Ash Wednesday

I am not Catholic, but I like their lenten practice of sacrifice or helping others during the lenten season. Although, I think this does not qualify as helping others or sacrificing I have decided to do some form of physical exercise during these 40 days for 6 days out of each week. It might be Wii, gardening, walking, yard work, yoga..whatever, but I must MOVE!I feel sluggish, have gained weight during the winter, and, in general, just need to improve my own health. Tomorrow, I already know we are starting our garden by planting potatoes, so I have tomorrow covered. My brother has it plowed and I bought the potatoes today. I just have to cut all the eyes out to plant tomorrow. Looking forward to feeling better and, yes, fresh groceries this summer.

Ouch!

Finally did some looking after myself today and went to the doctor for the first time in 8 months. I am supposed to go every 3 months for blood work, but I find that to be a little obsessive...not gonna do it! He froze a bothersome place off my hand, which now hurts like hell!!

I have done a lot of toying around with the Wii today including Wii Fit, Fitness Coach, bowling, and boxing. I need to be working in the yard, but it is too freakin' cold and the wind is bitter!!!! I have to get better fit, so I can work in the yard and the garden without having to sit down every few minutes. My brother will be laughing at me!

No more couch potato!

When I went to my mom's today, my friend had left me a Wii/sports...the whole shootin' match! Couple that with the Wii Fitness Plus that I had already bought and I am a happy camper. I dreaded hooking the damn thing up because I figured I couldn't do it, but I did and it works! WooHoo!!! He failed to tell Mom how much I owed him, but I will pay whatever he wants. I am so happy to get it......AND.....I am so FREAKIN' out of shape!!!! The Wii Plus has the balance board that shows BMI, weight, balance, posture, etc! YIKES! Did I even want to know all that????

My house...MY snow...ME!

I finally got Mom home yesterday, but not before she missed all the beautiful snow cover. It melted quickly. My brother got home from his vacation before we got home from the hospital.

I had planned to go tailgate with my krewe today, but instead of getting up and getting going, I made the bed and lay back on top of it and went back to sleep. Guess that was God telling me that I need to rest. I did!

Oops!

Mom thought she was going home today after another transfusion, but she was just confused about what the doctor said. I wasn't there early this morning to hear what he said, so I just took her at her word and expected to take her home today. Tonight when he came by, I was there and he had no intentions of sending her home today. She gets confused a lot lately. It breaks my heart because she used to be the brains of the family. So very smart! He did say we could take her home tomorrow. I just hope I can get out of my driveway. It's fairly steep and uphill and it is supposed to snow all night and freeze. It has been snowing all day, but not all of it has stuck. I think it will tonight since the temp will be below freezing. Oh well, I have a volunteer already  to come get her home if I can't!

I may have found a Wii console. A friend came to visit Mom at the hospital yesterday and I told him my dilemma of having the software, but not the console. He said he had one in a box that he thought he might use in his business as a physical therapist, but he probably wouldn't. I asked him to sell it to me!!! I hope he will.

BooYa!

Mom update

Mom is much better and even her foot is better. Now her blood is a little too thick, but the danger has passed for her to stroke out or get bumped and bleed out. I left for a while today while my cousin was there with her and when I got back, she had on make up and lipstick and looked like Mom again..her beautiful self!!! Doc isn't pushing it, but he said if she is just antsy and wants to go home, he might let her go home and have home health check her blood every day and give her the shot she has been getting every day to regulate her blood thickness. It's easier on me if she is in the hospital because I live in the town with the hospital and my brother is on vacation. I don't have to worry about making sure she gets fed at the proper times for her blood sugar. If she goes home, I will practically have to stay there with her since my brother is gone. I am not going to voice my opinion though....it's her decision. If she thought about it being easier on me, she would not go home. I want her to do what she wants to do.



I think I might have to opt out of the Mardi Gras parade on Sunday. The high temp is not supposed to get out of the 40's and I haven't forgotten how freakin' cold I was after our local parade. The next one is much longer!!! The weather guessers are predicting snow on Thursday and Friday. Thank you, Al Gore!!!! I love snow!

WTH!

