Good Rainy Morning!
Our week started out so good, and ended badly, at least emotionally.
Monday we drove 3 hours north into southern Illinois and met my sister and sister-in-law, who drove 3 hours south, for lunch. It sounds pretty crazy to drive all that way for lunch, but the town we go to has several nice restaurants and is almost exactly halfway between our homes. We've done this several time to meet my mother, and we usually have a grandchild or two with us, but this time it was an "adults only" time. My brother was unable to come since they had just moved and he didn't want to leave the dogs alone in a strange house for several hours. We were tired by the time we got home and it did take us a couple of days to recover!
While we were on the way home I got a text that Ryan's father-in-law had been admitted to ICU and it was not looking good. He's been ill and in a nursing home for a long time. We stopped by the hospital as we got back in town, only because I saw Ryan and Amanda in the parking lot. They stayed with us Tuesday night so they wouldn't have to drive the hour back home and then back the next morning. I kept them in coffee, replenishing as needed. He passed away either late Thursday night or early Friday morning. I got the text a little after midnight.
The funeral is Monday with the visitation Sunday evening so all flowers had to be done today. Because the church is a little country church, nothing could be sent to the church. I've been to the florist this morning and got an arrangement from us, and Amanda asked if I could get some white roses to be put in the casket at the end of the service. They were out of roses so we settled on carnations, but with baby's breath and some greenery, it is a nice bouquet. They will pick them up sometime this afternoon.
We also had news that Emily's husband had an abnormal EKG yesterday, so he's being set up with a cardiologist in Memphis. The one he is seeing is the first one I saw after Bill's last heart attack. The first words he said were "He's still alive". Although we don't agree on which higher power, we both agreed that a higher power was at work!
Bill has said that he's been tired all week and his appetite has been off some. He said it was just from everything going on the first part of the week, so I hope that's what it is. He said he felt OK other than that. I've got to get him moving some again, or he's not going to move!
I think that's the highlights of the week, hopefully next week things will settle back down some. Have a good week!
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Sorry I'm so late today but I've been very busy...stalking Facebook! I have dealt with a few emails and did make a quick run to Walmart, but the rest of the time has been Facebook. I thought about updating this last night when I couldn't sleep and I guess I should have done that.
The snow last Saturday started mid-morning and snowed all day. It was absolutely beautiful. I have never seen flakes as big as they were when it started. When they became smaller I knew it was going to start covering. We ended with about 2 1/2 inches. It got warm enough Sunday to melt everything, but then it snowed again Monday morning. It didn't stick but then it got cold all week. We didn't get out of the 30s much.
Monday I checked to see if Bill had a schedule for his check-up and he did...for the wrong dates! Of course when I checked it was after hours so I had to wait until Tuesday to call. I called Stephanie and she then transferred me to Kate who was handling schedules before they get to the schedulers. By Tuesday afternoon we had a revised schedule for the proper dates. We start on the first day at 6 am and the last appointment is a 1:15, covering 7 appointments.The next day is easier, only 2 appointments in the afternoon. The last day is a heart cath and we again have to be there at 6. The good thing about the really early appointments is that we will have handicap parking available and not have to valet or walk from the north 40!
Bill's car was ready Tuesday morning. I told Bill to take the back way home instead of going through town. I meant to take the road that is the most direct way to the house without going through town. I was following him and signaled to make the turn but he went straight! We were on the frontage road next to the interstate and we took it until it ended. I think he just wanted to drive the curvy roads! He did fine but the garage door opener was not on the visor. I disarmed the alarm system with my phone and then got out and punched the code in to open the door. We still haven't found the opener, but we also haven't looked for much.
The rest of the week was pretty quiet. Last night we got some storms again, but nothing very severe. There was one clap of thunder that shook the house and we heard lots of things rattling. I walked into the laundry room and one set of shutters was standing wide open! The rattling we heard was the slats shaking. I also saw that the clock had fallen off the kitchen wall. That was really some thunder! We had a couple of brown-outs and the power did go off once just long enough to need to re-set clocks. I had another one of Bill's tanks ready since I wasn't going out while there was so much lightning. We usually don't have much standing water but there was quite a bit in the back yard so we got a lot of rain.
Bill has a strange spell during the night. I think he just swallowed wrong which got him coughing and he couldn't catch his breath. I finally got him to turn on his side and that worked. This sounded different than just needing to cough from the emphysema so I don't know what actually happened. But just the sound woke me.
I'd better get busy and get something done that doesn't require the computer, although I do have a tax return to tweak. But since I have twiddled away the morning, I'd better find something else to do. See you next week!
