luvteaching

Thank you to @dfish, @Cruising-along, @smitty34877, @Crazy For Cats, @StLouisCruisers, and @Quartzsite Cruiser for the good wishes. DH is a great animal fan and loves any of the vet shows. This morning I got a follow-up video visit with our doctor arranged for January 10 and contacted the home health agency to see if they'd received the referral (they had but needed more info) and now the nurse will be here on Wednesday. I saw this posted by @Scrapnana on the World Cruise roll call: Thanks for the concern, chefestelle. I was just getting ready to post that I have to cancel the world cruise. I am in the hospital and will be for a few days while they decide what can be done. Off to the rehab facility for paperwork and claiming DH! Karen

Good morning Dailyites! Big news today - DH is coming home! This will be a new adventure for us as he'll be in the wheelchair for at least a month as his heel wound heals but he'll be home. The care center has agreed to transport him for me which is saving me well over $100.00 for specialized transport. Once he's home I'll be staying home except Monday mornings when DS comes for "Dad time" and I can go to water aerobics and do errands. I got the news Wednesday afternoon. Yesterday I signed quite a few papers. Today I have to be there at 11:00 AM for the rest of the discharge paperwork. DH can transfer from the bed to the wheelchair, stand with bars to help, and has a good appetite especially for dessert. I tested the wheelchair and it can go pretty much everywhere in the house. We have two power lift chairs for him - one in the family room and one in the living room - and that will make tv watching more comfortable. Today I checked and The Incredible Doctor Pol is on all day so DH will be happy. Karen

Good morning from the Pacific Northwest! It's pouring rain right now and the gutters are overflowing. It's better than the snow! I do hope it clears up before I have to drive south to Edmonds (north of Seattle) for a Christmas celebration with DH's side of the family. He'll miss out but I'll have his siblings up for lunch once he's home. We have a tradition I started probably 20 or more years ago when it was our turn to host Christmas. I picked up a tinned fruit cake and on the bottom noted our names and the date. Then I passed it on to the family who was hosting the next year's celebration. We've continued that tradition and the bottom of the tin is covered with dates and names. We've not opened up the plastic wrap on the fruitcake yet. Lots of snowflake cutting over the years. I taught 6th grade for 30+ years and "snow" was the theme in January. I had books of snowflake patterns we'd cut out as well as lots of free form ones. Today's plan is to be out of the house by 9:30 and head down to see DH for an hour or two then head to Edmonds for a 12:30 - 3:30 get-together. I'll also stop on the way back to see DH. DS and DDIL didn't come to finish opening gifts last night as DDIL had a migraine so they may come today or we'll wait for the weekend. Have a good day everyone! Karen

Good evening, Well, my Christmas gift was a bust. It's been an emotional day but ended up being a good one. DH didn't get to come home because the company that was transporting him canceled and didn't let me know. The facility called at 9:45 to say that he hadn't been picked up. I called the dispatcher and she told me it had been canceled the same day I booked it. She said the notes said I had been called but I hadn't. I was home all day and had the phone right with me. No messages, no email, nothing. The dispatcher said she'd dispatch a ride for him and they'd be there in 45 minutes. I call the facility back. I get another call to say they can't transport because we're out in the county but their website says anywhere in the 3 counties (and we're in the middle of the three) and 24/7 and all weather. By then I was in tears. DS and DDIL headed in to see DH and I was about 5 minutes behind them. I took in his stocking and a couple of other gifts and we were able to have him open gifts and we were able to have a nice visit. His dinner was a PB&J sandwich and soup because it was too late to order his dinner but he likes that so it was ok. The day got better as DS and DDIL helped me set up for dinner, we got some gifts opened but we'll do part 2 tomorrow. I had 8 of us around the table and it was just what I needed. We had a great time with friends and all is well. I'm beat tonight but the tears stopped a long time ago. I tell people I was born with my bladder behind my eyes! Thanks for listening and Happy Boxing Day tomorrow! Karen

Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday @ger_77! DS and DDIL will be here in about 30 minutes. I have the presents under the tree, dinner is ready, and I need to get the ingredients for the rolls in the bread machine. I'm going to put them to work putting the leaf in the table, finding another couple of chairs for the table, and loading up some boxes in the car for Christmas with my DH's side on Tuesday. My Christmas gift is getting DH home for the day! He'll be here around 10;00 AM and be picked up to go back at 6:30 PM. Our gift to ourselves is new appliances to update our tired kitchen - stove, refrigerator and dishwasher. I'm also doing a new sink and range hood but DS will install those. The appliances aren't in until late January which is fine. We're having spiral ham, cheesy scalloped potatoes, ginger carrots, rolls, and lemon bars for dessert. The rain has washed away the ice and snow and it's a balmy 40F outside. Have a wonderful day everyone!! Karen

Good afternoon, First things first - I have water! I woke up yesterday morning to no water. My son's was frozen as well. He came over late morning and tried to get me going but there was a burst pipe at our pump house. I called the local place who has taken care of our well and they were out about 3 hours later which was much faster than I expected. They replaced the pipe but still no water. DS had a work event so couldn't come back over but I was fine (other than needing and wanting a shower). This morning DS came over and it only took a bit to thaw the one place it tends to freeze and I have water! I have flushed, run the water for quite a bit, made sure the hot water was good, and a shower may be in the near future as well as laundry. We are transitioning to rain. We got an inch or two of snow last night then freezing rain. We weren't as bad as Seattle from what I saw on the news but am glad I'm home. We're finally getting above freezing, it's raining and things are starting to thaw out. Hopefully I can get in to see DH tomorrow. Even with no water I baked a double batch of chocolate chip cookies yesterday and a batch of gingersnaps today.Next up are lemon bars and @ger_77's butter tart slice. DH is coming home for the day on Christmas! I have transportation arranged (a bit pricey but so worth it). He'll be picked up at 9:30 AM and brought here. He'll be picked up at 6:30 PM to be taken back. I'm so grateful for a company that offers this service on a holiday. Now, off to do laundry, clean up the kitchen, and maybe have a shower! Karen

So glad to see you doing this Rich! There are many World Cruise blogs but you have a unique perspective as it's your first one! I love following everyone and living vicariously through you. Karen

Checking in.

Good morning, It is 0F (yes zero) on the front porch thermometer and I got up to no water. We're on a well and the pipes or pump is down. Our son's water is out as well - he discovered it as he was getting ready to shower! He's going to go get some super heater and be here to help thaw me out. Then he'll thaw his place out. More later. Karen

Good morning, It's a bright sunny COLD morning here in Sedro-Woolley. Think 8F on the thermometer. Our road was plowed yesterday but still hasn't been sanded and we got about another 1/2 inch of snow last night. I need to finish off shoveling out the driveway (75 feet) and then work on the ramp which is almost done. Talked to DH's rehab facility this morning and I've been assured a phone call after 10:30 (they are in meetings which I understand). I asked what the secret was to getting a call returned and, when asked, mentioned that I had called daily since Sunday. I was met with momentary silence and then told today. I want to find out if DH will be coming home, etc. The person in charge of arranging his discharge hasn't made it in the last few days (understandable) but I'd still like to talk to someone! Thanks for letting me rant. Now back to our regular scheduled programming! Karen

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, Good morning from north of Seattle! We have about 6 inches of snow and it's snowing now. It's a light dry snow and we've had wind. My car, sitting in the carport, has snow on it! I haven't been able to get in to see DH since Saturday due to snow, roads, etc. Yesterday a dear friend stopped and saw him and they phoned me. He sounded great, wants to be home, and misses me. I miss him. I admit, I was teary off and on yesterday and out-of-sorts a bit as I wasn't with him for a second day in a row. The aide called me mid-morning and said he'd looked out the window and told her his wife wouldn't be coming when he saw the snow. She was going to have him call me but it didn't happen. I've left messages for two days asking for nursing/therapy, etc to call but so far nothing. It's totally frustrating! Oh well, will try again today. Have a good day everyone! Karen

