Samplers-and-Santas
We have no idea when your birthday was, month or even year. You were a faithful companion to your Missy, and watchful dad to your son. The only one of this rescued crew that wanted attention and touch. We will miss you dear boy.
Hi stitching buds. I am in shock that this weekend is May. Are we sure? Usually by Mother's Day the deck is cleaned, windows washed, screens in, outdoor furniture in place for flowers and ferns, summer clothing out, and sweaters packed. The majority of those tasks would be a waste of time since concrete dust and mud will require starting over.
My anxiety weight loss has continued and with no end to the mouth issues, I should be able to fit in last summer's pants which rarely happens. Thank you Macy's for the Karen Scott extreme comfort and forgiving knit capris! I had gained some back after the initial loss but currently down almost 25 pounds. I can't remember if I donated all those smaller clothes that were packed, unpacked, packed, unpacked. Isn't that the way it always is? Once you rid yourself of things, you want them. Recently saw the Plantation Sampler finished and I sold the chart along with others thinking I would never stitch it. And here's the quirk! If I found another and purchased again, I would stash it away and in a few years, it would leave again.
Medical update .. the wonderful doctor at CC had his office call and offer us a double booking. Several weeks after a second aortic valve replacement and cardiogenic shock, this stress is not good for her. And ... you won't believe this .... after all the messages, calls, and tricks to get her moved up, an offer of a mid afternoon appt today had to be refused. It was an early morning call so ambulance transport had time to schedule her, and when I called to set it up, I had a little bit of shock. Did not know that hemoglobin had another drop and she required a transfusion. Today. Would never be over in time, especially with a two hour drive. She was so upset. I told her things happen for a reason, and we now will have to leave at 6am the end of next week unless we can find a cancellation. What are the odds of hours of work to get an appt moved up, at the perfect time of day, and after several weeks TODAY she needs blood. Holy crap.
I have to call the desk this evening because that change in meds is not enough, and she was informed that it was one day and they are to reduce it to every six hours again. She is adamant about not going into nursing home care (for recovery between procedures) since our locals are terrible, but the one about 40 minutes from here is praised by residents and family alike. I do believe they will expect her to stay at a skilled facility of their choice near the clinic since the CC docs visit patients there. We'll see.
It's 8pm and still light enough to see critters in the yard, summer is around the bend. We're all hoping that taking these bends way over the speed limit will cease while offering relief and recovery. Going up for a hot shower, coming down to stitch if I can stay awake.
Have a good evening and a pleasant TGIF folks.
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Are you kidding? Maybe I'm just stupid, brain cells melting from stress. Or the heat from the 24/7 fire in my mouth has seeped through my palate. They cancelled this morning because even ....... what the hell. Doesn't matter at this point. Another two week wait, nasty things exiting my mouth for two days. Carole just called, thankful that they FINALLY increased her lousy 100 mg gabapentin dose to what CC was giving her. I am looking into other options, including an ambulance dropping her off at the CC ER, before any more of that foot turns black.
Carole's calls gasping and sobbing from pain have kept me quite upset and busy in the evening, so no stitching. I do like Margret and will try to protect her from flames or open windows. Several gowns were kept and I managed to pack up and ship back her clothing. I can't be there to help with fit, her new gown is still on the stand in her room, but oh does she love these muumuus. You know my problem with decision making and there are way too many prints to choose. These came in today and I do believe she will love them. Been a leopard girl her entire life, she will approve.
Another idea for the wrap back hospital gown. Duster is snap front, and rather than open the entire back, I will fold over a few inches down the center to her waist and topstitch (ordered larger size). The back panel of the pleat can have a print or solid fabric sewn to its edge, horizontal topstitch across waist to hold the added panel. No longer needed? Remove the panel, sew the two edges, pleat please!
I tried the vinegar, wrinkle sprays, dryer sheet, everything, those creases would not release. This stripe doesn't look like it will have that problem.
To explain the large sewer bill, $3500 to tie in, $60 per month forever, $8500 to excavate and install pipe to the road, extra to excavate and install from other end of house where mom's bath was added. Removal of wood deck, break and remove stamped concrete patio, barn stone edging, shrubs. The deck is the only part we're replacing.
Someone requested a sampler box weeks ago, but no-reply status prevented an answer. Maybe in the future if quality boxes are found.
Have a good night. I hope to sleep this time.
Thanks for visiting.
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I would throw it in. But I passed them on to the shelter and refuse to throw a new one. No sense in having a hissy fit, bitch fest, or rabid rant.
So I'll show you how close I am to completing one side. Margret is a sweet stitch when all else is sour.
Snow is gone, cement poured, seeded and strawed, now all we have to do is find $18520 to pay contractors and township for toilet privileges in my home.
Overlapped back gowns for sis came is, jersey is very nice but clingy, one woven will be returned (very stiff), and another is a lovely print but washing, ironing, spraying, steaming, will not remove these creases throughout the garment. She is so miserable, pain has not lessened, no books movies or music are wanted. No more treats or iced drinks are requested. Eight weeks unable to move while in tremendous pain is taking a great mental and emotional toll.
Hoping Tuesday's call will give her some hope.
Take care of yourself, stay well.
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Thanks to all who shared information on altering gowns. I never thought about the Velcro in the wash catching all the threads and floating dryer debris. Small snaps are not easy to secure with arthritis, and my preference would be a loop that could be slipped over a large button at shoulder. Alterations were never a problem but my mental status these days leaves no room for frustration. Luckily, after hours searching online retailers for her size in stock, I found a site called AllHeart which offered three styles. Bingo. Off the hook. She will have more dusters and muumuus than she needs but probably a good thing since the four occlusions and two clots in the calf of her left leg resulted in ulcers, no pants for a long while. Although excruciating pain, it feels like cement. She just can't move it.
