Whew, what a day.   I got up at 6ish as Jody was coming to clean at 8AM.  Dick was up by7:30AM but really has been very subdued all day.   He slept well last night but does not seem to get rested.

We had the VNA PT person come today to review how I get Dick in and out of bed and move him around.   She really does not see how things could be changed without great expense and lots of cranes and cranks and so on.    She did call Matt at Home Care Resources to see if he can come up with any adaptations that might help.   He is going to call next week.

Then we had lunch and Nancy came at 12:30PM to clean Dick up and attend to those needs.   We left him in bed then for a nap.    He woke up when Kay from Embrace got here at 3:30PM

I left for my therapy appointment which was at 4PM then did a couple of other errands and was home by 5PM.

Dick was coughing really badly and is exhausted.    I tried to get him to eat but he just nibbled. He is already in bed at 6:30PM.   Worries me but I gave him some cough medicine which seems to have eased the coughing a lot.

I have strengthening exercises to do for my arm and will go back next week and possible the following week to see how things go.

So that was the day.   Tomorrow will be a much more fun day.   First, at 10AM, the Condo meeting (Not the Fun Part of the Day.)   Then after a quick check on Dick   (Heather, from Embrace will be with him all day.) I will pick up Kate and we will go to the Plymouth History Museum to help set up for the Tea.    The weather is supposed to be good for us.  Yea.   There was lots of advertizement so I hope we have a good crowd.    Jeff Ward who is singing for us is SO good.

After the event Kate and I  will go to Mass and  I will be home by 5:30PM.    Home until 6:30PM on Sunday.   I can even sleep late on Sunday if all goes well.

I am so glad for that.

Bless you all and I hope your holiday plans are going well.  Remember that love is what it is all about.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A very busy day.  

I had to get up at 6AM to be ready to leave at 7:30AM for the annual Gibbsville safari.

Heather, from Embrace, arrived on time and I drove right over to pick Kate up.   We stopped at the Diner on 57 for a breakfast together.   Good one too.   We both got the special.  Two eggs, raisin toast, bacon and fruit.   SO good.

Then the drive out to Gibbsville Cheese.   I spent a "fortune" as usual, but have both Mother and my shopping done.    Now the last thing I have to do is get the candy and ornaments packed and mailed to the "out of Staters".

Kate and I had such a good visit.   Breakfast and the trip back and forth was a nice long time.

We will go to the Christmas Tea on Saturday and then to Mass on Saturday also.

I got home a bit early even.   It was just after 10AM when I walked in the house.   At. 10:30AM exactly Curt from Mike's appliance came to work on the ice maker.   Yes, the ice maker on the refrigerator broke.   We are LOST without ice.  Even Roxie expects ice in her water these days.

I told you that didn't I?    We caught her lapping up Dick's ice water one day and Dick told me to put her own ice water on the desk between us.   It has become "expected."   Somebody we know is quite insistent on her ice water.   (I know, but it amuses us so - so it is good.)

Anyway, Curt came at 10:30AM and got the ice maker working.   He has ordered a new pump and will replace that.   We are not sure but the pump could be leaking which would cause it to freeze up where the water flows in and I would rather that it is RIGHT.

Two ladies came from the VNA to explain Palliative care and Hospice to us.  These programs offer much more aid that is provided by the Medicare program and will provide much relieve for me in the taking care of Dick.   \They will bring in therapy, nurses and other help that will help us to know if and when we need to be thinking of hospice.   The exciting thing to Dick is that Nancy, a nurse from the Home Care we received in the early part of the year will be back.   She is a jewel and I know that she will be there for us.

I am rather beat up these days.  Don't worry, I am trying to get help and the Palliative care is one of the things that I am exploring to make things feasible for me to continue to take care of Dick at home.    He needs to be here with me.   I am way too lonely without him.

Pray for us as we explore these options.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Sorry I did not post last night,  I was just too tired.

Today was busy too but there is a lot going on.  I had to get up at 6AM because Kim from Embrace care was coming at 7AM and I had to leave shortly after for an 8AM appointment with Dr. Poppy, the chiropractor.  My right arm and shoulder are hurting almost all the time.   Her work did not do anything to relieve that.   I am hoping that my appointment with therapy on Friday for strengthening will provide some help.

I got home after shopping to find that  Nancy from VNA had run late and Kim had to stay a bit longer.   Thank heaven, the helpers just stay.   And I was only 10 minutes past the time they were supposed to be here.   I had expected Nancy at 10AM but she ran late and got here at 10:30AM.  This worked out just fine.   I was able to have help with Dick until just shortly before we had to leave for Fond du Lac to see Marty from Actra, the prosthesist.     He was able to assure me that the problems with the left prosthesis are due to wear and tear and what I have been doing to get it on is the right way.   He did a bit of work on it which should extend the wear for some time anyway.

We had tuna helper for our supper tonight.   It was really good and I have a couple of quick meals for the next couple of busy days.

Received a nice encouraging note from Jim and Michelle today.   It is always so good to get a boost just when things seem the worst. 

Tomorrow we will be consulting with a social worker and a nurse about Dick's needs.  Bobbie will be here.   I am so glad that she can be here.   Hopefully we can get help that will allow me to do some healing and keep Dick at home safe and sound.   I just need to be able to take care of him.

Tomorrow, I will be Christmas Chopping at Gibbsville,    Kate is going with me and we will have breakfast together.

So until tomorrow evening.

Dia Dhuit

Mary





"I don't think anybody feels like they're a good parent," Joan Didion told New York Magazine last year. "Or if people think they're good parents, they ought to think again."

We got up at 6AM this morning.   Dick was restless and ready and I really had a lot I wanted to get done before I went to Bible Study.   So it worked out OK.

I got most of my calls made and Dick all ready for the day before Bobbie came.   Then I stopped for gas on my way to Bible Study.  We had a good group and talked a lot about music being such a wonderful gift and path to God.

Mom was tired but pretty good.   We got all her bills paid and the pills put out for the week and had a bit of a visit.   Then I hurried home as Dick called and needed me.   Ron from the VNA was here and took the blood test for the cumadin level.   He was perfect.   2.2.   Ron will be back on Thursday to take it again.  Just because of the antibiotic.   Saturday we will be checking the urine again to be sure that the infection is all gone.

Bobbie, Dick and I had lunch together.  Then Bobbie had to go home and Dick and I rested a bit.   Actually Dick slept until 4PM and I had to wake him then.

The rest of the day has been quite.   We had steak fajitas for supper.   Dick liked that.    His appetite is none to good but we shared one and he hate his half.

Now it is time to shut down.   Tomorrow I will be going to the Kettle Quilters Christmas party.   Embrace will be here at 12:30 so that I can go.   Also, Nancy, our favorite nurse from VNA, is coming at 1PM to start taking care of Dick.    This should be the only time they overlap.   But the Embrace people do so many other things for me and I have several projects that can be done.   Also if Nancy needs help they will be here.

So that was my day.   I am hoping that Dick goes to bed early so that I can too.    Pain pills and rest might make my arm stop throbbing.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

We slept quite late this morning.    It was nice as nobody was coming early and I didn't have to be anywhere this morning.

I told you that I asked Dr. Sharon if he could recommend an evaluation by the VNA as I think he probably would benefit from their care.    Today, Troy, came do do the initial evaluation.  He is recommending OT, PT and some nurse visits.   The first benefit is that I will not have to take him to the clinic tomorrow for his blood test at the anti coagulation clinic.  Rob from VNA will come and do that for us.   Yea.

I got the buckeyes dipped in chocolate this afternoon. 

The Packers won,   Double Yea!.

I managed to get a bit of sewing done while Kay was here this evening to get Dick to bed.

So it was, altogether a nice day.

Dia Dhuit

Til tomorrow

Mary

It was rather muggy and damp today - all day.   Not especially cold but felt chilly because of the dampness.

I got a lot done today.   The buckeyes are all rolled and I will dip them tomorrow morning.   The bottom row of the plate racks where I am lining up ornaments is looking GOOD.   I still have the upper two but it is coming together.   The two miniature trees that Kate lent me are in place and look just lovely.  I have three nativity scenes and several of my Santas displayed.

