Month: March 2012

  • Biopsy Results Postponed And Tara Turns ???

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    The Beast was not well this morning so I ended up having to call the doctor's office to try to make the appointment for later today or another day entirely.  His urologist is leaving tomorrow for vacation with his family so his new appointment is on the 5th of April.  Two more weeks to wait. 

    Bratfink says they probably would have broken bad news (if it was) rather than postpone it but I know that's not true.  Especially since I doubt this particular doctor would remember or notice it until he actually saw his chart.  He's THAT busy.  But, regardless of whether its a virulent strain of cancer or mild, two weeks won't make a difference.

    Today was Tara's birthday (again, Happy Birthday, Tara!) and Chewlee went nuts when I told her that.  She HAD to talk to her and wanted to sing her *Happy Birthday* on the phone.  However, we got her voice mail so I let her leave a message.  Sweetheart that Tara is, she called a bit later to talk to Chewlee and tell her she loved her, too.  She also told Chewlee it was her 25th birthday. 

    Before Tara called back, Chewlee had to make a birthday card for Tara.  Very rough but filled with love and a few hearts she drew.  I made up an *envelope* for it and taped it up.  Chewlee wouldn't leave it here but insisted her mother take it home with them so she will probably insist on her mother taking her over there in the next day or so.

    The company that makes/distributes the V.A.C. system called me and I verified that I can't return any opened boxes of supplies even if the supplies that were in them are unopened and intact.  So, I am going to donate them to the Wound Center since I found out that they take care of indigent patients and not just the insured ones.  My regular HH nurse suggested that would be the better choice between them and the WC because the HH Agency doesn't deal with many indigent patients.  So, that's what I will be doing.  I have a shitload of unused stuff that I would prefer went where they were needed.  If the Beast feels better in the next day or two, we will drop it all off there.  UPS is coming tomorrow to pick up the V.A.C. system and I will be grateful it's gone.  It had it's use for me but it's over.  Much to my sleep time relief. 

    We think the Beast may be coming down with a cold.  A chest cold.  He says since he quit smoking, he feels like he is falling apart.  I told him I have heard that from more people than he can believe.

    My HH nurse is coming tomorrow to check on my abdominal *wounds* as per my doctor's instructions.  Just to make sure they still look good and, of course, to change the bandages.  I usually do that daily on the one side that didn't have the VAC but was told to leave it until the HH nurse came since it had some special kind of bandage directly on the wound itself.  Okay.  I can wait.  Neither one is leaking or making a mess on my pants so I'm sure not worried there.  I just keep telling my body to hurry up and heal, dammit! 

    Time to get this posted for tonight.  Love you all.  Warm again today (high of 81) and will be the same for the next week.    I'm definitely going to sit outside and soak up the sun when it's out.  At least for a while each sunny day.  Be good.  Drive safely and have a fantastic Friday. 


  • Chewlee Returns And Great News!

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    I knew the Princess needed to be home in time to work this afternoon but had no idea that she almost threw Chewlee into the car fresh out of bed.  Not true but she DID leave her in her PJ's for the ride home.  Chewlee started in on her mother about coming to our house not long after she found out they were getting close to home.  She got really upset because she didn't want to go home first.  She wanted to go see Grandma.  laughing   The Princess called to find out if it was okay to drop her off earlier than I expected.  Since I had missed her, of course I said it was fine with me.  Even the Beast was glad to see her.  She had to show off her flip-flops which she told us SHE picked out at the beach store in the flip-flop area.  I could tell because they are just a little big for her but nothing disastrous. 

    She has been dividing things up between *that is beach stuff* and *that is home stuff* since she got here.  She had asked me when she first got here how my legs were doing.  I told her they are getting better and she got all excited, ran out of my computer room and yelled at her mother, *Mommy, Grandma's legs are getting better!*  Here's why she asked.......

