Well, another day closer to being a family again.
Chelsea woke me up at 2:10AM. Needless to say, I was back in bed with the door closed by 3:10AM and slept until 6AM. Roxie is quite nice about not banging on the door during that time, but she is waiting for me when I come out, ready for breakfast.
I vacuumed the bedroom this morning and did a load of wash before heading over to the Center. I was there in plenty of time to go down to therapy with Dick. We discussed wheel chairs so I had to make a couple of calls before going to Mass at 10AM. Fr. Van Beeck was there to say Mass for whoever of the residents wished to come. I was glad I did not miss it.
We brought Dick upstairs with his prosthesis on and he kept it on until after the afternoon therapy, after 3PM. He had very little discomfort except when actually getting up or sitting down. Then there is a sore spot on the stump. He has little problem while walking, just a little tightness. Tomorrow Tim from National Prosthesis will be there to do some more adjustments and give more hints.
We now have the current list of all his meds. Some of what we had are good and the Center will send whatever are left of his current bubble packs, so we will be replacing them as they run out. We have an appointment with Dr. Sharon on Wednesday so can firm everything up then.
I hope to high heaven that everything we need is ordered now. We have the slide boards, the threshold ramp and the commode are on the way. I HOPE we have the wheelchair coming. That has been a nightmare. Everybody tells me that I need to do something different. Dr. Sharon is probably ready to kill us as he must have four requests for different information. All we want is a wheelchair covered by Medicare and nobody knows what they are doing.
I ate lunch with Dick today and when all was done, I came home at about 4:30PM and STAYED. I need some time to recuperate. Hope I am taking enough.
Dick got his hair and beard cut today too.
So it was a busy day. Tomorrow looks just about as busy. But I have to be home between 3 and 5 to wait for Time Warner. SO I should be able to rest then. Saturday, I intend to stay home EXCEPT for having dinner and supper with Dick and going to Church. Then Sunday is the BIG day.
I am glad that Bobbie and Bill and Jim and Michelle are coming for dinner. It will be good to have someone here for part of the day in case there are bugs to work out.
Take care and pray for us.
Love
Mary
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
A few more steps closer to the Homecoming.
I slept so well last night. Chelsea did not wake me up until 3:30Am and I did get right back to sleep until 6AM.
I went grocery shopping fairly early then arrived at the Care Center at 10AM. I was in time to watch Dick do most of his morning therapy. We got back to his room just about the time Jeff came to help me bring our green recliner home. It is not heavy but is bulky and Jeff was kind enough to bring his truck today. While we were at the center we stopped to see an old friend of Mother's who is a resident there. Jeff was in school with his son. That was fun.
Jeff was heading for Sheboygan Falls and lunch with Mother. It is her birthday today. She is 93. Jeff did a bunch of chores for her while he was there too. Then Eileen and Fred were bringing her supper. So she had a home birthday with lots of attention.
I took dinner/lunch over and had that meal with Dick, then came home and stayed. I napped for an hour or more, then vacuumed the old office and positioned the green chair in there.
Since then, I have been trying to just take it easy. I did a few computer things but have tried to stay very quiet. Rest is the order of the day.
So that was the day. Tomorrow, the nurses will go over Dick's meds with us and we will be sure we are all on the same page.
Hope you have a gently sleep and a good day tomorrow. We must enjoy this "heat wave" as I understand that another arctic front is heading our way.
Mary
I slept so well last night. Chelsea did not wake me up until 3:30Am and I did get right back to sleep until 6AM.
I went grocery shopping fairly early then arrived at the Care Center at 10AM. I was in time to watch Dick do most of his morning therapy. We got back to his room just about the time Jeff came to help me bring our green recliner home. It is not heavy but is bulky and Jeff was kind enough to bring his truck today. While we were at the center we stopped to see an old friend of Mother's who is a resident there. Jeff was in school with his son. That was fun.
Jeff was heading for Sheboygan Falls and lunch with Mother. It is her birthday today. She is 93. Jeff did a bunch of chores for her while he was there too. Then Eileen and Fred were bringing her supper. So she had a home birthday with lots of attention.
I took dinner/lunch over and had that meal with Dick, then came home and stayed. I napped for an hour or more, then vacuumed the old office and positioned the green chair in there.
Since then, I have been trying to just take it easy. I did a few computer things but have tried to stay very quiet. Rest is the order of the day.
So that was the day. Tomorrow, the nurses will go over Dick's meds with us and we will be sure we are all on the same page.
Hope you have a gently sleep and a good day tomorrow. We must enjoy this "heat wave" as I understand that another arctic front is heading our way.
Mary
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Today was VERY interesting.
I got up at 6AM and seemed to be on the go all day. I had tons of things to put away and get straightened out this morning before going over to spend the morning with Dick. I also had to put out the trash. I got to the center at about 9:30, having taken out the trash on the way. He went down for therapy at about 10AM. We spent an hour trying on the prosthesis and working on getting on and off of the toilet. A very essential thing if he is to come home.
We got upstairs in time to watch Obama take his oath as president listen to his acceptance speech. I thought it was a good speech and enjoyed the invocation very much. We really watched inauguration all day whenever we were near a TV. Now I am tired of it. I ate dinner with Dick then we met Lori from Therapy downstairs to come home and do a home evaluation to see what we might need to do to make everything safe.
A bit of a side. When I walked down to therapy, Leah, Lori's assistant, who had a baby just before Christmas, was there visiting with her little sweet angel, Tanner. He is a beautiful baby boy. I don't know how long Leah will be gone, but perhaps Dick will be done with therapy altogether. That would be bittersweet. Leah is very nice but we would like to be DONE.
Then Lori, Dick and I came home. Bobbie and Bill were here putting in the last of the grab bars for Dick. Lori really put Dick through his paces, with and without the prosthesis. He got on and off of the toilet, moved around the house, to his desk and into the kitchen. He also got in and out of bed. Chelsea was SO glad to see him. He felt good about that.
We did not get back until almost four o'clock. Then I had to go to Walmart, the vet and to the bank before coming home for supper. I did go back to see Dick one more time but I was so tired that Dick felt bad that he asked me. Anyway. I am home now and will go to bed as soon as I can.
A new Maxine
"Personally I think conservatives and liberals should move towards the middle of the road. Makes 'em easier to run them over."
Love
Mary
I got up at 6AM and seemed to be on the go all day. I had tons of things to put away and get straightened out this morning before going over to spend the morning with Dick. I also had to put out the trash. I got to the center at about 9:30, having taken out the trash on the way. He went down for therapy at about 10AM. We spent an hour trying on the prosthesis and working on getting on and off of the toilet. A very essential thing if he is to come home.
We got upstairs in time to watch Obama take his oath as president listen to his acceptance speech. I thought it was a good speech and enjoyed the invocation very much. We really watched inauguration all day whenever we were near a TV. Now I am tired of it. I ate dinner with Dick then we met Lori from Therapy downstairs to come home and do a home evaluation to see what we might need to do to make everything safe.
A bit of a side. When I walked down to therapy, Leah, Lori's assistant, who had a baby just before Christmas, was there visiting with her little sweet angel, Tanner. He is a beautiful baby boy. I don't know how long Leah will be gone, but perhaps Dick will be done with therapy altogether. That would be bittersweet. Leah is very nice but we would like to be DONE.
Then Lori, Dick and I came home. Bobbie and Bill were here putting in the last of the grab bars for Dick. Lori really put Dick through his paces, with and without the prosthesis. He got on and off of the toilet, moved around the house, to his desk and into the kitchen. He also got in and out of bed. Chelsea was SO glad to see him. He felt good about that.
We did not get back until almost four o'clock. Then I had to go to Walmart, the vet and to the bank before coming home for supper. I did go back to see Dick one more time but I was so tired that Dick felt bad that he asked me. Anyway. I am home now and will go to bed as soon as I can.
A new Maxine
"Personally I think conservatives and liberals should move towards the middle of the road. Makes 'em easier to run them over."
Love
Mary
Monday, January 19, 2009
Today was this week's marathon day. At least for me.
I got up at my usual 6AM (with the little trip to the outside with Chelsea at 2AM), took care of critters, took a shower and got over to see Dick at about 8:30AM.
I then went to Bible Study, stopping at Mother's on the way over to the rectory because she wanted me to bring her church envelope. As she has been not getting over to church, she was feeling that she was behind in her obligation. Isn't that sweet. The gals at the church laughed and said in mock surprise, "she has not been going to church." We all agree that she is a very wise lady and as I told them we, her children, would be quite upset if she DID try to go with all the ice that is on the ground.
Bible Study was quite interesting. We are still not too thrilled with some of the "ideas" that St. Paul had about marriage and women. I said that I wanted to have a talk with him when I get up there and everybody agreed that they all want to be there to watch and hear what we have to say.
