Sudokuaholics Anonymous 11

You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

The saga continues. The hospital discharged FIL with virtually no notice and sent him home. The company that does the care work is furious and is extremely upset with the hospital and his doctor. He now no longer has control of his bowels as well as being incontinent. Serious screw up here.

So now we are going to have an intervention when a bed becomes available in the nursing home where MIL is. FIL visits her on Saturdays, and we will have an intervention there, and he won't be going home. It is the best time for one as he will already be in the nursing home visiting. Troubled waters ahead. It really is for his own good, and for peace of mind for the family.

Sorry for all the complaining, but it helps to talk about it. Thanks guys.

Oh Theresa - what a hard time for you all. I had a similar problem with my mum and it was very hard. Thinking of you and hoping he will settle in quickly.

Theresa... That's the kind of B*** S*** that occurs when you let administrators and insurance personel practice medicine without a license. I also believe every discharge should have to have the signed approval of the nursing staff. They see more of the patient than the doctor does, and are always more familiar with the case.

I've been under the weather. Sleeping a LOT, and the back on the warpath. Only 5 1/2 days until the epidural, and I'm hoping time passes really quickly. I NEED IT!!!

Theresa, I know just how you feel about your FIL being dumped out of the hospital and back home when he cannot care for himself. I do hope you can find him a bed at nursing home and he will settle in there easier than you think.

My Mom was in the hospital once, after a severe problem with a BP medication she had been on. It almost killed her, and she could not even walk when she was ordered to be discharged. Luckily I knew that with medicare, if we disagreed with a discharge order, we could appeal and had 3 more days in hospital. We requested a discharge consultant to come in, and evaluate Mom. she was found unable to take care of herself, and in need of therapy to basically learn to walk again. OH, it was also a weekend they were going to discharge her, so we could get nothing done about having help in if she had gone home. she got the extra 3 days, and then went straight to a rehabilitation center. She did great there, and in 2 weeks was back to her old self able to once again care for herself. If I had not known to ask for this, she would have been out the door.

Heidi, you are right, the nurses know more than the doc when a patient is able to care for themselves at home. They go along with medicare rules, like they did with Mom. As son her electrolytes were up to the MINIMAL normal, not back to where she was before, with no margin of error in case they went down again. Medicare said when they reach that number, out the door.

I hope you can get a bit of relief from your back pain while waiting for the epidural. sleep all you can, the time does not go faster, but you are aware of less of it passing.

Last night just before bedtime, I began to smell smoke here, wood burning kind of smoke, it was really bad in my apartment. First I checked my space, nothing burning. then I checked the main hall, no smell out there at all. So I checked outside by opening the window and it was terrible. The entire area I could view was under a cloud of smoke. Off in the distance I could see smoke hanging low on the horizon, and a glow to the underside of this cloud of smoke. I figured something was on fire, but had not heard firetrucks go by. My heat/AC unit was bringing in more and more odor, my eyes and nose were burning, so I had to turn it off. Temps outside were in the 20's, the inside temp began to get uncomfortable. I found my tiny ceramic electric heater and plugged it in here in bedroom, which seemed warmer than the living room. Smoke odor kept getting worse. I was at the window that has the unit under it, barefoot as I was ready for bed, and felt cold air blowing through the unit. Huuumm, no wonder I have had trouble keeping the apartment warm. To make a long story short, ooops, to late for that heheh, I climbed in bed and slept with the heater on all night. I did stay warm, but by early morning, the temp under the AC unit was 45, using my thermometer. OUCH. The smoke was gone, I could turn the unit on again and in an hour, had the living ro

The smoke was gone, I could turn the unit on again and in an hour, had the living room all warm again, even under the unit.

It was an old historic house that burned, 3 story, a former mansion from the early days of Birmingham. It is sad to see something lost that is irreplaceable. It was not in use as a home, but as the offices of a non profit organization. No one was there when the fire started.

Played scrabble today, and I have decided that I am going to change places with someone, after Mary, who plays just before me, used the space I wanted, had letters to make really good scores, just too many times today. AND she did not even make the points I could have made there, either. I did a lot better the second game, and came in second. a very close score, too.

I am off to bed. Hugs to each of you, with extras, till tomorrow.

Hi, Everyone!

Great TOPP, Theresa!

Theresa, it's hard to imagine that any medical person would discharge your FIL in that condition! Good luck with the intervention on the weekend. I hope all goes well and he will quickly adjust!

Hi, Midge! I hope all is well! Thinking of you.

Heidi, get as much sleep as you can and do only what must be done. I hope the days pass quickly!

MizT, that seems quite frightening to be getting all that smoke into your apartment! Can you put in a work requisition for the space under the heater to be checked. It would seem that something is wrong in the installation for that much cold air to be coming in! What a shame about the old historic house.

