"CALL 911 !!!!!", I SCREAMED

Well, we had quite a day here.. the story of what happened is at the bottom of this posting. This picture is of the firemen spraying a fire retardant on some smoldering leaves just behind our house.
5 trucks from 2 companies arrived.. this one pulled just behind our house.
This one was beside the house
And a 3rd one beside the house too.
You can see the side of our house here .. too close for anyone's comfort!


I didn't have time to grab a camera while the blaze was getting started, but this is the smokey aftermath ..Our neighbor's barn can be almost seen on the far left of the picture

It was just after 12 when Wendell went in to lie down for his nap. I took 2 small bags of papers out to burn in the burn barrel, and instead of standing with it as is my habit, I went back to the house to call my patients for Thursday's appointments. I had second thoughts, and decided to check the burn barrel out the back kitchen window. When I looked out, there was a lot of smoke- more than would come from 2 tiny bags of waste paper. I realized I'd have to put out a fire there, and then looked one more time...... it looked more extensive than first glance. I screamed for Wendell "I set the woods on fire!!!". And then I ran out the door and to the back of the house to the garden hose. Quickly I turned it on and realized in my haste, I couldn't find the end of it! Then there was no nozzle- I didn't have time to look for it, so I put my thumb over the end and started spraying the closest fires. I looked up and saw trees way back in the woods ablaze.. really burning hard. I screamed back to Wendell to "Call 911".. this is too much for a garden hose!.. He did, and 10 minutes later, the first of 5 trucks came in the driveway and back along side the woods. Problem was, there was not just one large fire, but hundreds of small ones with several large ones. I put out as much fire as I was able, and then left it to the wonderful Penn Twp and Middlesex Volunteer firemen. How I thank them for being there.
I prayed while I was alone in the woods with my measly garden hose.. and then when it was over, I thanked the Lord again for preserving homes and people. No damage to houses, nobody hurt at all. Thank the Lord for his mercy!

HE WILL BE

Just one more musical video for you.... again from Andie's Isle.. called HE WILL BE.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE

I wanted to share this with you. It is from a site called Andie's Isle. It's a music video called I Can Only Imagine.. take a look......

WORLD'S SMALLEST POLITICAL QUIZ

Amy sent this to me this morning..... very interesting.

World's Smallest Political Quiz
You'll be asked just 10 questions, and then it instantly tells you where you stand politically. It shows your position as a red dot on a "political map" so you'll see exactly where you score.The most interesting thing about the Quiz is that it goes beyond the Democrat, Republican, Independent. The Quiz has gotten a lot of praise. The Washington Post said it has "gained respect as a valid measure of a person's political leanings." The Fraser Institute said it's "a fast, fun, and accurate assessment of a person's overall political views.

http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

CORRIE TEN BOOM

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." - Corrie Ten Boom, author and Holocaust survivor

GOOD BYE LADY IN THE BLACK BOX!!

It is Tuesday, April 18, 2006. After almost 4 weeks, Wendell has been to see his PCP for a followup visit. All is well. He increased his insulin morning and evening again. He'll start it in the morning. The doctor also decided he didn't need the VNA monitor any more, and they were calling them to let them know today. Good bye lady in the black box..here's your hat, what's your hurry?.. hehehehe....... We should be done with it tomorrow! YIPPEE!
He can start making short trips any time he feels ready now. Hooray!!!
I came home tonite and heard the tv in the bedroom. I stopped to tell Wendell good night, and noted the oxygen wasn't on. He had his CPAP on and was trying to use it. He really needs to try to get used to that thing. It's not so bad....really. Next week he sees the Pulmonologist for a follow up visit. They will determine whether he has to keep his O2 or return it. They will be testing him in the office, so he has to prove himself able to go without it.
God is so good and has blessed us over and over. Keep praying that he will keep improving.
He needs to do more walking.. and needs encouraged to do so. It will be the key to returning to his old job at the park. The guys there are just waiting for the day.
So we have all good news to report this time.. More later..
Have a super duper day all.....and ........Keep praying!!!!!!!!

ASPARAGUS-AN EDUCATION

Asparagus- everything you ever wanted to know.
This site has everything.... recipes, nutrition status, and how to plant.. you name it.

AND SO THE SEASON BEGINS.......

Happy Day! I went out to the patch, and brought back a large overflowing handful of ASPARAGUS! Delightful!!!
We'll be having it for lunch today before I go to work.
And... so the season begins...

FEAST OF WEEKS -JUNE2

Shavuot, the Feast of the Weeks, is the Jewish holiday celebrating the harvest season in Israel.

Shavuot, which means "weeks", refers to the timing of the festival which is held exactly 7 weeks after Passover.
Shavuot also commemorates the anniversary of the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai.

The farmers of Israel would begin their spring harvests with the barley crop at Passover.
The harvest continued for seven weeks as the other crops and fruits began to ripen. As each fruit ripened, the first of each type would not be eaten but instead the farmer would tie a ribbon around the the branch. This ribbon signified that these fruits were Bikkurim, or the first fruits.

At Shavuot the farmers would gather the Bikkurim into baskets and bring them to the city of Jerusalem where they would be eaten in the holy city.

The farmers living close to Jerusalem would bring fresh fruits, while those who had to travel a long distance carried dried raisins and figs.

This joyful occasion was celebrated with the music of fifes, timbres, and drums. As the pilgrims approached the city walls they were greeted by the inhabitants of the city. Sometimes the King himself would join the procession to the Temple Mount.

The Bikkurim ritual is no longer practiced in present day Israel.

ALL ABOUT EGGS

Now, here's a good site that tells you everything you ever wanted to know about eggs and then some..... informative and recipes too.

NURSING

"Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11 NLT

Good morning ! It's 8am and time to rise and shine! Today is to be another beautiful one.
Too bad I have to work this afternoon, but I am thankful for gainful employment for so many years with the hospital- over 30 now. I can hardly believe it's been that long. It's been a good relationship all the way. My employer treats me well, and my direct supervisor, Melea, is wonderful and an excellent manager.
I have really enjoyed my employment over the years, but have never become 'close' to many there. There are a few with whom I do still keep contact- mostly from my OB days.
Nursing has changed so much since I first began, I really don't recognize it any more as the career I chose.
I wanted to teach Spanish. I took 4 years of it in high school and loved it. I would have been an exchange student, but couldn't afford it back then. When I graduated from high school, I tried to get into certain schools, but they were all filled, and no openings meant I had to get out and get work somewhere else till I could be accepted. In the mean time, our new neighbor talked me into attending nursing classes- and I was the last student in my class to be accepted on the day before classes began. At that point, I really had no interest much in nursing, but God was leading and I was doing what I thought might be of benefit to me - the education couldn't hurt; I could always have something to fall back on if my Spanish didn't pan out.
To make a long story short, I did take the state board exams, and RN follows my name.
I never went back to that dream of teaching Spanish. I can't remember much of it either, so don't ask.
My sister and older brother are/were teachers; I'm a nurse. It's paid off over the years.

Gotta get my day started....the lady in the box will be making her daily demand for Wendell soon, so ....... have a fabulous day and...... pray.

ASPARAGUS AND PUNCTUALITY

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." John 11:25

It's actually morning here. 12:30am. I just got home from the hospital. Slow night. I had 4 admissions that I never got to do anything with when I left. There is a night secretary, and she will be doing the honors.
I'm feeling more relaxed now after starting the day off on the wrong foot. Some days are like that- just can't seem to do anything right the first time, and then I have to redo, and I'm late with everything the rest of the day.
Growing up, we were fondly referred to as the "early Imms". My parents taught me to be punctual in everything. So I married into the "late Blairs" family. Thankfully, Wendell and I have been able to lean more toward my side of the family and should probably be known as the 'on time' Blairs. Of course, I'm punctual to a fault. I can't tolerate being late for anything.
I can remember telling Wendell's dad to be somewhere a half hour earlier than necessary, and then he'd be on time.
I never did get to the asparagus patch today. I'm so anxious to see whether it's coming through the ground yet. One of my favorite parts of spring is looking for it, waiting patiently for it to be big enough to snap off and make a meal for Wendell and me. Asparagus is not something one is born to love. You have to develop a taste for it. I had to work hard to get Wendell to even try fresh asparagus, but he did (loaded with melted cheese), and now he's a fan. We taught most of our children to eat it that way, and then slowly reduced the amount of cheese till we now eat it with just a little salt or seasoning. Yummy stuff!
My mother loved it too, and she did a lot of the harvesting when she was able a few years back. One day she'd keep the harvest and the next time she'd pass it to us. By the end of summer, we had bags of fresh asparagus everywhere in the refrigerator, and couldn't use it all.
We pick it every other day.
Mum told the story of her first experience with cooking it. Dad had enjoyed it all his life, but though Mum knew what it was, she didn't have a clue how to cook it. But she was up to the challenge. She cut off those tips and threw them away and cooked the stalks till she thought they were tender enough. Dad was horrified. I have to laugh just thinking about what it must have been like.
So he taught her how to prepare it properly. You don't cut it, you snap it on the stem. It'll break at the most tender point. And, of course, you keep the tips and cook them, not the tough stringy stalks. It's a totally different flavor and texture than canned.
I planted my patch about around 1980 or so. It was on the edge of the field corn Wendell's dad had planted. Every year we picked it a little longer, till now we can pick it all summer and not damage the roots at all. In the fall, we let it go to seed. It has such beautiful ferns, and then in the next spring, we mow it off and wait.
Later today I'll post about Wendell's office visit . It's his first follow up with his PCP. He will likely let him drive short distances now. We'll see.

