So much for blogging more once I got voice-recognition. But here I am now.
Last Wednesday evening, February 8, 2017, shortly after going to bed, I started to cramp terribly in my lower abdomen, followed by bowel incontinence, and the dry heaves. Initially I thought I had food poisoning, but after about six hours I finally called the ambulance.
I found out later that my first blood pressure was fiftysomething over 25. Not so good. Once they got me stabilized, they had to send me to a different hospital because ours was full. I chose St. Cloud hospital over Abbott Northwestern Hospital and I'm very glad that I did, for the most part. They were very thorough. They have a unit there called Medical Progressive Care Unit. The care is partway between a regular medical surgical floor and intensive care unit. They watched me closely and were very gentle with my overwhelmingly painful body.
The final diagnoses, after some varying conjectures, was an antibiotic resistant E. coli UTI that had gone septic (in other words the bacteria had gotten to my bloodstream). I was a pretty sick little girl.
That was one week ago tonight, February 15, 2017. I'm still pretty tired out, but I'm here and getting stronger every day.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Friday, September 18, 2015
NEED INNOVATIVE HELP
I'm putting this out to the cyberspace universe to see what happens.
I am/was a quilter and love to sew but because of Rheumatoid Arthritis my shoulders have degenerated, which makes sewing at a sewing machine almost impossible. I have use of my forearms and hands for the most part, I just can't raise my arms up and forward in order to sew the way most do. If the machine were at lap level it would be more doable but I'm in a power wheelchair full-time and couldn't handle the weight directly on my lap.
Here's what I'm asking: Is there a mechanical engineer, inventor, tinkerer, mechanical R&D, etcetera, out there that would be willing to work with me to develop something?
Please pass the word: you never know whose reading. Thanks.
I am/was a quilter and love to sew but because of Rheumatoid Arthritis my shoulders have degenerated, which makes sewing at a sewing machine almost impossible. I have use of my forearms and hands for the most part, I just can't raise my arms up and forward in order to sew the way most do. If the machine were at lap level it would be more doable but I'm in a power wheelchair full-time and couldn't handle the weight directly on my lap.
Here's what I'm asking: Is there a mechanical engineer, inventor, tinkerer, mechanical R&D, etcetera, out there that would be willing to work with me to develop something?
Please pass the word: you never know whose reading. Thanks.
UPDATE ON MY TABLET EXPERIENCE AND LOTS OF RANDOM STUFF
It ended up that the first tablet I got was Windows 8.1 and was very difficult to use, so I traded it in for a Fire HD 6.? and it works much better: it's an Android. I also just discovered that it has a voice recognition program so I can type more easily just by speaking. Hopefully I'll do more blogging because it's been so difficult and slow to do until now. As I speak, I'm sitting outside under the tree, with my dog, on a beautiful summer day, blogging . I could really get used to this, it's really fun . Now just to think of things to write about .
I planted a garden this summer. A local church offered free garden plots and they gave me two. I planted some Honey Bear squash, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, some lavender, herbs and some flowers. I'm already harvesting onions, a few potatoes, cutting flowers, playing hide and seek with baby bunnies, and looking forward to the squash and some more tomatoes .
The biggest challenge with the garden has been keeping up with the weeds. Either it's been too hot, or there's not been enough staff to help me. Now we're just pressing them down with "our" feet or when we do pull them out, we place the dead ones on top of the live ones. [Don't you just love the "we"? I can't do any of the physical labor, my staff does it all. LOL] I also had numerous "volunteer" plants come up, including cucumber, pear tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, spaghetti squash, other tomatoes..
I haven't been on Facebook very much this summer because I've been outside so much. It's hard to keep up with all the posts. I usually check in at least a couple times a day. Sounds like everyone's having a wonderful summer. I'm so glad.
I sure miss Tia [my Yorkie] this summer. It was hard losing her after 14 years. She was the love of my life. Tia's godmother got a hold of me shortly after she died, and told me of a lady who wasn't feeling well and needed to find a home for her dog. So on June 6, 2015 I adopted 5 1/2 year-old, 9 pound Ava Jo. I'll try to attach a picture to the blog .