So it was a full day.   Dick was quiet today and a bit confused but quite cheerful so all was well.  I am tired though, it was a "labor intensive day."  

Kay came at 3:30PM and I went to Mass.   A lovely Mass.  The adult choir sang and I visited with several friends in the choir after Mass.   Two people offered to come to stay with Dick if I need a break or someone to just be with him.   God is good.   His people are good.
I am not feeling all that confident right now as I am sore.

But lots of people have us on their prayer list.   That makes me feel very lifted up and very special.
Dick's appetite has been quite down, but he is eating balanced meals anyway. 

Tomorrow, we are going to check his blood sugars together as he is training me how to do it.   He is taking SO long that the tester turns off before he gets things done.

I got a call from Troy at the VNA tonight.   He is coming either tomorrow or Monday between 11AM and 12PM.    Now I am not sure which day it is.   I kind of assumed it would be Monday but now I am not sure.   I will be ready either way.

I asked Dr. Sharon to order an evaluation for Dick.   Perhaps we will be able to get some therapy or other help from them.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

"God sends His angels to watch over those who sleep
But He Himself watches over those who lie awake in suffering."

Home all day.    It was quite pleasant outside and supposed to be even warmer tomorrow.   I plan on putting up the outdoor lights tomorrow when it is in the 50s.

Today, I wrapped some presents and mixed up the buckeye middle.  Tomorrow I will roll them and then dip them.   Then I can start preparing packages.   It is now less than 4 weeks to Christmas and the time it does fly.

My arm is really hurting a lot.    I have to try to really rest it as much as possible.

Tomorrow is another day home except for going to Mass.    Sunday also.     Things will get more festive as the holiday creeps up on us.

 It is only 7PM, but since Kay is here to help Dick, I am going to bed now and will rest and hopefully sleep until he needs me before going to sleep.

Somehow I need to get rested.

Take care

Dia Dhuit

Mary

It is a bit warmer and the sun shone today.   It is supposed to be quite warm, in the 50s, on Saturday and Sunday, so I will put up my Christmas lights then.

I have set out the two little trees that Kate lent me and they are so nice.   One is a Thomas Kinkeade and the other a Spode.  I am putting my own ornaments on the plate racks over the dining room table and they should look really nice, if I can get some of the drunk ones to stand up.

I will be bringing up my nice Santas and the Nativity Scenes also.

This morning I picked up an order for therapy from John Niewalney.   Now I have to call and figure out when I can do this.    I had another appointment with Dr. Poppy, the chiropractor today also.   As my right arm is extremely painful, I believe I strained it badly in the past few days helping Dick get up, she worked on that a bit.   I really need to rest it and am trying to learn ways to help Dick without using that arm.   He is trying too.  I have decided to see if we can get the VNA in here to reevaluate possibilities for therapy.   Tomorrow I call Dr. Sharon to ask him if he will order this.

We both took a really good nap this afternoon.   That is helping tonight.

Tomorrow I have to get to work sewing and decorating some more.   Perhaps I will bring up a Nativity or so.   I am going to wrap presents and make buckeyes this weekend too.

Three days home with the only time I have to leave home being Mass on Saturday.

  Dia Dhuit

Mary

A busy morning.    Kay got here at 7AM.   I left shortly after for grocery shopping and other errands and Kay got Dick up.

Grocery shopping went well.    I stopped at Kate's house after grocery shopping.  She had a couple of small decorated Christmas Trees that she lent me because I am not putting up a big one.   It would just make it too hard for Dick to move around in here.   They are adorable.   I have one next to the TV and one as one comes in the front door.

I had my hair cut at 9AM, then swung by the Clinic to see if Dr. Sharon had the results on Dick's Urine test.   He did not.  

I got a call shortly after I got home.   He does not have a severe UTI but Dr. Sharon sent the test for more study and this evening, his nurse called and there is a mild infection that we will start treating in the morning.    I was so hoping for an infection which would have explained many of the problems that Dicks is experiencing this past week or so.    We will just have to see. 

Jeff stopped in on his way to Mother's today with a pound of Venison burger for me and he is helping us fix the closet door that good knocked off its hinges or support or whatever it is the other day, when Dick came in the house and it was open.   I was able to send a loaf of pumpkin bread and some pumpkin/raisin bran muffins home with him.   I have finally salvaged all the pumpkin from the pie that I baked without sugar.    Anybody want pumpkin pancakes?   Come over any morning and we can dish them up with some nice Johnsonville breakfast sausages.

The rest of the day was quiet.   I started decorating for Christmas and took a really good long nap.   Good thing as I have to get up early tomorrow again.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Home all day.    I did sleep a bit later this morning.   But still got up early enough to get the trash together and out.

I was busy all day with cleaning the desk, putting Thanksgiving away,  making fudge, washing clothes and putting things away.  

We again, had a rather nice morning, though Dick is very tired all the time.    Tomorrow we may have some answers as to why.

I am watching the last episode of the year of Dancing with the Stars.    I missed last night but still want to see who takes the mirror ball, if I can stay awake long enough.

Tomorrow will be a busy morning with grocery shopping, Walgreens and a hair cut.   I have to get up at 6AM again so will be in bed soon.

Hope you have a great day.   Can you believe that it is less than a month til Christmas.   Kate and I are going to Gibbsville a week from Thursday to do the cheese shopping.   I will check with Mom on Monday to see if she is doing it again.

So. Good night and sleep tight

Dia Dhuit

Mary

What a goofy day.

I got up at 5:45AM.   I had intended to get up at 6AM anyway.  Isn't is odd how I miss those 15 minutes?    Very silly.

But Dick needed me at 5:45AM.  So there you go.   Boy, was Roxie irritated.  She had been trying to get me up since shortly after 4AM and she sees no reason why that MAN should have more pull than she does.   She fussed at me all the time I was taking care of Dick despite the fact that she was still fed at 6AM.

Bobbie came to be with her Dad at around 8:30AM.   I left at 9AM for Bible Study and for a visit with Mother.

Please pray for Don who has cancer and it doesn't look good at all.

Mother seemed pretty good today and looked absolutely lovely with her fresh perm and all.  We got her pills out, her bills paid and picked out a show for her to watch tonight on TV.

Home again, Bobbie said that Dick had slept the whole time I was gone.    I talked to Dr. Sharon's nurse and we are going to do a urine test to see if there is an infection.   If so, this could be accounting for a lot of the confusion that Dick has been experiencing.   I hope it is that easy.  I wish I was a better nurse, but I am learning as I go.   As I told Dick when all of this started.   Even when I was a little girl, I never wanted to be a nurse.   We both got a really good laugh out of that.

At 3PM we had to be at Aurora Plymouth for Dick's appointment with the anti coagulation clinic.   The good news is that he is just where he is supposed to be.  The bad news is that we had trouble getting him out of the car both at Aurora and at home.    He is, for some reason, leaning back, instead of leaning forward and though I was able to get him into the chair at the clinic, I had to call Plymouth Ambulance to help me get him seated in the chair and into the hours.   They came immediately and got him seated, in the house and made sure he was stable.   What nice guys.

  I don't know what is happening and am confused as to whom to call for help.   I think I will start with Embrace Care as they are the daily caregivers.   I am hurting myself trying to fix things and won't do any good if I get in real trouble.

Tomorrow we get to be home all day.    I need that.   Too many days of confusion.

Love you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary


The night has been quiet and peaceful.  Dick and I are both trying to be the "best we can be" for each other because it was such a traumatic middle.    He is so patient and brave.  

It was really a nice Sunday.    We got up an ready for the world by 8:30AM.   Dick was hungry so I fixed him a tomato, egg and cheese sandwich for his breakfast.    We had a lovely morning,   Dick was quite chatty so it was fun.   

I started getting ready for Christmas decorating, I got the wreaths outside and the lights for outside down from the garage shelf to test.

