Some Good News....

When I called the retinal doctor's office about making an appointment ASAP, they asked what had happened to me when I said I had experienced a sudden change in my vision but it had passed.  The doctor asked me what I was doing when it happened.  I told him I was playing a game online.  He said to me, after I told him everything I experienced that I needed to change my refresh rate on my computer and it wasn't unusual for such a thing to happen when the refresh rate was wrong for me.  He made me feel better but I had to ask the neighborhood geek how to get to it on Windows 7 to change it.  He's like only 14 years old but he sure made me feel dumb.  I needed to change it on my MONITOR, not Windows 7.  DUH!  I knew that...at one time it would not have required a second thought.  But these days, I just don't know......

Anyway, my appointment with the retinal doctor (which I needed anyway) isn't for a month but he says if it happens to me again, then I should call his office.  He said *we old people have to be aware that our vision isn't working as well as it used to* and that sure made me feel great.....NOT!  Oh well, I can't argue that I am getting old.  All I have to do is look in the mirror....LOL!

Chewlee had the substitute driver (who doesn't really know any better) drop her off here again.  This time her mother was mad at the driver and finally got to talk to her later in the day.  Chewlee just can't get used to the idea of not coming here (where we DO spoil her a bit) at least three or four times a week now that the Princess isn't working any more.  It's tough for her.  We've been a very integral part of her life now for over four years and she didn't get a tapering off.  It was a sudden stop!  It's hard on me, too.  I really love that kid and I miss her terribly.  **Sigh**

She didn't get to stay for too long because her daddy was home (day off, I think) so he came over and picked her up.  She was resigned to it but was NOT happy.  Poor baby.  She loves us and misses coming here.

The Wound Center called today and asked me if I could come in at noon (which is the last appt. of the day for my doctor).  I said *sure, no problem* and then wondered why since my appointment was scheduled for 10am.  Then it occurred to me that I might actually be getting this valve removed so being his last appointment of the day would make sense.  He claimed it could be done there when it was needed but I worried about the possibility of bleeding since this goes right into my artery in my neck.  It doesn't seem to worry him, though, and since he is the one that installed it, I assume he knows what he's doing.  I will let you know tomorrow what happens.

The Beast has his appointment with the dentist tomorrow at 11am down in Gadsden so he will have to leave about an hour earlier and I have no idea who will get home first, depending on what MY doctor does besides working on my toe.  We have the dog here but you would think he expected burglars with his instructions to me about how he wanted me to lock up the house.  Too funny.  I guess I'm an idiot because it was what I had planned on doing anyway.  Plus, he forgot to mention letting the dog out to pee before I leave.  Sheesh!  What a maroon.

We are going into our brief warmup time.  It's after midnight here and the temperature is still above freezing.  It's supposed to be in the upper 40's tomorrow...and sunny, too.  That will help get rid of the last of the smattering of snow we got the other day.  We still have a tiny bit of it in our driveway, can you believe it?  I didn't think the ground was all that cold.

My poor friend, Carol, out in the San Francisco area, was telling me they are in drought mode there due to the lack of snow and/or rain this year.  She asked me to try to ship out a couple hundred thousand cubits of water their way....LOL!  I think that might dry up our lake here.

Love you all.  Those of you getting more of that white stuff, stay warm and dry.  Stay off the roads if you can help it.  And please, drive defensively if you are out in it.  ***Hugs***

 

Suddenly Having Vision Problems....

The last time I saw the retinologist, he tolld me that I was to come and see him if I suddenly had any vision problems.  Guess what?  I suddenly am having rather severe vision problems and I have to close the suspect eye in order to see clearly.

When it hit, it was sudden and very scary.  My whole field of vision went haywire and I thought I was going to pass out from all the confusion it caused.  I know I have to call him tomorrow and get in as soon as I can.  It may mean surgery on the eye.  Guess he had some idea of what might happen to me.  I hate to have to tell the Beast about this in the morning.  It means that, for a while, I have to depend on him to drive me wherever I need to go.  I hate that.  Unless this straightens out by morning (and it could with some decent sleep), I am not looking forward to what this may mean.  I will call the doctor, regardless, because this was scary.  It's already starting to straighten out a bit and I can open my eye and see almost normally.  Say a little prayer for me, please.  I hate the idea of surgery on my eye but will do whatever I need to do in order to save my sight.

Other things happened here today, including the Beast picking up Chewlee to take pictures.  I thought he was nuts when I discovered he took her down by the river and took the pictures outside when it was just 27 degrees out, not counting the wind chill.  But he didn't stay out long, thankfully and Chewlee was in a good mood, regardless.

She came back here with him so she got a bit of pampering and that made her happy.  I took her home and dropped off some pictures to the Princess that the Beast had sent along.  On my way home, you won't believe what I ended up behind!  Two propane trucks!  And then one pulled up in back of me.  With the propane shortage, I hoped they were headed to areas where they were sorely needed.  I have never seen three propane trucks at one time before.....ever!

Love you all.  I have to close.  I need to get my butt to bed.  Stay warm and don't drive in bad weather unless it is an absolute necessity!  ***Hugs***

I Crawl Into Bed And Stay There...LOL!

It was that kind of day.  Cold, snowy and a blustery wind!  Yeah, we got snow.  Not a whole lot of it.  Maybe a half inch?  I watched it come down on the roof of the cottage from the window in my computer room.  I had to keep adjusting the heat settings in my computer room because of coming back and forth from the rest of the house where there was a definite temperature difference.  I spent some time setting up my pill box for the next week while I was watching the snow come down and being blown around by the wind bursts.  It was not a sight that enthralled me.  It made me duck under the covers and curl up into a sleep mode, not unlike some hibernating animal except that I woke up to pee, drink water and eat something at the appropriate times.  **Sigh**  People just can't hibernate properly!  But, we do give it a good try at times.  **Wink**

I couldn't believe my ears when the Beast told me he cooked the cauliflower in the pressure cooker.  He didn't even have to finish what he was telling me because I already knew.....he put it on for five minutes and overcooked it.  Of course, he didn't core the head but put the whole thing in, leaves included.  Then he didn't immediately release the pressure, either.  He knows that it keeps cooking but he figured that would cook up the center of the head of cauliflower.  He should have just planned on making cauliflower soup.  That is just about what he had when he finally was going to get a little of it for Baron.  Baron, who loves cauliflower, sniffed it and looked at the Beast like he was crazy.  He wouldn't touch it because it had the wrong texture.  It was more like mashed potatoes and a bit overcooked at that.....LOL.

When I asked him why he used the pressure cooker, he said it was because we didn't have any pots big enough for it.  I looked at him in disbelief and said, *You didn't core and separate the florets, did you?*  He looked at me, blankly, and said, *You are supposed to cook the whole thing together, right?*  He would have known you didn't but he never listens if I say something that he just does not believe.  I had asked him if he wanted me to separate the florets for him and he just said, *No, I can do that.*  Never once (stupid me!) did it occur to me that he was clueless about the whole thing.  Oh well.

I'm actually ready to head back to bed.  It's 14 degrees outside and the wind chill makes it feel like ZERO if you go outside!  So I am going to say I love you and keep warm and dry.  I am  hoping to get thru the next few days without having to go out in this mess.  I'm an old person now and at risk, as they say.  LOL!  **Hugs**

Really Cold Weather Hits The South Hard!

Watching the local news tonight really made it hit home that our winters are getting weird.  We don't usually have the wind chill warnings that we have had or the ones for the next couple of days.  Although we in the Tennessee Valley area (which embraces not just Tennessee but also Alabama...it's HUGE) are not going to be hit quite as hard as other areas, it's still worse than we are used to enduring.  Schools have been cancelled or delayed due to the wind chill that's expected to hit us.  Those of us living at higher elevations are even told we will more than likely get some sleet.  That's very dangerous for an area that doesn't have snow or ice supplies and equipment since it's so rare here.

I watched the areas that are being affected and it goes right down into Florida.  When 70 degree weather can cause people there to don winter clothes and coats, the weather they are being hit with is REALLY tough on them.

I worry about Chewlee, of course.  She takes the bus and has to be down at the end of her long driveway to get it so the wind chill is awful for those kids that take the bus.  If school isn't cancelled, even a delay doesn't mean the wind chill will be any better.  It could even be worse than expected.  I do know she has some good, warm winter things she can wear including a scarf that can help cover her face so only her eyes and forehead will be exposed.  I guess I shouldn't worry as much as I do for her since I know this but I'm a mother/grandmother/great-grandmother.  It's my nature.

I guess my greatest concern with all this extremely cold weather is the shortage of propane.  Even the Beast couldn't refill our big tanks because it wasn't for use to heat our house.  Actually, we used to use it to take the chill out of the house.  It's piped into our propane fireplace in the living room.  Now we are forced to use the baseboard heaters plus a bunch of space heaters.  That brings up our electric bill a hell of a lot!  We haven't had weather this cold all winter but our bill has already just about doubled what it was last year.  We know a couple people on very tight budgets that are going to be in trouble.  The news said that the bill pay help is almost out of money for those people that need it the most.  Scary times ahead for them.  Eat or pay the electric bill.  Hmm!  Wonder what they will choose?