    She noticed....NO MORE V.A.C. SYSTEM!  When the doctor saw the wound it had been being used for, he said it was fantastic and I didn't need it any more.  I was so happy and so grateful I can't even begin to tell you.  To celebrate, the Beast and I went to Lowe's after he picked me up and we got some tomato plants and some flowers (annuals).  I actually got out of the car and helped pick some out.  The Beast went and got some more topsoil for the planters and some Miracle Gro garden mix. 

    Here's a funny.  He was checking out the planters in back to try to figure how many big bags he would need and saw the area where we had planted our carrots last year.  It was just FULL of those airy-looking long green stems and he thought he had best clean those out.  He grabbed a couple and tugged and....PULLED OUT SEVERAL HUGE CARROTS!  I kid you not.  I guess they continued to grow all winter.  Shows you just how mild our winter was this year.  It looks like we probably have 40-50 more out there although some of them we will throw out for the wild life like squirrels and rabbits.  He'll take them down the back of the properties here and toss them where the deer, rabbits and who knows what else are seen.  They won't go to waste that way and I have to let you know it's partly because some of them have split open and are deformed in other ways.  I told the Beast I may have to can some of them and it's not exactly canning time but, if I have to, I'll drag it all out and do it rather than see much of it go to waste, that's for sure.

    The doctor I saw at the Wound Center, although his name wasn't familiar to me, his face was.  It turns out he took care of my foot while I was in the hospital.  What a cutie!  If more women could see these two guys (my regular doctor and, as it turns out, one of his partners), they would be shooting themselves to be able to be treated there. 

    One of the nurses told me there is another doctor there that works on Fridays and he makes three!  Woo hoo!  Oh, don't worry!  I won't sabotage my own progress just to be able to have any of them continue to treat me.  I'm sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. 

    The Beast took up my prescription for pain meds to Walmart and then, wouldn't you know it?  He forgot to go back to the pharmacy before he left to pick it up.  Sheesh!  He's heading back there because he ALSO forgot to pick up more popsicles for Chewlee.  When Chewlee found out he hadn't gotten any more, she said to him, *Papa....you said you would get more so they would be here when we got back from vacation!*  It was so sad and accusatory at the same time, it was funny.  I doubt he will forget them for quite some time.

    Got to go now.  Love you all and I hope you have a wonderful day.  Drive carefully.  Tell those you love that you do as often as you can.  Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles.  Remember, it's not what you gather but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived. 




  • Worth The Read....

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    Sometimes you read something that just touches you in your heart.  Even if not true, it's a story that has a certain heartfelt truth to it.  I love this one because I really feel the same way about so many things.  Truth is truth.  So read, enjoy and wipe away a tear or two if it touches you like it did me.  If we could all have this kind of affect on others, how rich our lives would be.

    IT'S WHAT YOU SCATTER

    I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes when I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

    I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

    'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.''They are good, Barry.' 'How's your Ma?' 'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.''Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.
    'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.''Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?''All I got's my prize marble here.''Is that right? Let me see it', said Miller.'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 'I can see that, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?', the store owner asked.'Not zackley but almost.'

    'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble', Mr. Miller told the boy. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

    Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, and all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.' 'When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'

    I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

    Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community, and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening, and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

    Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two had nice haircuts, and wore dark suits and white shirts --all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

    When our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller, I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size, they came to pay their debt.'

    With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.'
    The Moral:
    We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by
    The Moments That Take Our Breath Away.

    Love you all.

  • Sick Of Being Sick

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    It was bound to happen.  There comes a day when you are sick of being sick.  I've been battling one thing or another now since May of last year.  Here it is March now and I am still not well.  I know I am getting better but it just makes me sad that I don't have the energy yet to do many of the things I want to do.

    I went a bit nuts today because the V.A.C. system was leaking air and it makes the most annoying noise.  I kept trying to find out where it was leaking from and started finding a couple areas that the HH nurse didn't get on right.  So, there I was trying to patch up the leaks.  Here....there....gd everywhere!  I gave it up and took it off me.  I bandaged it up carefully since it only has to last me until tomorrow when it gets put back on at the wound center.  Unless the doctor decides it doesn't need to be on any more.  I can only dream.

