Crazy weather

Last week it was 0 degrees, yesterday it was in the 60s. It is raining, and it was lightning last night.

Except for getting the furniture moved back in, the front bedroom is back to normal. I took the opportunity to clean out that closet, and am putting a lot of the stuff that was in there in the attic. I don't know what's gonna happen with that stuff up there. Can't part with. Probably send a bunch to auction someday.

Hopefully, I can get down to some sewing. Moda U is this evening. The Quilt Show has a block of the month going this year that I think I will joining. I belong to a 6500/6600 challenge group, with the current challenge using the decorative stitches. I am thinking about doing pink ribbons with the different stitches.

Happy New Year!

Weird weather! New Years Day was snowy, cold wind. We only went out to go to mass. Next two days the temps hovered around 2degrees. Bright sunny days. Now it is in the 50s with rain.

Illini lost in the Rose Bowl against So. Cal. We were definitely the underdogs, and it showed. Looked more like a brawl rather than a football game. We also lost our Big Ten season opener with Ohio State (the media can't let up on Thad Matta being a former Cornjerker. For what ever reason, that night they said Thad played for East Lynn high school. East Lynn high school closed in 1973. Thad was born in 1967. Doh!). The guys have spurts of genius, but not enough to look great.

Thursday night we were watching Fox News coverage of the Iowa caucuses (after watching the basketball game). Clara from next door called and said she had a flood at her front door. I went over, and indeed, she had a flood! I could hear water running as I walked over. Paul Tatman's son and dil (she cleans for Clara) arrived shortly after me and they turned the water off and helped Clara mop up and move furniture out of the front bedroom. I went back to our house, and our front bedroom carpet was also wet. I stayed with Clara for about a half hour to help settle her down, then went home and picked up stuff off my floor that wouldn't tolerate the moisture. Paul Tatman came the next morning, and found that the pipe to Clara's front outside faucet had a huge leak. It wasn't caulked around the faucet, and allowed the cold air to leak in. Poor Clara, she had seen my faucet "cozy" and thought she should have one also, but her sil David nixed it, saying that she didn't need it. David is on Clara's fecal roster! LOL! Paul had the plumbers out and they fixed it. He had his guys move furniture for Clara and us. The carpet guys got the excess water out of the pad and removed that. Fans are running now. By early next week, we should be back to normal. Gives me the opportunity to go through some of that stuff. Have stuff that probably could go up in the attic.

While the plumbers were here, I asked if they could look at our toilet in the front bathroom, as it has always had a wobble. Well, they did, and it had a broken flange. They had to take up the toilet to fix it. Because it wasn't done right in the first place. Paul saw it, and I think he is gonna pay the plumbers. It took them over 2 hours to get the job done. I am thankful that Paul has been a great contractor with a heart.

I saw Dr. Thatcher on Thursday and I now have a name for my intermittent thigh numbness. Meralgia Paresthetica. Never heard of it. Has nothing to do with my scoliosis or bulging discs. No cure. But it is not going to cause any problems. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve gets compressed, causing the numbness. Sometimes pain (thankfully I have a high threshold for pain). But it is purely a sensory nerve, so it cannot cause muscle atrophy. I do have a diminished left ankle jerk. But that is not from the MP. That is probably what causes me to have a left foot flop when I am tired.

Wayne was put on BiPap, but he could not tolerate the changing pressures. He was set up at 25/18. His CPAP was on 18, so wouldn't think it would be a problem but it was. They finally set his new machine at 25/25, and he is doing much better. He didn't get very short of breath when we went out last night with the Cunningham's. Speaking of them, Benny has been helping Wayne get from our car to their door. How cute! He has more personality than any 4 year old needs!

Another day

Another day. They all seem to be the same. I got through Christmas. Well, basically ignored it, as I have for several years. Didn't have the angst of Parents After Loss support group hanging over me. I'm not going to go to their holiday memorial service this Sunday. I'm just too tired.

Wayne had his repeat sleep study, and the tech was not very happy. She couldn't get him adjusted to maintain a good oxygen saturation. I am so scared that Wayne is just going to have a massive heart attack and die. Dr. Top wants him to use oxygen with exertion, but Wayne refuses to use oxygen when we go out. He will sit at home with it running. Now he feels that his body has gotten used to the extra oxygen, and that he is feeling more short of breath with exertion than he did before. I say it is because he knows what good feels like, and when he drops, it is a bigger drop than before. But, what do I know? I am only a very experienced nurse practitioner.

