One more day done. This morning took a LONG time. They were busy and didn't get to us right away. The good thing for me was that we didn't have to be there until 8:00AM which meant that I could sleep a bit later. As a matter of fact, it was 6:15AM before I got up. I am still really tired tonight.

When we got home this morning Dick actually ate scrambled eggs and toast. That was good but we ate so late that he did not have lunch. I am really having trouble getting him to eat enough "carbs". He has NO appetite.

Today was the big 50th event for the Sheboygan County Writers at Mead. It went very well. We had quite a few people attend which was really gratifying. The members had each contributed a piece to be printed in a memorial book that we called A Collection of Words Wit and Wisdom. I contributed my poem called The Knockeen Dolmen that won the prize at Irishfest a few years ago. The program started at 1:00. We, in turn as they appeared in the book, read our pieces. The program was well received. Members had brought cookies and bars (I brought Kahlua Brownies.) which we served with tea and coffee. I left at 3:15 to get home to Dick. They were starting a little more reading and music by Karen Howland and Don Cooper, two of our members, who, independently, do music to their poems in Karen's case or write lyrics in Don's case as I left. We are talking of doing it again.

Tonight we had to go in to Sheboygan Memorial for Dick's intravenous. We got a light meal in the cafeteria. We have to go only one more time to Sheboygan. We finish next Friday with any luck at all and can do all the rest in Plymouth. We got home at about 8:15. I am tired.

Got a call from Barb Wollner, one of my Plymouth lunch buddies. Our friend and coworker Karen Knapp died this morning. A valiant battle with cancer. She beat breast cancer, we believed. But on Jan 30, she was told that it was back, in the marrow and everywhere. And today she is gone. Such a loss for her husband and daughters. I am glad that she did not suffer long. As Barb said, the remission from the breast cancer gave them a bonus year or two that they would not have had. I am sure they appreciated those days and weeks. Karen was a joy. Pray for her and her family.

"Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat." Alex Levine.

or if you insist on chewing and insist on the "other" essential food group, have a Sheboygan Brat sandwich. You have your meat group (the brat), your starch ( the hard roll), your vegetable (the pickle and onion) and your fat ( the butter on the bun.)

Have both - life is short.

Mary

Another day winding down. It got all the way up to the mid teens today.

We started at our usual 5:00AM. I almost did not respond to the alarm. I was sound asleep and it was becoming a part of my dream. Everything went quickly today. They were all set up for us this morning. The nurse was in another room, but we saw Dick's stuff so settled ourselves in and were all ready when she got there.

Home again. We both napped. For some reason or other, today I was really beat and couldn't get really excited about anything. I stirred wine, cleaned the kitchen and baked some bars. This noon I joined Betty, Marlene, Barb and Ceil at the Dairy Queen. I had a grilled cheese and got an order of fries to share. That was a nice break in the day.

Jim and Michelle came over just before we left for Valley View this evening to borrow the hair clippers and brought Boots with them. He is getting SO big and still looks just like Sylvester. He picks on poor old Chelsea. He wants to play and she doesn't seem too excited about that. He is a sweet cat. I sure miss my guy and gal. I still say that noone would know that they were here if we just picked them up. drove into the garage and brought them into the house. They NEVER go out. Who would ever guess they were here. Can someone convince Dick of that?

I called Suzi, Dick's neice, today. His sister Hazel, is turning 90 this year and Suzi is having a party for her. It started out as a surprise, but she decided to tell Hazel because she figured a couple of weeks of joyful anticipation outweighed 5 minutes of surprise. She told me that Hazel had a mild heart attact a couple of weeks ago but is doing well. A prayer or two for that sweet lady would be in order. She is looking forward to her party.

"You can't leave footprints in the sands of time if you're sitting on your butt. And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time?"
- Anonymous

Tomorrow, the Sheboygan County Writers Club is going to have a celebration of our 50th year at Mead Public Library. I will be there. We are having readings, refreshments and fun. I will be bringing my book and hope to sell a couple of them. I was a member of the club more than 45 years ago right out of high school and then rejoined five years ago. We put together a book featuring something from every member that chose to provide something.

Did I tell you that I heard from my artist friend Bob. I, and I hope Dick if he feels well enough, will be having lunch with him and his friend and mind Steve at the Bread and Bean in Sheboygan Falls on Tuesday. Haven't seen him in a long time and want to somehow connect him up with another artist friend Cindy Matyi who I have put in contact with the Kohler Art Center and the Plymouth Art Center. She and a couple of other Celtic Artists have an exhibit that they show around the country. Sure would like to get them here. If we did, I could get Cindy to do a program for the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.

Be happy.

Love You - I hope my ramblings don't bore you.