GLORIOUS MORNING

"But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again. "
1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT

It really is a glorious day. I got to thinking about what JJ commented in my Easter post a few days ago. This is the only time besides Christmas that some unsaved may hear the gospel message.. so it isn't so bad to push these holidays. Who knows? This could be the day one person may hear the Word and accept Christ and follow Him.
The thing that really annoys me is the commercialization of it all, and mixing Christ's resurrection with chocolate bunnies and colored eggs- no sense in any of it really.
See this site for Easter traditions


Wendell is doing well. Vital signs are good, and the blood sugars are all within the target range of 80-140 nearly all the time now. AMEN.
He's healing quickly.

I'm running late today. I was overtime last evening due to late admissions at the hospital, and am lacking some sleep. But today I return again to do it all over.
Since December, I still have a requirement for extra sleep- you heal while you sleep- and I'm still healing. I notice lately that I don't have to hang onto walls to go down the stairs much any more. That's a good thing. It shows that healing has been taking place.
But I also note a change in my vision, so I will be checking in with the eye doctor soon. I suppose I'll need new glasses- UGH! Just what we don't need right now.

Have a grand and glorious day everyone.. Gotta check my asparagus patch.. Pray without ceasing !!!

ASPARAGUS PARMESAN

Asparagus Parmesan
This simple and delicious preparation for spring asparagus makes the perfect sidekick for roast chicken or grilled salmon.

Ingredients1/2 pound fresh asparagus (6 to 10 spears)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (go easy on it- adds fat and sodium)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Trim the ends of the asparagus, about 1 inch or so from the bottom.
Place asparagus in a 2-quart microwaveable casserole dish with about 1/4 cup water.
Cover tightly with plastic wrap and cook in microwave, 10 to 12 minutes, or until tender to taste. Carefully remove plastic (steam will be very hot) and drain.

2. Gently toss the asparagus with olive oil to coat;
sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and pepper.
Cook, uncovered, 1 minute to melt cheese.
Let stand 2 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information
124 calories
9 g total fat (2 g saturated)
5 mg cholesterol
5 g carbohydrate
2 g fiber
5 g protein
125 mg sodium

BOUNCE

BOUNCE...the stuff you use in your dryer:
Repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season.
Eliminates static electricity from your television screen. Since Bounce is designed to help eliminate static cling, wipe your television screen with a used sheet of Bounce to keep dust from resettling. (I've tried this, but still get a lot of static dust)
Dissolves soap scum from shower doors. Clean with a used sheet of Bounce.
Freshens the air in your home. Place an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang one in the closet. (I tried this too.... works great!)
Prevents thread from tangling. Run a threaded needle through a sheet of Bounce to eliminate the static cling on the thread before sewing.
Eliminates static cling from pantyhose. Rub a damp, used sheet of Bounce over the hose. (Yep)
Prevents musty suitcases. Place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing. (I actually do this and it's wonderful)
Freshens the air in your car. Place a sheet of Bounce under the front seat. (tried and true)
Cleans baked-on food from a cooking pan. Put a sheet in the pan, fill with water, let sit overnight, and sponge clean. The anti-static agents apparently weaken the bond between the food and the pan while the fabric softening agents soften the baked-on food.
Eliminates odors in wastebaskets. Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket. (I'll be putting one in my garbage can in the morning)
Collects cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
Eliminates static electricity from venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet of Bounce to prevent dust from resetting.
Deodorizes shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet of Bounce in your shoes or sneakers overnight so they'll smell great in the morning. (OH, yeah!)

ISAIAH 53

4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
ISAIAH 53

APRIL 15, ANOTHER DATE OF NOTE

Ah, yes.. today is the last day to file income taxes. I sent ours yesterday. Most will have to wait for their money. Not a problem...... been there.......done that.

Good morning all.. ready for a new day? Me too! Yesterday was so soggy, but today promises to be a more pleasant one- note: even Charlie's chickens are crowing with vigor today.

Today I'll be at the hospital working and Wendell will be 'on his own' again this evening. He's doing well with it as long as I have things set up for him generally.. and with a 'list' of course. How could we live without our 'lists'? I noticed yesterday that when we first started out on the diabetic diet that I had been very detailed on exact measurements and what and when we would do each meal/task for the day. As each day has gone by, a little less information has appeared on each page, till last week it contained just the foods and not the amounts needed. Last evening, I noted that I'm only marking the general topics- "meds, blood sugars before meals and snack, and the page was empty of the list of foods we would eat for the day. This is progress. It means we can plan our meals and needs without writing everything down now.

The local grandkids are ailing with strep throats and perhaps their mom too. 48 hours of quarantine seems like a lifetime sometimes- especially on my days off. I had considered taking Wendell for a visit or having them come here on Friday, but , alas...
My friend Sandi sent a box of craft stuff this week for them to enjoy.. well, me too... and we shall do so in the next week or so.. Thanks, Sandi!!! I'll post some pictures when we do our party.. Sorry Sandi can't be here to help and enjoy the festivities.

Gotta get started on the day.. Enjoy it to the fullest.. SPRING IS HERE!!! and...........
Keep praying !!!

BEING THANKFUL

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. " Colossians 3:17

Someone once asked me what my favorite day of the year was.. my reply was.....
"hmmmm... I think any day I wake up- 'Oh, I'm still here ... thank you, Lord' "
There are times when I go through the day and it just seems like one mundane task after another. Nothing exciting going on to raise my adrenalin, nothing to write about. These are the days when I have to think about things for which I'm thankful. I'm so human. Imagine having to actually think about it or put any effort into it.
I fail to consider that even my very life here on Earth is a gift from God and that I need to be thankful for this every day- which I am, but perhaps not verbally. In prayer each day I thank the Lord for all the gifts He has given me- and too, I acknowledge that none of the 'things' of this life belong to me , but are only on loan from Him while I'm here visiting this world. God gives good gifts to His own and others, but each gift is different for each one. My home does not look like yours, but it has the same love and warmth as yours. My clothes cover me modestly, and yours do too, but they aren't the same clothes.. these physical gifts are from God, and one day we will have no use for any of them when we finally reach our ultimate destination- heaven.
Spiritual gifts - the 'fruits of the spirit'.. love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. These gifts present evidence that the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. Most of the time I don't even think about them, but they are present.
I do thank the Lord for them.
With Easter coming tomorrow, I have been reminded more frequently of the ultimate gift God has given, His only Son.. so that I can live in eternity in heaven and not hell. Now when I think about it, I want to shout "HE'S ALIVE !!!" and come to the realization that my day, as mundane as it might be, is not that at all, because God is at work in me because His Son IS alive. Well, that's pretty exciting ! If nothing else comes to mind for which to be thankful, I can praise God and say THANK YOU for Your Son..

FREAKY FRIDAY

Yes, really.. it is.. Have you all looked at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette for today? Or the Tribune? Uh-huh.. seems there is an someone by my daughter's name who pleaded guilty to a homicide.. and the freakier part is that she is from UPPER BURRELL !! Hitting home pretty close, I'd say..

SIBLINGS

This is baby Wendell and his siblings.
Mary, Joy, and Jim. Wendell looks pretty young,
so must be 1944

APRIL 14, ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

This is my older brother Bill. It's his birthday today.
Happy birthday big brother.....

