Here I am, just checking in. With a week behind me that felt like I got a lot NOT done and a week ahead of me of pure busyness, I woke up S-I-C-K this morning. Not good timing. Fortunately, I'm feeling a bit better now. Just got in from doing chores and now have ladled up a bowl of homemade Chicken Wild Rice soup, thanks to the freezer and The Peanut's mama! It's the first time I've felt like eating anything, too, so that should help. Keep up my strength and all that rot. The biggest coup is that my headache (the head in a vise kind) is gone! Whether that's just "for now" or permanently, I'll take it.
I've been on a steady diet of OJ, Throat Coat tea, zinc, echinacea, and Vitamin C all day. Maybe I'll wake up fully repaired tomorrow. That's my hope, anyway.
I'm sure that it wasn't pure coincidence that I'd gone to bed last night dreaming of the 9 solid hours of work I was going to parcel today's schedule into. The grass needs to be cut (although it hasn't stopped raining enough to dry), and the house is WOEFULLY unprepared for my upcoming 5 day nannying stint. (The bigger reason why I need to be top-notch by Wednesday AM.) Point is, "the best laid plans . . . ", blah, blah, blah.
Anyway, I hope YOU'VE had a better Monday than I!!! ;)
Showing posts with label Medical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medical. Show all posts
All Better!
Hi, friends - I'm all better! It was a relief to figure out that I hadn't overdone it on my weekend, it was just that . . . I had the 24-hour flu!
After I got out of the shower yesterday morning, I was suddenly running to the bathroom, about ready to womit (fortunately, I didn't). Then, at work, I was feeling completely OUT of it: not dizzy but like my head was full of cotton and scrambled . . . something. I had a killer headache that wouldn't quit, and then, last night, the lower intestines kicked in. (Nice, huh?) I'll spare you the details, but it was a miserably painful and long drive home.
I slept fairly well, and now I just have the run-over-by-a-truck feeling . . . which is WAY better than how I felt Wednesday night and all day yesterday! :)
So, back at it. Happy Friday!
After I got out of the shower yesterday morning, I was suddenly running to the bathroom, about ready to womit (fortunately, I didn't). Then, at work, I was feeling completely OUT of it: not dizzy but like my head was full of cotton and scrambled . . . something. I had a killer headache that wouldn't quit, and then, last night, the lower intestines kicked in. (Nice, huh?) I'll spare you the details, but it was a miserably painful and long drive home.
I slept fairly well, and now I just have the run-over-by-a-truck feeling . . . which is WAY better than how I felt Wednesday night and all day yesterday! :)
So, back at it. Happy Friday!
Enter Whining
No, I'm not talking about Fran Drescher's autobiography (and, yes, I'll admit to owning it): I'm talking about me. I could have also titled today's post 'One Step Forward and Two Steps Back'. Last night, I pulled the plug and sent out word that I wouldn't be in my office today. I think I overdid it yesterday because I was feeling almost human again. As a result, the chills came on last night and the cough was worse and worse, and today? Ugh. Thankfully (!) that headache still hasn't returned, but otherwise? Ugh. But, my cough is much more "productive" (yuck) today than it was yesterday, so I suppose that's progress? And, if things continue as they are, I will have lost 5 pounds by the end of the day due strictly to the amount of phlegm coming out of me! (Nice, huh?) I did wash the down comforter from the bed yesterday, and I think that helped me get a better night's sleep (what is it about a freshly made bed?!), but now I feel like the house is just FULL of germs! I want to fumigate the place once I leave it!
Reading about the snowstorms south of us this morning, I did realize that I've very much been in luck regarding the weather and this cold (illness): for the second day in a row, Mother Nature is blessing us with a solar-charging, blue sky day. Gorgeous! I even (gasp!) used my toaster this morning - something you never do unless the generator is on or you know you're getting solar gain. And so, realizing it could be dumping buckets of snow and I'd have to be out dealing with that, I am grateful for the complete LACK of weather out there!
I got myself a healthy dinner made last night, but, other than that, the only visible "do-something" I've made these last two days is a good start on a custom hat. I think I mentioned that, when the marketing coordinator for our county's tourism industry came in to the gallery to buy a calendar, she fell in love with one of my hats. This one:
I was worried that it was a little too big for her, but she insisted that no, no, it was fine! Fast forward a day or two, and she admitted that she'd realized it was too large by the time she'd gotten home! ;) So, I've started a new one for her, but, until I remembered last night that I had online access to the above image, I wasn't sure how soon I'd incorporated the first olive / multicolored yarn. And, ooops: I'd forgotten that first top-of-the-hat stripe. Oh, well, I think she'll be fine with it. I DID warn her that, since I use no patterns, each hat is unique . . . but that I would try to emulate the first one as much as possible. I'll take a picture of the new one as soon as I have the energy. :)
That's all for now. If you're up in these here parts, enjoy the sun! If you're inundated with snow, enjoy the snow day!
Reading about the snowstorms south of us this morning, I did realize that I've very much been in luck regarding the weather and this cold (illness): for the second day in a row, Mother Nature is blessing us with a solar-charging, blue sky day. Gorgeous! I even (gasp!) used my toaster this morning - something you never do unless the generator is on or you know you're getting solar gain. And so, realizing it could be dumping buckets of snow and I'd have to be out dealing with that, I am grateful for the complete LACK of weather out there!
I got myself a healthy dinner made last night, but, other than that, the only visible "do-something" I've made these last two days is a good start on a custom hat. I think I mentioned that, when the marketing coordinator for our county's tourism industry came in to the gallery to buy a calendar, she fell in love with one of my hats. This one:
I was worried that it was a little too big for her, but she insisted that no, no, it was fine! Fast forward a day or two, and she admitted that she'd realized it was too large by the time she'd gotten home! ;) So, I've started a new one for her, but, until I remembered last night that I had online access to the above image, I wasn't sure how soon I'd incorporated the first olive / multicolored yarn. And, ooops: I'd forgotten that first top-of-the-hat stripe. Oh, well, I think she'll be fine with it. I DID warn her that, since I use no patterns, each hat is unique . . . but that I would try to emulate the first one as much as possible. I'll take a picture of the new one as soon as I have the energy. :)
That's all for now. If you're up in these here parts, enjoy the sun! If you're inundated with snow, enjoy the snow day!
The Sick Room
The only kind of illness I ever really get (other than all that stupid, in-the-past-thank-gawd stuff related to my endometriosis) is colds. I think I've only had the full-blown flu once or twice in my life, fortunately. But, when I get a cold, it is the MOTHER of all misery-inducing colds. I kid you not.
So, after an awful night fighting a headache (which I thought would get better once I was upright but has only gotten [much] worse), I've got myself ensconced in the sick room today. That'd be the library, since it has the movies and the flat screen in it.
Hang on, Tucker's gotta go out (being an "only" when you're sick is the pits!).
It's times like this, too, that I wish I had TV reception so I could mindlessly flip through channels, but I'll have to satisfy myself with one of the (let me count the ones I can see w/o getting up) . . . well, I got up to 70 individuals ones, not counting TV series(es?) and collections (hang on, just sneezed all over myself), so there should be SOMETHING I can find to entertain myself. Plus two new Netflix DVDs.
Anyway, let's make sure I have everything necessary for my infirmary:
So, after an awful night fighting a headache (which I thought would get better once I was upright but has only gotten [much] worse), I've got myself ensconced in the sick room today. That'd be the library, since it has the movies and the flat screen in it.
Hang on, Tucker's gotta go out (being an "only" when you're sick is the pits!).
It's times like this, too, that I wish I had TV reception so I could mindlessly flip through channels, but I'll have to satisfy myself with one of the (let me count the ones I can see w/o getting up) . . . well, I got up to 70 individuals ones, not counting TV series(es?) and collections (hang on, just sneezed all over myself), so there should be SOMETHING I can find to entertain myself. Plus two new Netflix DVDs.
Anyway, let's make sure I have everything necessary for my infirmary:
- Hideously mis-matched outfit consisting of slippers, PJ pants with duckies on 'em, and an old, reclaimed bathrobe of the ex's that Calvin Klein would be embarrassed to have his name on, given the shape of it? Check.
- Two annoying cats trying to walk all over me? Check.
- Laptop at 1/2 battery power? Check.
- Bag of crocheting? Check.
- Stepped-on cat (how was I to know she was laying right under me)? Check.
- Heating pad? Check.
- Telephone? Check.
- Blankets? Check.
- Headache? Check.
- Notepad & pen? Check.
- Long-lasting chews for the dogs downstairs? Check.
- Hot beverage? Check.
- Cold beverage infused with Vitamin C? Check.
- Kleenex? Check.
- Tall garbage for Kleenex, tall enough that Maisy can't reach in to eat the used tissues? Check.
- Saline nasal spray? Check.
- Vick's VapoRub? Check.
- Bowl of it'll-make-me-feel-better mint ice cream? Check and consumed.
- Copious amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, plus pseudoephydrine (sp?) for sinus relief (which still has NOT kicked in yet, grrrrrr)? Check and consumed.
1,755
I've made 1,755 posts on this here blog. This is my 1,756th. GAD, that's a lot!
