Tomorrow

Monday - Ben won't be here until Friday. So will eat by ourselves unless I can think of someone to invite over. 

We got the carpet cleaned and will move the furniture around. The boys said they would help me do that tomorrow. Then will have to clean so it will be nice. It needs cleaning anyway.

  I got rid of some costumes to a church that is doing Amal and the night visitors. We won't be able to go. It sounds great. It is a fundraiser for the EOU music program and they are doing it at a church.

  We watched Elmo and the Mo tab tonight. It was fun. It must have been great in person. Andrew even laughed.

Going to finish my murder mystery.

   Tuesday - Went to walk the dog, it was misting, between snow and rain.

Our friend Reta Dolan brought over some pepper jam, tomato jam and a relish. That was an excellent start to Monday. That was most excellent. She read our blog, figured out what would help and this small gesture made the day. 

  Andrew made 50 cents in tips cleaning a car today. He is a rich man. He gets Friday off so will get to spend time with the cousins.

   They are working on Bruce's ankles. They need to be strong to help him with standing. He also said they were staying in one position so they need to be stretched out.

Looks like Ben and family will be here Friday for the day. We have tickets for Annie at the Elgin opera house in the afternoon so that will be fun. Lindsy said they would cook for us. 

Duncan and Andrew moved the furniture around for me. It looks more open. wont have to buy new furniture now. Ha ha

Thanks you Chris for dinner. It was simple and very tasty. I want to get more of that pita bread. The boys even ate it. Sorry I am so weepy, must need more sleep.

Wednesday - Got my hair cut an inch shorter. Will get it colored next Tuesday, that will be fun. It's cheaper if you do cut and color at the same time. Live and learn...

   My sewing machine died, good thing I have a spare. It will take 2 - 3 weeks before he can look at it. It is the plug in, hope he can fix it. 

  Thursday - had a nice feast, turkey, gravy, (no lumps) smashed taters, olives, rolls from the Mennonites and two of their wonderful pies and a pumpkin cheesecake pie from the Nazarenes. I love fundraisers! Duncan made the taters, Andrew set the table.

Had a day off, except for helping Bruce every two hours. 

   Friday - the fam arrived. We played around at the house. The boys wanted to use bruces hand wheelchair. They have a section in the new scout book about handicapped awareness. Even the four year old, Hallie could move it. They figured out turning too. Lindsy and our oldest granddaughter, Bruce and I went to see Annie in Elgin. The rest of the fam stayed here and watched Inside Out. We returned at five and went to La Fiesta, they were closed, so we headed to Moys and the grandchildren said they wanted Mexican food. El Errdero was open and they are wheelchair accessible, they had a nice long table for us with a high chair for the baby. Bruce sat by our youngest grandchild and fed him chips. They were both happy. Ben paid for dinner. Another stuffed from sitting day. Sad to say the fam left after that. They will stay in Pendleton for the night and head to Corvallis on Saturday. We were bushed. A busy, happy holiday for us.

Getting Stronger

   Looks like Andrew will be working full time. He cleans and vacuums the rental cars. He is home for an hour for lunch.

    Carma took me out to lunch and I went with her to run errands. We went to the sub shop and talked to Kathy Miller a friend. 

Going to nap.

    Tuesday - We had the carpet cleaned today it looks and smells really nice. I moved the couch over to center it in front of the big window. It kinda balances our the furniture a bit. Hali is sitting on the wet carpet. It will be nice to have a clean carpet with the grandchildren here as they sit on the floor a lot.  

   We also found out the carpet cleaners vacuum out the heating vents so he will be back the end of the month to clean those. He says it is good for allergies. Yeah, I hope it helps. They recommend you do it every three years. We've been here longer than that and I used the shop vac to clean them one time. So it is probably a good idea for them to come clean them.

     Thursday - sewing in the basement of the Methodist church is nice. A quilting friends husband was out hunting and fell down a cliff, seems he is giving the Drs and nurses a difficult time. She can't take care of him because she had shoulder surgery. I gave Ellen a big hug. Tears came to our eyes as we commiserated. 

       I put a quilt top I am working on on the wall. The quilt was easier to construct when looking at it from a distance. Rosala says it will be stunning. I realize our lives are like that seen better from a distance. Now life is lived one day at a time, one quilt block at a time. If I were to step back and view the whole quilt or life it will come together and create some beautiful masterpiece. Now the struggle seems overwhelming.

    Saturday - Went with Ernie to some bazaars today. Saw Sandra Leavitt, she was doing well, just cold sitting by the entry way. Carol was working. 

