Post surgery

Today I am 2 weeks post surgery for colon cancer.  On April 18 I had colon resection because of a polyp being cancer in the colon.  I went into the hospital that morning and had surgery.  I was dismissed from the hospital two days later on April 20 and Karen took me to her home to recover.

In the hospital I had a great night nurse and one great day nurse assistant.  The others were ok.  I really did not have much nurse help.  I got out of bed by myself.  I walked the halls by myself.  I asked how to get out of bed when I got home and was told to roll over but I was never shown.  I had to ask for ice water any time I wanted it as they never offered it.  I was never offered a snack between meals as being diabetic.  For having gut surgery one nurse listened for bowel sounds only one time.  The resident doctor came in to see me at 5:30 the first morning and at 2:30 the second morning.  I was not awake enough to think of any questions to ask about the surgery itself, what was done, what to expect, pathology, or anything else.  The surgeon came in once about 24 hours after I was done with surgery.  I'm not sure any of them ever listened to heart or lung sounds either.  They were more concerned that I did not get up to pee at all one night.  I actually slept through the night and barely woke up when they came in to take vitals and when the doctor came in.  My pain was down and I was out.

I was on tylenol for pain and oxy only if needed.  I think I had 3 oxy tablets only while in the hospital.  The doctor wrote a prescription for that but I did not fill it.  Tylenol is all I have used for pain since being discharged.  It is all I have needed and I have hardly used any of that since the first week.  I was on a clear liquid diet for 24 hours after surgery then put on a full regular diet.  I could order anything I wanted.  They did not put me on a heart healthy diet nor on a diabetic diet.  They did take me blood sugar readings and gave me insulin shots though. 

Saturday and Sunday after getting out of the hospital I slept a lot.  I could get out of bed by myself and I showered without any help.  By Monday I was up in the chair watching TV a big part of the day.  I was really getting around and feeling so much better right out of the hospital than I ever thought I would be.

Wednesday Emily and her girls came over to work in the yard.  I went outside and played with the girls.  It was my first outing.  We chased butterflies and picked lilacs.  We made lilac beds because we were lilac princesses. These two are the most beautiful lilac princesses, don't you think?
It was a lot of fun playing with the girls even though I sat in a lawn chair in the shade of the lilac tree most of the time.  I was really tired & hurting at the end of the afternoon and went to bed early that night.

We have to pull the petals off the flowers from the bushes to make our princess beds.

 

Princess Isla                                  Princess Flora                                         Even Aunt Rose gets                                                                                                                                  lilacs in her hair.

Saturday(one week after getting out of the hospital) the girls, Grandma Karen and Aunt Rose went on an outing to shop for flowers and out for lunch.  That was my first ride in the car after coming home.  After that I was ready for a 'rest' with the girls.  I was wiped out.  That was harder than chasing butterflies. 

Yesterday was Karen's retirement reception at school.  We went over to school for that.  She received some very nice gifts from her fellow teachers and co-workers.  They gave her some nice flowers, decorative flower pots, a flower pot with paper flowers with gift cards in each flower to different restaurants and one to the quilt shop.  There were other cards and one of her other retired friends even gave her $50.00 cash.  They had punch, cupcakes, and trail mix.  Someone went to a lot of work and found yearbooks for every year Karen had worked in the district and marked the pages that she was pictured in.  This was displayed on a table covered with quilts.  They definitely know her and her hobbies. She didn't really want this recognition but it really was nice.  I'm glad I was here to celebrate with her,

Today, two weeks after surgery, I made my first alone outing.  I drove for the first time.  I went to Washer Specialty to pick up an order for Cathy.  I then decided to get gas in my car and went out to lunch at Spangles.  On the way home I saw garage sale signs so I decided to follow the trails.  I stopped by four garages.  I bought a Christmas tree topper that is a shinny brass filigree star that will go perfectly with all the shinny brass filigree ornaments I have for the tree.  I paid a whopping 25 cents for it. At another garage I spent $6, $1 for a sturdy steel plant stand for outside and $5 for a step ladder with 4 steps and a tray to hold tools and paint cans.  It is metal piping base construction and heavy plastic/rubber steps.  It will be much nicer for working outside around the house than the two step kitchen stool. 

Overall, I think two weeks after surgery I am doing well.  My incisions are healing nicely.  The glue and scabs are getting loose and I having to cut off sections that are loose so that it does not catch on my clothing and pull off what is still attached and not ready to come off.  My tummy muscles are still a little tender in spots and the belly is still swollen and oddly shaped but it is tender and getting better.  I even wore regular jeans with zipper and button waist band yesterday.  Yes, they are 2 sizes larger that the pair that I wore the day I drove to Wichita.  Driving was not a problem but the rough roads, speed bumps, and potholes make me hold my tummy a bit.  What bothers me the most is my knee that needs a replacement and the opposite hip and lower back.  I think because of the one it effect the other.  That has nothing to do with the surgery so I'm good. 

I know I am not fully recovered and still need to take it easy.  I have a follow up appointment with the surgeon next week.  I did get a call from the nurse at the surgeon's office with the pathology report.  She told me that they removed 31 lymph nodes and they were all clear.  This means I am cancer free.  I will get more information on the follow up appointment.  She did mention that I will be referred to an oncologist for further followup regarding the cancer.  I hope she will let me go to Dr. Moore since Mom has seen him in the past for colon cancer and is now seeing him for breast cancer. Because of that family relationship with him as an oncologist, I would like to continue that if she thinks that would be appropriate.  After that I am hoping to be able to go back to western Kansas to the farm - to go home. 

Home!! Finish recovery. Back to regular life. Back to seeing Mom & Dad every day.  Back to helping them in whatever way I can and whatever way they need. 

I may have had a cancer diagnosis but it has been a blessing in my life.  I have felt calm and peace throughout this entire process.  I have felt that all will be ok, no matter what happens, God is in control and will take care of me through it all.  I will not be left alone.  I have felt comfort and I have felt joy. The timing of finding the malignant polyp and the size it was to everything that has happened in the meantime that lead to a heart cath showing that my heart is in much better shape than the doctors thought and having the colon surgery to find no further cancer in the colon or lymph nodes.  I have been blessed with healing.  I have been blessed with peace.  I have been blessed with an increase in faith.  I have been blessed with an increase in my testimony of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I have been blessed by the Holy Priesthood.  I have been blessed by attending the Temple, The House of the Lord.  My family has also been blessed because of what I have gone through.  My siblings have stepped in to help with our parents while I have been away from the farm and not there to do that.  Dad has been ill and in the hospital and not able to do all he has on the farm and others have had to figure out their own responsibilities.  This, too, is a blessing to our entire family.  I am so grateful for all the blessing my family and I have received through our trials over the past few months.  I know God has a plan for each of His children and I marvel at how all things work together for our good.  My heart is go full of love and joy and gratitude.  Thank you, Loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, Savior and Redeemer of the World.

Rose

In Preparation

Now it is time to prepare.  April 3 I had a follow up appointment with Dr. Saad from the heart cath.  He was pleased with the results and will follow up again with me in August when Mom and I already have appointments scheduled.  I think after that I will be able to follow up with Amanda on a regular basis and with him annually.  Mom's follow up appointment with Dr. Moore was great.  Her tumors have shrunk by half since the last PET scan and the activity level has decreased by half plus more again.  He will follow up again in August but is very pleased with her progress for only being able to take oral medication. 