What to report? Not much. A smooshed finger. Note to self: when the woodpile is falling down, don't try to stop it with the back of your hand which is already holding a piece of firewood. I think the middle finger of my right hand might actually be quite colorful tomorrow. So was my language when it happened: colorful! I've completely and absolutely misplaced the camera-to-computer USB cable for my digital camera, so I'll have Mama Pea take a picture when I drop the dogs off in the AM. So far, the knuckle's greyish-purple, and below that is just fat and red. Nothing broken, so no sympathy. Just sore. I'm medicating with whiskey. (Purely medicinal, mind you.)
At work, I've been putzing with one particular website (design) for TOOOOO long! Part of this is because the client said that she needed some time to pull the money together in order to pay for it. So, I haven't felt an exactly huge compelling reason to finish it. But, I finally gave her a deadline of "by the end of this coming week": i.e., Sunday. I'm the kind of person who needs a deadline. Otherwise, things tend to not get done. I closed my office door to visitors today and really got a big chunk of it finished. (The bulk of it was done in . . . October?) I think I'll be able to "present" it to her tomorrow. Via e-mail, anyway. Then, we'll probably meet in person for the final edits. She and her husband raise Fjord horses: a hardy strain perfect for our climate.
Finishing this job was also pushed along by a voicemail waiting for me yesterday from a local non-profit for whom I'm designing and printing a brochure (and then some, probably). I agreed to $400 worth of work, pro bono. Silly me? Well, yes and no. 'Yes' because it takes me away from paying customers. 'No' because I got, in return (in addition to free advertising), a glassed-in hand-made aviary that was worth $3000 . . . in 1998! (Did I blog about that? I can't remember if I did or not.) I took possession of it this past fall before the snow came. It's in the sunroom, in place, awaiting birdies. But, the weather's been so cold each time I've been to the big city lately that I can't chance bringing the tenants home! (Same problem with the fish aquarium which is desperately awaiting new life: the algae eating Plec(ostomus) and fresh-water shrimp being the only inhabitants). Anyway, point being, I don't like to have two big jobs going on at once. So, I want to finish up the Fjord horse website before I start the new project . . . which is either going to be for their (the client's) non-profit thrift store or senior center, I don't know which. Yet.
Hang on, more medicinal whiskey required.
Okay, I'm back. Just caught up with The Ex on FB. Ironic: it's -14 and dropping with a -27 windchill here, and it's snowing and in the teens up in Alaska! Explorer Guy is doing well and hopes to summit over the weekend. That said, it's on his way back down when he needs to be super careful. All of the fatalities that have happened (while trying to summit Denali in January) have occurred on the way DOWN the mountain, not UP it! I'm sure people tend to think that the hard part is over, and they're not as attentive to the terrain and conditions as they should be.
So, where was I? I dunno, my train of thought was interrupted. I was going to write about the weather: it's cold. There. Matter of fact, I even stopped tonight to make a purchase which has been on my town list for about two weeks: a new pair of insulated Carhartt pants. I'm NOTHING if not a fashionista. (Cough, cough, snort!) Matter of fact, I have 'em on right now as I write, settled on the kitchen's rocker. I also still have my mukluks on.
Did I mention that it's cold outside?
(No segue.)
There's a wonderfully-complimentary (yes, I paid both her and Susan and Erin a LOT to say what they did!) and fun post going on over at The Apple Pie Gal's blog. Be sure to read the comments and encourage Mama Pea to do what she promised! (Or, would that be, "threatened"?)
(No segue.)
Tonight was the first night (or maybe it only seemed like it) of The New Me's schedule that I was actually home close to the time I'd set. I pulled in at 7:00 PM and felt like I had the whole night ahead of me! (Ah-hem, it's 10:50 right now, and I was supposed to be in bed 20 minutes ago.) Anyway, I got home and spoke to a nice man in Carlton county when I called Mom & Dad to say that I was home, safe and sound, on such a cold night. Fat-fingered the dialing, I did . . . and that was BEFORE I smashed my finger! After feeding the dogs and cats, I changed into my work clothes and completely (instead of just scooping the "hard stuff") cleaned the upstairs cat litter box (yuck). Then it was outside to do chores and work in the battery room of the garage. I poured 3 gallons of distilled water into 26 of the 72 cells before I ran out. Seems like these old batteries are sucking up a lot more water . . . and in the winter, at that. I NEED to get new ones ordered.
All that outside work took a while, and I got back into the house @ 9:00. I finished my leftovers from the lunch I had with My Girl today for supper and then sat down with you.
And now, it's late. Off to bed I go. Oh, let me check the temperature, first, though. Hang on . . . . Well, it's not that different from before: -15 with a -28 windchill. That's nothin'. ;)
What to report? Not much. A smooshed finger. Note to self: when the woodpile is falling down, don't try to stop it with the back of your hand which is already holding a piece of firewood. I think the middle finger of my right hand might actually be quite colorful tomorrow. So was my language when it happened: colorful! I've completely and absolutely misplaced the camera-to-computer USB cable for my digital camera, so I'll have Mama Pea take a picture when I drop the dogs off in the AM. So far, the knuckle's greyish-purple, and below that is just fat and red. Nothing broken, so no sympathy. Just sore. I'm medicating with whiskey. (Purely medicinal, mind you.)
At work, I've been putzing with one particular website (design) for TOOOOO long! Part of this is because the client said that she needed some time to pull the money together in order to pay for it. So, I haven't felt an exactly huge compelling reason to finish it. But, I finally gave her a deadline of "by the end of this coming week": i.e., Sunday. I'm the kind of person who needs a deadline. Otherwise, things tend to not get done. I closed my office door to visitors today and really got a big chunk of it finished. (The bulk of it was done in . . . October?) I think I'll be able to "present" it to her tomorrow. Via e-mail, anyway. Then, we'll probably meet in person for the final edits. She and her husband raise Fjord horses: a hardy strain perfect for our climate.
Finishing this job was also pushed along by a voicemail waiting for me yesterday from a local non-profit for whom I'm designing and printing a brochure (and then some, probably). I agreed to $400 worth of work, pro bono. Silly me? Well, yes and no. 'Yes' because it takes me away from paying customers. 'No' because I got, in return (in addition to free advertising), a glassed-in hand-made aviary that was worth $3000 . . . in 1998! (Did I blog about that? I can't remember if I did or not.) I took possession of it this past fall before the snow came. It's in the sunroom, in place, awaiting birdies. But, the weather's been so cold each time I've been to the big city lately that I can't chance bringing the tenants home! (Same problem with the fish aquarium which is desperately awaiting new life: the algae eating Plec(ostomus) and fresh-water shrimp being the only inhabitants). Anyway, point being, I don't like to have two big jobs going on at once. So, I want to finish up the Fjord horse website before I start the new project . . . which is either going to be for their (the client's) non-profit thrift store or senior center, I don't know which. Yet.
Hang on, more medicinal whiskey required.
Okay, I'm back. Just caught up with The Ex on FB. Ironic: it's -14 and dropping with a -27 windchill here, and it's snowing and in the teens up in Alaska! Explorer Guy is doing well and hopes to summit over the weekend. That said, it's on his way back down when he needs to be super careful. All of the fatalities that have happened (while trying to summit Denali in January) have occurred on the way DOWN the mountain, not UP it! I'm sure people tend to think that the hard part is over, and they're not as attentive to the terrain and conditions as they should be.
So, where was I? I dunno, my train of thought was interrupted. I was going to write about the weather: it's cold. There. Matter of fact, I even stopped tonight to make a purchase which has been on my town list for about two weeks: a new pair of insulated Carhartt pants. I'm NOTHING if not a fashionista. (Cough, cough, snort!) Matter of fact, I have 'em on right now as I write, settled on the kitchen's rocker. I also still have my mukluks on.
Did I mention that it's cold outside?
(No segue.)
There's a wonderfully-complimentary (yes, I paid both her and Susan and Erin a LOT to say what they did!) and fun post going on over at The Apple Pie Gal's blog. Be sure to read the comments and encourage Mama Pea to do what she promised! (Or, would that be, "threatened"?)
(No segue.)
Tonight was the first night (or maybe it only seemed like it) of The New Me's schedule that I was actually home close to the time I'd set. I pulled in at 7:00 PM and felt like I had the whole night ahead of me! (Ah-hem, it's 10:50 right now, and I was supposed to be in bed 20 minutes ago.) Anyway, I got home and spoke to a nice man in Carlton county when I called Mom & Dad to say that I was home, safe and sound, on such a cold night. Fat-fingered the dialing, I did . . . and that was BEFORE I smashed my finger! After feeding the dogs and cats, I changed into my work clothes and completely (instead of just scooping the "hard stuff") cleaned the upstairs cat litter box (yuck). Then it was outside to do chores and work in the battery room of the garage. I poured 3 gallons of distilled water into 26 of the 72 cells before I ran out. Seems like these old batteries are sucking up a lot more water . . . and in the winter, at that. I NEED to get new ones ordered.
All that outside work took a while, and I got back into the house @ 9:00. I finished my leftovers from the lunch I had with My Girl today for supper and then sat down with you.
And now, it's late. Off to bed I go. Oh, let me check the temperature, first, though. Hang on . . . . Well, it's not that different from before: -15 with a -28 windchill. That's nothin'. ;)
Contentment . . . and Histoplasmosis?!
For the first day in several, I don't have to leave the homestead today. The feeling of contentment that this fills me with is very solid and satisfying. I am SUCH a homebody! I love Swamp River Ridge, I love the house. And, now that I'm working outside it, I appreciate the days I get to stay at home all the more.
