Progress!!!

Finally some light at the tunnel's end.  I am home with cramping legs, sore feet, and no more macaroons.  Carole was moved into a room late yesterday and when she called, I could barely understand her garbled words.  I was concerned about a stroke but realized the Seroquel (psychotic drug) was probably the cause.  Today, she is sounding like herself, coherent, and refused the drug this morning.  Progress!!  Family is allowed to stay in regular rooms (not ICU) which I did for a week in January, but I really needed to come home and rest.  Good thing it was yesterday because we have weather advisories today.  Her nurses are wonderful as they were before, the aides are as sweet as could be, and she is finally feeling and sounding like herself.  Thank goodness.  And thank you for your concern and prayers. 

 

I was so touched by offers of the Nash heart from stitching blog buddies, I am planning to stitch two.  But first I need more 32 count Belfast and will order that this evening.  What will I do with two???  Hmmm.  What do YOU think?  Honestly, I can't imagine giving up the kit or chart but some of you were willing to and I am thrilled to stitch it.  Thank you!!

 

I started looking at fabrics, and Michael Miller's Old Script was one choice.  Thinking a darker background would be better, I played around with my dye jars until I got the right shade, then decided the original ivory background may be better.  But as always, a completely different fabric may end up on the back.

 

 As for the bird, the mustard fabric is dark, you can see the unbleached Belfast behind it, and this brown/rust/blue would be a good choice.   Another mini print that matches the fabric, three shades of mustard with no other color, is in the running too.  Not sure what to do with it, a pouch with flap?  Just a pillow?   Won't know until I sit down at the machine.

 

 

Tonight I will browse online and order Shakespeare Peddler's Fraktur Friends and the 40 count silk gauze needed.  Yikes.  Will I ever stitch something like that?  Who knows.  But I want it.  Saw a few other items including the punch needle from Stacy Nash but not everything is listed online yet.  One day, I will use one of several patterns I have and actually try punch needle.   

 

 

Thanks again for being my buds and helping me through the last 8 months.

 

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The Bird

Good morning.  Had to get a hotel room last night, there are no available hospital rooms.  She is still in ICU, on the verge of another psychosis issue, still talking to imaginery people and having vivid talking dreams.  She needs to get out of there before today's surgical patients and their equipment come in.  The man across that she sees every minute, is on life support and she hasn't seen daylight, walked, or spoken with anyone but me.  No phones of course.  I can see how this is a detriment to patients trying to recover from anesthesia effects.  Mark, who has the current coughing bug, is coming to get me today.  I ran out of my meds, clean underwear, and I'm exhausted.  She hasn't been in a room all week where I could sit with her so I've been in lounges and wandering.  The hotel rates next to the clinic have run around $1500 so far, not including the $2 bottle of water and meals.  I see why so many are sleeping in the lounges! 

Edit - just talked to the nurse and Carole is throwing up, warm, not feeling well at all, not sure what's going on.  Staying again?

I finished the mustard blue bird.  Certainly looks like a Nash, but all I had was bits and pieces plus a smeared photo (dogs love Nash too).  Some of it I had to work from the photo.  It's on the same shade of blue ironing board from the hotel.  For $300 a night, I'm using everything in it.
Hope your day is fabulous.

What I'm working on

Sitting here waiting for her new room, scarfing down Dove at 35 cents a piece, thankful that these glass walls are unbreakable.  A tablet hurled from this height could hurt someone.

I have been anxious to start using linen in dark rich shades, grabbed a piece of mustard brown that I dyed a while back, added some bright colors to it for a change.  I followed the same method of stitching (which I call the side-and-climb) for the bird, filling the entire area with left/right rows for the first half and then up/down rows for the second half.  Before, my rows were noticeably tight and direction was obvious because of it. This method will make my blocks of stitching uniform, neat, and even, and a house design look much better.

Thank you once again for your thoughtfulness.  Even though 

I am here alone, you've made me feel surrounded by friends.  I can't answer comments from this tablet, not sure why they won't show in my email so I could.  But thank you thank you.  It means more than you know.

Improving

Carole may be released from ICU tomorrow but they are close to 100% capacity and a room may not be available in step-down.  If it isn't, I will need to call other hotels for a place to stay since I planned on staying in her room.  This hospital is wonderful in allowing family to stay with the patient in all private rooms.
I hate working from a tablet!  Never be able to view and post from a phone but that's OK - I don't have one.

I finished the Nash heart
I was generously gifted with.  Belfast 32 count unbleached/natural with one strand of 3781.
Can't wait to sew it into shape.
Enjoy your weekend.  I just realized tomorrow is Sunday!  Is it?  Wow.

Of heart and mind

Carole is still in ICU, a few days longer than expected because her pumping strength is weak, but now she has post surgical psychosis.  I walked into the ICU to see her tied down, rolling tongue, legs flailing, and I couldn't wake her.  I loudly asked for her nurse and she was too busy, so eventually the doc came.  They are trying to sedate her but it's not working.  This could last a day or several.  My friend went into this after his bypass and injured a nurse, destroyed his room, and never came out of it.  Five days later he had a heart attack and died.
 I changed hotels - moved to the one attached to the clinic with a skywalk.  Good thing I did.  It's a long walk but I no longer have to wait in frigid weather for a shuttle or be restricted in time.
This tablet deletes all email from blogger (comments) and is giving me fits by shutting off for no reason.  I did learn that you can click the upper right flag (lines) for drop down and check the "desktop view" box.  Better.

Take care everyone - not sure when I will be home.

Carole update

Hello from frigid snowy Cleveland. The surgery went well, off the ventilator same day. They are keeping her an extra day in ICU, she is very shaky, in much pain (they did crack the chest open instead of the original plan).  Most of her ill feelings are probably from the anesthesia and the pain meds, which she doesn't think are working, and the Swan catheter tube in her neck.  I saw her for only a few minutes and will go this afternoon for a few.  Luckily the hotel can accommodate me for another night.  I can't take the chance of her being moved to step-down tomorrow, where I can stay in her room.  So glad that it's over and hope she can start feeling better today.  As long as the heart is doing as expected, the rest will subside eventually.

Thank you again for your prayers!

p.s.  I hate using a tablet.