My Everyday Life

Storms, sick and septic system

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:22:17 GMT

Hi all, I just slept for around three hours but now I am wide awake. Well I have been sick this week. Severe headache, nausea and as weak as a kitten. I thought I was coming down with what I had when Ken was in the hospital but did feel some better Wed. I called and got an appointment earlier for Ken and me both to see the Dr. on Monday.

He did an EKG on Ken and it was showing abnormalities. He then accessed the hospital records where they took one of Ken the day he was dismissed from the hospital and they looked the same.

He said my blood work from the other day was good but called for more extensive blood work to be done so they did that. I haven't heard from it yet. We think this sinus infection has done this. He wrote four new prescriptions and I had two filled to see if they will help. If not then I will get the other two filled. This back is still giving me fits also. I really haven't felt like getting on the computer much the last few days. I kept saving mail then didn't feel up to answering back. Sorry folks.

My daughter in GA. has been sick with something similar to this the last few days. Thank God she is doing better.

On top of that we are having septic problems big time. We have an extension tank with a pump in it and the pump is not working. I am wondering if lightening struck it day before yesterday. It actually sounded like it struck the house it was so close. Ken, me and both dog jumped like we were shot. The lights blinked and the fire alarm made a squeak. I will try to remember to ask the repair men when we get them out to check and see if they think that could have happened. This will be a pretty expensive job to get fixed. Anyway we got that much needed rain both days. I didn't have to water the tomatoes or flowers the last two days.

I will leave you with more zinnia pictures I took the other day before I got so sick.No editing has been done on any of these.

There are still more colors I will share another day.

Have a blessed Thursday everyone. Helen

I thought I had lost this

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:38:03 GMT

When Ken came home from the hospital after 18 days. I thought I had accidently deleted the video of how glad the dogs were to see him and I had. This morning I was going to empty the recycle bin and just glanced down at a few things and saw the title of this video and restored it. I had not even got to look at it. I was proud I found it.

Ken is doing really good now, he still has some pain but is getting around good.

Have a blessed day everyone. Helen

Ken is doing good

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:22:32 GMT

We made a trip to Ken's surgeon's office this morning. He says Ken is doing fine and can start eating anything he can tolerate. He wants to see him again in a month. It was nice to get Ken out for a while even if it was to see a Dr. Today we went and got a meat and veggie plate each. We both enjoyed them.

Ken's heart Dr said to see him in three or four weeks following being dismissed from the hospital. I called last week and they had nothing open until the 25th of Sept. I called our regular family doctor yesterday and got us both an appointment to see him the 29th of this month. He can do the EKG and tell if everything is doing well in that department.

Here is an odd zinnia that came up in the new flower bed we worked on before Ken had all that work done. I have been having to water the bed just about every day. We planted different kinds of seeds in it so it will be interesting to see what it all will look like. Some are short plants and some are tall. Several colors of Zinnia are starting to bloom. Some plants are only a couple of inches tall. I am having a time keeping the cats out of it because the ground is soft. I have been putting dog and cat repellent around the edges but they still get in it. I will be sharing pictures as they bloom. Some I have already made of the different colors of Zinnias.

Have a blessed afternoon everybody. Helen

Daisy Mae playing with rabbit

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:01:09 GMT

I thought you all would enjoy watching Daisy Mae playing chase with the rabbit next door through the chain link fence.

More info on the stinky critter

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:38:24 GMT

Just a little more information on how the critter got into the dryer vent. The vent door was stuck open because I didn't know you were supposed to clean it out. I thought the air from the dryer did that kind of job. Anyway there was enough lint in there to hold the door open. I cleaned it out this morning but it was sprung and wouldn't go back into place. I took it off and I went to the hardware store and got a new part for it and put it on the outside. Then I replaced the inside tube going to the dryer. I was raised on a farm and know how to do a few things but this back won't let me do any heavy moving or lifting else I would have cleaned out the dryer yesterday myself and saved that wasted money.

As for the new dryer, it was brought out yesterday but when they opened the box the dryer looked as if it had been dropped and was banged up really bad. They will have to order a new one and hopefully it will get in Friday and be delivered. They didn't have another one like it in stock. Unfortunately they can't open the boxes to check them out before delivery else people would claim they were not getting a new one.

I am so proud of those clothes lines we put up a while back although at this point it is really a chore to have to hang them out. This back is giving me fits. I use the ice pack and take a few minutes to lay down a couple of times a day.

