Well, the end of another day.   It was a bit better.  

I went over to Rocky Knoll after Jody got here to take Dick's prosthesis and some of the stockings that go with it so he would have them for his therapy sessions if they were needed.   As it turns out, the stump on his left leg is swollen too, so they are going to wrap it in an ace bandage to help bring it down before Tim from Wisconsin Prosthesis comes to see him next Tuesday at 1PM.    (See, things are falling in place a bit.)

I stayed for a bit then came home again to lock up after Jody left and to finish some of the projects that I am trying to get done around here, such as bill paying.

I left shortly after noon to go to the bank and meet my bank friends for lunch.   They were unaware of the surgery, though Marlene knew that it was imminent.   So I updated them and enjoyed the rest of the hour being with friends who understand and know when to talk and when to talk about something else. 

I went directly from there back to Rocky Knoll and spent the afternoon and part of the evening with him.   He is so glad to have me there that I hate to leave, but I get so tired.   I watched his physical therapy session and we had dinner together.   I brought a salad from home for my dinner rather than buy dinner there tonight.    I will vary that.

There are still problems but with the long weekend, I don't know how many can be solved soon.   I must be vigilant and have been trying to point out problems that I see.   They are very caring and are trying very hard to help him.

So we head in to the 4th of July weekend with some things better and some things at a standstill. 

Enjoy your holiday.  The weather is supposed to be hot but OK and guess what?   I think the corn is at least almost "knee high by the 4th of July."   Of course the big thing is going to be if the farmers were able to get enough crop in.

Gold love you

Mary

I was much too tired to blog last night.   Sorry.

Dick was transferred to Rocky Knoll yesterday afternoon.    It was not an easy transfer for him but he is there.   The staff is wonderful  and we were delighted to find that Courtney, one of the nurses that was at Plymouth Care Center, is now in charge of the nurses during the day at Rocky Knoll. 

So, today was a very busy day.   Dick got into his routine, a bit anyway.   He got bathed and dressed.  They brought his breakfast to him but he and I went to the dining room for lunch together.    The meal,  was quite good and the dining room is very pleasant.  He has to be moved from his bed to the wheel chair with the Hoyer Lift, the same as the last time.   This will continue until he can transfer by himself.

This afternoon, both occupational and physical therapy staff evaluated him so he is on his way to independence.  He is anxious to be home, so I know that he will work hard to get here.   Today, he was so tired though.

Every day will get better (I Hope!)   We've actually been saying that for a while.   But with all the support and prayers lifting us up I know that everything will be Okay.

So.   Til tomorrow.   God love you

Mary

Tuesday done.  

I got to the hospital at about 8:30.   I got up at 6:30.  Showered, took care of Roxie, ate breakfast and took out the trash.

Dick said he had a rough night but was still feeling better than he did yesterday.    He still has some discomfort in his chest but it has eased.   His breathing is still a bit rough but that too is improving.    He is still on antibiotics, fluids and oxygen.   We still do not know how long he will be at Sheboygan Memorial.

Therapy is coming in to do small things with him now, so he will be maintaining his muscle tone.   He has to move slow because he is so weak but he is trying very hard.

I went to JMKAC for the meeting about the Irish Day that they are going to do in January.   It was a good break in the day.   We met from 11AM to noon and I had lunch at the Art Center with one of the ladies.   She introduced me to Ruth Kohler, the director of the Art Center.   Ruth remembers Dick well.

This is going to be an exciting event and I am able to provide lots of help with many things truly Irish, or I know where to look.   They want me to read my poetry also.   I will enjoy that and sharing some of the great poets also.   I think it would be good to be able to let people know the importance of poets, musicians and storytellers in old Ireland.

So I spent the afternoon with Dick and we had dinner together before I came home for the night.   It is almost bedtime again and I am grateful.

Take care of yourselves.    You are all so special to me.

God love you.

Mary

Another day at the hospital.    Last night, Dick started experiencing pain in his chest on the left side.    He was really uncomfortable.   So another battery of tests and another uncomfortable night for him.    By the time I arrived in the morning they had eliminated heart.   During the morning they did a Cat Scan and  eliminated a blood clot.    Glory be to God, it is "just" pneumonia again.  That can be cured.

Now that he has antibiotics for the pneumonia and diuretics to help clear the fluid build up in the lungs, I believe that he will start improving noticeably.   

Dr. Phelan sad that Dick will not be leaving for Rocky Knoll for at least two days.   Not until he feels that Dick is strong enough.

Therapy is coming in already and that will help keep his physical strength up.   His appetite is improving.  He had fruit and toast for breakfast and chicken stir fry for lunch. 

I left at about 5PM tonight so that I can get to bed earlier and be ready for tomorrow.   The days are SO long.   I have a meeting for CWI - in Sheboygan- at 11AM to 12:30PM tomorrow.   So I will go and that will break up the day.

I stopped to see Mom for just a few minutes on the way home.   I knew that she would feel better hearing about Dick from me.   

So, it is almost 9 and I have determined that I am going to bed then, no matter what.

So.  Till tomorrow's report.  I love you all.

Mary

This will be short and sweet as I am again tired and need to get rested up.

The days don't get much easier.    I slept until after 7AM, then got up, ate, showered, checked my emails and made a couple of calls, then headed out to the Hospital.    I got there between 9 and 9:30AM, just in time to walk out of Intensive Care with him as he was stable enough to be moved down to the second floor surgery recovery floor.

He is in room 261, the same room he started in.  The phone in his room is 920-451-5261. 

He slept most of the day.   I did crossword puzzles and sewed and did a bit of studying on Morgan Llewelyn's 1916 as he dozed.    After lunch, he and I got to wondering about therapy and his sitting in a chair to relieve his bottom discomfort.  So I checked.    I am glad I did as the information on that had gotten buried in the pile of papers and we would not have had the therapy at all.   He still needs an evaluation but something is happening.   Bobbie came to visit at about 3 PM so I wasn't alone all day.

Bill was frying out pork chops for them so she left at about 5PM to prepare the side dishes.   Rosemary potatoes, she mentioned.   That sounds good.

I left for 6PM Mass at St. Clements at 5:30or so.  That was an experience.   I got there and discovered that it is the Spanish Mass.    The Mass is the Mass so the format is the same all over the world.  And they did have an English translation in the Missal so I was able to follow the readings.   The sermon was mostly a loss though I did get that this is a big feast in the church.  The Body and Blood of Christ.     The music was lovely.   I couldn't sing along, really but they clap a lot too and I could do that.    Nice service but very poorly attended.

So home again.    I must rest for tomorrow.   Hopefully all will go well tonight with Dick and he will feel better than today.

Thanks for all your prayers and love

Mary

"Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into".  Harry Ward Beecher

I thought the above quote was just lovely.    I needed something lovely to brighten up these past couple of days.

This will be a summary of the past two days so that everybody is updated.   Some of you know what has transpired.  

Dick and I arrived at Sheboygan Memorial at 11:00AM on Friday.  Richard and Brenda were there waiting and they stayed with us until this afternoon, when they headed back home to Madison.   What a blessing that was.

The surgery was pretty much on time.  They took him up at 1PM.    We did not hear anything until almost 4PM.  He was in recovery and ended up staying there until after 6:30PM.  He lost a lot of blood during the surgery and this required transfusions.   His blood pressure was also way way down.   Dr. Fehrman came down after the surgery to update us on all of this.   He said that the surgery itself went well.   But, of course, we are still dependent on there being suffiecient circulation to heal the wound.    If all goes as it did last time, we should be OK.

 Finally they opted to move him from recovery to intensive care where they have the 24 hour nurses and a doctor on duty ALL the time.  Then we got to see him and spend time with him.   Richard and Brenda went back to our house for the night a bit after 9.   They did the contacting of the family for us.  And took care of Roxie   I was given some bedding and a pillow to use while I tried to sleep on a fold down chair bed in the visitor lounge.   I helped settle Dick down once, answered some questions and just checked  on him throughout the night.   I got up a bit after 6 so as to be there when the doctors came in the morning.   We now know that he will be at Sheboygan Memorial  until at least Monday.   It will depend on how soon he is stable enough to go to a regular room and then on therapy evaluation and the physician's release.   So we aren't home yet.   I just hope he sleeps tonight. 

After Dr. Fehrman left at 8:30AM this morning, I left to pick up SHARE, go home to take a shower and change.  Then Richard and Brenda took me out to breakfast to Field to Fork on 8th Street.   I had not been there before and it was really good.   They have a little market attached with local and specialty items and fresh bakery.   How fun is that.    I couldn't get much, of course, because there is just me for a bit.   But I did pick up some Rosemary Crackers, mustard and tea.   Those will be easy for snacking or will last til Dick comes home.  

