...but I didn't and the salad was together and in the refrigerator to firm up the rest of the way. This was an appropriate day to make one of Mother's recipes as it is her birthday...it would have been her 109th birthday. The other thing that I did in the kitchen involved the herb garden. I decided that it was time to cut some oregano and dry it as my oregano container was getting empty. Sometimes I let the herbs dry on the counter in some of the pots that Melany has made on her pottery wheel, but today I decided to dry the oregano in the microwave...doesn't take very long! I still have to put it in the food processor to chop it up...a job for another day. I also cut two kinds of basil and cut those up and did put them in the pots to dry naturally. Having the herbs helps me to top off my spice/herb jars...at this time of the year I should never run out of thyme, oregano, chives, parsley, marjoram, or basil. The kitchen had quite a strong aroma of dried herbs...even Woody could tell when he got home. It may have kicked off my allergies as I have been sneezing and blowing my nose quite a bit today...of course, there is probably another good reason...I ran out of my allergy medicine a few days ago and hadn't gotten a chance to go to get any more. I made a WalMart run this afternoon as I had several things that I needed including several over-the-counter meds that I take daily. I have already taken my allergy med...hoping that it will stop the sneezing and runny nose and itchy eyes. I also roasted a chicken today and cut the meat off the bones...so now can have sandwiches or make a casserole or...I have gotten the kitchen cleaned up and the dishwasher is going...and, I'm ready to do nothing the rest of the evening except sit in my recliner! Woody has read, watched TV and done his daily crossword puzzles. I had his puzzles printed and ready for him when he got home from dialysis. I'm sitting here thinking what I did today and mainly remembering the things that I planned to do that I didn't get done...but I have stayed busy most of the day and haven't done much sitting! We did get a call about the ramp that is going to be built for us...weather permitting they will get underway with it on Tuesday. I still can't believe that we are at a season in our lives that we need this to be done for us...time does march on...whether we want it to or not! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Almost a Do-Nothing Day

Tonight's photo shows my accomplishment of the day...I finished a tiny cross stitch piece (note size compared to a quarter) that I plan to make into a tiny Christmas ornament. It was so good to have a day that we had no appointments...days like today seem to be a rarity lately! I did go to the public library to pick up a few books for Woody. That was my only outing of the day and that only took a few minutes. Both of us have done a lot of sitting in our recliners today. Since he wasnt having to head out the door to go to an appointment, Woody found the time to come upstairs and print off his own crossword puzzles and check on status of the St. Louis Cardinals. I have done a couple of loads of wash, put away dishes, etc. But have really mostly done a lot of nothing. We have both done some reading. Woody did his daily crossword puzzles. He has watched some TV. He worked on the Sunday School lesson that he will teach on Sunday. I started looking at the Sunday School lesson that I will be teaching next week. And, I stitched. I managed to get Woody's CT scan rescheduled. We got a call from the dialysis center that they want him to come in early again tomorrow morning. That should mean that he will be home before noon leaving his afternoon and evening free. Be safe! Be well! Be careful!

Tried…Again…And…We Will Try Again Next Week!

Tonight's photo is of Rustle. He is our granddaughter Erin's dog. She says that their personalities match...not real fond of being around a lot of people! Rustle was not sure about me being on the same couch with him...note that he is watching me out of the corner of his eye. Well, today followed all the days so far this week (except for Sunday) where Woody had appointments...today all dealt with dialysis. My morning started off with a call from the dialysis center at 6:15 saying that they had a chair open and could Woody come at 7:45. He had said the night before that he would gladly take an earlier time if it was offered to him...happy to get the dialysis over with earlier in the day. The change in time meant that I had to get in touch with our PD dialysis nurse to see if it was okay to come in earlier to attempt to flush Woody's PD catheter. He said that would work. I dropped Woody off at 7:45 and headed back home to get ready to head to Kroger around 9am. I needed to go to the Credit Union first and the inside doesn't open till 9am...and I do not like the drive through. It opens earlier, but I decided that I could manage to go to the Credit Union and Kroger and manage to get home with the groceries before it was time to head back to the dialysis center. I made it and was able to put away at least the cold/frozen items before I needed to leave. He wasn't finished with dialysis as soon as he usually is. He said that he didn't get started as soon as normal. He finally came out and went to the other end of the waiting room and rang the bell to alert the PD dialysis nurse that he was ready to come over to that side. The nurse was armed with several syringes and the solution bag already had heparin in it when we got in the room. Once again the small amount that they wanted to put in went in okay, but it just wouldn't drain out. There is a chance that the solution that remained in Woody might loosen up whatever is causing the catheter not to work as a drain and then he will go back and try again on Tuesday after his hemodialysis treatment. So hopeful that it will work...but definitely looking questionable. The solution that is being left in Woody's abdomen will all be absorbed at a point. Once again we both rested after we got back from our busy morning...I know that I napped for a while...not sure about Woody but think that he probably napped at least a little. Today they gave him an injection of iron and also his other injection that helps with his anemia...hoping that he will have a little more energy! The PD nurse thought that he seemed to have more energy than he had the last couple of times that he saw him. We got a message about the estimate for the cost of supplies for building the ramp. I have attempted to call back to okay the estimate and find out how they want payment for supplies, but at this point we are playing phone tag. If I don't hear back tonight, I will call again tomorrow. This is the greatest group of men from our church...they do this out of the kindness of their hearts...no labor costs...just building materials. If the weather holds out, they hope to get going on it perhaps Tuesday of this next week. Today is the first day in many a day that we haven't had even a drop of rain. It was nice to have the sun shining! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Where Do I Begin?!?

