Sunday report

I am kept busy taking care of Far Guy and Chance. 

Yesterday Chance and I started our day with a brisk walk to the mailbox, even though it was Sunday and there is no mail.  It was too cold to take him along to town…so he pouted as we left him behind.

We decided that we would have breakfast in town before Far Guys Coumadin test and chat with the Doctor.  Burger King’s biscuits with bacon egg and cheese…we haven’t had that in years. We dined in the car at the old beach in town. 

Far Guy is slowly regaining some strength.  SLOWLY.  Nothing seems to move fast enough for him. When I dropped him off at the Clinic doors he took a wheel chair and began to walk over to the hospital…I practically had to run to catch up with him and insist that he ride not walk.

I stopped at a local farm store for a big sack of Thistle Seed, the checkout lady said “You must have Redpolls too, they will eat you out of house and home.” Far Guy waits in the car and listens to tunes.

On the way home I decided that I would make a big pan of lasagna since Far Guy hasn’t much of an appetite and he likes lasagna.  I got it all put together and in the fridge ready to put in the oven after a long nap.  It made enough for four meals for us, one for later this week and two freezer meals.

I hope we can all stay out of the hospital this week.  I am not sure what the week will bring other than blood tests and doctors appointments…and maybe a bit of house cleaning.

Still at home

We are still here at home.  Still tired but we keep on keeping on.   Had to wait outside the ER yesterday for an hour before the Doc came out with the coumadin numbers.

We are able to take care of our own selves.  At times it is touch and go…we wish it was more going but that would be TMI.

Home once more

Far Guy got the okay to come home.  He MUST rest and take it easy. Doctors orders.  We have to go in to the hospital and have a blood test and see the Doc today and Sunday.  They are monitoring the level of the coumadin/warfarin/rat poison in his system.  I hope eventually we can monitor this at home.  I shudder to think of all the germs he will encounter on each visit to the hospital/clinic.

One day at a time. Hopefully the third time is a charm.   Chance is happy to have us all in one place.  It is really cold here…way below zero.  -22F Friday morning that is –30C eh!

I am tired. We all napped yesterday afternoon.  Naan bread pizza and a bowl of fruit…blackberries, bananas and pineapple was supper.

Infusion Day

Yesterday was infusion day.   I was able to bring in all the supplies and the “stuff” to infuse Far Guy in the hospital yesterday.  The Nurses asked what we needed and I said “an IV pole.”  Most pharmacies in hospitals do not carry the protein that we infuse.

Far Guy cannot skip infusions they must happen weekly to help protect his lungs. Luckily his Doctors understand this and told the nurses that we will handle the infusions ourselves.  (There are rules about hospital employees using outside medications on a patient.)

We get shipments once a month.  Last week when he was in a far away hospital, they would not ship the needed shipment because he was in the hospital…so after he was discharged I went over to the supply place pointed at Far Guy sitting in the car and said “Gimme the stuff, he isn’t in the hospital anymore.”

So we learned a lesson, never tell the supplier when Far Guy is in hospital if we are expecting a shipment. ( I called to ask them to delay shipment by one day because Far Guy was in the hospital and no one was around to recieve the shipment…it cannot freeze.)  I made arrangements the next day to have my brother pick up the shipment at our home before it would freeze…but since Far Guy was in the hospital they could not ship…some Medicare rule…and Medicare doesn’t even cover any of the  cost of the infusions.  Go figure I was fit to be tied.

Infusing in a hospital is different than here at home.  We have a routine, we do everything in the same order every Thursday.  It was an adventure in a different setting.  Far Guy has lost weight…another three pounds…his port is free floating anyway… and I had some trouble acessing his port…eventually I was sucessful.  The actual infusion went well.

A number of the nurses were very interested in learning about Alpa One Antitrypsin Deficiency in all of the hospitals we have been in.  Last night three nurses showed up in Far Guy’s room and said “Tell us more”  …so we did.

Hopefully Far Guy will get out of the hospital today, it depends on what his Doctor has to say and how his blood work looks.  ( I have not told Chance yet!)

