Winter is here! The only thing we are missing is snow. It's been extremely cold and is going to get colder. Monday morning the windchills are supposed to be 0 to -10. No matter where you live...that's cold!

Our Christmas was very quiet and we both didn't feel well. I managed to get our little dinner cooked and we both barely ate anything. So most of the ham went in the freezer, which is OK. There is so much sickness going on now.

Because we didn't feel well, we cancelled our family Christmas yesterday. Emily was sick, too, and Kayden and Kiyann have been exposed to the flu. Mistie and Joe both have it. The kids did get their flu shots so that may help even though it's not very effective this year. We have given out the gifts/gift cards/checks in spurts. The only ones left are the ones for Kayden and Kiyann and Mistie said that maybe by Monday they will be well enough to come and get them.

We finally started feeling better Wednesday. I think we have both just been worn out from everything. Since the middle of September when both of us had a sinus infection, one or both have been sick. Throw in 2 hospital stays for Bill and then a quick trip to Mayo and it's not surprising that we are drained. 

Bill has not left the house since before Christmas. It's just too risky for him. Yet, it's not good to stay cooped up in here either. But, he won't wear a mask unless totally forced to. I've only been out to the store when necessary. Of course I am out every day to feed the cats so I do get some fresh air. And now that it's cold, it feels great to take a deep breath of it! Emily recorded their church service and sent it to me. It was a short candlelight service with carols and a short sermon, but very nice. 

When we cancelled the family Christmas, I went ahead and took the tree down and got everything except the wreath on the door packed away. This is the first time that I have ever taken the tree down before the first of the year. That's usually something I do on New Year's Day while watching the parades. But this year, again I think due to being tired, I just wanted it gone. It's not in the attic but maybe when Kayden comes over we can get it up there. He said he would help get it up and down for us now that he's not a little kid anymore (he's 13)! The cat is very happy that the tree is gone. Her perch is back in the front window and she can look out on the world. She just didn't like it in the dining room!

We have no plans for New Year's Eve, but then we usually don't have any. We can watch the ball drop in New York at 11 our time so we usually do that and then are able to sleep for an hour until the gunfire starts at midnight. This is the only place I have lived that this is done. Don't people realize that even though they are firing the gun into the air, the bullet has to come down somewhere? Hopefully it won't last too long.

So, that's been our Christmas week. Hopefully our new year will bring renewed strength and better health for us. Even though it may seem like we have a hard life, we are happy just having each other. Yes, we could wish that things are different, but they aren't, so we just make the best of it. I wish everyone joy, happiness, and health. See you next year!

Good Morning! It's 6:49 and it is still pitch black out. We've had heavy rain yesterday and through the night with flash watches and warnings. It don't think it is raining right now but can't really tell.

The house is quiet except for the sound of Bill's oxygen concentrator. He and the cat are both still asleep, although I will have to wake Bill shortly for his morning meds.

We had an uneventful trip home from Florida. Even though we didn't have to, we got up early and headed out the 2nd day and got home about 1. Stopped at the store on the way home and got some lunch fixin's.

We haven't done much since we've been home. Bill hasn't felt really well. His shoulder is still bothering him. The dr. called in a gel to use and said to apply heat. She didn't want him in the office, so much flu here. Two of the employees have tested positive for it within the last 2 weeks. Since the flu shot is not protecting from this strain, and I don't know if the one for older folks does, we are just staying in. But, the gel is working and he's not complaining about it as much. We've only had to use the gel in the morning the past 2 days which is an improvement and he hasn't used the heating pad at all the last 2 days.

I also haven't felt real well. I think mine is more just being tired. I've had a couple of little tummy upsets, but nothing major. I do know that something is going around. Mistie was bringing me a gift I had gotten through a friend of hers and she said she wasn't staying because she wasn't feeling well. A friend of Kayden's had been over to spend the night and ended up going home because he was throwing up. I told her to just put it by the door and ring the doorbell! I just don't want to take any chances! I may put a sign on the door that colds and sniffles are not welcome and if you have them, come back another day!

We are having our family Christmas on the 29th. Ryan and Amanda will be in town on that day for some business so that's when we will have it. She said they should be done around 10:30 or 11, so we are having brunch instead of dinner or supper. It's not much this year, the only present we have is for the baby. The rest are getting gift cards and checks. I'm still not in the spirit. We did get the tree up and the "Jesus people" as Kenna calls them out and up, but that's it. I have enjoyed sitting with just the tree lights on, but I'm also ready to take it down. The cat has been good with it. She gets under it and pops her head up through the branches, but she has not tried to climb it or play with the branches. She just wants her window back!

That's all for this week. It's hard to believe that the year is almost over already! I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas with family and friends!

Here it is, the long awaited post check-up post. We also had an interesting week before heading south. But, first things first...the check-up.

Bill got a good report. From his heart standpoint he's good. His blood pressure was good but it dropped on standing. So Stephanie just said to stand for a minute before trying to walk. She said that his echo from Memphis looked good also. We didn't get to see Dr. Hosenpud so we saw his assistant Ginny. We hadn't seen her for a couple of years. She said that as far as she was concerned he could start using his treadmill again, but only for 10 minutes at a time. I will probably go out with him the first few times just to keep an eye on him. Other than that they were pleased. They did want to make sure we were seeing a lung dr. for the COPD and we are. They didn't have the results of the lab work so I don't know if they will make any med changes or not. If they do Stephanie will call tomorrow. So, that's it as far as his check-up went. For those of you who are only interested in that, you can stop reading now. Otherwise keep going!