Now that you know what OUR weather will be like for the next few days, I guess I can close this missive.  Love you all and please, please be careful if you have to be outside or drive.   The weather out west is just AWFUL and the wind chill is double digit negative!  They said Montana and adjoining states are looking at a possible negative 50 degree wind chill!!!  Can you believe it???

Anyway, be careful.  Stay warm.  Watch out for older neighbors that you know and check on them if you can.  Treat everyone like you would hope they would treat you.  It's a rough, rough winter we are all enduring.  ***Hugs***

The Beast Ruins Back Ribs....

The Beast, as I've written about before, fancies himself a Chef lately.  He is constantly experimenting with different spices (without knowing anything about them for the most part) and marinades.  Today he just ruined some baby back ribs with one of his marinade experiments.  

I tried to tell him that you do NOT cook the meats in the marinades.  They are supposed to lend a *slight* taste to meat, not take it over entirely.  Does he listen?  No, of course not.  He's a man and he just knows better.  His cooking efforts have been for the last two years.  I've been cooking since I was eight.  Lots of difference there but that doesn't seem to matter to him.

So he takes the expensive baby back ribs and marinades it in some kind of *smoky* marinade, then dumps it all into the Genie cooker.  I knew when I smelled it that he had used the marinade as a cooking liquid and was prepared for the result.  It was just AWFUL!   He slathered the Sweet Baby Ray barbeque sauce on it but there was no saving them.  The taste of the marinade went right down to the bone.  Too *smoky* AND too salty, too.  I was left feeling like I was parched and had to drink a couple of glasses of ice water to get over that.  At least he was left with an embarrassed look on his face.  But there are a couple pounds of baby back ribs that are going to hit the garbage can.  That is a dirty shame.  When will men learn?  

I've got a sinus cold, complete with sneezing and the need to blow my nose constantly.  You would think that all the antibiotics I've been taking would keep me from getting anything but, no, this must be a virus that antibiotics just don't touch.  Sheesh.  When I am asleep, I sometimes wake up, chocking, from the sinuses draining down my throat.  The medication for drying them up only works for so long.  I'm hoping to get over this fast.

Tomorrow (Monday) the nurse comes to draw my blood again and take it in for testing.  Then the doctor will get the results and make his decision about whether or not I have to continue taking the IV's.  The last infusion will be tomorrow and then I have to use the heparin shot to prevent any clots from forming in the tubing until I see the doctor on Friday.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I won't have to do any more and I can get this thing removed.

Tomorrow is Chewlee's awards ceremony.  Well, not hers but the schools.  I am hoping I wake up early enough to make it.  She asked me if I could go and I told her I would try.  It would be nice to surprise her.  I need a good night's sleep for that so I'm going to wait until I go to bed to take my meds.  I'm hoping that works.

Love you all.  Keep warm and dry.  Drive carefully.  **Hugs**

A Chewlee Visit....

Chewlee came to visit us this evening.  She was dropped off around 7pm so her mother and daddy could go out and see a movie down in Gadsden.  She was cute because she helped the Beast make some pumpkin cupcakes and the Beast let her frost them.  She even ate two of them that I am sure of.  She proudly presented me with one of the ones she frosted and watched me eat it.  The frosting was also a pumpkin flavor but very mild.  That surprised me a bit but it was good.

She also told me, sadly, that she knew when the new baby came, her mother would play with it and love it and forget all about her.  I know that's typical of the way many older children feel when a new baby looms on the horizon but I told her that first babies were always, always special to mommies.  That her mother would always love her even if she isn't always able to pay attention to her because new babies need so much looking after.  I hugged her and told her that she was imagining things that would never happen.   And she could always help her mommy out in a lot of little ways when the new baby came so that she would have some free time to spend with her.  When she asked what things, I told her she could get diapers and wipes for her mother for example and she could always hold the baby or watch it when it was laid on a blanket on the floor.  She just looked at me and said....but that's BORING!  I told her new babies are only as exciting as SHE found them to be.  But she would get more interested in the new baby when he gets a bit older and is learning to walk and talk.  She can then start to play with him.

She just kind of shrugged.  I know what it is.  She's been an only child and loves her mother dearly.  She really IS afraid her mother won't have time for her once the new baby comes.  That they won't be able to cuddle any more and she so loves that.  I'm her grandma and she knows *I* love her but even cuddling with me is not the same.  But we do cuddle from time-to-time.  She shows me just how she wants to cuddle so I am holding her right.  Sometimes, when I fall asleep in my recliner, she will crawl in next to me and cuddle up.  I love that.  I wouldn't miss it for the world and I hope it's a long time before she outgrows it.

It's going to warm up here for a couple days then plummet again and they are promising snow flurries and then rain but the days will be too warm for that to be dangerous for us.  Thank goodness!  Stay warm, dry and drive carefully wherever you are.  Love you all.  **Hugs**

A Damn Strange Day

It started off with my missing my doctor's appointment this morning.  I woke up late and yelled at the Beast who had let me sleep when he KNEW I had an appointment.  I called immediately because I knew the doctor only works about a half day on Fridays.  While the nurse went to talk to the doctor and was going to call me back, I got dressed and headed down to the Wound Center.  I figured by the time she called me back, I could be there.

It was all to no avail.  The doctor was gone when I got there but.....the nurse did have the info I needed.  I was to take my IV until Monday, as scheduled.  The nurse would take my blood for testing and the doctor would review it when it was ready (on either Tuesday or Wednesday).  I gather my sed rate is so close that this last week might have put me over the edge on needing any more.  If so, he could remove the tubing on Friday when he saw me next.  When I asked about my wound, the nurse said I was to keep it, uncovered, until next Friday.  The whole idea scared the hell out of me and I actually said to her, *It will be all moldy then!*  She laughed and told me it wouldn't so I was not to worry.  But I will, of course.

I didn't tell the Beast that I never got to see the doctor.  He felt bad enough as it was (and he still has a swollen face, besides).  He was making back ribs in the slow cooker and they smelled wonderful.  When we had some later, they were melt in your mouth wonderful and had Sweet Baby Ray's sauce on it so they were PERFECT!

I called the Princess to find out if Chewlee had gotten an award and she said the school had cancelled because they had a delayed school day due to the temperature and wind chill.  It was only about 12 degrees but the wind chill was -2 degrees.  So school didn't start until 10am.  The awards ceremony is on Monday instead.  I'll have to see if I can drag my butt out of bed early enough to make it this time.

I was mad at myself because I need my artificial sugar and I was right there by Walmart and could have picked some up before I came home today.  Now I have to run out tomorrow.  Sheesh.  I'm an idiot.  The Beast still has a swollen face but it IS going down little-by-little.  He wasn't in as much pain today so, of course, he had to be reminded about taking the antibiotic medication.  Jerk doesn't use his head about those things.  I told him that infection does NOT leave by itself.  That's why so many people died from infections before they came up with antibiotics.  That is one MAN THING that the Beast suffers from that I do NOT like at all.  He bought himself another blood pressure machine and I know why.  He is now trying to justify why he hasn't been taking his blood pressure pills.  I told him to go ahead, don't take them, see if I care if he has another stroke because then he goes to a nursing home because I warned him about that years ago.  I meant it, too.  I will NOT go through that again.  He was awful.  Even his doctors thought so and is where he got the nickname of The Beast.  

Time to get this posted.  Love you all.  Please keep warm and stay safe.  Watch out for the other guy when you are driving.  In other words, be a defensive driver.  **Hugs**

Chewlee Takes The News Like A Pro.....

Well, Chewlee took the news like we all hoped she would.  First of all, she's known all along that it was a boy.  She could have told the doctor that before the sonagram.  I can almost see her give a heavy sigh until her mother reminded her of all the little boys she already plays with and she likes that.  She said, *Oh!  That's right!*  So she will become used to the idea of a little baby boy in the house by the time the baby gets here.

Tomorrow is Awards Day at Chewlee's school.  She's gotten nothing but A's on her report card but got one...ONE...B last report card.  So she won't be getting an award for having all A's but she should get something.  Even if it's just for most improved behavior (I hope!).  I was invited but I have my doctor's appointment at the Wound Center an hour after the ceremony starts so that was out.  It would take me a half hour to drive from her school to the Wound Center and there is no way that assembly is going to go that fast.  But the Princess and Johnnycakes are going so it's not like Chewlee will not have family there.

The Beast gave me a bit of a scare today because he was in bed, asleep most of the day.  He didn't wake up until around 2pm.  He NEVER does that.  I kept going into the bedroom to make sure he was still breathing.  I was only gone a little over an hour when I went to get my hair cut.  I even picked up a couple things at Walmart before coming home.  The fact that he was still in bed was a bit of a shock but I figured his tooth being pulled was enough of a reason for him to wimp out.

But...when he got up, that side of his face was swollen like it was done by a cartoonist.  That surprised me since he was so happy with the way the dentist had handled it all.  I didn't expect him to have that kind of a reaction but then I remembered he was also fighting an infection on that side.  I made him breakfast (scrambled eggs and toast) and he just picked at it.  The majority was given to the dog when he went back to bed after taking his pills.  I think the pain pills are kicking his ass and making him sleep the way he has.  He got up after about two hours and watched some TV, ate some soup and crackers, took his meds again (it WAS time) and went to bed for the night.  He still had to take his pills once more for the day but I put them in the bathroom because I knew he would be getting up to pee at some time during the night so he could take them when he did I told him.  He did.  No problem.