Knocking on wood

Far Guy is breathing easier, the Doctors said his breathing would improve as his blood thins out.  We had another shower date and I am getting better at helping him shave ( he still shaves the old way …shaving creme and razors).  We walked down the hallway in the hospital and he finally has a bit of an appetite.  Knock on wood he is improving.

I told him I am not up to another scary trip to the ER anytime soon.  Three times is enough for me.  This last time I was doubtful that I would make it there before calling 911.  I might have driven a tad over the speed limit…maybe.

I am tired, Chance is lonely…but we are encouraged that Far Guy’s breathing is finally better.  He has Nurses that are easy on the eyes, a very comfortable bed and good food when ever he wants it.

  

Breathing easier

Far Guy is breathing easier and looks better than he did on Monday.  He is comfortable in the hospital. He ate a good supper last night…salmon and rice. He might get out of there before the weekend if all goes well.  They are in the process of thinning his blood so that the blood clots will slowly dissolve over the next 3-4 months.  He is in fairly good spirits.

I spend my time between the hospital and home taking care of Chance, I come and go throughout the day.  Chance is confused that his whole “pack” is not together.   I get the message from him that I am better than nothing but he is waiting for Far Guy to return.

 

Yo Yo

Ever feel like you were a yo yo and someone crazy was trying a few fancy tricks with you?

Far Guy had some real bad shortness of breath episodes.  Monday afternoon he had one episode after another, I got him in the vehicle and took him to the nearest ER.  The diagnosis:  He has many small blood clots in his lungs and he will have to be in the hospital a few days.  They will start him on blood thinners.  Hopefully in a day or two or three or four he will feel better.

I will be back with a report when I am able.

Yo Yo

Ever feel like you were a yo yo and someone crazy was trying a few fancy tricks with you?

Far Guy had some real bad shortness of breath episodes.  Monday afternoon he had one episode after another, I got him in the vehicle and took him to the nearest ER.  The diagnosis:  He has many small blood clots in his lungs and he will have to be in the hospital a few days.  They will start him on blood thinners.  Hopefully in a day or two or three or four he will feel better.

I will be back with a report when I am able.

Quiet Days

We spend our days quietly.

I finally caught up with laundry and disinfecting.  Still catching up on sleep.

I made a wonderful meat loaf one night.  Thanks Mary Lou!  It was a hit.

I am only doing the things that I think are most important. If it involves Far Guy or Chance it takes priority.

Yesterday Chance and I fed the birds, one tiny little Nuthatch and I came eye to eye…he was really hungry. Chance was really bored walking back and forth from the feeders to the garage…I think he missed his longer walk.  No one has ever been able to explain to Chance that the mail does not go on Sunday. In his perfect Border Collie world the mail goes every day.

It was –27 F yesterday morning or –32C eh!

Far Guy is feeling just a little bit better, he is still exhausted and coughing. My hope is that he will improve just a little bit everyday.  He is a little stronger than he was two days ago.

Chance: Update on my people

First of all I miss my sister, I would just as soon she move in with us forever….of course she could bring Miney and Little Elvis too!

I have been in a funk. The Fars have only left me one other night and that was a few years ago.  Far Side says I am getting older and get confused easily, home is safe and I like my routine.

My sister writes “Maybe Chance wants you to give him bacon strips, or pet him until you are full of hair, or play ball, or sit with him when he drinks water, or add ice cubes to his water, or help him go around scary corners, or not to leave the room so you can go to the bathroom, or make him brown rice with his food, or brush him, or put apple cider vinegar on his spots, or give him his bone treats! Or sleep on the couch because he can’t see you when you aren’t right next to him. Perhaps he misses his NEW favorite person.”

I guess my sister had fun important stuff planned like sleeping and a weekend with her friends.

Far Guy is a bit better, he tires easily. He has lost 11 pounds.  He is supposed to eat lots of protein. The medication he is on interrupts his sleep.

Far Side still has a bad cough, she is on preventive antibiotics.  She has NOT lost 11 pounds.  She sleeps when she can. She is tired too.

I sleep when I can too.  Far Side and I went to the mail box yesterday…that is the most normal thing she has done in awhile.  She even took her point and shoot and took photos of me.  Yesterday Far Guy said “Your blog didn’t post?”  She replied “I didn’t write one.” Soon she may be back to normal…one day at a time.

