HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY NIECE
BECKY COX
IT'S YOUR DAY TODAY
HAVE A FABULOUS ONE!

BONE CHILLING COLD

I think that describes the day today... bone chilling... 10 degrees, and a 'snow shower' expected some time this morning. It's cold. I just heard the snow plow go by.
There is a cute little 12" high snowman out on the picnic table. Being a mini snowman, he has a mini-carrot for a nose..and has the remains of one of last spring's brightly colored kites wrapped around his neck as a scarf- blaze orange and red.. and he's cute! No, I'm not going to take his picture- it's cold out there.. I'm appreciative, not crazy.
I do have to go out today. I'm going to see 5 of my patients this afternoon. Pray that the roads are improved over yesterday.
I'm going for my second cup of coffee..

WINTER WONDERLAND

I can hear all you winter lovers out there.. today is YOUR day. Winter is here in full force..Right now we have 17 degrees and that's not the low yet.. I can just imagine you all waxing up your skis, sled runners,and getting the snowmobile out of hibernation. We sure did get hit. I am thankful we'll only have to deal with it for 6 more weeks. Where did el Nino go?
My worst nightmare.. I had to go out in it today. Wendell needed his meds and I had called the doctor and made an appointment for today about my cold. I knew it had snowed a little, but when I went to clean off my car, there was 4" of the miserable cold white flakes on it. Rats!

Having suitably defrosted my vehicle, I backed up and suddenly realized that no one had been out of the driveway since the snow started, and there were no tracks to follow..just one smooth blanket of white from where I sat to as far as I could see. So I took a guess and went out the driveway without a problem andright out onto the road where I couldn't tell where the sides were.. so I drove carefully down the middle of what I thought was it.. watching carefully for oncoming cars.. no cars had been through for hours.. no tracks and a good 4" of snow to drive through. That meant no plow had been through either, and no anti-skid. Lousy driving. I found the connecting roads to the 4 lane Rt 8 to be untouched also, though a few cars had passed through. Stopping at the stop signs proved to be more like a thrill ride even going 20mph. Would I get my car stopped? Did it matter if I didn't? Where would I end up if I did use the brake? Every winter I am reminded of how much I dislike front wheel drive. I had decided at this point that if Rt 8 wasn't any better, I was turning around and going back home. It was about 2% better and Wendell really needed his med... so I pressed on.
Traffic on the big highway was moving at about 30 mph tops. It was quite greasy and the crest of the first hill had flares burning and I could see where someone must have skidded on the icy pavement (probably a 4WD). Surprisingly,the closer I got to town, the better the roads were till they were just wet in town. I was glad I hadn't turned back.

Today I saw the doctor about my cold. I'm really starting to feel much better. I actually went to get a return to work slip as I'd called off for 3 days consecutively. She said what I already knew.. I have the 'common cold'.. but with a raging sinusitis that required an antibiotic.

I took a nap this evening and when I woke up, I was amazed at the change in my cold status.. I wasn't coughing much and I think I am at the bend of the road back to my old self again.

Colds last 7-10 days.. tomorrow will be day 7. I'm going to try to go to bed early tonite and get some rest. The body heals best then, and I don't want to impede any progress.

Pray for us..

END OF WINTER

I'm ready for spring.. how about you? There is a weather snow advisory out again today. The temperature is only 19 and it won't get up over freezing today.
Yes, I'm whining.. I have a cold and feel crappy, and haven't gone to work for 2 days because of it. It's been since last Wednesday. I should be starting to feel better soon. I'm hoping.. I actually feel better than I did over the weekend, but still have a way to go. I'll get my Robitussin DM this morning and see if I can function without all the coughing and sputtering.
I think I 'll make some chicken soup this morning.
Gotta go for some coffee.. my cup is empty. Have a great day.. Pray for us..

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY...

