Nature Songs ~~~~
JANUARY, 2000, continued
January 7,2000 - Yes, we made it to Q4L three times to work out in the water this week. I even did the Life Cycle seven minutes on two of those days and today, I got all the equipment work in before heading to the water. Thank goodness much of the cough is now suppressed, and moving was somewhat easier today. However, once I got home I conked out! I had spent my energy level down to nil. Hopefully next week I will begin to have more energy that will last through more of the day. It is my plan to go five days next week. On Tuesday and Thursday I plan to do only the water workout because it will be aerobic and involve more movement on my part. But, this coming home and not having the strength to move is far from what I expect of myself!
There are things to be done around the house and they have not had any priority on my list of completions. There are dishes to wash that have needed washing for far too long a time. There are things to eat that I have saved to eat later and I have never had the appetite or energy to attempt to consume them. What few things I have eaten, I am full after a few bites. Nothing seems to appeal to me now. A bite to eat to take the edge off of a headache and I am done for the moment. That hasn't been too good on my record keeping of my blood sugar. In all fairness, I have to admit that between not eating enough and the cold hand syndrome there is a problem with the sugar level bottoming out too low and too often.
These hands are a pill to content with when I have to stick a finger three times to get one good drop to use on a test strip. Allan tells me to use warm water and a washcloth to warm up my fingers first, but that takes extra energy and movement which are at the bottom of the to do list right now. Guess it is about time for me to call and make arrangements to join the Diabetes Group Meeting at the hospital and start taking better care of myself. I'm just tired of every part of the day being devoted to me having to run around to do things to take care of me. There are other things I would rather be doing.
I ventured out before dark and picked up a sandwich at Hardee's for supper on the way to spend a little time with Mother. It bothers me that when I go to see her she is always sitting in a dark room unaware that it is dark. The first thing I do is turn on a light; the better to see her, my dear. Turns out that she is missing a cup of coffee on her own supper tray and I have to walk up the hall to get her something to eat. That takes a while, because the work force is busy ordering their own supper. They are not allowed to eat food from the dining room. That is strange to me, because other nursing homes allow the workers to buy a tray from the dining room when they want to ... My own sandwich goes unfinished after a few bites and I end up feeding it to Elsie Dawg when I get home.
January 8,2000 - Another day; another spell of not doing. I fully intend to get things done, but it just does not happen. I manage to get some of the food packed up that I haven't been eating and carry it out to the trash container. I WILL get some of the dishes washed that I need to do - at least before I go to bed for the night. I clipped some of the fur balls off Oreo and Charlie and worked on getting them combed. Oreo was easy. Charlie is having to be done in short spurts. His hair mats up much more and I am having to clip places on him. Maybe once I get them in a little better condition I will call and make arrangements to get them groomed. I just hate to take them looking too bad.... It is sort of like cleaning the house before the housekeeper comes.
I spent some time on genealogy again today. My cousin's wife has contacted me about doing some work together. I look forward to meeting with her and comparing notes. Maybe together we can work through a few touchy dates and places. We shall see what happens. Someone else wrote wanting to connect his family with ours. I know that we are related, but he is the part of the family that I know very little about, so it will be exciting to compare notes with him. My family is from one county and his is from another county. His plan is to compose a book that includes all of the family by that surname in this general area. That could become an extensive project.
Tbird called to say that she finally had to give in and go to the doctor today. Surprisingly, she does not have the flu that is going around. She does has a sinus infection that has flared up her asmtha. Her doctor has put her on the same breathing treatment that little Giggles is doing. Tbird hates having to do any of the treatment things with asmtha. She has always had an aversion to them because they cause her to become hyper and she just does not like having to deal with that part of the treatments.
Strangely, Giggles reminds me somewhat of her Mother when she was little and had severe asthmatic spells. I would have to sit up with her at night and hold her. We spent many nights wrapped up together in a blanket trying to sleep in the rocking chair. On the other hand, Cotton, who had the chronic asmtha was happier propped up in her crib or bed alone. Her bed became her tent once it was covered with a sheet and the humidifier would keep the air moist and cool around her. She would rest while the rest of the family would join in breathing each breath with her as the rhythm would carry throughout the house. She learned to hook her thumb between her teeth to hold her mouth open in order to breathe easier. It was not until she was in college that she had surgery on her nose repairing the airway and only then did she realize that she had not been smelling things.
