It was a beautiful day today.   The temperatures were up into the 80s.  A gentle breeze and everything is getting green.   We really do need the promised rain as everything is getting rather thirsty out there.

I slept until 8AM.   I would have slept longer but my back started to hurt and it was better to get up and move around.   Dick slept until 10.   I just let him go as he needs all the rest he can get before Monday.   I will have to wake him up at 5AM to be sure he is ready when Tim from Custom Care and Transport comes to pick us up at 6:30AM.   Dick has to be at the hospital at 7AM top check in and the procedure is scheduled for 8:30AM.  I don't know how long they will keep him, but it is an outpatient procedure so we will be home by evening unless there is a problem.

While he was sleeping, I made some Ricotta Cheese out of some milk that had managed to sour on me.   So, I will prepare Cavatini on Wednesday.   (I need a couple of ingredients and will get them while grocery shopping.)   So if you want to come to dinner on Wednesday.   We eat at about 6PM and there will be plenty.  It is nice to fix something like that with the fresh Ricotta.

I also baked scones and prepared a Chicken Waldorf for our lunch today.    So I was busy.   My neighbor Don, helped me replace the screen in the front door so we were able to take advantage of the beautiful day.   I gave him some fresh scones for his help.  It is so lovely to have such wonderful neighbors and I want them to know how much I appreciate them.  It is really nice having Don and Jan back from Arizona for the summer.

I did lie down for a rest at about 2.   When I got up, I dressed for church.  Kay from Embrace Care came at 3:30PM to be with Dick.    While was gone, she took care of all the wash,  emptied the dishwasher and did some prep for dinner.    I love this and the most important thing is the fact that I do not have to worry about Dick while I am gone.  

We had Tbone steak, potatoes, corn with peppers and onion and salad for our supper.

Dick seems to be feeling a bit better.  I think the new medication is providing some help.

Pray for the family down in Oklahoma and Texas.   Bad weather again.   Bart called and they are safe.  Barbara needs prayers because she is not feeling well but the worst of the weather has bypassed them.  Still more coming I understand so we must pray for safety.

Mass was lovely.  I saw several friends and was able to pray and get myself centered for the coming week.   Especially important with Dick's surgery ahead of us.

So tomorrow will be another quiet day.   We have Kay from Embrace coming at 6:30PM to put Dick to bed, so I will be able to drive to Sheboygan Falls to visit with Mother.   Since I won't be able to go on Monday, this will be good.

Tomorrow, I intend to spend at least two hours on my sewing.   I only have two weeks to get the wall hanging done.  Not impossible, but it will need some persistance.

So.  Sleep tight.  I will remember you in my dreams.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

So yesterday, I saw Dr. Sidiki and will have a second procedure to try to eliminate the pain in my ribs and back.   The new one that had appeared in my breastbone is much better now that we have the stand lift. 
I will be having this procedure on Monday April 23rd in the morning.   Just a week after Dick has his procedure.

Dr. Herman will be doing a procedure, that we are hoping will help Dick with his urinary problems and help prevent the UTIs.    His procedure is THIS Monday at 8:30AM.    He has to be there at 7AM so Tim will be picking us up at 6:30AM.   That means that I will have to get up at 5AM to be able to get both of us ready to go.

This morning Dick had his dentist appointment at 11AM.   It was his cleaning and exam.   Woe is us.  He has a cavity.   I will call next week to schedule an appointment for that AND his 6 month followup.

Home again, Nancy was here  ready to give him his bath.   So we were happy when she was done and we could rest.   Tonight Kay from Embrace came to get Dick ready for bed.    She was glad I was here tonight as though Heidi had her come over the other day, it was good to have me to go over the details.    It went well and he is safely tucked in, I hope.

It will be better when he gets used to this.   I will be gone the next two times Kay comes because tomorrow she will come while I am at Mass and then Sunday, in the evening, I am going to see Mother as I will not be able to be there on Monday as I usually am.