    So I hobbled around, without the V.A.C. on me but using my cane since I am still a bit unstable.  I was thinking that I need to find myself some shoes that I can wear once everything heals on me.  My heel is coming along nicely.  The wound is smaller than a nickel but not quite dime size.  It looks icky but the doctor says it's healing well.  I see a different doctor tomorrow because my regular one is going away until the 21st.  If it is indeed healing well, I will get a second opinion on that.

    It was really warm here today.  So warm that I opened up my window and turned on my fan.  I like warm but not dead air.  It felt wonderful and we get more of the same tomorrow...maybe even warmer.  laughing

    Love you all.  Hope you are having a better than normal week. 

  • It's Got To Make You Wonder....

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    The Beast got his Yoshi blue skillet today and he was really disappointed to find out that it does, indeed, scratch.  Maybe the *green* one doesn't.  I don't know.  I'm not all that concerned except that it does tell you that you should always use a little oil to prevent the interior from discoloring if the food burns.  It also says to use only low to medium heat.  Well, duh!  And if you are only using wooden or plastic utensils, how can it get scratched?  What a travesty of truth in advertising.

    I guess Bratfink sent for some EZ eyes keyboards, too.  Once she read my blog about ours arriving, she said it gave her hope that they would be getting theirs.  I have to admit, it took longer than I thought it would but it probably appealed to more people than the company was prepared for.

    I can't believe it but Sister Cee's surgery has been postponed yet again.  She has to go see an internist to find out why her sodium level is two points lower than it should be.  The anesthesiologist won't sign off on it until he finds out so....more waiting.  And probably more tests, too.  As sick as *I* was, you mean to tell me my sodium levels were just hunky dory?  Sheesh.

    I'm going to be down for a while tomorrow.  I want to disconnect everything to my computer and let the Beast take it out to the garage and blow it out.  I know it's just full of dust.  I sure don't want to burn out a fan motor or anything and I need to untangle the snake nest of cords...once again.  I also need to find out if I still have my old speakers in the Beast's pile of spare computer bits and pieces since the ones I have been using fell when I fell two weeks ago and broke.  They still work but the bases broke off them so they take up more room than I really can spare.

    Hopefully, after I get that done, I can finish up getting this room cleaned up.  It really does need it.  I have some odds and ends of folded things sitting here and there.  Stuffed stacked up because it's been suck a pain to grab up my *gear* and put it where it belongs.  It starts slowly and builds from there....LOL.

    I've been watching an episode or two of the programs of Doomsday Hoarders and Doomsday Preppers.  I am a just floored that there are so many people with the same scary attitude that started the Beast on his roll of storing food out in the garage.  Some will need to be used and replaced as time goes on; others are MRE's and seeds.  Did I tell you about the seeds?  OMG!  We have enough specially stored seeds here to plant a couple acres of fruits and veggies.  Enough to feed 8 people for over a year and info on how to gather and store seeds from THOSE plants for the next years crops.  He is not alone in his thinking except that now I think he's kind of traded that thought for the advent of the end of days.  That's why the Bible study now.  I thought at first it was his age and meeting his maker but it's much more complex than that.  He's seeing all these things as a sign of the end of times. 

    If I had $$$ for every time in the last century that people have predicted that, I would just shoot the Beast and put him out of his misery and go live in some country without extradition agreements with the US of A. 

    The HH nurse came around noon today and got all my *stuff* changed for me.  I don't know if it's fixed or not yet because I haven't tried to sleep when the house is quiet but...it did start making loud noises when I went into the kitchen a little earlier and my heart sank.  I have it plugged in right now, charging up the battery.  I'll make the attempt to sleep in my own bed later and see what comes of that.  Otherwise, I have to come in here, lay down in my recliner and put the TV on to help drown out the noise.  She did tell me if it started again to call them and they would come out and redo it tomorrow.

