Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 3:22 pm on April 17, 2021 Permalink  

  Self Satisfaction 

  I can’t put a price on self satisfaction.  Doing for myself is better than any pill or prescription.  Once the three living room windows had been freshened up, complete with a changeout of valences, I knew the rest of the living room needed a once-over.  

  Out came my small vac off of the attic steps. Dennis was on hand to move all the furniture into the center of the room and I could work at my own pace.  With a bag of various attachments, the rest of the day fell into place.  I don’t mind taking multiple breaks.  It is a treat knowing that I can mange my home’s needs.  I don’t have any problem asking for help in reaching when it takes both arms.  The left arm is gaining strength and the left hand fingers have come a long way being team players.  Sweet! 

  Dennis took over to vac out the lint trap in the clothes dryer inside as well as on the outside of the house.  Damp lint can really stick to surfaces.  I can attest to how hot the next load brings the temp of the clothes to.  Warding off a dryer fire . . . got it done.

  I have the remains of last night’s oven dish out of the refrigerator so we can each decide how much to microwave for supper.   

  Saturday nights I enjoy several mystery shows on PBS.  After my shower, the challenge will be not checking my eyelids for cracks, aka: napping.  I had a great workout today.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on April 16, 2021 Permalink  

  The Week Flew 

  Even with sub-par spring weather, time does not stand still.  I had nothing on my plate while Dennis was on the docket for an eye injection at the clinic here in town.

  For cool temps an oven meal seemed to be what was the best.  I took out a packet of frozen white chicken meat that was pared out from a rotisserie chicken we had enjoyed last week.  I like to sneak in veggies that are not on Dennis’ favorite list.  Today I quartered frozen Brussel Sprouts to add to the pasta, chicken and Alfredo sauce.  It will be enjoyed this evening and perhaps a few more.  We also threw in some cubed cream cheese while the pasta was hot.  It puts such a great coating onto the pasta.

  My plan for the afternoon was to tackle one of the three living room windows.  Not to do the exterior tip in job as Dennis likes to wash off the outside of winter’s dirt storms.  The forever window screens can hold a huge amount of dirt. One window a day is enough.  We have a great kitchen stool with just enough height to get the curtain and the rod onto the brackets.

  Not to worry, all prescribed exercise moves were fulfilled today.  A good feeling.

  My hope is that the weekend can be a strong-end for every one.

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on April 15, 2021 Permalink  

  Sweet Life on Stauffer 

  Life is quite sweet.  Oh Yes! It can be quite different each day but we at least have the day.

  PT is going well.  All is working within this ole body . . . just not as smoothly as I would like.  Just not with the strength that I would like.  Do you get it?  I am an impatient person.  Dah!  I have all the tools I need to work on recovery.  Next week, there are no appointments with me for PT.  I will have this time to do whatever I can, however often I can to build and restore functionality to the Me I want to be.  The remaining schedule for the week after next is in place, ready for me to return for check in.

  Yup, life is sweet.  I can do all I did before, perhaps just a bit differently and in a different time-line.

   
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  Noreen 2:09 pm on April 14, 2021 Permalink  

  The Real World 

  Each day the ultimate is that we awake and have a fairly positive attitude about what the day may bring.  Sometimes the real world is determined to have its way with us and there is no trying to sugar coat it.

  Last night when I went to bed, I thought were it not for the Foley catheter that has to be within three feet of my right thigh, where it is attached, I could roll over and lay on my right side during the night.  As it were, where the catheter hangs, going over my left leg, I need to stay on my left side during the night.  Hmm.

  Yup . . . I had indeed rolled over onto my right side during my sleep and the catheter coupling had detached from stretching it beyond what it could.  I knew when last I had awoke at 4 a.m. all was good.  Whatever I had voided sometime from four until seven . . .  I was in a wet bed.  It will surely get you up and at ’em in a hurry.

  By noon all was back to normal . . . me and the bed.  Angst over with.  I am sure tonight, in my slumber, my subconscious will have me sleeping like a mummy.  

  In recovery that brings unusual circumstances, like wearing a catheter while getting physical strength back from a stroke . . . life happens and it is dealt with.  Ever so humble, it is all doable.  There was more good during the day that ensued than not.

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on April 13, 2021 Permalink  

  Whew 

  PT was a good session today.  I came home with my arms feeling like noodles.  Lots of homework to do before Thursday to work on the left bi-cep for strength. 

  Whatever isn’t nailed down is blowing in the cold northwest wind.  The clouds are purple and look like they are about to burst with some of the snow that the north part of the state is getting.

  Megan took down our curtains in the living room at Easter.  Dennis has commented several times it feels empty and almost echo’s.  Last night I spent some time in one of the closets in the basement.  As Spring cleaning is done on the living room windows, we will have curtains ready to be laundered and put up.  We don’t want Spring to come without the ritual of Spring cleaning.  Slow and steady for most things, but . . . not the bi-cep.

  We have some Fairfax red tulips about to open, I hope the cold temps tonight will be short-lived.  Any glimmer of Spring gives me hope, and . . . these days hope keeps me going.

   
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  Noreen 1:43 pm on April 12, 2021 Permalink  

  A Flurry? 

  I think I saw what may have been a lone flurry.  It sure felt chilly enough for it.

