Quick Update

Sorry I haven't updated for a few days. I am starting to feel better. I have hardly any pain now but I just don't have any energy. My grandson and daughter have been great while I'm recuperating. Justin is a great cook (he worked in a restaurant for 2 years) so he has done all the cooking. I sent him to the store with a list and he even did the shopping for me! Stephany has been keeping the laundry done, kitchen cleaned, and is my errand girl if I need water, etc so I don't have to go up and down the stairs.

I'm still having a hard time sleeping because I have to either sleep on my left side or my back - neither of which are my preference! I would love to lay on my right side but that's going to be out for quite a while. So I'm awake every couple of hours and have even slept in the nice soft swivel rocker in my room with my feet propped on my office chair. It's actually quite comfortable.

I'm still on a low-fat diet but have many more choices now so that's been a treat. I even had beef one night for dinner - it tasted so good! I still have some issues with nausea each day but I'm sure that will go away in time too.

I think that's enough whining for now!! I'm ready to get completely back on my feet so I can get serious about job hunting. Thanks so much for all your prayers and notes!! Love you all!

Gall Bladder Surgery

Monday night about 11 my gall bladder said "enough is enough." I went to the ER, was admitted and had surgery last night at 6. I just got home from the hospital and am doing pretty good. I was lucky that the doctor was able to do laproscopic surgery so I only have 4 small incisions. My tummy is very sore and I'm not getting around very well. But I'm so glad that this is finally over and I'm home to sleep in my own bed tonight. And I'm able to eat solid food which tastes so good! Thank you to everyone who has been praying. I'll update again in a couple of days.

Love,
Kay

Sophie in a Box

From Dappled Shade to Nothing

See this sweet maple tree? This WAS the view out my dining room window. It had grown much since last summer when I took that picture. It came over more of the window and when the sun would come around in late afternoon, the little tree would provide dappled shade for my window. We also have a very large pine tree in the back yard with branches that hung very low.

This afternoon the lawn people came. I was laying down in my room and heard what sounded like a chain saw. I looked out to see them trimming the large pine tree. I was very happy because not only did the tree look too big for the yard, there were lots of spider in the low branches. We couldn't even enjoy the patio. They trimmed it way up and it really opened the space. Once the sawing stopped I drifted off to sleep.

When I got up from my nap I rushed outside to see the finished work. I looked over to the left and the little maple tree was gone!!! They had cut it completely down. I don't think that little tree was one that was planted on purpose because it was a bit too close to the fence. It was more like a wayward seed that got dropped and the tree grew. It still was ok in that spot and only needed a few branches trimmed. Now it's gone and the space looks so bare. But, since I rent, there is nothing much that I can do about it. I'll just try not to look over that way when I go outside.

I'm Done!

Classes are done!! I am so happy I could just bust!! I won't know the final grades for a couple of weeks but pretty sure I ended up with an A. Thank you so much to my angel benefactor for making this quarter's classes possible!!

Now I'm ready to have a life back which includes making some yummy Fall and Christmas soaps and bath products, maybe getting some sewing done (I'm in the mood to make pillows), finishing up a knitted prayer shawl and starting to learn needle punch embroidery. My dear friend Sher in KS got me the needle set and I have yet to use it. But the weather will be cooling off soon and I am ready to start punching! Plus it's time to start thinking about craft shows - my favorite time of year!

Of course I continue the job search - things are still not promising on that front. But I am praying that things will pick up soon for everyone who is looking for a job. My unemployment lasts until the 3rd week of November. If I don't have a job by then I guess I will be 100% self-employed!

Best of all - I'll have more time to read blogs and post on my blog. I truly am going to try and take more pictures to add. Photography is not my strong suit but pictures make a blog so much better. I've missed being able to "visit" my blog friends and will enjoy catching up.

New Sophie Pics

It's been a while since we've taken some new pics of Sophie. She's getting so big and was especially cute today. She decided that she loved the Walgreen's bag on my bedroom floor as a place to nap. The look she gave me was "just put the camera away and leave me alone."

After that she moved to Steph's bed and crawled inside the pillowcase! Silly girl! No getting away from the camera. We just followed her in there! It is just totally sickening how crazy we are about this kitten!

It's been a busy month of August around here what with helping with Grandma, getting Steph ready for school, and getting my school finished up. My last class is next Wednesday and I am so ready! I can't wait to do crafts again and make soap. Steph asked me the other day why I didn't make soap anymore. I told her I haven't had time.

The job interview that I had was postponed 3 times! Finally after the 3rd postponement I wasn't real encouraged with the doctor - seemed pretty unprofessional to me . Time to move on to something else. I have an interview on Monday with an employment agency in Portland. They have a position open in Vancouver. I know (at least I hope) this one will not get changed!

Grandma is doing so good and moved to the rehab facility last Sunday. I saw her yesterday and she was looking bright and chipper. God has been so amazing through this whole ordeal. Grandma has had very little pain and that is directly from the Lord! That's what we were praying for along with her speedy recovery. She is an amazing woman and surprises us all! Thank you all for your prayers!