Finally, we went back to Memorial and spent the day with Dick.     Richard and Brenda headed home at about 1:30PM and Bobbie came, fresh from their vacation, at about 2:30 or 3PM.   We had a nice visit and heard about her trip.   She left at about 5 and we ordered supper.    He ate a good meal of pasta and meatballs with Mariana sauce and I had a chicken fajita. 

Then as he was getting more and more uncomfortable, the nurses called respiration therapy to set him up with his CPAP machine as he wanted to try to sleep.   So, I left a bit before 7PM to try to get a good night's sleep myself.   I am exhausted.

Thank all you you for all your prayers and good thoughts.   We know they are lifting us up and helping SO much.   I will update again tomorrow night.

God love you all

Mary

Tomorrow is the day.   It seems to have taken forever, yet I can't believe that it is already here.

The surgery is confirmed for 1PM and we are to check in at 11AM.   I believe that we have everything that has to go with us prepared.   

This was not a bad day up  until about 3PM.   Then, Dick went to the bathroom and the new motorized wheel chair sparked and stopped working all together.   I called the Accessibility and they are sending someone out to pick it up on Monday.   They will call ahead so I can have someone here when they come.  They helped me remember how to move it without power as poor Dick was trapped in the bathroom.   We will use the regular wheelchair now and the unit should be fixed by the time he needs it again.   It better be.   We certainly don't need that aggravation.

I racked my Currant/Marigold must into jugs today.   Now it has to sit for several weeks before I have to do anything else with it.    This is an experiment.   I am using up two of my favorite wine ingredients together.  I did not have enough of either for a batch, so decided to combine them.   It smells good anyway.   Should be a different wine with hints of both ingredients.  Kind of Sherry like.

So the day is winding down and I am glad.   We just want this to be over with.   Waiting is so hard.   I have such hope that this fix will heal and then we can get on with working on movement and living.   These past three years have been one wound after another.    If I am discouraged, I can't imagine how my sweetheart must feel.  

We have trust in God that all will go well.   Things happen for a reason.   I always say that I know God never sends us more than we can handle, but sometimes I think He might push the envelope a bit.

I read this and posted it on my desk.   "Whenever God closes one door, He always opens another, even though sometimes, it's hell in the hallway."

God love you

Mary

Today was a day of phone calls and preparation.

I got Dick's wound dressed and washed his hair.  

We heard from the hospital.   They told us what meds he should take on Friday.   That he should not have alcohol for 24 hours before surgery and to bring clothes and all of his meds.

We were told on Tuesday that the surgery would be at 1:00PM.  The caller today said that this is not in stone and she will let me know tomorrow and also what time he should be there.

I baked a loaf of bread and made some jam and cleaned Roxie's bathroom area.    See,   when I get nervous, I clean and cook. 

Dick and I both lay down for a nap this afternoon however.    I did finally sleep a bit, but am still going to bed early.

Tomorrow we will wrap up all the other things that have to be determined before he is in the hospital and rehab for at least two months.  

Please keep praying for us.    We are counting on this.

God love you

Mary

This has been an eventful and "Bridge" day for us.    We had an appointment with Dr. Fehrman this morning at 10:30Am. 

The day started out goofy.   Culligan was supposed to come.   I told them that they had to be here before 10AM because of the Dr. appointment.   At 9:45AM they were not here so I called and rescheduled.   I am not too happy with their service.  Dick is much more important than they are.   If I had not been assured that they would be here early, I would have rescheduled up front.

Now to the appointment.   We go there on time and Karen got his foot all unwrapped for Dr. Fehrman.  He looked at it and, as a good Doctor should, told us the options.  The only one Dick and I see is an amputation below the knee for his right leg.   This will allow things to heal.   We have been fighting sores and infections for years and the previous surgery is not healing properly.  The would is expanding and deb riding daily and I can't keep this up much longer as I watch my sweetheart get weaker and weaker.

So.   Surgery is scheduled for Friday at 1PM to do an amputation below the knee.   This is not an easy decision, but after three years of trying to heal the wounds and infections on his right foot and seeing the wounds, after the toe amputation just disintegrate, we don't want to keep this up.   Dick is exhausted and so am I.   It is time for me to got to bedl   I can't keep up with any more and Dick is all tucked in bed and hopefully will stay there for at least a couple of hours.

Love You

Mary

We had rain this morning.  Boy did we have rain.   Just about the time that Richard and Brenda were trying to leave to meet her family for Father's day in Beaver Dam, the skies opened.

They were heading west and south so when it looked clear on the map in the direction they were heading they took off.    We had such a nice visit.    They got dinner for last night and I fixed breakfast for this morning so we had the best of both worlds.   I love going out and I love cooking.

It was a good Father's day.    Jim and Michelle and Leslie called,. Brenda and Richard were here and Bobbie left a card to be opened as they are on vacation, circling Lake Michigan.

Tomorrow we will start the tour of doctors again and I am sure determine when, where, and what surgery is needed to repair Dick's leg.    We need to be sure that his body is nourishing the limbs.   This is not happening now.

Last night, Dick was SO uncomfortable and we set him up crossways on the bed with his legs over the side and his head close to me.   This worked just fine but Roxie cat was rather insulted.  She usually sleeps at least part of the night stretched out between my knees, sound asleep.   She was not happy with a "man head" towering over her.  So she left.  We were amused.

So. pray for us tomorrow.   I will update you as we know what is happening.

God love you

Mary

Doctor day.    We got up and moving quite early as Dick's appointment with Dr. Sharon was at 9:15AM. 

A cool day considering all.   The sun was out for a very short period of time and at least I did not have to transfer Dick into the Clinic in the rain.   We just had toast for our breakfast.

Dr. Sharon says that Dick's pneumonia is healed.   We do, of course, have to finish the meds to be sure that all is erased.   We discussed everything on my list and I will meld it with what I hear from Dr. Fehrman tomorrow at 10:30AM when we see him.   The foot is still pitiful and I am sure we will set the day for the surgery when we see him as soon as possible.  Otherwise I will be a tiger and get my dander up.

This afternoon, Dick slept for almost 5 hours.   I did get him to eat a bit of lunch before he went down.  His blood sugars have been goofy.   Still not disastrous from what we hear from diabetics that are on meds and all but still higher than we are used to.

I talked to several people, took a nap and prepared a couple of things to tempt Dick to eat, (potato salad and egg salad).   We shared a hamburger and potato salad for our supper.

Tomorrow then, is the big day.  I will update you all in the blog in the evening.  

I am going to bed very early and will read until I can sleep.

Love you all

Mary

A Haiku

A thin space opened
Gentle spirits in the house
A peaceful passing.

A warm Saturday in Plymouth.   Kind of muggy.  We were in all day anyway, though I did go out and plant the pansy that I won at Georgina's wedding shower on Saturday.   I felt I should get it in the ground so it has a chance of survival.

I baked cranberry scones this morning because I want them for our breakfast tomorrow morning as Richard and Brenda came to see Dick for Father's day.   I spent the rest of the day getting things sorted and put away again.  

I left for Mass at 3:45PM.  Richard and Brenda arrived while I was gone, so Dick was only alone for maybe 45 minutes.    Fr Van Beck is still having trouble breathing, an aftermath of the serious rib injury he had several weeks ago.   The mass was very healing for me.    I really needed the quite prayer time with all the fellow worshipers praying with me.  This was Trinity Sunday so very uplifting.   I saw several friends there also so it was good all around.

Richard and Brenda bought dinner from Sweet Basil.    We ordered after I got home from church and had a lovely meal.   

Dick is not having a good night at all.   We have been settling him in for the past hour.  He wants to sleep but seems to be having trouble getting there.

It is nice having someone else in the house to talk to.   We are watching the Incredibles.   One of Brenda's favorites.A fun show.

So.  Until tomorrow.

God love you

Mary

Hello.    This has been a pretty good day.  We had an absolutely lovely night.   I tucked Dick in at about 7:30PM, finished up my chores and got to bed by 9PM.   He finally woke up at 1:30AM.  The longest stretch we have had in ages.   For a couple of hours he was restless but at about 3AM he finally settled and we did not get up until 6AM so it was like a miracle of sleep.

I was home all day.   That is an event in itself.   Jody came and cleaned this morning.   Dick took a nap this morning.   I got him to eat two small but nourishing meals and changed the bandage on the incision.

I called Dr. Moreno to just reassure myself as it looks quite bad, but the symptoms I described were what Dr. Moreno expected and he told me that I am doing right by cleaning with saline and dousing with iodine.   I feel so helpless.