  Went with sister missionaries on splits. They are young and full of energy. Sis. Zitting from Alabama, said she would go with me because the car has heated seats. Yes, I asked her if she was teased in high school because of her name. She said it wasn't too bad. 

    One house had four dogs and a big goose. They were friendly until we got out of the car and started heading to the house. A man came out and called the dogs off. We waited and he came back out. He said he wasn't interested in church. A lot of people are happy without religion. There will be a final reckoning, will he remember he turned us away? The light of Christ is healing, teaches us to love and help others. I realize a person can progress without Christ in their lives. Seems some are always searching and never come to a knowledge of the truth. How do you help someone see light and truth when they have no need for it? 

   Andrew made dinner tonight, chicken stir fry with frozen veggies, it was pretty good.

    Bruce is progressing. They had him standing and then on his knees for balance, staying straight up. That way he works on his balance. 

   They are also working on his left arm. It needs to be strong because they are thinking he might end up with a walker or arm canes. 

Another week with wound care. The wound Dr., Roxanne said it was looking good, another two weeks to go.

   We are finished soaking his toe and it is looking better. We are worried about him not getting therapy for four days in a row over Thanksgiving. We will still stretch and range him in the morning and afternoon, so that will help.

One Day More

   Monday - We bought some taco soup and brownies for a dance fund raiser so I didn't have to cook today.

Have been sewing today. Made autumn leaf covers for the pillows and matching curtain for under the sink. 

Need to clean, don't want to.

Getting rid of Santa suits, more stuff to get rid of. 

Trying to get some quilt tops done to put in the local quilt show at the shop down town. They serve cider and cookies too. 

Will have to find another murder mystery to read.

   Wednesday -  I have an awful head ache, sinus again, couldn't be stress, right?

  I did clean two toilets and a load of dishes and cut out more strips for border and binding.

I need to thin the iris, but don't think that will happen this year.

Maybe I will sweep off the deck. Maybe

  Andrew took the white car back to Pres. Richards on Sunday. He needed it for family. We have had it a year. I should ask Andrew to write a thank you but he hasn't even sent any for his Sr grad gifts. 

Have to make three more blocks for the string quilt. Six blocks just isn't big enough.

  Bruce has an appointment in Baker today. If this headache doesn't go away I will stay home. Duncan is the designated driver. Bruce turned on Peter, Paul and Mary had to leave the kitchen, it hurts my head, it is too loud.

 It is raining here, no mail either.

     Bruce left for a Drs appoint and I felt better. You think there is a connection? An outward manifestation of inner turmoil. Sigh

   Thursday - Went to sewing this morning. Almost finished a top. The ladies are helpful with opinions and ideas. One lady brought sausage and potato soup in a crock pot for lunch, it was so good.

Bruce is back on his therapy schedule. It is only an hour a day until he gets stronger. Then he will work up to an hour and a half a day.

 Andrew got a job working at Goss motors. He will wash and vacuum cars from 8 am to noon or so. We are just glad he will be busy and have Sunday's off.

  Going to night RS tonight. We do a quilt class and then the regular meeting.

It is nice to get away.

  

    Friday - Had slight trauma last night, as I was settling into our cozy warm bed at 11 pm. Bruce's catheter came off. Had to get him up in the sling, change the sheets and blankets and put him back to bed. Had to get Andrew to help me get him back to bed and then Duncan to position him with pillows. I have trouble rolling him over. It is nights like these I wish he was in a hospital bed. I was very frustrated and had to hold my sobs back so Bruce wouldn't see or hear. When he loses control of his bowels he gets really quiet, it is humiliating for him. It makes me angry, tired and mean.

    I sewed all day at UFO yesterday. I did get a top almost finished, needs borders. I come home and things are still the same. I suppose the trivial things are what will keep me going. The top is cheddar yellow and indigo blue with Scottish thistle. It will be very nice.

Need to sleep

Goodbye October

Notes from last week Nov 1 - 8

Sunday - Nov. 1st - Ended up going to the ER this morning. The wound vac sponge came out. 

They taught me how to secure the patch when it leaks, add more tape and this putty stuff. But the sponge on the wound came out and I don't know how to do that. This trip was only an hour and a half. So got out of there in a timely manner for ER. We knew two of the nurses and a Dr. from church so that was nice. 

The good thing is they called our wound nurse and she said to stop using the wound vac and they just put a big bandage on it! Yeah! We will see her tomorrow for our weekly visit.

  The sun is shining, must be time to got to sleep in the sunshine, like Garfield. Couldn't face going to church for the last hour. Well meaning people ask how Bruce is and we tell them we are getting stronger. Some days are difficult, some days are easier. 