Once we got back to the farm even though I had 2 weeks before returning to Wichita for surgery I actually only had 3 full days and about that many part days to get all done to feel ready to leave for 3-4 weeks again.  I worked at the library, Dad had doctor appointments, I had doctor appointments, I had chest x-rays and lab work that had to be on certain days in relationship to the surgery days, I went to Denver to the Temple and that trip had to be rescheduled at the last minute  because of a spring blizzard.  I ordered refills on all Mom & Dad's medications so they had enough to get through till I got home.  I filled all their daily medication dispensers also.  But I forgot to order my own med refills.  Dad hurt his back and could not walk and needed to go to the doctor the last day I was to be home before leaving & I wanted to take him in but he refused to let me.  Thankfully my sister, Cathy, called and told him she would be out to get him and take him in.  She stepped in when I needed her to so I could get myself ready to leave for my own medical needs.  I am grateful to her for that.  Because Dad is in so much pain and needing help, Mom decided to stay home to help him instead of coming to Wichita with me for my surgery.  Karen will take care of me while she takes care of Dad at home.

I did get everything lined out for Mom and Dad.  I did get my house in some kind of decent order.  I did get everything that I needed packed and loaded in the car.  I did get to Wichita yesterday.  I am ready to start the pre-surgery preparatory colon cleanout now.  I begin at 1 pm with antibiotics, laxative pills and Miralax drinks till 1 am.  Do you suppose I will actually get any sleep?  I will need to be up in the morning at 4:30 to shower and get ready to leave Karen's house at 5:30 for the hospital.  I'll sleep tomorrow.  I'm ready for pain medication so my knee may not hurt so badly.

The best part of all the 'preparation' has not been getting all those things ready but getting myself ready spiritually.  Throughout this entire process I have felt so blessed.  I have had a priesthood blessing the first of March when I got the call to head to Wichita and I had the whirlwind week of doctor appointments.  I have felt so much peace through the past couple months since being diagnosed with colon cancer.  The biggest preparation I insisted I was going to do was to go to Denver and attend the Temple.  I was to have blood work on Thursday, exactly one week before surgery so planned to go to the Temple after that.  I wanted to go out and spend that afternoon in the Temple and again the following morning before coming back home in the afternoon.  Nature had a different idea.  A severe winter storm was predicted to come in Wednesday evening and last through Thursday afternoon. That blood work had to be exactly one week before surgery-not a day earlier or later.  Monday night I look at the weather and decided to go to the Temple Tuesday and come back Wednesday and stay in Colby with my sister, Mary, so I would be in town to get the blood work done Thursday.  Good planning.  Overall the plan worked.  I enjoyed the time with Mary.  It had been a very long time since we have actually sat down and spent that kind of time together just talking and being together.  I loved it.

I arrived at the Temple semi fasting.  I had Glucerna shakes for breakfast and lunch but no food.  I was feeling at peace and with a grateful heart because of all the blessings I have received throughout the past couple months with all that has been going on with my health issues.  Not only the health issues but within my family also.  Allen fell through a ceiling shattering his heal and breaking his back yet not needing surgery for either and will have a full recovery.  My sisters are stepping up to help Mom and Dad more with their health care and other needs while I am not as readily available to do so while I need to take care of some of my own health issues.  Karen is so willing to help me through the surgery and allow me to stay with her while I recuperate until I am ready to go home and restart farm & family life again.  I am so blessed and grateful for my family.  I wanted to serve in the Temple as a way of expressing that gratitude.

As I came out of the changing room a Temple worker commented that I looked so peaceful.  I was surprised that she would notice or comment on that.  I never thought that those inner feelings showed through me.  I guess the light of Christ really does shine through those that believe in Him.  I briefly explained why I was there. She gave me a big hug and said she was sure I would be healed.  I asked how I could be best serve. I did an endowment session, an initiatory session of 5 names, then another endowment session.  I was able to help 7 people on the other side of the vail that day.  It was a wonderful day.

Sunday after church, Brother Mitchell came up to me before I even had a chance to go to him and asked me if I could like a blessing before going to Wichita for surgery.  He said he would get Brother Peptis to help also.  I told him I was planning to ask him for a blessing and would really like that.  Through the priesthood which they hold, I received a beautiful blessing of healing.

Today I am calm.  I am at peace.  I am filled with gratitude.  I know God has a plan for me.  I trust in His plan.  As I have surgery on Holy Thursday I know I will be blessed.  Jesus Christ suffered all things as He made an atoning sacrifice for our sins and afflictions.  He suffered, died and rose again.  He lives.  I am grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost, the comforter. 

Rose

Blessing upon Blessing

I should have updated this sooner but have still been spinning in that whirlwind.  The day after I wrote last I did see Dr. Lindsay Strader, the colorectal surgeon that Dr. Kopriva referred me to.  I really liked her. She had already seen my medical records and talked to Dr. Kopriva.  The plan is to do a colon resection.  That involved removing the right side of the large intestine.  I should not need a bag even for a short time.  The surgery should be able to be done through 4 small laparoscopic incisions but would still require 4-6 weeks recovery time. 

She asked about the lesion on the lung and I told her Dr. Saad had me set up with a pulmonologist.  She did not see this as a priority at this time.  She said this type of lesion is usually benign and as small as this one is rarely even biopsied.

Now there is a problem - the heart function when under stress.  The stress test is nothing compared to the stress that the heart will be under during anesthetic and surgery.  My heart needs fixed before having surgery.  We discussed my appointment with Dr. Saad on Monday.  She said there is another type of stent that is not as effective that can be put in that will only need blood thinners for one month instead of one year.  She will contact Dr. Saad to determine what can be done to protect me from heart attack during surgery.  She has scheduled me for surgery for April 18 at Wesley Hospital.  Check in at 6:00 am.  Lab work on Thursday April 11-exactly one week before surgery.  Need to take antibiotics same day as bowel prep on April 17.  I was given instruction sheet for that as well.

Karen & I were going out to eat lunch and were only 4 blocks from Dr. Strader's office when Dr. Elkhardbotly's office called to tell me I had an appointment with him this afternoon at 1:45.  We had just enough time to eat and get to his office for the appointment.  He is the cardiologist that does the heart cath procedures. 

As we were leaving the restaurant I received a call from Ascension Via Christi wanting demographic information for Dr. Elkhardbotly admission.  I said I was on my was to his office and could give it then since I was driving.  She said it was for my hospital admission for tomorrow morning.  What?  OK.  I pulled over and answered her questions then went on to my appointment.

Dr. Elkhardbotly told me there is a bare metal stent which is less effective than the drug medicated stent but it will only require blood thinners for one month so I can have the surgery for the colon cancer which is the number one priority at this time.  He had me scheduled already for the following morning at St. Francis Hospital and was to check in at 7:30.  I was given an instruction sheet for preparation and told to come prepared for an overnight stay if a stent was inserted and sent for pre-op blood work.

