Mondays are pretty much back to normal again.

I had time before going to bible study to rack the current/marigold wine that I have fermenting in the basement.   I got a taste when I did the decanting and it is not bad.   It has that harsh background but the whole flavor is good and with the proper aging it should be a fun wine.

I went to bible study at 9:30AM.  There were 9 of us there today.   We are trying to determine what the Old Testament means by the fear of God.    Respect, Awe, Love.   And for some reason one of the questions referred to creation and we kind of discussed the fact that we are all still being created in some way.

From there I went to Mother's house.   Nora and Leif were there.  We had our last visit for a while, as they will be heading back to Texas tomorrow.   Nora helped me learn how to do things with my Kindle.   I will need some more advice but now have direction and it is making sense to me.    Mother is looking good but is really tired from all the company she has had in the past week.    Such a good tired for her. 

Then I went to the Final Approach Restaurant near the airport for a lunch reunion with my high school graduate friends.  Such a nice time.    There were lots of us there.   I sat with Rita Petrie Ertl and Linda and Bill Guse and across from Bill and Dan Kuhlow (cousins)   We actually had the lunch a bit early because Bill is visiting.   I recited my Cobwebs, Haiku to him and he would like to see more of my poetry.   I may have Rita starting to write as a result of our talk.

I know I posted Cobwebs and it is in one of my books which most of you have but here it is anyway.

Cobwebs


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

From lunch I went directly to Rocky Knoll and spent the afternoon with Dick.   He was all done with therapy but stood for a minute and a half this morning and 30 seconds this afternoon.    Wow.

We played Rummy and he whipped me two out of three games.  We ate supper together and then I came home and have been just puttering all evening, except for doing a load of wash.

So.  Such a lovely day.   Oh - I almost forgot.   He and I went outside for a stroll.  Or as he said I stroll, he rolls.   We didn't go far, but it was a start.   He needs his hat and arm protection from the sun.   He loved getting the fresh air though and being mobile.

God love you

Mary

This is the stitchery that I designed and made of St. Brigid at a holy well, giving food to the poor.

Last night I just got home too late and too tired from the wedding to do the blog.    I very sensibly went to bed immediately.

It was a lovely wedding.  There was a wedding mass at St. Mary's Church in Hilbert.  This is a nice little church.  I had not been there before.   Lots of beautiful stained glass and brick.    Matt was here from Hawaii with Kauru and the children, Coleton and Alana.    Coleton and Piero (Georgina's little brother) were ring bearers.  Matt was the best man.   Alana was the flower girl.  She is only four and when her mother sent her down the aisle and she saw all those people, she headed right back.   So Matt came to her and held her hand and helped her strew the roses petals as they came.    It was adorable.

 Everybody was there it seemed and many of Georgina's relatives too several from Peru.  I met her Dad, her Mom, her little brother, her grandmother and several aunts.  The reception was at the Altona in Kiel.  A great dinner and a very loving and happy reception.   I felt I was in a Lake Wobegon community where instead of "All the women are strong, all the men are good looking and all the children are above average."   All the men are strong, all the women are beautiful and all the children are indeed above average.  

We had lots of youngsters running around.   Such a joy to see the little ones up to the almost teenagers again.   And they all got along so well. 

I asked for a piece of cake to take to Dick.   Georgina wrote him a little note on the top of the container and make Shane sign his name too.   Such a dear girl.

Today, I went over to Rocky Knoll at 9AM so that I could go to Mass and help bring residents down again.   The mass was nice.   I guided Rich and his wife and daughter down and then sat with Alice, who's husband Claude, was at Plymouth Care when we were there.

Dick had his first tub bath in quite some time today.   He loved it.   They have a whirlpool and lower him in to bathe.  So glad that leg is healed enough for that. 

After Mass, I spent the time before lunch updating Dick on the wedding and everyone there. 

I brought soup and Kate's peach cobbler for Lunch.   Dick had a good meal too.   Swiss Steak and a cream puff.

We played cards after lunch.  He smacked me.   Then Bobbie and Bill came.   Bobbie was able to bring her lap top and bring up the news video about Nora and he being one of the 12 top Airmen in the Air Force this year.   Such a prideful thing.  

I came home at about 2:30PM and took a nap.   I felt that I really need to get rested up after being out late last night.

I will post a picture of my Bridget wall hanging.   Nora said that I didn't do that and I am rather proud of it.

