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