  In March, as I was in the hospital, Dennis was home alone.  Dennis lost his wallet.  He revisited all the places he had been in town and also checked the police department.  Nothing.  Somehow his wallet went through the washing machine and clothes dryer here on Stauffer Avenue.  As Dennis is apt to leave clothes in the clothes drier until there is a next load . . . his wallet was lost until I got home from the hospital.  The only things that didn’t make it out intact were the Medicare card and the Social Security Card.

  Today we decided to drive to Fairmont and visit the Social Security Office and get the duplicate work started.  Though the office hours began at nine, it was locked up tight.  All the windows, including the glass doors were papered with printed info of various items.  Dennis noticed off to one side a telephone number to call.  All questions were to be answered by listening to prompts.  We finally got “a live one.”  We can expect the Medicare card in 3-4 days but we need to get the duplicate Social Security card by going online.  WTF!

  The trip was not in vane as there was a Fairway Grocery store in the same strip mall. 

  We are happy to have the next step in the wallet renewal and this afternoon Dennis is getting the push mower tricked out, complete with jacket and gloves on.  Tomorrow is to be cooler yet.  We might still catch a flurry.

   
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  Noreen 1:55 pm on April 11, 2021 Permalink  

  Slow Day 

  Stauffer Avenue is having a slow Sunday.  I read until the eyes got heavy and then moved into a softer chair and was lulled into closing my eyes while listening to a television show Dennis had on.

  With the wind whistling in our favorite evergreen it wasn’t difficult to shut down for a bit.  Monday brings the monthly calendar to the center of the kitchen counter so as to not have us miss appointments.

  I hope everyone has had a chance to do what they wanted to today as well as being who they wanted to be today.  It’s called the balance in life that makes each day special.

   
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  Noreen 2:23 pm on April 10, 2021 Permalink  

  Jacket Weather 

  It is three in the afternoon and so far I have not cracked the cover of the book I intended to read today.

  Dennis was ready to go after breakfast to change oil on the lawnmowers.  I tagged along outside.  

  I checked out the lone flowerbed that is under the west window of my reading porch.  Sure enough the Russian Sage had new growth.  It was time to get the garden clippers out and take care of last year’s dried up, spent foliage.  The Sedum plants also needed to be cleaned up.  Time well spent for the enjoyment of the flowerbed when pulling into our drive.

  With both of us having sucked into the chilly fresh air, I decided chicken salad sandwiches would go well for a late lunch.  We really enjoy fine diced onions.  I was not looking forward to wrestling the knife and onion.  I used my 1964 Oyster blender.  I cubed the onion, added a cup of water and hit “chop.” They needed to be dumped into the colander to drain and then dumped onto a paper towel to dry.  Perfect!  I will be leaving the blender with the heavy glass pitcher out as that sure beats the hand-dicing of the onion.

  Neighbor June stopped in on her walk.  She will be selling her home and moving into one of the apartments in town.  I am happy for her.  She has been alone for several years and will be spending her 80th birthday in new surroundings.  Sweet.

  Maybe tomorrow the book will be opened.

   
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  Noreen 3:02 pm on April 9, 2021 Permalink  

  Chilly 

  We have a west window cracked by an inch.  This morning that crack allowed for a bit of a whistle from the winds that never seem to lessen.  When Dennis came in from his morning coffee from the patio porch the winter jacket told the rest of the story.  Chilly temps were the deal for the entire day.

  Dennis got a good report at the eye clinic this morning. He is cleared for the second cataract surgery in the beginning of May.

  It was chilly enough that I sought out my favorite flannel shirt.  Hey . . . the left arm found the arm hole and even got one button done.  Yippee!  My goal for the day was a load of laundry and a brownie mix that had been on the shelf long enough.  Slow steps, one by one got the job done.  Dennis’ job was to decide “to frost or not to frost.”   Cream cheese frosting won out and Dennis had the job hands down.   

  I have been sleeping so well.  Being tuckered out from what is now considered a full day of trying out all things on the first floor of our home seems to do the trick.  It is very self-satisfying.

  Our oven dish from last night was spot on with repeat suppers ahead for several nights.  We do not mind leftovers.   

  Our weekend is “what will be, will be.”  Actually the book I started sometime in February is tempting me.  I know Saturdays have great tractor auctions on the RFD television channel.  It sounds like a plan may be in place.

   
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  Noreen 2:00 pm on April 8, 2021 Permalink  

  Milestones 

  We will take them the way they come, telling it is straight out.  It was the second day of toileting on my own.  Halleluiah! I was so excited for Dennis, but more so for . . . me.  When Dennis came in this morning from the patio porch after having his morning coffee, he was showing up for bra duty.  Hello!  The girls had already been tucked in and up.  The days bring milestones.

  I am independent with what it takes in wearing “all things catheters.”  The emphasis at PT this morning and going forward is the strength building in the upper left side of my torso for self-cathing.  This morning I was released from Dan at PT for the legs.  A few general tips will go forward for me.

  Right after the stroke, the family thought they detected a bit of the left side of my mouth drooping.  That is no longer evident.  What I notice is that while drinking, I do tend to have a bit of a dribble.  The cure is to drink more slowly.  Easy fix.

  This afternoon, Dennis and I joined forces and we will be having a famous Stauffer Avenue oven dish.  Dennis did the noodles and got some corn ready to add, while I diced and caramelized onions and browned the ground beef.  Tomato sauce topped it off.  There was a bit of shredded cheese left in the refrig . . . on it went. 

  It is a cloudy, wet day.  Who cares.  We are safe and working towards better tomorrows.  I believe in tomorrows.