January 9,2000 - McD's for breakfast; church; visit with Mother; home to rest, and the day is over. Is this day becoming a habit with me? Probably; but that is good. It is a habit I need to continue. On the sad side - our pastor resigned as our pastor this morning. He has felt led to take on another church in Indiana that is having problems within the church. He turned them down twice, but decided on the third time they contacted him that perhaps that was the move he needed to make. I gave him a hug and told him I would be praying for him and his change. None of the details have been worked out just yet, so we don't know for sure when he will be leaving. He has been here for five years and seen the church through a lot of changes. We had our own problems when he came here that he had to address. Now we also must begin looking for a new leader for our own congregation. They came as two; they leave as four. We had already heard that he was planning to leave, so Mother wanted me to be sure and come by to let her know how things proceeded.
I got to the nursing center just after Mother's lunch was brought to her room. She still will not eat in the dining room with the others. She prefers eating alone because of her Parkinson's and the shaking. She was on her way to the bathroom, so I pushed her in there and then took a peek under the plate cover. One look and I knew she would need another plate. There was turkey and dressing on her plate. A new cook in the kitchen, her tray from breakfast not picked up and she got something she is allergic to! I went down the hall to have them bring her something else. I got to eat her turkey plate. I am not allergic to it.
When they brought in the second plate, what should it have on it? Chicken nuggets! Chicken and turkey sort of are in the same poultry family, so of course Mother does not eat that either. As it turned out they were overcooked so no one could have eaten them if they had desired to. A third trip to the dining room and finally Mother gets some cottage cheese which she loves. In fact, they bring her too much and she saves what is left to eat on later.
Tbird calls (she doesn't know how to rest) and wants me to watch Giggles for a few hours while they go to a movie with the boys. After the movie I go for supper with them at Golden Coral where Giggles and the boys are complimented on how well-behaved they are. The waitress carries Giggles around for a little talking about how much she reminds her of her own little girl that is home with her Daddy.
January 10,2000 - I timed myself down to within two or three minutes for staying in bed till the last minute and still be ready to go when Allie comes to pick me up for our ride into the valley to exercise. I know before ever leaving the house that this is one of those low energy days, yet I do my seven minutes on the cycle and all of my exercises before heading to the water again. Toward the end of the water class I'm having to watch how I move my legs because they are trying to cramp on me, but I stick it out and complete the class. From there I took to the steam room and then the sauna. Allie spent most of her time in the whirlpool. So far I have avoided the whirlpool because there are so many others in it and it seems crowded to me. By hook or crook, the two of us surprisingly enough ended up being ready to leave the same time. We offered going to an earlier class if it is decided to split the class into two classes because now there is not a lot of space for movement and not everyone is there each day. If we all showed up at the same time there is no way we could all fit into the pool for exercise without bumping into each other at each turn.
By evening I'm not feeling all that good. Tbird calls to say that DynoKid and Dad were home all day sick. She wonders if I will be able to help with Giggles tomorrow in case they are still not up to par. She also says that NascarKid got sick on the way home from school. Sounds like another virus going around.
January 11,2000 - 6:30a.m. "Hello. How are you folks feeling this morning? I hope you are doing better than I am doing. There is no way that I can help with Giggles today. I've been sick and throwing up most of the night. Seems I got the virus, too."
There are better ways of beginning a day. From about 10:30 last evening through 4a.m. this morning I was not happy at all with Tbird and her family being so generous with sharing their virus with me. The whole day today was not all that great. Allan kept checking by to see if I needed anything or wanted to go to the doctor. I finally ate some grits around lunch time and was able to keep them down and then near dark I cooked some rice to eat. There is something about me that when my stomach is out of whack, I seem to crave rice with butter and pepper. I can eat that when nothing else appeals to me.
Tbird calls later in the evening. It ended up with her and NascarKid having to stay home for the day. They both had the virus. Wonder how many more types are floating around just waiting to pounce on us? There are better ways to spend a day. I had intended to begin working out in the water five days a week this week. Instead I am calling Allie to tell her that I will not be going tomorrow. I'll be lucky to get in two days this week. The will is there. I will make it! Five days a week regularly.