Have a good Week.   It is supposed to be cooler and less humid for a day or two so Dick and I are going for a walk tomorrow.

God love you

Mary

Another Red Letter Day.

I got up and out of here shortly before 8AM to join Dick for breakfast. Because this was the two week followup with Dr. Fehrman.

Tim from Custom Care and Transport picked us up at 9AM for the 9:30AM appointment.   It was raining, a blessing for today as my plants  and pots all got a welcome drink of water.   It was a steady gentle rain that had to make the earth very happy.

Dr. Fehrman is pleased with the healing so far.   He did remove the stitches   -- Yeah!!!!   We have to go back in three weeks and at that point he hopes that the serious shrinking (sounds gross but means the shaping of the stump for the prosthesis) can begin.   But in the meantime, he can now bathe and does not need dressings.  So we are truly blessed.   The bottom still has a darker look but is warm and seems healthy.

I went to their lunch area and got a cappuccino for fun.  When I got back to the entrance (I had called Tim and we were waiting for him to get back from Sheboygan) a sweet lady, named Melba, was talking to Dick.   She is 91 and looks lovely.   Her father had lost limbs which kind of started the conversation.   Anyway, she left with her companion just before Tim arrived so we sere not bored.

When we got back it was almost 11AM.   I stayed with him until it was time for his trip to the dining room then went on my way.

I had lunch at Dairy Queen with my friends.   A nice break in the day.   When I got home, I took a nap.   Boy was Roxie glad.   I think she probably thinks that I have finally come to my senses.

So the day is winding down.   Tomorrow is the big wedding.    I will stop on my way to Hilbert to drop some clothes off for Dick but basically will just be celebrating.

  Hope you have something special this weekend also.   I guess, just the somewhat cooler weather will be special

Love you all and God does too.

Mary

What a red ;etter day!!!

I was home all morning,  paying bills and cleaning.   

Then at 11:30AM, I went to Rocky Knoll, just in time for the end of Dick's PT session.    Yippee,  he stood on his prosthesis between the parallel bars.   I am not sure how long he was up that time.   BUT, when he went for OT in the afternoon, he did it again and stood for 50 seconds.  It was a bit painful, but he has not put pressure on for over a month and the prostheses will be needing adjustments.   When we took the prosthesis off, there was very little redness, so Dick and I felt really good about that.

Tim from Wisconsin Prosthesis will be doing an initial evaluation on Tuesday.   At least if he gets the stitches out tomorrow.   

We had lunch together with Bob.   I brought soup and a cheese and basil sandwich.  

We played a couple games of rummy after all the therapy excitement was over with.   He won.

So, I am going to bed early as I have to get up early to be there before breakfast.   We will leave shortly afterwards for his appointment with Dr. Fehrman.

Saturday, I will not go at all because of the wedding.

Hope your day was at least half as exciting as ours.  

God love you all

Mary

My table

The table with the food and friends

Another view of my table

Another Hot Day.   Bart and Barb called this evening and they are even hotter.  Of course, they may have a bit dryer heat too as they don't have the moisture in the air that we do.

It got up to 98 on my car thermometer.  It was quite comfortable when I went grocery shopping at 8AM but had heated up a lot in just the time I was in the store.

I cleaned this morning, the kitchen and Dick's desk, then packed up and went over to have lunch with and spend the afternoon with Dick.    I got there just as he finished OT.  Then we went right down for lunch.   After lunch he had PT.   We played Yahtzee and Rummy the rest of the afternoon, except for the hour at the On the Rocks Saloon that Rocky Knoll hosts every Wednesday from 3PM to 4PM.

So nothing terribly exciting.   

As long as this heat maintains, I don't think there will be much exciting.  Everybody is just trying to stay cool.

God love you

Mary

Another HOT day.   This spell is not supposed to break for several days yet.   Thank God for Air conditioning.   I remember, years ago, we had no relief.   When Dick and I and Jim were living at Creekside, we had a year like this and I remember one day that Dick said.  "I don't care if this heat lifts tomorrow, we are getting air."   And we did.  I think it saved Jim.  He was trying to sleep during the day at that time as he was a 2nd shifter.  He was sleeping on the deck and in the basement to survive.

Aunt Helen called the next year after we had our conditioning.  She said that she was totally miserable and could we come to get her.   I called Dick and he drove out to Falls, picked her up and installed her on the couch in the living room.    She said later that we saved her life.  And well we might have.  