I have also set in motion the help that I need to ask for and arrange from the Visiting Nurses.   This will take time but I hope to be able to bring Dick home MUCH earlier if, as we truly believe, he has the amputation.   If he does, I know it will be within a week of his appointment with Dr. Fehrman because of the state of the healing of the foot.

Barb called this afternoon to see how things are going.  She was with her mother, Marlise, so I talked with her too.  It is so nice to hear voices of those who love us.

That was the day.   Hope yours was as uneventful.   The big events were talking to those who love us and resting.

God love you

Mary

Well, last night was as difficult as the night before.  The day was a bit better though.

The weather was pleasant, not very warm but there was no rain and we had some sunshine which is always uplifting.

Our Bloomsday made the front page of the press with a nice article and a wonderful collection of photos.   We are very excited.   Quite a success so we do plan on doing it next year and perhaps expanding on it a bit.

I did drive to Falls to see Mother today.    Dick was all settled after breakfast so I drove over there and brought her her vitamins and a couple other things and we had a nice visit before I had to get back to fix lunch. 

Dick took a couple of naps today but is really exhausted and still having trouble breathing.   We got his legs both washed and the bandages changed today.

I put a lot of things away today and cleaned out a couple of drawers of various support stockings and shoe inserts and tuba grip that we kept when things changed in these various treatments that Dick has gone through all these years that will not be used again.   I kept everything that I thought here might be a use for.

So tomorrow I get to be home ALL day and am really looking forward to that.   Dick is already in bed and sleeping very well, but it is still early.

God love you

Mary

Last night was very tiring,   Dick had trouble sleeping and needed me to help him getting up and down. 

But the day was not too bad.   I went grocery shopping early this morning.  That went quite well and I brought home donuts for our breakfast.

I spent the morning washing and getting ready for the Bloomsday event tonight.   I had to prepare my readings and speeches.  Wait til I till you about that.

Dick was so exhausted today that it was after 4PM before we got his bandage changed.   I put fresh sheets on the bed and got his towels all washed and ready.

Bobbie got here at about 6:30PM so I left for 52 Stafford and Bloomsday, picking up Kate on the way.   It was raining as it was off and on all day.    We got there before the musicians.   When they arrived I talked to them about our plans so that we could mix in with their playing and singing.

I was able to tell them who we are, and to give a history of Bloomsday and James Joyce.   Then after more music, I read a poem from Joyce,  then later  I told about the Burgundy and Gorgonzola and read some of his quotes.   For example:  "A corpse is meat gone bad.   Well and what's cheese?  Corpse of milk."

They are really very good and I wish I could go more often on Wednesdays.   Dick and I went together when I was taking that course on Irish music from the U W Madison.   We needed to attend a session or Craic, as we say in Ireland.  He enjoyed it too.    If they ever get handicap accessible, perhaps we can go back again .

Two ladies who saw the notice in the paper about Bloomsday came to the event.   One of them, Kathy is Scottish.   She was almost apologizing for not being Irish.   We told the crowd the names of the 7  Celtic Nations and how they are all equally important.   We just happen to have more Irish in our area.   Mike, one of the musicians, said that his wife is of Brittany descent.    How exciting it would be to get one of that origin in our group.   I told Kathy that we have a wonderful source for Cornish and would like to explore the other nations also.

I got to sing my "signature " song.   Whiskey on a Sunday before I had to come home.   I was home by 9:45PM which is pretty close to what I figured.   I would have liked to stay longer, but this was a great interlude and I did not have to get too worried about Dick.   Having Bobbie here is such a God send.  

So it is after 11PM and you know I will turn into a pumpkin soon.   Dick is in bed, I hope sleeping. Perhaps I can get a few winks before he wakes up and needs help getting his legs put back together.

Love you all and God loves you too.   Thanks for all your prayers and concern.

Mary

It was a red letter day.    I actually got Dick to go outside for a walk after lunch.    It was SO beautiful outside today and I asked him if he was ready for some fresh air.    We walked around the end of our Tall Grass cul de sac.  It worked great.    He got in and out of the house and up and down the ramp just fine.

I had my annual physical today.   Dr. Murthy went through everything and asked me the right questions.    There is nothing to be done for my aches and pains except for exercise which he strongly suggests that I resume.    I have been trying but without my Chelsea to inspire me and with all the uncertainty, it is really hard to force myself out everyday.   Once I am out there, I love it but making the time will be a challenge.   I am in pretty good health otherwise.   We do have to see what the blood test shows.   I am sure it will be fine too.

It has been an uncomfortable day for Dick.   He did get a good nap this morning, but he is having SO much trouble getting up and down for transferring to bed and the bathroom.   We got his bandage changed and the prosthesis cleaned though.   Boy are we ever tired.

Tomorrow is the CWI Bloomsday event.   Bobbie has offered to spend the time I will be at 52 Stafford with her father.   I was trying to figure out who to ask because she and Bill are leaving for vacation the next day,   I am SO glad that she offered because he feels the best with her.

So until tomorrow, when I can tell you about Bloomsday Eve.  Rest,  I sure intend to.

God love you

Mary

This has been a distressful but not unexpected day.   I am just going to send the same message that I sent to our children to all of you.  Please pray.   We are counting on that.

Love.  Mary

We had three appointments today.

The first went very well.   Dick's coagulation count is right where it should be 210.

The second was a bit less good.   He still has a fever.  Pneumonia signs are strong.   Dr. Sharon sent him for another blood test and we will see him again next Monday.

The third, this afternoon, was not good news at all.   Dr.  Moreno looked at the wound from the amputation and agreed with me that it does not look good.  Dr. Fehrman referred us to Dr. Moreno last Friday because of his continued concerns about circulation.    This morning when I changed the dressing, I noticed a change in color which alarmed me.

Dr. Moreno believes that there would be more sign of healing if it was going to happen.    We will be seeing Dr. Fehrman next Tuesday, when he returns and we have the pneumonia under control, to determine the next step.

In the mean time I change the dressing and swab it with Iodine Swabsticks every day to stave off infection.

Letting you all get a head start before I post the blog.

Pray for us.   I believe we all are aware of the implications.

God love you all as we do

Marymom

What a day.   Dick started off with no temperature and has faded all day long.   He is having great difficulty getting in and out of the wheelchair for bed or bathroom.

I offered several times to take him to the emergency ward, just to remind him that the option is there, but he wants to wait until tomorrow when we see Dr. Sharon and after we have the appointment with Dr. Moreno.  I am making a list of questions for the doctor.    I think that it would help if I could get someone in here each day to dress his wounds and see that he is cleaned up.   Mom had that after Dad's stroke and it made all the difference in the world. 

Tonight we are going to watch the Tony Awards.   Always a special night for Dick and me as we try to keep up on Broadway.   I probably will go to bed as soon as I give Dick his soup as I want to get as much sleep as I can between helping Dick get in and out of bed and all.

So I am closing down for tonight.   I am also trying to figure out who could stay with Dick when I go (I hope ) to 52 Stafford, June 15th at 7PM for our  CWI Bloomsday Evening.

Pray that I can keep my cool and THINK.

God love you all

Mary

This was a lovely day.

And it was a day of great concern.

The lovely part first.   Bobbie came over at about 11:30AM so that I could go to Hilbert for Georgina's bridal shower.   It was wonderful.   We had a lovely lunch, turkey or ham sandwiches on croissants.  There were salads and desserts too.  It was great.   A nice crowd of  Deeleys and Harveys (Kathy's family).   It is easy when the new member of the family is so sweet.

I apparently know more about Georgina and Shane as I aced the questionnaire with 14 out of 17 right on the questions asked.  I guess that Shane and I are on the same wavelength.   He is a special guy.   I am glad that he found Georgina.

I found out that Matt and Koiru and Alana and Coleton are coming home for the wedding.  What joy there will be then.

The bad new is that Dick is still very uncomfortable.   I told you that he had pneumonia.   We took his temperature this evening and it is still high.  If it is still high tomorrow, we will take him to the hospital.  He is in too delicate a situation to mess around.

So.  Pray for the night.

God love you

 Mary

A long and exhausting day after a long and exhausting night.   But at least we have reasons why Dick is feeling so bad and there is a way to heal it.

We got up about 7AM because Jody was coming to clean.    The night was very broken as Dick has been having trouble breathing and sleeping.