I finally finished the blessing bundles and labels for the Gathering at the end of April and have designed the label for the back of the wall hanging which is coming together.  When  I finish, I will post a picture to the blog.    I am so pleased with it up til this point.   We will see if it meets my vision when I am done.

So until tomorrow, rest easy.   Dia Dhuit.

Mary 

A busy day again.   Greta came at 7AM to take care of Dick this morning.

I left at 8Am for my appointment with Dr. Sidiki.   I will be having the procedure to help the pain in my back and ribs on Monday the 23rd, just a week after Dick has his procedure for other reasons..

I have a telephone conference with the CWI group in about 15 minutes so will keep this short.   There was nothing else very exciting happening the rest of the day anyway.

So I will try to be more interesting tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit and I love you.

 Mary

This was the first new normal day for us using Embrace Care.   Wednesday and Thursday a helper comes in the morning from 7 to 10 to get Dick up and everything and to do any cleaning or other chores that I need done.

Heidi came today and I took off shortly after she got her to go grocery shopping, to the bank and to Walgreens to shop.  Imagine not having to rush through everything.  I am much more rested tonight.   It helped that Nancy came this afternoon and gave Dick his bath too.   

I was able to go downstairs and have now finished one of the three projects that have to be done by the end of April.

At 5:30PM, a nurse from VNA came to take the blood test that somehow or other did not work on Tuesday.  They were telling me that I would have to bring him back in and I said no.   I knew that Dr. Sharon could order it from the VNA as we are still on their "payroll".   Because of the procedure on Monday, our VNA requirements will probably be extended, at least for a couple more weeks.   I will have to learn a couple of things and he will have to heal.

Dick was a happy camper today.  I prepared the famous Kunert Spinach Noodle Egg casserole for dinner and he had some for supper too.

Tomorrow I will be talking to Dr. Sidiki about a procedure that might eliminate the pain from my ribs.  I am so glad that I have people coming out to be with Dick while I do these things.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Another Haiku without a name

With blood on the page
And tears flowing from my eyes
I mourn for my youth.,

A busy day.   Tuesday is always trash day, so the WHOLE morning was getting the "morning" things done for Dick and me before we had to leave for the Plymouth Clinic for Dick's pre op appointment with Dr. Sharon.   Tim from Custom Care picked us up shortly after 10:30AM.  The appointment was at 11AM and he had to have some blood tests.  So we were home shortly before 12:30PM and I prepared egg salad sandwiches for our lunch.

We spent the afternoon at home but Dick was really restless.  I was able to almost finish one of my projects downstairs.   But he kept me pretty busy. 

Got a call from the lab at the Plymouth Clinic.   One of Dick's blood test did not work.   I told them that to bring him back in is very hard on him AND quite expensive.   They are going to contact the VNA to come to draw the blood tomorrow.

Tomorrow morning, Embrace will be there to relieve me from 7 to 10AM.   I will spend that time tomorrow, grocery shopping and doing a couple of errands.   I may stop to have a cup of tea or coffee, just to be alone and away. 

He is in bed not, a bit early, but not impossible.

So.  I am going to bed with a bit to read and get myself settled to the night.   Again a bit early, but I am tired and Roxie will be a happy kitty.

Tomorrow I will be fixing the famous Kunert Spinach, noodle egg casserole.   I like to whet Dick's appetite.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I know I have published this before, but here it is again.   One of my poems.  Called Cobwebs.

Friend from long ago.
Do you ever think of me?
You stroll through my mind.

A lovely Monday.   The trees that we see out of the window at the end of the living room are getting prettier every day.   The temperature was warm and it was sunny.  A bit breezy, but that is so acceptable.  

Bobbie came at 9AM to stay with Dick while I went to Sheboygan Falls for bible study and to visit Mother.  I even stopped on my way there to pick up a package of yarn needles.   I have at least two yarn needles in this house.   The little people have hidden them and I don't have time for them to reappear so I bought some new ones.   I am keeping an eye on them as I plan on using them tonight.