She was not a cat lover, but she napped in relief from the air conditioning and she told me that she felt something there.  She opened her eyes and her was our Taco just looking at her.  They observed each other for a bit and both felt quite comfortable, so Helen went back to sleep and Taco went back to wherever he was.

She kind of liked my cats because I told her stories about them and they became "people" to her.

Today, I just hung around home this morning and then went to Rocky Knoll at noon to have lunch with Dick and spend the afternoon with him.    I brought my lunch and some treats for the guys.   Rich was out for lunch with friends but Dick, Bob and I enjoyed them.

Then I watched Dick's Occupational Therapy and then we played Yahtsee and Rummy to pass the time until Dinner. 

I am home now,  Had a pasty for supper and am beginning to settle down for the night.

A good night's sleep will prepare me for the rest of the week.

Love.

Mary]
]

Here is a poem that I have in one of my books that addresses heat like this.   The tells of heat 60 to 70 years ago so it is not a new thing.

SUMMER EVENING MUSIC

I dream of summers long ago
When I was a child.
On the dead end street
All of us, from toddler to teen,
Gathered in the twilight
While the sounds of Hildy
Playing her squeeze Box
Mingled with the sounds of us '
Shouting.

Hildy's Mom was in heaven.
Her Dad often stumbled home late at night
And her sister took care of them.
Hildy couldn't run and play with us.
Her neck couldn't hold her head straight.
She walked strangely.
But she played the music
That filled the air in the
Twilight.

We played kick the can, or tag
Or hide and seek on the gravel road,
Our feet calloused from running barefoot
Since school let out.
I still feel the humid musky dampness
Of the dark.
We played until too tired to care
That it was really too hot
To Sleep.

 Hildy came to church for a while.
Then someone complained.
They said she upset them
Because her head wobbled and whe
Walked funny.
I remember that Mother was angry
And we didn't understand.
She was, after all,
Just Hildy.

She went to a nurshing home
When she got old and her Dad was gone
Ang her sister married.
My younger sister cared for her there.
She said that they liked to spoil Hildy.
I was pleased to hear that.
She deserved to be spoiled
For providing the summer evening
Music.

Another Hot day and it is supposed to get even hotter by Thursday.   I saw 95 on my car thermometer.

I left at 9AM for Bible Study.   We had 10 of us there today and a lovely discussion of Psalm 1.   The introduction to the Psalms, with that lovely phrase  - They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season:  "Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers."   Such beautiful poetry in the psalms.

I shared lavender cookies with everybody. 

Then I went over to Mother's.   I brought her samples of the tea breads and cookies that I baked.  Leif and Nora were there.   They are in Wisconsin until  sometime late next week after Shane and Georgina's wedding.   We had a lovely visit and shared some Ireland experiences.    Then we lunched.   I had intended to be with Dick for lunch but called and let him know I would be late.  

I got to Rocky Knoll at about 2PM.   He was just finishing his therapy.    We got back to his room just in time for Mike from Accessability who brought the rests for his motorized chair.   Now he can rest the stumps on them and they won't have to dangle.

So it has been a really good day.

We played  a couple of rounds of rummy.   We each won one game.   Then we went to supper together.   I ate some chili that I had intended to have with him for lunch.   After Supper I came home and had just time to feed the cat and do a couple of quick chores before the CWI Board Conference Call.  That went well.   Tomorrow I can get that information coordinated as to what I have to do and do the Sheboygan Branch newsletter before I go to spend the afternoon with Dick.

So I hope you sleep as well as I hope to.  God bless you and keep you

Mary

Happy Sunday.   I went to Mass at Rocky Knoll again at 10AM.  I helped bring a couple people down, one of them being a resident in Woodland Village who sits at Dick's table at lunch.    He broke both of his arms in a horse accident.  So, after I took a man in a wheelchair down, I went back and asked him if he would like to go and he did.   The trick the first time or two is to find your way there.

It was a lovely Mass.  The gospel was the parable of the man who planted his fields and his enemies planted bad seed in it.    Father used that parable to remind us that as it would have been difficult to separate the plants until harvest.   We to cannot be judgemental of others but have to leave the judging up to God at he Harvest.

I left pretty much after Mass, after I stopped in to visit with Dick for a few minutes.     I finished loading the car with all the things for the tea.   I took a table and chairs,   strawberry bread, pepper cheese sandwiches, lavender cookies and apricot cream tea sandwiches.   I also brought my teapot, and a setting of dishes for "my" table and the cork ornaments that I made for favors.   There were other things too.   Debbie O Grady brought just as much or more.   And Kate has tons of lovely tea things.    We set up tables in the back yard, on the porch and n the side yard.   The food was all set up on the dining room table and what a spread.