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS.........

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable." Isaiah 40:28

It's Friday. It has been raining all night, and my joints ache- all of them. Wendell says he's sore too. UGH. I didn't want to get up this morning, but the lady in the black box was calling, and so Wendell and I comply. Vital signs are stable and blood sugar is normal.
I'm so glad I am not scheduled to work today- it's a rare Friday that I don't work at the hospital.
I'm probably more weary today than I have been for a while. I'm sure the rain has a lot to do with it. Even Charlie's roosters aren't anxious to crow this morning, and their efforts are only slightly better than miserable.

This would be Good Friday- the commemoration of the death of our Lord Jesus, who also was raised from the dead on Easter morning. Awesome. I have to work this weekend. I wish we were able to be in church Sabbath- it's Easter, and though I have my own feelings about celebrating Easter every day of my life and not on just one day a year, there is also the need to be there and be a part of the worship service. It feels like we've been away for months, and we both miss it. I suppose we'll be asked to sign the guest book when we finally get back next week.
Have a wonderful day.. look beyond the rain.. Keep praying!

SORE BACK AND TIRED FEET

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." I Chronicles 16:34
Everything is status quo. Nothing much to report today. I was working in the office when I got a call from VNA- Wendell had gained 3# and his oxygen saturation was only 89% and was he short of breath? Should they send a nurse? Well, first of all, as I explained to the nurse, Wendell was home alone at 9am and he probably didn't stand directly on the scales- maybe trying to bend back to look at the reading?? And secondly, he can't bend over to put the O2 sensor on his toe, so very likely it was on a finger and he just gets low readings on the finger. "Oh", she said. I told her if Wendell was short of breath, he knows my cell number and he'd have called or just put the oxygen on himself. "Oh" .. again, she said. So, when I got home, he was sitting up watching the news and just fine all day.
It was a long and busy day at the office.. pleasant and cheerful patients who just make my day.
But tonite as usual, I'm tired. I'll try to sleep in till at least 9am tomorrow.
Supper is about ready.. tilapia again tonite... we really LOVE that fish! Tossed salad, potato wedges and asparagus round out the meal, with fruit salad on the side.
Yummy!
I have many things to be thankful for .. a mending husband, food on the table, and some pretty fantastic children who know how to make my day. God bless them all.

WE NEED TO TRY THIS AGAIN..

This is one of my favorite 'crafts' .. candy houses! This particular one was 6 yrs ago.
I may start a blog with pictures for as many interesting ones I have. (thousands, literally)

This one is a log cabin. The chimney is caramels.... tough to unwrap all those candies!

DAD AND MOM IMM

I wanted to put this picture on for Mom and Dad's anniversary- 69 years on April 10 this year.
I finally found it. It's a favorite for all of us I think.
It was taken in 1973 at Emlenton- the occasion?
Dieter and Annabelle's wedding!

ONE MORE PICTURE FOR THE BIRTHDAY BOY

1971- This was taken at the Manchester Church on the day you were baptised by Rev Fullerton.
That's Grampa Blair sitting beside me holding you.

PAUL 2 1972

HEY!! I FOUND ONE!!!

LOOKING THROUGH OLD PHOTOS

I found this one of JJ and a cow taken at the Pittsburgh Zoo. She STILL milks cows at her cousin's dairy farm!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL II

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL
AND MANY MORE.....
I can still remember the day you were born. It was hours upon hours of labor- and then the forceps delivery. You were pretty banged up.
April 12, 1971 7# 12oz and 21"..
You had straight jet black hair that the nurses tried to wet and comb over- but it would dry and stand straight out anyway! Your Grampa Blair was so pleased to know that you were named Paul II after him.
Wish I had your baby picture to put here, but I don't at the moment.

WELCOME TO WEDNESDAY

"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5

It's now noon. It's been a busy morning.. for the time I've been up. Wendell woke me up at 8:45am so I could jot down the morning vital signs from the VNA monitor. I grabbed a quick cup of instant coffee and settled down to wait for the signal.........GOOD MORNING! PLEASE! STEP ON THE SCALES!!! UGH.
He said the VNA nurse had called and would be here by 9:30am......UGH. She did come and told us we'd have to have the bedside monitor till given the word by his PCP to remove it.
So, we have another week of monitoring to go yet. By the way, his blood sugars are in the target range 3 out of 4 times every day. Good for you, Wendell!

I managed to get washed and dressed and the dishes in the dishwasher before the nurse came.
While she was here, I started my own patient reminder calls for the office tomorrow.
I just finished, and now just have paper work to complete.

Today is the last day for our car insurance premium. We do get 10 days of 'grace', so we are trusting that the Lord will provide the amount due before then. It's hard to function on just my wages. Most of what I earn at the hospital is tied up in my car payment and medical insurance benefits. It's all about trust and faith and focusing on the Lord to provide our needs as they come.

It's a beautiful spring day here in Butler. The sun is shining, and Charlie's roosters are crowing their hearts out! The day promises to be a warm one, so we'll be taking a walk perhaps after lunch.

That's about it...... more later perhaps....... keep praying!!!

IT'S 3AM

"Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth." Psalm 54:2

It's 3:30am. I have slept approximately 2 hours. No, I don't have any pain, nor do I have a good reason for being awake, but I am. Fortunately for me, I'm not gainfully employed today, and so am not concerned as much with sleep tonite.
Perhaps it's the sounds of the night that keep me awake- or the absence of them. New sounds in our home make me feel uncomfortable sometimes- the sound of the rhythmic hiss and pft! of the oxygen generator in the hallway for one. Or perhaps I just didn't 'wind down' from my busy evening at the hospital. Or perhaps it was just my C-PAP mask that wants to leak and wakes me frequently- that's probably it.
Yes, I'm tired and feel a bit weary. I have much to accomplish today.

As long as I'm here, I'll update on Wendell. He's doing very well. Yesterday he didn't feel much like walking, so he didn't, but I'll see that we walk today. Each day he's a little stronger.
We should hear from the VNA nurse today and she should remove the monitor that demands our undivided attention at 9am sharp every morning- at least I hope so- he still is using the oxygen at night, and they may want to continue monitoring him? I don't know.. don't see why they need to.
His incisions are looking more like scars now, and healing well.

I've lost 11 pounds. This week has been a lot slower for me weight-wise, but I stick to the diet just like Wendell does. The scales yesterday showed a 3# weight gain for him, but there is no way that can be correct.

I'm feeling a bit more weary..... better head back to bed.

TO THE IRS

I wish I had a sign like this one

HARLEY CHICKS

I love this one too......Harley Chicks......

TIME

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven." Ecclesiates 3:1

Uh-oh......it's ESSAY TIME again !!

"TIME'S UP !!!"
"OH, NO! I'M NOT DONE YET! I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME!"

Familiar? Yep.. that's me, I never seem to have enough time. Sometimes I wish for just a little more so I can spend it doing something I really like. But- I'm "wasting my time" thinking this way. No one can add or subtract an hour from a day.
I have so many time saving tools, I wonder if I could take all the time I've saved, and put it in an account somewhere?
"I'd like to deposit 2 hours to my account, please."..
Well, time IS like money in a way. Spent well, it can be very profitable. Spent poorly, one can really lose badly in the end. I think I'm in the middle- I tend to waste time, but the time I use well tends to make up for the time I waste.
We are all regulated by time and the consequences for not abiding by it. Without time schedules, everyone and everything would be in chaos.
Imagine everyone arriving at work whenever they pleased- perhaps a whole office would show up at 2pm, and no one in the morning? Or students arriving at school at arbitrary times could stay for 48 hours and have a long weekend- but the time would be wasted after the first 8 hours there. No one would learn anything.
We can't take back time or turn back the clock to another day or time to recoup our losses.
Eternity is time without end- a different kind of time- No clocks, no minutes, hours or seconds.
God works by that time. From the beginning to eternity, His time is unending.

A QUICK POST THIS MORNING

" You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. " Psalm 16:11

Just a quick note here.... I'm pressed for time and have to work again today at the hospital.
All is well.. Wendell took a walk on his own yesterday (no oxygen tank). He walked all the way to the mailbox and back without difficulty. It was the first thing he told me this morning. I sensed he felt quite proud of himself in that endeavor. We'll see how far he goes today.