It snowed all day.  We had a nice walk, I lead she follows.

Home (again) At Last

We were only home from the hospital for 22 hours when Far Guy had a relapse and went into respiratory distress. With the help of my nephew Josh and his cousin Ryan we loaded Far Guy and Chance into the vehicle and I headed for a hospital 90 miles away.  I could not get Far Guys oxygen level above 81%.  He was gasping for breath almost all the way even when on his portable oxygen. 

I could have taken him back to a local hospital but I decided that maybe something else was amuck.  The local ambulance service will only transport you to the nearest health care facility.  I figured if I headed toward the bigger city if I had to call 911 odds were that I could get him there if I was closer. ( Remember I used to be an EMT so I was confident I could handle the situation if he got worse and if I needed more help I would call for it.)

On Monday we were in the ER for about seven hours before being transfered to a room. Andy, Jen and Trica were there, Savannah came later in the evening.  The Doctor ran all kinds of tests.  Tuesday afternoon the diagnosis came through…RSV.  Respiratory Syncytial Virus.  We were already in a room that required everyone to wear a mask.  It progressed to mask gloves and gowns.  Someone with RSV is very contagious and they are very susceptable to secondary infections like the flu.  RSV is prevalent in small children and causes anything from a cold to respiratory failure…the elderly, people with lung problems and immune suppressed people are more likely to get RSV.  No visitors were allowed, after the diagnosis I left only once to get clothing out of the car.  The Doctor asked us to stay out of the hallway.  We were in isolation.  Good thing we love each other. They brought me a chair bed that I heaped pillows on to sleep right next to Far Guy.

There is no magic pill for RSV  you have to muck through it with supportive oxygen and steroids and time…the virus will eventually burn itself out.  Many people die from it each year.  Our Doctor said only one in 200,000 adults over the age of four get RSV.  It was diagnosed through a blood test.

Little by little Far Guy improved, at least he wasn’t getting sicker.

We are home and we can have no visitors for at least two weeks maybe longer.  We don’t want to give anyone anything and we don’t want their germs either.

I have to make a trip out to get a couple of prescriptions filled and stock up on some groceries…then we will stay put.

We are both exhaused, sleeping in a hospital is hard.

Chance is really mad at us…he wagged his tail once at me and then started to ignore me.  Jen brought him to the hospital parking lot so he could go home with us…he didn’t seem real happy to get home either.  Maybe he misses Miney and Little Elvis.

I will be back to blogging soon, I have to catch up on some sleep first.

Thanks for all your good thoughts and prayers we appreciate them!

I hope we are home longer than 22 hours this time.

Taking a blog break

I am taking time off to take care of Far Guy.  

Home

Sometimes the path to getting better is full of steps and icy spots…the important thing is to keep on keeping on. 

Far Guy was released from the hospital yesterday.  His Doctor ordered all the IV antibiotics and steroids that he could.  Now it just takes time.  Far Guy could have stayed in the hospital for a few more days but he chose to come home to me and Chance.   He has the option of going back if he is not doing well.

Boy was Chance happy to see him!  Far Guy napped, I made chicken and dumplings for supper…chicken is medicinal isn’t it?

We plan to just stay home and rest this week.  So far so good.  It is much easier for me to care for him at home rather than running back and forth to the hospital.

We are thankful that he was able to return home.

Thank you for all your prayers and good thoughts!

Photo taken January 2017 in Bemidji State Park.

Chance: Waiting

I am waiting for Far Guy to come home.  Far Side says he is S.L.O.W.L.Y. very slowly slightly improving.  He is still in ICU…he has his own private nurse…she only had one patient all day yesterday.

Far Side brought his pants home…but he wasn’t in them.  Far Side said she helped get him washed up a bit and changed his jogging pants.  She also made him eat some food and drink lots of water.

The next time she went she took his shaving stuff.  She told him to drink more fluids and eat a little more food to get stronger.  He got up and walked a little bit without falling over.  He is real tired.

We all have to wait and have patience. I had to wait exactly 2 1/2 hours past my supper time for my supper and I was patient.