TO MY COUSIN IRENE
WHO IS SOOOO FAR AWAY
I'M SENDING MY WISHES
FOR A HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

BRIGHTER DAY TODAY

Yesterday I was NOT a happy camper. Wendell went for his sonar, but the order never made it ahead of him. This morning I called the doctor's office and asked for an explanation. The girl said she'd called the hospital to find out where to fax it.. and they gave her 2 numbers so that if one didn't get through the other would...except neither did. So to make a long story short.. she faxed the forms to me and I called and made his appointment again for this Saturday.
Today was my meeting at the hospital regarding retirement. There is actually good news and bad, though the bad news isn't that bad. I am going to retire..but not in March, but likely my target will be February 2008. There is good reason for this and it all has to do with insurance coverage for Wendell. I can get the insurance for him for 18 months and then he's out on his own. With his pre-existing conditions, the liklihood of him finding a carrier for the rest of the time before he's 65 is slim. So, 18 months before he turns 65 is Feb 2008. I'm happy with the prospect, and he's content to go along with the idea. The other good news is that no matter when I retire, the hospital will subsidize my insurance at a reduced rate till I'm 65 no matter what.
I think I'll set up a ticker to help me get through the next year. Each month a little closer, each day a little closer.

BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR JANUARY

Daniel's birthday was the 17th, Amy the 18th, and Charlie's birthday is today.. of course, the newest member of the family had a real birth day on the 4th.. Seems like January could replace August for the most family birthdays.

Daniel

One of the favorite movies at our house is "Over the Hedge"..and that's the cake he wanted.

David and Aunt Janie

and of course Keith was here for the fun too.

Joyce was a little under the weather..she has a conjunctivitis as does David.

Papa Wendell and Annabelle

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

TO MY YOUNGER BROTHER
CHARLIE

Charlie loves gardening and has kept our place in flowers all summer.
He also is the caretaker of his "girls" who keep us supplied in eggs all year round.

MORE LIKE IT

It's 37 degrees this morning..That's more like it. I can live with this temperature. I have been fighting off a cold for the past few days and yesterday's deep freeze didn't help. I didn't go to work. I was so chilled to the bone all day. Nothing seemed to help. I have taken a decongestant and will be taking my Robitussin shortly.
The cough is miserable.
The picture above is of one of Charlie's chickens. It was a lovely summer day when she wandered over to our place. Look how green the grass is! I love it. Soon....very soon... we shall have green grass and trees once again.
I'm enjoying my 2nd cup of coffee. Wendell is on his way out the door to buy a new toaster at a local store. He doesn't go far from home.. but this is just out on Rt 8. He is wanting some cheese also.. and though I dont' think it's the best thing for him.. he'll be getting a little of it. We seem to have the worst time with some of our small appliances.. first the coffee makers.. then the toaster. I just bought this toaster last fall. I don't know what I did with the product information.. so I can't return it.. but it's shot already. So.. a new toaster is on his list of things to get today.
Tomorrow he goes for an ultrasound of his gallbladder. I'm seriously wondering if his GI problems aren't related somehow to that. The only other thing I can think of is a stricture in the pylorus.. sort of doubtful though.
Of course, colitis can be brought on by nerves, bacteria, viruses,food intake.. you name it.. it can trigger it.
If the gall bladder testing is within normal limits, he'll have to have an upper endoscopy.
Today I'm going to try to catch up on the things I've been ignoring for the past week. So I'd better get on my horse and start moving.

BEWARE

My friend Elsie sent me this.. I found it interesting after my last post tirade..hehehe


Regardless of where you stand on the issue of the U.S. involvement in Iraq,
here's a sobering statistic.
There has been a monthly average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theatre of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2,112 deaths.
That gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.
The firearm death rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 100,000 persons for the same period.
That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in the U.S. Capital than you are in Iraq.
Conclusion: The U.S. should pull out of Washington !

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETSY !!

TODAY IS BETSY'S BIRTHDAY!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!!!

HOPE IT IS A GREAT ONE

Betsy is my cousin from California.
We here on the east coast
are sending our love and best wishes to you on the west coast !
Make it a good one.