I'll start with the pretty flowers in tonight's blog photo. After a very long morning of appointments, it was so nice to hear from a friend and have her drop by with these lovely sunflowers to brighten up our day...along with some freshly picked blueberries and an inspirational book. How thoughtful and what perfect timing to give us a boost after the busy day. I wasnt sure if Woody wanted me to go with him to his surgeon appointment. But since the Peratoneal dyalysis catheter had to be addressed and I had what the dialysis nurse told us yesterday written downin my iPad notes, he decided that he wantedme to go to at least be another pair of ears. The surgeonwas pleased with the way Woody was healing. Next he addressed the problem of the peratoneal catheter. He isnt ready to call uncle yet. He wants the nurses at dialysis continue to attempt to get the catheter flowing more freely by using heparin. He wants Woody to get back on PD at home as soon as possible. He told us he would call and talk to Woody's dialysis nurse. The other thing that Woody wanted the surgeon to address was whether he could have a prostate biopsy that his urologist has scheduled. I was hoping the surgeon would nix it so soon after this surgery...but...nooooooo..he said that it would be perfectly fine. Woody is to go back to the surgeon in two weeks...we had to make that visit a little after the two-week time since two weeks from today is the biopsy. The one good thing about today's back-to-back appointments is that the offices are right next to each other so we just walked next door and got signed in for his oncology appointment. He decided that he wanted me there to be extra ears when he talked to his oncologist. We got there a bit early...but things proceded right along. They called him in for labs, then he saw the medical assistant who asked questions and pumped answers into the computer. The doctor came in and addressed questions that Woody had. This was the first time that I had met Dr. Eze. He asked about Woody's surgery to repair the tear in his peratoneum. Then he wanted to know about what Woody had found out at the endocronologist. We had to tell him that that appointment had never been made. He said that he would see that it was made before we left today. Next he addressed the melanoma on Woody's arm. He agrees that it is much larger. He was hoping that the Keytruda would have made it go away. He said Keytruda needs to continue as it treats his whole system. Removing or injecting the melanoma on his arm wouldn't do anything for the rest of his system. He didn't seem too anxious to do anything with the place on Woody's arm unless it became extremely painful. Then he addressed having the PET scan to see what was going on in the rest of his body. He had them schedule that appointment also before we left. At that point Woody headed into the treatment room andI went out to sit in the very cold waiting room. When Woody came out, he already had the appointments. But since I hadnt been there when they were making them, there is a conflict on the day they scheduled the PET scan...conflicts with the biopsy. I will have to call and get that appointment changed. We got home around 12:30...hard, long morning for Woody. He decided that he wanted his protein shake for lunch. I got that fixed for him and started getting something for me and the phone rang. It was a friend who was having inner ear problems and her doctor had told her to take dramamine and would I get her some. Before I fixed his lunch, I had called the pharmacy to fill some prescriptions for us...so I managed to kill two birds with one stone by getting her dramamine while I was getting our medicine. I took her medicine to her, talked to her for a few minutes, and headed home to rest! When I sat down I called our Fresenius nurse. He asked me yesterday to call and report on our visit to the surgeon. He had to call me back so I rested while I waited! When he called back, I asked if the surgeon had called him and he had. I think ouf nurse is questioning the doctor a bit, but he is willing to give it a try. So Woody will go back in for another flush with heparin. Time will tell, if the doctor is right or not! I didn't mention that the surgeon said that if this doesn't work then he will have to go in like he did when placing the catheter and attempt to clear the catheter laproscopically. Another surgery! Certainly hoping that we can get the catheter cleared from this side! I don't think the nurse is very optomistic. Again, time will tell! It has been quite a day! I heard a few minutes ago that one of our Sunday School member's sister and brother-in-law both have Covid and one is in the hospital. Covid hasn't left us yet! So...continue to be safe...be well...be cautious!

