Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 2:18 pm on October 14, 2024 Permalink  

  Rain? 

  It is cloudy enough that it looks like it could rain.  I checked and there is nothing on the horizon.  I think it is just dust and pollen.

  Today I began putting clothing back in the cabinet that is now in the living room.  Slow going as there may be items that no longer need to take up the space.  No, it’s not going to get done in this one day.

  I did crack open the east slider door in the patio porch as I am not sure if Harriet is in or if she stayed out overnight.  I also did the weekly change out of the litter box container.  Tomorrow is garbage day and away it will go.

  Dennis and I chatted after noon lunch.  Part of the PT is to use the small floor model that assimilates a bicycle.  There is a mock-up of stairs that will also come into play.  We have four steps to get from the outside to the main floor level complete with hand rails.

  I worked for several hours on Esther’s wooden box.  It is getting close to a finish.  I have finished the stitched design to put on the circular cover.  Today I measured once, measured twice and then one more time before I cut into the fabric and begin the finishing.  I will do the cutting tomorrow.  I ironed some woven stabilizer onto the back of the stitching.  Once  I am confident that my pattern is centered, I don’t want any stretching.  I shut down the studio for the day to come up and do some stitching in my bedroom porch.

  I haven’t been in the mood for reading.  I have plenty material to while away some reading time, but . . . just not right now.

  It still is disappointing than the Canon camera doesn’t play nice with the computer.  Grr!

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:37 pm on October 13, 2024 Permalink  

  Hold On 

  Hold onto small children and small animals.  This wind is wicked.  It is not consistent, so the leaves really don’t know where to fall for a final resting spot.

  This late forenoon, AJ and his friend Dan did get the huge cabinet out of Dennis’ bedroom put in the living room.  I would have posted a photo, but . . . all is not well with at “fix.”  I will take my time reloading it in the coming days.

  Dennis’ two potted plants are in the patio porch safe from the killing frost that we all know will be coming sooner or later.

  Denise dropped off Dennis’ laundry.  The word is out that if the facility gets a hold of patient’s clothing, it may never be seen again.

  With this brisk 42-degree-feeling day, I had plans on staying home today.  On Sundays, it seems as if one of the patients get a visitor, they most likely will also get folks to drop in if familiar. Who doesn’t know Dennis!  

  Last night was the first of any stitching I had done all week.  Just as I was going to get ready for bed, I took a good look as to what the hoop held.  I have always known that the word I had just finished stitching had six letters in it.  Hmm.  Mine now had only five.  The only letter that did not need ripping out due to the spacing was the last letter.  Oh Joy!  I did clean up the mess so that the next time I stitched the start of it would feel better.

  I have had an early supper.  I call it a Dagwood sandwich, the comparison to the old Sunday paper funnies.  Two slices of bread using spinach chip dip as the butter.  A slice of cheese. some lettuce topped with oven roasted turkey lunch meat.  It was quite tasty.  Got that bit of the day over and done with.

  Curfew for the three kitties is going well.  Six may still have daylight for a few more days, but if they can’t get their traipsing around between 10 and six, they’re not doing it right.  It is remarkable how much water they go through.

  Another week is knocking at the door.  It seems as time does move faster as I am getting older.  The lesson of not putting things that need doing off, does more often than not drive my days.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:39 pm on October 12, 2024 Permalink  

  Dirty Air 

  The harvest dust is in the air.  Though the county road past our home is concrete, the semis do rouse up dust.

  The farmers are hitting it hard.  Much different than when implements needed to be pulled through mud at harvest time. 

  This forenoon I had a haircut and pedicure appointment at 11:30.  It was enjoyed to no end.  Maria made out an appointment card for us in November.  I am sure Dennis will be front and center for that one.

  From Maria’s I went to the Lewis Drug for one of my prescriptions:  $3.84  is not too hard to part with.