RATS! The new coffee pot blew up! We are using instant for the time being, with/without caffeine. It's a bear. Mandy brought us John's ice tea maker, so we are enjoying fresh decaf iced tea daily.

Not much news here.. have a glorious day.... Keep praying!

PART 3 JIMINI MEETS CHARMIN

Jimini had a toy mouse.. I think that's how it went.. Charmin coveted it, and took it up to Mandy's room and hid it on her bed...
This is actually the first picture from the booklet...... where Jimini and Charmin meet.
A little out of order, but I'm having a time finding the pages from the booklet.. I may have to scan them all again!

PART 2..... BOOGER AND JIMINI

Of course, when Booger arrived, she was totally a wreck. She was old when we got her, and spent the first months of her life living in Mandy's closet. Her choice, not ours.
She also had confrontations with Jimini.. he thought she was beautiful, and she couldn't be bothered..

JIMINI & CHARMIN

Remember when we put a bunch of sketches together about Charmin and Jimini and then Booger?
The introduction to our book(let) went something like this:
"Jimini is a young docile black male with a white chest, white front paws, and white back legs that make him look like he's wearing high top tennis shoes.
His front paws are declawed since birth, and he is neutered. His favorite pasttime is playing with everyone and anyone who shows him the least bit of attention. He is owned by JJ who loves him dearly and has spoiled him in the short time he has been with her.
Charmin is an old, chubby, totally white female cat who is gruff and has no sense of humor whatever. She would bite the hand that reached out to pet her as quick as a wink. On occasion, she will play, but she prefers basking lazily on a warm bed in sunlight to making friends. She is owned by Amanda Blair who has spoiled her rotten in the last few years.
When JJ brings Jimini to visit, there is always a confrontation between the two cats. At first Charmin hissed and tried to scratch Jimini, but he thought she was playing and tried to imitate her.
He still tries to play with her, but she is reluctant to give the time of day at this point, and tries to walk away.. Jimini creeps up behind her and gives her a good swat with his declawed paw on her chubby behind, which infuriates her. But rather than be admonished by anyone who might see her attacking him directly, she runs frantically up the stairs and sulks on Amanda's bed.
When Jimini goes home, she shows her lonely side..... she wanders all over the house for hours searching for him. Perhaps she thinks she can just creep up behind him for a good swat, or maybe she is just protective.. if she could only speak...."

TRIVIA QUESTION

What event took place on today's date.. see comments for answer.. No peeking till you guess!

THEREFORE MY HEART IS GLAD...

"8 I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand" . Psalm 16: 8-11

I love the Psalms. They can meet about any occasion in my life with a message. There are Psalms that support me when I grieve, when I'm happy and just want to praise God for all the blessings He gives to me, or just to read to raise my spirits when I feel low. When I'm in trouble, there is comfort and reassurance in the Psalms.
We sing the Psalms (as was meant to be done) and in singing them over the decades, the words have been bound to my heart so that I can bring them to mind in most any situation.

Good morning! Hope your day is a bright and cheery one. It should be in the low 60s today- ahhhhhh......SPRING HAS SPRUNG !!!!!!
Yesterday was a relaxing one for the most part. Wendell and I took a walk outside. Each time he walks, there is improvement- a little farther each time, a little longer walk time-wise too.
Yesterday he opted for not 'wearing' the oxygen, but carrying it with us as he walked. No shortness of breath noted. Now, THAT'S an improvement. We walk slowly, no power walking here, but each step strengthens the muscles that will enable him to return to his job in another 9 weeks and in 2 weeks, we'll be making the trip to church again, Lord willing.
He was tired after the walk, and spent the rest of the afternoon napping and restoring his energy.

Today and tomorrw I'll be working at the hospital in the afternoon. Wendell will be on his own during that time. I haven't asked anyone to come to stay with him, but he'll be able to manage alone for an evening or two.

Amy isn't feeling well - fever, aching, etc.. add her to your prayer list, if you would. She has the kids to care for and home-school. They might just have to take a sick day today. Paul is to be working and she'll need a lot of strength to get through today.

I talked to Nicki last evening- she promises pictures as soon as they get to Brendon's house.
She's headed for Chicago again for continuing treatment. Uphold her with prayer too, please.

Last evening Mandy said she and John have finally set a date for their wedding ceremony. It'll be May 5. They are taking the following week off for a honeymoon up near where Valentines live. We are so happy and delighted for them- please remember them with prayer also.

That's the news for today.... gonna be a busy week again- keep praying!

TRADITIONS

The story is told about the lady who always cut off the end of the roast because her mother did. One day she asked her why - and her mother said because HER mother had. So the woman called Grandma to find out why SHE cut off the end of the roast and Grandma said - "because it wouldn't fit in my pan"!!!

Well, here I go again- it's another essay, I'm afraid, and this time it involves TRADITIONS.
I got to thinking about my previous post about Easter, and then began thinking of all the traditions we hold in our family.
The dictionary defines traditions as an inherited pattern of thought or action.
Passing elements of our culture down through generations.
The thesaurus gives us the synonyms- custom, practice, habit, institution.

When I think of traditions, the first thing that comes to mind is Dad. Every Christmas one of us would wrap up a very conspicuous looking package with a claw hammer inside. Dad was always losing hammers, so this was a very useful gift for him and he always appreciated them. It was after he died that we realized that there should have been 12-15 or more hammers in his shop, but only a couple could be located.
Speaking of Christmas, we have always had the usual traditions for that time of year. The Christmas tree (live or artificial) with colored lights, pretty balls, candy canes, and tinsel. It was Dad's habit, when we were growing up, to wait until Christmas Eve and then bring a tree home and decorate it while we slept. The tree stayed up at least till New Years Day, and then discarded or burned.
We always had a big meal for Christmas dinner. Dad did the bulk of the cooking for those meals- he was a fabulous cook.
Each year a few weeks before Christmas, Mom would select cards to send to all the friends and family. She did that for years until postage got so high that she couldn't afford to continue. So only the folks far away and ones she hadn't seen for a long while got the cards thereafter- and with a letter or note inside. This is now a tradition that I also keep.
It seems like that time of year, though a really happy time, also brings me winter blahs, and so I dig into the VCR tapes and pull out National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. By the middle of the movie, though I've seen it dozens of times, the tears are streaming down my cheeks and my sides are splitting from laughing so hard.. this is a personal tradition for me in the making.
One last note on Christmas traditions- I LOVE Keith's family's tradition with the Ugly Ornament Contest. I'll let him tell about it- if he will leave a comment, please?

Most of our traditions involve holidays, so I'll look at them one by one.
Thanksgiving seems to have a lot of tradition connected to it. The turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. It's always a family get together, and it varies with which family is holding the big meal. As a child, I remember that the wishbone was always removed, and later, when it dried out, we'd "break the wishbone"..the one who got the biggest part got his/her wish.. silly.
We always watched the Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was a real thrill for us as kids, and to this day, I love catching a glimpse of it. When Wendell and I lived in Texas, we joined Uncle John and Aunt Johnnye for their traditional Thanksgiving feast- turkey with corn bread stuffin' and black eyed peas.
Of course it is also traditional for the guys especially to sit down after eating and watch football. Wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it.
The day after Thanksgiving is the official opening of the Christmas season shopping. I have never done that.. too many crowds. It was always tradition, however, to attend the annual Presbytery Psalm Sing. We loved that one, and though it's now on the NY schedule, we still go when we can.
The Monday after Thanksgiving was when deer season began.... Wendell and his brothers were deer hunters and they even took off school to go hunting that day.

July 4, Labor Day and Memorial days were always days we had big picnics. The cuisine was always the same- hot dogs and hamburgers and sometimes chicken. Great fun- we still do this.

New Years Day- now talk about tradition. I don't think there is one day that I can honestly say I ate one certain food year after year on the same day (other than turkey on TG day)..and that would be sauerkraut and pork on New Years Day. It was tradition for my parents and is tradition for us today. Perhaps I should rescind that remark, as I remember in Texas again having smoked turkey and black eyed peas..... they sure did love those peas!