Why Can’t Things Be Simple?

Got up today thinking that that the morning was free till around 11 when I would take Woody to the dialysis center. He thought about going by himself but since he wa going to go to the peritoneal dyalysis side of the building after his hemodialysis, I needed to be there for the flushing of the PD line so I could learn how to do it. While I was making his pancakes, we got a phone call asking if he would come in at 8:45 instead of 11:30 so that changed my plans of the day. I had planned to go to the grocery store after I dropped Woody off, but since I didn't have my list ready when it was time for him to go, I ended just coming on home...planning to work on the list and then go later in the afternoon or tomorrow...or sometime in the near future! In the end I was glad that I did come home as two of the gentlemen who are going to build our ramp came by to make some final measurements and ended up changing the original plan a bit and needed my apprval. I did get the list going...always a work in progress...but at least it has some items on it now. I used the time to clean out the refrigerator and start preparation for a recipe that I won't be able to finish till I go to the store as I need more celery. I headed back a little before 1pm to get Woody and move to the other end of the dialysis center. And, at this point of the day things didn't go so great. Today the fluid went in but very slowly and he couldn't get much of any that went in to come out. So...that problem will have to be discussed with the surgeon tomorrow. It will probably mean a surgical procedure to relocate the datheter for the peritoneal dialysis...like the title of tonight's blog says...why can't things be simple? I guess we will see tomorrow what the surgeon wants to do about the latest problem. The PD nurses are dealing with something that they have never dealt with before...a leak in the peratoneum. Woody looked it up on the internet and found out that only 2% of PD patients develop leaks. "Lucky" him to fall into that small percentage! Oh, well, I guess we just keep on keeping on. I'll let you know what the surgeon plans to do about this latest hiccup tomorrow night! We have had more rain today...the flowers continue to be happy. I guess my herb garden will have to be shifted around a bit to accomodate the ramp. Well, I have a few dishes that need to be tucked into the dishwasher before I run the dishwasher tonight. Guess I should go do that and then retire to my recliner. I'm ready to either read or stitch. I just ran off Woody's daily crosword puzzles so he is happily working those and watching the All-Star Baseball game. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! This is one of our rascally squirrels...seems to be simple for him to get seed from the feeders...even those that are supposed to be squirrel-proof...tnis one isn't squirrel-proof and he looks like he is sucking the seeds out of the little holes and then leisurely holding on with his back feet while he enjoys his seed feast.

Signs of the Day (Taken Another Day!)

We left the house around 7 this morning. Woody had an appointment with his dermatologist in Murfreesboro. Woody drove there (first time that he has driven since his surgery), but by the time he walked to his appointment from the car, had his appointment, and walked back to the car, he decided that I could ride home. He said that it wasn't because he felt weak, but that he just felt so sleepy. So I drove home, me who says that I no longer drive out of Tullahoma! I only drove on Interstate 24 for a short distance and then got off to take the back roads back to Tullahoma...not straight roads by any means! But I have driven this route before so I was fairly familiar with it. There was a possibility of rain and I didn't want to have to deal with all the trucks passing on the interstate in the rain! It only rained a little so that was good. We made it home...thankfully. We both rested a good portion of the afternoon! Woody went to the Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting this evening. I have come out on the front porch to wait for him so I can "help" in the house...or at least spot him when he is going up the front steps. The fireflies are out and it is rather pleasant on the front porch. It has been breezy today and a bit cooler so the humidity was bearable. I killed a mosquito on my arm a few minutes ago...but that was when I was still inside. So far this year the mosquitos haven't been too bad. We really got the rain yesterday...major downpours at times...haven't had to water the gardens for several days now and they continue to look good. I picked a tomato yesterday...needs to ripen a bit more, but it can do that on our kitchen counter where its redness won't tempt any birds! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! And, no, I did not take these signs today, but on another trip with Woody was driving...but I did see these signs today along with a lot of others warning of curves, etc.