January 12,2000 - Thankfully, I am feeling a lot better today. I'm not exercising, but I do make the trip to Hickory to get my hair trimmed. I wasn't too sure yesterday that I would feel up to doing that. I picked up two days worth of mail and papers as I drive out this morning. One of the letters is one that I have to sign and get back to the Diabetes group so they can begin sending me the equipment I need each month to keep check on my blood sugar each day. The first letter that I was to send back to them seems to have flown off without letting me know just where it was going. I have not been able to find it anywhere. It was signed, sealed and ready to mail before it disappeared. This one today I will get back into the mail today. I shall not loose it, too.
After my haircut I stop by the store and get an assortment of candies for Mother to renew her stash for the CNA's and workers she likes to spoil a little. She has been wanting me to get her some since Sunday. This is the first day that I've felt like making the trip. It is probably the first day that I should bother to be around her and others, too. I would hate to cause anyone else to go through what I have the past few days. At least this bout has been shorter than the coughing one. I still have some cough from it. Just hope that it is not flared up or agitated by this newest one.
Ms. Jay, finally is beginning to sound like herself again. She has really been having a rough time with the coughing. She has to go back to the doctor again, and is hoping that she will not need more medicine. She commented on how awful the cough medicine was to take, and that she still does not feel like doing anything. Wonder if the two of us should go and take the flu shot now, or if it would even help us. A comment was made that what is going around now would not have been prevented by the flu shot because it is a different strain which was not included in the vaccine.
Poor Allan called this evening - now he has the flu ...
Just as I would settle myself in the recliner and Oreo would position himself along beside me and I would begin on one of the puzzles I have missed this week, the telephone would ring ... Mother, maybe three or four times, my brother and his wife, Allan, Cotton, and I'm sure some that I have already forgotten! I finally gave up on comfort - it wore me out - and made my way to the computer. I didn't even darken the door to this room yesterday. Cotton said I must have been feeling bad if I didn't even check my email yesterday. I can't say that I am back to 100% today. I am just hoping to get back to my exercise routine by Friday. Perhaps tomorrow I can get Oreo over to the vet and get his shots up to date.
January 13,2000 - Some things have to be done regardless of how one may feel. Getting rabies shots for a special pet is one of them. Oreo's tag ran out in November and with all good intentions, I have dragged my feet when it came to getting him over to the Vet's Office. Just in the past month now there have been two confirmed cases of rabies in our county. The last one was just this past week in the Baton area. That is not very far from me - in fact, that is where Wes and his family live ...
I took little Oreo over for his shot this morning and got his other shots as well. He is in good shape now for another year. I did get a blood test done to test for heartworms because I have also be negligent about getting the pills given each month as should be. He weighed in a half pound heavier since last year, but I wonder about that since he has more than twice as much hair, a different type collar and also had the long leash attached when he was weighed this time. I take Oreo by to visit with Mother for a while since I have him out.
After getting back home, I make a call to go ahead and bring in "Wildman" Charlie while I'm at it and get him checked for heartworms as well. It is easier to keep the two on the same schedule. I'll find out tomorrow how the tests come out. Meanwhile, Charlie has it in his head that he will not be taking his heartworm pill. He sees me getting his pill and heads for his private entrance; I go toward him and out the door he disappears. Hey, they are flavored! The other two dogs will eat their's out of my hand. Good old Charlie has to be cornered after he goes to sleep for a nice little snooze and even then I have to hold his mouth shut until he gets the tiny pill swallowed! Next time he will have it covered with peanut butter and should have no problem with getting it down.
Two trips to the Vet's office and that is about all I get done. It is like springtime outside. Our temperature was up in the seventies. It makes one wonder if the flu is actually causing so much sickness, or could it be our bodies' inability to adapt quickly enough the sudden changes up and down that we are experiencing.
There is much sadness and television coverage over the untimely death of the Hornet's ballplayer. It is such a needless loss. It was such a poor choice for a person that is idolized by so many that brought on the accident. He was speeding excessively in a sports car that had been altered to speed faster than it needed to be going in the city limits of Charlotte as he raced a teammate. He lost, but his family also lost, his teammates, his friends, those that looked up to him as a star; things will never be the same for anyone affected by that moment to feel the need for speed. Was it really worth the outcome!
January 14,2000 -Yesterday was a time of high winds advisory. The temperatures were very warm. By nightfall, there was snow in Burke County and the mountains. Today has been colder and tonight should be the coldest weather of the season. It could be down in the single digits here and in the mountains. Then the temp will rise again over the next few days only to fall lower again. It just cannot seem to make up it's mind.