Good evening, We've had a somewhat snowy and cold day today so, for the first time since DH was hospitalized, I didn't go in to see him. I had prepped him for this and I knew he'd be ok. When I left him yesterday he told me to stay home and not get in a wreck! It's looking more and more like we'll get him home for Christmas. He'll be in a wheelchair as the deep tissue injury on his heel need healing time and that could be a month or two more. It will be a learning curve for both us to get him going and I'll have to learn how to change the dressings but it's doable. Our weather the next few days includes more snow and temps in the 20's (low 20's). DH may not see me for a few days as driving on snow and ice isn't high on my list! In honor of Cookie Baking Day I baked 48 candy cane cookies and 145 shortbread cookies. Later this week I'll get chocolate chip cookies and gingersnaps made and I may try @ger_77's butter tart slice. Karen

Good morning, I'm sipping my Earl's Garden tea from Murchies. I really enjoy Murchies teas when I can get them. They deliver to the US and it's free if you order $50.00 which isn't hard if I wait a bit! My friend Wayne, who passed in September, did some subbing right after he retired. He subbed for our first grade teacher one time only and described the experience as herding cats! DH continues to slowly improve. I'm taking in our wheelchair today so they can use it to practice transfers. I had originally said I wanted him to be walking when he came home but that was before the deep tissue injury and before I knew the extent of the two spots. If we wait for those to heal he'd easily be in rehab for a couple of more months. So, I've indicated I'll be okay if he comes home with the wheelchair. He can transfer from the bed to the chair and back, is able to stand (but still needs to build a bit more stamina) when holding on to the bars or the pole, and I feel we'll be ok with him at home. We'd have a visiting nurse almost daily for wound care as well as PT and OT coming to the house. I'll have to have specialized transportation to get him here but we'll see how that works. Meanwhile Mother Nature is messing with us. We're having some cold mornings and clear days but it's supposed to change Saturday afternoon and that darn white stuff is predicted for about 5 days with accumulations of up to a foot. Then, by the 22nd, it's supposed to turn to rain. If we get that accumulation I'll be staying home as I'm not a snow driver if I don't have to be! @ger_77 Do you use white sugar or brown in the filling for the butter tart slice? I'm thinking of doing 1/2 raisins and 1/2 currants. I made my shortbread yesterday but I couldn't find any berry sugar (or extra-fine) down here so I'll have to stock up my next trip to Canada. Have a lovely day! Karen

Good morning everyone, My body has decided to be up an hour earlier, 5:30 AM, so I've been working on Christmas cards. The Canada ones are ready to mail tomorrow. Now I can work on decorating, the US cards, etc. DH is making progress. A few days ago the nurse changed his dressing on his foot and I finally got to see the deep tissue injuries (DTI) and now understand totally why he goes "ouch" if anyone touches or moves his heel. The one on the inside is starting to heal but the one on the back has a long ways to go. I also talked to the nurse practitioner and got quite a bit of information on what was going on. When he comes home (soon we hope) he'll have a visiting nurse to change the dressing and be followed by a wound care doctor. Yesterday we did something "normal". I took in his better clothes (think his HA sweats and quilted polo shirt from the Westerdam OBC purchases), put on the heavy boot and his coat, and we left the facility for a few hours! We had our local SKAT para-transit bus pick us up and we went to the Skagit Symphony Christmas concert at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon, WA. DH loves music and he was in his glory. The symphony paired with the Mount Vernon High School mariachi band and a folklorico dancer for the last few numbers and it was an energetic and lovely performance. The band director was just named Washington State Music Teacher of the Year and I can totally understand that! Riding SKAT back to the facility was an adventure as we picked up someone and dropped them off as well but DH was so happy to be out it was worth it. We also bought our present to each other yesterday - new appliances. Will find out today when they'll be delivered and installed. It's a fridge, stove and dishwasher and then I'll also get a new sink and range hood a bit later. Sprucing up the kitchen just a bit. I'm off to water aerobics and then to the rehab facility to bug them about DH coming home before Christmas. He's standing more on his own and is definitely stronger. Best wishes to all! Karen

