Just a little blogpost

Happy New Year to all who happen to read this after much time away!
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The above photo was taken December 13 in Avon, Indiana where we happened to be at an ENT's office...Roger was being tested for allergies and while we were waiting to see his reaction, I was looking out the window.  He has a chronic cough, and now ends up he is allergic to everything it seems.  Whenever they can get him started, they are going to try giving him the allergy shots once a week.  For the next three to five years.   They have an office in Terre Haute so won't be like we have a horrible drive every week.

We had stressful things happen this past month and I just was not able to blog or to visit...hoping things have settled down for a while. 

Roger is only going to speech therapy now...and the therapist only wants to see him once a week for a few more weeks.  They are supposed to call me to schedule more visits. 

May photos in Late November

Just have to post something so going back to some May photos..just imagine how good all this green will look in a few weeks. 

We will all be craving the spring green.

Do you see the elephant?

I have been meaning to ask that for a long time. 

I must admit I had never saw it till Lorelei pointed it out to me earlier this fall.

A few are passing through....

We drove through the strip pits today and saw these White-fronted geese along with a few Canadian geese.  We were happy to see anything.  We also saw one Northern Harrier and one deer.

Tootie is coming tomorrow to stay two or three days with us...so not sure how much blogging I will get done. 

For some of you new to this blog, Tootie is our granddaughter, Lorelei.   I thought I would leave you with a smile....the video below is from Feb of 2011.  It always makes us smile...

And some more stitched items...

This is going to be a little quilt to lay across the back of Roger's recliner.  I have had this part finished for a while now, it is just a matter of getting it layer and quilted.

 And here I made two more little mug mats...I did one one day and another another day...while killing time waiting to go to therapy appt. yesterday and   doctor's appt. today.  Please ignore all the stray threads on the design wall.  I was just hurrying to take the photo and didn't take time to clean them off.

I have tried 3 different ways of doing the binding and not completely happy with any one of them.  But they are mug mats and I am not going to worry too much about it.
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We had a downpour of rain.  I know we need it, but so wish some of the places that have the wildfires would get some, too.

A little stitching...

The other day I sat down at my sewing machine for a little while...and I stitched a couple mug mats/coasters.  They are just big enough to set a coffee cup or glass of iced tea on...Or a cold can of coke.   They are 5 inches scare and just some snips of fabric, and the binding was binding left over from quilts.  I was glad to find a use for the binding.  I made another one yesterday but have not photographed it.  Oh, sorry for the quality of the photo...shot with my cheap phone.
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We had a warm day here today...but of course had therapy appts so didn't do anything else.  Other than cooking and dishes.  Hopefully tomorrow I will get a something done...even if it is just another mug mat. 

It's a bird party....

Every time I see a bunch of birds gathered somewhere...I think of one of Lorelei's little friends.  'M' and her mom were out and saw a whole bunch of birds, and something was said about them, and her mom asked her wonder what they were doing or some question like that.  'M' said, 'Oh, its a bird party.'  Now I never see a gathering of birds without I think of her.  (I used to always think of Norman Rockwell's Gossips, but now that is second to 'bird party.)

These shots were hurry up shots while I waited for a light to turn green.

Almost any time we pass this particular corner, there is a gathering of birds there.  I so would love to know why they gather like that.

Edited to add:  have you noticed how they are all facing the same way?

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Roger got labwork done today...had to get it done before he could have his scan with dye on Monday.

This evening he washed our Rav4's windows, which he has done before.  He followed that with cooking a pork roast on the grill and it was simply delicious.....it is the first real cooking he has done.  He has not lost the touch.

Update

I just thought I would take a minute to tell everyone that there must have been some wires crossed in the communication about the results of Roger wearing the heart monitor.  We seen her this morn, and she said she didn't see anything it showing anything.  We will just go ahead and have the scan of his carotid artery on November 21.