Well, this is to be happening at the same time I am to be seeing Dr. Awwad, the pulmonologist.  I talked to his scheduler and after explaining to them what was happening and me feeling so overwhelmed I asked if I could just put this appointment on hold for a while until I have a better grasp on what is happening and she agreed that maybe that would be best for now.  One less thing to worry about at this time.

Can you see why I feel like I am caught in a whirlwind?

The next morning I checked into the hospital for a heart cath expecting to receive a heart stent in order to get adequate blood flow to the front of my heart, spend the night in the hospital, take a month of blood thinners based on what 4 doctors told me after reading the stress test report.  When the heart cath was over the doctor told me that my heart is strong, there is only a 20% blockage to the front of my heart which is really good so I did not need a stent.  I am good for the colon surgery.  Oh, my goodness.  What a blessing!  Either there was a false positive result on the stress test or, even better, I have received a great blessing from the Lord in healing.  I was discharged from the hospital a few hours later with a very grateful heart. 

I was to take it easy and rest for the next few days.  I felt worn out from the anesthetic and my arm was tender. I was not to take certain medications until I heard back from the doctor's office after blood work again the following day.  I had the blood work done but it was Friday afternoon.  I did not hear back from them that afternoon so I was off the meds all weekend.  As the weekend went on I felt worse.  Sunday I felt terrible.  I hurt all over like I was having a fibromyalgia flair-up and the beginning of kidney stones and pleurisy.  Kevin & Donna came to Wichita from Kansas City to visit.  It was so nice of them and I was sorry I felt so terrible and was not so social.

I still had not heard from the doctor office by 10:00 Monday so I called them.  I did not want to head back to western Kansas until I knew that I did not need more blood work and that all was well.  I did not get any results or information from Dr. Elkhardbotly's staff but finally got ahold of  Dr. Saad's nurse and she said I could start my medications again and go home.  I was so glad to get to go home.  Later in the day I got another call from her saying Dr. Saad wanted me to have blood work again in a week at home and she would send me the lab orders to take in to the local lab and they can then fax the results to Dr. Saad.  I have a followup appointment with him April 1.

I am so glad to be home.  I thought things would be a bit calmer which I guess they have been.  It has been wet and muddy--so muddy. Water even ran in the creek and the road washed out at the corner west of my house the weekend before I got home from Wichita.  It seems I have either had something going on each day or I was so tired all I could do was sleep.  Then I seem to be so frustrated with all the mess and all the stuff.  Macie came over one day and cooked so I spent most of one night cleaning off every surface in the bathroom and kitchen and scrubbing everything down with clorox. That started something.  I am now cleaning out my bedroom closet.  I have taken out 2 boxes of clothing and have yet to go through slacks.  I also have taken a huge sack of pillows and reorganized blanket tubs and dressers and chests.  I have a bigger mess there right now.  I have a large tub of items that will be for the summer reunion bingo that has also come from the closet.  Imaging what I will get out of my house if I continue in this attitude.  It would be nice and another blessing.

I had to do a pharmacy medication review for insurance this week and I was so frustrated.  As I went over them with Christie, my pharmacist, we talked about all I found out from my research about the new drugs the doctor wants me on for the diabetes and what drug prices are even with the insurance.  I have 18 prescriptions that I am taking.  She said that it looks like some are treating side effects of others.  She, too, feels that my medication list looks overwhelming and feels something should change for my own well being.  I told her I plan to talk to each doctor as my next appointment come up to see what we can do to make improvements in this situation.  I can't afford this - financially nor healthwise.

I feel caught in this whirlwind but I know God is in it with me.  From the very beginning of this whole whirlwind I have felt blessed.

This afternoon I went to the mailbox.  I only do this once or maybe twice a week.  I had a letter from The Sheridan County Benefit Walk Committee out of Hoxie (whatever that is, I didn't know).  I opened it and found a letter explaining they raise money in order to assist local families who are facing health care challenges or life altering situations.  This is not based on financial need but is because the community cares.  It included a monetary donation/gift check for $1,000.00.  I am stunned!! I really have not talked to anyone in the community about the stress test results, heart cath, or cancer diagnosis.  My family has been told but not really anyone much beyond that.  How do they get their information?  How do they know?  I got a card from the Selden Sacred Heart Catholic Church Alter Society last week also.  Mom has not been going to their meetings lately because she has not been feeling up to going out on her own.  Mom said she has received money from this committee in the past also.  This is another blessing.

Mary called me yesterday to find out when all our (Mom, Dad & my) appointments were and what she could do to help to take care of them.  She was planning to take Dad to his eye appointment in Hays at the end of April but wanted to know if there was anything else she could do to help while I am recuperating and taking care of my own health problems and getting stronger again.  Judy has also said she would do whatever is needed to help us all out while I am putting my own health first for now.  I have asked Cathy to go with Dad to his appointment with Brian at the end of April while I am still in Wichita after surgery and Mary & Judy are working.  Her schedule is more flexible with advanced planning.  Karen will be helping me since I will be recuperating after surgery at her house.

On another note, Allen fell through an attic 9 feet to a garage floor last week and shattered his heel and has a compression fracture at the T12 vertebra in his back.  He found out Thursday that the heel is mostly compressed and in line so he will not need surgery and it should heal ok and he is in a back brace and should also heal without surgery.  He is recuperating at home but will be off work at least 6 weeks.  Sundee is taking care of him and when she works at the hospital on the weekend, Chris and Donnell come by every few hours to check in on him and take care of his needs.  He is blessed as well.

I have said from the very beginning of this whirlwind of tests and results and appointments and new doctors and more tests and upcoming surgeries and whatever more surprises that are in store that it is all a blessing.  I am blessed.  I have been blessed in the timing of the colonoscopy and the size of the polyp and the early stage of the cancer found.  If I had done the test a year or two ago and been cleared for another 5 years, the cancer would have grown for 3-4 years before being discovered.  This is a great blessing.  To have the extremely high blood pressure nearly a year ago and not have a heart attack or stroke was a great blessing.  To not have a stress test till now was another great blessing.  To have a heart cath to find that my heart is strong and healthy for surgery is, again, another great blessing.  As I prepare for colon surgery, I fully trust it will be only a formality to know that I am clear of any further cancer of the colon at this time and all is well.  The monetary gift received will help cover medical travel expenses which is another blessing in a long line of blessings. 

I am grateful to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for all the blessings I have received.  I am grateful for the comfort of the Holy Ghost.  I can endure all things with them by my side.  I know God has a plan for me.  I trust in that plan.

Rose

Health Whirlwind

Since finding out that I had a colon polyp with cancer, my life has been thrown into a whirlwind.  I had a followup appointment with Dr. Kopriva on February 25 and was told that the best treatment at this time is to have a colon resection to remove the area where the polyp was attached to make sure there is no cancer in the colon wall.  She said she could do the surgery but because of the relationship I already have with some Wichita doctors she would rather I have the surgery done there.  She has worked with many of the doctors and she knew each one that we have been seeing with Mom. 

The first step would be to make sure I am a candidate for surgery.  I already had fasting blood work and a stress test scheduled for the next day, Tuesday.  She added a cancer marker test to the blood work and said she would consult with Dr. Saad after the stress test.  She also ordered a CT scan from neck to knees to check for any further internal problems. 

