Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:04 pm on July 2, 2021 Permalink  

  Watching Traffic 

  One of my favorite perches is the west porch of our home that has windows on three sides.  Lots of traffic to check out.  I won’t be allowed to drive for several more weeks.  Not for mental impairment but the off chance of a steering wheel hitting me in the chest.  So be it.  Do I have anywhere I am expected . . . no.  Do I have anywhere where I want to go . . . maybe cruise the grocery aisles.  

  Dennis took on the acre of mowing today.  True to his word he took breaks.  It gave me a chance to play water person.  Water with electrolytes is not a bad thing as the sun is warming the air.

  This is Friday, the end of the work week for most.  The end of this week doesn’t really rack up much on my blackboard . . . and that is how it is suppose to be for now.  The walking is continuing with a cane for an added aid.  The items in the home that need doing are progressing, remembering the no, no on lifting, bending and pushing.  

  Dennis is down for a nap after showering off the grass pollen.  I think I have a few more cars and trucks to watch from my perch in the west porch.

   
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  Noreen 1:56 pm on July 1, 2021 Permalink  

  Sweet Day 

  Both of us awoke this morning with feelings of “let’s have a day.”

  Nothing does move until the coffee pot has gone off.  The aroma of Folger’s is what allows the day to begin.  My dad, Raymond, wouldn’t drink anything else.  We may not say much to each other while we take that first cup to our favorite spot.  Dennis’ is in the patio porch and mine is in front of my HP Notebook.

  Without knowing what the other was doing, I was slowly taking bedding and heading to the laundry, while Dennis was gathering items for the laundromat.  If there are kitties in the patio porch there needs to be criteria on the contents of their baskets.  Tidy tidy for the fur babies.  We don’t have rugs down in our home . . . one less thing to trip on.  Rag rugs in a household washing machine could shorten the life of the machine.  They are so soaked and heavy that the spin cycle labors.  I pushed buttons in the house and Dennis headed out in his little red pickup.

  As I took my walk this morning, I was thrilled to see the Russian Sage blooms beginning to appear on the long green stalks.  It is the most delicate of blooms and the butterflies love them.  Megan talked me into planting them last year in an area that had never quite come into its own.   Nailed it.  My sister, Elvera, would be smiling as the Russian Sage was her favorite.

  The afternoon is fading and we have met our objectives for the day that even included a great nap.  Life is sweet on Stauffer Avenue.  When in Mankato last week, we had picked up a prepared meal in Hy-Vee.  This seems like the perfect ending of the day.

   
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  Noreen 2:45 pm on June 30, 2021 Permalink  

  Time Line 

  My timeline for medical appointments is one month out from today.  Amazing.  That gave Dennis a start.  I assured him that the clinic is only five minutes away if we need them.  My lungs are as clear as a bell.  My wound is right on track.  The blood pressure of 108/61 passed mustard.  Each week since surgery, the level of hemoglobin has gone up by one point. All the medical staff is content with that in progress.  Slow and steady wins the race.

  We may be in for a very warm spell, but my early morning walks are on the schedule.  Enough about me!

  We had company today.  Dennis helped his daughter out by storing a car for her.  Today was the day that our back garage now has a free stall.  Sandy and Tom stayed into the afternoon for a good visit.  First time in . . . forever, that we had not prepared a noon lunch for company.  Dennis took our company uptown to the Mexican diner for lunch and I sneaked in a nap and was on my game when they returned.

  Our drive looks as if we are having a garage sale.  Cleaned out to the walls, a Dennis clean-up is underway.  The pickup garage project turned out so well yesterday, today it is the car’s garage.

  A light supper is on the menu as the Mexican diner must have had ample serving sizes at noon.

  Tomorrow is a new day.  I took back a lot of heart today hearing such a good report at the clinic.  Yup . . . this is doable.

   
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  Noreen 2:18 pm on June 29, 2021 Permalink  

  Good Things 

  Having had a good rain yesterday brought good things to the yard.  The grass is turning from straw to lush spears bending in the breeze.  The activity of the various birds stomping through the grass looking for a snack of bugs, is keeping the patio kitties on high alert in case they can sneak up on one.

  I did get a good nap in on the east patio early this morning.  My body needed to move at 5:30  It remains to feel that I cannot roll from side to side with the ease of “before.”  Sleeping too long on the flat of my back, lets me know it is rise and shine and find a more comfortable spot.  Finding  a variety of places to sneak in a nap makes it work out to the greater good.