Getting well soon

Far Guy is worse.  He is in ICU and getting good care for respiratory distress.  We are hopeful that he will be back taking Chance for walks to get the mail soon.

He caught my cold and although he started on antibiotics and prednisone it was not enough to keep him breathing well on his own.

Since he has Alpha One Antitrypsin Deficiency and only 21% of normal lung function he needs some extra help to get over this health hurdle.

A prayer or two or three would be appreciated.

Turning the corner

Finally I am feeling a bit better, it was a long siege.  I went outside, took some photos of Chance and cooked supper yesterday.  The menu was egg bake with ham and cheese and fruits…okay  I may have cheated on the fruit it was pinapple from a can with a banana sliced into the juice.  Far Guy gave it a strange look…but decided that banana in pineapple juice is quite tasty.

We plan to stay put and not venture out into the flu ridden world until we need groceries.

Far Guy is trying to drink lots of fluids and is resting…but coughing a lot.  I am keeping a close eye on him.  We are going to sauna every other night to cook out the germs.

Chance is doing well for the moment.  He was a real pill and wouldn’t pose nicely for me.

 

This is his disgruntled look.  I got a few photos before he got up and turned around…he is pretty smart.

As you can see he is a pro at ignoring me.

I was not feeling well enough to go to Bingo with my Dad this week.  I suppose he won lots of times without me.

I might do some disinfecting and dusting later today…see I am better!  I have turned the corner!

Grumpy

I have been told I am grumpy.  Imagine that. Day 7 of  JUST a Cold.

I have not had a cold this bad in many years.   I am a snot factory.  When I am not overproducing nasal secretions I am sneezing...loudly...sometime the sneezing means a mad dash for the bathroom...drinking plenty of fluids will do that to you.  I have Kleenex in my pocket, stuffed into my bra and containers of Kleenex next to my computer.  My hands are chapped and raw from washing them all the time.  The snot factory has given me a headache.  I am coughing ...when I lay down I cough more.  My ears still itch.  I think my hearing in my right ear has been affected....sometimes it seems sound is in a tin can. I have been to sauna and taken just about every cold preparation known to mankind.  I have completed a course of antibiotics.  I have done everything I know to do.  Far Guy gets into the spirit of things when he asks "What can I get you besides a gun?"

I manage to get one load of laundry done a day and get the kitchen cleaned up...Far Guy has been doing most of the cooking.  I am still watching Peaky Binders it is a series. I play mindless computer games and wander around in the house.  Chance is good company and I brush him once a day and tend to his skin irritations and his hemorrhoid/fistula...which for the moment has disappeared. (Yeah Chance!)

I just keep on keeping on...getting not much accomplished.   Good thing I had nothing planned for this week.

Swan photo taken last February

Yes I might be a tad grumpy.  I have got to get better.  Far Guy is coming down with it and per Doctor's instructions has started an antibiotic.
Far Side

Wistful Wednesday: Uncle Otto's Rock

Years ago my Uncle Otto had a huge boulder delivered to his yard.  He put pavers around the front for a small flower bed and we picked out flowers from the greenhouse.  One year it was Marigolds, Zinnias and lots of Moss Roses and one year it was Daisies.  He painted Welcome on the boulder in Norwegian of course and had a chain saw carver carve him a Nisse. A Norwegian Nisse is a mischievous sprite that protects a farmstead or home.

The first year it was looking really good and the photo came along in a Christmas card.

Otto chained the Nisse down to a huge anchor in the ground behind the boulder.
We enjoyed seeing it every time we drove by.
Sadly someone came by and cut the chain and took the Nisse.
Far Side

Salvia

I saw a really nice Salvia up in Grand Rapids at the trial gardens last Fall.  I might try it in my miserable little flower bed. Last summer nothing seemed to thrive.  I was thinking that maybe the dappled sun isn't enough sun and I should try some Impatiens.

Winter time always brings thoughts of which flowers might be worth a try...all the Flower and Seed Catalogs have arrived ...how can you not think about summer.

Salvia Rockin "Playin the blues" it is a Proven Winner.  Blooms were abundant and the bees were really liking the plant so I think the Hummers would like it too!