The swelling was starting to go down a bit before he went to bed for the night so it will probably be minimal in the morning.  He will probably be all slept out and will be up before I leave.  We are under a wind chill advisory because our temperature is at 14 degrees but the wind chill factor is at 4 degrees.  We've BEEN under an advisory all day long but this is the lowest our temperature has gotten so far.  They said we might get some flurries but I am praying we don't.  I hate driving in those.

Love you all.  Stay warm and drive carefully.  **Hugs**  Life is just too precious!

The Beast Goes To The Dentist's....

The Beast spent most of the night up with a toothache.  He's had this happen before but he will take aspirin or use some of that Numzit and, once it stops hurting, ignores what it means.  Today he couldn't.  It would NOT go away so he bit the bullet and got an appointment with the dentist for 1:30pm.  The dentist is down in Gadsden so he left here around 12:30pm so as not to be late.

The dentist is one of the new wave of dentists.  His *xrays* are automatic and show on a screen on the wall.  They are instantly installed on the computer in the Beast's records.  When the dentist numbed the tooth, only the tooth area was numbed.  Not the mouth or part of the tongue....just the tooth area that was to be worked on.  The Beast was amazed and delighted.  His tooth, however, was infected and actually fell apart as it was being pulled.  There was no saving it.  The Beast got two prescriptions...one for pain, the other for the infection.

He called me on his way home and said he had to fill the prescriptions first but would call me when he got them so I could put some soup on for him (my suggestion since he said he was hungry).  He opted for Cup O Noodles.  That was okay with me...less trouble.  I put the kettle on and let it heat up.  It was perfect by the time the Beast called me to tell me he was on his way.

The socket was still bleeding but the Beast will always take care of his stomach's needs and ignore the rest.  He was sorry afterward because the tooth bled twice as much as it might have had he waited a bit and let it clot.  Oh well.  IAMT!  (It's a man thing!)  LOL

I was extremely curious as to how Chewlee took the news that the new baby is a boy.  She has been saying all along that she knew it was a boy but, having it verified, is another thing altogether.  I tried to tell her that, by the time a little sister might be old enough to share her room, she is so much older that she wouldn't want one to be in her things.  She knew all along that she couldn't share a room with a BOY!  Oh no!  No way!  But I think she envisioned a sister as a playmate without thinking about how old SHE would be when the little sister was old enough to play with her the way she was thinking.  I told her that she would be playing soccer on a team like her mother did, only she would be younger (she already told me she wants to do that) and the games she would want to play would be too *old* for her baby sister.  She hadn't even thought about that.

I also told her that she would be able to watch her sister and even play with her sometimes but she would have to play little kid games with her.  AND...she could even do that with a little brother who would look up to her as a *big kid*.   He would want to play rougher games than a little sister but would be more adventurous and she would like that.  I don't know if she believed me or not but only time will tell.  She may be crying in my arms the next time we see each other because she knows I know how much she wanted a little sister.  I'll handle that if and when it happens.  I'll remind her how much she loves her little cousin, Chance.  We shall see how she reacts to that idea.

I found out I will probably have to continue my IV's for a while longer.  **Sigh**  I'll find out for sure on Friday when I see the doctor.  But the pharmacist, who had my blood results in hand when I spoke with her, told me that it showed my sed rate was still above normal.  Oh well.  You have to do what you have to do.  I want to keep that toe and not lose it to a bone infection.  At least it seems to be working.  I know the toe wound from the blood blister is healing and sealing.  That's another good indicator.

Tomorrow is the day I go for my haircut.  This time I made an appointment so I have to keep that.  The girl I prefer to cut my hair will be the one I see.  She does a good job.  It will be cold as hell but at least it will be clear and sunny out.  No snow or sleet expected at all even with only 25 degrees being our high.  Low of 5 degrees.  Yikes!

Love you all.  Keep warm.  It's pretty cold all over the country.  Even Florida is having colder than normal weather.  **Hugs**  Be safe!

Okay, So I Am A Slug...!

I've mentioned many times that I hate winter.  Cold weather makes me want to hibernate like a bear does.  I can sleep at the drop of a hat, mostly because the Beast doesn't warm the house up enough.  I have no idea why but that's just the Beast.  He will layer on clothes to wear in the house and he thinks that works for everyone.  It's fine for him since he owns all kinds of winter wear but, having lost the weight that I have, most of my clothes just don't fit me.  Since he is an impulse buyer, he's pretty much spent everything we have to clothe himself so I just don't feel like we have the resources any more for ME to indulge myself the same way.

So, I get on my warmest jammies, put socks on and crawl under the covers.  I am usually in my recliner since I can crank up the heaters in my computer room to warm up the room.  I sleep until the warmth wakes me.  What pisses me off is the Beast will open my door, feel the warmth then come into my room while I am asleep and turn down both the little heater on my desk and the baseboard heater.  The resulting cold will wake me up and I know immediately what has happened.  I cannot get him to leave them alone so it means getting up and turning them both up again.

I'll admit that 70 isn't warm enough for me.  I like it around 76 degrees and the Beast will tell me that is *too warm*.  Well, to someone with a sheepskin lined shirt on and heavy winter hunting jeans, I'm sure it feels that way.  Buy me a couple pair of sweats and maybe I will agree with you.  Sheesh.  When I mention that I don't have the warm clothes that he's bought himself, he says nothing.  He doesn't exactly endear himself to me when he gets so very selfish and knows that I can't buy them because he's bought yet another do-dad or other because he thinks he just *has to have it*.  TV advertising is his weakness.  I keep waiting for those induction cooktops to show up here.  He's already told me he thinks they are *neat*.

Chewlee showed up here yesterday after school.  She told me the bus driver (a new one) couldn't find her house and they had a new girl on the bus, too.  What that had to do with it, I have no idea.  He had about six kids to drop off here in our little corner of the world so he found US.  I called the Princess right away but she had already called the Beast.  I hadn't answered my phone because I wasn't warm enough to get up (the Beast had entered my sanctuary and turned the heat down once again) and felt I could check it later.  I realized that the Princess had either seen the bus pass or else she missed Chewlee's normal drop-off time and wanted us to watch for her.

When the Beast was ready to take her home, she said, *I'm not ready.  I don't get to see my grandma much so I don't want to leave yet.*  I finally had to make her put her jacket on, finish up her milk and let Grandpa take her home after a big hug.  She wasn't happy but she went.  I know it's going to be a long time before she doesn't miss coming here after school.  **Sigh**

The Princess found out today that *it's a boy!* so she and Johnnycakes are happy about that.  Poor Chewlee has known it all along but to have it verified is going to make her unhappy.  She really wanted a little sister.  

The Beast was up all night with a toothache that was causing shooting pains up his cheek and into his eye.  I made him look up a dentist and he finally did and made an appointment for today at 1:30pm.  He's showering now and still complaining.  I have both upper and lower dentures for reasons I won't mention now but I do remember how awful toothaches were.  I feel for him but I do get tired of his constant complaining.  The man just has NO idea that his whining and refusing to take anything for the pain can really get to me.  I don't say anything because who else can he complain to?  His buddy, Dennis, has regular dental care and was shocked the Beast didn't.  So the Beast wouldn't say anything to him.  It's a man thing, I guess.  LOL!

Well, I'm going to post this.  I'll make up for this late post with my post for tonight (tomorrow's).  Sorry.  Love you all.  Keep warm.  **Hugs**

No Haircut Today.....

I fell asleep early last night and didn't wake up until just about 1am.  I got up and spoke to a friend online until she left for bed (she lives in California, hence a two hour time difference).  I then headed back for bed once I did my blog for yesterday (today).  I woke up again around 9am, got up and had some coffee.  I checked my email and spoke to the nurse when she called so I knew she would be here some time between 11:30 and noon.  It was then almost 9:30 so I decided that going back to bed felt like a good idea.  So I did.

The Beast woke me up when the nurse got here at 11:30am.  She drew my blood (I won't give you the details), changed the valve, took my vitals and then left.  I had to start my IV at 12:30pm so I gathered together the supplies I needed and got ready for that.  Once I was set up and the IV was flowing, I was already talking to Bratfink online.  It had stopped snowing there sometime during the night for which she was grateful.  Since Sheldon would have to drive in it, it just meant there was a possibility that he would be able to do that safely.  LOL!  You would have to know Sheldon to fully appreciate that.

The Beast came in while my IV was going and said he had a taste for corned beef and cabbage and what did I think?  Like I would turn that down???  I just reminded him to pick up some rye bread for sandwiches.  Good thing I did because he would have forgotten that otherwise.  I kept thinking that I really wanted to go get my hair trimmed but I was feeling like a nap attack was going to hit me before I even finished my IV.  I managed to get past that point and even played an online game or two before I finally gave in and took my nap.  Bratfink had already gone to take hers so I just signed off and took a two hour nap.  When I got up, all you could smell in the house was the corned beef and cabbage and it was done shortly after I woke up.  Yum!  Delish!

