Well the kids have spring break next week. Mackie is going to go with Karen and Alvin and Katie to Tulsa for some Palamino Meetings of some sort. They aren't taking the horses its just some meetings.
Kristen's spring break starts Monday too and she's leaving with 3 friends to spend the weekend in Mpls. I wonder if she'll meet Aunt Debbie for drinks? Hmmmm......
Just talked to Jean and she says Dave is doing "so-so". Guess I'll have to make a trip over this weekend to evaluate him myself, especially if Krissy's going to be gone. However, I'm sure Kyle will be stopping to check in on them. He's really good about that!!
Mackie made me join Facebook and I have lots of emails to answer I see. Being "hip" is hard work these days!
Have decided that Cody's Graduation Reception is going to be on Sunday, May 17th which is the day of graduation. So mark your calendars. We'll have it at Jean & Dave's after the graduation ceremony. (Mommy-I'm going to need some help so hurry home will ya!?) Cody doesn't want anything fancy unlike Kristen was. Better get back to work will post more when there's more to talk about.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Events from last week..........
Not really much new to report today. Dave is supposed to go get a bone density test to check for a fracture in his back somewhere. I think this is silly because he just had that CT scan and X-ray checking for the same thing. What do the doctors plan to do if he has a fracture? He is not a surgery candidate and I would think the fracture, if there is one, would be tiny AND it probably happened when he fell last spring. Again, I think it is his rheumatoid AR. He seems to be doing WAY better now that his pain is under control. He seems to be more alert and talkative when I'm there.
Jean is having some issues with her shoulders. From what she's telling me they are similar to when I had tendonitis in my shoulders. Her shoulders ache and go numb sometimes when she sleeps. She doesn't complain much at all but by some of her movements I can tell it bothers her.
Jean is getting new carpet for the livingroom but I'm not sure when, within the next couple of weeks I believe. Cody was going to talk to her this morning about when she's going to have it done so that he can move the furniture for her. Between him and Kyle it should not be a big deal. Kyle is their adopted grandson these days and spends lots of time with them just visiting and he does some chores for them when they ask. I think it's his job to go down and buy Grandpa's lottery tickets on Wednesday's & Saturday's.
Mackie leaves on the 16th with Karen and Alvin to go to Tulsa for some sort of horse meetings. That's spring here and for Katie too. The girls will have fun together.
Cody went to Audubon yesterday to pickup his transmission for the race car. While he was over there he got a bumper for free and was also able to pick up some sheet metal. He conned his mom (and dad) into letting him take her truck and use her gas. What's new?! When he graduates on May 17th I'm cutting the umbilical cord!!! HA!
This Friday (the 13th) I go to Iowa City to the Lymphoma Clinic. I've missed the last 2 due to bad weather. I also have an appt with the Endocrinologist (thyroid doctor) because I missed my last 2 follow ups with him too! I don't expect anything major to come up.
Jean is having some issues with her shoulders. From what she's telling me they are similar to when I had tendonitis in my shoulders. Her shoulders ache and go numb sometimes when she sleeps. She doesn't complain much at all but by some of her movements I can tell it bothers her.
Jean is getting new carpet for the livingroom but I'm not sure when, within the next couple of weeks I believe. Cody was going to talk to her this morning about when she's going to have it done so that he can move the furniture for her. Between him and Kyle it should not be a big deal. Kyle is their adopted grandson these days and spends lots of time with them just visiting and he does some chores for them when they ask. I think it's his job to go down and buy Grandpa's lottery tickets on Wednesday's & Saturday's.
Mackie leaves on the 16th with Karen and Alvin to go to Tulsa for some sort of horse meetings. That's spring here and for Katie too. The girls will have fun together.
Cody went to Audubon yesterday to pickup his transmission for the race car. While he was over there he got a bumper for free and was also able to pick up some sheet metal. He conned his mom (and dad) into letting him take her truck and use her gas. What's new?! When he graduates on May 17th I'm cutting the umbilical cord!!! HA!