So Bobbie got here to help take him to the Plymouth Clinic to have Dr. Fehrman look at the foot.   He says it looks OK as far as he can see except for the ulcer that was there last Monday.    He is referring us back to Dr. Moreno to work with us on healing the wound as that is Dr. Moreno's specialty.   We got home too late to get the appointment scheduled with Dr. Moreno, so I will do so on Monday morning.
Dr. Fehrman got us an appointment with Lynn Wilderman PA because of the shortness of breath and pain.   She listened to his chest and prescribed Xrays and blood tests which confirmed her initial diagnosis of pneumonia in his right lung.   The good thing about that is that you can cure pneumonia.    He is now on antibiotics and a stronger diuretic to help relive the fluids.  If he becomes worse, I am to take him right to emergency in Sheboygan and have him admitted.   But we need to see if the meds will help.   Usually, they work pretty quickly.
Besides all that, we also had to go to Wisconsin Prosthetics today to have his new prosthesis put on.  We could not postpone because the new one will provide stability as the old one was too big and becoming very floppy and his knee was painful along with the soreness from rubbing.
He is SO tired and still cannot sleep.    I just don't know what to do about that.   Guess there is nothing I can do.   The trouble is that when he doesn't sleep, I don't get much either.

Oh Well, When he is healed,  I will be able to rest again.

God love you

Mary

Dick and I are very tired tonight.   Last night was rather patchy.    Dick kept waking up and then I wake up too.   I told him it is like having a baby in the house.

We had a very light breakfast and I just worked around the house until lunch time.   My friend Bob Fleming had called a couple days ago because we like to get together once in a while to discuss his art and my writing and the things we have in common.    He is also working on a St. Brigid Icon for the CWI for me.   I fixed a marvelous spinach, pear and Gorgonzola salad and tuna sandwiches for our lunch.    Boy was that good.  

Bob shared his sketches AND a story that he has written with me.   An absolutely charming story.   I hope he gets it published as he intends with his own illustrations, then I can share it with you all.   I lent him Cindy Matyi's book A Little Town of Spirals so that he could see one way of printing.

So this was a lovely day.   I finished it by watching that old movie THEM about the giant ants.   One of the greats.

Tomorrow we have the appointment with Wisconsin Prosthesis to hopefully correct the problems that Dick is having with his amputated leg and we see Dr. Fehrman about he operation.   I am concerned about the incision as the hot spot does not look any better and the incision does not look any better to me.   Dr. Fehrman will know.

My sister Nora called today and we had a really nice visit.   We are SO enjoying the box of pears that she sent from Harry and David.  I used one of them in that spinach salad.  They are sweet as can be and so delicious.

Have a good Friday.

God love you

Mary

This has been a tiring day.

I am exhausted so have decided to turn in now.   It is shortly after 8PM and I am to tired to even document my day.

I love you all.  We are OK.  God loves you too.

Mary

We were home most of the day today and able to stay in the house.   As the temperatures rose, we were so glad to be able to stay in a home with air conditioning.  It was only 25 years ago in our home at Creek Side condos that a hot summer caused Dick to say   " I don't care if the heat spell ends tomorrow, we are getting air conditioning." 

And the next year I got a call from Aunt Helen.  The heat was oppressive and she couldn't stand it any longer.   So I sent Dick to get her and take her to our home to cool off.   She said that I saved her life.  

Aunt Helen was not a cat person,  But  she told me that on that day,  Dick ensconced her on the couch in the living room.   She felt something near her and opened her eyes to find our Taco looking right into her eyes.   He also was a gentle sweet child of God and they bonded nicely.   It made her feel welcome and safe.   Helen got air conditioning that summer herself.  

I wonder how we all survived all those thousands of years without it.

Today was trash day and this day as every Tuesday, we give thanks for the men who come to pick up and dispose of the trash that we put out for them.  Can you imagine if there would be any path to us at all if we could not get rid of all the junk that comes into this house? 

Barbara called today.  How good to hear her voice.   We want to win the lottery so that we can move south now.   We are dependent on so much until we are really ready at this point.   Of course, as long as Mother needs me, I would not move anywhere else anyway.

Three of the tomato plants that Jeff and Kathy gave me are growing nicely, even the cherry tomato that broke.   I am amazed to watch it growing new leaves and stems at every broken place on it's poor stalk.   Year for it.

I found on of the daily Haiku that does not sound too bad.

The incessant wind
Is moaning around the house
Trying to enter.

Most of them are pretty bad but this in not the worst.  It gives me hope.

God love you

Mary

Boy What a day.

Last night was terrible.   Dick kept waking up and as he was having so much trouble getting in and out of  bed and the chair, I got very little sleep also.

It seems that that surgical shoe is useless.   He has slipped on it.  It has twisted it off twice that I know of and it was not helping keep his ankle straight at all

As we had an appointment with Dr. Fehrman after 4PM because he had surgery today, I spent a good hunk of the day going through my closet and drawers.   I have a big trash bag full of clothes to take to St. Vinnies.   Tomorrow I will check out the closet downstairs.

Bobbie met us at The Clinic at 4:30 or so.    Dr. Fehrman is both pleased and not pleased with the healing.   The main wound looks great and the two wounds on the ankle are almost healed.   The not pleased part is that there is a kind of open sore with one of the stitches near the new bone spur which is not good.    Not fatal at this point, of course.   They gave us a new boot, a walking boot and brace with inflation ability to keep things firm and protected.    I have to change the dressings, dry, one to two times a day and we will see him in Plymouth on Friday morning.

So we will hope for a good night's sleep tonight and a better day tomorrow.   Dick is really still a bit disoriented, I believe from the residue of the anesthetic.   Should wear off pretty soon.

So Tomorrow we will be home all day, get used to the new boot and do some leg washing.

Take car and God loves you

Mary

You all will be pleased to know that things were very quiet during the past 24 hours.    Dick slept quite well.   He wakes up a lot, normally, and did. but he still slept more than his usual sleep.   I think his body just got too worn out to fight.  He also took a nice nap this morning but has forced himself to stay awake this afternoon, so we are hoping for a repeat of last night.

We had a quiet day.   I spent it watering plants, cooking, washing clothes and writing a lot of notes that needed to be written.

Tomorrow, the quiet days will be over.   I need to pick up a prescription for Dick during the day and we will see Dr. Fehrman in the late afternoon.   Please pray that all is well with that foot.   I worry because the foot keeps turning and because of the circulation problem.

It is almost time for bed and am I ever ready.   I did not take my usual afternoon nap.   But I did spend about an hour out on the deck enjoying the late afternoon air and nature's party.

Have a great week.   I am hoping for the same.   Good news is the hope for us.  Pray hard.

God love you

Mary

Today is much improved.    The anethetic seems to be out of Dick's system and he is not talking goofy anymore.

We had a rather difficult night.   It seemed that every hour on the hour, he was waking up and getting up for either pain or bathroom.   I figured this would happen and had my "baby monitor" on so was there if he needed me.   Several times he did need me.   Roxie was a bit irritated because, of course, if she was settled in I shoved her aside for "the Man".   I am not sure if she really accepts this as the natural order of things.

His blood sugar count was a bit high (for him not for other diabetics) but we attributed it to the fact that he did not really eat yesterday.    He had no appetite at all.    Today he had a good breakfast, lunch and is having soup for his supper so I expect a great improvement tomorrow.

I will

Aren't these flowers beautiful?

They are a gift from Brenda and Richard.   The Teddy Bear and Candy  Bar are a nice touch with the lovely flowers.

I will not dwell on today.   Or maybe I will.

I left to pick him up from Memorial Hospital shortly after 8AM.   We left the hospital at about 10 AM with a prescription for pain medicine, a surgical shoe and good wishes.

When we stopped to pick up the prescription on the way home, we discovered that (as this is the Vicodin prescription )and we got it refilled on May 28, it would not be covered by insurance.   I had all the prescriptions that the hospital had taken from us  and were dispensing to Dick while he was there, stating that this was much cheaper than taking them from their stuff.  Lo and behold, there was no vial of Vicadin.  We went home thinking that possible we had not brought it to the hospital but it was not at home.  So I called the hospital and Lo and behold again.   They had it in their safe.  Apparently.   Narcotics have to be locked up and an error was made in the notification of the nurses on the 4th floor that this was down in the safe and they sent us off without our meds.
Needless to say I am Pissed.   I had to drive back to the hospital to pick up the mends.   Then when I got home, Dick was going to the bathroom without me there to help and fell. 

I called my neighbor to help but we needed more bodies and had to call 911.   They are wonderful.  They got him up and back in his chair.    He is safe and sound.   There seems to have been no damage to the foot.  I left a message with Dr.  Fehrman's office and have talked to his nurse.  We have an appointment for Monday at 4PM.  So I have the weekend to be a really bossy Mother Hen.