There were 7 of us at bible study.  More than we had expected.   Helen is back from Florida and Felicia was able to come.    Yea for us.   We are studying Psalms of Lament right now and we feel that they are great as lamenting is something that we do well.

Then I drove over to see Mom.   I took her a piece of banana cream pie and some hot cross buns.   We got all her bills paid and had time for a nice visit.   Becky and little Elizabeth brought her some Easter Eggs and Eileen and Fred brought her dinner yesterday.   A lovely Easter for her.

Home again, Bobbie, Dick and I had lunch and then Kelly came to do his INR.  It was a bit low and this always causes consternation.    Especially since he is having that procedure next Monday.   So Debbie talked to the doctor.   They have decided that I WILL NOT have to give him the bridging shots.    We will continue as is until Thursday night.  Then no warferin until Monday night after the procedure.   I am SO relieved.  I am not meant to be giving shots to people.

At 6:30PM, Heidi came over with three gals who will be helping Dick get to bed on the three evenings that they work her.   They learned how to work with the stand lift and his prostheses and his general time routine of getting ready for bed.

So we are getting the help organized.  by this time next week we should be on a good schedule.

Pray for us and all others like us who need your thoughts and prayers

Love

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I hope your Easter was as blessed as mine was.

I got up at 6AM, took my shower and prepared myself so that I would be able to just leave when the aide came to stay with Dick while I went to Mass.    I woke Dick up at 7:00AM as I felt that I needed to get Dick up and basically dressed as a new person was coming to stay with him and they would not have known how to put on his prostheses.   Greta got here at a bit after 7:30AM so I was able to arrive at church on time.   I was a bit anxious because often Holy Day Masses are just packed and you have to get there early to get parking.  I guess this was too early for most.    Glad I didn't go to one of the two later masses.

I arrived home to a husband that was fed and content, a clean kitchen cabinet with dishes washing in the dishwasher and the wash done.    Greta was studying.   Good girl.   She would have stayed if I had something for her to do,  but on Easter, I sent her home a few minutes early.

Bobbie and Bill arrived a little after 10AM.    Bobbie prepared Topsy Turvy Pie, a meal from her childhood, for our Easter Dinner.   It is delicious - Hamburger prepared specially with a biscuit topping that is finished in the oven.  We had corn and salad and the Banana Cream Pie that I had prepared for the rest of the meal.   A lovely visit with Bobbie and Bill.   I feel very relaxed. 

I talked to Bart and Barb, Bret and Leslie and Bill today too.  Voices mean so much to me- Almost as much as hugs.   Leslie sent a UTube of little Marcus reacting to his Mom.   He is SO cute.

Tomorrow starts another week.   Perhaps a good week to really establish the help that I will be hiring from Embrace Care Management to help with Dick.  Easter week was a very odd, jumpy week to begin.

So. Keep yourselves safe and pray for us as I pray for you each day.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This has been one of my favorite prayers - forever.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
— Prayer of Saint Francis

Happy Easter to All.   I am going to bed now.   Was home all day and was busy all day. 

Sleep tight and God Bless You

Mary

Good Friday.

It was an OK day.   Jody came to clean at 8AM.

Dick woke up a bit after 5AM and had to get up so it has been a long day, especially since I could not take a nap.   It is now a bit after 7PM.  I am going to write you all quickly and then go to bed myself.  

Nancy the home health aid came to give Dick his bath at about 11AM.   This was good because then Nancy was almost done but able to give Kim from Embrace a few tips before she left.  Kim had only been here once before.  

At noon I went to St. John's for the Good Friday services.   I am so glad that I was able to attend and not worry about Dick while I was gone.   I picked up some meds and Easter stuff on the way home.     We then had the rest of the day to ourselves.

I did get downstairs to do some sewing this afternoon.   If I could just have an hour a day, I could get everything done.

Tomorrow is a day at home ALL day.  Yippee.

I hope it is a good day.