And I had not mentioned this but he had an Upper GI yesterday.  And it didn't really show anything.  The reason it was ordered is that he has a chronic cough.  They wanted to rule out his acid reflux causing the cough.  And it did rule it out.  The doctor did take a couple biopsies.  There was a place in the wall of the stomach that looked a different color, so he took one from there and one from another spot.
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We had to come home today and had just a about 45 minutes before we had to go to therapy.  After we got home from there, I have not did a single thing.  Just totally wiped out.  This morn I was awake by 5:00 and could not sleep any more.  And the same thing yesterday morn, though yesterday I had lain back down and was going to at least try to sleep.  The hospital called to see if we could come in for the Upper GI right then, so we had to rush and get down there.  We were out of there by around noon-12:30ish.  It had been scheduled to begin at 1:00 so we were both happy to have gotten the call.

Anyway, I have had no energy to blog...not sure if I will get back to it tomorrow or not.  But I did want to let you know that prayers have been answered.

Aikman Wildlife Adventure

This past summer we had the pleasure of taking Lorelei to the Aikman Wildlife Adventure.  It is not a huge place, and the drive through is not very long at all.  But you can go at your own pace....stop when you want to stop...at the time we went it cost $20 to take a car through.  No matter how many were inside.

There was even a petting zoo...and it was included in the $20 price.  They even supplied the food.

We all three thoroughly enjoyed visiting the place, and we had plans to go back later but as you know things happened.  Still, I would love to take her back.

I came away with the feeling it was the best $20 spent on entertainment in a long time.  One of these days I will be featuring more animals from the drive.

At the time, the walk-thru area was not open...it costs more to go thru it.  But still...I for sure want to go back. 

Update on Roger...and a hornet's nest.

We saw this as we were leaving the strip pits one day...

Roger kept telling me I should get it, but it was too high in the tree.

We saw no hornets at all.
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Please keep Roger/us in your prayers.  He had to wear a heart monitor for a month.  We got that sent in last week, and now have to see another cardiologist.  The one that had him wear it does the 'plumbing' part of the heart.  Well, the monitor showed something with the mechanics of the heart.  We go Friday morn to see the new doctor.  It really upset me last night, but resignation has settled in.

Physically, Roger is doing so, so good.  When we came home in September, I felt like I could not let him out of my sight.   I was supposed to always have a hand on him and use the gait belt.  He would not stand for that.  I could get him to let me hold his hand part of the time when out.

I still don't want to leave and leave him here alone.  I have gone one time to get my hair cut....and that is the only time I have left. 

But he can walk and get around ever so much more than I ever dreamed possible.  He can walk so much farther than he could even two weeks ago...much less a month ago.  A month ago a walk around our little aWalmart wore him out...if we went to a super Walmart I had to just grab what I needed...now he can walk a mile and it not bother him much.

Just a little funny....

I forgot I had not shared this...I hope you enjoy.

Turkeys

We saw these a few days ago on the way to the strip pits.

I think they were all girls...except maybe the one featured above.  And Roger is not even sure...he thinks it is possibly a girl.  It did not have a beard, but it did have a little point that I thought might be one trying to make an appearance.

We also thought they might have been this years juveniles...

If I remember correctly, there were five of them.

I just read this:
 A group of turkeys — has many awesome and unusual descriptive nouns, including a “crop”, “dole”, “gang”, “posse”, and “raffle.”

Better late than never....

I posted these on facebook but looks like I forgot to post them here...if I wait till next year, I am apt to forget about them.

These were taken in Arthur, Illinois last month.  I think they are from a pumpkin carving contest.

Did you notice the one second from the right on the middle row? 

I think you will enjoy them if you click to expand the view.

Birthday flowers

One of my daughters sent me these beautiful flowers...I thought I would show a few of them individually.  (Not sure what is going on, but this photo looks a bit washed out compared to them in real life.)

They are gorgeous!

and one more...

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One of my sister-in-laws and I are almost the same age.  She told me that she told my brother  she was going to start telling people she was 70.  That way people would tell her how wonderful she looks for her age and how great it is that she gets around so good.   I think that is a pretty good idea.

From today....

Another venture...actually we took a long, slow rambling drive.  We both wanted to get out and see some of the autumn color.   We have been seeing color of course, but always on the way to somewhere else.  Today was dedicated to the enjoyment of the color.  True,  lot of trees are bare, but there is still a lot of beauty to be found.