Just a Cold Update: Still miserable, sneezing and coughing, trying to rest and drink plenty of fluids.  Sleep is elusive.  I started watching Peaky Blinders, Far Guy has watched it and really enjoyed it.  Lots of murder and mayhem for me but I do enjoy the colorful language and the sets...so I am giving it a go....so far I have not fallen asleep watching it.

To frustrate me further my normal Open Live Writer for blogs is having issues...if it isn't one thing it is another.
FAR SIDE

Whirly Gigs and Geese

Here is someone with more whirly gigs than me…and I think we are related.

These are to keep the Canda Geese off the area…I wonder if it worked? They can be real pests and once they find a spot to poop…they return until they are chased away.

I am not talking about one goose here and one goose there…a whole flock of geese that are pooping machines.

All photos taken last summer when it was warm.

Just a Cold Update:

Still feel rotten but I am up and about and quiet…because quiet works for me and then I cannot possibly be grumpy.

I watched some brainless tv…some movies that if I had paid to see them I would have walked out. (Dallas Buyers Club 0 stars Are you here 0 Stars Our souls at night 2 stars)  I have weird dreams normally and on cold medicine they are doubly strange.

I hope I turn the corner in a day or two.

My own calendar

I made my own calendar again this year.  I have photos of some people and their age on their birthdate.  There are many companies out there that will make a calendar for you, the software they have is easy you just upload your photos and then add the text you want. I use Shutterfly and think they are awesome printers.

I had a hard time picking photos…there were more than just a few that I really liked.

This is my January photo.  Chance, Miney and Little Elvis who recently turned eight years old…eight can you believe it?  This photo looks like it was taken in a studio..it was our driveway after a snow and we were playing ball.

I can appreciate my photos everytime I glance at the calendar.

A cold update: I rested and had a really long nap yesterday, it is a good thing we have food in the freezer ready to warm up as neither of us felt like cooking.  So far no body aches…it must just be a common cold.

A Cold

I have a cold.  Sore throat, cough, runny nose and ears that itch.  I came down with it on Thursday night.  Far Guy is showing symptoms too.  We must have picked up some germ at the clinic about 10 days ago.  Bummer.  Rest and plenty of fluids is on our agenda.

Close up of the Metallic Water Colors on Butterflies.

Chance is fine he doesn’t have a cold yet.

Exploring: Metallic Water Colors

Last Fall I purchased some metallic water colors and really never had the time to explore how they worked.

Remember my word for 2018 is Explore.

They are easy to work with.

I stamped a bunch of butterfly cards that will be all ocassion cards.  The watercolors give them a nice shimmer, I may add a bit of glitter…you can never have too much glitter….can you?

Nothing much is new here, it is warmer and we may get into the 30’s F yeah!  The Janurary thaw has arrived!

My Dad and I had another Bingo date…neither of us bingoed but we were close several times.  Dad was one number away from the $1,000  blackout…we will try again next week God willing and the crick don’t rise.

Chance : All about me

We got a Trail Cam just before Christmas, we can tell who comes and goes and how long they stay.  It has been pointed many different directions.

Mostly it catches me coming and going.  Helping to get the mail or feeding the birds or leading Far Guy around in the yard.

It also captures birds flying by, snow falling out of the trees and some weird glowing eyes at night and the Bunnies which I am not supposed to chase.

Far Side said she is amazed at the quality of the photos.

Yesterday was a get up at o dark thirty day, the old folks had to attend a class on Defensive Driving to save some $ on their automobile insurance.  They are pretty sneaky.  I got to go along but only as far as the groomers.  I got groomed and expressed and all those things that go along with a morning at the groomers.  I was very handsome but exhausted.   Everyone had a long afternoon nap after we got back home.

I still have some patchy dry skin problems.  I still have that nasty hemorrhoid/fistula/tumor too…Far Side likes the days that it totally disappears…but then it comes back again.  Now that I have been to the groomers my butt hair is much shorter, it will be easier to keep clean…or so someone says.  Far Side is real particular about my butt.  She says caring for an older dog is challenging and sometimes a crappy job.

