After 48 hours of travel time door to door, we are safely in the AirBnB in the same building as our son. We feel lucky we missed the earthquake in Bangkok by mere minutes. Our son did a masterful job of making the trip as easy as possible, but my husband needed a wheelchair to get to the last two flights. He chose wrong on travel shoes, and they gave him problems several times, including one fall on an escalator
Business Class is beautiful, and I could get used to the luxury very fast😛
we basically slept from the time we got here at 4 until about 5 this morning. It is Saturday, March 29th, at 6:46am here.
Our son went back out for supplies. My husband crashed and I talked with our son awhile. We will go out later, if my husband is up to it, to get something done to our phones. It will take some walking, but Brian says the mall has a bunch of places we can sit and rest.
We are in the indescribable airport of Doha, Qatar, waiting to board the next flight to Bangkok. I have decided I could easily get used to business class. We are still functioning after a 14 hour flight. Good food, bathroom close by, and stretching out with a pillow and great blanket are amazing. From Doha to Bangkok is another 6 hours, but I think we have business class on that, too 😁
Today will be a whirlwind of activity. We are trying to find a book on the Marines my husband wants to take. We hunted for it yesterday. I scoured the living room this morning about 2:30 when I couldn’t sleep. I will do the same with our office and our bedroom, but hope of finding it is dimming.
I am almost completely packed. I will add last minute things and then will check it for weight.
My husband has piled some things on top of his suitcase . Our son and I will work with him to get him packed.
When he gets up, I will shower and dress for the trip. I will strip our bed and put the Sleep Number purchase information in the middle.
Tim and Lisa will come after lunch to get the TV they bought from us.
I am still among the land of the living and am finally feeling strong enough to try to get one blog post written this morning.
There are lots and lots of changes going on around here, due to the sudden events of the past 2 weeks or so. I appreciate your bearing with me on things I’m having to do differently as I adapt.
To summarize the events of February, my husband and I both were diagnosed with Flu A (husband flu plus pneumonia. Me flu plus bronchitis.) at our walk-in clinic on the 6th. The doc there strongly suggested I go to the ER due to low blood oxygen. We went home and I called a friend, who drove me to the ER. I was admitted there, transferred to the ICU, had two operations in three days due to my heart stopping beating, one for a temporary pace maker and the other for a permanent one. I was released on the 12th.
I asked our son to come home from across the world from us. He dropped everything and traveled 24 hours to get here. He has handled all the cooking, cleaning, medications, animals, taking care of us beautifully. I honestly don’t know what we would have done without him.
We are both improving very slowly. I am on oxygen, but am trying to wean myself off of it as I can.
Yesterday our new bed came and the fridge guy came to look at the ice maker in the new fridge. The bed will be fine, though we both need to do some adaptation. The tech ordered a part for the fridge, so that will be handled eventually, too.
The most impactful thing from all of this is that my husband and I have always planned carefully for future scenarios, not wanting to be caught flat footed. We honestly hadn’t thought about the fact that I could croak first. This has upended everything. We also never planned for both of us to be sick at the same time, and that upended anything that was left. I have to admit I am rocked down to my core on this one. I could handle being the survivor, but I seriously worry about my husband’s ability to function by himself.
This will take a lot of thinking and replanning, and possible scenarios we never even considered before.
Again, thank you for taking the time to read all of this. I hope to be able to get back to the regular blog posts starting tomorrow. I’m trying to give myself some slack, though, since I tend to give out at the slightest effort, and will need to work to build my stamina again.
Meanwhile you’ve been on my mind and I hope you’re doing well.
Good afternoon. Just one message to you today – if you’re reading this, thank you!
My life since the 6th has been a scary one – dignosis of both my husband and I at the walk in clinic in Greenwood of (Flu A with pneumonia with my husband and with Flu A with bronchitis for me.) My blood oxygen level was so low at the clinic the doc there insisted I go to the ER in Ft. Smith. My friend Carla took me because my husband was way too sick. From the ER, I was admitted to the hospital because of my labs and symptoms. 3 days later I woke up with a group of nurses around my bed, asking if I was “all right.” They told me then that I had techically died several times that night, my heart simply stopping for several seconds each time. They arranged a transfer to ICU, where in the middle of the night I received a temporary pacemaker. 3 days after that I received a permanent pacemaker. I was released home on the 12th.