Friday, March 1, was my 62nd birthday and I got a morning wake up call from Amanda Reid. She told me that the results from the stress test came back and there is something wrong in the front of my heart and she already had an appointment made for me with Dr. Saad in Wichita for Monday, March 4 at 10:00.  She wanted me to pick up a disc of the stress test to take with me and to get to Wichita before the weekend winter storm arrived.

I made arrangements with Karen and she called Mary to make arrangements with her to take Dad to his doctor appointment in Hays on Monday.  Dad fixed the flat tire on my car.  I did a load of laundry and packed and Mom & I went to Colby to get the disc and drive to Wichita yet on Friday.  I called my home & visiting ministers, the Mitchell's, and made arrangements for a priesthood blessing before I left. 

Monday morning I saw Dr. Saad.  He said we could treat my heart with some medication for a few weeks and see how that works and then plan on a heart cath or I could skip the medication therapy and go straight to the cath.  Get it done & not waste time experimenting was my choice.  Then he looked at the bloodwork & CT scan done last week.  He immediately called an endocrinologist, Dr. Mortada, and got an appointment to have me seen as soon as I was done seeing him.  When he heard the CT scan was done because cancer was found in a polyp removed during a colonoscopy he said he could not do the heart cath until the cancer was resolved.  Having a heart cath and if a stint was put in I could not have any surgery for a year.  His recommendation was to contact an oncologist and get the cancer taken care of first of all before anything else.  He noticed that the CT showed a lesion in the upper left lung so he is also sending me to a pulmonologist to check this out this week.  He also added 2 medications to what I am already taking for the heart at this time.

I then went to see Dr. Mortada for diabetes.  He said some of the A1C jump from 9.3 to 10 could be because I had a steroid injection in my knee a month ago.  He changed some of my medications and added 3 more.  Two are very expensive.  It appears one that he wants me to take is not even covered on my insurance plan and may cost $475/month.  With all the other meds I am taking it looks like I can plan on $400/mo average for just the other meds even with prescription insurance.  To add the $325/month insurance costs to it all I will only have $300 a month for tithing, food, auto, household, and any other expenses needed to live.  I am stressed, to say the least.

I called Dr. Kopriva to let her know what Dr. Saad had to say and to see what she wanted me to do next? I got a call from her nurse, Sara, that Dr. Kopriva has referred me to Dr. Lindsay Strader for colorectal surgery for the colon cancer.  I see her tomorrow, Wednesday.  I will see Dr. Awwad, the pulmonologist, with breathing test before the appointment on Thursday. 

I am doing ok as long as I do not see or talk to anyone.  I am easily irritated about everything and have no sense of humor about anything at this time.  I do not want to hear what everyone else and their dog has gone through with heart, diabetic, or cancer issues.  Each person is different.  What works for one, something else will work for another and some do not find what works for them.  I have enough stress and anxiety that I am trying to keep in check (as poorly as that happens to be) that I do not want to hear or deal with other people's stories right now.  I do not really want anyone to know but feel I need to keep my family in the loop.  I do not want anyone else at church or in the community to know what is going on at this time because I feel I need to deal with it all myself first.

Mom is in Wichita with me.  Karen has insisted on taking time off school to go with me to the doctor appointments.  I'm sure it is good and I know she means well and wants to help me.  I am grateful for that but still feel I should be able to do it all by myself since I take care of all this for Mom & Dad. I guess I am being stubborn (well, I am a Juenemann, after all) and prideful.  I need to work on these character flaws.

I feel as if I am falling apart all at once.  I am grateful Amanda is doing complete medical work ups on my because it has been several years since a doctor has done more than blow off any concerns let alone initiate any tests other that to draw blood.  But I am feeling overwhelmed.

I know God has a plan and is in control.  I trust in that and trust that the treatments and procedures to be done will be what is best for me.  I have confidence in the doctors I am seeing as well.   I want to be healthy enough to take care of and to help Mom & Dad as they are aging.

Rose

Health Overwhelmed

Last April I was hospitalized with blood pressure of 234/124.  All tests showed I was not having a heart attack or stroke at the time.  Medications were changed and I was referred to a cardiologist.  I chose to see Dr. Saad in Wichita since he is who Mom was seeing and we both really liked him. At the time I saw him in May my pressure was still somewhat high but was really bouncing between high & normal.  He ran some kidney sonogram & MRI because it could have some effect but all there was ok.  I went back to see him earlier this month.  My pressure was a bit high but I had not taken my morning medications that day.  After meds the pressure is normal a few hours later.  He felt that I am currently stable enough that he wants to finally do the stress test. I was to have it tomorrow but because of a winter storm advisory I have rescheduled it for February 26.  I am hoping all goes well there.  I was told that it is a chemical or nuclear test that will take 4 hours.  I am to follow up with Amanda Reid at the clinic on March 5.

Since last spring I have had problems with my right knee.  It popped as I crawled into bed one night.  After that I had pain but it did not get over being strained.  Sometimes I felt like Pinokio that my leg was not stable and loosy, goosy.  When I would turn too suddenly I'd have more pain.  Amanda ran an x-ray and referred me to an orthopedic specialist in Wichita since our other specialists are in Wichita and if anything is needed I'd do it there and stay with Karen.  Dr. Sanders said I had arthritis in the knee and there was very little cushion there.  He recommended physical therapy.  I started that in Colby but each week I got worse.  I also stepped off a bucket while helping Dad and the knee completely gave out with a huge pop.  The pain was even worse and I was thrown into a fibromyalgia flare from it all.  PT said it appeared that I had torn the meniscus and needed to be checked out further. Amanda ordered an MRI of the knee and I was the orthopedic doctor a couple weeks ago.  I was expecting a minor surgery fix.  He looked at the MRI, ran several more x-rays and gave me the news - I need a complete knee replacement.  Wow, I was not expecting that at this time.  The leg bones are bruising because of the bone on bone when walking and moving.  My knee hurts just to bend over, walk on any uneven ground, and seems to wig out at any time that I can hardly walk.  Dr. Sanders said to call him when I am ready to set things in motion to have the knee replacement.  I have talked with Karen a lot and plan to stay with her and she will get me to surgery and to PT until I am able to drive myself again.

Last Wednesday, I had my first colonoscopy.  I should have had this done 10 years ago after Mom found out she had colon cancer.  I dreaded the procedure prep so never did it.  After changing doctors to Amanda from Dr. Kuhlman (who never even brought it up to me) she is taking a good look at all issues and doing complete well woman checks and tests to get a full look at me and my physical and emotional health.  The prep was not so bad because it has changed with Dr. Kopriva from what Dr. Houston did.  She removed 2 polyps and said it was definitely time to have the test.  I had no issues following the colonoscopy and feel all is back to normal activity.  This afternoon Dr. Kopriva called me personally.  She said the biopsy on the polyps came back and the smallest of the two did show a bit of cancer.  She said she has never seen cancer in that small of a polyp but believe it is caught very early.  She wants to see me in the office next Monday to talk about the results and what we need to do next.

Cancer!?  I blanked.  I heard what she was saying and it was registering but I felt that my vision & heart & breathing & brain went on pause. After setting up my appointment and hanging up the phone, everything went off pause into fast forward.  I do not have time to have cancer and need any type of treatments.  I am helping Mom & Dad, I do not have someone to help them and help me at the same time.  I can't ask Mom & Dad to take care of me.  I have to be fine.

