Sprung on Leap Day!

Surprisingly enough, the hospital discharge moved much more quickly than our other discharge experiences. The hospitalist came in and said how much better he was than when she saw him yesterday. She told us that a plan was in place to solve the problems with dialysis. She and the nephrology team (includes Dr. O, his nephrologist) made the plans which include getting his blood pressure that seems to have become high when he is not on diaysis and then during dialysis it drops drastically...so he has been put on a blood pressure med that he will take twice a day except on dialysis day...dialysis day he will not take it in the morning prior to dialysis. Also his dry weight (the weight that they consider the weight he should be when he is dialyzed correctly...the number that they use to decide how much fluid to draw off during dialysis). I have been "suggesting" for months that they reevaluate his dry weight since he is eaating so much better and "should" be gaining weight. Supposedly there is to be communication with the center prior to him going for his next treatment on Saturday. So he has had a break from dialysis today and again tomorrow...then back to the center dialysis routine on Saturday. We both have been tired...I have napped off and on a good poriton of the afternoon. He has dozed some too. He is pretty tired at the moment trying to get up enough energy to transfer to the couch. Nathan and Kathy were just here checking on us...but he wasn't ready to transfer while they wre here...(insert eye roll from me!). His strength is less than usual since he spent 2-1/2 days in a hospital bed without getting up...he didn't even have to get up for dialysis at the hospital as they transferred him in his bed and he stayed in the bed during the dialysis. So we will see how well he transfers here in a few minutes. I am in the room with him now...though he "seems" to think that he needs no help...again insert an eue roll from me! He is definitely much better than yesterday, but still a bit weak from not having moved around much. If it were me I would just stay in the recliner for tonight...but then he is not me!!!!! Too be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Not Sprung Yet!

Well, he is still in "jail" aka the hospital. He had another episode during dialusis today and perhaps for the better as more and different medical folk saw how he was before and after. I spoke with the hospitalist and she has an approach that we will try. She says that his blood pressure is very high at times other than dialysis...when it drops very low. And, she thinks that they are taking too much fluid off of him during dialysis (I have been trying to convince them of that for months!) So she is going to get them to reevaluate his dry weight and pull less off. And, she wants to address his blood pressure with other than the dialysis taking care of it...so she is starting him on a blood pressure med tonight to see how he responds to it. She has discussed this with the nephrology team, which should include his nephrologist, as Dr. O is the head of nephrology at the hospital. Woody was good when I saw him this morning, but when I came back after he finished dialysis, he didn't seem so good...seemed very "slow." At that time I did not know that he had repeated his "spell" in dialysis today. Once I found that out the way Woody was acting made sense. I called the dialysis center and told them that he was still in the hospital and wouldn't be coming to the center in the morning. This will give him two days on the blood pressure med before his next dialysis. He is not to take the blood pressure med on his dialysis days. His wound care team came in this afternoon...three of the team that we see each time we go to wound care...that was nice. They could also tell that he was not himself. I will say that after he ate a good supper tonight that he seemed to be more himself. They had his favorite Vandy meal tonight...pot roast. And, I can attest that it is one of the best pot roasts that I have ever eaten...so tender and a nice thick slice. Everyone seems to love this Vanderbilt meal. When he was at Vanderbilt, Nashville, for three weeks this is the meal that Woody ordered most often. I was glad to see that meal as I knew that he would eat it and enjoy it. I came home just before dark and will head back in the morning. The hospitalist said that she plans to discharge him tomorrow as long as he is doing okay...time will tell! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Look What Misbehaving AGAIN in Dialysis Gets You!

So Woody had another "spell" at dialysis this morning...not too long into his session so they had to cut it short and return his blood and give his saline. The saline didn't bring him out of his confusion...and I guess he lost consciousness for a short time. They called 911 and had an ambulance transport him the short distance to the hospital. This time his "misbehaving" in dialysis (that is what the dialysis nurse at the hospital called it) got him a jail sentence...as this time he is having to serve real time as they admitted him...didn't release him after a time in the ER. A couple of his labs were out of line so they wanted to check him out and hopefully figure out what is causing these episodes. The last one a couple of weeks ago only showed low blood sugar as something out of line. This time the dialysis nurse at the center immediately checked his blood sugar when it happened and it was not low this time...but his blood pressure was low. So who knows! They did multiple times multiple tests during his ER time. Then when he got to a real hospital room they did an echocardiogram and also put a heart monitor on him. There was something elevated that indicated it could be blood clots or a heart problem...but problem is that dialysis can cause these tests to read high...or whatever, too. He was fine by the time I got to the hospital...all confusion was gone, but he had/has no memory of what happened after this came on him at dialysis...once again he missed the fact that he rode in the ambulance. He missed all the fun! The ER doctor said that he was very confused when he came in...only question he answered correctly was his hame. But an hour later he was able to answer all their questions. He had a very bad headache and they did give him Tylenol in the ER and by the time I left a little before 5pm, his headache was better, but not totally gone. Well, as I say each night...to be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Monday, Monday!