2010 so far has not been any better than 2009. Now Mom is in the hospital. Her blood is so thin that the hospital machines wouldn't measure it yesterday in the ER, but they sent her home. Her doctor was not happy about this and he had her home health nurse get labs today and get them to the hospital. When he got the results, he called me and told me to get her to the hospital in an ambulance. Do not touch her because she would bruise. She is now in the hospital getting  a blood transfusion ....well, at least the plasma. They said she was not even allowed to get off the bed to a potty chair. She never complained to my brother or me that she was hurting mostly all over, but she did tell the home health nurse that her leg hurt really bad. Now we find that she has bruises all over. Home health nurse knew something was up and called her doctor. The rest is history. She should be better by tomorrow because of the new plasma. On the  positive side, her foot is getting better finally. Her ortho doc came by her room and said as soon as this blood issue is settled, then she can begin walking some on her foot. Now he believes all the draining from her wound was a result of the blood being too thin. We have no idea how her coumadin got her blood so out of whack. It is checked every week and sent to her cardiologist's office. They adjust the coumadin as needed. Somebody screwed up somewhere.

Minden St. Jude auction was again a huge success, but I didn't win anything this year. I did, however, spend over $400 on chances to win items and all that money goes to St. Jude. I'm waiting now to hear the final total and who won the Denali. Stand by...........$881,885!!!!AWESOME!

Busy weekend!

Thursday was decorate for the ball day, but last night was the event itself and it was awesome! Our krewe does everything first class and I have never been to any other krewes' balls, but there is no way they could top ours.

As I was getting ready to start my day today, my brother called and said an ambulance was on the way to get Mom. The home health nurse was afraid she may have a blood clot. We spent most of the day seeing about her in the ER. Ultrasound did NOT find a clot, so she is back home and resting now.

Tragedy strikes again.

Tragedy
strikes again.
Heartbreak for New Orleans!

Below is presented why the economy of New Orleans will likely never completely recover, again....!!
 
It seems like every couple of days New Orleans loses one of its treasured entrepreneurs. These people are the hope for the city and we must call a halt to this unfortunate trend if
we ever expect to see a vibrant city again.

Entrepreneur?????

It took me a couple of minutes to get it, but imagine, NINE welfare
recipients collecting $1500 each.....that equals $13,500 a month !!! Now add
food stamps, free medical, free school lunches, on and on and on...Now that to
me is a real Entrepreneur.
Makes one proud to be a Democrat. What a freakin' travesty! Mr. Obama will only perpetuate this mentality with his socialist agenda if America does not wake up and vote these idiots out!!!!

Good show!

Last night my conservative friends and I went to Tinseltown to see the Beck/O'Reilly Bold Fresh show from Tampa. I must say those guys are pretty good together. Of course, the theater only had about 50 people in it, but the venue where the show was filmed had two sold out shows of 8,000 each. Could America be finally waking up???

Who knew!!!!

Ok...I am acutely aware that I did this backwards! Why can't I find a Wii console in any store? I bought the Wii fit, but now I can't find a game system anywhere. I thought everyone on the planet that wanted one already had one, but apparently not!

Sloth comes to mind!

What a sloth I have been today! I never opened the garage door and never went outside. The Sunday paper is still in the drive way. No church. No checking on Mom.....just NOTHING! I hate when that happens. One would think that if I was going to be such a loser, I would have at least watched the John Adams series that I bought from Amazon months ago. At least, I might have learned something. ....but NO! Not even that!!!

Mardi Gras

We had our local parade at 5 yesterday where we debuted our float for the season.  The parade lasted only one hour, but it was mighty cold. I was sooooo cold by the time the float parked and I got to my car that I was shaking all over inside and out! Floats pulled up in front of our parked cars to unload and prepare for their trips home, so I had to sit in my car with the heater on for about 45 minutes and I still was not warm. I came home and stood in front of the fire and drank hot chocolate and I was still shaking. It took a full hour for me to warm up after I got off that float. We were supposed to have a bon fire and hamburgers and hot dogs at the den after the parade. Didn't make it there. I just couldn't see getting out and getting cold again for that!!! My next parade is in two weeks. If it is that cold, I will not ride! I am officially an old wuss!

MIA this whole week???

I have no idea where I have been or what I have been doing, but I sure haven't updated here. It's Mardi Gras time, so work had to be completed on the float and, of course, we had to have a float loading party last night. Any excuse for a party!!

