Good morning gals. Quick post again. I am sitting here with my morning "juice" otherwise known as my iv antibiotics. Jack does it morning and evening. We just can't seem to get a break. He headed out to the pharmacy after work last night because we were almost out of supplies, ran over something and tore up two tires. By the time my sil's dad got another tire picked up here at our house and got it to jack and such, the place had closed and he didn't get home until 6:30 and he leaves work at 3. I am on my last bag and it is coming apart because part of the bag had no adhesive on it. We have me taped together until Jack can get out to the drug store (25 miles away) and get stuff and get back home. He had to take his last vacation day, which means we will have to come home on Christmas day from Indiana and have our Christmas with them on Monday. It had to be done. I can't sit here all day with the probability of it leaking.
Jean: It has turned cool here too. It was balmy warm yesterday but at least 20 degrees cooler this morning. Oh, my scuzzy neighbors moved out over the weekend. They were back last night banging around probably getting the rest. Wonder what kind of scum we will get next???
Susan: Hope you are doing well. My animals know when it is time to eat as they start jumping on and off the bed and driving us nuts.
Well, I better go. I still have some backache issues and sitting in this chair doesn't seem to help them so back to the recliner with me.
Faye, I hope you get your supply situation sorted out soon - and get to feeling like your old self.
Jean, its cooler here, too and today we have rain. Weeks with no rain and then on election day it rains.
Stan did an absentee ballot and I went and voted before work. My dentist is running for the school board. I think he's a better choice than his opponent who is 78 years old...that man needs to retire. Our county is noted for having great schools.
I'm going to try going to Curves tonight - first time in 3 weeks. I think I'm breathing okay, but if not, I'll just stop and go home. I miss going and the friends I've made there.
Good Evening, Flowers! It seems like it should be bedtime and I have a couple three hours yet. I hate it getting dark so early! I missed all the excitement yesterday at school, and didn't find out about it until this morning. It seems that one of the lower level special ed. students, who lives at a home for the severe and profound students, got loose and ran. She ran a full block and crossed a busy street into a residential area with two aides in hot pursuit. Someone called the asst. principal; he goes to the opposite end of the building to get his brand new pickup and drives over to where she is. By the time he gets there two other people have stepped in to help hold her down while she's biting, kicking, and screaming. They put her in the back of the pickup and brought her back to school then called the "home" to come and get her. Every other word she says is the "F" word; usually she sits with her head buried under the table. She was back today, bright and early! Now if she were regular ed. and pulled something like that she would have 10 days of out-of-school suspension.
"Gma" -- Thank you for starting the new thread! It looks like there aren't so many any more since there is no page two at the bottom. I hope you get your home health people in gear so they will bring your supplies to you. What if you lived alone? It's too bad Jack had to use a vacation day. How long will it take your "innards" to heal so that your plumbing can be put back together? That must be a pain for sure. It would be nice if you would get some "nice" neighbors for a change. It's too bad the owner won't let you do the screening.
Susan -- I hope you were able to make it through your Curves routine tonight. We had our city council election today . . . one gal (a minority) who is already on the council let it be known on the front page of the local paper that she didn't care if she got re-elected or not. There was a public meeting where questions were asked of each candidate and she never cracked a smile the whole time she was on camera. I hope she gets the boot off!
I guess I will do some ironing and head for bed. Have a wonderful Wednesday tomorrow!
Good morning girls. Boy I know poor Jack will be glad when this iv infusion is finished, Friday evening. He has to get up at 3 am and get the stuff out of the fridge then come back down at 4 and hook me up, plus change out my bandages and if need be clean out my bag. I know he has to be exhausted.
We cleaned the drug store out of supplies and will have to call them and find out when they will get more in so we have back up. They are wonderful people and the druggist helped Jack yesterday and told him that the young girl who helped him on Saturday knows everything there are about the appliances and if we need help to call and she would drive out to the house to help! Can't ask for much more than that. We finally got a bag to stick and it seems to be doing fine. I told Jack from now on when we are going to change out, I will shower with the bag off and antibacterial soap and wash the region so the bag will stick better, which is what I did yesterday.
I did get out and get my hair cut and I have a dr appt today so I won't look quit so bad.