It has been a busy day, at least for me. Woody has taken it easy...trying to nurse his sore back. He took a backwards fall early Sunday morning...his feet slipped when he was going from his recliner to the couch and he landed on his back. Nathan and Graham came to our rescue in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Neither of us went to church. I didn't feel like I could leave him till I knew a little more as to how stove up he was going to be. He has transfered several times since on his own with the walker...most of the time he was successful. He had to have another rescue a few hours ago, as he slid off his recliner when he didn't sit far enough back on the chair when he was sitting down. Nathan and Elijah came to his rescue this time. Now if he could just stay upright and off the floor! I did go to prayer meeting tonight and just got home a few minutes ago. I decided that I wanted to get our sour dough starter active again so today was the first time that I have used it. I made sour dough waffles. I also knew that we needed "liquie gold" aka chicken broth/stock. I made some today...so I have made several messes in the kitchen today. I have already done one load of dishes...and will have a second once I get it unloaded and reloaded. This load may be only a bottom rack run. I like that feature of this dishwasher...you can run a cycle for just the top or just the bottom oe for both. I have managed to get the snowmen and trees all back in storage boxes. I undecorated the "Valentine" tree...so now have those ornaments to find a spot for in the Christmas storage boxes. I decorated the corner tree for Spring/Easter this afternoon...so have that mess to clean up from. Still have to get out my Spring decortions...lots of bunnies will soon be adorning nooks and crannies around here. But first there are lots of messes to deal with. I know that eventually things will get straightened up again, but at the moment...Over the weekend I worked on several of my cross stitch pieces...no time for cross stitch today...maybe before I close my eyes tonight? I am making some headway on the gift cross stitch piece. Woody transferred successgully to the couch so he is settling in for the night. I still need to do a little to his leg. And, I do need to go work some more on the kitchen before I can retire upstairs for the night. I might try to pack away a few more ornaments before I end my day. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Saturday All Over Again!

We both agreed today that it seemed just like yesterday that it was Saturday and here Saturday is again...well, almost over now. It has been a fairly busy day. Woody, of course, had dialysis...last treatment for this week and now has two days off before his next treatment. I went to two grocery stores while he was at dialysis. I picked him up with the groceries in the back seat of the car...couldn't put them in the trunk and get the wheelchair in. I didn't have time this shopping trip to go home and put groceries away before picking him up. He came out just a few minutes after I got to the dialysis center so we were on our way. I got him settled in his recliner and then got the groceries brought in and put away. I did manage to do a little cross stitching. I seem to have established the pattern on the latest piece that was giving me a problem last night...perhaps I will be able to complete it in a timely manner aftet all. This afternoon I made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby to buy more floss for that project. I also bought something for a topper for the corner tree when it becomes a Spring/Easter tree. I moved a few more items upstairs ready for their Christmas storage boxs...not many...today seems to have been filled with other things to do. Since I am stitching on a piece to give as a gift, I am trying to use extra time in that direction...plus stitching is a good excuse to sit down and rest...of course, sometimes mu stitching time becomes my napping time. I often wake up with the needle still in my hand. I guess I take after my mother...she often fell asleep while doing her needlepoint...she would wake up to find stitches in the wrong place, as she would continue stitching after she fell asleep. I haven't taken after her to that extent, at least not yet! Woody's leg has been dressed, the kitchen has been cleaned up, and the dishwasher is going. Now that I have written the blog, I will tap publish and then I will get back to my stitching. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Free Friday

It was a free Friday and we just stayed home and enjoyed it. It was time to do a little cooking and Woody chose Chili Mac from the choices I gave him. That goes together fairly quickly without not a tremendous amount of effort...so I liked that part. I continued to put away the winter decorations...all trees are upstairs and a good portion of them have found a place to rest till the end of the year. Once I have the kitchen cleaned up (We just finished eating...running a bit late tonight with supper), I will get Woody's leg taken care of and then I will head upstairs and find places for a few more trees. I still have snowmen to find storage places for...but they are smaller than some of the trees...so the can be tucked into nooks and crannies of boxes that I have mostly filled already. I have done some stitching. I started a piece that I hope to give as a gift...but the start hasn't gone the smoothest...if the piece doesn't start behaving, I may have to put it in time out and find something else to gift! I will persevere a little longer with it...but not a lot longer! I have also done a little reading. Woody has done a plethora of crossword puzzles today. He stacks up the puzzles pages he has completed for me to put in the paper recycle bin...I have added a lot of papers to be recycled so far today. He must be closing in on finishing his daily crossword calendar...and, it isn't even March yet. I think that we both may have napped a little this afternoon. I have been cleaning as I put away trees and snowmen...lots of dust has accumulated in and around them. I brought down some of the every day decorations to be put back in place once the furniture has been polished...or at least given a good dusting. The vacuum has seen a little action...not much, but a little less thread is scattered around my chair. I have a place where I put my thread clippings (called orts), but inevitably some managed to get on the floor or attached to whatever I am wearing, etc. Tomorrow is another early day. But one nice thing is that as the days get longer, we are no longer heading off in total darkness and it isn't as cold...at least most mornings. I have heard that the temperatures are supposed to be down in the upper 20s or low 30s when we head off to church. These warmer temperatures are just teases at times! I do have my new phones up and working and it has been a lot quieter day...not as many spam calls. This phone is supposed to block certain types of calls/numbers. That will be a good thing...we get so many calls wanting to represent Woody and his book, Prayers From God. The best one was the gentleman who said that he had read the book and thought it warrented consideration for a movie...even Woodu laughed at that! I told Nathan about that suggestion last night and he REALLY got a laugh out of it. So if we can get some of those multiple daily calls blocked, these phones will have done us a service! My sister called me on the home line to test out the quality of the call and it was good on both ends of the wire for us. Supposedly I can link the cell phone to these phnnes...at this point I haven't figured out how to do that...may have to depend on Nathan to help interpret those instructions. I did set the time and date on my own and have chosen places to put the phones...hoping that I can get to one without breaking my neck. I'm glad to have one next to my chair and one next to Woody's chair. I've attempted to show him how to answer it and how to call on it...we'll see how good a pupil he is!!! I'll bet it will take a couple of times of the phone ringing and him answering it for him to learn! The phone actually tells you who is calling...I haven't attempted to figure out how to use it as an intercom yet...one of these days! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Thursday