Halloween... we had a LOT of fun on that day. When I was growing up, it was the best time of year. We'd put on old oversized clothes and big ugly boots and top it with a big dumb hat, and with a simple face mask over our eyes, would go out in the evening for several hours on several nights a week to seek 'trick or treat' from the community where we lived. Nah, we were too naive to do any REAL tricks...... though the older kids soaped windows and papered houses and cars.. It was a fun time, and you didn't have to be concerned that someone would poison an apple or put a razor blade in a candy bar. Today it's more dangerous. There are a lot of ugly people out there trying to hurt innocent children. As my own children were growing up, I went with them to certain homes I thought were safe- but then I checked every morsel they brought home looking for anything unusual. My children were limited to an hour on one night designated as Trick or Treat night by the township. Today, our grandkids want factory made costumes that are really quite expensive by times.. and then they have one night to go out for one hour usually, and they are taken only to homes where the occupants are well known. It's getting more dangerous all the time.
I think this tradition has lost it's value for fun and look to a time when it'll be illegal to do so.

Easter.....I know I let my views be known in another post... but I wanted to mention that even though I don't approve of the holiday as a religious experience, I DO love some of the tradition around it. Coloring eggs has always fascinated me. I love to do it any time, but try to find the egg colors in a store any other time. One year I stocked up on the colors, but for the most part, we didn't use them because my schedule wouldn't permit... (that's my story and I'm stickin' to it !)

Birthdays and anniversaries offer more tradition. We celebrate our family's birthdays with a cake with candles and small gift. Usually we can't afford much more and I can't remember the last card I sent for a birthday, though if you look on one of my notorious 'lists', you'll find names scribbled in so I don't forget them. Actually, we have no real traditions for anniversaries that I can think of.

In considering all the traditions, there is another area of interest to me, and that is the tradition of attending the worship service. Some attend just because their grandparents and parents attended.. so they also attend. It is the 'thing to do'. They have no real and/or deep committment to God or his Word, and are known as 'Generational Christians'. They attend regularly, receive the sacraments, participate in the social events, and even live a good life, but their zeal for the advancement of the Kingdom of God is relatively non-existant. They are neither hot nor cold. They know the scriptures, but have never been fully dependent on Christ.
Their prayer life, other than in church or at meals because traditionally the parents instructed in that fashion, remains formal, impersonal, and otherwise non-existant.
By times they live under the shadow of their Christian parents, perhaps even unaware that they are not committed to Christ, nor do they know him as their personal savior.
Here is what scripture says about them:
"So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. " Rev 3:16
Not a pretty picture.
This sounds like a pretty negative tradition, but think about your own circumstances.. is this YOU? Are you attending because it's expected and your parents took you to church? Or is it because of your deep love for Christ, the desire to worship Him and give him all the glory?

I know there has to be a lot more traditions... maybe you'd like to leave a comment and tell us all about YOUR traditions or maybe even one you'd like to get started?
Post on bloggers!!!

THE NEWS FROM LAKE WOEBEGONE

We used to listen to Garrison Keillor on the radio- A Prairie Home Companion- oh, such a droll humor. Sometimes it took me a few seconds to catch the punch lines, but I laughed uproariously after.
Here is the site where you can find some of his monologues.. they are funnier in the audio version, but they still make me laugh.
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/features/deskofgk/2005/old_scout/

GENEALOGY SITES I LOVE

There are so many good genealogy sites.. this is one of my favorites, and one I've been able to send information to. It's local cemeteries. Browse if you wish-
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~njm1/tombs.htm

This is another good one- Butler County genealogy
http://www.rootsweb.com/~pabutle2/

GRACE AND PEACE TO YOU

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". I Corinthians 1:3

It's a peaceful day here aside from the morning monitor demanding that Wendell weigh himself. Breakfast is over- moving right along into the day. The sun is shining and the world seems so full of life. It was 27 degrees this morning, but the promise of the local weather forecaster is a beautiful day. Tulips are starting to poke their heads up out of the ground, and daffodils too. Oh, how I love spring! - everything green- everything new again!

Wendell's weight is staying the same today- mine too for 2 days. His blood sugars stayed under 200 all day yesterday, and he's starting out with a 116 this morning.
The C-PAP yesterday was okay- not great, but just okay. He's trying. It sometimes takes time to get used to wearing a face mask blowing air at you while you try to sleep. He will attempt again today.

Amy let me know last evening that little P3 accidently touched a heater in the garage and now has a blister or two on his hand. He was pretty upset. Poor guy. These things happen, and it's all a part of growing up- I'd wager he'll not get too close to that heater again.
I hope you feel better today , P3 !

I got an email from my sister in law Mary Lou, to let us know that her brother Ed had passed away yesterday. So very sorry to hear the sad news. Our prayers to comfort you and your family are on the way. Only He can give that peace in a time when you are feeling such a loss.

When it gets a little warmer this afternoon, Wendell and I will take a little stroll outside. He tries to go out every day, but some days it's rainy or just too cold. Gotta get the muscles built up and that includes the heart muscle. Walking is THE ULTIMATE exercise for that, and it'll do us both good. (Maybe I should locate a couple potato sacks for him too??)

Easter is next Sunday. This would be Palm Sunday today. We don't celebrate Easter per se, or as the rest of the world does. I grew up with my Easter basket and corsages, and new dress for church. My children didn't get much of that. I'd changed my opinion of the 'holiday'.. it is so mercenary and leaves one bewildered and unfocused. Instead, we celebrate Christ's resurrection every day of the year. We are given the gift of eternal life if we just believe what is written in the scriptures- that Jesus died and was raised from the dead, and those who believe will have life eternally. Oh, how wonderful this Good News is for all of us!
I know I'm going to hear about how deprived my children all felt growing up when I refused to give them an Easter Basket. Well, it is sort of like Christmas- If I told you when you were small that there was a Santa, you would have been disappointed later to know that the person doesn't exist- it would have been a lie; and if I told you then that there was an Easter Bunny that brought you a basket of goodies, you would later have been disappointed to find out otherwise also- yet another lie. And then if I told you that there was a man who died and was raised from the dead.... you would likely NOT have believed me since I told you the other 'lies'.. or perhaps doubted in your mind. It was not a seed I wanted to plant. Yes, I hear you.."but Mom, it didn't make YOU an unbeliever".. that's grace.
I become horrified when I hear about children taking their Easter Baskets to have the minister/priest bless them... what is this? It's certainly not scriptural. Worldly Easter traditions have permeated our sancturaries.. the focus is NOT on Christ, but on chocolate bunnies and baskets of other confections!
I'll get off my soapbox now.

Have a super duper day, everyone.......Keep Praying!

PITTSBURGH DIGITAL LIBRARY

http://digital.library.pitt.edu/

For those interested in history of Pittsburgh, or genealogy buffs, try this site. It's a good one!

EXERCISES

I came across this exercise suggested for seniors, to build muscle strength in the arms and shoulders. It seems so easy, so I thought I'd pass it on. The article suggested doing it three days a week.
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.
With a 5-lb. potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides, and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax. Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb. potato sacks. Then 50-lb. potato sacks, and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb. potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.
Once you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.

ALL IS WELL.......

"The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will exalt Him" Exodus 15:2

It's Saturday. All is well at our house. Paul2, Paul3, and Drew have already taken one load of scrap, and will return for another to finish for today. The sun is shining, and though it's a tad chilly, it's just a glorious day.

Wendell has lost another half pound, bringing him to a total of 15 lost. He spent last evening fairly much alone, though JJ stopped in to visit. It was his first real solo to see how he'd do by himself- he had a 'list' ..how could anything go wrong?
He did very well. Today I'll be hooking up his C-PAP for his nap. One step at a time, one day at a time.

Have a fabulous day everyone.......and ........ keep praying!

BRENDON

Welcome Brendon! We are so glad you arrived safely. All the family has been wondering about what you looked like. You certainly are as cute as they said.

LISTS

My life revolves around lists, my days are regimented by them. I used to remember thngs easily, but as I get older, "lists" have moved into the space in my brain once occupied by "memory". Wendell can become annoyed with me for all my lists, for most of the time, I can't locate them when I need them. Even this posting is a list of lists. I'm sure you can associate and probablly add your own categories.
THE GROCERY LIST-
Who doesn't make one? I carefully write down all the things we will need in the next few days, and then when I go to the grocery, it usually remains on the table where I left it at home.

THE PHARMACY LIST-
Many times this one is just in my head. It involves keeping track of prescriptions so we don't run out of the critical ones .. like insulin. It hasn't ever happened, but without the list, who knows what could have happened?

THE 'THINGS TO DO' LIST-
This one gives me a general idea of what I need to accomplish in the near future- like sweeping the floors, cleaning off the table, washing dishes, laundry, and of course, making a new grocery list. This one gathers a lot of dust, as I don't seem to get many things done on the 'list'. One might also call it the "GUILT LIST".

