Mostly (but not quite) March

The year is tumbling onward. I can hide my eyes, cover my ears,  not speak of it, but still it is moving at an alarming rate.

 Sometimes I feel like an old fossil! (I found this in helping clear one of Sam's new trails through the woods. A perfect sea shell impression in the rock.)

 Over the weekend, Tom help me get set up to order some more chickens. The roosts are in half of the shed, and the pens have wire across  the tops. I am going to order a small batch (10) of mixed varieties of hens that lay brown/ colored eggs from Tractor Supply. I figure I can get a rooster by showing up to look over their Easter Chicks- I imagine they sell mostly roosters to the stores for sending home with people who really just expect them to die. (Not sure where I will find a couple of guinea buddies for the lone surviving guinea.)
In the offset area (to the right of the foremost pen) I plan to put in some herbs and flowers. The herbs there will be for the benefit of the chickens, I can toss handfulls to them daily.

We have had quite a bit of rain this week. Our creek was up again. Not quite as high as last year! This picture was taken from Sam's new trail, along the rim of the gully. You really can't tell the perspective from this picture, but I am looking down a steep embankment at the creek. I am 25+ feet from the water, not just a couple of feet. That tree on its side out in the water is FLOATING.
Yesterday, this was down to a beautiful, shallow creek, maybe a foot deep. If it doesn't rain today, the creek won't have ANY water flowing by this afternoon.

                 I have been trying to lose some weight. I can see the difference in this shirt- The beach picture was taken in October of 2015, so not quite 2 1/2 years ago. However, I gained more, so was larger after the beach picture than in this second photo by another 10-15 lbs... I was to the point that none of my clothes fit... as I discovered in needing to get dressed up for a funeral just over a year ago. I couldn't zip a single thing I owned.
Health issues can go with weight gain. My blood pressure was quite high, and I ached all the time. (Sort of like right NOW! as I battle an arthritis flare, going on 2 weeks.) Anyway, I discovered that when I avoided items containing flour, I didn't hurt as much. I began avoiding gluten, though I haven't been completely gluten free. I TRIED getting started on Trim Healthy Mama (THM), but I haven't embraced the complete plan 100%. But even in using the THM  idea of lower glycemic eating, I can say I have lost almost 35 lbs. Those dresses that I couldn't zip in November of 2016 are all too big for me now. My blood pressure has been good. My cholesterol has dropped significantly.
I have ZERO plans to "get skinny". I never want to be in the low 100's, as many weight charts recommend for my height. Not happening! (I am aiming for about 132 lbs... that's less than 10 lbs. away!) Mr. C eats THM when I make the foods, but he still wants his REAL ice cream. He has lost more than I have... but guys just seem to lose more easily.
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IN OTHER NEWS....
Daniel is closer to becoming a firefighter. He returned to Texas this past weekend for the Physical Agility Test. It was a pass/fail test, and he passed. He was given further application paperwork, which is due by mid-March. Then there is a background check, which he will be perfectly able to pass; and an interview in person. We aren't sure just how many positions are available this year, but San Angelo IS building a brand new fire station that will need to be staffed, so his chances look good.
Meanwhile, Mr. C and I are looking at the nest getting more and more empty.
   Samuel will be finished with his schooling to become a Journeyman Electrician in just over a year. He is currently pretty excited that he may get to go to Germany for a couple of weeks, if he can get the time off of work. One of our Spoon co-workers asked if he (and / or Daniel) was interested in accompanying her and her husband there, as the husband needs a specialized back surgery not performed in the US. (I say *our* Spoon co-worker, because, even though both boys are working full time elsewhere, you never really STOP working for the Spoon. Either one of the twins might be filling in for someone on any given Friday night.) Sam's reason for going (other than a great opportunity to see another country!) is that the husband will be in the hospital, and our co-worker is apprehensive about getting around alone, and Sam and Daniel both speak at least rudimentary German.
This has been a long post... thanks for reading!

It all depends on context....

I missed a mandatory meeting for work Tuesday evening. I was busy hugging the husband of a co-worker. My son Sam saw me, and called my co-worker, causing her to miss the meeting as well.

That sounds pretty sketchy, doesn't it? It summarized what happened, and sounds risque.

