Thursday, March 31, 2011

Thursday 03.31.2010

I was very disappointed that I didn't sleep well last night. It seemed that I was awake every 45 minutes or hour. Ugh. Although I did go back to sleep each time, interrupted sleep is not good. After Daniel left for work I did a little better, with the last interval being an hour, and I woke at 10 am. Later than I had wanted, but at least I got a little rest.

Breakfast, shower, and it wasn't too much longer before I had to go to Leah's for my massaaahhge. She did a great job today, working the stress areas that may have contributed to the headache the other day.

Daniel called just as I was finishing there. He's back at the trailer tonight.

I went out for a walk this evening. Not quite as far as yesterday, but enough to perspire. After a shower I looked at the internet a bit, and now I'm ready for bed.

Tomorrow is a workday. Thank you for reading. Hugs.

P.S. I don't know what this formatting is doing. I do put spaces between the paragraphs...

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Wednesday 03.30.2011

Just a little fatigued today. I slept pretty good, at intervals, but without Daniel's "sleeping noises" I was able to get back to sleep ok. The birds' loud chirping at the sunshine woke me. *smile* I enjoyed my day. Breakfast, fresh brew, reading computer stuff. I started getting sleepy this afternoon, but decided to go out for a walk instead. I went over to the local city park that has a swimming pond/lake and trails. While going through the woods, I heard something rustle--I stood still and watched, and saw a raccoon walking in an arc, backing up to trees and fallen trees, rubbing and ?spraying. It turned around and saw me, scampered up a tree, and peeked around, just like you see in the drawings. Cute. I smiled and thanked God for this bit of entertainment. I also had my phone with me, and took a few pics, though I realize as I write this, I haven't looked at them yet. Sometimes it's kind of hard to see what the picture is, in the brighter light outdoors. Back home, I started dinner. Dan called, saying he was on the way home, and we enjoyed yummy swiss steak, mashed potatoes, and fresh broccoli. It wasn't too long that he was off to bed. He'll get up and go back to Gun Lake tomorrow, and I'll go back to sleep. I do have a massage tomorrow, and I am ready for that. And other than being a little tired today, I've felt pretty good. Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Tuesday 03.29.2011

I made it through another workday. We were again terribly busy, and I clocked out a full hour late tonight. The good news is that I do not work tomorrow.

Sometime after noon, I realized that I was getting a headache. And not long after that, I realized it was a migraine. I didn't think I had any fresh migraine medicine (it had expired, and I had discarded it), so I took a part of a tylenol with codeine, a plain tylenol, and a motrin, and hoped it would work. About a half hour later, I realized that the pain was going away. Yippee--it worked!! That's the first time I've interrupted the migraine before it got really bad.

For a few hours I felt "hung-over", and tonight I have just a little soreness in my head from the spasm.

Tomorrow is a rest and recuperation day. Dan will be home in the evening.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Monday 03.28.2011

Ohmygosh. What a workday. I'm glad to say it's done, and will be going in tomorrow to the same patients (plus some new ones) and the same staff (and hopefully more help).

I had a safe drive today, thank you God, and the bright sun in the blue sky motivated me to keep going. (I was able to look out the window a couple of times...)
I'm looking forward to warmer weather and spending time at The Lake!!

When I got home, I mixed up a batch of brownies for a bake sale. Dan called, and now the brownies are cooling, the kitchen is cleaned up, and I'm ready for bed.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday 03.27.2011

I didn't sleep real well; Dan got up and left for work, and I went back to sleep for a few hours, finally waking about 9. The sun was bright, though the temp was still 35 degrees.

I went out and exchanged the shoe inserts that we bought a few weeks ago, that neither one of us was satisfied with. I chose a different type for each of us. We'll try these out. From there I went to the library to return materials, and stopped at the Dollar store and browsed around. I found a couple things I wanted. Back home, I did a yoga sequence, talked with Daniel, had supper and a quiet evening.

Tomorrow is a workday for me. I'm hoping to sleep tonight.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Saturday 03.26.2011

I slept pretty good during the night. This morning, the sun was shining, illuminating the ice covered pussy-willow buds outside the window. Yes, that plant is that big that the tips of the branches are beside the balcony.

As I looked in the mirror, my left eye is better this morning. Maybe a hint of pink, still no drainage or discomfort.

A beautiful, though still cold at 31 degrees, drive to Jackson for a haircut. Then over to Frank's to spend time with him. We did the "drive-bys" on a few more houses, finding one that might be "it". He's the one who has to act, though. I'm just guiding.