I had appointments in the big city, 3+ hours away, on Monday. The first one took me over the border into Wisconsin to the Toyota dealership I use there. Bringing desk work, my laptop, and my crocheting, I settled into the waiting area for the 2 hour wait while two new Blizzaks tires were installed on the rear axle of the Yaris and the back door latch was replaced.
I'd ordered two new rims for the new tires, too, so that I can change them out myself come springtime when I switch back over to the summertime tires. Once the "currently-on" tires were removed to make way for the Blizzaks, the parts manager came out to me in the waiting room to ask, "Uhhh, the guys want to know if you're SURE you want those tires left on the rims? They're in pretty bad shape!" I smiled and assured him that yes, I wanted them left on the rims. He never would have guessed that I still consider those "good" and feel that they should definitely get me through next summer and into fall!
When I checked out, the same parts guy said that they'd all crowded around to get a look at my two removed tires: they'd never seen tires so chewed up! He asked, "So, you must live on a gravel road, huh?" I said that I had 32 miles of gravel roads to drive each day (round trips). He then said, "Well, the rocks on it must be AWFULLY sharp: those tires look like nails and knives have been shoved into them and then pulled back out!" I said, yes . . . adding that every time the road is graded, flat tires are sure to follow. A huge chunk of money later (new rims & Blizzaks ain't cheap), I left with the knowledge that I was "that lady" who drives over nails and knives each day. ;)
I know I've mentioned it once before, but here it is again for the sake of illustration: one summer, when talking to a "neighbor" (that's relative, remember), he mentioned that he'd had S-E-V-E-N flats in one day, thanks to the road being graded! It's great for the potholes and washboards when the road is worked on but NOT for the tires (when all those pointy little arrowheads of rock are churned up)!
Following my tire appointment, I went to my first eye appointment in about . . . oh, 30 years! My eyes have been bothering me more and more over the last couple of years, and, in just the last couple of months, I've resorted to buying cheater glasses to help with reading and small-gauge crocheting. It was a horribly looooooong appointment (I was scheduled for 1:45 but didn't leave until 4:55!!!), but I left with a very comprehensive knowledge of what I'm dealing with AND a pair of glasses all picked out with delivery expected sometime next week.
At the eye doc's office, I discovered that I have histoplasmosis. And, this is where my warning to you fellow chicken farmers is going to come into play. "Histoplasmosis is a disease caused when airborne spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum are inhaled into the lungs, the primary infection site. This microscopic fungus . . . is released into the air when soil is disturbed by . . . sweeping chicken coops." Did you get that? "Sweeping chicken coops"? The optometrist said that I could have picked it up anytime / anywhere in life, but once I started researching and read the above, it seems like there is a high likelihood that I got it from cleaning the chicken house. Could that have been avoided by wearing a face mask each time? I dunno. Seems like those little spores could sneak around a mask.
Most people have no idea that they may be harboring this fungus. The symptoms are the same as those of a common cold. And, "the body's immune system normally overcomes the infection in a few days without treatment". However, "histoplasmosis, even mild cases, can later cause a serious eye disease called ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS), a leading cause of vision loss in Americans ages 20 to 40".
"OHS develops when fragile, abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina . . . [and] form a lesion known as choroidal neovascularization (CNV). If left untreated, the CNV lesion can turn into scar tissue and replace the normal retinal tissue in the macula." This is the stage I'm at: I have the scar tissue.
(Just had to take a lengthy time-out to try to remove a squirrel from the STOVE! Video of that to come.)
After lots of tests and images taken, the doc showed me a picture of my actual left eye and where the scar is. It looks like a giant, shining headlight, and it's RIGHT below my pupil. She said that I'm lucky: had the scar formed ON my pupil I would definitely experience substantial vision loss!
So, what do I do now? Nothing. We hope that the scar remains the size it is and that the fungus (yu-uk!) remains dormant. If so, I shouldn't ever have any problems. But, should I EVER begin to experience blurring in that eye, I need to notify her ASAP . . . for obvious reasons. Amazing what technology can do now, huh?!
All quoted information taken from the National Eye Institute website.
I had appointments in the big city, 3+ hours away, on Monday. The first one took me over the border into Wisconsin to the Toyota dealership I use there. Bringing desk work, my laptop, and my crocheting, I settled into the waiting area for the 2 hour wait while two new Blizzaks tires were installed on the rear axle of the Yaris and the back door latch was replaced.
I'd ordered two new rims for the new tires, too, so that I can change them out myself come springtime when I switch back over to the summertime tires. Once the "currently-on" tires were removed to make way for the Blizzaks, the parts manager came out to me in the waiting room to ask, "Uhhh, the guys want to know if you're SURE you want those tires left on the rims? They're in pretty bad shape!" I smiled and assured him that yes, I wanted them left on the rims. He never would have guessed that I still consider those "good" and feel that they should definitely get me through next summer and into fall!
When I checked out, the same parts guy said that they'd all crowded around to get a look at my two removed tires: they'd never seen tires so chewed up! He asked, "So, you must live on a gravel road, huh?" I said that I had 32 miles of gravel roads to drive each day (round trips). He then said, "Well, the rocks on it must be AWFULLY sharp: those tires look like nails and knives have been shoved into them and then pulled back out!" I said, yes . . . adding that every time the road is graded, flat tires are sure to follow. A huge chunk of money later (new rims & Blizzaks ain't cheap), I left with the knowledge that I was "that lady" who drives over nails and knives each day. ;)
I know I've mentioned it once before, but here it is again for the sake of illustration: one summer, when talking to a "neighbor" (that's relative, remember), he mentioned that he'd had S-E-V-E-N flats in one day, thanks to the road being graded! It's great for the potholes and washboards when the road is worked on but NOT for the tires (when all those pointy little arrowheads of rock are churned up)!
Following my tire appointment, I went to my first eye appointment in about . . . oh, 30 years! My eyes have been bothering me more and more over the last couple of years, and, in just the last couple of months, I've resorted to buying cheater glasses to help with reading and small-gauge crocheting. It was a horribly looooooong appointment (I was scheduled for 1:45 but didn't leave until 4:55!!!), but I left with a very comprehensive knowledge of what I'm dealing with AND a pair of glasses all picked out with delivery expected sometime next week.
At the eye doc's office, I discovered that I have histoplasmosis. And, this is where my warning to you fellow chicken farmers is going to come into play. "Histoplasmosis is a disease caused when airborne spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum are inhaled into the lungs, the primary infection site. This microscopic fungus . . . is released into the air when soil is disturbed by . . . sweeping chicken coops." Did you get that? "Sweeping chicken coops"? The optometrist said that I could have picked it up anytime / anywhere in life, but once I started researching and read the above, it seems like there is a high likelihood that I got it from cleaning the chicken house. Could that have been avoided by wearing a face mask each time? I dunno. Seems like those little spores could sneak around a mask.
Most people have no idea that they may be harboring this fungus. The symptoms are the same as those of a common cold. And, "the body's immune system normally overcomes the infection in a few days without treatment". However, "histoplasmosis, even mild cases, can later cause a serious eye disease called ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS), a leading cause of vision loss in Americans ages 20 to 40".
"OHS develops when fragile, abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina . . . [and] form a lesion known as choroidal neovascularization (CNV). If left untreated, the CNV lesion can turn into scar tissue and replace the normal retinal tissue in the macula." This is the stage I'm at: I have the scar tissue.
(Just had to take a lengthy time-out to try to remove a squirrel from the STOVE! Video of that to come.)
After lots of tests and images taken, the doc showed me a picture of my actual left eye and where the scar is. It looks like a giant, shining headlight, and it's RIGHT below my pupil. She said that I'm lucky: had the scar formed ON my pupil I would definitely experience substantial vision loss!
So, what do I do now? Nothing. We hope that the scar remains the size it is and that the fungus (yu-uk!) remains dormant. If so, I shouldn't ever have any problems. But, should I EVER begin to experience blurring in that eye, I need to notify her ASAP . . . for obvious reasons. Amazing what technology can do now, huh?!
All quoted information taken from the National Eye Institute website.
Friday Already?
Okay, it's official now: I'm starting to stress about Christmas. A couple of weeks ago, I thought of the plan to close the office for a week in December so that I could have that chunk of time here at home to prep for the holidays. But now and seemingly suddenly, there's only one solid week BETWEEN today and Christmas! How did THAT happen?!!! So, I think I'm gonna close up for next week, save Saturday, the 18th, when I'll put out the sandwich board and see if I can grab any holiday shoppers.
On Monday, I need to go to the eye doctor - my first trip as an adult. When I was small, I was diagnosed with a weak left eye (everyone on my dad's side of the family seemed to get it) and began a very short regime of progressive eye exercises. Whether they did any good or not (I don't think I followed the program long enough), I haven't needed any glasses . . . until these last several weeks when up-close reading has been difficult (compounded, I'm sure, by the increase of intense computer work). Then, when I was at NAPA a month or two ago to pick out a new headlight bulb for the truck, I COULD NOT read the teeny-tiny print on the boxes. That experience really pointed out the necessity to me. A week or so ago, I went through some of the ex's old glasses and found a pair that works well for reading at night. So, those now live on my bedside table and allowed me to easily read the article on Marina Abramović last night in bed that My Girl had clipped and saved for me. (She fascinates me, this self-described "grandmother of performance art".) Anyway, I'm interested to hear what the optometrist has to say.