SINGLE DIGITS

The house is cold, but my room is very comfortable. I left the little heater set to come on when the temperature dropped below 65.. and only set on low. The temperature outside at this moment is a measly 6 degrees.. and should be all of 26 degrees for the high today. I hope the snow is done- we got about 3" total.. Mandy got home around 9pm last evening and said roads were fine.
I am gainfully employed this evening.
It's 8am.. I had a lot to blog when I started, but now seem to be mentally challenged as to what I was going to say. I think I was thinking about our congress.. how they seem to be pulled in so many directions at the same time.. no organization.. that they are so swayed by "national polls" which everyone knows are biased..
When's the last time YOU were asked 'how do you think the war is going?' or 'how do you think the President is doing?'... it annoyed me yesterday listening to the news and hearing that the 'American public has spoken and said thus and so'... NOBODY ASKED ME MY OPINION - were you among those who were asked?
Polls are slanted no matter who takes them.. you can make them say what you want them to prove just by being selective about who you ask the questions. Now, my suggestion would be that our congress should go back to their own constituants and talk to them.. door to door if necessary.. we need to be calling them , writing to them and letting them know that there is other than general polls that should be making decisions for our future..
and get back to work.. doing their job instead of trying to act like important 'mini president wannabe's each one. It is distressing that they have forgotten they were elected as PUBLIC SERVANTS .. Elections were only 3 months ago and already the arrogance is flowing and about to drown the normal hard working people.
The problem doesnt' seem to be the system, but the ones who are elected to those positions don't know their duties to the public and are too busy trying to make a name for themselves.. like.. 'the guy who can bash the highest office in the land the most and get the most press'. I heard one politician say of the President that he wasn't listening.. well, I say, the congressmen aren't listening to the people either.. Get your act together.
You are elected to serve the people, not your own agendas. I'm finding the lot of our congressmen obnoxious.
I guess before I get off my soapbox I need to make one more statement. Things just seem to get under my skin.
It is the congress who is given the task of declaring or not declaring war.. they did so. That ends their job on that issue. The President is to operate the war that congress has declared. So why is our congress trying to do the President's job?
OFF THE SOAPBOX ALREADY !!!
Have a wonderful day.. I'm going back to bed for another hour.

A LITTLE EXCITEMENT

Yesterday morning mergency crews were called to the Butler-Graham Airport in Butler County for a plane crash .

According to the paper, officials said the private jet overshot the runway during landing and crashed behind the Penn Township Fire Department.

The twin-engine Lear Jet landed on its belly and caught fire. The tail snapped off and tore a fence down.

The plane is an air ambulance belonging to a company called AirTrek, which is an air medical transport out of PuntaGorda, Fla.

Four people were on board. The police report said they suffered minor injuries and were transported to Butler Hospital where they were treated and released.

Three Degree Road is closed while crews investigate the crash.

The airport is shut down and the FAA is at the scene.

This is just a couple miles from us. It was all detoured traffic last night. We took the scenic tour home.

IT WAS INEVITABLE..sigh

Even though snow is inevitable in winter, I was so hoping.. yes, even optimistic, that it would not appear with any strength this season, but... uh...there it is. We didn't get a lot.. about 2 inches I suppose.. I can't see it well in the dark this morning. I suppose I shouldn't complain- we have had such a mild winter so far.. and indeed, it's not the deepfreeze of some in our history. Treat of the Month for January was brand new gloves for all.. I guess none too soon. The Valentines should have theirs today.
It's not quite 6am..I've been awake since 5. I slept well.. but not sure that I had enough hours. I'll go back to bed shortly.
Today is office day, but I'm not going in till after lunch to do the necessary ordering and then to help Kathy with one of our patients who is being infused with a new biologic. I wonder how the roads will be..
We need a couple of groceries too.. Need to stop on the way or on the way home.
I'm really looking forward to Monday.. that's my day to see personnel and find out about retirement. I am going into this feeling positive, but there is always the possibility we won't be able to afford it right now. I'm keeping that in mind also. I do covet your prayers over this matter. God's will is my focus. He will open doors at the right times. I trust His judgment for me and realize that He may have more work for me to do at the hospital before I leave permanently. But one has to inquire, and all criteria for retirement has to be met before the doors will be open for me. So the appointment on Monday will be fact finding with a possibility of leaving my position by March 1st.
Wendell and I went out to eat last evening. It had been quite a while since we did anything like that. I was concentrating on low salt foods.. he had a plain cheeseburger and soup. I did fine.. wish I could say the same for him.. he paid for it dearly the rest of the evening and I heard him up during the night too. Pray for him and his GI problems.
Well, it's nearlly 6:30am.. I think I'll head back to bed for a snooze. My clock is set for 8.. this should be just right.
Stay warm, be careful if you have to be out on the roads today.. Pray