To my pleasant surprise, Dan came home tonight, as he's working 12 hours both Sunday and Monday, then 8 hours again the rest of the week. So, the laundry is done, and he's got fresh shirts to take back. I also fixed some food for him to take.

This evening, my eye has gotten red again, though maybe not as much as yesterday. It feels a bit swollen, too. No irritation, itching, or drainage. Odd, it is.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Friday 03.25.2011

Had a good day, though nicely busy.

Throughout the day my left eyeball has become progressively more reddened. Both upper and lower lids are a little puffy. No itching, soreness, or drainage. Pediatricians don't think it's Pink Eye (which is a good thing--it's highly contagious, and I would not be able to work until it had cleared up). Probably not an allergy either--only the left eye is affected. Time will tell.

A safe drive today, thank you God. It was clear and cold this morning (18 degrees), and clear and warmer (26 degrees) on the way home. Soon, soon, the weather will break and it will be blooming warm out there.

Dan sounded better tonight; he's at the trailer. He might even catch up on his rest...

Tomorrow I have a haircut, then Frank and I are going to do something. I'm looking forward to it.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Thursday 03.24.2011

I had a pretty good workday today--a good group of patients, and a good group of co-workers. We are truly blessed to have each other.

Dan went to work this morning, and will probably stay at the trailer for a couple of days. He sounded good tonight, like not having to drive home, then back again in the morning, is a good thing. I'm happy we have a comfortable place for him to stay.

I've felt pretty good today, overall, and am ready to go to bed this evening.

Hopefully I can sleep tonight. Tomorrow is a workday, so no sleeping in the morning...

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wednesday 03.23.2011

The weather doesn't want to give up on winter. It's cold, drizzly, and slippery here. Not too far from here there is more snow on the ground. We need to remember these days when it's 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity. (Either way, I'd like to be at The Lake...)

Dan slept until almost 10 today. He's got this infrequent congested cough hanging on. I suppose he'll go to the doctor when he absolutely has to.

We had a quiet day today, not doing much at all, other than being together. And that was nice. He wanted to go out for dinner, and we did.

The laundry was done, and Dan got his things collected to go to work for the next few days (until he runs out of clean shirts...)

I work tomorrow, too.

I've felt pretty good again today, thank you God. Minor joint pain, a little fullness in my arm. Alive and cancer free.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Tuesday 03.22.2011

A restful night, and day, for us. Daniel did a couple errands and met "the guys" at the Golf Dome. That makes him happy. He's still a bit fatigued, and is in bed for the night.

I went out for a few fresh groceries, and fixed us a yummy supper of salmon, sweet potato, and broccoli, very similar to the meal we like at Finley's.

I've felt pretty good today. A little achey in the joints, but it could be the weather, too. Cold drizzly rain on the edge of freezing. The neighbor Bob at The Lake called and invited me up to get snowed in. They are expecting 10 inches tonight...

And others are vacationing in Florida.

Location, location, location.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Monday 03.21.2011

I slept pretty good last night, in between wake times. I dozed to the birds chirping this morning, finally getting up after 0900.

I enjoyed the morning, looking at the computer, putzing around. Breakfast, shower.

Later in the afternoon I went out for a walk. The wind was nippy, but the snow is gone except for the larger plow piles that are in shaded areas. That snow will be gone in another day or two.

Dan got home just before 9. He's happy to be home, and off work for a couple of days. I hope he gets rested.

Tomorrow is unscheduled.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sunday 03.20.2011

What a workday.

Daniel got up and left for his commute, I got up and ready for mine.

A safe drive to Jackson, thank you God. Those dead deer along the highway have thawed out and are really smelly.

I ended up having to "float" out to another area of the hospital again today. Ugh. I did my best as a "helper", trying to find and hold on to a positive attitude while working outside of my comfort zone. I tried to keep my heart and mind open to hear God's messages, to be able to see what it was that I was supposed to share and/or receive from being there.

I was able to take more time with the people who needed it, instead of rushing in and out of the patient rooms like a "regular" staff person would have to do. I know I made a difference in at least 3 people's day.

And I am very happy that the shift ended. I clocked out and had a safe drive home in the rain, thanks again.

Daniel is staying at the trailer tonight.

I'm a bit tired, with sore feet.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Saturday 03.19.2011

We actually had a nice day at the hospital. Initially, though, it appeared that I would be quite busy with all the tasks that needed to be done. But we had students, and they picked up many of those, freeing me to do the skilled tasks. And I ended up having a nice day. Thank you, Students.