Mary

We felt like we were going to run into Rod Serling at Valley View twice today. We got there at 6:15AM, walked into the outpatient surgery area. All the lights were on and out medication and syringes were all set up in a room but noone was in sight. We called and noone answered, so I walked down to urgent care and back. Noone. After about 10 minutes, I walked down a hall that I had not perused before and heard voices, so I called out "Hello" AGAIN and Linda answered. She was in a room explaining something to a patient and had not heard us. Anyway, we got Dick his drugs and went home.

Dick felt much better today. His color is less flushed and the shortness of breath was not nearly as bad as it was yesterday. He ate better today also but really is forcing himself.

I worked on taxes and Quicken 2007 today. Successful on some things, not so good on others. I do believe that I have the taxes ready to take to Mark.

Tonight we went back to Valley View at 6:00PM. Rod Serling was there again. Noone at the desk and we did not hear anything. We waited and looked at each other meaningfully for a few minutes, then I said. "Hello?" and the doctor on call peeked around the corner.

They were actually swamped. The examining rooms were all full of mainly munchkins. Lisa got to us as soon as she could. Dick asked her if there was a 2 for one sale that we were not awary of. It took two hours to get the two half hour intravenous in. But if we had come for urgent care, we would have wanted to be taken care of, so we just hung in there and it got done. Dick's legs are really peeling. Dr. Phelan says that is a good thing.

Dick's lack of appetite for some reason or other reminded me of on day when Jacquie, my ex sister in law, was watching Bart. She took Bart and her son Todd for lunch at Mc Donalds. Now Bart LOVED hamburgers and was a pretty good eater. Todd, on the other hand, was picky and you had to keep encouraging him to eat his meals. She said never again. She spent the whole time trying to encourage Todd to have "One more bite" while trying to slow Bart down. Bart, at that time had this habit of grabbing his burger and plowing right through the middle. Then he had problems with what to do with the sides in his grubby little hands that were wrapping themselves around his sweet little cheeks.

Have a great Friday.

Love

Mary

Another LOOOOONG day. But another one under our belts. Dick is still very breathless and has no appetite. We are bargaining to get the "carbs" he needs into him. Despite his not eating much, his weight is not going down. Maybe that is because of all the fluids they are pumping into him. Anyway. We started this morning with the first visit at 6:00AM again. His nurse, Linda, noticed the breathlessness and wheeled him down to the car in a chair for me. That helped, and we came home and put him to bed for a nap.

I went grocery shopping then and to Walmart for a new toilet seat and some innards for the guest toilet which is running a lot. Then home til we had to leave for the Clinic to have his blood count with Sue. He is right on so SOMETHING is right. She wants to test him on Monday because of all the antibiotics, but has arranged that they can do it in Plymouth which will save at least one trip to Sheboygan.

We stopped at Mother's house to drop off a prescription for her and her money. I had cashed a check for her last week and had not been there to give it to her because of the cold. She hadn't been going anywhere either, so it was not a big deal but I do like to take care of her.

Home again with naps for both of us. When I woke up, I went down to the wine room and worked on the wine, then finished the first square for the Celtic Quilt. I like it but always have a couple of iffy areas. The colors are really lovely.

Dick just had toast and milk for an evening meal. I hope he wants something else later. I had leftover veggies and rice and a crab cake. I had a piece of blueberry bread for dessert.

Then back to Valley View. We got home at about 7:45PM. Much better than the 8:30 to 8:45 regimen with the hour long antibiotic but still a long time.

I was thinking of my ex mother in law, Lily. My thoughts turned to her because Dick asked for a small can of coke (they had brought some small cans one evening) because he doesn't finish a 12 ouncer. Lily found small cans of beer for a while and she liked that. She liked a beer once in a while but usually it got warm before she finished it. Thinking back on it, I am surprised she bought them anyway because they must have been a bit pricey and she was tight. Uncle John MacIntosh always threatened that he was going to come and dig up all the jars of money that she had "buried in the back yard." Lil never drank much because someone told her that a hangover was much like morning sickness. She had experienced that before she drank anything so she saw no sense in putting herself through that.

I may have told you this but you will just have to hear it again. Her sister Ruth and a couple of her work buddies (they cooked lunches at the school) stopped at Lil's one afternoon. They decided to have Margaritas. Lil mixed up a batch and they went through them. Then, since she was out of Tequila, she decided to substitute Vic's 150 proof alcohol for the tequila. Needless to say these ladies were really bombed. So she decided that she had to sober them up before she sent them home and loaded them up in her open topped jeep and drove them around Costa Mesa for a while.

We asked her later why she wasn't drunk too. She said that she had more sense than to drink that stuff.

My ex hated meatloaf. I am sure it was because his Mom used the very cheapest burger she could get and put it on the table swimming in grease. But that woman made great Chili. My recipe came from her. She also made WONDERFUL apple pie. I have her pie crust recipe too.