Pray for me.   I am not doing as well as I would like too.   I try to operate on the premise of the Duck.    Appear serene and unruffled on the surface and paddle like hell below the surface.  But today I am losing it.

Pray for me AND Dick

God love you

Mary

Short and sweet.  We got up at 5P30AM this morning and arrived at Sheboygan Memorial at 7AM.   Dr. Fehrman was still pretty much on schedule and Dick went in for the surgery shortly after 8:30AM.   

They were all done and he was back in his room and Dr. Fehrman updated Bobbie and I all before 10:30AM.

The surgery went well.   Dr. Fehrman accomplished what he had hoped to by removing the toe and the affected part of the metatarsal bone of the little toe area of his right foot.   He is pleased with the way the flesh came together but is cautious about the fact that we still have to see if there is enough circulation to heal the incision.  It will definitely be easier than the hole made by the callous but still will require good blood flow so don't stop praying.   We are so grateful for you all and your concern.

Tomorrow he comes home.   Then you need to pray for me because I have to take care of him. 

God love you all

Mary

Sorry I forgot to post last night but it was a rather busy day and there are a lot of things to do to get ready for tomorrow.

Yesterday, Bobbie came in the afternoon to help take Dick to Wisconsin Prosthesis, so Tim could cast him for the new prosthesis that he is preparing.    With the new one, that will fit better, as the stump has shrunk over time, we should be able to clear up the rash and tender spots that keep appearing at the top of and right under the sleeve.

We also heard from the hospital for his history and lots of questions.   We ended up being aware that the fact that when he stops taking the Warfarin had not been addressed.   After calling Dr. Fehrman's office who asked why Dr. Sharon had not addressed it.   We finally got hold of Sue in the anti coagulation department.   He stopped taking it yesterday, of course, but we had to go to the Plymouth Anti Coagulation Clinic to make sure that he was not soaring, which would have meant that the surgery would have to be postponed or drastic measures taken to be sure that he didn't bleed to death.   He was right where he is supposed to be normally.   They prefer it a bit lower for surgery but this will be OK.

I went shopping this morning.   Took Dick to the Clinic at 11AM.   Mike from Accessability, the motorized chair place, came and adjusted the foot rest and arms for us and told us what tools we need and how to do it.   He will come whenever we need help though.   He saw the Celtic Knot that I am working on and commented on it.   He has a tattoo of Celtic Knots and other designs on his arm.  He is a member of the Tribe of the Blue Rose.   A Scottish reenactment group.   They will be at the Highland Games over Labor Day.    You can search Tribe of the Blue Rose and find out about them.

After he left, I left for Mom's.   I decided that since it is unlikely that I will be able to get there until late next week at the earliest, I had better be sure that all her bills were up to date and the checkbook in good order and we needed a visit.    Jeff was there too so I got to visit with him too.   I told him about the two tomato plants that broke when I took them out of the box and felt better when he told me that he broke a couple too.  They for some reason got all leggy too fast.

Home again, we got Dick's bandages and leggings all changed and gave him his bath.    Now we are just waiting for tomorrow.

The hospital called this morning.  His surgery is scheduled for 8:30AM and we have to have him there at 7AM.   Remember to pray for him tomorrow.   At this point I plan on coming home to sleep tomorrow night and will update you then.

AS I have to get up at 5:30AM,  I will be going to bed early.  So that is all for tonight.   Hope this isn't too rambling.   My mind is rambling you know.

God love you

Mary

It did get up into the mid 80s today.   Quite a change from the 30 to 50s that we had last week.   This is the strangest weather year ever.

I had picked up a purple basil the other day on the way home from church and planted that out on the patio in one of the big pots.   I tool the small green basil that I had put in there in the Tupperware planter with waterer that I got from Becky to see how it will work.   I love basil and have three kinds now.

I fried out for the Memorial Day festivities.  I won't have to cook from scratch til after Dick comes home from his surgery.   I fried brats and Chicken legs.  

The brats were the Apple Kraut Miesfeld Brats.   Really good.

I am trying to bet a quilt square ready to work on while Dick is having his surgery.

So tomorrow we go to see Tim at Wisconsin Prosthesis to have his stump casted.   And  we will find out what is going to happen with the shoe after the surgery.

Pray for us Please.

I am so worried.

Mary

Today was totally quiet.   I did take a nice walk this morning.   We had a spattering of rain this afternoon but it was pleasant most of the day.

I mainly just puttered.   What a pleasure to be able to do that for a whole weekend.

I am working on the publicity for our next Sheboygan County CWI meeting.   We are going to co host Bloomsday with 52 Stafford.    Bloomsday, the honoring of James Joyce's Ulysses, is actually June 16 and there are big celebrations all over the world.   It started in Dublin in 1954 and has spread.   New York and Spokane also have celebrations and Australia has taken up the flag.

We are fudging a bit.    As 52 Stafford has a well attended Craic on Wednesday nights, which this year is June 15TH.   We are going to celebrate Bloomsday EVE and get a jump on the rest of the world.   If we get any response, we will adjust accordingly.  Should be fun.  Music, Drink, Irish food and readings.   I am working to plan them so that everybody gets an idea of the celebration but is not subjected to a full reading of Ulysses.  I, myself, have managed to struggle through the first chapter.

So that is the day.  We got the Dick's bath and his wounds dressings changed, so I feel very good.  He even got a bit of sleep this morning, from 8:30 to 12:30PM.    He is still sleepy. 

We just had leftovers to eat today so all I had to do was heat things up.   Such a deal.   I am frying out brats and teryaki chicken tomorrow if anybody wants to join us.   I can even come up with vegetarian if it becomes necessary.   Come on down.

God love you

Mary

It was nice to have a day that did not have any big errands involved in it.   I am trying to spend these three days just resting, reading and getting myself geared up to take care of Dick next week following the surgery.

I did have to go out this afternoon to Mass at 4PM.   Since Dick needed some medications, I did a run by Walgreens on the way.   We decided to order food from Sweet Basil tonight for a little date.   So.  I called just before I left for church.  

Fr. Van Beck is still having shortness of breath because of his injured ribs, so Mass was a bit short.   No sermon will do that.  I had called ahead the order and they said it would be ready at 5:15PM so I dawdled a bit by visiting with some friends on the way and begging for prayers for Thursday.   Thank God for such wonderful people that are willing to lift up our problems along with theirs.  

So I picked up our dinners.   We both had steak though I got steak and shrimp.   Really good.   More than enough for tomorrow too and then I am going to fry out on Monday.

So until tomorrow.

God keep you safe and sound.

Mary

The day was cool.   At least most of it.   I did notice that this afternoon,when I was coming home from Mother's house, that the sun felt pretty good.   I guess that is a good sign of spring.

We had to get up by 6:30AM this morning in order to get Dick over to Aurora for his pre op blood test at 8:15AM.  We left just as Jody arrived to clean the house.   The testing went pretty well, though Dick had a slippery vein.   Then we picked up Mac Donalds for breakfast.    A nice reward for being poked with a needle.

I tried to take it pretty easy the rest of the morning as this afternoon was again quite full.    I fixed Dick some noodles and gravy (a perfect Kunert meal) for lunch and joined my banker friends at Dairy Queen.  

I went from there to the post office to get stamps and mail a package.   Then on to visit Mother and take care of this week's bills.    Since I won't be going on Monday as it is Memorial Day, it made sense to just spend part of this afternoon with her and get everything caught up.    We had a nice visit.   She seemed a bit weary when I got there but our visiting usually perks her up, and me too.

When I got home I prepared a meatloaf and baked potatoes for our supper.   Always another popular meal around hear.   I do make a good meatloaf if I do say so myself.   Yea.   Meatloaf sandwiched for lunch tomorrow.

So this will be a very quiet holiday weekend.   The only place I have to go before Tuesday morning is to church tomorrow night.   We have decided that we are going to order takeout from Sweet Basil.   Now that we know they HAVE takeout, we can make it kind of a date.    We like dates.

I am going to plant tomatoes and basil tomorrow.  

Have a great Memorial Day weekend yourselves and remember those who served in the actions that  have kept us free and for whom we celebrate this special day and weekend.   I remember my uncles coming home after WWII.  They are all gone now.    Such a noble time.