The details of what actually happened really sort this out. I wasn't at the meeting at work, because I failed to read the bulletin board Friday when I worked, after having been out sick for so many days. I had no idea we were even HAVING a meeting. But I did get a postcard AND a reminder phone call that the Mennonite School was having its regular blood drive on Tuesday evening. As I am a *Universal Donor* (O-), I try to donate every time I can. Daniel and Sam had been planning to cook an eggroll supper for Sam's bosses family. Dan pre-cooked the eggroll filling, and  put it into the fridge to cool.
We headed to the blood drive early. It was scheduled to start at 4:30, and we figured we'd be home by 5:30 if we were among the first there.
The blood bank had started a brand new check-in system, and you can pre-register your donation by computer or cell phone. We learned of this upon our arrival. Dan pre-registered on the spot, as it was another 15-20 minutes before they would be set up to start drawing blood. I don't carry a cell phone, so I waited until they had their walk-in tablets ready to use. This was their second day of the new system, and the first day this crew was out without an IT guy... the IT folks being in Springfield, Missouri, two and a half hours away without the ice storm snaking its way between us. Dan was first in line... and their printer didn't work for the pre-registered people. They hit *print* so many times, Dan's name was red-flagged in the system. Other glitches occurred. I was fast tracked to the front of the line- about the fourth donor to actually GIVE blood, as they had the tablet check in working more quickly than the pre- registration check in.
My blood was bagged, I was sent to the recovery area to wait for Daniel and/ or Sam. Sam arrived, and was actually done donating before they got Daniel started... such was the systems failure that night.
Where's the part about hugging my co-worker's husband? I am just getting to that.
I am sitting in the recovery area with a bag of peanuts and a glass of lemonade. I am across a school cafeteria table from a young woman, and we were having a good chat. My Spoon co-worker Diane's husband Merle is a regular blood donor. He was still giving blood when I sat down in the recovery area, but he wasn't too far behind me. Merle comes out and sits on the same side of the table I am on, and says, "I haven't ever felt like this after giving blood. I don't feel so great." The other lady across from us suggested he drink something, and have a snack. Merle didn't respond. She was reaching to get him something to drink, and asks if he wants lemonade, or would he rather have water? Merle doesn't answer. I look at Merle... and see his eyes roll back in his head and he is falling backwards off the stool attached to the table. I jumped up and grabbed him, but he is out cold. I am looking into the donation room, my face must have registered pure panic.  The lady across jumps up, but is just standing there, horrified. The people in the donation room are looking out, and they see me supporting Merle, who is still keeled over- I am getting LOOKS... "Why is that lady hugging Merle?" for several moments before people in there react. Men come running, and nurses and aides from the blood bank come in. They help ease Merle to the floor. In all the time I have held on to him, he hasn't drawn a breath. The nurse is patting his face, chafing his hands, and calling his name. "Merle? Merle! Merle!... I need you to wake up, Merle!"
He gives a shuddering gasp, and I could tell he was breathing, but I was so freaked out. He was shaking- I didn't know if that was normal or a seizure. Sam's donation is finished, and he comes out into the recovery area. I asked if anyone had Diane's phone number... Sam called our Spoon boss Jane, and got Diane's phone number, and called Diane to come to the school. Merle opened his eyes, but was VERY disoriented. They had him sit up, but stay on the floor as they continued to take his vital signs and question him.
Meanwhile, Dan's donation had been started and was taking a very long time. It ended up "clotting out" and having to be stopped. By then, we had been at the school well over 2 hours, and still had to go back home for the boys to pick up the food they were taking before traveling BACK past the school to Sam's boss' house. We left before Diane arrived.
The ice storm hit the edge of our county a short while later, so Tom and I asked the boys to be prudent and not out too late. I knew nothing about the work meeting until I got to work the next morning. Of all the people not really needed at a mandatory meeting, it is the dishwasher. So my absence was forgiven.

A Rainy Day

It is currently pouring rain. We are ahead of a cold front, so it is fairly warm out- 67*. Several miles to the north, they are experiencing freezing rain, so I am glad it is warm here. The weather guessers say we could accumulate more than 3" before the week is over, and we are on flood watch.
Everyone here is feeling much better, but regaining our strength has been slow. It hasn't helped that I've been in a miserable arthritis flare for almost a week. I should have given more thought to my diet. I KNOW that flour (probably the gluten) tends to flare the arthritis. Since we have been doing the THM (Trim Healthy Mama) diet, I have really not been strictly avoiding the flour. I HAVE been using sprouted grain flour, and low carb bread options. While sick, almost all I ate was dry toast made from sprouted grain bread. I at a tortilla, a piece of regular old pizza with white flour crust, and an eggroll. I had a BLT on a flatbread.... and- FLARE! The listed items were not all at once, they were spread over a week, so it is cumulative. It hasn't helped that I haven't taken my supplements at all since getting sick. Time to get back on the GF wagon.
Today is the Mennonite School blood drive. I have been donating a couple of years now. As O-, I am a "universal donor", and the blood bank always calls to remind me to donate. Maybe tonight's donation will spur my body to finally get off the weight plateau it has stuck on for the last few months. I am pleased that, while my weight has stayed just the same, I HAVE lost size. I got a thrift store skirt to wear to work. I tried it on before I bought it- and I HAVE worn it to work! It is a FITTED size 10- no elastic in it at all. It isn't my favorite skirt- you know how lazy I can be! It it cotton and has to be ironed. But I suppose that is OK, as my other skirts are falling off, despite taking in the elastic.
Dan is off work due to the rain. We are "fixing to" go to town. I need to return library books, and he is getting ingredients to make eggrolls. He and Sam are going to Sam's boss' house to cook eggrolls for them. It's a shame- our home made eggrolls will spoil them to the bland ones a person gets in restaurants.
Dan leaves for the next round of SAFD testing on Friday. The test is Saturday, Physical Agility. It is pass/ fail, and doesn't change ones ranking (Dan is #22) unless someone of a higher ranking fails the test. Since he has to leave early Friday morning, I won't get to ride along. (Friday is my regular work day!)
Have a blessed day, Thank you for keeping up with us!

