December 3, 2019

Holy Moly, how can it be this close to the end of the year.  Feels like we have jumped into warp speed this year.

Let me do a couple of updates.  Christmas PJ's were completed in time, even #10 shirt.  During the night I awoke and thought I need to try changing the top thread or at least re-thread the needle.  As I attempted that move I realized the needle was slightly bent.  If I had not been standing up to do the work I do not think I would have realized the issue with the needle.  The light was hitting the machine from a different angle causing the needle to show up better.  Anywho,  needle changed and #10 complete.  The final result was given to the kids on Thanksgiving evening.

As you can see not all the kids were thrilled with the prospect/reality.

Finally all were almost on board with the silliness.  Thanks, Baby Sis, for the use of your bed.

Bonus Grandson appears to be unhappy with the view, teehee.  Youngest though it was just fun/silly.  And for what it is worth all except MCH kid wore the PJ's the rest of the evening and slept in them.

The above photos are out of sequence as they were taken on Thanksgiving night, but what the hey.  Bonus Grandson required some unusual auto arrangements to make the trip from Round Rock to the Dallas area.  Wednesday evening Sis provided food and a small bonfire.  The kids usually love that but it was raining a bit.

The rain did not keep Uncle D. with help from my grandsons from getting the fire going.  Just a bit of petro and instant bonfire.  While the bonfire developed a bed of coals under the watchful eye of some of the kids, #3 Grandson and Uncle D. put together a peach cobbler.  The dutch oven containing the fixins was sat in the coals to bake.  Thirty minutes later the cobbler was done.   Grilled hot dogs, beans and chili were even better when one of the guys that smelled of smoke stood nearby.

Last minute instruction video, maybe?

Here are a few more snaps of the final Thanksgiving Day food prep. The sofa is holding all the food filled folks following the meal.  Football was the remainder of the day.

Uncle D carving the masterpiece. 

THE STAR OF THE DAY!

Turkey filled, pre-comatose family members "watching" football. The view of Bonus on Thanksgiving Day was mostly a blanket covered recliner.  He was still on pain meds which put him straight to sleep.

Black Friday found no one of this group wanting to brave shopping.  After meeting for lunch at the Star complex in Frisco the crew began to disperse in different directions.  DIL, Bonus grand son and daughter headed back to Round Rock.  Cause boyfriend and girlfriend needed to be looked at some more.  Son, Hubby and grandsons headed for TCU football game that would be watched in a drizzling rain.  Uncle D (aka Youngest BIL), Nephew, and Niece's family bail on the TCU game.  Rain and 5-10 year old boys typically do not mix well.  That last group chose to go to a local high school state playoff game in a covered stadium.  Sis and I went to see A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood  about Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

Later Friday evening the whole troop reconvened back at Sis' home for, you guessed it, leftovers.  There were beans, chili, ham, turkey, sweet potatoes, dressing, rolls, cranberry sauce and desserts to be eaten.  And we did eat but there were still left overs to divvy up between all the folks before we started returning home on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday was slow for Hubby and I.  Sis, BIL and Nephew visited BIL's mother.  We dog sat Leaping Lucy.   Son and his boys visited Niece and her family till time for them to get on the road back to Round Rock.

Maybe Leaping Lucy flies with those ears!

Val

Our Saturday afternoon and evening would be, yes, another meal and a Christmas Lights tour of areas in the Park Cities of the Dallas area.  Park Cities is the name given Highland Park and University Park.  Folks such and the late Ross Perot, Jerry Jones (owner of the Dallas Cowboys), former President George Bush live in these exclusive cities.  The tour included stops at Val's, a cheesecake shop, Cocoandre's, a chocolatier shop, and last Joy, producer of macaroons and ice cream.

Val's specialized in cheesecake cause his mom had immigrated from Haiti to New York.  In New York she worked in a Jewish cheesecake shop.  When Val's Mom became ill he spent every Sunday with her.  They baked a different type of cheesecake each week.  His story is on his website.  Click here.

Part of downtown Dallas skyline.

Chocolate, family and shopping.  That is a great way to spend and evening.

Chocolate high heels.