Removed the border outline and adjusted, still slow progress.
We have several businesses that won't do our mandated sewage lines because of the layout here, and we're at the point of a bulldozer coming and leveling the pergola, deck, concrete, barnstone walls, shrubs, and ornamental trees. Taxes rising again, I need to get out of here.
My sister's nurses are all wonderful and it's nice that this unit has a fridge for patient treats. Help them by listing numbers that are monitored so they don't have to search.
Have a good day folks.
Once again, you always offer help and support when needed and I greatly appreciate it.
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Hi everyone. Asking for help or suggestions on altering dusters into adaptive clothing. Mom was bed ridden for over a year and I slit the back of jumpers and dusters, hemmed edges, tied the top, and she had nice clothes for any occasion. Jumpers were best since her top could be kept on for warmth through day to night changes.
Opinions?
Suggestions?
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for the emails, anonymous gifts, concern, and prayers. I thought I would update rather than reply by individual emails (with this hand, once and done), or with my new baby stylus (thank you!) for a phone that needs minutes reloaded. What a time saver that has been. Using a precise point instead of a fat bent finger has prevented medical updates from being sent to Dominos, hair stylist, tanning salon, and a few others.
She has improved and recovered somewhat, in transitional care, soon to be sent to a SNF with extreme pain continuing. I was first asked why I wasn't told that she will probably not survive, and now told if she doesn't take the risk she'll die anyway. Tact would have been appreciated. Amputation is an option, wait until bad enough for hospice, or take a chance. Chance. But when? It's a long and tedious route these weeks with no answers. I am making arrangements for CC procedures, but with their load of patients, it doesn't come quickly. I've been scolded, insulted, and yelled at by providers and my sister, and I wish there was someone to hand it all to, but there isn't. Her son has difficulty interpreting as if dyslexia has taken over his entire body, and I am exhausted. Ativan to help calm the strong PVCs that prevent deep sleep combined with 5am calls from her doctor, has me in bed hours earlier than ever before.
That shortens stitching time and two fingers flailing like whirlygigs on a shaky hand already saddled with bent and triggered others isn't helping. Some thread colors were slightly changed in the body, but not by much (darker teal and gold) and I was surprised because the chart photo looks very drab. I do like my changes in flower color but maybe it wasn't necessary. Too late. I want to order a few samplers and Nan's pears are a must have. Maybe this evening. So much to do, and it seems nothing is ever accomplished.
Thanks again for keeping in touch to send your prayers and caring thoughts, greatly appreciated.
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Hi folks. I have no idea when or if I will be back. I have no idea when my guts will stop shaking. We were not prepared for this, and have been asked by two doctors, "didn't the Clinic talk to you about her condition?". No. Heart specialists, and maybe once it is fixed, you are sent back home to have others treat declining health.
We don't know how this week will end, other than listening to her sobbing uncontrollably in pain begging me for help and I can't tell her there is none. I can't even talk to nurse or doctor without losing my breath, unintelligible, needing to hand the phone to my husband. I can't be there, and I hate that, but I can't hold it together and I want her to have hope. Her son is losing it now too during limited visits. Grandson tomorrow at noon, and no one else allowed until the next day. Delirium is making it so much worse, lacking reason, memory, understanding, and thinking no one loves her, alone in a strange room unable to walk. Why.
Take care of yourselves.
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I will update when there is positive news.
Until then, here's a few spring brats driving me insane.
Yes, our world has been turned upside down.
First and most important, my sister is not going to a nursing home as they said. Even though our hospital was still evaluating her files for admission (not even 24 hours), they were telling her to choose another because there was no response from here. Yes there was. To me. She waited a full week for a bed in Cleveland while condition worsened, and they can't hold her another day? Tomorrow at dinner time we will be relieved to have her here, recovering from her failing heart (thank you Clinic), and praying her clots dissolve and do not move. Feeling better today, actually sitting, she said it is excruciating to have her legs hang but after a week of begging, no pain evaluation, no diagnosis. We move on. One day we may find a pain doc locally to help her with what I am 95% sure is CRPS. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
As for the elder issue and pain meds, every one of our friends have been livid and dealt with the same issue. Two of my aunts in their 90's without dementia almost overdosed on heart meds, which family corrected by using pharmacies that offer pill packs and that fabulous clock (I need this). Pain med monitoring is necessary, but in cases of quality of life for our seniors, essential.
Anyway, I've been rambling for weeks and never had dryness, fissures, and intense burning to this extent. I had to continually stop and grease my mouth during calls with family and clinic. The inside of my lips are the worst because that's where speech obtains clarity, but when lips dry, don't move, no one can understand you.
This is my tiny phone and without my Penn State nubby (it's what I call them) my fat bent finger that now is a trigger would not be able to get one letter correct. I need more of these.
And homemade mac and cheese. Carole likes some gouda in hers, Chris and Mark cheddar and hot pepper, Ron prefers swiss and white cheddar, Nancy brick and cheddar. I cant't eat anything but diary without salt or pepper so I guess mine is bland. I found that pulverizing Tums and continually dabbing on my tongue does help a little but it's very brief.
I'll be anxious to see what we will be allowed to bring Carole once there. Her coming home this weekend saved me quite a bit of money so I hope to relax and shop online now that it is all settled.
We've been calling companies for so many things and no one is showing up. I hope they have more book learning than the customer and cashier before us that took over ten minutes to count paper and coins. Not for change, for payment. So ticked off I almost told her I would count it and if she needed more I'd give it. But Chris's grandson from Pittsburgh gets confused with money, nor can he write, or spell. So .....
Wishing you all a peaceful evening.
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