This is where the above picture was taken....Mansfield, Indiana.
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Back to Roger...I am amazed that he is now capable of this.  At first we had to watch everything we did.  His blood pressure was all over the place, and when it would drop down real low he would be dizzy and come close to falling.  I avoided getting out at times like that.  I was always on edge...afraid to let him out of my sight, and that was not only because of the blood pressure...I was worried he would fall, or run into something. 

To be truthful I was not real comfortable with him fishing here....so we only stayed a few minutes.  We were both weary and hungry anyway. 

Har-de-har matey

A cute pirate in my eyes...

Peek-a-boo

I think on the very drive Roger and I took after he got home from the hospital, we saw this eagle.  On the way home we crossed over Brouillett's Creek.  I have watched for an eagle to be there for years and years and this is the first time to have success.  He was down on a little sandbar, but when I paused, he flew down the creek and flew to this perch.

Definitely not good pictures, but at least a memory for us.
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Roger is done with with physical therapy but continues with speech and occupational.  He helped mow the yard a couple weeks ago.  That was kind of scary because that is what he did the day he had the stroke.  And the other day we changed the oil in our Rav 4.  It was a struggle for him to remember parts of it but we did get it done.

Please continue to keep him/us in your prayers. 

Luna moth

Sarah had this visitor where she works....and brought it home to Lorelei and me.  This was BS...before the stroke.

I don't know if there is anything more beautiful than a Luna moth.

I sure enjoyed seeing it.

From the strip pit area

We have been through this area several times, and have not seen a single Great Blue Heron.  However, we always see two or three egrets.

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Roger continues to improve a little bit at a time...specially in the physical department.  He has now been up and down our basement stairs two or three times.  He can get in the tub and take a regular shower with no help from me.  He makes coffee.  He can go shopping with me to Walmart of grocery as long as I don't stay a long time.   These are baby steps, but steps I didn't think I would ever see again when this first happened.

He still has trouble with remembering and naming things.   And seems to have no short term memory. 

We go and drive through the strip pits two or three times a week.  It is a short drive and we have fun looking for wildlife.   He really, really enjoys it.  Not sure when he will ever feel like going for a longer drive.  We had an appt in Indianapolis yesterday and he was totally worn out last night.

I wanted to thank you again for your continued prayers.  Even though I don't respond personally, I do appreciate them.

It is time for an update!

Roger got to come home last Friday, the 9th!  He is walking in the house where he can reach and hold on to something if he needs, too....and we sit on the porches a lot.  We want to enjoy that before the winter comes.

If he is out on concrete or pavement, I still want the gate belt on him just in case.  He objects to it, but does let me use it.

His blood pressure is up and down...it dropped to 97/63 today.  When it gets low, he gets dizzy, and weak, and feels real 'out of it.'  And usually gets cold.

We start outpatient therapy next week.  He gets all three---physical, occupational, and speech.

We did venture to the family dr. yesterday...and went for a burger at Hardee's afterwards.  That is the first he has been out anywhere.

He goes on the 28th to a neuro-opthamologist to see if anything can be done with/for his vision.

I appreciate the prayers that have been said for us and hope you will continue to pray for us...it means a lot to both of us.

Update

I have tried to think how to give an update and give a true picture of how things stand and it is hard to do.

First, Roger was moved from the Intensive Care Unit to a regular room on Monday, August 15...he stayed in that room until Friday, the 19th of that same week.  He was then transferred to a hospital in Terre Haute to their rehab facility..

He has improved a lot in some areas, but in others not as much.  He has sat up on the side of the bed by himself.  He has stood up at the sink under his own steam.  Day before yesterday was a great day...the therapist had him up and walking.  Not a lot, but sure a lot more than he has been doing.  So much more than I even dared hope for.

But say you ask him what a plate is, or what a ball is, he could not just name it for the life of him.  But say you said "pass me the salt and _______" he just might say pepper.  He gets really down on himself.  He has trouble concentrating and following instructions.

Also, yesterday the occupational therapist did some testing of his vision.  He seems unable to see with his right eye, plus the right side of his left eye is impaired also.