Mom and I had a nice visit after the Bible Study. We got onto a discussion of pets, especially cats, that have been part of our lives.
I got home in time to fix a sandwich, walk Chelsea and get over to the Care Center to have a cup of tea with Dick as he ate his dinner. Then, Peggy, who's husband is also a resident at the Center and has joined the Cream City Writers, and I drove on over to Kate's house. Kate had wanted to host the meeting for Christmas, but it didn't work out, so she did it today and had even left her tree up for everybody to see. She served tea and cookies. We have a new lady, Jennifer, who joined us. She read a short story she had written and she is really VERY good.
We had rather odd words last meeting but I did come up with two short poems using all but one of them. I will put one here. It is not great but whimsical.
A Dilemma
Frozen ice cycles
That's silly
If ice cycles thaw, they are not ice cycles at all.
They are water
Dripping onto snow
During January thaw.
I had to leave there at 1:45PM because Tim of Custom Care Transport picked Dick up at 2:00PM to to to see Dr. Moreno.
Bobbie and Bill were with Dick when I got there. They had come to check what height to put the grab bars next to the toilet. Having determined that, they left along with us and came over to our house. He got one up and will come back to do the other.
Dr. Moreno is VERY pleased. One wound is pronounced healed and the other is ALMOST there. The representative of the company that produced the grafts was there and asked to sit in on the exam. He said that after four weeks they are usually happy with a 50% improvement and Dick is almost 100%. 1 in 4 also need a second graft and Dick obviously does not need that. So. Yippee!!
Now Dr. Moreno wants him walking twice a day with the prosthesis until he gets home. Then we will be going to therapy three times a week.
We got back about 4PM. I came home and fed critters and prepared a cup of soup to take back to the Center so I could eat supper with Dick and stay with him until it was time to pick up Nancy and Kate to go to the Sheboygan County CWI meeting.
Rosalie Hartman hosted us. She entertained us with piano music of old Celtic Aires and Jigs. It was truly pleasant. We shared breads and pantoni from Italy and cookies and tea. We also shared some of our favorite books. There were 11 of us there. We all fit together so nicely. So much to share and enjoy about each other. Rosalie's home is beautiful. I wish I could describe it to you. They built it themselves and it is her. She even has a spiral staircase that leads up to her loft and upstairs bedroom. The colors of her rooms are an art piece in themselves and then she had art that she and Bill, who has gone on, collected. I knew Bill and can imagine the fun they had gathering these things.
Now I am home and Chelsea is wishing that I would just hang it up and go to bed. So I believe that I will.
Tomorrow, Dick will come home to test things out. Lori, his therapist, will come along with us. It will be a test run.
Love
Mary
I got up at my usual 6AM (with the little trip to the outside with Chelsea at 2AM), took care of critters, took a shower and got over to see Dick at about 8:30AM.
I then went to Bible Study, stopping at Mother's on the way over to the rectory because she wanted me to bring her church envelope. As she has been not getting over to church, she was feeling that she was behind in her obligation. Isn't that sweet. The gals at the church laughed and said in mock surprise, "she has not been going to church." We all agree that she is a very wise lady and as I told them we, her children, would be quite upset if she DID try to go with all the ice that is on the ground.
Bible Study was quite interesting. We are still not too thrilled with some of the "ideas" that St. Paul had about marriage and women. I said that I wanted to have a talk with him when I get up there and everybody agreed that they all want to be there to watch and hear what we have to say.
Mom and I had a nice visit after the Bible Study. We got onto a discussion of pets, especially cats, that have been part of our lives.
I got home in time to fix a sandwich, walk Chelsea and get over to the Care Center to have a cup of tea with Dick as he ate his dinner. Then, Peggy, who's husband is also a resident at the Center and has joined the Cream City Writers, and I drove on over to Kate's house. Kate had wanted to host the meeting for Christmas, but it didn't work out, so she did it today and had even left her tree up for everybody to see. She served tea and cookies. We have a new lady, Jennifer, who joined us. She read a short story she had written and she is really VERY good.
We had rather odd words last meeting but I did come up with two short poems using all but one of them. I will put one here. It is not great but whimsical.
A Dilemma
Frozen ice cycles
That's silly
If ice cycles thaw, they are not ice cycles at all.
They are water
Dripping onto snow
During January thaw.
I had to leave there at 1:45PM because Tim of Custom Care Transport picked Dick up at 2:00PM to to to see Dr. Moreno.
Bobbie and Bill were with Dick when I got there. They had come to check what height to put the grab bars next to the toilet. Having determined that, they left along with us and came over to our house. He got one up and will come back to do the other.
Dr. Moreno is VERY pleased. One wound is pronounced healed and the other is ALMOST there. The representative of the company that produced the grafts was there and asked to sit in on the exam. He said that after four weeks they are usually happy with a 50% improvement and Dick is almost 100%. 1 in 4 also need a second graft and Dick obviously does not need that. So. Yippee!!
Now Dr. Moreno wants him walking twice a day with the prosthesis until he gets home. Then we will be going to therapy three times a week.
We got back about 4PM. I came home and fed critters and prepared a cup of soup to take back to the Center so I could eat supper with Dick and stay with him until it was time to pick up Nancy and Kate to go to the Sheboygan County CWI meeting.
Rosalie Hartman hosted us. She entertained us with piano music of old Celtic Aires and Jigs. It was truly pleasant. We shared breads and pantoni from Italy and cookies and tea. We also shared some of our favorite books. There were 11 of us there. We all fit together so nicely. So much to share and enjoy about each other. Rosalie's home is beautiful. I wish I could describe it to you. They built it themselves and it is her. She even has a spiral staircase that leads up to her loft and upstairs bedroom. The colors of her rooms are an art piece in themselves and then she had art that she and Bill, who has gone on, collected. I knew Bill and can imagine the fun they had gathering these things.
Now I am home and Chelsea is wishing that I would just hang it up and go to bed. So I believe that I will.
Tomorrow, Dick will come home to test things out. Lori, his therapist, will come along with us. It will be a test run.
Love
Mary
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Such a nice peaceful Sunday.
Chelsea did not get me up until 3:30AM and I was able to get back to sleep. I really COULD have slept much longer than I did this morning but figured I had better get up when it got close to 6:30AM as I was afraid of being chastised by the critters if I slept much longer.
I spent the time before going over to be with Dick getting ready for tomorrow. Monday's are supposed to be MY day. And it is. I have Bible Study and coincidentally it is also the Cream City Writers meeting in the afternoon AND the CWI meeting in the evening. That would really be enough but Dick has an appointment with Dr. Moreno at 2:45PM so there is scarcely an hour of free space in there. Oh Well. that is the way it goes sometimes. Everything happens "to oncst".
I ate dinner/lunch with Dick in the dining room. We were served turkey and pumpkin pie. Quite good. Then I went out to the Whirl Wind to participate in the annual sausage tasting. I had opted out of rabbit hunting but it was nice to see the hunters anyway. Seven people brought venison sausage made at 7 different meat markets, or at home. We also had a stick of beef Johnsonville sausage. The idea is that all the people in the bar ( there was a pretty good crowd today) taste all of them and choose their favorites. I don't know who the winner was as of yet but I have to say that this year there was not a real dud in the mix. Some years it is really easy to eliminate some. I picked one early but did not hate any of them.
Then I cam home and finished up a few more things for tomorrow before going back to help Dick with a few things and to massage his leg. That is very important for circulation and for toughening it up so the prosthesis won't bother it.
And here I am home again and ready to call it for the night.
I got the funniest email from my friend Janet. I sent it to Bobbie and she agrees. I am going to copy and paste it her for you.
Love
Mary
Chelsea did not get me up until 3:30AM and I was able to get back to sleep. I really COULD have slept much longer than I did this morning but figured I had better get up when it got close to 6:30AM as I was afraid of being chastised by the critters if I slept much longer.
I spent the time before going over to be with Dick getting ready for tomorrow. Monday's are supposed to be MY day. And it is. I have Bible Study and coincidentally it is also the Cream City Writers meeting in the afternoon AND the CWI meeting in the evening. That would really be enough but Dick has an appointment with Dr. Moreno at 2:45PM so there is scarcely an hour of free space in there. Oh Well. that is the way it goes sometimes. Everything happens "to oncst".
I ate dinner/lunch with Dick in the dining room. We were served turkey and pumpkin pie. Quite good. Then I went out to the Whirl Wind to participate in the annual sausage tasting. I had opted out of rabbit hunting but it was nice to see the hunters anyway. Seven people brought venison sausage made at 7 different meat markets, or at home. We also had a stick of beef Johnsonville sausage. The idea is that all the people in the bar ( there was a pretty good crowd today) taste all of them and choose their favorites. I don't know who the winner was as of yet but I have to say that this year there was not a real dud in the mix. Some years it is really easy to eliminate some. I picked one early but did not hate any of them.