   Moving bus + night shot =

Just realized I never posted this.  And now it is December 28.  Christmas prep and most celebrations are in the rear view mirror.  My breathing is greatly improved so long as I take the meds regularly.  Missed a couple by accident and could tell the difference.  Nothing left of the shingles.  And there are a few added pounds from all the festivities. 

For all you folks on the Georgian calendar, have a happy and safe new year.

November 26, 2019

Sorry it has been a while since I posted.  My energy level is suffering from the months of breathing issues.  Then about 12 days ago I noticed a sort of burning pain in my left thigh.  By Sunday I was broken out on my rear and inside thigh.  I had worn some new pants without washing so I figured it was just a reaction.  After different salves, etc, there was no improvement.  Wednesday I called the doctor, said I suspect a certain problem and was told to come in within 3 hours.  Shingles.  Really.  And with that it felt like the last of my reserves were flushed down the stool.

I had been working on Christmas PJs for the grandkids.  The tee shirts would have Merry Christmas spelled out on printable fabric.  The trick is only 3 letters appear on each shirt.  The kids have to stand in a specific order to have it spell our correctly.  Material for the PJ bottoms was pre-washed in prep for cutting for the bottoms.  Then shingles, on my bottom to where I could only lay in certain positions.  For. 4. Days.  So much for the bottoms.  Thanks to Amazon we now have bottoms being delivered today. 

Since I could stand I was able to print the letters and bond to the tops.  I needed to overcast the edges of the letters.  There were the shirts for Son, DIL, Hubby, DIL's dad, and me as well as the 5 grandkids.  That was a total of 10 shirts to be overcast.  Night before last the final two shirts were to be overcast and IDs added.  Shirt 9 complete.  Shirt 10 ID stitched.  The overcasting came to a solid stop as the machine would no engage the bobbin.  Different bobbin, well actually 5 different bobbins.  Nothing worked.  The. Last. Shirt.  I gave up because there were still pies and desserts to be made for Thanksgiving and it was 1 AM.

Monday #4 Grandson arrived to help with making pies.  This has become a tradition with since we moved to Round Rock.  He was a huge help making crust for several of the tart size pies.  He made a couple dozen tarts.  By the end of the session we had two full size pumpkin and one apple pie.  About a total 3 dozen apple, apricot and cherry tart size pies.  Grandson left and I spent the next couple of hours cleaning up the mess and wrapping the goodies for transporting 200 miles.  Part of that time was spent gathering additional items to make the yeast breads for Thanksgiving.

It is Tuesday and I need to figure out how to get the last shirt overcast.  Need to pack, make cupcakes and sorghum chewies.  I can do this!  Because the shingles are much improved.  A good night's sleep has relieved my tired legs.

16 and still needs a cuddle toy.

 After testing last Friday, it was determined there are no significant allergies.  The doctor adjusted my medications adding an inhaler twice daily to help with the not quite asthma breathing issues.  Post nasal drip is still treated with two nasal sprays and a nightly sinus medication.  The doctor removed all allergy medications.  As for the GERD, an upper GI scope is scheduled for Dec 2.  A PH test is scheduled for January.  Once all the information is gathered there will be hiatal hernia surgery.

Our Bonus Grandson had the torn knee issues repaired in surgery last Friday.  His mom said he is grumpy.  Imagine that.  He has had a ruptured appendix and procedures to drain the abscess.  Eventually he had surgery for that.  Just healed and feeling good and the knee was damaged during a football game.  Six weeks to allow parts of the knee to heal then another surgery.  Been a tough year for him.  Little four year old Braxon is recovering physically.  His mental capability has regressed to about one year old level.

So I close today with thanks for health care professionals to guide us damaged folks to health.

Ya'll all stay safe out there.
Love, Janice

November 1, 2019

Heavens to Betsy.  2019 is 5/6 gone.  In the history books.  Of course the history books will not include all the details.  Not even all the significant events.  And in time the events will might be adjusted to accommodate whatever viewpoint someone is wanting to push.  Texas school books were proposed to use the language of 'trading triangle' instead of slave trade.  And it was not the PC police proposing that change either.  It was some of the members of the Texas State Board of Education.  Yes, ma'ams and sirs, when you live in Texas you just don't have to make this stuff up.  Texas is one of the largest purchasers of school books in the US.  So where crazed politicians take us is where education can go awry.