@Sharon in AZ Congratulations on your adopting as well. I know it became legal in September and we were in El Centro, CA but that's where the memory gives up. On the other hand I can detail the day they called to say we were approved and the call later that same day to say they had a little boy if we were interested (Dec.5), going to hear about him (Dec. 6) and his visit to meet us (Dec.7). This placement was when we lived in San Diego. Karen

@kazu Thanks Jacqui! Our DS has been a blessing but he sure has added a few grey hair to my head over the years. I sometimes wondered if we were going to make it through the teen years but he's turned out to be a wonderful person. He is there when we need him and he's so good with DH. He's also built the ramp outside, installed the walk-in shower and put up all the grab bars to make things safe. When I think back to that little red-headed boy who crossed the doorstep 44 years ago I'm so blessed. Karen

Good morning, We're having rain today and that's fine - better than ice! Today is special in our household as 44 years ago we had our son placed with us for adoption. He was a 2.5 year old red-headed ADHD child who made us parents. He's turned out to be a wonderful man who still has issues focusing but will do anything for you. I don't remember what day he became legally ours but this day is ingrained in me. DH is making progress and there is hope. Yesterday he stood up in the parallel bars unassisted 6 times. That's a first as he usually needs some assistance. I told him I'd bring him a Costco chocolate sundae today. We've decided to gift ourselves new appliances for Christmas to do a kitchen make-over. Yesterday I priced out fridge, dishwasher, stove and range hood at Home Depot and today I'll check one of our local stores for comparison. Best wishes to everyone celebrating and kind thoughts to all. Karen

Good morning everyone, Not much to report. The weather is warming up a bit and no temps in the freezing range for a few days and clouds and rain. I'm happy to see rain for a few days. Today is off to recycling and then to see DH. He's holding his own and our biggest issue is getting him to stand consistently. Once up he can walk although it's slow. I'd love him to be home for Christmas and am very cautiously optimistic it can happen. Prepared for it not to happen as well. His family's Christmas is the 27th so may have to attend on my own which is fine but not optimal. @JazzyV I agree that the interment of the Japanese Americans was not the finest hour. Has anyone read the book Dear Miss Breed? It's the story of a San Diego librarian who had many of her clients (young ones) in camps in the San Diego area. It was a good read and lots of historical photos. I have the tree mostly decorated and now time to get the cards out and get the Christmas letter done. I need to get the cards to Canada in the mail sooner than later. @marshhawk We are attending our local Skagit Symphony's Holiday concert matinee on Sunday. DH is really looking forward to it. I have our local bus company picking us up with a handicapped accessible bus and taking us to and back. This is a free service but they have a limited area. I wish I could get it to bring him own but we are outside the area. Have a good day everyone! Karen

we were on the Nieuw Amsterdam a year ago September and no tiles and told they'd be mailed. Guess what showed up last week? You got it - the tiles! Karen

Good afternoon everyone, I came home from seeing DH as it hasn't gotten above freezing today and I wanted to be off the roads! I went in today mainly because of his Care Conference. They are starting to discuss him coming home but no date yet. Progress. They also got the okay to take off the big heavy boot! The two deep tissue injuries are still there. The smaller one is seeing some healing but the other bigger one is slower to heal. I was able to talk to a person on the Wound Care team yesterday and that was helpful. I'd been trying for a few weeks to get in communication with them as they only come in on Wednesday and are gone by 9:00 AM! Anyway, the person who called answered my questions and I was able to provide information and background so a successful call. Yesterday DH was wonderful. He did 60 feet in the parallel bars and, for the first time, walked with the walker and did 59 feet. He's one tired guy today. DS checked the outside lights a few weeks ago on a nice day so I was able to simply plug them in and set the timer. The tree is up and has lights on it but that's as far as I've gotten. This afternoon is getting gifts wrapped to take to BC on Saturday when my friend and I go see my Mom. My tradition is to watch the Santa Clause movies with Tim Allen as I wrap so #1 is ready to put in the DVD player. Have any of you tried Crumbl cookies? They are new to our area and I've been told they are delicious, rich, and a bit on the pricey side. Enjoy the evening. Karen

