Today was a day of highs and lows. Mostly highs.
Started off a bit before Six AM with Chelsea and I going for a nice long walk. She sure is happy that we are not turning back at the corner any more. All of her good smells are back. But she sure is tired when we get home.
We got Dick to the Clinic at 9AM for Sue to test his blood again. Yippee! it tested out at 2.2 Quite a dramatic improvement over the awful 6 that it tested at on Thursday. Sue was very happy too. We are to go back in two seeks unless the blood test next Wednesday shows some problem.
We got home at 9:30, plenty of time for me to change and gather stuff up for the bit Irishman's Walk. Jeff and Kathy got her at 10AM. Jeff, Kathy, Jim, Michelle and I all piled in Jeff's van. Jim dropped us off at the Family Video for the gathering. Boy was there a crowd this year. What with the beautiful weather and the fact that it is a Saturday the ranks just swelled. We made our way to the Inn where Jim had a table saved for us. We ate (I had root soup and a corned beef sandwich with fries) and then went out in plenty of time to get a good seat to see the band. This year they did have entertainment. Sometimes, when it is during the week, they don't have a band until evening when the crowds come. But this year a band, Beef Tea, was in a tent in the parking lot. There were lots of friends there. The Mersbergers, Nancy Roehre, Rip and Christine O'Dwanny. I had a really good time.
We came home at about 1:30PM. Jeff and Kathy headed for Falls to see Mom so I sent her some wine and the money I got for her the other day. Then I took a nap.
We left for Bobbie and Bill's a bit before 5PM. Nice drive. Bobbie fixed an excellent dinner as usual, her Mexican Lasagna. It was GOOD. Then we had Sacher Tort for dessert. Chelsea got to go along, of course. She always gets to go to the "goddess's "house.
Roxie came out and let me pet her. She may remember me. I am not sure. But Oscar was scared and would not have anything to do with me. My heart is broken.
Now that we are through with hospitals for while, I will be able to go to he 8AM Masses again. So tomorrow will be normal. I am a Eucharistic minister too. So glad, it would be embarrassing to have to find another substitute.
Love.
Mary
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
Boy, this was the first time in AGES that we have not had to got to either a hospital or a doctor's office ALL DAY. I slept until almost 6:30AM and Chelsea and I went for our whole walk for the first time in weeks too. Boy was she ever tired most of the day. But she was sure a busy little bee during the walk and did not act a bit 13.
Then I cleaned the kitchen this morning and cleaned out my recipes. Actually, I was looking for a specific bread recipe that seems to have disappeared.
Had lunch with Marlene, Mary and Barb today. That was a pleasant break. We did get a counter offer on the house. They only came back with $197000. We just rejected it with no counter. If they are not serious, why bother. Why are they looking at home in the 229,000 range if they intend to pay less than 200,000. Give me a break.
Someone is going to look at it again on Tuesday.
I went and shot league today. The first one was terrible but the next two steadily improved. I seem to need to shoot one to get my bearings. Perhaps it will improve as my stress reduces. Now that Dick is somewhat better - at least we are getting some rest now.
Yesterday, Dick and I saw our first robins. Good sigh. Today, while Chelsea and I were on our walk, I (and I mean I, Chelsea is not too alert unless something moves you know) saw TWO deer in the grasses at the end of Cattail Court. Then later in the day when I took her out, I heard geese honking and there were two of them sitting on the top of a house across the way.
Lots of nature activity. I like that. When I see a red winged blackbird and hear it's trill, I will really believe that spring is here.
Love
Mary
Then I cleaned the kitchen this morning and cleaned out my recipes. Actually, I was looking for a specific bread recipe that seems to have disappeared.
Had lunch with Marlene, Mary and Barb today. That was a pleasant break. We did get a counter offer on the house. They only came back with $197000. We just rejected it with no counter. If they are not serious, why bother. Why are they looking at home in the 229,000 range if they intend to pay less than 200,000. Give me a break.
Someone is going to look at it again on Tuesday.