This Friday (the 13th) I go to Iowa City to the Lymphoma Clinic. I've missed the last 2 due to bad weather. I also have an appt with the Endocrinologist (thyroid doctor) because I missed my last 2 follow ups with him too! I don't expect anything major to come up.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Dave's x-ray didn't show anything but arthritis. (Told ya so) That Rheumatoid AR is a nasty thing. Long story short, they gave Dave something else to help control the pain....Fentanyl patches. He puts one on every 3rd day. Also a physical therapist will be coming to the house to work with him. I think this is a "wonderful" idea because all he's done for a year is sit in the house....no exercise at all. That will help him get some strength back so maybe he'll get outside and get around better when the weather turns nice. Since the next 4 or 5 days it's going to be nice out I bet he'll sit outside on the deck. He's also supposed to start wearing a TENS unit. A TENS unit is a therapy used to treat pain. It delivers electrical impulses to nerve pathways which can help control or relieve some of the pain. I hope that helps him.
Cody is doing much better. He's not wearing his sling anymore and is back to working for Jim Book at Alley Auto Sales. Considering how much pain he was in I'm really surprised that he only missed about 4 days of work. He's been stretching and stuff so that he doesn't stiffen up and I think that's helped a lot.
Cody is doing much better. He's not wearing his sling anymore and is back to working for Jim Book at Alley Auto Sales. Considering how much pain he was in I'm really surprised that he only missed about 4 days of work. He's been stretching and stuff so that he doesn't stiffen up and I think that's helped a lot.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
UPDATE OF DAVE
Well, the doctor doesn't seem to think now that Dave has Shingles. Good Lord! Wish someone would make up their mind. Soooooo, they are sending him today to get a CT scan and an X-ray of his back. Jean seemed either a little confused or overwhelmed (frustrated more than likely) when she was explaining it to me but I think they're looking for a pinched nerve somewhere. I myself think it's arthritis but guess we'll let the experts decide. The doc took him off his Valtrex (which is for the shingles) and another med they gave him that isn't an actual "pain" medication but it tricks your brain into thinking it is. I think it's used for Fibromyalgia. Anyway, Jean asked Cody to take them to the doc. She said she could drive, it's only in West Des Moines, but she can't get Dave in and out of the van by herself. I would like to watch Cody do this since he's all crippled up with his sling. LOL! I talked to him and he seemed to think that physically he would be able to help Dave. You will all be glad to know that after 80 years of not driving in Des Moines, Jean has started doing so! Isn't that funny? She just does alright now! As long as the doctors they see are in West Des Moines, she does just fine. She even said if she had to drive Dave to the hospital, she'd just get on Hickman and take it all the way to 6th avenue. I'm proud of her and she and I had a good hard laugh over the whole thing.
Cody is feeling slightly better, still stiff and sore. I think he can at least laugh now without being in too much pain. Will post more later.
Well, the doctor doesn't seem to think now that Dave has Shingles. Good Lord! Wish someone would make up their mind. Soooooo, they are sending him today to get a CT scan and an X-ray of his back. Jean seemed either a little confused or overwhelmed (frustrated more than likely) when she was explaining it to me but I think they're looking for a pinched nerve somewhere. I myself think it's arthritis but guess we'll let the experts decide. The doc took him off his Valtrex (which is for the shingles) and another med they gave him that isn't an actual "pain" medication but it tricks your brain into thinking it is. I think it's used for Fibromyalgia. Anyway, Jean asked Cody to take them to the doc. She said she could drive, it's only in West Des Moines, but she can't get Dave in and out of the van by herself. I would like to watch Cody do this since he's all crippled up with his sling. LOL! I talked to him and he seemed to think that physically he would be able to help Dave. You will all be glad to know that after 80 years of not driving in Des Moines, Jean has started doing so! Isn't that funny? She just does alright now! As long as the doctors they see are in West Des Moines, she does just fine. She even said if she had to drive Dave to the hospital, she'd just get on Hickman and take it all the way to 6th avenue. I'm proud of her and she and I had a good hard laugh over the whole thing.
Cody is feeling slightly better, still stiff and sore. I think he can at least laugh now without being in too much pain. Will post more later.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Yesterday at lunch I saw DawnRae and Pam at the West End Diner. What a coincidence. Had a nice short chat with them.
Dave now has Shingles! The pain he was experiencing in his hip, which he thought was his sciatic nerve ended up being a rash....thus shingles. That poor man...I'll tell ya. He needs to get on someone's good side! However, the last few times I talked to him (including this morning b4 work) his spirits seemed better.
