Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 10:47 am on October 23, 2021 Permalink  

  A Saturday at Home 

  Oh my gosh it feels so good to be at home on this sunny Saturday day.  Our challenge started last Saturday.  Dennis has been under medical supervision for this last week: the culmination was yesterday, Friday, the removal of one toe.  Blood clots can go south as well as north in the body.

  One day surgeries are amazing.  Dennis will check in with the surgeon in seven days.  The stitches may stay in longer than that.  Time will tell.  Today is staying ahead of the discomfort with 500 mg Tylenol.

  Last night, he said his bed never felt so good, ruts and all. It was 8:45 this morning before he awoke.  Best rest ever!  This morning with a bit of help, Dennis is in his teak rocking chair, with his foot up, in the patio porch surveying his kingdom.  Dennis has a boot on his left foot and is to walk on the heel as much as possible . . . therein is the four footed cane that he is using.  Dennis’ son finagled a route with his over-the-road deliveries to have a drop from Arizona to Mankato.  He doesn’t need to be at Walmart in Austin until Monday morning.  They are catching up with each other in the patio porch.  Sweet. 

  My phone is on the charger.  With restrictions, I was the only person to be with or see Dennis during the week.  Keeping his four kids informed and trying to answer questions when there were no answers, my phone all but melted.  Today . . . Dennis has his own phone to field all calls.  Thanks be!

  On a “Me” note, I have been doing several walks this morning.  There is only so much the butt can take from sitting in formed plastic chairs over the course of time.  Though the halls in the Mankato hospital are each a mile long, there is that plastic chair waiting at the end of the walk. I also have several tennis balls handy to sit on.  They do help.  I am excited to take my sewing machine to Bird Island next Tuesday for a checkup.  I just had Dennis’ son carry it up from the studio into the back of the car.  By Tuesday, I will feel very comfortable with Dennis being home alone.  Dennis does have a daughter, complete with a son-in-law, living here in town.  It would be a good time to share the love.

  I am heading to the kitchen.  We are having spaghetti for supper.  I haven’t cooked all week and it will be interesting to see if the pilot light is still lit. 

  As I said, today is a sunny cold Saturday, there are two happy older ones on Stauffer Avenue.  Thanks be to God for taking care that we may remain here for a very long time.

   
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  Noreen 4:02 pm on October 22, 2021 Permalink  

  We Are Home 

  We have the ole cowboy home, minus one toe, after seven days of him being picked out and up at the St. James hospital at 10:30 this morning and going into surgery at the Mankato hospital at 1:30.

  All is well and home is just so dang sweet.  Oral antibiotics and some pain med . . . we are good to go.

  More tomorrow as this day has seemed to go on forever.  Yup . . . homebodies out of their element . . , get tuckered out easily.

   
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  Noreen 3:27 pm on October 21, 2021 Permalink  

  It is Told 

  It is told we had two inches of rain yesterday.  A vacation for harvesting farmers for a short time,  The rain and winds from the north have kept it cool today.  The sunshine could fool anyone into thinking it was warmer.

  Today is Thursday and today is the first day since Friday, I have stayed home for the entire day.  I did call Dennis at room 108 this morning.  As luck were, our family doctor was in seeing Dennis.  Dennis will have surgery tomorrow.  It is four this afternoon and we still do not have a time for checking into the Mankato hospital tomorrow.  I remember from surgery times in the past, schedules are not set until late in the previous day.  My only hope is that it’s not scheduled before daylight . . . but we have no choices in the matter.

  Tomorrow is recycling day.  Our bin is at the curb and I added more to it today.  What I did run into was a copy of a PDF dated Monday, September 21, 2009, from the Eagle Extra newspaper.  It was the quote of the day by Victor Hugo, 1802-1885:  “Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace.  God is awake.”  Very profound and still good advice today.

  It was seven last night before all three patio porch kitties were home for the night.  It was raining, but their coats were dry.  They have dry hiding spots under large leaf Hosta while keeping an eye on the patio porch door to be let in.  They didn’t get let out this morning until after ten.  These four footed spoiled kitties don’t run me like they run Dennis.

  My prayer is that Dennis and I both will be tucked in safe and sound in our home by Friday night.  We have been told there will be antibiotic meds that will still be taken by Dennis for recovery.  Time will tell.

  —–Just got the phone call of the day . . . Dennis’ surgical time is 1:30 p.m. on Friday.  Sweet.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on October 20, 2021 Permalink  

  The Waiting Game 

  It isn’t even “Hurry up and wait.”  It is just plain “wait.”  Today at two in the afternoon, Dennis had had nothing to eat since supper the night before.  There was an off chance Fairmont would have an opening in surgery for me to take Dennis over to have his toe removed.  Not!

