It's blusterier (Is that a word?)

Good afternoon!  I decided to stick close to home this afternoon.  I ran some errands and it is so windy that it's difficult to keep the car in the right lane so I'm not going to get on the freeway this afternoon.  I'll go shopping on a calmer afternoon.  I heard on the radio that there were gusts to 80 mph over night in the desert.  It's not that bad here by any means.

My Dad is doing better. They have a pain relieving patch on his back that has relieved all the muscle spasms.  He can feel some pain but the muscles don't knot up from his hip to shoulder every time he moves now which eliminates 80% of the pain. He can't take medication that goes into his liver because it causes hallucinations.  His liver got toxic because he took Tylenol and Darvocet trying to manage the pain on his own. Tomorrow they are moving him to a section of the hospital that rehabs patients before they go home.  He'll be there until he can take care of getting from bed to toilet and bed to chair.  He has to be able to do some things for himself because my mother cannot be his 100% care taker. 

 

Mom is doing great.  She's glad he's in the hospital getting the care he needs. She couldn't have taken care of him at home.  It is a relief.  She is on top of chores and obligations and she told Carol not to worry about her.  She is functioning fine.  She even told Carol not to go to Laramie, to save the visit for a time when she really needed her.  That's a good sign.

 

I'm not worried any longer.  I'm so sorry he has to go through this but I know he's going to be fine and that he is getting great care. 

 

I got the gunk for my hair - I'm happy.  I'll look snappy tomorrow.  LOL  I went to Macy's and tried on clothes.  I'm proud - I didn't buy anything.  I've got to get my clothes addiction under control.  I have enough until my birthday in February. 

 

That's it for today. 

 

 

 

A Cold and Blustery Day

I'm literally 'chillin' this morning.  It's cold and windy outside.  The temp is 52 degrees but with the wind blowing 40 mph the wind chill has to be near 40.  There isn't a cloud in the sky -- the wind blew them all the way to Kansas.  We did get a little rain last night so this morning everything is clean and the air smells wonderful.  I read on Weather Bug that a wind alert has been extended through to Saturday night at 6 p.m. so we have to 'batten down the hatches' (whatever that means).

I'm waiting for the morning update on Dad.  My mom will call Carol and she will call me.  We are trying to relay everything through one phone call to save my Mom's energy and from her having to repeat herself.  I had the job of calling my brother last night.  I hadn't spoken to him in about 10 months.  It was surreal.  It's Carol's turn next (lucky girl).  I'm going to tell her to have him watch his e-mail.  I would rather just send him the updates electronically.  Is that cold?  Ah, yes but oh, well.  I can be cold to someone who is cold to me.

I just talked to my brother-in-law.  He said he heard on the news that there is a cold front moving down from the north that is supposed to bring record cold.  Snow to the 500' level if there is moisture in the clouds.  He's worried about his lettuce garden so we brain stormed.  My sister is in San Luis at Wal-Mart so he got off the phone real fast to call her.  We thought if she bought a small heater and a tarp, he could set up a tent with the heater inside and save his little lettuce crop.  It's not a lot of lettuce but he's so proud of his garden.  I hope it works - I can't wait to find out.

It's nearly 10:00 so I'm closing for now.  I want to get to the mall when it opens. I need to go to the beauty supply for some hair products.  I'll probably stop by Sips and get coffee and say hi to Cari on my way home.  She gave me a gift certificate for Coldwater Creek (my most favorite store) for Christmas. I want to see if she would like to go shopping with me when she gets off work this afternoon.  It's burning a hole in my pocket!  I think it would be fun if she helped me pick out something spunky.

As Tigger would say, "Ta ta for now."

Nice Day

I had a nice day (so far).  I started off with an early morning nail appointment and then I got a badly needed hair cut.  Doesn't it feel great to get your hair cut when it's grown to the point where it won't hold a style any longer?  I feel so much better.

After my hair appt., I picked up Megan and Nathan and we went to see Charlotte's Web.  What a darling movie!  It was better than I expected and will buy it for my library and for their movie collection when it comes out on DVD.  Megan and I cried during one very touching moment.  She put her head on my shoulder - it was so sweet.  Nathan's eyes were glued to the screen the whole time but he didn't get as emotional as we girls. 

I dropped them off and came home.  We may get some rain this afternoon and I wanted to be home before it starts.  The roads are so slippery during the first few hours of a new rain.

I spoke to my sister this morning.  She had a short update from my Mom about my Dad.  I guess the back specialist feels that he needs physical therapy to get over the pain he's in.  They do not think surgery is an option for this type of injury.  He will be in the hospital for another 3 days so they can help him regain his strength and work with him on the proper way to get out of bed and to move in different situations.  His pain level was much lower this morning and he was more aware of his surroundings.  The hallucinations were over which is a very good thing.  My Mom is arranging for a home health care nurse to come in once he is home to help him.  She cannot lift him or help him physically.  Also, a home health nurse will give her some time for herself if she needs to run errands or if she wants to go to her Bible study or quilting group.  My Dad can be a real baby and demanding in the best of situations so I'm very glad she is getting the extra help so she won't be a slave and house bound.

I have some laundry to do and some light housework to finish before I start dinner so I'm closing for now.