I also remember that she made an apricot cake that was wonderful. She would fill a greased cake pan (13x9), mix up a yellow cake mix and pour it over all and bake until done. We just don't get good apricots here.

Later

Mary

Well, we got in to see Dr. Phelan about the rash at 10:45AM. We were relieved that he feels it is not a medicine allergy reaction but a reaction to one of the infections that has settled in the legs. Probably a staph infection of some kinds. There are signs that the antibiotics are helping but we need to get back on one of the old antibiotics to clear the other one. SO we went back to Valley View tonight and are still getting two doses. However the hour long one is now changed to one that only lasts 30 minutes. I forgot the name, perhaps I can remember to write it down tomorrow. We will have to go for another three or four days because of the changes. Sure hope this will do it. I think enough "shoes have dropped."

It was COLD again today too, but did get up to about 7 above and right now is still at 4 above, so we have hope for a break in this awful cold.

Years ago, I had a beautiful black cat named Samantha, Sam for short. She was part Siamese, built like one, with a yowl like one, though she was much too dignified to yowl too often. She was JET black and had the most beautiful green eyes in the world. Sam used to sleep with us at night. Living in California 45 years ago, cats could stay outside, were seldom kept in the house and were never licensed. We kept our window cracked just enough that Sam could get in and out as she pleased and this worked very well for all of us - Until the day I walked in the bedroom and found one side of the bed was covered with a solid layer of gray feathers. Poor birdie. Needless to say, that was the last time I left the window open during the day. She was a good mouser too. One day a mouse showed up in the bathroom and I just put her in the room, convinced her that I was not out of my mind by moving the basket that the mouse was hiding behind and Woosh - no more mousy.

She was a wonderful cat. She had a couple of litters of kittens too. She let me watch her deliver one litter. Do you know that they purr during the whole labor? I guess it must be comforting to them.

I should have tried that.

Love

Mary

Had to get up at 5:00AM again this morning and get to Valley View by 6:00AM. It was -11 degrees. Isn't that awful. It is supposed to be just as cold or colder tonight. Then tomorrow afternoon it is supposed to start to warm a bit. Still cold but better than the last two days.

We were able to stay home all the rest of the day but had to get to Valley View tonight by 4:00PM so they could do blood tests. Then they started the intravenous. The nurse noticed that there seems to be a rash on Dick's hands and knees, also a little around his waist, mainly in the back. SO!!! Tomorrow we have to call Dr. Phelan's office at 8:00AM on the dot so that he can take a look at it. We will go to the Clinic as soon as they can get us in. His legs seem to be less swollen but this morning the right one was seeping again. They are peeling like crazy. I sure hope this clears things up. He is also so tired and has not appetite. Must remember to ask about that.

We racked the Gewertziminer wine today and I did some sewing. I started sewing one of the squares for the Blessed Trinity Celtic Quilt and did some more of the hand quilting on the kitty quilt.

Because of the cold (schools were even closed) I canceled the bible study for today. Seems silly for anyone to go out in that bitter cold unless it is absolutely necessary. That gave me a couple of extra hours so I worked a bit on the taxes too. I plan to have everything in order by tomorrow night then I can call for an appointment.

The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

Chelsea is starting to think that it is time to go to bed and so do I. Keep us in your prayers. Remember Jim and Michelle driving in this cold down to Milwaukee for work too. Today something happened to the car. But it is all OK now.

Love you

Mary

Super Bowl is over and are they ever lucky that they played in Florida in the rain rather than in Chicago in the frigid temps that have been hitting us. Though I imagine it is warmer in Chicago than it is here. We bottomed out at -11 and topped out at -2. Indy won. We were really kind of hoping Chicago would as they ARE our neighbors but did not have really strong feelings one way or another. One of the two Packer games that I saw was at Indianapolis and it was a pleasant experience. The fans were reasonably friendly but competitive. Unlike Minneapolis, where I feared for my safety. Minneapolis Viking fans are really evil.

These are really cold days, Chelsea goes out quite enthusiastically and hopeful and then after rolling the the snow for a while starts getting down to business and finds that her little feet get very cold. Did you ever see a dog whose feet get cold? First they pick up the sorest paw and hobble on three then the pick up another one. At that point there is no way for them to walk so they flop on their side and look pitiful. I usually pick her up and walk with her until she can stand it again and then we run like hell for home.

I got to sleep until almost 6:30AM as we did not have to be at Valley View until 8:00AM. The morning intravenous went very well, we were home about 9:00AM. I went to the 10:30 Mass. I sure needed that this week. Sometimes I just have to be able to stop and remember that Someone is really there along with me.