    She thinks the doctor may take it off me this week.  Her opinion but I sure hope so.  I would love to be FREE again!  You don't appreciate that word until you have to drag something around with you everywhere you go.  

    It was chilly today.  The warmest it got was about 63 and it's still the same temp outside at 10pm.  It's only supposed to drop down into the mid-50's then up into the 70's tomorrow and Wednesday.  I just hope it's sunny outside.  It was overcast and grey looking all day today.  I hate days like that.  I'm a sun person.  Love you all.  Have a fantastic day. 

  • The Weather Is Totally Nuts!

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    The weather today was incredible!  Warm, warm, warm....and it actually had me nauseous!  I was so cold last night that I turned up the heat on my side of the electric blanket.  Then, I woke up this morning in a sweat and got the chills.  I had to completely change my clothes in order not to keep shivering.  I even ended up opening the window in my computer room and ended up falling back to sleep for several hours (I must not have been resting well during much of the night).  At least it was several hours without the damn V.A.C. system waking me so that I had to move it around before I could go back to sleep.  For whatever reason, if it's hanging off my computer chair, it stays quiet.

    When I woke up, I was kind of glad we were warm here because I knew then that the Princess and Chewlee probably had good weather down where they were in the Florida Panhandle.  I really wanted them to be able to enjoy themselves.  Hell, *I* would love to enjoy myself, too. 

    Tomorrow is HH nurse time (thank goodness) so I can get this damn V.A.C. thingy replaced.  I know damn well it's a leak in the container section that has been making me crazy.  Hopefully then I will be able to go see my doctor to get these other two bandages changed properly.  I haven't let them stay on but I am not using the pig gut stuff they put on them.  I just didn't want to take a chance for infection or anything.  Keeping them clean can't hurt.

    There's something wrong with my pinky on my left hand.  It's numb constantly.  It doesn't hurt much if I keep it very warm so I'm pretty sure it's the arthritis but it's making typing a real pain in the ass for me.  I need to change out my keyboard because the *a* sticks on it a lot.  I've cleaned it and there's nothing I can find that's making it stick so it must be that the key just isn't fitting right.  I have a keyboard for it....I bought one of those new EZ Eyes ones but it's not a cordless so I've been kind of dragging my feet.  I want to have it installed when Chewlee is back, however, because it makes it much easier for her to see the right letters.  I know she will just love that.  I'll let you know how I like it, too.  The best part is that I won't have to worry about anything being spilled on that keyboard.  I'm sure you've seen them spill a whole glass on it and it can just be poured off it.  I got one for the Beast, too. 

    I could just scream because they obviously screwed up and sent me 4 instead of the two I wanted.  Now I have to try to get the Beast to mail one of the boxes back to them after I write up a note to include in the box.  I sure don't need to pay an extra $30 for them (the shipping and handling comes to a bit over $10. for the set).  They also have two corded mouskes with them (one of Bratfink's multi item words for a mouse)....not that I like corded ones but they are good to have for a spare.

    Well, I need to take a pain pill and then change the two bandages again for the night.  Love you all and I wish you a nice work week ahead as well as some great weather.  Be careful driving and be sure to tell those you love that you do. 

  • The V.A.C. System Is Gonna Make Me Nuts!

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    I got the new V.A.C. stuff changed for me on Friday.  No big deal.  BUT........I hadn't noticed much about the unit until I went to lay down for a bit on Friday night.  I was tired when I set it up with it's charger plugged in like I normally do and laid down.  It was all fine until I moved.  Suddenly this audio signal came on that indicated a leak somewhere.  I got the sound stopped and laid back down.  I wasn't sure if the sound was originating because of a leak around the wound area or if it was a leak in the tubing.  Later on, after several different times I was woken up and trying several different things, I figured out there was a leak in the tubing somewhere. 