Then I cam home and finished up a few more things for tomorrow before going back to help Dick with a few things and to massage his leg. That is very important for circulation and for toughening it up so the prosthesis won't bother it.
And here I am home again and ready to call it for the night.
I got the funniest email from my friend Janet. I sent it to Bobbie and she agrees. I am going to copy and paste it her for you.
Love
Mary
WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
This really works...!
If you don't believe it, just try this experiment.
Put your dog and your spouse in the trunk of the car for an hour.
When you open the trunk, who is really happy to see you?
When you open the trunk, who is really happy to see you?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The cold spell is SOMEWHAT broken, but we had light snow ALL day long and it is very slippery out there.
I even fell, for the first time this year, coming down the drive from church. I knew I should have taken the stairs but lots of people were going down that drive. A very nice gentleman helped me up. I did not hurt myself as I landed on my padded behind and was wearing my long coat.
I cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen floor today. That floor was probably a waste of time with all of the snow out there, but I can't just let it build up.
I spent the morning with Dick, then came home for lunch and to rest for a while. Jim and Michelle came over from Oshkosh this afternoon. They came to visit Jim's Mom with her Christmas presents. With the bad weather, the had been unable to get there before then. Then they spent some time with Dick and came here to see me. I was able to "bribe" them with the leftover candy canes for Jim. They are doing well, and happy with their kitties. They said that Boots and the new lady, Skylar are getting along fine and a delightful source of entertainment.
Roxie came out to see them but Oscar did not show up. Roxie was very cuddly when I laid down for my nap. She kept me nice and warm.
I went to Mass at 4PM. Fr. Van Beeck was not there, the priest that subbed for him was the priest who gave the homily at Fr. Van Beeck's very first Mass. He was a wonderful speaker too.
Then I stopped at the Center and had supper with Dick. I pretty much ate and ran because of the snow and all of the slippery stuff.
So that was my Saturday. Not too exciting but full. Tomorrow should be very quiet. If the roads are OK, I will spend a chunk of it with Dick. A week from tomorrow he is coming home. I have begun bringing some of his stuff home so it won't be a big deal next week. The major problem will be the green recliner, we are not sure if it will fit in the wagon. I will measure tomorrow.
The car is very easy to drive. Did I tell you that there is a place to store a collapsed umbrella in the driver side door? Another cool thing.
Love
Mary
I even fell, for the first time this year, coming down the drive from church. I knew I should have taken the stairs but lots of people were going down that drive. A very nice gentleman helped me up. I did not hurt myself as I landed on my padded behind and was wearing my long coat.
I cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen floor today. That floor was probably a waste of time with all of the snow out there, but I can't just let it build up.
I spent the morning with Dick, then came home for lunch and to rest for a while. Jim and Michelle came over from Oshkosh this afternoon. They came to visit Jim's Mom with her Christmas presents. With the bad weather, the had been unable to get there before then. Then they spent some time with Dick and came here to see me. I was able to "bribe" them with the leftover candy canes for Jim. They are doing well, and happy with their kitties. They said that Boots and the new lady, Skylar are getting along fine and a delightful source of entertainment.
Roxie came out to see them but Oscar did not show up. Roxie was very cuddly when I laid down for my nap. She kept me nice and warm.
I went to Mass at 4PM. Fr. Van Beeck was not there, the priest that subbed for him was the priest who gave the homily at Fr. Van Beeck's very first Mass. He was a wonderful speaker too.
Then I stopped at the Center and had supper with Dick. I pretty much ate and ran because of the snow and all of the slippery stuff.
So that was my Saturday. Not too exciting but full. Tomorrow should be very quiet. If the roads are OK, I will spend a chunk of it with Dick. A week from tomorrow he is coming home. I have begun bringing some of his stuff home so it won't be a big deal next week. The major problem will be the green recliner, we are not sure if it will fit in the wagon. I will measure tomorrow.
The car is very easy to drive. Did I tell you that there is a place to store a collapsed umbrella in the driver side door? Another cool thing.
Love
Mary
Friday, January 16, 2009
Another Very Cold Day. But, at least it DID get above zero for a good portion of the day. Goofy Chelsea woke me up at 2AM this morning. This getting old is hard on the canine individuals too.
I went back to bed until 6AM then got up and took care of all the critters, showered, then went over to pick up breakfast for Dick and me from Mc Donalds. It was a red letter day starting with the next event.
At 8AM we went down to therapy. Tim from National Prosthesis was there with his modified prosthesis. They got to work almost immediately. He put the leg onto Dick and then he stood up and using the parallel bars walked back and forth three times, resting between each walk so that Tim could make adjustments and check the leg. There was little pain this time and no problem with abrasion or bleeding on the leg so we are really happy. The leg will remain at therapy for the next week or two and he will practice on it during therapy sessions. His next session is on Tuesday which is just perfect as he sees Dr. Moreno on Monday and he can confirm that there is no problem with the healing wounds.
After Dinner/lunch, I drove over to VW Motorville in Sheboygan and purchased a car. Isn't that exciting? Dick is really proud of me. I really did it all by myself. We are now the proud owners of a 2009 VW Passat Station Wagon. It is very nice. I am comfortable driving it. There are a LOT of really nice features. One very small thing, the car has winter and summer floor mats. The winter are rubber and have grooves to catch the water. The summer are carpet. I'll tell you other things as we go along.
When I got home, Bobbie and Bill were here trying to locate studs so Bill can install the grab bars that we need in the bathroom for Dick. We went over to Fleet Farm when he had them located but he was not happy with the bars that they had so he and Bobbie will go to Home Care Resources to see what they have. Bobbie and I found nice leather mittens lines with fuzzy glove linings that will keep our hands toasty warm in this awful cold.
I fixed a light supper and then went over to spend an hour or so with Dick. I was going to go pistol shooting as league was supposed to start tonight, BUT it is SO cold that they will not do trap and the basement range will be unbearably cold also. Toni and John had decided to wait. I called Nancy and she was SO glad that we decided to wait. She also remembers how cold it is down there.
Now I am home and the day is rapidly winding down. Roxie is curled up in the box that I am putting tax receipts in, Chelsea is at my feet and Oscar must still be under the chair.
A couple of Jeff Foxworthy's comments about Wisconsin.
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through
March, you might live inWisconsin . (We have a restaurant in Plymouth, Chester's, that does that very thing.)
You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a
raging blizzard, without flinching.
You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still
winter and road construction.
Have a nice Saturday.
Love.
Mary.
I went back to bed until 6AM then got up and took care of all the critters, showered, then went over to pick up breakfast for Dick and me from Mc Donalds. It was a red letter day starting with the next event.
At 8AM we went down to therapy. Tim from National Prosthesis was there with his modified prosthesis. They got to work almost immediately. He put the leg onto Dick and then he stood up and using the parallel bars walked back and forth three times, resting between each walk so that Tim could make adjustments and check the leg. There was little pain this time and no problem with abrasion or bleeding on the leg so we are really happy. The leg will remain at therapy for the next week or two and he will practice on it during therapy sessions. His next session is on Tuesday which is just perfect as he sees Dr. Moreno on Monday and he can confirm that there is no problem with the healing wounds.
After Dinner/lunch, I drove over to VW Motorville in Sheboygan and purchased a car. Isn't that exciting? Dick is really proud of me. I really did it all by myself. We are now the proud owners of a 2009 VW Passat Station Wagon. It is very nice. I am comfortable driving it. There are a LOT of really nice features. One very small thing, the car has winter and summer floor mats. The winter are rubber and have grooves to catch the water. The summer are carpet. I'll tell you other things as we go along.
When I got home, Bobbie and Bill were here trying to locate studs so Bill can install the grab bars that we need in the bathroom for Dick. We went over to Fleet Farm when he had them located but he was not happy with the bars that they had so he and Bobbie will go to Home Care Resources to see what they have. Bobbie and I found nice leather mittens lines with fuzzy glove linings that will keep our hands toasty warm in this awful cold.
I fixed a light supper and then went over to spend an hour or so with Dick. I was going to go pistol shooting as league was supposed to start tonight, BUT it is SO cold that they will not do trap and the basement range will be unbearably cold also. Toni and John had decided to wait. I called Nancy and she was SO glad that we decided to wait. She also remembers how cold it is down there.
Now I am home and the day is rapidly winding down. Roxie is curled up in the box that I am putting tax receipts in, Chelsea is at my feet and Oscar must still be under the chair.
A couple of Jeff Foxworthy's comments about Wisconsin.
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through
March, you might live inWisconsin . (We have a restaurant in Plymouth, Chester's, that does that very thing.)