Dan came home tonight, and his laundry is about done. He has been catching up on some computer stuff, as there is no internet at the trailer :-( We have good cell phone signal, though. He works tomorrow and Monday, and finally has a couple days off come Tuesday. At least that's the schedule right now.

Tomorrow is a workday for both of us.

I felt pretty good again today, thank you God. I'm tired tonight--I didn't sleep well last night--and hope to sleep a little better tonight.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Friday 03.18.2011

Wednesday afternoon; Dan had picked up an upholstered chair and a small kitchen/dining room table from one of his friends. Since the back of his car was open, we opted to drive over to the trailer in the "nice" weather. The table is a perfect size, thank you Lee, and the chair is nice-looking and comfortable. Thank you again. (I'm looking forward to the loveseat, too...) Dan went to bed, and I thought I would be "all that" and blog from my phone, like I thought I had set up. But I wasn't able to, and it turned out to be a User Malfunction, as I figured out tonight. *sigh*

Thursday, Dan went to work, I snoozed a while more, listening to the birds. With the woods and fields and the lake, the birds are different than what is near the condo, more like the birdsong at The Lake. The weather turned into a beautiful spring day--I took a kitchen chair out onto the back porch and sat in the sun to enjoy my breakfast, overlooking the field and the trees. I left the doors open, and opened the one window that I could, to air the place out. I spent the day washing the walls of all but one of the closets, bathroom cabinets, kitchen drawers and cupboards high and low, two large dressers/drawers, a bedside stand, walls, doors and door jams, etc. I found lots of mouse "activity", two boxes of D-con, and one dead mouse, the dead mouse being "fresh dead", in a place where it wouldn't have been found without persistently searching for the smell. (although now I know where to look). There was a small cube, or dorm size, refrigerator left out in the shed, that the previous owner had said worked, and I brought that in and cleaned it up. After an hour or so of removing mildew and other assorted refrigerator yuck, I plugged it in and turned it on. It worked! Now we have a little fridge.

I also discovered leaky plumbing connections under the kitchen sink. Boo. I'm not sure how handy Daniel is with plumbing, or if it's something he would prefer someone else to do. But overall, the place is cleaning up nicely. One more day of cleaning will finish the entry/mudroom/laundry room addition area. And then I can enjoy the surrounding area when I go over there.

Dan got home about 7:30 pm. We chatted, and I showed him what I had done. As I was loading my car, one of the neighbors came out. They introduced themselves as Mark and Margaret, the assistant park managers. They seemed to be nice people, and he offered his assistance with odd jobs and such. I'm sure we'll be contacting him in the future.

I left and got home around 10:45 pm. It was 62 degrees in Holt!! After unloading the car and putting things away, I went right to bed.

Today I felt pretty good. Yesterday I had starting getting sore in the afternoon, but took tylenol and motrin, which relieved that discomfort. I thought I might be sore again today, and I was, just a little. Nothing that needed medicine for.

I went out for gas and groceries, and caught up on the email stuff. I also went out for a nice walk this afternoon, though it was blustery and 50 degrees.

Tomorrow is a workday, and Dan will be home tomorrow night, too.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Tuesday 03.15.2011

(No post for Monday. I had worked, then done grocery shopping on the way home. By the time I got groceries put away and myself settled down, I had fallen asleep.... and went to bed.)

Tuesday I worked. I got up to see bloodshot eyes in the mirror. I first noticed it yesterday afternoon, but this morning was even more reddened, especially the left one. I don't know....


I had a meeting this afternoon, and had gotten someone to cover for me. She wanted the hours for the rest of the afternoon, so I ended up leaving about 5 pm. It was nice to get home a little earlier. Dan wasn't home, and I laid on the sofa and read most of the handouts from the meeting, though a couple pages I was looking "through my eyelids".

It wasn't long after Dan got home that he went to bed.

A light spring rain started this afternoon and is continuing this evening. All of our snow is gone, except for a few "plow piles", which are reduced at least by half. I've heard that some people have daffodils and crocus up and ready to bloom. Woo Hoo!!!

Other than being tired the last couple of days, I've felt pretty good. I haven't noticed as much cardiac arrhythmia, but it's still there. I haven't heard from the cardiologist about the Holter moniter results, so it must not be really bad, huh?

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sunday 03.13.2011

I was surprised that I didn't sleep as well as I thought I might. At least I didn't have to get up for work this morning. Especially being the "spring forward" time change.

The whole day I just kind of picked at stuff, not really doing much.

I've enjoyed my day.