The snow last Saturday started mid-morning and snowed all day. It was absolutely beautiful. I have never seen flakes as big as they were when it started. When they became smaller I knew it was going to start covering. We ended with about 2 1/2 inches. It got warm enough Sunday to melt everything, but then it snowed again Monday morning. It didn't stick but then it got cold all week. We didn't get out of the 30s much.
Monday I checked to see if Bill had a schedule for his check-up and he did...for the wrong dates! Of course when I checked it was after hours so I had to wait until Tuesday to call. I called Stephanie and she then transferred me to Kate who was handling schedules before they get to the schedulers. By Tuesday afternoon we had a revised schedule for the proper dates. We start on the first day at 6 am and the last appointment is a 1:15, covering 7 appointments.The next day is easier, only 2 appointments in the afternoon. The last day is a heart cath and we again have to be there at 6. The good thing about the really early appointments is that we will have handicap parking available and not have to valet or walk from the north 40!
Bill's car was ready Tuesday morning. I told Bill to take the back way home instead of going through town. I meant to take the road that is the most direct way to the house without going through town. I was following him and signaled to make the turn but he went straight! We were on the frontage road next to the interstate and we took it until it ended. I think he just wanted to drive the curvy roads! He did fine but the garage door opener was not on the visor. I disarmed the alarm system with my phone and then got out and punched the code in to open the door. We still haven't found the opener, but we also haven't looked for much.
The rest of the week was pretty quiet. Last night we got some storms again, but nothing very severe. There was one clap of thunder that shook the house and we heard lots of things rattling. I walked into the laundry room and one set of shutters was standing wide open! The rattling we heard was the slats shaking. I also saw that the clock had fallen off the kitchen wall. That was really some thunder! We had a couple of brown-outs and the power did go off once just long enough to need to re-set clocks. I had another one of Bill's tanks ready since I wasn't going out while there was so much lightning. We usually don't have much standing water but there was quite a bit in the back yard so we got a lot of rain.
Bill has a strange spell during the night. I think he just swallowed wrong which got him coughing and he couldn't catch his breath. I finally got him to turn on his side and that worked. This sounded different than just needing to cough from the emphysema so I don't know what actually happened. But just the sound woke me.
I'd better get busy and get something done that doesn't require the computer, although I do have a tax return to tweak. But since I have twiddled away the morning, I'd better find something else to do. See you next week!
Saturday, March 11, 2017
This week was pretty tame after the excitement of last week.
I had a text from our daughter-in-law Amanda asking if we would feed them if they came to town on Sunday. Of course, what mother would say no, unless they weren't going to be home! We had a nice visit with them Sunday evening and I sent home a couple of plants and some old canisters and coffee mugs. They match a set that she has.
On Wednesday I called about Bill's car. It was supposed to have been picked up last Monday and we had heard nothing. I was told that they lost the paperwork and had no way to contact us. The number I gave them was the house number, it was in the phonebook, and we've always taken the car there for service so we are in the computer. But, that's neither here nor there. I also called to see if my new glasses had come in and they had, they were just behind in contacting patients. After I picked them up I got and email and a text telling me they were ready! I'm having a hard time with them. I can see, but it sometimes feels like my eyes are straining, especially my left one. This morning I tried putting them on as soon as I opened my eyes and while every once in a while they bother me. I have a very slight headache, but there's also a front coming through and I'm stuffy so it could just be that.
Thursday morning I had to take Amanda to see her neurologist. Bill stayed home and did fine, as I figured he would. I made sure he had eaten and taken his medicine. He had to get up a little earlier than usual to get the meds in. I left at 7, drove the hour to pick-up Amanda then the 45 minutes to the dr. We were only there 20 minutes! Then 45 back to her house and an hour home. I was back between 10:30 and 11! Very quick trip! The car got picked up Thursday afternoon and Bill's been on pins and needles ever since.
The dealer called about the car yesterday morning and to fix everything that they say needs fixed would cost almost $9000! That's right, 9 with 3 zeroes! We talked it over and decided to fix only the major things, to make it driveable again. It will still cost about 3000. I've really been working on him to sell it. My new reason, which he seems to think is right, is that we have enjoyed it and now it might be time for someone else to enjoy it. We won't be taking any long trips in it anymore with all of the oxygen equipment that we have to take so it's only going to be driven around town now. He didn't just flat out nix the idea, so maybe there's hope.