Right now I am not freaking out or stressing.  I have to believe that the timing of the colonoscopy was the right time to discover the cancer early enough to not have spread or to need any treatments.  If I had the test a year or two ago and everything was good I would not have had the test at this time and by the time I would have had a repeat test I could have had cancer for a length of time that would be much worse.  I have to believe that all is fine, caught in time and just need to follow up with annual colonoscopy tests for a while.  I'll know more next week.

I can't make any decisions about knee surgery until I know what is involved with the colon cancer prognosis.  Heart stress test and high blood pressure, high uncontrolled blood sugar (234 after 24 hour sugar free, food free colon prep),  knee replacement needed & cancer in colon polyp.  I feel a bit overwhelmed.  I seem to be falling apart all at once.

On top of me, I am managing all Mom & Dad's appointments.  Mom sees the oncologist for breast cancer, the cardiologist for the heart failure, the nephrologist for the kidney functions due to meds from other issues as well as her regular doctor, Amanda.  Dad is seeing a cardiologist, needs cataracts removed as well as his regular doctor, Brian.

I have faith that God has a plan for me.  I do not always know that plan but He does and that is what matters.  I know He is in control and I trust is his timing, in His plan and turn my life over to Him.  I will do all that He asks of me.  Jesus Christ is my Savior.  The Holy Ghost is my constant companion, guide & comforter when I live worthy.  I have been so blessed and am so grateful for all I have.

Rose

Oil Bath - Farm Style

This afternoon I helped Dad back the baler into the shed.  While he worked the hydraulic levers in the tractor he had me disconnect hoses between the tractor and the baler.for him. The first one came off after a few tugs. As I began to pull the second hose, I got a hydraulic oil shower from the first connector I pulled. I thought Dad was being funny & I cracked up after I jumped from the surprise. He told me that is not supposed to happen. He was not trying to be funny and kept apologizing to me.  I thought it was funny. Do you suppose hydraulic oil will soften my skin?  

Dad went to the house after we got everything unhooked.  I mowed and transplanted mums.  He does not know it yet but I even used the leaf blower and blew out the east 2/3 of the machine shed for him so he would have a clean area to work on the other tractor.

After all that I decided it was time to get rid of the oily clothes & get in the shower. Next the clothes will get a Dawn scrubbing and washed as well.

I even cooked meat loaf, baked potatoes, and apple crisp for supper.  Now to clean up the kitchen.

It was a good day.

Rose

My Momma

One year ago today, Karen & I took Mom into the ER in Wichita to get her help for diminishing health that her regular doctor kept telling us it is just that she is getting old.  She just turned 80 and had always been a strong healthy woman. 

To back up a bit---I had been having a lot of concern about Mom's health and wellness.  Mom had been getting weaker, had a lot of fluid retention in her belly and legs, ankles & feet, short of breath, not eating and looked like her face, shoulders and chest were shrinking away and her memory was a mess.  She could not carry on a conversation without getting lost in the middle of a sentence, not finding words, and not even being able to follow any activity around her.  She mostly sat unaware.  At the family reunion the end of July I asked each of my siblings to talk with Mom and watch her and I wanted their impressions afterwards.  She could not even get up off the chair without a lot of help from the young strong grandsons raising her up to her feet. 

Over the weekend there were a lot of conversations between my siblings and Dad about Mom.  It was agreed that we needed to see another doctor and decided to do this through the ER in Wichita in order to get her seen where they would have to check her out thoroughly.   We were going to a doctor in Salina for a cyst in Mom's mouth so we went on to Wichita to do this. 

When she was examined and tests run, it was discovered that her heart was in A-fib and was believed to be in heart failure.  The chest x-ray showed a shadow in the left breast and was believed to be breast cancer.  This was an accidental find.  Mom got an ambulance ride from St. Theresa hospital to St. Francis hospital where she could get better care for the heart.  She was in the hospital for 5 days.

We were in Wichita for follow up appointments and tests for a total of 3 weeks.  Mom was diagnosed
with the following:
1. A-fib
2. Congestive Heart Failure
3. 3 leaking heart valves
4. Heart working at 30 %
5. Breast cancer in the left breast
6. Additional tumors deep in the chest wall muscle and in the neck
7. Renal failure

In the hospital, Mom had amazing care from the doctors, residents, med students, and nursing staff.  Through all this she had Dr. Andre Saad as her cardiologist.  She also was assigned Dr. Ronnie Moussa as nephrologist while in the hospital.  We requested Dr. Dennis Moore, Jr. as her oncologist because he had treated her for the colon cancer she had 9 years ago and she was in a 10 year study. 

Over the past year we have made many trips to Wichita for doctor appointments and Mom has been admitted to the hospital three additional times.  We are so grateful for great doctors treating Mom.  It has been a long year but a successful one.  Mom still has cancer, A-fib and heart failure.  The kidney functions stay within acceptable levels with close watch and balancing medications.  We return to Wichita to see all 3 of her doctors next week. 

I am so grateful I am living on the farm and able to see Mom & Dad every day.  I am grateful to be able to help them.  I would not want to be any place else doing anything else at this time in life than to be able to do this.  I am so blessed that I am able to see and spend time with my parents every day.  I feel my siblings are missing out on this type of relationship with Mom & Dad.  Each have their own way through visits and phone calls to keep in touch.  I am also grateful that we have been able to stay at Karen's house in Wichita as our second home during health care times.  This is so much easier on all of us than to be traveling to Denver and staying in hotels. 

Today Mom gets out of the house to ride the Ranger with Dad in the mornings.  She will come up to my house to visit when she has "wheels".  She shows interest in her sewing room again.  She jokes around and is in very good spirits.  A year ago I did not think she would be here any longer.  Dad did not think she would come home from Wichita alive.  She has lost around 70 pounds, still short of breath, weak, eats little and does not cook much, does not remember things but she is 81 and still a vital part of our family.  Thank God for all our blessings.

Rose

November 2016

Dad &  Mom 

Happy 80th birthday, Mom. July 30, 2017

July 28, 2018

July 28, 2018-Playing Bingo at family gathering

Mom's sense of humor is showing

Darn Dead Deer

On October 27 I had gone to Denver with 4 other ladies from church to attend the temple.  On the way home in the dark, driving Mom & Dad's van down the interstate at 75 miles per hour, a huge brown lump looked like it was siting in the middle of the driving lane.  DEER!  I heard Dad's voice in my head "Do not swerve".  I hit the breaks, held tight to the steering wheel and hit the thing in the road dead center. (No pun intended here.)  The van seemed to smack it hard but we ran over the top of it.  Kaboom!  There was an explosion sound and smoke rose as I got stopped at the side of the road.  I realized that was the airbags as they deployed.  Holy cow, or should I say Holy Deer, I just had to breathe for a second or two.  One of the other ladies in the van asked if everyone was alright.  I could not even think.  All were OK, all had been wearing their seat belts.  Something hit the gal in the middle seats in the forehead and there was a little bit of blood trickling. 