Tomorrow I work.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Saturday 03.12.2011

What a day!

After getting up and ready for the day, I drove over to Shelbyville, where Dan had found a mobile home to stay in on those days when he doesn't want to drive the hour and a half back home. I went over to have a better look at it, and to get some cleaning done.

I unloaded the car, looked around, and decided to take pictures first, before I started making changes. Here is the link, if you're interested in seeing it.

https://picasaweb.google.com/katherinejacque/OurNewTrailer?authkey=Gv1sRgCMqN-e6xy5rNPA&feat=directlink

It was blustery and cold. I was glad to go inside.

I vacuumed all the way through, then used the crevice tool to go around the edges and under and inbetween. I took a break to eat before disinfecting the bathroom with a bucket of bleach water (and a little soap).

Dan got home, and we moved the king sized bed that came with the place, and I vacuumed before putting it back in place. We visited while I continued with the bucket and cloth. I ended up doing all the floors except the entryway. I washed the walls in the bathroom, too, as well as some of the others. I was pleased that it wasn't as dirty as I thought it was going to be.

Dan went to bed, while I finished up, and I went on home. He has to work tomorrow, and I hadn't planned to stay the night.

A safe drive home, thank you God. (It's about 50-65 miles, depending on which route is taken), and about an hour and a half, regardless. I was trying to get a headache, which was feeling like a migraine, but I took some tylenol and motrin, and was feeling better after a half hour or so, thanks again.

I don't work tomorrow; I sure I'll find something to do.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Friday 03.11.2011

Another workday. Busy, and busy again, in an odd sort of way. "Incentives" for working extra hours these last few days.

A safe drive to and fro, thank you God.

Daniel found a place to stay, in Shelbyville, and is spending the night there. I'm going over tomorrow to check it out. He sounded better already, not driving so far after a long workday.

I've felt pretty good today, other than my feet getting sore about mid morning. A little tylenol and motrin helped.

And I'm ready for bed.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Thursday 03.10.2011

I feel rested today, thank you God.

I went out for groceries and prescriptions, in a blustery, 35 degree snow. Our snow here has melted with the rain the last couple of days, with lots of grassy patches showing. Still significant "plow piles", though.

When Dan got home this evening, we put together some things in case he actually gets a place to stay, and chooses to stay there tomorrow night. I know he will appreciate not having to drive so far every day, and get a bit more sleep, too.

We both work tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Wednesday 03.09.2011

Woo hoo--I was happy to see that I had slept a 3 1/2 hour stretch during the night! That doesn't happen too often. Dan slept until after 8, too. Finally.

After a quiet morning, we drove over to the Gun Lake area, looking at places for him to stay on those nights when he doesn't want to drive back home. We may have been successful in finding something.

On the way back we stopped at a Goodwill store and a WalMart, then stopped again for supper. It was nice to spend the day together.

When we got back home, it wasn't long before he was snoozing in his chair. And not long after that he went to bed. He has to work tomorrow. I don't.

I've got to pick up prescriptions and fresh food, and I don't know what else.

I'm feeling pretty good today, I'm happy to say.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Tuesday 03.07.2011

Although I was awake several times during the night, I almost felt rested this morning when the alarm came on. I got up and got ready for work.

A safe drive to Jackson, thank you God. I'm surprised I'm not seeing more critters yet. A couple of rabbits, a skunk, and a couple of something others about that size in the road.

I've been fortunate enough to have caught the shuttle these last several workdays, and it was there again today.

We had another busy day, with odd diagnoses that needed atypical care, for our area at least. And with a great crew, we got through it. It was "blowing up" when we left. I know the next shift is going to be busy, too.

A safe drive home, thanks again.

Dan was home, but tired. He had done his list of errands, including a trip to Flint. Maybe tomorrow he'll be able to rest.

Me too.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Monday 03.07.2011

Whew. Another workday.

It wasn't so bad, really. The first half of the day was strangely, acutely, busy. And after lunch, we had to staff down. I offered to clock out at 3:30, but I wasn't comfortable leaving. So I stayed around, checking email, doing personal paperwork, even had a little nap. I went back over to check on them, to see how it was going, and finally felt ok with leaving about 6.

A safe drive home, thank you God.

Daniel called saying he would be late leaving. I had the evening to myself, which was nice.

He finally has a day off tomorrow; I work.

And I felt pretty good today, too, thanks again.

And thank you for reading. Hugs.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Sunday 03.06.2011

I had a good day today.

