Alrighty then

 The new vehicle was much easier on my back and legs as we traveled back and forth Up North to medical appointments. As with any new vehicle we have much to learn about the features.

Far Guy saw his Primary Care Doctor for a follow up after his hospitalization earlier this month.  He still has a nagging cough that is concerning so he will be on steroids for about a week.  Hopefully that will get rid of his cough.  Between the heat, humidity and wildfire smoke...good outside air is not here. 

I had test injections for a Medial Branch Block...my facet joints in my back are unhappy.   I did not have a good enough result to continue with another round of test injections.  You have to have 80% improvement and I only had about 60% improvement for the six hours that the test injections last for.  They have cancelled the tests in August ..so we are back to square one....or maybe it is square zero. 

Then I saw the Gastroenterologist to discuss my side duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (SD IPMN) on my pancreas.   It is considered precancerous.  Because of the size of the "cyst" (more than 5 cm) the Doctor recommends   1) MRI to watch what happens next  2) Referral to Mayo Clinic or the University of Minnesota  for surgery.   I have a MRI scheduled for the end of September and then we will evaluate the situation.  It is a nasty big surgery...many days in the hospital and a very long recovery.   I am not thrilled about that option. 

I had a video visit with my Rheumatologist...take prednisone he says ...he can do nothing for me. 

Yesterday was son in law Andy's birthday!  Now that is something to celebrate! 

Far Side

Quiet Sunday

 We had a quiet day that was appreciated.  We went for our usual Sunday lunch out on the patio...it was warm, but there was a breeze and we had the patio all to ourselves. 

I started a new afghan with a new to me pattern. It is call the Granny Square Shell Pattern.

It is interesting after I figured it out...the joins were not well written in the pattern or perhaps I am easily confused.  Not sure if I will continue the entire afghan with the light colored shells and the different color outlines or if I should mix it up! 

Minnesota weather: High 94F or 34C   Low 68F or 20C.  In town the car said it was 99...who really knows for sure. 

We have a very busy week coming up with 7 appointments.  3 appointments are Up North. 

Far Side

Tomato

Our Yellow Pear Tomato is really growing!  It has flowers.

It sure likes the sunny spot next to one of the garages. 

We have a very busy week with many doctor appointments...six over a couple of days. 

We are both tired of Doctors. Do this... do that... hurry up and wait. 

Far Side
 

Up North

 We were Up North for a procedure that was cancelled and a Dr appointment.  

We had supper one night with the Great Grandchildren and supper one night with Grandson Noah and his wife Hanna.  We did more that eat...we petted Sadie, played cards and went to Menards. 

Nice to get a photo where Peach isn't trying to strangle Baby K.

After we left Up North we heard that Cee Cee put a rock up her nose that required a trip to the ER and an Xray.

Something always happening when there are four! 

Far Side

Back

 We are back from Dr appointments.  Two appointments turned into three more appointments for me. 

I had an MRI and they may have found the root cause to my back pain and leg numbness...they are not sure so I will see another Dr before another procedure is performed.  In the meantime the MRI showed something else that calls for yet another MRI.

The little pills that I had to take prior to the MRI worked really well...so well that I tripped over my own feet, fell and hit my head and nose...not sure what will turn black or blue yet. The poor nurse had to fill out a report.  

I slept most of the way home and am headed to bed soon:)

A picture of our Border Collie Chance in a little plane that was in our yard in 2005.

What's Cooking  Far Guy made me a ham sandwich and he had lasagna from the freezer. 

Minnesota weather: High 54F  or 12C  Low was 38F or 3C Not much rain fell here.

Far Side

Last day of March

 We can March right into Spring...but the wind is still raw and you need a parka, mittens and a hat....note to self your crocs with socks just don't cut it yet. 

We completed #21 and #22 of our appointments in March.  What a relief to put that behind us!  One Doctor says come back in a year and the other said 6 months!  Alrighty then.

Far Guy can see without glasses.  His vision is pretty near 20 20. We have eight drops left to do...out of 318 that is an accomplishment itself.  The Doctor reports his eyes are healing well after the cataract surgery. 