Love you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Heidi from Embrace arrived at 7AM again today.   She took care of Dick in the getting up, breakfast, laundry and some kitchen cleaning. 

As I had an appointment at 9AM with Dr. Cheryl at Advanced Eye Care, this was a great help.   It seems that there is always too much to do.   I had hoped to get to Walgreens today, but tomorrow, after the Good Friday service will be soon enough.

Dr. Cheryl did  my yearly eye exam and though my eyes are healthy, I am in need of new lenses.   It has been two years and I am not surprised.   I know that the sight in my right eye especially has been getting a bit fuzzy.   Isn't it amazing hour our brain works?  With whatever we give it,  to the best of it's ability it even blocks out the bad stuff, if it can.

Anyway, home again, I baked the country bread that I have been working on since Tuesday.   We ate a slice of the nice warm bread with chicken and a rice vegetable dish for lunch.   Then we both napped.   I rested for an hour which is really helping this evening.

I went downstairs after supper and did some sewing.   I did a bit on each of my three major projects.   I feel that there is now some hope that they will get done.    I am especially excited about the wall hanging that I have designed.  It is still 2/3 in my head but the 1/3 is cool.   Sometimes my "visions" do OK.

So, until tomorrow.   Can you believe that it will be Good Friday already?   I can't.   And Easter two days later.

Bobbie and Bill will be here for Easter.  Bobbie is bringing dinner and I am doing dessert.  How fun is that.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It was quite a distressful day for our Roxie. She had an appointment with her doctor.

Heidi from Embrace came at 7AM to go through Dick's morning routine. At least two, maybe three days a week they will come from 7 to 10 to get him up and allow me to do errands or take care of other things as they come up.

Roxie's appointment was at 8:15AM so that worked quite well. Roxie is in pretty good shape for a 14 year old cat. She is a bit overweight and we know she has arthritis, but she is basically very healthy and got a pretty good bill of health- and her shots. She also had to sit quietly in her case as two dogs observed her. I am sure that was quite insulting but she bore it with grace.

So she is set for another year.

I was also able to go grocery shopping while Heidi was taking care of Dick. Such a relieve to be able to run an errand and not have to worry about him.

The rest of the day was just us. He took a nice nap this afternoon. I took a short one and then was able to pay bills and clear my desk before he woke up.

Bobbie came by today with the big desk mat for the bedroom. Now I can move Dick from the bed to the chair and back. It is still a bit of a struggle but once I get it started it is the best idea that has come up so far.

We had a rotisserie chicken that I got from the Pic for lunch and then had soup for supper. We have a pretty good restaurant going on here.

Again. I plan on going to bed early and reading for a while. Dick will come when he is ready and just get me up.

Tomorrow I see Dr. Cheryl for my yearly eye exam. The Embrace people will be here while I do that.

Have a lovely evening.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Marcus Jeremiah - Isn't he handsome?

 

Well. I can't seem to download the pictures of Dick with his new hair and beard cut to be blogged, so you will have to wait until, I can do it. I will send a picture of our little great grandson Marcus. I imported this picture so that I could print it for Mother. She is delighted and that smiling little guy is on the refrigerator at her house. She is, after all, the great great grandmother.

Today we had the home health aid and the RN from VNA here around lunch time. Then we napped. I did zip over to Walmart and upgraded my phone while he was safe in bed sleeping. (I told him I was going to.) Made me a bit nervous but it worked this time. For sure, I am planning my errands around the caregivers. Tomorrow I will take Roxie to the Vet and do grocery shopping while Embrace is here.

So the day is done and I must head for bed now. Each day, it's own challenge.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This has been an exciting day for me anyway. Bobbie came at 9AM and I was able to go to Sheboygan Falls for a really good bible study. There were six of us, including Tom and Kathy who are back for Texas, at least for a week or two.

We have just started the Psalms of Lament which seem appropriate for all of us right now. So far we have just read the commentary. It seems that God is expecting things of us. Would you believe it?