Blueberry Pickin’

Nathan, Kathy, Joy, Esther, Elijah, Isaac, and Joeph came over to pick blueberries late this morning. Their blueberry bushes get bigger every year...so tall that Nathan even has trouble getting the ones at the very top. Isaac was attempting to eat more than he picked...but once they were in the colander, he was supposed to leave them alone! I caught him when his daddy's back was turned! The really big juicy ones are very hard to resist! So far the netting has kept the birds out. The blueberry picking trip was Nathan's second trip to our house today. He showed up earlier in the morning with a friend from church who is a part of a team of men who help out folk who need something done around their house...in our instance it is getting a ramp built from our back door and over to our driveway. He took measurements and said they would build it in the near future. Sounds like they have a plan in mind as to how to do it. These same men will be doing some work for Nathan at the Baptist Collegiate Center at Motlow. Woody was going to drive himself to dialysis today, but changed his mind when he decided he hadn't given himself enough time to get there and in at a leisurely pace. His big accomplishment was he did manage to get back in the house after dialysis without Nathan or any neighborly assistance. I spent quite a bit of time in the dark this afternoon after dropping Woody off at dialysis. The electricity went off and stayed off for about 1-1/2 hours. Woody heard at dialysis that the outage was due to an accident on Jackson Street (main drag in Tullahoma). Kathy was running errands in town and she saw two ambulances heading somewhere. It involved a motorcycle and another vehicle. I had no idea why the electricity went out nor how much of an area the outage involved. Kathy did text me that the grocery store where Abigail works was without power...and that is a ways away from our house. When I went upstairs my cell phone was beeping and one of the messages was from our internet provider saying that there was an outage and that electricity would be off for several hours. Shortly after the power came back on...in a shorter time than the internet provider estimated...I got another message from the internet folk saying that power was restored and if we still didn't have the internet to call a certain number. I appreciated the information from them...getting that text let me know that it wasn't just our house! I took advantage of the outage and just rested during that time...read a little and then just rested my eyes till I felt the overhead fan come on and knew that power was back. Woody said that he wouldn't have known about the outage, except that the nurses said something about it. I'm sure that they have a back-up generator at the dialysis center. But I am pretty sure that they must have been affected because they are located on Jackson Street. Oh, and, about the drama from his last dialysis session, Woody found out that the lady is in the hospital. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Lazy-Rainy Day

It has just been "one of those" days...We had a thunderstorm roll through that gave us quite a heavy rain for a while. It was really dark in the house for a while...a good time to sleep in late...or as I did go back to sleep after I got our breakfast. I think that Woody slept in later than he thought he had because it was so dark. Then late this morning the phone rang...I saw that it was an unknown number so I didn't answer. In a few minutes after it rang, Woody was "dropping in on me" via Alexa saying that he thought that was probably dialysis calling because he was late. I guess he had fallen asleep and thought it was Saturday. He was glad that he hadn't forgotten and that he still had the day off from dialysis! I have read and stitched today. Yesterday I requested a book from the public library for Woody. They called this morning saying that they had it for us to pick up. After lunch, I headed off to the library to get the book for Woody and found another one. Then I headed to a nearby grocery store and got some ice cream for Woody's shakes. I have taken several naps. Woody started reading one of the books that I got him and probably did a little napping, too...as I said...just one of those days! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

