I hate Winter

My youngest son called the 100 year old water pipe in his bathroom broke. Being a kid that takes after me he had no idea what to do to stop the flow of water running into his walls and basement. Find the shut off I told him. Of course the 100 year old shut off would shut the water off but he did find where the water pipe had split. So now Rick is over there checking it out. Rick the man of all trades. The can fix anything with duck tape, bubblegum and a piece of wire. Remember when he repaired my furnace with most of those materials? My son has to work and of course its the beginning of a weekend so any plumber is going to get triple amount unless Rick can get it fixed. I hope they get it fixed.

Work was just a small nightmare of pain. I had lovely patients and they weren't the problem. Just trying to not use my arm and the pain of typing for 12.5 hours and I had to be charge which I hate was just terrible. But. I have only 5 more nights to go and then will be off until after my surgery. I can do this. I can do this. Why did I have to add the shoulder on top of the hand at this time. Man, I am feeling sorry for myself, sorry about that.

Still no news from the doctors office. I am not surprised. Rick didn't call of course. But hopefully no news is good news. He seems good now except still has a small droop in his mouth but even that is better. I am trying to talk him into learning to meditate with me. He doesn't want to go on blood pressure medicine, so try this. I got my blood pressure down and it stays down. I am off medication and I think it is from meditation. Now that I am doing it every day again I can tell the difference. Last night when one of our nurses was blowing a casket I closed my eyes and took a couple of calming breaths and didn't ream her a new...... well you know. She was out of line, terrible, but stressed and angry. Gee, did she have to take an admit too. How terrible. We all had admits, deal with it, we were all behind, deal with it. I just worried she was going to bring her anger right into the rooms but she seemed to leave it at the door. The rest of us payed the price though.

Tonight I don't have to be charge. I will be the one getting the admit. I will remember her, take a couple of deep breaths and go to. It sucks being short those. Stresses you out.

Well, time to finish supper since my supper cooker is at his son's. Hope he gets home in time to get me to work.

Ta Ta and chow.

Thank God for Training

When I first heard the plane had crashed into the Hudson River my heart sank. Oh my God, those poor people.

I checked the computer and watched live as practice training time and time again turned into real life reality. I listened to the fairy captain talk about how they had trained for the event if something like this happened, and when it actually did everyone knew exactly what to do and it worked perfectly.

I listened to a pilot talk about practicing and training for something like geese flying into your plane and having to put the plane down and with only seconds to put it into action this pilot landed the plane in what they are saying was picture perfect and controlled and the only way he could have prevented a disaster. It could have landing on land, can't even imagine that horror in a town that large, or if he had made one small mistake he could have landed nose down a fraction causing the plane to sink before the passengers could be saved.

Years ago we had a large plane go down here. I had always wondered how I would handle a large scale emergency. I worked in the emergency dept. that day. And I know the importance of training, over and over again so when and if the real thing happens training takes over and you do your job perfectly. Hats off to the pilots and crew on the plane and boats and all the rescue workers. They train for us.

From sinking heart to joy. It will be good day after all, at least until I get to work, LOL.

Burrrr

Minus 22.2 degrees this morning and that doesn't count the wind chill. And I hear we are one of the warmer states in the midwest. Bismark ND has 60 inches of snow. Unbelievable. They said it hasn't been that cold since 1996. Rick has been dressing to go walk the dog for the last 15 minutes. Lets see. Long johns, thermal under shirt, pants and flannel, nylon lined work out pants, wool socks, columbian coat. 2 pairs of gloves, neck warmer, face protection, wristies, hat and then hood to the coat...... All to walk the dog for 5 minutes while she picks the perfect place to do her morning do. Then he is going to try and start all the cars. Jimmy, can I come visit? Oh man.

We are suppose to have a heat wave later this week with temps in the 30's. Rick and Zoey just got back. Poor Zoey, standing there on 2 feet at a time trying to do her business, she didn't delay sniffing around today, her paws were froze. Makes me sick. How many people have their poor dogs in kennels today. Plenty. In fact I can think of one man down the hill. He has hay around the igloo for the dog but it is still too cold. Bring you dog in man. How cold can you get. And I a have a question. How do the little birds handle this? I see the sparrows out and about, hitting our feeders, why don't they just freeze into little fluffy balls. How can they survive.

Well, Rick is making hot cereal for breakfast, That sounds wonderful this morning. I am then going to soak in a hot tub and try and get my muscles to relax before I do my exercises. Ta all

Long Day

What a long and tiring day. How come I can work for hours and am not as tired as sitting around waiting for Ricks tests to get finished and going to my doc. Just tuckered us out.