Althea, Grace, and Jasher

So maybe that wasn't the flu... THIS is the flu!

The 36 hour bug I mentioned in my last post was NOT the flu after all. Perhaps a run in with a simple *common cold* virus, at least for Sam and I. Tom had the flu blown influenza virus, which did NOT run a simple 36 hour course. Yesterday was day 8 since it first came on him, and he was finally feeling up to leaving the house. In the hours after I posted my blog post on Thursday, I went downhill on a jet ski. My *normal* temperature runs in the low 97* range. By mid-afternoon, I was almost 101*. The aches- oh my! and coughing and miseries. In comparing notes, even our eyeballs ached. My sweet daughter Becky, in Texas, has also had the flu, and still had to cope with mothering  five kids. Small kids don't stop needing fed and clothes and diapered, and stop dirtying dishes just because Mom is sick. Then, the kids began succumbing to this. Yikes. If there is anything worse than feeling this bad, it is having your babies feel this bad and nothing that can be done to really help it.

Today is day 6 for me. I feel heaps and tons better, but still 'disconnected' and dizzy. I was beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel yesterday, when Tom did, in fact get hold of the Lysol Spray. I was not heeded in warnings that I needed to be out of the house, or at least behind closed doors for several hours. He sprayed down our bedroom and bath, doors dutifully closed... then came out and left the doors open. The airborne particles hit my lungs, and.... my breathing goes spasmodic. I rushed out into the cold on the front porch... where an apologetic Mr C brought me blankets. He shut the door back, but you know, like Pandora's Box, the deed was done. I sat outside in the sunshine awhile, then came back in, where a wave of self pity hit and I huddled in a heap on the couch and cried.

Yeah. Not pretty! Still, we are very seldom this sick. It happens once in awhile. Even if it happened every year, a few days of feeling this awful in trade for NOT having to deal with a destroyed pancreas resulting in Type 1 diabetes... worth the illness. We know two young women who now have Type 1 diabetes as a result of a Flu shot. This is a listed possible side effect, and has been known since the 70's. The doctors of these young women both told them the flu shot was the likely culprit, but that it is so *rare*, they still recommend the shot. The Flu shot that is hit or miss in its make-up annually, which missed its make-up this year, the newscasters tell us... "But there is still time to get yours!"

Anyhow.... keep your hands washed! Use those sanitizing wipes on the carts when you go shopping. Use hand sanitizer as soon as you get back to your vehicle. Keep your coughs and sneezes covered, and STAY HOME while you are sick!

The "flu" has not flown our coop....

At work last Wednesday- I think that was the last bite of January-  I started sneezing. I was sneezing so hard and so much, people were starting to roll their eyes in "Really? again?" instead of "Salud!", "Bless you!", or  "gesundheit!". Then the snot faucet opened and it was going full blast. Not acceptable in a restaurant situation... so I was sent home. Thursday, I was full blown ill. Freezing and shivering so hard my teeth were chattering as I huddled under a mound of blankets in front of the heater... and the house thermometer was reading 78*
On Friday, I went "suck it up, Buttercup" and in to work. The place was already short handed, and it was MY shift- no one I felt I could call. I took Advil Cold and Sinus meds., dressed warm, and went in. I was too cold to take off my sweater- ever tried to wash dishes in a sweater? Though the "artificial feel better" of the Advil had me on my feet- the manager saw right through it. I was sent home about 20 minutes after clocking in. By Saturday, I thought I just MIGHT be feeling better. Sam came down with it. On Sunday, I was sure I was better. Monday saw me as firm as ever, while Tom was starting to feel peaked. Tuesday,  and Wednesday, Tom fell hard. Daniel fell ill Tuesday night. I was able to work yesterday (Wednesday), felt fine all day. Tom went in today, all pumped full of artificial feel better, to spread the misery. He took his blanket and extra coat, plus refills of the OTC meds. If his ran the same course as mine, he ought to feel a whole lot better before the day is out. Sam was better in about 36 hours. I think Dan is about the same recovery rate as Sam, though his boss doesn't want him back until he is fever free for 24 hours- sometime tonight.
While I tried to be considerate of everyone, ALWAYS covering my face when coughing or sneezing... Mr C. missed the memo. He has hacked and sneezed and coughed all over everything... including right in my face. This morning, my bronchials are raspy and feel wet. I do NOT have a fever, but do have a bad cough. I've been disinfecting every surface in the house with clorox and lysol wipes. Tom told me I should get Lysol spray to sanitize the air. I have argued that it doesn't work like that... and spraying an aerosol of ANY kind pretty much sends me to spasms where I need an inhaler.