I also make my first batch of fudge.   One more batch of fudge and the buckeyes and I will be ready for mailing packages to the out of state kids and others.   I HAVE to get out to Gibbsville too.  Better check that calendar for a day..

Nora called today and we had a nice visit.   She is very good at calling when I need a pick me up.   I am very blessed with a good family and friends.

The Packer game is on.    They are not meeting my expectations so far this evening.    I hope they are prepared for my displeasure.

Tomorrow is a busy day and Dick goes to the anti coagulation clinic in the afternoon.    That should be interesting.

Bless you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Sorry I dd not post last night.     The evening was very difficult and it just did not work. 

Richard and Brenda were with us until about 11AM or so so we had more visiting time and a good breakfast before they left.   Richard put the storm door in the front for us.   I am so grateful as it was very cold today.

The afternoon was quiet, though Dick has been coughing a lot and seemed to be having trouble concentrating.  Heather came at 6:30PM and I went and did some shopping then drove over to Mother's to see how she is doing.

She is really tired and I stayed until her caregiver came to ask for some help that Mom was concerned about.   I was pleased with the response and the concern of her caregiver.

I got home shortly after 8PM.  Heather was putting Dick to bed.    That worked all right but the night was difficult.    I had to get him up in the middle of the night to sit in his chair.   I catch naps between the problems.    Last night the cough medicine finally helped with the coughing at and after sitting up for a couple of hours, the pain in his legs stopped.

We had a pretty good morning but the coughing was rough after lunch.   His sugar level was off too.  I called for advice to Aurora but Dick refused to go in.    The doctor said that he should be OK until Monday.  

Tonight I helped him to bed at about 7PM because he is in such pain in his legs.    He seems to be settled so I plan on going to bed soon also.    I am really in need of sleep.

I appreciate all the prayers and concern that you all have for my sweetheart.    I just feel so helpless sometimes and hope you don't mind my venting.

Dia Dhuit

Mary


~~~~~
I was always taught to respect my elders,
but it keeps getting harder to find one.
~~~~~

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!   It was a lovely day.   The temperatures were up in the high 60s.

Bobbie and Bill came over close to 9AM so that I could go to Mass at St. John's.   It was a well attended service.   The Adult Choir sang beautifully.    I was assigned to be Eucharistic Minister so was quite pleased.   That is always my joy.

Home again.    Dick, Bobbie, Bill and I just hung out and visited.  Barb and Bart called just before noon and we had a really good visit.   Three more weeks or so and Barb will be done with her current classes.    She needs a break.  It is so hard to go to school AND work AND have a life.   They had their Thanksgiving with Adam and Lexi and the girls today.

Richard and Brenda arrived at about 12:30PM.    We all shared a glass of champagne and then sat down to a sumptuous meal prepared by Bobbie.    We had turkey, stuffing, squash casserole, roasted Brussels  Sprouts, mashed potatoes and gravy and salad.   Oh, besides that we had devilled eggs, raw veggies and other nummies for appetizers before dinner.

Talked to Mom this morning and she seems to be feeling OK.

So Happy Thanksgiving Hope you are all stuffed

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Too much to do today.   I had my MRI on my shoulder this morning.

I think I am ready for tomorrow when Bobbie takes over the kitchen.

Happy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow

Mary

I was home until 6:30PM.    I was busy all day.

Gary Anderson came today and repaired the linoleum in the master bath.

AT 6:30PM, Heather arrived and I went to pick up prescriptions at Walgreens, Take Mother hers, had her sign a bank paper and went grocery shopping.

Got home at 8PM.   Still trying to get Dick to bed.   He is a bit confused tonight.

Mother was not feeling quite up to par either.   Just an uncomfortable day.   Maybe it is the moon.

Pray for all of us.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a very nice day.     I had to get up at 6AM so that I could be  ready to go to  my chiropractic appointment with Dr. Poppy at 8:40AM.  Bobbie got here at 7:30AM.  So all went well.   I came home between the appointment and the bible study to be sure that Dick was comfortable for the morning.   It all worked well.

Bible Study was very nice.  There were 7 of us.  A nice group.  We finished our discussion of Psalm 30.  I have such a support and prayer group with this Bible Study.    We really help each other.

Mother was doing pretty well today.  We got her bills all paid and set her pills out.    I have a bit of banking to do for her and will pick up some pills from Walgreens tomorrow.

Home again.   Bobbie, Dick and I had chili and banana cream pie for lunch.

I took a long nap this afternoon.   My friend LuAnn and her friend Elaine came by this afternoon for a cup of tea.  LuAnn is taking over the Annual Christmas Tea that CWI sponsors with the SCHRC and the Plymouth History Museum.   I am so grateful.   Getting people to chair these yearly events is going to make life a lot easier for me.   I knew people were willing but just needed to learn how to ask.

So until tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

As promised, a quiet Sunday.   I was able to stay in bed until shortly after 8AM.   It was one of those days, I might have stayed in ALL day if I didn't have responsibilities.    I am actually feeling much better than I have been feeling but am still kaddy wampus.

We had our joint Chili for dinner this noon.   It is really good.  So, Dick and I make a cooking duo to contend with.  I also made Irish Brown Bread and cranberry relish today.   This week will be busy and I have to leave Wednesday afternoon free for baking  the pumpkin pie.

Got  a call from my friend, Maureen.   It was a call for help.   She couldn't find the recipe for ice box shortbread cookies that we got from the American Club at our Annual meeting.    Luckily I found it while we were talking.   I know how FRUSTRATING that is.   I was doubly glad because it gave Maureen and I a chance to just talk for a while.    It has been a long time.   I have such good friends with Celtic Women and Maureen is the best.

Jeff called a couple of times this afternoon.    Randy and Jason and Kurt all got does out hunting.   Randy and Jason on Saturday and Kurt today.    Brandon, Kurt's oldest, was out his first year.   He did get a shot off at a buck today.   What a thrill for a first time hunter.   I seems that Jason is going to butcher the deer as it is going to be warm mid week and he is currently not working.   He absolutely refuses to take it to a butcher shop.   (Sounds like Tim and Dad's spirit seeped in to him.)  So unless there are more deer harvested on Thanksgiving, we will not be butchering on Friday.

I have been having difficulty downloading pictures from my camera to the computer.   That is my project for tonight.    It is driving me bonkers.

Tomorrow is Monday already.    I will spend time with Mother and have a chiropractic session.   Hope things start feeling better soon.

Love you all

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Except for going to Mass, we were both home all day.

Dick did help me make the chili.   He started by chopping the veggies, but the veggie chopper gave him trouble so after a bit, he measured out the spices for me.   I was happy for the time together doing something.   Tomorrow we will sample the chili and BOBBIE, guess what we will have for lunch on Monday?

With the chili this morning and Mass this afternoon, I did not get anything else exciting done at all.  I stopped at the Pig on my way home from Mass.   So, I didn't get here until 5:30PM.   Roxie was quite unhappy with me.  But she has forgiven me now that her tummy is full.

Dick seems very exhausted tonight.   I hope he settles in OK.  

Home ALL day tomorrow.   YEAA!!!.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

What a good day.   The temperature was in the mid forties, but it was so damp that it felt much colder.  Kind of into the bones.

Jody came to clean at 8AM.  We had a nice morning.   I got a lot of things sorted and put away today..   I do feel a bit better but had to rest at about 10:30 as Dick had an appointment with Dr. Cheryl, the eye doctor, at 1:20PM.    We had a good trip.   The most difficult part was getting out of the car at the doctor office.    But it worked and actually, Billie, one of the staff, had a suggestion that just might help that part of the process.    Use a towel, along with the slide board.    We will try it next time.

The exam went well.   Dick's goofy eyelash was coming back but was still not scratching the cornea, so we were in time.   His sight is holding its own and we adjusted the glasses so that it will not be pressing on the bridge of his nose.

The rest of the day, we just hung out.  

Heather, from Embrace came tonight and I spent the time downstairs, mending a couple of shirts and working on the wall hanging that I am making out of Mother's crazy quilt squares.    I wanted to have the downstairs clear of my mess when Richard and Brenda come.    I do know that they wouldn't care, but they deserve an uncluttered place to rest in.