    It didn't take much for me to find that it had to be in the new container unit that had been installed.  So, today, I attempted to change it to a new one.  However, there must be a trick to it that I didn't catch and couldn't find info on either.   I found the lever to help take it off and tried depressing that to assist in putting the new one on but it wouldn't seat correctly so I gave up.  I damn near took the whole thing off, I was that disgusted (and tired) but I managed to get the old (leaky) one back on it and figured I would just wait it out until Monday.  I'm going to ask the HH nurse the secret, too, while she's here.    That's just in case....

    I found out today that the Beast gets his news about the state of his biopsies on his prostate on the 15th.  The same day as Tara's birthday and when Sister Cee goes in for her surgery.  Three things all on the same day?  Makes me shudder.  Only because it seems a little bit ominous...like not everything can go well.  Maybe that's just paranoia but it's MY paranoia.  Doesn't have to make sense. 

    Tara came by today and brought us some goodies from the bakery that she does the bookkeeping for.  It's one of her clients and she keeps track of the taxes they have to pay the state, the Federal Government and, of course, all the withholding on their paychecks.  She has five different businesses that she has now and she says she's really enjoying it.  She loves getting them all set up so that she doesn't have to be there all the time and they can do most all of the daily work and she just has to check it and make sure it's right.  Her business is slowly but surely building.  It makes me happy and so glad for her.

    Love you all.  Have a truly great Sunday. 

  • Calm Day After A Stormy Night

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    I had no idea it was storming outside last night until Baron woke me up wanting to go out.  Unfortunately, he's a wimp and I guess the need was not as great as his hatred of getting wet from rain.  That's one good/bad thing about this house.  With the doors and windows closed, you don't hear the rain or the wind.  The double paned windows and quality of construction leaves you open to surprises.  It scares me when I think that this area is well known for tornadoes hitting at night.

    I was tired when I did my blog yesterday so I forgot one fact that I was really proud to find out.  My grandson, Doc, the Marine made Lance Corporal.  He now officially outranks his maternal grandfather's rank when HE was an active Marine.  **Insert huge grin here**  I am so very proud.  Do you blame me?

    One of the neighbors mentioned that it's officially the start of *drop off animals in our area*.  She's called Animal Rescue a couple times already for pups.  I told her about the cats and she laughed because you sure don't see that happen often.  She thinks it's funny that Baron won't go out back when the orange tiger is there unless the Beast goes out with him.  We think it must have scratched him at one time but who knows?

    I texted the Princess a little earlier but they hadn't arrived in Destin yet.  They got a late start but should be there soon.  She didn't leave until after she was done working.  I don't know why she couldn't have just had everything ready so that she could zip over, pick up Chewlee and leave.  No....of course not.  She had to shower and get dressed up for the trip.  Sheesh.  She could have gotten there a lot earlier than she will now.  I wasn't told this is what she did but I do know the Princess.  There is no way she would travel in her work clothes and she's not going to put nice, clean clothes over a *dirty* body.    Oh well.  I guess we were all that young once and it seemed to really matter.

    It wasn't a bad day, all-in-all.  The HH nurse got here later than usual because something got screwed up with our land line.  She's got my cell phone number now.  Our land line still isn't working right and we called about it.  They will send someone out in the next day or so.  I'll bet it is all this rain that's affecting it.  It IS raining out right now and that wasn't supposed to be happening.  Baron is again miserable because it's almost his bedtime and he NEEDS to go out.  Eventually he will go out, hug the house, go over to the condensing unit for the AC and pee against the house or close to it, anyway.  Then he will rush back in and start rolling on the rug while the Beast is trying to towel him off at the same time.  He's so damned predictable. 

    Love you all.  Going to get this posted just to make sure it's up before I (might) lose the internet due to the storm.  Be good.  Take care and enjoy your weekend. 