In other news..... I fixed a bad leak under the sink at work. It has been squirting a stream of water all over the dishperson's feet every time the garbage disposal is turned on. Complaints haven't fixed the issue, as trivial as others must find it. So I got under the sink and saw that a stream of water was NOT coming from the garbage disposal seal (which does still leak )... but from an apparent hole in the copper feeder water pipe to the disposal. I reported the hole to the kitchen manager, then took a closer look. It wasn't a hole at all. It was a junction of two pipes fitted together with a screw on coupler... and the coupler was completely unscrewed. I screwed it back together... and TA DA! Water was no longer shooting a stream at my sneakers when the disposal was turned on! Just annoys me I have put up with this for six weeks or so without taking a closer look myself. Meanwhile, we still are using a full sheet pan to deflect the disposal's bad gasket drips. Fixing that is beyond my pay grade.

Today, I need to work on my Mommy-do list. The refrigerator freezer is in desperate need of attention. I was going to work on it Tuesday, but I can't tackle a major job with Tom home. I also need to mop the vinyl floors... also something I prefer to do when other people aren't home. (Dan is still here, but I may try to do the freezer anyway). I need to figure out what to do about Nickole's upcoming ninth birthday. So anyways, I hope YOUR day is blessed, that you and your loved ones are in good health. Wash those hands and cover up the coughs and sneezes!

It's been awhile

It has been quite awhile since I tried changing the appearance of the blog at all. I am playing around with it now. I am home from work (again) today... One is not to be working in a restaurant kitchen when running a fever.

For those of you familiar enough with me, you will understand the degree of how bad I feel by this: I feel so bad I don't even want my shoes on.
I am a get up in the morning and put my shoes on kind of person. The shoes stay on my feet all day, until time for the day to be over. I might take them off a little while before bedtime, but not until I am DONE with the day. At this very minute, I am on *artificial feel better*... In this case, Advil Cold and Sinus Caplets. I can tell when their four hour range is almost up! This morning they haven't been enough that the fever is gone; my co-workers could tell by the red face and hyper-bright glassy eyes that I ought not to have come in.

I have tossed aside almost all my plans this week. I got the stuff out of the freezer to make breakfast burritos Tuesday. I just didn't feel up to dealing with the mess. The stuff is still in the fridge. When I was sent home Wednesday, I thought,  "Suck it up, Buttercup! Make those burritos and breakfast bowls!" I opened the fridge... there was only a dozen eggs. "OK, so maybe a small batch of burritos." I opened the breadbox for the tortillas... there were three tortillas. Scratch that plan! Yesterday I didn't feel up to leaving the house. I went outside as far as letting the chicken and guinea out of the coop and into the enclosed pen. The wind hurt... my joints ached. Nope,,, not going to the store.
So when I was sent home today, I stopped at the Dollar General to get tortillas and more eggs. They had tortillas, but not eggs. Well... this is Friday. Nobody needs *breakfast burritos to go* before Monday .
I did the least possible amount of kitchen maintenance last night... loading the dishwasher and putting up the food. Supper was a roasted turkey breast. Not that I felt like cooking it, but because I had thawed it a couple of days ago and HAD to cook it. Then, after supper I couldn't let the bones go to waste when bone broth is so *stupid easy*. I chunked them into the slow cooker and covered them with water... where they are still simmering.

Daniel flew down to Texas this morning to take the Civil Service Exam tomorrow. He still needs to pass the 30 WPM typing test, but the official site to take the test has been down all week. He is so stressed out over this. Prayers appreciated!
My nephew Tony (my brother Robbie's son) and his wife had their new baby boy, Landon Anthony Beard on Jan 22nd. He was born at 23 weeks gestation, 1lb.8oz. He was 11.5 inches. He is getting stronger by the day, but is oh-so-tiny. 11.5 inches is roughly the size of a "Barbie" doll. Please say a prayer for these folks.

Now that my *dope* is wearing off, I find myself in need of a pile of blankets and a nap. May your day be happy and blessed. Thank you for visiting!

Tom, Stephen (Tommy) Daniel, Benjamin, Samuel
December 26, 2017

How did I find time for this stuff?

I had forgotten what a huge "time sucker" the internet is!
I went to work this morning, and was sent back home less than 2 hours later- a combination of there being two dishwashers  culinary utensil sanitation specialists on duty, plus a total dearth of customers, plus I couldn't stop my sneezing/ sinus draining. Sneezing is NOT good in a restaurant situation... though I am always careful to cover my sneezes! Even if I had been 100% fine, they didn't need me there. I am additional income to our family- the other lady supports herself on this job. If one of us goes home, I feel like it is better that I lose hours than for her to have her income cut.