Mom is still having a rough time. She said her foot felt a little better today and today was the 3 week anniversary since her surgery. As a diabetic with bad feet anyway, I guess the healing has been affected by that.

Geaux Saints and BTW John Edwards is a dumbass scumbag! That's all!!!

Productive day!

After my brother told me he was going to take Mom to the doctor, I got busy in my yard on this beautiful, but windy, day! Wow! I did a lot starting at 9 this morning and I just came in at 2:30. Just realized I have not had one morsel of food today, but I'm not hungry after working so hard. I filled up my dad's truck with yard debris and got 20 hyacinths planted that I got for Christmas. Still haven't touched the backyard yet and I'm not going to today. This old body is tired!!!

Hello, Miami!

So much going on Super Bowl weekend. Minden St. Jude Auction and Krewe des Ambassadeurs Grand Bal'...CRAZY!

Geaux SAINTS!

Today's the day Louisiana gets to revel in something positive for a change...The New Orleans Saints! We need a win and a trip to the Super Bowl....what a trip that would be!

Today is also my first chance to get back to church in two weeks and I am passing it up. I know my teacher will not be there because he had knee replacement this week. He is an awesome teacher and no sub lives up to his knowledge and presentation. I am just going to hang at home until lunch, then go eat at my mom's. My sister-in-law is cooking her usual Sunday lunch.



We had a great first parade. The weather was very threatening, but held off until we finished rolling.

At last!

Finally, a night's rest in my bed has made a dramatic difference for me. My brother got to Mom's this morning to find that she had already made coffee and got the breakfast casserole out to warm up. He had to go to Hot Springs today, so I went this afternoon to check on her. She said she was doing great, but it does hurt to walk on her foot. I did some cleaning up around her house and planted a bunch of Texas sweet onions and left her there alone. She said she would be OK. I made sure she could reach something to eat although she can stand up and do a little bit of walking. Brother was expected back by 7:30 tonight.

Yesterday, I went to buy a new mattress and box springs for Mom. Tomorrow morning it will be delivered, so I am going there early to strip her bed and wash her sheets. I can't stay long because I have a parade tomorrow in Shreveport that I want to throw some beads in.There may be a margarita or ten consumed tomorrow and a burger or ten from Herby K's!

WooHoo....a bed!!!!

Tonight is the night I get to sleep in a bed....my bed....and not in a recliner at my mom's. I am sooooooo looking forward to it. Today I was able to attend a lunch for a friend's birthday and actually go to a krewe meeting tonight. It's Mardi Gras time!!! My Mardi Gras jacket has new appliques on it now and most of them are referring to my political leanings....CONSERVATIVE! Lots of elephants and flags and Texas stuff...inyourfaceconservative!!!! and idontevencare! It's 8 P.M. and I am going to BED!

Ouch!

Mom is improving each day, but it is a slow process. I watched my brother change her dressings yesterday and it looks very painful. I'm hoping tonight will be my last night to "sleep" in a recliner. I am so ready for a night in my bed. The thing I worry about is her trying to cook breakfast. She has done it for years and my brother always comes over and has breakfast with her. He has done that for years as well. I am making a breakfast casserole to take today, so, hopefully, she will remember that it can be just zapped in the microwave. Her mind isn't what it used to be. We have to make sure she takes her meds every day. She will say she took them, but when we check the container, the meds for the day are still there. In order to preserve my own health and sanity, I have to have a good night's rest!!!

Mom update!

Brother took Mom to the doc yesterday. Doc said her foot could look better, but it was OK...not infected. She has 6 to 8 weeks before the pins will come out, but she has permission to put some weight on it. She is still needy enough for me to stay at night. Last night I let her completely take care of herself getting ready for bed, but she had to have a pain pill afterwards because her foot hurts to walk on it any. She was very wobbly this morning and actually fell backwards against the bathroom door, so I got the wheelchair to get her to breakfast. I cook breakfast every morning for her and my brother before I leave to come home. My goal is to be able to sleep in MY bed Thursday night. I have a lunch to go to and a meeting on Thursday night and would love to come home and sleep in my bed. Friday, my brother is going to Hot Springs to pick up a truck bed he bought on Ebay, so I will need to stay with her during the day then.

