Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:50 pm on April 30, 2021 Permalink  

  A Feel Good Day 

  We were in Mankato by ten this morning.  I had a post-op to see how the temporary partial was doing with a few minor adjustments.  Dennis had the remaining bottom teeth of his pulled.  Pulled, stitches put in, in the bottom gum, and temporary top and bottom plates put in.  What an experience for him.  On the way home he so wanted a sip of water from the water bottle.  I had to giggle.  As he brought the bottle up towards his mouth he couldn’t find his mouth due to all the novicane he had been injected with.  About three this afternoon he got his sip of water.  We will be back to Mankato on Monday for his checkup.  

  As we got home, I couldn’t believe how nice it was outside.  I put on garden shoes and took my merry time mowing our front yard.  Dennis sat on the front steps and was on “watching traffic” detail.

  Supper is going to be soft scrambled eggs.

  The month of April flew by.  Lots of appointments here, there and everywhere.  Lots of achievements for both of us.  Taking all in stride to keep us where we love to be . . . in our home.

   

   

   
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  Noreen 3:28 pm on April 29, 2021 Permalink  

  Oh Happy Day 

  A “no jacket” day.  Oh happy Day!  I hung my jacket on the farthest hook in hopes it can stay there.

  It’s amazing that something can dribble onto the kitchen floor and not be noticed at the time of the dribble.  Give it a day of usual foot traffic and a black light is not needed.  That dribble has been walked on and migrated to multiple places, showing up by the dust off of the shoes in many areas.  This morning, it was time to mop that floor.  We don’t have any rugs down on our floors for safety reasons, so the mopping works no matter how often the maze of dribbles appear.

  Dennis and I enjoyed 3 pm coffee in his newly-carpeted patio porch.  The patio porch gets a lot of traffic as we come and go doing yard work.  That was the intension when we added it to the garage.  It saves tremendously on the cleaning in the house of the dirt that can so easily catch on the shoes.

  I am still doing PT, but the important thing is that my day-to-day life is no longer focused on a stroke that happened to me on February 25, 2021.  I am moving on with all things normal in our home and life.  Recovering motion and strength is ongoing . . . for as long as it takes.  I am in it for the long haul.  Having had a stroke in no way defines me.

  My trip to the dentist yesterday has no lasting discomfort.  When Dennis goes in tomorrow for his session, they will do a follow-up with me to see how the temporary partial fits.  Adjustments are normal before the finished project will be cast.

  Life is good and I like it the way our days are going.  May yours also be good.

   
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  Noreen 2:06 pm on April 28, 2021 Permalink  

  Sun Shine 

  When the sun comes out, it makes everything better.

  That “better” includes what I am feeling after having two teeth pulled this morning.  After the teeth were pulled, a temporary partial alliance was put in.  It does feel like I have the dentist’s hand still in my mouth.  I am not to remove it until after 24 hours.  I am not commenting too much here at home as I don’t want to scare off Dennis. His time in the chair for having his bottom teeth pulled is on Friday.  I will go back at that time to have my mouth checked.  No doubt Dennis will go back on Monday for a post check.

  Busy, busy . . . Dennis has his new green carpet in the patio porch laid down.  Letting it lie flat for a day or two will help it relax before all his furniture goes back in place.  Another night of having the little red pickup sit outside won’t be a bother.  The kittens went crazy while Dennis was taking the old carpet out.  “Are we moving?  Are we going with?”  Today with the new carpet lying in a role, they worked hard to figure out what was coming next.  Talk about entertainment.

  Plans for supper:  I plan on heating up a can of tomato soup for myself as I can easily drink that.  Dennis is on his own this evening.  The Home Town café is open until seven.

   
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  Noreen 3:00 pm on April 27, 2021 Permalink  

  Spring Showers 

  Complete with thunder boomers, the rain is welcomed.  Yesterday crab grass preventative was put down.  For best effectiveness watering the lawn or rain.  We got the best of the two.

  As I have been hunting dust bunnies in our home, a few at a time, Dennis caught the bug to do some cleaning in the patio porch.  Last year he had commented that the carpet on the floor was worn through in several placed and a replacement was needed.  It is after all a portion of our living area.

  Nelson Furniture store in town closed last year after decades serving the community.  Tim, the third generation owner was experiencing effects from agent orange when he was in Vietnam.  In between doctor visits . . . “If the lights are on, come on in.”  The bulk of his inventory was sold out, with a few stragglers. Dennis went to see what Tim had left for indoor/outdoor carpeting for the patio porch.  One color option . . . green, and Tim scored a cash sale from Dennis and it will be cut and ready for Dennis to pick it up tomorrow.

  I left at noon for PT and Dennis was clearing out the patio porch.