By then, I knew I wasn't going to make it to the hairdresser's.  I hate driving in the dark although I can navigate our roads just fine by now.  It's just I don't like it.  It gets dark so early (still) and makes me feel like I need to go to bed as soon as I get in the house.  It's disorienting.  So I will either have to hope the weather stays clear since they changed the weather report for tomorrow to just a 20% chance of snow showers/sleet or put it off for another day or two.  I'm such a slug.

I have to make another appointment with the nephrologist for AFTER I finish my IV's primarily since he seems to only have appointments in the afternoon around the time I have to take my IVs OR so soon afterward that there isn't a chance in hell of us making it up to Huntsville in time.   I told the nurse I would call for an appointment once my IVs are over and done with then.  She seemed a bit put out but it just can't be helped.  Never the 'twain shall meet otherwise.

It's only  11pm but I think I am going to head for bed as soon as I post this.  I feel tired again.  I know what it is....I have nothing to do so I sleep.  If I get busy in the morning, it will be better and I won't feel the need for the naps unless I am really bodily tired.  I have things I CAN do so I will just make up my mind to get them done (like some washing).  Dinner is taken care of for tomorrow so I'm not going to have to consider that.  I'll try to go in early to get my haircut so it has some kind of style again and some of these dead ends are gone.  It always feels so much healthier after a haircut.  

Love you all.  Take care of yourselves, especially if you are in one of the bad weather areas.  **Hugs**

Chewlee Has Play Date...At Grandma's House

When the Beast and Chewlee came home after church, surprise!  They had a little girl, Serenity, that came home with them.  I know Serenity but the little girl that came home with them was NOT the same meek little girl that she always is around her parents.  LOL!  It's so funny how they become normal little girls when the parents aren't around, isn't it?

It started with the screaming (the fun kind) because Baron was so excited to see them and he's such a BIG dog.  The more they screamed, the more excited Baron got.  I finally put my foot down and told them NO MORE SCREAMING.  They both knew Baron was a pussycat.  The girls finally asked for and got some ice cream since the Beast was getting some for himself.  Once they got their dishes of ice cream, they went out on the deck to eat it and took Baron out with them.  It was fairly nice since it was sunny and almost 50 degrees outside but how they could eat ice cream out there was beyond my ken.  

It turned out they had only been able to eat about half of the ice cream they were given.  I could tell when I looked at the dishes they had brought in.  LOL!  Not as tough as they thought they were.  Serenity had on some of Chewlee's play clothes since she had on her church clothes when she got here.  Chewlee was going to give her a skirt to wear but I gave her some jeans to wear instead.  She even wore some of Chewlee's socks and her sneakers until the Beast took her home.  She changed back into her own clothes then so Chewlee had her sneakers to wear for school tomorrow.

When the girls came in, it was hide and seek time.  In this small house, that is not a tough game to play since the places to hide are limited.  After that, the girls got involved in trying to play an online girl's game on a new site that Chewlee found by accident.  But the girls had a hard time deciding who was going to play and for how long.  Shortly after that, the Beast's football game was over and he took Serenity home.  The Princess and Johnnycakes were there shortly after that to pick up Chewlee.  Chewlee had all her stuff packed up to take home.  The Princess took some of my homemade soup with the homemade noodles home with her.  I had promised her some on Saturday.  I made her leave just enough for the Beast to eat when he got home (and he did!).  That's one leftover that he will eat without a problem.  LOL!

Looks like OUR weather is going to turn on us this Tuesday if the weatherman and the Weatherbug are right.  They are predicting sleet.  **Shock**  I was thinking about getting my hair trimmed on Tuesday but decided I am getting it done tomorrow instead (after my IV).  I won't drive in street slicking sleet if I don't have to.  Too damn dangerous in an area where drivers are not used to that kind of winter conditions.  We don't get much in the way of snow or sleet here during our normal winter weather.  It's why the schools will also probably be closed.  They won't put the kids in that kind of danger since driving can be so treacherous.  It won't be like a snow day for the kids who enjoy THAT.  Sleet is nasty since it is both cold and wet.  It's definitely indoor type weather.

Another cold night here but weather is supposed to go up to the mid-50's which means it will probably get to about 60 tomorrow.  After that, sleet and much colder weather the rest of the week with sleet and snow predicted for Saturday.  Yuk!  Oh well, we all suffer in the winter, one way or another.  

Time to get this posted.  Love you all.  Stay warm and dry.  Drive carefully.  The life you save may be your own!  **Hugs**



 

Chewlee Helps Grandma.....

Chewlee chose this color.  It's one of her favorites.  Forgive her.  LOL!  

Today was Chewlee's sleepover.  She will also be with us for most of tomorrow if she has her play date with Kendall.  That's up in the air right now since Kendall's mom hasn't been asked yet.  But.... I was making homemade chicken noodle soup.  I didn't intend to make homemade noodles, too, but the Beast looked so disappointed that I made TWO pots of soup.  One for the homemade noodles and the other for regular, store bought egg noodles.  I didn't realize we were out of mushrooms so they didn't turn out perfect but they did taste great!

When it came time to make the noodles (my kids always called them *slickers* for some reason), Chewlee really, really wanted to help.  She was disappointed that I wouldn't let her roll them out but she happily put more flour on them as needed.  Then, when I cut them up, she happily deposited them into the boiling soup stock.  She even stirred the soup to make sure the noodles didn't stick together as they cooked.  She was so proud.  

She also cleaned up the floor when the bowl with the flour got knocked off the counter and spilled the flour all over.  Not that there was a huge amount that spilled.  We were really done with it and there wasn't too much left over.  But she did a good job and said, *Papa will never know it happened!*  She was right on that part.  That's how good a job she did.  Helpful?  Yes, she was.  She even said to me, *This is a LOT of work!*  I told her that now she knew why I didn't like doing it all the time when I made my soup.  It really IS a lot of work.  At least now I can stand up  long enough to cut up all the veggies and even do the homemade noodles without having to sit down to do it.  

The Beast gave Chewlee a binder to take to church with her and she was ecstatic.  It has a tablet of paper, a pen, a calculator and lots of places for her to put other things to keep her occupied when she gets bored.  She's a kid.  She DOES get bored.  But now she will have the binder to carry proudly with her.  I told her to put some of her colored pencils in it for when she wants to draw on her tablet.  She thought that was an amazing idea.  She can be so funny at times with how she reacts to things.....and even her vocabulary.

Poor Indiana is having some awful, awful weather.  They closed one of the main roads in certain areas because it was so dangerous and there were lots of crashes.  Even some of the big rigs!  Poor Bratfink was watching it come down and said it's a real STORM!  I'm surprised the dog doesn't get buried under it when he goes out to do his business.  Of course, maybe he does.  She hasn't said because she isn't usually the one that lets him out.  But he's just a little bit of a thing.  He must have to plow through that stuff with his nose up so he doesn't get smothered.  Either that, or he does his business right on the stoop.  LOL!

Love you all.  Please, please take care.  Mustachio broke his wrist falling in a customers driveway on his way to lunch.  So even just walking to your car can be treacherous.  If you don't have to drive in snow and ice, don't.  If you are lucky, like we are so far, you still need to be careful because there are a lot of idiots out there.  Don't be one of them.  **Hugs**

Poor Mustachio Has An Accident....

I got a call from Mustachio (much less painful than trying to IM me online) to tell me he had an accident while working today.  On his way to have lunch to allow the power company to settle out the surges and power outages, he slipped in the customers driveway and broke his wrist in a couple places.  His LEFT wrist, which matters because he is my lefty.  Doesn't it always seem to happen that way?

He said he almost passed out from the pain and did manage to reach his supervisor to let him know he was injured.  Took him a bit because the supervisor was on another phone when he first tried to reach him so he texted him and finally got a reply.  The guy came out to where Mustachio was (sitting in his truck, in pain) and took him to the hospital.

To make a long story short, he broke two bones in his wrist (not including the ones knocked out of place) and one of them may require pins being put in to allow it to heal correctly.  They are going to wait a week and then make that decision, depending on if it stays in place or not.  It made me remember back when Baron, as a pup, ended up causing me to fall and break MY left wrist (which required pins being put in it).  The pain was incredible so I really feel for my son.  They gave him a prescription for Ultram which he thought was a weak-assed (his words) pain med and I had to correct him on that.  I did, however, tell him that it made the pain bearable.  It would NOT knock him out or get rid of the pain entirely but he shouldn't have any complaints about it once he started taking it.

The effects of the pain medication the doctor shot into the wrist directly hadn't worn off yet when I spoke with him.  He said he could hear the bones cracking as they were putting them back into place and then when they had to rotate the one bone that may need the pins put in .  I'll make you a bet it's even the same bone that they had to do in MY wrist...LOL!

So, he's got a couple weeks of unplanned, paid vacation time off work and says he may even take a road trip to his brother's house and spend a few days with him after they check the wrist in a week to make the decision about the pins.  He's hoping he will have enough mobility in his thumb in order to use his play station when he gets bored.  I'm pretty sure he will after the initial swelling goes down.  I told him to just rest the wrist on his head for the next day or two when he walks around.  I hope he thinks to stack pillows up if he gets on his computer to rest it.  He WAS told to keep it above his heart to keep the swelling down.  