Guess what? I was looking back over the blog yesterday, and saw that in March, I will have been blogging here for 10 years. So, I am planning to come up with some sort of 'celebration'... with prizes or something. My readers have an outstanding chance of winning, as I have maybe 25 people who do read the blog!

For today, I just wanted to say "howdy, howdy, howdy!" again, and that I am so thrilled to be able to be online again! Thanks for reading.

I have INTERNET!!!!

We FINALLY got internet! I was reviewing some of my previous blog posts.. and saw that about this time last year, I thought we would have it by JUNE. Haha!
So, what have we been up to?
Samuel is about sixteen months from getting his Electrician's Journeyman license.
Daniel is in the big fat middle beginning of  applying for the San Angelo Fire Department. Since Ben applied, they have added a requirement of 30WPM typing speed to the requirements, and Dan has to hit that by Friday. (Currently at 27 WPM on the official tests). Saturday is the Civil Service exam. It takes about a year to actually get hired by SAFD.
Stephen (Tommy) is back in Dallas, after completing his CFNI training in Missions. He went to Thailand in September for field training.
Benjamin and his sweet wife Paula are expecting baby 4.3 in late April. They recently moved to a new home out in the country, some 18 miles from San Angelo.
Becky and Stephen are still helping Stephen's parents build their new home, which is nearing completion. Once it is finished, the great house swap will begin!
Speaking of moves, My Mom (Rose) and Ralph moved this summer. They sold the Ft. Worth house and bought my step- Mom (Kathie)'s parents former house in East Texas.
I am still washing dishes    culinary utensil sanitation specialist at the Spoon two days a week.
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BEEKEEPING!
Sam got two hives of bees, which are hanging in there! Tyrel (3.1) was awarded a whole beekeeping set-up. Becky joined Tyrel in beekeeping with a captured swarm, courtesy of Benjamin. Benjamin also got into beekeeping- I am not sure just how many hives he has now, with addition of a captured swarm this past week... and the hive he still needs to evict from his attic at the new house!
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GARDENING!
This past year's garden had us seeking new ways to preserve our great hot pepper harvest. While my jalapeño jelly remains a favorite, we also tried drying and grinding some. Tom had the idea to combine three different hot peppers... and our "Tri-Pepper Blend" is just fantastic. We will need to make MUCH more this year, as our supply is down to about another three weeks worth, for our household.
This year we hope to grow okra, tomatoes, green beans, a wide variety of peppers, zucchini, and possibly some winter squash. We had a few acorn squash "volunteer" at the edge of the compost heap late in the summer. Tom reluctantly transplanted them to the garden, telling me they would never survive. Oh. My. Gosh. They took off and produced SO much squash, that after giving away dozens,  and storing more than we had room for, we finally pulled up the plants in self defense! Acorn squash stores well, and I used the last one about two weeks ago. I saved seeds... so we can have more this summer.
Sunny, open space to garden in is at a premium here. Tom sadly and reluctantly cut down one of the trees that shaded the garden too much. It was either that one tree, or three or four larger trees that cast shade from the opposite direction.
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TRAILS!
Sam has worked diligently on trail building around the property. Daniel has helped with this, but Sam is the primary force in trail work. We now have two complete loops, which intersect with the original trail- sort of a lopsided figure ~8~~. It makes walking the property SO much nicer, and the twins invested in some trail bikes to better enjoy the trails! We are going to keep our eyes out for a couple of trail bikes for visiting grandkids.
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GRANDKIDS!
1.1 is 17! Wow! He is a Junior in high school, and has a job.
1.2 is almost 15. She started high school, and is in Band.
1.3 is 11. I got to spend some time with him in November.
2.1 is going to be 9 in just a few weeks. She was doing well last I heard.
3.1 is 10. He is learning beekeeping.
3.2 is 8. My birthday buddy is her Mom's right hand!
3.3 is 6. Growing so fast and overcoming her shyness.
3.4 is coming right up on four years old. She is full of personality!
3.5 is just over a year old now. She is walking, and just HAS to carry something.
4.1 is 4. He's quite the character. He is very smart, and very curious about so many things!
4.2 is 3. She's a girly girl, but set on keeping up with her brother. Usually has proof of her efforts!
4.3... My official guess is "boy"! We shall see! Due in late April.

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Thanks for reading. I should be better at keeping up the blog now that I have access!