Now what do I do, who do I call, what needs done?  Call 911, call Dad?  We were west of Burlington.  How do we get home from here?  I don't know.  I've never had to go through this before.  As I was struggling with my thoughts, a police car pulled up in front of me on the side of the road and turned on his red & blue lights.  An answer to prayer.  He did not get out of his car for a bit so I finally got out and started walking towards his vehicle.  Then he got out and started towards me.  As we met in the headlights, he asked me if I had hit it too.  I told him if he was talking about a dead deer in the middle of the road, I sure did hit it.  The police officer was a Burlington city policeman on his was home from a training day in Denver.  He pulled around to park behind me to be a warning to traffic.  He called in the incident then told me help was coming.  Pretty soon an ambulance pulled up because of the blood, it needed to be called.  One EMT took the ladies in the van to the ambulance to check out the forehead and for warmth for them.  I stayed in the van, walked around it looking at damages, praying with gratitude that we were all safe, that I did the right thing by hitting it head on instead of swerving and most likely rolling the van.  Another EMT and the police officer went back to pull the critter off the road.  One of them told the ladies that they did not find its head, for what that means I do not know.  Soon the ambulance took the other 4 ladies into Burlington to the Love's/Hardies store to wait in warmth for me and for a ride home. 

Throughout all this my cell phone showed it had no service.  The other ladies phones worked.  I used one of them to call Dad and they all called their spouses.  Later I used the police officer's cell phone to call Dad again to find out what to do with the van.  We decided to leave it sit on the side of the road and we'd come out the next day to haul it home.  I filled out all the information on the accident report.  The odd (funny) thing when doing this was that the insurance card in the van was expired.  Dad is always so adamant about getting the sticker on the car tags and putting the registration papers and current insurance cards in the vehicle.  For this insurance card to have expired 6 months earlier is very unlike Dad.  The insurance was the same and the officer must have found verification that the insurance was current.

As the patrolman was interviewing me initially it went something like this:
PO: Were you the driver?
Rose:  Yes
PO: Your age?
Rose: 60
PO: The ages of your passengers?
Rose: 61, 70, 71, & 87
PO: Have you been drinking?
Rose: Yes, I have a Diet Pepsi in the cup holder. (What was I thinking? I don't suppose I was at this point.)
PO: Drinking alcohol?
Rose: No
PO: When was your last drink of alcohol?
Rose: 21 years ago
PO: So I guess that means you are borderline  (Grin)
PO: Have you been using Marijuana?
Rose: No, never even tried it in college.
PO: Meth? Cocaine? Other illegal drugs?
Rose: No. We are just traveling home from attending the Mormon Temple today.
PO:  I suppose I know the answers to the rest of my questions but I have to ask.
Rose:  That is fine. I have nothing to hide.
I don't suppose he has had an interview like this with a nearly old lady on the side of the road before.  I hope my unthinking responses are not the most stupid he has ever had.  I feel for the guy.

The highway patrolman took me to town to meet the other gals in the caged backseat of his patrol car.  That was another first.  When he opened the car door for me to get out, he asked me if I had any questions for him.  I asked if I was getting a ticket.  He said there was nothing to ticket me for.  I did everything right. That made me feel better. 

Within a couple minutes of me arriving at Love's and before I could even buy a Diet Pepsi one of the ladies husband was there to pick us up.  When we headed home he went the wrong way and we drove by where the accident happened.  There was what seemed like a very long smear of critter on the road.  It must have taken a bit for it to work its way out from under the van.  The accident happened around 7:30 and I finally got home close to midnight.  My cell phone did not even work when I got home and was at Mom & Dad's before going to my own house.  When I got out of the vehicle in front of my house, the cell phone began dinging and I had several texts and voicemails.  I do not know why it did not work earlier and what made it work as I was walking up to my house.  Another strange thing of the adventure. 

The next day, my brother, Kevin, was coming out to help Dad work on a project but the project they worked on was getting the van home from the side of the interstate road.  I rented a U-Haul dolley and Dad & Kevin used Derrick's Dodge pickup and brought the car home.  It started right up and they drove it onto the trailer.  Looking over the van showed only a few little things.  There was a little crack in the bumper by the front park light. The oil was leaking out because the filter was bent and the seal was broken.  There was a little water leaking from the radiator because is was pushed back towards the engine a bit which also caused a line of some sort to be pushed back that went to the A/C unit.  There was a small spiderweb crack in the upper passenger windshield the the police officer said he thought a foot flew up and hit it.  There was a lit of blood on the front bumper by the license plate but did not hurt the plate or grill and there was blood and fur on the back tailgate.  Dad said there was a "lot of meat" packed in under the van.  My brother-in-law, Steve, ordered the parts and did the repair work on the van.  Since Dad only carries liability insurance we did not need to have the airbags replaced.  The dash and steering wheel from where the airbags deployed have been repaired and look a little like Frankenstein's head but it works. It is better than duct tape.

Let me tell you a little bit about airbags.  When they go off it is a surprise.  There is an explosion and smoke that rises from them.  I had expected the 'powder' that I've heard of in the past but there was none of that.  The police officer was surprised that the airbags deployed as they did because of the type of impact we had.  My sunglasses were laying on the ledge by the speedometer above the steering wheel and they were still laying there afterwards.  I was hit in the chest and in the legs by the airbags.  I was unaware there were airbags in the footwell of the driver side.  At first my belly hurt just under my breasts and not sure if that was from the airbag or the seat belt and shoulder harness.  I also noticed that the back side of my left hand hurt and my legs hurt below the knees.  None of that was bad but I may have been somewhat numb.  I did not feel the cold either.  The next day was when I began to notice things.  The impact from the airbag hit my hand and even bent one of the prongs on my ring nearly flat.  No wonder there was a bit of a bruise.  There was a nice bruise on my belly but the worst was on my legs.  That airbag really smacked both legs as I had both feet on the brake pedal when the bag blew.  The under dash cover for the airbag must have been what hit me.  The airbag did not look like it came out any further than the cover did.  I had horribly deep bruises on the inside of my legs just under the knees.  There was a large, deep lump there as well.  In fact it is 2 months later and there is still a bit of a lump and some discoloration on my left leg.  Don't fool yourself--airbags HURT! I know they save lives as well. 

Warning & Advice:
ALWAYS, ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEATBELT.
DO NOT swerve when you see an animal on the road.  Hit it head on if necessary.  That alone can save your life.

Rose

Act of Kindness

I have always heard of random acts of kindness and I have done little things in the past but nothing that really sticks out to me.  Wednesday when in the grocery store, I kept seeing the same young mother with two little children.  The boy looked around 3 years old and the girl was maybe 4 months old in the infant seat.  Every isle I went down she was coming the other way and we'd meet.  She was shopping sales and coupons mostly.  When I got in line to check out she was in front of me in line running her items on the belt.  She was checking out and I was placing my items on the stand.  I noticed she had the clerk reverse an item but her total was higher than with it because of buy 4 items, save $4.00 sale.  So she ran the item back as a sale.  The young mother was checking and re-checking the amount of the sale and the amount that was on her debit card.  She called her husband and asked why there was only $35 in their account.  She dug throughout her purse and wallet for more money.  Not finding any, she called her husband again and demanded he get to the store with money so she could finish her purchases. He didn't seem to be very cooperative or receptive to her call and demands.  I felt for her and her kids.  I got a $20 bill from my wallet and handed it to the clerk and asked if this would cover the remaining balance for her.  She rang it in and gave me the change.  When the clerk told the lady that her groceries were paid for and pointed to me in line behind her, she was shocked.  "You didn't just do that for me, did you?" she asked. When I nodded my head that I had, she got tears in her eyes and gave me a big hug saying "Thank you."  I told her to have a Merry Christmas and she gave me another hug and thank you.  The young man bagging her groceries carried them out for her and I continued with my check out at the register. 