You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow during a
raging blizzard, without flinching.
You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still
winter and road construction.
Have a nice Saturday.
Love.
Mary.
Look at the time. I forgot to do this last night. I did not wake up willingly at this hour, but Chelsea bopped at me about 15 minutes ago. I am really getting worried about that. She seems to be waking up earlier and earlier. I take her out, as I have said, and go back to bed, but this is really tiring. I don't know how much unbroken sleep I will get at all when Dick comes home. This is one of my worries. Oh well, we will work it out. We are all getting older around her.
Yesterday, I DID stay home all day, that is probably why I forgot to blog.
I did SOME cleaning, made a dozen phone calls and bought a car. I will pick up the 2009 VW Passat Wagon this afternoon at about 1PM.
Jeff called, he and Kathy are back from Hawaii. The guys are going rabbit hunting Sunday. I told him that I am just not up to it this year. He said that I should join them at the Whirl Wind for the sausage tasting shortly after noon. Perhaps I will. That would be a nice break.
Nora called too, suspecting that with the cold I would be home. So it was a nice day.
Now I am going back to bed and shutting the door.
Love
Mary
So that is tha main exci
Yesterday, I DID stay home all day, that is probably why I forgot to blog.
I did SOME cleaning, made a dozen phone calls and bought a car. I will pick up the 2009 VW Passat Wagon this afternoon at about 1PM.
Jeff called, he and Kathy are back from Hawaii. The guys are going rabbit hunting Sunday. I told him that I am just not up to it this year. He said that I should join them at the Whirl Wind for the sausage tasting shortly after noon. Perhaps I will. That would be a nice break.
Nora called too, suspecting that with the cold I would be home. So it was a nice day.
Now I am going back to bed and shutting the door.
Love
Mary
So that is tha main exci
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
It was cold and rather snowy today, never getting above 9 degrees that I could tell. I did the grocery shopping this morning, then went over to stay with Dick and have dinner/lunch with him. As soon as I was done eating, I drove to Motorville VW in Sheboygan and picked up a Passat Station Wagon to bring back to the Center for Dick's "therapy".
We had pretty much made up our minds that if he could transfer from the wheelchair to a car seat without much trouble, we would go that route. It would save having to have a conversion done to the vehicle and be a bit easier to drive and park. It worked. I parked in a disabled area in front of the Center and Lori, the PT, and I brought Dick out to the car. I put a piece of cardboard down so he did not have to get his foot in the snow. Lori helped him position the transfer board and he scooted over and back with minimal difficulty. There was plenty of leg room all around.
So, I took the car back to Motorville and Al and I sat down to talk turkey. He had our Explorer appraised. I had already looked it up on blue book and knew what the trade in was. Anyway, he came back with an offer that I think is fair. Possibly, going to a bigger dealer in a bigger community might save us a bit. We could spend less by going to a used car, or buying a used Town and Country, and getting a conversion done.
BUT, this is a nice car, has a great maintenance package attached, we will be moving back to a brand new vehicle and the maintenance will be done in the county. So, I will call Al tomorrow and we will see how it will work out to do the deed.
I had supper with Dick too. When I got home, I heated up the lasagna that Kate had sent home for us, fixed a quick salad and hurried over so we would be pretty close to schedule.
Tomorrow, it is not supposed to go above zero. Even the schools are closing for the day. I am staying home, for sure. It will be nice to be in my cave hibernating on such a day. I am sure that Critters will be happy. Each of them has opted for special attention tonight. I love getting the cuddling.
Take care and stay warm.
Love
Mary
We had pretty much made up our minds that if he could transfer from the wheelchair to a car seat without much trouble, we would go that route. It would save having to have a conversion done to the vehicle and be a bit easier to drive and park. It worked. I parked in a disabled area in front of the Center and Lori, the PT, and I brought Dick out to the car. I put a piece of cardboard down so he did not have to get his foot in the snow. Lori helped him position the transfer board and he scooted over and back with minimal difficulty. There was plenty of leg room all around.
So, I took the car back to Motorville and Al and I sat down to talk turkey. He had our Explorer appraised. I had already looked it up on blue book and knew what the trade in was. Anyway, he came back with an offer that I think is fair. Possibly, going to a bigger dealer in a bigger community might save us a bit. We could spend less by going to a used car, or buying a used Town and Country, and getting a conversion done.
BUT, this is a nice car, has a great maintenance package attached, we will be moving back to a brand new vehicle and the maintenance will be done in the county. So, I will call Al tomorrow and we will see how it will work out to do the deed.
I had supper with Dick too. When I got home, I heated up the lasagna that Kate had sent home for us, fixed a quick salad and hurried over so we would be pretty close to schedule.
Tomorrow, it is not supposed to go above zero. Even the schools are closing for the day. I am staying home, for sure. It will be nice to be in my cave hibernating on such a day. I am sure that Critters will be happy. Each of them has opted for special attention tonight. I love getting the cuddling.
Take care and stay warm.
Love
Mary
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
What a day. It started out, I thought, quite normally. Chelsea got me up way too early and I took her out and went back to bed as usual. I got up at what I thought was a little after six. I fed the critters and took my shower and ate an orange. Then I looked at the clock again and it was just coming up on 6AM. I was a whole hour early.
SO I took the rest of the tree down and then took a nap to catch up on my hour.
I went over to see Dick at 9:00AM. I left there at about 10AM so I could drop some stuff off at Kate's on my way to the other things that I had scheduled today. Kate invited me over to dinner tonight and I accepted.
My next stop was Walgreens to pick up a prescription for Mother. Then I headed over to Aurora Plymouth for my mammogram. While I was in the Clinic, I picked up a prescription from Dr. Sharon for Dick's wheelchair and dropped off some papers with the billing department to have a charge that Medicare was denying resubmitted.
After my mammogram, sure wish they could fibure out a less uncomfortable way to do that, I drove to City Hall to pay the first half of the RE Taxes and to get Chelsea's license renewed.
I had a half an hour so I stopped at The Sewing Basket and found three nice pices of fabric on sale. Finally I went to the dentist and Dr. White put the permenant filling in the tooth that had the root canal done last month.
Then I got to go home and eat. I ate lightly because I was going out for dinner and then took a nap. It was way too short because Chelsea woke me up before I was done, but it was a nap.
I fed the critters at 4PM and went over to see Dick until it was time to join Kate and Ron for dinner. Kate served a fabulous salad, full of greens and fruit and cheese and bits of ham and lasagna. Num Num
Now I am home, it is 6 below zero and I am so grateful to be warm and safe.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, I will be bringing a car for Dick to test out.
Thursday, it is supposed to be below zero all day. If it proves true, Dick and I have decided that I will just stay home all day. Seems sensible.
Take care and keep warm.
Love
Mary
SO I took the rest of the tree down and then took a nap to catch up on my hour.
I went over to see Dick at 9:00AM. I left there at about 10AM so I could drop some stuff off at Kate's on my way to the other things that I had scheduled today. Kate invited me over to dinner tonight and I accepted.
My next stop was Walgreens to pick up a prescription for Mother. Then I headed over to Aurora Plymouth for my mammogram. While I was in the Clinic, I picked up a prescription from Dr. Sharon for Dick's wheelchair and dropped off some papers with the billing department to have a charge that Medicare was denying resubmitted.
After my mammogram, sure wish they could fibure out a less uncomfortable way to do that, I drove to City Hall to pay the first half of the RE Taxes and to get Chelsea's license renewed.
I had a half an hour so I stopped at The Sewing Basket and found three nice pices of fabric on sale. Finally I went to the dentist and Dr. White put the permenant filling in the tooth that had the root canal done last month.
Then I got to go home and eat. I ate lightly because I was going out for dinner and then took a nap. It was way too short because Chelsea woke me up before I was done, but it was a nap.
I fed the critters at 4PM and went over to see Dick until it was time to join Kate and Ron for dinner. Kate served a fabulous salad, full of greens and fruit and cheese and bits of ham and lasagna. Num Num
Now I am home, it is 6 below zero and I am so grateful to be warm and safe.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, I will be bringing a car for Dick to test out.
Thursday, it is supposed to be below zero all day. If it proves true, Dick and I have decided that I will just stay home all day. Seems sensible.
Take care and keep warm.
Love
Mary
Monday, January 12, 2009
What a day. It turned out a little differently than I had planned. My list had to be adjusted.
I filled the gas tank on my way over to see Dick this morning in anticipation of the Arctic cold that is supposed to be coming upon us tonight and lasting until at least Friday. I took Dick an orange on my way to Bible Study.
We had a nice group this morning. With streets no longer icy and people feeling better we had seven of us.