The doctor broke the bad news to me today about my IV's.  I *MAY* have to continue them depending on what the blood tests show from this coming Monday.  If it shows there is still some infection present, I will have to continue with my IV's for a while longer.  **Sigh**  You have no idea how itchy the stitches holding the tubing coming out from above my breast can get.  Luckily, it's covered by a clear circular bandage which prevents me from doing any damage.  Also, I am unable to wear a bra so I look almost flat chested since, at my age, my nipples are looking at my toes anyway.

The good news is that the toe IS healing and the doctor used a new dressing type on it.  He said this one will start helping it to fill in but it cannot be removed until I see him next week.  Like I really object to that?  He forgot about this valve for my IV and started to tell me I couldn't get this foot wet at all if I took a bath....  I laughed and said, *I wish I could take a bath or, better yet, a shower!*  He then got this look on his face like he was doing a *duh* moment and said, *Oh, that's right!*  He then shook his head at his dumb statement, laughed and left the room so the nurse could finish putting the rest of the dressing on my toe.  She was in a cute mood and, knowing I take care of Chewlee, she drew a smiley face on the bandage for Chewlee's amusement.

Since Chewlee will be having a sleepover tomorrow, she WILL get to see it.  The Princess is going to drop her off here after Chance's birthday party at Dairy Queen.  That's Chance's favorite place because he loves their kids play area (and so does Chewlee).  Chewlee told her mother that she wants to go to church with the Beast and, since Johnnycakes and the Princess have to go to Huntsville for some reason on Sunday, it all works out.  I could hardly believe it when the Princess asked me to take Chewlee on Saturday because.....get this....she is going to BINGO!  I asked her twice and that's what she said.  All I can think of is that she is going with Johnnycake's grandmother or some such person.  I don't think too many young people enjoy bingo the way us old farts do....LOL!

Oh well.  Cold weather tonight and tomorrow AND they are predicting snow for us by Wednesday.  Yikes!  It was the talk of the doctor's waiting room today.  I hadn't heard it but I'm usually a bit behind on that stuff.  I worry more about what will it be like tomorrow or the next day...not five days in advance!  I'll be tucked away, nice and warm, here in my computer room.  The Beast, I know, will stock us up on the essentials....coffee, creamer, sugar, bread....oh, and let's not forget dog food for Baron.  We have plenty of soup and other canned goodies to keep off the roads if it gets slick out.  

Love you all.  It's already 26 degrees here and it's not even 9pm.  It WAS all the way up to 46 earlier today.  Hmm!  Weatherbug says frozen mix NEXT Saturday (80% chance).  Just really, really cold this Wednesday.  High in the mid-20's...yikes!  Stay warm, for heaven's sake!  If you ARE in a warm area of the country/world, please think of me.  **Wink**

Chewlee Having A Tough Time....

Poor Chewlee!  When she was told that she wasn't going to be spending part of her time with us and the rest of the time with her mom on her days off, she had a hard time accepting that.  I've been helping take care of her for 5 years now (she IS 6-1/2, after all.....as she told me) and she can't even THINK of not seeing Grandma AT ALL now that Mommy isn't going to be going to work.  I'm sure even THAT is not an easy to accept concept for her.  Mommy, after all, has been going to school AND working for as long as Chewlee can remember.

So, when she showed up here on Tuesday, Chewlee said it was because the driver did not see her mommy's car in the driveway nor did mommy come to the door when the driver beeped his horn.  So, the driver knew WE would be home and brought her here.  That was fine with Chewlee.  She stayed for an  hour, watched Peppa Pig, ate a few snacks and then the Beast drove her home.  I had already let her mother know she was here so there would be no panic.

However, on Wednesday when she showed up here, the Princess was totally pissed.  She had gone into the office because the driver never stopped for Chewlee that morning and she figured she would make sure everyone knew that Chewlee now would be picked up and dropped off at her own home every day unless a note was sent to the school/driver that said differently.  So, what happened?  Chewlee came waltzing into our house on Wednesday.  She was a bit breathless and asked me for two things.  A couple hot dogs and some milk.  She had our bag of potato chips already when she sat down.  I think when I sat down to call the Princess, she called me (I hate my cell phone.  We always have a problem with it of one sort or another).  When she heard the bus driver had dropped her here, she asked to talk to Chewlee when WE finished talking.  She told me about going to the office and the office even calling the driver while she was there.  She was at a loss as to why Chewlee got dropped off at our house again.

I have no idea personally why he did it but it may just be that he wants to be certain that her mother is there for her so she has to start being there when the bus pulls up out front.  It won't take long for him to get used to the idea, I'm sure.  That's one of the more interesting things I've found about living in this area of the country.  The bus driver is flexible about where he picks up and drops off kids.  He usually knows the families of his *kids* (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.).  He might even go to the same church as some of the kids families.  It's not a cold relationship like it can be in other areas of the country.  The South is definitely a lot more informal and more friendly.

I'm sure when the Princess starts looking more pregnant, the driver will also be more inclined to believe Chewlee and pay a bit more attention to her gripes.  SHE would love a little sister but she thinks they are going to have a BOY.  They won't know for sure until the Princess has her ultrasound this next appointment.  It was too crowded the last appointment she had and Chewlee was SO disappointed that she didn't have her answer yet.  LOL!  She cracked me up over her complaints about that.

Well, love you all and yes, I am avoiding the final part of the *Free Sample* fiasco but it's because I am in the process of completing the whole damn thing.  However, I believe getting our money back will take more time than either of us wants to think about.  But, for those people who got more snow and ice....keep warm and drive VERY carefully.  Those that got rain....keep dry.  Those that just got colder weather...you keep warm, too.  I watch the weather channel every night and get goose bumps at some of the temperatures you are enduring.  **Wink**

Chewlee told me she wanted to let me know she was having a sleepover at her house with a couple of her friends....IF her mother lets her.  She asked me if I would talk to her mother....LOL.  I told her that SHE needed to tell her mother WHO she wanted to invite, what she wanted to offer them to eat, what snacks she needed and not to invite more than a couple.

A Warning...

I was reading an article today that got me thinking.  It was all about the death of a newborn, just a couple weeks old, from whooping cough.  Pertussis.  When I was young, three of our little ones got it and it was the most awful thing you ever heard in your life.  The constant coughing that turned into a huge whoop to try to catch their breath was terrible to hear.  But, I had no idea that they could have died from it.  Thankfully, they were older than the baby I read about and lived through it.  But I will never forget the sounds.  I don't think they even recall it as anything more than they were sick.

It was what made me make sure that MY kids were vaccinated against anything that was available.  They got all their shots plus the polio vaccines.  I didn't want to hear MY kids suffering from whooping cough or anything else that could be prevented.  

However, I didn't know that the vaccines only last about 10 years or so.  Even adults that have had the vaccine are no longer immune and are also able to carry the virus and pass it along with just one breath.  I now understand why they have the one advertisement about how even the mothers of babies can give the pertussis virus to their most precious little one.  I have decided to discuss this with my doctor since the Princess is pregnant and *I* don't want to think about ME being someone that might pass that on to a little one.
 
  Hell, I don't even want to think about the possibility that there might be a lot of unvaccinated kids at Chewlee's school.  One breath is all it takes if someone is carrying the virus.  It could create a terrible crisis in an area like ours where we have a lot of farms that use migrant workers during the summer.  Those workers often stay on and their children attend our schools.   Somehow, I can only pray that those children were vaccinated.  There is supposed to be proof provided in order for them to attend school but who knows?  How can you be sure?  Did they get ALL the shots?  

I pray you never hear a child or even an adult that is suffering from pertussis.  Children die from it.  Adults with compromised immune systems die from it.  Get a booster from your doctor.  Don't take chances that you don't need to take.  We get flu and pneumonia shots.  Add the pertussis one to your list.  You only need to take the booster once in 10 years.  That's not a tough one.

Love you all.  Take care of yourselves and those you love.  Make sure your hugs don't pass along more than your love.  **Wink**

A Day For Visitors....

Chewlee spent the night, as I blogged yesterday.  This morning, she took a bath and let me blow dry her hair.  She was ecstatic because her hair turned out straight and that makes her look like *mommy*.  Her mother straightens her hair darn near every day that she wears it down.  Chewlee thinks her mother, the Princess, is beautiful so she wants to try to look like her in any way she can.

I suffered with an aching back after sleeping on the floor with Chewlee.  Why she didn't want to sleep in the guest room bed, (HER bed, as she refers to it), I have no idea.  I knew I would pay a price for that but wasn't expecting a sore BACK....that's for sure.  I sleep on my side so I thought my hip would hurt but, no, it had to be my back.

So when the Beast and Chewlee returned from church, I was not really up to company.  He informed me that the little girl they brought home would only be here until *after his football game*.  As much as I was glad for Chewlee that she had a friend that would be there for her for several hours, I wasn't looking forward to what was inevitable.  I was just glad my IV was over and done with before they got here.  