I've heard of people paying it forward to the next guy or helping out someone in need but I have never really done anything like this before.  The warm feeling in me heart let me know that I did something good for someone else.  One of the General Conference talks was on acts of kindness towards others and providing service to others in need without expecting anything in return.  I guess I did that without thinking about it.  What I did for this young mother in the grocery store is nothing compared to what the Lord, Jesus Christ, did for me through the atoning sacrifice he made for me and for all mankind.  I am grateful to the Savior and grateful that I could do something nice for someone else.  Maybe I can do more acts of service for others throughout this holiday season and always.

Rose

Old Lady Dork Club (OLD)

For my 60th birthday in March my sister, Karen, announced that there is a new club and I have been named as president.  The Old Lady Dork Club (OLD).  I do not know how I might qualify for this club other than turning 60.  I keep trying to pass the office off to her but she is not this old yet.  Over the last couple months I suppose I have proven my presidency position.

In October I went to Wichita to help both Emily and Dianne as they were preparing to move into new homes.  Emily has a daughter that is almost 3 and Dianne has a daughter that just turned 3 years old.  I can help box, clean and (most importantly) keep kiddos out of their mom's way so they can get something done.  While watching Flora at Emily's new house I slid down the steps on my back side for 3-4 steps.  I just thought it was that I was wearing socks and no shoes.  I was fine, just a little surprised.  The next day we were upstair and ready to come down and Flora said she did not want me to fall again.  Neither did I want to fall again.  I was wearing my tennis shoes this time.  You guessed it.  I slid on a step and fell down 4-5 steps this time.  I was fine but even more surprised than the day before.  What is going on?  As it happens, Emily staircase that go up to the bedrooms is beautiful but the stair treads are a bit narrower than regular stairs and this must be what caused me to slip by my foot going further over the front edge of the step than usual.  I definitely had a tender and bruised rump for a while.  OK. I suppose this is my induction as president of The Old Lady Dork Club.

Now--A couple days ago, back in Wichita, I was shopping for shoes.  I tried on one that I liked the look and feel of so decided to put on the other shoe to walk around a little to get a good feel for the pair.  I balanced on the foot with the new shoe on it to kick off the tennis shoe from the other foot. My ankle turned and I lost my balance.  There was nothing I could do but roll with the fall.  Roll is the key word here.  As I was falling backwards my first thought was weather there was a rack or mirror behind me that I would hit and cause a big mess.  I seemed to fall in slow motion.  As I hit the floor on my rear the momentum of the fall carried me on backwards and I rolled back, hit my head on the floor, kept rolling and my legs flew up in the air, then rolled back to the floor.  I lay on the floor with arms and legs sprawled out in all 4 directions and laughed.  Karen was with me and what seemed like slow motion to me seemed to happen so fast to her.  As first she was stunned and knew there was nothing she could do to stop the fall but then she started laughing also.  I just lay there laughing.  When I finally got up off the floor and quit laughing, I took off the shoe I was trying on and said, "I really did not think this was the pair of shoes for me."  I continued shopping and did actually find a pair of shoes that I liked and bought.  I was in Famous Footwear and suppose it was caught on security video.

 I guess I just sealed my Old Lady Dork Club presidency for a while longer.  I am really a dork.

Rose

Year End-2016 Summary

This has been a year that has flown by so fast I do not know what happened.  I did not review my goals from 2015 nor post goals for 2016.  Now it, too, is gone.  So here is a quick summary of my year.

The second week of January I subbed at school, worked at the library and traveled to Wichita to be with Karen when she had foot surgery on the 15th.  I got there the night before her surgery and returned home on March 10th.  The end of June I spend 10 days at Karen's again just for fun.  A couple weeks later she came out to the farm for a couple weeks and we hosted the Gerald & Arvilla Juenemann Family Celebration Gathering the end of July. Right after Labor Day I took a week and went to the mountains.  I went to the Fort Collins Temple open house, then to Steamboat Springs before camping in the mountains then a short stay in Denver visiting a friend and my niece, Elizabeth.  On November 10th Mom, Dad & I left for Arkansas to spend Thanksgiving with Allen.  We stayed 5 weeks with him before heading back home.  We stayed with Karen overnight traveling both ways but extended that on the way home because of blasting fridged cold with temps as low as 23 degrees below zero and wind chills 35 degrees below. We got back to the farm the night of Dec. 20. I have loved the extended time spend with family this year.

On The Farm Baby Quilt 

I've done a bit of sewing also.  At the end of 2015 Mom, Karen & I bought Aunt Sis's Janome 350e embroidery machine.  I made a quilt for Jonathan & Elizabeth's first baby using blocks made on the machine.  It was so fun to watch the picture 'appear' on the fabric.  It was fun to make but took a long time for each block.  Later I made a burp cloth, bib, blanket with machine embroidery on it for a gift.  Mom & Karen have also made projects with the machine.

Chain Reaction

On the regular sewing machine I made a quilt from the Row by Row gift fat-quarter set that I won in 2015.  The pattern is called Chain Link.  I used 42 of the 46 fat quarters in the set.  I still need to quilt the top.  This fall I took the quilt top in to the Oberlin quilt shop where I won the fabrics to show her what I did with the winnings.

Row by Row 2016
Made by Karen, Quilted by Rose

This year Karen & I collected RxR patterns again and I only made one row for her and she did all the rest of the quilt then I quilted and bound it and took it to Oberlin shop again.  She won another fat quarter pack, thread, and Best Press.  Norma designs the best rows.

Coneflower table runner/wall hanging

I also made a table runner/wall hanging from a kit I received from Aunt Sis when I took Mom & her sisters to Manhattan for their Sister's week in 2015.  It turned out cute.

Laura, Charlotte, &Thomas with the Quiet Book

I designed and made a quiet book for my great-niece, Charlotte.  Laura asked if I'd consider making one so I decided to try.  I researched, collected patterns and pictures, drew my own designs where needed and began working on it.  I used machine applique, machine embroidery and other techniques to make 12 pages-put princess in bed, counting ladder, velcro match color & shapes, snap together flowers, tent with zipper front and teddy bear inside, button shirt, buckle belt, barn with cow inside loop closure door, glove to insert hand with snowman, elastic stretch elephant trunk, bathtub with sliding shower curtain, tie ballet slippers.  The ABC blocks on the cover coordinate with the ABC block quilt I made for them when Charlotte was born.

This fall while in Arkansas I made two more wall hanging tops from kits I had.

 My goal for 2017 is to quilt all the tops I have put together.  I am hand quilting one now and have another embroidered top that I want to hand quilt & one king size bed quilt needs hand quilted because it is too big for the quilt machine.  The rest I think I can machine quilt on Mom's long arm quilting machine.  More great-babies are coming but none are first babies for my nieces or nephews so I do not think I will be making any baby quilts this coming year.