PSA: If you must go to the Emergency Room

While Mr C and I were on vacation in Ohio this past week, I had to take my MIL to the Emergency Room. She had been sick for nine days, unable to retain fluids or food. She had suspected it was her new medication within days of starting it. She had called her Doctor. She had just told him the new medication didn't seem to be working. He told her to keep taking it, give it a chance. She did NOT tell him of all the "side effects" she was having!
By the ninth day of her illness, we had been there about four days. We had not been hovering over her, but going elsewhere to let her rest, and checking on her mornings and nights. The evening of the eighth day, her great grand daughter ratted her out: Granny is sleeping in the floor! (Granny had fainted!) She was still not convinced she needed to call her Doctor back.
I "googled" the name of her new medication and its side effects. It was a long list.
EVERY. Single. Symptom. my MIL was experiencing was on that list... along with some she wasn't. I called her prescribing Doctor's office and spoke to his nurse. Her Doctor was out of town, and she recommended that I take my MIL to the Emergency Room at once for evaluation.
 Here is where my Public Service Announcement starts. When you take someone to the emergency room, take a moment or five and bag up ALL of the prescriptions your patient is on. I had only taken the one we were personally convinced was the problem. MIL was so sick and dehydrated, she couldn't begin to remember the medications she was taking- which are very few! I see my MIL a few times a year- I have no IDEA what she takes on a daily basis. But you will need to know. Take the containers they are issued in- it has recommended dosage as well as the strength of the dose.
I can understand where the ER Doctor was coming from- I offered to show him the loose pills she had in her daily dosage box. "There are hundreds of millions of medications out there! I couldn't POSSIBLY recognize them by their shapes and colors!", he snapped at me.
MIL kept trying to gloss over her symptoms. In the ER, you don't gloss over your symptoms. Don't exaggerate... but be honest. Just because you haven't vomited in three hours (probably because you haven't eaten in twenty-six hours!) when you have been vomiting after every meal or drink for nine days... does not mean your vomiting is "better". Because you urinated twice last night, and actually had urine output doesn't mean you don't tell the Doctor you haven't been ABLE to pee for three days!
Doc grumbled that we were giving conflicting information. Before you go to the ER, take a few minutes to DOCUMENT symptoms. He couldn't understand why she thought she was feeling much better one day in the midst of this- which would mean it was NOT caused by the medication- and I reminded her, I had found a dose on the counter where she had MEANT to take it, but had not. (She missed a dose.)
The Doctor went to call the nurse who had recommended we take MIL to the ER, to find out what MIL was supposed to be taking, and snarked as he left the room, "People come in here with inaccurate, conflicting, and incomplete information, and expect us to make life and death decisions about their care!"
While his attitude stunk, I can see his point.
Here is a list of things I SHOULD have taken to the ER.
A list of EVERY  DOCTOR the patient is seeing. Their General Practitioner, Cardiologist, Diabetic care doctor... ANY Doctor the patient is seeing. You need their names, specialty, and their phone number if you have it.
ALL of the MEDICATION the patient is prescribed, in its original container.
ALL of the Herbal Supplements and/ or vitamins the patient takes. 
An official form of IDENTIFICATION for the patient. If the patient is unable to respond coherently, be sure you know their birthdate and year of birth.
Insurance cards. 
Bottle of water for your own and patients hydration.
Change for vending machines to keep up your strength for the duration of the wait.
A sweater or small blanket for the patient. (When you are ill, waiting rooms can feel like refrigerators.)
A Notepad and pencil or pen... I used my cell phone, but cells are often not allowed  in the ER. (You will want to document what is said about future care for the patient. I kept note of MIL's blood pressure, temperature, and blood counts as tests were run. My notepad was a quicker reference than their computer system in comparing old and new readings. It was handy for noting the names of both the snarky and the above and beyond duty caregivers. I plan to send Thank You notes to the staff members who deserve recognition.
 MIL was admitted. She was severely dehydrated, and had low/ borderline blood count, which required a transfusion during her stay.  Two nights and three days of professional care, and she was able to return home... on her 84th birthday! The staff Doctor agreed, after observation, it was the new medication. She is off of that for good!

How about some "Country"?