Today I made two trips back and forth at the start of Woody's dialysis...forgot to leave his bag with him. This bag has his crossword puzzles and pencils, pencil sharpner and glasses tthat he needs to work the puzzles. It also has a fleece throw and other things that he might need during the four hours that he is there. Oops...that is twice lately that I have forgotten to get it out of the bak seat in the last few treatments. Jo, Carolyn and I met for breakfast. We enjoyed the breakfast, but mostly enjoyed catching up with one another. It was Jo's birthday. So a birthday celebration also! I left from the restaurant to go pick up Woody. I have all the snowmen on the dining room table and all the trees on the table in the living room...now to get up the energy to bring boxes down to find spots for them to be stored till the next go-round of decorating. I did quite a bit of reading this afternoon to be able to finish the book that will be taken back into cyberspace tomorrow. I finished it and have returned it. About the time I finished that book another book became available to me that is on the reading list for the Cottey book club this year. I decided that I would read it while it is available. This new book is a couple months out from its discussion day. The one I finished reading today is the last book of this book club years reads...so it won't be discussed till next March! I wonder if I will remember it by then. My one surprise when I put this book on the list was that I had read the author's Pulitzer Prize winning book...I hadn't realized it, but when I read the summary of that book I did remember it. Prodding the old brain to keep thinking and remembering! Last night I did finish stitching the cross stitch piece that I was hoping to finish and started on one of new small spring pieces that I got the floss for in the mail. We are switching phones and the base phone with answering machine. Nathan is going to help me get them set up...these are supposed to be smarter than the ones we have now. I just know that the ones we have now aren't convenient to get to...one in the sewing room and one in the kitchen...the base phone that has the answering machine is on the other side of our bed...and that phone no longer works/keeps a charge...so it is only an answering machine that doesn't tell me correctly when the call came in, etc. The kitchen phone has a cord as it was originally a land line until our phone line became one with the cable that we get the internet over...so getting rid of the corded phone and the base with answering machine will attach to the wall in the kitchen...we'll see how long it will take me to get used to checking messages downstairs! Right now I have the phones that wil be placed in other rooms all charging downstairs. They all needed to charge for seven hours...thought that this was as good a time as ever to get them charged. Then they will be ready to go when Nathan gets things connected and set up. Supposedly this phone can even be connected to our cell phone and it will block certain numbers, spam, etc. Hoping that it is user friendly! The one that is on the wall in the kitchen I can hardly read the screen and it doesn't identify who is calling. Now the one upstairs does identify who is calling and I like that...hoping that the new will too...I'm pretty sure that it will. For the moment I have done what I knew how to do...insert batteries and plug in the phones' bases. None are connected to our phone line yet. Woody stayed pretty quiet today, but seemed to feel pretty good...didn't feel or get sick to his stomach today. Tomorrow is a stay-at-home day that we are looking forward to. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Waning February

As the end of February gets nearer, I decided that it was time to rid the house of winter decor. So that process started today. Smowmen and trees are being gathered so I can find boxes to store them in till time once again to decorate for Christmas. I also slid furniture around so I can bring back a small bookshelf that has resided upstairs since I removed it to decorate for Christmas. I am pretty much going to get tables and bookshelves back to their everyday decor, but will intersperse Spring items amongst the everyday. i haven't taken ornaments off the Valentine tree yet, but will also do that and put Spring/Easter decorations on it...aiming for March to have things back to normal with touches of Spring. That's not many days away. I have interspersed reading in while doing this undecorating/decorating. I'm still trying to finish the e-book before it is whisked away tomorrow or the next day. I have now read about 75% of the book...maybe I can manage. I did check and the public library does have a copy of this book available if it is taken away before I finish it and I decide that I don't want to wait till my turn comes around with the e-book again. This afternoon I did sit down to do a bit of stitching, but ended up napping instead. When I woke up, I did do a little more stitching. I am approaching a finish with the small piece that I am doing. I want to finish this one before I start one of the new ones that I received floss for yesterday. I have been rotating between small cross stitch projects...setting a goal to reach before I move on to a different one. The one I am working on now is just too close to being finished to set it aside...so the goal has become "finish it" before moving on. I think that I can finish it tonight...BUT that would mean that I won't be reading on "the" book! Decisions! Decisions! Woody had a pretty good day. He did get sick right after lunch...once again, I'm wondering if it is Keytruda since he had it last Friday and at times there seems to be a pattern that he gets sick sometime in the next week after having it. I just am keeping watch on when it happens. Luckily of late he rarely gets sick...when a while back he was getting sick a lot. I'm glad we are at this point with him! I am in the process of washing a throw and t-shirts and a sweatshirt. Part are in the drier now and the most important is the throw as he really likes this one at night as it keeps him warmer than his others. Other than the one time of being sick, Woody has had a good day, as far as I can tell. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

How are Things Going?