My husband is home, too, and is making good progress after a 14 day course of antibiotics.
When our son asked if we wanted him to come home from across the world from us, I selfishly said, “yes.” He has been here, taking wonderful care of us for a few days now.
I am on antibiotics, steroids, stopped several of my regular meds until further notice.
Yesterday at my follow up primary doc’s office, I simply collapsed trying to stand long enough for a chest x-ray. As of yesterday afternoon, I am on oxygen. I can now breathe for the first time since being released, (maybe a slight exxageration) and I slept for the first time. Breathing should not be underrated. I enjoy doing it a lot, but prefer it not to hurt and to get enough not being afraid I’ll faint. )It was fabulous last night to be able to lie back and really relax, getting the air I need, shut my eyes without nausea and then panic panting trying to catch my breath over and over all night long.
I am definitely in celebration mode here. Happy and relieved that my husband is a bit stronger each day. Relieved and grateful to Carla who dropped everything to get me where I needed to go. Delighted our son is here, taking good care of us, and able to concentrate on being happy I am alive to type.
Quick note. I am in here until further notice. I have FlA, bronchitis, shortness of breath, low blood oxygen. I went to the emergency room yesterday and they admitted me to the w. I have no clue what the plan is. They are giving me breathing treatments. I ate last night for the first time since last Thursday I will try to send messages
We weren’t able to get help Saturday. We’re still a mess. We’re planning to try to be at the walk in clinic at our regular doc’s office at 7:30 tomorrow.
We had to leave the house early without food or coffee to get blood work done for our routine doctor appointment on Wednesday. We did errands after that.
I think I told you about my husband being delighted about the county road people cleaning out our ditches. There were trucks at the bottom of our driveway as we left. I talked with one of the men, thanked him profusely for the good job the crew was doing. He said the ‘artist’ of the group was Darryl and that they might be here today and tomorrow to finish up.
We decided to get a gift card for a pizza for the men as a thank you, and got it while we were in town. I found Darryl when we got home and thanked him. Apparently the only time they hear from the public is when they are upset, so my thanking everyone was a real surprise and they seemed touched. I also gave Darryl the gift card. At first he refused, but I just stared at him until he took it. I’ll also write a letter to the department. I don’t know if they put the letters in the employee records or are just pleased, but I want to make sure they know what a good job they are doing.
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It didn’t snow or ice overnight, so we had no trouble getting around. We got our trash down to the bottom of the driveway and no one fell on their head or injured themselves. Now, hopefully, we can relax the rest of the day, though the weather forecast is warning of possible problems on Thursday now. UGH.
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My husband’s projects are beginning to wear me to a frazzle. First, lately, it was the porch camera light bulb. I finally officially gave up. I gave it at least twice as much time as my husband did and we finally decided we could do without it. Second, was the gadget for the TV. After two days of real challenge, frayed nerves, and more, we finally got it installed and working. NOW my husband is having trouble with a computer program called Family Tree Maker. We have used it for years, but suddenly it says it was shut down incorrectly and it won’t open. We were online with a tech all afternoon yesterday, trying to follow her directions. Nothing was solved. I don’t know if my husband will insist we tackle it again today or not. I am needed as the go-between to type, answer questions from either my husband or the tech, try to follow the directions, etc., so I can’t just escape, though it would be nice….
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I finished the etched vase I’ve been working on and just listed it on my Etsy site.
Our day has really flown by and I’m just now able to finish my first post of the day. I’d better get my computer hot! Have a great day!
Today is officially the first day of winter. I love the LOOK of winter, but it’s not my favorite season to actually LIVE in. My favorite is spring, when I can put new plants in and things I planted before are spearing up out of the ground. I’m thankful I have a warm home to hole up in while I wait for the weather to become more to my liking. :0)
Today is forecast to stay cold – fitting for the first day of winter – it’s 29 degrees F. now and isn’t supposed to warm up much. It’s supposed to be warmer tomorrow, and I’ll try to use that opportunity to try to finish getting things ready for winter in our yard.