Tuesday - Andrew raked leaves for us. They are in piles, Duncan say he would move them, he didn't say when.

I did some sewing today. I feel like I have accomplished something when I can see it in my hand, cleaning and cooking are fleeting and my quilts seem to last longer.

Might go to the FHC depends on how Bruce is doing and if I need to get away.

Wednesday - Andrew made sketti and meatballs on Tuesday. He cooked the sauce down. He didn't ask about adding spices, so we talked about that. He likes to do things on his own. He said it would have been nice to know while he was cooking. It is hard to know when to tell him things sometimes he wants help and other times 

 Thursday - Went with Carol last night to the Potters House open house. Got some huckleberry syrup for tomorrow and a birthday yearly calendar hanger for all the grandchildren. Janie Orton had one and I thought it was a fun idea.

  Walked the dog, read a conference talk.

Bruces toenail came off. I hate looking at it. We soak it in Epsom salt, lavender scented. It is supposed to be soothing.

 Our morning helper was sick so asked Greg to come over. He has to get a ride because he is not driving because of his sleep problems.

   Poor Duncan discovered a piece of Bruce's poop on the shower floor. It happens. He tells me so I can clean it up and he says he is officially switching bathrooms now. Give me strength.

Guess I better clean bathrooms today.

Got out twice today. Went to Norco for more bandages and then Safeway.  Duncan wants to cook hamburgers and tater tots for dinner tonight. So had to get buns and tots and donuts, since it is national donut day. 

Went to a RS Presidency meeting. It lasted nearly an hour, it is good to think if there are other people I can help. And then figure a way. 

Tomorrow morning is a pancake breakfast for the VT sisters. I got some huckleberry syrup to take.

Bruce is at the Dr with Duncan, so will finish my book.

   The lord must have heard me whining. Christie and Fred Nelson brought over dinner tonight, tacos from la Fiesta, it is taco night. She always says tell us what you need and I say we are fine and dinner is what we needed. I don't like asking people to do things for us. I am not sure what we need. Just TLC., most days.

   The boys did rake some of the leaves, one more time and it will be done. It is good for them to do it.

 Jean Secl called and she will pick me up for pancakes tomorrow. I told Christie and she might come. She has done Bruce's HT route and Rick Isaacson's route with her husband and hasn't had time to her VT.

   I vacuumed today and wiped down the frig, oven and dishwasher. I am glad I did as Christie's house is always seems to be spotless. I changed the sheets on the bed. Then when she called and said they were coming over, I whirled around the house and put a lot of things away. That is one way to get it picked up. What do I do with my piles?

Saturday - Went to stake conference last night. Bruce spoke for 15 min. He stayed for the whole meeting so got him to bed late. There was a couple that spoke who went to West Virginia Charlestown mission. She made 5000 cookies to take to people and he did four times that in curly ribbons to put on the cookies. They were a team. They were fun. Andrew brought home a big bag of individual size chips left over from dinner. All the sub sandwiches were gone by the time he got there.

Will get Bruce up and do it again. He is not speaking in conference today. 

  Will put a roast in the crock pot so it will be ready when we get home.

  I went to three church bazaars yesterday with my friend Carol. I got some candle soaked pinecones from the Christian church, some green, warty looking Osage oranges that keep spiders away, you put them by outside doors and under beds from the Methodist church and some donut holes from the Presbyterians. We ate taco soup, Carol had the chicken polenta soup with the Methodists, although the turkey noodle soup sure smelled good at the Christian church, and the homemade donuts were worth getting out of bed to bring home. They were individual bites of soft sweetness. The green pepper jelly was gone. It is good over cream cheese with cracker dip or on meatballs. Will have to get there earlier next year. She said it goes the first hour. I think we might have some in the basement will have to look for it.

Will go to more bazaars next week.

It is cold and windy here. 

 I did cut out some fabric squares yesterday. 

  Bruce's big toe is looking a lot better, we are still soaking it twice a day. The Dr. says it will grow back. I think I will take Bruce there every other Wednesday to get his toenails clipped so I don't cause any more infected toenails. It is only a 15 min. visit. The Dr. sure gets people in and out of there fast.

  We paid our taxes for another year. 

  One of our caretakers, Sheila said there is a business in town that will come in and vacuum out the heating ducts. Every time the heat comes on we both start sneezing and getting watery eyes, so will look into that tomorrow or see if the boys will do it for me. Some of the vents are difficult to get off. I remember I vacuumed the ducts when we first moved here 28 years ago. 

  Please forgive me if I do not invite you in for a visit. Some days are harder than others. Bruce would talk to everyone. I just want to curl up in the fetal position.

Thank you for your tender mercies and kindness. 