  I had one cup of coffee in me when I headed to the hospital for the doctor’s rounds this early morning..  There is no set time.  I didn’t want to take a chance.  I had breakfast back home at noon.  Who doesn’t like cold coffee.  Bless be microwaves.

  I went back to the hospital this mid afternoon and finally ordered some food for him and then helped him with a shower.  IV ports couldn’t get wet.  Tomorrow I pick him up at nine a.m. and we head to Fairmont.  Is it a consult?  Have they looked at all the records, photos and test results on the Mayo portal for a Thursday solution?  Regardless the outcome in Fairmont, he will return to room 108 here in the hospital as more IV antibiotics will be needed.  Oh dear.

  We did get a driving rain this late forenoon.  Much needed.

  I have been taking out clean clothes to Dennis and now I am doing laundry to get the hospital stink taken care of.

  My plan is to finish laundry and call it a day.  Nothing to do but wait until the planets align.

  . . . Just got a phone call from Dennis.  No Fairmont trip tomorrow.  Friday we head to Mankato and have the toe removed.  What happens after that . . . it’s wait and see.

   

   
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  Noreen 2:15 pm on October 19, 2021 Permalink  

  A Tuesday 

  A Tuesday and Stauffer Avenue is not quite the same without Dennis.  Our third night of changes of pace for him and me. 

  This morning I wanted to be at the hospital for doctor rounds.  Our family doctor was onboard and saw Dennis for the first time since this had transpired.  There was no ifs ands and maybes.  By rounds on Wednesday morning he would have answers in regard to the toe.  Dennis and I are counting on him.

  I drove into the driveway coming home from the hospital and daughter Carrie followed me right in coming from Eden Prairie.  What a treat.  Carrie had not been here for some time and believe me it was time to do some catching up.  It was not the longest of visits as they had parent-teacher conferences at five.  

  We had noticed the refrigerator settings were on the high side.  I asked and I was shown how to adjust both the refrigerator and the freezer . . . dah!  It was as simple as when Kevin showed me how to set the clock in the car.  Over thinking does an older one in.

  After a sandwich for lunch Carrie offered if there was anything outside that we would need help with.  Here we are with a very bare looking patio.  The umbrella and stand are in the potting shed as is the wooden electrical spool we use as a patio table.  Sweet.  Two chairs remain for us to enjoy the last days of patio sitting.

  As Carrie was planning on heading out on the open highway, I called Dennis and he agreed to come out of the hospital proper to the outside bench so he could greet Carrie before she left for home.  I stayed and sat with Dennis for awhile outside.  It was pleasant sitting in the dabbled sunlight . . . no boxelder bugs.  In time Dennis was called inside as it was time for new antibiotic bags to be hung.  

  I have a confession.  I brought Dennis his cigarettes.  Waiting day in and day out for . . . some kind of answer,  I would have been crawling the walls by now.  I most likely would have tried stowing away in the laundry cart and hitching a ride home.  He has been a smoker for decades and if the cigarettes can bring him some type of calm, I am all for it.  He deserves that.

  I will be at the hospital bright and early in the morning with a prayer and hope that our doctor will have some positive direction for this sweet ole cowboy.

   
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  Noreen 3:09 pm on October 18, 2021 Permalink  

  The Rest of the Story 

  It’s been an unusual time on Stauffer Avenue.  We have been getting extremely cozy with the working of our local hospital’s ER that then led to the hospital. 

  Dennis woke up Saturday morning and one of his toes was not happy . . . it was black.  Had he dropped something on it . . . no.  Had he stubbed his toe . . . no.  Dennis’ feet are always cold so he is totally geared up with heavy socks and good shoes.

  I knew we would not be spending anymore time than necessary before heading down the street to the south to our local hospital’s ER.  Yup, the cupcakes needed to finish baking while Dennis got his little red pickup out of the garage.

  There is a no hurry when being checked in.  Protocol mandates a lot of computer entries and just as many questions.  Dennis’ blood pressure was normal.  His temperature was normal . . . his toe was still black.  Everyone doing their due diligence looked at the toe and also had a question or two.  Even the gal that had the job of doing the blood draws for the lab took a peek.

  Could it be a blood clot that headed south rather than the usual route which is to the brain?  Could it be blood poisoning?  Will the pooled blood be absorbed into Dennis’ system as bruises are?  Has the bone been infected to the point that the toe was dying?  Will gangrene set in?  With everyone thinking out loud, I caught Dennis’ eyes glazing over.  It was a lot of “what-if.”

  The next thing was to scramble to find any empty hospital bed.  Mankato and Fairmont had no available beds.  It was questionable if St James hospital would have an open bed by day’s end.  We waited in the ER with Dennis on a gurney watching an IV poll and the bags it held do the drip, drip putting it’s goodies into Dennis.  It was wonderful news to find out Dennis would be staying in our local hospital.  I do not know, and did not ask if the beds were physically occupied or if the shortage of staff was the issue.