As we were starting our prayer, my cell phone rang. It was my friend, Kate. One of her kitties, Maggie, has been sick for a while, but was throwing up blood and blood was coming from the other place too. Poor baby was not eating and had even stopped drinking. Kate and Ron had decided that she had to be put to sleep. Ron had to go to work and Kate could not go along. I changed a few things around and after dropping some food off at Mother's and checking on her, I went directly over to Kate's home. She wrapped sweet Maggie in a towel and we went over to Kettle Morraine. I think Maggie knew that something was up, but I think she sensed great care. Kate said that car rides and the vet had terrified her so much that she had not been to the vet for 7 years. She was perfectly calm in Kate's arms. I held her while Kate wrote the check and hummed and soothed her and she purred in my arms. Then when the technician took her from Kate, Maggie actually hugged her and buried her head in the technician's neck. This was comforting because the technician hugged her back and Kate could see that Maggie was not afraid and that she would be treated with love. Not a great way to spend a day but Maggie is safe now.
On the way back, we stopped here so that I could let Chelsea out and Kate could meet Roxie and Oscar. After dropping Kate off (I hope she is OK. She will have to be comforting Victoria and Riley, her other cats), I went directly to the Care Center to be there when Custom Care came to take Dick to see Dr. Moreno. As the CNAs were getting him ready, he pushed down on the foot pad of the wheelchair and it snapped like a big branch. Scared the dickens out of all four of us. We had to go to the doctor without it but gave the broken one to Scott, one of the maintenance men, to see if he could find a replacement. (By golly, when we got back, Scott had found one and by the time I arrived after supper at about 5:30PM it was all fixed.)
Both Brian and Dorothy, Dr. Moreno's nurses, were there today. Dorothy got everything unwrapped and ready for Dr. Moreno. He took the main dressings off and PROCLAIMED the smaller wound all HEALED. The larger one has reduced by a LOT. He is going to be sure that we can get him home by the time we want. He can now stand on the foot, but NO piviting. SO, barring weather, I will be bringing a car for him to try to get into on Wednesday. Weather is just NOT cooperating. It is supposed to be single digits and snowing - all week.
Brian redressed the wound for the next week and we see Dr. Moreno next Monday. I left the papers with Annette at the front desk of the Center. Dick called a few minutes ago and said that they cannot find them. Good thing I know who people are. I also had her write down the next appoinment and pick up time, so I will have to check again tomorrow.
I came home when we got back to eat and take care of the critters. I went back to the Center to massage Dick's leg and do the things that I do for him then came right home because it is already starting to snow and we decided that I should be safe and sound at home.
Chelsea seems very tired today. This morning, I noticed that when she moved from one favorite spot to another to lie down, her tail was dragging on the ground. We all know that Chelsea usually "wears" her tail like a proud flag. Poor baby. She is wearing out too. Ione, one of my Bible Study Buddies, laughed when I mentioned that Chelsea is growing old too. "Aren't we all." we agreed.
Love and have a good tomorrow.
Mary
I filled the gas tank on my way over to see Dick this morning in anticipation of the Arctic cold that is supposed to be coming upon us tonight and lasting until at least Friday. I took Dick an orange on my way to Bible Study.
We had a nice group this morning. With streets no longer icy and people feeling better we had seven of us.
As we were starting our prayer, my cell phone rang. It was my friend, Kate. One of her kitties, Maggie, has been sick for a while, but was throwing up blood and blood was coming from the other place too. Poor baby was not eating and had even stopped drinking. Kate and Ron had decided that she had to be put to sleep. Ron had to go to work and Kate could not go along. I changed a few things around and after dropping some food off at Mother's and checking on her, I went directly over to Kate's home. She wrapped sweet Maggie in a towel and we went over to Kettle Morraine. I think Maggie knew that something was up, but I think she sensed great care. Kate said that car rides and the vet had terrified her so much that she had not been to the vet for 7 years. She was perfectly calm in Kate's arms. I held her while Kate wrote the check and hummed and soothed her and she purred in my arms. Then when the technician took her from Kate, Maggie actually hugged her and buried her head in the technician's neck. This was comforting because the technician hugged her back and Kate could see that Maggie was not afraid and that she would be treated with love. Not a great way to spend a day but Maggie is safe now.
On the way back, we stopped here so that I could let Chelsea out and Kate could meet Roxie and Oscar. After dropping Kate off (I hope she is OK. She will have to be comforting Victoria and Riley, her other cats), I went directly to the Care Center to be there when Custom Care came to take Dick to see Dr. Moreno. As the CNAs were getting him ready, he pushed down on the foot pad of the wheelchair and it snapped like a big branch. Scared the dickens out of all four of us. We had to go to the doctor without it but gave the broken one to Scott, one of the maintenance men, to see if he could find a replacement. (By golly, when we got back, Scott had found one and by the time I arrived after supper at about 5:30PM it was all fixed.)
Both Brian and Dorothy, Dr. Moreno's nurses, were there today. Dorothy got everything unwrapped and ready for Dr. Moreno. He took the main dressings off and PROCLAIMED the smaller wound all HEALED. The larger one has reduced by a LOT. He is going to be sure that we can get him home by the time we want. He can now stand on the foot, but NO piviting. SO, barring weather, I will be bringing a car for him to try to get into on Wednesday. Weather is just NOT cooperating. It is supposed to be single digits and snowing - all week.
Brian redressed the wound for the next week and we see Dr. Moreno next Monday. I left the papers with Annette at the front desk of the Center. Dick called a few minutes ago and said that they cannot find them. Good thing I know who people are. I also had her write down the next appoinment and pick up time, so I will have to check again tomorrow.
I came home when we got back to eat and take care of the critters. I went back to the Center to massage Dick's leg and do the things that I do for him then came right home because it is already starting to snow and we decided that I should be safe and sound at home.
Chelsea seems very tired today. This morning, I noticed that when she moved from one favorite spot to another to lie down, her tail was dragging on the ground. We all know that Chelsea usually "wears" her tail like a proud flag. Poor baby. She is wearing out too. Ione, one of my Bible Study Buddies, laughed when I mentioned that Chelsea is growing old too. "Aren't we all." we agreed.
Love and have a good tomorrow.
Mary
Sunday, January 11, 2009
This was a very nice Sunday.
I got all the ornaments packed away today. All that is left is the tree itself and my Santas. Dick and I figured out that I can just take the tree down, one section at a time and store it away. Then I can vacuum the living room. Held off a few days because of the mess.
I went over to spend the morning with Dick. We just spend time being "together". I read a bit and did a suduku and he watched TV and rested. He seemed a bit tired this morning.
I went back home after taking him down for his dinner. I had my lunch then laid down for a nap. I slept for over and hour and a half, so must have needed it.
I took my supper over to eat with Dick. We had them bring his tray down to the Solarium at the Center. There was noone else in there tonight so it was a pleasant change. His table in the dining room is pretty full again. That makes it kind of hard for me to eat in there with him. At least if I order one of their meals. If I bring my own, I can always sit at a corner of the table next to Dick.
Anyway it was a restful day. Good thing because the next three days are going to be a whirlwind. Somehow real deadlines are looming. How is it that no matter how one prepares, one is always faced with these things that have to be stuck in a short period of time? Must remember that all I have to do is my best, one step at a time, and things WILL be OK. Somebody has always seen to that. And I trust that He will again.
Now I am home watching the Golden Globes. With Dick, even if he is there and I am here. We know.
I read today in the new Reader's Digest that one should set a goal to say Hello to everybody that you meet. A man said that he heard about it in Japan and said NiHao to every body. He decided that people were much friendlier in Japan UNTIL he came back to the US and tried it here. He decided that this friendliness stuff if pretty much universal.
Lets ALL try it.
Roxie is spending a lot of time on my lap and/or on the desk under the lamp. Oscar is beginning to cuddle me at night and sleep on the cedar chest at the foot of the bed. I feel like our family will be complete as soon as we get Dick home. I am sure that Chelsea will resent his taking her place on the bed but she can stay for a couple of hours as he usually doesn't come in until about 11PM
Love
Mary
I got all the ornaments packed away today. All that is left is the tree itself and my Santas. Dick and I figured out that I can just take the tree down, one section at a time and store it away. Then I can vacuum the living room. Held off a few days because of the mess.
I went over to spend the morning with Dick. We just spend time being "together". I read a bit and did a suduku and he watched TV and rested. He seemed a bit tired this morning.
I went back home after taking him down for his dinner. I had my lunch then laid down for a nap. I slept for over and hour and a half, so must have needed it.
I took my supper over to eat with Dick. We had them bring his tray down to the Solarium at the Center. There was noone else in there tonight so it was a pleasant change. His table in the dining room is pretty full again. That makes it kind of hard for me to eat in there with him. At least if I order one of their meals. If I bring my own, I can always sit at a corner of the table next to Dick.