  My PT today was spent on working the tight knots in the muscles of the left shoulder.  Among other places where black and blue showed up on my face and body, I fell on the left shoulder by the time I finally hit the floor.  Up to this time the shoulder had not been a top priority.  X-rays show nothing is broken or out of place in the surgery I have had done to put in a reverse shoulder.  Whew!

  Last week, when I finally had the Foley removed and I could return to self cathing . . . I made a decision and a promise to myself.  Regardless how much the arthritic swollen right wrist bucks, it’s time to step up.  When it’s time to pee, the right and the left wrists will each take turns handling the catheter, thus the task.  The task might be a bit clumsy right now . . . suck it up!  I never, ever want to be in the position of having restrictions on peeing due to an injured wrist, regardless what the cause might be.

  I look forward to working with PT on “the rest of the body.”  Time and energy well spent.

  This rain has officially started spring.

   
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  Noreen 2:35 pm on April 26, 2021 Permalink  

  Robo Calls 

  The increase of robo calls have been over the hill in the last weeks for auto insurance or auto warranty.  How annoying.  They had cooled down until lately.

  Dennis ran errands this morning, in part, getting ready for a “job jar party” on Mother’s Day.  Gotta love his enthusiasm.  We actually do the job jar quite well on our own.  Some things we keep hands off of as they are beyond our pay grade . . . retired with the wrong tools.

  We had stocked up on some groceries right before I had the stroke.  A lot of the groceries had not been put away in our pantry . . . the cistern closet in the basement.  Once I was in the basement I stayed put.  Multiple items of one type in a cardboard box needed to be unpacked to make it easier when we want to fetch one item off of the shelf rather than fight a heavy cardboard packing box.  It also refreshed me as to what we have on hand.  We won’t be going hungry anytime soon.  It was a good stint of energy and time.

  Shore Land has some great prepackaged soup mixes.  Not all grocery stores carry it.  Hy-Vee is where we found it.  Chicken Noodle is what we are having for supper.  We first had it at JoAnn’s when we had delivered the Koi to her farm last fall.  A bag of the soup mix and a can of canned chicken makes a great soup with the flat noodles, peas and carrots. 

  The day is cool with gray clouds threatening showers.  Spring is in the wings . . . any day now.

  Tomorrow I resume PT.  I now know, after a week on my own, where more PT is needed.  No guessing required.

   
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  Noreen 2:24 pm on April 25, 2021 Permalink  

  Free Nitrogen 

  The snowflakes that were quarter size held a lot of free Nitrogen for our yard.  The flakes came down heavy enough that for a short time the lawn was white.

  The perennial plant know as “Hosta” are pushing through the soil under the Lilacs.  What I also noticed is that the wild hay that Dennis had put in the same area in the winter of 2000 for the deer, still had enough strength to pop out a few clumps of their greenery.  

  I wandered outside last week and low and behold the sharp shooter spade was leaning on the side of the patio porch.  Dennis had used it when doing some clean up work of where the Koi pond had been.  I thought what a great opportunity to gently tip out a few of those clumps.  When Dennis came around the corner about that time,  the spade was taken out of my hands and it disappeared in the potting shed.  What ensued was that I got a “dressing-down.” 

  I knew Dennis was right.  Using my cane, I am not that stable when walking on uneven grass let alone garden dirt.  Temptations are in my face every day.  When it comes to dirt . . . that is part of my passion in the spring of the year.  To the best of Dennis’ ability out came the weed whip and a few of the undesirable clumps of green where chewed off.  I looked the other way when a few of the Hosta tips bit the dust.  

  The reality is that I will not be able to pick up where I left off in it’s entirety before the stroke.  For now.  I do work hard not do anything to make Dennis worry more than he already does over this ole Grammie.  Caution is the key.  I have to know within myself when to “hold it or to fold it.”  Kenny Roger’s song of old still has merit.  

  Today, watching the snow delivering nitrogen on those nipped Hosta tips . . . hopefully will help them put out a handsome plant in time to come.

   
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  Noreen 2:16 pm on April 24, 2021 Permalink  

  Saturday 

  What a great day!  Nothing planned.  No appointments . . . just the two of us taking the day slowly.  Of course there was bedding heading to the laundry.  Keeping up with the usual and customary feels good. 

  There was a good cleanout in the bathroom of all things that it took to keep the daytime and the nighttime catheters sterile.  It feels like a huge weight taken off my shoulders.  An entire new lightheartedness.  It did feel like a long two months and in many respects overshadowed the effects of the stroke.  Nonetheless, my stamina is improving.  Next week I return to PT as there is more work to be done.  Bring it on.

  We are going to have an oven meal this evening.  It may be boxed scalloped potatoes that will be paired with a pork roast, but it will be yummy.  Green beans were Dennis’ choice.  There is nothing better than the aroma of a choice supper coming up.