Tom and I have been out and about for a couple of weeks, shopping for a tiller. We need one in working order... NOW. Due to circumstances beyond MY control- obtaining a working tiller was put off repeatedly during the pre-Spring season. Spring is here NOW! And finding a tiller or fixing either of the elderly two machines we have has not happened. We have gone out two days in a row, and came back empty handed trucked. On the way home the first day, Mr C realized we had not even checked our most local farm and ranch store. He completely hates to shop there. However, if they had a tiller, he was willing to at least look.
I called the store. The phone was answered by a younger sounding female... who seemed completely clueless as to what a rototiller (tiller) even was. She put me on hold to begin the torture procedure. Horribly loud "country" music was blasting into my ear. (Daniel has previously observed, stores play country music to discourage loitering.) When I was just about to hang up so that I could stop the blood coming out of my ears, a young male picked up the phone, asking to help. He, too, seemed clueless as to what exactly a rototiller was. I had to describe its purpose, but finally he decided that yes, Atwoods does indeed have tillers in stock.
Tom and I had almost made it home by that time, so I did some online comparisons to other nearby farm and ranch stores. The next day we set out again, Atwoods as the first stop. Atwoods lived up to their usual standard. We looked over four tillers before we found one that had all of its parts intact, and wasn't about to fall apart. Seriously, the first three were missing nuts, bolts, oil plug, almost rusted through... and were being sold for "new"- at the price of new. When we finally found one that seemed OK, we decided we weren't chancing the buy. (On a previous experience with Atwoods, we purchased an extension ladder. Got home, and discovered the ladder's safety catches were broken, rendering it useless as an extension ladder. We returned it, where our money was refunded, as it was the only extension ladder they had in stock. The clerk asked the manager for help in completing the transaction- should she tag the ladder as damaged/ remove from stock? The manager said no, he would just discount it and sell it "as is". A week or two later, I had to go back into that store. The ladder- the SAME ladder- was back in stock. It was NOT marked damaged- and it was not repaired. Some other person will someday get that ladder home and find it damaged! That just seems dishonest. We had to make an extra trip to return the ladder- and while we may only be a dozen miles from town, someone else might live much farther away.)
Another thing I dislike about Atwoods is that the merchandise is often without any price tag to be found. You have to take the merchandise to a register, or corner a reluctant employee to inquire about price. This store is poorly lit, and often seems quite dirty... plus there is the vomitous country music blasting. (Sam puts on an obnoxious twangy tone of voice, "Thanks fer listenin' to Aitch E Ail Ail ! Awl Kuntry, Awl the ty-em! That's  station H-E-L-L, all country, all the time!")

We moved on to other (CLEANER!) Farm and Ranch stores (Orscheln, and Tractor Supply) that also play country music, but at a less deafening volume... however, we still came home without a tiller. Tom spaded the earth into submission in the previously tilled up area- and we MIGHT have to settle for a smaller garden this year, awaiting repair of either of our currently owned tillers.
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*** In Other News***
I have an appointment this week to get a diagnostic mammogram. A lump- which the doctor believes is a fluid filled cyst- has been found. As it is rather painful, I am hoping they will consent to draining it, as has been done with other cysts I have had.

Five years

I hardly know what to say. Five years ago today was the last time I spoke to my son, Bill.
Most days, I do fine. Some days, the least little thing sets me off in tears. Yesterday, a co-worker mentioned she hoped we get a good snow before the winter is over, so that she and her grandkids can run barefoot through the snow. Tears sprang right up in my eyes, and I was sobbing before I could stop myself. The poor woman thought she'd said something wrong- trying to quickly explain how walking barefoot in the snow for a few minutes was an old custom to strengthen the immune system.
  But I had remembered Bill, and the barefoot in the snow incident, and it just hit. I miss him so much. (When Bill was about nine, we had a big snowfall. He asked to check the mail- and ran out the door in his bare feet. A few minutes later, Becky heard him crying,  "Bring me my shooooooeees!" as he laid in the snow with his cold feet in the air.)
  He's been gone 1825 days.
Most of the time, I am comforted. We talk to one another in my dreams from time to time. I always seem to know I am dreaming, and that he is gone, yet there we are.  We laugh and talk, and when it is time for me to awaken, he says goodbye, and I wake up with a light heart. And there are times when I reach for the phone to call him, and the loss hits so hard.
More often than not, I can laugh at the good times we had.
This was a big anniversary- five years. First, it was one month... then two, six months, a year. My heart still hurts.

Small change(s)

Last week's casserole was a big hit with the guys. Tom ASKED to take leftovers for his lunch the next day! When I have time, perhaps I can add it to "Cooking with the Cow Crew".
Friday saw me washing dishes at The Wooden Spoon- and I was offered (and accepted) more hours! I am now Assistant Culinary Utensil Sanitation Specialist on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10-3. That starts TODAY! Today, being Valentines Day, the Spoon is having a rare non-Friday evening opening. Normally, The Wooden Spoon is open M-F, 10:30- 2. Then on Friday evening, 5-9 pm. On these rare occasions when the Spoon has a special opening, they take reservations, such as tonight. I get to work tonight as well- so it is almost working a double. Not quite, though, as I only have five hours this morning, then perhaps five more this evening.
I like working at The Spoon. Nobody yells at me. People do not cuss, at all. People help one another in every task, if help is needed. We all have a common goal- to cook, serve, and clean up. And everyone helps. If I fall behind in dishwashing, people step in and help put away dishes, or scrub stubborn pots. If I am all caught up, I find ways to help. Last week, I got to help the salad maker prepare the carrots for the salads.
The owners of the Spoon work with people when they need time off, so I can go with Tom on his vacation weeks- something I couldn't do with most jobs.  Starting at 10 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays will give me time to do my garden chores, and take care of the chickens when we eventually get them. Getting off at 3 leaves time for canning, if I need to,  and cooking supper. Fridays I will be working 8- about 3:30 or 4.