New Sampler for the Stairwell Wall

Yesterday I got a call from Hobby Lobby that my frame was ready for my sampler. I got the sampler stretched on the mat board so it was all ready to take to Hobby Lobby this morning after I dropped Woody off at dialysis. I spent quite a while this afternoon deciding where I would hang it on the sampler wall. In the end I moved one sampler to another spot on the wall and let the new one take its place toward the top of the stairs. The photos show the new sampler, the sampler wall looking up the stairs and then looking down. On the one shooting down, you can see the new sampler...closest to the top of the framed pieces. It fit perfectly in the place of my oldest sampler. The one I took down, I found a new place for towards the bottom of the staircase. I also took down all the samplers one by one and dusted them and then hung them. I hadn't done this job before Cheryl and Rachel came because they were all straight and wanted to leave well enough alone! I used the laser level and got them hopefully straight once again. I also changed the bumpers on all the photos to the silicone type that "hold onto" the wall a bit better than the felt ones that the framers had put on all those many years ago. All the samplers are dated in the 1990s except for one that dates to the 80s and the new one with 2021...a bit of a time warp...I guess those dates show a gap of when I wasn't stitching much. Plus once I got a pleasing number done for the staircase, I went on to stitch other things. Now I'm thinking of adding to the stair sampler collection once again...lots more space...can go higher! While I was rehanging samplers, I got a call from the shoestore that the sandals, that I had ordered back when I bought the shoes to wear to the wedding, had come in. So I left in plenty of time to get the shoes before I picked up Woody. In the end it took a little longer than planned as the ones I had ordered didn't fit quite right. So then I had several of the staff pulling varioius and sundry pairs of sandals down from their shoe wall. In the end it was their oldest employee (96) who found the ones that fit best and that I liked. I still had plenty of time to get to the dialysis center...well before Woody ended coming out. I went in to the waiting room to keep cool while I waited. I was looking through a fiction catalog for the church library when all sorts of activity started to happen. One of Woody's PD nurses came hurrying into the hemodialysis and used the code to let him in the hemodialysis room. Not far behind him came Woody's other PD nurse...hurrying and also letting himself into the hemodialysis room. Next a police car or two arrived with lights flashing and they piled into the waiting room and eventually into the dialysis room. At this point it was obvious that someone was in trouble...and I assumed that it was a dialysis patient...of course I had no clue as to who it was...could have been Woody as far as I knew. One dialysis patient did come out and she asked one of the policemen a question and the policeman said that "she" was breathing again...so at that point I knew that it wasn't Woody. By then a rescue squad truck from the fire department had arrived and not long after that an ambulance arrived. So...drama in the dialysis center this afternoon and Woody and I were in the midst of it. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but Woody said that it was obvious that it was touch and go for a while. In the end she was not taken by ambulance. Woody heard them say that she needed more dialysis so were hooking her back up. Woody was finally wheeled out to me and by the time I had him in the car and the wheelchair back in the center and I was ready to drive away, both the rescue truck and the ambulance were leaving. A rather action packed end of the afternoon! I got Woody home and into the wheelchair and rolled back to the front steps. He sat for a while to gain enough strength to be able to walk up the steps using his walker. I went inside to get a drink of water and Kathy called. She asked if Woody needed help...he had just said "no" to me, but since Kathy called, he decided that he could use Nathan and a strong child. So in the end, Nathan, Esther and I got the wheel chair up the steps. Woody has decided that perhaps it is time to get a ramp installed that would go up to the back door. Nathan talked to some men at the church the other day who were willing to help us out by building one. Woody needed a bit of time to think it through and this morning decided that perhaps it is time to do it. Nathan will let the gentlemen know that we are ready for a ramp when they are ready to build one. Woody did come upstairs this morming and ran off his own crossword puzzles and check out things on the computer. That was the firt time he had traversed the stairs since before his surgery. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy 12th Birthday, Elijah!

Busy Time at Fresenius Dialysis Center

Most of Woody's morning and afternoon was spent at the dialysis center. First he went to the peritoneal dialysis side of the center. His nurse connected him to do a small amount of fill and then drain him...he filled fine but the drain time was very slow. At first I was to do the low volume fill and then drain next week, but since things didn't want to drain, I told the nurse that I wasn't comfortable with doing it at home. He agreed and Woody will go next Tuesday after his hemodialysis and attempt it again. He did flush Woody's actual line with a syringe and got things flowing better. He would have done more but it was time for Woody to go to his hemodialysis. Today, Woody just had to walk down the hall and through two doors to get to the hemodialysis waiting room. After I left Woody for hemodialysis, I ran a quick errand to Hobby Lobby to get some things that I need to get my sampler ready for framing. I am getting things set up to work on it so it will be ready when I get the call that the frame is ready. I spent the afternoon reading, stitching, and getting caught up on our wash. I finished a book, got a load of wash done and put away, and got the guest bed remade...so can have guests again! Woody was once again totally zapped after hemodialysis this afternoon. He managed to get into the car, but told me on the way home that he thought that he needed Nathan come to get the wheelchair out of the trunk to get him inside. They did come to his rescue...Nathan, Kathy and Elijah...and managed to get him into the house and to his recliner. Over the weekend we were on our own to get inside and it was not easy...he took lots of rests and it took a very long time for him to see his recliner. We even had to call on a neighbor on Saturday to help him to his chair. We will both be glad when he no longer has to go to the center for dialysis...home dialysis should begin in a couple of weeks. I didn't mention about the "exciting" time that Cheryl had getting back to AZ. Her plane got diverted to Dallas because of an unruly/uncooperative passenger who got escorted off once they landed in Dallas. Her flight was delayed by an hour, but she did finally get home. Cheryl is one who takes great pains to make sure that she has a direct flight...her planning ahead didn't work for her this time! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Slowly But Surely