Jean: Dr is saying 6-8 months with the bag then they will cut me back open and reattach everything. So I imagine sometime in June I will go back in. Why are they sending a profound person to school? Usually the home teaches them as much as they can learn. They are volatile and really shouldn't be around a big group of kids like that. They don't know how to control themselves and the other kids don't understand what is going on with them.
Susan: I am down 26 lbs since I went into the hospital, 5 of which since I came home on Friday. I work to make sure my diet has enough fiber, fruit etc in it so I stay balanced and comfortable. If I don't the gas pain or build up is quite painful.
Good morning - shivering! It's 50 degrees at 11 am. I had to wear my winter coat today. I hate that.
Faye, guess you might say there is a silver lining to every cloud (weight loss). I know about the gas.
Jean, I made it through my workout - had to use my inhaler once but made it. I was tired at the end but really feel energized today.
I had a really bad nosebleed this morning. Guess all those nebulizer treatments and inhalers have dried me out. At least my voice is sounding better and I can breath and I've quit coughing.
Good Evening, Flowers! For whatever reason my computer is super slow tonight . . . or else I am thinking/typing faster than usual. It's been a gloomy day in my neighborhood. We got an email late this afternoon . . . a middle school student has "the" (staph) infection and all the district custodians were called in to disinfect the whole school before anyone can enter the building tomorrow. I hope he/she doesn't have any relatives at the high school! I wonder how long it will take the media to get a hold of this piece of news.
"Gma" -- I guess if anything good is to come out of your situation it would be the weight loss . . . but what a horrible way to lose weight! I'm glad you felt well enough to venture out and get your hair cut. That does help to make one feel better. I'm glad you have someone to call who can deliver the supplies and help you as well. All children under the age of 18 are in school buildings for their appropriate age level. It doesn't make any difference that they have NO clue what is going on or can function at all. Our severe and profound room has 7 students, 1 teacher, and 3 aides. They go to band, orchestra, chorus, and pe classes. We're talking some in wheel chairs, feeding tube, diapers etc., type care. As long as they are quiet they stay in class, but if they get disruptive the aides take them back to their room. The next level of students have some that will go into classes like art, foods, etc. They participate as much as they can although they don't receive a diploma. They are taught general living skills in their own room and some are able to go to the activity center where they "work" at recycling pop cans, paper, etc. None of these students will ever live unsupervised.
Susan -- It was 52 degrees here this afternoon and I just wore a wool jacket, that went with my outfit, to run a couple of errands. I did start the day in a spring jacket though. My outside water bowl for the cats did freeze the last couple of nights. It got down into the lower 20s. I'm glad you are feeling better. How is Stan feeling?
I had bell choir practice tonight so need to pick up the kitchen. Life would be so simple if we didn't have to eat! Have a terrific Thursday!
Good morning flowers! Hope your day is starting out well. We had a rough night last night so Jack is going to work exhausted and I am worn out. These will happen sometimes, but it would be better if they happened on the weekend for poor Jack.
My dr appt was a quick check and that was it. I have to go back in January for all my female and wellness stuff, but other than that I don't have to go back.
Susan: Glad you are feeling better and hope you continue to feel better. Colds/Flus are the pits. Hope Stan is coming along nicely now. Try and keep warm!
Jean: Sounds like fall is sticking at your house now. It was pretty chilly here yesterday. I have Heparin injected into my iv's twice a day so my blood is thin and boy do I stay cold. I was the hot flash lady and now I can't keep warm.
We are still having issues with my bag detaching on the one side so Jack is going to Millington after work and getting some different pouches to see if either of them will work. Right now I am home and not having to worry if I leak, but I will eventually want my life back without worrying about the thing constantly.
Here's a pic of the baby and Thomas together at the hospital. Can you believe how big he is? He won't be 5 months old un Saturday.
Good morning, ladies! Sunny and 45 degrees this morning. The leaves have finally started to turn!
Stan is doing good right now. Faye, he gets Heparin with his dialysis and is always so cold when he leaves treatment. I have an electric mattress pad and electric blanket on his bed. I turn them on when I go to get him so the bed will be warm. Then he gets in as soon as we get home, sleeps about 2 hours and then he's warm again and ready to eat. His cardiologist is scheduling him for a Adenosine Cardiolite test. I have to check with his Nephrologist to be sure this is appropriate. If it uses dye that is excreted by the kidneys, he won't be having it.