Worthless!

Worthless pretty much describes me right now. Staying every night in a recliner has taken its toll on me. I am tired even though I come home every morning and take a nap for as long as I need...usually 2 to 3 hours. Mom is getting better, but she still is not allowed to place any weight on her foot. Hopefully, on Monday she will get a bit of a reprieve from that. If not, then I will still be staying the night with her until she can. Even when she can, she will be very unstable. She was unstable even before she had the surgery. I wake up around noon everyday and eat some soup or some crackers and lie back down until I have to go back to her house. My brother is there during the day, but he is mostly outside working in the yard...cutting down trees and cleaning up and burning stuff. He comes in every few minutes just to check on her. Mom hates that our lives are dominated by her precarious situation, so its taking a toll on her as well. We owe it to her and she would do it for either of us if she were still able. She never complained about taking care of daddy either! She is a SAINT!

Another new adventure!

We were told by several people that lortab causes brain confusion, so we switched Mom to darvocet yesterday. Her brain is less scrambled, but she talked all night long in her sleep. She took the machine off her face by 10 because it was bothering her. She couldn't get it to fit tight on her face and it sounded like  a hurricane. I don't blame her. I "slept" not so much in the recliner. It was comfortable, but she was constantly jabbering unintelligbly so I never knew if she needed something or was just jabbering. I slept a couple of hours hard when I got home, but I have to be back at her house by 4 so my brother can go to a funeral visitation. What can I say....every day is a new adventure!!!

I'm tired!

Not such a good night last night. Mom was sleeping in her recliner and I was lying on her bed listening to her breathing. It was very labored and erratic....and each breath brought a different noise. She has a CPAP machine, but hasn't been using it since she was sleeping in a chair. I moved the machine close to her and got the mask on her. She slept after that and I slept after I got used to listening to the noise of the machine. I had breakfast cooked and my brother was there this morning before she woke up. I think we will move her to her bed tonight...no idea where I will try to sleep. Her mind is very scrambled and she isn't making much sense! I can only hope it is residual anesthesia causing this. I hate to think this is what our future will be.

Better night

We had a better night last night. I certainly slept a little more than the night before, but as soon as I got home this morning I slept in my bed. That makes such a difference. We got her all fixed up for the day with all her meds and I think my brother was going to leave her alone while he went to church. He said he would check on her between Sunday School and church, so I could not worry about her while I was off duty. I think I'll go back to bed!

Mom update

Mom got her toes corrected with pins yesterday. We were at the hospital for 8 hours for a 1 1/2 hour surgery. She is home, but cannot put any weight on the foot for 10 days. That, my friends, is an impossibility at home. She slept in a recliner last night with the foot elevated and ice on it as we were instructed. The chair is one of those electric ones that will lift and help the person stand. We have a potty chair, thank goodness. I stayed with her last night and am home to sleep now while my brother is with her. She has pins sticking out of 3 toes. Yikes! It looks so painful, but she is a trooper and never complains. It is going to be a long 10 days!!!!

Spoke too soon!

Unfortunately, the tech yesterday only checked the movie channels and the reception on them was beautiful. I NEVER watch movie channels, so when I tried to watch local channels or Fox, the picture was terrible and dark. I called them back today and they are sending someone next week because I cannot be home to wait for them until Monday. At least, they are willing to try to make it right. I'm not complaining......but, do they not know that TEXAS plays tonight on a local channel??????!!!!! I will watch it in my bedroom on a TV with a good picture!!! It's going to be so cold that I will want to be under the covers anyway.

Revenge!!!

When my TV in the living room stopped working all by itself, I called tech support for the cable company. Basically, he reset the cable box over the phone and told me I had the TV set wrong is why it wouldn't work after that! I even believed him and thought I had just screwed something up pushing every button on the damn TV and remote. Quite possible for me to do that. I told him to send someone to my house and I didn't care if it would cost me. A very nice technician came today and spent an hour here trying to figure out what was wrong. Turned out it was a bad cable box!!! So there, Mr. Over the Phone Technician. I am not as dumb as both you and I thought! Of course, part of that time the tech was here we were just talking. He was a young guy who had just lost his father, so we had something in common....only his father was MY age! AND....he set up my box different and I have a much better picture and there will be NO CHARGE. I won!