It's mighty late here, and I'm about to fall asleep. Feel free to share these , positive thoughts, prayers, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, and healing vibes!

Theresa, what a mess! A hospital my FIL was in tried the same thing. I said, is he walking yet? They said, oh, can he walk? I told them he was walking before he got there. They kept him for a few more days.

Thinking about Heidi ......

I don't believe the intervention will be this Saturday because I don't think there will be a room on such short notice. It will be a Saturday. I have a feeling FIL will end up in the hospital again before that happens.

Cold, cold, cold and windy here. We have a few inches of snow, but are expecting temperatures in the plusses for the weekend. Dislike winter, even though it's still only fall. I hear Buffalo is in for another wallop ... those poor people.

I had a lovely day out on the Harbour on Wednesday. Sat down later that afternoon to watch something on TV. Felt a tickle in my throat and within half an hour had developed a head cold. Laura had a sore throat and a bit of a cold when she was here on the weekend. I hate having a cold when the weather is hot and it is going to be over 40*c today. I am supposed to go the two presentations today but I may have to give at least one a miss.

Heidi, take it easy till you get the epidural.
Theresa, I hope things soon get sorted for your FIL.
Sorry but my eyes and nose are both watering so thinking of you all.

I'm taking it easy. I have no choice. Or very little. I will have to do some serious cooking tomorrow and Saturday, because we're gonna celebrate Thanksgiving on Saturday. IH has been invited to a Thanksgiving dinner at his church on Sunday, I'm having the epidural on Tuesday. I will then have my lifting limited for several days, and would be unable to lift a stuffed turkey into and out of the oven 2 days after the epidural. Hopefully, I should have a few leftovers to munch on while recuperating. I'm just going with a stereotypical meal: turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, brocolli with cheese, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Cousin Don will be joining us.

Greetings from cold Illinois!

Suzy, you obviously asked the right question when the hospital attempted to send your father home.

Theresa, good luck for whenever the intervention for your FIL takes place. I hope your snow melts with the warmer weekend temperatures.

June, enjoying the harbor sounds wonderful. What a shame you are now fending off a head cold. Enjoy the presentation today.

Heidi, I'm glad to hear that you are attempting to take it easy, though preparing a full Thanksgiving dinner doesn't sound like taking it easy. I hope the epidural on Tuesday is an awful one!

I'm falling asleep at the computer, so it's time to wish all of you lots of {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, healing vibes, positive thoughts, prayers, and

Slept most of the day, except for baking a pumpkin pie for tomorrow. The house smells goood!

Good Evening, Everyone!

Thinking warm thoughts for those whose area is gripped by cold and cooler thoughts for those dealing with unseasonably warm temperatures.

Heidi, I'm glad you are getting as much sleep as possible. The thought of a warm pumpkin pie is wonderful! Hopefully, it will still be around when you have your early Thanksgiving dinner!

Sending lots of healing energy, positive thoughts, prayers, , and {{{{{HUGS & JUGS}}}}} for each of you! Feel free to share, as needed.

I should not complain as I know I will feel better in a couple of days but I ache all over from coughing and this cold. I stopped all the pain meds so I could take something to ease the cold symptoms. At least I do not have a temp. anymore. I just hope I can get some sleep tonight.
We had a nice roast chicken dinner tonight. Although I was not that hungry.

Having a Christmas lunch with my sister/law tomorrow. Some of her family are going overseas and we will also see her new unit in a retirement village. I have bought all the presents.
It is going to be very hot again tomorrow. I do wish we could mix it with some of the snow the topsiders are getting.

I hope you feel better VERY soon, June. Nobody likes having a cold at any time, but for some reason, summer colds take more out of you.

The turkey is stuffed and in the oven. It won't be long now until the house starts smelling wonderful!

Enjoy your early Thanksgiving Dinner Heidi. I feel much better today but my muscles are so sore from all the coughing.

OH JUNE, you have my sympathy, I know how all the coughing can make one sore all over. Get Better Soon!

Heidi, Turkey and stuffing cooking is one of my favorite smells of the holiday. Enjoy your turkey Today and leftovers for many days to come. It will be nice to have cooked and already sliced turkey for those days after your epidural. Counting the days with you.

HI JULIE, bye Julie, good to see you drop in.