Then I went to visit Mother. We got her bills caught up, her pills set up and had a nice visit.

I got home by noon, after stopping at the bank and Bobbie, Dick and I had some of the pizza that Richard and Brenda had left for us for lunch along with blueberry pie. I sent some pie home with Bobbie for Bill.

Dick took a short nap this afternoon. I was able to get downstairs for a bit.

Tonight Heidi came at 6:30PM to learn what we do to get Dick ready for bed. I think it would have worked better if I was gone because he kept putting things off. But we finally accomplished what we needed too. She left less than an hour ago and he is already sitting up so I don't know what is going on. I guess I will settle him down and go to bed myself. This will be an adjustment for him, I know. He wants me to get rested, but it is hard for him to let someone else do things.

So. Until tomorrow. And tomorrow, I PROMISE to put the picture of his new beard and hair cut. I am just too tired tonight.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This has turned out to be a really good day.

I would have liked to have stayed in bed a bit longer, but Dick had to get up. It was not an unreasonable time, so I am not at all complaining.

We had scrambled eggs, sausage and toast for our breakfast. I spent ALL day washing clothes and still have one load to do. It is not an essential load to it will wait until tomorrow.

We got a call from Richard and Brenda this morning at about 9:30AM. They were in Milwaukee and wanted to know if we would like them to take the "long way home" and stop by for lunch. They even stopped at Dee OMalley's for pizza on their way here. I was so glad that I had baked that blueberry pie. Pizza and blueberry pie make a great Sunday dinner.

They had been in Milwaukee to see the museum sites (Cleopatra for example) and a show or two to celebrate Brenda's birthday. Sounds like a super weekend. They even saw Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

Dick had just had a computer problem this morning. Richard fixed it for him. So we were blessed in many ways. Our kids are mighty good to us. Isn't it wonderful?

Nora, my sister, called today to see how things are going. I was glad to be able to say that there is light. It is still very dim, but it is there. I am glad that Dick was pretty alert and with it while Richard and Brenda were here. Especially because he wanted to talk to them about a couple of things.

After they left, he did become more restless but the main thing is the fact that I am getting up to help him as often as twice every hour from about 4 til he goes to bed. One of my friends says that I am losing weight. Perhaps. But I am eating well. It is just being worn off.

Tomorrow, Bobbie is coming to spend the morning with her Dad so that I can to to bible study and spend some time with Mother. My usual Monday morning. The second of the people from Embrace will be here tomorrow night at 6:30PM to be able to determine what has to be done for Dick to get him all ready for bed.

So a new week, a new adventure.

Til tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A poem written by my Father, Hutz Deeley

CAN YOU

Can you face the world with a smile?
Can you travel the hardest of roads?
Can you brave the most difficult trail?
Can you carry the hardest of loads?

Can you smile when it's time to smile?
Can you cry when it's time to cry?
Can you enjoy something worthwhile"?
Can you fail and say "again I will try'?

Can you laugh at the snow and the rain?
Can you always say "I can"?
Can you love some tender refrain?
Can you? If you can you're a man.

I spent the morning cooking. I made Pizza Soup. It made me think of my Uncle Roman and Aunt Maryann. When we went south to Texas, we stayed with them in Austin. Aunt Maryann made this soup, which is really called Zucchini Soup, while we were there and it is SO good. We call it Pizza Soup because when Sara and Nora were little, that is what they called it.

It is a huge recipe, but the good thing about it is that it freezes beautifully. So we will have soup for weeks.

I also made a blueberry pie. We were out of desserts and I need to use up blueberries from the freezer. I will be able to share it too. Bobbie will be here on Monday and I can take some to Mom.

There was a lot of wash to do and more tomorrow but I have it pretty much under control. I cut Dick's hair and beard this afternoon. I used to cut his hair until he went to Plymouth Care but never did his beard before. I think I did a good job. Tomorrow, we will take a picture and we will post it on this blog.