She is a sweetheart and very very smart but she is a very different puppy dog from what I'm used to . They are two very different little beings and I love them both . Ava seems to be settling in well and we're both getting used to each other. She loves to lay outside on the grass while I'm reading or playing with my tablet. I am grateful for her love, for her being here. I believe Tia let go so Ava could have a new home. I have so many conflicting feelings: sad that Tia is gone yet happy that she was here, happy that I have Ava, but missing Tia deeply. I definitely feel torn at times.
I started going to the Courage Center again. I'm still having trouble with this wheelchair and it's been three years and still it's causing me problems . We may not be able to get a new chair yet but we're going to try and update the seating to see if that helps with the pain . I'll be going once a week for eight weeks. It's about an hour and a half drive. (Update since first writing this : I only went to Courage Center for a few weeks. They're sending me to a clinic affiliated with Gillette Children's Hospital where they have the ability to adapt the equipment on sight.)
I now have almost full-time personal care attendant (PCA) hours, though I don't use them all. There's been a large turnover of staff the last couple of months because of health issues. A couple blew out their back, one is going to be having surgery, another one's going on sabbatical for a while but she'll still be able to help fill-in, and one fell in love and moved up north (she has since moved back and has returned to my staff), so it's been trying but I'm very grateful for all the help I have and when I get discouraged I just remember I'm not in a nursing home, I'm in my own home with my dog, and I can come and go as I please. The girls I have are great, I love them dearly, but it is hard work. As my mom used to say, I'm a high maintenance broad.
About a month ago, on a spur of the moment idea, my PCA Cheryl and I drove out to our old lake cabin at Lake Jennie. I had the wonderful surprise of seeing one of the gals I grew up with next door out there. She's was there from Virginia with her family . It was good to see her. It was also nice to see that their cabin was still in the family. We wandered around the old place
for a little while and then said our goodbyes. It'd been a long time since I'd been out there and it was nice to see it again. I did a lot of my growing-up out there in the summers . It was a bittersweet trip.
It's been a beautiful summer here in Minnesota. I especially love the balmy warm evenings. On the hotter days I've been sitting under a tree, with Ava Jo lying in the grass, reading books or playing with my tablet a little bit ( I'm close enough to my apartment that the Wi-Fi works if I'm in the front circle of the building, so I can use it outside. It's kind of nice)
My niece, Elizabeth K, my brother Mark and S-I-L Julie's oldest daughter, got engaged while she was on the road trip of a lifetime this summer. I'm very excited for her and her family. She is one half of the Buffalo Lake-Hector Junior High Social Studies department. Her fiancé is the other half of the department.
She's been there about two years now, I think she's starting her third year this year. Next June brings wedding bells.
As for my health, it seems to be slowly improving . I haven't been in the hospital, except for elective procedures, for at least 2 to 3 years. When I went down to the initial appointment at the Courage Center this time, I could do much more physically than the last time I was there (3 yrs ago). That was encouraging. I'm in the process of getting what are called AFOs (ankle/foot orthodics), which are braces to keep my feet from rolling. They cast you with the casting material and then they make the braces from there. They're made out of plastic with some foam padding. Hopefully my legs will be much more comfortable after I get them. (I now have them and so far so good.) The recurrence of infections seems to be getting better, not as close together. I've had three separate skin cancers removed, two on my scalp and one on my cheek.
I hope you've had a rewarding summer/winter. I have enjoyed it.
The future brings many exciting changes for my family and I for one can't wait!
I planted a garden this summer. A local church offered free garden plots and they gave me two. I planted some Honey Bear squash, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, some lavender, herbs and some flowers. I'm already harvesting onions, a few potatoes, cutting flowers, playing hide and seek with baby bunnies, and looking forward to the squash and some more tomatoes .
