Wonder If I Can Get Back to This

It has been such a busy weekend for me.  Stan isn't allowed much time on his feet so that he will heal faster.  My surgery for a small skin cancer on my shin went well last week and is gradually becoming less of a bother.

 I have everything either in the fridge or in the crock post for the week.  I made meat loaf, beef vegetable soup, Beef stroganoff, and slow-cooked three huge chicken breasts.  We are having roast this evening, soup tomorrow, stroganoff Wednesday, salmon croquettes Thursday, trout on Friday, and chicken & dumplings on Saturday.  I made a breakfast pizza this morning - sausage, egg, pepper-jack cheese, and jalapenos.  It makes 8 servings so we will be seeing it later.

Stan has been making dinner since he is retired, but with the new restrictions, I thought it best to get as much done as possible.  I really want him to get past this final small hurdle so we can get back to doing things.

We tried last weekend to go to the Leonard's museum.  Because of the slide thing, the restaurant that operates the museum was closed so they could set up a booth at the slide.  It would have been nice if they'd put a notice on their web page.  I'd have found something else with very little walking for us to do rather than waste the only entertainment time we had for the week on a closed event.  We had lunch at Lucille's and that was nice.  We haven't been able to do things along the Camp Bowie corridor for a while.  I love that area of Fort Worth, but then, I love most areas west of 161.

We grew lettuce in a container this spring and had our first salad from the garden last weekend.  Home-grown leaf lettuce is so delicate - not like the commercial stuff you buy at the grocery stores.  Even the organic stuff isn't as delicate.  We may try to get several similar containers and keep a crop in rotation all year.  The peas are pretty well done for the year and the beans are just about dormant for now.  I am going to try to get out and pull up the stalks and send them to the composter so I can get a okra and corn in the beds. 

Stan planted 100 gladiolas for me after the rain had slowed down some.  They are all about 2' tall now and we should have flowers all over the house before long.  The yellow and red roses out front are on their second round of blooms as is the pink honeysuckle.  I wintered over most of the potted flowers and they are all out front and glorious.  I rooted four mock strawberries from an existing plant and it is almost as big as it's parent plant.  They are amazing if you like foliage. 

I hope I can find a few minutes every week to blog.  It is so relaxing!  Sometimes you just need to sit down and make a list of what you got done so you don't feel like you aren't accomplishing much.  I work at a job I love and come home to a life I love.   I don't always feel like  I'm keepin up with everything though.  I'm pretty much a type A person with not quite enough energy.

Hope your week goes well to anyone reading this. 

New Year's Eve

We will be staying in for New Year's Eve.  Stan is fixing "hobo dinners" for us - it's a hamburger patty, potatos and onion wrapped in foil with seasonings and baked in the oven for a couple of hours. 

Although Stan is well enough to go out tonight, I don't want to leave Trixy alone.  She knows she is helpless and if she wakes up while we are gone, I'm afraid she will be scared. 

We had a wonderful Christmas.  The best present this year was that Stan was released to drive and do do more walking, but only in a limited way.  He did not need a skin graft when he went in on the 22nd.  He doesn't go back to see the doctor until January 19.  He's been going in every week, so that is a real improvement.

We are so blessed.  The ten days I was off around Christmas were so much fun.  We love being together and doing things together.  We have great neighbors so it was fun being outside on the nicer days.  One neighbor baked us a pecan pie using pecans from her tree.  It was truly the best pecan pie we've ever had.  MUST get the recipe.

Saturday, December 20, 2014
Now Playing: 12-20-14

I've had a productive day so far.  The laundry is done.  My meal plans for next week are done.  I've downloaded my grocery list and am ready to go to the store.

I just took Trix out and she seems very happy to be somewhat independent.  She isn't a master of her wheelchair yet, but she manages pretty well for only having had it about 24 hours.

I talked to Donna yesterday afternoon and I will be going over to help her with groceries.  I'll probably take her some soup, too.

Stan and I went to see Dr. Reddy yesterday and he had blood work done to check his A1c.  She told him to follow the doctor's orders regarding his foot because it is quite serious and needs to heal completely before he is totally out of the woods.

I need to get a couple more gift cards and my shopping is done.  I made one gift and purchased a couple of others but haven't really had the time to do any shopping because I have so much to do here.  I leave the house at 6:45 every morning and get home at 5:45-6:00 in the evening.  That's 11 hours "at work."  I try to plan easy meals or have them ready in the freezer and that's worked well.  I make two kinds of soup every weekend and Stan is pretty happy having that for lunch.  He seems to really like the chicken noodle and chicken pot pie soups.  I keep shaved honey ham (yuck-nitrates) for him.  Mostly we have nitrate free everything but he really likes the stuff in the little packages.  It may not have nitrates - I didn't check. 

Everything I had planned for fall got cancelled because he wasn't supposed to be walking much.  After the surgery, he wasn't supposed to be up except to go to the bathroom.  I let him sit on the deck out front with me on Halloween and pass out candy.   We told everyone we were dressed up as two old people sitting on the porch.

For Thanksgiving, we went to the cafeteria.  I put Stan in a wheelchair and although it bruised his manhood, he did well.  He even went to Big Lots with me (something he wanted me to find) and used their wheelchair.  He had adjusted to being wheeld around by that time and was happy not to have to walk.

He will see his doctor Monday and may be told he is pretty much healed.  I have already been told he will have to wear custome shoes and custom inserts the rest of his life.  I'm not going to let him abuse his foot even if the doctor says he can walk more.

