Not Much Going On

Hip, hip hooray—we got the title for the motorhome—the UPS man brought it about mid morning along with my 1000 watt hairdryer I ordered from Brookstone.  Hairdryers cause an enormous power draw on generators and you really don’t need 1800 watts to dry your hair!

Michael is still improving just a tiny bit each day—the swelling is down significantly in his right hand and wrist this evening.

I spent the day doing laundry and quilting.  Finished up a little quilt and now all I have to do is sew the binding on. 

Made homemade pizza for dinner and Michael finished off Mom’s cherry cheesecake.  I bought some peaches at Costco the other day and they are really good—I had one of those with a little ice cream for dessert.

I have been looking for a new electric blanket for our bed here at home for a while—when we wandered into Costco the other day there was a huge display of electric blankets—although these days they are called warming blankets.  Whatever—I put the new blanket on the bed today—probably won’t need to try it out tonight—it was a beautiful, gorgeous day.

When we took our late evening walk last night we realized the firewood fairy had been back—they must have snuck  up while Michael was sleeping and I was quilting in the basement yesterday.  What would we do without good friends??

View of the Crazy Mountains a few days ago when all the mountains around us had new snowfall. 

A Little Bit Better Every Day

I think the good Lord was watching over us—Michael came very close to being very, very sick and he is still not out of the woods yet.  An infection that has migrated to your blood stream isn’t something to mess around with and we are so thankful we may finally be on the right path.  Michael felt a tiny bit better yesterday and a tiny bit better today.  He has taken no narcotic pain pills today which is a first in about 2 weeks.  So, he is feeling better and so am I!!! 

We ventured out yesterday afternoon to do something fun, a first in almost a month—our doctor friend Arch who has been such a help to us through this illness turned 80 yesterday.  Arch doesn’t look eighty and is still so sharp mentally.  His wife Gwen planned a huge surprise party—all his children and grandchildren were there as well as many medical colleagues and friends from Virginia where Arch lived before retiring to Montana.  Gwen sells real estate and one of her clients offered Gwen the use of his ranch for the party—Gwen sold him the ranch.  It was a breathtaking spot for a party along the Yellowstone River in what is called the Paradise Valley between Livingston and Yellowstone Park.  We only stayed a couple of hours as Michael began to tire—headed to Nat’s and retrieved Emmi then dodged deer all the way home.

Today Michael has gotten out and walked a couple of times, we picked chokecherries this morning and he has spent the rest of the day resting—it will take a while to get his strength back!  Our dear friends Robyn and Claire showed up about lunch time with a present that brought tears to both our eyes—a load of firewood!!!  We are so blessed with the friendships we have formed in this valley! 

We were surprised when we got home last night and were walking from garage to house—we heard an elk bugle!! 

An Encouraging Day

A chance comment by our friend Boo led us to call Michael’s urologist this morning and finally something went our way—we were able to see him today just after noon.   He did some tests and has us going in a positive direction with medications to treat an infection that he thinks may have migrated into Michael’s blood stream.  Today was a good day, a very good day!

Emmi girl stayed with Nat and both enjoyed each other’s company! 

We were able to get in a Costco run and a stop by Wal Mart for some much needed groceries.  A slice of Costco pizza on the way in served as lunch and a frozen yogurt served as dessert on the way out—you gotta love Costco, a one stop shop!

We are very late getting home and Michael is exhausted but our spirits are much improved!

A Not So Good Day

Yesterday when Michael took one of his “I’ve got to get out of this chair” kind of walks he noticed multiple piles of bear poop on our walking route.  Last night we decided to drive the VW over to the gulch where we have seen bears eating on the chokecherry trees.  No bears but we did see a whole tree full of these birds, what are they Judy?

Imagine my surprise when I clicked on my blog reader report this morning—I went over 1000 readers for the week—first time ever!!  And I know my blog readers are getting tired of hearing about Michael’s illness but it is what is consuming us lately.  Mike and Pat, Gina and Rollie, and all our other readers, please keep those prayers and thoughts coming, we need them! 

Now, for my rant.  The next person who says to me, “I don’t want socialized medicine, or I don’t want the kind of health care they have in Canada” better be prepared for my anger!  I have a husband who is in the worst kind of pain, it wakes him in the middle of the night with a vengeance and totally brings him to his knees.  It strikes in the middle of the day with the same devastating results.  His arms and hands are incredibly swollen.  Guess when I can get him in to see an internist---October, 7!  Guess when I can get him in to see a rheumatologist—November 29!  Yea, right, we have the best health care in the world, NOT!

And, in spite of the fact that we told the doctor we saw yesterday in Big Timber that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen did not agree with Michael, he insisted that Michael take ibuprofen in prescription dosage.  Last night about an hour after taking ibuprofen, Mike is sitting in his chair and says to me, “Janna, I feel as if an elephant is sitting on my chest, I can’t breathe and I have this terrible ringing in my ears.”  OK, no more ibuprofen for Michael—why don’t doctors listen to their patients????  Non-steroidal medications have an incidence of causing heart attacks in people!

So yesterday was a good day, last night and today we took 10 steps back. 

TWO DIFFERENT DOCTORS' OFFICES

Boy, if this doesn't hit the nail on the head, I don't know what does!