Can you believe that next Thursday will be Thanksgiving already.

I had hoped that Dick would work with me tomorrow to make a batch of his chili.   He had me buy the stuff a couple of weeks ago and keeps putting it off.    I guess I'll just have to do it myself.   It is after all, a measured chili.   I had just wanted us to do something together.

Last night my Bret called.   We had not talked for a couple of weeks and I had been meaning to call him for a couple of days too.   He is very busy at work and putting in overtime.    In the liquor business this happens around the holidays.    He said he has been dating a gal.   I am glad.   Time will tell, of course.   But she seems to be enjoying things he does and he likes doing things she does.    

Dia Dhuit

Mary

What a wonderful day this was.   I am still a bit congested but feel a bit better.   I got up at 6AM to feed Miss Roxie and get myself ready for the day.

Today I went to the Sheboygan County Caregiver Conference that the Alzheimer's Association sponsored at Acuity.    It was really wonderful.   

Kay from Embrace Care got here at 8:30AM to that I could get there by 9AM for the checkin and opening ceremonies. We had two keynote speakers.  Rev. Tom Fleishman who is the county chaplain for the health care centers here in the county.   He was marvelous. Giving examples of people that he had dealt with and learned to meet them where they are not where we expect them to be.

Next was a breakout workshop on dealing with stress. It was called How do I go On and presented by Todd Heinen.   A lot of things I had learned before but a good reminder and he also gave us a cd of a meditation that we all experienced together at the end of his talk.  A good way to be able to practice meditation.

Lunch followed and it was super.   We had chicken, rice, veggies, Caesar salad and cake.   I did not have to spend a cent all day.   The cost of the event was $5.

After lunch I went to a talk on Food and Fitness for the Brain by Laura Dolfin.   I took a lot of notes and will have to sort out the information.

Then our final speaker, a women named.Lynda Markut, who spoke with a title "It Wasn't Supposed to be This Way."   The end of the quote from a man who was in a nursing home with his wife was "We were supposed to have time in the sun together."  She gave us a lot of quote's from her mother from the time after her mother was diagnosed with Dementia.   A good example.   "Tell it liked it is; but remember the truth is easier in small pieces."

She also had a wonderful quote fromSylvia Boorstein.   "I'm not OK.   You're not OK, and that's OK."

So on that I will rest for the night.

I hope your day was also good.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Wednesday already.    I slept late again.   Sure will be glad when I am over this weakness.    Just have to keep fighting the infection.

A quiet day overall.   Dick felt pretty good all day.   We had a pleasant time.

Tonight I left at 5:30PM for the Poets Corner at Mead.     Sy was ready when I stopped to pick him up.   He and I always have good visits to and from the library.   There were thirteen poets there tonight and we heard some wonderful work and had some great discussions.    I read my poem about the killing of the trees in back of us and George's poem called PRIDE about Dad from his book Old Red House.

They seemed to like them both.    We are quite the little family of poets.   I believe!

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Got to stay in bed a bit later this morning but had to be ready to get the trash out on time too.   I still have a bit of a cough and headache.

The day went very well.   I FINALLY caught up on my emails.   Tomorrow, I have to send the newsletter to my non computer members.  And I will clear the desk, get ready for tomorrow night and the next day and if Dick remembers, review our financial and legal matters.   As I said.  He may not remember, but I will remind him.

This evening, I made it to the ATM machine, as I have been out of cash for four days, Walgreens and the Pig.   So it was a successful Tuesday.

Tomorrow I will be going to the Poetry Corner that Karl Elder leads tomorrow night.    I have two poems and one my brother George wrote that I would like to share.  

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Church Quote

"How do we make holy water?   We boil the hell out of it."

It was a very busy morning.    I should not have complained about Roxie not coming in to wake me in the morning.   She hopped up there at about 5AM and pestered me until 5:30AM.   Then she left me to myself and I almost overslept.    I had to get up this morning because I had that first appointment with Dr. Poppy, the chiropractor. 

Bobbie got here at about 8AM and I went right over for the appointment.    I should be seeing her twice a week for a while, but because of a couple of things going on Thursdays it will be once a week for a while.

I went right from there to Bible Study, stopping to fill up my tank in Falls.   We had a full table again and a great discussion about Psalm 30.    Talk about trust in God, not losing track of him or getting too complacent in our ways.

Then I went to Mom's.   She is weak but we did just fine.   She and I got her bills paid and her pills put out and we picked out a couple of things for her to watch tonight on TV.    This will be one of the first nights that her care giver will come at 8PM and stay until she is actually in bed.   She agreed that this is a good idea.    Hope she remembers this.

Bobbie, Dick and I had cabbage soup for our lunch with cheese and crackers.    Then Bobbie went home.    Dick said that she really did not have to read the blog as she either was here for it or heard about it.

Dick and I napped after Bobbie left.     I only got about an hour but it was better than nothing.   I do feel a bit better today and hope another good night's sleep will knock out the rest of this infection.

I am trying to watch Dancing with the Stars but that is always a challenge as this is the time of day that Dick needs to be moved or tucked or have legs taken off or on.  I think I have been able to get my votes in anyway.   I do have my favorites.

It was COLD today.   We even had a little bit of snow.   None stayed on the ground however.

Bart and Barb called tonight.   They were on their way back home from Wichita Falls where they did a bit of shopping.   Barb has a new car a KIA, I think,  and has her phone voice activated in the car.   Cool.  It worked just fine.  So good to hear their voices.   

So it was a busy day.   Tomorrow will be quiet until the evening when I will shop.

Take care

Dia Dhuit

Mary

What a good night's sleep I had.   I woke up at about 6AM and thought I would wait for Roxie to come to get me to fix her breakfast.    The next thing I knew, it was 7:30AM and she had STILL not come so I got up.   She was sleeping on a chair in the living room and was glad but not anxious to see me.   She is changing her pattern again.  We all know how she likes to keep us guessing.

I did get quite a bit done today.   I sent out some emails, baked some scones, and wrote out a couple of cards.   I paid some bills and straightened out around here.      I also took two naps.    One would think that all this rest will pay off in restored health.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with a Dr. Poppy, a chiropractor, tomorrow morning.    Dr. Leben is hoping she will be able to reset my spine and help the pain in my ribs.

All of my activities are in the morning so I should be able to keep restoring myself in the afternoon.

Please pray for the soul and family of my friend Pat Monaghan, who died last night.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Boy, this was a day to remember.

I got a call at 8:30AM or so from Mom's caregiver that Mom was having another fainting event and they had called 911.   

Jody was here cleaning so I asked her if she would stay with Dick while I drove over there.  By the time I got here, she was already being transported to Memorial.   So I came home again and waited for phone calls.  Jeff let me know that she was awake and fine.   They sent her home before lunch.  Too bad, I had cancelled Meals on Wheels.    There is plenty of food in that house anyway.   Eileen was staying with her and through the night.

Tomorrow we are gathering at 10:00 to see if there is more we can do to be sure she is safe.

Dick had his cumadin level checked today.   It was 3.7 so we had to adjust meds and will be back there in two weeks.   I lost him on the way to the cumadin clinic.     We got off the elevator together.   We started down the hall and I told him I would go ahead to check him in.    When I turned around he was gone.    We finally found him.   For some reason, he had gone back on the elevator.   Last time I'll go ahead.

We saw Dr. Sharon today too.  Nothing new there, but Dr. Sharon now knows his current condition and I feel good about that.  We are trying a new med (Yippee) that might help the phantom pain.

We picked up fast food from the DQ for our lunch.   Then we rested.

I went to the bust up party at Rhine tonight.

Good visits and good food.

So  Until tomorrow

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Except for grocery shopping this morning, I did not have to go anywhere.    I spent as much of it as I could just resting.   I am determined to beat this infection.

Tomorrow, Dick gets his blood tested AND sees Dr. Sharon for a checkup.    I have been getting more and more concerned about the pain he feels, the exhaustion and think he needs to be seen.