Have a blessed evening everyone. Helen

Sort of a grumble or complaint

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:50:52 GMT

Hello everybody, Ken is doing pretty good. Been doing physical therapy the last two days which has made him a little sore. He is still having to take a something for pain at times. The nurse is coming this afternoon also. One of his legs, ankle, and foot is swelled some which they are subject to do anyway. It is not hurting anywhere. We will have the nurse check it out when she gets here. They may have to increase on one of his meds.

Now as to what I am complaining about is, a chipmunk or squirrel got in the vent from outside to our dryer and when I unknowingly turned it on last week something popped. Well it cut the critter to pieces. I didn't know what had happened but I immediately unplugged it. Well Saturday the most awful odor was in the utility room which is fortunately outside. A repairman came out yesterday morning and got the thing out of the dryer and it seemed to work when he left. Yesterday evening I thought I would put wet purexed towels in it and disinfect it. It started shaking and making a loud noise. Ken's son came over this morning and checked it out. No, it was not un level which I was hoping it was. Just torn up. Cost us $75.00 dollars to get that thing cleaned out to no avail. Just wasted money. A bad stinking job for the man to have to do.

Off I go downtown this morning and got another dryer. They are bringing it out this afternoon and installing it and carrying the old stinky one away. That little critter cost us a lot of money. I will try to see if I can poke some rolled chicken wire in the vent to hopefully keep anything else from doing the same thing. That should let the hot air out and keep the critters outside or I may ask Ken's son to do it for me.

Here is a picture of a Stargazer Lily that opened this past weekend.

Have a blessed evening everyone and I hope none of you have an unwanted visitor get into you dryer. Helen

Ken says thanks

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:34:51 GMT

Ken wanted me to tell all of you good people thanks and how much he appreciated everything that was said or done on his behalf to help him get better. He was going to type up a thank you note himself but he got so tired he had to quit and asked me to do it for him.

He has slept good the last couple of nights with sweet Daisy at his feet. He is eating soft bland foods and will gradually go to more substantial food as time moves along. A home health nurse came out yesterday and checked him over and things looked good from her viewpoint.

I took Patches by myself for the first time to get us a breakfast special from Jack's. She did so good for me. Ken didn't eat but a few bites and no bacon. The Dr said no hard food for a while.

I went out early and watered some flowers and the tomato plants and took a few pictures. I thought it would rain yesterday but we only got a sprinkle. I haven't been watering the hibiscus though.

I did measure the better Boy tomato plant that I put in the small flower bed and it measured from the ground to the top 7 feet.

The hibiscus bushes around daylight with and without the flash.

I took this last week. One of the first blossoms.

Have a blessed Sunday everyone, Helen

Looky who's home

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:59:59 GMT

I could not get any clear pictures. They were all three moving too much. I took a video but somehow it got deleted downloading from the media card. Everyone is happy that he is home. His heart tests turned out fine. Today was the eighteenth day he was gone.

Patches tail going like a windshield wiper. She is trying to give him sugar. LOL

The pillow I had ready because I knew they would be all over him. He couldn't handle that with a sore tummy.

Have a blessed evening everybody. We are having a blessed one. Enjoy the fireworks show tonight if you watch any. There are some near us but you can't see them for the trees. You used to be able to but they have moved where they do them and we can't now. Helen

Hopeful

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:49:18 GMT

We are very hopeful that Ken will be able to come home tomorrow. That will make a very good 4th of July for us. All the doctors have given the go ahead. He took the stress test today but has to take a part of it again tomorrow. His heart Dr. assured him that nothing was wrong but they needed to do part of it again. Ken said one of those sticker things came loose while they was taking the test and the person taking it didn't realize it but took it again. We are hoping it was in a failure in that test. But he told him they were going to use more medication this time before giving the test. The staph infection is completely gone now.

Home health will be coming out to give physical therapy and a nurse will check him two or three days a week. If needed it will last two months if not it may not be that long. A nurse will come out Saturday to check him.

Thanks again to all of you for your prayers, good thoughts and comments with positive thoughts. They have been working.

Love and hugs to everybody.

Have a blessed and safe fourth. Helen

Another journaler has gone

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:54:01 GMT

J-land has lost another journaler to cancer. Chuck was a good man. Always looking on the brighter side of life although he had many obstacles in his own path. He tried to make life more pleasant for the residents of the assisted living place where he lived (he called it the old folks home). He has been going downhill for several months but always had a cheerful attitude. I will miss reading his journal very much. His daughter Kate made an entry this morning on his behalf. I have been reading his journal a long time. Rest in peace Chuck. May God give his family strength, peace and comfort at this time.

Helen