  This cool weather has kept the tulips in bloom for a longer time than I can remember.  It has also kept the grass from shooting up. 

  Every morning and every evening prayers of thanks are sent.  Life is sweet.

   
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  Noreen 12:11 pm on April 23, 2021 Permalink  

  A Celebration Day 

  After thinking long and hard and with having worked hard on PT, I had made an appointment for this morning to have the Foley catheter removed by the nurses at the clinic.  Dr. Eatwell had made it possible on the stipulation that I had to be able to self cath before I left the clinic.  He said to plan to stay as long as necessary.  If I was not able to self cath a new Foley would have to be put in.  His reasoning . . . easier to do it at three in the afternoon than three in the morning hours.  The memory in my brain of the fifteen years of doing self cathing was still right there when I needed it.  Perhaps not the smoothest elocution, but that will improve.  A celebration after two long months.  Tonight when I retire to my beloved bed, I no longer will be tethered. 

  Yesterday at the dentist’s clinic, we now have the impressions done for the both of us.  Moving right long.  Towards the end of next week, we will have the extractions.  I am on board for Wednesday and Dennis on Friday with temporary items in our mouths when we each leave.  A new experience and we will take it one step at a time.  Praise be!

  We have to pinch ourselves and continually send petitions of thanks to our Lord God.  Each day we are making steps, some smaller than others to recovery and working towards better health.  It all works as we meet each day together, knowing how much support we have from family in their prayers and thoughts.

   
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  Noreen 7:06 am on April 22, 2021 Permalink  

  The Need to be Flexible 

  What am I doing up and posting before eight n the morning!

  The older ones on Stauffer Avenue need to be flexible.

  Our trip to Mankato had several stops.  The CPAP machine for Dennis needed to be picked up after it had been sent in for repair and the provided rental returned.  We had dental appointments yesterday as well in Mankato. 

  I had lost the tooth that my bottom partial hooked onto.  There was no way that could be ignored.  Dennis had also lost two teeth on the bottom putting his partial less than effective.  The end result was repairs required.  Dennis had gone first and when I found out the plan for the two of us I set about getting our project going with the dental clinic.  I allowed them to know that most likely I would have a surgery pending for the later part of May and it would be wonderful to have both Dennis and I completed with dental trips while I would be recovering.  Wow.

  This morning Dennis and I will be at our family clinic to have our doctor sign off for Dennis to have some teeth pulled to allow for a new partial as he is on warfarin, a blood thinner.  There will ensue a schedule as to when he needs to stop taking the medication.  

  Because of my surgical process coming up at the end of May, we will be back in Mankato this afternoon to have impressions taken for each of us getting new partials. The dental clinic had no problem fast forwarding our process considering the situation.  All follow up appointments will be taken care of long before the next event for us. That was amazing.  

  This is more excitement in two days than we are used to.  It also feels wonderful to get this taken care of now while there is nothing on the current time line.

  Being flexible helps to take care of what is needed.  Thanks be to my Lord to allow me to see the goal and act accordingly.

  Our day is full and tomorrow we can take it the way the day and weekend play out.

   
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  Noreen 8:11 am on April 21, 2021 Permalink  

  Being Diligent 

  I believe I can see in myself that as I have had a few birthdays added on, the importance of due diligence.  There is no reward of putting things off.  It niggles at the back of the brain and can haunt.

  Yesterday, Carrie came to visit and I believe also to see how we were doing, her ole mom in particular.  With the stroke that came out of nowhere, there became a crack in my shield that spilled out some vulnerabilities.  I blame that on the laceration on my butt check when I fell against the cabinet pull during the stroke.  Yup . . . vulnerabilities.

  As we shared lunch, we visited in regard to spring clothing.  Carrie had pulled clothing together for me when it was time for me to leave the hospital.  How could she not see that my closet was a bit disorganized.  Due diligence . . . not!

  By the end of yesterday there had not been a sock or a pair of underwear that had not been moved.  It was like an episode of the television show “Hoarders” . . . save, donate or throw.  What a great task completed.  My place was on a chair.  I would have been wore out after the first round of drawers.  Dennis stuck his head in once in awhile to check in and take out two totes that were no longer needed. 

  Now, standing in the doorway of the closet . . . I know what I have and where it is.  Anything above the clothing rods had been taken care of a year ago when Kevin had put shelves up to store quilts.  I have a tricked out closet.  Whew!

  I slept hard last night and there was nothing more welcoming this morning than the bright sun.  Ya, it’s chilly out, but that also shall pass.  Today, Dennis and I are both going to the dentist.  Due diligence is not to be put off when it comes to that which can impact our health.  Hmm, getting ready, I found my underwear immediately.