Love and God love you

Mary

Philip Neri prayed, "Let me get through today, and I shall not fear tomorrow." I read this quote in this saint's biography and was impressed.   There is a lot to be said about not being afraid of tomorrow.   After all we can do little about that today. Another busy day.    I had my dental appointment for cleaning this morning at 9AM.  That went well.   Dr. Joe says I am doing a beautiful job and sent me out with instructions to eat hard candy and drink coke. Home again we had plenty of time to get Dick ready for his trip to see Dr. Sharon for his preop examination.  That went well.   We talked to him about Dick's trouble sleeping and after all of this surgery stuff is over he will order more sleep studies to see if there is anything better than the CPAP machine he has now. Tomorrow morning he will have his lab work.   It is a fasting test so we are scheduled for 8:15AM. After that, we wait for June 2 and then it will all be over with. The rest of the day was fairly quiet.   I spent it cleaning off the desk, the table, the counters and folding clothes. It was quite chilly today.   Since it is supposed to hit 80 on Monday, and we are not experiencing tornadoes, I don't think it is necessary to complain. Bless you and yours. Mary

This has been quite a day.     I got up a bit early so that I could do our grocery shopping early.

Bobbie and I had to drive Dick to see Dr. Fehrman, the orthopedist, for a 9:30AM appointment.   So I went shopping at 7AM..  Everything went quite well and I was home again before 8:30AM.   I had plenty of time to put the groceries away before we loaded him up for the drive to Aurora. 

Boy is the new motorized chair ever wonderful.   He tootled out the door and down the ramp so easily and when we came back Bobbie and I didn't have to push him or steer him at all.   He is still a bit awkward on the steering but that will take time and he is basically right on.

Now for the news of his appointment.   Dr. Fehrman had the Xrays of Dick's foot and was able to show us that the infection has eaten away at the toe and the metacarpal bone of the little toe on his right foot.  There were three choices for treatment.   Antibiotics which have a rather poor prognosis because of the poor circulation in the leg.   Amputation which we are not at all ready for.   Or the removal of the infected to and part of the bone.   This will take a long healing also because of the poor circulation but would leave the leg for support.

I told Dick it was up to him and I would support him in whatever he decided.   We could have taken time but he said he just wants to get it over with and has opted for the toe removal.   The surgery is scheduled for 6/2/2011 at Sheboygan Memorial Hospital.

Pray for us.   

Had the spring servicing of our air conditioner today too.   Everything checked out and he make sure that the freon level was good.   I found out why the humidifier seemed to be behind the 8 ball this winter.   Nobody told us there was a summer and winter setting on the thing.    NOW we know and bet we will be just fine next year.

I talked to all the kids tonight.   Good to get reassurance and to tell them the news in person.

God love you all

Mary

I seemed to have spent the day being a receptionist or secretary.   Dr. Fehrman's office called so I scheduled an appointment for Dick to have that callous looked at.   Please pray.   This is a scary thing again.   I am glad that we can see him so soon.

Then Wisconsin Prosthesis called and we scheduled an appointment to have Dick's stump recast for a new socket.   So Tim got the approval.   Whew.

Then we had meatballs and gravy with noodles for our lunch.   Really good.

Mike from AssessAbility came at about 1PM with Dick's motorized chair.   We had a fun time getting him acclimated to it.   There will be a period of adjustment as there are distinct differences but he sure can zip from one place to another.   Mike forgot the battery charger but we will have that by Thursday more than enough time he tells us.  It is an Invacare Pronto M4.   

So it was a full day what with mending and taking out the trash and all.    Tomorrow I have to get up early to do the shopping and then Bobbie and I will take Dick to see Dr. Fehrman.   I am nervous but will turn it over tonight when I am praying and going to sleep.  I will be OKAY.

God love you

Mary

Today was a very mixed day for us.   The weather was wonderful.  A bit muggy maybe but really pleasant with a nice breeze and everything.  And tonight, Dick actually suggested that we leave the doors open until I go to bed, so the house is getting SO aired out.    You know Dick.   Usually he figures that the furnace is for winter and the air conditioner for the rest of the year.

Bible Study was interesting.   We had Psalm 131.   A very short psalm about trust and guardianship.   God is out Guardian, but we need to remember that sometimes he uses other to provide the guardianship and sometime WE become the guardians.

Then over to Mother's for a visit.  She seemed pretty good today.   Sometimes she seems so weary.   But not today.   We took care of a couple of bills and then settled down to just talking.   I updated her on the Wieser lunch and the cousins that I connected with and we discussed the horrible storms in so may parts of our country.

Then home again.  Bobbie was there as she came early enough to lunch with us so that we could rack two gallons of her wine before we took Dick to see Dr. Moreno.   We had twice baked potatoes, ham and fruit salad for lunch.

The racking went really well.   Next time Bobbie comes we will bottle those two gallons, both beet wines, and then we had better get to work mixing up some new ones as the winery will have none fermenting.

Dick's appointment was at 2:30PM.   We got mixed news.   The wound on the shin is healing well.   But the callous is not.   Dr. Moreno and Brian said that it is deep to the bone.   SO we had to get an X-Ray which will be reviewed and then we will see Dr. Fehrman to see what can be done.   Hopefully it is not deep in the bone and just scraping and/or chipping can remove any damaged area.  Naturally this is a big blow to us.    Please pray that all will come out OK this time.    I have notified two of the prayer chains and will get the rest tomorrow. 

Tomorrow I am home all day.   We are supposed to have the motorized chair delivered in the afternoon.   This will be such a boon to his way of life.    And I know it will lift his spirits.   I am hoping to get him out for fresh air around the neighborhood on nice days.   The fresh air will be so good for him.

That is all for now.

Take care

Mary

I got home rather late last night from the concert at the Plymouth Art Center, so decided that the picture of the flowers would do for that day.

The concert was excellent.   Dan Clausen picked a wonderful eclectic group of songs featuring George Shearing, Aaron Copland and John Rutter.   Among them - Get Me to the Church on Time and All That Jazz.   Mary Calvey's Irish band also performed during each segment.   A real pleasure.   Because I picked up Ron on my way and Kate bought my ticket for my birthday, I stayed after the concert for the cast party.   Boy do they have lots of good food and did we have fun.   I have to tell you what Kate did.   During the intermission, Lori Luther played piano background music and Kate came out and had her play Happy Birthday to me and the whole audience sang it.   WOW.

Bart and Barb and Jim and Michelle called and I got cards from Bobbie and Bill and Leslie and Bill.  I am still going through the Facebook greetings.   What a Birthday.

The day was busy besides that.  At 9AM I picked up SHARE.   Then at 10AM I had to go to the Condo Meeting.    Looks like we will have an increase in our assessment.  Not surprising since the last increase was three years ago and we all know how everything costs more now.

Sunday was supposed to be my quiet day.  I WAS home all day, But it was anything but quiet.   I went downstairs to turn on the water for the summer.   I thought that I had the faucet in the garage turned off.  But guess what.  It was NOT off.  SO.  I had to wash that half of the garage floor.  Not an easy job I tell you.

Alison had an open house at Dick's house today.   Things are moving fairly well in the complex.   Four units have sold this year.

THEN:   I had noticed that the water was running down in front of the door during the last storm.  Not a good thing. as the gutter should take it to the outside and down.  So I took a ladder out there and found that one of the filter covers had collapsed and the gutter was full of gooky stinky guck.    I got all stinky and think I got most of it loose, but it is not quite right yet.   Dick says that that should be a condo thingy.   I am not sure so I emailed Lenys and will see what the concensus is before I attempt any more.

We had stew and baked potatoes for our dinner.   Very good and I make some twice baked to freeze for future meals.    They are good too.

Got Dick's wound dressed and his bath.  SO I am exhausted.    It is almost nine so I will finish my tea and then hit the hay as my Dad would have said.   Tomorrow will be quite busy as it is Monday and Dick sees Dr. Moreno tomorrow afternoon.

Hope your weekend was restful and you are ready for the next.

God love you ,   I do.

Mary

Birthday flowers. I hope Roxie doesn't decide they are salad. Then I can keep them on the table where they are easier enjoyed. They are spectacular. Thanks Richard and Brenda

Mary

Here it is Friday again.    Tonight was the bust up party for the Trap and Pistol league at Rhine Plymouth.    As tomorrow is my birthday, I got a cake from the Pig for the dessert.

Last night was rather goofy.   Dick kept waking up.  Usually he does not really bother me but he was uncomfortable and had a couple of problems that I needed to help him with so we both had a disrupted night's sleep. 

Jody came to do the cleaning at 8AM.   I was able to wash the sheets and dry them in time for her to help me make the bed.   I also washed all the towels.   After she left I spent a bit of time downstairs.sewing boarders on my quilt and finishing all of the strips that I will need for my Celtic Square for the Kettle Country Quilters.

I cooked a hamburger for Dick's lunch.   I snacked because the bust up party is quite a mea.

Boy did I take a nap this afternoon.   Roxie was really delighted with it.   She sprawls all over me.  I am nothing but a warm bed.