I can go up the steps most days by myself, sometimes I need help and they put the harness with the handle on me.  I never come down the stairs by myself anymore.  I lay on the landing and when I want to come down I whine or bark…yes barking gets their attention, they bring up the harness and guide me down the stairs safely.  I play ball but not for very long.  I need help getting in and out of the car but I still like to go for a ride EVERY day!

Wistful Wednesday: Neighbors

Last week was a hard week for long time neighbors.  People that I have known nearly all my life…well since my parents moved to their farm in Carsonville township  in 1952.

Ruby.  What  a gal, she celebrated her Christmas Eve birthday of 100 years and lived 16 days longer than that.   She and her husband Bob owned the Texaco Station in Ponsford.  Bob and I shared a dog one summer.  A German Shepherd showed up at the farm, she would stay a few days and then be gone, a few days later she would show up again.  I named her Princess.  I snuck her food, but we had other dogs on the farm and didn’t need another.   One day we stopped at the Texaco station and there she was…the mystery was solved…Bob couldn’t figure out where she (Patsy) went or why?  We lived just over 4 miles away.  Ruby always loved that old memory of the shared dog.  Bob has been gone a long time (he died in 1999) and now sweet Ruby has joined him.  Their lake place on the west side of Shell Lake was a great place to swim in the summer and we were always welcomed. Hot summer nights before air conditioning spent on their dock is a fond memory for me as a kid. Last summer Ruby invited me to her birthday party and so when it rolled around I went…she was so happy to see the good turn out for her birthday. She made it to 100!  She said she would and she did.

The old Texaco sign still marks the spot of the old station in Ponsford.

Jim.  Jim died the day after Ruby.  Since they were good friends that used to play cards together all the time it is fitting that he died the day after Ruby.  They lived just a mile apart all their lives.  Jim was 94.  We used to have coffee with Jim and his wife Irene and talk about area history. Jim’s Grandpa Nunns family and Far Guy’s Great Grandfather Abbott family were neighbors up in Eramosa Township, Wellington County  Ontario Canada. They all made the trip together to Eunice Township Becker County first in 1889 and shortly therafter settled in Carsonville Township.  Jim used to say that his Grandpa was sickly and would have died in Canada, but the healing air of the pine boughs saved him here in Minnesota. ( Then he would wipe away a tear or two.)  Jim used to say that there were many Indian mounded graves in the area…one was right along the road.  He had lots of stories to tell.  One story I will share; Jim had a pretty good looking Stallion.  Our daughter Trica worked out a deal with him to have her horse “visit” the stallion for awhile….when asked what we owed for feed…he replied “The good Lord provided the rain and sunshine for a good pasture and there is no way I am charging you for that!”

Jim and his wife Irene were married for 72 years before she died in 2016. Up until that time they were constant companions.  Their children took turns caring for them on the farm until 2015 when Irene needed extra help so they moved into assisted living and away from their farm.

In years past we would enjoy seeing a team hitched up to a sleigh or a wagon taking kids and grandkids for a ride the old fashioned way.  “There goes Jim.”

Saying goodbye to really old friends is hard.  Not many old timers around anymore.  Soon we will be the old timers….maybe we are already.

Deep Freeze

It warmed up briefly over the weekend and then it snowed, turned cold and we were thrust back into the deep freeze.  Cold temperatures along with a wind had the wind chills hovering from –30 to –50 below zero.

I took advantage of the warmer weather and took some photos outside…I had been inside the house way too long.  Cabin Fever will get to you sooner or later and a walk in the yard was the best medicine for that!

The glass flowers are holding up quite nicely.

The old Border Collie didn’t want to pose for a photo.

He was ignoring me.  I told him that the snow shows up so nicely on his black coat…but he still ignored me.  I should have had a treat in my pocket!

We got two+ inches of snow before going into the deep freeze again.  We should emerge from the deep freeze on Wednesday and it looks to be a warmer weekend!!  Something to look forward to!

We ran errands yesterday in the brutal cold, no fun at the gas station…or anyplace else.  We are stocked up again for another week.  Chance enjoyed his ride to town…he got REAL bossy as we were getting ready to leave and started whining and then barked at us…he was ready to go!