Dan went to work, I finished sleeping. I enjoyed the morning, and this afternoon I went over to Flushing to visit my Aunt, LoLo. I had been wanting to go over, and today worked out, so I went.

And it turned out to be a very good day to go. She had been released/discharged from "rehab" from the nursing home, and Diane had gotten her home just a couple hours before I got there.

We had a nice visit, and Sue came in, too. We girls caught up, and it was obvious that LoLo needed a break. Diane got her settled on her bed; we three went out for supper.

We had a good time, laughing and talking. It felt like a holiday, or like Friday, or maybe just a good day.

Lois had gotten herself up while we were gone. We visited a bit more before Susie and I had to leave.

A safe drive home, thank you God. I got home about 15 minutes before Dan did.

He showered and tried to stay up, but went to bed before sleeping much in the chair. These hours are wearing on him.

We both work tomorrow.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Saturday 03.05.2011

Daniel and I were both sleeping so good that neither one of us heard his alarm at 0400. I woke at 0420 and woke him. He got up and ready for work. I went back to sleep.

I got up about 0830, did some stretching, and had breakfast.

We had some funky precipitation; I wanted to go out before noon, but seeing the ice dripping into icicles on all of the foliage, I decided to wait. I went out mid-afternoon--it was a wet snow by then, not bothering the roads at all. I picked up a few sale items at Meijer, then over to the library.

Dan got home about 7:30, and I had supper ready. He ate, showered, and went to bed.

Another quiet evening for me.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Friday 03.04.2011

Last night, after working 12 1/2 hours, the Notary Public guy came to our home to sign the papers on our refinance for the lake property. Ohmygosh. Dan had worked, too; we were both pretty tired. Going through a sheaf of papers that was probably 1 inch thick. No kidding. Every piece had either signatures, initials, and/or date to be written on it. Several of them the notary guy had to sign, too.

It was an interesting process, and long. We started signing papers shortly after 9, and the guy finally left just after 11. Dan and I took the time to look at each document, trying to remember about the terminology and everything we had talked with the lender about (several times).

Today I had to fax, again, a couple of documents that didn't show in their system, but I have confirmation of that had been faxed. And had a very long conversation with the primary person I've been dealing with. I also had to drive to Jackson to take care of the financial end of the transaction. The process still isn't complete, but were 200 pages closer than we were. Amazing.

I had a safe drive both ways, thank you God. We had ice/freezing rain here this morning, which had contributed to many crashes. It was lightly raining in places on my way down, and on the way back it was trying to dry up, but sprinkling at home.

I finished the numerous phone calls I had to make, and still have a couple of leftover items on the to-do list for today. I'll see what I can do tomorrow.

As far as comfort, I'm pretty good. Tired, though.

Thank you for reading. Hugs.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Wednesday 03.02.2011

As I opened my Blogger page to make this entry, I saw that this is post number 2,000. Wow. Reflecting on 2,000 days of cancer survival. 2,000 days of life. 2,000 days of praise and thanks.

I could go on with many more reflections, but I won't.

I'll say that I worked today and was very busy.

And I'm tired tonight.

And that I get to do it again tomorrow.


Thank you for reading 2,000 posts.

Hugs.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Tuesday 03.01.2011

I went over to the cardiology office for them to remove the Holter monitor. When I went up to the window, the girl asked if I'd like to step over to the restroom and take it off. "Excuse me..?" She looked at me funny and asked if they showed me how to take it off. When I told her no, she sighed, closed the sliding window, turned around and said something to the other girl in there with her. Hm. She picked up the phone, spoke to someone, and a nice lady came out from an office.

She approached me, smiling, and held her hand out, saying she was Marti. I saw on her jacket that she was a MSN (master's degree nurse). She asked if I had been shown how to turn off the monitor, and I told her no, that Lindsay and Carol had seemed to be in a hurry, and I felt that I had been rushed out. Of course, she apologized, and proceeded to take things apart. The stickies were really stuck, and I mentioned that they were itchy from the start, that sometimes the skin pulls off. When they had been removed, there were 5 red circles with some areas that were a darker red, and when I got home, I saw that under the radiated breast, one of the stickies was on that radiated skin. It looked like it "split" the skin. I put some aquaphor ointment on it, and all the other areas, too. It's itchy and tender.

I stopped at Meijer and got what was on the list, had lunch, and went to Jackson for a meeting. I got back about 7. Dan got home about 9:30.

We both work tomorrow.

It was a beautiful blue sky day, 40 degrees, with promises of spring. Thank you God for the change of season.

And thank you for reading. Hugs.