Rick got there at 10:30 and they started his first test at 11. He got the echo and a bubble study. It took 3 sticks to get his IV in which was a bummer for him. That took until 12. Then off for his MRI which was only around 25 min. and the carotid. I went with him for that. I don't know how to read them but in my inexpert opinion his vessels looked nice and open. He has some plaque but not bad. Unless part of it broke off. We probably won't get any results for about 3 days give or take, maybe never unless we call. This took us until 1 so we ran home and let Zoey out. Next my appointment.

They are not going to fix the carpel tunnel. It is mild so they think what they do to the tendon and cyst will help. I hope so because I do not want to have to turn around and go through this all over. First they told me if they gave me the steroid shot and it helped it would justify me having the carpel tunnel surgery for my insurance. Now they tell me since it helped how could they justify surgery for my insurance company. Sheesh. I tell you some times. I hear one thing one time and then something else the next time. I know one thing. If my carpel tunnel does flair up I am living with it. No more messing around with this stupid hand.

My surgery is still on the 29th at 8 am. I told them if anyone canceled before then to give me a call and I would go in their place. I am ready to just get it over with. Every since my PT yesterday when I hurt my shoulder stretching it has been very painful. I start back to work tomorrow with a painful hand and a painful shoulder and a 5 pound lifting limit. Should be fun. I am getting no relief from the tylenol but heat and ice help briefly. this will be the last stretch I work until I go back after surgery. I hope to survive it.

It is 9 below and it was so cold being out and about in this. Have I mentioned how much I love our heated seats, LOL. They heat up even before the van. I have a blanket I throw on my lap and my backside is toasty and warm.

Well, time for bed. I want to sleep as much as possible since I work tomorrow. Bye all until the next time. 13 days to go.

Iowa Mountains

I don't remember whats buried under that snow, I think the firepit. The snow just keeps on coming. We are expecting bitterly cold weather and blowing snow today. what fun.

Zoey of course still wants to go out and sniff around. Hurry dog hurry. It doesn't bother her at all.

Today Rick gets all his tests, I see my doc for my pre op visit and to see exactly what they will do. Should be a long long day.

Interesting facts

It takes your food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

One human hair can support 6 lbs.

The average man's penis is three times the length of his thumb.

Human thighbones are stronger than concrete.

A woman's heart beats faster than a man's.

There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.

Women blink twice as often as men.

The average person's skin weighs twice as much as the brain.

Your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself when you are standing still.

If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it.

Women reading this will be finished now.

Men who read this are still busy looking at their thumbs.

Smile

And the world smiles with ya......


The photo's aren't mine, but are just adorable. I felt like a adorable post today. Something to warm the heart since the cold - 3 weather outside isn't cutting it. And we get another blizzard like conditions with snow later today.


Don't ya just love a nice soft place to sit, LOL. We had a busy day so far. I got called early to see if I could go for my PT early. Fine with me, lets get it over with. Dressed and hit the great out doors to find - 6 degree weather. Burrrrr. Cold stuff.


PT went well but I was not having a huge amount of pain in my shoulder today until I did my therapy. One stretching exercise really hurt and I have been in more pain today then I have for a couple of days. I came home and have a warm pack on it now. Then I saw the doctor. We are going to try the therapy for another week and if no improvement I have to have another MRI. Gee, my favorite thing, NOT. So lets hope for a good week. I went off the celebrex as it was causing me stomach pains and nausea. I never felt any difference except that which is a bummer as my MIL said it was a miracle drug for her. Until it gave her blood clots in her legs that is.


Then I came home and worked on the short term disability forms. Finally called them and did all the paper work over the phone. Much easier. Last time I had my gall bladder, due to some mess up it was over a month before I got a check. Ouch, no income. So hopefully this works better.


Now I am just relaxing and tonight we are going to go out to eat with my youngest son. Texas Roadhouse. The prices are reasonable. He has been very low since the thing with losing his internet and they still haven't gotten it fixed. His roommate is staying away when Dan is awake so they haven't had a time to talk. Since they both work opposite shifts and have different days off they don't see each other often. Hope he gets it taken care of.


Tomorrow Rick gets all his tests. He absolutely has refused to take the plavix the Dr. ordered. He says if they see something on the tests he will think about it. He had such a bad experience with the coumadin that he is unbudgeable on the subject.

The drooping is gone for the most part now and he looks great. We still never head from them about the blood pressure medication. They were suppose to call yesterday and never did. Fine. We will get our tests for Rick tomorrow and then I am Doctor shopping. We know who we want to go to but I wonder. Can I go talk to them and tell them what I want from my doctor to make sure we are on the same wavelength? Do you know it has been over 2 years since I even saw my doctor. I always see someone else at the office, usually a PA which I don't mind but really. I want a doctor who knows me like in the good old days.

Well, I think I will have some tea and read for awhile. The typing one handed is going faster but still get tiresome. Ta all. Oh, check out The First Amendment blog. Some important things there. Very terrible things going on in the world. Pray for peace. Worldwide.