I did some cooking today. A good way to warm up the house on a cold winter day. Talked to Bart and Barb today too. Bart sounds pretty good. We had a nice visit. Sometimes when he doesn't feel well, he doesn't want to talk at all. He said he had talked to his friend Dave Moioffer, who is the son of Dan and Shirley Moioffer. I graduated from high school with Dan and Shirley is in my bible study so we keep up on the boys. Dave has developed and immune disease but is responding well to the steroids that they are treating it with.

Visited with Mother a bit too. She called to see if Dick was feeling better. He is still SO tired and did not sleep well last night at all. He has such trouble getting comfortable. Tonight we had to go to Sheboygan Memorial. We got there a bit before 6 but did not get out until about 8:15. So it took over two hours for the 1 1/2 hours of actual medication. They were very busy and we had to have an RN to hook up and disconnect the IVS.

We now have only five more days to go. We soaped and washed his legs tonight. They are still peeling but the swelling seems down somewhat.

Let's pray that this gets rid of the infection once and for all. Barb has a sinus infection that is persistent. Lets pray that that heals too.

Don't
walk in front of me,
I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me,
I may not lead.
Walk beside me and
be my friend.

All my love

Mary

The Wild Game Dinner was a wild success. We had a sumptuous feast at Becky and Bryan's house. There was a big crowd. A happy crowd.

The beer tasting contest had 20 participants and 18 different beers. Donna won this year. She said she would and then she did - with 6 right. A pretty impressive win. We had several with 5 right, including Shawn, my nephew, who had come up with John and Holly from Chicago. That would have been an adventure. We would have all had to go to Chicago next year. Jim suggested that perhaps we could just rent a Discovery Coach.

Kurt and Jody are expecting another baby. They were trying to decide between a baby and a puppy. (Joke, Joke.) Actually Jody said that when they told Brandon, Brandon said that he really had wanted a puppy.

We went for Dick's two intravenous, this morning at Valley View and this evening at Memorial Hospital. It is so cold and is supposed to stay this way through Tuesday morning. I looked a few minutes ago and it is minus 5. Wouldn't you know that we would have to drive to Sheboygan two of the coldest evenings of the year.


Say a prayer that these treatments clear up the infections in Dick's legs. Also we really need a buyer for the house in Sheboygan. Pray for that too.

A Friend Is Like A Good Bra...
Hard to Find
Supportive
Comfortable
Always Lifts You Up
Never Lets You Down or Leaves You Hanging
And Is Always Close To Your Heart

Love

Mary

Another LONG day. We switched cars with Jim and Michelle because we thought they would need the Santa Fe to transport a new shower door for the downstairs bathroom at Hunters Glen. As it turned out the door has to be special ordered but this meant that we were switching cars at 5:45 AM. I was up at 5 anyway and took my shower because of the trip to Valley View at 6:00AM. Chelsea didn't want to walk too far. It was only 7 degrees out there.

When we got home I cleaned the kitchen and made the stew for the Wild Game Dinner which is tomorrow. I think I will bring a loaf of Irish Brown Bread and butter too. It goes so well with the stew. Must remember to get wine up too. We have tested the wine I made with the wild grapes from Becky and Bryan's place and it is ready and tastes pretty good. I want to bring some current for Jeff and Kathy too. It is still a little sharp, but we can share more later.

I am looking forward to tomorrow. Jim and Michelle are going and Michelle said she will help with the beer tasting serving. I think she will get a big kick out of it. I am also looking forward to the fact that for the first time in five days we don't have to be at the hospital until 8:00AM. What a luxury. I can sleep until 6:00AM, maybe even 6:30 if Chelsea doesn't bug me.

We got home in time to watch a bit of the "Greatest TV Commercials" featuring the Super Bowl commercials. The one of Mean Joe Green drinking the coke is considered the best of all. You remember that don't you? Mean Joe is limping off the screen and this little boy gives him his coke and Mean Joe throws him his old sweaty jersey. Cute as can be. It reminded me of something else cute as can be.

Sara and Nora went to a Packer Practice, either with the Recreation department or the Boys and Girls Club. They came home just agog and Nora, literally wide eyed and breathless said in a voice trembling with excitement that Reggie White had touched her hand. She held her hand like it was a treasure. I have this picture in my head of teeny blond Nora and big black gentle Reggie clasping hands as he went into the practice session. Beautiful.

Have a nice weekend.

Love You

Mary

It is 20 minutes to 9. We JUST got home from Dick's evening intravenous. We had a different nurse and it took forever. She was very nice and careful but first she set the half hour one to dispense in an hour then we had to wait for the second one. She was, of course, getting used to his routine so if we ever have her again it will not take so long. We are really beat though and 5:00AM comes mighty early. Tomorrow will be the end of the first week. One more to go.