  • Sister Cee's Surgery Postponed And Other Stuff

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    I called my sister Cee before checking my email that came in since I checked it this morning.  I just wanted to chat with her before she went to the hospital tomorrow, which was when she was scheduled.  It seems, however, that one test the hospital took and they need for the surgery, won't be back from the lab until Monday so....the surgery was rescheduled for the 15th.  **Sigh** She had everything prepared for the care and keeping of Frankenstein and Baby Brat so now that has to be redone.    She wanted to have all their meals ready for the oven or at least ready for sandwiches (for lunches). 

    The 15th also happens to be her daughter, Tara's, birthday.  What a day!  Won't be fun for Tara because she will be worried until her mother is out of surgery and considered out of danger.  I'll be right there, worried with her until I hear.  I told her to make sure I get her direct line number to her room as soon as she is able to get it to Baby Brat.  She's going to try to get medical transportation to the hospital since Frankenstein really can't manage the complexity of the drive without possibly getting lost these days.  She doesn't  want to put his through that and I don't blame her knowing him like I do.  He's just gotten very old.

    Chewlee has started to become aware of what dead is.  She found a dead mouse in our backyard and thought all it's bones were gone because it was so flat.  She also told me that, when they were at school and went out to fly their kites they had made, there was a dead bird.  It had blood and her teacher told her the bird had been shot.  Chewlee thought that was awful because they just shot it for *no reason*.  She said you should only shoot birds if you are going to eat them.  She then looked intently at me and said, *Right, Grandma?*  I, of course, told her yes, that you shouldn't shoot birds for fun.  She didn't think whoever did that was a nice person.

    She seemed a bit preoccupied with the idea of *dead* because she hadn't really seen or thought about it before.  When I told her that everyone dies, she said *...but not until they are really, really, really old, right?*  I just said to her, *Well, that's what we all hope for, baby.*  After that she went on to other things.

    The orange tiger cat wasn't here when Chewlee got here but showed up after about an hour.  The weather was 75 degrees and very balmy so she went out to grab it up and pet it.  It stayed there for quite a while but....when it wanted to leave her lap, Chewlee grabbed it tighter and the cat scratched her on her tummy so that Chewlee let it go and it ran over and climbed the grape arbor.  That worried Chewlee but I told her it did that all the time and could get down so not to worry about it.  But suddenly, the cat she adored before the scratching became a *nasty cat* and one she doesn't like now.  That will last until next week...and only because she and her mother, the Princess, leave for their vacation tomorrow.

    She was funny as she and the Beast left for their meeting tonight (Bible study).  She ran to my door and did one of those long-range kisses and waved goodbye to me.  She was obviously tired when they got back because she did almost no talking.  Her mother was here waiting and she went out the door, quietly.  The Beast forgot they were leaving until the Princess said something about bringing her car in for an oil change tomorrow before they left and have all the tires rotated and checked.  He's glad she's finally learning about maintenance.

    My HH nurse comes tomorrow and it's a good thing.  I missed my doctor's appointment because I forgot what day it was.  Not the appointment, I mean what day I was living.  It really made me feel like I had old timers.  **Sigh**  It's a real bitch to get old.

    Love you all.  Have a great Friday...hurrah!  End of normal work week for most. 

  • Old Post I Never Did..!

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    This is a post I wrote a while back when I was unable to get on the Internet.  I've written other things about my whole hospital experience but, after reading this, I thought I would post this for you to read.

    I really wondered how Chewlee would react to my being here at home and not in the hospital.  Well, here's what happened.  She was cranky when she came here because she didn't nap when she was supposed to at school.  She was very clingy to her mother.  The Princess yelled at her not getting down from her body and she was holding on tight like she didn't want to stay.  I yelled at her to be good and get down off her mother and I wish you could have heard her voice when she said, *Say that again*.  The Beast says her eyes were really big and she had a shocked look on her face.

