2023 December Daily : Monday December 5th

 

Monday's Morning Adventure

This word keeps showing up for me!

Again. Hope. 

This is Dukey!

This is Carly

Sami and Lane's Dirt Road to get to their house.
Sloppy and Sloshy!

The good? 

Alan E. brought us a Christmas Tree!

I also visited Sami's critters to make sure they are ok. Mr. Kitters did not have water or food again!

Smart me realized (when I was almost home) that I should but out 2 or three bowls of water! Duh.

The bad? 

The tree is still outside. I have no energy to get it and set it up and water it every single day.

And Phil's very bad morning..... 

Hope...

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The morning on this Monday was a bad for Phil. He had taken a pain pill/meds the night before and it gave him bad dreams. And, he is 'spinning' in his head. Death. Radiation not working. What if this is it? Tired of being in pain. Tired. I asked him if he wanted me to stay. If he wanted me to drive him to his appointment for fluids. He said no. 

I went to work. He called at 8am. Said he needed me.

On the way home Katie and Jenna called me - conference call. Phil had called all his girls saying he was struggling. We all agree he needs all hands on deck, so to speak. I shared my fears and frustrations. He has all the meds and food he needs, but wants to do it his way. Sets him back. 

He is spinning in his head. And getting anxious about the Pet Scan next week. 7 days a way. 

Depression.

When I took him to Bootsma for fluids he perked up. Chatty. With the girls and on the phone the whole time chatting with guys. This is frustrating for me. He shows up for everyone else. I get the down.

I ran errands while he was getting his infusion. Tires to storage. Grab the Christmas stuff out of storage. Get gas. Get his meds. Get the soups and electrolytes he and nurses at Bootsma are recommending and field calls while in the grocery store.  Take calls from Katie. Rush. Let work know it's a home day for me. 

I'm exhausted. 

Crash. 

How to balance all of this?

It exhausts me.... 

Hope. I hope he has a better day today (early Tuesday morning). 

2023 December Daily: Sunday, Dec. 4

 

Day 3! Lavender Aromatherapy

Phil and Tim Taylor work on the snow plow system

Snowing!

Crafting

A visit to the sunflowers. Winter food for birdies

Phil: Realized he was 'behind' on his food plan and needs to gain weight. Got on it.

Phil: Went out to put the blade on the quad for snow plowing. I asked one of our friends to 'casually' show up to help him out. Phil has no strength. 

Beautiful snow in the morning, but rain later in the day.

I did some snow shoveling... front and back. 

I took a crafty card class today: My escape. 

2023 December Daily: December 2nd, Saturday

 

That's my car, with the hatch open!

Advent goals new Christmas Coffee Cup

Trying to get Phil on a regular schedule 

Saturday, December 2nd.

I had a 9am appointment to get my winter tires on.  Now no more slipping and sliding. 

And we got more snow! 

I had a list of things I was hoping to do, but as is life right now, planning is often futile. 

I did get into the hot-tub though. 

*********************************

Around 7:15am Phil interrupted my zoom call with my sisters, to have a serious talk. 

He asked me to take him to the ER 'now'.  Said goodbye to my sisters, and after 2 hours, he got the relief he was hoping for. But he was wiped out and did not eat all ay. Which, since he is on a feeding tube, is not good.

It's been rough. He is having a hard time. Trying to see the good, yet he is focusing on the bad.

Looking for the light in all of this. 

2023 December Daily: Photo of the Day and Story...

Tommie (and I) waiting to see what we got!

Hello cute little advent gift from my sister Avis

 Hello December Daily 2023...

December 1st:

Today's story. The Fed Ex guy drove in (during a Pause of our first series of snow storms) to deliver this cute gift from my sister Avis. She, Paula and I decided to do Advent gifts this year, with daily prompts. They both received my big box of goodies as well. 

We came up with this idea in August. Last weekend, Friday after Thanksgiving was the day I wanted to ship mine out, but the shipping store was closed! So, I had to do it on Monday. Fifty bucks later, in shipping costs, they arrived by December 1st. That was my goal.  

I'm just like a kid. I love having something to actually open each day.

Thank you Avis for playing along with me! 

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Other little notes of December 1st:

Phil started eating real food! Yay!!! (ramen for lunch and dinner, ice-cream, and a bite of my scrambled eggs). After a very rough week of throwing up and being nauseous and getting down to 160 lb.  Monday Katie and I called all the medical team members we could. We put him on a strict meds routine, and food routine. As in take your meds and quit saying you are nauseous and can't go on like this! We had to get ahead of it. He is not a good patient. And, he had to eat slower, more frequently, and with less volume (he has a feeding tube and wants to get it done, now).  He was also in pain at his tumor location. I think it's blistering. But he doesn't want to take pain meds. They make him constipated. Not.A.Good.Patient.  Wednesday was the 2 week post-radiation mark - and poof! Now we are now seeing daily improvements. Wednesday was the first day he did not throw up... Thanks Be to God! Let me tell you, Tuesday I was beat and wanted to make the call for reinforcements to help out. Exhausted. Emotional. Scared. 