  We did get mail from BlueCross/Blue Shield today.  Our Senior Gold policy is going up $21.00 for each of us per month.  I was expecting some kind of hike. 

  I was out and about and my next stop was room 105 to check on my ole cowboy.  He reported he is not taking anything for pain.  From the sound of it there is no shortage of table talk with other fellows at meal time.  That’s a very good thing.  His spirit is high and he looks good . . . but of course he would.

  When I left at two this afternoon, Dennis was watching the History Channel.  I did notice that the eyelids were getting heavy.

  I got the huge cabinet cleared out yesterday out of Dennis’ bedroom.  The grandsons are coming tomorrow.  I have the remainder of the afternoon off.  I am going to head to my rocking chair.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:27 pm on October 11, 2024 Permalink  

  Today the 11th 

  It is a very dry-feeling day.  

  I was going out to open the east patio sliding door this morning and had I not been super quick, Snuggles would have gotten into the house.  Sorry snuggles if the door caught you in the neck.  He had stayed out all night.  He followed me into the garage and headed straight for the food bowl.  Too bad!  At six that sliding door gets closed.

  Yesterday late afternoon, I went to the potting shed to get some things ready for Dennis’ plants to be gotten in.  We may well have freeze warnings Sunday night.  Dennis has nurtured those plants for years and they will get tucked in the patio porch when AJ stops tomorrow.  Two small plastic patio tables with containers on top of the tables.  When the potted plants sit on and in those containers, they will have water poured into the containers and the plants suck up the water from the bottom.  It forces the roots down rather then getting root bound from watering them from the top.  We repotted them this summer.  They really look good.

  I have not and will not go out to see Dennis today.  I know he gets PT twice a day.  When I had my knees replaced, I remember how tuckered out I was from a good workout.  I do know the heart halter battery needs replacing every 12 hours.  Remembering that is beyond my pay grade.

  Denise stopped in this morning to pick up his laundry I had done last night.  She gets off work at Casey’s at nine or there abouts every morning.  It works great that she can stop in to see her dad.

  I have met my objective for the day.  At the time I had made a scrappy lightweight quilt for myself, I had put it up on the north wall of our living room.  This afternoon the quilt is folded and all of the Command little stickers are off of the wall that had held it in place.  I love Command products almost as much as Amazon.

  Between now and supper time and even after supper, I will begin taking things out of the cabinet in Dennis’ bedroom, for the cabinet to be placed on the north wall of our living room.  I texted AJ the measurements of the cabinet (84 x 50 x 22) and the fact that the cabinet is 8 inches taller than the bedroom doorway.  AJ  and Ryan will tackle it tomorrow.  It is solid wood and Ryan knew he could get more help if it was needed.  Dennis has very strong grandsons.

  I was made aware yesterday that our home will be visited before Dennis comes home.  I kind of knew that was coming.  I think Medicare drives that.

  I am having frozen pizza for supper.  As Dennis doesn’t like pizza, it is a real treat for me.  Dennis commented the food at Good Sam’s is much better tasting than in the Mankato hospital.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on October 10, 2024 Permalink  

  A Warm Day 

  It does feel warm out in the sunshine, after several days of the temperatures that I like . . . cool.

  Today has been a day that has me feeling like I want to stay put for the remainder of the day.  Getting Dennis settled in Good Samaritan has been accomplished.  The correct clothes, the correct walker, an extra blanket and the phone in arm’s reach.

  As I was leaving after having a cup of coffee with Dennis, his tractor fellow and his wife came for a visit.  I think that will help pass this afternoon for him.

  Yes, his computer is set up for solitaire in his room.  I know he will have access to FB after daughter, Denise, figures out the password for “guests” of which Dennis is one.

  After seeing Dennis, I made a trip to the grocery store.  All is well.

  I have nothing new to report.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:44 pm on October 9, 2024 Permalink  

  This is Wednesday the 9th 

  It sure feels so much better having Dennis eight blocks from Stauffer, rather than 45 miles.