Will report tomorrow night.
We had Chicken Alfredo for our lunch.   Quite good.    Tomorrow night is the bust up party for the pistol and trap leagues

I am watching Cupcake Wars and then will be getting Dick ready for bed.  When he is in bed, I can go too.  

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I am feeling a bit better after two days of antibiotics.

Slept a bit late then had to really kind of push my sore body as I had to leave at 12:30PM  to be at the Sheboygan Clinic to see. Jon Niewolny  about my shoulder and Dr.Bobbi Leben about my ribs.

I have an MRI scheduled in two weeks for the shoulder and will make an appointment to see the chiropractor her in Plymouth for my ribs.   

So it is a waiting game but perhaps we will find something new that can help the discomfort.

I got home at 3:30PM,   Rested and just tried to catch up on a few things.

Dick is making noises in the bedroom.   He doesn't want to go to sleep until I come in.    Sometimes I just need a bit of quiet time to settle my body before going to bed.   

Tomorrow will be quiet.

Dia Dhuit


Mary

Well,   I went to see Dr. Murthy today and it is official.    I am sick.  

I had a low grade fever and after his exam he determined that I have a sinus infection.   All the drainage is causing the coughing.  Then he found that my right ear was plugged, so they cleaned that out as best they could.

So I am almost relieved.   He prescribed and anti biotic for me to pick up on the way home.   Yea.  There is a cure.   He also told me to rest. 

I got home before Kim had to leave at 12:30PM.   She had to be at another place at 1PM so I was not able to vote then.

As I was preparing lunch, the Service Master Crew came to clean the carpets.    Ed Schroeder, who is a friend and started the company, came with his kids, who now do the work, and was kind enough to stay with Dick while I drove over to City Hall to vote. 

There was a steady flow of people, but no long lines at 1:30PM when I got there.   I was able to make my marks and get out and home very quickly.

Ed helped me put Dick down for his nap as the desk pads are up so the carpet could be cleaned and can dry.  Dick knows Ed pretty well too and is good company so I was grateful.

Neither of us is very hungry, so I am fixing creamed egg on toast for our supper. 

After we ate, I laid down for a while.   Now I have to be up for a bit before going to bed.   It is almost 8PM.  Heather, from Embrace, is coming then to put Dick to bed for me.   I am so grateful.   She came in at 6:30PM, I had actually cancelled the evening visit, but we agreed that she should come back at 8PM which will be the most help for me.   Dick and I can both get ready for bed but I won't have to be moving him around tonight which will really help.   I am hoping the anti biotic will have done some good, at lease for the pressure in my head.    I am going to gargle again with salt water just before I go to bed and perhaps have a glass with salt in it in the bathroom in case I start really coughing during the night.

Tomorrow will be better.   I will see Dr. Leben about my ribs and Jon Newalney, orthopedic nurse, about my shoulder and arm tomorrow. 

Now if they can give me something to cure those pains I will be eternally grateful.

Dick said the he now has proof that God is watching over me because when Heather showed up unexpectedly, it was the answer to a prayer.    I am so weak that I was kind of dreading getting Dick ready for bed.  

So pray for me.   I cannot be sick.    We all know that.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A quote from William Debs

"Too long have the workers [...] waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out if I could; for if you could be led out, you could be led back again. I would have you make up your minds that there is nothing you cannot do for yourselves."

Today started out pretty bad.  I woke up with that same old headache and was all sweaty.   The day went on that way until after lunch.    I laid down on the couch to watch the Packer game and my head seems to have stopped hurting.    I hope I am right.    I feel pretty good about it.   I am wondering now if maybe I had a touch of the flu.

I need to really rest and hopefully will sleep well tonight and tomorrow be ALL better.   I can't stand non productive days.

Tomorrow I will be a very happy and busy person and have lots to say.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Today was a lost day.     Dick had to get up at 3:45AM, so I, of course, went back to bed.   He fed our Roxie cat and I did not get up until after 8:30AM.   The only reasons I got up were guilt and hunger.   Dick needed his meds and some attention.   We had breakfast and then Dick napped.   I laid on the couch and read my book.

By noon, we were ready for lunch.  We had Mac and Cheese with cauliflower and cranberry relish for lunch.   Then I laid down on the couch and slept until 3:00PM.   I woke up feeling like all the aches had at least receded for a while.

Heather arrived at 3:30PM  and and I headed to Mass.   A lovely Mass talking about the greatest Commandments.   The first comes from the Old Testament which was read in the first reading.  Deuteronomy 6:2-6.  Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

Jesus, the good Jew that he was, quoted that and added. And love your neighbor as yourself for the love of God.

When I went up for communion I asked Jesus to do some curing as long as he was inside me.

We had pizza for supper and probably will go to bed early.   Tomorrow, thank God, is another quiet day.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I was right.   It was a much better day today.   The headache is way in the background and my other aches stayed away until later this evening.

Jody cleaned this morning and Kay came at 6:30PM this evening so that I was able to finish shooting my targets at Rhine.   I only had two left.   When I got there the place was empty except for three of the people working.    Only one other shooter had been there all evening. Leann shooting pistol also and she had only ONE target to shoot.     I did very poorly on my first one but still got a 31 and much better on the second.  Oh Well, It is still lots of fun.

On the way home I stopped at the Pig  to pick up a couple of things I had forgotten on Tuesday. Got home and still had forgotten the Dishwasher detergent -  the main thing I needed, so I zipped back and got it.

I had a friend who always said that the first thing to go is the brain.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was not a very good day.   I have been fighting a headache along with the joint aches, for the past few days.   This morning, I woke up with my head throbbing.    I got up at 6AM.  

Kim from Embrace arrived at 7:30AM.  Kim had been off for several weeks because of a hip surgery.  I had not expected her until later in the month and was so glad to see her.   She is a very caring individual and I missed her.

I left almost immediately for Mass.   Today is All Saint's day - a holy day.   It was a nice mass.   I always like it when the school kids are there as they are on holy days during the school year.   It is so lovely to hear them do the readings and the petitions.

My head kept getting worse.   I picked up breakfast for Dick and me from Mc Donalds.    Then I took some more Tylenol and laid down on the couch for a couple of hours.     The headache is now way in the background and I hope the night will send it away.    I made an appointment with Dr. Murthy for next Tuesday anyway and have called the other doctor's that have treated me for the other pains to see what else we can do for them.

Sorry to be such a whiner, but I am SO very tired.  Tomorrow will be better,   I know it.

I took pictures of my jack o lantern made out of the rutabega and will post it tomorrow, when I have the energy to download the pictures.

We are watching the Country Music Awards.    I love that they actually have a lot of music.   Perhaps we can figure out who some of the newer artists are.   I have not been following Country music for several years but used to be a big fan.   The music isn't like the old country or even the outlaw country.   But it to will have its place.   Most of it sounds boiler plate to me.  Little Jimmie Dickens did a cameo.   how nice to see him again.   I wish he would sing.  But don't imagine we will be that lucky.

So til tomorrow and I promise to be much more cheerful.

Dia Dhuit

Mary




If you look at the Iwo Jima statue in Washington DC very closely and count the number of 'hands' raising the flag there are 13. When the man who made the statue was asked why there were 13, when there were six men, he simply said the 13th hand was the hand of God.

Dick is really restless tonight so I am closing down early and will not do much telling about my day.

I wanted to tell you of something beautiful though.

Yesterday morning, when I was taking out the trash in the morning, I heard a murmur and realized that it was coming from the school on Valley Road.  It was all the Children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.     I stood there entranced until they were done and am so grateful that I went out just at the right time. 

That made my day.

I am so glad that I am sent these special things just when I feel the most stressed.    It brings me back to the beauty of the world and the people that God has created.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I slept late this morning.   Dick slept even later.   We had a strange day and I am sore and tired, though I did get a nap this afternoon.

I called Gary Anderson, a handyman who has been just such a wonder fixing things.  The plug that is next to Dick's Chair and controls most of the computer things, has been knocked out of the wall so many times by the wheelchair and the ground prong, broke off in the plug.    I am afraid of electricity.   As it was, I probably could have just pulled it out myself but I need experts.   He also helped me rearrange a few things and plug in the new cord.