So much for that tangent.

Facebook posts from friends in Missouri are making me long to see the beautiful leaves.  The posts inspired me to drag out the fall decorations.  Those decorations include preserved colored leaves.  While in years past there was a full tub of fall and Halloween decorations it now only contains one tiny witch.  Seeing the colorful leaves along with some of the other familiar gourds, pumpkins, backets and scarecrows sure helped.  Of course the much cooler temperatures made a difference, too.  It was below freezing here last night.  So weird since we had some of the hottest daily records most of September and early October.

Braxon has progressed enough to be transferred home.  He has an NG tube for taking the required medications.  Not sure how long it will stay in as he already pulled it out once.  He fight oral medications, too.  Little Toot.

Hubby is doing his usual fall sneezing.  Not as bad as he once was.  His eyes are not swelling almost shut as they have in the past.  He is having to get up in the night to clear his sinuses.  Just ask him if he had taken any allergy meds.  Give you a guess as to what his answer was.  I told him no sympathy if he is not going to take his meds.  Bad as Braxon.  Is this a male thing?

So much for that tangent.

Tonight we will go to dinner to celebrate Bonus Grandson's 16th birthday.  Well, just got a text he is sick at school.  Grandpa is on the way to retrieve him.  Plans change on a dime around here.  BG has had the appendix issues that eventually required surgery.  The damaged knee issue with surgery scheduled in three weeks.  Now will this be stomach flu?  Poor guy.  His knee injury has not allowed him to get his drivers license which is the much bigger trauma for a 16 year old guy.

And here is one last tangent:

Cell phones and texting are wonderful ways to coordinate between people.  As long as you have cell service.

Put part of the Halloween candy in the freezer for later.

Ya'll all have a nice weekend. 

Janice

October 31, 2019

The local official weather station said they saw one snowflake last night.  Ha!  But it did get unseasonably cold last night, near freezing.  New low temperature records were set.  Add in the stiff wind and it feels like fall finally.

One of the blogs I follow, Ada's Poetry Alcove, had a post about spending time with her grandchildren.  Her grands are still young children.  Adventurous and exploring.  Reading the post sent a nostalgic feeling through me.  All 5 of our grands are teens.  Sure, they still give hugs.  They still say I love you.  Son's #2 will come over before Thanksgiving to help make the desserts.  Truth be told, I have become the helper.  His pie crusts are delightful.  Youngest grandson no longer asks me to help him sew projects. 

"Grandma, you need to get a picture of us hard working men",  Oldest Grandson said.

Just this fall a noticeable change in voices.  And faces.  Even the youngest stares at me at eye level.  Oldest grandson is almost 6 feet tall.  It is still fun to be with all of them.  The time together is different.  No more looking for fossils.  Or catching fish from my water garden or walks with Grandpa. 

We may make food runs for the always hungry boys/young men.  Granddaughter is away at college.  No more little projects for her.

My pie baking buddy.

Of course there are lacrosse games, a tournament this weekend.  Two of the grandsons are on the same team.  Bonus is still on crutches from his knee injury in football.  Otherwise, there would be 3 grandsons on the same lacrosse team.  Youngest has soccer games we have attended.  He, also, is in choir and drama classes.  That means plays and choir performances to attend.

It is fun and rewarding to see them all grow and seek their futures.  Yes, there was a time when Son's three would bathe together.  Do not even suggest they be in the bathroom at the same time.  At times it is unacceptable to them to be in the same general area of each other.  Other times, they bug one another to come play basketball or jump on the trampoline.  Good times, yes.  I do miss that child curling up to read a book before bedtime.

One other reason for nostalgic feelings today is 6 years ago.  This is the last photo of the backyard of our last home in Missouri.  It was, also, the last full day of my MIL's life.

Ya'll all have a spooky day and thanks or dropping by for a chat.

October 30, 2019

Well.  I am breathing better.  The weather has finally cooled down and I can go outside.  Talk about cabin fever, about 2 months indoors when the sun is shining.  Today was misty and cool.  I was outdoors walking almost 2 miles.  Now I did it under cover in the garage and unheated halls.  Still no coughing.  I cooked and no coughing.  I mean I did food prep and cooking for 2 hours.  And only a couple of coughs.  Homemade chili and a pot of mixed beans with a ham bone.  A month ago I could not cook for 15 minutes without a major coughing fit.  So progress.