     

    She ran over to my computer room door, looked at me with a very shocked face and said, *Grandma....why aren't you at the doctors?*  She really meant the hospital.  She looked at my feet and said, *That's doctor bandages*.  I told her yes they were but the doctor gave them to me to use on my feet.  She just said *Humph* like she didn't really believe me.  I told her not to worry, I was going back there on Friday.

     

    I finally heard back from the doctor's office.  I had to listen to an automated message before I could leave a message about calling me to tell me what time I needed to be there on Friday.  I still don't know what time I have to be there but I'll find out tomorrow when I go for my blood work before I am admitted.  She also told me my surgery will take 5- 1/2 hours. 

     

    He told the nurse if I wanted, I could have the surgery on Monday when his schedule was a little less full but I told the nurse I didn't want  to wait if at all possible.  She said the doctor told her it was just a suggestion if I wanted a few more days at home.  I know the surgery has many possible effects on my system but it should help finish up the healing of my left foot.  That's the one that causes me all the pain.  I was surprised, however, at how the foot seems to be healing already.  It's smaller than it has ever been.

     

    I'm on my feet more and have less pain when walking.  My big problem is balance.  Guess the big toe is more important than we believe.  I have to bring that to my doctor's attention.  I can't even bend over without my losing my balance.  I feel like I need to stand like the Sumo wrestlers but that's an ugly stance.    I may actually have to do rehab in order to find out what I need to do about that problem.  Bratfink says I need either a walker or a cane with those four *feet* on it.  I will probably have one prescribed for me after this arterial bypass in my leg.  It's supposed to restore my circulation in that leg.  I asked the doctor how I could have NONE (he said it) and yet my feet and toes are okay.  How is that possible?  He said the body is an amazing thing and will usually find a way around the clogged artery but it doesn't have the pressure needed for long.  I am hoping that everything goes well.  Say a little prayer for me, please.  My kids gave me orders that I must survive and can't die before the Beast. 

     

    I do like the surgeon that will be doing the surgery.  He's very thorough and he's the one that was chastised by me for leaving me hanging.  He had told another doctor what was going on (this is the arteriogram)  Excuse the spelling, please.  Then, that doctor left for a seminar.  None of the other doctors could tell me what was going to be done and when.  I yelled at the surgeon about it and he said he did know about the seminar (he just got back from one) but thought he would convey that to his partner.  He didn't.  I said I would yell at him about it when I saw him.

     

    One doctor told me I was *a tough old bird* and I just laughed.  I told him dealing with people my whole life AND being assistant administrator at a medical center, I knew what doctors are like and I wouldn't put up with some of the things I saw and experienced.  I would tell them when I thought they weren't paying attention to the needs of his or her patient.  How did I know?  Some of it I saw myself and the families or the patient would end up in MY office to find out information they needed that should have come from the doctors.  But some of them are too quick in their patient care and the families can't find out what's going on.  They were almost afraid to ask the doctor questions because *they are so busy*.  I told them (the doctors) to ASK if his patient or the family had any questions.  It reflected good feelings by them because it's a sign of caring.

     

    But enough of that for now.  I'm managing okay and Chewlee said to me today *Grandma!  You are walking FAST!*  Compared to the last time she was here and saw me walking, I guess I am and it's funny she would notice such a little thing like that.  She also saw me have a problem with my balance when I was helping her get her socks on before she went home.  She never can get them on right so she will ask for help.

     

    Love you all.  Have a wonderful day and don't forget that prayer for me.  I will be off of here for a couple days but I might be able to have Bratfink let you know how things are going.  I have to ask her.  If I can get her to agree, I'll have her post on my blog.  I'm  going to ask her in a few minutes.  Love you loads and please stay safe and healthy.  Life is short.  Too damn short in my opinion.  But we are living much longer than our relatives did around the turn of the last century.  Back around 1900, the average age of those that died was about 42-45 years  Let's live to be 100 or so with our minds sharp and intact..  Is that a dream or what?