Hot Hot Hot

                                                   

   Everyday I think, I will ride my bike today but....... yesterday it was 103.  And Humid!  That is sooooo hot.  Today it is suppose to only be 96 so I am going to ride and hope it doesn't kill me.  

   I went to the auction yesterday and picked up some lovely pottery.  I didn't stay for the depression glass as I had already spent 166 and didn't want to spend more.  As usual  I got some items I would love to keep and one piece for sure I am holding back to save.  Isn't it lovely!  I just love Hull.

       

   It was a very fast paced auction which I like even though I missed a couple of things while I was talking to Rick.  He hates auctions but I make him come to haul things for me.   I spent the morning listing everything which is such a chore.   I hate writing discriptons.   Hopefully the pictures will speak for themselves.

   I am going to have a huge salad for lunch with fresh cherry tomatoes from my plants.  They have turned out to be the best tomatoes  I have ever tasted.  Yummy.

   Dan is still slowly recovering.  His ankle contiues to hurt the worse as one of the incisions is write beside the ankle bone and still swollen.  He is hobbling around though and all the redness is now gone.  Thank goodness.  I was more then a little worried.

   I took this picture of Mommy Deerest as she was drinking out of my birdbath.  Stay out of my flowers I told her.  She looks like she is giving me the raspberry.

                   

   Mommy Deerest has been coming to my yard for about 4 years now.  I recognize her by the scar on her shoulder.  Usually she has some pretty little babies to show off but none this year.  Did they die?  Did she not have any?  This is the first year I haven't seen her with any.

Good Morning everyone!

    We were out taking pictures Friday and look what I found, another bike trail.  It is new and I am not sure if it is open yet but we are going to check it out.  Looks great.  However my van is broke down and that is how we haul our bikes.  Unless I leave from home and tackle all the hills on the way back.  Since it is suppose to be close to a 100 again today I probably won't ride.  I sure wish I had central air.

   I am still down 5 pounds 4 ounces.  My ankles look much better.  The fluid retention creeps up on you so slowly you don't know your in trouble until it is too late. I am lucky as I have had so much fluid on board before it went to my lungs and I had lots of problems breathing.   I only had to use my rescue inhaler once yesterday, but it helped so I think that is the way to go.   I did tell the doctor I was very sensitive to steroids but we were hoping the low dose in the inhaler wouldn't bother me.

    Celebrating my loss I only had slim fast for breakfast and I will bring one to the auction.  I don't want to miss a meal and they last for hours so I won't be able to eat until tonight.  We are grilling steaks for supper and I want to hit a farmers market and get some fresh veggies to grill with it.  Not quite corn time though darn.

   I am going to an auction today and tomorrow.  I have to get some new items for the shop and there are some great sales going on this weekend.  Lots of beautiful pottery and depression glass, and some great prints, Maxfield Parrish, some Fox, I can't wait.  I love a good sale.  Wish me luck that I can buy cheap and sale for a profit.  I need to fix my van.

    The fuel rail is out in the van and my air isn't working right in my car.  When it rains it pours.  Why the air!  It's hot out, why not the heater.  Anyway I need to get some quick cash and sometimes a $200 investment in the right items will give me a $700 or more profit.  I want to double my investment at least and tripling it would be nicer.  Once I bought a vase for $5.00 and sold it for $2200.00.   I wish that would happen everyday, LOL

   Everyone have a wonderful and safe weekend.  If cemetaries don't bother you check out my bike site.  We have a great cemetary here and I took some pictures.  http://journals.aol.com/midwestvintage/BikeRideAroundSiouxCity/

Keeps going down

   I am now down 5 pounds since I stopped my advair and took a lasix.  My ankles are still puffy but much better.  I feel so relieved.  I could not understand why I was gaining when I was being so good and working out so much. 

   It is hot and steamy here in Iowa.   Trying not to move around much and it is even to hot to ride my bike.  I am a little short of breath and wheezing with the humidity so high but I can handle it.

    Dan is actually walking around alittle.  Touch weight is all he can stand but that is better.  Skinny Dan is complaining about the weight he has gained since he has been off.  It will drop right off when he goes back to work.