THE APPOINTMENT LIST-
Also known as my pocket calendar. It also includes the BIRTHDAY LIST, THE ANNIVERSARY LIST, as well as THE DOCTOR APPOINTMENT LIST, my WORK SCHEDULE, and THE VNA NURSE APPOINTMENT LIST. Within the VNA LIST, they have included for my amusement, the DAILY BLOOD GLUCOSE LIST and THE DAILY WEIGHT AND VITAL SIGN LIST. Just to make things more interesting, the VNA dietitian has added a few of her own: THE DIABETIC EXCHANGE LIST OF FOODS, THE WHERE AND HOW TO EAT AT A RESTAURANT LIST, and the ever popular FROZEN DINNER LIST of meals safe for Wendell to consume.

THE BILLS DUE LIST-
This list , which lately has become known as THE OVERDUE BILLS LIST, keeps coming to the surface no matter how often I try to bury it underneath the other lists.

THE AUTOMOBILE UPKEEP LIST-
THis one reminds me that the oil and tires need changed, and when the car insurance is due. If gas prices go much higher, we'll need a LIST OF ITEMS TO PUT IN OUR BACKPACK while we hike to the grocery store only to discover that I've left the GROCERY LIST at home on the table again!

MY DAILY SCHEDULE LIST-
This is different from the THINGS TO DO LIST in that I actually DO the things on this particular list: shower, get breakfast, get dressed, call my patients, call the insurance company, ....you get the idea. Now I'm doing the same thing for Wendell, outlining what his requirements are for his day- Insulin, meds, breakfast, blood sugar testing times. One can really get bogged down by lists.

I have PATIENT LISTS, ADDRESS AND PHONE LISTS, and E-MAIL LISTS. Each of my jobs have separate lists of 'THINGS TO DO' that have to be accomplished in a definite time frame.

Now, with the many lists that I have, I have several that are dear to my heart.

THE PRAYER LIST-
This is the list on paper and in my head that reminds me to pray for friends and family and some folks I don't even know. The list is long, but I'm thankful that others ask me to pray. It seems to be what I do best and most often.

THE THANKSGIVING LIST-
This one reminds me how thankful I am for so much and so many- for God's love and daily provisions, for my incredibly wonderful family and very special friends, employment, conveniences, brilliant physicians, and modern technology- many of these items can be also found on the next list , which is:
THE COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS LIST-
One I can't do without when I begin to feel sorry for myself, I start counting my blessings. It reminds me of how great a love the Father has for me personally and how very loved I really am by my family. My children are Christians, and grandchildren too. I have a warm and comfortable home with a roof over my head, food to nourish us every day, and so much more.

Lists can be vital to some of us..maybe I'm a little anal about them, I don't know, but I know I couldn't survive without them........ how many do you have?

SOARING WITH EAGLES

"But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. "
Isaiah 40:31

It's Friday. It's always busy on Fridays, especially at the hospital where I'll be returning to work this afternoon after being off for two weeks while Wendell is recuperating from his surgery. He'll be sort of on his own from 2pm on. JJ will stop in after work this evening to make sure he's doing all right.
I marvel by times, where I get all the stamina and strength to keep going every day. At the end of each day, I am weary and ready to go to bed. In the morning, my strength is renewed and I'm ready to begin again.
"PLEASE ! STEP ON THE SCALES !!"
Okay. Wendell has lost another pound today bringing him to a total of 14.5#. His "chicken legs" are back, the swelling is gone, and I can only assume it's body fat that is going.
(I've also lost 10# to date).
Blood sugars are down into more acceptible ranges. The target is 80-140, and yesterday he was in that range 3 times out of 4 checks. His bedtime BS is always higher, but under 200.
He's now asking if we can go to church on Sabbath this week. The answer is 'no'. There are several reasons for this: 1. The warnings from the surgeon to avoid being in crowds or around anyone who is ill or has a cold, etc. He's still quite susceptible to infection, even though he looks and feels good. 2. Fender benders can cause the air bags to deploy in the car. This can cause serious chest injury for him that wouldn't phase someone who had not just had chest surgery. 3. Seat belts that might suddenly tighten in a minor mishap could also cause serious chest injury. The plan is to return with joy the week after next and to give all the honor, praise and thanks to our Lord for the events of the past weeks.
More planning ahead... This weekend, we are planning to try the C-PAP again. This time for naps, but keeping the oxygen on for sleep at night- at least for a few more days.
That's the news.. Keep praying..

FEELING WEARY

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30 "

Rest... that's what I need the most at the moment. I've been up since 4am.. it's now 5pm.
I need to take a snooze.. maybe after supper.
Wendell says he's had a good day. I was in the office all day till 3pm, and Keith was here when I got home. The guys were watching a war flick, so I decided to do a little blogging.

This morning I had Wendell get on the scales early.... that voice is really grating: "PLEASE! STEP ON THE SCALES!" You feel like barking back to the machine "WELL, ALL RIGHT!"..
But it's just a recording on a little black box.. Funny, I don't remember the voice being so grating when Mom had to be monitored daily... Or maybe it's just that it was 7am and I wasn't ready for so much noise..??
Anyway, Wendell has lost a half pound today. Atta boy! His oxygen sat was at 97%.. yeah, on the toe.. and all the other vital signs are good. So he's doing pretty well.
I was in such a hurry to get breakfast for both of us and then make a lunch for Keith, Wendell and me, that I must have knocked the frozen yogurt out of the freezer without noticing it. Turkey Hill Peach Mango....... Mandy called me around 1pm at the office to tell me I'd better stop for another container... as she found the original beside the refrigerator under a chair. OH, NO! So I stopped at Shop N Save..... I hunted for nearly 30 minutes, asked everyone I saw if they knew where the frozen yogurt was located (even the Pepsi delivery guy)..... no one knew.
Finally, I found it...... only one flavor..chocolate and vanilla swirl. Well, it'll have to do. I knew I couldn't come home without it.
Wendell was pleased that I'd taken the time to get the nightly snack. So supper is about ready- baked chicken tonite- and veggies , and salad, and his baked potato.. and fruit. AND the most important part is that we can again have our snack later tonite- Angel food cake with frozen yogurt and fresh strawberries atop...
All is well at our house. I'm gonna take a rest.

JUST WHAT IS REMICADE, ANYWAY?

Remicade is a biologic , not a medication. I administer it intravenously in a local doctor's office every Thursday. I suppose most of you aren't aware of exactly what it is. Here is a site that will show you: http://www.remicade.com
Curious? click on the hyperlink.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

"For I am mindful of the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
You call upon me and come and pray to me, and I heed you. You seek me and find me: Now you seek me with all your heart and I am at hand for you, says the Lord."
Jeremiah 29:11-14
Matthew 7:7

COLD FINGERS = LOW OXYGEN READINGS- DUH

"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
I Thessalonians 5:18

Well, don't we feel a little silly.. It's been 3 days of a cold snap and 3 days Wendell has been bundled in his fleece blanket trying to stay toasty. For the past 3 mornings, his oxygen saturation has been running in the 80% range. Each morning after the check, I've put him on 2 liters of oxygen to get the sats up.
I discussed this with the VNA nurse today. We tried to figure out all the reasons why he would seem just fine with no shortness of breath, but show up so low on the readings. We decided to try to check him out again.. So he took the oxygen off and the nurse checked his lungs- clear; then his incisions- clean and healing; redressed the ones that needed it, and then rechecked the oxygen sats- should have been in the 90% range, but no, reading in the low 80s again. We tried using his other fingers, but all came up low. Finally, I thought of using his toes.. after all, he had heavy warm socks on, and they'd been under that fleece for an hour.
Well...... what d'ya know- 94% !! Live and learn , eh? Cold fingers = low sats.
We had been discussing the possible oxygen requirement for use all day instead of just at night, but in this discovery, all is well and back to normal again.
Just one more thing to thank the Lord for... AMEN

THIS MORNING UPDATE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

"Come unto me, all that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. " Matthew 11:28

I keep thinking I should be writing "This update is brought to you by..____" (fill in the blank)!
Well, there is good news again. Wendell has again lost - this time 5# !!! All right! He was up about 4 times last night diuresing- Atta boy! At this point, he's down a total of 13#. I must say, part of it has to be general body weight, as in following the diet with him, I've also lost a total of 9#.
This morning his oxygen sats are reading low again.. 84-87%- so back to the O2 for a while till he can catch up. Later, we rechecked, and it's reading 93%- much more acceptable.
We both slept in a bit this morning as the VNA nurse isn't coming till 11am or perhaps after.
The right leg holes that had been draining are now just making a tiny spot on the dressing, so I put just one 4x4 on this morning. The left one which drained copiously, still has a little bit of edema and continues to drain from the hole. All incisions are healing very nicely.
Well, it's cold this morning, and we are in sweats to keep us snuggy. I'll be thankful for spring
to be here permanently without the threat of snow every other day. I saw crocuses blooming at the neighbors house.. and our tulips are poking their lazy stems up through the ground. Can't wait to see the green come back!
All in all, God is blessing us every day in every way. Keep praying-

BEAUTY CONTROL- NICE STUFF

http://www.beauticontrol.com
I am a consultant for this company. Feel free to browse the products- they are really fantastic for men and women.