 I went to visit Sami & Lanes critters (they are on a cruise in the Caribbean for their Honeymoon)  they have a critter sitter, but I'm a grandma in training and worry about such things.  Mr. Kitter's needed water and his box cleaned out. He had NO water last Tuesday when I visited. And Duke was on the wrong side of the fence! He crawled under and couldn't get back. Grandma to the rescue. I feel better now. Jake is babysitting their kitten. That was a good call! I'm sure he is all snuggly and warm and getting lots of playtime. 

First snowstorm hit us on December 1st: Gads.. my tires on this Ford Explorer suck (new car in 2022).  I was sliding at every turn and having difficulty at stop signs. Worse part? I went into the Albertson's parking lot and almost hit a car when I turned into one of the parking lot lane's! I could not complete the turn. Kept sliding while turning.  What a show. Back up, start again. Nope. Back up, start again... did it. I parked at the end, and walked in. Instead of parking in the 'stop and go' spot up front - I had an online order to avoid walking in the snow stuff. Did not want to it any cars! I was shaking like a leaf from that experience... 

I have an appointment to get my snow tires on today, December 2nd. At 3:30am I realized my tires are at the rental in Baker City. In the back shed. It seemed like a good idea during the summer!  And the rental is occupied. Awkward. 

Bridal Shower for Sami, May 6 2023

The full moon going down at 4:30 am! 

If you know me, you know I get up at the crack of dawn. And, if I have a project/event? It's go go go!

Yesterday was that day for Sami's bridal shower. I got up at 4:30 am and I was 'at it' until 5:30 pm - but then I changed clothes and went to another event, got home close to 10pm, and poof! Today? I'm recovering....

But, back to the bridal shower! 

Sami's future MIL - Liz was a great help. She ordered some beautiful cupcakes to match Sami's wedding colors. She also brought a mimosa bar! Both were a hit! Along with petunias for the guests to take home. 

I provided the venue, did the invites, managed all the responses, arranged the games, prizes, etc. And decorated. Getting the house ready was my biggest challenges, since, well, it needed a good spring cleaning. Inside, and out. 

Thank you to all the ladies (15) that came to celebrate this special day. We even had Lane's 'Aunt Vickie' who drove from Vancouver, Washington, aunt Becky from the Tri Cities area, Liz, her daughter Lindsay, and Lindsay's mother-in-law who all drove 2 hours each way to be here. 

My family? It's just me here in Oregon. My sister Paula, who lives in Missouri, helped me with the centerpiece. 

Early morning decoration making... I ordered the sign some time ago!

Tissue Paper Flowers - before, and after

I also ordered a sash (Bride to Be) and robe for Sami. 

Love the flowers!
These match the ones she wants for her wedding

 

The beautiful cupcakes!

Liz - Sami's future Mother in Law!

The bride to be and her fiancé Lane
Thank you Liz, for raising such a kind hearted man! 

One last shot of those lovely cupcakes! 

Week in the Life - Thursday, April 28, 2023

 Thursday was one of my favorite days!

It was a lovely. Warmer than the other days.

I actually made a post on Instagram with my words and photos:

Here they are:

1. I've been starting my days with the Hallow podcast. Trying to expand my knowledge and spiritual journey.
2. A beautiful flower on my office desk. (Ever since Phil was diagnosed with Cancer, I have flowers delivered every other week). 
3. Workout stash at my office. Teaching a morning stretch class at 630am.
4 Traveled 1.5 hours to a  dermatologist doc appointment. I had a mole removed from the bridge of my nose the week prior. 
5. Shopped for toilet seats. Geeze. Did not measure beforehand. Will need a do-over. This is for the 'Baker House' we are fixing up as a rental. 

6. First car wash of the season! Fancy place in Ontario with attendants!

7. Kittens, 10 days old
8. Created a few fun stenciled card panels - a new favorite dish cloth was used as inspiration.
9. In the garden! Asparagus peaking it's head!
10. Evening walk with Tommie.

Not captured:
1. I made a garlic butter shrimp pasta dinner so Phil had something to eat when he got home, late, from golfing.
2. Fields got ditched!
3. Bought lots of blue and white flowers for the back deck. Looking forward to yard time!
4. Started a documentary about Judy Blume. Wow! I only read her 'Are you there God...' book. I'm adding Key West to my bucket, for several reasons. She is my new hero.