The nurse from our oxygen supplier came by yesterday afternoon and seemed pleased with the way he's doing. He's a very nice man and we enjoyed talking to him.
I've already been to the grocery store this morning since it's supposed to start snowing any time now. It's already rained a little and the temperature has dropped from 41 at 6:15 this morning to 36. There's no reason now to leave the house and I'm going to put on a pot of chili this afternoon.
I think that's it for this week. We don't have anything planned for next week except to pick up the car when it's ready, and that's supposed to be Tuesday. Stay warm and dry today! I think this front is affecting most of the country!
I had a text from our daughter-in-law Amanda asking if we would feed them if they came to town on Sunday. Of course, what mother would say no, unless they weren't going to be home! We had a nice visit with them Sunday evening and I sent home a couple of plants and some old canisters and coffee mugs. They match a set that she has.
On Wednesday I called about Bill's car. It was supposed to have been picked up last Monday and we had heard nothing. I was told that they lost the paperwork and had no way to contact us. The number I gave them was the house number, it was in the phonebook, and we've always taken the car there for service so we are in the computer. But, that's neither here nor there. I also called to see if my new glasses had come in and they had, they were just behind in contacting patients. After I picked them up I got and email and a text telling me they were ready! I'm having a hard time with them. I can see, but it sometimes feels like my eyes are straining, especially my left one. This morning I tried putting them on as soon as I opened my eyes and while every once in a while they bother me. I have a very slight headache, but there's also a front coming through and I'm stuffy so it could just be that.
Thursday morning I had to take Amanda to see her neurologist. Bill stayed home and did fine, as I figured he would. I made sure he had eaten and taken his medicine. He had to get up a little earlier than usual to get the meds in. I left at 7, drove the hour to pick-up Amanda then the 45 minutes to the dr. We were only there 20 minutes! Then 45 back to her house and an hour home. I was back between 10:30 and 11! Very quick trip! The car got picked up Thursday afternoon and Bill's been on pins and needles ever since.
The dealer called about the car yesterday morning and to fix everything that they say needs fixed would cost almost $9000! That's right, 9 with 3 zeroes! We talked it over and decided to fix only the major things, to make it driveable again. It will still cost about 3000. I've really been working on him to sell it. My new reason, which he seems to think is right, is that we have enjoyed it and now it might be time for someone else to enjoy it. We won't be taking any long trips in it anymore with all of the oxygen equipment that we have to take so it's only going to be driven around town now. He didn't just flat out nix the idea, so maybe there's hope.
The nurse from our oxygen supplier came by yesterday afternoon and seemed pleased with the way he's doing. He's a very nice man and we enjoyed talking to him.
I've already been to the grocery store this morning since it's supposed to start snowing any time now. It's already rained a little and the temperature has dropped from 41 at 6:15 this morning to 36. There's no reason now to leave the house and I'm going to put on a pot of chili this afternoon.
I think that's it for this week. We don't have anything planned for next week except to pick up the car when it's ready, and that's supposed to be Tuesday. Stay warm and dry today! I think this front is affecting most of the country!
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Just when you think it's going to be just another week...
Bill's oxygen concentrator started running really loud on Monday. It is generally pretty quiet although not as quiet as the one in the apartment (aka Bill's mancave). I changed the air filter which was pretty dirty, but that didn't change anything, so I brought the other one in. When I unplugged the loud one, the cord was pretty hot, so something was going on with it.
Tuesday morning I called the supplier and got a recording that the number was disconnected! I knew that there was a change in ownership and name so figured there was a new number, but only got that it was disconnected. I then called the 800 number...and got the same recording! I found another number online (one of the drawbacks of not getting phonebooks anymore) and it was for the tube feeding department. I was given another number but it rang straight back to the tube feeding department. I scrolled through Caller ID and found the number for our delivery man and left him a message. When he called back he told me that he had to be in Blytheville that day and he would load up another concentrator. He finally came about 5:30 and, although the concentrator tested fine as far as the concentration of oxygen, he could tell that something was wrong with the way it sounded, so he swapped them out. We discussed the weather some. We were supposed to get some rough weather coming in and according to radar it was still about 3 hours out. He had several stops yet to make and we hoped he would get home before it got bad.
We knew that this storm system was coming in for several days and weren't really surprised when a tornado watch was issued. The bad part was that the storms were coming in 2 waves, the first in the late evening, the second during the night.