Today they had him walk 100 ft.  A therapist held to each arm while he walked.  They were to help him with balance plus just to help.  But he did make...they are pleased with how he is coming along in physical therapy.

This is not much of an update but it at least gives you an idea of what is going on.  All the prayers and well wishes are greatly appreciated.

About Roger....how quickly life can change...

The above photo was taken July 25th.

Today Roger is spending his 11th day in Neuro-critical care unit at a hospital in Indianapolis.  He had a mini-stroke on the night of July 28th.  He was in the hospital over-night and till the next evening.  They did a cat scan, EKG, did scans of his carotid artery and seen nothing.  They gave him an additional blood pressure medicine and Plavix.

August 2nd he had mowed the yard and did a few things around here, had a bite of supper, laid back in his recliner to snooze, I thought.  Then got up and went in the other room.  When he did not come back, I went to check on him and he was laying in bed and said his eyes hurt.  I am skipping parts, but ended up taking him to the emergency room within a few minutes.  I had them help me get him in and they told me to go to the ER waiting room till they called me back.

I no more than got the car parked and got inside and set down and they called me back to sign stuff, said it was serious and they were life-lining him to Indianapolis.  They would explain to me in the ER room...she just needed my signature to get things started.  He had a brain bleed/hemorrhage.  They intubated him in case he needed it on the way there.  They said it was easier to do there than in the helicopter.

It is soo long to go into details  but will give a few details...it took two or three days to get the bleeding stopped.  He has had the breathing tube out for a few days now, and the feeding tube has been out a couple days.  He could move his left arm and leg all along, though for a day or so, not on command.  His right arm/hand and leg/foot did nothing for days.  But he is moving his right arm more and more.  And he moved his right foot/leg on command yesterday during therapy.

If they can get his blood pressure under control with oral meds, he will be moved to his own room.  And from there should only be days till he goes somewhere for rehab.  But they have been working on the blood pressure for days.  He does not sleep in the ICU room...has went for at least 3 days with only a short nap here and there. 

I may not respond to comments, but please keep him in your prayers.  I am so thankful for family, faithful friends, and blog buddies.  People he worked with and 'played' with have stood by him/us in this time of need, also.  I have no words to express my gratitude.

Summer continues

She is still with us...it won't last too much longer.  I think she goes back to school Aug 8 or  9th.

The house will be quite lonesome without her..

I have enough stuff to do that I will have to get busy or else I would go crazy.

Summer, Lorelei, etc

First of all, this is Lorelei holding the baby turtle she found week before last.  We took her to the creek for the fist time this year that day....and the very first thing she found and caught it.  She had a bucket and kept it in it or had it in her hand the whole time we were there.  And we were there a LONG time.  She almost caught another one.  Of course she wanted to bring it home, but instead she turned it loose before we left.

Then last week she wanted to go back...we took her the backroads to get there.  And as we were coming up behind Bridgeton, up the creek from the bridge, there were two eagles in one dead tree.

Before we got pulled off and stopped, one of the eagles flew down behind the tree.  But I got several photos of this one.

I was more thrilled than Lorelei with this.

Along with her staying with us 3 or 4 days a week, our older daughter was back in Indiana for a while.
She and I worked several days and we made these:

First the quilt top above,

And then made this table runner at the top of the photo, and that is the backing for it on the bottom.  They were made with leftover fabric from the quilt top.  Both were my daughters design and choice of fabrics.  We both did cutting and both did sewing.  You will have to click on these to get a better view.

Not sure how much visiting I will get done or if I will even try to post again for a while.  Lorelei is supposed to come tomorrow evening, and I know she is going to want to go to the creek again and she has also been wanting to go fishing at the strip pit.

Lorelei....

Just have to post a picture of our Lorelei....

I am still not ready to get back to blogging.  In fact, I have not taken hardly any photos in the month I have been absent.

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Just have to share these Simon's Cat Videos.  Have you seen either of them?

This first one is his newest I think.  Wanted to say that that the pheasant in it--it shows how they sound.  They sound sort of like a rusty, screechy hinge.

And here we have one from Valentine's Day, but I have forgotten if I have shown it....I cannot even remember seeing it before I ran across it the other day.



I hope you enjoy them.