Kate had prepared beautiful teapots and cups with matching saucers full of gorgeous flowers for the tables and a drawing.  She gave Debbie and I our choice before everybody got there while we were setting things up.  Such a sweet thing to do.   They are beautiful and I took mine over to Dick after we finished cleaning up.    Actually there was a bit to do yet but I needed to get  to Dick as I had told him I would be there.

It WAS HOT.  But we did sit out under the trees at the tables to eat anyway.   With the shade and a gentle breeze, it was not too bad and the company and cold drinks made it possible and even fun.   Some of us shared pictures and/or stories of feisty and influential women in our lives.    I shared Aunt Helen.      

We had a nice crowd.   About 20 which was very heartening.    Next month our meeting will be Irish Fest.

So. That is the day.    I will input a couple of pictures tomorrow.

Bobbie and Bill visited Dick this afternoon.    I thought they probably would so knew he would not be alone.

Love

Mary

Another warm and humid day.   We were supposed to get rain but I am h=not seeing it, so I watered the berms and the potted plants tonight when I got home from visiting Dick.

Started off a bit quiet this morning.   I got up about 7AM,  showered without washing my hair and went to Just Jane's so Jessica could cut my hair.   I had been scheduled for a cut the week after Dick's surgery but just could not see leaving him on the day he transferred to Rocky Knoll.  So I cancelled.   The past week, I have been having difficulty "seeing".  The hair was falling right into my eyes.  I felt like a sheep dog.   Now I am much lighter and will be able to easier keep my hair in control.   Fewer bad hair days.

]Next stop was Amy's Hallmark in Sheboygan.  Would you believe that this is already the Hallmark ornament sale week.   As I get double points, this is the time I begin the  Christmas Shopping.    Hard to believe isn't it?   But it is nice to know that I have one part of it done already.

Then I went to have lunch with Dick and spend the afternoon with him.   The lunch choices today were spaghetti or liver.   Yippee.  Guess what Dick had.   I had liver.   It w as quite good.   Still have to get Bobbie over here for a liver and onions dinner.   It would be nice to have Shane and Georgie as Shane wants to try liver.

Dick and I took a stroll around the hallways as it was too hot to go outside and he did not have therapy.   Then we played Rummy for a while.  I won two and he won one.   Yesterday, he swept the board.  

I came home at 4PM. I have been getting things gathered for the Tea tomorrow.

Dick said he wants to come home.   I know and want him here too.   But we have to get him well and able to help himself.   I told him that if we win the lottery, it will be much quicker because I can   hire help then.

Pray for a win.

Love you all and God loves you too.

Mary

P. S.  Another wonderful thing about Nora.

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150315397729948&oid=95781119896&comments

A very fruitful day. 

This morning Jody came and cleaned.    I finished the cork ornament favors for the tea.   baked the lavender cookies,  folded clothes and caught up a bit on email.

Then at about noon, I left to join the Bank Ladies for lunch at Dairy Queen.   I stopped at the bank for change and at Kettle Moraine for medication for Roxie.  It was nice visiting with my friends again.   Did you know that Dairy Queen (at least the Plymouth store) have quesadillas now?   They have chicken and veggie.   I don't much care for chicken in quesadillas ,  so I get the veggie and it is enough that I had the second half when I joined Dick for supper tonight.

I went to Rocky Knoll after lunch and watch Dick do the last of his OT.   He is doing well at his therapy.   They told me that he really did well at his transfer this morning.    Then we went back to his room, watched TV for a bit and then played a game of Rummy.    We are starting to play games to keep ourselves amused.    I really would like to get to cribbage.   But he is happy with Rummy right now.

I received an exciting email from Leslie.   Read the following about Nora, our granddaughter.


http://www.lompocrecord.com/news/local/military/vandenberg/article_96bd234c-aea6-11e0-82bd-001cc4c03286.html

I think I told you Nora is pregnant.   She sent an email saying that she fixed fried pickles.   Her most clever sister, Sarah said and I quote. "I am both horrified and intrigued at the same time."  Boy I love those girls.

God love you all

Mary

Hello Again.   This was a day that reminds us why we live in Wisconsin.   Lovely temperatures, green lush growth all around,  the corn growing like crazy and no humidity to speak of. 