We did our grocery shopping today. This is the week we shop at the Pig. This was also their big meat sale day and the lot was full and the store was jammed and there was meat everywhere. I did get a nice pork tenderloin that I divided into four good sized pieces and some lunch meat, brats and smoked sausages. I was a bit worried at that because the freezers are really quite full but I easily found room. I am keeping an inventory lately and it is helping me manage and rotate the food.

I managed to get a little sewing in and even cut out the pieces for one of the squares for the quilt for Celtic Faire.

Tomorrow, I am planning on giving poor little old Chelsea a bath. She will be very disappointed in me but there is no help for it. She looks like a gray puppy instead of a white one. Tonight when we got home she seemed to be limping a bit. I think from stiffness. Poor little girl, is almost 13.

I am going to have lunch with the bank ladies tomorrow noon. I need a break. Too bad Dick can't get one. He seems to be exceptionally tired these days, I hope it is just a reaction to the medication or possibly the infection itself. His legs don't look "better" but the left one is less swollen and the right is peeling. We hope that these are normal healing responses. He sees Dr. Phelan next Wednesday.

From Cadfael, the Book of Days by Robin Whitman from Ellis Peters books. I am too tired to think of much else.

Faith given and allegiance pledged are stronger than fear, an that, perhaps, is virtue, even in the teeth of death.

Love

Mary

P. S. the new and last Harry Potter book will be out on July 21st and Dick has ordered it for me.
I am reading Morgan Llewelyn's 1946 during the hour and a half long sessions and have almost finished it. I read the series about the revolution to the present a bit out of order but now am caught up and I hope that Morgan finishes the next one soon as she left it with the hero, Barry Halloran, going for his rifle.

We do have the nicest nurses. Tonight they put on a movie for us. Tim Allen's first Santa Clause movie was available so we got to see it. We had enjoyed the third one so much that we were planning on seeing the other two, now we only have one to go.

It was only 4 degrees when I took Chelsea out this morning. I am taking my shower first, then her out as 5:00AM is earlier than she is used to going out anyway. We didn't go too far. After the 6:00AM intravenous we went to the Wilderness for breakfast. They have the best fried red potatoes with onion. Their biscuits are good too. Nice and light and fresh.

We had to be back at Valley View at 8:15 for our diabetes education. That went well. There is one other person in our group. The first session went over portion sizes and how to count carbs and how many a person should have. We learned A LOT.

Home again. I actually got to do some sewing today and I picked out some fabrics to go with the fat quarter that I got from Dottie at Blessed Trinity. They are doing a Christmas quilt for the Celtic fair this year and I said that I would do a couple of squares for the quilt. I like doing that. We just have to do stars. There are SO many varieties that I am having trouble choosing.

Tomorrow we will have the two sessions at the hospital and we are grocery shopping. At least we will be close to home all day.

I had my hair cut today too. There was a coupon for a free cut at Shear Delight here in Plymouth and as it has been two months, I thought I would take advantage of it. I will see how it works out. I am so used to Maria and she is so used to me. It always looks OK at first and this is OK - but it takes my own working with it to be sure. I must remember, in any case, that Aunt Ruth Eisman always said that the only difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is two weeks.

Have a nice Thursday. It is supposed to continue cold and was snowing a bit when we came back from Valley View. I hope it doesn't get too heavy. Well, Carpe Diem.

Love

Mary

More of same old, same old today.

I got up at 5 and went right into the shower. Then when I got all dressed and dry I took Chelsea for a walk. When I got back it was time to put Dick's sox on and get ready to go to Valley View for the first of his antibiotics. We were done at about 7:00 It took longer than the half an hour because they had to clean the area of the PICC and change the bandage on it too.

We came home and let Chelsea out one more time and took the trash out on our way to Sheboygan to the Clinic for Dick's blood test. We had intended on going somewhere kind of nice for breakfast but ran late and had to settle for Hardees which is faster. Now, I DO like Hardee's biscuits but am getting a bit sick of fast food.

When we got home we both took naps. This afternoon the Overhead Door Company man came and fixed our garage door opener so it works from the keypad. We have a new keypad too. Now the light burned out in the unit so we will have to change that this weekend. But that is OK. We have a working unit anyway.

We went to De OMalleys for dinner tonight. Dick got their chili which he said he would order again. I had a veggie pizza which was very good. Then we made our last trip for the day to Valley View for the last two intravenous.

Now I am finishing this up and can go to bed. Chelsea is a very confused little girl. She can't figure out what our schedule is at all and is trying to convince me that it is bedtime now.

Just a little story. For some reason, this morning I was taking off and putting on shoes and boots to walk her and get ready to go and a song came to mind.