I decided to get one of Bill's large tanks ready. Usually the regulator is on a small tank so that when we are going out it's ready to go. So I swapped the tanks. I also put some folding chairs by the pantry door just in case. We do have a storm cellar, and we can access it from inside the house, but we have gotten too unbendable to get through the small opening! So, the pantry it is. We got a small storm about 9:30 and I heard it rain some after we went to bed. My cellphone went off several times during the night for storm warning and watches. Our tornado watch was extended twice. At 4:15 "the" storm started. Lots of thunder and lightning and wind and then the rain started. I got up to check our front window. Sometimes the rain gets behind the gutters and then comes in under the window. I had just gotten into the kitchen to get the flashlight that I had set on the counter when we lost power. Bells and whistles everywhere from Bill's concentrator to the alarm system. Got the extra tank and woke Bill and got him swapped over, then looked at my phone. We had a tornado warning, so off to the pantry we go but by that time everything had stopped and it was eerily quiet. We didn't stay in the pantry long, it gets very warm and stuffy. So, put Bill back to bed but told him I was going to stay up. I also told him I wasn't going to start the generator until daylight and the storms were over. Since it is a manual switch-over I didn't want to be outside with the lightning messing with the electric!
Once daylight arrived I did start the generator, and I'm so glad we made the decision to buy it after the ice storm of 2009. Our justification was that if Bill ever needed to be on oxygen we needed it. And that time arrived! I checked with the power company and they estimated that it would be 6 pm before it was one. Half of the town was out of power, the schools were closed and the hospital was damaged. They had several windows blown out. Emily brought McKenna in as she didn't want to stay home. Brianna decided it was a good day to sleep so she stayed home. Emily's office didn't have any power so, after Bill was medicated and fed we girls decided to go look at damage. The damage started about 3 blocks from our house and covered an entire neighborhood. Lots of trees down, some roofs damaged and a couple of windows shattered. In the late afternoon an update was given that it would be 6 pm THURSDAY before power would be restored. Our neighbors Joe and Barb came over for some coffee and to charge cellphones. We were talking about programs we watch and Barb said she would miss the finale of one they had been watching. We hadn't seen it, but told them we could watch it here. They went home to eat and came back a few minutes before it was to start. We were going to watch the next program too. It was one we did watch. All of a sudden Joe jumped up and walked to the dining room and when I looked up I realized I could see the street light! He had seen the bedroom light come on next door!
Things were back to normal Thursday and Friday, but we were pretty tired from all of the broken sleep.
I did find out that the phone problem at the oxygen was just a problem with the phone system and it had been resolved. Our original deliveryman came by Wednesday. We hadn't seen him through the changeover. I asked him about the portable concentrator and he said the main problem with them, for Bill, would be the amount he's needing when walking. Most of them only deliver 3 liters continuous feed and he needs 4. He said to get what he needs it would be about the size of a small wheeled suitcase. But, since I pull a backpack through Mayo with 3 extra small tanks, pulling one of those wouldn't be bad. I can also find a place to plug in and recharge. So, something to think about before we have to go. Billy suggested getting several of the larger tanks, but when I told him that sometimes the appointments start at 6 in the morning and last until 4 in the afternoon, the tanks don't last long enough. So, we'll have to do some thinking and research and talking. Low batteries and needing to find an outlet don't bother me since he was battery-powered for 6 months with the LVAD before the transplant.
Hopefully there won't be too much drama next week. The only thing that I know that is happening is that I have to take Amanda to see her neurologist. I'll need to leave early in the morning so Bill will probably get his meds early, along with breakfast. I'm a little apprehensive since I don't know how long I'll be gone. Hopefully he won't get into too much trouble.
Oh, Bill's car was supposed to be picked up Monday but so far nothing. We've not heard from the dealer, or the tow service at all. Will have to call them Monday to see what's what. The dealership has recently changed hands and this doesn't bode well!
All for this week. Need to get to the grocery store before it gets really busy. Have a good week!
Bill's oxygen concentrator started running really loud on Monday. It is generally pretty quiet although not as quiet as the one in the apartment (aka Bill's mancave). I changed the air filter which was pretty dirty, but that didn't change anything, so I brought the other one in. When I unplugged the loud one, the cord was pretty hot, so something was going on with it.
Tuesday morning I called the supplier and got a recording that the number was disconnected! I knew that there was a change in ownership and name so figured there was a new number, but only got that it was disconnected. I then called the 800 number...and got the same recording! I found another number online (one of the drawbacks of not getting phonebooks anymore) and it was for the tube feeding department. I was given another number but it rang straight back to the tube feeding department. I scrolled through Caller ID and found the number for our delivery man and left him a message. When he called back he told me that he had to be in Blytheville that day and he would load up another concentrator. He finally came about 5:30 and, although the concentrator tested fine as far as the concentration of oxygen, he could tell that something was wrong with the way it sounded, so he swapped them out. We discussed the weather some. We were supposed to get some rough weather coming in and according to radar it was still about 3 hours out. He had several stops yet to make and we hoped he would get home before it got bad.