  A van picked him up in Mankato at 10:30 and he arrived at Good Samaritan in time for noon lunch.

  I was just leaving the house when Dennis called me and asked when I was coming to see him.  Sweet.

  It was great to see him in good spirits.  Physical therapy is on board right at the facility.  There were so many familiar names on the board as I came in the front door.  So many of the staff are familiar to Dennis and vice-versa.

  I had taken Dennis his battery-operated razor with his fu-fu good smelling after shave.  Since Friday, there had been a missing component of his CPAP machine.  I knew we had a spare part here at home, so I know he will get a better sleep tonight using his machine.  He had a heart halter on the entire time he was in Mankato, so there was no threat of him getting in trouble without using the CPAP.  He has been sleeping and many times napping with it for 17 years without fail.

  Dennis will be wearing a heart halter for the next two weeks, just to make sure all is as it should be.

  The nurse came in and allowed him to know she was going over his charts and saw that he was a smoker.  She asked Dennis if he wanted a patch that would simulate nicotine.  Dennis passed on that offer.  Hopefully that is a great sign of things to come.

  I know, I will be visiting him most often every day.  Everything is under control here in our tiny home.

  The boxelders are fighting the beetles for space on the screens as I am sitting at my desk typing, with windows facing south.

  I know the Schwan’s ice cream company is no more, but a van with the same color combinations and no signage just went down Stauffer.  Someone is getting their ice cream fix.

  This was a wonderful hump day, with many more to come.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥ 

   
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  Noreen 3:05 pm on October 8, 2024 Permalink  

  Quiet Day 

  Perhaps no news is good news.

  Both of Dennis’ daughters have allowed me to know that Dennis is not answering his phone.  Well . . . he may not be in his room.  Lots of tests that my ole sweet cowboy may be in need of out in various parts of the hospital.

  I do know that he signed his own consent form for the hip surgery.  He is of sound mind if he needed to sign a form again.

  Daughter Sandy said she would stop in to see him after her shift of nursing in New Ulm.

  I can report that two of Dennis’ kitties did not make it in for last night’s curfew.  Six is when I give “last call.”  The little lightweight was at the garage door this morning when she heard me unlock the house door.

  Slowly I have been using my Swiffer wet wipes to do the floors of the weekend’s activity.  I feel better knowing that all smears and grime have been attended to from the front door through to the bathroom.  A weekend as we had here, oh my gosh, I was thankful to not have had carpeting or any rugs for that matter that needed attention.

  We had a bill to pay from the last of the tree work that was done.  Dennis and Ryan had agreed on the cost and it was cash on the barrel-head.  Dennis had called me to get ahold of Ryan, so I could clear the debt.  Ryan stopped in at seven last night.  I felt better having paid the hard working fellow and not having the cash in the house.

  I have been taking breaks in my bedroom porch doing some stitching in between doing the floors.  Floors are now done, Dennis’ fresh bedding is ready for him to enjoy when he comes home.  Busy hands are good.  

  With these many more days of having PT come to his room. I can only imagine the new hip is getting used to the movements.  Sandy had stayed with him for some time yesterday late afternoon and he had done his share of exercising.  Actually, one of my prayers is that with each passing day of Dennis being in a facility, the urge for a cigarette may be diminishing.  One can only pray. 

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:24 pm on October 7, 2024 Permalink  

  Hello Monday 

  For as chilly as 42 felt this morning, the sun is doing a pretty good job of warming things up.

  Dennis has a new ball in his hip socket with it being literally driven home into his femur.  What a blessing that the socket didn’t shatter.

  Dennis, my ole cowboy, is in pretty good spirits at the hospital.  I think by this time of the afternoon he may well be in a different unit of the hospital.  Dennis has had an irregular heat beat, arrhythmia, for his entire life.  It can be called atrial fibrillation.  Often the word pacemaker has been spoken of in the past, but nothing going forward.  Pills can’t do it all.