I still did not feel up to prancing to Q4L and taking in the quality of the warm water on my joints. Perhaps by Monday. I can't seem to get myself back in any kind of suitable shape just yet. I take over some Cokes for Mother since she is out again, but choose to go while she is playing Bingo. I don't feel up to visiting with anyone today, yet I know how much she enjoys her Coke over ice to sip on while she is watching television. I've done very little at the computer all week.
January 15,2000 - Cold is the word for the morning. By eleven o'clock, it is still not quite up to the freezing mark on the thermometer. With the wind chill factor the temp is closer to 16 degrees. Tomorrow should be up to around 60 again. No wonder we are all getting sick. With the weather no able to decide if it wants to play at being summer one minute and wintertime the very next minute, it's hard to know how to dress for the moment. I haven't even had my winter coat out this season.
Tbird brought the children over to have lunch with me. They were between two basketball games today and didn't have a lot of time. This has been a very special, but also busy week, for the boys. DynoKid made the "Neat Kid Award" at school on Wednesday. NascarKid did his oratory speech on Thursday and won. He gets to take part in the County finals next and is very excited about that. On Friday, he did the Math Quiz Test and won a spot on the team that will compete in April. He has to meet once a week with the others on the team to practice and study from now until then. Sounds like Mom and Dad may have a little practice along the way as well. Last night NascarKid had a sleepover with his Scout troop. It reminds me of the years I spent running and doing with my own four ...
There is Giggles adding her own needs and desires by demonstrating her displeasure when she is not the center of Mom's attention. Surely, she is not a wee tad spoiled ...
BingoKid had his own special time at school this week. It was somewhat different, but yet it held a great learning experience. Seems he and a classmate had a little showdown of some sort in the boy's bathroom. As a result both of the boys got to experience in-school suspension for a day. He got to spend some time in one of the Kindergarten classes. Sounds like all went well and life is back to normal.
So far, I am impressed with the new Insurance routine when I go to pick up my prescription refills. It is still early, but it appears that out of pocket expense for me will be less than what I've put out in the past. Today, one of the prescriptions would have cost $15 dollars, but I only had to pay $12 for the diabetes pill ... because it was not quite the higher amount. The other two cost $30, but they would have been well over two hundred last month and my out of pocket cost once I was reimbursed would be more than what I paid today. I just have to be sure and remember to ask for the full 34 day supply each time I get refills in order to realize the best value for the year.
January 16,2000 - Yep! There is definitely something weird about this laptop computer and the date. It isn't anything major that I will have to rush out and get corrected, but I'll have to keep in mind that it is doing things differently. Each day when I turn it on all the dates are automatically changed to the current date. That means that when I have done several days of my journal, I have to also put the date or day of the week with each entry so as not to get messed up when I take it to the big 'puter. I can't rely on the auto-record date even after saving the day - like today I have three days' worth of journal recorded and each of the days are dated, "01/16/00." Maybe Cotton or her hubby can figure it out for me when they come to visit soon.
I'm sort of excited. Tomorrow begins the new semester with the online classes. I know that three was a lot to tackle last time, but knowing me, there is only one number that I can take and that is the limit of what is allowed. I signed up for three again. The copyright class should be a lot of help with understanding a lot of the legalese connected with personal writing and referring to writing of others. Not only am I interested from the standpoint of writing and webpaging, but also in dealing with the genealogy that is constantly being dealt with this day and age. There is much to be considered when prying into other's work in search for a hidden link into my own family history. I find that there are those that "say" they will share information, but then drag their feet when you ask for more information. It is sort of like, "Look! I found it! You can, too. Why should I tell you where I was lucky and got verification of my facts!"
The other two classes should help me in my quest for bettering my individual writing. One will be a great help in the appropriate use of grammar, sentence structure and corresponding facts. I can profit from that. There is so much that I either never did learn, just plain forgot through the years, or new things have evolved since I first learned the how-to of written expression. The other class is on improving essay writing skills. That session will probably take up more of my time and turn out to be the best learning situation for me. I can already see where it will have demands for exploring my own thoughts and choosing the best way to express them. I have noted from my journal that I rely a lot on the "given expression" of others to relate some of my thoughts and feelings. To have to stop and think and put things into my very own words on many occasions causes me to lose my train of thought. Perhaps, if I continue with these classes long enough it will become easier for me to pull words from thin air instead of using so many clichés. Time will tell.
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©2000 by Stormy Jeanne