Aunt Kathleen called today to wish me a happy birthday.   She is my godmother, you know.    She has heard about the end of the world supposed to be starting tomorrow also and thought it was best to call today.    She heard that the whole end process is supposed to last for about 5 months.    That doesn't seem very efficient to me.

I got a card and present from Jacquie today.   A lovely music box an a t shirt.   She sure is a dear sister in law.

I left a bit before 5PM to pick up the cake from the Pig and then drove over to get Nancy for the party.   I really had a good time.    We had chicken,  Gary Hefter's beans and Lynn's potatoes along with my cake and brownies.   I am stuffed.    The awards were given out and we are starting a Summer league on June 1.   We never had a summer pistol league before and Nancy and I are planning on entering it.

So home again and I hope this night is quieter than the last.

God love you

Mary

What good is the sun if it does not pour heat into the bones.   That is what today was.   The temperatures were in the mid 60s but I felt cool in my core all day.

This morning I was busy cleaning the kitchen counters and bleaching the sinks.   We had a pasta dish that I got from SHARE for our dinner.  It was quite good.

Bobbie got here at about 12:30PM to help get Dick to his haircut at the Plymouth Care Center.   Julie was glad to see him and Laurie from the Therapy department came to visit with him too.   He no longer looks like Santa Clause.  His beard, now totally white was curling beautifully and made him a very Santa Clause figure.

I had a lovely nap this afternoon.  We did not turn on the TV until after 4PM and that was a pleasure to me.   Quiet is nice.  But I know that Dick likes the background noise in his life and really did love the silence.

We had grilled cheese for our supper and now I am trying to be sure that I am ready for tomorrow and am caught up on mail and CWI and all the other things that I have committed to.   It will all work out as things DO seem to get done if I take them one step at a time.

So I hope you had a good day too.   The weekend is coming up and it should be a fun one.  I am going to see Kate perform at 7:30pm at the Plymouth Art Center in their Spring Concert.   Should be fun.

So Bless you all and pray for warmth and spring.

Mary

Wednesday is shopping day.   So that is how it started out.   As I got to bed very late last night so it was not easy for me to drag myself out of that comfortable bed.

But I did and got out the door at about 8AM to go to the Pig.   Shopping went well.   I got everything on the list and not too much more.   I loved the bargains that I got.  

Home again, I have just about cleaned off the dining room table AGAIN.   I am sorting some papers for Mother and that is done and I worked on genealogy for a while and then got ready for the Poetry Circle that Karl Elder hosts that was this evening.    I really had too much going this week, but when I emailed Sy Regan that I would drive him, the week was MUCH quieter.   Sy really can't go unless I take him because he can't see.

It was a nice Poetry Circle,  there were about 9 of us there.   We shared our poetry, got nice critiques and then shared books and writing tips and encouragement.   This is the last one until the Fall, if Karl can get the time from Mead again.   I think I will email Mead to tell them how much I enjoy the meetings.

I read a haiku from the trip about the flight across the Atlantic.

Darkness surrounds us.
We fly over the ocean
Held up by angels.

They liked it and Karl pointed out a double entendre in the third line.   Think about it.

God love you

Mary

The sun was out all day but it was still too cold for this lady to be out with short sleeves.  The trees are starting to burst their leaves and make some shelter for the birds who are singing gloriously.

We got Dick's hair washed and changed all his bandages changed fairly early this morning.

Then I left for the Villager to have lunch with the Ziegler cousins.   There were 23 people at this "little"  luncheon.   Lots I did not know but was glad to see the Schmitt's, Ray and Mel and Jerome Ziegler, Harold's brother who I had not seen since a funeral many years ago and Judy Ziegler Stratton who was at St. Mary's in Milwaukee, the same time that I was.   Judy and I are the same age.   She was a student at St. Mary's Academy and I was an Aspirant at the School Sisters of St. Francis and also a student at St. Mary's.   I left the convent and the school in the middle of my junior year and she finished at St. Mary's and joined the order - actually professing and was a nun for 12 years.    Interesting family we have. 

I got home about 3PM after stopping to drop some things off at Mother's and to update her on the luncheon. I will share more with her after I assimilate it.

This evening, I went over to Greg and Kathy Ziegler's home, where Judy, who is also Greg's sister, is staying while she is in town.  She and I shared some of the genealogy information we have gathered.  She gave me lots of copies of pictures and articles and I gave her several Personal Profiles and will be sending pictures of Grandma Deeley and the entire Deeley information which she does not have.    We are such a big family and Lucy Cardarele is absolutely right.   You can't talk about anybody in this county, we are all related.

So I am home again,  sharing a glass of wine with Dick and trying to convince Roxie that even if it is getting late, it really is OK once in a while.    We don't necessarily HAVE to keep a schedule.

Tomorrow is shopping day and I will be going to the poetry circle at Mead in the evening.

Dick is making noises that he is going to "Suggest" that I slow down again.    I don't know what happens.

God love you

Mary

Big news

On May 16, we received the approval for the motorized wheelchair.

 Yippee  Yippee  Yippee

Mary

What a busy Monday.

Started off with a visit to Advanced Eye Care because I lost one of those little plastic thingies that protect a person's nose from the weight of the glasses.   They got me fixed in no time at all.  I would recommend Advanced Eye Care to anyone  They care and they are really good.


Onward to the Bible Study at Blessed Trinity.  We were nine strong and really had a lot to say about the Psalm 121.    One of our participants received a necklace over the weekend that told her to DO MORE,   She found that very frustrating.  I can relate to that.  Sometimes people, outside of you, have the nerve to say to you.   Why don't you just do THIS?   They have no idea of the unease that you have had with the decisions that you have made or with the actions that you have taken with the situations discussed.   It is so easy to second guess and sometimes one just doesn't want or feel that they are able to do  just "one more thing."   This is where we rely on God to pick up the pieces.   Perhaps we need to depend on him sooner than when all seems lost.

I fixed Sloppy Joe's for our lunch and then zipped off to the Cream City Writers meeting where we had a nice group.   We had decided last month to try to write Psalm's .  I did one.   It was good to have Bev, our president there.  Her husband had a severe stroke, but will be home, with help, on Wednesday.  Please pray for Bob and Bev.

Here is my Psalm.   I hope you like it.

REBIRTH

Lord,, in my weariness

In your own good time,

You send me spring.

Though I contend with daily trials

Though I tire as life becomes difficult

Though I grow old

Though I miss friends that have gone ahead.

New life appears

And I realize that it is not my place to question

But to be confidant that I am perfect in your eyes

And that what I do in your name

Is all that is expected of me.

Home again.   We got Dick's dressiings changed and I got a nap.   Both very improtant to our health.

I am now watching Dancing with the Stars and finishing up the day.   Roxie likes this time of day and so do I.

I called my cousin Colleen tonight. I had not been as much in touch as I should have been.  She needed to know that Mother was home again and doing well.   She has a lot on her plate too so pray for her too.

So here we are.  Monday over.  I hope you are all doing well and are ready to face the rest of the week.

God love you

Mary

C

I liked this Sunday too.    Isn't it nice to have two days in a row that are cool.

Did I tell you that my God Daughter, Erin Deeley has graduated from UW. Madison with a major in Law.   She is a beautiful young woman, so very intelligent and fun.   What more could a person ask in a god daughter.   She told me once, when she was very young, that we have a very special relationship because I am her godmother.   I was privileged that she asked me to also be her Confirmation sponsor .   Yea  for Erin!!!!!!

This morning we were able to change Dick's bandages AND get him bathed so I feel better about things.   It bothers me if we are waiting until afternoon or evening to do things because I am so tired by then.   So he is all spit and polished and it is a good thing.

This afternoon, I left at about 12:30 to to to Joan Kramer's home for our first annual Irish Literary Exchange.   It was fabulous.   There were nine of us there.  We started with a meeting to firm up our regular meetings for the rest of the year.   I am so pleased with the results.   I will put them on the other blog http://www.celticwisdom.blogspot.com/ which is the Celtic Women Sheboygan Branch blog tonight.

Then we all shared favorite books and authors that we are enthralled with.   At this point we are sticking to Irish history, fiction and/ or authors.   We decided to have another Literary Exchange in November and have determined to be a book club.  This year we are suggesting that everybody read Morgan Llewelyn's books starting with 1916.   I have all of them.   So if any of you want to join us, let me know.   I am going to reread them as it has been a long time. and I need to refresh my memory of the characters.

Joan had a lovely spread for us.   Tea, tea sandwiches, scones and pastries.   Num Num.

She is the most perfect hostess EVER.