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Karin de Haas – Funda Altincekic Aysel
Karin’s art work never fails to make me smile. No matter what is going on in my world, I find another of her creations and a smile comes bubbling right out of me. You can SEE the joy. HEAR the laughs. FEEL the hugs. I love it.
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River City Pilates
I’m feeling old and creaky this morning, sore from my exercising. That tells me that I’m finally getting this body’s attention, and that’s a very good thing. Today I’ll continue to do my sessions of exercises with weights in-between blog posts, but I’ll ease up a bit, trying to loosen up. I’ll do the best I can on the chair exercises, too, although I’m REALLY feeling those. And the yoga this afternoon will give me a chance to stretch out and loosen up the rest of me. It’s getting to be a full-time occupation to keep this body going!
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Amber – our 95-pound yellow lab
I just went into the kitchen and a wafting breeze made Amber hair swirl around. I just vacuumed! ARRRRGH! Guess who will do that again today… It’s not good to even think about shaving a dog in the winter, is it?
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I hope your holiday plans are coming together. After going to Walmart yesterday, we’ve decided to ‘do without’ until everyone finishes bringing their Christmas presents there to exchange after the holidays. :0)
Enjoy your day. Remember to BREATHE and take some time to RELAX.
Sure, there are challenges – I have to remind my husband that I have the tractor guy on ‘speed dial,’ ready to dig a hole for me to throw him in when he is being particularly ornery, for example, but mostly all is good.
I usually spend the morning writing posts for this blog and doing exercises with weights in-between posts. This way I don’t have to have a particular time designated for working out with the weights, and it doesn’t seem so bad when I can then enjoy writing another post.
I truly love spending time finding things I find wonderful to share with you. I’ve become friends with some of the readers of this blog – a thing I wouldn’t have had the opportunity for, otherwise. What a gift that is!
I escape from my ‘challenges’ by –
writing the posts or finding wonderful things to include later
listening to music – either upstairs in my art room, or finding new wonderful talent on YouTube
reading – I just can’t get enough of diving into an ‘old friend’ or discovering a new author, learning something new, and more.
playing in my art room – playing at being an ‘artist,’ trying new techniques, using new tools, or old tools in a new way, being inspired by things I see on Pinterest, Etsy, or other places that get my juices flowing.
gardening – spring is my favorite season, with perennials blooming from my efforts in the past, new things to plant, veggie gardens to plan, hacking down all the stuff that tries to recapture the wildness that was here before we came, and more. There are good things to do in ALL the seasons, though, and I love to spend time outside, pruners in my gloved hands, walking around.
My husband and I are reasonably healthy at this point, even though we’re older than dirt. He is still grumbling about turning 81 last month. “80 had panache” he said, but 81 is ‘just old.’ I’m trying to watch what he’s eating, though he thwarts my efforts when he can. He refuses to exercise, but that’s just him being ornery. He’s excited about his new welding table, but doesn’t have a new project yet.
He did say he was proud of me recently about my efforts to lose the lard and make what is left stronger. I’m still happy about his compliment.
So, I’m a happy, spoiled lady, and I love my life now. I’m hoping that Dr. Seuss’ words are true for a good, long time.
Deborah is Deborah Jaroscak, and she has a nice shop on Etsy called Artworks by Deborah As you can see here, she creates beautiful pet portraits, plus other art. I think she’s amazing.
I enjoy making gifts for local friends for the holidays. I think about what I’d like to try to make, how I should do it, etc. I buy the supplies and tools. I think about my friends as I work on the gifts, remembering fun times, getting a bit teary at other times. I hope that each will enjoy and use what I make, but the biggest thing is showing them they are special.
One of the people I follow on X (the former Twitter) posted recently about handmade gifts –
cutigers-@cutigs1 on X
I’m lucky to have a special circle of friends for whom I can try to make things. Whether gifts are handmade or chosen with love, we can try to make the holiday spirit last all year long.
I received a notification that one of my posts was marked with ‘WARNING’ on Twitter recently. I was really surprised, since this is the first time I’ve ever had that happen. The only tweets I post are of Featured Items in my Etsy shop and then the posts I write here.
The notice said,
“We put a warning message on these Tweets because they might have sensitive content — like nudity, sexual content, violence, gore, or hateful symbols.