I had The Peanut for an overnight on Wednesday. Her mama is expecting Baby #2, a boy baby (yayyyyy!), AND her birthday was on Monday, so, to celebrate, Mommy and Daddy headed down to the big city for an overnight, a movie, and some shopping. The Peanut and I had been invited to Mama & Papa Pea's for dinner, and I've been a little concerned about the fact that the last couple of times we've stopped there, The Peanut has moaned, "But, I don't WANT to!" Actually, it was beginning to freak me out a bit. She's always LOVED spending time there and, often, it's been hard to drag her away. Needing to pick the dogs up at the groomer's very shortly, we weren't at the Pea Household (hee hee) very long, but The Peanut was being a bit of a pill . . . refusing to come to the table for dinner and just, basically, not minding me and being impolite. Finally, I took her into another room and we had A Talk. And, not that it excused her behavior, but I finally understood: our time together is so limited and she's at an age where she takes thing VERY LITERALLY . . . that she "thought it was going to be like this" (when we were in the other room together). I.e., JUST the two of us. When we're at Mama & Papa Pea's (which is, not coincidentally, most often when we're on our way to Swamp River Ridge), she has to share me with them. And, that's where the unhappiness comes in.
So, after a conversation about that but also with a reminder about manners and following direction, she grudgingly came to the table and ate a little of the food in front of her. Then, we were off to pick up the dogs, finish up our errands, and head home. It's all a learning process, and I'm glad she was able to help me understand how she felt. In the future, I think our visits to Grandma J and Papa R will come at the END of our time together, and I'll bet that will make the experience 100% better. (And, heck, I totally get it: that's precisely why I ASK for overnights with her because, otherwise, I, too, am "sharing" her with everyone else at family functions, birthday parties, etc.!)
The temperature rising from the single digits (it was 1 when we got home Wednesday night) to around 20 degrees (the ideal temperature for snow accumulation) yesterday, it snowed and blew, blew, blew all day. I transferred all our gear, car seat, etc. to the truck last night for the drive into town, and we had to plow the 4 1/2 miles out to the main road. I was surprised that The Peanut had never accompanied her dad or papa (paternal grandpa) plowing, and so I was explaining all the aspects of it to her, including the flashing yellow light revolving on top of the cab. I told her that I needed it because I was plowing a road that is, technically, a public one. And, the flashing light was to warn other drivers (not likely) and snowmobilers (very likely) of my approach and to use caution around such a large vehicle. She was quiet for a few beats, processing that information, and then said, very matter of factly, "Good planning!" Ha!!! She hasn't even been three years old for a month yet, and she came out with that! And that's one of the reasons I love her so. :)
When I was out doing chores yesterday, I was brought back to one of the conversations I've had with Mom about her leaving me, as a 2-year old, alone in the house when she went out to do chores. Mom would oftentimes get me settled with a bunch of books for me to "read", and off she'd go to tend to the livestock or haul in wood. I remember chiding her, exclaiming, "You left a TWO YEAR OLD ALONE IN THE HOUSE?!!!" And that was with wood stoves burning hot, etc.! Mom said, "Of course! You knew the rules." (And, of course, think of homesteaders of yore - children were taught, so much earlier than now, the hazards of their surroundings and what was acceptable and what was not.) So, it struck me as I was outside, hauling wood to the outside furnace and transferring everything from one vehicle to another in the short-lived blizzard that, suddenly, I was doing exactly the same thing. And had I thought twice about it? Of course not. The Peanut is (conveniently) raised in an off-grid home, too, that heats with wood. She knows to stay away from the hot stoves, she knows what behavior is important. She knows to come to the door and holler for me if something's wrong.
I took the above picture from the front entrance this morning. Probably got between 5-7" yesterday, but it was hard to tell with the blowing winds and drifting. Notice how I haven't shoveled the front path ONCE yet this winter? That's on the To Do Before Christmas list. Certainly need to re-open the path to the side door, too!
And, looking to the southeast and Tucker running in with his newly shorn coat. He looks like an itty-bitty Chihuahua in this picture, but, believe me . . . he's NOT!
On Monday, I need to go to the eye doctor - my first trip as an adult. When I was small, I was diagnosed with a weak left eye (everyone on my dad's side of the family seemed to get it) and began a very short regime of progressive eye exercises. Whether they did any good or not (I don't think I followed the program long enough), I haven't needed any glasses . . . until these last several weeks when up-close reading has been difficult (compounded, I'm sure, by the increase of intense computer work). Then, when I was at NAPA a month or two ago to pick out a new headlight bulb for the truck, I COULD NOT read the teeny-tiny print on the boxes. That experience really pointed out the necessity to me. A week or so ago, I went through some of the ex's old glasses and found a pair that works well for reading at night. So, those now live on my bedside table and allowed me to easily read the article on Marina Abramović last night in bed that My Girl had clipped and saved for me. (She fascinates me, this self-described "grandmother of performance art".) Anyway, I'm interested to hear what the optometrist has to say.
I had The Peanut for an overnight on Wednesday. Her mama is expecting Baby #2, a boy baby (yayyyyy!), AND her birthday was on Monday, so, to celebrate, Mommy and Daddy headed down to the big city for an overnight, a movie, and some shopping. The Peanut and I had been invited to Mama & Papa Pea's for dinner, and I've been a little concerned about the fact that the last couple of times we've stopped there, The Peanut has moaned, "But, I don't WANT to!" Actually, it was beginning to freak me out a bit. She's always LOVED spending time there and, often, it's been hard to drag her away. Needing to pick the dogs up at the groomer's very shortly, we weren't at the Pea Household (hee hee) very long, but The Peanut was being a bit of a pill . . . refusing to come to the table for dinner and just, basically, not minding me and being impolite. Finally, I took her into another room and we had A Talk. And, not that it excused her behavior, but I finally understood: our time together is so limited and she's at an age where she takes thing VERY LITERALLY . . . that she "thought it was going to be like this" (when we were in the other room together). I.e., JUST the two of us. When we're at Mama & Papa Pea's (which is, not coincidentally, most often when we're on our way to Swamp River Ridge), she has to share me with them. And, that's where the unhappiness comes in.
So, after a conversation about that but also with a reminder about manners and following direction, she grudgingly came to the table and ate a little of the food in front of her. Then, we were off to pick up the dogs, finish up our errands, and head home. It's all a learning process, and I'm glad she was able to help me understand how she felt. In the future, I think our visits to Grandma J and Papa R will come at the END of our time together, and I'll bet that will make the experience 100% better. (And, heck, I totally get it: that's precisely why I ASK for overnights with her because, otherwise, I, too, am "sharing" her with everyone else at family functions, birthday parties, etc.!)
The temperature rising from the single digits (it was 1 when we got home Wednesday night) to around 20 degrees (the ideal temperature for snow accumulation) yesterday, it snowed and blew, blew, blew all day. I transferred all our gear, car seat, etc. to the truck last night for the drive into town, and we had to plow the 4 1/2 miles out to the main road. I was surprised that The Peanut had never accompanied her dad or papa (paternal grandpa) plowing, and so I was explaining all the aspects of it to her, including the flashing yellow light revolving on top of the cab. I told her that I needed it because I was plowing a road that is, technically, a public one. And, the flashing light was to warn other drivers (not likely) and snowmobilers (very likely) of my approach and to use caution around such a large vehicle. She was quiet for a few beats, processing that information, and then said, very matter of factly, "Good planning!" Ha!!! She hasn't even been three years old for a month yet, and she came out with that! And that's one of the reasons I love her so. :)
When I was out doing chores yesterday, I was brought back to one of the conversations I've had with Mom about her leaving me, as a 2-year old, alone in the house when she went out to do chores. Mom would oftentimes get me settled with a bunch of books for me to "read", and off she'd go to tend to the livestock or haul in wood. I remember chiding her, exclaiming, "You left a TWO YEAR OLD ALONE IN THE HOUSE?!!!" And that was with wood stoves burning hot, etc.! Mom said, "Of course! You knew the rules." (And, of course, think of homesteaders of yore - children were taught, so much earlier than now, the hazards of their surroundings and what was acceptable and what was not.) So, it struck me as I was outside, hauling wood to the outside furnace and transferring everything from one vehicle to another in the short-lived blizzard that, suddenly, I was doing exactly the same thing. And had I thought twice about it? Of course not. The Peanut is (conveniently) raised in an off-grid home, too, that heats with wood. She knows to stay away from the hot stoves, she knows what behavior is important. She knows to come to the door and holler for me if something's wrong.
Here she is, dotted by a few smudges of ink from our stencils and ink stamping project yesterday morning:
I took the above picture from the front entrance this morning. Probably got between 5-7" yesterday, but it was hard to tell with the blowing winds and drifting. Notice how I haven't shoveled the front path ONCE yet this winter? That's on the To Do Before Christmas list. Certainly need to re-open the path to the side door, too!
And, looking to the southeast and Tucker running in with his newly shorn coat. He looks like an itty-bitty Chihuahua in this picture, but, believe me . . . he's NOT!