THEN, about an hour after they got here, friends of ours dropped by that required me to leave my computer to join in the conversation.  We see the husband quite often since they only live across the street from us (it was Dennis and Di) but the wife doesn't come over to chat much at all.  They stayed for about an hour.  During that time, the girls required milk and then wanted me to peel some oranges for them.  They couldn't share, could they?  So I dutifully peeled two oranges for them and they weren't oranges made to be peeled.  At least, not easily.  Sigh!  I turned on cartoons for them since they were done playing outside and then, inspired, I poured some potato chips into a bowl for them to share while they were watching cartoons.  That kept them out of my hair until Dennis and Di left.

THEN...shortly after Dennis and Di leave, who shows up but this one friend of the Beast's from his church.  He had asked the Beast if it was okay for him to stop by but the Beast forgot to mention it to me.  Thankfully, he wanted to talk to the Beast about something he didn't want to discuss in front of me.  Not that he said it but I could kind of tell from his body language.  So, I excused myself saying I needed to keep an eye on the girls and you could almost see the relief on his face.  I didn't even ask the Beast what he wanted to talk to him about.  I figured if the Beast felt free to tell me, he would.

The girls got tired of the cartoons (can you believe it?) and started acting like active kids.  They made a lot of noise playing hide-and-seek with screeching each time one of them found the other.  Then they started chasing Baron around and this is a small house for them to be chasing around a dog that outweighs them by more than double.  I found myself yelling at Chewlee a hell of a lot more than I do in a whole week of having her around and she was just being a kid.  Then I got mad at the Beast because he was plopped down in his recliner and didn't seem to care that neither girl had eaten (the mother didn't want her daughter to eat here since the family was eating a late dinner) nor that they had school the next day and would have baths to take after eating, etc.  I'm sure even the Princess was pissed over the delay bringing Chewlee home so late since she also had dinner waiting for her.  As long as he was watching his team winning, that was the last thing in the world he was concerned about.

I did yell at him and that's when I knew that all the busyness had gotten on my nerves.  Unexpected busy.  I can deal with the things I expect but get a bit brittle over surprises that I can do nothing about.  What got to me when I thought about it is that I have always been good about unexpected things or even handled emergencies without turning a hair.  Could this be a side effect from the heavy antibiotic?  I've been on it for a month now and had no side effects that they told me about but had a low grade headache shortly after my IV.  It actually kind of came and went so I am not sure if it was just stress or not.  I will have to ask the nurse tomorrow when she comes.

Now for the weather.  It was an exceptionally nice day today.  Turned out better than I thought it would as it got quite a bit warmer in the late afternoon than even when the Beast left at 12:30pm to go to church.  I yelled at him then because he let Chewlee leave here without her jacket.  He had on a long sleeve shirt AND a leather suit jacket so he thought it was *nice out*.  She had on a thin sleeveless dress with no slip or undershirt on even AND no leggings.  I ran out after them and MADE him take her jacket.  She WAS cold in that un-preheated car that showed it was 57 degrees inside it.  **urge to kill**

BUT...by the time they returned to the house, two and a half hours later, it had warmed up to a balmy 63 degrees.  Trust me, with no wind and lots of sun, it FELT balmy....LOL!  However, it is now 45 degrees outside and headed down into the 30's.  This weather has been truly strange this winter.  It may be even warmer tomorrow but watch out for Tuesday!  Oh well.  You just have to take it as it comes.  Nothing you can do about the weather except dress appropriately.  

Love you all.  Take care out on the roads tomorrow.  Some areas have horrible flooding, other areas still have snow and ice.  It is what it is but, please, drive carefully wherever you are.  The life you save may be your own!  **Wink**

Two Tough Things To Contend With......

One thing that is tough to contend with is a sick man.  No one has ever been as sick as they are.  They make strange noises that call attention to the fact that *they* are ill.  They demand attention.  You can't ignore them because they just won't let you.  The second thing is when they are starting to feel better.  They still make those weird noises but will say, *I'm starting to feel like I might live!*  Ha!  Ha!  Not if I strangle you, you won't!

The Beast is such a man.  No, child.  Worse than a child really.  A child gets very quiet and lays in bed when running a fever.  Not the Beast.  He had to keep following me around and refused to stay in bed like a *normal* person who was sick.  And know what?  His breathing problems?  I think they were actually panic attacks because he thinks he was dying, just because he felt so bad.  That led to a panic attack (couldn't breathe) but he calmed down when he had my full attention and got his breathe back.  But I don't believe HE would believe that if I told him.  He would think I didn't care.  **Sigh**

The Beast was starting to feel better today.  Whatever was trying to come down with him had loosened it's grip and he *almost* felt good enough to go out in the warmer day we had today.  Almost.  He started complaining about not having any more Nyquil which knocks him out and I almost RAN to the store to get him some more.  However, I found another bottle of it in the guest bathroom and couldn't WAIT for him to take some and get out from under my feet.

Chewlee decided to have a last minute sleepover.  She wanted to sleep with me in my recliner but discovered that it was crowded with two.  She did end up falling asleep on me, which I knew she would because she was tired and kept asking me when it was time to go to bed.  So, at 8pm, we both hit the pillows.  I ended up making us a bed on the floor and turning the TV volume down low since she wanted it to be on.  I programmed it for the night because she only wanted it on for the light it shed in the room but I didn't want her waking up to a scary movie of any kind because then she wouldn't sleep once woken up or if she woke up to go to the bathroom (which she did, of course).  

I caught her with one of her tablets that she had turned on to watch a video  so I turned OFF the TV so we could really get some decent sleep.  I let her know when I finished my blog, the video went OFF and that was THAT.  She told me I was mean.  LOL!

The reason she wanted a sleepover was because she wants to go to church with the Beast tomorrow.  Little did she know that he's not planning on going early in the morning but at 1pm instead.  But she knows she will be going home afterward even though that didn't make her happy.  She was hoping to go for a play date with Birdie's kids but Birdie had made other plans for their afternoon so that was out.  However, she can go over to Olivia's in the morning after her bath so she WAS happy about that.  She and Olivia played Beauty Parlor and put makeup (the kid kind she got for Christmas) on each other.  The Princess thought she was running a fever because of her reddish cheeks....LOL!

Me?  I'll be making a run to the pharmacy when the Beast leaves for church.  I'm almost totally out of my meds, except for the Neurotin which got a three month refill the last time for some reason or another.  I want to check with the pharmacist about that.  I should have gotten all of my meds with a 3 month refill.  Oh well!  C'est la vie!

It got cold tonight, unlike last night which stayed warm and actually got warmer as the night progressed.  I was exhausted after dealing with the Beast and his *breathing problem*.  He kept waking me up like he hated the fact that I was sleeping instead of taking care of him.  Men!
It's only 35 degrees but is supposed to go up into the mid-50's tomorrow and they say no rain.  We shall see.  We were supposed to be getting rain this evening and it never showed up so I have little faith in the weatherman these days, except for the warmer weather predictions.  Those seem to be right.

Love you all.  I'm heading back to bed now and have already made Chewlee turn off her video.  She won't be happy once the monitor's light goes off!  Be good and have a fantastic day.  **Wink**

 

THE LOST IS FOUND!

THIS IS THE BLOG THAT WAS LOST.  I FOUND IT IN MY DRAFT SECTION AND *I* DID NOT PUT IT THERE.  HERE IT IS.  ENJOY!


Today was the day the nurse came to draw blood for testing to see if I am maintaining the correct level of the antibiotic in my system.  If not, I'm sure I will hear from them tomorrow and I will probably get some new concoction or mixture...whatever.  She watched me put a new dressing on my toe and said I had done it all correctly (yippee!).  Then, once she left, I forgot about doing my IV infusion for an hour and a half so I am back at 2pm once again....sigh.  

I had to call the nephrologist that I was scheduled to see on Thursday to tell him about this course of antibiotics because it would surely screw up any tests that he might want to have me take.  His nurse agreed that, since the pharmaceutical company was monitoring my kidney functions, if he wanted, he could contact them to find out any information they might have that would concern him.  She is going to contact them to find out for sure when my course ends and then we will reset my appointment for about a week afterward.

Even though the Princess didn't work or else was home early, Chewlee came here after school.  She got to stay for an hour (to watch her Peppa Pigs and for a bit of spoiling, too).  She was so excited because she was invited to her friends birthday party this Saturday.  There's a sleepover afterward but she really didn't think she would be able to stay.  But she WANTED to go to the birthday party.  She felt so special that she was invited.  She wasn't sure if she would be able to go but she was sure hoping she could.  The Princess has to work but I told her that didn't matter.  I would take her if it was okay with her.

Then, after Chewlee left, the Beast started feeling bad.  He didn't look good either so I got him to go lay down for a nap.  However, he got up when he had decided to go to bed for the night in a panic because he said he couldn't breathe.  He refused, however, to go to the hospital.  I know he was afraid he would have to stay and they wouldn't let him leave once he started breathing right.  They would want to make tests to see what caused it.  His solution was some vaporub since it opens up the breathing passages and he took a couple antihistamines because I have a feeling it might actually be an allergy from something on the dog.  