Going fairly well here today. We headed off to dialysis early. I came home to do a bit of library work prior to working in the library this afternoon...doing the prework that needs to b done prior to entering them into the computer. Got that done and did a few, very few, things around the house and then sat down to read and do a little cross stitching. I am trying to finish a book that is about to be whisked away from me in a couple of days. I don't think that I can get it finished before its loan time to me is over. I'm only a little over half-way finished. I was already reading it before Saturday's book club and it was one that was chosen for next year's club reads...so once it is finished I have a jump on the book list! I think that it is the final book of next year...do you suppose that I will remember it enough to participate in a discussion!?!?!? When it has been a while since I finished one of the club books, I will either try to check it out again and skim through it or I will go online and find a summary of the book...usually that brings things about the book back to mind! I did that today for next month's book as it has been quite a while since I read it and was having trouble getting the storyline back in my head...that summary has helped. Besides at the moment I really want to be stitching...so that cuts into my reading time unless I can get an audio book...I can listen while stitching. Today I got an order from a cross stitch shop in Colorado. I ordered a chart that I want to stitch for a special gift for a special someone and also got some over-dyed floss to use for a couple of Spring small pillows that I want to put into my antique scoop. I ran a couple of errands before picking Woody up this morning. Woody was wheeled out from his dialysis treatment about a minute or two after I sat down in the waiting room. The nurse said that he had a good treatment. We headed home for an after-dialysis snack for him and then a bit later for lunch. I headed off after lunch for the church library. I was a bit later than planned because of a long train going through Tullahoma. I finally got there and was surprised that Donna hadn't gotten there yet...especially with my train delay. I went in and cranked up the computer and did a couple of tasks...and Donna still wasn't there. I finally decided that perhaps we had gotten our wires crossed. We had talked Sunday morning and I told her that the books had arrived and she asked if we should plan to work today. I "thought" that I answered her...but perhaps only in my mind?!? So this morning, I didn't send my usual text confirming...thought we had...guess not...remember I was teaching that Sunday and my mind is usually going in many directions before we get underway! Anyway...I texted with Donna and told her not to come due to my late notification today! And, told her that I would enter the books in the computer and run the labels and we would pick up from there next week! I didn't have to cook much today...just warm up or get out of the refrigerator and plate up some of the leftovers from the meal that Melany, Wade, and Erin brought us yesterday. Woody chose the salad and the creme brulee. Wade got a tor Christmas to make authentic creme brulee...it was VERY good! Quite a treat! I talked to Melany. She has been giving me almost daily updates on the student teacher she has at the moment...quite the stories...she may be able to write a book after this experience! I have dressed Woody's leg and he is all tucked in for the night watching a TV FBI show. I still have to add the last dishes of the day and start the dishwasher and then I will head upstairs to my chair and finish the day reading and perhaps a little stitching. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Presidents’ Day 2024

We have had a good day. Melany, Wade, and Erin brought us lunch and visited for several hours. I gave Woody the choice of us eating in the family room with him or all of us eating in the dining room. He chose the dining room. My big surprise was when he rejected a ride in the wheelchair and said that he would use his walker to go to the dining room. He made it there and then back to his chair after our meal. He really enjyed the meal, too. He commented tonight that he was much stronger than he had been. I think that it wore him out, as I found him sound asleep on the couch when I got home from prayer meeting a little while ago. That about sums up our day. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Back to Winter!

I guess that it got into the low 30s today, but it didn't feel like it due to the wind chill. It's supposed to get down to 19°F. Brrrrrr! It will be cold going to church in the morning! Today went well for Woody at dialysis. His blood sugar stayed good and finally he was back to finishing at the time that he used to...lately he has been getting finished later and later. I was especially glad that he got done in a timely manner today, as today was my Zoom book club meeting with alum from Cottey College. Today we discussed the book that they call the "common book" at Cottey...all incoming students read it and use it in their first year writing class. One of the Cottey professors lead our discussion. After the discussion of the book, What the Eyes Don't See, we stayed in the Zoom meeting and made choices for the next twelve books that we will read and discuss. Next month will finish our first year for this book club. After the club meeting it was time for lunch. Then I got busy completing my notes for tomorrow's Sunday School lesson. The notes are finished and hopefully printed off...I will check the printer in a while and see if they printed. I have to gather up the books and other information and tuck them into my bag and I will be ready to head out the door with them in the morning. I'm heading back downstairs to clean up the kitchen from the mess of making taco meat and the rest of the toppings...get the dishwasher loaded, wash what has to be washed by hand and then check on Woody and then head upstairs. I have already taken care of his leg. He seems to be back to using his walker to get from place in the famiy room and the adjoining bathroom. I plan to do some more stitching...I have one gift ornament almost stitched...so will continue on it and then maybe stitch a letter or two on the Bristol sampler. I'm ready to flop in my recliner with my heating pads...ready to call it a day/night! This morning while Woody was at dialysis I went to the grocery store...that can wear me out! It was a bit shorter shopping spree than sometimes...a good thing both for my back and the pocket book! I'm trying to figure out why the price of eggs has gone back up...anyone know what is going on in the chicken/egg world? To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Spring-like Friday

Seems like we have had a busy day...but then it is hard to remember what all made it busy! The morning was just busy with ordinary daily activities. Woody ate lunch early so he would be ready to head to TN Oncology around 1pm. Nathan, Kathy and a crew of three boys showed up after lunch to rake leaves and ended up power washing the back of our house. Woody had an uneventful time at Oncology. I picked him up and brought him back home. Our work crew was gone by the time we got home. The rain that we were expecting has settled in. So listening to it on the windows and the roof. Woody has settled on the couch for the night. He has had a pretty good day and today did use his walker to transfer successfully twice...so maybe some of his strength is returning? I have done some more stitching both on my Bristol sampler and also started something new for a near future gift..trying to be ahead of schedule! I've also studied for the Sunday School lesson for Sunday. I will admit to being quite tired this evening. I'm going to put the last dishes in the dishwasher and decide if I will run it tonight...then I am going upstairs to my recliner. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious! We have beautiful daffodils blooming!

Wedding Plans Galore!