 

Update on Dad

Just got news on Dad's MRI results.  Dad has a compression fraction of L1 (see chart above).  The reason he's in so much pain is that he fractured it around December 12th and he's been walking around un-medicated & untreated all this time.  The inflammation has worsened and the nerves are inflamed.  He's on major pain medication and muscle relaxing medications which have taken his mind back to 1943.  I guess he's fighting the enemy somewhere in India or Burma tonight.  Bless his heart.  My mom is spending the night in his room because she is the only one he will listen to when he is in this state.

His doctor and the radiologist both agreed that the chiropractor did not make it worse or did not cause other problems.  Thank you, God!!   I feel so much better.  My guilt has been eased considerably.

The back specialist will be seeing him tomorrow to decide a course of treatment. 

Any healing prayers would be appreciated!

 

What I Did On My Christmas Vacation

So much went on during my parents' visit that I didn't have time to do a lot of journaling.  It was a stressful, strange visit.  It got off to a rocky start when my Mom pulled a mean stunt against me and then rubbed it in my face for 2 days.  I took the high ground and tried to stay neutral but my feelings were hurt and it caused me to stay out of her path for most of the visit.  It is so out of character for her as far as our relationship is concerned that it totally threw me off guard.  My sister told me that this was not unusual in her dealings with Mom and that it had always been that way between them.  I'm so dense.  I never had noticed.  When Carol and I talked about it in detail, we think it has to do with the fact that I have changed so much this past year that she cannot control me anymore.  Mom has never been able to control Carol but I was very submissive to her and never wanted to cause waves.  I always felt responsible for her feelings and couldn't confront her or tell her things that might make her uncomfortable.  I'm not like that anymore.  I'm dealing with life on life's terms and I'm open and honest.  It may be that she just doesn't know how to deal with that from me.

My Dad came with an injured back that progressively got worse as time wore on.  I took him to my chiropractor and I think he did more harm than good.  My dad barely made it home.  My Mom's sister and her husband drove from Laramie, Wyoming to Denver, Colorado to pick them up at the airport so my Dad would not have to board the small 13-seat commuter plane and risk a bumpy ride from Denver to Laramie. 

Yesterday, he saw his family doctor who scheduled an MRI for today but he was so weak and in so much pain this morning that my mother had to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital.  I am waiting to hear the results of the MRI and to find out what they are going to do for him.  He was given morphine when he was admitted to the hospital and that did nothing to ease his pain.

I feel so awful about taking him to that chiropractor.  I should have taken him to a regular doctor.  I know no one blames me and I know the blame doesn't rest with me but I can't help but feel some responsibility.

What do you do when someone says they are going to contribute something important to Christmas dinner and then they totally blow it off and show up withoutit?  What are you to do when someone says they are going to go in on a gift for your husband with you and then they decide it was too expensive and don't do anything without telling you and there is nothing under the tree for him? How should I feel when those same two say they are going to participate in another special event during the evening and the come totally unprepared?  I will tell you how I felt - disappointed, hurt, angry, and determined not to let it happen again.  My son and his wife and the evil doers (lol) in this case.  It ticks me off (to put it politely) because when they hosted her family on Christmas day every little detail was in place and perfect.  I don't get it.  Why it's OK to blow me off like that.  I guarantee it will not happen again.  Next year, Dennis and I are going to Hawaii for Christmas.

So, Christmas this year was - for the most part - nice.  The grandchildren were fun and happy with their gifts.  That made it special for me.  The stress was very difficult and I need several deep tissue massages to get rid of the muscle knots in my shoulders and neck. 

I'm so glad it's over and all signs of it have been put away for another year.

Happy New Year to all!

 

Christmas Project

I was able to finish my sister's vest before Christmas.  I used 5 different fairy and floral prints cut into pieces 5" long x 4" wide.  I sewed the pieces together like a quilt making two, mirrored image, sides.  They are not identical because of differences in the prints and how they were cut.  After I finished the two panels , I cut out the front of the vest.  I used a pale pink velvet type fabric for the back and lined the whole vest with a cream colored cotton.  I pre-washed all of the fabrics so it will not shrink when Carol' washes it.  It came out really cute.  Best of all it fit her perfectly and she loves it.

My next project is a flannel blanket for my friend, Joan's, new grandson and then a Mother Goose quilt for my new grandchild who is due in 10 short weeks.

 

 

Snowman Soup Recipe

As I promised, the recipe for Snowman Soup.  It's cute anytime during the winter.  Makes a cute sock stuffer for Christmas or a little gift for kids to share with friends.

 

Snowman Soup Ingredients:

Packets of Cocoa Mix

Hershey Kisses

Hershey Hugs

Miniature Marshmallows

Small Candy Canes

Cellophane treat bags

 

In each cellophane bag, put one packet of cocoa mix, 2 Hershey kisses, 2 Hershey hugs, 8 - 10 marshmallows and a candy cane.

Make a label to attach to bag:

Snowman Soup Directions

Pour cocoa mix in a cup, add 6 to 8 ounces of hot water.  Add 2 kisses and 2 hugs, stir gently with the candy cane and then add the 'snowman' dumplings.  Relax and enjoy!

Fold the top of the bag over and staple the directions on the front.  I make a label using cute snowman stickers and white card stock with red lettering.   I made 20 bags and had 1/2 a bag of marshmallows left and a small amounts of the kisses and hugs left.  I bought a box of 24 mini candy canes so I had 4 of those left over.  I bought 4 boxes of cocoa mix.  Each box has 6 packets.