Wish I could stay home with my heating pad today. Don't feel well at all. Old "phantom pains" from the days pre-hysterectomy. The pituitary gland still sends the message to the gut to "cramp, cramp, cramp, SHOVE that egg out!" . . . even when there's nothing to cramp nor any eggs to shoot through non-existent tubes! (Any of you post-hysto gals struggle with this?) Owwwwieeee.
Checking In
I'm sitting in the sunroom tonight, trying to get a pathetic little fire going in the stove. The fire gods seem to be against me. For those of you who use wood stoves regularly, you know how there's a RIGHT way to start a fire as well as a WRONG way? And, yes, sometimes the wrong way actually works. Most of the time, though, it doesn't. You cut some corners: you didn't use enough paper or birchbark or there's not enough kindling. Or the only logs in the woodbox are too big but you don't want to go out to the woodshed to get more. You know the drill. Anyway, that's the point I'm at with this particular fire. I didn't have the energy to build it properly and, so, it is faltering. And I'm blaming low pressure. Or the stupid stove. Or the fact that it's a Wednesday. Certainly not myself.
I've been trying to write the necessary post ever since it all happened on Monday, but I'm just not having any luck. I don't have the will to rehash the whole story right now. But, in brief, for those of you who haven't already found out from Mama Pea's blog or Facebook, I lost Annie Blue (the little cat I'd picked out when she was just 4 weeks old) Monday morning. A big-@ss fisher took her, right in front of me. He had just torn out her throat when I got out the door and fired. There was nothing to do for Annie Blue other than hold her and sob over and over and over, "I'm sorry! Oh, Annie Blue, I'm sorry!"
The irony of it all is that I think I now know what the predator's been this whole time (helped out by an eagle a time or two): this big fisher. (Some call them fisher cats.) That is part of what I want to write about in length some time . . . just not right now.
That and saying goodbye to Annie Blue, burying her, and planting a tree over her grave. But I just don't have it in me at the moment.
To add insult to injury, I got sick last night with what I'm guessing is the 24-hour flu. At first, I thought it was the accumulated stress finally exacting its revenge on my body, but now I know it's more.
After spending an extra hour at my office last night . . . and then another, just 1.5 miles down the road, at my folks' (all on the toilet, thank you very much), I had an excruciatingly miserable hour drive home - inclusive of a visit to Mother Nature's lavatory (thank gawd for dirt roads and no traffic) - followed by a long, painful night of limited sleep. This morning I ate the only banana in the house, a soggy old thing, and that settled properly on my stomach, amazingly enough. The yogurt I tried this afternoon did not. I should have skipped the small bitefuls of rice noodles tonight, too, and stuck to only the two pieces of toast I just had. The 24-hour mark should be cleared any minute, though, and I can't tell you how much I'm counting on that! (I'm not willing to accept that this could be a more-than-just-a-single-day bug.)
Now, the upstairs couch, my heating pad, and a movie are just what this doctor's ordering.
I've been trying to write the necessary post ever since it all happened on Monday, but I'm just not having any luck. I don't have the will to rehash the whole story right now. But, in brief, for those of you who haven't already found out from Mama Pea's blog or Facebook, I lost Annie Blue (the little cat I'd picked out when she was just 4 weeks old) Monday morning. A big-@ss fisher took her, right in front of me. He had just torn out her throat when I got out the door and fired. There was nothing to do for Annie Blue other than hold her and sob over and over and over, "I'm sorry! Oh, Annie Blue, I'm sorry!"
The irony of it all is that I think I now know what the predator's been this whole time (helped out by an eagle a time or two): this big fisher. (Some call them fisher cats.) That is part of what I want to write about in length some time . . . just not right now.
That and saying goodbye to Annie Blue, burying her, and planting a tree over her grave. But I just don't have it in me at the moment.
To add insult to injury, I got sick last night with what I'm guessing is the 24-hour flu. At first, I thought it was the accumulated stress finally exacting its revenge on my body, but now I know it's more.
After spending an extra hour at my office last night . . . and then another, just 1.5 miles down the road, at my folks' (all on the toilet, thank you very much), I had an excruciatingly miserable hour drive home - inclusive of a visit to Mother Nature's lavatory (thank gawd for dirt roads and no traffic) - followed by a long, painful night of limited sleep. This morning I ate the only banana in the house, a soggy old thing, and that settled properly on my stomach, amazingly enough. The yogurt I tried this afternoon did not. I should have skipped the small bitefuls of rice noodles tonight, too, and stuck to only the two pieces of toast I just had. The 24-hour mark should be cleared any minute, though, and I can't tell you how much I'm counting on that! (I'm not willing to accept that this could be a more-than-just-a-single-day bug.)
Now, the upstairs couch, my heating pad, and a movie are just what this doctor's ordering.
A Favorite New Motto
I was pickled tink to notice that I have a new follower this morning! Welcome, Faye!
I followed her Blogger profile to her website and there discovered a favorite new motto: It's a great life if you don't weaken. She writes, "It's always seemed to me that the difference in those who go beyond the basic are those who don't weaken, don't let worry or fear of failure or embarrassment stop them." Well said, and amen, sister! Praise the lord and pass the ammunition! ;) So, if you don't mind, Faye, I'd love to steal that slogan for myself for a while!
Tangentially related, I received an invitation last week from the U of M, asking me to participate in a study titled "A Quality of Life Comparison of Women Who Experience Treatment-related and Spontaneous Menopause." I responded this morning, saying that I would participate. Why? Do I have extra time on my hands? (No.) Are they paying study subjects a stipend that I could so desperately use? (No.) I'm participating because, if there's any chance that this study could result in information that might, one day, prevent a woman from going thru the years of pain, both physical & emotional, that I went through . . . well, then it's worth it!
And, with that, back to work I go.
I followed her Blogger profile to her website and there discovered a favorite new motto: It's a great life if you don't weaken. She writes, "It's always seemed to me that the difference in those who go beyond the basic are those who don't weaken, don't let worry or fear of failure or embarrassment stop them." Well said, and amen, sister! Praise the lord and pass the ammunition! ;) So, if you don't mind, Faye, I'd love to steal that slogan for myself for a while!
Tangentially related, I received an invitation last week from the U of M, asking me to participate in a study titled "A Quality of Life Comparison of Women Who Experience Treatment-related and Spontaneous Menopause." I responded this morning, saying that I would participate. Why? Do I have extra time on my hands? (No.) Are they paying study subjects a stipend that I could so desperately use? (No.) I'm participating because, if there's any chance that this study could result in information that might, one day, prevent a woman from going thru the years of pain, both physical & emotional, that I went through . . . well, then it's worth it!
And, with that, back to work I go.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
I don't think I have any business trying to blog considering I just tried putting some Magic Shell on ice cream and couldn't quite figure out why it wouldn't come out (something about the kitchen being too cold, I think). Anyway . . . .
I'm finally feeling better! Compared to "normal", I'd feel terrible, I think . . . but it's been so LONG since I've FELT normal that I am tickled to feel as lousy as I do!
I slept well last night - the first time decent sleep has been successful in a while, and I'm hoping for another good night tonight. I even managed to take a shower this afternoon . . . which I'm sure Tom was pretty pleased about! Although, I haven't even attempted trying to sleep while lying in the (gasp!) prone position, not to mentioned in BED, in so long that I don't know if he'd care. The library and its old couch have become my sanctuary.
I wouldn't have made it thru these last couple of days, though, were it not for Nora Roberts (Three Sisters Island trilogy) and Jennifer Chiaverini (Elm Creek quilts)*. And northeastern Minnesota's Mail-A-Book system. And the invention of audio books. I've got a good "real" (physical) book right now, 'Go If You Think It Your Duty', but I can't read when I'm sick. But listen? No problem.
* For those of you familiar with either of these authors: yes, I do think I might be a witch now (having read 'Dance Upon the Air') AND I'm thinking of turning our home here into a quilt (and/or handwork) retreat. I'm actually somewhat serious about the latter. I mean, both! ;)
And, double bonus: if I'm up to it, I can do handwork while I listen to audio books. So far, I've gotten a shirt & a pair of Tom's boxers mended, a frilly hat I wouldn't be caught dead in crocheted (but that was a hoot to make and that I hope SOMEone will love) , and Baby Girl's December 16th birthday hat made. Oh, and two other hats finished . . . and my dear, beautiful "adopted daughter"'s (see below) Christmas hat (almost) done. I have only 2, maybe 3 rows left . . . and I ran out of the yarn. And, the real problem? I have NO idea where I got it! My best hope now is to find a similar texture yarn and finish the bottom in that. Hmph.
I'll post pictures of all these projects (well, I don't know if you're dying to see the mending!) just as soon as I'm up to uploading 'em. Oh, and I have a new wound, too, from 'When Turkeys Attack'. I'll have to show you that one, too. (ONE of these days, I'll learn not to wear red when I do chores!!!)
Back I go to 'The Quilter's Homecoming' and starting The Peanut's Christmas hat. She (just 2 years old) picked out the yarn one day while we were shopping: it's BRILLIANT red! Yikes! We'll see what she thinks of the finished product. ;) I think I'll work some creme into it to balance things out.
I'm finally feeling better! Compared to "normal", I'd feel terrible, I think . . . but it's been so LONG since I've FELT normal that I am tickled to feel as lousy as I do!