TEXAS tomorrow!

Here's the plan!

Ok. It might not happen exactly this way. For one thing, there will not be a cat on the bed because I am highly allergic. If it is going to be 10 degrees outside, I will not be opening the door even to go get the paper. Oh, wait. I have to take my mom to the doctor and the beauty shop on Thursday and she has surgery on her foot on Friday. RATS! There goes my plan!

What!!!!

Where is Al Gore? He must be hiding under his substantial desk somewhere. Our weather guessers right here in North Louisiana have a low of 13 degrees forecast for Friday morning. What! They even say it is going to be colder here than it has been in years. That's OK with me, but where's Al?

Mom's foot surgery is scheduled for Friday, but her foot has been sore the last couple of days. If there is any infection, they cannot push a pin into her bones because it will push the infection right into the bone. We have to get her foot well!!!

Go tigers!

Welcome 2010!

Happy New Year!

I have been missing in action on this blog a few days, but I did get a visit from  these sweet things. We did see Avatar while they were here. They left early this morning and are already back in South Carolina. Today I finally went to see The Blind Side. Two movies in two days just has me wanting more and realizing that I have missed going to the movies and zoning out.

Ray Stevens - We The People - RayStevens.com

A child is born!

The baby that we were hoping would not come while he was at Christmas dinner at my brother's yesterday made his appearance this morning. Thank goodness he waited a few hours!

Today was a most lazy day until about 2 this afternoon when I started playing around with my new computer. Made my first movie with photos and music. It was fun to toy around with.

Tomorrow I plan to put everything Christmas in the attic for another year. I was a Scrooge this year and didn't have much out. It was just too cold in the attic to look for stuff, so I didn't!

Have been invited to a New Year's Day lunch, then the real partying starts with Mardi Gras. I don't expect to do much partying this year. I'll be afraid my daddy is "watching" me!!!:)

I survived!

Although there were a few bumps emotionally, I managed to get through my first Christmas ever without my dad. Today was much better than yesterday. We ate Christmas dinner at my brother's home with our same friends from  last night plus 3 extras.....an airman, his wife and little girl who are stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base with no family around. His wife just lost her mother in November, so it was a nice diversion for them as well. He is from Indiana and she is from Maine, so we were happy to have them. She is a few days from delivery of a boy, so we were glad today wasn't the day!!!

Failed milestone!

I wasn't able to hold it together yesterday. When I went to Mom's to take her to the candlelight service, she sat down and wrote my brother and me each a substantial check. They had already done this in August right after Dad was diagnosed with his brain tumor, so we were not expecting it again. She said Dad's favorite part of Christmas was being able to give us that much money and she wanted to do it just like he would have. Then last night at our friends' house, she gave it to us and told us it was from Dad. Then our friends gave us a picture frame with a picture of Dad in it from a previous Christmas. Well, actually we only got the frames, but they showed us on the computer the picture they had ordered to go in the frame. Instead of printing it themselves or having Wal Mart print it, they were having it printed somewhere else and it wasn't back yet. Hopefully, today won't be as hard.

Merry Christmas everyone!

One more party down last night. Tonight is church candlelight service and our usual get together with friends. We have always gone to my brother's lakehouse for our Christmas Eve gift exchange and meal, but tonight we are going to our friends' home so we won't feel the dramatic loss of Dad not being there.

Tomorrow we are switching things up as well. We always have Christmas dinner at Mom's and our friends join us there for Mom's chicken and dressing. This year, we are going to my brother's home and his wife is cooking duck dressing. Again, we hope to diffuse the pain of not having Dad with us. No matter how hard we try not to, we miss him terribly. I have tears just typing that!

Great Day!

When I went to check on Mom today, it was my plan to pick up the rest of the pecans. Stewart had already told her the crows ate them all, but I went to look for myself. Yes, there are hulls everywhere as evidence that the crows had a feast. Merry Christmas, crows!!!!

Then I moved on to another project, which was mulching leaves in the front yard. My brother had already cleaned the back yard before he went on vacation. It took me all morning, but it looked nice when I left. There are very few leaves left to fall, but they were flying when I left.