I was outside a bit today, a lovely Indian summer day here. shirt sleeve weather, temps about 65 and it has been sunny. Clouds hae rolled in now, we are forecast a rain tomorrow, possibly an all day rain once again. I do not plan on getting out tomorrow.

today I trimmed a dead/dormant lantana bush. It was so tall, it left the pots of pansies in the shade, and the pansies will do better with more sun, so chop chop on the bush. Then Tanya came over for lunch and we went out afterward to the dollar store. I bought a couple things and my back gave out, so I went to sit in the car until she finished looking and checked out. She found some bird ornaments to go on her Christmas Tree. We were supposed to look for a small fold down table for me to put my Christmas tree on, but that did not happen today. I am glad I did cut the shopping short, back is better now after a rest. If I had continued on, would have left me in a heap of ache rest of the day.

I got a hair cut yesterday. she got it even shorter than ever before! Barbara is notorious for that. Why is it some beauticians just cannot listen to wht the customer wants? Way short in the back, she cuts it pulled straight, but that hair is curly, and even shorter once it curls. Oh well, it will grow.

A photographer came in yesterday to take photos of anyone who wanted. Photo time was right after my appointment for haircut, it just happened that way, so I let her blow dry my hair. Usually I come up and do it myself. Will be interesting to see how this photo came out. I jokingly said to one resident, who said she was not going to get her photo cause no one would want a photo of her, she should get it anyway. Her family might need a recent photo for the obituary one day. Well, it is true, many older people do not have a recent professional photo to include in the newspaper. Now with digital cameras on every phone, at least a recent snapshot can be found .

Hugs to each of you, with extras, till later.

Hi, Everyone! Greetings from here to there.

June, I hope your cold is soon better. So sorry the coughing has you sore all over. I hope you're at least able to get some sleep! I hope you enjoy your early Christmas lunch tomorrow! You are so organized to have already purchased presents!

Heidi, roasting turkey and dressing have such a comforting aroma! Enjoy it and remember to get some rest! Have a wonderful early Thanksgiving celebration!

MizT, I'm so glad you know yourself well enough to stop shopping before the pain becomes too severe! It must have been a weekend for trimming things, including the lantana bush, your hair, and mine today. I hope the pansies will do better with more sun. I also hope your photo will be to your liking!

It's time to call it a night. Feel free to share these {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, positive thoughts, prayers, healing vibes, and !

My back went into attack mode during dinner. I tried not to show it, and as soon as the guys left the table, I headed to the lav. to get my meds... I had to do it in stages 'cause I couldn't walk that far in one shot, then to bed. I'm doing much better now, 5 1/2 hours later. But to my shock, while I was crashing, IH put all the leftovers away in the fridge! I think it's a first for him in 35 years! He figured that I was in a LOT of pain, and I had told him that he needs to be VERY grateful to me right now. The front axle joint of his truck sheered through AGAIN for the 3rd time in 5 months, and I'm generously letting him use my truck while I'm feeling so crummy. Within limits. He's been told to be more careful with mine than he is with his. No driving across pastures with mine. That's a job for the UTV.
Well, I need to feed the birds, then go back to bed. I have stuff to do tomorrow. While IH was driving my truck across the pastures today (causing me to lose my temper and get stressed), he spotted one of my cows that had just died. Back in the woods. He decided to leave the problem to me since he had no idea how to get her out of there. I know the spot, though, and know of a psth to get the big tractor back there.

Heidi, do not go trying to remove the cow. Supervise IH or haven't you got a handyman or someone to do it. IH owes you big time . If he had not mucked up the insurance you would have had the epidural weeks ago. I had back spasms once and I ended up on the floor and could not get up. I really do not know how you do some of the things you get done.

It was over 40*c here today. I have just watered the front garden and I think my pansies did not enjoy the heat. Must by some petunias to replace them.
I feel better and the aches have gone. My chest is still rattling.
Ken is now in bed with a temperature. He is very reluctant to take anything (I have gargled one aspirin!) he was not able to go to lunch. Tomorrow we have another Christmas lunch but it is a 3/4 hour drive. If ken cannot go I will see if some one else has a spare seat in their car.
Must go and do the back garden. A cool change has come so it is a bit more pleasant.

IH claims he can't figure out how to do it. And that they're my cows, which they are. No, if I don't want a cow rotting back in the woods (the smell carries for a loooooooong distance), I'll have to do it myself. Actually, the hard part is climbing in and out of the tractor. That about knocks me out with back spasms.

Heidi, I know what a dead cow smells like! If he had nowhere to bury a dead cow I remember Dad covering it with burnable material, adding some propellant (Petrol or something and burning it).
Is there any chance that the cow is not dead(knowing IH's observation skills?)

Even IH can tell a dead cow, I hope.