I slept well last night - the first time decent sleep has been successful in a while, and I'm hoping for another good night tonight. I even managed to take a shower this afternoon . . . which I'm sure Tom was pretty pleased about! Although, I haven't even attempted trying to sleep while lying in the (gasp!) prone position, not to mentioned in BED, in so long that I don't know if he'd care. The library and its old couch have become my sanctuary.
I wouldn't have made it thru these last couple of days, though, were it not for Nora Roberts (Three Sisters Island trilogy) and Jennifer Chiaverini (Elm Creek quilts)*. And northeastern Minnesota's Mail-A-Book system. And the invention of audio books. I've got a good "real" (physical) book right now, 'Go If You Think It Your Duty', but I can't read when I'm sick. But listen? No problem.
* For those of you familiar with either of these authors: yes, I do think I might be a witch now (having read 'Dance Upon the Air') AND I'm thinking of turning our home here into a quilt (and/or handwork) retreat. I'm actually somewhat serious about the latter. I mean, both! ;)
And, double bonus: if I'm up to it, I can do handwork while I listen to audio books. So far, I've gotten a shirt & a pair of Tom's boxers mended, a frilly hat I wouldn't be caught dead in crocheted (but that was a hoot to make and that I hope SOMEone will love) , and Baby Girl's December 16th birthday hat made. Oh, and two other hats finished . . . and my dear, beautiful "adopted daughter"'s (see below) Christmas hat (almost) done. I have only 2, maybe 3 rows left . . . and I ran out of the yarn. And, the real problem? I have NO idea where I got it! My best hope now is to find a similar texture yarn and finish the bottom in that. Hmph.
I'll post pictures of all these projects (well, I don't know if you're dying to see the mending!) just as soon as I'm up to uploading 'em. Oh, and I have a new wound, too, from 'When Turkeys Attack'. I'll have to show you that one, too. (ONE of these days, I'll learn not to wear red when I do chores!!!)
Back I go to 'The Quilter's Homecoming' and starting The Peanut's Christmas hat. She (just 2 years old) picked out the yarn one day while we were shopping: it's BRILLIANT red! Yikes! We'll see what she thinks of the finished product. ;) I think I'll work some creme into it to balance things out.
Sharing Germs
Uuuuuggghhh. I'm sick.
Over NYE, The Peanut was very sick and contracted croup.
Here is a shot of her, having her temperature taken for
the umpteenth time but snuggled on Uncle Tommy's lap, a week ago today.
I feel the same as she looks.
Glassy-eyed and a little miserable.
I really hoped the extra packets of Emergen-C I took these last few days would get me through the germies, but no such luck. Besides, LOTS of people are sick right now. Matter of fact, I guess Duluth (pop. ~80,000) has closed some of its schools because over 1/2 of the teachers are out sick!
I just hope Tom doesn't get it. If he can stay on top of his needed sleep, he can usually out-sleep most any germs. But, he hasn't been home in over 24 hours. Yesterday, the man who was supposed to work last night got fired, and since Tom was the only manager on-site . . . well, guess who had to work an additional 8 hours until 1:00 AM, shuttling drunks home? ("At least they were happy drunks", he said!)
And, because getting off work at 1:00 means getting home at 2:30 . . . only to get up 3 1/2 hours later at 6:00 . . . obviously it made WAY more sense for him to stay. Me thinks I need to get a permanent overnight bag - and perhaps an extra shirt - together which he can keep in his office for just these situations.
Mind-Numbing? No, It's the Fingers . . . .
At some point on Sunday, I lost feeling in the tips of my 2 middle fingers on my right hand. It's not painful, but it's annoying.
I couldn't figure out why this happened (I hadn't "done" anything that I was aware of) until it finally clicked yesterday: I've had a couple of days of my back killing me so much that I've had to take pain killers. So, back pain + numb fingers = pinched nerves, I'll bet.
Then, this morning, it was confirmed. As soon as I got up, I loaded a laundry basket with dirty clothes to take downstairs to the washer. I realized my fingers were all feeling normal! Yayyy, it's gone!
But then, once I'd been upright for about 15 minutes . . . the aching in my forearm and tingling in my fingers started returning. Yup, probably a pinched nerve along my spine. Hmph. Must have our massage therapist look at that. Unfortunately, she's out of town until next week. Oh, well, it's not the end of the world. If that's my only problem for the day (ha!), I'll take it! ;)
I couldn't figure out why this happened (I hadn't "done" anything that I was aware of) until it finally clicked yesterday: I've had a couple of days of my back killing me so much that I've had to take pain killers. So, back pain + numb fingers = pinched nerves, I'll bet.
Then, this morning, it was confirmed. As soon as I got up, I loaded a laundry basket with dirty clothes to take downstairs to the washer. I realized my fingers were all feeling normal! Yayyy, it's gone!
But then, once I'd been upright for about 15 minutes . . . the aching in my forearm and tingling in my fingers started returning. Yup, probably a pinched nerve along my spine. Hmph. Must have our massage therapist look at that. Unfortunately, she's out of town until next week. Oh, well, it's not the end of the world. If that's my only problem for the day (ha!), I'll take it! ;)
Dumb, Da Dumb, Dumb . . . DUMB!
Not the brightest bulb in the bin, am I? Although, I surely am the reddest!
Obviously, I chose the 100% DEET route yesterday while working outside instead of the Covered Head To Toe in Mosquito Netting option. And then I promptly forgot that my winter-tenderized skin had not seen the light of day in about, oh, 9 months.
Oddly enough, though, it doesn't hurt. I had Tom apply a combination of Lavender & Idaho Tansy essential oils last night after my shower . . . but it didn't hurt before that, either, so . . . ? At any rate, I'm considering myself lucky that I'm not in pain.
I AM in pain, however, when it comes to my aching, swollen right thumb.
Late last night, when I went out to close up the chickens, my hand slipped while shoving a stubborn double-hung window closed, and my thumb SMASHED up into the low ceiling. THANKFULLY, I'd clipped my usually long nails last week. If I hadn't, I don't think I'd have a thumbnail this morning. As it was, after I opened my eyes following the blinding pain of bending the thumbnail backwards, I thought, "Geez, I think I bloodied it this time!" But then, it ALWAYS feels that bad when you do that, doesn't it? And, there never is any blood.
But, when I got inside and took off my glove . . . vindication! Blood! I won't tell you how far down the nail bent backwards - that would only curl your toes even more. Suffice it to say, though, I "did it good"!
Oh, the Pain . . . .
I'm not looking for pity, empathy, or sympathy here (well, maybe just a little) . . . but I do have a point to make.
Before I had my hysterectomy in Feb. of '08, I was also battling tummy troubles. Trouble was, the doctors weren't sure which pains were from which problem . . . so we waited to see how much of it would clear up post-surgery.
Last summer, I started some meds for my tummy troubles . . . which I still, unfortunately, had. And, on the up side (the down side that I still am ON meds), things have been pretty free-n-easy. Until last night.
I was struck down by That Old Black Magic and couldn't crawl into bed until 3:00 AM when the . . . well, let's just say 'side effects' . . . were limited enough. Thanks to one of my many trusty heating pads (oh, yes, you CAN wear heating pads out!), I was able to fall asleep. But, this morning? Oh, yeah, still got it.
BUT, here's that point I was talking about. I am almost (?!) glad this happened again because IT REMINDS ME of how bad I used to feel on SUCH a regular basis and HOW GRATEFUL I AM that I don't have to suffer with this like I used to.
So, that's all. End of complaining. End of post.
Moral of the story: if you have excellent health, appreciate it! And, if you feel less than great at times, appreciate those things that you can do to make yourself feel better!
Before I had my hysterectomy in Feb. of '08, I was also battling tummy troubles. Trouble was, the doctors weren't sure which pains were from which problem . . . so we waited to see how much of it would clear up post-surgery.
Last summer, I started some meds for my tummy troubles . . . which I still, unfortunately, had. And, on the up side (the down side that I still am ON meds), things have been pretty free-n-easy. Until last night.
I was struck down by That Old Black Magic and couldn't crawl into bed until 3:00 AM when the . . . well, let's just say 'side effects' . . . were limited enough. Thanks to one of my many trusty heating pads (oh, yes, you CAN wear heating pads out!), I was able to fall asleep. But, this morning? Oh, yeah, still got it.
BUT, here's that point I was talking about. I am almost (?!) glad this happened again because IT REMINDS ME of how bad I used to feel on SUCH a regular basis and HOW GRATEFUL I AM that I don't have to suffer with this like I used to.
So, that's all. End of complaining. End of post.
Moral of the story: if you have excellent health, appreciate it! And, if you feel less than great at times, appreciate those things that you can do to make yourself feel better!
Saturday Morning Update
Tom's been doing a lot of self-instructed physical therapy at the community pool in town, and he's gained a HUGE amount of movement in his right arm/shoulder. The big problem is that he still can't bear any weight with that arm . . . which he continual reminds himself of each time he - unthinkingly - tries to do something like heft Tucker into a vehicle (no small feat for ANYONE)! And then he's in pain, and I yell at him, "What did you do that for?!", and he's reminded that he's still mending!
Men!
We lost a HUGE amount of snow this week - the unfortunate aspect of that being that the house floor is now COVERED in muddy little paw prints. Such is springtime in the Northwoods.