I went and shot league today. The first one was terrible but the next two steadily improved. I seem to need to shoot one to get my bearings. Perhaps it will improve as my stress reduces. Now that Dick is somewhat better - at least we are getting some rest now.
Yesterday, Dick and I saw our first robins. Good sigh. Today, while Chelsea and I were on our walk, I (and I mean I, Chelsea is not too alert unless something moves you know) saw TWO deer in the grasses at the end of Cattail Court. Then later in the day when I took her out, I heard geese honking and there were two of them sitting on the top of a house across the way.
Lots of nature activity. I like that. When I see a red winged blackbird and hear it's trill, I will really believe that spring is here.
Love
Mary
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Dick and I now get to sleep until 6 or later. I actually did not wake up until 6:20 and probably could have gotten back to sleep but I could feel Chelsea getting anxious. It was SO cold after these extra warm days that we have been experiencing. And I was unable to "keep the wind at my back". Pretty hard when you go around a block.
This morning we picked up the salve for Dick's feet that must have gold dust in it for the cost. Then we went to the Sheboygan Clinic to see Dr. Hodous, the podiatrist. He took care of Dick's feet then we went to have Sue check Dick's blood count. For the first time in over two years, his count is BAD. It is supposed to be between 2 and 3. Today it was 6. Ouch. So down we went for a full blood test. Now Sue has had him stop taking the cumedin until she tests him again on Saturday morning. We have to be there at 9AM. Which will give plenty of time for me to get back to go to the Irishman's Walk at 10:30.
Jeff and Kathy are going to join us. Jim and Michelle are joining me too. It will be fun to have family. It has always just been me. But I have lots of friends there so I always have fun. Of course, I usually have fun whenever I do anything. Bloom where you are planted I always say. Enjoy the moment. It won't return again.
After we left the clinic, Dick and I went grocery shopping, to the post office and out for lunch before getting home at about 12:30AM.
We were talking about congestion today (Don't ask me why.) I remembered something about Bret. When he was a very small baby, he developed asthma. For years, he never really got a cold. Every time there was the slightest sign of an infection it would all settle in his chest and he would wheeze like an accordian. It was really scary. I spent many a night with him sounding like he was breathing through cotton.
Anyway, when he was about 11 years old, he came to me one day obviously frightened. He said that I had better take him to the doctor right away. He couldn't breathe through his nose. I had to explain to him that he had a normal cold. For the first time in his life he had a just plain head cold that didn't turn into bronco pneumonia.
Tomorrow will be St. Patrick's Eve. Sure hope they have something musical on TV. Saturday will be nice with the walk and dinner at the Mays.
Have a happy Friday.
Mary
This morning we picked up the salve for Dick's feet that must have gold dust in it for the cost. Then we went to the Sheboygan Clinic to see Dr. Hodous, the podiatrist. He took care of Dick's feet then we went to have Sue check Dick's blood count. For the first time in over two years, his count is BAD. It is supposed to be between 2 and 3. Today it was 6. Ouch. So down we went for a full blood test. Now Sue has had him stop taking the cumedin until she tests him again on Saturday morning. We have to be there at 9AM. Which will give plenty of time for me to get back to go to the Irishman's Walk at 10:30.
Jeff and Kathy are going to join us. Jim and Michelle are joining me too. It will be fun to have family. It has always just been me. But I have lots of friends there so I always have fun. Of course, I usually have fun whenever I do anything. Bloom where you are planted I always say. Enjoy the moment. It won't return again.
After we left the clinic, Dick and I went grocery shopping, to the post office and out for lunch before getting home at about 12:30AM.
We were talking about congestion today (Don't ask me why.) I remembered something about Bret. When he was a very small baby, he developed asthma. For years, he never really got a cold. Every time there was the slightest sign of an infection it would all settle in his chest and he would wheeze like an accordian. It was really scary. I spent many a night with him sounding like he was breathing through cotton.
Anyway, when he was about 11 years old, he came to me one day obviously frightened. He said that I had better take him to the doctor right away. He couldn't breathe through his nose. I had to explain to him that he had a normal cold. For the first time in his life he had a just plain head cold that didn't turn into bronco pneumonia.