So I got home about 5PM and am winding down for now.   Tomorrow will be a busy day what with Bible Study, Mom and Writer's club.  But then I will be home until 11AM on Tuesday morning.   That will be an exciting day as I will be meeting cousins on the Ziegler side that I have never met before.  I hope to fill in holes on that part of my Ancestry .

So the weekend is all over and another week is beginning.   It does not mean quite as much to a non worker but is still important.   Hope yours is good.

God love you

Mary

I liked this Saturday.   It was a lousy weather day but very satisfying for me personally.   I slept until almost 8AM.   This is a miracle in itself.   I almost was rested.   

Dick has not been sleeping at all well.   We have determined that his CPAP was not working properly.   We think that we have corrected the problem.   Tonight will be the test of the pudding.

I spent some time while Dick was napping downstairs preparing to assemble the Celtic Square that I will be offering to our Kettle Country Quilters for my offering for out yearly project.   I also cut out and pinned the border for MY quilt.   I want to have it done by next winter when it is cold.

I took a quick run to Moraine Gardens to pick up some herbs.   I got everything but purple basil and rosemary.  So I swung over to the nursery on Hwy 23 and they didn't have any herbs yet.   I will plant what I have tomorrow and then just start looking for the others.  I want several basil to slip between the tomato plants as they work so well together.

After lunch I took a nice long nap.  I have to get caught up eventually, one would think.

Mass was at 4PM.   Poor Fr. Van Beck, fell last Sunday and cracked and broke some ribs.   He is in a lot of pain.   I was so concerned during Mass and he insists on driving himself to Elkhart Lake for a second Mass.   Pray for him.   He really should have gotten someone in to stand in for him this weekend.

Tomorrow Joan Kramer is hosting our CWI Sheboygan Branch Meeting.  We will be having a book sharing tea that sounds just wonderful.   I decided to bring the Sr. Fidelma Books and some information on the author and the society.  

The morning will be open and I will be home in time for supper tomorrow, so everything will work out well.

Have a great Sunday.

I love you all

Mary

I'll bet you missed me last night.   I tried several times to get on to Blogger but it was down for maintenance and wouldn't let me.  So I gave up and went to bed.

The past two days were busy with a medical appointment each day for Dick.  Yesterday, Dr. Moreno checked the wounds and said that they are improving but still need help in healing.   So we go back in a week and a half to check them again to see the results of a new med.

Today we went to the anti coagulation clinic and he is good so we don't have to go back for a whole month.  Glad something is working.

This afternoon, I did go out to pick up some ammo as I am almost out again and the last kind I tried was just awful.   I bought a different brand that one of the shooters, Fred, recommended that I can get at Fleet. 

I am so grateful that Bobbie is able to come out to help get her Dad in and out of the house.   Don't know what we would do without her.  

We had a "Pauper's lunch" today.   Soup, fruit and cheese.   I was remembering that there was a restaurant in California that served that.   It was quite popular.   All the soup you wanted.   I made BLT soup which was really good.   I sometimes forget about that soup.   This time I had lettuce that needed to be used and what a good way to see that it did not go to waste.

Yesterday, on the way home from the doctor, we were listening to a program on PBS about the end  of the world.   It confirmed what someone told me a several weeks ago,  There is a prediction that the end of the world is going to occur on May 21st.    As I told, whoever that was, I can't think of any more exciting way to spend my birthday and everybody will come.    Bobbie said that it should save buying a birthday present.  Which does make perfect sense.

Just so you all know and can get ready for the "party in the sky".  Otherwise,   Life is pretty good as I know it anyway.   I have people that I love and people that love me.   What more is there.

God love you all

Mary

Grocery shopping day today.  It was not nearly as warm as they predicted and we got a rip roaring thunderstorm this afternoon at about 4PM.   It is now 7:30 and I hear thunder in the distance again.

Shopping went well.  Then I dropped off a return at the JD Penney Catalog store downtown and came home in time to put the groceries away and help Dick get all ready for our appointment with Wisconsin Prosthesis.

Bobbie got here to help us at 10:30AM.  Tim at the Prosthesis place adjusted the prosthesis so that it will not put pressure on the sore spot. and is beginning the paperwork to apply for a new sleeve and all.   He will call when the approval comes in.   There are several reasons that the set is just not fitting properly.

Bobbie and I brought Dick home, then went and picked up Chinese for our dinner.   We will all be eating that for at least two days.

I took a nice nap this afternoon.  Roxie was sprawled all over me, just loving it.  Then I went downstairs and sewed one square together and cut out the edging for the quilt that I am making for myself.

I am really tired so this is about all you are getting from me tonight.


The rain reminded me about a haiku, I wrote in Ireland.

No Name

A soft liquid day

We run between the raindrops

Faces to the sky

Mary

I DID get to stay home all day.    So often something comes up and I have to get in the car and go somewhere, but not today.

I got up at about 8AM.   A little bit of a longer sleep,  I might have stayed in bed even later, but it is trash day and I figured I had better get that out.   They usually come to Tallgrass in the afternoon, but just once in a while, they come in the morning to confuse us.

My desk is almost clear.   I sorted and updated and prepared.  I sent out emails and printed documents and did some planning.   Sunday, I will turn over the last of my President of CWI to Debbie and be ready for just being the head of the Sheboygan County Branch and a member of the CWI board which is much easier.

It was gorgeous today.   I took a nice walk around the neighborhood today.   A few neighbors were out puttering in their yards.   I ran out of time for working in the yard myself.


The weather was beautiful and still is.   We have opened up all the doors to let the fresh air in.   Roxie was interested for a while but has now settled on the desk like a little lump.   She keeps wanting me to open up the screens too.  She would probably be like our Waylon.   He got out the back yard at Bart and my home on the Sheboygan River in Sheboygan Falls.   He started down the hill like a shot.  I raced after him afraid that he might make it to the river and disaster.   He stopped suddenly and looked around.   Hearing the roaring spring river and looking up at the trees towering above him, he froze.   When I got to him he climbed me, literally, and wrapped his paws around my neck as if to say.   " What were you thinking, letting me get out here.  Take me home!!!."   So I did.

Have a great evening

I love you all

Mary

What a nice Monday.   The sun was shining this morning and it was quite comfortable. I wore my jacket to bible study but it was not really required.    I stopped Mom's on the way to bring her a couple of scones.   Dolores and Ken took her to the eye doctor this morning so we did not visit after Bible Study as we usually do.

There were 9 of us at bible study today and we finished up our discussion of Psalm 16, the Miktam of David.  The bulk of the discussion was about Verse 5 - our allotted portion and desire for more and the constant struggle to balance the two.    We got every body inputting and I find that those the most interesting of our discussions.    Some of our people hold back or don't always think they have anything to say but when they do, it is always priceless.

I got home at about 11AM and prepared a steak and frensh fries for our lunch. Nothing like a good Tbone.   I buy them on sale and Dick and I find that one is plenty for both of us. 

This afternoon, the Sheboygan County Writer's had a speaker,   Marshall Cook, Wisconsin author and retired professor at UW Madison in Journalism.   I had been hearing about him for years and this was a good opportunity for me to go see him.    Jena Hoftiezer from the Cream City Writers came with me.   We were both inspired by his lecture and enthusiasm.   I wish I could have taken a class from him at some time.    I bought one of his mystery novels to read and he asked us to contact him on his email and he has a weekly newsletter so I certainly will do that.


Home again, just in time to wind the day down and take care of dinner prep and Roxie.  Dancing with the Stars was on tonight so that amused me until now.   It is after 9PM and I am ready for bed.  I received a letter from my friend Bee from Ireland today.   Also, a note from Lee Kastburg, the neighbor Dick's son.   I must write to them in the next day or two.

Tomorrow I will be home ALL day and intend to take advantage of the lack of schedule to just goof off.

God love you all

Mary

Me with the corn snakes in Ireland. Aren't they beautiful

My Mother's Day Flowers from Bart and Barb. They are so gorgeous. Two kinds of pink roses with a delicate pink ribbon wound through them. I ended up putting them on the TV because Roxie started looking at theme like they were dessert.


It was a perfect Mother's day. I heard form ALL of my kids by phone, or email or in person. That is what makes my day perfect. Richard and Brenda stayed over from yesterday and Bobbie and Bill came for breakfast. I fixed scrambled eggs with scones, zucchini bread, toast and fruit. We always like to be together. Richard and Brenda headed off at about 11AM for her parents to spend some mothers day time with her mom.

I brought out all the deck planters this afternoon. The weather was perfect. 67, sunny and still. I planted s0me seeds but now have to go to a nursery to get my herbs.

So we are starting another week. Happy Mother's day to all and sleep tight.

Mary