There's a bad wash-out on the 4-mile long winter driveway now that's gonna cause some problems REAL soon. The really difficult-to-fix part of it, too, is that it runs LENGTHWISE down the road, instead of just cutting across it! It's probably close to 12" deep in spots, and if we get a good rainstorm, we're gonna be in trouble . . . whichever side of it we're on at the time. Although, either way, we'll be fine: if we're not at home when it happens, I can haul some gravel from the gravel yard in town to fill it . . . and if we're home, I can fill it from the pile of gravel we have stored here.
We got so much snow this winter that new "low spots" and washouts are evident that never were problems in previous winters, this particular one included. Which reminds me - I need to go out and find the orange highway cone to mark a BAD pothole on the road. It's one of those that drops away all the way down to China. Hit that at any speed and your entire axle would be laying on the ground!
So, the benefit is this evening, and I just found out this morning that the silent auction proceeds are going to be MATCHED by Lutheran Brotherhood! Holy Moly, Rocky! I have a sneaky feeling that's in direct correlation to the new pastor at the church - a wonderful woman who seems REALLY proactive. I can only imagine that she's the driving force behind it . . . as well as the beautiful handmade get-well card we got from the church (and we're not even members!).
Lastly, I've added a fun little list on the right side here on this blog titled 'If I Had All The Money In The World, I Would . . . .' I got the idea while I was outside doing chores this morning, listening to the wild birds, and thinking, "If I had all the money in the world, I would have bird feeders EVERYWHERE around here, and I'd never run out of birdseed!" So, watch it as I add to and change it. And . . . I would encourage you to steal the idea for your OWN blog or webpage! :)
Men!
We lost a HUGE amount of snow this week - the unfortunate aspect of that being that the house floor is now COVERED in muddy little paw prints. Such is springtime in the Northwoods.
There's a bad wash-out on the 4-mile long winter driveway now that's gonna cause some problems REAL soon. The really difficult-to-fix part of it, too, is that it runs LENGTHWISE down the road, instead of just cutting across it! It's probably close to 12" deep in spots, and if we get a good rainstorm, we're gonna be in trouble . . . whichever side of it we're on at the time. Although, either way, we'll be fine: if we're not at home when it happens, I can haul some gravel from the gravel yard in town to fill it . . . and if we're home, I can fill it from the pile of gravel we have stored here.
We got so much snow this winter that new "low spots" and washouts are evident that never were problems in previous winters, this particular one included. Which reminds me - I need to go out and find the orange highway cone to mark a BAD pothole on the road. It's one of those that drops away all the way down to China. Hit that at any speed and your entire axle would be laying on the ground!
So, the benefit is this evening, and I just found out this morning that the silent auction proceeds are going to be MATCHED by Lutheran Brotherhood! Holy Moly, Rocky! I have a sneaky feeling that's in direct correlation to the new pastor at the church - a wonderful woman who seems REALLY proactive. I can only imagine that she's the driving force behind it . . . as well as the beautiful handmade get-well card we got from the church (and we're not even members!).
Lastly, I've added a fun little list on the right side here on this blog titled 'If I Had All The Money In The World, I Would . . . .' I got the idea while I was outside doing chores this morning, listening to the wild birds, and thinking, "If I had all the money in the world, I would have bird feeders EVERYWHERE around here, and I'd never run out of birdseed!" So, watch it as I add to and change it. And . . . I would encourage you to steal the idea for your OWN blog or webpage! :)
What Do You Say . . . .
What do you say when 'Thank You' is not nearly enough?
I've been trying to write this post since the Wednesday after we returned from Tom's accident and Arizona, but I've had an immense amount of difficulty finding the words.
When I picked up the ringing phone on April 1st, I was surprised to hear a woman identify herself who I knew pretty much only in passing. It's a small community, and I knew which face matched the name, but that was about it. She explained that she was calling to ask our permission (!) to hold a benefit for two other community families . . . AND US! In each of these cases, the men are the breadwinners in the family, and they're all self-employed. And, in these economic times, 'self-employed' generally (and in these particular situations) translates into 'no health insurance'.
And now, one family has temporarily lost their wife, mother (of five), and prime care-giver of one autistic son due to a horrible infection following emergency surgery. Another family was slowed when the carpenter husband fell from the roof of a house, smashed through a deck railing, and then BOUNCED from the porch floor onto the frozen ground below. An ICU stay to resolve a possible brain injury (none, thankfully!) followed, accompanied by a broken rib and nearly ripped-off nose.
And then there's Tom. Besides the collapsed lung and badly broken clavicle, a recent set of exam reports detailed "several rib fractures involving at least the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th ribs and possibly involving the 7th rib." Those are a lot of broken bones.
(Someone who's never said 'boo' to me before greeted me at the grocery store tonight with, "So, Weslie, how do you feel about bikes these days?" I didn't even think she knew my name! So, the word must be out.)
But, I digress. The point is wondering HOW one properly expresses their hit-me-upside-the-head-with-a-2x4 gracious amazement to people and a community like this? I don't think it's possible. But, we'll have to try. And soon.
On Saturday evening, there'll be a potluck and silent auction followed by live music (they do a MEAN Johnny Cash) and a dance at our little town hall. (I've heard that the silent auction has drawn incredible donations from local artists. I suppose it kinda defeats the whole purpose if I bid on something, huh?)
This is the same town hall where I remember sweeping the wooden floors as a little girl while my mom finished up her stint as an election judge. The same town hall we returned to when my oldest girlfriend got married nearly three years ago. The same town hall whose kitchen still has no running water . . . and it's never slowed down an event. The same town hall that I've known for the past 36 years. The same town hall that makes people assume that I am "a local" even though I'm not (i.e. generations past buried in the cemeteries) . . . .
Generally speaking, I'm not a 'crier'. But, for about a week following that phone call, I could not stop. The floodgates had been opened. My only hope is that they're kept in check on Saturday.
If you're in the area, please come. Not to donate, but to see us. To visit. To try to not hug Tom too tightly. I think it will be a wonderful, spring-time "re-introduction into Society" for us!
I've been trying to write this post since the Wednesday after we returned from Tom's accident and Arizona, but I've had an immense amount of difficulty finding the words.
When I picked up the ringing phone on April 1st, I was surprised to hear a woman identify herself who I knew pretty much only in passing. It's a small community, and I knew which face matched the name, but that was about it. She explained that she was calling to ask our permission (!) to hold a benefit for two other community families . . . AND US! In each of these cases, the men are the breadwinners in the family, and they're all self-employed. And, in these economic times, 'self-employed' generally (and in these particular situations) translates into 'no health insurance'.
And now, one family has temporarily lost their wife, mother (of five), and prime care-giver of one autistic son due to a horrible infection following emergency surgery. Another family was slowed when the carpenter husband fell from the roof of a house, smashed through a deck railing, and then BOUNCED from the porch floor onto the frozen ground below. An ICU stay to resolve a possible brain injury (none, thankfully!) followed, accompanied by a broken rib and nearly ripped-off nose.
And then there's Tom. Besides the collapsed lung and badly broken clavicle, a recent set of exam reports detailed "several rib fractures involving at least the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th ribs and possibly involving the 7th rib." Those are a lot of broken bones.
(Someone who's never said 'boo' to me before greeted me at the grocery store tonight with, "So, Weslie, how do you feel about bikes these days?" I didn't even think she knew my name! So, the word must be out.)
But, I digress. The point is wondering HOW one properly expresses their hit-me-upside-the-head-with-a-2x4 gracious amazement to people and a community like this? I don't think it's possible. But, we'll have to try. And soon.
On Saturday evening, there'll be a potluck and silent auction followed by live music (they do a MEAN Johnny Cash) and a dance at our little town hall. (I've heard that the silent auction has drawn incredible donations from local artists. I suppose it kinda defeats the whole purpose if I bid on something, huh?)
This is the same town hall where I remember sweeping the wooden floors as a little girl while my mom finished up her stint as an election judge. The same town hall we returned to when my oldest girlfriend got married nearly three years ago. The same town hall whose kitchen still has no running water . . . and it's never slowed down an event. The same town hall that I've known for the past 36 years. The same town hall that makes people assume that I am "a local" even though I'm not (i.e. generations past buried in the cemeteries) . . . .
Generally speaking, I'm not a 'crier'. But, for about a week following that phone call, I could not stop. The floodgates had been opened. My only hope is that they're kept in check on Saturday.
If you're in the area, please come. Not to donate, but to see us. To visit. To try to not hug Tom too tightly. I think it will be a wonderful, spring-time "re-introduction into Society" for us!
Skin and Bones
Here's an up-close-and-personal (and up-to-date) look at Tom's clavicle. Holy cats, huh?! Once I saw how funky it looks, I whipped out a ruler. Yup, the broken side is exactly 1" more narrow than the other shoulder.
Compare the last two pictures.
Kinda neat if you're into that sorta thing (like I am)!
It's neat to see what's really going on underneath the skin!
Kinda neat if you're into that sorta thing (like I am)!
It's neat to see what's really going on underneath the skin!
Yup, It's Broke!
Now how's THAT for a broken clavicle, huh?! Wow.So, we drove to Cottonwood today to get the last set of chest x-rays. The main purpose was to see how the lung looks, but we thought this was way more interesting! (And the doc won't see the results until tomorrow, anyway, at which point his nurse will call us . . . BUT we don't expect any problems there.)
When we were there, we asked if we could get a copy of all the x-rays for our records and to show our docs at home. They said that the backlog would take a few days to get together and that they would send us that CD but for today's they could just burn an extra copy. So, now we have 'em! Very cool to see!