Those of you who have children know how much they like the familiar. They find a song they like and want it sung over and over and over. Or a story. They will want to hear the same one over and over and over. I remember that Bret wanted to hear One Fish Two Fish by Dr. Seuss over and over. We were visiting Wisconsin during that period and I remember that my brother Matt got very disgusted with us because Mother and I had resorted to reading it in a monotone as fast as we could to just GET IT OVER WITH. He said that that was no way to do it and took the book and read it to Bret with all the drama that he could put into it.

But I digress. I wanted to tell you about a song from MY childhood. Mom and Dad had a phonograph record of a song called We got to get the shoes on Willie. I can't remember the tune but it carried Willie to his wedding day. We loved it and my parents were eternally grateful when it wore out or broke. I can't remember which. Must remember to ask Mom about that . I wonder if she remembers.

Have a nice Wednesday. Dick and I go to Diabetes School.

Love

Mary

Mary

Another of these hectic days that we will be going through for the nest 10 days or so.

It was COLD when we got up at 5AM. I took Chelsea for a quick walk and we got kinda dressed and went over to Valley View for Dick's first intravenous. Just before we left one of the lenses fell out of his glasses. (Go Figure) When we left the hospital we swung by the Eye Clinic to check their hours. Finding out that they open at 8:30, we stopped at the Subway for a breakfast sandwich (Dick promised to take me out for breakfast every morning that we have to get these treatments.) (Where ever I want to go. Cool Huh) Filled the gas tank and then went home.

I showered and took Dick to the Eye Center. They fixed his glasses and we proceeded to Walgreens. They had called really early and told us that they would replace the testing strips free of charge. They do not want the other strips back so we will donate them to the diabetes center at Valley View. I am sure they can use them for demos or perhaps there is someone who needs them that cannot afford them. Anyway, Dick is back to testing. He only missed one day.

I dropped Dick at home and went to Blessed Trinity for Bible Study. We had a good group. Ione was back. She was ill for two weeks. They think they have figured it out now and it will be better for her. We had a good discussion about the readings which dealt with people who are called and don't feel they are worthy. It seems that being worthy doesn't matter if you are chosen. We also decided that it is very easy to believe when you are full of love and a message that really hits your emotions. It is also pretty easy to believe when you are really in trouble and have nowhere else to turn but to God. It can be harder to remember to believe and pray when everything is normal and mundane. It takes a great faith to see God in the ordinary.

After study I visited with Mother for a while and updated her on everything. She is looking great.

This evening we went for the intravenous early because they had to take a blood test to check the (I think) heperin level. The tests are picked up at 4:30 so we went in at 4:00.

Tomorrow, another 6:15AM session and we have to go and have Sue check his bl00d count. With all the antibiotics, I imagine that things are going to be really screwed up. Well, One step at a time. I just hope this gets the infection out of those legs. They are still red and crusted in spots. I am really anticipating the diabetic class that we will attend on Wednesday..

I'll lean on you and
you lean on me and
we'll be okay

-- Dave Matthews

Mary

I was surprisingly quite comfortable out in the woods all morning. The temperatures were only in the low 20s but it was not windy and the cloud cover was mixed with sun. As we pretty well kept moving I stayed quite warm.

We got four rabbits in the group. Jeff got two. I actually got a shot off at one this year. I was behind it but at least I got a shot. Randy and Kenny missed the same one so I didn't feel too bad about missing it.

We were out in the woods from about 8:30 until 12:00. Then we went to the Bar. We always go to the Wierl Wind out on Hwy 67 and have a venison sausage tasting contest. We had 8 separate sausages this year. We got six set out on plates with the name of the maker on the bottom. We were into the contest when the other two entries came in - so we asked everyone to rate the new ones kind of separately. One of the late comers was a Venison/Wild Boar combination. It was really hard this year as their wasn't a bad one in the mix. I will have to find out which one was the winner as I left early to come home and take care of things at home.

Taking care of things at home turned out to be impossible. We had found out this morning that we were given the wrong strips for testing Dick's blood. I took them back to Walgreens and found that we cannot exchange them because we opened the boxes. (They aren't supposed to exchange them anyway but if the seal on the cardboard box had not been broken, she might have been able to do something.) We CAN get the right ones but it will cost an additional $28 plus. Needless to say I am calling Dr. Sharon and June Maile in the morning to ask what we do. We have $28 (200 of the darn things) that are useless to us. (They actually are worth a lot more but Medicare covers much of it.) This really upset me for some reason. I think it is something like the final straw. Hopefully we can get this taken care of tomorrow. Dick was unable to test today. The only good thing is that we have not been instructed as to what to do with high or low readings.