CONGRATULATIONS GRAMMA & GRAMPA PATA

"Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say, Rejoice" Philippians 4:4
Congratulations to Nicki and Bob who became first time grandparents this afternoon. Brendon John Hiles, son of Jeremiah and Annsley Hiles arrived safely today, April 4, 2006... 6# 6oz and 19" long.
It truly is a time to rejoice!! Per Nicki : "Did I mention that he's really cute?".. I'm certain the little guy is adorable!
Our best wishes to the whole family..

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS..

Oh, brother.. it seems like I bring up song lyrics everywhere.. Oh, well..
To be fair, these are a few MORE of my favorite things..grandkids! They sure do light up our eyes and our hearts.
Maybe I should have called this post "My funny Valentines"....ugh....there I go again!

REMEMBER THIS??

Look out Daniel!!!


This was actually LAST March- 2005--
Hey.. we had a fun time in the snow. But I was glad when it was gone!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

A special Easter wish for all my family and friends:
http://d21c.com/scratch/holidays/egg.swf

1800 CAL ADA- HIDDEN BONUS INSIDE

You know, there is a hidden bonus in all this diet stuff for Wendell. He got on the scales late today after we ate lunch {{{cringe}}} .. he lost 2 more pounds! Amazing. That's a total of 8 pounds for him. AND........ I got on the scales just for fun and I've lost 6# total since we started this program! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!

STAPLES ARE OUT

"Cast all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7"

WooHoo! It's cold here in Butler- 31 degrees this morning. AND.... we may get some snow so the weatherman says.
Today was the BIG day when Wendell finally got the stitches/staples out of his legs. Wish I'd brought a bullet for him to bite. It's hard to see someone you love have so much discomfort while knowing that in the end it will bring blessed relief. So they are all out and have a tad bit of oozing (normal). Dr Davliakos saw him today and said everything looks good. He needs a couple more weeks of healing yet, and won't be allowed to drive for 2 more weeks, and then, just little trips close to home.
He has an appointment in 6 months to see the vascular surgeons again about his left carotid artery which has moderate placque- not enough for more surgery, but enough that they will keep a close watch to see what happens in the next few months. He's scheduled for a carotid doppler study in October. How wonderful it is to live in this day and age of technology.
That's the update for now.

WHAT A DAY THIS HAS BEEN..

Hey... I think there is a song like that..... What a day this HAS been. It's all good, no matter.
Re Wendell:
The VNA nurse cancelled today. The wound nurse will be coming Wednesday after the dietitian. It'll be a busy one for sure. After the second highest blood sugar since he got home from the hospital, I called the doctor to find out what we could do to correct the problem. He called back a little while ago and increased his insulin morning dose. That should help some.
Till he gets down in a normal range, he'll be doing his One Touch finger sticks 4 times a day..OUCH! A high blood sugar impedes his healing, so we will comply and be thankful there IS something we can do to get it down.
We had a horrendous electrical thunderstorm pass through here today. I was just checking my email when I heard the wind.. roaring.. I knew we were under a tornado watch, so I shut the computer down and went downstairs to watch the sky. One tends to do that after living through a tornado in the back yard.. you remember "I survived in '85"? I have to admit that standing there looking at angry greenish gray clouds racing across the sky made me remember.
And then it made me laugh too... as I remember the 'moment of truth' and realized that a tornado was coming.. the sound of the jet plane engine roaring, the house shaking, kids all sitting on the sofa wondering 'what on earth?', and me in my robe sipping a cup of coffee in the bedroom...and then screaming to the kids to "get to the basement NOW!" in terror when I finally knew what was going on. The part that makes me laugh is the aftermath when we huddled in the basement and heard the tornado pass by leaving us unscathed... and realizing I was standing there in my bathrobe with an empty cup of coffee (it was full when I started running for cover) and then not knowing where the checkbook was.. it was the other thing I grabbed when we ran. When we got to the basement, I threw it aside and it took hours to locate it.. such a human and mercenary thing to do! hehehehe Ah, such memories... and they came back to me today.
We are under a high wind advisory right now. The temperature dropped suddenly as the cold front has moved in.. and the wind is blowing. Not severe.. just enough.
Tomorrow is another day........

A TIP TO ENLARGE FONTS

Another tip from Elsie:
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Subject: enlarging print
Instead of going to View>Text Size and choosing the print size, there's a faster way:

Here's a tip that's very useful when trying to read small print.
If you hold down the Ctrl key on your key board, then turn the small wheel in the middle of your mouse away from you or towards you, the print size will change - it will either get larger or smaller - depending on which way you turn the wheel. Might help with some of that too small font we sometimes see.
**Hey.. I tried it and it works!!! mb

HEALTH QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

My friend Elsie sent this to me this morning.. I laughed and thought I'd share it:
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HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
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Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, andthat's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually.
Speeding up your heart will notmake you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
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Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits andvegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does acow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.
Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
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Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way.

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Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one.
If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
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Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophyis: No Pain...Good!
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Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
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Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
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Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO . Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
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Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle? A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!
*
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

APRIL 3 UPDATE AND STUFF

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." Psalm 118:8

Good morning all you bloggers and anyone else who cares to read this.
Another great day here. Wendell is down a half pound, and that's good. At least he's not up a half or more. He says he's not having a really good day like yesterday. Well, we were aware there would be up and down days. His O2 monitor says his saturation is low at 89%.. so I have him hooked up to 2 liters at the moment and resting, waiting for the VNA nurse to arrive.
His incisions are about the same- the two drain holes continue to drain clear/serous fluid and one incision drains clear fluid also. Blood sugar is up also at 204 this morning. You have to wonder if that isn't why he's not feeling up to par.
It is to rain today and we both can feel it in the joints. I've been doing this for years and years- forecasting weather by joint pain, that is. For Wendell, it's something fairly new.
Oh, happy day! JJ took all our tax info home with her last evening and will bring papers to sign this week.. answered prayer. I was not able to consider having them done professionally this year (ie H&R Block). We have been ending up owing every year for about 3 years now.
We are blessed to have JJ do that for us- Thank you , JJ.

ANNUAL IMM FAMILY REUNION

You all remember this? Remember how hot it was that day, but we had so much fun despite it all? Wanna do it again?
Same place....... August 5, 2006- Saturday
Mark that date on your calendar NOW.
More info coming as the committee gets organized.

I KNOW, I KNOW... I HEARD THE GROAN...

When the driver of a huge trailer lost control of his rig, he plowed into an empty tollbooth and smashed it to pieces.
He climbed down from the wreckage and within a matter of minutes, a truck pulled up and discharged a crew of workers.
The men picked up each broken piece of the former tollbooth and spread some kind of creamy substance on it.
Then they began fitting the pieces together.
In less than a half hour, they had the entire tollbooth reconstructed and looking good as new.
"Astonishing!" the truck driver said to the crew chief.
"What was the white stuff you used to get all the pieces together?"
The crew chief said, "Oh, that was tollgate booth paste."

I KNOW, I KNOW.... I HEARD THE GROAN..... BUT YOU LAUGHED TOO, DIDN'T YOU?

AND THE BOYS......

Daniel , above, was practicing saying "CHEESE", and thus the painted smile on his adorable little mug. The boys did a LOT of running today. We have enough space that they can do just about anything they want.. so they got the squirt guns out and sopped down the flower beds, and the gas grill.. and just about anything they could locate, except themselves.