Good morning, Well the snowstorm in this area fizzled out. We got wind and rain overnight but just a slight dusting of the white stuff. I got the tree up yesterday and the lights on. The facility called mid-afternoon and told me that they'd gone in DH's room and he was sitting on the floor. He wanted to get in bed and was tired of waiting for them to help. He seemed to be fine and they were going to be monitoring him every 15 minutes. No follow up. calls so he should be ok. I called at 8:00 AM to ask to have the Wound Care team call me (they are only there on Wednesday) as DH has a deep tissue injury on his left heel. It's now 9:23 AM and no call (they are usually gone before 9:00) so we'll see if anything comes of it. Being an advocate takes a lot of work! Meanwhile I'll get a few things done here, let it warm up a bit and then head in to see DH and spend some time. Mousse - he loves the daily mousse specials in the Lido on a BHB! when we go for lunch I am asked to get him his mousse first so he has it while I get the rest of lunch and then he gets a second one for dessert! Karen

Ok - the snow has started! @Cruising-along you didn't have to share you know! The roads were dry and so I headed in to see DH and take the promised milkshake for yesterday's walking (50 feet in the parallel bars and strawberry) but the milkshake machine didn't work at our closest Jack-in-the-Box so he'll have to wait for the next trip in. I stayed about 90 minutes with him, quickly did the banking (tomorrow is pension day) and stopped to read some Starbucks cards and get a cranberry bliss bar. By the time I came out of Starbucks the snow was swirling and the wind was making it blow sideways. I Headed north to us and right now it's coming down pretty straight, the road was ok, but we're expecting winds up to close to 20 mph tonight. I'll wait until the morning to put out the garbage can. The B.C. ferries have totally shut down the runs from the mainland to Vancouver Island due to the wind. Now my list includes getting the tree up (fake), doing some wrapping, etc. Karen

Good morning Dailyites! Today we are supposed to start getting snow. It's currently 20F on the front porch and the sky is a grey "snow" sky but it needs to warm up a bit for the white stuff to happen. Our roads were quite wet yesterday when I was driving home (in daylight) so I'm hesitant to head out this morning. I'd warned DH and the staff that I would probably stay home today due to weather conditions and he was ok with it. Yesterday he walked 50 feet in the parallel bars! I owe him a milkshake (strawberry) on my next trip in. I have plans to get things done at home today - rearrange the living room and put the tree up (not decorate but up), do some cleaning, make some cookies, get some wrapping done (I'm heading to BC on Saturday possibly and need to take gifts up) and get the Christmas cards out. I feel a bit guilty not going in to see DH but I could really use the day at home and I don't need to get into an accident due to the roads. I'm a wimpy snow and ice driver. Have a good day everyone! Karen

Hi @lobsternight from a fellow Canadian who married an American. To highlight someone's name do shift 2 (@) and then start typing the person's handle. They'll pop up and you'll see it in blue. I agree that the lower mainland tends to shut down if there's snow! I was born in Kamloops and raised in Coquitlam. I married an American 45 years ago and here I sit. Still a Canadian citizen though. Karen

Good morning everyone, @JazzyVMy condolences across the miles. DH gave me some hope yesterday as he was so much more his old self. I gather, from anecdotal reports and his own admission, that he got tired of waiting for them to come and put him in the bed so he did it himself. The aides came in to do it and found him all set. He told them he did it himself, but they still asked around and nobody said they helped. Now they are keeping a close eye on him! Yesterday he walked 28 feet in the parallel bars (first walking in over a week) and his standing up was almost unassisted. Hope..... We have snow in our forecast starting on Wednesday and I'm not much of a snow driver so we'll see how it goes. It's not supposed to accumulate to too much but it's the cold temperatures and the overnight freezing that bother me. I'm prepping DH for me not coming in as much or staying as long. I do have a care conference for him on Thursday. We have a light dusting of snow this morning but the sun is out. Today is going north to Bellingham for a few errands and tomorrow is taking care of banking and a few errands south in Mount Vernon and Burlington. That way I'm set for the rest of the week if Mother Nature isn't kind. Have a lovely day everyone! Karen