  When I went into the portal of his records, I could see by the Echo that was done last year, there was significant change and not to the good.  When Dennis and I called back and forth at noon, they were waiting for a bed in the cardiac unit.

  When so many of his vitals are right on target, Dennis needs to have what will serve him the best.  He has a good heart and it may well need to be given a consistent beat.

  I did call my brother in Iowa.  He had had a shattered hip socket via a car accident.  Lots of screws were needed.  Calvin wished Dennis well and was not as wordy as he usually is.  Hmm.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 2:28 pm on October 6, 2024 Permalink  

  Oh Yes 

  Oh yes, Grandma Ester Schafer, I can hear you say with clarity, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.”  So many words of wisdom you were quick to share.

  Our tiny little home on Stauffer Avenue has had many moments these last three days to pull from strength that may not have been fatal but life changing.

  In the early morning hours of Friday, Dennis fell with a huge bang and a groan that had me out of bed immediately.  In the hours that ensued, our home was bursting with many strong men being told what to do by three gals from the ambulance crew as well as our street being cordoned off by our police.  For me . . . helplessness big time.  By Friday afternoon, Dennis had been through the mill at our local hospital and was having more vitals taken while getting comfortable at the Mankato Mayo Hospital.

  Yes, the hip was broken.  Dennis had taken his Eloquist blood thinner at supper Thursday night.  Five days of the blood thinner needs to be stopped before surgical procedures.  A bleed-out is not good.  Surgery was scheduled for Saturday afternoon.  By 5:30 Dennis was out of surgery with all markers to the positive.

  This is Sunday afternoon and I had to decide where I sought the best place geographically Dennis would travel to Monday afternoon to a facility to gain strength, get occupational therapy, and physical therapy before coming home to our tiny home.  Four choices to see where a bed was available.  I told the nurse for my own selfish reasons, I gave them my choices;  St. James’ Hospital, St. James’ nursing home facility, Madelia Hospital, Madelia nursing home facility or Truman’s nursing home facility. 

  Dennis would be transported in a wheelchair-equipped van and I needed to give permission for the out of pocket expense.  Absolutely! 

  This morning, Dennis’ daughter, Denise, took his clothing plus his special orthotic shoes as they would have him on his feet Sunday afternoon for a bit of walking.

  It’s all about the waiting.  I spoke with Dennis this morning and he assured me that he wanted me to stay at home until he would be settled somewhere.

  I gave reassurance this day to both of my children when they called, that I was okay and in need of nothing.

  One big change here on Stauffer.  At six each evening the patio porch is closed for the night to the three kitties.  You are either in or out.  There will be a clean potty box and plenty of fresh food and water available.  No more waiting as Dennis would do until the last one came strolling home well after dark.

  With that I will take my leave.  ♥

   
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  Noreen 1:59 pm on October 4, 2024 Permalink  

  New Address 

  Dennis fell last night and as hard as he tried, we needed the ambulance.  The St. James hospital was his first destination.  The ambulance crew was fantastic.  There were as many as eight fellows in our home to see if enough help was on hand.  Three gals were going and checking his vitals. A police officer was on board also.

  I have been up since 2:30 and will crash as soon as it is dark outside.  I went out to the the livestock chores at noon.  They had thought they would never be let outside.  When it is dark how many kitties are in . . . bless their hearts.  I am not doing the Grandpa Dennis thing and wait for them to dribble in.

  I am feeling the early morning activities.  How can I not reach out an arm when someone has their arm out and asking “please?”

  The nurse from St. James hospital called a few minutes ago to let me know Dennis is in the Mankato Hospital with a fractured left hip.  His new address is room 5807.

  Dennis’ daughter “Nurse Sandy” lives in Mankato.  She called and said I was to stay home and she would be at the hospital every day after her nursing job in New Ulm.  The way I feel today,  I didn’t put up any quarrel.

  I hear a rocking chair calling to me.

  With that I will take my leave.♥