We had bean soup for supper and headed to Memorial at 5:30 0r so for the last intravenous of the day. Got home at about 8:15PM. Chelsea is trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
Tomorrow we have to be at Valley View at 6:15AM. EEWWWW. Dick said he will take me out for breakfast every morning - Such a deal. That helps a bit.

I will keep you informed as we go along.

I read a quote that I liked. I can't credit it because it was on a Tshirt. "We might as well grow old together - we're not doing anything else." It is almost as good as the quote from Pooh (Milne)

If you live to be a hundred,
I want to live to be
a hundred minus one day,
so I never have to live
without you.

-- Winnie the Pooh

Goodnight my friends. Pray that this stuff really gets rid of Dick's infection.

Mary

We just got home from Memorial Hospital after the input of Dick's antibiotics. The evening "event" lasts for 1 1/2 hours. It is hard for me to just sit. Fortunately I just got a couple of new books and can read and/or watch TV which is in the room.

Tomorrow, as I mentioned, I am going rabbit hunting with my brothers and the Behr boys. So Jim and Michelle are taking him for his morning session at Valley View. The rest of the week the morning push will be at 6:00AM. If that was so on Sunday, I could take him. We are glad that Jim and Michelle are so willing do do things for us. They are good kids. (An, of course, to us old folks they will always be kids. The rest of our children must just accept that fact too. It is kind of nice to feel that you are just a kid to somebody anyway. That is what Mother and her cronies always call me.)

We did rack the Riesling into the secondary fermenter (the carboy) today. I told Dick that I have to test the grape wines and the currant wines to see if they are ready. If so, we will take them along to the Wild Game Dinner next Saturday. I had to cancel the Celtic retreat because I can't leave Dick for three days when he needs to go to get his antibiotics. The Wild Game dinner is from noon to about 4 so we can do that without worrying about getting to tests.

We put off last night's shower until this morning so we could approach, with alert minds, the problem of keeping the PICC dry. One of the nurses had recommended using Press and Seal Glad Wrap which does not work for the purpose it was intended. I prefer sticking with regular Glad Wrap for most things. But we wrapped it twice around the PICC and its little cover net and it worked like a charm. Remember that if you have to keep a wrappable part of your body dry in the shower.

Dick and I went to church at Immaculate Conception at 4PM before the hospital visit so I can hunt and won't miss church. Isn't he sweet. IC is a nice church. They had a young person cantering. He had a wonderful voice and really projected.

Dick is testing his blood twice a day and his readings have ranged from 95 to 146. On Wednesday, we go to a class and will learn HOW to interpret these readings and what Dick should be doing if it is low or high. Our first session was to show us how to use the meter and to have us record the readings and EVERYTHING Dick ingests for a week.



Remember to step back and survey what you and God have accomplished this far on your journey. All this sitting around is good for me, it makes me pause and take deep breaths.

It is time for me to settle down to bed soon. Tomorrow will be another busy day.

Happy Sunday

Love

Mary

It is late. 10:37PM. I JUST got home from Rhine Plymouth. Bobbie and I worked tonight and was it ever busy. The club has the biggest league that I have ever experienced going and I think every team shot tonight. It was a nice night for shooting. Cold but no precipitation and no appreciable wind. We filled 34 sign up sheets. Most of them shot two rounds.

I actually got there late. We got a call from Dr. Phelan's nurse Theresa telling Dick that the results of a swab he took of Dick's leg came back showing an infection that would not be healed by the intravenous that he had originally prescribed. So the two doses he got were not helping.

We had to go to Sheboygan Memorial this afternoon, arriving at 2:45PM. They took out the angio catheter and put in a PICC (a "permanent" shunt or port that will allow them to give him the TWO antibiotics (one once a day and one twice a day) for two full weeks. After the PICC was inserted in his arm we went upstairs to have the first doses. The one he gets once a day takes a full hour the other that he will get morning and evening takes 30 minutes. So we are going to be busy people for the next two weeks. I canceled my Celtic Retreat for next weekend. I just couldn't leave him for two whole days and an evening when he needs this kind of treatment. Jim and Michelle will take him on Sunday morning so I CAN go rabbit hunting. Except for the Saturday and Sunday evenings, the intravenous can be given at Valley View which will save a lot on travel time.

I did get my kitchen cleaned and have a batch of wine ready to rack. Did that before the big phone call.

I am really too tired to think of anything clever to add to this so will just wish you a good weekend and ask for prayers for Dick's speedy recovery.

I shot pretty good tonight. I got a 59 a 60 and a 66. I keep on trying

Love

Mary

Would you believe that this is the 1241st blog that I have posted? I recommend blogs to anyone who likes to journal. It is fun.

It was COLD today. When Chelsea and I went out this morning it was int he single digits. BRR. That did not seem to bother her much, but later, when we went for a short walk, her poor little paws got really cold and I had to carry her part way home.