Abigail just stopped by after she babysat for the children next door (our sweet new neighbors who helped us so much during the snow/ice who now live in the house Abigail used to live in). Abigail was just full of news about their wedding. I am now more in the know. They are getting well underway with their plans...the best part...she has chosen a dress and it is on order! Sounds like everything is coming together well. We also looked at pictures of our wedding and Melany and Wade's. I told her how much things cost "back in the day" for mine! Today as gone well. They checked Woody's blood sugar level when he went in and then again prior to the finish. It was fine at the beginning and did drop, but within an okay range, but they did let him eat a few jelly beans to make sure that he was okay at the end. The rest of the day we have just taken it easy. I was tired today so sat and stitched for a while and for part of the sitting time I napped. Woody sat in his recliner when he first came home, but later in the afternoon transferred back to the couch. At the moment he is transferring with the wheelchair...not using his walker. I'm heading to dress his leg and then tuck him in for the night. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Happy Valentine’s Day 2024!

I had a photo all picked out for tonight, then when I wrote the title for tonight's blog, I realized that I should post a red barn...not a green one! I'll save the green one for another day. This barn intrigues me...makes me think of a doll house...one of those that you can reach in from both sides to arrange furniture! We have had a calmer day today. Woody has pretty much just rested on the couch, but he is ever so much better than he was yesterday! Linda H. came over for lunch and the three of us had a nice visit...Woody easily sat up (much more easily than the last couple of days) and ate lunch. Not long after he ate, though, he was ready to lie back down and rest. Linda and I adjourned to the living room and sat among the Valentine decorations and talked and sipped tea. I almost forgot to serve dessert! I had made brownies and forgot all about them till Linda was about to leave...needless to say we ate some before she left...I am so glad that I realized it before she left! Later in the afternoon, I headed to Walmart to buy Woody some jelly beans (hard to find jelly beans on Valentine's Day...but I did.) I am including a snack bag with jelly beans in his dialysis bag. That way he will have something to bring up his sugar levels if he starts feeling/acting funny like yesterday! Now that we know that his blood sugar is dropping sometimes...proved by probably the first test that they ran at the hospital yesterday...maybe we can prevent him from getting like he was yesterday. He does not have any recollection of the ambulance ride nor the first part of his time in the ER. I have written a note asking the nurses to let Dr. O. know about this hypoglycemic happening and see if he has any solution besides jelly beans! And, I included a copy of yesterday's summary from his ER visit. I still feel that it has something to do with his dialysis treatments. But the good thing that came out of this is that we know that his other labs were quite good...so not dealing with LOTS of things...just mainly low blood sugar. It has been a good quiet day...now hoping that he can have a good quiet dialysis treatment tomorrow! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Not Exactly in the Plans for Today!

We had a normal morning of going to dialysis early. We got him there with not too many problems...main problem was that the ramp was a bit icy after all the rain...but I got us down it safely and then didn't use it for just me...I went in and out the front door. Of course, by the time for dialysis to be over, it was no longer a problem. I came home and did what I needed to do and then sat and stitched and napped for a good part of the morning. In the end I was glad that I did as it helped me not be sleepy this afternoon. I sat in the waiting room for a while and one of the nurses poked her head out and said that it would be a few more minutes. After probably more than a few more minutes, one of the nurses called me to the door and had me go into the dialysis room...Woody's chair is right next to the door. They said that he didn't seem like himself...that he was answering questions and said that he could transfer from the dialysis chair to his wheelchair, but then couldn't. They were concerned since he was disoriented and they wanted to call an ambulance and let him be checked out at the hospital. So that is what we did. I waited and collected his wheelchair and his bag and headed out to the car after the ambulance folk arrived. I headed out to the hospital after the ambulance left the parking lot...the hospital is only a short distance from the dialysis center. I guess I waited 45min. or so in the waiting room and then they let me go back in. I guess the first medical person that I saw was a tech who came to take Woody for a CAT scan. A nurse drifted in and out a couple of times. They were waiting for labs and scan reports to come back. I read the test results before they came in...once again all his labs were good as was the scan. Towards the end of his stay, the nurse came in to check his blood sugar...which I questioned as to why. And, that is the main test that told them waht was wrong. When he came in they tested him and his blood sugar was low...so gave him glucose...and when they tested it toward the end it was in normal range. I guess we mainly found out what all was not wrong with him...no signs of infection and his hemoglobin was at the highest level that we have seen in ages. He entered by ambulance at 11:35 and we were home at 4pm...not too bad for an ER visit! I got some reading done. I fed Woody...first meal since breakfast...he did eat a couple of saltines at the hospital. He sat in his recliner for a while after we got home and ate his lupper (lunch and supper) in the recliner, but just a little while ago he indicated he was ready to head to the couch. I got his leg wound dressed and then wheeled him to the couch and now he is all tucked in. I hope that he sleeps well after his eventful day. To show that he was disoriented...he does not remember being transported in an ambulance and a couple of other things. At first he said that he didn't remember anything about dialysis, but since saying that he has mentioned several things that happened and remembered who his nurse was today. We're hoping for a good night! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Night For Honoring