I did the grocery shopping, such as it is, this morning and bought our lottery tickets.   We did well on the quick pick numbers this time.   Maybe it is a sign.

Shopping went very well, my major purchases were for Roxie.   She was just about out of food and I needed more litter.  I don't think she really appreciated it.

I went over to be with Dick at 11:30AM..  He had done most of his PT already.   I missed the slide board transfer today.  The therapists said that he did really well.  They hardly had to help him at all.  

We went down to lunch.  He now has two table mates.   I think they have gotten a couple more who need more help so they put two at the table who are pretty independent.   Bob, who used to sit at the table beside ours all alone and Rich, who just got here.   Rich broke both of his arms in a horse accident.   He has a great attitude and it is nice to sit at a full table.   It is good for Dick too.

After lunch he had his OT.  upper arm strength exercises and his last driving test.

At 3PM on we went down to the On the Rocks "bar" for the Wednesday happy hour.  Rich and a woman resident sat with us.   A pleasant break for us all.

I came home shortly after that and have been putting the cork ornaments together for the Tea favors.   They are fun.  I am trying to use just supplies that I have.  So far it is working.

So. Til tomorrow

God love you

Mary

Today was a nice weather day, though someone said that a few drops of rain fell.    I only know that it did not seem as humid and was not as hot either.

I went to Rocky Knoll this morning at about 9AM.  Dick was glad to see me of course.   He is all dressed and breakfasted by then so we visited until it was time for him to go to Occupational Therapy.  Most of his OT was his motorized chair "driver's test".    He has to go through ropes three times.   This was his second.   We walked all around the building - into the other areas of Rocky Knoll.   Down to the ground floor, where the chapel, a little store and some activity rooms are.     Then he had to do a slalom, back up and get in and out of the bathroom.   She walked down to the lunchroom with us to see how he fared getting up to the table for lunch.   He is really good so it is just a formality.

We had lunch together.   I purchased it today.   They had what they called Cowboy stew.  A really tasty stew that had both beef and pork sausages in it.   Dick and I both had it on noodles.   They had chocolate mousse for dessert.

I left shortly after lunch.   I had an appointment at Wells with my investment banker at 1:30AM.   We reviewed my accounts and did some tweaking.   I also had a mailing about my 401K about a class action suite and needed advice.

Then I shopped a bit.   I went to Fleet and found some thumbtacks, raisins and screw eyes.   The thumbtacks and screw eyes to finish assembling cork ornaments for favors at our tea.   I also stopped at Kmart for a akirt.   I really don't have a summer skirt and it seems, in my vision, that I should have a skirt for the tea.

So.  Home again.   I have been working on the cork ornaments and paying bills.  I fixed a fajita for my evening meal which was very tasty.

I hope your day was as pleasant.    Tomorrow is grocery shopping day.    I sure don't need much now but we get our lottery tickets on Wednesday too.   And Dick told me that he thinks it is just time that we win that thing and get it over with.

God love you

Mary

It was so great to get back to a normal Monday morning.    I got up at 7AM and proceed through the usual morning chores until 9am.  Then I left for Sheboygan Falls, Blessed Trinity and Bible Study.   It was go good to get back with my prayer support group.

We started discussing Psalms of Wisdom today.   There was a lot in the introduction - We will get to the first of this type of Psalm next week.

The most interesting question we discussed was - should we just be living life in expectation of eternity or dare we live for the joy of living.  It reminded me of something that Mark Victor Hanson said in a workshop of his that I attended years ago.    "God did not make the jewels of this world for the devil's children."     God made the world for us.   We have a right to enjoy it as long as we are doing our bit to preserve it and to help others enjoy His world and make their way to Him.

Then I went to Mom's for our weekly visit.    I brought that I purchased about the Lady Elgin for her to read.   It is a part of our history and I knew she would enjoy it.

She was delighted yesterday when Uncle Pat, Aunt Joan, and their children and families came to visit her.  They brought dinner and prepared it, set the table and cleaned everything up so that Mother could just enjoy.   How nice is that.

Jeff and Kathy have "visitors".   Matt, Kauru , Coleton and Alana are here already and will be here til after the wedding.   The big wedding of THIS summer you know.  Shane and Georgina.   That is July 23.   I am excited. 

Nora and Leif will be in the state on Saturday, I think.    We will get to visit a bit, I hope.