I haven't been doing too much in my sewing room. I made a bunch of chenille potholders to give for Christmas gifts to the neighbors. One day I made 18 dozen cookies. My legs were numb and sore after that one. Made a second batch of oatmeal raisin cookies for Wayne because he said he liked them. He wanted me to make a double batch, as he wanted to give some to his buddy Donnie. I say, let him make his own. For goodness sake.

I now have a pain in my left wrist, ulnar aspect. It is getting better. I am supposing it is from the Femara. I have decided to continue with it. I will see Dr. Thatcher next week to see what options I have in regards to my back. I am hoping some physical therapy will be helpful. Some days my legs feel like they are getting weak, but it may be just psychological. I feel better when I am active, moving. Just standing or sitting are not good.

Wayne got me a beautiful diamond cross necklace for Christmas. I was very surprised. I knew I was getting jewelry, but I figured it might be something too ostentatious for me to wear often. But this piece is beautiful! He also got me a Catholic Bible (I had asked for this). My name is printed on the front leather in gold. It is bigger than I would have liked, but I am sure I will get used to it.

Erin asked if I would make a lap quilt for her. She liked the colors and blocks from this year's block of the month, so I will get it made up for her. Wayne thought she had a lot of nerve asking me to make her a quilt. Who cares. I like making quilts, and always need a new reason to make one.

Merry Christmas

The following was posted on my breast cancer support group.
Symptoms Of Inner Peace
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner peace. The hearts of a great many people have already been exposed to inner peace, and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it. Under the right circumstances, inner peace could reach epidemic proportions. This situation could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:
- A tendency to think and act spontaneously with love, rather than on fears which are based upon past experience.
- An unmistakable ability to enjoy each and every moment.
- A loss of interest in judging other people.
- A loss of interest in judging yourself.
- A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
- A loss of interest in conflict.
- A loss of the need and even the ability to worry. (Please Note: This is a very serious symptom.)
- Frequent, almost overwhelming episodes of appreciation andgratitude.
- Frequent attacks of smiling.
- An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
- An increased susceptibility to feeling the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it back.
- An unmistakable feeling that everything is okay.

Warning: If you have some or all of the above symptoms, please be advised that your condition of inner peace may be so far advanced as to not be curable. If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any of these symptoms, remain exposed to that individual only at your own risk. Inner peace is contagious.

Life goes on

After dealing with it for nearly 4 years, I finally decided to see the doctor about this intermittent numbness that I have been having in my left anterior thigh. It is precipitated by standing at least 10-15 minutes. Gets better with rest. It got bad over Thanksgiving when I stood for hours on Wednesday and Thursday making the feast. I think it may be from my hip, but I don't know. Dr. Collins had me take a hip and lumbar spine x-ray, and I am scheduled for an open MRI this Friday.

My hands are especially stiff and sore this morning, and they definitely are swollen. I think that I am retaining a lot of fluid. I drank a huge glass of water of last night, and don't feel like I had the urine that I should have had. I will be monitoring this. I may be asking to come off the Femara and go to the tamoxifen if these side effects continue. I feel like an old lady.

Wayne is sick this week. I came home Monday from a 12 hour shift and he was running a fever. Had a sore throat, but that is better. His lungs sounded clear. Maybe just a virus. But if this continues I am gonna take him in to convenient care and get a chest x-ray. Saturday we had very icy streets. Wayne insisted that he eat lunch at the big house. I didn't want to, so I stayed at home. Wayne should have also. He fell in front of the big house, and as no body saw him, he had to crawl to a curb under the canopy where he could finally hoist himself up. His knees have been bothering him, as well as his back. I asked if he wanted me to make an appointment to have someone check them, but he declined.

I am feeling like such a slug. I am simply not motivated to get anything done. On my days off, I am taking a 2-3 hour nap. I need to get the binding on a quilt for Laurie. I am making potholders and could be working on them. I am reading a book, but can't get motivated to read. Hopefully, this is just the Christmas blues, and will get better. I think Laurie and her family are coming down for Christmas. I have to work the Sunday before Christmas, off Christmas Eve, and work 9-2 on Christmas Day.