He will come back tomorrow afternoon to fix the corner in the master bath that does not have tile on it.

This evening I went grocery shopping, thinking I would be home early enough to see the last part of Dancing.    I was wrong, but at least I do know who was eliminated.   Shawn, the little gymnast.

I will be going to bed as soon as we get him all settled and ready.    Pray God, that he sleeps tonight.

So you rest safely and I will write again tomorrow



Dia Dhuit

Mary

Today started out rather cold and stayed in the lower 50s.   However, with no wind and sunshine, it was beautiful.   We must brace ourselves.  Hurricane Sandy is reaching the Northeast and combining with the Nor'easter and the cold front that is sailing that way from our area and will smack the East Coast tomorrow.  We will get, from what they say, lots of wind and a chill.   I thank our lucky stars for that.   Jeff's Sara is in New York in Brooklyn Heights.  They are ready.  They have stocked up and are ready to hole up until they can move again.   Sara does work in Manhattan so this  could be a day or two..

It was a high intensive morning for Dick this morning but we were pretty well stabilized by the time Bobbie got here this morning at 9AM to stay with  her Dad while I went to Sheboygan Falls for Bible Study and to visit Mom and take care of business.  ( Business being paying bills and setting up her pills.)  We still had time for a nice visit.  She looks and seems to feel well, but is very frail.   I am glad that we are all retired and those close enough are able to stop in between caregivers.    Just another check.   Nora and George are SO good about calling every week to check  in.   I have met families that are So disjointed that they do not even like each other.   We are so blessed with our family.   We all love each other, accept each other and want to do nothing but make Mom comfortable until she joins Dad, whenever that might be.  

Bible Study was well attended.  Everybody was there, including Felecia, Joseph's wife, who usually is working.   The has a a neck injury so pray for her.   We finished up the Lament Psalms that we have been studying.   It will be rather a joy to get out of lamenting for a change.   We learned a lot from the Laments, but enough already.   Anyway, our full contingency is 10 ( sometimes 11 if a couple of stragglers drop in) and we had our 10 today.   What a joy.

I got home just before noon and Bobbie, Dick and I had pork chops and colcannon with coleslaw for our lunch.   Bobbie and Bill are just back from a lovely vacation in Louisiana with Leslie, Bill, Nora and Marcus.    It was  a great time and Bobbie worked on teaching Marcus to say "Auntie Bobbie"   which is important for ALL Kunert Babies.

The afternoon was quiet, we took a nap.   Now I am watching Dancing with the Stars and will go to bed as soon as I can vote.

That may even be too late.   I am such a slug a bed these days.  But that is because my sleep is often broken  up.  I told a friend who asked why I was tired, to imagine having a baby in the house again.   You just get a broken sleep.  Dick and I were just musing on two days last week that were just perfect.  We got settled at about 9PM and both woke up, refreshed at 6AM.   Then the roof fell in.   Can't  account for bodies. And we had broken sleep for the past three nights.

Oh well, as they say.  What is , IS.   So we will continue.

Have a great week.   Pray for those in the path of the storm.  Our Sarah is there so it becomes close to home.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

En

What a strange but beautiful day.   For me anyway.   Dick actually has had a very difficult afternoon.   His right leg and food started hurting just after lunch and it really never did let up.  I just wish there was something we could do for him.   Heather, the caregiver who came tonight, felt so bad too.

He woke up at 4:30AM and wanted to sit up, so we got him up and I went back to bed.   He even fed the cat for me so I got to sleep until 8AM.   When I got up, we had breakfast and a nice morning until he got sleepy at about 10AM.    He went down for a nap then.

I worked on making the colcannon for the Samhain dinner and gathering up all the other things that I had to bring along.   The sign up book, the wine,  utensils and plates and glasses, tea and the place mat for the ancestors.

Here I was worried that we wouldn't have many people there.   As it turned out there were exactly 13 of us.   A perfect number, we all decided, for a Samhain dinner.   Peg led us in a lovely prayer for the "House and all in it" before we ate.    A great social for all of us.    The food was super.   I made colcannon.   We also had Reuben sliders, a stogenoff, a chicken rice casserole, a sweet potato casserole, soda bread and desserts.    All SO good.   We were pleasantly sated and finished the evening by discussing strange events and superstitions that have come down from our families, or that we have taken on during our lives.

Got home at about 7PM.   Just about when I had expected.    So I am able to get Dick to bed myself which I hope will make him more comfortable.   I have a feeling it will be a broken sleep but I will go to bed early myself so hopefully I can get at least the hours if not the straight through.

As I said a beautiful day.   The dinner was just what we all needed.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I had so much trouble getting to sleep last night.   Then Miss Roxie started pestering me at 5AM.   I wish she would learn to look at the clock.  I got one with really big numbers for Dick to see as his eyes are not as good anymore.    She could look if she wants too.    I fed her at 6AM, helped Dick and then went back to bed until 8:30.  

We ate breakfast right away.   It was a lost day.   I got some wash done and made a super dinner, Peppers, onion, tomatoes and Italian sausage stewed "forever" with fresh oregano added about 10 minutes before serving.    Serve over spaghetti.    1 sausage and the sauce over the spaghetti.

It was really good.   Dick asked for more for supper.

I tried to take a nap after lunch but that did not work well.  I had trouble sleeping.

So.  I finally got up

Heather came to take care of Dick at 3:30PM and I took off for Mass.   That was great.   I was Eucharistic Minister which always makes me happy.   Then I stopped at Kate's on the way home to pick up something and to drop off a jar of my green tomato jam.    I thought she and Ron might enjoy that.

Home again.   We have had our dinner and both of us are like limp rags so I hope he will want to go to bed early.  I sure would like to.   Tomorrow I have to make the cocannon and gather up the things I need for the Samhain dinner.  We are gathering at 4PM and I want to get there at 3:30PM to help set things up.   I hope we have a good turnout or at least a happy trunout.   I have not gotten a lot of response.

Oh Well.   What Is, Is.  

So.  the sun shone today and it was rather beautiful.   A bit chilly but with no wind it was easy to take.

Again, I am glad we are not living in the northeast where Sandy is dut to land and join up with the cold front that passed over us yesterday.   Could be a real mess out there.

Until tomorrow

Dia Dhuit
Mary

It was chilly today.   We looked at the weather around the nation and Lawton was just about the same temperature as it was here today. So the midsection is in the same chilly stream.   We are surely better off than on the east coast where they are bracing for Hurricane Sandy.    I hope they are wrong, but it seems to be coming into its own as the "Perfect Storm."  That was quite the movie.   Did you see it?

Speaking of movies, I watched The Way with Martin Sheen that was directed by his son Emilio Esteves.    It is a story of a man who walked the Way of St. James in Galatia.   I wanted to watch it for the flavor as I am writing a book about the Patron Saints of the Celtic Nations and St. James the Greater is the patron saint of Galatia.   I want to watch it one more time as it will give me the flavor a that part of Galatia and help with the writing.   I wish I could tour all of the 7 Celtic Nations.   I have it on my bucket list/

Jody cleaned this morning.   I baked a box of the Tastefully Simple Beer Wheat bread this morning.   It really does taste good.   I sent some home with her and have enough to share with Mom on Monday and for Dick and Bobbie and I to have with our lunch on Monday.

We had stew for dinner with a nice green salad and some of the pineapple orange salad.

I took a great nap this afternoon.  Best in a long time.  Then I worked as much as I could on Ancestry.   I need days and days to do the things that I want to do.  Unfortunately, I need to be able to spend periods of time without interruption and that just doesn't happen much around here.  I must do better myself about setting a time and sticking to it.   It is hard and sometimes impossible to say No or Later to Dick if he needs something.

Tonight I drove out to Rhine at 6:30PM to shoot Pistol League.   I did not do too badly.   Considering all the discomfort I have in my ribs and shoulder, I think I am doing quiet well.  If I do really super on my last two targets next week, I just MIGHT be able to take my class.