Jean, that sounds like a horrible solution for those children. If they aren't educateable here they go to Sara Bonwell Hudgins School and Workshop. They aren't mainstreamed,
Faye, Jackson is huge for 5 months. He's sure going to be a tall boy. Sorry you had a bad night. Sometimes I sleep for a hour or 2 then wake up and lay there for hours telling myself I have to get to sleep or I'll be tired and then all that I have to do the next day.
Good Evening, Flowers! It's been a nice day in my corner of the world . . . no wind for a change and that makes any day better! Today's excitement I had to read in the local paper; it seems a middle school student threatened to kill two of the teachers and blow the school up! He lives in a nearby town so is open enrolled. The district's options are: in-school suspension, out of school suspension, or expulsion. Now, to me, that is a no brainer! We are having a staff meeting in the morning but no one seems to know why. Then there is an assembly the first thing and no one seems to know why. I'm guessing they will give information on the MRSA stuff at the middle school. The custodians said all they cleaned/disinfected were door knobs, the computer lab keyboards, and the classrooms the infected student had classes in. I wonder if he/she never went to the office, the library, the music room, art room, etc., etc.
"Gma" -- What a darling picture of the boys! Thank you for sharing it with us. Is Heparin the stuff that stings when it goes in -- used to keep the IV line open, right? I remember it well if it is the same thing. I hope you and Jack sleep better tonight!
Susan -- If the taxpayers knew the amount of money being spent on students who will never ever function on a somewhat normal level, there would be a nationwide revolt for sure. I don't know if all states have the same requirements, but Iowa used to be one of the leading states in education. I'm sure that isn't the case any more. I hate waking up and not being able to get back to sleep. Makes me grumpy from the get go!
I need to put something together for supper. Bob is at church for another practice so won't be home for awhile. I hate to cook!!!!!!! Have a fantastic Friday tomorrow! The weather is supposed to be nice all weekend here.
Good morning ladies! I am up having one of the last 2 ivs then we are done, thank goodness. At least one issue we don't have to continue to deal with.
Susan: Good to know Stan is coming right along. The Heparin sure does make me cold, especially when he does it at night. It takes about 3-4 minutes of the IV then I have the blankets all piled on me. I eventually warm back up, but boy! I am now down a total of 33 lbs! We had to have a quicky McD dinner last night as Jack had to go out to the pharmacy to talk to the ostomy specialist and had to wait almost an hour while she worked with someone on the phone and in the store before him. So, it was late by the time he got home, cleaned up and redid my bag and incision packing, started my iv then got us some supper. I try to make good choices, especially during the day so it is coming off and that is all I care about. My new dr is a peach and willing to really help me. She doesn't criticize, is helpful understanding and even takes my lack of health care in stride. She hasn't once said anything negative to me about things. I really like her a lot and the only bad thing is she is an intern and will rotate out of the clinic in a max of 3 years so I am hoping when it gets close to time, she and I can discuss who she thinks I would like for care. Her name is Dr Pang and Jack and I tease her and call her Dr Pain.
Jean: I think I would walk around with a pack of those antibacterial wipes and be wiping door knobs and such for a while when I go into classrooms. You can't protect yourself totally in an environment like yours anyway. You can only do the best you can. We did get a decent night's sleep except I woke up at 11 PM with a lot of pain and had to take a loritab. I think I must have had things they were either gassy or heavy and caused the pain. It is still a bit uncomfortable, but I think when it cleans out I will be fine.
We are going to have to go out and get some more groceries this weekend, but I don't think I am up to the commissary just yet. We shall see.
Good Evening, Flowers! I've had my Friday night nap in front of the TV and now it is time to go to bed. Bob wants to get up at 5:30 tomorrow morning -- so much for sleeping a little later. We had two girls, at school, who were determined to duke it out today; I happened to step between them this afternoon only to find out that they had been separated twice already. Later the kids were talking in study hall and the fight was over a boy. Dumb! I don't know why the office just didn't send them home the first time and get it over with.
"Gma" -- I hope that each day will be easier for you! Being done with the IVs will be a big plus for you both. It's nice to have a doctor you like! Some are so arrogant and rude -- act like you have no clue about your own body.