This evening the Tullahoma City Counsel honored my dear friend and the owner of the Montessori school, where I taught for 27 years, for her dedication for over 50 years of teaching children in the area. I believe that the mayor declared tomorrow to be her day in our city. Last night Pat called and asked if I could go, but I wasn't sure because of prayer meeting. But this morning one of the teachers that I taught with, messaged telling me about the meeting and said that Pat would be honored tonight at the very start ofnthe city counsel meeting and then we could leave before the meeting got under way "for real." She also suggested that maybe our children would like to attend. Well, I knew it was too short notice for Melany. But i told Nathan and he said that he thought he could go. I also told Abigail as she taught at the school for a couple of years. So Nathan picked up me and then we got Abigail and the three of us went to honor Pat. LOTS were there to honor her. She has touched many, many lives and we all appreciate her and will miss her and her husband when they move later his week. I was glad to get to aee her again before she moves. I also got to see one of our co-workers and her husband and also several children we taught...all grown up now...like a big reunion! We have had fairly uneventful day. It has been very rainy...the puddles in the yard are joining to make one big lake! I did finish the first alphabet on my Bristol sampler. Woody is still pretty weak...pretty much transferring via wheelchair rather than him using the walker...at least for the moment. Hoping that this weak phase will pass...quickly!I'm running late tonight...so will stop for now...be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Favorite

Rainy Saturday

We managed to get to dialysis this morning high and dry...but the rest of the day has been pretty soggy. It was raining when I picked him up, but not really hard so we got back into our house without getting too wet. Woody said that his dialysis went well today...a good thing. Woody has had a couple of slips today...once from the couch...early this morning. He managed fairly easily to get back up. This afternoon he slipped off his recliner when he was coming back from the bathroom...that time he landed in not the best place, but managed to get to the front of the chair, but couldn't get leverage to get back up. I called Nathan just before he was heading to the Valentine Banquet at their church in Shelbyville. So he and Elijah made a quick stop off here on their way and got him back in his chair pretty easily between the two of them. I am so glad that I called when I did! Woody uses his mathmetical mind to figure out what he needs to do in order to get back to where he belongs... but sometimes his mind and his body don't agree! Both of these were just slips/slides...no damage done. Both of us woke up early due to his slip off the couch...so for me, at least, it has been a pretty long day and one that I didn't really have much energy to do much of anything...plus all this rain makes for a lazy day. I have done some reading and also some stitching. I was just starting the "U" on the first alphabet on my Bristol sampler when Woody put out an SOS to come to his rescue...so nearing the end of the first alphabet. When this alphabet is complete, the width will be established...and I have plenty of fabric so no problems getting the whole sampler on the piece of linen I am stitching on. After the problem with the "O" I haven't had any more major problems...only a little "frogging" a couple of times when I went in the wrong direction with a curliecue...so I am going right along. Hopefully Woody is going to stay put for the rest of the day and night and tomorrow and..! He plans to teach his boys Sunday School class in the morning. I roasted a chicken today and have shredded some of the meat for chicken enchiladas...but I am stopped on that recipe until I make homemade flour tortillas. And, that isn't a job that I am really fond of...but I can do it...maybe tomorrow! I was going to make Chili Mac, but Woody said that he preferred just plain chili for Super Bowl Sunday so I guess I will put together a pot of chili tomorrow...that means that tortillas may not happen! To Be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Friday Thoughts

Another day split in two by an appointment. This one took a while to be called back. Woody's nurse said that they had had a pretty sick patient to tend to and that had put them behind. There is one thing about this wound care group...even though they were behind, they don't try to rush the next appointments through. They spend the time needed with each patient...a very caring team. We have gotten very fond of the nurse who usually tends to Woody. I think the doctor was disappointed that Woody hadn't gotten the brace that she had asked to be made for him. She said that she would put in a call. She said the main reason she wanted to see Woody today was to see if any adjustments needed to be made. So...we are in a waiting pattern to hear from the brace guy. She said had us make an appointment for a month out, but that we are and make an appointment if Woody gets the brace between now and then. We were away from the house for over two hours this time due to the backup in their waiting room. Woody did several crossword puzzles while we waited and I worked on editing photos while we waited. So the time wasn't wasted! There is having the day interrupted by an appointment...I never seem to get in gear to get much of anything done. I did come home and stitched for a while after lunch,..before I fell asleep1 I did get the "O" restitched...finally and got the "P" stitched and am now working on the "Q"...hopefully I learned a lesson from the "O" so I won't r epeat my mistakes on the "Q" as it is almost the same...though different enough that I could very well get messed up...again! I think that being out and about sort of wore Woody out as he has rested most of the afternoon...first in his recliner and now on his courch/bed. He was ready to end the day by the time he finished his supper taco meal. I got the kitchen cleaned up prior to coming upstairs to blog. I plan to sit and stitch this evening and watch some You Tube videos...called Floss Tube...videos done by cross stitchers telling about their love of cross stitch. You would not believe how many stitchers have taken to "flosstubing!" I watch in open amazement of how much "stitching stuff" some of them have. I have more than I need...but some of them have an absolutely unvelievable amoung of charts, supplies and cross stitch projects. Makes me not feel so guilty for what I have!!!! I enjoy hearing about their projects, etc. that they tell about as I stitch. I have pretty much turned our TV Iwe only have one) over to Woody...and most of what he watches I'm not all that incined to watch most of the time...so watching things like this on my iPad is "my TV." I say that we only have one TV...there is a TV in my sewing room, but it isn't connected to the TV antenna so I use it to watch DVD's "when" I am sewing...and lately I haven't spent much time in the sewing room...I'll be back in there one of these days. I really need to make some clothing items for me...or so I keep telling myself. I have the fabric...just need to get the inclination to sew. Right now I am more intrigued with my needlework and reading...my focus will change as it has done in the past. When I am cross stitching, I don't do as much reading or sewing. When I am sewing, I don't do as much reading and stitching. And, when I am in a major reading jag, I don't do as much stitching or sewing. I cycle through these jags as time passes along. But the sewing whim just hasn't happened in quite a while. Well, I am ready to stitch so will post this. Tomorrow is another early morning for dialysis. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Spring-like…Again