Tomorrow will be St. Patrick's Eve. Sure hope they have something musical on TV. Saturday will be nice with the walk and dinner at the Mays.
Have a happy Friday.
Mary
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Guess what. My day at home turned out to be just a dream. Our appointment with Dr. Phelan was changed to 9:30 this morning. and we did not get home until about 12:00Noon.
The appointment went very well. Dr. Phelan feels that, at this point, the antibiotics have done as much as they can. There is still Something wrong, but we will go without the meds for a while at least and see how things go. We have to pick up a very expensive salve to put on some spots on his feet that are troublesome and must continue with the special soap and cream when bathing.
SO. He had Theresa, a nurse there, take out the PICC line. BOY is that a long thing. It just slides right out though and Dick felt no discomfort at all. He has to have a blood test next Wednesday to see if the good levels are holding. We stopped at Walmart for a bit of shopping, the Plymouth Clinic to make an appointment for the blood test and I filled the tank. We were beat when we got home. I fixed lunch and then took a nap.
Anyway, no more 5AM wakeups and every evening at the hospital. We are SO tired and SO grateful that we can maybe get caught up on some rest. Dr. Phelan gave Dick some sleeping pill samples which we hope will help him get some rest too.
When I got up, I vacuumed and made some fudge to send to Bart for his birthday. I have some left if you want to come over.
Now we don't have to worry about what time Bobbie will have us over for dinner on Saturday. She can just choose a time.
Just a little joke. I read Andy Capp this morning. He is at the track and tells his companion. "It's not a good sign when the horse you've bet on sinks to its knees when they put the saddle on."
Love
Mary
The appointment went very well. Dr. Phelan feels that, at this point, the antibiotics have done as much as they can. There is still Something wrong, but we will go without the meds for a while at least and see how things go. We have to pick up a very expensive salve to put on some spots on his feet that are troublesome and must continue with the special soap and cream when bathing.
SO. He had Theresa, a nurse there, take out the PICC line. BOY is that a long thing. It just slides right out though and Dick felt no discomfort at all. He has to have a blood test next Wednesday to see if the good levels are holding. We stopped at Walmart for a bit of shopping, the Plymouth Clinic to make an appointment for the blood test and I filled the tank. We were beat when we got home. I fixed lunch and then took a nap.
Anyway, no more 5AM wakeups and every evening at the hospital. We are SO tired and SO grateful that we can maybe get caught up on some rest. Dr. Phelan gave Dick some sleeping pill samples which we hope will help him get some rest too.
When I got up, I vacuumed and made some fudge to send to Bart for his birthday. I have some left if you want to come over.
Now we don't have to worry about what time Bobbie will have us over for dinner on Saturday. She can just choose a time.
Just a little joke. I read Andy Capp this morning. He is at the track and tells his companion. "It's not a good sign when the horse you've bet on sinks to its knees when they put the saddle on."
Love
Mary
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Another 5AM wake up. I was really sound asleep when Dick called me. This morning went well. We asked Linda to check and be sure that we were getting a dose this evening. She called Dr. Phelan's office and they said that we were but that he wanted to see Dick tomorrow instead of Thursday. There goes our "whole day at home". Oh well, we wouldn't know what to do with all that luxury.
I have a feeling that Dr. Phelan will be putting him on another round. We got to Valley View tonight to find out that there WAS NO evening dose, but the trip was not for nothing as the lab had to take blood anyway. He also got the ports flushed one more time.
We countered on the low ball offer that we got on Hunters Glen. I don't believe we will hear from them again.
Tonight I went to the funeral of a dear friend, Stan Payne. Stan and his wife, Peg have been Irish friends for many a year now. Peg and I found common roots when we worked at Wells Fargo together. For Example: Her mother, Margaret Michaels, stayed with my Grandpa and Grandpa Bowser in Sheboygan Falls while going to the Normal School (the teaching college) back in the late 1920s or so. Families did that. The Michaels were friends from the Parnell area.