Bob is making pop corn and I can smell it upstairs. Guess I will go share with him! I hope you have a nice weekend!
Good morning gals! The dog drove me nuts from 3 AM on so I am a bit tipsy this morning. Trying to get the downstairs cleaned bit by bit. I have a deep 3 drawer rolling thing coming today to sort out all my supplies and get them off the darn dryer. It looks like a pharmacy in there. I bought this steam mop thing I saw on tv and hope it will work well. I am hoping it will clean the floors without so much bending and such. I have the swiffer thing, but find it leaves dirty streaks on the floors sometimes. We shall see.
Jean: Hope you enjoyed your popcorn. That is something that is pretty much out of the question for me. With Diverticulitis, I don't need anything that can get lodged in those pockets and popcorn is a prime example. Glad I am not all that fond of it! lol
My grandbaby has an ear infection I guess and has been miserable. They took him to the doctor and he is on antibiotics so I hope the poor little guy gets some sleep so his parents can rest. I know all about that as Jay had ear infections constantly from the time he was 2 months old until he was 4 and they did surgery and took out his tonsils, adenoids and put tubes in.
I guess I better get up and do one more job so I can sit then up again and do another, etc. It is the only way I am going to be able to get it cleaned and it is pretty dirty.
Good Morning, Flowers! I was just checking the Caringbridge site and had to stop by here to check in. The washer and dryer are doing their jobs as I type. I was up at 5:30 in order for Bob to be on the road by 6. He said I didn't have to get up, but once I'm awake around that time I usually can't go back to sleep. The sun is trying to peek through the clouds -- the weatherman promised a nice weekend so he'd better come through!
"Gma" -- I can't imagine your house is just too dirty! The white glove patrol is on vacation until after the first of the year! I hope the antibiotics will do the trick for the little guy. Jason had a lot of ear infections when he was little; started around 3 months and always in the middle of the night! I spent many, many nights rocking with him until we could get into a doctor the next day. As he got older I would tell them what he had and one smart a** doctor asked me where I got my MD degree from! Come to find out, "gee whiz, Mom was right!" I really wanted to make a smart comment to that doctor, but I held my tongue and of course he never said anything. We also did the tubes and Jason had his adenoids removed. They didn't take his tonsils though -- that wasn't the "in" thing at the time, I guess. Now he is allergic to penicillin.
The dryer is buzzing so time to switch loads. I have the never ending pile of ironing to attack sometime today. Have a great day!
Good morning all! Hope your Sunday is starting out well. I came down to feed Fortune as he has been jumping on and off the bed for the last few hours. I went to bed really early last night so I am fairly rested.
Jack has to vacuum the living room and put the rugs back down and then I need to get the kitchen done and the downstairs is finished at least. I will tackle upstairs during the week a little at a time. The hardest part will be the hall bath.
Jean: We always had know it all drs too. They would put Jay on antibiotics and Sudafed and would say that if that cleared things up then fine and if not they would look for something else. Of course he would clear up, but then about 2 weeks after the antibiotics and such we were back to square one. So he now has 20% hearing loss in one ear from it all.
We got our rolling storage yesterday, but not before the dumb Fedex guy delivered the wrong thing to us. We got someone's expensive Hunter lighting. I called Fedex right away and got some foreign chick I had trouble understanding. She put me on hold and Jack told me to tell her I wanted to speak with someone else as I couldn't understand her. Luckily, I muddled through and she sent him back to pick up the other folks box and give us ours.
They come tomorrow and take out my pic line thank goodness. It is just one more think I don't have to deal with any longer. Then I am down to the incision. The ostomy, unfortunately, is with me until they reverse everything again next summer. It will be nice when the wound is completely healed, but that takes weeks and weeks I guess. I have a dr appt with my surgeon on Thursday so we shall see what he says about it.
A week from today is our 35th wedding anniversary. I don't know if I am going to be up to going out to dinner or not. It would be nice to, but I am not going to push it. We will just have to wait and see.
Not much else going on here. Have a nice rest of the weekend. Jack has tomorrow off for Veteran's Day, but has a physical in the morning.