    I took this picture today.  It looks like I have been feeding the squirrels to good.  They need someone to push them up on the feeder.

 

 I have been taking quite a few pictures.  If you get time check out my photo journey site.  It is on the side in my favorites.

Weighty issues

   I am dropping weight finally and my ankles are getting skinny. They still dent when I push on them but not so far up my leg. Going off the advair worked. Now if I can just keep from having an asthma attack life will be good. I jumped on the scale when I woke up, down 3 pounds since Monday. I don't see my lung doctor until next month so hopefully this will be OK. I feel better not retaining so much fluid.

I got up and jumped into my gym clothes but no Rick and no car. The van's fuel rail went out 2 days ago so I can't drive it and so here I sit stuck. He went to get oil for the car. I have to appologize to him for yesterday. He did have supper planned and cooked the whole thing. He has supper planned for tonight also. I get so cranky when I first get up. The stress of the last couple of weeks I guess. So I went back to my cool bedroom and did my meditation. I feel focused, relaxed and calm now. What would I do if I didn't meditate. I would be a basket case probably. That is my special pamper me thing.

The weather is hot and heavy, I hear thunder and the sky is dark and dangerous looking. I should go out to the lookout at Floyd Monument and get some pictures.                      

A lot of the women at work are on weight watchers and doing very well. I have never done that program but they showed me what books to get and they sell them on ebay for less if you get lucky with the bidding. They assure me that is all I need, plus them to advice me on how to do it. So I may. I know many of you in J-land do it successfully. There are 2 kits I am watching now. However someone said the minute you go off WW you gain the weight back, is that true or just here. Can you do WW for life? I don't eat out often, will it work that way? Should I continue with doing it my way which worked until I started the steroids? So many questions. I have more,

Why does mineral water that has trickled through mountains for centuries have a use by date?

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say "I think i'll squeeze these dangly things here and drink what comes out"?

Why is it called alcoholics anonymous when the first thing you do is stand up and say
"hi, my name's Bob. I'm an alcoholic"?

What do people in China call their good plates?

If corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables. What is baby oil made from?

Why are they called stairs inside but steps outside?

             

If you know the answers to any of these pressing questions leave it in the comments. I will sleep better at night I bet knowing them.

 

   This is where Sgt. Floyd is buried.

Yah, my week off starts today!

   Once again I have survived a week of work and now can reap the benefits of a week off.  I really need it as we were short every single night and I am soooooo tired.  

   The young mother's CHF was caused they think,by the hospital she was in running in 7 bags of IV fluid when she had her C-section.  That is good new because it is probably reversable and her EF which shows how good her heart is working is good.  I am happy about it.  They had her new baby up today and what a cutie.

   Dan is still slowly getting better but I still don't like the way his foot looks and he still can't walk on it.  He pushed the doctor to let him come home but I think a few more days on IV antibiotics wouldn't have hurt.

    I am off the Advair now and after I work out at the gym when I get up I am going to take some lasix as my legs are really swollen.  I weigh in on Friday and don't want to have all this fluid on board.

   Well, I am off to bed.  I will only sleep until noon as I have to get a package ready to mail and want to hit the gym for some much need exercise.  Pump me up.  Talk to all later.

                        

Welcome home Wednesday

                                  

   Dan is home.   His leg is still red and painful, but so much better.  He has 7 more days of antibiotics and hopefully is finally on the mend.  The doctor wants him to walk 3 times a day which is still a problem.  He is using crutches as his other leg is doing really good but it hurts to put his weight down on the bad leg.  I have had so many surgeries but never anything on my legs, thank goodness.  It looks like it really hurts.  Tomorrow it will be 2 weeks since his surgery so hopefully better days ahead.  Zoey the nurse dog is back at his side.  She feels like she dropped the ball I guess and hasn't left his side since he got home.