Today, the first of my helpers came at 3:15PM so that I could instruct her as to Dick's care, especially the stand lift, and get to the 4PM Mass. I had to miss Mass last week and for me that is hard as it is an hour that I use for centering and regrouping. I really miss Mass when I cannot go.

An aide named Kim came and it went just fine. He had taken his meds and she made the bed and did the dishes and emptied the dishwasher too. He had to go to the bathroom once and that worked well too. Now I feel a bit more confident that this will work.

He went to bed at about 7:30PM this evening and I will be following him very soon.

Tomorrow will be a day at home. I don't expect anybody either so that will be different. I wonder if Roxie will be looking for some company. She is so used to the parade that goes in and out of here.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I found a quote that I hid in a notebook some time ago. I will share it tonight.

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow. Yet we forget that he is someone today." Stacia Taucher

A busy productive day.

Jody came at 8AM an did the cleaning.

Mary from Embrace Care arrived at 10:30AM and we came to an agreement as to what we want to try for the next two weeks. Then we will reeavaluate to see if all is working well. This should give me some relief from the strain on my ribs and back and give me some time away, with someone here, to do the shopping and other errands that have been let go for the past couple of weeks. I am hoping that they can be with Dick while I go to church on Saturday.

Every day I realize how very blessed we are.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I went in to the Sheboygan Clinic to see Dr.Leben. I showed her the log that I kept for a week or more after she did the shot in my back. It did show that the shot WAS working but the benefits were destroyed because of the strains I put on the back and ribs helping Dick. She has suggested that I see Dr. Sidiki for a different kind of shot that will actually deaden the nerve and bring relief from the pain. I talked it over with Dick and he said that he would do it if it were him. That will be scheduled sometime next week.

Dick will be having a procedure done on April 16th. It will hopefully go a long way towards solving his UTIs and improve his general health. He is so weak.

Ashley, the RN form VNA came today to check him and we discussed things that are being worked on. I plan to talk to a home care management group tomorrow and wewill set up some initial help for us.

I was able to finish a project for CWI and get a half bolt of the CWI tartan ordered. I also talked to a couple of people about the Gathering. Kate has made the reservations for our room at the Inn on Woodlake. That will be a good break in just a month and is something for me to look forward to also.

So tomorrow will be rather busy. Home health care, Jody, the cleaner and Mary from the Care Management. I will be going to bed VERY soon so that I can be ready to get up at 6AM.

So Dia Dhuit

Mary

A Haiku from me

How far must I run
To feel freedom on my face
Under floating clouds.

It is now a month until the Celtic Spring Gathering, and I am making arrangements so that I can go for the weekend. By then I will REALLY need a break and what better event to go to.

Today, I did manage grocery shopping. I went very early while Dick was still in bed. I woke him enough to tell him that I would be gone for a bit. I was back in 45 minutes and he was still asleep. So that worked. Made me very nervous though.

The morning went pretty well. He seems to get restless and tired more in the afternoon and evenings.

This afternoon, Kathy from the Department of Aging and Disability came and reviewed some of our options with us. I have a lot of work to do but have people to go through it all with me. I am so very tired. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment in the early morning but will try to get to it before three when things always get out of hand here. Bobbie, you understand the afternoons, having spent one with your Dad. It is almost 8PM and I am going to finish setting out the pills for tomorrow and then will get Dick to bed and then myself.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Our only visitor today was Nancy, the home health aid who gave Dick his bath.

I managed to go to the Pharmacy early this morning while Dick was still feeling pretty well. The late afternoons and the evenings are the worst. He is weak and confused and I am tired.

I am trying to watch the elimination show of Dancing With the Stars but that is kind of turning out to be a losing battle. I don't care much about TV, but I do enjoy that show IF I get to see it.

Tomorrow the agent from the Department of Aging and Disability is coming and perhaps we can see about regular assistance. I am almost ashamed to go back to Dr. Leban and tell her I am as bad as I was before the treatment she did.

Oh Well. It will all work out.

Dia Dhuit

Mary