  Watching the mid-morning news, it sounds as if our supper is right up to speed with what is coming as new offerings at the Minnesota State Fair . . . Mac and Cheese in a variety of forms.  Growing up as a farm family, we didn’t eat the dish.  It was meat, potatoes, veggies and what’s for dessert.  I don’t think I really missed out on the artery clogging dish, but Dennis sure likes his long-time consumed comfort food.  At 84, he can have whatever he wants.  There is still some tuna left for tuna on brown bread for me.

  I did venture into the basement today for several pantry supplies.  I patted the top of my covered sewing machine as I walked by.  Soon there will be more time and energy to fill the day with other than getting dressed and napping.  It all starts between the ears.

  What was between Dennis’ ears today was to clear out the garages and wash down the floors with bubbles and a floor brush.  He will definitely have earned his favorite supper.

   
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  Noreen 2:38 pm on June 28, 2021 Permalink  

  Riding Shotgun 

  Today Dennis was ready to leave Dodge.  I rode along shotgun as we went to Mankato.  His CPAP prescription is on a three month pick up.

  As we pulled into Mankato, Dennis suggested a few items at Sam’s Club.  I pointed and Dennis picked up products.  It was an entirely new process for my ole cowboy.  He pulled it off in good stead.  I did need to remind him that what he put in the cart, would need to be loaded into the car and then again unloaded into the house . . . last but not least put where it belonged within our pantries.  It got done and no one was harmed during this exercise of reverse rolls.

  When we had left Mankato it was 84 degrees.  The closer we came to St, James the more the temps dropped.  In short order it was 62 degrees and we could see a wall of water.  We drove right into the garage and rode out the rain.  One and three fourths inch of rain later it was home sweet home.  Within these last several days the total mount of relief from the dry is three inches.  My ole cowboy will again be having the mower taken out of storage and riding the acre.

  Today was a good workout for me in regard to doing many harmless steps.  I might be short on stamina but have a willing desire to push a small bit more each and every day.  Actually the steps are easier on me than trying to remove all the adhesive residue that I have wherever a tube or hose needed to be attached for stability right after the surgery and thereafter.  In the unopened packages the new adhesive wound coverages look like clear wrap that I have in my kitchen . . . not!  When they are schmocked on, they are there for the long, long haul. It is a painful process to peel them off.  Maybe by the first frost of the season I will not have outlines of medical procedures.

   
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  Noreen 2:47 pm on June 27, 2021 Permalink  

  Patio Time and Thinking 

  After the great rain yesterday, it was a chance to sit on the east patio and enjoy the time before the bugs gave themselves permission to invade.  We had commented that as we had had such a dry spell there had not been a hatching.

  I had my trusty walker with me on the patio as traveling the distance of our drive multiple times, there was not going to be a chance of a misstep.  The trees were alive with bird songs.

  Snuggles came and sat on my lap for the longest time.  Even his nurturing of extending his claws over and over was doable.

  I had a good breakfast and was dressed . . . with nowhere to go.  It was surreal.  Is this how it would feel if things had turned out differently over the last months?  Enjoying the spring-washed air waiting for an attendant to make sure I was attached securely to the walker to take me back to my room in a nursing home.  Hmm.

  Moments do creep up when the mind can wander.  It can wander all it wants to.  I gave Snuggles a friendly push off of my lap.  I left the walker in the patio porch where I will find it again for tomorrow’s walk and went into the house.  There are buttons to push on the washing machine and a cup of steaming coffee waiting for me.

  I do have many quiet moments ahead of myself as my body recovers from heart surgery.  As I was enjoying that cup of early morning coffee, I was thumbing through a quilt magazine.  Ya . . .  I like where that is going.

   
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  Noreen 2:46 pm on June 26, 2021 Permalink  

  What Great Rain 

  Long waited and much appreciated rain today.  It will be interesting to see how long the brown stubble takes to change back to green. Dennis’ mower feels as it it has been abandoned over the last three weeks.

  My accomplishment today was to work towards filling the recycling bin.  Most of that came off of the dining room table.  Each trip to Mayo brings a multitude of paper.  I did go through each and every batch to make sure there was nothing important.  What does make it easier to recycle the wealth of paper is the Mayo Portal. Every appointment, visit, test, or clinical summery is right at the tips of my fingers.  