Well, IH knocked the front end of my truck seriously out of alignment. She's shaking all over the place and is barely drivable. Of course, he denies everything. Though the truck was fine when he borrowed it,

Ni All. Just checking in on this Sunday before Thanksgiving. Nothing much going on in these parts except holiday preparations. I have to make a batch of candies yams for Thanksgiving dinner that will be held at my niece's house and cook a turkey and stuffing for home on Wednesday. I'm feeling pretty good with the exception of my legs and my Raynauls acting up, but am sorry to hear of all of your problems Heidi...bad enough to have your back screaming, but to have to deal with a dead cow too really pushes your plate to overbearing pain...I do hope your next shot will last and give you great relief. MzT...looking forward to seeing the photo with the short haircut you have...last time you complained so much , the pictures taken by Joy showed a very beautiful lady...I,m sure this one will also show that lady. June hope you continue to fully recover from the ravages of your cold and aren't reinfected with Ken's. Sending good wishes for a full recovery for him too. Julie,it would be nice to see a picture with your haircut too...that is if you are ever still long enough to have one taken...lol. Theresa, I'm wondering how things are going with you now. Has the hospital followed through on your F.i.L's discharge? I'm hoping you guys get some encouraging news soon and I'm so sorry for all you are going through.Hi Midge and Suzy and Broni...and of course anyone else who may drop by. Time for me to get my dinner now so I'll end this chat by wishing everyone a good week up-coming and Happy Thanksgiving to the topsiders.Peace.

Hi, Everyone! No time to read, as I should be in bed.

Healing energy, , positive vibes, prayers, and {{{{{HUGS}}}}} for all!

I miss candied yams! I ate them at my SILs house, but never learned how to cook them.

Mamacita, I know your candied yams will be a hit at your niece's dinner for Thanksgiving. Mom made those many years ago. I am baking sweet potatoes, to make the casserole like Mom made in later years. She used canned sweet potatoes, mine using baked are sooo much better . Just smash the baked taters, add butter and fill the dish. Then make a topping with pecans, oats, a bit of flour, butter and brown sugar, similar to the topping for an apple crisp, sprinkle this dry mix over the taters and bake, it is yummy. I usually dip my serving with NO topping, I love just the baked sweet potato, and no guilt with that, it is on my eating plan, a heaping half cup of it! Of course, that would be the only carb serving that meal, but for Thanksgiving, I get a 'cheat' meal, so can have the dressing and cranberry sauce and even a tiny bit of desert too.

Mama, I think the reason I am so shocked with the haircut, she does get it a bit shorter than I want, but I usually put off going till it is very long, and the contrast is what shocks me. Barbara is notorious for cutting hair too short though, everyone complains, and it does no good. She still cuts too short. When she has a captive audience, why bother to change her ways?

I am off to my doc today for regular thrice yearly appointment. We have a lot to talk about today. Tanya is supposed to come take me, but she is not answering her phone now. Maybe cause she left home early? she does not answer when driving, neither do I, so I hope that is it. It would be very hard, and expensive, to drive myself and use valet parking if she slept through her alarm today.

Hugs to each of you, with extras, till later.

My truck is now in the repair shop. IH's truck is sitting dead in front of his lab with a broken axle. I need to take the RV in to get the headlights working so I can take it in tomorrow to the hospital for the epidural. UNLESS IH decided we need to rent a car for a few days (which I think we need to do).

Oh yeah. I have moved the dead cow up to the house where the dead wagon can get to it. They need to be within 20 feet of pavement. IH decided to give me minute details of how to accomplish this feat (which he has never done) and insisted that I take her on a route which was physically impossible to travel because of a tight grove of trees. She was over a half mile from the house, across the creek and deep in the woods. Years ago I opened up a trail through the woods to enable a tractor to cross through to work on fences. That is the only way a tractor can get through, and fortunately she was in reach of it. While looking for supplies for the job, I found the tow chain where IH had left it. ...in a bucket out in the field! And the bucket was full of rain water! I really suspect that he cannot think for himself.

Change of plan. I talked to the mechanics working on my truck. I'll have it back by 5pm today. So I'm not going to spend a couple of hours getting the RV worked on while I wait. I'll take her in on Wednesday or Friday.

once we had a lion park built about 10 k away from the farm, as long as the cows did not die of disease we could phone and they would pick up the dead animals to feed to the lions.(we did not have too many dead animals).
When the park was first build we could hear the lions roar and it really unsettled the cows at first.

Didn't get my truck back after all. The damage that IH did to the front end was too severe. We have a rental for the interim.

Greetings to all! Thanksgiving preparations for many are under way. Happy Thanksgiving to those in the U.S. I am so thankful for my friends here! I still look forward to the day when we can all meet! You are all the BEST!

It's late, so I'll be heading to bed. Take care, Everyone, and be safe. Sending positive thoughts, healing vibes, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, prayers, and !

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends who celebrate.
I am thankful my biopsy came back clear.
I am also thankful for my friends on SA and Sudoku.
Love and Jugs.