I picked up a new watch for Dick on the way home, then ate a quick lunch and went to Rocky Knoll so I could be there for the afternoon therapy.    Dick and I wanted me there because today was the first slide board transfer that he attempted.    It went well, I thought.  He left the prosthesis on the lift leg for another hour so he can get used to it again.  It really looked good when I took it off.   The redness is minor and will be OK when Tim can adjust both together in the future.

I ate supper with Dick and now am home and glad to be here.   Roxie is glad I am here too. 

Take care of yourselves.   I love you and God does too.

Mary

Boy was this a nice day.    I got up at 7AM.  (Of course, I always have been poked out of bed at 6AM to feed a greedy little cat.) I got myself all ready for this busy day.

I had to be at Rocky Knoll at 9AM.   Mass is at 10AM and I have volunteered to help residents come down to the Mass as long as Dick is there.   This mass is working so well and usually I just have lunch with Dick afterwards.   I helped three people down and one person back up after Mass.   I sat with my friend Alice during the Mass.    Please pray for her Claude.   He is very ill.

I left for home at 11:30AM.  My friend Nancy Coenen picked me up for our lunch and the play  - A Rising Wind The Lady Elgin Story.    We had a great time.   Lots of visiting on the way over and back and at lunch.   AND a really exceptional play.    The author was one of the actors.   The play was the story as told by a newspaper writer and four people who were involved in the incident.   I understand now, the sequence of events in more clarity.    Even better, we heard the story from the view of "passengers" and a seaman who was on the Augusta, the ship that rammed the Lady Elgin.   These accounts made the story very real.   It is so moving when a faces are put on history.

We had lunch at JMKAC.   It was excellent and I had anough to eat tonight when I had supper with Dick.   I drove over as soon as I got home and fed Roxie.   Then I came home almost immediately.   

Dick was settling down and tomorrow will again be a busy day.

He had company this afternoon.   Bobbie and Bill came to visit.   I kind of figured they would.   But there is quite a bit of activity in that place anyway.

So Now I am closing down to get ready for next week.     I have quite a bit to do, though not many appointments.  The Sheboygan CWI Tea will be at Kate's next Sunday from 2 to 4PM.    If you want to come, let me know.    I baked Strawberry bread and froze it for next week.    I am planning on making scones, lavender cookies and/or Apricot treats.

Tomorrow, I will be able to return to my normal Monday Bible Study and visit with Mother.    I am so looking forward to that.    I will go to Rocky Knoll right after lunch.   He is going to be practicing with a slide board and wants me there to observe and learn.

So.  I will be there.

God love you all

Mary

A rather uneventful day.   I did not get up until after 8AM this morning.

I felt very lazy this morning so really did not do much of anything except for the usual morning things and loving the kitty.

I got to Rocky Knoll at about 11:30AM.   Dick had a good night again.    He is still looking good and has the weekend off from  therapy.  He is using the motorized chair which makes it easy to get around in.   It is not as roomy as the other one so he has to work his muscles to shift around.   Therapy will be able to help him with that.

We had lunch together.   I bought the lunch they provided this noon because it sounded good AND the dessert was Schaum torte.   After lunch Dick rested so I read and did some crossword puzzles.   Then a bit later in the afternoon,  we played some Rummy.  I brought cards and a cribbage board so we can do things like that to pass the time for him and keep him stimulated.   (And keep me from getting bored.)

Again I left after accompanying him down to the dining room for his supper.  

It is always nice to get home, the days are long.   Roxie is so glad to see me and I try to do some project or cleanup both in the morning and the evening.   Tonight I am SO tired, that I don't know how far I will get.

I fixed a grilled cheese and basil sandwich for my supper.   Boy is that good.  I baked some strawberry almond bread for the tea.   Soda breads freeze well, so I can concentrate on other more perishable tea foods next Saturday.

Tomorrow I will go to JMKAC to see A Rising Wind, The Lady Elgin Story with Nancy Coenen.

I am really excited about that.   I think I told you that Phillip King, a boy orphaned by the sinking of the Lady Elgin, was raised by relatives in the Clifford family.   When he grew up he married Charlotte (Lottie) Bowser,  my great grandfather Joseph's sister.

So soon to bed.   I really miss my naps.

God love you

Mary

I really waited til too late to post this blog.

With so much to do at home, I kept putting it off until now.

This was a wonderful day.   We went to see Dr. Fehrman at 11:00AM and he is very pleased with the healing on Dick's leg.  He will see him in two weeks and take out the stitches.  