We had breakfast at the Shoppes on Mill Street. It was quite good. I had eggs, ham and bagel with cream cheese. Next time, I will try their oatmeal. They have TONS of addons. like brown sugar, cream and walnuts.

Then grocery shopping. We did pretty well and even stopped at Aurora Drug Store to buy the container to hold the needles from Dick's blood tests. They have to be disposed of AT the drug stores.

At noon we went to Valley View Hospital so that Dick could have his second dose of intravenous antibiotics. That went well but his angiocatheter wrap is kind of loose. On the way home we stopped and renewed the listing agreement with ReMax.

Tomorrow the Riesling will be ready to rack to the secondary fermenter. We have quite a lot in process and aging. But are still behind on the stock. We got way behind during the move.

I called Jeff this afternoon to be sure that I will be ready for rabbit hunting on Sunday. We meet at Leroy's house at 8:00AM. It is supposed to be COLD BRR. So we will probably be out of the woods fairly early. I, for sure, have to be home by 1:00 to get Dick to the hospital by 1:30 to get his intravenous again. I am bringing some venison sausage that Jeff make last year for the Sausage Tasting. We do that at the Whirl Wind, a dinky bar out there somewhere. I am sure we will not be out too late, because Vic always comes and he believes that the hunting should be done from a bar stool. If it is cold he will start hinting the minute we meet.

Jeff said we have plenty of rabbits for the Wild Game Dinner anyway. I will miss it this year. For some reason, I thought it was on the second weekend in February and I made reservations to attend a Celtic Spirituality Retreat at the Redemptorist Center in Oconomowoc. This should be a great retreat as Padraigin Clancy, an Irish historian, folklorist and musician will be the presenter. I heard her speak at the Celtic Women's Conference. I am really looking forward to a weekend of rebuilding. A whole weekend without anyone to ask for something will be unbelievable. I am going to make the stew in a crockpot and take it to Donna to bring to the dinner so I at least do my share. I guess Dolores isn't going to be there either. She has to work. But she doesn't like being somewhere that she can't smoke anyway.

It's just like magid. When you live by yourself, all of your annoying habits are gone. by Merrill Markoe



Love

Mary

Isn't this sweet? Mary

I am posting early because I am able to and also I want to go to bed at 9:00 and watch Medium. I hope I can stay awake for the whole thing as I do like it. However, I am really rather tired.

It has been a busy day. We started off at 6:00 AM with a nice long walk for Chelsea and me. We went up as far as the driveway for the middle school and into the parking lot, then back home. Chelsea was properly worn out and very hungry by the time we got home. Then we got Dick's sox on, I took my shower and we headed for the Clinic.

His blood count, as expected because of the antibiotics, low. Then we went to have Dr. Phelan look at Dick's legs. He still feels that there is infection in there so is putting him on daptomycin intravenously for 10 days. We had the first dose today while we were there and they left the angio-catheter in for at least the next two doses. We can do the rest at Valley View here in Plymouth so will not have to be driving in to Sheboygan every day. Dick will have to be very careful with that catheter in his hand. Makes me nervous anyway but hopefully this will clear up that lingering infection. This is why Dr. Phelan thinks his legs are so red and why there is seepage sometimes. Dick has little or no feeling so at least pain is not associated with the condition, but perhaps that is not a blessing.

We picked up his testing strips and needles at Walgreens on the way home. Then we got to stay here the rest of the day. I did some cleaning, mainly windows and window frames and some quilting.

Now we are winding down. Tomorrow we grocery shop.

I'm sending a picture to let you all know that spring and summer do come. This was a sweet picture on the deck at Hunter's Glen

Love

Mary

We got to stay home ALL day today. It was cold outside but no snow. At least no accumulation. I thought I saw a light flurry or two during the day.

I did some cleaning today and checked the wine. The Riesling should be ready to rack to the secondary by Thursday at the latest.

Mat (that his how his name was spelled on his nametag) from Homecare Resources came to install grab bars in the shower stalls in both our bathroom and the one in the basement. These are hard to do but he says that baring cracking of the stall itself it should hold just fine. Dick took his shower tonight and says that the one in our bathroom is just right. He likes it just to help steady himself. I feel a bit more secure now too.

He tested his blood for the first time this morning. He will do it once a day alternating just before breakfast with two hours after lunch to get average readings. Then next Wednesday when we go for the class they will tell us if that is how we should continue. We are also keeping track of what he eats and will learn better how to record in the classes. There is a lot to learn.

Tomorrow we get his blood count checked by Sue and will see Dr. Phelan, probably for the last time, about his legs.

I missed my kitties today. Suddenly the desk seemed mighty empty.

Take care. Until tomorrow.

Love

Mary