  Every six hours there are two antibiotics that are prescribed around the clock.  We were both surprised that Dennis will be staying in room 108 until Thursday.  I will be springing him on Thursday to make a 10:15 appointment in Mankato to see a podiatrist.  By that time the cultures will have matured and hopefully a solution and an answer will make itself known.  I forgot to ask if Dennis would return to room 108 or if he would be coming home.

  Life can throw curves that are least expected.  A thankful heart that health care is right down the street and that no one wants to settle until the rest of the story reveals itself.

   
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  Noreen 3:36 pm on October 17, 2021 Permalink  

  Filling Out the Weekend 

  This is a first for some time, but I am filling out the weekend on the quiet note.  Most likely I will resume my busy body posting tomorrow.  It was significant that my daughter’s birthday was today.  

   
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  Noreen 4:35 pm on October 16, 2021 Permalink  

  Enough for One Day 

  I will not be putting out a post for this Saturday.  There comes a time when the day has been full enough to be thankful it is ending well.  Catch ya tomorrow.

   
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  Noreen 3:21 pm on October 15, 2021 Permalink  

  Off the Clock 

  It is the late afternoon and I am taking myself off of the clock for the day.

  A trip west this forenoon to Mountain Lake for a Medicare prescription pick-up for myself.  I had arranged to pick-up the last four of what would have been a trip every month to fill out the remaining of the prescription.  I won’t be needing to travel down the highway as I have since found out that the medical supply store in the Madison East Mal ships out, postage free.  This time of year . . . can’t beat that.

  Swapping out the linens on both beds today whipped the ole butt.  I do not have a linen closet like Lena did with multiple sets of linens.  Here on Stauffer Avenue they are taken off, laundered and put right back on.  While they are in the laundry it gives me a chance to Swiffer the floors to take down some dust bunnies.  With our small home, it is still an exercise in gymnastics to get to all four sides of each bed.  Having zero carpeting in the home makes life so much easier to move the beds out a bit.  I’m all about easier.

  The temps are to be in the 70s next week and Dennis said he would be washing off the house for the last time this season on Monday.  Knowing that, I can start tipping in the windows for much needed washing after that sounded like a plan.  I will still have to do a boxelder check before leaving a window open.  In the forenoon, I could tackle the west windows.  As soon as there is sun for them to creep around in, it gets nasty.  

  Dennis had his eye injection today for macular.  He is off the hook now for five weeks.  Being able to have it done here in town at our eye clinic is great rather than traveling to Mankato.  We are fortunate for the specialized doctors that visit our in-town clinics from Mankato . . . very patient friendly.

  May the weekend allow for joy within each of you.  Joy in knowing not everyone has the chance to write their own script.  My script is filled with self-care and self-love . . . and I still have plenty left for Dennis.

   
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  Noreen 2:49 pm on October 14, 2021 Permalink  

  Not! 

  We are not turning the furnace on . . . yet.  This too shall pass.  I believe that warmer clothing is easy to pull on.  More times than not, they get stripped off as the day goes on.  The secret is . . . move!  Nothing like getting the blood to navigate from head to toe than to . . . move.  Not everyone in our household agrees with me.  I did close the 2 inch opening of the window that is on the west end of the house.  I sure slept good.  After all, the numerical setting on Dennis’ mattress pad does go to number 8 . . . what’s the issue?

  Today a visit to Office Depot next to Hy-Vee gave me all that I was looking for at very reasonable prices.  I will be kept busy for some time in the studio.  I am cooling it with the sewing and embroidery until I can get to Bird Island for servicing.  Kelly has finished with the harvest and I put in a request to him for an appointment sometime during the week of the 18th. There is an upgrade for the options that the machine can offer as well as the firmware being updated.  I didn’t realize how much I appreciated the thread cutting option until that cutter needed replacing.  The right hand agrees with me.  I will patiently wait to get the date and time confirmed.

  Dennis’ oven meal last night of chicken and pasta was tasty.  Amazing what a little cream cheese could add to the alfredo sauce.  Leftovers tonight is sweet. 

  Tomorrow will be “pick-up” as the brutal wind of yesterday and last night did a number on the acre’s loose branches in the trees.  We might have enough for the last of the season fire ring.

  Looking into the forecast of this evening and early morning, we could see 39 degrees.  It might be a good idea to take the two patio plants into the patio porch.  That gives the cats the idea swatting and batting at them is fair game.  It seems to be the seasonal way of thinning them out.  The blessing is that the pots are too heavy to tip over when one of the cats decide to get an up close and personnel view.

  Enjoy being in the midst of fall.  It is a most wonderful time of year.