I did get registered for Paducah. Signed up for 5 classes, 3 of them my cyberfriend Sarah is teaching. I am so looking forward to going!

I visited the other day with neighbor Albert. He had told us he needed pipe filters, but as they are new to town, his wife didn't know where to buy them. I went to a tobacco shop and bought him two packages, as well as a big tin of Prince Albert. When I took them over there, Clara was out. Albert was so pleased with his little gift. He told me how much it meant to him when I held his hand when he was feeling bad several months ago. You never know how much the little things can brighten someone's day. We often think that because we don't do grand things that get everyone's attention that we are not doing all that we can. But it is the little small things that people truly appreciate.

Magnolias

This was on my Yahoo breast cancer group. I really like the saying at the end.

MAGNOLIAS

By Edna Ellison
I spent the week before my daughter's June wedding running last-minute trips to the caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty miles away. As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I felt laden with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle . . . so many details, so many bills, and so little time. My son Jack was away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give her away since she was about three years old!

To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church. After the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, we banked the podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just before midnight, I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception - and especially the flowers - would be remembered for years.

The big day arrived - the busiest day of my life - and while her bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiance Tim, walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check. When we opened the door and felt arush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them - all the beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm during the night had knocked out the air conditioning system,and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died. I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding.Tim turned to me. "Edna, can you get more flowers? I'll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements."I mumbled, "Sure," as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cufflinks.

Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling. "Lord," I prayed, "please help me. I don't know anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers -in a hurry!" I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing of white magnolias, courage to find them in an unfamiliar yard, safety from any dog that may bite my leg, and a nice person who would not get out a shotgun when I asked to cut his tree to shreds.

As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. Iapproached a house . . . no dog in sight. I knocked on the door and an older man answered. So far so good . . . no shotgun. When I stated my plea the man beamed, "I'd be happy to!" He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down tome. Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, "Sir, you've made the mother of a bride happy today.""No, Ma'am," he said. "You don't understand what's happening here.""What?" I asked."You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday . . He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes. "On Wednesday I buried her." He looked away. "On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went backhome, and on Friday - yesterday - my children left. I nodded."This morning," he continued, "I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, 'Who needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody! 'I began to cry louder. 'Nobody needs me!' About that time, you knocked, and said, "Sir, I need you." I stood with my mouth open.

He asked, "Are you an angel? The way the light shone around your head into my dark living room . ." I assured him I was no angel. He smiled. "Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those magnolias?""No.""I decided I'm needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flowerministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the funeralhome have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They're all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches - all sorts of places. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!"I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy's weddingday, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, Iwould have said, "Forget it! It's my only daughter's wedding, for goodness' sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today."But God found a way. Through dead flowers.

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.The way you cope with it is what makes the difference."

Another year older

Having a birthday is rather anticlimatic, as I have been thinking myself as being 53 all year. Still do. Being 52 was just too hard. Diagnosed with breast cancer and losing my best friend.

I am still stiff in the morning, but overall feeling better. I get stiff when I sit too long, so try not to. I scrubbed the tile in our bathroom this past week, as the grout was looking bad. I should have sealed it when we moved in. It is now, and here's hoping it keeps it looking well. The next project will be the front entry and guest bath. Then the kitchen, which is the worst.

I need to get up into the attic this week to get it rearranged after we had the insulation people up there. They moved stuff out of their way, now I have to put it back. I need to get a cooler down for Thanksgiving. Also gonna have Logan and John help me put a few things up there.

Wayne has had 2 overnite pulse oximetry testing. He failed the first one miserably. He spent the majority of the night below 90%. The second one was done for Medicare. I am sure by week's end he will be set up with a concentrator and using oxygen with his CPAP. Wayne doesn't see that having low sats is a problem. But he spends most of the day sleeping in his chair. He desats when he moves, so he tries not to move. He doesn't realize how hard this is on his heart and the rest of his body. When he told his daughter Laurie that he might be going on oxygen, she started crying and couldn't talk to him any more.

I've got a good start on quilting the quilt for Laurie for her office assistant. I hope to have it completely done by next week so that we can take it up to her. Don't want to ship it.

Again, just not in the old Christmas spirit. Thank goodness, really don't have to buy anybody anything. We did buy a larger tree to put in the sunroom. I have found some brick clips so I am gonna put a wreath over the garage, and offer to do the same for Clara.