Baron runs through this one field that is full of wild growth and I suspect that he's gotten poison ivy once or twice (at least that's what the vet said).  Not a bad case of it but enough to set him itching like crazy so that HE had to have an antihistamine to stop him from scratching.  And, of course, a lotion we had to apply to his skin for a couple days, too.  Anyway, since Baron insists on sleeping next to the Beast, it's a possibility.  Either that or the Beast has become allergic to Baron.  Who knows?  Especially since the Beast gets over it and acts like it's no big deal.  Me?  I keep checking on the Beast's breathing most of the night.  Not good for MY peace of mind or my sleep, either.

He was laying in my recliner which is warmer than his because mine is fabric, his is leather.  When he had his head elevated, his breathing because less labored and he calmed down, too.  I finally set up an incline of pillows on the bed since he was really tired and he laid down there without having breathing problems.  So he went to sleep and I keep going over to check on him.  

Like I said, not a bad day until this happened.  Oh well.  More than likely he will be fine in the morning like he has been the other couple times this has happened to him.  I hope so, anyway.

Well, This Sucks!

I wrote a whole blog yesterday talking about the Beast and his sudden attack of breathlessness.  I guess it disappeared into cyberspace and that really pisses me off!  I mean, if I take the time to write all about the Beast's drama (and he really DOES overplay it when he's ill) that it should make my blog.  Or is someone censoring this?  Hmm.  Makes me wonder.

Anyway, I tried to get him to let me take him to the hospital when he came into my computer room, gasping, and saying he couldn't breathe.  Funny how he seemed to catch his breath a bit when I started talking emergency room.  I even told him today that if it happens again (this is the third time in the past month or so), he needs to go to the hospital so they can find out what the hell is going on.  Is it an allergy?  Could he be allergic to Baron's dander since Baron sleeps right next to him (on the floor).  Maybe it's the accumulation of Baron's HAIR that is all over the darn bedroom, including on the bedspread and pillows.  He sneaks on the bed while we are busy elsewhere and even uses the Beast's pillows under his head.

Or could it be something worse?  The flu?  He's been feverish at different times and often goes into a round of coughing he can't seem to stop.  His appetite is *off* and I recognize when he is pushing himself.  He gives it away because he starts drinking tea.  He also starts eating peanut butter toast.  When he feels well, that will be his nighttime snack along with some hot chocolate.  But tea tells me he's not feeling well at all.  He is also falling asleep more when he's in his recliner.  All tell-tale signs that I recognize.

Last night I swathed his chest and back in Vaporub because of it's ability to open up the breathing passages and his sinuses.  It never fails to work.  I also gave him (at HIS request) some Benadryl.  I think he thinks it might be an allergic reaction.  I just wish we knew for sure but, until I can get *macho man* to the doctor's or the ER, we won't know for sure.

I am going to post this now before Chewlee gets here and hope it makes it this time.  I will finish my *Beware Of Free Samples* later today.  We've had a heat wave here today (it's 46 degrees out!) and it's supposed to get a bit warmer through the weekend.  That will be nice.  I hate the cold.  Love you all.  Stay warm and dry.  Be a careful driver.  There are a lot of idiots out on the roads!  **Wink**

BEWARE OF FREE SAMPLES....ESPECIALLY ECIGS!

I am totally ticked off today.  It's not bad enough that I had a lot of things to worry about (the nurse that never showed up or called, the bad timing of my IV last night and what we had to do about THAT before they could take blood from me) but then we find out that this ecig company that I sent for a free sample (ha!  5.95 in postage is NOT free!)  Now here is my gripe:

The name of the company is Vapex.  It was a free sample offered via freebies.com which offers a LOT of different (and truly free) samples of all kinds of useful things.  This however is one crappy so called *freebie*.  It also had, in very small print I guess, a little addendum that stated that 15 days after you got the *free* sample, you would then get a month's supply (4 very small bottles) of their fantastic (NOT!) liquid filler for the vapor chamber in the Ecig and another Ecig, a charger and four additional filler sections for the Ecig.  First of all, I got a notice that my FREE ecig was backordered.  Yes, it was.  In fact, I damn near forgot about it except I got a notice in my email that it had been sent out!  Yay!  Two days later, there is a withdrawal of...get this....$99.95....from my checking account and ANOTHER announcement in my email saying my kit was on it's way!  What the hell?

Now, that was around the time I had to go into the hospital and had the surgery on my arteries AND had the arterial valve installed for the antibacterial IV's that I have to give myself.  So I really didn't think about it at the time.  I knew I didn't want to pay that kind of money for an Ecig I had no idea what it was like, if it was workable for me and I sure didn't want automatic supplies sent at THOSE prices!

Well, guess what?  If they were shipped out when I got the emails, it was truly sent via snails.  I didn't get them for almost another 10 days.  The FREE one got here two days before the FULL kit did.  I opened the FREE one ($5.95 p&h).  The plastic bottle containing the liquid for the Ecig felt cheaper than those crappy toy baby bottles you sometimes find at discount stores.  I mean it was CHEAP.  Worse, I couldn't get the top off .  At least, not the way it was intended.  When I finally pried it off, I had spilled about half of it (and it smells awful) all over my hands.  Then I couldn't get it to fill the chamber.  The nozzle was stuck inside the cap.  I tried a couple different ways of filling it short of going out and buying a dropper.  It would develop and air bubble and blurp...most of it would pop out.  I was so pissed, I called the company about it.  I told them I thought it was a total piece of crap and didn't want any part of it.  But...when the second (FULL SET) showed up, I had to check to see if the bottles of liquid were any better.  Guess what?  They weren't.  In fact, one of the bottles and sprung a leak from a blow or something it received while in transit because the bubbles and everything inside the padded envelope was oily.

I'm getting all upset again and will finish the saga tomorrow.  I'm tired and want to get to bed since the nurse is coming early.  Hugs for you all and please stay warm.  Stay off the roads if you can.  Love you all and don't want to see anyone become a statistic.  **Wink**

Probiotic vs Antibiotic....

Since I was put on this antibiotic IV, I've been taking a good probiotic plus eating yogurt because the antibiotic kills off both good AND bad bacteria.  I really thought I was doing things in the correct amounts since I had not had an IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) attack while this was going on and I kind of expected it.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, today probiotic lost the fight.  Not only did I not make it to the toilet when it first hit, but it kept my ass stuck there for at least a half hour each time!  I'm sure the only reason I am not on the toilet any more is because there is nothing left in my intestines.

I was expecting the HH nurse today but she never showed up nor did she call so I slept for about five hours (this was the prep time my body apparently needed for the IBS attack setup).  I was really upset over the fact that she hadn't even called because I should have taken my IV much, much earlier if she wasn't coming.  In retrospect, I actually wonder how much that had to do with the IBS attack?  Hmm.  

After the first attack, which left me weak, thirsty and a bit nauseous, I drank a huge glass of ice water and fell back asleep.  I should have stayed up to take my IV even if it WAS later than usual.  But, in my weakened state, I just wasn't able to do that.  The need for sleep was much more demanding than usual.  When I woke up and ran for the bathroom (made it, this time!), I discovered that it was just a bit of a cleanout or so it seemed.  I decided to check my email and ran into Bratfink online.  She had slept most of the day herself and thought she had missed me.  We had a bit of a laugh over the fact that we had BOTH slept the day away.  We said goodnight to each other and ended up going back to our beds.  I know I slept.  What I forgot to tell you was that when I had that drink of ice water when the first attack hit me, I had taken two extra capsules of the probiotics and a container of yogurt.  

When I got up this time, I was HUNGRY.  I decided that soup was the smart thing so I made myself some chicken noodle soup and had a few crackers.  That satisfied the appetite and filled the *hole*.  I just didn't want to upset the digestive system once again with anything that I can help.  I have no choice with the IV's and I am doubling up with the probiotics that I take daily and hope that will be enough.

For those that care, I DID take my IV after the second run for the bathroom when I spoke with Bratfink.  I fell asleep and it was done so I got up and did my last two *shots* (the saline and the heparin flushes).  If the nurse calls today, I will have to tell her that I took my IV at 12:30AM so she will have to take that into consideration if she is going to draw blood today.  She's probably going to have to check with the manufacturer/pharmacists about it or wait until Wednesday to come and get my blood for their tests.

It's almost 5am now so I will probably just stay up for most of the rest of the day.  It's 9 degrees outside (feels like 1 degree F).  The wind has died down during the night but will probably whip up when the sun comes up.  Still no plans to go out at all and I think school is still cancelled here but the Princess should have off today.  I really miss my Chewlee when I don't even have her for a couple hours but I hate the thought of her out in this weather anyway.  With the weather and temperatures I've seen on the weather channel, I hate the thought of ANYONE out in this MESS at all.

So, be very careful when you dress to go out.  Remember, loose layers are best, cover as much of your skin as possible.  Mittens are actually better than gloves to prevent heat loss of your hands.  If ski masks are not illegal in your area, wear them to cover your face.  Otherwise, wrap your neck and lower face area in a good scarf.  Drive very carefully and watch out for the other drivers.  Defensive driving is the way to stay safe.  **Wink**

A Sunday Surprise.....

I think it was before noon or shortly after that I suddenly heard a *Boo!* next to me and I jumped.  It was Chewlee and she truly surprised me.  It's been so long since she showed up on a Sunday that I never expected her.  I gather the Princess had to work and Johnnycakes dropped her off at the house before he went to work.  The Princess had been getting Sunday off and I kind of got used to that.  