2016 was a good year and I look forward to 2017.  Happy New Year!

Rose

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Time to catch up

It has been a while since I have posted to my blog.  Today I looked at the goals I set up the first of the year for 2015. In review I did pretty well on household cleaning projects and spiritual projects.  My quilting goals were no where close to being accomplished but I did 2 new projects that were not on the radar at the first of the year.  I have decided not to post specific goals for 2016 and just post the accomplishments.  We'll see how that will work for me. 

My health has been ok over the past year.  My doctor has changed my medications so that I am only taking one name brand (expensive) drug now and has decreased the number of blood pressure and blood sugar drugs I am taking.  My bp and A1c have both slowly increased and at the first of this year has put me back on low doses of one drug for each again.  The fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are managed as long as I take the medication regularly, do not over extend myself, get plenty of rest, and avoid stress.  There are days, especially when in a flare or after over extending, that I just can not function.  I can hardly get out of bed, have a lot of pain, my mind does not track what is going on around me, I have no focus.  I try to not take anything more than OTC paid meds but there have been a few times that I needed to take the other just to try to manage the pain.  I'm grateful that it is not all the time that I need the pain drugs and can deal or endure the rest of the times.

Over the past 10-11 months there has been a lot of stress around the farm with my nephew.  It started in April, exploded in July and reared it's ugly head again a couple days ago.  This has been very hard and stressful for me because it breaks my heart for all involved.  I only see the situation getting worse before there is any improvement but I pray I am wrong about that.

I am currently in Wichita staying with my sister, Karen.  I left the farm on January 13 and plan to return the first of next week.  That will be 8 weeks away from home.  Karen had foot surgery on Jan. 15 and today is the first day she has been able to get herself to school.  I'm glad to have been in a position and able to be with her through this and help her out.  I must say that I am getting a little anxious to be home again. 

While in Wichita, I finished a Coneflower wall hanging and made a quilt top called Chain Reaction from the fabric I won from the Row by Row. In December Karen, Mom & I purchased my aunt's embroidery machine. I have spent some time playing with it and figuring it out.  I have made several designs for practice, 2 tea towels for Laura and several quilt labels  I have figured out how to copy and transfer designs from the computer to be used in the machine. I will take it home and work with Mom on it so she can make some things.


Yesterday was my 59th birthday.  I think I should update my blog intro. Now on with my day.

Rose

 

Pasture Disaster

After rain at the end of the week and road work the past few weeks, our road was a very sloppy, muddy mess.  I was afraid to drive the roads to go to church this morning.  Mom & Dad did not even try the roads to go to church.  Today, though, it warmed up to around 80 degrees and the roads dried out nicely.  This afternoon I took the little red 4-wheeler out for a ride in the pasture.  I wanted to enjoy the nice weather and maybe find my cow, Molly. 

When I got to the creek bottom to open the gate to the pasture, I noticed a dead cow lying by the junk pile all bloated with 4 legs out stiff.  I would have thought Dad would have mentioned it when we talked earlier in the day.  I continued up the hill into the CRP pasture and saw another cow lying flat.  As I approached her I saw that she was dead also.  I drove around her and looked her over but could not see any injury.  I looked a little further up the terrace and saw another one.  I drove up to her and she was lying with her legs pointing one way and her head facing the opposite way.  Something went wrong out here and Dad surely would have said something if he knew there were 3 dead cows in the pasture.  I turned around and flew through the pasture and hay field back to the house to get Dad.  He did not believe me when I told him.  We drove out to the pasture on the Ranger and we saw the three I found and began driving around the pasture looking at the rest of the herd.  We came upon another cow that was one of Dad’s.  Further searching found two more. 

6 dead cows in the one pasture.  Why? What happened? We do not know.  Dad wondered if it was poisoning from eating the hot bale of cane he fed night before last.  When he fed alfalfa last night everything looked ok.  Dad & I checked the other pastures but nothing was wrong there.  That bale of cane is the only thing he can think of that was different.  Dad does not know if the mineral the cattle have gotten lately is high magnesium but does not think so.  He is not allowed to buy anything for the cattle any more (per D & D).

Dad will have to call the rendering plant tomorrow to have them picked up.  I suggested he pull the tags off the cattle ears so he has a record of cattle lost.  We are not allowed (per Dana) to keep any kind of records.  I am supposed to not even keep records of Dad’s cattle for him and that she is the only one to keep the livestock records. 

This type of pasture disaster has never happened before during all the years of my parent’s farming and raising cattle.  I feel heart sick over the whole situation - the loss of the cattle & the tension that has existed around the farm over the past 9 months.  I pray it all gets better soon.

Rose

2015 Row By Row Experience - H2O

When I was in Wichita in July, Karen and I went to the quilt shops to pick up free row patterns for the 2015 Row by Row.  The program runs during the summer in Canada and the United States.  Participating quilt shops design a 9 x 36" row pattern and give them away to those that come into their shop and ask for it.  You can also purchase a fabric kit for the pattern if you want it.  The first person to bring in a finished quilt of 8 rows or more into a participating shop wins a prize of a fat quarter pack.  If that store's row is in the quilt, a second prize is awarded.  This prize varies by store.  When Karen came here, we went to Oberlin to get their block.  I fell in love with the barn and fishing pond of that "Fishin'"  block.  It was applique and embroidery.  I purchased their last year block that was of a covered wagon with fall features called "Home, home on the Range".  I thought I'd make these two blocks into a small wall hanging. 

In September I went to Karen's again with another block from the Oakley & Stockton quilt shops that she wanted.  Karen had several rows made and was in the process of a few more.  I decided to make these two rows just for fun.  As I did these I made a few more while Karen was in school during the day.  I ended up with 8 rows.  Karen kept telling me Oberlin shop had not had a winner yet and encouraged me to pet my quilt together and take it in so I could win the prize if I was the first one.  I could not imaging doing that but finally agreed to give it a try.  If nothing else I would have a finished quilt project this summer. 

When I got home I did all the embroidery on the Oberlin row then pieced the quilt top together.  I quilted it on Mom's long arm quilting machine then put on the binding.  Last Saturday I took it into Country Quilting & Keepsakes quilt shop in Oberlin.  I am that store winner.  As a prize I received a 25 piece fat quarter and as the extra prize for having their block in my quilt I was given another 21 fat quarters that made a complete set of fat quarters from a collection.  What a wonderful gift!! That is over $160 value.  Norma Carman, owner of the quilt shop, asked if they could display the quilt in the store for a while.  They are participating in a quilt shop hop with other shops in northwest Kansas.  She would like to keep it at least through that.  The Row by Row ends October 31 so I think I'll pick up my quilt after that.  I have had many nice comments on the Kansas Row By Row Facebook page and from those that have seen the quilt.  

Hanging in Country Quilting & Keepsakes in Oberlin, KS

 

46 Fat quarter prize

Quilting Treasures Blenders collection

Karen is sending me her Row by Row quilt to have it quilted then I'll send it back to her.  She said as of this weekend one Hutchinson store does not have a finished quilt turned it.  Maybe she can win a prize for her quilt also.  It has been fun working on this project with her.  Thanks, Karen, for all your encouragement.  Also thanks to all the quilt shops that participate in this program. It was fun.

 

Rose