It was another pretty day...a little breezy so felt a bit cooler than it really was...but still nice. Woody had a good dialysis day. He got out a bit later than he does some days, but he said that it wasn't his fault! He didn't know why they were running a bit behind. When we got home we had lunch. I was out and about for a while this afternoon...just enjoying the day. Tomorrow Woody has wound care. The breeze we had today is probably blowing in the oredicted rain that isnsupoosed to start tomorrow and continue through most of the weekend and maybe even Monday. We will probably stay in except when we have reason to be out...wound care, dialysis, Sunday School, and whatever else might arise. I have done Woody's wound care and am about to finish outting dishes in the dishwasher and then I'm heading upstairs. i have found a little time today to add a few more Xs to the "O". I'm back to half-way finished with it...again! My plans are to finish the rest of the "O" tonight. Woody has settled on his couch/bed for the night. Waching TV till he dozes off. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Wednesday, a Sad-News Day

I just sort of had the rug pulled out from under me. I just learned that my Cottey roommate's older child passed away from a long fight with colon cancer. He was just a little older than our Melany...so mid 50s. Just so sad to lose someone so young...hard for me to imagine what my roommate and her family are going through and feeling just now. And, just as I was starting to type this, I got a phone call from my former "boss" (She has never liked me to call her that!). The owner of the Montessori School where I taught for 27 years and where my children went to preschool and kindergarten...Melany started at the school at 3-1/2 (the Fall after we moved back to Tullahoma from California) and Nathan at 2-1/2. So she has been in our lives for a very long time...around 50 years! She just called to let me know that she will be moving away from Tullahoma next week. This wasn't a surprise as I had heard about her move "through the grape vine." But it is hard to think that she won't just be across town from us...even though we rarely see each other these days. She and her husband are moving to a retirement community closer to their girls. There is one good thing about technology these days...even though there are miles between you and family and friends, they can be kept close via the phones of this day and age. We can still pick up the phone and call and keep up with each other...perhaps even more than we do now! How phones have changed since we married...communication wasn't as easy as it is today when I moved 1800 miles away from my family...at first we would gather change and go to a phone booth near the Post Office to call "home." Then when we got a phone, we still didn't call all that often and we were always trying to call when the rates were at the lowest...my folks would call me one week and I would call them the next...except during the Christmas season and then I would call when I felt like it and called them "'Tis the Season" calls...where my use of 'Tis the season originated. We have had a fairly quiet day. Woody did his usual puzzles plus quite a few more...he finished up one of the calendar Scrabble daily puzzles that he got for Christmas...or his birthday. He has watched TV and dozed...but mainly did LOTS of puzzles. I worked on my recipe notebooks today. I am much closer to finished...all are in a notebook. I am just fine tuning one of the notebooks a bit more. For lunch I made Shrimp Scampi...well, for my lunch, as Woody isn't "into" shrimp these days. So he had Sweet 'n Sour Pork. He said that it is hard to beat it...so guess he has enjoyed it while it lasted. We had another spring-like day...just beautiful. I think that tomorrow will be another pretty day and then rain is predicted for the end of the week and weekend. We'll see if we get it...the last time it was predicted, it missed us. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

A Date is Set

I texted with Kathy this morning and discovered that Abigail and Payton have set a wedding date and it isn't very far away...mid June literally. Busy times for her and Payton and their families between now and then! Woody had a good day at dialysis and I'm sure he thought that the day was even better once he got back home! Donna and I worked in the library this afternoon...well, part of that time we worked in my car when we were locked out of the church because the church staff was in a meeting. We worked on a book order in the car and once we got inside we did maintenance and then got books covered with either book jackets or contact paper and got them on the new book shelf all ready to be checked out. I am not as far as I was last night on the sampler...the "O" is just at the beginning point...again! When I was almost finished stitching it I realized that I had added one stitch extra in the width at about the fourth X. I could have left it as it wouldn't show once it was all complete...EXCEPT...if I should make that type of mistake very many times as I am stitching these letters I could be quite a bit off when finally finished. I decided since I found this mistake when I wasn't all that far beyond the mistake that I should take it out and redo the letter. So any stitching that I did today was reverse stitching...or what needleworkers call "frog stitching" as in ribbit, ribbit frog talk for rip it, rip it! I have no deadline on this one so two steps forward and one step backward isn't exactly crucial. I am going to have to set this sampler aside soon so I can start some gift stitching. I have packed up some more Christmas today...as I decided that I wanted the dining room table to start heading back to normal...well, momentarily it has a basket of red berries on it to go along with my Valentine decorations. I'm heading to dress the wound on Woody's leg and then finish up with the dishes in the kitchen...not much cooking took place today...we took advantage of what was already cooked. Tomorrow has no plans for it...at this point...always afraid to say that...but we "think" we will be staying home tomorrow. To be continued. Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

The Lost is Found!