We go the motorized chair back today which is a relief for Dick as he can get himself around so much easier.  They are supposed to put hm through a "driving test", but the people who do this are gone until Monday so he should be really good at driving the thing by then.

As I said, a red letter day.  So now I am going to bed after calling most of the people that should hear about this beautiful turn of events, his children.

God  Love You

Mary

Today the schedule was tweaked a bit.

I made phone calls and worked on cleaning out obsolete medical supplies this morning.

 Then I joined Kate and Debbie at Antoinette's for lunch and discussion of our tea which Kate is hosting for the Sheboygan Branch of CWI.   I have to get the invitation ready tonight and tomorrow morning so that it can be emailed and sent.    People have been told to mark their calendars but the time is now set and we need people to RSVP so that we can prepare enough food,  tables and place settings.

After lunch, I drove over to pick up a prescription.   As it was at Walmart, I looked for clothes for Dick and found a pair of shoes for $10 for myself.  I will have to go to Fleet and Kmart for Dick's shorts.   They have a much better Big Man selection.

I stopped at home to check on the mail and then went to spend the afternoon with Dick.   He was in therapy when I got there.   Then back to the room where we visited until time for supper.    I ate with him tonight.   As I only ate half of my lunch at Antoinette's, I had the rest with with Dick, then came home for the night.

 So a full day.   Tomorrow we will have a report from Dr. Fehrman.

God Love you

Mary

Another successful day.    I did our grocery shopping today.    Berries were on sale.    I got blueberries to preserve and raspberries and blackberries to snack on.

This morning I watered the berms and the pots on the deck.   The promised rain from yesterday did not arrive, so it was necessary.   It was trash day too.   The holiday delayed the pickup a day.

So. I left to have lunch with and spend the afternoon with Dick shortly after 11AM.   He was in therapy when I got there so I went to there to watch and be with.   He was done just before noon and lunch.   I brought mine along so that we could eat together.  Dick had turkey, mashed potatoes and coconut cream pie.   I had a nice pork sandwich and a salad.

Dick had his other therapy session a little after 1PM.   He was pretty tired when that was done but we both know that the activity is good for him and we cannot let his muscles get all stiff and atrophied.   On Wednesdays they have a social in the "On the Rocks Saloon" which is at the end of the hall going into the other part of the building.    From 3:PM to 4PM they serve drinks and a snack.   We went down and enjoyed a glass of white wine together and met a couple of people.    Ken and Lucy.   Lucy is also in rehab so Ken was visiting with her.   It is very pleasant.   They have jukebox music and everything.

I left after I took Dick down to the dining room for his supper.   He was having chili and looking forward to that.   I came home, fixed a hamburger and settled in.    I am washing and drying his shorts and shirts to I can restock him tomorrow.

I will be up a bit later tonight, because there is a special on ABC about the Virgin Mary appearances around the world.   I am really looking forward to it and hope I won't be too tired to enjoy it.

Tomorrow the schedule will be a bit different as I am going to lunch with Kate and Debbie at Antoinette's.   We are going to plan the tea goodies for our mid July Tea party.

The weather has been wonderful, though a bit dry and I have blossoms on my tomato plants.   So all is coming along.

God love you

Mary



P. S.   I have received the following before, but this time it was copied and pasted into an email, so I thought I would share it with you all.

Interesting concept.

Subject: Change

I have totally cleaned this e-mail from all other names, sending it to you in hopes you will keep it going and keep it clean. This is something I will fight for and I hope you all read it all the way through. You will be glad you did.

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.
The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. It is time.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!

.

Here we are, finally the beginning of the week.  And the month.   With the whole weekend, including Friday, July 1st, being the holiday, life was very disjointed and it seemed that we were not really into the swing of rehab.

But today, Dick has been put on a pretty good schedule, I think.   He will have PT in the morning, OT in the afternoons. 

I have been staying home until about 11AM in the mornings, then going to Rocky Knoll to have lunch with Dick and spend the afternoon with him, coming home at about 5PM.  This seems to work pretty well for both of us.

Today he was in occupational therapy when I got there, so I sat and watched while he finished and then we went together for lunch.  

They got him at about 12:45PM for the PT so some could be done before Tim from Wisconsin Prosthetics came to check out the current prosthesis and get a look and measurement on the new amputation.  I got to see the incision and it seems to be healing pretty well.    The other leg has been swollen too but the compression sox are bringing it down.   A day or two and he will be able to wear the prosthesis without discomfort and Tim can finish the adjustments.   We have dry skin and a sore on that too.