Stan was a barber in Cascade until he retired. He had been quite ill with heart failure for the past few years and the last time I saw him he was quite weak. It was at a picnic at St. Michaels out in Town Mitchell. He stood up, sweet gentleman that he was, to greet me. He said that with his struggles he felt that people were looking at him and it made him feel funny. I told Stan that he should stand tall and let them look because he was well worth looking at. The past few days, I hope that he remembered what I told him and walked up to St. Peter at the gate and said. "Here I am, Stan Payne and I have come to get what I have been promised." If anyone earned the promise of the Lord, Stan did.
Today was absolutely beautiful. The temperatures were up to 63 degrees and the snow is fading fast.
Love
Mary
I have a feeling that Dr. Phelan will be putting him on another round. We got to Valley View tonight to find out that there WAS NO evening dose, but the trip was not for nothing as the lab had to take blood anyway. He also got the ports flushed one more time.
We countered on the low ball offer that we got on Hunters Glen. I don't believe we will hear from them again.
Tonight I went to the funeral of a dear friend, Stan Payne. Stan and his wife, Peg have been Irish friends for many a year now. Peg and I found common roots when we worked at Wells Fargo together. For Example: Her mother, Margaret Michaels, stayed with my Grandpa and Grandpa Bowser in Sheboygan Falls while going to the Normal School (the teaching college) back in the late 1920s or so. Families did that. The Michaels were friends from the Parnell area.
Stan was a barber in Cascade until he retired. He had been quite ill with heart failure for the past few years and the last time I saw him he was quite weak. It was at a picnic at St. Michaels out in Town Mitchell. He stood up, sweet gentleman that he was, to greet me. He said that with his struggles he felt that people were looking at him and it made him feel funny. I told Stan that he should stand tall and let them look because he was well worth looking at. The past few days, I hope that he remembered what I told him and walked up to St. Peter at the gate and said. "Here I am, Stan Payne and I have come to get what I have been promised." If anyone earned the promise of the Lord, Stan did.
Today was absolutely beautiful. The temperatures were up to 63 degrees and the snow is fading fast.
Love
Mary
Monday, March 12, 2007
What a day. It was well up into the 50s. The snow is melting like crazy and we have at least two more days so most of it will be gone.
Had to get up at 5AM of course. This morning's intravenous went just fine. Then the rest of the day for me was run run run.
First I went to Fleet to pick up my turkey license. I got a free compass for buying the license there. Big WOO but I took it anyway.
Then on the Bible Study. There were 5 of us. Almost everybody else is on vacation somewhere exotic like Florida. The study went well. It was all about reconciliation. Actually the Gospel was the Prodigal Son. It is easy to understand the feelings of the son who stayed home and kept on a truckin. But God expects more of us. I am minded of a poster that my friend Pam Mc Carthy had on her wall above her desk. Iggy is standing on a mountain looking up at the heavens with his arms outstretched in a big pleading prayer and he is saying."You expect TOO much!" Sometimes it is really hard to hang on the the promise that He won't give us more than we can handle.
Stopped at Mother's next and brought her the prescription, and her papers and a cheese shaped like a shamrock from the Mars Cheese place. She really liked that.
Leaving there, I stopped off at Mark Miller my accountant friend and dropped off the K1s that have arrived. We figured out what still should be coming in so I know what to look for.
Then I swung by the Superior Aurora and picked up Dick's compression stockings and on the Jumes where I at an egg salad on rye for lunch.
Lastly was the Sheboygan County Writer's club meeting. I gave the 107 poems for the Write Stuff Contest to Paul for his chance to judge them. When Jane gets back next week, the three of us will get together and pick out the final three winners.
Are you tired yet? I sure am.
I got home with an hour to spare before Dick and I had to be back at Valley View for the last treatment of the night. We only have tomorrow now. Guess what, Wednesday we don't have to to ANYWHERE. Hope to high heavens that nothing ruins it.
Then we had dinner and wonder of wonders, Jennifer from ReMax called with an offer on the Hunters Glen house. We got ahold of Jim and Michelle and went over to get it. It is a REAL low ball offer so I have been crunching the numbers and we will counter. This should just be a beginning anyway. There have been lots of showings and several other people besides these have been expressing interest, but we will counter with an offer acceptable to us. The good thing about this offer is that there are no contingencies and they want to close in a month.