As for all the tests and doctor visits to figure out all the coughing and shortness of breath here is the time line:

1. GP appointment, June 24, prescribed Brio for wheezing and coughing
2. August 28, GP appointment for first major (as in could hardly breath) episode lasting for 20 or more minutes.  Blood draws, All normal
3. Lung x ray:  August. 28, nothing found, all looks in normal limits
4. Sept 1, second major breathing issue with coughing and loss of voice.
5. Sept 2, GP visit, Added a double dose of Benadryl and a second acid reflux med. Blood draws:  Sept. 3 results, everything normal. Scheduled a CT scan.
6. CT scan of lungs:  Sept. 6, no clots, no other concerns found
7. GP Referred to pulmonoligist, appointment set for Sept 19.
8. Pulmonoligist who ordered CT scan of esophagus, Sept. 26,  results received Oct. 4, no cancer.  Added another allergy type medication and gave sample of Dymista.  Stop the Brio.
9. Barium swallow test:  Sept 6, partial report on Oct. 4, somewhat extensive damage due to GERD.  Refers to a gastroenterologist.  Nodules on thyroid gland.  Followup with GP on nodules.
10. GP schedules Sonogram of thyroid gland:  Oct 10, results, 6 nodules, all benign.  No further action required.
11. Additional info during pulmonoligist visit on Oct. 26, a hiatal hernia.  Referred to a different gastroenterologist than I had used in the past.  He will do more through tests, first appointment on Nov. 14.
12. Pulmonary function tests, Oct. 16, results received Oct. 26, mostly normal.  Minor airways show some irritation.  Not enough to call it asthma.  Nebulizer treatment showed a 25% increase in the function of the minor airways.  Prescribed a rescue inhaler and two separate(affordable) nasal sprays.  Referred to an allergy specialist.  Appointment pending my remembering to call not during lunch or too late in the day.  Ugh.
13. BTW, the pulmonoligist says, "your neck joints show significant deterioration."  My response, "Guess that explains some of the headaches."

I started looking for what is the cause of my losing my voice, coughing and breathlessness with some wheezing.  I have GERD damage, a hiatal hernia, nodules and a goiter on my thyroid.  And as a bonus, neck joints that are old and worn out.  And still if it is hot I still cough, lose my voice and can be breathless.  I just wheezed.  It is 60 degrees in our apartment. Guess I'll go take a swig of the inhaler, swallow four pills and go to bed.  I'll catch up with ya'll all on this subject after I visit one of the many new doctors in my life.

On the 23rd we did take a Jeep ride out into the Hill Country looking for Shovel Mountain.  Hubby had heard a Ham Radio person working the net from there.  Hubby was needing to see if we could find it.  DJ was taken with cause we like having her around. 

We grabbed a couple of burgers for us and some chicken nuggets for her and had a Jeep picnic.  It was a beautiful day and below 80° F.  I stayed cool in the Jeep but was able to get a few shots at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.

DIL's dad is huge into birding.  He does bird counts in this park every Christmas (US).  We hope to return and see what else DJ can sniff out for us.

BOOOOOOO!  Did I scare you.  Have a fun Halloween.

October 29, 2019

Okay, folks, time for a long update.

Oct. 17, visiting Yaya, my sister #2.

Braxon, the four year old great nephew, appears to finally be on the road to recovery.  But the road has been a very tough one.   Numerous twists, turns, ups and downs.

 After my last post about him, Brax went home on October 16 but had to return within 2 days, on October 18.  He was getting worse.  He could no longer walk and could barely sit unassisted.  He was crying in pain.  A check with the doctors and the answer was get him back to the hospital in Oklahoma City.

Oct. 18, 1:05 PM

Upon arrival at the hospital that is 100 miles from his home, he had a lumbar puncture and full spine MRI.  The MRI initially looked clear.  Lumbar puncture showed the white blood cell count rose from 4 to 44 between Wednesday tests to tests on Friday.  Inflammation in spine and brain and the antibodies that his body created to fight the virus were now attacking him.  No longer dealing with the initial post-viral cerebellar ataxia but an autoimmune issue.