Anyway it was a restful day. Good thing because the next three days are going to be a whirlwind. Somehow real deadlines are looming. How is it that no matter how one prepares, one is always faced with these things that have to be stuck in a short period of time? Must remember that all I have to do is my best, one step at a time, and things WILL be OK. Somebody has always seen to that. And I trust that He will again.
Now I am home watching the Golden Globes. With Dick, even if he is there and I am here. We know.
I read today in the new Reader's Digest that one should set a goal to say Hello to everybody that you meet. A man said that he heard about it in Japan and said NiHao to every body. He decided that people were much friendlier in Japan UNTIL he came back to the US and tried it here. He decided that this friendliness stuff if pretty much universal.
Lets ALL try it.
Roxie is spending a lot of time on my lap and/or on the desk under the lamp. Oscar is beginning to cuddle me at night and sleep on the cedar chest at the foot of the bed. I feel like our family will be complete as soon as we get Dick home. I am sure that Chelsea will resent his taking her place on the bed but she can stay for a couple of hours as he usually doesn't come in until about 11PM
Love
Mary
Saturday, January 10, 2009
I have all the ornaments off of the tree. I finished tonight.
It was a busy morning too. I had to shovel a bit of the driveway and the front walk. AND I had to do the kitchen floor. One might say that was not necessary, but I couldn't stand it so it WAS necessary.
Anyway, by the time I got over to see Dick, I was so tired, he sent me home for a nap. I made some Schlitzhagen and mashed potatoes and took that, with a salad over to the Care Center and we had lunch/dinner together. We "hung out" until 3:30PM when I headed for church. I sat with my friend Ceil. It was one of my assigned times to be a Eucharistic Minister. I love to do that. It is just amazing to me that I can be one who shares our Savior with my fellow Christians. Wow.
When I left there, I came home and took care of the critters and ate my supper. I fixed a soup that my friend Peggy Feider told me about. It is SO simple and so good. One just mixes a can of pea soup, a can of tomato soup and a can of crab pieces. She apologized for its easiness. It is really good. Too bad Dick wouldn't like it. I mixed it all up and just heated what I was going to eat. I figured it won't do very well with reheating but should keep long enough for me to finish it. I can take a bowl to Mom on Monday too.
Dick and I were together from about 5:30 to 7PM too. I like to be there to take care of a few things that he needs, like filling his CPAP machine. We know that the nurses would do it but I like to do a few things for him.
Well, it is about time to go to bed now. Did I tell you that the Wild Game Dinner is going to be on February 7th this year? Jim and Michelle are excited and want to help me serve again. I have heard that Stenn and Bing are planning on coming. It is always a fun event. If Dick is home, I will have to do some preplanning so he is not alone too long. At least it is close, at Randy and Donna's house.
I need to plan how to cook the roast this year. Perhap a Texas Brisket type. That is really good. I do love to cook.
Take care
Love
Mary
It was a busy morning too. I had to shovel a bit of the driveway and the front walk. AND I had to do the kitchen floor. One might say that was not necessary, but I couldn't stand it so it WAS necessary.
Anyway, by the time I got over to see Dick, I was so tired, he sent me home for a nap. I made some Schlitzhagen and mashed potatoes and took that, with a salad over to the Care Center and we had lunch/dinner together. We "hung out" until 3:30PM when I headed for church. I sat with my friend Ceil. It was one of my assigned times to be a Eucharistic Minister. I love to do that. It is just amazing to me that I can be one who shares our Savior with my fellow Christians. Wow.
When I left there, I came home and took care of the critters and ate my supper. I fixed a soup that my friend Peggy Feider told me about. It is SO simple and so good. One just mixes a can of pea soup, a can of tomato soup and a can of crab pieces. She apologized for its easiness. It is really good. Too bad Dick wouldn't like it. I mixed it all up and just heated what I was going to eat. I figured it won't do very well with reheating but should keep long enough for me to finish it. I can take a bowl to Mom on Monday too.
Dick and I were together from about 5:30 to 7PM too. I like to be there to take care of a few things that he needs, like filling his CPAP machine. We know that the nurses would do it but I like to do a few things for him.
Well, it is about time to go to bed now. Did I tell you that the Wild Game Dinner is going to be on February 7th this year? Jim and Michelle are excited and want to help me serve again. I have heard that Stenn and Bing are planning on coming. It is always a fun event. If Dick is home, I will have to do some preplanning so he is not alone too long. At least it is close, at Randy and Donna's house.
I need to plan how to cook the roast this year. Perhap a Texas Brisket type. That is really good. I do love to cook.
Take care
Love
Mary
Friday, January 09, 2009
The snow that they warned us about turned out to be quite mild in our area. Actually this morning, the news was already saying that Sheboygan and Fond du Lac counties would be spared the brunt of the storm. We got probably less than a inch.
It was a bit slippery but not too bad. I stopped off to see Dick before going to Sheboygan to give blood. That worked out well. I had a 10:15AM appointment. The guy who set me up managed to get me hooked up on the first poke. Usually they are jabbing around and it is not too comfortable.
Anyway, on the way back, I stopped at Fleet Farm and picked up the stain for the ramp. Of course, I can't do anything about that until the temperature gets over 50 degrees, but I want to be ready. I also got some grip tape to put on it for when Dick comes home. It will make it easier to move the chair up and down and help when he does get his prosthesis. I also checked the grab bars. They have all lengths. I will also check with the Department on Aging. They helped get the bars in the bathrooms. If I buy them, I have to determine how to figure out where the studs are. The one on the cabinet will have to use either toggle bolts OR support boards in back of the screws to reinforce it.
For the first time in several weeks, I was able to join my bank friends for lunch at the Dairy Queen. That was a nice break and I ate a hamburger and onion rings. Tasted real good but I still was very tired and kind of weak when I went back to the Care Center, so Dick sent me home to take a nap. Then I joined him for supper at 5PM. We visited until 6:30PM then I came home, to the delight of the critter.
I have been taking ornaments off of the tree and Roxie is finding that quite interesting. I hope to be done before the weekend is over, BUT it IS quite a job. Oscar is cuddled up on my lap right now. He is such a cozy little guy.
Tomorrow I am going to make Schlitzhagen. I have been hungry for that. Have I told you about Schlitzhagen.
Years ago, Dad was a good friend of a family named Fitzpatrick. Mr. Fitzpatrick operated a bar called Fitz's on Broadway in Sheboygan Falls. It is now the Other Place. The Fitzpatricks served dinners also in their bar among the dinners broasted chicken. One day, Fitz asked Dad if he had any use for chicken broth. They had buckets of it from parboiling the chicken for their dinners.
Dad brought a bucket home and Mom invented Schlitzhagen. Actually we kids made up the name. Schlitz because the broth came from a bar and hagen because it sounded kind of German. Why that was important, who knows, we were kids.
Anyway, Mom took a meat loaf mixture, rolled it into meatballs, floured the meatballs, browned them and dropped them into the hot chicken broth. Then she thickened the broth a bit and served it over mashed potatoes. It is SO nummy.
Have a wonderful weekend. It is supposed to be clear and about 25 degrees. We are going to enjoy that heat wave as we are supposed to be getting a real freeze coming through on Tuesday. It will be well below zero at nights and never break single digets during the day. Poor Chelsea has not had a real walk in over a month. It is either slippery, snowing or too cold.
All my love
Mary
It was a bit slippery but not too bad. I stopped off to see Dick before going to Sheboygan to give blood. That worked out well. I had a 10:15AM appointment. The guy who set me up managed to get me hooked up on the first poke. Usually they are jabbing around and it is not too comfortable.
Anyway, on the way back, I stopped at Fleet Farm and picked up the stain for the ramp. Of course, I can't do anything about that until the temperature gets over 50 degrees, but I want to be ready. I also got some grip tape to put on it for when Dick comes home. It will make it easier to move the chair up and down and help when he does get his prosthesis. I also checked the grab bars. They have all lengths. I will also check with the Department on Aging. They helped get the bars in the bathrooms. If I buy them, I have to determine how to figure out where the studs are. The one on the cabinet will have to use either toggle bolts OR support boards in back of the screws to reinforce it.
For the first time in several weeks, I was able to join my bank friends for lunch at the Dairy Queen. That was a nice break and I ate a hamburger and onion rings. Tasted real good but I still was very tired and kind of weak when I went back to the Care Center, so Dick sent me home to take a nap. Then I joined him for supper at 5PM. We visited until 6:30PM then I came home, to the delight of the critter.
I have been taking ornaments off of the tree and Roxie is finding that quite interesting. I hope to be done before the weekend is over, BUT it IS quite a job. Oscar is cuddled up on my lap right now. He is such a cozy little guy.
Tomorrow I am going to make Schlitzhagen. I have been hungry for that. Have I told you about Schlitzhagen.