Tuesday our furnace went out. It's about 10 years old so should have had a lot of life left in it yet. I called Emily and she called a guy from their church and he came that night. A motor was frozen from corrosion and he was able to get it working. He didn't know how long it would last, and of course last week was the coldest weather we were to have for the year. He was able to get the part ordered and in on Wednesday but got hung up on another job and didn't get it fixed until Thursday. He said there is one more little part that could cause a problem and if it did he would come out and swap it out for no charge.

We were really watching the weather for the snow that was falling in Alabama. There was a lot of snow on the ground starting just north of Birmingham and ending just before Montgomery...just the route we were travelling. But, the roads were good, wet in some areas but clear. Traffic was pretty light and we didn't have any problems.

We did well with the new oxygen concentrator. He used it in the car, and when we stopped for breaks or lunch, he just used a small tank. It worked really well. So, from that aspect, it's been a good investment.

Last night we decided we wanted a light supper so decided to go to Bob Evans across the street for soup and a sandwich. But, it has closed down! So, we decided to go to Denny's instead and it was closed! It's open today so maybe they were closed for an employee Christmas party. Anyway, after driving around looking for a homestyle restaurant we ended up a TGI Friday's. It took 15 minutes for our waiter to come and take our drink order and another 10 minutes before he came back with only Bill's coffee to take our order. I had to go out to the car to get a small oxygen tank for Bill as his batteries were getting low and I hadn't brought the back-up batteries because I didn't expect us to be gone more than 2 hours. We left the hotel a little before 6 and we finally got our food about 7:45, but they brought the wrong soup and didn't bring any silverware. I did finally get my drink. We finally got some utensils and I had finished my salad and was helping Bill eat his chicken when we were told that they were out of broccoli cheese soup! We told him to forget it, I had gotten enough to eat anyway. Because it took so long Bill's meds were late and we were both pretty exhausted by the time we got back to the room.

Bill did have a rough morning. He has hurt his right arm and shoulder somehow. We think it is just muscular and Ginny did say that his muscles feel tight, but he was having a hard time with his concentrator and breathing. So, we decided to use a wheelchair at Mayo. A lovely woman offered to help us maneuver everything to the lab as she was going there too. I was figuring out how to change things around while he was getting his blood drawn and there was a nice man across from us that figured an easier way and off we went. We just parked where his next appointments were and we knew we had a 2 hour wait, but I could plug in his concentrator. I got us some lunch and we just stayed there until it was time to check-in. Stephanie was really booked today and she was actually coming out and getting her patients herself instead of having an aide do it. But, Bill walked in to the clinic area and then he attempted to walk out when we were done. We had to stop several times and I finally switched him to a small tank. It was hurting his arm to pull the other one. He is having a hard time walking. It could be that he's still recovering from the pneumonia, but it could also be that his lungs are deteriorating more. He's sees Dr. Burbeck in February and we'll see what she says.

I'm planning on leaving super early to get out of rush hour traffic. Tomorrow is the hard drive (longest) but it won't be too bad, I hope. I don't know if I will update this or not Saturday. I don't anticipate anything happening except for travelling for 2 days and then doing laundry and getting the cat home from Brianna's. But, check in just to see.

So there you have it. We have found that there are still good people in the world that offer to help others who need it. And, while it goes against my independent nature, I accepted the help. Now if the car would just load itself in the morning!

December already! It seems like this year has flown by!

We had a pretty quiet week, compared to the last few. We've mostly stayed in with only a few short trips just to get Bill out of the house some.

I finally went back to the eye dr. Wednesday and all is well, just watch for any other signs of a problem. I don't even see the floater in that eye anymore, although the one in the left is still around. 

Bill has been coughing a lot this week. I don't think it is anything new starting but the remnants of the pneumonia and the emphysema. I told him yesterday that I could do 2 things. He's still taking Musinex twice daily and we could possibly stop that. But, that's keeping that pneumonia area broken up. Or, I could give him some cough medicine to suppress the cough, but I think that is the absolute wrong thing to do. I'm pretty sure that it is just fall allergies from everything I'm hearing and seeing. He was also complaining of having a "full" ear for a couple of days. I did increase his Zyrtek to twice a day and he hasn't complained anymore so maybe that has helped. It is supposed to finally get cold by the end of the week, so maybe that will help. Of course the front arrives Friday and we leave Saturday for Florida!

McKenna came for school Thursday. She hasn't been back here for school since Bill went to the hospital and has been doing well on her own. But, their internet was down and instead of waiting until evening to be able to work she came here. They have their standardized tests next week. I don't know if she will need to come here or not. I read through the log-in information this morning and they are going to be monitored more closely than before so if she gets kicked out she should be able to just wait 30 minutes instead of having to contact her instructor to have it reset.

We're finally going to take Kayden out for his birthday breakfast this morning, which is one reason for getting this update done early. Now I won't forget about doing it! He wants to go to a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, which is one of our favorites. Usually they just pick to go to Perkins since it is the main breakfast place in town, but he said he wanted to try this one.

I also may try to get some of the Christmas stuff out today. Kayden had said that he would help get things out of the attic, but it never did get into the attic last year. I just put it in the back bedroom. But, he'll be able to put it into the attic this year. I keep forgetting that he is a strong young man now and not just a little boy anymore!

I hear Bill coughing again so he may be getting up. It's time for his meds and he will need to get moving to be ready when Kayden says he's ready. I don't think I will update this until Monday night, the 11th after Bill's appointments. But, if something happens this week that needs noted, I'll post it. If you don't check back in before the 11th, you'll be able to catch up then. 

Better get moving, have a good week!