Tim went and cleaned up Dave's work shop for him and moved the lawn furniture back to where Dave and Jean can get to it to sit down. He told Dave his shop was ready for him and that he made enough room that he can take his walker out there and get around if he wants to go out there and fart around.
Cody is now our next cripple! He was wrestling with the wrestling coach and he fell, landed on his shoulder and the coach landed on top of Cody! So basically he got crushed. He seperated his collarbone from his sternum. He's wearing a sling on his left arm and is in quite a lot of pain. Just not much you can do for it. Cody is our tough man (takes after his Grandma Jean!!!) He wouldn't complain about a broken leg even, but he's had me or Mackie tuck him into bed the last couple of nights with his ice bags. He can't even roll over in bed! We have to help him take his shirt off. That's a chore. He is however milking it for all it's worth with the girlfriend!
More later!
Dave now has Shingles! The pain he was experiencing in his hip, which he thought was his sciatic nerve ended up being a rash....thus shingles. That poor man...I'll tell ya. He needs to get on someone's good side! However, the last few times I talked to him (including this morning b4 work) his spirits seemed better.
Tim went and cleaned up Dave's work shop for him and moved the lawn furniture back to where Dave and Jean can get to it to sit down. He told Dave his shop was ready for him and that he made enough room that he can take his walker out there and get around if he wants to go out there and fart around.
Cody is now our next cripple! He was wrestling with the wrestling coach and he fell, landed on his shoulder and the coach landed on top of Cody! So basically he got crushed. He seperated his collarbone from his sternum. He's wearing a sling on his left arm and is in quite a lot of pain. Just not much you can do for it. Cody is our tough man (takes after his Grandma Jean!!!) He wouldn't complain about a broken leg even, but he's had me or Mackie tuck him into bed the last couple of nights with his ice bags. He can't even roll over in bed! We have to help him take his shirt off. That's a chore. He is however milking it for all it's worth with the girlfriend!
More later!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Back to work full time this week (8-4:30). I don't anticipate any problems and feel I am pretty much back to normal (whatever that is?) I see the doctor on Wednesday for my 4 week check-up. I'm not sure how happy she will be with me for returning to work so soon, but I just did things as I felt like it. Am still not lifting anything or vacuuming so hopefully she won't say too much.
Update on Dave:
I can't honestly say he's doing that good. Tim said Saturday that he started using his walker again and when I talked to Jean this morning she said that he thought he had what feels like a pinched nerve in his hip. Honestly, it's a wonder his back isn't hurting the way he sits forward and all hunched over in his chair. The P.A., Mike Barger, that makes house calls, usually leaves an extra shot of Demerol there. I guess Kristen gave Dave the shot last night after she called Mike. I'm hoping that Dave is not getting over medicated between the Xanax and Percocet and then the Demerol. However, Krissy's keeps a pretty watchful eye on him.
Sunday (yesterday) when I was there, he just didn't hardly acknowledge me. He had a small spot of skin cancer taken off the back of his neck and he had the bandage off. I hadn't seen it without the bandage and didn't know how large a spot it was. I walked over and looked at it and said something to him and he just looked at me with sort of a blank stare. Then he looks at Jean to interpret.
Again, I can't wait for spring, I hope getting out of the house will do him some good.
Update on Dave:
I can't honestly say he's doing that good. Tim said Saturday that he started using his walker again and when I talked to Jean this morning she said that he thought he had what feels like a pinched nerve in his hip. Honestly, it's a wonder his back isn't hurting the way he sits forward and all hunched over in his chair. The P.A., Mike Barger, that makes house calls, usually leaves an extra shot of Demerol there. I guess Kristen gave Dave the shot last night after she called Mike. I'm hoping that Dave is not getting over medicated between the Xanax and Percocet and then the Demerol. However, Krissy's keeps a pretty watchful eye on him.
Sunday (yesterday) when I was there, he just didn't hardly acknowledge me. He had a small spot of skin cancer taken off the back of his neck and he had the bandage off. I hadn't seen it without the bandage and didn't know how large a spot it was. I walked over and looked at it and said something to him and he just looked at me with sort of a blank stare. Then he looks at Jean to interpret.