I had a great visit with Nancy and Jerry Coenen.  They are good friends.   Jerry is going to clean my gun for me when league is over.  I love these little breaks.    Sunday the Samhain dinner will be a nice break.   I will be visiting with several of my Celtic women and their spouses or friends and I invited my friend Bob Fleming to join us too.  

Tomorrow I need to gather the things I have to bring along.    I am making a super batch of colcannon for my contribution to the pot luck.   If you want to come, just let me know and I will give you the address.   You don't have to bring anything but yourself..  I will have extra plates and PLENTY of colcannon to feed everybody.  I will bring some wine and tea also.   

Dia Dhuit

Mary

From Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

"Do not wait: the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along."

A very odd day in my opinion.    It was very warm this morning.  I stayed in bed until close to 8AM but it was not easy with Roxie seeming to feel that I should get up EVEN after I had fed her.    She was a first class pest.

We had a nice egg scramble and toast for our breakfast.  I started a load of wash and as it went into the spin cycle, It stopped and started growling at me.   So I had to call Mike's Appliance.    He has saved us several times since we moved here to Plymouth.    He was able to come this morning.   There was a broken part.    He replaced it and pulled out the machine so that I could clean under it too.   He is such a great guy and has never failed us.

We had leftover Hamburger Helper and some of a pineapple/orange/coconut/marshmallow salad that I made last night.    It was quite good. and then I took a nap.    Actually, Roxie was ready for a nap too.   No surprise.

I finished the wash and did some much needed cleaning.  Kay arrived at 5PM.   I got myself ready for going to The Department of Aging for a workshop on Communicating with Health Care Providers.  Marsha Vollbrecht gave the talk.    I know I have run into her somewhere in this journey that Dick and I have been on the past 5 years.   I got some good hints anyway.

Then, on the way home, I stopped in at Mom's just to say Hi and see how she was doing.  She looks great and is so glad to be home..  Mary, her caregiver, was there helping her get ready for bed.   I knew that would be, so I just planned on staying for a few minutes as she likes her routines.  

Home again, Kay had Dick ready for me to cath and then she finished getting him ready to sleep for me.  I am so grateful as my ribs and neck are quite sore, probably a result of the rain and cold spell that swept in this afternoon, and this was one time that I did not have to do the physical maneuvering of the stand lift. Thank you, Kay.

So it is time to settle in for the night.   Tomorrow will be busy as I am not spending enough time doing some of the creative things that I have in the works.

DiaDhuit

Mary

Men in Heaven

When everybody on earth was dead and waiting to enter Heaven, God appeared and said, "I want the men to make two lines. One line for the men who were true heads of their household, and the other line for the men who were dominated by their women. I want all the women to report to St. Peter."

Soon, the women were gone, and there were two lines of men.

The line of the men who were dominated by their wives was 100 miles long, and in the line of men who truly were heads of their household, there was only one man.

God said to the long line, "You men should be ashamed of yourselves; I created you to be the head of your household! You have been disobedient and have not fulfilled your purpose! Of all of you, only one obeyed. Learn from him."

God turned to the one man, "How did you manage to be the only one in this line?"

I think I actually took care of Dick perfectly today.  There are so MANY things to remember that some days I get overwhelmed.

Heather came to take care of Dick at 7AM.   I left shortly thereafter and did all of this:

I dropped a box off at St. Vinnies.

I went to Van Horn to have the car mainenance done.]

I went to the post Office to mail a package.

I went to Mother's to drop off her pills and to set them up for the week.
(Yea.  She came home today.)

I got gas in the car.

I went to the bank to make two deposits.

I went home.

I got there at 9:59.   Yea.   Heather was supposed to be there until 10.AM.   So I was just right.  She and Dick had a good morning. I came home to a nicely settled day.

I was busy the rest of the afternoon.   I did several emails and finished my Fantasy football.

Tomorrow, I will be home until 5:30PM so I will abain be able to get caught up.

So let's be strong until tomorrow.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Another day at home.  I got up a bit earlier today though because it was trash day.   Got that out fairly early.    A good thing because it started raining a bit later in the morning and I was not about to go out in that weather.   It was fairly warm though.   We are supposed to have two days in the 70s before the cold weather comes back in.

I did some wash today, and I cleaned the kitchen as I made lunch and dinner.    This afternoon, however, I decided to just sit and watch a movie.   I have The Way with Martin Sheen and have been wanting to watch it as I am working on a book that will tell the story of the patron saints of all of the 7 nations.   The way features Galacia and St. James the Greater and I figured it would be a good background to the reading and research that I am doing.

Tonight I did our grocery shopping.  And that pretty well wiped out the day. 

Tomorrow I will be taking the car in for maintenance.  Early, so I want to get to bed early.   I picked up some prescriptions for Mother at Walgreens tonight too.   So, after the maintenance, I will run them to her house so she is set when she gets home.

Dick was pretty perky today.    I have started giving him his iced tea made with caffeine in the mornings.   He and I think that perhaps that will help wake him up a bit.   Can't hurt.

So tomorrow Mother comes home.    Pleas pray that all goes well for her.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

This was a rather unique Monday.  I was home all day.   I slept until 8AM and then we got ready for the day.

It was a day to sweep the deck, clean around Roxie's litter box ( which she approved of by the way.), clean and load my pistol for the pistol league at Rhine, do a load of wash and fix a couple of meals.

Today was Jim's birthday.   Yesterday was their anniversary and the day before was Michelle's birthday.  They sure planned that well, didn't they.  Bless them on these three special days.

Had a nice visit on the phone with Barbara tonight.  She is trying to finish her last class for her Masters and cope with work struggles at the same time.   She is a tired girl.  So keep her in your prayers.   By the way, Bret's friend Lance, did pass away.  Pray for him, his family and those who loved him so dearly.  I hope they know that he will never  really leave them but will be with them is another dimension.  The Rainbow bridge does not only apply for humans.

Mother is going home on Wednesday afternoon.  I spent another portion of my day resetting her support staff.   How cool is that.   Mother has a "staff".  I hope we have it all in place.

Tonight I watched Dancing with the Stars, the only 'reality" show that I watch and now am watching the debate.

Until tomorrow then.  Dia Dhuit

Mary 













The banana cannot reproduce itself. It can be propagated only by the hand of man.  (wonder how it started in the first place.) 


In 2012, December has 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays and 5 Mondays. This apparently happens once every 823 years!

I like Sundays.   Since I go to Mass on Saturday, it is truly a day of rest.    It often is the one day of the week that I can stay in bed late and I did.    I did not get up until almost 9AM this morning.   Of course, this does not count getting up to feed the cat at 6AM.  She was a real pest about it too.  

Lately we have to watch where we put glasses of ice water.   Along with discovering the "good water" in the shower stall, Roxie has discovered that ice water in a glass is a real treat.   If a glass is left unattended within reach of her tongue, we suddenly hear noises of drinking and she will drink until her little tongue won't go any more.

Because it was so late when we got up and organized, we had a fancy brunch at about 1AM.   I fried some bacon, there was sausage already cooked.  I made potato pancakes and eggs and I had a piece of Racine Kringle to add to the plate.   Pretty fancy.  Right?

I have had the pleasure of reconnecting with some old neighbors from Orchid Street in Santa Ana Heights in the past two days.    Joyce and I were SO close when her son, Chip and my Bret were born the same year.    I have communicated with Joyce and am so pleased that she seems to have the same affection as I do.   I also am in touch with her older son Mark who was and obviously is a wonderful boy.  (I don't especially care if he is 50.  he is a boy to me.)

Tonight I drove to Meadow View to visit Mother.   She looks wonderful and is "way" ready to come home.   She is now walking by herself to meals and can get up in the night without calling for help if she needs to.   I see no reason why she should not be home.   Of course, she could fall, but she could fall there too and at home she will be happier.   Jeff will be working on this during the week.

Home again, Dick is all settled for the night and I am just writing this while sipping a glass of wine.