WINTER STORM ADVISORY

Oh, boy.. there is a winter storm advisory out tonite..through morning. It's below freezing, so things could get nasty out there. We got a little snow today..about an inch. I think Paul and Amy got a bit more.. they have about 2+ inches there.
Now I'm looking for spring.. {{sniff sniff}}

I SEE!!! I SEE!!!

I was taking some pictures of Annabelle. David wanted his picture taken too.. he likes the instant results of the digital camera.. "I see !!!! I see!!!"

BATH TIME

It was a good day today.. got the bills paid and then got the packages sent for Treat of the Month.. and delivered personally to my local grandchildren. It is bath day for Annabelle. She is growing like a bad weed. I would guess she's about 8 pounds now.
Her cord came off today. Amy found it in the diaper and David's comment was "BUG!!!!!!" .. no, not quite.
As I uncovered her for her bath, Daniel walked over and said "Gramma! What did you do to her cord?!"
It looks perfectly healthy.. and she's getting cuter all the time.
Very alert today.. looking all around, wide eyed..

CHILLY TODAY

28 degrees and cloudy at the moment.. we should get up to 31 with a 40% chance of a snow shower today.
Ahhhh... lovely. I don't know when I've enjoyed a winter so much. I actually have tried to figure out where we could live that would give us this kind of weather in the winter.. not recently, of course, but I have considered it in the past. I think the last time was when we had 2 feet of snow in the front yard. Though it's not a popular view, I really love el nino.
It's Wednesday and high on my list of priorities today is bill paying. Yeah..we still have a few of them. This time we have a larger one for auto insurance. Glad Wendell is able to be on unemployment while waiting for his SS to start next month.
My other priority today will be going to see Amy and the grandchildren and giving Annabelle her bath. I love doing that. I wonder how she'll do today? She cried for her first bath, and only a little with the next.
I also have Treat of the Month to take with me and need to get 3 little envelopes ready for my little Valentines too. I'll be stopping at the post office on my way to see the children.
On to my day.. I pray yours is a glorious one.

IT'S TUESDAY

I'm so excited.. the end of last week I'd gained 8 # .. fluids.. really. My ankles/legs were horrendous..the edema was so obvious and they ached from all the excess fluid. As of today..I took that off and have added 4# to that for a total of 12 # lost !! WOOHOO!! You can refer to my DOWNSIZING blog to get all the details of how I'm doing it. My joints and muscles are too sore to do any active exercise at the moment, but I'll be getting back to that soon. The loss comes from dietary adjustment..I'm eating everything I want but the salt.

I just looked outside.. it's snowing big fluffy flakes.. the temp is 26. It's actually quite beautiful in the woods. I don't think the roads will be that nice. I promised to work in the office as general help today. I'll be going in around noon and work the afternoon. That's the kind of job to have.. sleep in and then go to work when I feel like it..hehehe

Wendell took his dressings off yesterday and the knee looks very good. He'll have his sutures out in another week. He's getting around so much better. He says it aches just a little, but nothing like it did before, and he hasn't needed his pain pills yet. Now, if he can just get the GI problem under control.

It was a busy quiet evening at work yesterday. Lots going on, but all was fairly organized (what I refer to as 'organized chaos') and we got through it smoothly. I left 30 min early..everything done for the daylight shift today.

Time to get moving here.. have a simply wonderful day
Pray often and remember us

GEORGE IMM BIRTHDAY

Today would have been my Dad's 92nd birthday..

That is a long time ago he was born. I can't even fathom being that elderly. I guess I'll always be a child at heart.