To the left is Paul3. He's changing so much. I can scarcely believe he was once known as "Baby Paul"

A GRAND AND GLORIOUS DAY

"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
This has been a wonderful day. Paul and Amy brought the children to visit.
David is having a dish of Cheerios with whipped cream.. hmmmm He may have something there.....




Joyce looks a tad frazzled after church.. well, no wonder.. she's been out searching for those baby kittens all afternoon.

MEGAN'S LAW IN PENNSYLVANIA

Thanks, JJ.. here is the registry site for PA sex offenders

http://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us/EntryPage.aspx

GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for them:

You say: "It's impossible"

God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"

God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"

God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: "I can't go on"

God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"

God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"

God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"

God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"

God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

You say: "I can't forgive myself"

God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"

God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"

God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"

God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I don't have enough faith"

God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"

God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"

God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

PERSEVERING UNDER TRIAL

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those that love Him. James 1:12

In the last few weeks, we have felt like we have been under many trials, but we have been blessed and so give to God the praise due Him.
Wendell is status quo today. One good thing is that he's again lost 2 more pounds of more than likely fluid. He still has a way to go. The left knee drain hole is draining a bit more and I've had to double the dressing to absorb it all, and change it more frequently. The right knee is draining also, but about the same as before. His blood sugars are running on the high side yet, and may need an adjustment in his insulin. We can deal with that. He's moving a little better, and today we plan a walk outside for 10 minutes if he is able to tolerate it. Yesterday he went outside to sit on the porch a few minutes, but didn't quite feel up to the 'walk'. Each day he's a tad bit stronger.
The diet is going well, and we both are feeling the benefit. I told him I would not sit in front of him and add salt to my food while he had to eat sodium restricted. I'm learning how to season foods and make them taste good- after all, I have to ingest them too. It's a real incentive. I like the fact that in the evening, I have only minor swelling in my ankles where before they would be very swollen and aching. The healing process goes on for both of us.
Today the Blair children are planning a visit after church. This will give Wendell (and me ) a real shot in the arm. How we LOVE those kids! JJ and Keith will also likely stop by after church. We are lifting the 'no visiting between 2pm and 4pm' rule for today. We are both feeling more rested.
This week will be another busy one here with VNA nurses coming Monday and Friday, the dietitian returning Wednesday, an office visit Tuesday to have the staples/stitches removed, and then I return to the office Thursday while Keith helps out by staying here a few hours. It'll be a full day, and we'll see how Wendell makes out. Friday he'll be on his own in the evening while I work at the hospital. It all makes me tired just thinking about it.
Keep praying.. we are thankful for everyone who supports us that way.

THE BUTLER PA BLOG

http://clcing.blogspot.com/
I found this site quite interesting and informative. Lots of history here.

CHARLIE ON THE MEND

I should probably note that Charlie has been ailing for a week now with acute bronchitis. He finally saw the doctor this week to get some strong antibiotics. He's doing a little better.
I don't think I've ever seen him looking quite so ill. Well, for those of us who know how he feels about 'the girls'.. he couldn't gather eggs nor feed them- that is pretty sick. I was glad to do so and went home later with 18 fresh ones. Jane came later and took him to his pharmacy, and also collected about the same amount again.

NATIONAL SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

http://www.familywatchdog.us/
Unfortunately, Pennsylvania doesn't have a listing.

FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AWARE

Wendell and I will be gaining a son- in- law sometime in May. Mandy and John haven't given us the date yet, but soon. It will be a civil ceremony with a JP. So no invitations will be sent out, but we hope to have a family "get to meet John" picnic in perhaps May or June. You'll hear about it later for sure.

KITTENS IN A SCRAP PILE

And here are the baby kittens as mentioned in the first blog about PB TRUCKING. Cute little rascals.

PB TRUCKING READY TO ROLL..

PB TRUCKING is now official. Paul brought his new truck over today to load up scrap . He and his fried Drew have been working on it for weeks (the scrap, that is). We have accumulated quite a lot over the years.
And then, Drew came to me and said "I'm sorry. I can't move that large piece of metal over there"..he pointed near the firepit where we toast marshmallows all summer. I walked over to see why he couldn't move it, and low and behold, there was a Mama and 5 baby kittens- they don't have their eyes open yet- probably about a week old.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN BUTLER

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3
It's a beautiful but drizzly cool day here in Butler PA. The sun is not shining outside, but inside, we are happy and content.
Wendell is on the mend. God has blessed me with sustaining my husband when by rights he shouldn't even be in this world.We both praise God for his mercy and love for us.
His blood sugar is down again this morning, and he is being very compliant this time around. He's learning the hard way, but at least he's learning.He's healing.. the 5 incisions on his legs are pulling, pinching and tugging- a sign that they need to be removed- and they will be on this coming Tuesday morning. The 2 drain holes still drain a bit, but less than yesterday. Each day a little less.He's feeling pretty good today. His monitor says he's lost 2 # since yesterday. That's fluid weight. He's breathing easier too.
God has blessed us with the most wonderful and delightful children. Each one is using his/her gifts to bless us. JJ and Keith have done our laundry- a daunting task since neither of us has been able to do the bulk of it since last December. I could only do things by hand. JJ took bags of comforters, clothes and whatever she could to wash and returned it all to be put away and/or hung up. Keith spent last Thursday with Wendell while I was at the office working a half day. He made sure Wendell was cared for and even made lunch for him...... next time, put the potato in the microwave and hit the "potato" button.. it will cook. (hehehe) He's even volunteered for this Thursday. A gem for sure.
When I didn't have enough foresight to know that Wendell would require a separate room for recovering, JJ, Keith, Mandy, and Paul took over and prepared a place for him within 2 days. Mandy has been bringing home food and bought us a new toaster so Wendell could have his toast this morning. She made supper last night- lemon chicken....mmmmmmmm salt free, but delicious!
With all that has been going on, I couldn't possibly make all the phone calls or write all the emails needed to update the family....again, JJ, Wendy, Paul, Mandy, Jane, and our pastor Vince were right there making the calls and writing the emails to keep our families and friends informed.
Then Wendy calls almost every day and the kids talk to Wendell. Gaylie sings to him and makes him laugh- good medicine. He's hoping to see the Blair grandkids this weekend. He's talked to them on the phone too.. Daniel says "Get better soon , Grampa. I'm praying for you". ALL of the children/grandchildren are praying.
I think prayer has been the most important thing of all. Each day I pray will be a better one, more healing evident, and that we will be supplied our 'daily bread'.
It boggles my mind when I hear of all the friends and family and extensions of these who are praying for us. One cannot thank you all enough.. but only return the honor to you. God has been the undergirding strength of our lives. If you don't think your prayers are effectual, think again.
To actually FEEL God's presence when you think there is nothing more anyone human can do.. when I was tired and feeling alone, He was there. To be comforted when I started to feel that anxiety and the 'what ifs...' began to surround me... He was there. He uplifts us in so many ways. Perhaps a phone call from Dieter or Jane or maybe baby Gayle..or Esther or Daniel..any one of the little ones we love so much.. all the little things add up and lift us up. And these things come from our Lord- He knows our needs and supplies us every day. So YOUR prayer is important. When I'm so exhausted that I can't think on my own to pray- I rely on YOU to do that for me, and you all have done so.
I thank the Lord for you daily.

APRIL FOOL !!!!!!!

Important Notice re. Internet Cleaning!
As many of you know, each year the Internet must be shut down for 24 hours in order to allow us to clean it. The cleaning process, which eliminates dead email and inactive ftp, www and gopher sites, allows for a better working and faster Internet.

This year, the cleaning process will take place from 12:01 a.m.. GMT on April 1st until 12:01 a.m, GMT on April 2nd During that 24-hour period, five powerful Internet search engines situated around the world will search the Internet and delete any data that they find.

In order to protect your valuable data from deletion we ask that you do the following:
1. Disconnect all terminals and local area networks from their Internet connections.
2. Shut down all Internet servers, or disconnect them from the Internet.
3. Disconnect all disks and hardrives from any connections to the Internet.
4. Refrain from connecting any computer to the Internet in any way.
We understand the inconvenience that this may cause some Internet users, and we apologize. However, we are certain that any inconveniences will be more than made up for by the increased speed and efficiency of the Internet, once it has been cleared of electronic flotsam and jetsam.
We thank you for your cooperation.
Interconnected Network Maintenance staff, Main branch, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Please notify your friends relatives and business associates on this event so they too will be prepared.