Years ago, Dad was a good friend of a family named Fitzpatrick. Mr. Fitzpatrick operated a bar called Fitz's on Broadway in Sheboygan Falls. It is now the Other Place. The Fitzpatricks served dinners also in their bar among the dinners broasted chicken. One day, Fitz asked Dad if he had any use for chicken broth. They had buckets of it from parboiling the chicken for their dinners.
Dad brought a bucket home and Mom invented Schlitzhagen. Actually we kids made up the name. Schlitz because the broth came from a bar and hagen because it sounded kind of German. Why that was important, who knows, we were kids.
Anyway, Mom took a meat loaf mixture, rolled it into meatballs, floured the meatballs, browned them and dropped them into the hot chicken broth. Then she thickened the broth a bit and served it over mashed potatoes. It is SO nummy.
Have a wonderful weekend. It is supposed to be clear and about 25 degrees. We are going to enjoy that heat wave as we are supposed to be getting a real freeze coming through on Tuesday. It will be well below zero at nights and never break single digets during the day. Poor Chelsea has not had a real walk in over a month. It is either slippery, snowing or too cold.
All my love
Mary
Thursday, January 08, 2009
A very strange day. There was snow all over the driveway and walk. I scraped the sidewalk and the first couple feet of the driveway near the door. More snow is expected tomorrow and then in a couple of days - another really cold couple of days. They are talking minus zero.
I went over to see Dick at about 9AM. We had a nice morning. I went down to therapy with him this morning and he is working on sliding onto the john. He did pretty good for the first time. He got on to it without using the right leg. In other words, just using his arms and behind. Getting off we had to use the board and were not as successful, but it will improve. We have three weeks to get him REALLY good. Then he will be home - Yea!!!!!
I came home at noon for dinner and to rest. For some reason I was very tired. I did get a nice nap right after lunch. Then I vacuumed the two upstairs bedrooms and sewed some of the squares for Dick's lap robe together.
I had supper with Dick tonight. I made a salmon salad and had that with crackers and brie. Dick gave me his sherbet - so I even had dessert.
Now I am home safe and sound with a little Chelsea at my feet and a little Roxie on my lap.
Today I remembered something that I did to poor Waylon when Bart and I were living in our little house on Broadway in Sheboygan Falls. The dining room had a built in china cabinet on one wall with nice deep wide drawers on the bottom. I kept towels and such in those nice deep drawers. One morning as I was heading out the door to work, one of the drawers was open so I pushed it shut as I ran out the door. I was alone at the time because Bart was in California visiting his brother and father.
When I cam home that night, I let Zero out and fed him and then realized that Waylon had not shown up for attention, very unlike him. So I started calling. Then I started hearing the faintest little mews coming from somewhere. I finally figured out that it was from that drawer that I had shut that morning. I opened it and a very grateful pumpkin colored kitty BURST from the drawer. He jumped on me and hugged me around the neck then FLEW downstairs to his littler box. Poor thing. He never figured out that I did it to him. He just loved me even the more because I saved him.
Love
Mary
I went over to see Dick at about 9AM. We had a nice morning. I went down to therapy with him this morning and he is working on sliding onto the john. He did pretty good for the first time. He got on to it without using the right leg. In other words, just using his arms and behind. Getting off we had to use the board and were not as successful, but it will improve. We have three weeks to get him REALLY good. Then he will be home - Yea!!!!!
I came home at noon for dinner and to rest. For some reason I was very tired. I did get a nice nap right after lunch. Then I vacuumed the two upstairs bedrooms and sewed some of the squares for Dick's lap robe together.
I had supper with Dick tonight. I made a salmon salad and had that with crackers and brie. Dick gave me his sherbet - so I even had dessert.
Now I am home safe and sound with a little Chelsea at my feet and a little Roxie on my lap.
Today I remembered something that I did to poor Waylon when Bart and I were living in our little house on Broadway in Sheboygan Falls. The dining room had a built in china cabinet on one wall with nice deep wide drawers on the bottom. I kept towels and such in those nice deep drawers. One morning as I was heading out the door to work, one of the drawers was open so I pushed it shut as I ran out the door. I was alone at the time because Bart was in California visiting his brother and father.
When I cam home that night, I let Zero out and fed him and then realized that Waylon had not shown up for attention, very unlike him. So I started calling. Then I started hearing the faintest little mews coming from somewhere. I finally figured out that it was from that drawer that I had shut that morning. I opened it and a very grateful pumpkin colored kitty BURST from the drawer. He jumped on me and hugged me around the neck then FLEW downstairs to his littler box. Poor thing. He never figured out that I did it to him. He just loved me even the more because I saved him.
Love
Mary
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Hello again. Light snow, most of the day. Chelsea woke me up MUCH later than yesterday. It was all of 3:30AM.
I did hear from her Doctor today. Her B. U. N. level is actually down some which means that her kidneys are working some better. We are going to decrease the furosimide for a week to see if this will reduce the amount of water she is drinking and to see if it will affect her coughing at all. She is coughing somewhat more, but no seizures. After a week, if there is no improvement or if the coughing increases we will do another full blood study on her.
I went grocery shopping this morning, but that was the only time I left the complex. Dick and I decided that I needed a day at home and since it is slippery and cold out there, today seemed like as good a day as any. It was nice. I laid down twice to rest. Could not sleep but at least I shut everything else down and gave my body a chance to unwind. Roxie was my little companion this afternoon. She snuggled right up to my side when I rested this afternoon. That was really comforting.
I also worked on some of our bookkeeping. I sure will be glad when Dick is back and takes back the books again. I don't like it and I make too many mistakes. I can correct them, BUT should not be making them.
I hooked up the new USP back up too. Now I just have to figure out what to do with the old one. It sure is a heavy son of a gun.
I also followed up on disputing a charge on my credit card. I had ordered something and it never came. I have emailed this place several times and have called several times. Today, I tried to call ONE MORE TIME and when I said my name , the lady hung up on me. I called back immediately and got the answering machine. So I told her I would dispute the item, that I am president of CWI and would spread the word, that I was disappointed because I really liked the ring involved and then hung up and called the credit card company.
If the dispute is actually filed, I will tell you the name of the company. I don't want anyone else to go through this. I have spent too much on phone calls and emails to get any pleasure out of the item anyway now. I just hate things like this. This was supposed to be a special present from Dick for Christmas as my Claddagh Ring dissappeared.
Tomorrow is another quiet day. Fr. Van Beeck is saying mass at the Care Center at 10. I have to be there earlier than that because if he gets there early, he starts early and there is no way of knowing. If Dick is not in therapy, he said he would go down with me.
Taken from and Email I received today.
Love
Mary
I did hear from her Doctor today. Her B. U. N. level is actually down some which means that her kidneys are working some better. We are going to decrease the furosimide for a week to see if this will reduce the amount of water she is drinking and to see if it will affect her coughing at all. She is coughing somewhat more, but no seizures. After a week, if there is no improvement or if the coughing increases we will do another full blood study on her.
I went grocery shopping this morning, but that was the only time I left the complex. Dick and I decided that I needed a day at home and since it is slippery and cold out there, today seemed like as good a day as any. It was nice. I laid down twice to rest. Could not sleep but at least I shut everything else down and gave my body a chance to unwind. Roxie was my little companion this afternoon. She snuggled right up to my side when I rested this afternoon. That was really comforting.
I also worked on some of our bookkeeping. I sure will be glad when Dick is back and takes back the books again. I don't like it and I make too many mistakes. I can correct them, BUT should not be making them.
I hooked up the new USP back up too. Now I just have to figure out what to do with the old one. It sure is a heavy son of a gun.
I also followed up on disputing a charge on my credit card. I had ordered something and it never came. I have emailed this place several times and have called several times. Today, I tried to call ONE MORE TIME and when I said my name , the lady hung up on me. I called back immediately and got the answering machine. So I told her I would dispute the item, that I am president of CWI and would spread the word, that I was disappointed because I really liked the ring involved and then hung up and called the credit card company.
If the dispute is actually filed, I will tell you the name of the company. I don't want anyone else to go through this. I have spent too much on phone calls and emails to get any pleasure out of the item anyway now. I just hate things like this. This was supposed to be a special present from Dick for Christmas as my Claddagh Ring dissappeared.
Tomorrow is another quiet day. Fr. Van Beeck is saying mass at the Care Center at 10. I have to be there earlier than that because if he gets there early, he starts early and there is no way of knowing. If Dick is not in therapy, he said he would go down with me.
Taken from and Email I received today.
Love
Mary
THE POWER OF PRAYER. I believe that God only gives three answers to
prayer:
1. 'Yes!'
2. 'Not yet.'
3. 'I have something better in mind.'