Quilt Giveaway

Isn't this a gorgeous quilt??? You could win this handmade beauty. All you have to do is go to Marie-Madeline Studio to leave a comment. You can also find a button in my sidebar that will take you there. There are other ways you can earn entries too - posting on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. So head on over and enter your name!!

When It Rains

Grandma is doing much better! Steph and I spent the morning with her on Tuesday. When we arrived the physical therapist was getting Grandma up in a chair for a bit. We stayed until she had her lunch and then left. I could tell she was worn out and needed a nap! She may be going to the rehab facility tomorrow if her blood counts stay up.

About 6 yesterday evening I got a call from my mother-in-law. She and Don (the FIL) had been in a car accident! They were on the way to the hospital to see Grandma when their car tangled with another at an intersection. MIL was calling to tell me they were being transported by ambulance to the hospital - not the same one as Grandma unfortunately.

We hopped in the car and got to the hospital about the same time they did. Several x-rays and some CT scans later, we were able to take them home. They both had bruises from the seat belts but were otherwise ok. By the time we got home it was midnight.

This morning I got a phone call from the doctor I was to interview with. She had to postpone our appointment again! I am supposed to meet with her Thursday at 1:45 - the way things have been going I'm not going to hold my breath!

Enough of hospitals and enough of postponed appointments! At least the weather is blissfully cool.

Update on Grandma Jerry

Grandma is not doing so well today. Yesterday when we left her blood pressure was very low and they were going to give her a unit of blood.

When the doctor examined her this morning he determined that she is having some internal bleeding from the area where the metal rod was put in her thigh. She had been on Coumadin to prevent blood clots but they had to take her off that because of the bleeding. Her blood pressure and heart rate were very low this morning and she needed another unit of blood. Grandma refused at first because she was confused and thought she might die if she had the blood - she said that's what someone had told her. The doctor said no - that she needed it or she could have a heart attack because her bp and heart rate were so low.

She was doing a bit better late this afternoon and we're praying that the bleeding will stop. I'm not sure what the next step will be if it doesn't. Steph and I are going to the hospital in the morning so we can be there when the doctor comes in. We don't want her to be alone - I wasn't aware that no one had been with her all day until Steve's parents went to the hospital at 5 this afternoon! I was not happy about that at all.

We would sure appreciate it if you could remember Grandma in your prayers. I'll post an update tomorrow.

Hugs,
Kay

PS My job interview got postponed until Wednesday at 2!

Words of Wisdom

Sunday News

What a blessed Sunday - very busy but blessed! The only bummer is that the weather is still 95 degrees and supposed to be 90 tomorrow. I don't want any more hot weather. I seriously need a 70 degree, cloudy, drizzly day!! Looks like I won't get my wish until about Friday.

Yesterday my husband's 95 year old grandmother, Grandma Jerry, fell and broke the lower bone in her hip and her femur bone. This lady still lives in her own little apartment, cleans, cooks, and keeps house! She lives in a retirement center and was at the dining room getting a sandwich to take home to eat. She turned her foot the wrong way and fell flat on the floor. Grandma had surgery this morning at 8 and came through with flying colors. The doctor put a steel rod from her hip down to her knee. She was doing fine and resting comfortably when we left the hospital this afternoon. It's going to be a long recovery and there is a possibility that she may not be able to live alone anymore. But we've thought that twice before and Grandma proved us wrong.

At 5 am this morning I was having a serious talk with the Lord. I was praying for Grandma and many other people when I just felt so convicted. Like there was something that I needed to confess before I could continue praying for others. I asked God's forgiveness for my worry about my job situation and that I was trying to take the control away from him ( a constant problem that I have). Anyway, I gave it all up to Him. I said that whatever He had in mind for me, wherever He wanted me to be - I would follow and do it with my whole heart! If I still didn't have a job when my unemployment runs out in November that I was not going to worry because I knew that He would provide. I left all this at the foot of the cross and walked away.

While at the hospital waiting for Grandma to get out of surgery I got a phone call. At first I thought it was a prank call as the person said they were calling about a job that I had applied for. There are so many scammers out there that I get suspicious when I don't know the person. Not to mention that it is Sunday morning and you don't get many calls about a job on Sunday.

The call was from a doctor who wanted to speak with me about a resume I sent a month ago!! She is a pediatrician in Portland who is opening a holistic pediatric office! She will combine both kinds of medicine in order to treat kids the best way possible - focus being on natural medicine. We chatted for about 15 minutes and I have an interview tomorrow at 1! I am so excited. She wants to keep her practice on a very personal level and will only be seeing about 10 patients a day. That way she can really get to know her patients and their families.

It's exciting for me to just be able to talk to someone about a job - I've only had one other interview in the last 15 months. Just to have an interview is such a blessing! I don't know if the job will work out or not - God is in control of that. But at least I have an interview!! I will keep you posted on the outcome.

I hope your Sunday was blessed too!

Hugs,
Kay