   I ate my tomatoes I grew on my salad yesterday and oh my goodness, little round bits of heaven.  They are the best I have tasted all year.  Now I wish I had grown some big ones this year.  I usually do but just did cherry and grape this year.  My plants are huge, alot taller then my 5' 4" and have hundreds of tomatoes on each plant.  I am having a problem because they are so big they are bending and the tomatoe cages aren't tall enough.  I am building some for next year.  They looked so tiny in the huge tubs I grow them in when I plant them and now the tub looks way to small.  They take 40 pounds of planting soil in each bucket.

   I am off my advair as of this morning.  Hopefully I won't have any attacks and hopefully the swelling in my legs and whole body will get better.  I have pitting edema up to my knees.  I am suppose to weight in Friday so will see if it helps.  I need to drink my 64 ounces of water yet forthe wellness challenge.

  Last night at work was a very busy busy day.   I got a sweet young girl of 19 in with conjested heart failure.  She just gave birth last week.  She went into flash pulmonary edema on me and kept me on my toes trying to keep her alive in the middle of the night.  She has no idea how sick she is and just looked so young and scared.   I sure hope she has a good outcome.  I thank god for giving me the skills to help her and ease her fears. Since the other nurses are more comfortable taking care of older patients I said I would take her again when I work tonight.  I was a pediatric nurse so it doesn't bother me that she is young.  So say a prayer for a young mother who is sicker then she knows.

   Well, time to hit the shower and figure something out for supper.  My other half has been dropping the ball and not pulling his share.  I am not suppose to do the meals on the days I work but lately if we want to eat, I have to make it.  Time for the lets sit down and talk about rolls here talk.  Since he doesn't work I really think he should be doing everything housework wise.  I remember years ago when I didn't work for 9 months I did all the housework, shopping, laundry, yard work, childcare, cooking you name it.  Now I am working 12 hour nights and still doing it all.  Sigh.  So off  I go.  One last night and then my long stretch off.  I am hoping for a good auction this weekend.  I need to find some cool things for the store as I have sold quite a few things.  Bye all.

   Oh, I wanted to share a site with you.  If you like cats you will love this site, even if you don't like cats this site is so cute.

                        http://www.amazingcatcollection.com/

Tuesday afternoon

  My son is still in the hospital but I think is doing a little better.  We are trying to find out what the nodules are in his groin .  He has a incision there and they mentioned the nodules, but didn't say what they are.  Lymph nodes from infection?  Anyway he is going to ask the doctor when he comes today.  The pain is still very bad and he is groggy when we visit. 

   The funny thing is he is on bedrest.  Yesterday he said he was going to have to try and hobble to the bathroom because he needed to go.  I told him bedrest meant bedpan.  He was shocked.  No way!  His sweet young nurse called the doctor and got permission for him to go to the bathroom.  The relief on his face was priceless.  They got him a walker so hopefully he will be able to hobble in there when the time comes. 

   The leg doesn't look as red but I swear it looks more swollen.  I sure hope it gets better soon.

    I got through my night OK even though I had only 4 hours of sleep.  Fortunately we were busy so it went fast.  I just got through sleeping around 10 hours playing catch up.  What wonderful crazy dreams I had last night.  Didn't want to wake up and end them. 

                                          

    It is hot and humid in Iowa this week.  I wish I had AC in the whole house.  Everything feels damp and heavy.  My tomato plants are loving it though and I have some red cherrys ready.  They will be on my salad today.

    I am going to try tapering off of my Advair to see if I need it anymore.  My legs are so swollen and I am really retaining fluid.  I am going to have to take some Lasix today which is a water pill.  They also give me bad leg cramps so I don't like taking them but don't like being this swollen either.  Hopefully the rescue inhaler will be enough.  I can see this is some of the weight gain I am having now that I can see how swollen I am.  Even my fingers and arms are puffy.

    I want to thank everyone for their prayers.  Even though my son is 29 I still worry and as a nurse I know all the problems that could happen with his infected leg.  Makes me really nervous.  His job told him to just take it easy and get better.  He is a hard worker and they  really like him. 

   Well, I am going to get ready to go to the gym and then will visit my son before work.  I also have to hit the store for meals for the next 2 days.  Thanks again everyone.