Anyway. An offer is a hopeful thing.
1. Go to the Super Bowl
2. See a Broadway show, front row, center
3. Go to the Olympic Games
4. Ski the first tracks at Deer Valley
5. Try to hit a Major League Baseball fastball
6. Stay at a five-star hotel in the best suite
7. See the Northern Lights
8. Take a train ride on the Orient Express
9. Go the the Galapagos Islands
10. Ride a motorcycle across the U.S.
11. Help dig for dinosaur bones
12. Float along the Nile
13. Own a set of Frette linens
14. Volunteer to help the environment
15. Climb Mount Olympus
16. Watch the Sumo Wrestling Championship in Japan
17. Ride a mule through the Grand Canyon
18. Train like an astronaut at space camp
19. Fly across the Atlantic in a private jet
20. Have Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues
21. Drink a mint julep at the Kentucky Derby
22. Drive on the Autobahn in Germany
These were suggested in an email. Why don't we all think of our OWN 22 things to do before we die. I will if you will.
Mary
Had to get up at 5AM of course. This morning's intravenous went just fine. Then the rest of the day for me was run run run.
First I went to Fleet to pick up my turkey license. I got a free compass for buying the license there. Big WOO but I took it anyway.
Then on the Bible Study. There were 5 of us. Almost everybody else is on vacation somewhere exotic like Florida. The study went well. It was all about reconciliation. Actually the Gospel was the Prodigal Son. It is easy to understand the feelings of the son who stayed home and kept on a truckin. But God expects more of us. I am minded of a poster that my friend Pam Mc Carthy had on her wall above her desk. Iggy is standing on a mountain looking up at the heavens with his arms outstretched in a big pleading prayer and he is saying."You expect TOO much!" Sometimes it is really hard to hang on the the promise that He won't give us more than we can handle.
Stopped at Mother's next and brought her the prescription, and her papers and a cheese shaped like a shamrock from the Mars Cheese place. She really liked that.
Leaving there, I stopped off at Mark Miller my accountant friend and dropped off the K1s that have arrived. We figured out what still should be coming in so I know what to look for.
Then I swung by the Superior Aurora and picked up Dick's compression stockings and on the Jumes where I at an egg salad on rye for lunch.
Lastly was the Sheboygan County Writer's club meeting. I gave the 107 poems for the Write Stuff Contest to Paul for his chance to judge them. When Jane gets back next week, the three of us will get together and pick out the final three winners.
Are you tired yet? I sure am.
I got home with an hour to spare before Dick and I had to be back at Valley View for the last treatment of the night. We only have tomorrow now. Guess what, Wednesday we don't have to to ANYWHERE. Hope to high heavens that nothing ruins it.
Then we had dinner and wonder of wonders, Jennifer from ReMax called with an offer on the Hunters Glen house. We got ahold of Jim and Michelle and went over to get it. It is a REAL low ball offer so I have been crunching the numbers and we will counter. This should just be a beginning anyway. There have been lots of showings and several other people besides these have been expressing interest, but we will counter with an offer acceptable to us. The good thing about this offer is that there are no contingencies and they want to close in a month.
Anyway. An offer is a hopeful thing.
1. Go to the Super Bowl
2. See a Broadway show, front row, center
3. Go to the Olympic Games
4. Ski the first tracks at Deer Valley
5. Try to hit a Major League Baseball fastball
6. Stay at a five-star hotel in the best suite
7. See the Northern Lights
8. Take a train ride on the Orient Express
9. Go the the Galapagos Islands
10. Ride a motorcycle across the U.S.
11. Help dig for dinosaur bones
12. Float along the Nile
13. Own a set of Frette linens
14. Volunteer to help the environment
15. Climb Mount Olympus
16. Watch the Sumo Wrestling Championship in Japan
17. Ride a mule through the Grand Canyon
18. Train like an astronaut at space camp
19. Fly across the Atlantic in a private jet
20. Have Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues
21. Drink a mint julep at the Kentucky Derby
22. Drive on the Autobahn in Germany
These were suggested in an email. Why don't we all think of our OWN 22 things to do before we die. I will if you will.