Two patients limp into two different medical clinics with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement.

The FIRST patient is examined within the hour, Is x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for surgery the following week.

The SECOND sees his family doctor after waiting 3 weeks for an appointment, then waits 8 weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn't reviewed for another week
And finally has his surgery scheduled for a month from then.

Why the different treatment for the two patients?

The FIRST is a Golden Retriever.

The SECOND is a Senior Citizen.

Next time take me to a vet!

Mom and Chuck came over today to see about Michael and Chuck had the above in an email—it certainly is appropriate at this time!  Mom made Michael his favorite pie—cherry cheesecake, in hopes it would either make him better or cheer him up!

Today Is A Good Day

Dang it’s cold—cloudy, what happened to summer or at least fall???  I wore a jacket to Big Timber this morning.

It is a good day today, Michael got up this morning saying, “I feel better than I have in weeks.”  His pain is lessened and he seems to have a little more movement.  We visited the Big Timber clinic this morning seeing a physician—let me tell you, if my husband hadn’t needed to see a doctor, I would have gotten up and walked us out in the first minute, (sorry Mary).  The physician’s attitude—he hadn’t bothered to read Michael’s chart, and upon listening to Michael and I describe his symptoms said, “what do you want me to do about it?”  I got a little grouchy sounding with him and he began to be a little more personable.  He stated rightfully so that the ER at St. Vincent’s had done a thorough work up and that he was not a specialist—we needed to see a rheumatologist and started the ball rolling for a referral.  In one aspect he was a huge help explaining to Michael the necessity of taking larger doses of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, getting an accumulation built up—something Michael’s wife had tried to explain and gotten nowhere!  But his bedside manner could use some sprucing for sure!!!  And read your patient’s charts before you come in the room!!

Michael was feeling well enough for us to call Jill and suggest lunch.  We went to the newer restaurant in town, Del Norte Cuisine, pretty fancy name for Big Timber, huh!!  Jill brought me a birthday card and a much appreciated gift certificate to the local quilt shop.  We both enjoyed just being out and Jill’s company is always good!

When we got home I stirred up a batch of bread dough and talked to the state of ID about our missing in action title.  As it stands now, we should have a title by Monday of next week.  We aren’t happy but there isn’t a dang thing we can do about it except file a complaint against the dealership which I am going to do. 

I started working on a special quilt today and made some progress!  Got my Aunt’s and her friend Marti’s quilts mailed today, too. 

Thank you to all our friends and family for the thoughts and prayers sent Michael’s way—we appreciate it so much.  

Another Day

Michael was up and down, down and up all night, I think we finally slept from about 2am until 6am.  We are seeing another doctor on Wednesday morning.  The gout medication we tried yesterday made no difference in his symptoms whatsoever. 

I spent the day receiving birthday wishes, quilting and napping.  Michael and Emmi spent the day napping.

My dear sister and my sweet niece sent me the bestest birthday present—a Christmas quilt book and the fabric to make one of the wall hangings shown in the book, a great present. 

Kelly, my Kansas City friend, who in spite of the fact has been dealing with a seriously ill mother this past week, sent me a great gift—new flip flops and a pedicure kit—I am all set for Arizona now! 

I have the best of friends and family, I really do!  I received many, many cards and lots of phone calls.  Gemma came over late this afternoon also in spite of dealing with major family issues to bring me a sweet little present that was just perfect—quilting note cards and  quilting socks. 

Now, if I could just get my dear husband well!  Last Friday when we went to meet Laurie and Odel in Big Timber we started out in the Ford truck, got several miles up the road and blew the turbo hose off.  Limped back home, got the car and went to town.  The truck has just sat, Michael couldn’t put the hose back on in his condition.  Lonn and Lora Lee came over tonight, put the hose back on and I cooked dinner—marinated steaks and salmon, YUM!

And to end this blog tonight on a funny note—my sweet niece Niki has two little girls of her own, the youngest Leah will be the death of us all—here is her latest from her Mom’s Facebook page:

“This weekend, Leah came to me after her sister Elizabeth had yelled at her and had been quite mean. Leah: “Mom did you have any brothers or sisters?”  Me: “No”  Leah: “Wow, you must have had lots of peace and kindness”  Out of the mouths of babes!!! 

Thanks to all my friends for the great Facebook birthday wishes, too!  It has been a good day!

Here is the quilt I finished today for Marti:

September Snow

We were expecting white stuff this morning but the snow only fell on the mountains around us Michael and I appreciate all the caring comments and wishes for good health we have had.  Today has not been a good day—we called our doctor friend and got some advice which we are following this afternoon—we will see what happens. 

Our fields are so saturated with irrigating water that water is coming up in places it shouldn’t such as the driveway.  So, I walked up to the head of our irrigating ditch to see why we still had water in the ditch—the head gate had fallen down—I raised it and wedged it open so the water would flow down the creek.  The whole time I was walking over I sang to the bears just to let them know I was in the area!

This afternoon I have quilted and am one row from being finished with this little quilt.  A reader asked about this “crazy quilt”—it really isn’t a typical “crazy quilt”—it is a Thimbleberry pattern that uses several flowered panels giving the illusion of appliqué. 

I sure hope my sweet husband is better tomorrow!