  Flat surfaces can’t help it.  It’s as if there is a homing device built in,  “Come here and let’s save it, let’s stack it, no one will notice.” After a week of it, we are lucky to have enough space for a cup of coffee to sit.

  The weekend is upon us.  We have plans to be in our beloved home.  I am in a state of feeling content taking the day as it comes.  Dennis has the option of taking his little red pickup for a spin to check out the town and his buds.  It works for both of us.

  Yes, Carrie, I am eating.  Nothing really appeals, but then what does that have to do with the price of rice.  This noon I had cold, diced, leftover liver with honey mustard for dipping.  Hmm . . . there was no one around to beat me to it. I wonder why.

   
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  Noreen 3:16 pm on June 25, 2021 Permalink  

  Leave It To Me 

  Sneezes have their purpose.  Let’s keep things tidy in the nose.  Sneezes can be quite the challenge when your chest is wired and glued together.  I have my hospital-given heart pillow close at hand and then hang on to it for all it’s worth.  The pillow was clutched as hard as I could and the chest was fine.  But, I puled a muscle in my left side.  Good grief!  Leave it to me.

  My first visit to a doctor since surgery.  Blood pressure and temp were good.  The incision looked AOK.  My hemoglobin was 8.3 when I was discharged.  In the six days I have been home, we have been working on getting more red meat into me.  A Kid’s Happy meal is not going to cut it.  Dennis was off to the store.  One of his purchases will be on the menus this evening . . . liver and onions.  We’ll get this done.  

  This morning it was brisk for the walk outside at 6:30.  No matter.  Me, my long pink nightie, slippers and the walker stepped it off.  Mission completion.

  I now have graduated to having a second chair for hanging out in that I can easily get in and up and out of.  Success in healing.

   
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  Noreen 12:53 pm on June 24, 2021 Permalink  

  No Rain 

  A few areas got well needed rain . .  not so much for us.  Dennis got the hose out to water our new shrubs as well as the two huge house plants that are sheltered under the Lilacs.  The leaves on the ornamental crab tree look shriveled today with the hot dry wind. 

  My heart rate does increase a bit getting the bra on each day.  Hey . . . I feel totally dressed up with no where to go.  The walker and I take a stroll down the drive and back,  around to the patio in the back and then enjoy a cup of coffee with Dennis.  It sure beats walking hospital halls.

  We had a visitor on the patio today and was questioned how I had avoided the swing bed in our hospital after being released as they would have started rehab immediately.  The first time my children met with the cardiac surgeon, the message was that when they released me it would be to my home for me to continue recovery.  Swing bed staff, sorry to say, are not aware of what to continue with in regard to heart surgery.  When leaving Saint Mary’s, I had the real deal instruction.  

  I believe from experience of the stroke, you are put in a swing bed and there you stay until you are lucky enough to have a nurse answer your call light.

  I am not to be pain free or not winded upon moving at this stage of the game.  I have lots of time to let my body heal from one hell of a job that the surgeon did.

   
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  Noreen 1:28 pm on June 23, 2021 Permalink  

  It’s Good 

  Last week at this time I was two sheets to the wind in the ICU, so knocked out by drugs that I would look at my hospital red wrist band to remind myself who I was.  A whirlwind of medical gowns in various colors.

  Today after a nap I still feel like I have been knocked out but when the eyelids flutter, I know I am in my beloved home.  The one puttering round and about me is my ole cowboy.  Sweet.

  There was activity in the kitchen today.  All that was required of me was to be sitting in the dining room chair if advice was needed.  There was a chocolate cake in the making.  Using what is on was the mission.  We now have a chocolate cake with Lemon frosting. Hmm.

  Chicken salad was to be noon lunch.  We both never get weary of chopped onions.  I can’t do it and Dennis can’t do it well.  Dennis cleaned and chunked the onion and put it in the blender with some water.  After he drained and dried the onion, we had noon lunch . . . with a whole lot of onion in a container for another day.

  Today I feel naked.  No longer does my incision need to be bound and covered, thus says the surgical nurse that called us this morning.  Air drying is the rule going forward.  The next highly suggested surgical step is putting on a bra.  Oh my gosh.  My sweet ole cowboy is just an innocent, but he is on board helping this evening.  Life is full of highly educated advice, who are we to argue.