Day 3 of steroids IV

The medical staff were leaning toward autoimmune Encephalitis.  Tests were run to confirm the AE.  IV steroids were begun on October 19.

In addition Braxon had continued just staring into space and being unresponsive at times. Doctors wanted an EEG to check for the possibility of seizures.   This is a 4 year old child.  3 attempts were made for the EEG, none successful.  Seizure medications were begun, also.

Day 3 of IVlg, poor baby.

The IV steroids started on the 19th were showing little if any  improvement.  Brax could not walk more than 4 or 5 steps with assistance.  He would be exhausted by the efforts of walking or sitting.  He had to be placed on IVlg therapy for 5 days.  Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy (IVlg) is explained here.
The staff did so much to help with all the pain and confusion for this sweet boy.  His dog at home is Ranger.  He was given a stuffed Little Ranger.  Little Ranger had his own IV cover.  Brax was given equipment to give Little Ranger IVs at the same time he was getting them.  Brax said Little Ranger said it hurts some.  Each of the IVlg's took 2-4 hours.

Mom, Brax and Kenadi on a visit day.

During this time Great Grandparents and Aunt Paige were caring for Braxon's older sister, Kenadi.  She came down with a stomach virus.  A few days later Aunt Paige found head lice on Kenadi!  PE is probably where she contacted them cause none of Aunt Paige's children had them.  Never the less, 3 houses and at least 2 cars had to be treated for lice.  My 79 and 83 year old sisters did a house and 2 cars.

Mean while back in Oklahoma City Braxon is improving is small steps.  Physical therapy is begun.  Brax had another ride in one of the cool little cars.  He rode up to the window, looked out and tears fell from his sweet eyes.  The next day the nurse saw to it he was able to drive the car outside.

After attempts at oral meds on Monday
Nana said, "he is pissed''.

At the end of the 5 days he was to be transferred to a children's' rehab facility.  October 28, 2019 was to be the transfer date.

First  morning at rehad.

That transfer was dependent on Brax taking oral meds.  He fought every attempt and would through up all meds as soon as swallowed.  Yes, they tried hiding in food, bribes, and you name it.  He was determined to be in control of something. 

Finally the doctors and the rehab facility worked out the problem.  The Rehab facility agreed to let him be moved to rehab with the IV from the hospital.  You know, rules and regulations to avoid lawsuits or something.

The following is his mom's latest post:

"Today has been eventful ♥️
Braxon is walking unassisted! 🙌
It is like a one year old that is just learning to walk, but he's walking UNASSISTED and that is a HUGE improvement 💙
His speech therapist said mentally he is testing at a 4 yr level, but that isn't where he was before this happened. He was advanced to 5-6 so he is still regressed from his previous level but knowing he didn't go backwards is amazing 🙌🙌

He is back to refusing meds by mouth. Even disguised. All med orders had been switched to oral. Tomorrow we are trying to disguise them all, which is ALOT. If he doesn't cooperate we will have to move to an NG tube so he can get his medication.

My prayers are for him to cooperate taking the medicine and continue physically improving 🙏"

A later post Brax's Mom said, "He took his second dose tonight in a slush puppy 😂 whatever works 🤷🏼‍♀️"

Braxon painting this evening.

And then this happened back home:

Yes, that is older sister Kenadi in an ER room.  She was on a skateboard and fell on her elbow.    My niece was at the rehab facility to relieve her daughter, Heather, from Braxon care for a few hours.

About 9:30 PM this was posted on FB:

"Leigh Ann Littrell Womack

Well... when it rains it pours.
Left Oklahoma City early to get back to Lawton since kenadi Grace (not so heavy on the Grace) crashed her skateboard and hurt her arm.. waiting on X-ray results.
#sigh

Update: Fluid and blood in elbow. Can’t see a break but there could be a hairline fracture so they are splinting it and treating it like a break and we follow up with ortho."

And you thought you were having a bad month.  One of my friend's grandson went through a disease that eventually took his life at 10.  So, yes, things could be so much worse.

Take care out there.