I am getting better at scheduling appointments...we have some scheduled in June and some in September all on the same day or two. Unlike last year when we had appointments every week and had to drive up North often....or appointments every day that had us staying with Andy and Jen a fair amount of time. 

Minnesota weather: High 42F or 6C  Low was 29F or -2C. There was some sun but mostly wind.  I am thinking that March is going out like a Lion as we have snow in the forecast.

Whats cooking?  I made Chili and Grilled Cheese:) 

Far Side

Friday

 We finished #19 and #20 of 22 appointments.  Come back in three months and come back if you have problems...alrighty then. 

We have had some cold windy days and it snowed huge snowflakes a couple of times yesterday.  The wind is just raw.

A sunset photo that my sister sent from Phoenix where she reports it is very warm:)

Minnesota weather: High 30F or -1C  low was 21F or -6C.  We should see warmer temperatures over the weekend and into next week when it could rain instead of snow...but you never know. 

Far Guy, Jen and Andy watch Hockey...playoffs I guess.  I read, work on a puzzle or watch whatever I want to on another TV....lately old reruns of Project Runway Allstars. 

Far Guy and I made pizza for supper..it was really good...Pillsbury Crust with Italian Sausage and Pepperoni.

Far Side

Snow and a baby

 We got about 7 inches of snow...it blew around a fair bit in the night time. 

Well at least it covered up the dirty old snow for now. 

In the night my phone was beeping...it was my baby brother sending a photo of his #13 Grand!  

9 pounds 4 ounces welcome to the family Kian!  We will probably get to meet him next Summer. 

We had a quiet day...some laundry...some crafts and a pan of lasagna for supper. 

Minnesota weather: High 18F or -8C  Low was 4 or -16C  We are headed back into the deep freeze for the weekend...

We completed 11 out of 21 appointments this week...we could count it 12 out of 22 because we had to go back to one clinic because they forgot to do a test....we barely got home and they called and said to come right back.  Can you say ...organized???

Far Side

2nd eye

 Far Guy had his last eye surgery yesterday.  The left eye this time.  It all went well.  

The total number of drops in EACH eye is 159 over four weeks.  Good thing we have a chart to fill out with the times. 

8 out of 19 appointments completed. 

Some of the snow has melted in the front yard. Dirty snow remains.

Minnesota weather:  High was 32F or 0C  Low was 13 or -11C. Mostly cloudy.

As I write this on Tuesday late afternoon...Andy is cooking up a storm in the kitchen...it is Cee Cees 6th birthday and she requested a surprise supper...but she said "It better be good!"

Far Side

Keep smiling

 Thankfully we are at the end of this week.  #6 of 19 appointments have been accomplished...with no extra appointments added!!

I am all done with Physical Therapy...my therapist is a gem.  I will keep keeping on with exercises!

Jen made this ...she loves sea glass:)

We were up early for Far Guy's appointment for an echocardiogram.  It was a tad slippery out.  No sunshine here...maybe over the weekend! 

Far Side

Stripes

 I ventured into something new for me.  A striped blanket.   

 Hobby Lobby Cozy Occasion Yarn one skein ivory and then five skeins of colored yarn.  I used a 6.5 hook and the Linen Stitch.  I repeated the colors twice so it ended up an ok size.  This is the yarn that was supposed to become colored hearts on an ivory background...I didn't like it at all so I frogged it and went with a totally different idea to use up the yarn.  I finished this blanket on March 4 and quickly began an ivory blanket to use up the remaining yarn plus two more ivory skeins procured on a trip to Hobby Lobby. 

4 medical visits out of 19 are done.  The ENT Surgeon advises that Far Guy see the Endocrinologist for follow up ultrasounds/biopsies to keep an eye on the Thyroid nodules.  So no thyroid surgery is scheduled. 

I picked up groceries at Wally World while Far Guy had his infusion and then we went to Hobby Lobby together and out for lupper at Perkins where we had breakfast. 