Woody and I have just returned from the Monday Night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting. I was his driver tonight...much to his dismay! At the moment, he is resting in a yard chair getting up enough energy to make it up the four steps and onto our front porch...not easy for him at any time, but since surgery especially difficult. Today he has spent most of the day resting. I think that he got really good rest during the night last night and also several good naps during the day. He didn't have any appointments this morning or afternoon so he stayed in and rested...hopefully good for healing. Tomorrow he has an appointment at the dialysis center to check that his peritoneal catheter still works. He is going in tomorrow to flush the line to make sure that it is still working. The surgeon has okayed a low volume flush. We will probably find out how soon he will start back on dialysis at home. I know that Woody will be glad when he doesn't have to spend 4 or 5 hours at the dialysis center three times a week. He will have hemodialysis after his appointment with the peritoneal dialysis nurse. I haven't done a lot since Cheryl left on Friday...have been lazy and resting up. There is still plenty of food left so I haven't even had to cook. Once Woody gets in the house I will make him his evening shake. I have been reading and doing some stitching on a Christmas ornament. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy Fourth of July Weekend

Bye!

And...she's gone! Cheryl should be in the air as I type this winging her way closer and closer to Arizona. it's pretty quiet around here. Melany and Erin came this morning with a two-fold purpose...1)to take Woody to the surgeon's office and 2) to take Cheryl to the Nashville airport. Melany also brought us lunch. So I am now calling her our personal caterer! She has brought lunch tonus twice this week plus fed us last week at the wedding and then at their house...made a lot less cooking for me! The meals that I did plan worked out very well and I had to do very little cooking while she and Rachel were here. Woody's appointment went well this morning. The surgeon said that he should be good to go till he sees him again in a week and a half. Tomorrow will be an interestijg experience as it will be the first time that he will venture out with only me. He has dialysis tomorrow. Then we will venture out Sunday for Sunday School as it is his week to teach (three teachers take turns). He was pretty worn out by the time he got back from his trip to the doctor this morning. He did sit on the front porch for a little while this morning after he and Melany returned from the surgeon's. I really enjoyed having Cheryl and Racheo being here...it is going to seem strange for a while not having them around to visit with! The porch seemed rather lonely when I sat out there for a little while this afternoon. The weather was so nice just about the whole time they were here...we had some rain but not too much...had some warm temperatures but not too hot or too humid. We all had a nice time all around...now Woody...perhaps not as much since he had surgery in the midst of their visit! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Party Must Be About Over

Cheryl and I just ate the last two slices of Abigail's cheesecake...a sign that Cheryl's visit is close to coming to a close. Abigail brought it over to us the night before Rachel arrived...so we have been nibbling on it ever since. Tonight is Cheryl's last night here so we decided that it was now time to eat those last to slices...all left...some crumbs and the box. We enjoyed it thoroughly! Good cook, Abigail! Woody was pretty much able to take it easy today...not that he wanted to do much! He has had quite a bit of pain and decided that he would give in to taking a pain pill...not the best of days...but it is only day two after his surgery. Tomorrow is the infamous "third day." I'm hoping that he doesn't have a bad third day! Tomorrow he goes back to the surgeon to have the catheter taken out. Melany is coming in the morning and will help get him to the doctor before she whisks Cheryl off to the airport. Cheryl and I ran errands this morning...a stop at WalMart, Hobby Lobby, and the pharmacy...that was our "excitement" for the day! Cheryl got to enjoy porch sitting today when it was raining. We did have to come in when the thunder started rumbling. Now it is time to put a few dishes into the dishwasher and come close to calling it quits for the night. The tradition used to be to stay up all night on the last night of a visit...this started with our mother and her sister, our Aunt Lois. But not sure that these sisters will be able to keep our eyes open that long! I'm pretty tired...not sure about Cheryl. I have been the party pooper this visit...I think too much going on besides the visit! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!