 I'm off all next week and will be able to spend much appreciated time with my guy and our puppy.  Before all this happened, Stan was able to be a big help.  Now, I won't let him do anything.  My decision, but I feel like there is so much to do and not enough time.  I'm only blogging now because I needed a rest from standing up. 

Summer's Final Weeks

I am looking forward to fall with great enthusiasm this year.  We will be going to the pumpkin patch and maze again this year.  I have mapped out some other activities to celebrate the cooler weather. 

 

We took the boat out to watch the fireworks from the water a couple of times this year.   Both times we went out with good friends.  Former neighbors came to town for a visit then a friend from work and grad school came with us to watch the season finale.  Keeping the boat at a marina was a great idea.  I love going fishing in the fall.  I’m not one of those people that think that a tan is worth the damage to the skin.  I avoid the summer sun as much as possible.

 

We’re about half way there on converting the sun room into an herb green house.  It should be complete by the time the plants come in for winter.  I like having fresh herbs.  They are so cheerful  - and tasty!  Stan used to complain when I brought home parsley from the grocery store because you seldom use it all before it is green slime.  A plant just keeps on giving so the effort of keeping it alive is its own reward.

 

It's been a while!
I've been so busy, I forgot I had a blog. :)  All is well.

Stan took Walter to the doctor Monday and won a release.  They wandered around some after that and went out to Mother's grave.  I think Donna is planning to take him there on Mother's Day.

Stan is planting accent plants and flowers in the front.  He put out fresh mulch yesterday - is there anything as nice as new plants and fresh mulch? 

Life is good!

Walter "got out" last week.  He still needs a CT Scan and to be released to drive but is doing well.  Stan is taking him to the store as needed and trying to get him out every day so he can recover from all the bad stuff that he has gone through.  At 81 years old, it takes a while to recover from surgery, especially when you've had two holes drilled in your skull.

 The restaurant project at work is moving forward.  They should be able to open in about two weeks.  We are working through all the last minute changes and adjustments to get everything just the way the operator wants it.  Their area is starting to have a little personality because of an enhanced decor.  They are planning more installations that build on what they have done so far.

Busy times, but it will get better.

 

Well, it's lunch time.  I had homemade white chili.  It's pretty good - very low fat but very high protein.  Mike, Randy and I worked on the restaurant equipment a little to get it in place for the gas, electric and plumbing contractors to finish their work.  I'm tired!  I was the designated box lady (carry them to the dumpster) and general clean up person so the men could work.

Walter is good.  He walks behind the wheelchair now.  It's hard for him to turn the wheels with his hands because his left hand is bandaged from the hairline fracture.  He has a nice roommate now and a gentleman at his table in the dining room that is pretty feisty!  He lives alone too and is the first to say he is pretty independent - doesn't want his kids telling him what to do.  You can tell he has always been a jovial soul.

I think Roger is supposed to be back from California today.  Donna will be happy about that.  Stan "has a cold" and didn't get out yesterday.  He didn't want to get out today either so I'm going by the rehab center after work.  Makes for a long day and is so reminiscent of the years of going to see Mother after work.  As hard as that was, I am so glad I was able to do it.  There were some really exceptional moments that only I got to share with her.  They make up for all the bad times and the constant battle to ensure she was cared for properly.  There should be a special place in hell for some of her caretakers, especially the social workers at two facilities.

Well, back to work for now.  Happy Tuesday.

Walter is in rehab and doing well.  They wouldn't let him come home for the weekend.  Stan and I have been alternating days with him.  I am so tired from everythng going on at work that driving there after work today reminded me of all the days I rushed from south Grand Prairie to Keller to have dinner with Mother. 

I've got the greatest husband anyone could ever find.  We had his mom and step-dad here, then just his mom.  He helped me and supported me when Dad was dying and I had to go sit with him at the hospital from before breakfast until afer dinner each day.  He took over at home so I could spend evenings at the nursing home with Mother and went in my place on those few days each month when it was all too much for me.  Now, he's there beside all three of us watching out for Walter.

 Stan has told me that I'm the bravest and strongest person he's ever know.  I couldn't be any of that without him.  He's always got my back.  I am so blessed.

Work is challenging right now.  I keep telling people that Mike and I are ready to open our own business as general contractors.  Who knew one little project could be so much work and involve so many trades.  No matter how carefully you plan, there will always be something that needs to be changed and it will impact ten other things.  One piece of equipment not being available can throw the whole design off.  There are still three or four more pieces of equipment outstanding.  One carpenter project, a little electrical, a little cat-6, a fire supression system, a floor contract, some tweeking of the gas service and plumbing, an inspection and a Certificate of Occupancy.  Oh, did I mention changes to the security system?  The need for that change came up around 4:00 this afernoon.  I guess that's why I love my job.  Every time the phone rings, it could be a new challenge and the opportunity to create a Raving Fan.

Hubbs is running  a little bit of a fever tonight so he's in bed with the TV lulling him to sleep.  Penny is missing Walter so much after a week with us that she won't leave my side.  I'm trying to stay up a little later so he can rest.  

The last infusions of Rituxan have lost their efficacy and it's time to do them again.  Unfortunately, I am having to negotiate the labyrinth of the healthcare system to get them to agree to cover a treatment I've been receiving for the past four years.  Steroids are so dangerous for me but are the only real option I have until the infusions are approved.  Please, UHC, get this approved so I can get on with my life! 

Walter is doing well after giving us quite a scare.  They drilled two holes in his skull to allow the bleeding to clear.  He is walking and talking and appears to be just fine.  We are all so glad there will be no long-term damage or complications.