Again, I can't wait for spring, I hope getting out of the house will do him some good.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Had parent/teacher conferences last night. MacKenzie's teacher told me she could easily be Valedictorian of her class if she didn't miss so much school due to her migraines! Wow! She takes after her mother......not! She made the "A honor roll".
Deb has asked when we are going to have Cody's graduation party. Jean want's to have it the day before his graduation so we don't have to run back to the house to get stuff ready after the actual graduation. It will either be the 16th of May which is the Saturday before or on the 17th, the day of graduation. I will have enough help that we shouldn't have to "rush" back and set things up. I just want her to sit and enjoy the company anyway. I will talk to Jean and then get this set in stone so everyone can plan accordingly.
Hunting season interferred with Cody's senior pictures. Between Bow season, Shotgun Season, Pheasant Season, finishing up the mowing season, snow removal, ...oh yeah, racing and the new race car, working for Jim Book at Alley Auto and somehow finding time for Sarah (girlfriend) we didn't get all his senior pics done. I'll have to press him hard on that and Sarah is in my corner. She said she will help me "nag him to death" so if he get's it from the both of us he should be able to get them done.
Speaking of Sarah, today is her 18th birthday!
Today Dave has an appointment with the eye doctor. Jean said he needed to see the eye doctor before he fell in the spring last year and needs new glasses badly. I don't know as we will get the freezing drizzle they were talking about but just in case, Cody's going to check in with Jean before he goes to work. He actually checks in with her everyday. That way he can take the day off and drive them into the appointment if need be. Krissy's at school and can't take them and Kyle is working today so he can't take them either. Mackie could drive them since Alvin and Grandpa Dave pretty much taught her how to drive, but let's face it, she's only 13.
Alvin's got her driving everything imaginable down on the farm and I found out last weekend that he even has her running the "Gopher Hole Blaster"! When he said she had to wear a helmut to operate it, I thought to myself....glad I didn't know about it before hand!"
I am still feeling really good and working 9-3 this week seems fine. The truth will come about tomorrow or Friday. We'll just have to see how tired I get, but I don't think that will be an issue.
Before I sign off, I want to request prayers for my internet friend Rolly and his wife Jan. They found a tumor in her bladder and she's to have surgery on the 25th. She is a breast cancer survivor. XO to you Jan!!
Deb has asked when we are going to have Cody's graduation party. Jean want's to have it the day before his graduation so we don't have to run back to the house to get stuff ready after the actual graduation. It will either be the 16th of May which is the Saturday before or on the 17th, the day of graduation. I will have enough help that we shouldn't have to "rush" back and set things up. I just want her to sit and enjoy the company anyway. I will talk to Jean and then get this set in stone so everyone can plan accordingly.
Hunting season interferred with Cody's senior pictures. Between Bow season, Shotgun Season, Pheasant Season, finishing up the mowing season, snow removal, ...oh yeah, racing and the new race car, working for Jim Book at Alley Auto and somehow finding time for Sarah (girlfriend) we didn't get all his senior pics done. I'll have to press him hard on that and Sarah is in my corner. She said she will help me "nag him to death" so if he get's it from the both of us he should be able to get them done.
Speaking of Sarah, today is her 18th birthday!
Today Dave has an appointment with the eye doctor. Jean said he needed to see the eye doctor before he fell in the spring last year and needs new glasses badly. I don't know as we will get the freezing drizzle they were talking about but just in case, Cody's going to check in with Jean before he goes to work. He actually checks in with her everyday. That way he can take the day off and drive them into the appointment if need be. Krissy's at school and can't take them and Kyle is working today so he can't take them either. Mackie could drive them since Alvin and Grandpa Dave pretty much taught her how to drive, but let's face it, she's only 13.
Alvin's got her driving everything imaginable down on the farm and I found out last weekend that he even has her running the "Gopher Hole Blaster"! When he said she had to wear a helmut to operate it, I thought to myself....glad I didn't know about it before hand!"
I am still feeling really good and working 9-3 this week seems fine. The truth will come about tomorrow or Friday. We'll just have to see how tired I get, but I don't think that will be an issue.
Before I sign off, I want to request prayers for my internet friend Rolly and his wife Jan. They found a tumor in her bladder and she's to have surgery on the 25th. She is a breast cancer survivor. XO to you Jan!!
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