Minnesota Weather: Cloudy, gloomy, frosty, slippery.  We are in a Winter Weather Advisory for all of Friday mainly for ice and slick roads.  High was 36F or 2C Low was 19F or -7C eh.

Far Side

Roses

 Andy gave Jen roses for Valentine's Day!

They are lovely and smell good too.

Monday appointments are done, I had a recheck with my Primary Care Dr and then in the afternoon I saw the Pain Management Doctor.  They want to try one more injection in my back before trying a implantable device.  

What ever lets just get this show on the road.  FYI it was a two month wait just to get to see the Pain Management Doctor.

I have one more appointment this week and Far Guy has two.  

We have wicked weather coming in soon.  I suspect our February thaw and nice weather with bearable temperatures is over. 

Far Side

Nice day

 We had a nice sunny day here..just about half the air temperature of Belize.

Jen sent this photo from the resort in Belize.

Thursday Far Guy had his weekly infusion, I went to Walmart Pickup, Aldi and Hobby Lobby and still waited for him in the parking lot.  All four medical appointments are done for the week...Friday is our day off! Next week we have four appointments...mostly me for a change of pace.  Taking turns I guess.

I am tweeking the last of the photographs to be printed for the photo albums I have been working on...I can see the end in sight! 

Happy Birthday today to our nieces Katie and Bethany! 

Far Side

Book Club 2026: February

 The February read was a good one. Recommended by my daughter Jen.  I give it an almost perfect score of 9.75  I would have given it a 10 but it is a very loooong book. 

Chris Whitaker is the author of All the Colors of the Dark

Is is a historical crime mystery with a touch of hope ...that is the best way I can describe it. 

Far Guy had his stress test yesterday...it was a three hour appointment...it must have went well as they released him to come home.  I came back to Andy and Jens and caught up with laundry and cleaned a bathroom while he was at the hospital. 

Supper is Salmon for Far Guy and vegetable soup for me. 

Minnesota weather:  Sunny but not as warm as yesterday. 

Far Side

Goodbye January

 I saw my Rheumatologist on Friday.  He said " I can do nothing for you, I think you have Chronic Pain Syndrome."  He is tapering me off of the daily prednisone dose and I should be seen at the Pain Clinic.  Alrighty then.   

Far Guy had his infusion appointment...while he was there I picked up groceries at Wally World and then stopped by Aldi to get fruit.  I had a very long nap in the afternoon. 

Not much progress on my various projects.

Today we say goodbye to January...perhaps February will be better! 

Far Guy will have his Thyroid Biopsy in February...nothing heard about his other appointments...stress test and echocardiogram.

Supper was leftovers...all good. 

Minnesota weather: High 4F or -16C  Low was -14F or -26C.  We have a Winter weather advisory until noon Sunday.

Far Side

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO NOON CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Mixed precipitation and areas of blowing snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 1 and 3 inches and locally up to 4 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota. * WHEN...From noon Saturday to noon CST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road conditions. Falling and blowing snow will lead to areas of quick and sudden reductions to visibility, making travel difficult, especially in rural areas that are prone to blowing snow.

More appointments

 It seems like every appointment that we have leads to three more.  At this rate will we ever be done with Doctors and appointments??  doubtful

Yesterday was a frustrating difficult day.  Anxiety as we saw the Ear Nose and Throat Surgeon in Fargo.  Far Guy has a nodule on his Thyroid.  The needle aspiration that he had done back in September showed it was Thyroid. (Go figure) The Oncologist Dr B wanted it checked out...the referral took place the first week in December...well yesterday was that appointment...finally. That appointment is leading to another biopsy....not sure when...they will call.  Far Guy is fit to be tied.  There are no ENT Surgeons in Grand Forks....Fargo is the next best option or Rochester.  ( We are not driving back and forth to Rochester in the Winter) ( Far Guy does NOT like the Surgeon in Fargo)

One day at a time...we keep on keeping on. Trying to stay positive! Three appointments on Friday to get through before we get the weekend off. 

We are still waiting for the we will call you from the appointments last week.  

One good thing...the roads were not snowy and not icy. 

Two good things...Jen went with us and we went out to lunch.