Good Afternoon, Flowers! Bob is watching football and I've had a nap in front of the TV. I had to get up early yesterday and today so guess I was more tired than I thought. It was very foggy here this morning. I was glad I didn't have to drive out in the country very far. Our practice went perfect before church, but we stumbled through the performance. Some were off a measure or something -- I'm not sure what happened. We had a substitute director who is the middle school music teacher so it wasn't her fault.
"Gma" -- I'm glad you had a good night's sleep. I need to get myself to bed earlier and that just doesn't seem to happen for some reason. Maybe if I got ready for bed right after supper it would help. Some guy called this afternoon and wanted to do a survey. His English was so terrible I just said I wasn't interested and hung up on him. I really wanted to tell him that he shouldn't be making any kind of phone calls period. I'm glad you finally got the right package from Fedex! Sometimes it makes you wonder if anyone can do their job correctly! Jason has a hearing loss also, thanks to all of the infections when he was little. He still gets one every few years but nothing like when he was little. It will feel good to have the pic line gone. I hope the incision will heal quickly. I wonder how they can tell that your innards have healed or do they just allow a certain amount of time for it to do so. Is there any chance this will happen again? You can always celebrate your anniversary later if you don't feel up to eating out.
I have the end of the laundry going and need to switch loads pretty soon. Have a relaxing "rest of the day!" It seems like the sun is already going down because it is behind the neighbor's trees since the time change.
Steel Magnolias #43
I hate it getting dark so early! I missed all the excitement yesterday at school, and didn't find out about it until this morning. It seems that one of the lower level special ed. students, who lives at a home for the severe and profound students, got loose and ran. She ran a full block and crossed a busy street into a residential area with two aides in hot pursuit. Someone called the asst. principal; he goes to the opposite end of the building to get his brand new pickup and drives over to where she is. By the time he gets there two other people have stepped in to help hold her down while she's biting, kicking, and screaming. They put her in the back of the pickup and brought her back to school then called the "home" to come and get her. Every other word she says is the "F" word; usually she sits with her head buried under the table. She was back today, bright and early! Now if she were regular ed. and pulled something like that she would have 10 days of out-of-school suspension. 
from Iowa!
It's been a gloomy day in my neighborhood. We got an email late this afternoon . . . a middle school student has "the" (staph) infection and all the district custodians were called in to disinfect the whole school before anyone can enter the building tomorrow. I hope he/she doesn't have any relatives at the high school! I wonder how long it will take the media to get a hold of this piece of news.
I'm glad you have someone to call who can deliver the supplies and help you as well. All children under the age of 18 are in school buildings for their appropriate age level. It doesn't make any difference that they have NO clue what is going on or can function at all. Our severe and profound room has 7 students, 1 teacher, and 3 aides. They go to band, orchestra, chorus, and pe classes. We're talking some in wheel chairs, feeding tube, diapers etc., type care. As long as they are quiet they stay in class, but if they get disruptive the aides take them back to their room. The next level of students have some that will go into classes like art, foods, etc. They participate as much as they can although they don't receive a diploma. They are taught general living skills in their own room and some are able to go to the activity center where they "work" at recycling pop cans, paper, etc. None of these students will ever live unsupervised.
How is Stan feeling? 
He lives in a nearby town so is open enrolled. The district's options are: in-school suspension, out of school suspension, or expulsion. Now, to me, that is a no brainer! 
We are having a staff meeting in the morning but no one seems to know why. Then there is an assembly the first thing and no one seems to know why. I'm guessing they will give information on the MRSA stuff at the middle school. 
Have a fantastic Friday tomorrow! The weather is supposed to be nice all weekend here. 
Later the kids were talking in study hall and the fight was over a boy. Dumb! I don't know why the office just didn't send them home the first time and get it over with.
Guess I will go share with him! 
I hope you have a nice weekend! 
I hope the antibiotics will do the trick for the little guy. Jason had a lot of ear infections when he was little; started around 3 months and always in the middle of the night! I spent many, many nights rocking with him until we could get into a doctor the next day. As he got older I would tell them what he had and one smart a** doctor asked me where I got my MD degree from! Come to find out, "gee whiz, Mom was right!" I really wanted to make a smart comment to that doctor, but I held my tongue and of course he never said anything. We also did the tubes and Jason had his adenoids removed. They didn't take his tonsils though -- that wasn't the "in" thing at the time, I guess. Now he is allergic to penicillin. 