Notes From Last Week

   Some notes from last week.

Went to sacrament meeting, there was a young man doing his farewell. He is going to Texas, Spanish speaking. A good sacrament all three talks based on 1 Nephi 3:7.

Some priests brought us the sacrament. Should be the last time, hopefully will come home tomorrow. 

The pic line is out, the catheter is out. We are unhooked and approved to come home in our van. Our new wound vac is ready to be a attached.

Duncan said they helped for about an hour yesterday moving a family into a house. 

 Getting tired of sitting, will go for a walk.

Monday - Bruce will sit up some, he can feel when he needs to change positions so that helps.

Duncan will do the 2:00 time and Andrew said he would do the six to get used to getting up early. I will help and go back to sleep.

Still have some unpacking to do and have to get meds for Bruce tomorrow.

Don't have anything planned tomorrow so that will be nice.

Some friends from church brought us a meal tonight, that was very helpful.

I  know I will do better with more sleep. Haven't slept well trying to remember everything.

Going to get ready for bed.

Tuesday - can't find the charger cord for the dang wound vac. Will call the hospital and see if they have an extra one til we get one here. Bah humbug. We think we left it plugged in the wall as the vac is attached to Bruce's chair. 

Still tired didn't sleep well, feel better though, just being home. Will nap this afternoon.

Will have to get Bruce to use the urinal every two hours til he gets more control because he had the catheter he needs to relearn.

The boys were happy to see us. The meal was wonderful we had a sit down meal.

Have to go grocery shopping, walk the dog and pick up meds at rite aide.

Then a nap. But can't leave until someone is awake to help keep an eye on Bruce.

Waiting for a call from SWIACH to see if they can find the cord and mail it. 

We have rain coming this week. 

Will have to get my sewing machine repaired. Sewing keeps me from feeling sorry for myself when it rains or maybe I will just read a murder mystery. Buying fabric helps too.

This morning is awful. Bruce had blood in his stool from the bowel care and the bandage for the wound came off. The blood was bright red so we figure it is the hemorrhoids. Hope to get to the wound dr at the hospital today. I covered the wound with a patch but the wound is seeping because the vac isn't on it. Bruce is sleeping. I want my mommy.

   Will probably cancel PT today. Hope to hear from Roxanne the wound dr. I think we are going to be bonding soon. Oh did I tell you he has an infection in his toe so if the wound dr doesn't want to deal with that we will have to go to a foot dr. It looks like an infected ingrown toenail. Normally I wouldn't bother with it but because of the infection from the wound I think we need to treat it right away.

  On the bright side, I ordered some pink unicorn fabric for girls. Couldn't resist, it will make a nice baby girl quilt. It was one of the weekly or daily deals from MSQC.

  We have had the heat going since Bruce got home, he is cold, even with a blanket and hat on in the house.

       I made a roast in the crock pot and it wasn't done by 6:30 so made Bruce a BLT sandwich last night. 

 I think I will just stay home this week with Bruce. 

   Rosala is bringing dinner tonight. Yeah that is another positive thing. I am having difficulty looking for the good things this morning. 

Must call the dr.

  Wednesday - We went to ER and they patched the wound and gave us another cord so we are set until tomorrow. Then went to the toe DR and Bruce had part of his nail removed. I left the room. Now home and he wants to nap. I am so tired.

   Thursday- Okay, feeling better today not as overwhelmed.

I cleaned out some old fabric to make room for all the new precursor I am ordering.

We got Bruce's wound recovered. We got his infected toe taken care of. Yeah!

The part for the wound vac arrived. The smell of the wound is what bothered us we didn't want to end back in Boise for another three weeks. I suppose we will be paranoid from here out.

Today we go to the wound Dr to set up a schedule. And the wheelchair person will arrive to put a brake on the shower chair.

Maybe I will clean something or at least vacuum. 

    Feeling much better this morning. 

I was tired, mean and grumpy when we got home. Not feeling quite so overwhelmed.

We put Bruce back in bed, he is only used to being up for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. 

I will talk to him about sleeping in. He tires really easily.

I need to go purchase more vitamins and things for him, will do so when one of the bros gets up. 

I will take a rest this afternoon.

After a morning shower the sun is peeking through. 

Need to walk the dog.

Sunday -  We are full of too much candy.

We had eight trick or treaters. We stayed home. The boys went down to Connie longs house, they had soup, hot cocoa, scones and candy. 

We were afraid Bruce would get chilled outside. 

He has a busy day then he gets tired the next day.

He will go to an afternoon church so he doesn't have to race around to be on time. I will have to race around to get there on time after taking care of him.

Looking forward to being with adults.