Another good thing...furnaces instead of wood fired stoves like in the olden days...I am not sure how people stayed warm.

Far Side

Watercoloring and more

I finished up a bunch of water colorings for cards.   I only have a few more stamped...however I do know where a bunch of stamps are in the craft room.  Possibly I will call this project good and move onto something else. 

We had a very quiet day, I cleaned two bathrooms except for the floors...I am still not getting down on my hands and knees to scrub. Maybe one day soon.  I did some laundry and worked on a baby blanket while watching The Closer on Netflix. 

Sadie keeps one eye on us all the time.  When she sleeps she lays in front of the front door so we cannot escape.

Her people will return late Sunday night.  Last we heard they were boarding their flight in Cincinnati and that 90% of the flights had been cancelled due to weather.  Jen was visiting a friend in Ohio and Andy was Master of Ceremonies at a Vex Tournament.

We made homemade pizza using a Pillsbury Pizza Dough for supper...just as good as a Pizza Shop.

Only six medical appointments this week. Sure hope it warms up for the appointments on Thursday and Friday!

Another cold day in Minnesota: High -10F or -23C  Low was -20F or -29C eh! 

Extreme Cold Warning in effect until Monday, 9:00 AM CST. Source: U.S. National Weather Service

* WHEN...Until 9 AM CST Monday. * IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 45 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.

Far Side

In between Snow and a book

 Some of our snow has taken on a dingy brownish color...snow and good old North Dakota soil makes the snow look yucky.

Here you can see the strip of dirty snow. 

I ventured out for my PT appointment, Andy was up at o'dark thirty shoveling and snow blowing.  I came back after my appointment and got Far Guy to drop me off at the grocery store door and pick me up again...much better than walking across an icy parking lot.

I finished an in between book. It is a Sandra Dallas book called Little Souls.  It is historical fiction. It takes place in Denver Colorado during the Spanish Flu epidemic.  I give it a 7...mostly because I think sexual abuse can be in a book but I do not want it to fuel the whole book.  I would have written it differently...but you all probably guessed that already. 

Four medical appointments this week, my one is done...Far Guy has three to go. We must travel to appointments in Fargo on Wednesday so we hope for no stormy weather. 

Progress continues on the photo album project...I am on 1994.  

Supper is Tacos, Far Guy's Chili Cheese Dip, fruit and some Rice Krispie bars that I just finished making!

Minnesota Weather:  High 3 F or 16C  Low was -11F or -24C   Wind Chills were in the -40's.

Far Side

Books, Blue Sky and Back

 I read Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.   It is about the Yellow Fever Epidemic in Philadelphia through the eyes of a teenager.  It is Historical Fiction.

It was an easy read.  I give it an 8 out of a 10. 

I made vegetable beef soup for supper.  It was really good.  

It was a nice day with blue skies and sunshine. 

Minnesota weather; High 36 F or 2C Low was 23F or -5C eh!

My MRI results are back and there is nothing wrong in my back that requires surgery.  I will continue with PT and I have an appointment with a pain management Doctor.  The PT says I should never stand still but shift my weight back and forth when standing. At the present time I am taking 10 mg of Prednisone every day as recommended by my Rheumatologist.  I failed the Methotrexate that he prescribed last month...it gave me tremors. What can I say I am complicated. 

Far Side

BE prepared

 Recently I finished two baby blankets for the stash.  

Purple...because someone told me when I have a baby I would like a purple blanket because the nursery will be purple.  Alrighty then.  Great Grandma is prepared! 

Blue...just because. 

The yarn is Baby Bee Snugs and Kisses...the purple is called Grape and the blue is called Blueberry.  I used a size J hook and 3 to 4 skeins of yarn.

One thing about this yarn is that you stay nice and warm when crocheting! 

Far Guy made brats and tater tots for supper.  He can cook!

Minnesota Weather; High was 10F or -12C and the Low was 5F or -15C. 

I had an MRI on my lower back to see what is or isn't happening. I slept all afternoon after the tiny little pill the Dr prescribed so I would not freak out in the confined space.

Far Side