Chewlee peeled off her scarf and her jacket and they both landed on the floor.  When I got up to go out to the kitchen, she grabbed them up and I asked her what she was going to do with them.  She knows I get upset when she throws them on the floor so I really WAS interested.  She looked at me like I was brain dead and said, *I'm going to hang them up.*  My answer was, *Oh?  Where are you going to hang them?*  I knew she wasn't tall enough to hang them in the coat closet so I really wondered.  She then walked over to one of the kitchen chairs and hung her scarf on one side and then her coat on the other.  She said, *This way I know where my coat and scarf are for when Mommy comes to pick me up!*  Hurrah for our side.  She's learning....LOL!

Our chairs are kind of early American in style so they have those posts that stick up on both sides of the backrest.  That's where she hung up her things.  I didn't mind at all.  Better than thrown on the floor, that's for sure.  I was amazed that she also tucked her socks into her boots instead of just thrown down on the floor when she took them off.

Poor Chewlee is really wanting some cupcakes.  For two days she has been asking the Beast and me if we would make some.  When she asked me, I was just setting up my IV so I was out.  The Beast had his headache back so HE was out, too.  I promised her that we would make some during the week and she could help.  That made her feel good and she liked that idea.  She told me she wanted to make them with ME because I let her help more than the Beast does.  I know why she feels that way.  I will let her crack the eggs or stir or help fill up the paper cups we use for cupcakes.  The Beast will only let her put the paper cups into the cupcake pan.  But he does usually let her frost them.  

Chewlee wanted popcorn today but the Beast wasn't in the mood so he showed her how to put the popcorn package into the microwave and then press the right area so that it is an automatic timer for popcorn.  She was thrilled!  She got to make her own popcorn.  She poured it into a big bowl and came in here to share with me (Papa didn't want any, as she told me).  I had a couple hands full and then let her sit and eat the rest while she watched her cartoons.  Later in the afternoon, when the Beast made himself some popcorn with butter on it, he gave her what he didn't want and she even finished THAT off.  She REALLY had a taste for popcorn!

The Beast and I had Italian beef sandwiches for our dinner but Chewlee asked me for a salami and pickle sandwich.  She got all the ingredients for it and I made it for her then cut it into four sections and added two pickles on the side.  She ate every bit of it along with a big glass of milk.  That kid had four or five big glasses of milk in the space of six hours or so.  She loves her milk and that's such a good thing.

The Princess called me shortly before Johnnycakes was going to pick up Chewlee and asked me if I had any matzoh ball soup mix left (we bought a carton of it way back when) and I told her the soup mix was gone but I still had some of the carton of matzoh ball mix.  I told her that I just make my own broth using chicken broth or bullion.  I prefer the powder bullion but I thought I might have enough of the cubes to send home for her.  I only had four cubes so I almost filled the small cube jar with the powder and toss the four cubes on top.  I figured that would give her plenty since I sent home a box of the matzoh ball mix which could make up two batches.  She also said to include some of our rye bread (we have a shitload of different breads here that the Beast brought home...some from Chicago....some from his stop at Publix on his way home).  He also ended up with his sister's bread that he accidentally ended up with, including some cheeses that he hadn't bought...LOL!  The Princess laughed and said she would *help* us use some of that bread we had.  The rye bread isn't really fresh but it still makes great toast, which I am sure she will do with it.

It's going to get incredibly cold here tonight.  We will be down into the single digits and we don't usually get that cold at all during the winter.  I don't even want to think about what our wind chill will be and they say we may also get snow flurries!  Yikes!  The schools here are delaying the start of school so that the kids won't be out when it's dark or just starting to lighten and at it's coldest.  The schools won't start until 10am.  If we get snow flurries, they will probably cancel school altogether.  It's showing 15degrees F so far and it's not the coldest part of the night.  The weatherman predicts 5 degrees F as our low.....16 degrees for our high.  I'm sure not going out in THAT!

Love you all.  Drive very, very carefully or don't drive at all if you can avoid it.  Be safe.  Be warm.  Be careful.  **Wink**

New IV Today And Chewlee's Reaction....

There are times that Chewlee surprises me with the way she thinks and just how much she really cares for me.  She was dropped off around 7:30am or so since her mother had to work early and Johnnycakes had an early appointment, I believe.

When she showed up, she crawled next to me and we were both watching TV and playing a bit.  By playing, I mean I kept attempting what she calls *Super Kisses*, which is kissing her all over her face.  Plus I was tickling her and trying to *get* her belly button.  She laughs so hard when all this is going on that I worry about her getting hiccups, which is something that usually happens.  They can be deep hiccups and I know they hurt but she keeps laughing.

She snuggled up next to me and stayed that way for over an hour and I enjoy doing that with her.  She is at her sweetest then.  The Beast was asleep until after 9am and then Chewlee decided she was going to ask him if she could watch his TV.  He let her turn her cartoons on it and she came in to tell me I could turn on *my* programs then, which I did.  She asked me for something to eat so we both went through the different cereals I had and then looked at what was in the fridge.  When she admitted she had eaten some cereal already, then she decided she wanted to snack, not really *eat*.  She selected a couple chocolate chip cookies and a big glass of milk.  She then settled into the Beast's recliner to watch her cartoons with her blankey she keeps here.  

She and I often start teasing because I tell her that the blankey is MINE and she will then tell me that she left it here and I was only keeping it for her.  The blankey is actually one of the presents that she got from Sheepie a couple years ago.  But I will insist it's mine and she gave it to me because she left it here with me.  I do to her what she will often do to me if I offer to *share* something with her.  It suddenly will become *hers*.  She will insist that she was only *sharing* it with me but it was HERS.  When I tell her that now she knows how *I* feel when I *share* something with her and she will then start insisting it was HERS.  What's mine is hers, and what's hers is hers, too.  I'm not sure she really sees the connection but I try anyway.

She came into my computer room while I was talking to one of my online friends and asked me if I had taken my *new* medicine yet and she points to the IV pole.  When I told her it wasn't time but was glad she mentioned it because I needed to take it out of the fridge.  She put her hand on my arm and said that she would get it for me so *don't get up*.  She then went and got one of the packets for me and brought it into the room.  I have to allow it to warm up so it doesn't cause any problems with the valve on the stent.  Chewlee knows this so she points to the IV pole and asks me if I want her to hang it on the pole.  Since she is a bit too short to do that, I said sure and grabbed the pole, brought the top down close to her and she put it on one of the holders.  When I put the pole up straight, she then says, *I'll get the tubes for you!* and heads over to the shopping bag that holds the supplies I have to use when I take my IV.  I told her I didn't need them until the medicine warmed up and she looked kind of deflated.  Then she brightened up and said, *Well, when it's time for you to do it, let me get it for you.  Okay, Grandma?*  I told her she could bring it to me when it was time.  That made her happy and she went back to watch her TV.

She came in two or three times to see if it was time yet.  When it finally was time, she got my bag for me and I pulled out the saline*shots* and the heparin one plus the alcohol wipes and the tubing I need to get started.  She looked at me and said, *Do you want me to stay and help you, Grandma?*  When I told her there was really nothing more she needed to do, she left me to prepare everything in private.  It was about a half hour into the IV drip when Johnnycakes came in to pick up Chewlee and, as I grabbed the pole, it got tangled up in my dream catcher that is attached to my fan.  Johnnycakes came into the room and helped me untangle it and was surprised at what it was.  He asked me why I had to be using *that* and I realized he had no idea what I was going through.  I guess it's not something either the Princess or Chewlee would have brought up to him.  I briefly explained what it was and left it at that without going into a lot of detail.  If he wants more information, he can ask the Princess.

Chewlee, after finally putting on her boots and coat, came back to give me a hug before she left.  She had put her glass of milk in the refrigerator with the admonition for me to *save it for her*.  I actually poured it back into the milk jug since it was freshly poured and was too much to waste.  I wouldn't have given her that much milk if I had realized that Johnnycakes was going to pick her up as early as he did.  I know she was disappointed that she left as early as she did because she had helped me make lunch and was waiting for the Beast to get home for a late lunch so she could tell him she helped.  She also wanted to help me make my chili and didn't get to do that.  But, at the same time, she was eager to go home where all her *stuff* was.  She had forgotten her Ipad and she does love to play her games on it or watch her videos.

Later on, I made some killer chili that the Beast had to tell me he really enjoyed.  That was kind of a shock that he had to tell me that.  He's very sparing of his compliments.  But it was nice to hear.  Now I will probably suffer either gas or heartburn from eating it.  I love my chili but it DOES have consequences....LOL.

Tomorrow is going to be halfway decent but, oh boy!  Monday will be killer cold.  The weatherbug says we will have a high around 51 but on Monday our low will be around 2 degrees F with a high of only 17F.  On Thursday, it says we are going to have a mix of rain and sleet with a low temperature that can mean icy roads.  Yuk!

Well, time to get this posted.  Love you all.  Please keep warm and be careful out on the roads if you live in the states that have snow and ice on them.  Don't become a statistic!  **Wink**