Dr. Sharon stopped by to see him this afternoon.   I was SO glad to see him.   I was able to express my concerns to him.  He is always ready to explain treatment and so understanding.

So that was our day.   We played some rummy in the late afternoon.  We decided that we are going to start playing games to pass the time.   The days are so long for him.  AND for me is I am just sitting there.   I do read but just can't do that all day.  

Time to settle in for the night.   Both Dick and I slept well last night.   Hope this is a repeat.

God love you all

Mary

Roxie is very happy to have me home again.   Today, I again came back from visiting with Dick at 5PM.   I went over there at about 11AM so I could have lunch with him and then spend the afternoon.

When I got there he was in the therapy department.   I think he thought, perhaps, I would get him out a bit early.   Not that he is not working hard, but he does get tired.   I am not help to him because I wait until they finish his time and routines.

We had lunch together.  I brought my own today and will do so most of the time.   Then we went back to the room.

I get really restless sitting there.  I have three books that I am alternating reading.  Two for knowledge, one for fun.  But the afternoons get long.   I brought the cribbage board and cards and we are planning on a tournement soon, after he reviews the rules as we have not played in years.

We are also going to go over the budget together.   I will be gathering up the information we need tonight and tomorrow morning so we can do it together.    Things have been a bit loose lately, as Dick was our budget maker and has been so unmotivated.   He plans things and just can't get to it.   I know and understand but have been trying to push him without nagging.   Together we can do anything.

So my day is home and the Rehab center.

Thursday I am going to lunch with friends.  That will be a welcome break.

Take care and know that I love you all.


Mary

A lovely day and I had to spend it mostly inside again.   But that is OK since Dick looked so much better today.   His color was good and he was better rested as he did get some sleep last night.    They have figured out how to change his position in bed ever so slightly  to relieve pressure on his back and bottom and it is helping the discomfort in his back and helping rashes to heal.

He is experiencing more pain in he newly amputated leg, but I would imagine that is normal with the healing going on and the fact that the morphine is moving out of his system.

We lunched together, Dick and I.   They served meatballs, noodles and Caesar Salad and chocolate cake.  The noodles and cake were really good.   The meatballs were nondescript the the salad was nice and crisp with just OK Caesar dressing.  But we were together and that is all that matters.

Bobbie and Bill came to visit this afternoon.   A welcome sight.    We all enjoyed a nice visit in one of the gathering areas.   His room is rather cramped and not too good for visiting.

I went to 10AM Mass at Rocky Knoll.  I had planned on going to that Mass after I saw it on the schedule.  Then Alice, the wife of one of the other residents, Claude, who was at Plymouth Care the same time that Dick was three years ago, asked if I wanted to go and if I knew how to get there.   So we went together this morning.
It is a nice intimate mass with residents and volunteers.    I have decided to volunteer to bring patients down to the mass as long as Dick is there.   I should be able to help for four to 8 weeks which would make me feel useful.

I left there at 3PM so that I could take a drive over to Falls to visit with Mother for a bit.   She is looking good too.   She says she feels weak but does not have any real aches or pains and is just grateful that she can be in her own home and still has her wits about her.   We had such a good talk.    I figure that next Monday I will be able to start back to Bible Study and to our visits.   Then she will get weekly updates on Dick.

So.  Home again, I fixed a bit of supper and have been doing this blog and answering phone calls.   My friend Katherine from Ireland called.   We had a grand visit.   She and her son Tony were so gracious to this Yankee Girl when I was in Ireland last.

God bless you all continued thanks for your prayers.    They are keeping us lifted up, I know.

Mary

A much better day today.    Dick is still not sleeping well and of course the problems have not magically disappeared.   But there are improvements.

He is getting therapy every day.   They have to use the lift to get him to and from the bed and the wheel chair.  So the exciting time will be when he can transfer himself.   I am sure we will move very slowly, especially until next Friday, when he sees Dr. Fehrman and gets the bandage off and an idea of how the healing is going.   In the meantime, the other stump has swollen a bit too so they are wrapping it so that it till fit into the new prosthesis.

Tim, from Wisconsin Prosthetics, will come to evaluate on Tuesday at one PM.   So everything is in the works.

I haven't done anything BUT be with Dick so I have no other news so I will sign off and see what happens tomorrow.

God love you.

Mary

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