But, seeing how bad the break is in his shoulder I don't know how Tom will be able to get by without surgery on it. The osteopath who initially looked at it said that he wanted Tom to check in with a surgeon between 6 - 12 weeks, but I think that was when the break was still "just" a 'butterfly' break: before it had overlapped and started poking out like it is now. Anyway, time will tell. Looking at this diagram of a Butterfly Fracture, you can kind of see what must have happened in Tom's shoulder since the accident:
Anyway, that's the latest from our end! I'm missing the beauty of the ice storm they're having at home but not the danger nor inconvenience! Take care, everyone!
Mass E-Mailing & Pictures
For those of you to whom this will come as a surprise, here's the brief (or not so brief, knowing me!) synopsis. For the rest of you, skip down for the latest news near the bottom.
A shot of the prop-plane / puddle-jumper I flew out on.
After a brief visit to the ER in Sedona, he was transferred down to a terrific (and much larger) hospital in Cottonwood. I arrived there Thursday night (the earliest flight I could get thanks to Spring Break), and the wonderful staff set me up in an alcove of the private room with my own hide-a-bed. From that point until his discharge on Sunday evening, the 16th, I got to be his personal nurse 24/7 and never once left the hospital!
Tom's hospital room.
You can see my little bedroom alcove behind Tom in his hospital bed.
At his request, I shaved Tom's head once when he was still completely bed-ridden, but this was his first foray into having it done in the bathroom . . . as you can see by his position, it was a rather exhausting excursion.
I call this pose our version of 'The Thinker'. ;)
Here's a good shot of the icky yellow hue that Tom's bashed-up shoulder took on. He never turned black and blue but instead skipped right to this.
Tom on the first day home, Monday.
We came "home" Sunday night to the home of dear friends here in Sedona. They left on their cross-country bike trek on Wednesday morning and, since then, we have been slumming it (ha - hardly!!!) alone, recouping in the sun ever since.
With our friends in their back yard the night before they left (Tuesday night).
P waits - not too patiently - for D to open the champagne!
Tom feels better each day although he suffered just a bit of a set-back when we got out of the hospital - no IV pain meds and trying to get comfortable in a "regular" bed. A couple of mornings were hard, and Tom ended up laid out on the cool floor of the bathroom the first morning (by choice, fortunately). And, we had to adapt to setting an alarm for during the nights so that Tom could keep on top of the pain with his meds . . . vs. sleeping through and then being absolutely MISERABLE waiting for them to kick in when he awoke.
Tom doing his exercises that keep inflating his lung
and preventing it from collapsing.
The chest tube incision site the day we got to remove the bandage: Wednesday.
No stitches, no nuthin'!
The first short walk down the road.
I've been updating folks via our blog, and I'll repost this e-mail there with photos. Go to www.swampriverridge.blogspot.com.
Everyone both here (strangers!) and back home has been truly amazing regarding stepping in to do ANYTHING they can to help us. And, I wouldn't be able to be here helping Tom if my folks weren't taking care of Swamp River Ridge, so a HUGE thanks goes to them.
Tom drove out to Sedona, Arizona leaving on Saturday, the 7th, and arriving on Monday, the 9th. He came out for some mental R&R and to get in a little bit of road bike (bicycle) training with his friend whom I've previously written about.
A view of our house at home the day of Tom's accident.
On his second day here, Wednesday the 11th, he and Don were just down the road a mile away from the house when the front tire of Tom's bike ultimately came off! Tom was catapulted into the ditch, first striking his head (thank god for helmets) and then absorbing the impact with the front right of his torso. Besides some pretty good road rash, the crash resulted in 6 shattered ribs, a badly broken clavicle (collarbone), and a collapsed lung. If he hadn't been wearing his helmet, he would have been paralyzed . . . or gone.
A view of our house at home the day of Tom's accident.
On his second day here, Wednesday the 11th, he and Don were just down the road a mile away from the house when the front tire of Tom's bike ultimately came off! Tom was catapulted into the ditch, first striking his head (thank god for helmets) and then absorbing the impact with the front right of his torso. Besides some pretty good road rash, the crash resulted in 6 shattered ribs, a badly broken clavicle (collarbone), and a collapsed lung. If he hadn't been wearing his helmet, he would have been paralyzed . . . or gone.
A shot of the prop-plane / puddle-jumper I flew out on.After a brief visit to the ER in Sedona, he was transferred down to a terrific (and much larger) hospital in Cottonwood. I arrived there Thursday night (the earliest flight I could get thanks to Spring Break), and the wonderful staff set me up in an alcove of the private room with my own hide-a-bed. From that point until his discharge on Sunday evening, the 16th, I got to be his personal nurse 24/7 and never once left the hospital!
Tom's hospital room.
You can see my little bedroom alcove behind Tom in his hospital bed.
At his request, I shaved Tom's head once when he was still completely bed-ridden, but this was his first foray into having it done in the bathroom . . . as you can see by his position, it was a rather exhausting excursion.
I call this pose our version of 'The Thinker'. ;)
Here's a good shot of the icky yellow hue that Tom's bashed-up shoulder took on. He never turned black and blue but instead skipped right to this.
Tom on the first day home, Monday.We came "home" Sunday night to the home of dear friends here in Sedona. They left on their cross-country bike trek on Wednesday morning and, since then, we have been slumming it (ha - hardly!!!) alone, recouping in the sun ever since.
With our friends in their back yard the night before they left (Tuesday night).
P waits - not too patiently - for D to open the champagne!
Tom feels better each day although he suffered just a bit of a set-back when we got out of the hospital - no IV pain meds and trying to get comfortable in a "regular" bed. A couple of mornings were hard, and Tom ended up laid out on the cool floor of the bathroom the first morning (by choice, fortunately). And, we had to adapt to setting an alarm for during the nights so that Tom could keep on top of the pain with his meds . . . vs. sleeping through and then being absolutely MISERABLE waiting for them to kick in when he awoke.
Tom doing his exercises that keep inflating his lung
and preventing it from collapsing.
The chest tube incision site the day we got to remove the bandage: Wednesday.
No stitches, no nuthin'!
The first short walk down the road.
We went out to run to an outdoor store and then the grocery store Wednesday evening, but it was really too early for Tom to attack all that, so I took him home in between the two errands. D & P's house here is only 5 miles out of town proper, so everything is quite handy.
The view out the car window on my way to the grocery store.
Today we took a little walk on the red rock trails across the road. So, like I said, a little more each day. We have a good friend from home who lives in Flagstaff now (and surprised the HECK out of us by showing up to visit Tomin the hospital last weekend!) and who we were planning on visiting tomorrow night. But, based on our experience with "overdoing it" so far, we made the executive decision today and asked if she would come down to us. We know it would be too much if we tried to do the drive there, the actual visit, and then the drive home.
The view out the car window on my way to the grocery store.
Today we took a little walk on the red rock trails across the road. So, like I said, a little more each day. We have a good friend from home who lives in Flagstaff now (and surprised the HECK out of us by showing up to visit Tomin the hospital last weekend!) and who we were planning on visiting tomorrow night. But, based on our experience with "overdoing it" so far, we made the executive decision today and asked if she would come down to us. We know it would be too much if we tried to do the drive there, the actual visit, and then the drive home.
On Monday, the 23rd, we drive back up to Cottonwood for another set of x-rays and a meeting with the doc. At that meeting we hope to be given the thumbs-up for Tom to travel. When he was released this past Sunday, there was still a small portion of his lung that was collapsed, and I think the repair of that will give us the go-ahead travel home. (He's had a little lung exercise machine that he uses several times a day and, during our walk today, he said that he could feel that his lung HAS healed, he thinks.)
Fortunate for us in this situation, Tom drove out here from Minnesota to Arizona, so we have wheels. Once we're given the all-clear we'll head home, but it remains to be seen how much Tom can comfortably travel each day (and how much driving I can keep my eyes open for since Tom does 95% of our long-distance driving). I know we'll need to take our time, though, so we've looked at the map to see how much of it we can do on designated Scenic Routes. But, if all goes as well as we expect/project, we'll be home around a week from tomorrow, I'm thinking.
I've been updating folks via our blog, and I'll repost this e-mail there with photos. Go to www.swampriverridge.blogspot.com.
Everyone both here (strangers!) and back home has been truly amazing regarding stepping in to do ANYTHING they can to help us. And, I wouldn't be able to be here helping Tom if my folks weren't taking care of Swamp River Ridge, so a HUGE thanks goes to them.
Hope to see you all soon . . . and keep those helmets on!
xox Weslie & Tom
Saturday Pics
Chest tube came out on Saturday! Yayyyy!
Here's one of our favorite night nurses, Enrique, giving Tom a bit of saline up the nose to aid in the nose-blowing process. We gave him a hard time about coming in a full three days before St. Patrick's Day dressed in his celebratory green shamrocks . . . ESPECIALLY when he's from New Mexico and can't claim a DROP of Irish blood! ;)
Here's one of our favorite night nurses, Enrique, giving Tom a bit of saline up the nose to aid in the nose-blowing process. We gave him a hard time about coming in a full three days before St. Patrick's Day dressed in his celebratory green shamrocks . . . ESPECIALLY when he's from New Mexico and can't claim a DROP of Irish blood! ;)
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