Home health sent a wheel chair to Mom's today because the wound care specialist told her to stay off her foot and she will need one after she has surgery on her foot. It will give us time to move things that are in the way and her time to get used to using it before her surgery.

I took my brother a box of Kansas City steaks , a honey baked ham from Heavenly Hams, and I made them a box of pralines. They don't need anything, but I wanted to do something for them. They are so good about taking care of Mom and checking on her several times a day. Of course, she is his mom, too, but lots of men wouldn't do as good as he does about looking after his mother.

Full day!

My sister-in-law brought mom to the doctor's office this morning and I met her there. She saw the physician's assistant and we already have surgery scheduled for January 8th. He wanted a wound care specialist to look at it and make sure all the infection was getting gone. He said they could not put pins through any infection because it would just push the infection into the bone. We sure don't want that. It took us ALL day to do those things. I have been home about 20 minutes...made a grilled cheese before I passed out from hunger. I have a lot of things I need to do, but I don't want to do a damn thing!!!

Holy Moly!

Because I am at the computer and too lazy to get up and turn off the TV, I am "listening" to a preacher on TV that sounds like he is dying and gasping for breath! Not sure how much more of it I can take!

It's been a busy weekend with work on the Mardi Gras float and trying to finish making candy and buying Christmas presents. Almost finished......CRAP....That preacher made me get up and turn him off! I would have to leave if I was in that service!

Tomorrow we take Mom to the Physician's Assistant and get an evaluation of her foot. It is still doing pretty well after the foot doctor got all that infection out of it, but she is trying to stay off of it like he told her. He even sent a home health nurse down to change the dressing on Saturday. I don't think she was expecting that.

I tried to take advantage of some warmer weather yesterday and clean up the frozen plants in the yard. Now I have them piled everywhere. I guess I will go get Dad's truck and haul them to a burning pile down at the home place. We need to run his truck, but we haven't been doing it.

100's gather to protest global warming!

Crappy doodle day!

Actually, it's just the weather that is crappy doodle! At 3 P.M. I thought it was 6 because it has been so dark all day. Today our lunch bunch had our last lunch together before Christmas, so everyone came bearing gifts...mostly edibles! Yep, that works for me.

 My brother had dropped Mom off at my house while I was gone to lunch so I could take her to the podiatrist. That man took the callous off and lots of puss drained from her toe. He didn't even deaden it. When my cousin did that a couple of weeks ago, he at least deadened it first. No wonder she doesn't like that foot doctor. I don't like him either and I never even met him. He could have not hurt her so bad.

Tonight we were supposed to go see "The Blind Side", but my friend crapped out on me. I was glad. All I want to do is sit by the fire and drink a warm cozy beverage!

Semi-productive day!

Checked on Mom today and made her an appointment with an orthopedic physician's assistant because we can't get in to the doctor until after the new year. The assistant can evaluate and determine what needs to be done and get the ball rolling. Something has to be done with her foot.Her cousin is an orthopedic surgeon, but he doesn't do feet. He referred her to a surgeon here in Minden. He doesn't want her to let a foot doctor cut on her. He said he would rather read up on what to do and do it himself than let a foot doctor do it. I guess he doesn't trust foot doctors!!

Also, had to call her insurance company because Dad's gap insurance was paid up for a year and she just paid it in April. They owe her a refund. It's kind of ironic that I am having to make all these phone calls since I hate, hate, hate to make phone calls.

Started making my usual pralines and fudge. Thank goodness I had one box already prepared and boxed because my neighbor came over bearing gifts and I was able to hand him one right back. Whew!

Mardi Gras preparations have begun. Worked on the float last night. I will not be riding in the Gemini parade this year. It's just too long and grueling. I was so exhausted last year and when we left the grounds where our cars were parked, we had to pass right by where a fireman had fallen from his truck. That fireman died this weekend. Such a tragedy!

Ummmmm....NO...not yet!

My neighbor invited me to a luncheon at the church for single adults. I told him that I would not know anybody there. He assured me I would. He was wrong. I didn't know anybody and on top of that I was the youngest one there and I didn't have a walker. WTH! I'm old, but not THAT old. Not only that, but there was a program planned for after lunch. I just was not interested in being there, so I left after lunch. Sorry, Mr. Neighbor, I'm just not ready for that yet!