We knew that this storm system was coming in for several days and weren't really surprised when a tornado watch was issued. The bad part was that the storms were coming in 2 waves, the first in the late evening, the second during the night.
I decided to get one of Bill's large tanks ready. Usually the regulator is on a small tank so that when we are going out it's ready to go. So I swapped the tanks. I also put some folding chairs by the pantry door just in case. We do have a storm cellar, and we can access it from inside the house, but we have gotten too unbendable to get through the small opening! So, the pantry it is. We got a small storm about 9:30 and I heard it rain some after we went to bed. My cellphone went off several times during the night for storm warning and watches. Our tornado watch was extended twice. At 4:15 "the" storm started. Lots of thunder and lightning and wind and then the rain started. I got up to check our front window. Sometimes the rain gets behind the gutters and then comes in under the window. I had just gotten into the kitchen to get the flashlight that I had set on the counter when we lost power. Bells and whistles everywhere from Bill's concentrator to the alarm system. Got the extra tank and woke Bill and got him swapped over, then looked at my phone. We had a tornado warning, so off to the pantry we go but by that time everything had stopped and it was eerily quiet. We didn't stay in the pantry long, it gets very warm and stuffy. So, put Bill back to bed but told him I was going to stay up. I also told him I wasn't going to start the generator until daylight and the storms were over. Since it is a manual switch-over I didn't want to be outside with the lightning messing with the electric!
Once daylight arrived I did start the generator, and I'm so glad we made the decision to buy it after the ice storm of 2009. Our justification was that if Bill ever needed to be on oxygen we needed it. And that time arrived! I checked with the power company and they estimated that it would be 6 pm before it was one. Half of the town was out of power, the schools were closed and the hospital was damaged. They had several windows blown out. Emily brought McKenna in as she didn't want to stay home. Brianna decided it was a good day to sleep so she stayed home. Emily's office didn't have any power so, after Bill was medicated and fed we girls decided to go look at damage. The damage started about 3 blocks from our house and covered an entire neighborhood. Lots of trees down, some roofs damaged and a couple of windows shattered. In the late afternoon an update was given that it would be 6 pm THURSDAY before power would be restored. Our neighbors Joe and Barb came over for some coffee and to charge cellphones. We were talking about programs we watch and Barb said she would miss the finale of one they had been watching. We hadn't seen it, but told them we could watch it here. They went home to eat and came back a few minutes before it was to start. We were going to watch the next program too. It was one we did watch. All of a sudden Joe jumped up and walked to the dining room and when I looked up I realized I could see the street light! He had seen the bedroom light come on next door!
Things were back to normal Thursday and Friday, but we were pretty tired from all of the broken sleep.
I did find out that the phone problem at the oxygen was just a problem with the phone system and it had been resolved. Our original deliveryman came by Wednesday. We hadn't seen him through the changeover. I asked him about the portable concentrator and he said the main problem with them, for Bill, would be the amount he's needing when walking. Most of them only deliver 3 liters continuous feed and he needs 4. He said to get what he needs it would be about the size of a small wheeled suitcase. But, since I pull a backpack through Mayo with 3 extra small tanks, pulling one of those wouldn't be bad. I can also find a place to plug in and recharge. So, something to think about before we have to go. Billy suggested getting several of the larger tanks, but when I told him that sometimes the appointments start at 6 in the morning and last until 4 in the afternoon, the tanks don't last long enough. So, we'll have to do some thinking and research and talking. Low batteries and needing to find an outlet don't bother me since he was battery-powered for 6 months with the LVAD before the transplant.
Hopefully there won't be too much drama next week. The only thing that I know that is happening is that I have to take Amanda to see her neurologist. I'll need to leave early in the morning so Bill will probably get his meds early, along with breakfast. I'm a little apprehensive since I don't know how long I'll be gone. Hopefully he won't get into too much trouble.
Oh, Bill's car was supposed to be picked up Monday but so far nothing. We've not heard from the dealer, or the tow service at all. Will have to call them Monday to see what's what. The dealership has recently changed hands and this doesn't bode well!
All for this week. Need to get to the grocery store before it gets really busy. Have a good week!
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