My Dad's 80th birthday is coming up in a few more weeks. Grand Daughter Alana's is the day before Dad's- she will be an amazing 14 years old! Even closer than Dad's birthday is Nickole's. Nickole will be 8! Dad doesn't want a party- feeling his 75th birthday party was quite enough of a disaster. (They were robbed during the party, and less than a week later, Bill Joe passed away.) So, we are honoring his no- party wish. However, I want to ask everyone reading this, to PLEASE send him a birthday card! Contact me if you need his address. His birthday is March 6th, so please mail your cards by the 3rd or 4th.) Maybe his grandchildren can enclose pictures of their families- I haven't sent him any swiped pictures in a long time, and little ones grow up so fast. (He also likes dark chocolate caramels with sea salt, and loves to read- if anyone wanted to send a gift!)
For now, the time has come to prepare for work. Have a blessed day!

Happy, Happy

It is easy to make me happy!  I was feeling quite terrible on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I plugged along at work Friday, trying not to whine TOO much. Saturday, I barely got out of bed. By Sunday, I felt quite a bit better. It was a warm, sunny day, with barely any breeze at all. Tom and the boys changed oils and cleaned vehicles, while I sat on a log and "minded" the burning brush pile. The guys had already split the larger branches and lesser trunks of the downed trees that had shaded the garden area.  Sitting in the gentle winter sun, by a nice bonfire, doing non-strenuous work was just what I needed.
Monday, Daniel was granted an unexpected day off. Once Tom and I got back from our WalMart run, Dan unloaded and put away the groceries. Tom napped; I unloaded the pantry, and explained to Daniel what I wanted to do to organize it better. I needed a couple of narrow boards to add a few shelves, which I planned to make from leftover plywood already on hand. Once Tom woke up, I dragged him into my project. (I had intended to do the laundry room cupboard, which also needs a shelf... but one project at a time is about all we had room for!) It was five thirty by the time we finally finished the pantry. I still had to put everything back into the pantry, cook supper, clean the kitchen... there was no time for the laundry room! I can probably use a couple of the makeshift racks I had in the pantry to remedy the laundry room cupboard.
Today (Tuesday!) I ran the errands we missed out on yesterday, and picked up the items we missed getting Monday. A miscommunication at the grocery store left us without tea. It was not on my list, but I thought someone had said we were out of Sleepytime. I asked Tom, who was looking for our brand of bread, if we were out of Sleepytime Tea. He said no. So I got my Constant Comment  and some Matcha tea, and we continued our shopping. Then at bedtime, someone asked if we had bought Sleepytime. I said, "No. I asked Dad if we needed it and he said no." From another room, Tom called out, "I thought you asked me if *I* had gotten the Sleepytime. That's what I said NO to!"
So, we missed tea... and peanut butter. The last tablespoon was used up this morning. I already had to go to Aldi for our cheese, chips, yogurt, and produce. What's one more stop?
I am actually quite pleased over my errands over all today. 38 mile round trip, eleven stops, and I was home by twelve-thirty. (That's not even counting that I was two miles from the house on the trip out, when I realized I had left my over-due library books on the couch. I had to turn around to get them!) Filled the car with gas, went to the library, post office, bank, Lowes... to apply for a job. (Which I couldn't, because, even though they have a banner out front that says "NOW HIRING!", they do not, in fact, have any openings.) From Lowes, to Wal Mart for the peanut butter and tea. Then to another bank. An (unplanned) quick stop at Dayspring card outlet, then Aldi, Tractor Supply, and finally, a quick drive through at Panda Express for a lunch bowl.
I had to stop at Tractor Supply to get a new "live trap". The "live traps" come in two packs- a large with a small. Our last two pack, we got at Atwoods. On about the seventh or eighth possum captured, a piece was lost from the larger trap. Tom continued to use the smaller trap. Last night, yet another "ugly kitty" was caught. Tom sat the cage behind the car so he wouldn't forget to take the ugly kitty off and release it "elsewhere". He left the trunk open to remind him of the cage behind the car, and came back inside to get ready for work.
As you have probably guessed, it would of been better to set the caged animal next to the driver's door, rather than behind the car. Tom jumped into the car and backed right over the cage! Fortunately, the possum was just fine. The cage was damaged beyond salvaging, and once the critter was released, the cage was tossed into the dumpster. This is probably the tenth or eleventh opossum caught trying to get under the house, so we really do HAVE to have live traps set pretty much all the time.
Since getting back from errands, I used my favorite purchase of the day to organize my mugs and glasses in the cupboard. An "expandable" wire mesh shelf from Aldi ($4.99) gave me two more feet of room in the cabinet where my cups and glasses live! Happy, Happy me!
Now, I suppose I'd best get off the computer and go prep supper. I am going to make enchiladas with chicken, avocado, and green sauce. Corn tortillas, to stay off the flour products as much as possible, and will likely make it as a casserole, rather than actual rolled enchiladas- just because it is easier. (Also, I've noticed the guys eat less when it is casserole, as opposed to rolled enchiladas.)
Have a blessed day, Thank you for reading!