Hope you had a nice weekend too.    Tomorrow we will be home all day as Bobbie and Bill are in Virginia on vacation visiting relatives of Bill.   Hope the weather is OK for them.   That is the only thing that could be a problem for them.  

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A lovely Saturday.    I had to get up a bit earlier than I had hoped but still got to be in bed until 7:30AM.    I treasure every hour.

The day was busy with a lot of things, I couldn't give you a rundown, but it was a lot of emails, some phone calls, sending some poems to a contest and that kind of thing.

I called Bret. His friend, Lance is not responding and all his friends are gathering to say goodbye.   I could hear the sadness in his voice.     I tried to reassure him that whatever happens is for the best.   Lance's wife game a DNR because she knew that he would not want to live as a vegetable.   Pray for his easy ride into eternity if that is what is to be or else, that all the prayers bring a miracle, which is always within the power of our God. Please pray for Lance, his family and friends.

I have decided that I must get back to writing.   I have the bones of a book I want to do on the patron saints of the Celtic Nations.   This morning, I chose Galatia as my first section to get serious about.   The patron saint of Galatia is St. John The Greater.   This weekend's Gospel is the story of James and his brother John asking Jesus to be seated at the right and the left of him  Mark:10:35-46.  Somehow that is weird and I think a sign that I need to do this project.    I have been getting these signs lately.   I think perhaps they are my relief from the daily grind.  God's giving me signs.   I have always said that when I don't know what to do, I travel as far as I can see and then another vista is revealed.
\
I left for Mass at 3:30PM.    It was a lovely Mass and I feel renewed.   I stayed a bit to visit with my friend Kate.  She called me this afternoon to tell me that her daughter, Dawn, called.  Dawn has an Immune Deficiency disease and is in a lot of pain.   Please pray for Dawn.

Dick and I are having a nice quiet evening together.  We had a bean tostada for our supper.   Really good.  I had not fixed Mexican for quite some time.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

I received this as a part of a bigger email stating the differences between men and women.   I  have seen it before, but this time, this particular paragraph really tickled my funny bone.  Hope you like it as much as I do.


OFFSPRING
· Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
· A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

A dreary rainy day today.   I don't know if it was enough to help the water table but I don't want to water any more. 

We had a 'show" outside the windows today.  They finally came and pulverized the trees that were cut down for the coming of the railway.    It was a spectacular as the killing of the trees was.   There were two big machines.    One of them picked up most of the trees, the ones that had branches it seemed, and shoved them into its craw and spit out the remains of them along the old tracks.  The other big machine picked up the big logs and took them down to the ends of the road.  They were again done in ONE day.

I still have a pretty clear desk as I have been able to almost keep up with things.  I called a couple of people about CWI stuff and cleared up emails.

I also have become "friends" on Facebook with my old friend Joyce and her son Mark.   This weekend I will email them to catch up a bit.

Bret called tonight too.  He was checking on his Grandma.   I am so glad that I am able to tell him how well she is doing.    He also mentioned a friend of his who was injured early this week in a motorcycle accident.   He has severe head injuries and they still don't know if he will make it.  Pray for Bret's friend, Lance.

I shot pistol league tonight also.  My arm and ribs are pretty sore, BUT I shot pretty well anyway.   That was a relief.   Perhaps I can get my score up a bit before the end of league.   I had a nice visit the Nancy Roehre and Nancy and Jerry Coenen.   Jerry said he will clean my gun for me next week.   I don't like to take it apart because I have trouble getting it back together.  I do clean all the exposed surfaces and all the spots I can get to with rags and q tips and stuff. 

Home again, Dick was in bed already, but he seems restless.  I think it is going to be a goofy night.   Good thing tomorrow is a quiet day.   All I have is Mass at 4PM.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

A small haiku

Heavy lies my soul
I dream of flying way up
Beyond the rainbow.

A mixed day for me.   Roxie let me sleep until 6:05AM.  This is a milestone as she is often telling me at 5:15AM or so that she feels that I should be feeding her.

As I wanted to be up this morning,  (Kay from Embrace was here at 7:30AM). I was a bit disappointed om her.   But this was way close enough.  I was able to get everything I needed to do before Kay got here.

While Kay was here, I zipped over to Walgreens to stock up on some supplies and to pick up three prescriptions.  I believe that if I did not show up for a week,  Walgreens would send the emergency crew to find out if we were all right.

We had to be at Joseph and Joseph for Dick's dental visit.  He is still doing well.   I don't know if you all know this but we both still have all our teeth but one.   We have root canals but only one tooth each had to be removed.   Our dentists tell us that we are doing a great job.   Brushing, flossing and general care.   Yea for us.

We were home at about 11:30AM.  We had mac and cheese for lunch and then took a nap.

This has been a quiet afternoon.  I got a call from a friend, Jana Hertz to tell me how to get in touch with a family that used to live next door to my first husband and me when our children were all young.   Michael(Chip) and Bret were born the same year.   I have thought of Joyce,the mother, often in these recent years and now have connected with Mark, the older son, and hope to reconnect with Joyce.   Our sons, Chip (Michael) and Bret were like brothers when they were little boys.

Dick is in bed.  It is only 7:30PM but I think I will take advantage of it and go to bed too.  This was a painful day for me and perhaps some extra rest will help the healing.

Dia Dhuit

Mary

Not a bad night.   Only had to get up once during the early hours of the morning.   Of course, that does not include pesky Rosie trying to get me up shortly after 5PM.   I had to get up at 6AM anyway.   Heather came at 7AM to take care of Dick from 7 to 10.   Of course --- Dick had to get up at 6:30AM so I ended up getting him partly dressed so that I could take care of his needs and we could ease an achy back.  

I left shortly after 7AM so that I could do the grocery shopping before my haircut appointment at 9AM.   The hairdresser that I have had since we moved to Plymouth, Jessica, has gotten a full time job with a bank and is no longer doing hair.   I am trying the new owner, Terry.   I like her and it seems that she has done a good job.  

Home again, I had a sleepy husband all day.   Dick took two naps.   One this morning and one this afternoon.   We had ham, beans, Brussels Sprouts and salad for our lunch.    Good ham.  I just bought a steak as I didn't want a ton of it and we will have at least one more meal out of that steak.

One of Bret's friends, who I knew as a little girl, posted a ton of pictures on Facebook, several of my Bret.   I loved it.

For some reason, I was thinking of dogs that have meant the most to me through the years.   The ones that will be waiting beyond the Rainbow Bridge.   I can list,   Chip, Clancy 1, Clancy 2,  Spook, Tara, Zero and Chelsea.   There are a few in there that I loved but may not remember me.  Beau and Buddy.  Buddy we gave to a friend that adored him.  Beau died, sick with hip displacia.   Anyway, I expect to be tackled by sweet puppies and licked and welcomed with joy when I pass into the other world.   I cannot believe that they will not be there.   Tomorrow I will list the cats.

Dia Dhuit

Mary





Jimmy Breslin said that writers used to go to the bar to listen to old-timers tell stories, but now "they all go to health clubs and then go home. They're in fantastic health, but they wish they were in the bar, and their wives wish they were in the bar, too."

Last night was a rather difficult one, but Dick and I were able to stay in bed until after 8AM.   This helped a lot.   It was trash day, so that was about the latest I felt safe being a slug-a-bed.

I have everything put away from the weekend.  That and cleaning took most of the day.   We had sausage and eggs for breakfast, a late breakfast.  We snacked in the early afternoon and then I prepared a t-bone with fried potatoes and salad for our supper.

Heather came tonight at 6:30PM and I took off for Sheboygan to visit Mother.  She looks wonderful and is figuring that the doctor and therapist will give her the go ahead to go home in a week or so.   As well as she is doing, I have no doubt that this will happen.  We had a lovely visit and I gave her the little gifts that I picked up for her at IBAM.

Roxie has been very happy to have me home.   She misses me when I am gone.  That is OK because I miss her too.

So winding down as I have to get up at 6AM tomorrow so that I can shop early and get my hair cut while Heather is here in the morning.

Not an especially busy week but something every day.

Dia Dhuit

Mary