This is Esther with one of the cats we gave to her for Christmas quite a few years ago. This is Peaches both she and her sister, Georgia, have been missing from the farm for quite a few months. Today they got a call from a local vet that they had Peaches...a family here in town had found her and taken her into their home around Thanksgiving time...they spoiled her and let her be an indoor cat and looks like kept very good care of her. I don't know the reason for the vet visit (haven't heard the whole story), but the vet checked her for a chip, which she has, and found out the vital information to get her back home. Now she will have to adjust to being a farm cat once again! Georgia was found several years back in Murfreesboro and got home due to her chip. Georgia is still missing this time. It has been a quiet day for Woody. He has a sinus headache so hasn't felt the best. About the only thing I accomplished was making Sweet 'n Sour Pork for our supper. Woody approved of that. He said that it tasted very good since we hadn't had it in a while...plus it is what he chose for me to make from the choices that I gave him. I have stitched a little more and am up to "O" in the alphabet and have it half-way stitched. I plan to finish the "o" before I sleep tonight. I did go to prayer meeting and it lasted a little longer than sometimes and when we came out the intersection for me to get home was blocked by a train stopped across it. So I went the long way home using the viaduct...so I went over the train. I just didn't feel like sitting there tonight till it decided to move...sometimes it will be out of the way quickly and then other times it just sits there. I think that by the time I was heading the opposite direction that it started up again, but I decided that I would proceed in the direction I was going. Once I got home, I tended to Woody's wound dressing so he could go on and go to sleep. I still have a little to do in the kitchen, then I am going to retire for the night. To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Sunday Stitching Progress

We've had a good Sunday. I went to Sunday School. Woody did not go, as the entire youth department meet together on the first Sunday of each month and the youth minister teaches the whole group. I came home after Sunday School and we watched our church service online. It has been a quiet afternoon...not a lot going on...just a nice Sunday afternoon for watching TV and crosswords for Woody and napping and stitching for me. I just finished another length of floss so have stopped for the moment to go fix supper. The "K" isn't finished as I made an error in counting and had to take part of one leg out and the other leg is where the floss ran out...so two legs to finish before I move onto "L." I also finished another book this afternoon, but not reading as much as usual due to stitching in what might be reading time. I have finished three books this year sith a couple others I have started...now to choose which one of those to concentrate on and finish next! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Things are Popping Up this Saturday

Tonight's photo shows that daffodils are popping up all over our yard...promises of Spring! Woody had a good dialysis treatment...blood pressure good...no issues with lines clotting at the end. I came home after dropping him off at dialysis and ate some breakfast while finalizing the grocery list. I got back home from the grocery store in time to put away all that had to go in the refrigerator. At that point it was time to go get Woody. By the time I got Woody settled, I was ready to settle for a few minutes so put off putting away the last of the groceries...and, to be truthful, there are still a couple of bags that need to be put away...the items that go in the pantry. I did do some cleaning out in the pantry today...so waited on purpose...but they could be put away now...but I think that I will go on the premise that "tomorrow is another day!" I waited to blog tonight till I had Woody's leg wound dressed and the antibiotic cream applied below that area, as last night when I went down to do it, Woody was sound asleep and I didn't want to disturb him. Everything looked fine...didn't look worse for missing a dressing change. After my busy morning, I was ready to sit and rest this afternoon, so enjoyed my stitching. I am now ready to start the "J" so moving along...but still pretty slow go! I also put a few more stitches in two other small projects that I have started...and, soon I will have to set all these aside to stitch on a gift...but don't have the chart or the fabric for that project yet so I will plod along with the ones that I do have materials for. I went to order the chart that I need the other day and they were out of it temporarily, but will tell me when it is back in. I'm trying to decide if I should go elsewhere...the gift isn't needed iminently...but I really do need to get started on it. I left Woody contemplating what recipe that he wants me to make next...he's still thinking...hope he decides soon so I can pull what I need out of the freezer! Oh, well, it will just mean that I won't make the recipe as soon as I might have if he could have made up his mind! I'm just glad that both recipes sounded good enough that he wants to think about which one...so good for him to want more of a variety of food these days...better for me too...more fun to cook different things than the same thing over and over! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!

Busy Ground Hog Day

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It’s February!

It's February and I just finished stitching the "F". Do you suppose I will be to the "M" by March?!? I hope so...or at least to an "m" in another of the alphabets! When I finish the "G", I will be on the 2nd page of the graph. I want to stitch this entire alphabet, which will take me across the entire top of the sampler...that way I will be sure that I have cut a piece wide enough for this sampler. By the way in total there are sixteen 8-1/2 X 11 sheets of paper for the entire graph. I really enjoy stitching letters (a good thing!)...there becomes a cadence, a rhythmic flow, when doing an alphabet...though this one isn't quite as predictable as some...the little extra curlicues are not always the same on each letter...but the thickest part of the main part of each letter is three Xs thick. The "F" was really easy to stitch after doing the "E." I'm not fond of the "C"...looks like an "E" to me...but since this is a reproduction of these two little girls' sampler, I will stitch it as they stitched it. Plus by the time I get the whole thing stitched...no individual letter will be focused upon! At this point I am on my second cut of 18" thread...each of those cuts has six strands. There is only one strand left on the cut that I am stitching with now...at that point I will have put in 1 yard of thread...but really six yards...since two cuts of 18" thread equals 36" times 6...since there are 6 strands in each thread. All I know is that there are lots of yards of stitching ahead of me on this piece! Neither Woody nor I have felt the greatest today...we both seem to have a sinus headache...enough that we both gave in and took Tylenol mid-afternoon. My headache is much better. Woody just said that his was "some better." His dialysis treatment went well up until the end when his lines started to clot off...so they ended his treatment and rinsed back just a little early. I have done just a few chores around the house today...just didn't feel like doing much...a load of wash, a little work in the kitchen. I did continue with recipe organizing...which was about done until I decided that I wanted to organize one notebook of recipes a little bit more...I will stick to this for a while and then leave this project alone until inspiration strikes me again! I only have about ten recipes that I need to decide where to locate them...so in a good place as far as loose pages of recipes! I didn't do the errands that I had sort of planned to do today so I could finish with my Valentine tree and antique scoop...tomorrow is another day! And, there is one more day in February this year...so not getting this done on February 1...still gives me the usual 28 days to enjoy my newest decorations! To be continued! Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!