We know we don’t always get it right. So if you think we flagged your Tweet by mistake, you can appeal the warning by clicking on each Tweet. Keep in mind, this doesn’t guarantee it’ll be removed.”
I’m still laughing. I’ve clicked on the tweet, appealed the warning, and will wait to see what happens.
The reason for the warning was the title of my post – “Wet Wednesday.” I explained that the title was referring to the weather that day in Arkansas……
Part of the Christmas decorations on the square in Greenwood, Arkansas
I’m slow to get into the spirit this year, for some reason. This morning our son sent a picture to us of part of the decorations in Thailand –
Christmas in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Yesterday I started getting presents together for my friends. I’m mailing some and then giving others at various times, so I’ll get things together based on when and where they’re going. I’m also going to try to get started with Christmas cards. Maybe some Christmas music…
We should be filled with gratitude for whatever goodness we have in our lives EVERY day, but Thanksgiving reminds us. I wish you a celebration filled with family and friends, good food, and lots of smiles, laughter, and great hugs.
bestfriends.org
It’s rainy here today, just as forecast, so I’m really happy I got the bricks-and-trio-planters project done yesterday. My husband wanted the more traditional Thanksgiving meal this year, so I’m cooking a turkey breast, gravy, and stuffing, and we’ll have deviled eggs and cranberry sauce and a roll tonight. My husband bought a cake at the grocery store to enjoy today, too.
Last night we pigged out, watching the carefully selected previous episodes Paramount chose to get us up to speed before a double episode blasted us into the current season. To say we are addicted is an understatement, I guess. We tape it so we won’t miss it, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we buy any DVDs produced from the series so we can enjoy it well into the future.
A funny thing is we haven’t been enticed to watch the prequels yet. We may, in the future, but not right now.
It’s a mixed bag here. Our weather is glorious. It’s 59 and sunny, stunningly beautiful. We are under a wildfire alert because we have not had rain here in over a month and things are super dry. Hopefully, we can all get through this day and those to follow safely. I THINK we have a chance of rain this weekend.
TheBump.com
I’m planning to go out and pull out the tomato plants from the two planters hear the house today. I may also spray more KILLZALL on the rock bed around the house. That’s it for outside today.
I got the tiled areas on the first floor vacuumed yesterday (pantry, kitchen, dining area, utility room, two half baths and the little area between the dining area and the living room). Today I’ll try to get the carpeted areas on the first floor done before the dog hair starts grabbing us by the leg as we walk by.
I’m having trouble getting much done because I’m in the middle of a Nora Roberts book I haven’t read (can you believe it?) It’s called, “Tribute” and I’m really enjoying it.
Tenor
Today is DAY 90 on my daily yoga practice. I’m beginning to really believe this daily stretching is integral to a quality life for me. Some of the stretches actually feel good – after getting through the initial stiffness and soreness. :0)
Today is DAY 40 of my effort to build a habit of doing a yoga session daily. In MY case, it apparently takes longer than 40 days, but I do have to say that it’s on my mind every afternoon now. I’m more aware of the time in the afternoon, with a calculation of when I need to stop what I’m doing in order to have time for my yoga session before I need to fix dinner. Progress.
123RF.com
My scales and I continue our feud. It has a really snide, MEAN, snarky manner, taking delight when the numbers are up. One day at a time, and then ONE day it will gulp and bow to me – or at least quit sticking out its tongue at me.
The HIGH is forecast to be 85 today and it RAINED overnight and is still raining a bit. HOOORRAAAAAAY! Yesterday 106 – today 85. It’s like we are on a different planet. NICE, NICE relief! My husband slept in this morning and just got up a few minutes ago. GREAT morning to sleep. We’ll go out in a bit, get our mail, see if our trash was picked up yesterday, see if any UPS deliveries are hanging on our robot, and then replenish some supplies.
There are few have-to’s today, so I’ll play things by ear and just do a bit of cleaning, a bit of cooking, a bit of painting – just generally trying to make it a great day.
I’m a happy camper right now. My new Kindle Fire arrived, I got it registered and set up, AND it already had the Mediterranean Recipe book I had ordered, but never got to look at on my old Kindle reader. Woo HOOOO!
I look forward to looking through the recipes after lunch. :0)
creativeartworksblog 