The biggest challenge with the garden has been keeping up with the weeds. Either it's been too hot, or there's not been enough staff to help me. Now we're just pressing them down with "our" feet or when we do pull them out, we place the dead ones on top of the live ones. [Don't you just love the "we"? I can't do any of the physical labor, my staff does it all. LOL] I also had numerous "volunteer" plants come up, including cucumber, pear tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, spaghetti squash, other tomatoes..
I haven't been on Facebook very much this summer because I've been outside so much. It's hard to keep up with all the posts. I usually check in at least a couple times a day. Sounds like everyone's having a wonderful summer. I'm so glad.
I sure miss Tia [my Yorkie] this summer. It was hard losing her after 14 years. She was the love of my life. Tia's godmother got a hold of me shortly after she died, and told me of a lady who wasn't feeling well and needed to find a home for her dog. So on June 6, 2015 I adopted 5 1/2 year-old, 9 pound Ava Jo. I'll try to attach a picture to the blog .
I started going to the Courage Center again. I'm still having trouble with this wheelchair and it's been three years and still it's causing me problems . We may not be able to get a new chair yet but we're going to try and update the seating to see if that helps with the pain . I'll be going once a week for eight weeks. It's about an hour and a half drive. (Update since first writing this : I only went to Courage Center for a few weeks. They're sending me to a clinic affiliated with Gillette Children's Hospital where they have the ability to adapt the equipment on sight.)
I now have almost full-time personal care attendant (PCA) hours, though I don't use them all. There's been a large turnover of staff the last couple of months because of health issues. A couple blew out their back, one is going to be having surgery, another one's going on sabbatical for a while but she'll still be able to help fill-in, and one fell in love and moved up north (she has since moved back and has returned to my staff), so it's been trying but I'm very grateful for all the help I have and when I get discouraged I just remember I'm not in a nursing home, I'm in my own home with my dog, and I can come and go as I please. The girls I have are great, I love them dearly, but it is hard work. As my mom used to say, I'm a high maintenance broad.
About a month ago, on a spur of the moment idea, my PCA Cheryl and I drove out to our old lake cabin at Lake Jennie. I had the wonderful surprise of seeing one of the gals I grew up with next door out there. She's was there from Virginia with her family . It was good to see her. It was also nice to see that their cabin was still in the family. We wandered around the old place
It's been a beautiful summer here in Minnesota. I especially love the balmy warm evenings. On the hotter days I've been sitting under a tree, with Ava Jo lying in the grass, reading books or playing with my tablet a little bit ( I'm close enough to my apartment that the Wi-Fi works if I'm in the front circle of the building, so I can use it outside. It's kind of nice)
My niece, Elizabeth K, my brother Mark and S-I-L Julie's oldest daughter, got engaged while she was on the road trip of a lifetime this summer. I'm very excited for her and her family. She is one half of the Buffalo Lake-Hector Junior High Social Studies department. Her fiancé is the other half of the department.
As for my health, it seems to be slowly improving . I haven't been in the hospital, except for elective procedures, for at least 2 to 3 years. When I went down to the initial appointment at the Courage Center this time, I could do much more physically than the last time I was there (3 yrs ago). That was encouraging. I'm in the process of getting what are called AFOs (ankle/foot orthodics), which are braces to keep my feet from rolling. They cast you with the casting material and then they make the braces from there. They're made out of plastic with some foam padding. Hopefully my legs will be much more comfortable after I get them. (I now have them and so far so good.) The recurrence of infections seems to be getting better, not as close together. I've had three separate skin cancers removed, two on my scalp and one on my cheek.
I hope you've had a rewarding summer/winter. I have enjoyed it.
The future brings many exciting changes for my family and I for one can't wait!
Monday, March 16, 2015
I'VE ENTERED THE WORLD OF TABLETS - 1
I bought my first tablet yesterday [Friday, 3.13.15]. I actually started out to buy a GoPro camera. What I need is video capability to capture things like, how to adjust my headrest, how to put my braces on, etc. It will be used to train staff. Along with "need", I also "want" to be able to take videos and stills of my precious, beautiful community.