Mary
Sunday, March 11, 2007
It was a good day. The weather was beautiful. The 50 degrees that we were promised for Tuesday showed up today. I have not heard that Tuesday will have any surprises so we should be in for a few really seasonably warm days.
It was cold during the night however, and I had to pick my way around sheets of runoff ice on the morning walk. Chelsea just runs hell bent for leather and slips and falls and gets up with the same enthusiasm for it all.
Both visits for Dick's intravenous went very well. As a matter of fact, they were all over us at Memorial because they had goofed us up twice. Once last week when we were there for almost three hours because they could not find one of the meds and yesterday when we were not on the list. We have never once had a complaint about a nurse, however, and that says a lot. They have been compassionate and very helpful and professional. On the way out tonight we ran into Dr. Phelan and chatted with him for a bit. We will see him on Thursday. Things are better so we have hope, but I do believe that there will be some ongoing treatment.
I went to the 10:30 AM Mass again. Sure will be glad to get back to 8:00AM. Fr. Van Beeck reminded us to either stay on track for Lent or reapply ourselves. Frankly, I am just trying to keep afloat this Lent. And I must say I am not really impressed with this early daylight savings time. I think Arizona has the right idea. Forget it.
Mary Calvey and Donna (I don't know her last name) hosted that Seisun that I mentioned yesterday. I went and had a great time. I took some Irish Brown Bread and Butter to share. It was all gone except for one lonely heel. I think it was a nice first time for the event. There were about 6 musicians that came to Jam and 40 to 50 people who came in and out. I read a couple of my poems and sang Whiskey on a Sunday. Sold three books and left five for the Art Center to display. Mary led us in several sing a long songs too. She has a lovely voice. She sang the Fields of Athenry which she does very well. I asked if I could finish with a "blessing" and did the one I know you all remember.
May Light always find you on a dreary day
When you need to be home , may you find the way.
May you always have courage to take a chance
And never find frogs in your underpants.
They loved that one.
Have a nice St. Patrick's week.
Love
Mary
It was cold during the night however, and I had to pick my way around sheets of runoff ice on the morning walk. Chelsea just runs hell bent for leather and slips and falls and gets up with the same enthusiasm for it all.
Both visits for Dick's intravenous went very well. As a matter of fact, they were all over us at Memorial because they had goofed us up twice. Once last week when we were there for almost three hours because they could not find one of the meds and yesterday when we were not on the list. We have never once had a complaint about a nurse, however, and that says a lot. They have been compassionate and very helpful and professional. On the way out tonight we ran into Dr. Phelan and chatted with him for a bit. We will see him on Thursday. Things are better so we have hope, but I do believe that there will be some ongoing treatment.
I went to the 10:30 AM Mass again. Sure will be glad to get back to 8:00AM. Fr. Van Beeck reminded us to either stay on track for Lent or reapply ourselves. Frankly, I am just trying to keep afloat this Lent. And I must say I am not really impressed with this early daylight savings time. I think Arizona has the right idea. Forget it.
Mary Calvey and Donna (I don't know her last name) hosted that Seisun that I mentioned yesterday. I went and had a great time. I took some Irish Brown Bread and Butter to share. It was all gone except for one lonely heel. I think it was a nice first time for the event. There were about 6 musicians that came to Jam and 40 to 50 people who came in and out. I read a couple of my poems and sang Whiskey on a Sunday. Sold three books and left five for the Art Center to display. Mary led us in several sing a long songs too. She has a lovely voice. She sang the Fields of Athenry which she does very well. I asked if I could finish with a "blessing" and did the one I know you all remember.
May Light always find you on a dreary day
When you need to be home , may you find the way.
May you always have courage to take a chance
And never find frogs in your underpants.
They loved that one.
Have a nice St. Patrick's week.
Love
Mary
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