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Good news today. We had a 10AM appointment with Dr. Moreno at the Sheboygan Clinic AND he took the dressings off of the grafts AND he was almost ecstatic. Both the wounds are healing very well. The smaller of the two is almost completely covered and the other is filled in and reduced in size unbelieveably well. He said that we are 80% of the way there. There is still no weight bearing but we see him next week for another look see.
When we got back, I had dinner with Dick. A meatloaf dinner that was pretty good. Then Lori and Carrie, his therapists followed me home to look at the bathroom here at home. Now they know what we need to do to get him here. They think that the bathroom will be fine. We will have to get two grab bars put in near the toilet itself. They are having him work on his transfering - even without the slide board over to the bed. And they will figure out what to do about the toilet. Because he still cannot do any weight bearing, we are going to wait until after the next appointment with Dr. Moreno to bring over the cars that we want him to try.
Both therapists and Dr. Moreno have finally agreed with Dick that it is not necessary for him to have the prosthesis fited and working before he comes home. If he can get to the toilet, into the bathtub, into bed and into and out of the car, we are good to go.
So three weeks is becoming a reality. It's about time. We have been apart long enough. I am lonely.
But we are elated. If he is 80% healed, 20% doesn't seem so far away. Especially since the first 80% only took two weeks.
Thanks for all the prayers. We really do appreciate all the support from everybody. I am so grateful for good friends and such a wonderful supportive family.
Love
Mary
When we got back, I had dinner with Dick. A meatloaf dinner that was pretty good. Then Lori and Carrie, his therapists followed me home to look at the bathroom here at home. Now they know what we need to do to get him here. They think that the bathroom will be fine. We will have to get two grab bars put in near the toilet itself. They are having him work on his transfering - even without the slide board over to the bed. And they will figure out what to do about the toilet. Because he still cannot do any weight bearing, we are going to wait until after the next appointment with Dr. Moreno to bring over the cars that we want him to try.
Both therapists and Dr. Moreno have finally agreed with Dick that it is not necessary for him to have the prosthesis fited and working before he comes home. If he can get to the toilet, into the bathtub, into bed and into and out of the car, we are good to go.
So three weeks is becoming a reality. It's about time. We have been apart long enough. I am lonely.
But we are elated. If he is 80% healed, 20% doesn't seem so far away. Especially since the first 80% only took two weeks.
Thanks for all the prayers. We really do appreciate all the support from everybody. I am so grateful for good friends and such a wonderful supportive family.
Love
Mary
Monday, January 05, 2009
The ice is still hanging on to some of the side streets and parts of Tallgrass Lane, though our driveway is now dry and the main roads are pretty much clear too.
My Chelsea still makes a pretty good gauge as to where the ice is. She slip slides around pretty good.
There were just three persons, Peggy, Joe and me at the bible study this morning but numbers do not make it any less interesting and enjoyable. We heard in the tree readings that thought the Israelites are the promised people, God always intended that they be the voice to the rest of the nations. A lot of Trinity symbolism too. I am glad that I went.
Mother and I had a nice visit after that. I brought her some scalloped potatoes and ham, some bread and a piece of cake. She likes that, I think. Donna and I like to have her to bring things too. With only two people in each of our households, we are able to cook things like casseroles this way. I asked how she liked the stollen - it is her recipe - she said it tasted good but suggested that I roll the dough much thinner when I make it again. I will do that. That is probably why it was so hard to roll up.
I had dinner at noon with Dick at the Care Center. They served pork chops, potatoes, green beans and Lamont's birthday cake for dessert. Then at about 2, I came home to do a bit of research before going shopping and to look at a couple of more cars.
When I got home, I fed the critters, then back over to the Center with a sandwich so I could have supper with Dick too. I helped him with the things that I do for him. Mainly massaging the stump so he will be ready for the prosthesis when it comes and then, finally, the last thing, I went out to Rhine Plymouth for the meeting. It was well attended and the new officers and board are installed. I am not one of them. It was good to see everybody again. The new league will start on January 16 so I have to let Nancy know and will mention it in my CWI newsletter thingy.
Kitties are very cuddly lately. I love that. Chelsea is not a cuddly dog you know. It is so nice to have a warm little body in ones lap purring away.
Tomorrow we see Dr. Moreno and he will remove the dressing on the graft. This will be the test. If it is healing, we have it made (as long as we are careful.) Then the trick will be to ensure that wounds don't start up again.
I was thinking today of a time that Eileen and I went to Irishfest together. We used to go for the whole event. I couldn't do that now. Not enough endurance left in my poor body. But we were walking in back of the Miller Stage, heading for the bathrooms when I saw this man walking towards us. I called out. "Well, Hello, Dwayne Gaye." Then I realized that he had no idea who I was. He was a reporter on the Channel 12 morning news that I saw every morning, so he was part of my "friendship" group. I started to laugh and told him that he had no idea who I was but that I woke up to him every morning. He was delighted, I think. Not too long after that, Dwayne came down with cancer and after a battle of several years succumed to that cancer. I hope that recognition was something that really did please him. All people like to be acknowledged and he became acknowledged for both his reporting and his courage in the face of his illness.
Love
Mary
My Chelsea still makes a pretty good gauge as to where the ice is. She slip slides around pretty good.
There were just three persons, Peggy, Joe and me at the bible study this morning but numbers do not make it any less interesting and enjoyable. We heard in the tree readings that thought the Israelites are the promised people, God always intended that they be the voice to the rest of the nations. A lot of Trinity symbolism too. I am glad that I went.
Mother and I had a nice visit after that. I brought her some scalloped potatoes and ham, some bread and a piece of cake. She likes that, I think. Donna and I like to have her to bring things too. With only two people in each of our households, we are able to cook things like casseroles this way. I asked how she liked the stollen - it is her recipe - she said it tasted good but suggested that I roll the dough much thinner when I make it again. I will do that. That is probably why it was so hard to roll up.
I had dinner at noon with Dick at the Care Center. They served pork chops, potatoes, green beans and Lamont's birthday cake for dessert. Then at about 2, I came home to do a bit of research before going shopping and to look at a couple of more cars.
When I got home, I fed the critters, then back over to the Center with a sandwich so I could have supper with Dick too. I helped him with the things that I do for him. Mainly massaging the stump so he will be ready for the prosthesis when it comes and then, finally, the last thing, I went out to Rhine Plymouth for the meeting. It was well attended and the new officers and board are installed. I am not one of them. It was good to see everybody again. The new league will start on January 16 so I have to let Nancy know and will mention it in my CWI newsletter thingy.
Kitties are very cuddly lately. I love that. Chelsea is not a cuddly dog you know. It is so nice to have a warm little body in ones lap purring away.
Tomorrow we see Dr. Moreno and he will remove the dressing on the graft. This will be the test. If it is healing, we have it made (as long as we are careful.) Then the trick will be to ensure that wounds don't start up again.
I was thinking today of a time that Eileen and I went to Irishfest together. We used to go for the whole event. I couldn't do that now. Not enough endurance left in my poor body. But we were walking in back of the Miller Stage, heading for the bathrooms when I saw this man walking towards us. I called out. "Well, Hello, Dwayne Gaye." Then I realized that he had no idea who I was. He was a reporter on the Channel 12 morning news that I saw every morning, so he was part of my "friendship" group. I started to laugh and told him that he had no idea who I was but that I woke up to him every morning. He was delighted, I think. Not too long after that, Dwayne came down with cancer and after a battle of several years succumed to that cancer. I hope that recognition was something that really did please him. All people like to be acknowledged and he became acknowledged for both his reporting and his courage in the face of his illness.
Love
Mary
Sunday, January 04, 2009
There was a sheet of ice all over the world as far as I could see this morning. Of course I could not see it until I got up the second time at 6AM. Poor little Chelsea zipped out of the door onto the driveway as fast as she could go and ended up sprawled on her belly as he legs slid out all directions. She did not learn anything as the day went on either.
Things got good enough that I was able to go to visit Dick this afternoon at 2ish. We had a nice visit watching the Baltimore/Miami game.
I spent the rest of the day hat home just puttering. Critters were happy with that. And I was too. It will be good to get to bed tonight but I have not had quite the pressures that I usually have.
I baked a banana chocolate cake today. I had to as I had overripe bananas that had to be used up or be thrown away. And I am too frugal to let things go to waste.
Be good and enjoy your week.
Love
Mary
Things got good enough that I was able to go to visit Dick this afternoon at 2ish. We had a nice visit watching the Baltimore/Miami game.
I spent the rest of the day hat home just puttering. Critters were happy with that. And I was too. It will be good to get to bed tonight but I have not had quite the pressures that I usually have.
I baked a banana chocolate cake today. I had to as I had overripe bananas that had to be used up or be thrown away. And I am too frugal to let things go to waste.
Be good and enjoy your week.
Love
Mary
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