So, how did I get from GoPro to a tablet? I was looking for pictures of the buttons on the GoPro to see if my hands could handle them. During the process, I read that if you have a newer phone or a tablet you could use them as a remote. [My phone is a dinosaur, so that option was out, but the price is right.] That discussion lead to a discussion on the attributes of tablets. My budget liked the on-sale tablet better than the price of the GoPro, I could use it in many other ways, and so now I own one. It's a little heavier than I would prefer but it'll do. I would have loved an iPad so I could Facetime with my family, but I like to eat way too much.
The tablet is a TRIO with Windows 8.1. I thought it would shorten the learning curve a bit since I use Windows 7 now. We'll see. The touch screen is harder on the neck and shoulders than using a mouse. I bought a stylus and that helps.
I've spent the last few hours trying to figure out how to exit out of apps. My BRILLIANT PCA sent me to YouTube, my new best friend when it comes to learning Windows 8.1.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today [Sunday, 3.15.15] I took the tablet on a trial run to video my cruise on the river trail. That lead me to learn about OneDrive, where you can upload to the "Cloud" and no matter what happens to your electronics, whether they break down or become outdated, you can still access your precious photos, videos, and documents. I have quite mixed feelings about putting it all "out there", but it is convenient.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Monday, 3.16.15] I'm going to try to put the video on this blog, more to learn. We'll see how it goes.
Hope the link works. Remember, I'm new to all of this, so be kind. http://youtu.be/wVCHsWVWd84
So, how did I get from GoPro to a tablet? I was looking for pictures of the buttons on the GoPro to see if my hands could handle them. During the process, I read that if you have a newer phone or a tablet you could use them as a remote. [My phone is a dinosaur, so that option was out, but the price is right.] That discussion lead to a discussion on the attributes of tablets. My budget liked the on-sale tablet better than the price of the GoPro, I could use it in many other ways, and so now I own one. It's a little heavier than I would prefer but it'll do. I would have loved an iPad so I could Facetime with my family, but I like to eat way too much.
The tablet is a TRIO with Windows 8.1. I thought it would shorten the learning curve a bit since I use Windows 7 now. We'll see. The touch screen is harder on the neck and shoulders than using a mouse. I bought a stylus and that helps.
I've spent the last few hours trying to figure out how to exit out of apps. My BRILLIANT PCA sent me to YouTube, my new best friend when it comes to learning Windows 8.1.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today [Sunday, 3.15.15] I took the tablet on a trial run to video my cruise on the river trail. That lead me to learn about OneDrive, where you can upload to the "Cloud" and no matter what happens to your electronics, whether they break down or become outdated, you can still access your precious photos, videos, and documents. I have quite mixed feelings about putting it all "out there", but it is convenient.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope the link works. Remember, I'm new to all of this, so be kind. http://youtu.be/wVCHsWVWd84
Monday, March 24, 2014
KIDNEY STONE EXPERIENCE
The last time I had kidney stones it was on an emergency basis. I was transferred to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Because I was on Coumadin the surgery had to be delayed, so excruciating pain it was, for over 24 hours. Long story short, I became septic (usually sepsis is a bacterial infection of the blood stream but this time it was fungal - not good) and I was rushed to the Heart Institute for a couple of days. Two weeks and two surgeries later I was discharged, sans kidney stones.
Knowing that, now you have some understanding of why I was so anxious about this kidney stone experience. This was an optional surgery instead of emergency, but necessary because the stone had started causing infections.
I arrived at noon, surgery being scheduled for 12:45. I arrived in the OR well after 2:00 pm. They had trouble getting an IV in because of being dehydrated due to the pre-surgery fast - nothing unusual, right? Ha! I wish. (More on that in a moment.) Surgery went well and I was awake before I left the OR. Recovery was uneventful except one of the failed IV sites was bleeding more than it really should be. We seemed to get it under control and I arrived at my room for a 23 hour observation period (usually it's a same day procedure, but I requested the overnight just to be safe and it turned out to be a wise choice.) My dear classmate Denise and my beloved PCA Mary Kay were there waiting for me. (Having them there meant the world to me.)
Later that evening the old IV site began to bleed quite profusely - uncommon. For 2 1/2 hours I experienced bone crushing pressure while they: tried ice; tried to find a physician for advice; considered sending me to the ER since they couldn't find a doctor to come; finally they called the Rapid Response Team. Just as they got a hold of a physician to come in to suture it (remember, we're 2 1/2 hours into this - sure glad it wasn't more serious than a torn vein [she types sarcastically]), it stopped on its own. Sure glad I insisted on staying overnight.
I never seem to be able to do it by the book - maybe one of these days. At least I was wise enough to know I should stay for a while. I was not impressed with the lack of availability of physicians that night, especially since it was the med./surg. floor. To be quite frank, all but one of the nurses I had, really didn't know what to do. Finally the one holding the pressure on (and whose hand was quickly starting to cramp) called her supervisor with her free hand and her supervisor was the one who told them to call the RRT. Well it worked, I think it scared the vein into clotting!
I still have to get the stent removed on Thursday but only have to go to Glencoe (nearby town) and then antibiotics for another week or so.
Knowing that, now you have some understanding of why I was so anxious about this kidney stone experience. This was an optional surgery instead of emergency, but necessary because the stone had started causing infections.
I arrived at noon, surgery being scheduled for 12:45. I arrived in the OR well after 2:00 pm. They had trouble getting an IV in because of being dehydrated due to the pre-surgery fast - nothing unusual, right? Ha! I wish. (More on that in a moment.) Surgery went well and I was awake before I left the OR. Recovery was uneventful except one of the failed IV sites was bleeding more than it really should be. We seemed to get it under control and I arrived at my room for a 23 hour observation period (usually it's a same day procedure, but I requested the overnight just to be safe and it turned out to be a wise choice.) My dear classmate Denise and my beloved PCA Mary Kay were there waiting for me. (Having them there meant the world to me.)
Later that evening the old IV site began to bleed quite profusely - uncommon. For 2 1/2 hours I experienced bone crushing pressure while they: tried ice; tried to find a physician for advice; considered sending me to the ER since they couldn't find a doctor to come; finally they called the Rapid Response Team. Just as they got a hold of a physician to come in to suture it (remember, we're 2 1/2 hours into this - sure glad it wasn't more serious than a torn vein [she types sarcastically]), it stopped on its own. Sure glad I insisted on staying overnight.
I never seem to be able to do it by the book - maybe one of these days. At least I was wise enough to know I should stay for a while. I was not impressed with the lack of availability of physicians that night, especially since it was the med./surg. floor. To be quite frank, all but one of the nurses I had, really didn't know what to do. Finally the one holding the pressure on (and whose hand was quickly starting to cramp) called her supervisor with her free hand and her supervisor was the one who told them to call the RRT. Well it worked, I think it scared the vein into clotting!
I still have to get the stent removed on Thursday but only have to go to Glencoe (nearby town) and then antibiotics for another week or so.
I made it through another one, thanks to all the love, support, prayers, healing energies, faith, and humor. You all have been such blessing to me. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Monday, September 2, 2013
MUSINGS FROM THE RIVER TRAIL
I had a great many wildlife sightings on my cruise down by the river today. My hometown of Hutchinson MN is blessed to have the Crow River running through it. Along it is a beautiful river trail system that once was the Luce Line Railway. It includes a wildlife sanctuary, playgrounds, ball fields, horseshoe pits, RV/camp grounds, boat landing, etc. I go down there almost every day during the warm seasons.
Today, on my way in to the sanctuary area I heard a large number of Crows, along with a Blue Jay, raising a very loud rucous in the trees across the river from me. They usually don't do that unless there's a predator present. I waited a while but whatever was bugging them wasn't budging so I moved on.
A few yards further on, a Crane was perched on a dead log stretched out over the river, along with a family of Mallards. We sat/stood and looked at each other for a very peaceful period of time and I moved on. Again just a few yards further down I turned around to look back at the Crane again and smelled something very foul, the smell of death and decay. Sure enough there was a dead bird, but the stench was too strong to just be the bird; there was also a young, very small buck lying dead amongst the Milkweed Pods and yellow Lambs Quarters. I felt so sad and wondered what happened to him. My first thoughts were that I hoped no one had harmed him, then I wondered if maybe he'd succumbed to the recent heatwave. It's a mystery I'll ponder for awhile.
On the way back I heard an Eagle across the river near the same area where the Crows had been. The sound stopped me in my tracks. Sure enough, a fully mature Bald Eagle flys out of a tree that's in the backyard of that white art deco house across the way. It was amazingly beautiful. I watched it soar for awhile until I realized I was late to get home.
I went back down later and this time it was 13 Turkey Buzzards, many dogs on a walk, and my shrink...hehehe...
Along with beautiful wildflowers and a baby turtle as well, it was an adventurous and memorable trip along the Crow River. So that's what the Crows were so worked up about...hmmm...
Today, on my way in to the sanctuary area I heard a large number of Crows, along with a Blue Jay, raising a very loud rucous in the trees across the river from me. They usually don't do that unless there's a predator present. I waited a while but whatever was bugging them wasn't budging so I moved on.
A few yards further on, a Crane was perched on a dead log stretched out over the river, along with a family of Mallards. We sat/stood and looked at each other for a very peaceful period of time and I moved on. Again just a few yards further down I turned around to look back at the Crane again and smelled something very foul, the smell of death and decay. Sure enough there was a dead bird, but the stench was too strong to just be the bird; there was also a young, very small buck lying dead amongst the Milkweed Pods and yellow Lambs Quarters. I felt so sad and wondered what happened to him. My first thoughts were that I hoped no one had harmed him, then I wondered if maybe he'd succumbed to the recent heatwave. It's a mystery I'll ponder for awhile.
On the way back I heard an Eagle across the river near the same area where the Crows had been. The sound stopped me in my tracks. Sure enough, a fully mature Bald Eagle flys out of a tree that's in the backyard of that white art deco house across the way. It was amazingly beautiful. I watched it soar for awhile until I realized I was late to get home.
I went back down later and this time it was 13 Turkey Buzzards, many dogs on a walk, and my shrink...hehehe...
Along with beautiful wildflowers and a baby turtle as well, it was an adventurous and memorable trip along the Crow River. So that's what the Crows were so worked up about...hmmm...
Friday, May 24, 2013
Dear Momma
Started writing this a few weeks ago.
Dear Momma,
You would not believe the weather this Spring. Right now it's snowing really hard and it's incredibly windy. I'm sure glad you don't have to go out and smoke in this weather. You would hate this.
I got a wonderful surprise from Becky and Randy today; they moved to a new house (they're downsizing) and I now have your old jewelry box, the one the industrial arts guys from the high school made for you (at least I think that's where it came from!) I also have some of your old jewelry now too. I was surprised at how much I missed seeing it so I'm thrilled to be able to enjoy it again. It makes me cry. I put your Christmas pins on my Christmas tree as ornaments. Some pieces are on display as part of my decor, and some pieces I wear. Grandma's shoe clips go on the Christmas tree as well.
I miss you terribly for some reason, especially when we used to sit by Abby's yard BSing. I miss looking up and seeing you looking out your apartment window. I still go to get things that are no longer there, like the dutch oven, or a favorite pin...just little things that were there all my life and now they're not.
I get lonesome for you...so does Tia.
I got pretty sick after you left but I'm making my way back and doing much better. It's been rough but I come from tough stock...as you would say, I'm a tough broad.
I'm so sorry you had to spend your last days in a nursing home. I was able to keep you out for about 12 years but in the end I just couldn't do it anymore. Looking back I wish I'd put you in the hospice house instead. Live and learn right. I hope you can forgive me.
I love you and miss you so at times,
Jo Jo
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